A microprocessor-controlled standard field device, such as a measuring sensor or an actuator, is connected to a field bus system that, in turn, is connected to, for example, a freely programmable controller. The field device is equipped with a security layer for carrying out a security proven communication. A secure and simultaneously cost-effective communication with a control device via a field bus system is made possible by implementing a security layer in, e.g., a conventional operationally proven or redundant standard field device.
A method of diagnosing a distributed operational system having a field device, a field processing module coupled to the field device, a bitbus, a fieldbus, and an auxiliary processing module communicating with the bitbus and the fieldbus. The method includes generating a field operating characteristic at the field device, processing the field operating characteristic at the field processing module, and generating field operating data including a field diagnostic parameter as a function of the field operating characteristic. The method also includes communicating the field operating data including the field diagnostic parameter over the bitbus from the field processing module to the auxiliary processing module. The method further includes generating at the auxiliary processing module auxiliary field data as a function of the received field operating data and communicating the auxiliary field data over the fieldbus.
A temperature sensing and diagnostics system having a temperature sensor for generating a temperature characteristic and a bitbus includes a field processing module and an auxiliary processing module. The field processing module is adapted for coupling to the temperature sensor and for receiving the temperature characteristic from the temperature sensor. The field processing module includes a field diagnostic component and a field communication component configured for communication over the bitbus and is adapted to generate field operating data including a temperature diagnostic parameter as a function of the temperature characteristic. The auxiliary processing module is configured for communicating with the bitbus and for receiving the field operating data and includes an auxiliary diagnostic component and an auxiliary communication component having a fieldbus interface and a gateway component. The auxiliary processing module is configured for generating auxiliary field data as a function of the field operating data and for communicating the auxiliary field data over a fieldbus.
