Abstract: A first plant part includes a multitude of field devices and an edge device, which is part of a communication network. The edge device monitors data transmitted by the field devices and a higher-level unit or requests further data. The edge device generates a live list, which contains an identifier of each field device or the higher-level unit and the requested or monitored data. The edge device simulates a multitude of virtual field devices, generates data, and enters identifiers of the virtual field devices and the generated data into the live list. The live list is made available via a first interface. The edge device transmits the live list containing the current requested or monitored data to a cloud-based service platform at regular intervals, and the cloud-based service platform is designed to prepare or present the live list, with the data of the virtual field devices being disregarded.

Abstract: A self-testing automation system includes a decentralized distributed ledger-type database comprising a plurality of subscriber nodes, wherein the subscriber nodes exchange data with one another per transaction, and the database stores the transactions in data blocks which are linked together; a regulating mechanism which is implemented into each of the subscriber nodes, said regulating mechanism comprising information on the number and identity of all of the subscriber nodes as well as rules relating to actions, properties, and states of each of the subscriber nodes; and a plurality of automation components which are subscriber nodes of the decentralized database. Each of the subscriber nodes is designed to test or validate transactions between the subscriber nodes at all times using the regulating mechanism, and each of the subscriber nodes is designed to carry out at least one measure if a violation of the regulating mechanism is detected.

Abstract: A device for the extraction of user data out of Ethernet telegrams sent from a field device comprises an input interface and an output interface for connecting to an Ethernet data line, wherein the input interface is designed to receive Ethernet telegrams transmitted via the Ethernet data line; an electronics unit which is designed to evaluate the received Ethernet telegrams and to extract a value of at least one process variable out of the user data portions of the received Ethernet telegrams; and an output unit for outputting the determined process variables. The invention also relates to a system comprising the device according to the invention.