System, method, and device for communicating with a field device

A method of communicating with a field device, the method comprising:

• positioning a single communication device in a communication path between each of the field device and a plurality of clients of data of the field device;
• and
• establishing separate and independent communications between the single communication device and each of the field device and the plurality of clients of data of the field device, including bi-directionally communicating between the field device and one of the plurality of clients of data of the field device via the single communication device, bi-directionally communicating between the field device and another of the plurality of clients of data of the field device via the single communication device, and bi-directionally communicating between the plurality of clients of data of the field device via the single communication device;
• and
• receiving data from the field device at the single communication device,
• wherein the single communication device selectively allows the plurality of clients of data of the field device to control the field device in response to data received from the field device.

A communication device for communicating with a field device, the communication device comprising:

• a first interface configured to communicate with the field device, and a second interface configured to communicate with a plurality of clients of data of the field device, wherein the communication device is configured to be positioned in a communication path between the field device and the plurality of clients of data of the field device and between the plurality of clients of data of the field device, and the first interface and the second interface are configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the field device and the plurality of clients of data of the field device through the communication device, and the second interface is configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the plurality of clients of data of the field device through the communication device;
• a packetizer coupled to the first interface and configured to replicate data received from the field device for the plurality of clients of data of the field device;
• a protocol converter configured to filter the data for one of the plurality of clients of data of the field device after replication of the data by the packetizer and communicate the data with the one of the plurality of clients of data of the field device via the second interface;
• and
• an embedded application configured to filter the data for another of the plurality of clients of data of the field device after replication of the data by the packetizer and communicate the data with the another of the plurality of clients of data of the field device via the second interface,
• wherein the single communication device allows different control of the field device for each of the plurality of clients of data of the field device in response to data received from the field device.