Distributed process control system and method utilizing wireless communication of packet messages
First Claim
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1. A distributed control and/or monitoring system comprising:
- a host computer;
a host interface connected to the host computer, wherein the host computer and host interface are powered by a first power source;
a communication bus;
a plurality of field devices connected to the communication bus and communicating over the communication bus with packet messages according to a field device communication protocol; and
a wireless bus interface connected to the communication bus for receiving the packet messages from the field devices, and wirelessly transmitting the packet messages to the host interface, and for wirelessly receiving the packet messages according to the field device communication protocol from the host interface and transmitting the packet messages over the communication bus to the field devices, the wireless bus interface providing central scheduling for communication on the communication bus, wherein the plurality of field devices, communication bus, and wireless bus interface are powered by a second power source different than the first power source.
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Abstract
A distributed control and/or monitoring system and method includes a local application and a remote application separated from the local application. The local application includes a host computer. The remote application includes a plurality of field devices and a communication bus connected to the plurality of field devices. Packet messages are wirelessly communicated between the local application and the remote application such that the host computer and field devices can communicate with each other as if they were directly connected to the same communication bus.
16 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A distributed control and/or monitoring system comprising:
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a host computer; a host interface connected to the host computer, wherein the host computer and host interface are powered by a first power source; a communication bus; a plurality of field devices connected to the communication bus and communicating over the communication bus with packet messages according to a field device communication protocol; and a wireless bus interface connected to the communication bus for receiving the packet messages from the field devices, and wirelessly transmitting the packet messages to the host interface, and for wirelessly receiving the packet messages according to the field device communication protocol from the host interface and transmitting the packet messages over the communication bus to the field devices, the wireless bus interface providing central scheduling for communication on the communication bus, wherein the plurality of field devices, communication bus, and wireless bus interface are powered by a second power source different than the first power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A distributed control and/or monitoring system comprising:
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a local application including a host computer, host interface, and a first plurality of field devices connected to a first communication bus for communicating packet messages according to a field device communication protocol, wherein the local application is powered by a first power source; and a remote application, separated from the local application, including a second plurality of field devices connected to a second communication bus for communicating packet messages according to the field device communication protocol, wherein the remote application is powered by a second power source different than the first power source; and means for wirelessly communicating a packet message between the local application communicating via the first communication bus and the remote application communicating via the second communication bus according to a wireless communication protocol, such that both the local application and the remote application communicate using the field device communication protocol without knowledge of the wireless communicating means interposed between the first communication bus and the second communication bus; wherein the host interface provides central scheduling for communication between field devices on both the first communication bus and the second communication bus. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A distributed control and/or monitoring system comprising:
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a local application including a host computer and host interface connected to a first communication bus for communicating packet messages according to a field device communication protocol, wherein the local application is powered by a first power source; a remote application separated from the local application and including a plurality of field devices and a second communication bus, wherein the remote application is powered by a second power source different than the first power source; and means for wirelessly communicating a packet message between the local application and the remote application as if they were connected to the same communication bus, wherein the interface provides central scheduling for communication between the host computer and the field devices connected to the first communication bus and the second communication bus.
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Specification