System, method, and device for communicating between a field device, device controller, and enterprise application

A method of communicating between a field device, a controller for the field device, and an enterprise application distinct from the controller for the field device, the method comprising:

• positioning a single communication device in a communication path between the field device and the controller for the field device, between the field device and the enterprise application, and between the controller for the field device and the enterprise application;
• establishing separate and independent communications between the single communication device and each of the field device, the controller for the field device, and the enterprise application, including, without direct connection between the field device and the controller for the field device, without direct connection between the field device and the enterprise application, and without direct connection between the controller for the field device and the enterprise application, bi-directionally communicating between the field device and the controller for the field device via the single communication device, bi-directionally communicating between the field device and the enterprise application via the single communication device, and bi-directionally communicating between the controller for the field device and the enterprise application via the single communication device;
• receiving data from the field device at the single communication device, replicating the data with the single communication device, and, after replicating the data, separately filtering the data for the controller for the field device and the enterprise application with the single communication device;
• wherein the enterprise application produces a business event in response to data received from the field device and the business event is communicated to the controller for the field device, which generates a control event for control of the field device in response to the business event;
• wherein the enterprise application and the controller for the field device comprise clients of a plurality of clients which share control of the field device;
• and
• wherein the single communication device selectively allows commands for the field device based on an identity of the plurality of clients.

A communication device for communicating between a field device, a device controller for the field device, and an enterprise application distinct from the device controller, the communication device comprising:

• a device interface configured to communicate with the field device, a controller interface configured to communicate with the device controller, and an application interface configured to communicate with the enterprise application, wherein the communication device is configured to be positioned in a communication path between the field device and the device controller, between the field device and the enterprise application, and between the device controller and the enterprise application, and, without direct interface between the field device and the device controller, without direct interface between the field device and the enterprise application, and without direct interface between the device controller and the enterprise application, the device interface and the controller interface are configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the field device and the device controller through the communication device, the device interface and the application interface are configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the field device and the enterprise application through the communication device, and the controller interface and the application interface are configured to facilitate bi-directional communication between the device controller and the enterprise application through the communication device;
• a packetizer coupled to the device interface and configured to replicate data received from the field device for the device controller and the enterprise application;
• a protocol converter configured to filter the data for the device controller after replication of the data by the packetizer and communicate the data with the device controller via the controller interface;
• an embedded application configured to filter the data for the enterprise application after replication of the data by the packetizer and communicate the data with the enterprise application via the application interface;
• wherein the enterprise application produces a business event in response to data received from the field device and the business event is communicated to the device controller, which generates a control event for control of the field device in response to the business event;
• wherein the enterprise application and the device controller comprise clients of a plurality of different clients which share control of the field device through the single communication device;
• and
• wherein the single communication device allows different control of the field device for each of the plurality of different clients.