Detection and location of wireless field devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532232-B2
Application number	US-78032510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2010
Priority date	May 15, 2009
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A method of evaluating a potential location to add a wireless field device to an existing network of a plurality of existing wireless field devices is provided. The method includes placing a handheld field maintenance tool in the potential location and causing the handheld field maintenance tool to identify wireless field devices within communicative range of the potential location. Information related to wireless communication at the potential location is viewed. Methods are also provided for identifying a selected field device in a process installation using a handheld field maintenance tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of locating and directing a user to a selected field device in a process installation with a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
detecting a physical location of the selected field device via a wireless communication module of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein detecting the physical location comprises submitting a query to a server over a wireless connection, wherein the query comprises an identification of the selected field device;
detecting a current position of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein detecting the current position of the handheld field maintenance tool comprises accessing an internal GPS module of the handheld field maintenance tool;
generating, automatically, an indication, based at least in part on the detected physical location and at least in part on the detected current position, on the handheld field maintenance tool that directs the user of the handheld field maintenance tool from the detected current position to the detected physical location of the selected field device; and
automatically generating a local annunciation at the selected field device when the current position is within a threshold proximity of the physical location of the selected field device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating an indication to the user includes presenting the user with a map indicating the current position and the physical location of the selected field device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handheld field maintenance tool complies with at least one intrinsic safety specification.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication includes a heading.

5. A method of locating and directing a user to a selected field device in a process installation with a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
detecting a physical location of the selected field device via a wireless communication module of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein detecting the physical location comprises submitting a query to a server over a wireless connection, wherein the query comprises an identification of the selected field device;
detecting a current position of the handheld field maintenance tool, wherein detecting the current position of the handheld field maintenance tool comprises accessing an internal GPS module of the handheld field maintenance tool;
generating, automatically, an indication, based at least in part on the detected physical location and at least in part on the detected current position, on the handheld field maintenance tool that directs the user of the handheld field maintenance tool from the detected current position to detected physical location of the selected field device;

and wherein the indication includes an elevation angle.

Assignees

• Dewey Alan Roger
• Citrano Iii Joseph
• Toepke Todd Mitchell
• Russell Iii Alden Chester
• Rotvold Eric D
• Fisher Rosemount Systems Inc

Inventors

• Dewey Alan Roger
• Citrano Iii Joseph
• Toepke Todd Mitchell
• Russell Iii Alden Chester
• Rotvold Eric D

Classifications

• G05B2219/23406

  Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer · CPC title

• H04W16/18 Primary

  Network planning tools · CPC title

• G05B2219/24167

  Encryption, password, user access privileges · CPC title

• G05B2219/31131

  Field device with gateway functions for communication with pc and other field devices · CPC title

• Y02P90/18

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic