Overview
IEC 62769-2:2021 - Field Device Integration (FDI) Part 2: FDI Client specifies the FDI Client portion of the Field Device Integration architecture (Edition 2.0, 2021-02). The standard defines the architectural components, interfaces and behaviors required for an FDI Client to access, host and present field device functionality in a consistent, interoperable way. Annex A contains the normative XML schema definitions used by the client.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard covers the following technical areas (as structured in the document):
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FDI Client architecture and services
- Device Access Services: device model, node model, data types and service operations required for reading, writing and managing device data.
- Device Model and Node Model definitions that standardize how device information and hierarchical nodes are represented.
- Base Property, Device Model and Direct Access Services, including locking services for coordinated access.
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Hosting Services
- Rules and service definitions for hosting vendor-provided components (UIP - User Interface Plug-ins) on the FDI Client.
- Parameter type definitions used by hosted components.
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UIP (User Interface Plug-in)
- UIP instantiation rules, a UIP state machine (states and transitions), and permissions/restrictions (file system access, IPC, import/export, resource access).
- Deployment and management of UIPs via downloads from FDI Servers and local client management.
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Actions and UID (User Interface Description)
- Action sequencing, action schemas and execution flows.
- UID execution model and UI element schemas used to present device-specific user interfaces.
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Data formats and XML schemas
- Extensive normative XML schema (Annex A) for UI elements, actions, parameters, variants and other structures used by the FDI Client.
Practical applications and who uses this standard
IEC 62769-2:2021 is intended for organizations and professionals involved in industrial automation and field device integration:
- Control system vendors and host application developers implementing FDI Clients to integrate heterogeneous field devices.
- Field device and instrumentation manufacturers providing UIPs and device packages that must run on compliant clients.
- System integrators and automation engineers who deploy, configure and maintain field devices across DCS/PLC/SCADA systems.
- Software developers and test teams building compliant client-side implementations, UI presentation layers, and device management tools.
Practical uses include standardized device commissioning, parameterization, diagnostics, secure multi-tool access, and unified device UIs that reduce integration time and improve interoperability.
Related standards and next steps
- IEC 62769-2 is part of the broader FDI series; consult the IEC webstore or national IEC committee for related FDI parts and complementary device-integration standards. For implementers, review the normative XML schema in Annex A and the UIP deployment and permission rules when architecting client solutions.
Keywords: IEC 62769-2:2021, FDI Client, Field Device Integration, UIP, UID, device access services, hosting services, XML schema, industrial automation.