A function block diagnostic framework for a multi-vendor PROFIBUS environment

Purpose - This paper sets out to highlight the problem associated with the development of fieldbus diagnostics in a multi-vendor environment and to propose a solution based on diagnostic function blocks (FB). Design/methodology/approach - The work focuses on the "master-slave" communication model in a PROFIBUS fieldbus system, where three different vendor solutions are investigated. Findings - Although the fieldbus standards specify the type and format of the diagnostics data, the extent, location and sequence of diagnostics data within a controller are entirely vendor-dependent. The outcome from this work defines a framework for representing the diagnostics data in the context of a special function block. Originality/value - This research work defines a novel unified framework for representing the fieldbus diagnostics data using FB for multi-vendor solutions in a PROFIBUS environment.