System and method for configuring a field device of a control system

• US 9,471,049 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Jingli, Griffin, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/720,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/236, 700/90, 700/12, 700/17, 455/405, 455/407, 345/428, 345/440
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a field device of a control system is provided. The system includes a mobile computing device for communicating with a wireless adapter coupled to the field device. The mobile computing device receives an application module via a wireless network communication module. The application module, when executed by a processor, configures the field device via a wireless direct communication module. The mobile computing device includes a user-friendly graphic display to provide and receive information associated with the configuration of the field device.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a process condition, the control system comprising:

a field device coupled to the process and arranged to adjust a process condition;

a sensor coupled to the process and arranged to monitor the process for an occurrence of an event trigger associated with the process condition;

a wireless adapter operatively coupled to the field device;

a remote device coupled to a wireless communication network and capable of storing one or more application modules, each of the one or more application modules associated with at least one geographic location;

a mobile computing device including a processor, a memory device, a positioning module for determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device, a wireless network communication module, and a wireless direct communication module, the wireless network communication module coupled to the processor and permitting wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the remote device, the wireless direct communication module coupled to the processor and permitting direct wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the wireless adapter; and

an application module associated with one or more geographic locations and received from the remote device via the wireless communication network, wherein when at least one of the one or more geographic locations associated with the application module matches the geographic location of the mobile computing device and/or the field device, the application module, when executed by the processor, permits the mobile computing device to configure the field device via the wireless direct communication module.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the application module is stored in the memory device of the mobile computing device.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adapter is integrated within the field device.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adapter is internally or externally attached to the field device.

5. A control system including a field device for controlling a process condition, the control system comprising:

a mobile computing device including a positioning module for determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device, and a processor for facilitating the configuration of the field device;

a remote device coupled to a wireless communication network and capable of storing one or more application modules, each of the one or more application modules associated with at least one geographic location;

a wireless network communication module capable of facilitating wireless network communication on the wireless communication network between the mobile computing device and the remote device;

a wireless adapter operatively coupled to the field device;

a wireless direct communication module capable of facilitating wireless direct communication between the mobile computing device and the field device via the wireless adapter; and

an application module associated with one or more geographic locations and received by the mobile computing device via the wireless network communication module, wherein when at least one of the one or more geographic locations associated with the application module matches the geographic location of the mobile computing device and/or the field device, the application module, when executed by the processor of the mobile computing device, permits the mobile computing device to configure the field device via wireless direct communication established between the mobile computing device and the wireless adapter.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the mobile computing device includes a memory device coupled to the processor and the application module is stored in the memory device.

7. The control system of claim 5, wherein the wireless adapter is integrated within the field device.

8. The control system of claim 5, wherein the wireless adapter is internally or externally attached to the field device.

9. A mobile computing device for configuring a field device of a control system, the field device being capable of wireless communication, the mobile computing device comprising:

a processor for facilitating the configuration of the field device;

a positioning module for determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a wireless network communication module permitting wireless network communication on a wireless communication network;

a wireless direct communication module permitting wireless direct communication between the mobile computing device and the field device; and

an application module associated with one or more geographic locations and received via the wireless network communication module, wherein when at least one of the one or more geographic locations associated with the application module matches the geographic location of the mobile computing device determined by the positioning module, the application module, when executed by the processor of the mobile computing device, permits the mobile computing device to configure the field device via wireless direct communication established between the mobile computing device and the field device.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, further comprising a user interface module.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the user interface module includes a touch-sensitive display screen.

12. A mobile computing device for configuring a field device of a control system, the field device being capable of wireless communication, the mobile computing device comprising:

a processor for facilitating the configuration of the field device;

a positioning module for determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device;

a wireless direct communication module permitting wireless direct communication between the mobile computing device and the field device;

an application module associated with a one or more geographic locations, wherein when at least one of the one or more geographic locations matches the geographic location of the mobile computing device determined by the positioning module, the application module, when executed by the processor, permits the mobile computing device to configure the field device via wireless direct communication established between the mobile computing device and the field device; and

an interface module including a display screen for facilitating interaction with the application module.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

a memory device coupled to the processor, the application module stored on the memory device; and

a wireless network communication module permitting wireless network communication on a wireless communication network.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 13, further comprising;

a message received via the wireless network communication module, the message including information associated with the application module.