Patent ID: 8868732
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: H04L,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: identifying, by a gateway device comprising one or more computer processors, a first Foundation Fieldbus linking device associated with a first Ethernet network and a second Foundation Fieldbus linking device associated with a second Ethernet network, wherein the first linking device is communicatively coupled to a first set of Foundation Fieldbus devices and the second linking device is communicatively coupled to a second set of Foundation Fieldbus devices; associating, by the gateway device, one or more virtual addresses with the first linking device and the second linking device; receiving, by the gateway device from a system external to the gateway device, a first message to be communicated to an intended recipient, wherein the first message comprises an indication of a virtual address, and wherein the intended recipient is one of the first linking device, the second linking device, a Foundation Fieldbus device in the first set, or a Foundation Fieldbus device in the second set; determining, by the gateway device, whether the first message can be communicated to the intended recipient based at least in part on the received virtual address; responsive to determining that the first message can be communicated to the intended recipient based at least in part on the received virtual address: responsive to determining that the first message cannot be communicated to the intended recipient based at least in part on the received virtual address: the method further comprising: receiving, by the gateway device, a second message output by one of the first linking device or the second linking device; modifying, by the gateway device, the second message in order to associate a particular virtual address of the one or more virtual addresses with the second message; and providing, by the gateway device, the modified second message to the system.