System and method for using bluetooth communication in industrial process control and automation systems

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one network interface configured to wirelessly connect to one or more controllers over a BLUETOOTH network and receive data from and transmit data to the one or more controllers using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol, each of the one or more controllers comprising a programmable logic controller (PLC) in an industrial process control and automation system, each of the one or more controllers having a BLUETOOTH adapter or transceiver;
• and
• at least one processing device configured to:
• send a command or data to a first controller among the one or more controllers using the BLUETOOTH communication protocol;
• and
• receive, from the first controller or a second controller among the one or more controllers using the BLUETOOTH communication protocol, a response associated with the sent command or data.

A controller comprising:

• a BLUETOOTH adapter or transceiver configured to wirelessly connect to a wireless handheld device over a BLUETOOTH network and receive data from and transmit data to the wireless handheld device using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol;
• and
• at least one processing device configured to:
• receive a command or data from the wireless handheld device using the BLUETOOTH communication protocol;
• generate a message based on the received command or data;
• and
• transmit the message to the wireless handheld device or a second controller;
• wherein the controller and the second controller comprise programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in an industrial process control and automation system.