Device description in INTERBUS and PROFINET
In order to be able to integrate the components needed in an automation solution, a range of information on the device must be provided in the various engineering steps. This is generally provided in the form of a device description. Within the framework of the PROFINET system, this description is imported into the respective engineering system as a GSD file (General Station Description) in XML format. Project planning and programming is carried out in the engineering tool and then transferred to the I/O controllers.
In INTERBUS systems, the components are described in the XML-based FDCML language (Field Device Communication Markup Language) in acc. with ISO 15745-3. FDCML features the following characteristics:
- Can be used for devices of various complexity
- System-independent
- Can be extended by typifying generic FDCML elements
- Supports online changeover to a variety of national languages
- Can be used for devices that support more than one communication system
The FDCML device model is made up of the following basic elements:
- Device identity object
- Device manager object
- Device function object
- Application process object