Patent ID: 7953107

Claim:
A system for using services provided by a communication network, the system comprising: a communication network having internet mechanisms and a central register database for providing information about the services accessible from the communication network; at least one automation system having hardware automation components connected by a conventional field bus, the automation components lacking internet mechanisms; and a service access unit operative as one element of the automation system and comprising at least a hardware element, the service access unit directly connected to the conventional field bus for connecting the conventional field bus to the communication network, wherein the service access unit operates as a client for requesting services, as requested by automation components, from the communication network and operates as a server for providing web services in the communication network, the service access unit further including a protocol converter for adapting a first communication protocol used by the services to a second communication protocol used by the field bus, thereby permitting the automation components to communicate with internet mechanisms of the communication network, the service access unit further comprising a search means for addressing the central register database, services requested by the service access unit becoming active in the automation system.