Abstract: An automation system and a method for controlling a process and for monitoring the condition of process equipment. The method comprises the steps of measuring process signals indicating the condition of the process by means of a first sensor; measuring condition monitoring signals indicating the condition of process components by means of a second sensor; processing the process signals by means of a first I/O module; processing the condition monitoring signals by means of a second I/O module; transmitting the processed process signals obtained from the first I/O module to a process station. The method also comprises the steps of transferring the processed condition monitoring signals obtained from the second I/O module to the same process station; and processing both the said processed process signals and the said processed condition monitoring signals by process station software in the said process station.

Abstract: An automation system and a method for controlling a process and for monitoring the condition of process equipment. The method comprises the steps of measuring process signals indicating the condition of the process by means of a first sensor; measuring condition monitoring signals indicating the condition of process components by means of a second sensor; processing the process signals by means of a first I/O module; processing the condition monitoring signals by means of a second I/O module; transmitting the processed process signals obtained from the first I/O module to a process station. The method also comprises the steps of transferring the processed condition monitoring signals obtained from the second I/O module to the same process station; and processing both the said processed process signals and the said processed condition monitoring signals by process station software in the said process station.

Abstract: A method and a system for ensuring the operation of a field bus. In the method the field bus is controlled with two control servers one of which is at a time set active and one is set passive. The control servers are connected with a backup bus. In the method, a first message is sent at intervals from the active control server via said field bus to the passive control server, and the active control server waits for a response message to the first message from the passive control server. If the active control server does not receive said response message within a predetermined time, first data on the fault situation is set. The passive control server waits for said second message, in which case if the passive control server does not receive said first message within a predetermined time, second data on the fault situation is set. The invention also relates to a system, in which the method is applied, as well as to a control server to be used in the system.