Adaptive hybrid wireless and wired process control system with hierarchical process automation field network sets

A process control and/or automation network carrying source-destination traffic for a commercial or industrial processing facility, the network comprising:

• a distributed control system in a central control room within the facility;
• a first tier comprising a plurality of wireless end devices receiving instructions from and/or providing data to the distributed control system, the instructions and/or data in the form of packets, each wireless end device being associated with one or more meters, remote terminal units, diagnostic devices, pumps, valves, sensors, or tank level measuring devices;
• a second tier comprising a plurality of wireless routers each including a memory that stores a routing table and a processor that routes packets;
• a third tier comprising a master wireless gateway device operably connected to receive packets from and transmit packets to the distributed control system;
• and
• a plurality of field network sets spanning across multiple tiers, each field network set containing one or more of the plurality of wireless routers and one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein the routers and gateway devices of each field network set act as a single routing device to route packets to routers and gateway devices external to the field network set, wherein at least one of the wireless routers or wireless gateway devices in each field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device;
• wherein the processor of each of the plurality of wireless routers routes packets across the three tiers between the plurality of end devices and the wireless gateway devices based on the stored routing table.

A method of selecting paths for source-destination traffic in a process control and/or automation network, the process control and/or automation network including one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or one or more wireless intermediate devices or one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein a source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the method of selecting paths comprising:

• a. specifying a minimum reliability requirement for a selected source-destination pair;
• b. specifying a minimum number of paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• c. determining possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• d. calculating the reliability of each of the possible paths, or an effective reliability of one or more groups of possible paths;
• e. identifying one or more reliable paths, or one or more reliable groups of paths, by comparing the reliability of each of the possible paths or groups of possible paths with the specified minimum reliability requirements;
• and
• f. assigning the minimum number of paths for the selected source-destination pair to a routing table from the identified reliable paths or the identified reliable group of paths, and discarding, or assigning as alternate paths to the routing table, identified reliable paths or identified reliable groups of paths that exceed the minimum number of paths;
• wherein the wireless process control and/or automation network includes plural of the wireless intermediate devices grouped into intermediate field network sets and/or plural of the wireless gateway devices grouped into gateway field network sets, wherein at least one of the wireless intermediate devices in each intermediate field network set and at least one of the wireless gateway devices in each gateway field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device,
• further wherein step (c) includes determining possible paths between a source-destination pair passing though a designated anchor packet selection device of a predetermined number of the field network sets.

A method of selecting paths for source-destination traffic in a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or one or more wireless intermediate devices or one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein a source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the method of selecting paths comprising:

• a. designating a maximum allowable end-to-end delay for a selected source-destination pair;
• b. determining possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• c. calculating an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• d. identifying an acceptable path by comparing the calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with the maximum allowable end-to-end delay, wherein a path is deemed acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• e. assigning the acceptable path to a routing table;
• and
• f. repeating steps (c)-(e) for each of the possible paths identified in step (b);
• wherein the wireless process control and/or automation network includes plural of the wireless intermediate devices grouped into intermediate field network sets and/or plural of the wireless gateway devices grouped into gateway field network sets, wherein at least one of the wireless intermediate devices in each intermediate field network set and at least one of the wireless gateway devices in each gateway field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device;
• further wherein step (b) includes determining possible paths between a source-destination pair passing though a designated anchor packet selection device of a predetermined number of the field network sets.

A method of selecting paths for source-destination traffic in a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein a source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the method of selecting paths comprising:

• a. designating a maximum allowable tier delay for a selected source-destination pair and for each tier;
• b. determining possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• c. calculating a tier delay for a link or set of links within a selected one of the tiers for one of the possible paths;
• d. identifying an acceptable link or set of links by comparison of the calculated tier delay for that link or set of links with the maximum allowable tier delay for the selected tier, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for the selected tier;
• e. repeating steps (c) and (d) for each tier of the one of the possible paths for the remaining tiers;
• f. assigning the one of the possible paths for the selected source-destination pair to a routing table if all of the links or sets of links within the one of the possible paths are identified as acceptable;
• and
• g. repeating steps (c)-(f) for each of the possible paths identified in step (b);
• wherein the wireless process control and/or automation network includes plural of the wireless intermediate devices grouped into intermediate field network sets and/or plural of the wireless gateway devices grouped into gateway field network sets, wherein at least one of the wireless intermediate devices in each intermediate field network set and at least one of the wireless gateway devices in each gateway field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device,
• further wherein step (b) includes determining possible paths between a source-destination pair passing though a designated anchor packet selection device of a predetermined number of the field network sets.

A method of selecting paths for source-destination traffic in a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein a source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the method of selecting paths comprising:

• a. designating a maximum allowable end-to-end delay and a maximum allowable tier delay for a selected source-destination pair and for each tier for a selected source-destination pair;
• b. determining possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• c. calculating an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• d. identifying a potentially acceptable path by comparison of the calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with the maximum allowable tier delay, wherein a path is deemed potentially acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• e. calculating a tier delay for a link or set of links within one of the tiers in the potentially acceptable path;
• f. identifying an acceptable link or set of links within that one of the tiers by comparison of the calculated tier delay for that link or set of links with the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers;
• g. repeating steps (e) and (f) for a link or set of links within each tier of the potentially acceptable path;
• h. assigning the potentially acceptable path for the selected source-destination pair to a routing table if all of the links or sets of links within the one of the possible paths are identified as acceptable;
• and
• i. repeating steps (c)-(h) for each of the possible paths identified in step (b);
• wherein the wireless process control and/or automation network includes plural of the wireless intermediate devices grouped into intermediate field network sets and/or plural of the wireless gateway devices grouped into gateway field network sets, wherein at least one of the wireless intermediate devices in each intermediate field network set and at least one of the wireless gateway devices in each gateway field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device,
• further wherein step (b) includes determining possible paths between a source-destination pair passing though a designated anchor packet selection device of a predetermined number of the field network sets.

A method of integrating a wireless process control and/or automation network with a wired network for carrying source-destination traffic, the method comprising:

• a. determining and selecting existing junction boxes for wired/wireless integration;
• b. providing a plurality of wireless routers modified for wired connection;
• c. installing the modified wireless routers and wiring them to the existing junction boxes selected for integration;
• d. determining a plurality of field network sets each including at least one modified wireless router and one or more of a wireless routers and/or junction boxes, wherein at least one of the wireless routers in each field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device;
• e. determining, for each source-destination pair, an anchor packet selection device through which all traffic for that source-destination pair is routed;
• f. determining the total number of paths per source-destination pairs per usage class (g);
• g. setting a counter h;
• h. determining a set of paths is for the hth source-destination pair per usage class, subject to one or more selected constraints including maximum tier delay, maximum end-to-end delay, maximum throughput, minimum link reliability level, required minimum reliability per usage class, CPU maximum usage level for the modified wireless router, the maximum number of links per path, or a combination of at least one of the foregoing constraints;
• i. determining whether the set of paths meet all of the selected constraints;
• j. incrementing h by 1 if the constraints are met;
• k. assigning the set of paths is assigned for the source-destination pair per usage class of h=g.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or one or more wireless intermediate devices or one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes plural links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a minimum reliability requirement for a selected source-destination pair and
• a specified minimum number of paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• a route optimization module executable by the processor and operable to transmit assigned reliable paths resulting from execution of the route optimization module to a routing table for instructing at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices, the route optimization module including:
• a path determination sub-module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• a reliability calculation sub-module for calculation of the reliability of each of the possible paths, or an effective reliability of one or more groups of possible paths;
• a reliable path identification sub-module for identification of one or more reliable paths, or a one or more reliable groups of paths, by comparing the reliability of each of the possible paths or groups of possible paths with the specified minimum reliability requirements specified in the set of routing rules;
• and
• a path assignment sub-module for assignment of the minimum number of paths specified in the set of routing rules for the selected source-destination pair to the routing table from the identified reliable paths or the identified reliable groups of paths, and discarding, or assigning as alternate paths to the routing table, identified reliable paths or identified reliable groups of paths that exceed the minimum number of paths;
• wherein the path determination sub-module is for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor point in a defined field network set, such that once an anchor point is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor point until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor point.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, or transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or one or more wireless intermediate devices or one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a maximum allowable end-to-end delay for a selected source-destination pair;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• an end-to-end delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to transmit assigned acceptable paths resulting from execution of the end-to-end delay minimization module to a routing table for instructing at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices, the end-to-end delay minimization module including:
• a path determination sub-module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• an end-to-end delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• a path identification sub-module for identification of an acceptable path by comparing the calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with the maximum allowable end-to-end delay, wherein a path is deemed acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• and
• a path assignment sub-module for assignment of the acceptable path to the routing table,
• wherein the end-to-end delay calculation sub-module, the path identification sub-module and the path assignment sub-module are executed for each of the possible paths identified in the path determination sub-module;
• wherein the path determination sub-module is for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor point in a defined field network set, such that once an anchor point is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor point until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor point.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data, and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a maximum allowable tier delay for a selected source-destination pair;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• a tier delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to transmit assigned acceptable paths resulting from execution of the tier delay minimization module to a routing table for instructing at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices, the tier delay minimization module including:
• a path determination sub-module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• a tier delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• a link identification sub-module for identification of an acceptable link or set of links by comparison of the calculated tier delay for that link or set of links with the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers;
• and
• a path assignment sub-module for assignment of an acceptable path to the routing table,
• wherein the tier delay calculation sub-module and the link identification sub-module are executed for each tier of the one of the possible paths, and
• wherein the tier delay calculation sub-module, the link identification sub-module and the path assignment sub-module are executed for each of the possible paths identified in the path determination sub-module;
• wherein the path determination sub-module is for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor point in a defined field network set, such that once an anchor point is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor point until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor point.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a maximum allowable tier delay and a maximum allowable end-to-end delay for a selected source-destination pair;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• a path determination module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• an end-to-end delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to identify potential acceptable paths resulting from execution of the end-to-end delay minimization module, the end-to-end delay minimization module including:
• an end-to-end delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• a path identification sub-module for identification of a potentially acceptable path by comparing the calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with the maximum allowable end-to-end delay, wherein a path is deemed potentially acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• and
• a tier delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to transmit assigned acceptable paths resulting from execution of the tier delay minimization module to a routing table for instructing at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices, the tier delay minimization module including:
• a tier delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the potentially acceptable paths;
• a link identification sub-module for identification of an acceptable link or set of links by comparison of the calculated tier delay for that link or set of links with the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers;
• and
• a path assignment sub-module for assignment of an acceptable path to the routing table,
• wherein the tier delay calculation sub-module and the link identification sub-module are executed for each tier of the potentially acceptable paths, and
• wherein the end-to-end delay minimization module and tier delay minimization module are executed for each of the possible paths identified in the path determination module;
• wherein the path determination sub-module is for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor point in a defined field network set, such that once an anchor point is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor point until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor point.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, or a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a maximum allowable tier delay and a maximum allowable end-to-end delay for a selected source-destination pair;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• and
• a path determination module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor packet selection device of a field network set, the field network set including a group of wireless intermediate devices and/or wireless gateway devices, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device;
• an end-to-end delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to identify potential acceptable paths resulting from execution of the end-to-end delay minimization module, the end-to-end delay minimization module including:
• an end-to-end delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the possible paths;
• a path identification sub-module for identification of a potentially acceptable path by comparing the calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with the maximum allowable end-to-end delay, wherein a path is deemed potentially acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• and
• a tier delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to transmit assigned acceptable paths resulting from execution of the tier delay minimization module to a routing table for instructing at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices, the tier delay minimization module including:
• a tier delay calculation sub-module for calculation of an end-to-end delay for one of the potentially acceptable paths;
• a link identification sub-module for identification of an acceptable link or set of links by comparison of the calculated tier delay for that link or set of links with the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers;
• and
• a path assignment sub-module for assignment of an acceptable path to the routing table,
• wherein the tier delay calculation sub-module and the link identification sub-module are executed for each tier of the potentially acceptable paths, and
• wherein the end-to-end delay minimization module and tier delay minimization module are executed for each of the possible paths identified in the path determination module.

A method of selecting paths in a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein a source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the method of selecting paths comprising:

• a. determining possible paths between a selected source-destination pair;
• b. identifying one or more reliable paths, or one or more reliable groups of paths, by comparing the reliability of each of the possible paths or groups of possible paths with a specified minimum reliability requirement;
• c. identifying a potentially acceptable path by comparison of a calculated end-to-end delay for the one of the possible paths with a maximum allowable tier delay, wherein a path is deemed potentially acceptable if the calculated end-to-end delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• d. identifying an acceptable link or set of links by comparison of a calculated tier delay for a selected link or set of links with a maximum allowable tier delay for a selected tier, wherein a link or set of links is deemed acceptable if the calculated tier delay is equal to or less than the maximum allowable tier delay for that one of the tiers;
• and
• e. assigning the potentially acceptable path for the selected source-destination pair to a routing table if all of the links or sets of links within the one of the possible paths are identified as acceptable in step (d) and if the potentially acceptable path is identified as reliable in step (b);
• wherein the wireless process control and/or automation network includes plural of the wireless intermediate devices grouped into intermediate field network sets and/or plural of the wireless gateway devices grouped into gateway field network sets, wherein at least one of the wireless intermediate devices in each intermediate field network set and at least one of the wireless gateway devices in each gateway field network set serves as an anchor packet selection device, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device,
• further wherein step (a) includes determining possible paths between a source-destination pair passing though a designated anchor packet selection device of a predetermined number of the field network sets.

A communication path optimization system for controlling a wireless process control and/or automation network, the wireless process control and/or automation network including a tier of one or more wireless end devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data, and either a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices for transmitting data and/or receiving data and routing received data, and a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices for assigning data paths, transmitting data, receiving data and routing received data, a tier of one or more wireless intermediate devices or a tier of one or more wireless gateway devices, wherein at least one source-destination pair includes links between the one or more wireless end devices, and the one or more wireless intermediate devices and/or the one or more wireless gateway devices, the communication path optimization system comprising:

• a memory that stores
• a set of routing rules specifying a minimum reliability requirement for a selected source-destination pair,
• a specified minimum number of paths between the selected source-destination pair
• a set of routing rules specifying a maximum allowable tier delay and a maximum allowable end-to-end delay for a selected source-destination pair, and
• a routing table containing instructions to be processed by at least one of the one or more wireless gateway devices and/or the wireless intermediate devices;
• a processor coupled to the memory;
• a path determination module for determination of possible paths between the selected source-destination pair passing through a designated anchor packet selection device of a field network set, the field network set including a group of wireless intermediate devices and/or wireless gateway devices, such that once a particular anchor packet selection device is designated for a particular source-destination pair, all traffic between that source-destination pair will pass through that particular anchor packet selection device until either an operator action or a predetermined condition results in a re-designation of the traffic for that particular source-destination pair to a different anchor packet selection device;
• a route optimization module executable by the processor and operable to identify reliable paths between the selected source-destination pair;
• an end-to-end delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to identify potential acceptable paths that have a calculated end-to-end delay which is equal to or less than a maximum allowable end-to-end delay;
• and
• a tier delay minimization module executable by the processor and operable to identify potential acceptable links or sets of links by comparison of a calculated tier delay for a selected link or set of links with a maximum allowable tier delay for a selected tier;
• wherein the potentially acceptable path for the selected source-destination pair is assigned to the routing table stored in the memory if all of the links or sets of links within the one of the possible paths are identified by the tier delay minimization module and the route optimization module, and
• wherein the end-to-end delay minimization module and tier delay minimization module are executed for each of the possible paths identified in the path determination module.