Fisher-rosemount Systems, Inc

Gregory J Opheim

Christopher P Kantzes

Alan Roger Dewey

Brad N Mathiowetz

Kun Yang

Daniel E Vande Vusse

Moises A DelaCruz

Thanh Ngan Truong

A memory authentication technique for field maintenance tools is provided. A non-volatile electronic memory includes a unique software identifier. A non-reversible algorithm is applied to the unique software identifier to obtain a result. The result is then encrypted and compared with a stored encrypted result previously stored on the electronic memory. Based upon this comparison, the tool can be fully enabled, fully disabled, or selectively enabled.

Memory authentication for intrinsically safe field maintenance tools

Improved script generation and usage for handheld field maintenance tools is provided. In one aspect, the handheld field maintenance tool actually generates scripts for later playback. Preferably script generation and/or playback or features are provided to field maintenance technicians. Additionally, scripts can be played on the handheld field maintenance tool without modification to the tool itself.

Field maintenance tool with enhanced scripts

A method for preventing unsafe transmission on an incompatible network with a multi-protocol intrinsically safe handheld field maintenance tool as provided. The method preferably includes checking voltage levels on two sets of network connections when a network connection is detected or indicated on one set. If incompatible voltage levels are detected, the field technician is warned. If voltage levels are appropriate on a selected set of network terminals, the method continues by listening for network traffic of the selected network type. In this manner, a multi-protocol intrinsically safe handheld field maintenance tool is operable with multiple process control communication protocols while minimizing the risk of incompatible data/signal transmission upon process communication loops.

Data transmission method for a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Gregory J Opheim