Handheld field maintenance tool with improved diagnostics
First Claim
1. A handheld field maintenance tool comprising:
- a wired process communication module configured to interact with a field device, wherein the wired process communication module is configured to be physically coupled to the field device to interact with the field device;
a wireless communication protocol module configured to communicatively couple the handheld field maintenance tool to a remote source;
a controller coupled to the wired process communication module and the wireless communication protocol module, the controller being configured to support a workflow mode, in which the controller is configured to;
automatically obtain contextual information relative to an unknown current step in a field maintenance operation;
identify the unknown current step being executed in the field maintenance operation based on the contextual information obtained;
identify a subsequent step of the field maintenance operation, in a workflow currently being executed, based on the identification of the unknown current step;
pre-load at least one resource based on the identified subsequent step; and
present the user with subsequent step information through a display, wherein the subsequent step information is displayed after the identified current step is completed and comprises the at least one resource and the subsequent step of the field maintenance operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld field maintenance tool with improved diagnostic functions is provided. The tool includes a process communication module configured to interact with a field device. A controller is coupled to the process communication module. The controller is configured to execute a number of improved diagnostic functions relative to the field device. The controller may obtain contextual information relative to a current field maintenance operation and preload at least one resource relative to a next field operation step. The controller may obtain process alarm information through a wireless communication module, and field device alert information through the process communication module and provide an indication on a display relative to both process alarm information and field device alert information. The controller may execute a sequence of field device maintenance operations on the field device in response to a signal from a user input device. The controller may obtain snapshot information in response to a signal from a user input device.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A handheld field maintenance tool comprising:
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a wired process communication module configured to interact with a field device, wherein the wired process communication module is configured to be physically coupled to the field device to interact with the field device; a wireless communication protocol module configured to communicatively couple the handheld field maintenance tool to a remote source; a controller coupled to the wired process communication module and the wireless communication protocol module, the controller being configured to support a workflow mode, in which the controller is configured to; automatically obtain contextual information relative to an unknown current step in a field maintenance operation; identify the unknown current step being executed in the field maintenance operation based on the contextual information obtained; identify a subsequent step of the field maintenance operation, in a workflow currently being executed, based on the identification of the unknown current step; pre-load at least one resource based on the identified subsequent step; and present the user with subsequent step information through a display, wherein the subsequent step information is displayed after the identified current step is completed and comprises the at least one resource and the subsequent step of the field maintenance operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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6. A handheld field maintenance tool comprising:
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a wired process communication module configured to interact with a field device, wherein the wired process communication module is configured to be physically coupled to the field device to interact with the field device; a wireless communication protocol module configured to communicatively couple the handheld field maintenance tool to a remote source; a controller coupled to the wired process communication module and the wireless communication protocol module, the controller being configured to, upon entering a workflow mode of operation; automatically obtain contextual information relative to an unknown current step in a field maintenance operation from the field device, using the wired process communication module; identify the unknown current step of the field maintenance operation based on the contextual information obtained from the field device; identify a plurality of optional next steps based on the identification of the unknown current step in the field maintenance operation; organize the plurality of optional next steps based on a statistical weight ranking, wherein the plurality of optional next steps is organized based on a probability of occurrence after the identified current step of the field maintenance operation is completed; determine at least one resource related to a most likely next step of the organized plurality of optional next steps, wherein the at least one resource is configured to assist a technician with the most likely next step; obtain the at least one resource from the remote source using the wireless communication protocol module prior to the completion of the identified current step of the field maintenance operation; and present the organized plurality of optional next steps, the most likely next step and the at least one resource on a display after completion of the identified current step of the field maintenance operation. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. The handheld field maintenance tool of clam 6, wherein the handheld field maintenance tool complies with an intrinsic safety specification.
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10. A method of facilitating a field maintenance operation using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
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receiving a user input on the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein the user input indicates that the handheld field maintenance tool enter a workflow mode of operation, and upon entering the workflow mode of operation, performing the steps of; automatically obtaining contextual information from a field device, using a wired process communication module of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein the contextual information comprises at least information regarding an unknown current step of the field maintenance operation; identifying the unknown current step of the field maintenance operation, using a controller of the handheld field maintenance tool, based on the contextual information received; identifying, based on the identified current step of the field maintenance operation, a likely next step of the field maintenance operation; obtaining a resource associated with the likely next step of the field maintenance operation from a remote source, using a wireless communication protocol module of the handheld field maintenance tool; presenting the likely next step and the resource on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool after completion of the identified current step of the field maintenance operation; and storing a set of results based on the completion of the identified current step. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of facilitating a diagnostic task using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
receiving a user input on the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein the user input indicates that the handheld field maintenance tool enter a workflow mode of operation, and upon entering the workflow mode of operation, performing the steps of; automatically obtaining contextual information from a remote source, using a wireless communication module of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein the contextual information comprises at least information regarding an unknown current step of the diagnostic task; identifying the unknown current step of the diagnostic task based on the contextual information received; identifying, based on the identified current step of the diagnostic task, a likely next step of the diagnostic task and an alternative likely next step; obtaining a resource associated with the likely next step of the diagnostic task from the remote source, using the wireless communication protocol module of the handheld field maintenance tool; presenting the likely next step and the resource on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool after completion of the identified current step of the diagnostic task; receiving an additional user input indicating that the likely next step and the resource are not relevant; and presenting the alternative likely next step on the display of the handheld field maintenance tool. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification