Importance

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Abstract

The invention relates to a management of field devices in industrial process systems. A maintenance management system collects status and/or diagnostic data of field devices over a field communication interface in a manner specific for each type of field device. The system processes the collected data and provides condition or event data, e.g. alarms and fault and device condition data to external systems, such as the automation system of a plant, by an open communication method, which is independent of the type of field device and the field communication interface. Such open communication methods are for instance electronic mail, Internet, Intranet, DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange), short message. The data structure of the event data are preferably independent of the type of field device, i.e. it is identical for different types of field device. The invention enables a transmission of limited generic condition data, which is sufficient for the operator of the plant, to a control room and more accurate text-based condition data to the maintenance personnel.

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First Claim