1 Scope
1.1 General
The Fieldbus Application Layer (FAL) provides user programs with a means to access the fieldbus communication
environment. In this respect, the FAL can be viewed as a “window between corresponding
application programs.”
This part of IEC 61158 provides common elements for basic time-critical and non-time-critical messaging
communications between application programs in an automation environment and material specific to Type 2 fieldbus. The
term “time-critical” is used to represent the presence of a time-window, within which
one or more specified actions are required to be completed with some defined level
of certainty. Failure to complete specified actions within the time window risks failure
of the applications requesting the actions, with attendant risk to equipment, plant and possibly human
life.
This International Standard specifies interactions between remote applications and defines the externally visible behavior provided by the Type 2 fieldbus application layer in terms of
a) the formal abstract syntax defining the application layer protocol data units conveyed between communicating application entities;