Wireless field device having discrete input/output

A wireless field device for use in an industrial process, comprising:

• input/output terminals configured to couple to a process interface element;
• a discrete input/output channel configured to receive a discrete input from the process interface element through the input/output terminals when configured as a discrete input channel, the discrete input/output channel further configured to provide a discrete output to the process interface element through the input/output terminals when wirelessly configured as discrete output channel;
• wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive information;
• a controller configured to:
• transmit information through the wireless communication circuitry based upon a process variable sensed using the process interface element;
• provide a discrete control output to the process interface element to control a process variable in response to information received by the wireless communication circuitry;
• and
• the controller further configured to operate in accordance with configuration information to configure the input/output channel as an input channel when the input/output terminals are connected to a discrete process variable sensor, and further configured to configure the discrete input/output channel as a discrete output channel when the input/output terminals are coupled to a discrete control element.