Methods and apparatus for connection attempt failure avoidance with a wireless network

A method to attempt to establish a connection with a wireless network, the method comprising:

• determining a location of a field device as being within a first zone;
• determining a frequency at which retry attempts to establish the connection with the wireless network are to be made based on the location of the field device in the first zone and a first probability of connecting to the wireless network;
• attempting to establish the connection with the wireless network;
• and
• in response to a failure to establish the connection with the wireless network:
• storing an indication of the failure to establish the connection and the location of the field device;
• determining a speed and a direction of movement of the field device;
• selecting a second zone adjacent to the first zone and having a second probability of connecting to the wireless network, the second probability greater than the first probability of connecting to the wireless network;
• in response to determining that a difference between the second probability and the first probability is not greater than a threshold difference, selecting a third zone adjacent to the second zone and having a third probability of connecting to the wireless network greater than the first probability plus the threshold difference;
• calculating an estimated amount of time until the field device will enter the third zone, the estimated amount of time based on the location of the field device and the speed and direction of movement of the field device;
• and
• waiting an amount of time based on at least one of the estimated amount of time or the frequency.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a field device to at least:

• determine a current location of the field device as being within a first zone;
• determine a frequency at which retry attempts to establish a connection with a wireless network are to be made based on the current location of the field device in the first zone and a first probability of connecting to the wireless network from the current location;
• attempt to establish the connection with the wireless network;
• and
• in response to a failure to establish the connection with the wireless network:
• store an indication of the failure to establish the connection and the location of the field device;
• determine a speed and a direction of movement of the field device;
• select a second zone adjacent to the first zone and having a second probability of connecting to the wireless network, the second probability greater than the first probability of connecting to the wireless network;
• in response to determining that a difference between the second probability and the first probability is not greater than a threshold difference, select a third zone adjacent to the second zone and having a third probability of connecting to the wireless network greater than the first probability plus the threshold difference;
• calculate an estimated amount of time until the field device will enter the third zone, the estimated amount of time based on the location of the field device and the speed and direction of movement of the field device;
• and
• wait an amount of time based on at least one of the estimated amount of time or the frequency.