Method and apparatus for controlling a process plant with location aware mobile control devices

摘要

A processor in a mobile user interface device transmits 2805 a first request for data, receives 2810 the requested data in response to the request and causes 2815 a display to display the received data. The processor receives 2820 an indication that the mobile user interface device is in proximity to an external device the processors transmits 2825 a second request for data according to the received indication and receives 2830 data in response to the second request. The indication may be an indication the device is near an additional user interface terminal, an indication the device is close to a process control device or an indication the device is in a particular area of a factory. The information received in response to the second request may be displayed and may comprise an alarm, a maintenance task, a diagram of an area of the process plant or a status of an area of the plant. The mobile device may be a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone or a wearable device such as a watch or headset.