US Patent 7230582 Wearable computer in a process control environment

A wearable computer for use in a process control environment includes a central processing unit, a memory and a number of peripheral devices such as a heads up display, a microphone, a video camera and a remote communication device that communicates with a host computer. The wearable computer provides information pertaining to one or more devices within a process control system (such as diagnostic information, help information, operator overviews, schematics or process parameter information) via the heads up display. The wearable computer also executes a routine that processes the video camera image to automatically identify process control devices within the field of view of the wearer based on device features such as device tags, a routine that enables a wearer to verify the proper connection of devices and/or communication channels within a process control system, a routine that displays a common image on both the heads up display and an operator workstation display and a routine that stores and automatically retrieves voice messages pertaining to any device within the process control system.