Network Device and Method for Operating a Network Device for an Automation Network

An automation network comprising:

• a plurality of network devices, each network device of the plurality of network devices set up with the help of a real-time application for providing a function of the network device, the real-time application having at least one predefined, updatable parameter, each network device comprising:
• a storage device operable to store update data for the updatable parameter in an update storage area and store application data for the real-time application in an application storage area, the update storage area and the application storage area being separate from one another,
• wherein the network device is configured such that, after update data is written into the update storage area at a predefined update time, a first memory address referring to the application storage area is switched to a second memory address referring to the update storage area in which the update data is stored, the switch taking place deterministically within a predefined update timeslot during runtime of the real-time application, and
• wherein the automation network is configured such that a synchronized, simultaneous, or synchronized and simultaneous update of the updatable parameter is to be carried out on each network devices of the plurality of network devices at runtime.

A method for operating a network device for an automation network, which is set up with the help of a real-time application for providing a function of the network device, the real-time application having at least one predefined, updatable parameter, the method comprising:

• storing update data for the updatable parameter in an update storage area;
• storing application data for the real-time application in an application storage area, the update storage area and the application storage area being separate from one another;
• writing update data for the updatable parameter into the update storage area;
• and
• switching, at a predefined update time, a first memory address referring to the application storage area to a second memory address referring to the update storage area in which the update data is stored,
• wherein after the update data is written into the update storage area, the switching takes place deterministically within a predefined update timeslot during runtime of the real-time application.

A computer program product including instructions for operating a network device for an automation network, the network device being set up with the help of a real-time application for providing a function of the network device, the real-time application having at least one predefined, updatable parameter, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to:

• store update data for the updatable parameter in an update storage area;
• store application data for the real-time application in an application storage area, the update storage area and the application storage area being separate from one another;
• write update data for the updatable parameter into the update storage area;
• and
• switch, at a predefined update time, a first memory address referring to the application storage area to a second memory address referring to the update storage area in which the update data is stored, wherein after the update data is written into the update storage area, the switch takes place deterministically within a predefined update timeslot during runtime of the real-time application:

In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program with instructions executable by one or more processors to operate a network device for an automation network, which is set up with the help of a real-time application for providing a function of the network device, the real-time application having at least one predefined, updatable parameter, the instructions comprising:

• storing update data for the updatable parameter in an update storage area;
• storing application data for the real-time application in an application storage area, the update storage area and the application storage area being separate from one another;
• writing update data for the updatable parameter into the update storage area;
• and
• switching, at a predefined update time, a first memory address referring to the application storage area to a second memory address referring to the update storage area in which the update data is stored,
• wherein after the update data is written into the update storage area, the switching takes place deterministically within a predefined update timeslot during runtime of the real-time application.