Abstract: An industrial service device fleet management system implements an organized and easy to use methodology to manage the digital content stored on each of a plurality of portable or stationary devices used in a plant, such as portable maintenance devices, to assure that each of the portable devices receives or implements only the content that it is supposed to have and is upgraded at the appropriate time to include new content, features, etc. The fleet management system includes a memory for storing information related to the fleet of portable or stationary devices including device identifications, device descriptions, end user names and privileges, the current content of each of the portable devices, and templates defining configuration parameters for the portable or stationary devices. The system also includes a content downloader that obtains, stores, and downloads content (such as software and firmware upgrades, additional features, applications, drivers, knowledge articles, etc.

Abstract: An industrial service device fleet management system implements an organized and easy to use methodology to manage the digital content stored on each of a plurality of portable or stationary devices used in a plant, such as portable maintenance devices, to assure that each of the portable devices receives or implements only the content that it is supposed to have and is upgraded at the appropriate time to include new content, features, etc. The fleet management system includes a memory for storing information related to the fleet of portable or stationary devices including device identifications, device descriptions, end user names and privileges, the current content of each of the portable devices, and templates defining configuration parameters for the portable or stationary devices. The system also includes a content downloader that obtains, stores, and downloads content (such as software and firmware upgrades, additional features, applications, drivers, knowledge articles, etc.

Abstract: A method of testing a configuration of a field device is provided. The method includes moving a handheld field maintenance tool into proximity of the field device and generating a simulated process control signal configured to cause the field device to change state. The method also includes performing a digital check, with a remote system, to confirm that the field device is communicably coupled to a process control loop and obtaining a result, from an operator of the handheld field maintenance tool. The result is received by the handheld field maintenance tool through the user interface and includes an indication of a response of the field device to the simulated process control signal.

Abstract: Techniques for accessing and controlling field devices to collect data and convert protocols include receiving data encoded in a process control protocol, extracting a payload, storing some of the payload, and transmitting some of the payload in a general-purpose computing communication protocol via a wireless network. A method of accessing a field device includes receiving a command of a user from a user communicator, identifying a target field device, generating a command, encoding a protocol-encoded data set, and transmitting the protocol-encoded data set to the target field device. A field communicator device includes instructions for retrieving and interpreting field device data, storing the data, and transmitting the data. A computing system includes a field communicator, wireless user communicator, and a wireless computer network for accessing and controlling field devices in a process plant.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring wireless process mesh networks is provided. The system includes a processor, user interface module, memory, and an analysis module. The user interface module is configured to generate a user interface to receive user-provided mesh network design parameters. Memory is coupled to the processor and stores information indicative of a plurality of wireless process mesh networks and associated wireless field devices. The analysis module is configured to analyze the information indicative of the plurality of wireless process mesh networks and generate an alternate wireless mesh network configuration based on the user-provided mesh network design parameters.

Abstract: Predictive wireless connectivity diagnostics for a wireless mesh network in a process control system includes generating predicted pinch points and potential pinch points in response to a connectivity condition. The connectivity condition is an anticipated failure of a communication ability within the wireless mesh network. The predicted pinch points are generated as a function of the failure of the communication ability and communication paths within the wireless mesh network. The potential pinch points are generated as a function of the failure of the communication ability and the number of neighbors in direct wireless communication for each wireless node. The potential pinch point is a wireless node that has less than a threshold number of neighboring wireless communication devices in direct wireless communication with the wireless node.

Abstract: Predictive wireless connectivity diagnostics for a wireless mesh network in a process control system includes generating predicted pinch points and potential pinch points in response to a connectivity condition. The connectivity condition is an anticipated failure of a communication ability within the wireless mesh network. The predicted pinch points are generated as a function of the failure of the communication ability and communication paths within the wireless mesh network. The potential pinch points are generated as a function of the failure of the communication ability and the number of neighbors in direct wireless communication for each wireless node. The potential pinch point is a wireless node that has less than a threshold number of neighboring wireless communication devices in direct wireless communication with the wireless node.

Abstract: A method of testing a configuration of a field device is provided. The method includes moving a handheld field maintenance tool into proximity of the field device and generating a simulated process control signal configured to cause the field device to change state. The method also includes performing a digital check, with a remote system, to confirm that the field device is communicably coupled to a process control loop and obtaining a result, from an operator of the handheld field maintenance tool. The result is received by the handheld field maintenance tool through the user interface and includes an indication of a response of the field device to the simulated process control signal.

Abstract: An industrial service device fleet management system implements an organized and easy to use methodology to manage the digital content stored on each of a plurality of portable or stationary devices used in a plant, such as portable maintenance devices, to assure that each of the portable devices receives or implements only the content that it is supposed to have and is upgraded at the appropriate time to include new content, features, etc. The fleet management system includes a memory for storing information related to the fleet of portable or stationary devices including device identifications, device descriptions, end user names and privileges, the current content of each of the portable devices, and templates defining configuration parameters for the portable or stationary devices. The system also includes a content downloader that obtains, stores, and downloads content (such as software and firmware upgrades, additional features, applications, drivers, knowledge articles, etc.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling plant assets in a process plant include assigning permissions to users and user interface devices within the process plant, where the permissions specify a level of access to a plant asset. The permissions are then provided to the user interface devices. When a user connects a user interface device to a plant asset, the user interface device determines which operations the user may perform on the connected plant asset based on the permissions granted to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring wireless process mesh networks is provided. The system includes a processor, user interface module, memory, and an analysis module. The user interface module is configured to generate a user interface to receive user-provided mesh network design parameters. Memory is coupled to the processor and stores information indicative of a plurality of wireless process mesh networks and associated wireless field devices. The analysis module is configured to analyze the information indicative of the plurality of wireless process mesh networks and generate an alternate wireless mesh network configuration based on the user-provided mesh network design parameters.