NL2020653B1 - Forwarding of data - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for forwarding data, the device including a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) module and a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPW AN) module, the device further comprising a power supply for receiving electrical power and distributing this to the modules, and wherein the HART module is arranged to be connected to an external HART-compatible device to request and receive data from the external device via a HART protocol, and wherein the HART module is operationally connected with the LPW AN module to deliver the received data to the LPW AN module, and wherein the LPW AN module is arranged to send the received data to an external LPW AN compatible server.

Description

Netherlands Patent Office © 2020653 (21) Application number: 2020653 © Application filed: March 23, 2018 © BI OCTROOI @ Int. CL:

G05B 19/042 (2018.01) © Priority:

March 2017 BE BE2017 / 5218 ® Patent holder (s):

Smartlog N.V. in Bilzen, Belgium, BE.

© Application registered:

October 2018 © Request published:

© Patent granted:

October 2018 © Patent issued:

January 2019 © Forwarding data (57) Device for forwarding data, the device including a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) module and a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPW AN) module, the device further including a power supply for receiving electrical power and distributing it to the modules, and wherein the HART module is adapted to be connected to an external HART-compatible device to request and receive data from the external device via a HART protocol , and wherein the HART module is operatively connected to the LPW AN module to deliver the received data to the LPW AN module, and wherein the LPW AN module is arranged to send the received data to an external LPW AN compatible server.

NL Bl 2020653 © Inventor (s):

Jo Nelissen in Genk (BE).

© Authorized representative:

ir. P.J. Hylarides et al. In The Hague.

ci '

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Forwarding of data

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transmitting data.

In industry, the so-called Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) protocol has existed for many years with which “smart” field devices can be controlled or read in process technology. HART uses a digital signal that is modulated on top of the conventional 4 to 20 milliamps signal and that can be used to communicate in two directions. This makes it possible to use a combination of analogue non-HART-compatible devices as well as old and new HART-compatible devices, with which the newer devices can use new functionalities within the HART protocol. Each device is primarily controlled via the conventional 4 to 20 milliampere signal, while HART-compatible devices are further provided to communicate by modulating a high-frequency signal on this conventional signal. The HART protocol is described by the "HART communication foundation", and is considered in this description as a protocol known to those skilled in the art.

Many field devices currently used in the industry, including actuators such as valves, pumps and positioning elements, as well as sensors such as vibration sensors, pressure sensors and temperature sensors, are HART compatible. Using the HART protocol, information can be requested from the field device. For example, a status can be requested from the field device. Error messages can also be requested via the HART protocol. In practice, the HART protocol is mainly used to control the industrial processes. This means that the information in the field device, for example the status and / or the error messages, is only used locally to control the process. This information is typically not kept for two reasons. On the one hand, traditional process control is not designed to keep track of information. On the other hand, it is irrelevant to process control what previous information from the field instrument was, for example the status of the field instrument a week ago.

Because the HART protocol is primarily designed for process control, the protocol is not provided for storing information. This means that valuable information is lost. The evolution of information from a field instrument is particularly relevant for maintenance. For example, a valve that opens and closes 100 times a month will require noticeably more maintenance than a valve that opens and closes only once during a month. Those skilled in the art will understand that this is only one example illustrating the relevance of keeping the information on the field instruments.

To facilitate communication with HART compatible field devices, the so-called WirelessHART has been introduced. WirelessHART is a wireless sensor network technology based on the HART protocol. WirelessHART supports operation in the 2.4 GHz band using IEE 802.15.4 standard radios. The underlying wireless technology is based on the time synchronized mesh protocol (TSMP). WirelessHART is primarily designed to facilitate communication between HART compatible devices when controlling the process. The use of WirelessHART for periodically collecting information from field devices, and sending this information to a server for storage is expensive and risky.

In order to detect trends in information from field devices, the information from these field devices is preferably stored centrally, for example in a server. To collect the information, the information will be periodically requested from the various field devices, using the HART protocol. The information is then sent to the central server for storage therein. On the basis of the information from the field devices, stored periodically, trends can be detected on the basis of which the operation and / or maintenance of the installation can be improved.

Using WirelessHART to request information from the field devices, and forwarding it to a central server is not optimal. In practice, field devices can be spread over a relatively large area. 7jo, for example, a valve can be placed two kilometers away in a process field. Because WirelessHART works on the basis of a mesh topology, multiple WirelessHART devices will have to be provided to cover the relevant area for communication. Furthermore, nodes in the mesh network will be heavily burdened and form a bottleneck for forwarding the information to the server. If the nodes are overloaded, even process control can be influenced, which can have dramatic consequences.

It is an object of the invention to provide a way to efficiently collect information from HART compatible field devices without risk of process control disruption.

To this end, the invention provides an apparatus for transmitting data, the apparatus including a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) module and a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) module, the apparatus further comprising a power supply for the receiving electrical power and distributing it to the modules, and wherein the HART module is arranged to be connected to an external HART-compatible device to request and receive data from the external device via a HART protocol, and wherein the HART module is operationally connected to the LPWAN module to deliver the received data to the LPWAN module, and wherein the LPWAN module is arranged to send the received data to an external LPWAN compatible server.

The device according to the invention has on the one hand a HART module. With the HART module, the device according to the invention can communicate with a HART compatible field device. The device according to the invention can thereby send a HART command for requesting information from the field device, and the device according to the invention can receive the information from the field device. The device according to the invention further has a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) module. With the LPWAN module, the device according to the invention can transmit data over large distances. LPWAN is characterized by a relatively low energy consumption, which is advantageous in remote areas where field devices can be placed.

Furthermore, the LPWAN module is optimized for transmitting relatively limited data over a large distance. Tests have shown that this is optimal for sending information from field devices. The information from field devices is typically limited in size / size, and can therefore be easily transmitted by the LPWAN module. The device according to the invention contains an operational connection between the HART module and the LPWAN module so that the HART module can pass the received information to the LPWAN module for further transmission to an external server. The device according to the invention further has a power supply adapted to receive power and distribute power to the modules. The power supply can in the first instance be formed in various ways, for example by a battery power supply, for example by a mains connection or by a power supply based on the HART signal, as discussed further below.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to extract information from a field device in a simple and efficient manner, and provides a mechanism for sending this information to a central server without thereby influencing the process control. The process control is not affected because the communication path on which the information is sent to the central server does not coincide with communication paths used for the process control. Because the LPWAN module typically operates with a star topology, as opposed to the mesh topology of the Wireless HART technology, it is easy to selectively choose where and at which field device a device according to the invention is placed. One device according to the invention can be placed in a field at a far distance from other similar devices, wherein the one device can operate independently and correctly. This gives a installer or designer of a process installation a great freedom.

The device according to the invention further allows to upgrade an existing industrial installation by adding devices according to the invention to certain field devices in order to send the information from the field devices to a central server. With this, maintenance and / or operation of an existing industrial process can be easily improved.

The device preferably comprises a processor which is arranged to form the operational connection between the HART module and the LPWAN module. Furthermore, the processor is preferably connected to a memory in which HART module instructions and / or commands are related to LPWAN module instructions and / or commands so that the processor forms the operational connection based on the data in the memory. The data in the memory forms a translation table with which the processor can translate, preferably in two directions, between the HART module and the LPWAN module. The processor can send and receive instructions and / or commands in the HART protocol, and respectively receive and send instructions and / or commands in the LPWAN protocol. In addition, the processor uses the table in the memory to make a translation to instructions and / or commands in the other protocol upon receipt of an instruction and / or command in one protocol. This allows the processor to ensure that the HART module can communicate with the LPWAN module in the device, preferably in two directions.

The LPWAN module is preferably arranged to send the received data to an external LPWAN compatible server using a LoRaWAN protocol. Tests have shown that the LoRaWAN protocol is optimal for use in a device according to the invention.

Preferably, the power supply is arranged to be connected to the external HART compatible device to receive power from the HART signal. The HART signal is, as described above, based on a signal from a current source with a current strength between 4 and 20 milliamps and an FSK modulated signal, as described in the general HART specifications and as known to those skilled in the art. The digital component of the HART signal is modulated on the current signal. The current signal can be used by the power supply to drain power so that the device according to the invention can be fed. A major advantage of this technique is that no external power supply must be provided, no mains connection must be provided, no battery must be provided, no solar panels must be provided, etc. In addition, the power supply has been adjusted so as not to significantly disturb the HART signal during receiving assets. In particular, the magnitude of the current should not change appreciably as the power supply of the HART signal decreases, otherwise the power supply would interfere with the process control or the measurement output from the HART field device, which is not the intention.

Preferably, the power supply further comprises an energy storage medium for buffering energy between receiving power and distributing power to the modules. This allows the power supply to extract a relatively small power from the HART signal for a relatively long period, and to store this power, so that when sending data from the LPWAN module, a power peak can be given to the LPWAN module by the nutrition. Thus, the power supply on the one hand does not influence the HART signal and, on the other hand, the power supply does provide the power peak required for transmitting the data.

The device preferably further comprises a firewall which is arranged to block HART write actions by the HART module. The firewall is further preferably of the type where hardware authentication is required for bypassing the firewall. By providing the firewall that blocks HART write actions by the HART module on the external HART compatible device, it can be guaranteed that the device according to the invention does not interfere with the process control. The hardware authentication gives the process equipment owner the guarantee that the process cannot be disturbed undesirably. The firewall is preferably placed between the processor and the heart module.

The LPWAN module is preferably arranged to choose a moment in time for sending to the external LPWAN compatible server. Furthermore, the LPWAN module is preferably arranged to select the moment in time based on a status of the power supply. A power peak is required for sending data via the LPWAN module. The LPWAN module can be arranged to check the status of the power supply, to evaluate whether the power supply has buffered sufficient power for sending the data. Based on this, the moment can be chosen to send the data to the server. This optimizes the power consumption of the device according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method for transmitting data from an external Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) compatible device to an external server, the method comprising providing a device according to any of the preceding claims, and wherein the method further contains:

Retrieve data from the external HART compatible device via a device's HART module;

Receiving the data from the external HART compatible device on the HART module; Transferring the received data to an LPWAN module of the device; Sending of the received data to the external server by the LPWAN module.

For the effects and advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the effects and advantages of the apparatus according to the invention described above. The method has the same effects and advantages.

Preferably, the method further comprises triggering the LPWAN module of the HART module to request the data.

Preferably, the triggering occurs at a moment in time that is chosen by the LPWAN module based on a status of the power supply. Alternatively, triggering takes place at fixed moments in time or at fixed intervals, cyclical or non-cyclical. A further alternative is triggering on the basis of a received instruction on the LPWAN module, coming from the LPWAN network. These instructions can, for example, be received from a gateway via the LoRaWAN protocol. Further alternatively and preferably, multiple triggers are combined. For example, an LPWAN module can receive a trigger from a gateway, the LPWAN module further evaluating whether the status of the power supply meets predetermined criteria. It can be checked whether the power supply has built up sufficient power to send data via the LPWAN module.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; and figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawing, the same reference numeral is assigned to the same or analogous element.

Below, a brief explanation will be given of the various technologies that may or may not have been preferably used in the apparatus and method according to the invention.

LPWAN

To begin with, a distinction is made between a wireless license on the one hand and a wireless license-free network spectrum on the other. If the most commonly used frequencies on which wireless communication takes place are considered, here are some bands that can be used freely, without having to pay license fees.

Notwithstanding these tires being free to use, their users are bound by the local rules on their use. In Belgium it is so-called BIPT that draws up these rules. These rules can vary from country to country, from region to region, but are generally very similar within the same continent. In this description, it is assumed that a person skilled in the art is familiar with these rules, and can adapt the invention to conform to these rules.

In Belgium and by extension in Europe, the most important license free spectrums can be found at 433Mhz, 868Mhz, 2.4Ghz. License bands are defined as the frequency ranges to which license and / or licensing obligation applies for their use. Examples are GSM 900, UMTS2100, Tetra. For use of the invention, the license-free 868 MHz frequency band is preferably used. The American counterpart is at 915Mhz.

The invention uses the Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technology. The invention preferably uses the LoRa technology, which is based on the LPWAN technology. The modulation technique is described in the prior art and is known to those skilled in the art under the name LoRa. The LoRaWAN protocol is chosen as the protocol. The LoRAWAN protocol will ensure that all local rules are met. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the LPWAN module will be a LoRa module.

Via the LPWAN technology, or preferably the LoRa technology, data from an LPWAN module or from a LoRa module can be sent to a gateway that is in a network, for example a TCP / IP network. The LoRa topology is a star topology so that every LoRa module sends its data directly to the gateway. The gateway is then provided to further transmit the data received from the LoRa module over the TCP / IP network to a server. When in the current description it is discussed that data is sent via the LPWAN module to an external server, it will be clear that the LPWAN module sends the data via the LPWAN or LoRa technology to the gateway, and that the gateway forwards the data further to the server.

European patent documents EP2449690 and EP2763321 are incorporated herein by reference for a detailed description of the LoRa modulation scheme and the LoRa technology. In the current description, therefore, only a few details will be described for clarity.

Lora modulation is based on a sequence of frequency beeps (chirps in English), the frequency of which changes according to a predetermined time interval, from an initial direct frequency value f ₀ to a final direct frequency ƒ i. This modulation scheme is used in the long-range LoRa ™ RF technology from Semtech Corporation, and will simply be referred to as "LoRa" in this description.

HEART

Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) is pre-eminently the most used digital communication technology used in the process industry, with more than 30 million field devices installed worldwide that support HART technology.

HART is a worldwide standard for sending and receiving digital information on the 4-20mA analog current loops that connect the vast majority of field devices. The HART technology offers a reliable solution for process operators who want to use the benefits of intelligent devices with digital communication, while maintaining the existing investment in analogue instrumentation and cabling. HART is simple, reliable and easy to use.

The HART signal is an FSK modulated signal on top of a 4 to 20 mA analog signal. Depending on the function of the HART device, it will generate the 4..20 mA signal as an indication of its primary value or it will accept a 4..20 mA signal as the setpoint for its primary value. The HART signal is in principle separate from this primary 4..20mA signal and lean are considered extra on top of the primary function of the network.

The so-called FieldComm Group owns the HART specifications and provides for the development of specifications, training and product registrations associated with the technology. HART has since become an IEC standard.

The person skilled in the art is familiar with the HART protocol, and can apply the HART protocol according to the specifications. Therefore, the HART protocol and HART technology are not further explained in this description.

Embodiments

Figure 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 1 provides an operational connection between, on the one hand, an external HART compatible field device 4 and, on the other hand, a gateway 16 which is placed at a distance from the external HART compatible field device 4. In this context, it will be clear that in the situation of Figure 1 no communication connection is between the external HART compatible field device 4 and the gateway 16.

The device 1 contains a HART module 2 and contains a LoRa module 3. Therefore, the device 1 is hereinafter also referred to as a HART-LoRa device. As already explained above, the LoRa module uses the LPWAN technology. It will therefore be clear to those skilled in the art that the LoRa module is only a preferred embodiment, and that by extension other LPWAN technologies can also be built into the device 1.

The HART module 2 contains a HART transceiver 5. Via the Hart transceiver 5 is the

HART module 2 provided for connection to the external HART compatible field device

4. Via this connection the HART module 2, using the HART protocol, can communicate with the external HART compatible field device 4. This means in concrete terms that the

HART module 2 is provided to send, via the HART transceiver 5, a HART command to the external HART compatible field device 4. In response to the command, the external HART compatible field device 4 can send information back to the HART module 2. This information can relate for example to a status of the external HART compatible field device 4, and / or to error messages from the external HART compatible field device 4. These are just a few examples of types of information that can be retrieved and forwarded via the HART protocol. The invention is not limited to this list.

The LoRa module 3 contains a LoRa transceiver 6 for sending data via the LoRaWan protocol. Sending data is illustrated in Figure 1 with reference numeral 15. Via the LoRa protocol, data can be sent, through the LoRa module 3, to a gateway 16. The gateway 16 is typically located at a distance from the device 1, which distance to can be a few kilometers.

The device 1 is further provided with one or more processors which connects the HART module 2 and the LORA module 3 operationally. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the processor gives two parts, shown as first processor 13 placed on the HART module 2 side, and a second processor 14 placed on the LoRa module 3 side. The first processor 13 is adapted to communicate with the HART transceiver 5. Typically, the first processor 13 therefore contains a so-called HART protocol stack. The HART protocol stack is defined in the HART protocol specification, and contains at least the HART protocol commands and instructions. On the other hand, the first processor 13 comprises an internal protocol stack, with which the first processor 13 can communicate with the second processor 14. In other words, the first processor 13 is provided for internal signals, these are signals which are transmitted between the first processor 13 and the second processor. 14, to be converted to HART signals and vice versa.

The second processor 14 is arranged and configured analogously to the first processor 13. The second processor 14 is provided to communicate with the LoRa transceiver 6. To this end, the second processor 14 contains the LoRaWAN protocol stack. Furthermore, the second processor 14 includes the internal protocol stack for communicating with the first processor 13. Thus, the second processor 14 provides a mechanism for converting internal signals to LoRa compatible signals and vice versa.

An important preferred aspect of the invention relates to process control. In particular, the device 1 will not be allowed to interfere with the process control, to guarantee to the process operator that the process control is not adversely affected. Because the device 1 contains a HART module 2, it cannot theoretically be excluded that, without taking additional measures, the heart module 2 sends heart commands to the external HART compatible field device 4. Thus, without additional measures, it is theoretically possible that the process control is influenced is going to be. To prevent this, a safety mechanism is built into the device 1.

In the embodiment in Figure 1, the security mechanism 12 is provided for interrupting and preferably physically interrupting the communication between the first processor 13 and the second processor 14, in the direction of the first processor 13. In practice, a physical interruption will be more preferable than a software interruption because the physical interruption is typically less sensitive to malicious manipulation. By interrupting the communication from the second processor 14 to the first processor 13, it can be guaranteed that the HART module 2 does not receive instructions from the LoRa module 3 to send HART instructions to the external HART compatible field device 4. This causes that if the device 1 were to be hacked via the wireless connection, and the LoRa module 3 received instructions to send a rogue HART command, the LoRa module 3 cannot pass these instructions on to the HART module 2. The security mechanism 12 is then preferably arranged such that a physical key is required to activate the connection between the HART module 2 and the LoRa module 3, in the direction of the HART module 2. Such a protection mechanism 12 gives an industrial process operator the guarantee that the device 1 will not have a negative influence on the process control. In the connection between the first processor 13 and the second processor 14, diodes can be placed which do indeed have a current, and thereby allow a signal in the direction from the first processor 13 to the second processor 14, but not vice versa. The first processor 13 can then be arranged to periodically interrogate the external HART compatible device 14 via the HART tranceiver so that relevant information can also be periodically sent to the LoRa module 3, without the LoRa module 3 having to request it.

The device 1 further comprises a power supply 11 which is adapted to receive electrical power, and which is arranged to distribute the electrical power between the modules in the device 1. A preferred embodiment of the power supply 11 will be discussed in detail below.

Figure 2 shows an alternative preferred embodiment of a device 1 with a HART module 2 and a LoRa module 3. In this embodiment, the processor 7 for the operational connection of the HART module 2 with the LoRa module 3 is designed in one block. The processor 7 can be operationally connected to a memory 8 in which a HART protocol stack and a LoRa protocol stack are stored in relation to each other. In this way, the processor 7 can convert a signal from the LoRa module 3 to a signal for the HART module 2 and vice versa.

In the embodiment of Figure 2 the security is formed by a firewall 9. The firewall 9 can be configured in various ways. For example, a firewall can be provided with a memory in which a list of prohibited HART commands are stored, and in which the firewall 9 is configured to block the commands from the memory. Such a firewall 9 is known as a so-called pass-through processor. If the processor 7 would send a prohibited command to the transceiver 5, this command will be blocked by the firewall 9 and will therefore not arrive at the HART transceiver 5. The memory of the firewall 9 can be fused to update software and / or hacking appearance. The firewall 9 can be provided with a bypass 10. Preferably, the bypass 10 can be switched on and off by means of a physical key. The physical key guarantees the industrial process operator, partly on the basis of the specifications of the firewall 9, that the device 1 cannot influence the process control undesirably.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the firewall 9 is constructed upside down in the sense that the firewall 9 has only stored a list of predetermined permitted commands in a memory. In addition, the firewall 9 is configured to only allow commands that are in the list, and to block all other commands. As a result, only a few commands can be included in the list, with which the HART module 2 can request information from the field device. All other commands can be blocked by firewall 9.

Figure 2 further illustrates schematically how the gateway 16 is connected to a server 18 via a network 17. In this way, the gateway 16 can transmit the received information, via the network 17, for example a TCP / IP network, to the server 18. On the server 18 the data can be processed and categorized. Furthermore, big data analyzes can be performed to recognize trends in data evolution. Maintenance and / or process control can be optimized with this.

A further important preferred aspect of the invention relates to the power supply of the device. Figures 1 and 2 show a basic block 11 as a power supply, and illustrates with two arrows towards the HART module 2 and the LoRa module 3, respectively, that the power supply 11 supplies the modules with energy.

The power supply 11 is provided, on the one hand, to receive electrical power from an external source and, on the other hand, to buffer and receive the electrical power received correctly to modules 2 and 3. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other operating components described in this description whether or not they are emphasized can also be supplied with energy through the food 11.

The external source that supplies electrical power to the power supply 11 can be formed in various ways in the broadest sense. For example, a battery can be provided to supply external energy. A solar panel can also be provided, whether or not in combination with a battery. Furthermore, a connection can be provided for a mains voltage or other supply voltage that is present in the vicinity of the device 1, so that an installer can connect the device 1 to the external mains voltage or other supply voltage.

The power supply 11 is preferably provided with a module for extracting electrical energy from the signal with which the external HART compatible device 4 works. As described above, the signal contains an analog component, driven from a current source, which is typically between 4 and 20 mA. In this preferred embodiment, the power supply 11 must be arranged to extract energy without appreciably influencing the magnitude of the analog signal.

To this end, the power supply 11 is preferably provided with an internal energy buffer. Furthermore, the power supply 11 is preferably provided to extract a predetermined maximum power from the HART signal. This predetermined maximum power has been selected by those skilled in the art as an additional power that can be supplied by the current source that generates the HART signal in such a way that the original 4..20 mA signal is not affected. In other words, this predetermined maximum power will preferably be smaller than the peak power required for the HART module 2 and / or the LoRa module 3 to work. This predetermined maximum power may possibly be conditional. The power extracted from the HART signal is then buffered in the internal energy buffer so that the power supply 11 can build up the power needed in the buffer to send to the HART module 2 and / or LoRa module 3. Technically, ICs are available for extracting electrical power from a HART signal without influencing the signal. An example of such an IC is the LTC3255 from Linear Technology. Those skilled in the art are familiar with such technical solutions, and therefore these solutions are not described in further detail.

On the basis of the above description, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced in different ways and on different principles. In addition, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The embodiments described above, as well as the figures, are merely illustrative and serve only to increase the understanding of the invention. The invention will therefore not be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined in the claims.

Claims (15)

Conclusions An apparatus for transmitting data, the apparatus comprising a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) module and a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) module, the apparatus further comprising a power supply for receiving electrical power and distributing it to the modules, and wherein the HART module is arranged to be connected to an external HART-compatible device to request and receive data from the external device via a HART protocol, and wherein the HART module is operatively connected is with the LPWAN module to deliver the received data to the LPWAN module, and wherein the LPWAN module is arranged to send the received data to an external LPWAN compatible server. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a processor adapted to form the operational connection between the HART module and the LPWAN module. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further connected to a memory in which HART module instructions and / or commands are related to LPWAN module instructions and / or commands such that the processor forms the operational connection based on the data in the memory. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the LPWAN module is arranged to send the received data to an external LPWAN compatible server using a LoRaWAN protocol. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply is adapted to be connected to the external HART-compatible device to receive power from the HART signal. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the power supply is adapted to not appreciably disturb the magnitude of the current of the HART signal during the receiving of power. The apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein the power supply further comprises an energy storage medium for buffering energy between receiving power and distributing the power to the modules. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises a firewall configured to block HART write actions through the HART module. The device of claim 8, wherein the firewall is of the type for which hardware authentication is required to bypass the firewall. Device according to claim 8 or 9 and according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the firewall is placed between the processor and the HART module. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the LPWAN module is arranged to select a moment in time for sending to the external LPWAN compatible server. The device of claim 11, wherein the LPWAN module is arranged to select the moment in the sufferer based on a status of the power supply. A method for sending data from an external Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) compatible device to an external server, the method comprising providing a device according to any of the preceding claims, and wherein the method further comprises: Retrieve data from the external HART compatible device via a device's HART module; Receiving the data from the external HART compatible device on the HART module; Transferring the received data to an LPWAN module of the device; Sending of the received data to the external server by the LPWAN module. The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises: Trigger through the LPWAN module of the HART module to request the data. The method of claim 14, wherein the triggering occurs at a time in time selected by the LPWAN module based on a status of the power supply. 2i2