Modeling network architecture and time behavior of Distributed Control Systems in industrial plant automation

In terms of fulfilling the customers´ needs, Distributed Control Systems (DCS) have gained increasing significance for automation engineering over the past years. The advantages of DCS, e.g. enhanced dependability, flexibility and configurability, overcome various shortcomings of centralized control systems. However, engineering of heterogeneous networks lacks a modeling notation for automation and engineers and a tool support to calculate the time behavior. A notation for an intuitive and supplier independent specification of distributed automation systems is described, providing the opportunity to model real-time requirements and properties and to allow the comparison of different architectures regarding time behavior.