Handheld field maintenance tools are known. Such tools are highly useful in the process control and measurement industry to allow operators to conveniently communicate with and/or interrogate field devices in a given process installation. Examples of such process installations include petroleum, pharmaceutical, chemical, pulp, and other processing installations. In such installations, the process control and measurement network may include tens or even hundreds of various field devices which periodically require maintenance to ensure that such devices are functioning properly and/or calibrated. Moreover, when one or more errors in the process control and measurement installation is detected, use of a handheld field maintenance tool allows technicians to quickly diagnose such errors in the field.
Examples of commercially available handheld field maintenance tools include the Model 375 Field Communicator available from Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex. The Model 375 Field Communicator was recently introduced to replace the previous Model 275 HART® Communicator. The Model 375 Field Communicator user interface is similar to the previous Model 275, but includes support for FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus devices as well as HART®, revision 6 support. The Model 375 Field Communicator is one example of a handheld field maintenance tool that is delivered to users with ample hardware support for a wide array of functionality. In order to manufacture the hardware efficiently, the hardware itself is substantially the same, regardless of the functionality that is ultimately required by the end-user. Further, end-users are provided with the ability to purchase, or otherwise obtain, the handheld field maintenance tool at a reduced cost, by selecting reduced functionality. Accordingly, a given handheld field maintenance tool is generally provided to a customer with a predetermined set of functionality.
In the past, if the manufacturer were to create new functionality or if the customer would like to have additional functionality added to their handheld field maintenance tool, the process of adding, renewing, or updating functionality could be difficult and time-consuming. Further, end-users would not always know the precise functionality that was enabled within their handheld field maintenance tool, or what new, or updated, functionality was available that may have been released by the manufacturer after the handheld field maintenance tool was purchased or otherwise obtained.
One common solution to the problem of adding, or updating functionality to handheld field maintenance tools, often required the end-user to physically send the handheld field maintenance device, itself, to a service location where the functionality would be added by trained technicians. However, this process was troublesome for end-users in that they would temporarily lose the use of their handheld field maintenance tool while it was at the service location. This was also problematic for the service location as the difficulty in upgrading, or otherwise adding new or updated features to the handheld field maintenance tool, would discourage end-users from adding or updating functionality. An additional problem was that the service location would need to be provided, by the manufacturer, with the ability to add licenses. This generally required a specialized utility that could be run by the service location to generate or change license information on handheld field maintenance tools. This special utility's creation and maintenance was a significant expense to manufacturers.
More recently, end-users have been provided with the ability to add desired functionality by ordering a hardware component, such as a memory chip or cartridge that can be integrated with their handheld field maintenance tool. However, since there is still a physical component that needs to ship to the end-user, this solution can often cause a delay to the end-user once they realize their desire for the new functionality. Additionally, the use of the physical component creates a problem of material cost and shipment costs that must be borne by the end-user, the manufacturer, or a combination. Examples of physical components that have been used include a memory chip (such as an EEPROM or SD card) or an external adapter interface such as a dongle.
An additional difficulty encountered by manufacturers to market, or otherwise inform current users (previous purchasers) of new capabilities and/or technical updates for their handheld field maintenance tools has been caused by the way in which handheld field maintenance tools have been distributed. Specifically, the distribution channel of a handheld field maintenance tool is often multi-leveled. Once the handheld field maintenance tool leaves the manufacturer, it can pass through several distribution locations and companies both internal and external to the manufacturer before reaching the end-user. Because of this, it is often impractical to link a specific technician or entity to a purchased or otherwise obtained handheld field maintenance tool, or to even know the exact configuration of the handheld field maintenance tool (e.g., license, hardware, software) that the end-user has received. While solutions such as the completion of a “registration card” would seem to address this limitation, such cards have historically proven to be ineffective, both because customers are unwilling to participate and because information provided may not be sufficiently detailed or may contain errors. Another possible way in which this distribution channel limitation has been addressed is in the collection of data when the handheld field maintenance tool is sold, or otherwise provided to the end-user. While this can be effective, the solution often adds a significant amount of work to each order, increases cost, decreases order efficiency, and can cause delays in shipment. Additionally, in a multi-level distribution channel, the information collected can still be difficult for the manufacturer to obtain. This difficulty may be due to the ultimate point of sale being unwilling or unable to collect the data, or unwilling or unable to provide it back to the manufacturer effectively even if it is collected.
Providing a system and method in which end-users of handheld field maintenance tools could be easily provided with new information, updates, and capabilities relative to their handheld field maintenance tools as well as ways in which such updates and functionality could be obtained would better allow end-users to use specifically-selected functionality in their handheld field maintenance tools.
Improved functionality of handheld field maintenance tools is provided. A user may interact with the handheld field maintenance tool using a software application that communicates with the tool and with a manufacturer server. Tool information, including a unique tool identifier, is uploaded from the tool and associated with at least some user information. The user is able to view additional and/or updated functionality information relative to one or more tools with which the user is associated and obtain additional functionality electronically. The user also is provided with the ability to provide a tool name that is stored and displayed on the tool.
In this illustration, process communication or process control loop 18 is a FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus process communication loop and is coupled to field devices 20, which are shown arranged in a multi-drop configuration. An alternative process communication loop (not shown) is an HART® process communication loop.
Handheld field maintenance tool 22 is coupled to loop 18 as illustrated in
In some embodiments, tool 22 can comply with intrinsic safety requirements set forth in: APPROVAL STANDARD INTRINSICALLY SAFE APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN CLASS I, II AND III, DIVISION 1 HAZARDOUS (CLASSIFIED) LOCATIONS, CLASS NUMBER 3610, promulgated by Factory Mutual Research October, 1988. Adaptations to comply with additional industrial standards such as Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the European CENELEC standards are also contemplated.
Processor 36 is also coupled to keypad module 38 and display module 40. Keypad module 38 is coupled to the keypad on the housing of tool 22 in order to receive various keypad inputs from a user. Display module 40 is coupled to the display to provide data and/or a user interface to the user.
In this embodiment, tool 22 includes infrared data access (IrDa) port 42 which is coupled to processor 36 to allow tool 22 to transfer information to and receive information from a separate device using infrared wireless communication. One advantageous use of port 42 is for transferring and/or updating Device Descriptions stored in one or more memories of tool 22. A Device Description (DD) is a software technology used to describe parameters in a field device in a computer-readable format. This contains all of the information necessary for a software application being executed on processor 36 to retrieve and use the parametric data. The separate device, such as computer 12, can obtain a new Device Description from floppy disk, CD ROM, or the internet and wirelessly transfer the new Device Description to tool 22.
Removable memory module 44 is removably coupled to processor 36 via port/interface 46. Removable memory module 44 is adapted to store software applications that can be executed instead of primary applications on processor 36. For example, module 44 may contain applications that use the HART® or FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus communication port, to provide a comprehensive diagnostic for a given process valve. Additionally, module 44 may store software applications that aid in the calibration or configuration of specific devices. Module 44 may also contain a software image for a new or updated primary device application that can subsequently be transferred into the non-volatile memory of processor 36 to enable execution of the updated application. Further still, module 44 provides removable memory storage for the configuration of multiple devices allowing a field maintenance operator or technician to acquire a relatively substantial amount of device data and conveniently store or transfer such data by simply removing module 44.
Tool 22 also preferably includes expansion memory module 48 coupled to processor 36 via connector 50. Expansion memory module 48 may contain Device Descriptions of first and second industry standard protocols. Module 48 may also contain license code(s) that will determine the functionality of tool 22 with respect to the multiple protocols. For example, data residing within module 48 may indicate that tool 22 is only authorized to operate within a single process industry standard mode, such as the HART® protocol. Ultimately, a different setting of that data within module 48 may indicate that tool 22 is authorized to operate in accordance with two or more industry standard protocols. Module 48 is preferably inserted to connector 50 on the main board of tool 22 and may in fact require partial disassembly of tool 22, such as removing the battery pack to access port 50.
Preferably, the communication and interaction between the application running on system 100 and server 104 employs known software technology, such as web services. A web service is defined by the W3C as “a software system designed to support interoperable Machine to Machine interaction over a network.” This simple connection between tool 22 and server 104 provides a much better follow-on experience for the end-user once tool 22 has been purchased, leased, or otherwise obtained.
While
In fact, tool 22 could be operably coupled to system 100 through a wired interface, such as a USB connection, or through a different form of wireless communication, such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) in accordance with IEEE 802.11b or IEEE 802.11g, the known Bluetooth standard, or other suitable wireless technologies.
The interaction between tool 22 and server 104 is also preferably through system 100 using a suitable application. However, embodiments of the present invention can be practiced with any suitable communications link to server 104. For example, tool 22 may contain a WiFi module, or communicate in accordance with a cellular data communication standard such as Microburst® by Aeris Communications Inc. of San Jose, Calif., ultra wide band, free space optics, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), spread spectrum technology, SMS (Short Messaging Service/text messaging), or any other suitable wireless technology through internet 106. However, the various embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter via interaction with a software application being executed on system 100.
Operating system 110 typically includes a TCP/IP communication stack 112 that interacts with a physical layer such as an Ethernet physical layer or modem to establish a connection to a network, such as internet 106. Operating system 110 will also typically include module 114 to interact with local I/O devices such as a serial port. The serial port provides communication with tool 22 as described above. Finally, operating system 110 will typically include user interface module 116 to allow operating system 110, or applications executing thereon, to render displays upon a display device, such as an LCD screen, to interact with the user.
Application 118 runs on system 100, which can be any general purpose personal computer or suitable mobile device, using operating system 110. Application 118 can be used to provide one or more computer-implemented methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Application 118 preferably interacts with modules 112, 114 and 116 through application programming interfaces (APIs) of operating system 110. Application 118 preferably includes a local data store 120 that can be embodied in any suitable form, but is preferably a relational database.
Suitable examples of information that can be uploaded from tool 22 to system 100 include hardware information 158, software information 160, and licensing information 162. Hardware information 158 includes any suitable information regarding the electronic components that comprise handheld field maintenance tool 22. Examples of such information include specific manufacturer part numbers of specific integrated circuits; such as the microprocessor of tool 22; the type of memory, both volatile and non-volatile, used by handheld field maintenance tool 22; build dates and codes with respect to both individual components of handheld field maintenance tool 22 and those of tool 22 itself. Further, hardware information 158 can also include dynamic information about the hardware, such as diagnostic information relative to handheld field maintenance tool 22. Such diagnostic or dynamic information can include current temperature of critical system components; the amount of volatile and/or nonvolatile free memory remaining; any current trouble codes; and any salient log information indicating past hardware malfunction. Hardware information 158 also includes one or more indicators that uniquely identify tool 22 among all handheld field maintenance tools manufactured by the manufacturer. One example is the unique serial number stored within the hardware itself, or on a non-changeable area within memory of tool 22.
Software information 160 includes any suitable information relative to any software (including the operating system) of handheld field maintenance tool 22 stored or executed by handheld field maintenance tool 22. Examples of software information preferably include a description of the software; the version of the software; dates and times when changes have been made to the software, such as an update; and software diagnostic information, such as current error codes or a log of past errors experienced by any of the software executing upon tool 22. Further, software information 160 can include information about stored device descriptions or any other suitable data.
Licensing information 162 can include specific information about functionality of a software module, hardware module, or combination thereof. Further, license information 162 may include information that is able to allow tool 22 to selectively enable only a portion of functionality that is otherwise fully enabled by the mere presence of suitable hardware and software on tool 22. Further still, license information 162 can include an expiration date upon which currently-licensed software may expire.
Preferably, the upload of information from tool 22 to system 100 occurs every time an interface is made between tool 22 and system 100. Certainly, the occurrence of this upload is preferred as part of a registration of tool 22 subsequent to the initial acquisition of tool 22 by the end-user, and as part of any separate activity, such as the end-user wishing to purchase additional functionality. Moreover, since all of this detailed information is uploaded to system 100 without extensive interaction by the user, it is believed that the user's experience will be improved.
Preferably, once block 156 is executed, and system 100 has significant hardware, software, and licensing information relative to the connected tool 22, system 100 displays a user interface to the user through module 116. One exemplary user interface is illustrated in
Interface 200 includes a computer-generated representation of the connected tool 22 in window 214. Additionally, tool 200 includes buttons or other suitable interface elements 216, 218 to detect and disconnect tool 22, respectively. As illustrated in
Referring back to
Once the user has submitted user name 172 to user interface 254, method 150 continues at block 186 where application 118 communicates with manufacturer server 104. Preferably, block 186 will cause application 118 to display user interface 260 as illustrated in
An exemplary user interface display is shown in
Note
Once the user has selected button 460, application 118 will download the new license information from manufacturer server 104 and write the license information to the memory of tool 22. Once the new license information has been written to tool 22, application 118 can display user interface 470 (shown in
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/934,348 filed Jun. 13, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60934348 | Jun 2007 | US |