IEC 61158-6-17:2007

Overview

IEC 61158-6-17:2007 is an international standard that specifies the fieldbus application layer (FAL) protocol for Type 17 fieldbus systems. Aligned with the OSI Basic Reference Model (ISO/IEC 7498) and the OSI application layer structure (ISO/IEC 9545), this part defines the application layer protocol elements, message formats and state machines that provide application programs with a consistent "window" into the fieldbus communication environment. This edition replaces IEC 61158-6:2003 and IEC/PAS 62405 (2005) and is published bilingually (English/French).

Key topics and technical requirements

• FAL abstract and transfer syntax: Definitions of APDU (Application Protocol Data Unit) abstract syntax, PDUs for ASEs (Application Service Elements) and encoding/transfer rules for headers, bodies and data types.
• APDU header and body encoding: Rules and formats for APDU header fields, identifier octets and length encoding (one- and three-octet formats).
• Application service elements (ASEs): Protocol elements for services such as variables, events, load regions, function invocation, time and network management.
• FAL protocol state machines: Detailed state-machine specifications for FAL service protocol machines (FSPMs) including:
  • VARM (Variable ASE)
  • EVTM (Event ASE)
  • LDRM (Load region ASE)
  • FNIM (Function invocation ASE)
  • TIMM (Time ASE)
  • NWMM (Network management ASE)
• Application relationship protocol machines (ARPMs) and DLL mapping protocol machine (DMPM): Definitions of ARPM types, primitives, state transitions and interactions between application layer and data-link layer.
• Primitives and parameters: Tables of primitives exchanged between FAL user, FSPMs, ARPMs and data-link layer for conformance and implementation.
• Conformance and normative references: Requirements for conformance testing and normative references supporting consistent implementations.

Applications and who uses it

• Industrial automation vendors implementing Type 17 fieldbus stacks in PLCs, I/O devices, HMIs and gateways.
• System integrators and control engineers who require predictable application-layer behavior and interoperability across field devices.
• Protocol stack developers and firmware engineers building FAL implementations, APDU encoders/decoders and state-machine logic.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing conformance, interoperability and compliance testing against IEC 61158-6-17.
• Network architects designing robust industrial communication systems based on standardized application-layer semantics.

Related standards

• IEC 61158 series (other parts for different Type fieldbuses)
• ISO/IEC 7498 (OSI Basic Reference Model)
• ISO/IEC 9545 (OSI application layer structure)
• Replaced documents: IEC 61158-6:2003; IEC/PAS 62405 (2005)

Keywords: IEC 61158, IEC 61158-6-17, fieldbus, application layer, FAL, Type 17, APDU, industrial communication networks, application layer protocol, OSI model.