A method for extending the operating functionality of a field device from one operating device to another includes establishing a wireless communication connection between the operating device and the field device via a first communication interface, wherein the operating device executes at least one operating program having a plurality of display elements and operating functions via which the field device is serviced. The method includes initiating a search via a communication interface for an operating device. Where at least one other operating device is found, a wireless communication connection between the operating devices via one of the communication interfaces is established. The method also includes transmitting part of the display elements and/or operating functions to the other operating program of the other operating device and servicing the field device by means of the other operating device via the display elements and operating functions transmitted to the other operating program.

In an industrial automation environment, a three-tier architecture is used to offload human-machine-interaction (HMI) automation tasks to local mobile devices and then the cloud, to take advantage of distributed computing and processing resources and to add new features to the HMI panel system. A scheduling algorithm based on the characteristics of the HMI tasks distributes these tasks intelligently among the local HMI panel, mobile devices and the cloud, to best utilize the merits of each tier.