PROFINET Device  v2.01.00
Abbreviations and Definitions

PROFINET abbreviations

Acyclic communication

On-demand communications that are not scheduled.

Alarm

An alarm is defined as an abnormal or unexpected event within an IO-Device. The associated information is transfered to the IO-Controller via an acyclic communication channel. The following alarm types are defined: Diagnosis, Process, Redundancy, Pull, and Plug Alarm.

Alarm Ack

Acknowledgement for an alarm from the recipient on the user side.

Alarm-ASE

Alarm Application Service Element: a central distributor for alarms. It manages the alarms and the alarm queues. Alarms are assigned to the corresponding information base or the APO according to their Alarm type.

APDU Status

Application Protocol Data Unit Status: contains status information regarding the transmitted cyclic user data.

API

1. Application Process Identifier (PROFINET context)
2. Application Programming Interface (general software development context).

APO

Application Process Object: network accessable representation of identifiable components of a Application Process. Application Service Elements (ASE) are used to access APOs which may be identified by one or more key attributes.

Application Ready

A service the device uses to signal to the IO-Controller that it has entered into the operation phase, also called CControl.

AR

Application Relationship: a PROFINET structure that contains communication relationships. There are ARs of the following types: IO-Supervisor (IOS), IO-Controller (IOC), IO-Device (IOD) and implicit relationship.

AR-Block

A PROFINET structure that contains communication relationships.

ART

1. Automated Real-time Tester: a test suite to check PROFINET specification conformance of a device
2. Acyclic Real-Time: an acyclic communication channel used for real-time alarms.

ASE

Application Service Element: there are several ASEs defined in PROFINET, e.g. AR ASE, Diagnosis ASE, Alarm ASE, Communication Interface Management ASE, Real Identification ASE, DCP ASE, DNS ASE, SNMP ASE, etc.

Backup AR

One of two AR states. A Backup AR carries the data that is processed by the Consumer when the Primary AR is unavailable. See also "Primary AR".

CC

Conformance Class: currently there are 4 conformance classes: CC-A, CC-B, CC-C (IRT), CC-D (TSN).

CControl

A service the device uses to signal to the IO-Controller that it has entered into the operation phase, also called Application Ready.

Channel

A single Input or Output point. A channel can be digital or analog. Multiple I/O channels can be organized in a group called a sub-slot.

Client/Server

The network node that sets up the communication connection is called a client. A server is the service provider that supplies the appropriate data to the client upon request. See also REQ and RES.

Communication stack

A software package containing different layers of protocols used for communication. The protocols layers are laying on top of each other, so are "stacked" on each other. See Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) 7 layers reference model for network protocols like TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) over Ethernet.

Consumer

A device that receives data from a Provider.

CPM

Consumer Protocol Machine: a component of the PROFINET protocol stack in a Consumer responsible for handling the received cyclic data.

CR

Communication Relationship: a virtual communication channel within an AR. AR defines the devices and CR is the data. CRs manage the communication relations and the transportation of IO data among IOPS, IOCS, APDU Status.

Cycle

An interval in which one round of periodic data exchanged is to be completed.

Cycle Counter

A counter that represents the relative time from the cycle start.

Cyclic communication

Repetitive communications that take place based on a pre-defined schedule.

DAP

Device Access Point: a device is addressed as a single entity using the device access point.

Data Status

A collection of flags that indicates whether the cyclic data is valid and can be used. It also shows the status of the diagnosis and the global status of the controller.

DControl

A service used to signal the end of the parameterization phase to a device during system startup. It may also be referred to as "Parameter End".

DCP

Discovery and Configuration Protocol: protocol used for setting the name and IP address of PROFINET devices.

DEV

A logical device.

DeviceID

Device Identification for PROFINET: a manufacturer defined key that is unique to a specific device type. The DeviceID is used in the GSDML file to select a specific device type.

DNS

Domain Name System: a service used to convert domain names into the associated IP addresses.

ETH

Ethernet interface.

Expected Identification

Manages the requested configuration of the ARs as engineered in the engineering tool of the PLC and the Module Diff Block in comparison to Real Identification.

FSU

Fast Start-Up: Optimized PROFINET system startup (typically 500 ms or less).

GSDML

Generic Station Description Markup Language.

Identify

A DCP service used to identify a station (IO-Device or IO-Controller). A station responds to an Identify request with its NameOfStation, its IP address and information about neighboring connections.

I&M (IM)

Identification and Maintenance: services that provide information about a device during commissioning and maintenance.

IO (I/O)

Input Output.

IOC

IO-Controller: a device, usually a PLC, that initiates PROFINET IO data communication.

IOCR

Input/Output Communication Relationship: a communication channel for the cyclic Input/Output data within an AR.

IOCS

Input/Output Object Consumer Status: a collection of flags used by the receiver (Consumer) of a cyclic IO data element to signal the status (good/bad with error location).

IOD

IO-Device: a field device in a PROFINET network that transfers input data to the IO-Controller and receives output data from the IO-Controller.

IOPS

Input/Output Provider Status: a collection of flags used by the sender (Provider) of a cyclic IO data element to signal the status (good/bad with error location).

IOxS

Input/Output Consumer/Provider Status: used when referring to IOCS and IOPS.

IRT

Isochronous Real-Time: a communication channel used in PROFINET, for the deterministic transfer of data between synchronized devices.

LLDP

Link Layer Discovery Protocol: an IP layer protocol used by devices to advertise their identity, capabilities and neighbors on an IEEE 802 Local Area Network (LAN) or PROFINET network.

MCR

Multicast Communication Relation: a communication channel between devices without direct involvement of the higher-level controller defined in PROFINET.

MIB

Management Information Base: a database containing managed device parameters to be queried by SNMP services.

MII

Media Independent Interface: a standardized interface between the Ethernet controller in the Media Access Control (MAC) layer and the transmission equipment in the Physical Layer (PHY).

Modules

Vendor defined components that plug into slots. Modules may be physical or virtual.

MRP

Media Redundancy Protocol: ring redundancy protocol according to IEC 662439 "Industrial communication networks: high availability automation networks".

MRPD

Media Redundancy for real-time with Planned Delay: an MRP variant used for IRT communication.

NRT

Non Real-Time: a communication channel used for all communication that is not considered real-time. PROFINET Channel Configuration and Diagnostic messages are transferred over the NRT channel. Also used as generic term for all non-real-time frames (EtherType is other than 0x8892).

OUI

Organizationally Unique Identifier: a vendor related identification assigned by IEEE to vendors of network devices. The first 3 bytes of a MAC address are the OUI.

PDEV

Physical Device.

PDU

Protocol Data Unit: a data block that contains protocol-specific information (source address, destination address, checksum, service parameter information, etc.) and user data. PDUs encapsulated corresponding to a protocol are decapsulated and handled by the same protocol at matching layers on other connected devices.

PHY

A component that implements the physical layer of Ethernet in OSI network model.

PI

PROFIBUS/PROFINET International: international association of national PROFIBUS/PROFINET user organizations.

PLC

Programmable Logic Controller: a computer used for the automation of industrial processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines.

Plug Alarm

An alarm triggered when a module is inserted into a modular device. Module parameters may be downloaded with the plug alarm.

PN

PROFINET.

PNIO

PROFINET IO.

PNO

PROFIBUS/PROFINET Nutzer Organisation: the german PI branch ("Nutzer" stands for "User").

POF

Polymeric Optical Fiber: an optical communication medium, alternative to copper-based communication medium.

PMA

Port MAC Address: MAC address of a specific port of a PROFINET switch. A particular port is identified using a Port MAC address. PROFINET transmits some frames based on the PMA so that switches do not have to change addresses or relearn partners in redundant operation.

PPM

Provider Protocol Machines: a component of the PROFINET protocol stack in a Provider that is responsible for handling the transmission of cyclic data.

Primary AR

Carries the data that is processed by the Consumer. See also "Backup AR".

Priority tagging

A 3-bits Priority Code Point (PCP) that is inserted in an Ethernet frame according to IEEE 802.1Q. PROFINET uses a priority value of 6.

Process Alarm

An alarm used to signal an event that has occurred external to the device, (e.g. overpressure in a boiler).

Profile

A set of functionalities and services a device has to deliver and perform. Some common Profiles are PROFISAFE, PROFIENERGY and PROFIDRIVE.

Profile ID

An entity that is used in combination with an API to uniquely identify the access and behavior of an application (e.g. PROFIdrive, Encoder, PROFIEnergy, etc.)

Provider

An entity that sends data to consumers in the form of messages.

Pull Alarm

An Alarm that is triggered when a module is removed (unplugged or pulled) from the modular device.

Record Data

Structured data that are provided by acyclic access to an IO-Device. Often used for parameterization of the IO-Device.

Redundancy Alarm

An alarm that is triggered when the status of the associated redundancy AR changes.

REQ

Request: a message sent from the client to the server to request a specific service, e.g. a web browser (web client) sends a request to a web server to ask for a particular webpage.

RES

Response: a message the server sends to the client in response for a REQ, e.g. a web server replies to a REQ from a web browser (web client) with the requeted webpage.

Return Alarm

An alarm that indicates that an IO element is in data exchange again.

RPC

Remote Procedure Call: a form of inter-process communication used in PROFINET. A RPC is when a computer program causes a procedure to execute in a different address space (commonly on another computer on a network). PROFINET uses RPCs as defined in the Open Software Foundation (OSF) C706 publication (CAE Specification DCE11: Remote Procedure Call).

RT

Real-Time: The PROFINET real-time protocol that can be operated without special support from Ethernet controllers. The RT protocol is typically used when IRT is not available (mainly in CC-A and CC-B devices).

RTA

Real-Time Acyclic protocol: defines the transfer of alarm information.

RTA ACK

RTA protocol Acknowledgement: acknowledgment messages of RTA protocol frames that use EtherType 0x8892.

RTC

1. Real Time Cyclic (PROFINET context)
2. Real Time Clock (general computing context).

Slot

An organizational group in the modular PROFINET device model. An IO-Device consists of one or more physical or virtual slots. Slots can be seen as plug-in modules that define the way a device functions (e.g. an 8 channel digital output module). Slots are made up of Subslots.

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol: an internet standard protocol for collecting and organizing information about managed devices on IP networks and for modifying that information to change device behaviour. The information is organized in Management Information Bases (MIBs).

Subslot

A group of one or more IO channels. They may be physical or virtual subslots.

TSN

Time Sensitive Network: an IEEE 802.1 standard for optimizing Ethernet communication for low latency and high availability, formerly known as Ethernet Audio Video Bridging (AVB).

UUID

Universal Unique Identifier: identifies objects and interfaces. Controls the unique identification of a particular functionality in PROFINET.

Vendor ID

Every PROFINET device vendor can be identified by its Vendor ID which is assigned by the PNO/PI to the manufacturer. The Vendor ID of a device is accessible via I&M services.

Sitara abbreviations

CCS

Code Composer Studio ®.

ICSS

Industrial Communication Sub-System.

IDE

Integrated Devlopment Environment.

PRU

Programable Real-time Unit.

TCM

Tightly-Coupled Memory for R5F cores.