Communication device for factory automation network

摘要

In an automated factory environment which uses a plurality of stations, each having a communication device that incorporates the Manufacturing Message Specification (MSS) and is joined with other stations in a network that provides for communication using the Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP) communication, a method and apparatus for permitting programmed control of the plurality of stations on the basis of user-defined named variables, rather than specific vendor-defined device addresses is provided. A conversion table (63) that has registered therein a correspondence between the named variable and an address for a specific device is used for control and communication. The table (63) is loaded with appropriate address and named variable information by use of conventional program loading services provided in the MSS standard. The input may be from a remote station, from a management terminal (9) or from a FA device (1A).