Abstract: An implementation is for a two-phase shutoff of a device having a sensor coupled to an integral shutoff system. One example includes a metering system with a sensor coupled to an integral shutoff system, wherein the sensor is used to perform a measurement which indicates that a first threshold has been met, a first response system configured to perform at least one action with respect to receiving the indication that the first threshold was met, the at least one action occurring while the integral shutoff system remains inactivated, a second response system configured to receive an indication from the metering system, wherein the sensor is used to perform a second measurement which indicates that a second threshold has been met, and a second response system configured to perform at least one additional action.

Abstract: A system includes a gas detector to detect a gas leak and notify a gas meter of a gas level of the gas leak. The gas meter receives the notification about the gas leak from the gas detector, and compares the gas level detected by the gas detector with a threshold level. The gas meter determines if the detected gas level is greater than the threshold level to determine whether to turn off a gas valve due to the detected gas level. The system also includes a head end system configured to receive notification of the detected gas level and status of the gas valve from the gas meter.

Abstract: A utility meter includes a metrology core, a short-range radio configured to communicate wirelessly over a local area mesh network, a long-range radio configured to communicate wirelessly over a wide area network and a controller that checks a performance of the local area mesh network against one or more predetermined performance criteria. When the performance of the local area mesh network meets a set of one or more predetermined performance criteria, the utility meter communicates a first set of the information to the head-end system using the short-range radio. When the performance of the local area mesh network does not meet the set of one or more predetermined performance criteria, the utility meter communicates a second set of information to the head-end system using the long-range radio.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an industrial wireless network infrastructure supporting multiple subnetworks (subnets). An apparatus, system and method is provided that includes an access point comprising one or more wireless radios configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices; and one or more processors configured to enforce quality of service (QoS) based on multiple applications associated with the one or more wireless devices; wherein the access point is configured to use multiple subnetwork identifiers to communicate with the one or more wireless devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for the secure access to field instruments. An interface device that includes a built-in firewall, is communicatively coupled between the device manager of an industrial automation process control system and a network of field instruments. The interface device includes at least one processor configured to execute instructions that provides a firewall for the one or more field instruments by blocking one or more user selected commands from being sent to the field instruments from the device manager.

Abstract: An implementation is for a two-phase shutoff of a device having a sensor coupled to an integral shutoff system. One example includes a metering system with a sensor coupled to an integral shutoff system, wherein the sensor is used to perform a measurement which indicates that a first threshold has been met, a first response system configured to perform at least one action with respect to receiving the indication that the first threshold was met, the at least one action occurring while the integral shutoff system remains inactivated, a second response system configured to receive an indication from the metering system, wherein the sensor is used to perform a second measurement which indicates that a second threshold has been met, and a second response system configured to perform at least one additional action.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tablet computing device and a radio module physically fastened to the tablet computing device. The tablet computing device has a display and is configured to establish WiFi and BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE) communication links with other devices. The radio module is configured to establish ISA100 and WirelessHART communication links with field devices of a process control and automation system. The tablet computing device and the radio module are configured to communicate with each other using a BLE communication link. The apparatus is configured to selectably operate in multiple modes comprising a gateway mode, a router mode, a sniffer mode, and a discovery mode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for integrating long-range wireless devices in industrial wireless networks. A wireless device manager is configured to function as a gateway for at least one industrial wireless network. The gateway is associated with at least one industrial wireless network protocol; and the wireless device manager comprises a first radio module configured to communicate directly with one or more devices over a distance of at least about two kilometers using a long-range wide area network protocol.

Abstract: A communication interface apparatus in a tank gauging system. The communication interface includes a memory and a processor couple to the memory. The processor communicates using a control application with a tank inventory system that operates over a serial connection; and communicates using a wireless application with tank gauging equipment that operates over a wireless connection.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wireless controller having at least one processor and a radio frequency (RF) module. The at least one processor is configured to execute control logic in order to determine how to adjust at least one actuator based on data from at least one sensor. The RF module is configured to communicate wirelessly with the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s) over one or more wireless networks. The at least one processor is also configured to function as a gateway for each wireless network. The RF module is also configured to function as an access point for each wireless network. The at least one processor could be configured to execute multiple protocol stacks to function as the gateway for the multiple wireless networks, and the RF module could be associated with multiple access point protocol stacks to function as the access point for the multiple wireless networks.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for integrating long-range wireless devices in industrial wireless networks. A wireless device manager is configured to function as a gateway for at least one industrial wireless network. The gateway is associated with at least one industrial wireless network protocol; and the wireless device manager comprises a first radio module configured to communicate directly with one or more devices over a distance of at least about two kilometers using a long-range wide area network protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for the secure access to field instruments. An interface device that includes a built-in firewall, is communicatively coupled between the device manager of an industrial automation process control system and a network of field instruments. The interface device includes at least one processor configured to execute instructions that provides a firewall for the one or more field instruments by blocking one or more user selected commands from being sent to the field instruments from the device manager.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an industrial wireless network infrastructure supporting multiple subnetworks (subnets). An apparatus, system and method is provided that includes an access point comprising one or more wireless radios configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices; and one or more processors configured to enforce quality of service (QoS) based on multiple applications associated with the one or more wireless devices; wherein the access point is configured to use multiple subnetwork identifiers to communicate with the one or more wireless devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for OTAP (Over the Air Provisioning) of WirelessHART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) devices. A unique system level setting can be provided for enabling over the air provisioning of WirelessHART devices in a WirelessHART network having one or more field device access points. Each field device access point can be configured to be enabled/disabled to advertise in a specific WirelessHART network ID in association with a target WirelessHART network ID with respect to the WirelessHART network. A join key is provided in association with a new WirelessHART network ID to which at least one field device access point among the plurality of field device access points needs to be advertised along with a time limit, thereby enabling provisioning of the WirelessHART devices to a target wireless network, wherein the target WirelessHART network ID and the join key are written with respect to a new WirelessHART device. The new WirelessHART device can be then restarted.

Abstract: A communication interface apparatus in a tank gauging system. The communication interface includes a memory and a processor couple to the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tablet computing device and a radio module physically fastened to the tablet computing device. The tablet computing device has a display and is configured to establish WiFi and BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE) communication links with other devices. The radio module is configured to establish ISA100 and WirelessHART communication links with field devices of a process control and automation system. The tablet computing device and the radio module are configured to communicate with each other using a BLE communication link. The apparatus is configured to selectably operate in multiple modes comprising a gateway mode, a router mode, a sniffer mode, and a discovery mode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for virtual wireless devices for industrial wireless sensor networks, including but not limited to, in industrial control systems and other systems. A method includes initializing, by a physical wireless device, a plurality of virtual wireless devices executing on the physical wireless device. The method includes registering with a control network by the physical wireless device. The method includes emulating a plurality of wireless sensors, by the physical wireless device and in the control network, by using the virtual wireless devices.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory element and processing device. The processing device is configured to receive an identification of a first field device supporting a first protocol and a second field device supporting a second protocol. The first field device uses a first publish period that is different from a second publish period of the second field device. The processing device is also configured to configure a superframe for each of the first and second field devices based on the identification of the field devices and supported protocols. Each of the configured superframes includes a plurality of time slots supporting each of the first and second publish periods. The processing device is also configured to assign a first set of time slots of the plurality of time slots to the first field device and a second set of time slots of the plurality of time to the second field device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wireless controller having at least one processor and a radio frequency (RF) module. The at least one processor is configured to execute control logic in order to determine how to adjust at least one actuator based on data from at least one sensor. The RF module is configured to communicate wirelessly with the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s) over one or more wireless networks. The at least one processor is also configured to function as a gateway for each wireless network. The RF module is also configured to function as an access point for each wireless network. The at least one processor could be configured to execute multiple protocol stacks to function as the gateway for the multiple wireless networks, and the RF module could be associated with multiple access point protocol stacks to function as the access point for the multiple wireless networks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for integrating communication devices into an industrial wireless system. A communications interface can be enabled on a field device access point from a user interface associated with a wireless device manager. The field device access point is configured to enable registers to read from different slave devices at different speeds and different data types. A proxy object can be implemented, which communicates with RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) devices and a cache can be implemented to store read data from different RTU slave. The read data is then periodically published to the wireless device manager through a wireless interface, thereby permitting the RTU devices or TCP devices to connect to the industrial wireless network using the field device access point.