Apparatus for automating field device operations by capturing device method execution steps for later use and related method

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processing device configured to:
• receive a first request to execute a field device method associated with a first process control field device;
• at least one of initiate actual execution of the field device method with the first field device and initiate simulated execution of the field device method;
• record information associated with a progression of the actual or simulated execution of the field device method;
• record user input associated with the field device method;
• receive a second request to play back execution of the field device method;
• initiate subsequent execution of the field device method with a second process control field device and use the recorded information and the recorded user input during the subsequent execution of the field device method, the second field device of a same type as the first field device;
• determine that the subsequent execution of the field device method differs from the progression of the actual or simulated execution of the field device method;
• and
• in response to the determination, interrupt the subsequent execution of the field device method, receive additional user input, and resume the subsequent execution of the field device method using the additional user input;
• and
• at least one memory configured to store the recorded information and the recorded user input.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

• receiving a first request to execute a field device method associated with a first process control field device;
• at least one of initiating actual execution of the field device method with the first field device and simulating execution of the field device method;
• recording information associated with a progression of the actual or simulated execution of the field device method;
• recording user input associated with the field device method;
• receiving a second request to play back execution of the field device method;
• initiating subsequent execution of the field device method with a second process control field device and using the recorded information and the recorded user input during the subsequent execution of the field device method, the second field device of a same type as the first field device;
• determining that the subsequent execution of the field device method differs from the progression of the actual or simulated execution of the field device method;
• and
• in response to the determination, interrupting the subsequent execution of the field device method, receiving additional user input, and resuming the subsequent execution of the field device method using the additional user input.