Abstract: Enhanced communication protocols can improve reliability and efficiency of data transfers between a host device and one or more field devices on an industrial process network. A field device can store a device description that includes a plurality of parameters descriptive of functional attributes of the field device. A host device can upload the device description for use in communications with the field device. The field device can further store a plurality of storable configurations, each storable configuration representing an entire configuration of the field device. The host device can upload the plurality of storable configurations from the field device, such as to transfer the storable configurations to a second field device on the same or different network. The host device can transmit a configuration activation request to cause a field device to operate in accordance with configuration data included in a selected one of the plurality of storable configurations.

Abstract: A method of transferring data between a host device and a field device on an industrial process network includes transmitting, by the host device to the field device, a fast data transfer initiate request to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol. The method further includes receiving, by the host device from the field device, a fast data transfer confirmation indicating, and transmitting, by the host device to the field device, a generic data transfer initiate request to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device. The method further includes receiving, by the host device from the field device, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation, and executing, responsive to the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer protocol.

Abstract: A field device can transmit, over an industrial process network, data (e.g., including process data) to a host device configured to send and receive messages with one or more field devices. The field device can transmit the data in response to receiving a communications token that delegates time to the field device to transmit data over the industrial process network. A data monitoring device can monitor the data transmitted over the industrial process network, and can output at least a portion of the data for display at a display device operatively coupled to the data monitoring device.

Abstract: A method of transferring data between a host device and a field device on an industrial process network includes transmitting, by the host device to the field device, a fast data transfer initiate request to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol. The method further includes receiving, by the host device from the field device, a fast data transfer confirmation indicating, and transmitting, by the host device to the field device, a generic data transfer initiate request to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device. The method further includes receiving, by the host device from the field device, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation, and executing, responsive to the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer protocol.