Abstract: A method of accessing data from distributed field equipments by a host through a set of intelligent network gateways is disclosed. The intelligent network gateways link the host on a local area network to the field equipments that are connected to a control network. Initially, configuration software residing in the host is employed to install the intelligent network gateways and the field equipments as a set of virtual equipment data servers, which are capable of continuously accessing, updating, and storing data from the field equipments. The virtual equipment data servers always possess the field equipments' most recent data and are able to communicate to any application program with a standard communication protocol. The method and apparatus facilitate the integration of a variety of field equipments with high-speed data links in a factory environment.

Abstract: A method of accessing data from field equipments by the host through intelligent network gateways which link field equipments over control network and the host over local area network is disclosed. A configuration software in the host is used to install intelligent network gateways and field equipments as virtual equipment data servers. After finishing installation, the virtual equipment data servers accessupdate store data of the field equipments continuously. Now, the virtual equipment data servers always possess the last field equipment data and can link any application program with a standard communication protocol. The application can integrate easily and high speed access data of a various of field equipments in the factory with only one standard communication protocol through distributed virtual equipment data servers.