Abstract: Systems/methods for providing Ethernet-APL based end point field devices employ a protective enclosure that allows optical and radio frequency signals to pass through with little or no diffraction or attenuation. The disclosed Ethernet-APL based end point field device is advantageously able to use visual status/configuration indicators as well as radio frequency modules that transmit and receive wireless communication during device operation. To achieve the above, the Ethernet-APL based end point field device herein is provided with a protective enclosure that is made partly or entirely of a transparent, electrically nonconductive material. Such an arrangement allows operators to observe unaided the visual status/configuration indicators of the end point field device, and also allows radio frequency signals to pass through the enclosures with negligible or no attenuation.

Abstract: A method is provided of configuring a field device for monitoring and/or controlling an operation(s) of a process or plant. The method includes conducting web-based communication between a networked computer device and the field device over an Ethernet-APL to allow the networked computer device to access and interact with a web page(s) or program(s) that is hosted on a web server running on the field device. The method also includes configuring at the field device an operation parameter(s) and/or setting(s) of the field device based on user input received across the Ethernet-APL by the field device from user interaction with the web page(s) or program(s) through the networked computer device.

Abstract: An embedded device includes an Ethernet-APL interface through which to conduct communications and receive power over an Ethernet-APL network connection; an analog communication interface for establishing an analog connection with a field device/instrument; a memory; and a processor(s). The processor(s), in communication with the memory, is configured to: apply a firmware framework to implement a embedded platform without an operating system; and perform prioritized, multi-tasking of a plurality of run-to-complete tasks for monitoring and/or control of a plant or process according to the embedded platform. The tasks can include communications with at least one field device/instrument through analog connection via the analog communication interface. The communications include at least receiving measurement data from the at least one field device/instrument or outputting control data to the at least one field device/instrument. The embedded device can be a constrained edge device.

Abstract: A system can include a field device and a power limited source operatively connected to the field device and configured to supply a main power to the field device up to a power limit threshold. The system can include a bulk energy storage assembly operatively connected to the field device. The bulk energy storage assembly can be configured to provide a supplemental power to the field device when either the main power drops below a demand power from the field device, or when the demand power from the field device exceeds the power limit threshold.

Abstract: Systems/methods for monitoring and management of field devices and equipment at the edge provide an interworking component that runs on or at an edge device to facilitate monitoring and management of the field devices and equipment. In particular, the edge based interworking component allows operations, administration, and management (OA&M) services to be performed for both the hardware making up the devices as well as the operating systems and software applications running on the hardware. In some embodiments, OA&M services includes one or more IT orchestration services for the hardware as well as the operating systems and software applications running on the hardware. Such an arrangement allows monitoring and management of the field devices and equipment that have heretofore been performed by traditional control systems to be partly or entirely pushed down to the edge and/or pushed up to the cloud, depending on the particular implementation.