User interface that integrates a process control configuration system and a field device management system

A user interface system adapted to be used in a process control network having a controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, a process control configuration database that stores process control configuration information pertaining to the process control network and a workstation having a display, a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, the user interface system comprising:

• a process control configuration system stored in the memory and adapted to be executed on the processor to access the process control configuration database network and that configures process control solutions;
• a field device management system stored in the memory and adapted to be executed on the processor to enable a user to configure the field devices, calibrate the field devices, monitor the field devices, troubleshoot the field devices, generate alarms about the field devices, track alarms in the field devices and test the field devices and to communicate via two-way communication field device management information stored in at least one of the field devices or in a field device management database associated with at least one of the field devices pertaining to at least one of the field devices;
• and
• an interface adapted to be executed on the processor that passes data between the process control configuration system and the field device management system to enable simultaneous use of the process control configuration system and the field device management system.

A method of creating a user interface comprising the steps of:

• operating a process control configuration system to access process control configuration information from a process control configuration database network and that configures process control solutions;
• displaying images representing the process control configuration information on a display;
• recognizing when an image on the display related to a field device is selected;
• searching a memory for identification data related to the selected image;
• communicating the identification data from the process control configuration system to a field device management system through an interface wherein the field device management system configures the field devices, calibrates the field devices, monitors the field devices, troubleshoots the field devices, generates alarms about the field devices, tracks alarms in the field devices and tests the field devices;
• searching via two-way communication for field device management information related to the identification data stored in at least one of the field devices or in a field device management database associated with at least one of the field devices;
• displaying the field device management information on the display with the process control configuration information;
• and
• allowing the field devices to be configured.