IEC 61158-4-17 Ed. 1.0 en:2007

It provides basic time-critical messaging communications between devices in an automation environment. This protocol provides communication opportunities to all participating data-link entities in a cyclic asynchronous manner, sequentially to each of those data-link entities, and in a synchronous manner, either cyclically or acyclically, according to a pre-established schedule. The specified protocol also provides means of changing the set of participating data-link entities and of modifying the set of scheduled communications opportunities. When the set of scheduled communications opportunities is null, the distribution of communication opportunities to the participating data-link entities is completely asynchronous. It includes the following significant changes with respect to the previous edition deletion of the former Type 6 fieldbus, and the placeholder for a Type 5 fieldbus data-link layer, for lack of market relevance; addition of new types of fieldbuses; division of this part into multiple parts numbered.