Configuration of the communication links of field devices in a power automation installation

A method for configuring field devices in a power automation installation, which comprises the steps of:

• executing a graphical editor using a data processing device, the graphical editor containing a first display area having a first graphical representation of functions of a first field device in the power automation installation, the graphical editor further containing a second display area having a second graphical representation of at least one further field device, the at least one further field device connected to the first field device by a physical communication medium in the power automation installation, the second graphical representation further showing an indication of possible output signals which can be produced by the at least one further field device during an operation thereof;
• capturing a user selection of an output signal from the at least one further field device in the second display area and capturing a user selection of a function of the first field device in the first display area;
• and
• producing a first parameter set for the first field device and producing at least one second parameter set for the at least one further field device, the first and second parameter sets contain instructions for configuring a communication link between the first field device and the at least one further field device which, when a selected output signal of the at least one further field device is present, indicate sending of a data telegram from the at least one further field device to the first field device and a tripping of a selected function of the first field device upon reception of the data telegram by the first field device.

A power operation installation, comprising:

• configurable field devices;
• a physical communication medium connecting at least a few of said configurable field devices to each other;
• and
• a data processing device set up to configure communication between at least a few of said configurable field devices by performing a method for configuring said configurable field devices, said data processing device programmed to:
• execute a graphical editor via said data processing device, the graphical editor containing a first display area having a first graphical representation of functions of a first of said configurable field devices, the graphical editor containing a second display area having a second graphical representation of at least one further one of said configurable field devices, said further configurable field device connected to said first configurable field device by said physical communication medium, the second graphical representation further showing an indication of possible output signals which can be produced by said at least one further configurable field device during an operation thereof;
• capture a user selection of an output signal from said at least one further configurable field device in the second display area and capture a user selection of a function of said first configurable field device in the first display area;
• produce a first parameter set for said first configurable field device and produce at least one second parameter set for said at least one further configurable field device, wherein the first and second parameter sets contain instructions for configuring the communication link between said first configurable field device and said at least one further configurable field device which, when a selected output signal of said at least one further configurable field device is present, indicate sending of a data telegram from said at least one further configurable field device to said first configurable field device and a tripping of a selected function of said first field device upon reception of the data telegram by said first configurable field device.