Network scanning and management in a device type manager of type device

A scan capable device type manager (DTM) of type device operating in a Field Device Tool (FDT) application framework, wherein the scan capable DTM of type device represents at least one field device operating in a process control environment, the scan capable DTM of type device comprising:

• a function module arranged to execute one or more device-specific functions of the at least one field device;
• a first interface coupled to the function module, the first interface arranged to interact with the application framework;
• a second interface coupled to the function module, the second interface arranged to interact with a communication channel, wherein the communication channel corresponds to the communication link to which the at least one device is communicatively coupled;
• a memory to store at least one of a device type, a manufacturer identity, or an address range;
• a scan function coupled to the second interface, the scan function configured to scan the communication link to discover the at least one field device coupled to the communication link and to enable communication between the application network and the at least one field device discovered via the scan capable DTM of type device, wherein the at least one field device matches the stored at least one of the device type, the manufacturer identity, or the address range.

A method of communicating with a field device of a specific field device type, wherein the field device operates in a process control network, the method comprising:

• generating an instance of a scan capable device type manager (DTM) of type device in a Field Device Tool (FDT) application framework, wherein the scan capable DTM of type device represents at least one device of the specific field device type in the FDT framework;
• connecting the instance of the scan-capable DTM of type device to a communication channel associated with a communication protocol;
• receiving, from a user interface, a manufacturer identity associated with the field device;
• and
• using the scan capable DTM of type device to scan a plurality of addresses associated with the communication channel to discover one or several field devices matching the specific field device type and the received manufacturer identity.