Abstract: Partition information concerning equipment disposed in a local area is determined. The partition information specifies a division of a local area into a plurality of sub-areas with each of the plurality of sub-areas having equipment. The partition information is uploaded to a user and one or more sub-areas are selected. Operational information concerning a plurality of devices contained in the selected sub-area is uploaded relating to the operation or the interconnection of the devices. The uploaded information is presented to the user in a way that facilitates an understanding of a structure of the network. After the information is analyzed, a network modification is selected, and at least one DTM-compliant software instance that implements the network modification is created.

Abstract: Approaches for automatically creating device type manager (DTM)-compliant instances in a Field Device Tool (FDT)-compliant network are presented. Network topology information is uploaded to a user. The network topology information concerns a plurality of devices of a known type connected in a network that is located in a predefined local area. The network topology information relates to one or more of an operation of the devices or an interconnection of the plurality of devices in the network. At least one DTM-compliant software instance that implements the network topology information is automatically created.

Abstract: Partition information concerning equipment disposed in a local area is determined. The partition information specifies a division of a local area into a plurality of sub-areas with each of the plurality of sub-areas having equipment. The partition information is uploaded to a user and one or more sub-areas are selected. Operational information concerning a plurality of devices contained in the selected sub-area is uploaded relating to the operation or the interconnection of the devices. The uploaded information is presented to the user in a way that facilitates an understanding of a structure of the network. After the information is analyzed, a network modification is selected, and at least one DTM-compliant software instance that implements the network modification is created.