System and method for wireless communication between wired field devices and control system components
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a field linking unit electrically coupled to a field device and operable to transfer a plurality of signals between the field device and the field linking unit using a first protocol;
a first system gateway electrically coupled to a first control system component via a first communication link; and
a second system gateway coupled to the first system gateway via a second communication link, electrically coupled to a second control system component via a third communication link, and operable to transfer at least some of the plurality of signals between the second system gateway and the second control system component using a second protocol via the third communication link, wherein the first communication link is physically separate from the third communication link;
wherein;
the field linking unit and the first system gateway are operable to communicate wirelessly,the first system gateway is operable to;
transfer a first signal of the plurality of signals to the first control system component via the first communication link based on a first indication that the first signal is required by the first control system component, andforward a second signal of the plurality of signals to the second system gateway via the second communication link based on a second indication in the second signal that the second signal is required by the second control system component, andthe first protocol and the second protocol are related protocols.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transferring a signal between a field device and a control system component includes a field linking unit and a system gateway. The field linking unit is electrically coupled to a field device, and a signal is transferred between the two using a first protocol. The system gateway is electrically connected to a control system component, and the signal is transferred between the two using a second protocol. The field linking unit and the system gateway communicate wirelessly. One of the field linking unit and the system gateway may encrypt the signal before sending, and the other may decrypt the signal upon receipt. The system may also include at least one intermediate node, and the field linking unit and the system gateway may communicate wirelessly via the intermediate node(s).
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A communication system comprising:
-
a field linking unit electrically coupled to a field device and operable to transfer a plurality of signals between the field device and the field linking unit using a first protocol; a first system gateway electrically coupled to a first control system component via a first communication link; and a second system gateway coupled to the first system gateway via a second communication link, electrically coupled to a second control system component via a third communication link, and operable to transfer at least some of the plurality of signals between the second system gateway and the second control system component using a second protocol via the third communication link, wherein the first communication link is physically separate from the third communication link; wherein; the field linking unit and the first system gateway are operable to communicate wirelessly, the first system gateway is operable to; transfer a first signal of the plurality of signals to the first control system component via the first communication link based on a first indication that the first signal is required by the first control system component, and forward a second signal of the plurality of signals to the second system gateway via the second communication link based on a second indication in the second signal that the second signal is required by the second control system component, and the first protocol and the second protocol are related protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method comprising:
-
receiving in a field linking unit a plurality of signals in a first protocol from a field device, wherein the field device and the field linking unit are electrically coupled; communicating the plurality of signals wirelessly between the field linking unit and a first system gateway; transferring a first signal of the plurality of signals to a first control system component that is electrically coupled to the first system gateway via a first communication link, the first signal transferred based on a first indication that the first signal is required by the first control system component; forwarding a second signal of the plurality of signals from the first system gateway to a second system gateway via a second communication link based on a second indication in the second signal that the second signal is required by a second control system component that is electrically coupled to the second system gateway via a third communication link, wherein the first communication link is physically separate from the third communication link; and transmitting the second signal in a second protocol from the second system gateway to the second control system component via the third communication link, wherein the first and second protocols are related protocols. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification