Abstract: A method includes receiving a first request to execute a field device method associated with a process control field device. The method also includes initiating actual execution of the field device method with the field device and/or simulating execution of the field device method. The method further includes recording information associated with the actual or simulated execution of the field device method and recording user input associated with the field device method. In addition, the method includes receiving a second request to play back execution of the field device method, initiating subsequent execution of the field device method, and using the recorded information and the recorded user input during the subsequent execution of the field device method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a primary apparatus to configure a field device in use with a secondary apparatus. An application on the primary apparatus accesses a web application on the secondary apparatus. When a driver validator determines that a relevant driver for the field device is not on installed on the primary apparatus, the relevant driver is received from the secondary apparatus for the configuration. A corresponding system, software and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a client that presents a user interface to a user, where the user interface is associated with a field device in a process control system. The system also includes an interface component having (i) an emulator that emulates a device manager associated with at least the field device and (ii) a communication manager that communicates with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The system further includes a server that provides a request to the emulator based on input from the user provided through the user interface, where the emulator provides the request to the communication manager for communication to the field device. The communication manager could include a communication DTM, and the emulator could emulate at least some functions of a device DTM. A device description (such as a DD/EDD file) could also be used to generate the user interface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to access a field device and identifying a first device configuration associated with the field device. The first device configuration identifies (i) a subset of device parameters associated with the field device, (ii) a subset of device methods associated with the field device, and/or (iii) an interface arrangement of device parameters or methods associated with the field device. The method also includes retrieving a value for each device parameter identified by the first device configuration and generating a graphical user interface using the first device configuration and the retrieved values. The method could also include determining whether a user has requested use of the first device configuration. If not, the method can include identifying a second device configuration associated with the field device, retrieving the value for each device parameter identified by the second device configuration, and generating a second graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first request to execute a field device method associated with a process control field device. The method also includes initiating actual execution of the field device method with the field device and/or simulating execution of the field device method. The method further includes recording information associated with the actual or simulated execution of the field device method and recording user input associated with the field device method. In addition, the method includes receiving a second request to play back execution of the field device method, initiating subsequent execution of the field device method, and using the recorded information and the recorded user input during the subsequent execution of the field device method.

Abstract: A system includes a client and an interface component. The client includes (i) a device manager associated with a field device in a process control system and (ii) a first emulator configured to emulate a communication manager. The device manager defines a user interface associated with the field device. The interface component includes (i) a second emulator configured to emulate the device manager and (ii) the communication manager. The communication manager is configured to communicate with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The client is physically separated from the interface component. The communication manager could represent a communication Device Type Manager (DTM), and the device manager could represent a device DTM. Also, the first emulator could emulate at least some functions of the communication DTM, and the second emulator could emulate at least some functions of the device DTM.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to access a field device and identifying a first device configuration associated with the field device. The first device configuration identifies (i) a subset of device parameters associated with the field device, (ii) a subset of device methods associated with the field device, and/or (iii) an interface arrangement of device parameters or methods associated with the field device. The method also includes retrieving a value for each device parameter identified by the first device configuration and generating a graphical user interface using the first device configuration and the retrieved values. The method could also include determining whether a user has requested use of the first device configuration. If not, the method can include identifying a second device configuration associated with the field device, retrieving the value for each device parameter identified by the second device configuration, and generating a second graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system includes a server configured to generate a request for status information and/or diagnostic information associated with a field device in a process control system. The system also includes an interface component having (i) an emulator configured to emulate a device manager associated with the field device and (ii) a communication manager configured to communicate with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The server is configured to provide the request to the communication manager through the emulator, receive the status information and/or the diagnostic information from the field device through the communication manager and the emulator, and generate a user interface based on the status information and/or the diagnostic information. The communication manager could represent a communication Device Type Manager (DTM), and the emulator could emulate at least some functions of a device DTM.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first proposed value or attribute for a parameter associated with a field device. The field device is or will be used in a process control system. The method also includes determining whether the first proposed value or attribute is valid using a device description associated with the field device. The method further includes, if the first proposed value or attribute is not valid, receiving a second proposed value or attribute for the parameter associated with the field device and determining whether the second proposed value or attribute is valid. The determinations of whether the first and second proposed values or attributes are valid could occur when the field device is offline in the process control system. The method could further include receiving a configuration having multiple values or attributes for multiple parameters associated with the field device and validating at least some of those values or attributes.

Abstract: A system includes a client that presents a user interface to a user, where the user interface is associated with a field device in a process control system. The system also includes an interface component having (i) an emulator that emulates a device manager associated with at least the field device and (ii) a communication manager that communicates with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The system further includes a server that provides a request to the emulator based on input from the user provided through the user interface, where the emulator provides the request to the communication manager for communication to the field device. The communication manager could include a communication DTM, and the emulator could emulate at least some functions of a device DTM. A device description (such as a DD/EDD file) could also be used to generate the user interface.

Abstract: A system includes a server configured to generate a request for status information and/or diagnostic information associated with a field device in a process control system. The system also includes an interface component having (i) an emulator configured to emulate a device manager associated with the field device and (ii) a communication manager configured to communicate with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The server is configured to provide the request to the communication manager through the emulator, receive the status information and/or the diagnostic information from the field device through the communication manager and the emulator, and generate a user interface based on the status information and/or the diagnostic information. The communication manager could represent a communication Device Type Manager (DTM), and the emulator could emulate at least some functions of a device DTM.

Abstract: A system includes a client and an interface component. The client includes (i) a device manager associated with a field device in a process control system and (ii) a first emulator configured to emulate a communication manager. The device manager defines a user interface associated with the field device. The interface component includes (i) a second emulator configured to emulate the device manager and (ii) the communication manager. The communication manager is configured to communicate with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The client is physically separated from the interface component. The communication manager could represent a communication Device Type Manager (DTM), and the device manager could represent a device DTM. Also, the first emulator could emulate at least some functions of the communication DTM, and the second emulator could emulate at least some functions of the device DTM.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first proposed value or attribute for a parameter associated with a field device. The field device is or will be used in a process control system. The method also includes determining whether the first proposed value or attribute is valid using a device description associated with the field device. The method further includes, if the first proposed value or attribute is not valid, receiving a second proposed value or attribute for the parameter associated with the field device and determining whether the second proposed value or attribute is valid. The determinations of whether the first and second proposed values or attributes are valid could occur when the field device is offline in the process control system. The method could further include receiving a configuration having multiple values or attributes for multiple parameters associated with the field device and validating at least some of those values or attributes.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a device description is pre-processed to determine the values of various fields of objects needed while providing the user interface. The values are then stored in an intermediate file according to a pre-specified order such that the objects can be loaded quickly when needed (without substantial parsing of the content of the intermediate file).