Wireless architecture and support for process control systems

摘要

A wireless communication system for use in a process environment uses mesh and possibly a combination of mesh and point-to-point communications to produce a wireless communication network that can be easily set up, configured, changed and monitored, thereby making a wireless communication network that is less expensive, and more robust and reliable. The wireless communication system allows virtual communication paths to be established and used within the process control system in a manner that is independent of the manner in which the wireless signals are sent between different wireless transmitting and receiving devices within the process plant. Still further, communication analysis tools are provided to enable a user or operator to view the operation of the wireless communication network to thereby analyze the ongoing operation of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network.

主权项

1. A wireless communication network disposed in a process control system, the wireless communication network comprising:
a communication node implementing wireless communications within the wireless communication network; a host including a display, the host communicatively coupled to the communication node; and a measuring device communicatively coupled to the host device through the communication node, the measuring device measuring one or more environmental parameters of the physical environment in which the wireless communication network operates, which environmental parameters may affect the quality of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network, wherein the host determines one or more operational characteristics indicative of the quality of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network that may be affected by the one or more measured environmental parameters, and wherein the host displays the one or more operational characteristics on the display.