Generating configuration information for newly integrated field devices

A computer-implemented method for generating configuration information for a new field device that is to be integrated into an industrial plant, comprising:

• obtaining driver information and/or software that allows communication with the new field device and comprises, for each field device parameter of the new field device, new parameter information that identifies this parameter in the context of the new field device, and/or is indicative of how this parameter may be set;
• obtaining a list of one or more semantic identifiers that are used in the industrial plant to designate field device parameters, and for each such semantic identifier:
• determining existing field device parameters with which the semantic identifier is already associated in the industrial plant;
• obtaining existing parameter information stored in association with these existing field device parameters, wherein this existing parameter information identifies the respective parameter in the context of the respective existing field device, and/or is indicative of how this parameter is to be set;
• evaluating to which extent existing parameter information matches new parameter information with respect to a parameter of the new field device;
• and
• based on this evaluated extent, associating the semantic identifier with this parameter of the new field device as part of the sought configuration information for the new field device,
• wherein the evaluating to which extent existing parameter information matches new parameter information for a parameter comprises:
• providing a set of criteria for the match between the existing parameter information and the new parameter information, wherein each criterion is associated with a confidence level for the match, and/or with an increase or decrease of this confidence level;
• checking whether each criterion is fulfilled;
• and
• in response to a criterion being fulfilled, applying the confidence level, and/or the increase or decrease of the confidence level, associated with the criterion, and
• wherein the set of criteria comprises at least the criterion that when the manufacturer of the new field device is the same as the manufacturer of the existing field device that has the parameter to which the semantic identifier is already associated, and/or the type of the new field device is the same as the type of the existing field device that has the parameter to which the semantic identifier is already associated, the confidence level is increased.

A computer-implemented method for generating configuration information for a new field device that is to be integrated into an industrial plant, comprising:

• obtaining driver information and/or software that allows communication with the new field device and comprises, for each field device parameter of the new field device, new parameter information that identifies this parameter in the context of the new field device, and/or is indicative of how this parameter may be set;
• obtaining a list of one or more semantic identifiers that are used in the industrial plant to designate field device parameters, and for each such semantic identifier:
• determining existing field device parameters with which the semantic identifier is already associated in the industrial plant;
• obtaining existing parameter information stored in association with these existing field device parameters, wherein this existing parameter information identifies the respective parameter in the context of the respective existing field device, and/or is indicative of how this parameter is to be set;
• evaluating to which extent existing parameter information matches new parameter information with respect to a parameter of the new field device;
• and
• based on this evaluated extent, associating the semantic identifier with this parameter of the new field device as part of the sought configuration information for the new field device,
• wherein the evaluating to which extent existing parameter information matches new parameter information for a parameter comprises:
• providing a set of criteria for the match between the existing parameter information and the new parameter information, wherein each criterion is associated with a confidence level for the match, and/or with an increase or decrease of this confidence level;
• checking whether each criterion is fulfilled;
• and
• in response to a criterion being fulfilled, applying the confidence level, and/or the increase or decrease of the confidence level, associated with the criterion, and
• wherein the set of criteria comprises at least the criterion that when a same parameter is associated with the semantic identifier with respect to multiple field devices, the confidence level is increased.