A method and an access unit for accessing an industrial communication network are provided. An access unit has first ports connected to the communication network and at least one second port. The access unit is configured to pass data traffic between nodes of the communication network through the access unit in a first operational state of the access unit. The access unit is configured to pass data traffic to a test node via the at least one second port and/or allow test data to be injected into the communication network via the at least one second port in a second operational state of the access unit.

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.

A method for validating a field device is disclosed. The field device includes a plurality of hardware and software modules and is provided with a first cryptographic signature on the manufacturer side. The first cryptographic signature identifies the device manufacturer or the original delivery state of the field device. The origin and integrity of the field device is validated on the customer side using the first cryptographic signature. Once the field device is adapted to a defined machinery, the field device is provided with a second cryptographic signature on the customer side. The second cryptographic signature identifies the adaptations of the field device made on the customer side as a machinery-specific desired state of the field device. At least one validation of the field device is carried out on the customer side using the second cryptographic signature during the period of installation of the field device in the defined machinery.

A system and method for operating measuring devices in a process plant includes providing at least one measuring device for detecting at least one measuring variable, the measuring device having comprises at least one memory means for storing actual configuration data; providing at least one controller unit having at least one additional memory means in which projected configuration data is stored; the controller unit does not have write access to the measuring device with respect to the actual configuration data; and wherein the at least one measuring device and the at least one controller unit are connected via at least one network; comparing the actual configuration data and the projected configuration data, and when the configuration data correspond, allowing a data communication.

A field device (10) includes a sensor (11) that measures a physical quantity and outputs a measurement signal indicating a measured value, converters (12, 15, 16) that perform a predetermined conversion process on the measurement signal, and a processor (17) that outputs an output signal corresponding to the measurement signal subjected to the conversion process. The processor (17) starts verifying operational soundness of the converters (12, 15, 16) when the measurement signal subjected to the conversion process satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs, while the operational soundness of the converters (12, 15, 16) is being verified, a signal corresponding to the measurement signal subjected to the conversion process and acquired immediately before the operational soundness of the converters (12, 15, 16) is verified, or a signal corresponding to the measurement signal indicating a predetermined measured value of the sensor (11), as the output signal.

The present disclosure resides in a method for monitoring an automated plant, which has a fieldbus access unit connected with a first communication network, wherein the first communication network has a plurality of field devices and network nodes, wherein a communication driver, which runs in a first frame application, which is implemented in a client computer connected with the fieldbus access unit via a second communication network, queries structure data of network nodes and field devices present in the first communication network, wherein the structure data are generated by the fieldbus access unit in the context of the query by scanning the address space of the network level and determining the network nodes and field devices present in the address space. The present disclosure further resides in a fieldbus access unit and an arrangement, comprising a client computer and a fieldbus access unit.

A device maintenance apparatus, includes: a communication control part configured to control a communication with a device; a device information acquisition part configured to acquire device information of the device via the communication; a storage configured to store maintenance process information, the maintenance process information including device specifying information for specifying a maintenance target device and process specifying information for specifying details of a maintenance process; and an information processing part configured to compare the acquired device information to the stored maintenance process information, and to execute a maintenance process on the device based on the result of the comparison.

A method for configuring a target field device in an industrial plant by way of at least one mobile device including receiving configuration data characterizing the behavior of a source field device in the industrial plant from the source field device through the mobile device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device, which is also supported by the source field device, receiving at least one identification feature characterizing a target field device and/or function of the target field device in the industrial plant by a mobile device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device, which is also supported by the target field device checking by way of the mobile device, using the identification feature, whether the configuration data are suitable and/or intended for the configuration of the target field device, and in response to the configuration data being suitable and/or provided for the configuration of the target field device, transmitting at least a subset of the configuration data from the mobile device to the target field device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device which is also supported by the target field device.

Some embodiments are directed to a process device comprising a process variable sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a sensed process variable; loop current output circuitry configured to control a loop current on a two wire process control loop to a value based on the output signal; loop current measurement circuitry coupled to the process control loop and configured to generate a measured loop current value based on the loop current; and loop current verification circuitry configured to approximate the loop current value based on the output signal and properties of a low pass filter, and generate a diagnostic signal based on a comparison of the approximated loop current value and the measured loop current value.

A method of collecting data in a field device includes receiving indications of variables for which data is collected, receiving indications of trigger events to trigger collection of data, receiving threshold values associated with each of the trigger events, monitoring the trigger events, and initiating data collection when at least one of the trigger events crosses one the threshold values associated with the corresponding trigger event. A method of tuning a PID controller in a field device includes setting a limited range for selecting a value for a control parameter of the PID controller, selecting the value of the control parameter, wherein the selected value is constrained to be within the limited range, transmitting the selected value to the field device, obtaining, from the field device, a measurement of a response of the field device to a setpoint change, and displaying the obtained response measurements to a user.