Integration of Automation Devices in Web Service supporting Systems

While introducing new concepts it is essential to consider the integration of components already existing or being based on alternative and well established technologies. For several reasons like investments, skills of persons, or others it is the usual case not to replace complete installations. These are extended using the same or improved technologies. Within the SOCRADES project, the integration of non web service enabled automation components is done using gateways or mediators. The integration of this kind of automation equipment also imposes requirements regarding extended configuration capabilities of the SOCRADES engineering concept. The paper presents approaches to integrate existing automation devices into upcoming Web Service based applications. To cope with a broad range of automation equipment and applications, the integration concept targets one of the worldleading industrial communication systems – PROFIBUS.