Abstract: A method/device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool designed to physically identify a field device in the automation installation and logically identify its field device type, to logically incorporate and configure it into the automation installation, the tool to this end resorting to a prescribed field-device-type-specific information package at least partially describing functions and data of the field device type.

Abstract: A method/device for managing/configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool designed to physically identify a field device therein, to logically incorporate it into, and configure it in, the automation installation, wherein the configuration tool to uses a prescribed field-device-type-specific information package describing functions and data of the field device at least partially and wherein the configuration tool has a server and a client, the server being designed to integrate received configuration data with the field-device-type-specific information package into an information package and to validate and process the information package with a piece of validation logic, and the client having a user interface for taking the configuration data. To avoid bottlenecks in the client/server communication, the client is equipped with an information package instance, and is designed to integrate taken configuration data into a package and validate the package.

Abstract: A device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool that is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate it into the automation installation and to configure it in the automation installation, the configuration tool resorting for this purpose to a prescribed first field-device-specific information packet that describes the functions and data of the field device at least in part. In order to alter the size of windows in the relationship context, the windows in a relationship context being arranged in matrix form, directly adjacently, with the window boundaries forming a lattice structure of intersecting window boundary lines, each node of the intersecting window boundary lines has an associated operator control element, the operator control element has a control area, and activation of an operator control element renders the window boundary lines intersecting at this node relocatable.

Abstract: A device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool that is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate it into the automation installation and to configure it in the automation installation, wherein, to this end, the configuration tool resorts to a prescribed first field-device-specific information packet that describes the functions and data of the field device at least in part. In order to ascertain the origin of a system report, it is proposed that the hierarchic structure of the automation installation be mapped in the configuration tool by nested geometric figures in a screen element. On each hierarchy level, each object is represented by a geometric figure. The geometric figures of each object of a superordinate hierarchy level each form a frame around the geometric figures of the objects of the respectively subordinate hierarchy level.

Abstract: A device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool that is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate it into the automation installation and to configure it in the automation installation, the configuration tool communicating with the field devices and ascertaining the device status thereof on a regular cycle. In order to visualize the validity of a device status ascertained in the past, each field device may have, in the configuration tool, an associated device status symbol whose appearance changes dynamically on the basis of the time elapsed (t1, t2, t3) since the time (t0) of the last update of the device status.

Abstract: A device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool that is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate it into the automation installation and to configure it in the automation installation, the configuration tool resorting for this purpose to a prescribed first field-device-specific information packet that describes the functions and data of the field device at least in part. To improve lucidity, a self-contained screen element for calling a plurality of functions of a related functional area is provided, which screen element has a plurality of sensitive subregions, each of the sensitive subregions being denoted by an individual symbol and being designed to call a function of the related functional area.

Abstract: A method and device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool operative to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, logically incorporate it into the automation installation, and configure it in the automation installation, the configuration tool resorting for this purpose to a predefined first field-device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device and for this purpose has a predetermined set of predefined graphical elements.

Abstract: A device for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool which is operative to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate it into the automation installation and to configure it in the automation installation, the configuration tool resorting for this purpose to a predefined first field-device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device and displays them in predefined screen elements. The configuration tool may be operative to individually arrange a plurality of screen elements of device-specific parameters, functions and/or graphical representations, which are predefined for display on a plurality of pages in the device-type-specific device description file, on a single device-specific page in an application-specific manner.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool which is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate the field device into the automation installation, and to configure the field in the automation installation, the configuration tool including a predefined first field-device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device. The field devices can be represented in each case by identical screen elements in the configuration tool, which screen elements have a same construction and same functions independently of a location of a device selection.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool which is designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, to logically incorporate the field device in the automation installation and to configure the field device in the automation installation, the configuration tool including a predefined first field-device-specific information packet which at least partially describes the functions and data of the field device. For repeated performance of actions for devices and displays which are already being used, a permanent device overview includes all devices which are already being used, and a temporary display overview includes all displays which are already being used for a device, the temporary display overview being displayed on an individual-device basis in each case when a device is selected from the permanent device overview.

Abstract: An exemplary method and device provides for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool. The configuration tool is configured to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, logically incorporate the field device in the automation installation, and configure the field device in the automation installation. For this purpose, the configuration tool uses a predefined field-device-specific information packet that describes the functions and data of the field device and includes a display for displaying the functions and data of the field device in an instantiated manner in windows or dialogs. Windows of the same device entity for the same input context are grouped by a common marking and displayed in a superordinate window.

Abstract: An exemplary method and device provide for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation. In order to make the management and configuration of field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool flexible, a tool-specific information packet is formed from a first field-device-specific information packet and a second field-device-specific information packet. The second field-device-specific information packet including functions and data which go beyond the stipulation of the first field-device-specific information packet. The field device is managed and configured using the tool-specific information packet.

Abstract: An exemplary method and device provide for managing and configuring field devices in an automation installation with a configuration tool designed to physically detect a field device in the automation installation, logically incorporate the field device in the automation installation, and configure the field device in the automation installation. For this purpose, the configuration tool uses a predefined field-device-specific information packet which describes the functions and data of the field device. The functions and data of the field device are displayed in an instantiated manner in windows or dialogs on a display. In order to improve clarity, the display groups windows of the same device entity for the same input context and displays them in a superordinate group window.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for conditioning a tool for configuring a freely programmable control device for integrating intelligent field devices in a control or automation system having a flexibly expandable hardware structure, in which device-related information is visualized as objects of a branched tree structure. To improve user-friendliness, recording use of these objects by the user over the service life of the control or automation system allows for determining usage frequency. Objects with a high usage frequency which are subordinate to a hierarchically superordinate object are allocated to an object list assigned to the respective superordinate object. When using the hierarchically superordinate object, the object list containing the objects with a high usage frequency which are hierarchically subordinate to this superordinate object is displayed in the tool and offered to the user for selection.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for conditioning a tool for configuring a freely programmable control device for integrating intelligent field devices in a control or automation system having a flexibly expandable hardware structure, in which device-related information is visualized as objects of a branched tree structure. To improve user-friendliness, recording use of these objects by the user over the service life of the control or automation system allows for determining usage frequency. Objects with a high usage frequency which are subordinate to a hierarchically superordinate object are allocated to an object list assigned to the respective superordinate object. When using the hierarchically superordinate object, the object list containing the objects with a high usage frequency which are hierarchically subordinate to this superordinate object is displayed in the tool and offered to the user for selection.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for integrating field devices in an automation system having a plurality of field devices connectable via at least one bus system. A respective field device is connected to the bus system of the automation system, and is automatically addressed by a superordinate controller using a predefined default address. The device addressed using the default address then registers in the system with its device address, and a fixed address which is provided from a multiplicity of unassigned addresses from an address memory is automatically allocated to the device registered in the system. An individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from the predetermined configuration of the automation system is allocated to the allocated fixed address, and, after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the field device, the field device is changed to a suitable state for communication with the superordinate controller.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for integrating field devices in an automation system having a plurality of field devices connectable via at least one bus system. A respective field device is connected to the bus system of the automation system, and is automatically addressed by a superordinate controller using a predefined default address. The device addressed using the default address then registers in the system with its device address, and a fixed address which is provided from a multiplicity of unassigned addresses from an address memory is automatically allocated to the device registered in the system. An individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from the predetermined configuration of the automation system is allocated to the allocated fixed address, and, after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the field device, the field device is changed to a suitable state for communication with the superordinate controller.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to manage and represent development processes. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes a method for managing a software development process. The method includes providing a cookbook describing tasks in a framework of the development process and managing performance of the development process with the cookbook. A first task description identifies an activity in the development process, an input for performance of the activity, an output consequential of performance of the activity, and instructions for performance of the activity.

Abstract: A system for communication between operating equipment and field equipment, which, via a communications network, can be connected at least temporarily to a terminal for the purpose of data interchange. To this end, there is provided an application computer and a gateway server at nodes of the communications network. Loaded and executed on the gateway server are programs which comprise methods for speech recognition, for converting text to speech and telephony functions and also interpretation of VXML documents. The data interchange between the terminal and the gateway server is carried out using natural speech. A server process and at least one field-equipment specific software program is loaded and executed on the application computer and comprises the control mechanism for a specific item of field equipment which can be addressed by the application computer.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to manage and represent development processes. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes a method for managing a software development process. The method includes providing a cookbook describing tasks in a framework of the development process and managing performance of the development process with the cookbook. A first task description identifies an activity in the development process, an input for performance of the activity, an output consequential of performance of the activity, and instructions for performance of the activity.