Distributed control system for controlling material flow having wireless transceiver connected to industrial process control field device to provide redundant wireless access

A method of providing communications within a process control system disposed within an industrial process environment, comprising:

• placing a first wireless transceiver at a first process control device;
• communicatively coupling the first process control device to a process controller via a hardwired communication connection;
• placing a second wireless transceiver at a bridge device;
• communicatively connecting a plurality of field devices disposed within the industrial process environment via a hardwired communication link to the bridge device, wherein each of the plurality of field devices is under control of the process controller and operates to measure one or more physical process parameters of the industrial process environment or to perform a physical action within the industrial process environment to affect one or more physical process parameters of the industrial process environment;
• and
• operating the bridge device to relay signals sent over the hardwired communication link from the plurality of field devices to the first process control device using the first and second wireless transceivers and operating the bridge device to relay signals sent via the first and second wireless transceivers from the first process control device to one or more of the plurality of field devices using the hardwired communication link.

A communication network within a process control system having a first control device, a process controller and a plurality of field devices, wherein each of the plurality of field devices is under control of the process controller and operates to measure one or more physical process parameters of the industrial process environment or to perform a physical action within the industrial process environment to affect one or more physical process parameters of the industrial process environment, comprising:

• a first wireless transceiver located at the first control device within the process control system;
• a plurality of second wireless transceivers, wherein each second wireless transceiver is located at one of the plurality of field devices;
• and
• a hardwired communication connection between the first control device and the process controller;
• wherein the first and second wireless transceivers communicate wirelessly to rely relay signals communicated from the process controller to the first process control device over the hardwired communication connection to one or more of the plurality of field devices and to relay signals from one or more of the plurality of field devices to the process controller via the first process control device and the hardwired communication connection between the first process control device and the process controller.