Abstract: An operator control unit for a field device used in automation technology includes a first operating system that includes an application program executable on the first operating system, and an emulation algorithm designed to execute, on the application program, application software executed on a second operating system. The application software has at least one communication protocol for coding/decoding telegrams transmitted to/from the field device and is designed to operate the field device, in particular to read, display and modify parameters of the field device, and/or to read and display measured values of the field device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining or monitoring a process variable having a higher-level unit and a plurality of field devices. The field devices generate data and are connected to one another for communication, and the higher-level unit and the field devices are nodes corresponding to a distributed ledger or blockchain technology comprising transaction creation units. Each field device is assigned a transaction creation unit for creating transactions. A created transaction contains data from the field devices assigned to the transaction creation units. A block creation unit processes a created transaction to form a data block. Validation units check the data block and/or transactions for validity. The data block is valid if at least one predefined number of validation units validates the data block, wherein each node is assigned one of the validation units. The valid data block is stored in a distributed database.

Abstract: A device access apparatus for a client-server system is described, wherein the device access apparatus is used to access components of a field bus network. The device access apparatus includes a general application that is installable on a server and configured to interchange data with the components of the field bus network. The device access apparatus also includes a device driver that is installable on a client and a communication proxy that is installable on the server that are configured to set up a data connection between the server and the client. The data connection is used to transmit data between the device driver and one of the components of the field bus network that is associated with the device driver. The communication proxy is configured to monitor data traffic on the data connection between the client and the server and detect errors in the data transmission.

Abstract: Described is a method for changing the display mode of a device access software with which components of a fieldbus system can be accessed. The device access software includes a frame application and at least one software component integrated into the frame application, wherein between the frame application and the at least one software component an interface is provided. The method includes switching the frame application from a first display mode into a second display mode different from the first display mode and changing at least one parameter in the software components via the relevant interface, wherein the change of the at least one parameter effects a switching of the display mode from the first display mode into the second display mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a framework application for device access software. The framework application can be installed on a host. At least one driver can be integrated into the framework application, said driver being designed for access to an associated field bus component of a field bus network. For each integrated driver, the framework application has a standard interface, via which data can be exchanged between the driver and the framework application. For at least some of the integrated drivers, the framework application has one or more proprietary interfaces in addition to the standard interface, via which proprietary interfaces data can be exchanged between the respective drivers and the framework application. Information regarding additional functionalities that are supported by the driver or by an associated field bus component can be transferred from the driver to the framework application via at least one of the proprietary interfaces.

Abstract: A method for automatically registering a topology of a fieldbus network from a device access software. The device access software is installed in a host, which is in data connection with the fieldbus network, and the fieldbus network includes a plurality of field devices and gateway devices. The method includes scanning an address space of a field access device or a predetermined gateway device of the fieldbus network and determining gateway devices and field devices present in this address space. For each found gateway device, the method includes scanning an additional address space provided by the found gateway device and determining additional gateway devices and field devices present in the additional address space. The method is repeated until all gateway devices present in the fieldbus network in the region below the field access device or the predetermined gateway device are found or until a break condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to troubleshooting errors in a system of automation technology. For each of a plurality of field devices a current status and location information is stored in a database. The method also includes steps of providing a list of field devices and their location information for which a service status or diagnostic status has been recorded due to an error, and selecting one of the field devices in the list using the operating unit. The method also includes gathering a current location position of an operator using the operating unit, and locating the selected field device using a current location position of the operating unit and the location information of the selected field device using the operating unit. The method also includes connecting the selected field device to the operating unit and operating the selected field device using the operating unit in order to troubleshoot the error.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining or monitoring a process variable having a higher-level unit and a plurality of field devices. The field devices generate data and are connected to one another for communication, and the higher-level unit and the field devices are nodes corresponding to a distributed ledger or blockchain technology comprising transaction creation units. Each field device is assigned a transaction creation unit for creating transactions. A created transaction contains data from the field devices assigned to the transaction creation units. A block creation unit processes a created transaction to form a data block. Validation units check the data block and/or transactions for validity. The data block is valid if at least one predefined number of validation units validates the data block, wherein each node is assigned one of the validation units. The valid data block is stored in a distributed database.

Abstract: The present disclosure comprises an operator control unit for a field device used in automation technology, having a first operating system that includes an application program executable on the first operating system, and an emulation algorithm designed to execute, on the application program, application software which can be executed on a second operating system. The application software has at least one communication protocol for coding/decoding telegrams transmitted to/from the field device and is designed to operate the field device, in particular to read, display and modify parameters of the field device, and/or to read and display measured values of the field device.

Abstract: A device access apparatus for a client-server system is described, wherein the device access apparatus is used to access components of a field bus network. The device access apparatus includes a general application that is installable on a server and configured to interchange data with the components of the field bus network. The device access apparatus also includes a device driver that is installable on a client and a communication proxy that is installable on the server that are configured to set up a data connection between the server and the client. The data connection is used to transmit data between the device driver and one of the components of the field bus network that is associated with the device driver. The communication proxy is configured to monitor data traffic on the data connection between the client and the server and detect errors in the data transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a framework application for device access software. The framework application can be installed on a host. At least one driver can be integrated into the framework application, said driver being designed for access to an associated field bus component of a field bus network. For each integrated driver, the framework application has a standard interface, via which data can be exchanged between the driver and the framework application. For at least some of the integrated drivers, the framework application has one or more proprietary interfaces in addition to the standard interface, via which proprietary interfaces data can be exchanged between the respective drivers and the framework application. Information regarding additional functionalities that are supported by the driver or by an associated field bus component can be transferred from the driver to the framework application via at least one of the proprietary interfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tamper-proof evaluation of a component property of a field device, the method including the creation of an evaluation relating to the component property. The evaluation assigns each component property an applicable label or a non-applicable label. The method also includes the transmission of the created evaluation to a first service platform and storage in the first service platform. The first service platform is operated in a decentralised manner using a Distributed Ledger or Blockchain technology and consisting of a plurality of subscriber nodes, which each comprise at least one data bank. The method further includes the creation of data blocks by the subscriber nodes, where a data block links an evaluation with a field device type of an evaluated field device, whereby a plurality of evaluations of different field devices is contained in the plurality of subscriber nodes.

Abstract: The application relates to a data transmission system for a data exchange between a field bus system that includes at least one field device and device access software installed on a host. The data transmission system includes a coupler device connected to the field bus system and a generic communication driver integrated in the device access software. The data transmission system further includes a central data transmission path between the generic communication driver and the coupler device. The generic communication driver is configured to exchange data with device drivers integrated in the device access software and to transmit data received from the device drivers to the coupler device, and to forward data received from the coupler device to the respective device driver. The coupler device is configured to convert data traffic from a first format to a second format and from the second format to the first format.

Abstract: Described is a method for changing the display mode of a device access software with which components of a fieldbus system can be accessed. The device access software includes a frame application and at least one software component integrated into the frame application, wherein between the frame application and the at least one software component an interface is provided. The method includes switching the frame application from a first display mode into a second display mode different from the first display mode and changing at least one parameter in the software components via the relevant interface, wherein the change of the at least one parameter effects a switching of the display mode from the first display mode into the second display mode.

Abstract: A method for registering an input into the user interface of a driver is described, wherein the driver is integrated into a device access software, with which components of a fieldbus system can be accessed. The device access software includes a keyboard application for display of a virtual keyboard. The method comprises, when the user selects an input field of the user interface of the driver, receiving by the keyboard application of information provided by the driver concerning the type of input required by the input field. Furthermore, the method comprises matching the virtual keyboard displayed by the keyboard application corresponding to the information obtained from the driver concerning the type of input required, and registering the input of the user.

Abstract: A method for automatically registering a topology of a fieldbus network from a device access software. The device access software is installed in a host, which is in data connection with the fieldbus network, and the fieldbus network includes a plurality of field devices and gateway devices. The method includes scanning an address space of a field access device or a predetermined gateway device of the fieldbus network and determining gateway devices and field devices present in this address space. For each found gateway device, the method includes scanning an additional address space provided by the found gateway device and determining additional gateway devices and field devices present in the additional address space. The method is repeated until all gateway devices present in the fieldbus network in the region below the field access device or the predetermined gateway device are found or until a break condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data transmission system for a data exchange between a field bus system that comprises at least one field device, and device access software that is installed on a host and by means of which components of the field bus system can be accessed. The data transmission system comprises a coupler device that is connected to the field bus system, and a generic communication driver, which is integrated in the device access software. In addition, at least one device driver is integrated in the device access software. The data transmission system further comprises a central data transmission path, which can be built between the generic communication driver and the coupler device, and via which primary data traffic can be transmitted.

Abstract: Method for checking at least one telegram (T1) transmitted via a fieldbus according to a fieldbus protocol, wherein the telegram (T1), which has at least one data block (D1, D2), is received by a field device (FD), which field device (FD) has a first function block (RE) for preprocessing the received telegram (T1), wherein based on the preprocessing it is checked whether the data contained in the at least one data block (D1, D2) correspond to predetermined criteria furnished in the field device, for example, a predetermined value or a predetermined value range (Cmd#, Length, byte start, etc), wherein based on the checking it is determined, whether the received data are forwarded to a second function block (MP, IO) for further processing of the received data in the field device (FD).

Abstract: A device (10) is provided for the reading out of information from a transponder (14) arranged at an object (12), said device comprising an optoelectronic sensor (24), a reading device (16) able to excite the transponder (14) to radiate the information and able to read out the radiated information and a control (26) which is made for a control of the reading device (16) and of the sensor (24) as well as for an evaluation of the read out information. In this connection, the optoelectronic sensor (24) can determine a movement pattern of the object (12) and the control (26) is made only to evaluate the read out information with objects (12) of a preset movement pattern. A corresponding method is furthermore described.

Abstract: A device (10) is provided for the reading out of information from a transponder (14) arranged at an object (12), said device comprising an optoelectronic sensor (24), a reading device (16) able to excite the transponder (14) to radiate the information and able to read out the radiated information and a control (26) which is made for a control of the reading device (16) and of the sensor (24) as well as for an evaluation of the read out information. In this connection, the optoelectronic sensor (24) can determine a movement pattern of the object (12) and the control (26) is made only to evaluate the read out information with objects (12) of a preset movement pattern. A corresponding method is furthermore described.