Abstract: An aggregator is designed to form first data connections to field access devices. The field access devices are connected to different network segments of a field bus system. The aggregator forms a second data connection to a host computer. The aggregator receive first data traffic from the host computer via the second data connections and to forward the first data traffic, via the first data connections to a field access device of that network segment in which the particular field bus component, to which the first data traffic is directed, is situated. The aggregator is also designed to receive second data traffic from a field bus component in one of the network segments via at least one of the first data connections and to forward the second data traffic to at least one of the host computers via at least one of the second data connections.

Abstract: A method for connecting a field device to a first cloud based service platform includes reading-out a first ticket from the field device using the first service device, wherein the first ticket includes at least one piece of information identifying the field device. The first ticket is transmitted to a second cloud based service platform from the first service device. The method also includes mutual associating and verifying of the first ticket and a second ticket produced at the manufacturer and stored in the second service platform. In the case of successful verifying, the connecting information for the first cloud based service platform is transmitted from the second cloud based service platform to the first service device. A communication connection between the first service device and the first cloud based service platform is established based on the connecting information transmitted from the second service platform.

Abstract: A method for transmitting security settings between a first automation engineering field device and a second automation engineering field device includes: identifying and authenticating an operator by means of a service unit; assigning an authorization group based on the identifying and authenticating of the operator; in the case, in which the operator is assigned the administrator authorization group: encrypting at least one security setting, which is present in cleartext, by the first field device; exporting the encrypted security setting; importing the encrypted security setting into the second field device; decrypting the encrypted security setting; loading the decrypted security setting into the data memory of the second field device and operating the second field device with the loaded security setting of the first field device.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for monitoring an automated plant having at least one field device, wherein a first cloud-capable database, having a first data configuration and containing field device related data including measured values, parameter values, identification data, and diagnostic status of the field device, wherein a second cloud-capable database having a second data configuration incompatible with the first data configuration, and wherein the first and the second data configurations define file formats of the data, the method comprises: retrieving at least a part of the data contained in the first database by means of a data conversion unit, especially an edge device or a gateway; converting the retrieved data into a format conforming to the second data configuration; and storing the converted data in the second database. The invention further includes a data conversion unit, which is embodied for executing the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method for validating a field device is disclosed. The field device includes a plurality of hardware and software modules and is provided with a first cryptographic signature on the manufacturer side. The first cryptographic signature identifies the device manufacturer or the original delivery state of the field device. The origin and integrity of the field device is validated on the customer side using the first cryptographic signature. Once the field device is adapted to a defined machinery, the field device is provided with a second cryptographic signature on the customer side. The second cryptographic signature identifies the adaptations of the field device made on the customer side as a machinery-specific desired state of the field device. At least one validation of the field device is carried out on the customer side using the second cryptographic signature during the period of installation of the field device in the defined machinery.

Abstract: Described is an interface apparatus for performing data interchange, or exchange, between a fieldbus network and a cloud. The interface apparatus includes a first interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with at least one fieldbus component of the fieldbus network, and a second interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with the cloud. The first interface is embodied as an interface corresponding to the application programming interface of the cloud, wherein an interface definition of the first interface agrees with an interface definition of the application programming interface of the cloud. The interface apparatus is embodied to convert a request for a cloud service received via the first interface from a fieldbus component of the fieldbus network into a request addressed to the cloud for a cloud service and to transfer such via the second interface to the cloud.

Abstract: A method for storing data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration of a field device in a cloud, with the field device having a self-monitoring functionality. The method includes device-internal registering of first data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration by the field device and transfer of the device-internally registered first data from the field device to the cloud. Moreover, the method includes registering second data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration of the field device using an external service computer and transferring the second data from the external service computer to the cloud. Both the first data as well as also the second data are stored in the cloud.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for establishing a network communication between network participant and a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus is configured to reset the operating system of the communication apparatus based on an image file located in the communication apparatus after turning on or restarting the communication apparatus, and start the operating system based on the image file, and execute a script. The script initiates or controls starting a first frame application, incorporating at least one communication application into the first frame application, and executing, using the communication application, a scan of a first communication network connected to the communication apparatus and ascertaining identification of all network participants deployed in the first communication network, as well as to a communication apparatus for performing the method of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An aggregator is designed to form first data connections to field access devices. The field access devices are connected to different network segments of a field bus system. The aggregator forms a second data connection to a host computer. The aggregator receive first data traffic from the host computer via the second data connections and to forward the first data traffic, via the first data connections to a field access device of that network segment in which the particular field bus component, to which the first data traffic is directed, is situated. The aggregator is also designed to receive second data traffic from a field bus component in one of the network segments via at least one of the first data connections and to forward the second data traffic to at least one of the host computers via at least one of the second data connections.

Abstract: A fieldbus component of the present disclosure is configured to transfer data either in a first data transfer mode to a public cloud or in a second data transfer mode to a private cloud. The fieldbus component includes a setting element, which is selectively settable to a first setting or to a second setting. The fieldbus component is configured to transfer data in the first data transfer mode to the public cloud when the setting element is set to the first setting and to transfer data in the second data transfer mode to the private cloud when the setting element is set to the second setting.

Abstract: The present disclosure resides in a method for monitoring an automated facility, wherein a plurality of field devices are integrated in the facility, comprising: connecting a cloud gateway with a first communication network of the facility; ascertaining field devices connected to the first communication network; testing whether device descriptions corresponding to the field devices are present in a server connected with the cloud gateway via a second communication network; downloading from the server device descriptions corresponding to the field devices and installing the device descriptions in the cloud gateway; creating a configuration plan, wherein the configuration plan defines at least one field device to be queried, the type of queried data, and the frequency of the querying; transmitting the configuration plan to the cloud gateway; querying data from the queried field devices according to the configuration plan; transmitting queried data to the server; and collecting and evaluating transmitted data.

Abstract: A method for checking the authenticity of electronic modules is disclosed. Each electronic module is assigned a key pair confirming the identity of the electronic module, wherein each key pair consists of a public key and a private key, and wherein the public keys of the key pairs are stored in a list. The list is assigned to the field device, and: when an electronic module is exchanged or added, the field device checks: whether the exchanged or added electronic module has a key pair, and whether the public key of the exchanged or added electronic module is listed in the list of public keys, and whether the electronic module is in possession of the correct private key. Interaction of the changed electronic module with the field device concerning the functionality of the field device is permitted if the check is concluded with a positive result.

Abstract: A fieldbus network is described, which has at least one device as well as a connecting apparatus, wherein the connecting apparatus is designed to transfer data from the fieldbus network into a cloud. Installed in at least one of the devices is a derived class, which is derived from a predetermined head class, wherein head attributes are established by the predetermined head class and additional device specific attributes are established by the derived class, wherein the at least one of the devices is designed based on the derived class to produce a data object for the data transfer to the cloud. The connecting apparatus is designed to receive the data object of the device, to convert at least a part of the data contained in the data object into a format of an interface of the cloud and to write the data into the cloud.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for tamper-proof operation of a field device in automation engineering, comprising: creating an order ticket via or using an order management system, wherein the order ticket contains data authorizing a defined service technician to perform a defined work order on a defined field device, transmitting the order ticket to the defined field device, logging-in of the defined service technician to the defined field device by means of the order ticket or by additional input of authentication data, checking the order ticket or the authentication data by means of the field device, if the check is positive, authorization is given to perform the defined work order, performing of the defined work order by the defined service technician on the defined field device, and automatic creation of a confirmation ticket relating to the defined work order or its performance on the defined field device.

Abstract: A fieldbus component of the present disclosure is configured to transfer data either in a first data transfer mode to a public cloud or in a second data transfer mode to a private cloud. The fieldbus component includes a setting element, which is selectively settable to a first setting or to a second setting. The fieldbus component is configured to transfer data in the first data transfer mode to the public cloud when the setting element is set to the first setting and to transfer data in the second data transfer mode to the private cloud when the setting element is set to the second setting.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for establishing a network communication between network participant and a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus is configured to reset the operating system of the communication apparatus based on an image file located in the communication apparatus after turning on or restarting the communication apparatus, and start the operating system based on the image file, and execute a script. The script initiates or controls starting a first frame application, incorporating at least one communication application into the first frame application, and executing, using the communication application, a scan of a first communication network connected to the communication apparatus and ascertaining identification of all network participants deployed in the first communication network, as well as to a communication apparatus for performing the method of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method for storing data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration of a field device in a cloud, with the field device having a self-monitoring functionality. The method includes device-internal registering of first data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration by the field device and transfer of the device-internally registered first data from the field device to the cloud. Moreover, the method includes registering second data for at least one of a device state, device diagnosis and calibration of the field device using an external service computer and transferring the second data from the external service computer to the cloud. Both the first data as well as also the second data are stored in the cloud.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for monitoring an automated plant having at least one field device, wherein a first cloud-capable database, having a first data configuration and containing field device related data including measured values, parameter values, identification data, and diagnostic status of the field device, wherein a second cloud-capable database having a second data configuration incompatible with the first data configuration, and wherein the first and the second data configurations define file formats of the data, the method comprises: retrieving at least a part of the data contained in the first database by means of a data conversion unit, especially an edge device or a gateway; converting the retrieved data into a format conforming to the second data configuration; and storing the converted data in the second database. The invention further includes a data conversion unit, which is embodied for executing the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure resides in a method for monitoring an automated facility, wherein a plurality of field devices are integrated in the facility, comprising: connecting a cloud gateway with a first communication network of the facility; ascertaining field devices connected to the first communication network; testing whether device descriptions corresponding to the field devices are present in a server connected with the cloud gateway via a second communication network; downloading from the server device descriptions corresponding to the field devices and installing the device descriptions in the cloud gateway; creating a configuration plan, wherein the configuration plan defines at least one field device to be queried, the type of queried data, and the frequency of the querying; transmitting the configuration plan to the cloud gateway; querying data from the queried field devices according to the configuration plan; transmitting queried data to the server; and collecting and evaluating transmitted data.

Abstract: Described is an interface apparatus for performing data interchange, or exchange, between a fieldbus network and a cloud. The interface apparatus includes a first interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with at least one fieldbus component of the fieldbus network, and a second interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with the cloud. The first interface is embodied as an interface corresponding to the application programming interface of the cloud, wherein an interface definition of the first interface agrees with an interface definition of the application programming interface of the cloud. The interface apparatus is embodied to convert a request for a cloud service received via the first interface from a fieldbus component of the fieldbus network into a request addressed to the cloud for a cloud service and to transfer such via the second interface to the cloud.