Using data engine in distributed automation system

This paper presents a new concept about the data engine (DE). It provides an efficient way to exchange information between different applications, especially in a distributed environment. Firstly, it gives a full description about DE, including definition, architecture, sources of data and hardware interfaces. Then several dominating component technologies, standards and information models, which may be used by DE, are discussed and compared simply. It concludes that OPC (OLE for Process Control) specification is suitable to choose as standard interface for designing DE and gives several reasons. Finally, a really DE software is implemented and the logical structure is showed. The results show that the DE based on OPC specification has the function of plug & play and support system integration seamlessly.