Fieldbus-specific device description files are essential for the integration of field devices in industrial applications. Currently, the approaches to data storage and management in this area differ depending on the fieldbus technology used. To enable automated data processing for Industry 4.0 applications, Hilscher is now launching the 'netIOT Device Information Portal'.

"Device description files are used to turn sensor data at field level into plant and application data. This requires a cross-network and cross-manufacturer 'Device Information Portal'. Ultimately, Industry 4.0 will hardly be possible without it," says Managing Director Hans-Jürgen Hilscher.

The Device Information Portal consists of four main components: A database, a web portal, a web crawler and a REST API. The underlying database of the Device Information Portal is hosted in a scalable European cloud solution. This means that the capacities in terms of storage space, data throughput and bandwidth for the portal can be dynamically adapted to the intensity of use. The solution grows in line with user requirements.

The web portal offers an interface for manual access to the information in the database. The full-text search for device data allows registered users to download all stored information free of charge. Registered device manufacturers can also enter information via the interface and make their device description files available. Versions of the web portal adapted to the corporate identity of other companies are available on request.
The Web Crawler allows device manufacturers to automate data maintenance. With the Web Crawler, it is possible to regularly and fully automatically search certain data sources for current field device description files, making it possible to update the Device Information Portal fully automatically.

Hilscher sees the greatest potential of the new solution in the automatic availability of device information via the web-based REST-API programming interface. This enables software tools to use the information from the portal directly. Engineers no longer have to search for device description files themselves in order to feed them into engineering tools.

In order to fully exploit the potential of the device information portal, Hilscher invites all automation technology stakeholders to participate in the portal. To keep the entry barrier as low as possible, the necessary basic functions of the portal can be used free of charge. A usage fee is only charged for premium services, which incur increased costs for the operator. Furthermore, cooperation with fieldbus organizations is currently being sought in order to integrate the netIOT Device Information Portal into the offerings of these professional associations.

In order to spread the use of the netIOT Device Information Portal, the portal's premium services are available free of charge for 2017.