Configuration-free output of user data contained in ethernet telegrams

A system, comprising:

• a device for extraction of user data from Ethernet telegrams sent from a field device, the device including:
• an output interface for connecting the device to a first segment of an Ethernet data line;
• an input interface for connecting the device to a second segment of the Ethernet data line, wherein the input interface is designed to receive Ethernet telegrams transmitted via the Ethernet data line;
• an internal connection connecting the input interface to the output interface, wherein the internal connection is designed to forward the received Ethernet telegrams incoming at the input interface to the output interface without loss;
• a tapping of the internal connection;
• an electronics unit including a microprocessor or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), wherein the electronics unit is connected to the tapping and is thereby enabled to read the received Ethernet telegrams via the tapping without modifying the received Ethernet telegrams or modifying data traffic on the first Ethernet data line;
• a memory unit comprising a database with device description data of a plurality of field device types, wherein the device description data comprise information for interpreting a user data portion of the received Ethernet telegrams, including a data type and a user data length;
• and
• an output unit,
• wherein the electronics unit is designed to evaluate the received Ethernet telegrams and to extract a value of at least one process variable from a user data portion of the received Ethernet telegrams,
• wherein the electronics unit is further designed to determine a structure of the at least one process variable on the basis of commonalities of the user data portion of the received Ethernet telegrams with information stored in the database for interpreting the user data portion, and
• where in the output unit is configured to output the value of the at least one process variable;
• a field device of automation technology, wherein the field device is designed to acquire the value of the at least one process variable;
• a higher-level unit;
• the first Ethernet data line, wherein the first Ethernet data line connects the field device to the input interface of the device;
• and
• the second Ethernet data line, wherein the second Ethernet data line connects the output interface of the device to the higher-level unit,
• wherein the field device is designed to create the Ethernet telegrams containing the value of the at least once process variable and to transmit the Ethernet telegrams to the higher-level unit via the Ethernet data line.