Abstract: A method for providing an expanded name service for an industrial automation system, wherein name-address assignments between device names and communication network addresses are registered in a name service system to provide an expanded name service for an industrial automation system, where device names registered in the name service system have a hierarchical structure represented by a tree structure, where assignments between device names and plant identification codes are additionally registered in the name service system, where the plant identification codes are registered within the same tree structure as the device names, and where end nodes that are respectively assigned to the plant identification codes in the tree structure comprise either a reference to end nodes which are respectively assigned to the device names or intermediate nodes for plant identification codes comprise a reference to intermediate nodes that are respectively assigned to plant units.

Abstract: A modular industrial automation appliance having a backplane bus system, a plurality of functional modules connected to the backplane bus system that each include a communication network adapter, a functional unit for implementing a communication protocol stack and a bridge element linked to the communication network adapter, wherein a router module connected to the backplane bus system is provided that includes a communication network adapter, a functional unit for implementing a router communication protocol stack, where the functional unit is linked to the communication network adapter, and for each functional module a respective link element, and where in such a link element links the functional unit for implementing the router communication protocol stack to the bridge element of the respective functional module via the backplane bus system such that only the communication protocol stack of the router module includes routing functions.

Abstract: Method and system of updating message filter rules of a network access control unit of an industrial communication network. At least one address-based message filter rule is assigned to the first communication device. The first communication device is replaced with the second communication device, and the second communication device is registered in the address management unit in response to the replacement of the first communication device with the second communication device. Upon determining that a communication device with an identical communication device description is already registered, the address management unit transmits a change message to the network access control unit or to the converter unit. The communication network address of the first communication device is replaced with the communication network address of the second communication device based on the at least one address-based message filter rule.

Abstract: A configuration unit of a communication device which communicates a datagram with a configuration request to a configuration server in order to configure a communication device within an industrial automation system, wherein the configuration server allocates to the communication device, in response to the configuration request, at least one first topological device name component assigned to a spatial or hierarchical arrangement of the configuration server, each forwarding distribution unit adds a further topological device name component assigned to a spatial or hierarchical arrangement of the respective forwarding distribution unit, and the configuration unit of the communication device generates the device name thereof from the topological device name components and a name component that is unique within the subnetwork of the device.

Abstract: A method in which first routers have an extended router function for a connection to a superordinate communication network, wherein second routers include a restricted router function for a connection to a subordinate field level subnetwork, where when further first routers are present, the router configuration units of the first routers each use priority values to check which first router has the highest priority value associated with it, where the first router having the highest priority value is configured as a superordinate router for a connection to a superordinate communication network so as to configure a modular control device of an industrial automation system that includes a central unit and at least one communication module that includes a respective integrated router, where router configuration units of the first routers detect available router functions and associated priority values of other routers.

Abstract: A communication device and method for transmit data within an industrial automation system which includes at least one subnetwork having a group of communication devices and a subnetwork control device, wherein a name or configuration service component assigned to the subnetwork control device acquires IPv4 addresses and associated device names for the group of communication devices, an IPv6 address is respectively calculated for the group of communication devices from an IPv6 prefix assigned to the subnetwork and the IPv4 addresses of the communication devices, address translation rules are determined from the IPv4 addresses of the communication devices and the calculated IPv6 addresses and are used for address translation between IPv4 addresses and IPv6 addresses by an address translation unit assigned to the subnetwork control device, and the calculated IPv6 addresses and the associated device names are stored in a superordinate name service server.

Abstract: A configuration data distributing unit that stores an assignment of a first communication device to an address configuration server upon receiving an address configuration request from the first communication device of an industrial automation system, the assignment having a specifiable validity period, and forwards all configuration requests of the first communication device to the address configuration server during the validity period using the stored assignment, whereas the configuration data distributing unit stores an assignment of a second communication device to a prefix configuration server upon receiving a prefix delegation request of the second communication device with a router function, the assignment having a specifiable validity period, and forwards all configuration requests of the second communication device to the prefix configuration server during the validity period using the stored assignment.

Abstract: A method in which a check is performed to determine whether a request originates from a requesting communication device from an IPv6 subnetwork or comprises a destination resource identifier allocated to a Web server component with an IPv6 address or a device name to provide access to device configuration data of an IPv4-based automation device within an industrial automation system in cases of a request for a Web document with device configuration data, wherein if the check result is positive, the Web document is provided with a reference to the device configuration data which includes an Ipv6 address printout or a device name, where in the case of a request for the Web document which originates from a requesting communication device from an IPv4 subnetwork and/or comprises a destination resource identifier with an IPv4 address, the reference to the device configuration data comprises an IPv4 address printout.

Abstract: A method in which first routers have an extended router function for a connection to a superordinate communication network, wherein second routers include a restricted router function for a connection to a subordinate field level subnetwork, where when further first routers are present, the router configuration units of the first routers each use priority values to check which first router has the highest priority value associated with it, where the first router having the highest priority value is configured as a superordinate router for a connection to a superordinate communication network so as to configure a modular control device of an industrial automation system that includes a central unit and at least one communication module that includes a respective integrated router, where router configuration units of the first routers detect available router functions and associated priority values of other routers.

Abstract: A method for allocating network addresses for network subscribers in a segmented network having a plurality of subnetworks that are each connected via a subnetwork router to a busbar system that connects them. In one aspect, the subnetwork routers determine a shared address range locally by exchanging router messages that are distributed via the busbar system. Network addresses for the network subscribers are determined within the address range.

Abstract: A method for providing a name service within an industrial automation system, wherein communication devices of the industrial automation system each check via a name service component whether a device name with a topological or hierarchical name component, which essentially completely designates a spatial or hierarchical arrangement of the respective communication device, is allocated to the respective communication device, where in cases of a positive check result, the communication devices each designate their associated device name as complete device name, and where in cases of a negative check result, the communication devices each independently generate their complete device name from topological or hierarchical name components distributed via messages with router advertisements and a name component unambiguous within their respective subnetwork.

Abstract: A computer network has ports connected to production machines (PM) and communicating with an assigned virtual user interface and a higher-ranking facility located outside the PM. Connection of an additional PM is monitored, in which case a commissioning service automatically assigns a virtual user interface to the additional PM, re-initializes an individual virtual computer network within the computer network and connects the additional PM to the virtual user interface via the re-initialized virtual computer network. Communication between the additional PM and the assigned virtual user interface is isolated from other communications until, a release command is specified. A then activated integration service automatically re-initializes a virtual router for connection to the additional PM via the virtual computer network and configures the re-initialized virtual router such that the additional PM communicates with the higher-ranking facility via the re-initialized virtual router.

Abstract: A method for providing an expanded name service for an industrial automation system, wherein name-address assignments between device names and communication network addresses are registered in a name service system to provide an expanded name service for an industrial automation system, where device names registered in the name service system have a hierarchical structure represented by a tree structure, where assignments between device names and plant identification codes are additionally registered in the name service system, where the plant identification codes are registered within the same tree structure as the device names, and where end nodes that are respectively assigned to the plant identification codes in the tree structure comprise either a reference to end nodes which are respectively assigned to the device names or intermediate nodes for plant identification codes comprise a reference to intermediate nodes that are respectively assigned to plant units.

Abstract: In the case of a secure communication connection to a communication device connected to the industrial automation system via a non-secure subnetwork, a monitoring unit checks whether a new communication network address assigned to the communication device for a connection to the non-secure subnetwork becomes valid. In the event of a change in a communication network address and in the case of a still existing secure communication connection, the monitoring unit transmits an address change notification via the existing secure communication connection, where upon receiving the address change notification, the set-up of an additional secure communication connection and a changeover from the existing secure communication connection to the additional secure communication connection are initiated.

Abstract: Modular industrial automation device and method for configuring a modular industrial automation device, wherein in order to configure the modular industrial automation device which includes a central unit and at least one communication module which each comprise a router module and a routing configuration unit, the routing configuration units transmit routing information stored in their routing table to routing configuration units of other router modules, and the routing configuration units update their respective routing table based on routing information which is received from routing configuration units of other router modules and relates to routes to IPv4 subnetworks assigned to other router modules, a default gateway and a connection between the associated router module and a backplane bus system.

Abstract: Router advertisements containing name information from superordinate subnetworks are received by routers associated with subordinate subnetworks. The router advertisements are supplemented with a topological and/or hierarchical name component associated with the respective router and are distributed inside the respective subordinate subnetwork. Communication terminals independently generate their device name from topological and/or hierarchical name components and a unique name component inside their respective subnetwork.

Abstract: A method in which a check is performed to determine whether a request originates from a requesting communication device from an IPv6 subnetwork or comprises a destination resource identifier allocated to a Web server component with an IPv6 address or a device name to provide access to device configuration data of an IPv4-based automation device within an industrial automation system in cases of a request for a Web document with device configuration data, wherein if the check result is positive, the Web document is provided with a reference to the device configuration data which includes an Ipv6 address printout or a device name, where in the case of a request for the Web document which originates from a requesting communication device from an IPv4 subnetwork and/or comprises a destination resource identifier with an IPv4 address, the reference to the device configuration data comprises an IPv4 address printout.

Abstract: A method for setting up communication links to redundantly operated controllers in an industrial automation system, in which a first controller is in an active operating state for controlling or regulating a technical process, and a second controller is in a reserve operating state, from which it is placeable into an active operating state in the event the first controller fails, where the first/second controllers respectively store a device identifier associated with the first/second controllers, information about associations between device names and communication network addresses of the first/second controllers is provided in accordance with a name service protocol within at least one subnetwork associated with the first/second controllers, and where retrieval of a piece of address or name information for one of the two controllers involves automatically providing the piece of address or name information to setup a communication link to the other controller based on the respective device identifier.

Abstract: A method for providing a name service within an industrial automation system, wherein communication devices of the industrial automation system each check via a name service component whether a device name with a topological or hierarchical name component, which essentially completely designates a spatial or hierarchical arrangement of the respective communication device, is allocated to the respective communication device, where in cases of a positive check result, the communication devices each designate their associated device name as complete device name, and where in cases of a negative check result, the communication devices each independently generate their complete device name from topological or hierarchical name components distributed via messages with router advertisements and a name component unambiguous within their respective subnetwork.

Abstract: A communication device and method for transmit data within an industrial automation system which includes at least one subnetwork having a group of communication devices and a subnetwork control device, wherein a name or configuration service component assigned to the subnetwork control device acquires IPv4 addresses and associated device names for the group of communication devices, an IPv6 address is respectively calculated for the group of communication devices from an IPv6 prefix assigned to the subnetwork and the IPv4 addresses of the communication devices, address translation rules are determined from the IPv4 addresses of the communication devices and the calculated IPv6 addresses and are used for address translation between IPv4 addresses and IPv6 addresses by an address translation unit assigned to the subnetwork control device, and the calculated IPv6 addresses and the associated device names are stored in a superordinate name service server.