One of the major concerns facing manufacturers today is networking the enterprise so that manufacturing and business information systems can communicate seamlessly. Integrating multiple networks and systems into a seamless operation has traditionally been difficult because the devices, programs, and processes used at the various layers of the seven-layer Open System Interconnect (OSI) model have different options, capabilities, and standards (or lack of). Integrating these networks requires extra resources and programming. Even then, gaps between the systems often cannot be fully and seamlessly bridged. Consequently, users compromise their investments and rarely achieve all of the productivity and quality benefits promised by open network technology.
Common upper layers of a network protocol are the key to advanced communication and true network integration. ODVA's Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™) allows complete integration of control with information, multiple CIP networks and Internet technologies. As a single, media-independent platform that is shared by a variety of networking technologies, CIP provides the interoperability and interchangeability that is essential to open networks and open systems. CIP allows companies to integrate I/O control, device configuration, and data collection across multiple networks.
Two new CIP extensions provide significant advances in open networking technology capabilities:
- CIP Safety allows both standard and safety devices to operate on the same open network. It also allows safety devices from multiple vendors to communicate seamlessly across CIP-based standard networks to other safety devices with no extra programming. CIP Safety is designed for use in safety applications up to Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3, according to IEC 61508 standards.
- CIP Sync synchronizes applications in distributed systems to a master reference that is based on time, rather than events, for greater accuracy. These real-time clocks are kept in tight synchronization by background messages between clock masters and clock slaves using the new IEEE 1588:2002 standard.
ODVA leads network organizations in managing specifications that are inherently open. By "open," we mean that the process for specification enhancements is open and available to ODVA's membership at large, our terms of usage agreements that license our technologies are open and available to general industry and the silicon hardware needed to implement the given network functionality on hardware devices conforms to core networking standards, such as CAN and IEEE-802.3. In the software area, where data sharing typically resides, OPC DX is an important mechanism.
In terms of specific innovations that are in store for users in computers and computer accessories, I/O, communication standards, and/or systems, and in software, ODVA expects standard Microsoft Windows API tools for network configuration to take hold. These tools will in many cases be network independent. ODVA is currently pursuing the approach being promoted as the "Field Device Tool" in order to offer a solution for the configuration application space.
ODVA is a global association comprised of the world's leading industrial automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™), a media-independent platform that is shared by a variety of networking technologies and that provides the interoperability and interchangeability that are essential to open networks and open systems. ODVA's CIP-based network technologies currently include DeviceNet™, EtherNet/IP™, CIP Safety™ and CIP Sync.
