A monitoring system for an industrial operation having one or more machines, the monitoring system operates to obtain operational information comprising performance operating parameters and uses the operational information to create an operational baseline and reference thresholds and monitors real-time operational data to determine if an operating parameter exceeds a reference threshold.

A monitoring system for an industrial operation having one or more machines, the monitoring system operates to obtain operational information comprising performance operating parameters and uses the operational information to create an operational baseline and reference thresholds and monitors real-time operational data to determine if an operating parameter exceeds a reference threshold.

A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously.

A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously.

A wireless communication system for use in a process environment uses mesh and possibly a combination of mesh and point-to-point communications to produce a wireless communication network that can be easily set up, configured, changed and monitored, thereby making a wireless communication network that is less expensive, and more robust and reliable. The wireless communication system allows virtual communication paths to be established and used within the process control system in a manner that is independent of the manner in which the wireless signals are sent between different wireless transmitting and receiving devices within the process plant. Still further, communication analysis tools are provided to enable a user or operator to view the operation of the wireless communication network to thereby analyze the ongoing operation of the wireless communications within the wireless communication network.