Patent ID: 6298377
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
A maintenance management method for field devices, the method comprising:providing a first group of first type field devices, the first type field devices having first data and a first instruction set to read, analyze, and process status and diagnostic data associated with said first type field devices;providing at least a second group of second type field devices, the second type field devices having second type data and a second instruction set to read, analyze, and process status and diagnostic data associated with said second type field devices;collecting at least one of the status and diagnostic data of said first-type field devices in a process, the collecting (i) using a field communication interface of a process automation system and based upon a field communication protocol, and (ii) being implemented in a field device type-specific manner utilizing said first data and said first instruction set, and providing first condition data representative of a condition of said first type field devices, said first condition data being independent of a type of the first type field devices;collecting at least one of the status and diagnostic data associated with said second-type field devices in a process, the collecting (i) using the field communication interface based upon the field communication protocol, and (ii) being implemented in a field device type-specific manner utilizing said second data and said second instruction set, and providing second condition data representative of a condition of said second type field devices, said second condition data being independent of a type of the second type field devices; andtransmitting said first and second condition data to another application of the automation system, the other application including at least one of control room software, maintenance management software, and another application software, said transmitting using an open communication method independent of the first and second type field devices and the field communication interface.