Interactive two-way collaboration in process control plants

• US 20040103165A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Schleiss, Trevor D., Nixon, Mark J., Peterson, Neil J., Chatkoff, Teresa
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Systems and methods of transmitting process control information to a portable communication device associate a resource link with the process control information and transmit the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device. A session identifier is associated with the process control information and the session identifier and the resource link are transmitted to the portable communication device. A message and the resource link associated with the process control information are provided at the portable communication device. A user selects the resource link to initiate a communication link between the portable communication device and a wireless communication service. The portable communication device may receive one of video information, audio information, still image information, and software application information in response to initiation of the communication link between the wireless communication service and the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting process control information to a portable communication device, comprising:

associating a resource link with the process control information; and

transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including associating a session identifier with the process control information and the resource link and transmitting the session identifier to the portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the session identifier with the process control information and the resource link includes associating a session identifier with the process control information and the resource link.

4. The method of claim 2, further including storing the process control information and the session identifier in a database based on the session identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the resource link with the process control information includes associating a uniform resource locator with the process control information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the resource link with the process control information includes associating the resource link with one of alert and alarm information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device includes transmitting the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via a packet-switched network and a wireless communication service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via the packet-switched network and the wireless communication service includes transmitting the resource link and the process control information using a virtual private network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via the packet-switched network and the wireless communication service includes transmitting the process control information and the resource link via an internet and a cellular communications system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the resource link with the process control information further includes associating one of image information, video information, audio information, and a software application with the process control information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device includes transmitting the process control information and the resource link within one of a pager message, a phone message and an e-mail.

12. The method of claim 1, further including transmitting one of video information, audio information, still image information and software application information to the portable communication device in response to a request by the portable communication device to access a resource associated with the resource link.

13. The method of claim 1, further including generating the process control information within a controller and transmitting the process control information to the portable communication device from the controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting the process control information from the controller includes transmitting the process control information via a communication link that is dedicated for use by the controller.

15. The method of claim 1, further including using a rules engine to filter the process control information prior to transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device includes transmitting the process control information and the resource link via a secure communication link.

17. A system for transmitting process control information to a portable communication device, comprising:

a communications server programmed to;

associate a resource link with the process control information; and

transmit the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to associate a session identifier with the process control information and the resource link and transmit the session identifier to the portable communication device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications server is programmed to store the process control information and the session identifier in a database based on the session identifier.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to associate the resource link with the process control information by associating a uniform resource locator with the process control information.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to associate the resource link with the process control information by associating the resource link with one of alert and alarm information.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to transmit the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device by transmitting the resource link and the process control information via a packet-switched network and a wireless communication service.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the communications server is programmed to transmit the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via the packet-switched network and the wireless communication service using a virtual private network.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein communications server is programmed to transmit the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via the packet-switched network and the wireless communication service by transmitting the process control information and the resource link via an internet and a cellular communications system.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to associate the resource link with the process control information by associating one of image information, video information, audio information, and a software application with the process control information.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to transmit the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device by transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device within one of a pager message, a phone message and an e-mail.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to transmit one of video information, audio information, still image information and software application information to the portable communication device in response to a request by the portable communication device to access a resource associated with the resource link.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to use at least one rule prior to transmitting the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the communications server is programmed to use a secure communication link to transmit the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication link.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the secure communication link includes a virtual private network.

31. A machine accessible medium having data stored thereon that, when accessed, causes a machine to:

associate a resource link with process control information; and

transmit the process control information and the resource link to a portable communication device.

32. The machine accessible medium of claim 31, wherein the data stored thereon, when accessed, causes the machine to associate a session identifier with the process control information and the resource link and transmit the session identifier to the portable communication device.

33. The machine accessible medium of claim 31, wherein the data stored thereon, when accessed, causes the machine to transmit the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device by transmitting the resource link and the process control information via a packet-switched network and a wireless communication service.

34. The machine accessible medium of claim 31, wherein the data stored thereon, when accessed, causes the machine to transmit the resource link and the process control information to the portable communication device via the packet-switched network and the wireless communication service by transmitting the process control information and the resource link via an internet and a cellular communications system.

35. The machine accessible medium of claim 31, wherein the data stored thereon, when accessed, causes the machine to transmit the process control information and the resource link to the portable communication device by transmitting the process control information and the resource link within one of a pager message, a phone message and an e-mail.

36. A method of responding to process control information received at a portable communication device, comprising:

displaying a message associated with the process control information and a resource link associated with the process control information;

selecting the resource link; and

initiating a communication link between the portable communication device and a wireless communication service in response to selection of the resource link.

37. The method of claim 36, further including receiving one of video information, audio information, still image information, and software application information in response to initiation of the communication link between the wireless communication service and the portable communication device.

38. The method of claim 36, further including receiving a session identifier with the process control information and sending the session identifier to the wireless communication service when accessing a resource via the portable communication device.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein displaying the message includes displaying one of alert and alarm information.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein initiating the communication link between the portable communication device and the wireless communication service includes initiating a connection to a communication server associated with an enterprise via a packet-switched network and a cellular communications system.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein initiating the communication link between the portable communication device and the wireless communication service includes invoking the resource link within a web browser application.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein displaying the message associated with the process control information includes displaying a textual message associated with one of an alarm and an alert generated by a process control system.

43. The method of claim 36, further including sending a message from the portable communication device to a controller via the communication link.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein initiating the communication link between the portable communication device and the wireless communication service in response to selection of the resource link includes establishing a voice over Internet protocol communication link to form the communication link.

45. A communications server, comprising:

a communications interface; and

a communications collaboration unit that is adapted to send process control information received via the communications interface and a resource link associated with the process control information to a portable communication device.

46. The communications server of claim 45, wherein the communications collaboration unit is further adapted to send the process control information received via the communications interface together with a session identifier.

47. The communications server of claim 46, further including a database containing a log of communications between the communications server and the portable communication device, wherein the log of communications organizes the process control information using the session identifier.

48. The communications server of claim 45, wherein the communications collaboration unit is adapted to send the process control information via the communications interface to the portable communication device as one of a page, a phone message and an e-mail.

49. The communications server of claim 45, wherein the communications interface is adapted to communicate with a wireless communication service via one of a phone line and a packet-switched network.

50. The communications server of claim 49, wherein the communications interface includes one of a modem and an Ethernet interface.

51. The communications server of claim 45, wherein the communications collaboration unit is adapted to establish a communication link with the portable communication device in response to receiving a communication associated with the resource link from the portable communication device.

52. The communications server of claim 51, wherein the communication link is a secure communication link.

53. The communications server of claim 52, wherein the secure communication link is a virtual private network.

54. The communications server of claim 51, wherein the communications collaboration unit is further adapted to send one of video information, audio information and textual information associated with the process control information to the portable communication device via the communication link in response to receiving the communication associated with the resource link.

55. The communications server of claim 45, further including a rules engine that determines communications routing information for sending the process control information to the portable communication device.

56. A system for communicating process control information to a portable communication device, comprising:

an event monitor communicatively coupled to a process control system;

a database coupled to the event monitor;

an event receiver coupled to the event monitor; and

an event transmitter coupled to the event monitor, wherein the event monitor is adapted to receive the process control information from the process control system and to send a message containing a resource link to information stored in the database to the portable communication device via the event transmitter.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the event transmitter is adapted to send the message together with a session identifier to the portable communication device.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the portable communication device is one of a pager, a cellular phone, a laptop computer and a personal data assistant.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the event monitor maintains a log of communications between the portable communication device and the event monitor.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the event transmitter is adapted to the send the message to the portable communication device as one of a page, a phone message and an e-mail.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the event transmitter is adapted to send the message to the portable communication device via one of a phone line and a packet-switched network.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the database includes one of video information, audio information, still image information and software application information associated with the process control information.

63. A method of generating an event log for use with a process control system, comprising:

generating a first communication containing process control information, a resource link associated with the process control information and a session identifier;

storing a first log entry associated with the first communication in a database based on the session identifier;

sending the first communication to the portable communication device;

receiving a second communication associated with the resource link from the portable communication device in response to the first communication; and

storing a second log entry associated with the second communication in the database base on the session identifier.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein generating the first communication includes generating a message that includes one of alert and alarm information associated with the process control system.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein sending the first communication to the portable communication device includes sending the first communication to the portable communication device via one of a phone line, a packet-switched network and a wireless communication service.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein storing the first and second log entries in the database based on the session identifier includes grouping the first and second log entries based on the session identifier.

67. A method of establishing a communication link between a portable communication device and a process control system, comprising:

displaying a resource link associated with the communication device on an operator interface associated with the process control system;

selecting the resource link; and

establishing the communication link between the portable communication device and the operator interface.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein displaying the resource link associated with the communication device includes displaying a uniform resource locator.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein establishing the communication link between the portable communication device and the operator interface includes establishing the communication link using a wireless communication link and a packet-switched network.

70. A method of establishing a communication link with a user sending a message within a process control system, comprising:

receiving a message from the user at a display device;

identifying a resource link associated with the user;

selecting the resource link; and

establishing the communication link in response to the selection of the resource link.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein identifying the resource link associated with the user includes identifying a uniform resource locator associated with the user.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein establishing the communication link in response to the selection of the resource link includes establishing a two-way communication link with the user.