Wireless architecture and support for process control systems
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a process using a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a field node of the process, field data from at least one field device of the process;
transmitting the field data wirelessly from the field node to a base node of the process using a first wireless communication protocol;
converting the field data from the first wireless communication protocol to a different wireless communication protocol;
transmitting the field data to a routing node of the process using the different wireless communication protocol;
determining at the routing node an object device of the process for receiving the field data of the different wireless communication protocol;
sending the field data to the object device using the different wireless communication protocol; and
using the field data of the different wireless communication protocol sent to the object device to implement a function within the process.
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Abstract
A wireless communication system for use in a process environment uses mesh and possibly a combination of mesh and point-to-point communications to produce a wireless communication network that can be easily set up, configured, changed and monitored, thereby making a wireless communication network that is less expensive, and more robust and reliable. The wireless communication system allows virtual communication paths to be established and used within the process control system in a manner that is independent of the manner in which the wireless signals are sent between different wireless transmitting and receiving devices within the process plant, to thereby operate in a manner that is independent of the specific messages or virtual communication paths within the process plant. Still further, communication analysis tools are provided to enable a user or operator to view the operation of the wireless communication network to thereby analyze the ongoing operation of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a process using a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a field node of the process, field data from at least one field device of the process; transmitting the field data wirelessly from the field node to a base node of the process using a first wireless communication protocol; converting the field data from the first wireless communication protocol to a different wireless communication protocol; transmitting the field data to a routing node of the process using the different wireless communication protocol; determining at the routing node an object device of the process for receiving the field data of the different wireless communication protocol; sending the field data to the object device using the different wireless communication protocol; and using the field data of the different wireless communication protocol sent to the object device to implement a function within the process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of using a wireless communication network in a process control system, the method comprising:
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receiving process control data wirelessly at a first communication node of the wireless communication network using a first protocol; converting the wirelessly received process control data from the first protocol to a different protocol at the first communication node; determining a second communication node of the wireless communication network for receiving the process control data of the different protocol; sending the process control data wirelessly to the second communication node using the different protocol; and using the process control data sent wirelessly to the second communication node using the different protocol to implement a function within the process control system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling a process using a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving field data from at least one field device; transmitting the field data wirelessly from a field node to a base node using a first wireless communication protocol; converting the field data from the first wireless communication protocol to a different wireless communication protocol; transmitting the field data to a routing node using the different wireless communication protocol; determining at the routing node an object device for receiving the field data of the different wireless communication protocol; and sending the field data to the object device using the different wireless communication protocol, wherein the first wireless communication protocol is the HART communication protocol, wherein the field data is transmitted wirelessly using the HART communication protocol, and wherein the field data is converted from the HART communication protocol to the different wireless communication protocol by a conversion node.
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Specification