Overview
IEC 62769-6:2021 - Field Device Integration (FDI) Part 6: Technology Mapping defines the technology mapping for the FDI concepts and information model specifically for the WORKSTATION platform/.NET (as referenced in IEC 62769-4). The standard describes how FDI Clients and User Interface Plug‑ins (UIPs) are implemented, activated, hosted and secured in a .NET workstation environment. Edition 2.0 (2021) supersedes the 2015 edition and includes a redesigned UIP security concept.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard focuses on practical implementation rules and includes the following technical topics:
- Platform targeting: technology edition reference and mapping to the WORKSTATION/.NET platform.
- FDI Type Library structure and how device type information is represented.
- UIP representation and executable rules: packaging, compatibility rules and how to identify the .NET target platform for a UIP.
- .NET runtime guidance: allowed Common Language Runtime (CLR) versions and a CLR compatibility strategy (including the use of a surrogate process model).
- UIP lifecycle and deployment: installation/deployment, assembly activation and deactivation steps, and UIP lifecycle management.
- Client–UIP interaction patterns:
- Handling standard UI elements
- Asynchronous (non‑blocking) and blocking service execution patterns (including IAsyncPattern and IAsyncResult patterns)
- Cancelation, threading, timeouts and exception handling
- Type‑safe interfaces, globalization/localization
- WPF and Windows Forms control handling
- Security and code identity: access permissions, code identity concept and a redesigned security model for UIP execution.
- Service and interface definitions: base property, device model, access control, direct access, hosting and UIP service tables and base data/special types.
Practical applications
IEC 62769-6 is used to ensure interoperable, secure and robust implementation of workstation FDI components in process and factory automation software. Typical applications include:
- Implementing FDI Clients that host device-specific UIPs on Windows/.NET workstations.
- Developing UIPs (device-specific UI modules) that conform to lifecycle, threading, and security expectations.
- Packaging and deploying FDI packages so device vendors’ tools run reliably within automation engineering workstations.
- Auditing or certifying FDI client/UIP implementations for compatibility with the FDI information model and runtime rules.
Who should use this standard
- Device vendors and software developers building UIPs
- FDI Client implementers and system integrators
- Automation suppliers, control system architects and QA/test teams
- Technical teams responsible for deployment, security and lifecycle management of FDI components
Related standards (FDI series)
- IEC 62769-1 to -7 (Overview, FDI Client, FDI Server, Packages, Information Model, Technology Mapping, Communication Devices)
- Additional profile parts (e.g., -100, -101, -103, -109, -115, -150 series)
Keywords: IEC 62769-6, Field Device Integration, FDI, Technology Mapping, UIP, FDI Client, .NET, workstation, UIP lifecycle, CLR compatibility, FDI Type Library.
