Apparatus, system, and method for wireless diagnostics

• US 20070233283A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Yu-Gene
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33284 Remote diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A diagnostic concentrator includes a first interface that is capable of receiving a signal sent from a field device to a process controller. The signal includes a primary process variable and additional information. The diagnostic concentrator also includes a controller that is capable of generating a message corresponding to the received additional information and a second interface that is capable of transmitting the generated message. The first interface may be a HART interface. The second interface may be a wireless interface or a network interface. The message may be transmitted to a diagnostic monitor or a process controller. The first interface may receive a plurality of signals sent from a plurality of field devices to the process controller. The controller may generate a plurality of messages corresponding to the plurality of additional information in the signals and transmit the messages via the second interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first interface capable of receiving a signal sent from a field device to a process controller via a field device protocol communication link, the signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information;

a controller capable of generating a message corresponding to the additional information; and

a second interface capable of transmitting the message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface is a wireless interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface is a network interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the field device protocol communication link is a HART communication link.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted to the process controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted to a diagnostic monitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first interface is further capable of receiving a plurality of signals sent from a corresponding plurality of field devices to the process controller, each signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information;

the controller is further capable of generating a plurality of messages corresponding to the additional information in the plurality of signals; and

the second interface is further capable of transmitting the plurality of messages.

8. A system, comprising:

a field device;

a process controller capable of communicating with the field device via a field device protocol communication link; and

a diagnostic concentrator capable of;

receiving a signal sent by the field device to the process controller via the field device protocol communication link, the signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information; and

transmitting a message corresponding to the additional information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted via a wireless communication link.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted via a network.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the field device protocol communication link is a HART communication link.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the message is transmitted to the process controller.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a diagnostic monitor, wherein the message is transmitted to the diagnostic monitor.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of field devices, wherein:

the process controller is further capable of communicating with the plurality of field devices via a corresponding plurality of field device protocol communication links; and

the diagnostic concentrator is further capable of;

receiving a plurality of signals sent by the plurality of field devices via the plurality of field device protocol communication links, each signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information; and

transmitting a plurality of messages corresponding to the additional information in the plurality of signals.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal sent by a field device to a process controller via a field device protocol communication link, the signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information; and

transmitting a message corresponding to the additional information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the message is transmitted via one of:

a wireless communication link and a network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the field device protocol communication link is a HART communication link.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the message is transmitted to the process controller.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the message is transmitted to a diagnostic monitor.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

receiving a signal comprises receiving a plurality of signals sent by a plurality of field devices via a plurality of field device protocol communication links to the process controller, each signal comprising a primary process variable and additional information; and

transmitting a message comprises transmitting a plurality of messages corresponding to the additional information in the plurality of signals.