Fieldbus is the name of a family of industrial computer network protocols used for real-time distributed control, now standardized as IEC 61158. Each part of a modern automation system must have the capacity to communicate and have uniform communication paths. Data communication requirements are increasing all the time, both horizontally on a field level and vertically through more hierarchical levels. A fully integrated data communication solution for industry usually involves all these elements. This applies to everything: sensor signals, which in turn are connected to instruments, valves, motors etc.

IEC 61158 is a standard that describes fieldbuses, the standard has the title: “Digital Data communication for measurement and control. Fieldbus for use in industrial control systems’’ and is divided into 6 parts.