Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the distributed calculation of calculation tasks by means of field devices of an industrial plant, wherein a plurality of field devices are coupled to a task distribution unit by means of a data link, the field devices effect a control of the industrial plant in an operating state in each case, at least one of the field devices receives a calculation task from the task distribution unit in an idle state and changes to a calculation state in which the calculation task is processed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for updating firmware of devices such as automation devices and/or energy management devices, including the process steps of: providing at least one firmware file; loading the at least one firmware file into a loading tool; connecting the loading tool to the device; and transferring the firmware file to the device in consideration of loading information. In order to enable the firmware updating of different devices by means of only one loading tool, the loading information according to the invention is hived off from the loading tool, stored in at least one external data source and loaded by the loading tool from the at least one external data source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a web services gateway, and to a gateway for transforming a web service message from a first web service of a web service server or a web service client in a first network, based on a service-oriented protocol such as SOAP, into a message for a server or client in a second network, based on a standardized protocol such as OPC/UA, and/or vice versa, including: loading a configuration file into the web services gateway, said file comprising definitions for transforming the web service message into the message and/or definitions for transforming the message into the web service message, and generating at least one transformation tool and transformation rules for transforming the at least one web service message into a message, and vice versa, based on the configuration file.