Operation of measuring devices in a process plant

A method for operating measuring devices in a process plant, comprising:

• providing at least one measuring device for detecting at least one measuring variable, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one memory means in which actual configuration data for the operation of the measuring device is stored;
• providing at least one controller unit, wherein the controller unit comprises at least one memory means in which projected configuration data for the operation of the measuring device is stored;
• wherein the controller unit does not have write access to the measuring device with respect to the actual configuration data;
• and wherein the at least one measuring device and the at least one controller unit are connected via at least one network;
• comparing the actual configuration data and the projected configuration data, wherein if the configuration data correspond, a data communication with respect to the measuring variable is allowed, and if the configuration data do not correspond, a data communication with respect to the measuring variable is not allowed, wherein the at least one controller unit transmits the projected configuration data to the at least one measuring device and the comparing of the configuration data takes place in the at least one measuring device, wherein the at least one measuring device transmits the actual configuration data to the at least one controller unit and the comparing of the configuration data takes place in the at least one controller unit, and wherein a comparison result of the comparing of the actual configuration data and the projected configuration data is transmitted to the at least one measuring device;
• providing at least one configuration unit that is connected to at least the at least one measuring device via at least one network;
• transmitting the comparison result to the at least one configuration unit;
• and
• loading, by the at least one configuration unit, modified configuration data into the at least one measuring device based on the comparison result, or if the configuration data does not correspond, loading, by the at least one configuration unit, the modified configuration data into the at least one measuring device.