Process simulation in a computer based control system

A simulation handling device for handling simulations related to at least one field device to be provided in a field network of a computer based control system, where the field device is to be controlled by a control device that performs addressing control in relation to logical addresses for field devices equipped with hardware addresses and logical names, the simulation handling device comprising:

• a contact information store comprising an own logical address, an own hardware address, a logical address, a logical name and a hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation,
• a communication handling unit configured to
• notify the control device that the field device involved in the simulation is connected to the field network,
• detect a control signal directed towards the field device involved in the simulation and addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device, and
• respond to the control signal with simulation results using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device as the source of the response.

A computer program product for handling simulations related to at least one field device to be provided in a field network of a computer based control system, where the field device is to be controlled by a control device that performs addressing control in relation to logical addresses for field devices equipped with hardware addresses and logical names, where a simulation handling device has its own logical address and its own hardware address and is capable of obtaining the logical address as well as possibly the logical name and/or the hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• computer program code recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor to make the simulation handling device perform when said code is loaded into said simulation handling device:
• notify the control device that the field device involved in the simulation is connected to the field network,
• detect a control signal directed towards the field device involved in the simulation and addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device, and
• respond to the control signal with simulation results using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device as the source of the response.

A computer based control system, comprising:

• a field network to which at least one field device that is equipped with a hardware address and a logical name is to be connected,
• a control device connected to said field network and configured to control the field devices and perform addressing control in relation to logical addresses of these field devices, and
• a simulation handling device comprising:
• a contact information store comprising an own logical address, an own hardware address, a logical address, a logical name and a hardware address of at least one field device involved in the simulation,
• a communication handling unit configured to
• notify the control device that the field device involved in the simulation is connected to the field network,
• detect a control signal directed towards the field device involved in the simulation and addressed using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device, and
• respond to the control signal with simulation results using the logical and/or hardware address of this field device as the source of the response.