Abstract: A field device and method for starting up an industrial automation network, wherein to allow virtual start-up of at least one field device, an field device integration package is provided, whose user interface plug-in has an extension that allows a software tool to access a simulation model for the behavior of the at least one field device, and upon virtual start-up, the simulation model is used to reproduce the response of the field device, where a process model or interfacing of an external process model via a co-simulation coupling can also be used to stimulate the reproduced field device behavior, and where because the models with the FDI package are provided by the field device manufacturer, correct simulation and hence minimization of the risks upon start-up of industrial installations can be expected.

Abstract: A field device and method for starting up an industrial automation network, wherein to allow virtual start-up of at least one field device, an field device integration package is provided, whose user interface plug-in has an extension that allows a software tool to access a simulation model for the behavior of the at least one field device, and upon virtual start-up, the simulation model is used to reproduce the response of the field device, where a process model or interfacing of an external process model via a co-simulation coupling can also be used to stimulate the reproduced field device behavior, and where because the models with the FDI package are provided by the field device manufacturer, correct simulation and hence minimization of the risks upon start-up of industrial installations can be expected.

Abstract: A method is specified for operating an automation system, wherein a description object appropriate to a type of the respective program code object and a description object reference referencing the respective description object are created when a program code object is instantiated, so that it is possible to completely decouple applications, in other words the program code object as a component of the respective automation solution, and information data compiled in the description object.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the availability of a technical object, comprises the steps of providing a serviceable technical object; defining a service plan; defining a setpoint availability; maintaining the serviceable technical object according to the service plan; determining the actual availability of the serviceable technical object; and automatically adjusting the service plan according to a difference between the setpoint availability and the actual availability.

Abstract: There is described an engineering system for an automation system having data required for engineering the automation system stored in the engineering system, and a determination device to determine automatically in response to a user request from the engineered automation system, maintenance-relevant information for display in a diagnostics area on a visualization system. Furthermore there is described a method for maintaining an automation system having components, wherein the components are connected to an engineering system and maintenance-relevant information is determined by the engineering system. The maintenance-relevant information can be displayed by the engineering system.

Abstract: A method is specified for operating an automation system, wherein a description object appropriate to a type of the respective program code object and a description object reference referencing the respective description object are created when a program code object is instantiated, so that it is possible to completely decouple applications, in other words the program code object as a component of the respective automation solution, and information data compiled in the description object.