Patent ID: 8266308

Claim:
A system for communicating between a field device, a device controller for the field device, and an enterprise application distinct from the device controller, the system comprising: a single communication device separate and distinct from the field device, the device controller, and the enterprise application, and configured to communicate with each of the field device, the device controller, and the enterprise application, wherein the single communication device is configured to be positioned in a communication path between the field device and the device controller, between the field device and the enterprise application, and between the device controller and the enterprise application, wherein, without interface of the field device with the device controller, without interface of the field device with the enterprise application, and without interface of the device controller with the enterprise application, the single communication device is configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the field device and the device controller, facilitate bi-directional communication between the field device and the enterprise application and facilitate bi-directional communication between the device controller and the enterprise application, wherein the single communication device is configured to replicate data received from the field device and, after replication of the data, separately filter the data for the device controller and separately filter the data for the enterprise application, wherein the enterprise application produces a business event in response to data received from the field device and the business event is communicated to the device controller, which generates a control event to control the field device in response to the business event, wherein the enterprise application and the device controller comprise two of a plurality of clients which share control of the field device, and wherein the single communication device selectively allows commands for the field device based on an identity of the plurality of clients.