Patent ID: 8204078

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a network interface configured to receive first messages from a first wireless device; a controller configured to generate second messages corresponding to the first messages, the controller configured to generate the second messages based on a device descriptor associated with the first wireless device and with a process controller; and a first field device protocol interface configured to transmit at least some of the second messages to the process controller over a wired communication link; wherein, for each first message that contains primary process variable data, the controller is configured to generate the corresponding second message and to provide that second message to the first field device protocol interface for transmission to the process controller in a first format defined by a field device protocol; wherein, for each first message that contains other process variable data that is not primary process variable data, the controller is configured to generate the corresponding second and to selectively provide that second message to (i) the first field device protocol interface for transmission to the process controller in a second format or (ii) an additional interface for transmission to the other destination, depending on a configuration of the apparatus, wherein the first field device protocol interface is configured to couple the wired communication link to the controller; wherein the controller is further configured to receive a configuration message via the wired communication link, the configuration message comprising configuration information; and wherein the controller is configured to generate the second messages corresponding to the first messages according to the configuration information.