Handheld field maintenance tool with improved locational awareness functionality

A method of locating a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

• selecting a field device to locate;
• accessing position information relative to the selected field device;
• determining a current physical position of the handheld field maintenance tool;
• and
• generating a map on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool showing the current physical position relative to the accessed position information relative to the selected field device, wherein a physical position of the field device is centered on the map.

A method of locating a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

• selecting a field device to locate;
• accessing position information relative to the selected field device;
• determining a current physical position of the handheld field maintenance tool;
• generating a map on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool showing the current physical position relative to the accessed position information relative to the selected field device;
• updating the map as the current physical position changes;
• and
• determining if the current physical position is within a selected threshold of the field device.

A method of determining a physical location an object using a handheld tool, the method comprising:

• placing the handheld tool in proximity to the object;
• causing the handheld tool to determine a current physical position of the handheld tool;
• receiving a user input indicative of a physical position of the object relative to the current physical position of the handheld tool;
• and
• storing physical position information relative to the object, wherein the physical position information is based on the current physical position of the handheld tool and the user input.

A method of identifying a connection hub using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

• communicatively coupling the handheld field maintenance tool to a process communication loop or segment having a plurality of field devices coupled thereto;
• using the handheld field maintenance tool to identify all field devices on the segment or loop;
• using the handheld field maintenance tool to query each field device for location information of the connection hub and terminal number relative to the field device;
• and
• locating a connection hub relative to at least one of the plurality of field devices using the handheld field maintenance tool.

A method of identifying a connection hub of a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

• communicatively coupling the handheld field maintenance tool to the field device;
• using the handheld field maintenance tool to query the field device for the location of the connection hub relative to the field device;
• and
• locating a connection hub relative to the field device using the handheld field maintenance tool.

A method of indicating field devices using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

• receiving an input indicative of a selection of a process installation asset;
• identifying at least one field device associated with the selected process installation asset;
• and
• providing a map on the handheld field maintenance tool showing a physical location of the selected process installation asset and the at least one associated field device.