Patent ID: 8369244

Claim:
A method for operating an Ethernet-capable field-bus device ( 50 ) within an automation system, wherein this field-bus device is connected to an Ethernet-based communications network ( 20 ) by means of which payload data is transmitted using a predetermined communications protocol stack with the following processing steps: a) establishing a network management channel between the Ethernet-capable field-bus device ( 50 ) and a management device ( 30 ) connected to the communications network ( 20 ) using an Ethernet-based network management protocol that is installed both in the field-bus device ( 50 ) and also in the management device ( 30 ), b) transmitting the predetermined communications protocol stack using the Ethernet-based network management protocol from the management device ( 30 ) to the Ethernet-capable field-bus device ( 50 ), c) storing and installing the predetermined communications protocol stack in the Ethernet-capable field-bus device ( 50 , 55 ), wherein the predetermined communications protocol stack controls a transmission of payload data via the Ethernet-based communications network ( 20 ), and wherein said transmission of payload data via the Ethernet-based communications network ( 20 ) is not enabled prior to performing steps b) and c).