Methods and apparatus to bridge communications between devices using low-energy devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021083764-A1
Application number	US-202017105021-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Mar 18, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size, remove first data from the second data packet, increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload, add second data to the second payload, and transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one memory; and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least:
convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size;
remove first data from the second data packet;
increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload;
add second data to the second payload; and
transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first data is industrial communication protocol information, and the first data includes at least one of third data associated with a preamble, fourth data associated with a protocol address, or fifth data associated with a message integrity check associated with the industrial communication protocol.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to:
receive a third data packet from the remote device via the BLE network, the third data packet based on the second format; convert the third data packet to a fourth data packet, the fourth data packet based on the first format; and add third data to the third data packet, the third data associated with the industrial communication protocol.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to:
receive a third data packet from the remote device via the BLE network, the third data packet based on the second format; store an address associated with the remote device in response to a determination that the third data packet is an initial data packet for a session; and add third data to the third data packet, the third data including at least one of the address, a protocol preamble, or a message integrity check.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the remote device is a first remote device, and the at least one processor is to:
receive a third data packet from a BLE radio, the BLE radio to receive the third data packet from a field device, the third data packet based on the second format; convert the third data packet to a fourth data packet, the fourth data packet based on the first format, the fourth data packet including a third payload; and transmit one or more portions of the third payload to at least one of the first remote device, one or more second remote devices, or a controller of a distributed control system.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to:
receive a third data packet from a BLE radio, the third data packet based on the second format, the third data packet including a third payload; drop the third data packet in response to a determination that an opcode included in the third payload is not authorized; drop the third data packet in response to a determination that the opcode is not associated with the industrial communication protocol; and execute a BLE command in response to a determination that the opcode is not a protocol opcode.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the industrial communication protocol is one of a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) communication protocol, a PROFIBUS communication protocol, a FOUNDATION Fieldbus communication protocol, or a MODBUS communication protocol.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least:
convert a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet having a second format based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication protocol, the second data packet including a first payload having a first size; remove first data from the second data packet; increase the first size of the first payload to a second size to generate a second payload; add second data to the second payload; and transmit the second data packet to a remote device via a BLE network, the second data packet including the second payload.

9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first data is industrial communication protocol information, and the first data includes at least one of third data associated with a preamble, fourth data associated with a protocol address, or fifth data associated with a message integrity check associated with the industrial communication protocol.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive a third data packet from the remote device via the BLE network, the third data packet based on the second format; convert the third data packet to a fourth data packet, the fourth data packet based on the first format; and add third data to the third data packet, the third data associated with the industrial communication protocol.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive a third data packet from the remote device via the BLE network, the third data packet based on the second format; store an address associated with the remote device in response to a determination that the third data packet is an initial data packet for a session; and add third data to the third data packet, the third data including at least one of the address, a protocol preamble, or a message integrity check.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the remote device is a first remote device, and the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive a third data packet from a BLE radio, the BLE radio to receive the third data packet from a field device, the third data packet based on the second format; convert the third data packet to a fourth data packet, the fourth data packet based on the first format, the fourth data packet including a third payload; and transmit one or more portions of the third payload to at least one of the first remote device, one or more second remote devices, or a controller of a distributed control system.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
receive a third data packet from a BLE radio, the third data packet based on the second format, the third data packet including a third payload; drop the third data packet in response to a determination that an opcode included in the third payload is not authorized; drop the third data packet in response to a determination that the opcode is not associated with the industrial communication protocol; and execute a BLE command in response to a determination that the opcode is not a protocol opcode.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the industrial communication protocol is one of a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) communication protocol, a PROFIBUS communication protocol, a FOUNDATION Fieldbus communication protocol, or a MODBUS communication protocol.

15 . An apparatus comprising:
means for converting a first data packet to a second data packet, the first data packet having a first format based on an industrial communication protocol, the second data packet ha

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Junk Kenneth William
• Jensen Kurtis K
• Latwesen Annette Lynn

Classifications

• H04L69/08 Primary

  Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion · CPC title

• H04B7/26 Primary

  at least one of which is mobile · CPC title

• H04L12/66

  Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways · CPC title

• G05B19/4186

  by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP · CPC title

• H04L12/4625

  Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge · CPC title