Abstract: A method of operating an industrial plant having processing units that includes a wireless network including a network server, at least one router, and a plurality of workers including a first worker. A first handheld computing device is provided having a wireless transceiver and a processor programmed to implement a location-based service algorithm stored in non-transitory machine readable storage to a first worker. The location-based service algorithm implements obtaining location information that identifies a physical location for the first worker, and adding the location information to wireless transmissions of information by the first worker to others of the plurality of workers or to the network server. The first handheld computing device wirelessly receives server provided plant information that is a function of the physical location, and the first worker performs at least one action guided at least in part by the server provided plant information.

Abstract: A method of operating an industrial plant having processing units on a production floor which includes a wireless network including a network server having stored a two-dimensional (2D) plantwide model and a 3D plantwide model showing the processing units. At least a first worker is on the production floor. The first worker is provided a first handheld computing device having a wireless transceiver, a processor programmed to implement a model rendering algorithm stored in an associated memory, and a display. Based on a task defined for the first worker to execute involving at least a first processing unit of the processing units, a model portion of the 2D plantwide model or 3D plantwide model involved in the task including the first processing unit is identified. An image representation of the model portion is then rendered on the display.

Abstract: A method of operating an industrial plant having processing units that includes a wireless network including a network server, at least one router, and a plurality of workers including a first worker. A first handheld computing device is provided having a wireless transceiver and a processor programmed to implement a location-based service algorithm stored in non-transitory machine readable storage to a first worker. The location-based service algorithm implements obtaining location information that identifies a physical location for the first worker, and adding the location information to wireless transmissions of information by the first worker to others of the plurality of workers or to the network server. The first handheld computing device wirelessly receives server provided plant information that is a function of the physical location, and the first worker performs at least one action guided at least in part by the server provided plant information.