Local device and process diagnostics in a process control network having distributed control functions

A field device for use in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively coupled by a bus, the field device comprising:

• a memory that stores a diagnostic test routine having a series of diagnostic test instructions;
• a device controller that performs the diagnostic test instructions stored in the memory to implement a diagnostic test using an operational capability of the field device;
• a data collection unit that collects diagnostic data generated during the diagnostic test;
• and
• a communication unit that receives the diagnostic test instructions from a second one of the plurality of devices via the bus, that stores the received diagnostic test instructions in the memory and that communicates the collected diagnostic data over the bus.

A field device for use in performing a process diagnostic test in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively coupled by a bus, the field device comprising:

• a memory that stores a process diagnostic test routine having a series of diagnostic test instructions to be implemented by the field device;
• a device controller that performs the process diagnostic test instructions stored in the memory to implement a process diagnostic test using an operational capability of the field device;
• a data collection unit that collects diagnostic data generated by the field device during the process diagnostic test and that receives further process diagnostic data from a second one of the plurality of devices via the bus;
• and
• a communication unit that communicates the collected diagnostic data and the further process diagnostic data over the bus after the process diagnostic test is completed.

A process control network comprising:

• a host device that generates commands and receives data;
• a plurality of field devices;
• and
• a bus communicatively interconnecting the host device and the plurality of field devices;
• wherein one of the plurality of field devices includes a memory that stores a diagnostic test routine having a series of diagnostic test instructions to be implemented by the one device, a device controller that performs the diagnostic test instructions stored in the memory to implement a diagnostic test using an operational capability of the field device, a data collection unit that collects diagnostic data generated by the one device during the diagnostic test, and a communication unit that communicates the collected diagnostic data over the bus to the host device after the diagnostic test is completed.

A field device for use in performing a diagnostic test in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively coupled by a bus and using the Fieldbus communication protocol, the field device comprising:

• a memory that stores the diagnostic test routine having a series of diagnostic test instructions to be implemented by the field device;
• a device controller that performs the diagnostic test instructions stored in the memory to implement a diagnostic test using an operational capability of the field device;
• a data collection function block that collects diagnostic data generated during the diagnostic test;
• and
• a communication unit that communicates the collected diagnostic data over the bus after the diagnostic test is completed.