Overview
IEC 62769-2:2023 (Edition 3.0) - Field Device Integration (FDI®) Part 2: Client - specifies the FDI Client component within the FDI architecture. The document defines the client-side interfaces, services and data models needed for interoperable access to field devices in industrial automation and process instrumentation. Annex C provides typical FDI Client use cases and Annex A includes a normative XML schema for UI and data exchange.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard describes the functional and technical building blocks an FDI Client must implement, including:
- Device Access Services
- Device model and node model structure
- Service categories: base property services, device model services, locking services, direct access services
- Data types and parameter definitions used for device interaction
- Hosting Services
- Mechanisms for hosting device-specific components and parameter types
- Management and deployment rules for hosted artifacts
- UIP (User Interface Plugin)
- UIP instantiation rules, state machine and permissions
- IPC, file access, export/import and MIME handling considerations
- Actions and UID (User Interface Description)
- Action invocation sequences, schemas and interactive device transfers
- UID execution model and layout information for consistent UI rendering
- Interchange formats and schemas
- Normative XML schema (Annex A) covering UI elements, actions, parameters, and data variants
- Terminology and conventions
- Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and conventions to ensure consistent implementation
The standard emphasizes interoperability, secure/safe access patterns (locking and permissions), and standardized UI descriptions to enable consistent user experiences across client implementations.
Practical applications and target users
IEC 62769-2:2023 is used by:
- Field device vendors who provide device packages or plugins that must be consumed by FDI Clients
- Control system vendors and HMI/SCADA developers implementing FDI Client functionality to integrate multi-vendor devices
- System integrators and OEMs deploying interoperable asset management and commissioning solutions
- Software developers writing client-side tools for device configuration, diagnostics, firmware upload and parameterization
- Certification bodies verifying conformance of client implementations to the FDI architecture
Typical applications include device commissioning, parameter management, diagnostics, firmware updates, and rendering device-specific UIs in a consistent, vendor-neutral way.
Related standards
IEC 62769-2:2023 is part of the broader FDI ecosystem and should be used alongside the other FDI parts and relevant IEC industrial automation standards to achieve full device-server-client interoperability.
Keywords: IEC 62769-2:2023, Field Device Integration, FDI Client, device access services, UIP, UID, XML schema, industrial automation, device model, hosting services.
