Control systems and methods of providing the same

A method for providing a control system, the method comprising:

• providing at least one processor;
• co-locating, within a single memory accessible by the at least one processor, a Foundation Fieldbus protocol that facilitates communication with high-speed Ethernet (HSE) Foundation Fieldbus devices and an Ethernet Global Data (EGD) protocol that facilitates communication with other devices;
• and
• providing one or more HSE Foundation Fieldbus devices and one or more other devices that are in communication with the at least one processor via an Ethernet network,
• wherein the at least one processor is operable to communicate with the one or more HSE Foundation Fieldbus devices using the Foundation Fieldbus protocol and the one or more other devices using the EGD protocol.

A control system, comprising:

• a controller comprising one or more processors and operable to control the operations of other components of the control system;
• one or more Foundation Fieldbus devices operable to communicate with the controller via a network using a Foundation Fieldbus protocol;
• one or more other devices operable to communicate with the controller via the network using an Ethernet Global Data (EGD) protocol;
• and
• a memory accessible by the controller and operable to store both the Foundation Fieldbus protocol and the EGD protocol.