Wireless protocol converter for field devices
A method of collecting data from a field device 406 and for performing protocol conversion includes: receiving a data set encoded in a process control protocol, such as Profibus or Fieldbus protocols; extracting a payload from the data set via a processor 412; storing at least some of the payload in a memory 418; and transmitting at least some of the payload in a general-purpose communication protocol, such as IEEE 802.11 or a mobile telephony protocol. Another method comprises: receiving, in a field communicator 405, a command from a user communicator indicating a field device 406; identifying, based thereupon, a target field device including a corresponding protocol; encoding a protocol-encoded data set based on the target device protocol; and transmitting the data to the target device. A field communicator communicates with a field device via a transmitter, and a wireless network interface controller 416. Data may be retrieved by polling the field device, and data may be delivered to a remote asset management system (68, fig. 1) via a wireless gateway (35, fig. 1).