# US 7,054,695 B2 · Field maintenance tool with enhanced scripts

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- Number: US 7,054,695 B2
- Document ID: US7054695B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/438,401
- Filed: 2003-05-15
- Published: 2004-11-18
- Granted: 2006-05-30
- Earliest claimed: 2003-05-15
- Assignees: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory J. Opheim; Thanh Truong; Christopher P. Kantzes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7054695B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)}
- G05B 2219/23244: Ascii script: one line is read each time, each letter controls a device
- G05B 2219/24054: Self diagnostic
- G05B 2219/25428: Field device
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Improved script generation and usage for handheld field maintenance tools is provided. In one aspect, the handheld field maintenance tool actually generates scripts for later playback. Preferably script generation and/or playback or features are provided to field maintenance technicians. Additionally, scripts can be played on the handheld field maintenance tool without modification to the tool itself.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method of generating a script for a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
observing at least one of input and output activity on the tool; and
recording at least one frame on the tool relative to the observed activity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of input and output activity includes a tool input.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of input and output activity includes a tool output.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of input and output activity includes a process communication input.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the process communication input is in accordance with HART® protocol.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the process communication input is in accordance with the FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus protocol.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of input and output activity includes a process communication output.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the process communication output is in accordance with HART® protocol.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the tool is adapted for use with a process control system and wherein the process communication output is in accordance with the FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus protocol.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the frame is indicative of a problem in the process control system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, and further comprising automatically recording frames beginning when the tool is energized.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein substantially all input and output activity on the tool is recorded in the frames.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, and further comprising receiving an indication that a sequence of frames is indicative of a problem, and storing the indication.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of input and output activity is related to information from a field device in a process control system.

### Claim 15

A computer-implemented method of playing back a script, the method comprising:
conveying the script to memory within a handheld field maintenance tool;
causing the tool to enter a script playback mode;
playing the script on the tool as a stand-alone playback device.

### Claim 16

A handheld field maintenance tool comprising:
a display;
memory to store at least one script; and
a processor coupled to the display and the memory and adapted to execute the script in a stand-alone playback mode to display script execution.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The tool of claim 16, further comprising:
first and second media access units coupled to the processor, wherein the first media access unit is adapted to couple to a process communication loop in accordance with a first process communication protocol, and wherein the second media access unit is adapted to coupled to a process communication loop in accordance with a second process communication protocol different from the first process communication protocol.