Method for topology tree to learn about, present, and configure device information by automatically uploading device description files from device

A method, comprising:

• detecting, by a mobile client device comprising at least one processor, that an industrial device is within a wireless communication range of a wireless communication port of the mobile client device;
• determining, by the mobile client device and in response to the detecting, that a device description file for the industrial device is not registered with the mobile client device;
• sending, by the mobile client device and in response to the determining, a request to the industrial device via the wireless communication port for the device description file;
• initiating, by the mobile client device, an upload of the device description file from the industrial device via the wireless communication port in response to receipt of a confirmation from the industrial device that the device description file is stored on the industrial device, wherein the device description file defines at least a device name of the industrial device, a device configuration parameter of the industrial device, and a graphical icon representing the industrial device;
• rendering, by the mobile client device based on information contained in the device description file, the graphical icon and the device name in a device topology tree, wherein the device topology tree comprises hierarchically organized icons representing industrial devices, including the industrial device, that are communicatively connected to a communication port;
• periodically polling, by the mobile client device subsequent to the initiating the upload, the industrial device for presence of a different version of the device description file;
• and
• in response to detecting the different version of the device description file based on the poling, initiating an upload of the different version of the device description file from the industrial device via the wireless communication port.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a mobile client device comprising a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• detecting that an industrial device is within a communication range of a wireless communication port of the mobile client device;
• in response to the detecting, determining whether device description information for the industrial device is registered with the mobile client device;
• in response to determining that the device description information is not registered with the mobile client device:
• sending a request for the device description information to the industrial device via the wireless communication port, and
• initiating an upload of the device description information from the industrial device via the communication port in response to receiving a message from the industrial device that the device description information is stored on the industrial device, wherein the device description information comprises at least a device name of the industrial device, a device configuration parameter of the industrial device, and a graphical icon representing the industrial device;
• rendering, based on the device description information, a device topology tree that includes the graphical icon and the device name, the device topology tree comprising hierarchically arranged icons representing industrial devices, including the industrial device, that are communicatively connected to the communication port;
• polling the industrial device periodically for presence of a different version of the device description file subsequent to the initiating the upload, and
• in response to detecting the different version of the device description file based on the polling, initiating an upload of the different version of the device description file from the industrial device via the communication port.