Field communication system, relay communication device, and field communication method

Abstract

To transmit self-diagnostic data without obstructing the transmission of sensor data.SOLUTION: In the field communication system 1, each of the first field device 40-1, the second field device 40-2,., and the N-th field device 40-N includes a sensor, transmits sensor information, performs self-diagnosis on the field device, and transmits self-diagnosis information, the relay communication device 10 receives the sensor information and the self-diagnosis information and transmits the sensor information and the self-diagnosis information via different communication paths, and the first communication device 20 receives the sensor information via the first communication path P1. The second communication device 30 receives the self-diagnosis information through the second communication path P2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a field communication system, a relay communication device, and a field communication method. [Background technology]

[0002] When maintaining field devices such as pressure transmitters and flow transmitters, it is common to adopt a maintenance method that addresses issues after a breakdown occurs in the field device (hereinafter referred to as "breakdown maintenance" or "reactive maintenance").

[0003] On the other hand, if a maintenance method can be adopted that detects signs of failure in field devices and takes action before a failure occurs (hereinafter referred to as "predictive maintenance"), the availability rate of field devices can be improved compared to corrective maintenance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-158056 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] To achieve predictive maintenance for field devices, the field device may perform a self-diagnosis of itself and transmit data indicating the results of the self-diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as "self-diagnosis data") to a communication device, which may then detect signs of failure in the field device based on the self-diagnosis data.

[0006] However, the data transmitted from the field device to the communication device includes not only the self-diagnosis data but also data indicating physical quantities detected by the sensors of the field device (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "sensor data"). Therefore, in order to realize predictive maintenance for field devices, it is desirable to transmit the self-diagnosis data without interfering with the transmission of sensor data in the communication path from the field device to the communication device.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a technique that allows transmission of self-diagnosis data without interfering with transmission of sensor data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The field communication system of the present disclosure includes a field device, a relay communication device, a first communication device, and a second communication device. The field device has a sensor and transmits sensor data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, while performing a self-diagnosis on the field device and transmitting self-diagnosis data indicating the results of the self-diagnosis. The relay communication device receives the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device and transmits the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data using different communication paths. The first communication device receives the sensor data using a first communication path. The second communication device receives the self-diagnosis data using a second communication path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to transmit self-diagnosis data without interfering with the transmission of sensor data. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a field communication system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a relay communication device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a first communication device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a second communication device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a field communication system according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, the same components or processes will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

[0012] <Field communication system configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a field communication system according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the field communication system 1 includes a relay communication device 10, a first communication device 20, a second communication device 30, and a plurality of field devices, namely, a first field device 40-1, a second field device 40-2, ..., an N-th field device 40-N. Hereinafter, the first field device 40-1, the second field device 40-2, ..., the N-th field device 40-N may be collectively referred to as "field devices 40." Field communication is performed between the first communication device 20 and the field devices 40 via the relay communication device 10, and field communication is performed between the second communication device 30 and the field devices 40 via the relay communication device 10. Examples of the field devices 40 include a pressure transmitter, a temperature transmitter, a flow rate transmitter, and a valve switch.

[0013] Each of the first field device 40-1, the second field device 40-2, ..., the Nth field device 40-N can communicate with the relay communication device 10 using a wireless communication path. An example of a wireless communication method used between the field devices 40 and the relay communication device 10 is ISA100.11a.

[0014] The relay communication device 10 and the first communication device 20 can communicate with each other using a first communication path P1 and a third communication path P3. The first communication path P1 is a wired communication path, and the third communication path P3 is a wireless communication path.

[0015] The relay communication device 10 and the second communication device 30 can communicate with each other using a second communication path P2 and a fourth communication path P4. The second communication path P2 is a wireless communication path, and the fourth communication path P4 is a wired communication path.

[0016] An example of a communication method for wired communication performed on the first communication path P1 and the fourth communication path P4 is PROFINET, etc. The bandwidths of the second communication path P2 and the third communication path P3 are different from the bandwidth of wireless communication used between the field device 40 and the relay communication device 10, and an example of a communication method for wireless communication performed on the second communication path P2 and the third communication path P3 is Z-Wave, etc.

[0017] The field device 40 has a sensor and transmits sensor data and self-diagnosis data to the relay communication device 10 .

[0018] The relay communication device 10 receives sensor data and self-diagnosis data from the field device 40, and transmits the received sensor data to the first communication device 20 while transmitting the received self-diagnosis data to the second communication device 30.

[0019] The first communication device 20 receives sensor data from the relay communication device 10. Furthermore, the first communication device 20 generates data for controlling the field device 40 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "control data") based on the received sensor data, and transmits the generated control data to the relay communication device 10. The relay communication device 10 transmits the received control data to the field device 40. For example, if the field device 40 is a flow transmitter and a valve open / close switch, control data indicating the opening degree of the valve is generated based on sensor data indicating the flow rate of the liquid.

[0020] The second communication device 30 transmits a request for acquiring self-diagnostic data (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "data acquisition request") to the relay communication device 10, and the relay communication device 10 transmits the self-diagnostic data to the second communication device 30 in response to the data acquisition request. The second communication device 30 receives the self-diagnostic data from the relay communication device 10 and detects signs of a malfunction in the field device 40 using the received self-diagnostic data. For example, the second communication device 30 analyzes the self-diagnostic data and determines whether the field device 40 is operating stably based on the analysis results, thereby detecting signs of a malfunction in the field device 40.

[0021] <Configuration of relay communication device> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a relay communication device according to the present disclosure. In Fig. 2, the relay communication device 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, a first wireless communication module 13, a second wireless communication module 14, and a wired communication module 15. An example of the processor 11 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). An example of the storage unit 12 is a memory.

[0022] The first wireless communication module 13 is capable of communicating with each of the first field device 40-1, the second field device 40-2, ..., the Nth field device 40-N using a wireless communication path, and outputs data received from the field devices 40 to the processor 11.

[0023] The processor 11 determines whether the data received from the field device 40 is sensor data or self-diagnosis data, and based on the determination result, outputs the sensor data to the second wireless communication module 14 or the wired communication module 15, and outputs the self-diagnosis data to the second wireless communication module 14 or the wired communication module 15. The processor 11 also writes the self-diagnosis data received from the field device 40 to the memory unit 12, and reads the self-diagnosis data from the memory unit 12 in response to a data acquisition request from the second communication device 30, and outputs the self-diagnosis data to the second wireless communication module 14 or the wired communication module 15.

[0024] The second wireless communication module 14 is capable of communicating with the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3, and is also capable of communicating with the second communication device 30 using the second communication path P2. The second wireless communication module 14 transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3, and transmits self-diagnosis data to the second communication device 30 using the second communication path P2.

[0025] In addition, the second wireless communication module 14 receives control data transmitted from the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3, and outputs the received control data to the processor 11. The processor 11 outputs the control data input from the second wireless communication module 14 to the first wireless communication module 13, and the first wireless communication module 13 transmits the control data input from the processor 11 to the field device 40.

[0026] The wired communication module 15 can communicate with the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1, and can communicate with the second communication device 30 using the fourth communication path P4. The wired communication module 15 transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1.

[0027] In addition, the wired communication module 15 receives control data transmitted from the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1, and outputs the received control data to the processor 11. The processor 11 outputs the control data input from the wired communication module 15 to the first wireless communication module 13, and the first wireless communication module 13 transmits the control data input from the processor 11 to the field device 40.

[0028] Here, when the processor 11 receives control data from the first communication device 20 via the wired communication module 15 using the first communication path P1, the processor 11 transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 via the wired communication module 15 and the first communication path P1. On the other hand, when the processor 11 receives control data from the first communication device 20 via the second wireless communication module 14 using the third communication path P3, the processor 11 transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 via the second wireless communication module 14 and the third communication path P3.

[0029] In addition, the processor 11 receives a data acquisition request from the second communication device 30 via the second wireless communication module 14 using the second communication path P2, and therefore transmits self-diagnostic data to the second communication device 30 via the second wireless communication module 14 using the second communication path P2.

[0030] <Configuration of First Communication Device> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a first communication device of the present disclosure. In Fig. 3, the first communication device 20 has a processor 21, a storage unit 22, a wired communication module 23, and a wireless communication module 24. An example of the processor 21 is a CPU, etc. An example of the storage unit 22 is a memory, etc.

[0031] The wired communication module 23 can communicate with the relay communication device 10 via the first communication path P1. The wired communication module 23 receives sensor data from the relay communication device 10 via the first communication path P1 and outputs the received sensor data to the processor 21.

[0032] The wireless communication module 24 can communicate with the relay communication device 10 via the third communication path P3. The wireless communication module 24 receives sensor data from the relay communication device 10 via the third communication path P3 and outputs the received sensor data to the processor 21.

[0033] The processor 21 generates control data based on the sensor data input from the wired communication module 23 or the wireless communication module 24, and outputs the generated control data to the wired communication module 23 or the wireless communication module 24. The processor 21 may store the sensor data in the storage unit 22. The wired communication module 23 transmits the control data input from the processor 21 to the relay communication device 10 via the first communication path P1. On the other hand, the wireless communication module 24 transmits the control data input from the processor 21 to the relay communication device 10 via the third communication path P3.

[0034] <Configuration of the second communication device> Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a second communication device of the present disclosure. In Fig. 4, the second communication device 30 has a processor 31, a storage unit 32, a wired communication module 33, and a wireless communication module 34. An example of the processor 31 is a CPU, etc. An example of the storage unit 32 is a memory, etc.

[0035] The wireless communication module 34 can communicate with the relay communication device 10 via the second communication path P2. The wireless communication module 34 transmits a data acquisition request input from the processor 31 to the relay communication device 10 via the second communication path P2. The wireless communication module 34 also receives self-diagnosis data from the relay communication device 10 via the second communication path P2 and outputs the received self-diagnosis data to the processor 31.

[0036] The wired communication module 33 can communicate with the relay communication device 10 via the fourth communication path P4.

[0037] The processor 31 detects signs of a failure in the field device 40 using the self-diagnosis data input from the wireless communication module 34 or the wired communication module 33. The processor 31 may also monitor sensor data transmitted from the relay communication device 10 to the first communication device 20 via the wired communication module 33 using the fourth communication path P4. By the processor 31 monitoring the sensor data, the processor 31 can detect signs of a failure in the field device 40 by taking into account the trend of the sensor data in the self-diagnosis data, thereby improving the accuracy of detecting signs of a failure. The processor 31 may store the self-diagnosis data and the sensor data in the memory unit 32.

[0038] <Field communication system operation> The following describes an example of the operation of the field communication system 1. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the field communication system of the present disclosure. In Fig. 5, wired communication paths are indicated by "solid lines" and wireless communication paths are indicated by "dashed lines" among the field device 40, the relay communication device 10, the first communication device 20, and the second communication device 30.

[0039] 5, in step S100, the field device 40 transmits sensor data and self-diagnosis data to the relay communication device 10.

[0040] In step S110, the first communication device 20 transmits the control data to the relay communication device 10 via the first communication path P1, and in step S120, the relay communication device 10 transmits the control data to the field device 40.

[0041] The relay communication device 10, which has received the control data via the first communication path P1 in step S110, transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 via the first communication path P1 in step S130.

[0042] Also, in step S140, the second communication device 30 sends a data acquisition request to the relay communication device 10 using the second communication path P2, and in step S150, the relay communication device 10 sends self-diagnostic data to the second communication device 30 using the second communication path P2.

[0043] In step S160, the processor 21 of the first communication device 20 determines whether the communication load on the first communication path P1 is high. When the communication load on the first communication path P1 is equal to or greater than a threshold value TH1, the processor 21 determines that the communication load is high. When the communication load on the first communication path P1 is less than the threshold value TH1, the processor 21 determines that the communication load is low. For example, the processor 21 has a counter that is cleared at regular intervals by a fixed-period timer, and increments the counter every time sensor data is received on the first communication path P1. When the counter value is equal to or greater than a threshold value TH2, the processor 21 determines that the communication load on the first communication path P1 is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH1 and is high. When the counter value is less than the threshold value TH2, the processor 21 determines that the communication load on the first communication path P1 is less than the threshold value TH1 and is low. If the communication load is low (step S160: Yes), the process proceeds to step S180. If the communication load is high (step S160: No), the process proceeds to step S170.

[0044] In step S170, the processor 21 determines whether the priority of the sensor data received from the relay communication device 10 is high or low. For example, the processor 21 determines that the priority of sensor data transmitted from a field device 40 with an important control loop, such as a valve switch, is high because the priority is equal to or higher than the threshold value TH3. Alternatively, for example, the processor 21 determines that the priority of sensor data transmitted from a field device 40 whose sensor data changes from moment to moment, such as a flow transmitter, is high because the priority is equal to or higher than the threshold value TH3. Alternatively, for example, the processor 21 determines that the priority of sensor data transmitted from a field device 40 whose sensor data does not change significantly in a short period of time, such as a temperature transmitter, is low because the priority is lower than the threshold value TH3. If the priority of the sensor data is high (step S170: Yes), the process proceeds to steps S190 and S200. If the priority of the sensor data is low (step S170: No), the process proceeds to step S180.

[0045] In step S180, processor 21 determines whether or not there is a break in first communication path P1. For example, processor 21 determines that there is a break in first communication path P1 when sensor data cannot be received over first communication path P1 for a predetermined period of time. If it is determined that there is a break in first communication path P1 (step S180: No), the process proceeds to steps S190 and S200, and if it is determined that there is no break in first communication path P1 (step S180: Yes), the process proceeds to steps S210 and S220.

[0046] In step S190, the first communication device 20 transmits the control data to the relay communication device 10 using the third communication path P3. In addition, the relay communication device 10, which has received the control data using the third communication path P3 in step S190, transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3 in step S200.

[0047] On the other hand, in step S210, the first communication device 20 transmits control data to the relay communication device 10 using the first communication path P1. Furthermore, the relay communication device 10, which has received the control data using the first communication path P1 in step S210, transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1 in step S220.

[0048] In FIG. 5, it is possible to omit any one or two of the three determination processes of steps S160, S170, and S180.

[0049] As described above, for example, when the communication load of the first communication path P1 is low and less than the threshold value TH1 (step S160: Yes) and there is no disconnection in the first communication path P1 (step S180: Yes), the processor 11 of the relay communication device 10 transmits sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1 (step S220).

[0050] Furthermore, for example, if there is a disconnection in the first communication path P1 (step S180: No), the processor 11 transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3 (step S200).

[0051] Furthermore, for example, when the communication load of the first communication path P1 is high, equal to or greater than the threshold TH1 (step S160: No), the processor 11 transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3 (step S200).

[0052] Also, for example, when the communication load of the first communication path P1 is high, equal to or greater than the threshold TH1 (step S160: No), and the priority of the sensor data is high, equal to or greater than the threshold TH3 (step S170: Yes), the processor 11 transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3 (step S200).

[0053] Furthermore, for example, when the priority of the sensor data is low and less than the threshold TH3 (step S170: No), the processor 11 transmits the sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the first communication path P1 (step S220).

[0054] In addition, while the processor 11 is transmitting sensor data to the first communication device 20 using the third communication path P3, it may stop transmitting self-diagnostic data using the second communication path P2 in order to reduce the communication load in wireless communication.

[0055] In addition, if communication other than communication of sensor data is being carried out on the third communication path P3, the processor 21 of the first communication device 20 may wait for a predetermined time and then receive sensor data from the relay communication device 10 using the third communication path P3.

[0056] In addition, if communication other than the communication of self-diagnostic data is being carried out on the second communication path P2, the processor 31 of the second communication device 30 may wait for a predetermined time and then receive the self-diagnostic data from the relay communication device 10 using the second communication path P2.

[0057] The above is a description of the embodiment.

[0058] As described above, the field communication system (field communication system 1 of the embodiment) of the present disclosure includes a field device (field device 40 of the embodiment), a relay communication device (relay communication device 10 of the embodiment), a first communication device (first communication device 20 of the embodiment), and a second communication device (second communication device 30 of the embodiment). The field device has a sensor and transmits sensor data, while performing self-diagnosis on itself and transmitting self-diagnosis data. The relay communication device receives the sensor data and self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device and transmits the sensor data and self-diagnosis data using different communication paths. The first communication device receives the sensor data using the first communication path (first communication path P1 of the embodiment). The second communication device receives the self-diagnosis data using the second communication path (second communication path P2 of the embodiment).

[0059] This allows the self-diagnosis data to be transmitted without interfering with the transmission of sensor data, making it easier to implement predictive maintenance for field devices.

[0060] In addition, some examples of combinations in the techniques of the present disclosure are described below.

[0061] (1) A field communication system comprising: a field device having a sensor and transmitting sensor data that is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, while performing a self-diagnosis on the field device and transmitting self-diagnosis data that is data indicating the results of the self-diagnosis; a relay communication device that receives the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device and transmits the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data using different communication paths; a first communication device that receives the sensor data using a first communication path; and a second communication device that receives the self-diagnosis data using a second communication path.

[0062] (2) The field communication system according to (1), wherein the first communication path is a wired communication path and the second communication path is a wireless communication path.

[0063] (3) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein when there is no break in the first communication path and the communication load of the first communication path is low and below a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the first communication path.

[0064] (4) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein when there is a break in the first communication path, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path, which is a wireless communication path.

[0065] (5) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein when the communication load of the first communication path is high and equal to or greater than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path, which is a wireless communication path.

[0066] (6) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein when the communication load of the first communication path is high and above a threshold and the priority of the sensor data is high and above a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path, which is a wireless communication path.

[0067] (7) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein when the priority of the sensor data is low and less than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the first communication path.

[0068] (8) A field communication system described in (4), (5) or (6), wherein, when communication other than the communication of the sensor data is being performed on the third communication path, the first communication device waits for a predetermined time and then receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the third communication path.

[0069] (9) A field communication system as described in (2), wherein, when communication other than the communication of the self-diagnostic data is being performed on the second communication path, the second communication device waits for a predetermined time and then receives the self-diagnostic data from the relay communication device using the second communication path.

[0070] (10) A field communication system described in (4), (5) or (6), wherein the relay communication device stops transmitting the self-diagnostic data using the second communication path while transmitting the sensor data to the first communication device using the third communication path.

[0071] (11) The field communication system described in (1), wherein the relay communication device determines whether the data received from the field device is the sensor data or the self-diagnosis data, and transmits the sensor data to the first communication device using the first communication path while transmitting the self-diagnosis data to the second communication device using the second communication path.

[0072] (12) The field communication system according to (2), wherein the communication method of the first communication path is PROFINET and the communication method of the second communication path is Z-Wave.

[0073] (13) A relay communication device comprising: a receiving unit (first wireless communication module 13 in the embodiment) that receives data transmitted from a field device having a sensor; a processor (processor 11 in the embodiment) that determines whether the data is sensor data, which is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, or self-diagnosis data, which is data indicating the results of self-diagnosis performed on the field device itself; a first transmitting unit (wired communication module 15) that transmits the sensor data to a first communication device using a first communication path; and a second transmitting unit (second wireless communication module 14 in the embodiment) that transmits the self-diagnosis data to a second communication device using a second communication path.

[0074] (14) A field communication method in which a field device having a sensor transmits sensor data that is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, while performing a self-diagnosis on the field device and transmitting self-diagnosis data that is data indicating the results of the self-diagnosis, a relay communication device receives the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device, and transmits the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data using different communication paths, a first communication device receives the sensor data using a first communication path, and a second communication device receives the self-diagnosis data using a second communication path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Field communication system 40-1 First field device 40-2 Second field device 40-N Nth field equipment 10. Relay communication equipment 20 First communication device 30 Second communication device P1 First communication route P2 Second communication path P3 Third communication path P4 Fourth communication path

Claims

1. a field device that has a sensor and transmits sensor data that is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, and that performs a self-diagnosis on itself and transmits self-diagnosis data that is data indicating the execution result of the self-diagnosis; a relay communication device that receives the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device and transmits the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data using different communication paths; a first communication device that receives the sensor data using a first communication path; a second communication device that receives the self-diagnosis data via a second communication path; A field communication system comprising:

2. the first communication path is a wired communication path, the second communication path is a wireless communication path; The field communication system according to claim 1 .

3. when there is no disconnection in the first communication path and the communication load of the first communication path is low and less than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the first communication path. The field communication system according to claim 2 .

4. When there is a disconnection in the first communication path, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path that is a wireless communication path. The field communication system according to claim 2 .

5. When a communication load on the first communication path is high and equal to or greater than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path that is a wireless communication path. The field communication system according to claim 2 .

6. when a communication load on the first communication path is high and equal to or greater than a threshold and the priority of the sensor data is high and equal to or greater than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using a third communication path which is a wireless communication path; The field communication system according to claim 2 .

7. when the priority of the sensor data is low and less than a threshold, the first communication device receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the first communication path. The field communication system according to claim 2 .

8. when communication other than the communication of the sensor data is being performed on the third communication path, the first communication device waits for a predetermined time and then receives the sensor data from the relay communication device using the third communication path.

7. A field communication system according to claim 4, 5 or 6.

9. when communication other than the communication of the self-diagnosis data is being performed on the second communication path, the second communication device waits for a predetermined time and then receives the self-diagnosis data from the relay communication device using the second communication path. The field communication system according to claim 2 .

10. the relay communication device stops transmitting the self-diagnosis data using the second communication path while transmitting the sensor data to the first communication device using the third communication path; 7. A field communication system according to claim 4, 5 or 6.

11. the relay communication device determines whether the data received from the field device is the sensor data or the self-diagnosis data, and transmits the sensor data to the first communication device using the first communication path, while transmitting the self-diagnosis data to the second communication device using the second communication path; The field communication system according to claim 1 .

12. a receiving unit that receives data transmitted from a field device having a sensor; a processor that determines whether the data is sensor data, which is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, or self-diagnosis data, which is data indicating a result of self-diagnosis performed on the field device itself; a first transmission unit that transmits the sensor data to a first communication device using a first communication path; a second transmission unit that transmits the self-diagnosis data to a second communication device using a second communication path; A relay communication device comprising:

13. a field device having a sensor transmits sensor data that is data indicating a physical quantity detected by the sensor, while performing a self-diagnosis of the field device itself and transmitting self-diagnosis data that is data indicating the execution result of the self-diagnosis; a relay communication device receiving the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data transmitted from the field device, and transmitting the sensor data and the self-diagnosis data using different communication paths; a first communication device receiving the sensor data using a first communication path; a second communication device receiving the self-diagnosis data via a second communication path; Field communication methods.

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