Patent ID: 9483035
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: G05B,Y02P

Claim Text:
1. A method for integrating at least one field device into a network of automation technology having a plurality of field devices, which are connected with one another via at least one data bus, on which a bus protocol is running, arranged distributed in an automated plant, wherein accessing of the field devices occurs via a field access unit, which communicates with at least one automation/integration platform and at least one web server of a service provider, the method comprising: providing for each field device a virtual image of the field device in a database; the virtual image describes the field device to be integrated into the automated plant comprehensively relative to its field device specific and application-specific properties in the automated plant; transmitting, preferably at run time, via cloud-computing web services, or Internet based services, automatically or on query, the virtual image of the field device with concrete field device- and application-specific properties into the field device; and the field device performs its function in the automated plant, as soon as it is integrated into the network; wherein a report is sent from the cloud based web server to the operator of the automated plant, when, in the automated plant offline, a change in the configuration/parameter data of one of the field devices has been performed or, when on the manufacturer-side, the original version of the field device has been replaced by a modified/revised version; and wherein the operator is provided with a synchronizing mechanism to assure that all field devices integrated in the automated plant are stored on the account of the operator of the automated plant.