Fast data transfer communication protocol for an industrial process network

A method of transferring data between a host device and a field device on an industrial process network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the field device from the host device, a fast data transfer initiate request via a first initiate message to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol;
• transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a fast data transfer initiate confirmation via a first confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• receiving, by the field device from the host device, a generic data transfer initiate request via a second initiate message to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device;
• transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation via a second confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• executing, responsive to the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein one or more of the fast data transfer initiate request and the generic data transfer initiate request includes a broadcast network address;
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device comprises broadcasting the subsequent data transfer to the broadcast network address via a plurality of broadcast messages using the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein each of the plurality of broadcast messages includes:
• a portion of data associated with the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• data positioning information that indicates a relative position, within the data associated with the subsequent data transfer, of the portion of the data included in the respective broadcast message;
• wherein the plurality of broadcast messages includes at least a first broadcast message and a second broadcast message, the second broadcast message received subsequent to the first broadcast message;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• comparing, by the field device, data positioning information included in the first broadcast message to data positioning information included in the second broadcast message;
• and
• determining, by the field device based on the comparing, that a portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer was not received by the field device;
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer further comprises transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a retransmit request indicating a request that the host device retransmit the portion of the data to the broadcast network address via a third broadcast message, subsequent to the second broadcast message.

A field device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• one or more storage devices;
• and
• a transceiver configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network,
• wherein the one or more storage devices are encoded with instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the field device to:
• receive, from the host device via the transceiver, a fast data transfer initiate request via a first initiate message to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol;
• transmit, to the host device via the transceiver, a fast data transfer initiate confirmation via a first confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• receive, from the host device via the transceiver, a generic data transfer initiate request via a second initiate message to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device;
• transmit, to the host device via the transceiver, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation via a second confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• execute, responsive to transmitting the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein one or more of the fast data transfer initiate request and the generic data transfer initiate request includes a broadcast network address;
• and
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device comprises broadcasting the subsequent data transfer to the broadcast network address via the fast download communication protocol;
• wherein each of the plurality of broadcast messages includes:
• a portion of data associated with the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• data positioning information that indicates a relative position, within the data associated with the subsequent data transfer, of the portion of the data included in the respective broadcast message;
• wherein the plurality of broadcast messages includes at least a first broadcast message and a second broadcast message, the second broadcast message received subsequent to the first broadcast message;
• and
• wherein the one or more storage devices are further encoded with instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the field device to:
• compare data positioning information included in the first broadcast message to data positioning information included in the second broadcast message;
• and
• determine, based on the comparing, that a portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer was not received by the field device;
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer further comprises transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a retransmit request indicating a request that the host device retransmit the portion of the data to the broadcast network address via a third broadcast message, subsequent to the second broadcast message.

A method of transferring data between a host device and a field device on an industrial process network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the field device from the host device, a fast data transfer initiate request via a first initiate message to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol, the fast data transfer initiate request comprising a fast upload initiate request to request that the field device broadcast the subsequent data transfer to the host device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a fast data transfer initiate confirmation via a first confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• receiving, by the field device from the host device, a generic data transfer initiate request via a second initiate message to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device;
• transmitting, by the field device to the host device, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation via a second confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• executing, responsive to the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein one or more of the fast data transfer initiate request and the generic data transfer initiate request includes a broadcast network address;
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device comprises broadcasting, by the field device, the subsequent data transfer to the broadcast network address via a plurality of broadcast messages using the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein each of the plurality of broadcast messages includes:
• a portion of data associated with the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• data positioning information that indicates a relative position, within the data associated with the subsequent data transfer, of the portion of the data included in the respective broadcast message;
• wherein the plurality of broadcast messages includes at least a first broadcast message and a second broadcast message;
• wherein the second broadcast message is transmitted by the field device subsequent to transmitting the first broadcast message and without receiving an acknowledgment from the host device that includes an indication of whether the host device received the first broadcast message;
• and
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer further comprises:
• receiving, by the field device subsequent to transmitting the second broadcast message, a retransmit request from the host device indicating a request that the field device retransmit the portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer that was included in the first broadcast message;
• and
• broadcasting, by the field device to the broadcast network address, a third broadcast message subsequent to transmitting the second broadcast message, the third broadcast message including the portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer that was included in the first broadcast message.

A field device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• one or more storage devices;
• and
• a transceiver configured to send and receive data over an industrial process network,
• wherein the one or more storage devices are encoded with instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the field device to:
• receive, from the host device via the transceiver, a fast data transfer initiate request via a first initiate message to request a subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via a fast data transfer communication protocol, the fast data transfer initiate request comprising a fast upload initiate request to request that the field device broadcast the subsequent data transfer to the host device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• transmit, to the host device via the transceiver, a fast data transfer initiate confirmation via a first confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• receive, from the host device via the transceiver, a generic data transfer initiate request via a second initiate message to request the subsequent data transfer with the field device;
• transmit, to the host device via the transceiver, a generic data transfer initiate confirmation via a second confirmation message indicating that the field device is configured for the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• execute, responsive to transmitting the generic data transfer initiate confirmation, the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device via the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein one or more of the fast data transfer initiate request and the generic data transfer initiate request includes a broadcast network address;
• and
• wherein executing the subsequent data transfer between the host device and the field device comprises broadcasting, by the field device, the subsequent data transfer to the broadcast network address via a plurality of broadcast messages using the fast data transfer communication protocol;
• wherein each of the plurality of broadcast messages includes:
• a portion of data associated with the subsequent data transfer;
• and
• data positioning information that indicates a relative position, within the data associated with the subsequent data transfer, of the portion of the data included in the respective broadcast message;
• wherein the plurality of broadcast messages includes at least a first broadcast message and a second broadcast message;
• wherein the second broadcast message is transmitted by the field device subsequent to transmitting the first broadcast message and without receiving an acknowledgment from the host device that includes an indication of whether the host device received the first broadcast message;
• and
• wherein the one or more storage devices are further encoded with instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the field device to:
• receive, subsequent to transmitting the second broadcast message, a retransmit request from the host device indicating a request that the field device retransmit the portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer that was included in the first broadcast message;
• and
• broadcast, to the broadcast network address, a third broadcast message subsequent to transmitting the second broadcast message, the third broadcast message including the portion of the data associated with the subsequent data transfer that was included in the first broadcast message.