The PROFINET protocol has marked a before and after in hospital communication systems. Certainly, its speed and efficiency are greatly appreciated when patients’ health is at stake.
When choosing communication networks for hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare centers, PROFINET is one of the best solutions we can adopt. As the person responsible for selecting the systems to be implemented, you need to gather information about this protocol. How about taking that first step with us?
Contenidos
What is the PROFINET protocol?
PROFINET is an Industrial Ethernet–based protocol capable of interconnecting multiple devices and controllers through open TCP/IP and IT standards. Its name is an acronym for Process Field Network, which translates to “process field network.”
This protocol makes it possible to connect industrial devices with different production equipment (such as sensors) to automate industrial processes in real time. Another remarkable aspect is that PROFINET operates independently of who manufactured the devices.
The PROFINET protocol was developed by PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) in 2004. By having improved in many areas over PROFIBUS (its predecessor), it has become one of the most widely used communication standards.
PROFINET Characteristics
High transmission speed
With a communication speed of at least 100 Mbps, this protocol’s performance is unquestionable. In fact, it is ideal for executing multiple tasks simultaneously without losing even a bit of agility.
Flexibility: a distinctive feature of the PROFINET protocol
The scalable architecture of the PROFINET protocol allows us to add devices with complete ease. Both system management and network configuration and design become significantly simpler when working under this standard.
Because it is based on Ethernet, PROFINET is 100% compatible with other protocols (DHCP, SNMP, LLDP, etc.). This interoperability eliminates conflicts when sharing data among multiple devices.
Autodetection
Those who use the PROFINET standard find it very easy to detect the devices connected to it, since this process is carried out automatically. As you can imagine, this greatly simplifies corrective and predictive maintenance tasks related to the software associated with the protocol.
Built-in security
PROFINET includes its own integrated security technology: PROFIsafe. With it, you will keep your hospital’s confidential information protected against external attacks. Likewise, you can use the same cable both for ordinary communications and for those related to safety (with the cost savings that this implies).
Why PROFINET is used
When it comes to hospital communications, there is a lot at stake. In this sector, precision and speed are essential requirements. Therefore, it is no surprise that more and more hospitals and care facilities are choosing the PROFINET protocol.
PROFINET has become the communication standard for industrial process automation. This is the logical result of being a safe, reliable, and efficient system. It also offers low latency and does not require excessive bandwidth.
When compared to other communication protocols, PROFINET stands out for its excellent performance in managing particularly complex processes. Additionally, it surpasses its competitors in terms of speed and energy efficiency — all without compromising system stability.
How PROFINET Works
The PROFINET protocol uses copper Ethernet cabling to connect multiple individual or grouped devices through the same network. These cables, known for their high durability, are typically equipped with RJ45 connectors, which increases their speed.
The exact speed offered by this communication system depends on the function being executed. For example, factory devices require less than 10 ms to update, whereas process instruments may need hundreds of milliseconds.
The connectors used in this system are key to optimizing device connectivity, making it fast and simple. These switches include advanced features (such as intelligent bandwidth control) to maximize performance.
PROFINET networks can be built using a combination of various workstations. This complex assembly of components is grouped into three roles: controller, device, and supervisor — which determines how they will interact with one another.
Advantages of PROFINET
Using a network system like PROFINET in hospitals and care facilities results in clear savings of time and money. Want to know which concrete advantages drive its success?
-
Enables scalability. Its numerous add-ons (such as PROFIEnergy or IO-LINK) offer great opportunities for expansion and improvement.
-
Facilitates access to field devices from other networks. This allows maintenance tasks to be carried out remotely.
-
Highly implemented. The PROFINET protocol is very fast and has the largest Ethernet industrial installation base. It also receives strong support from its user and supplier community.
-
Advanced diagnostics for devices and channel modules.
-
Easy and fast to install. It requires very little time to set up.
-
Hyper-fast. This system offers a very high data transfer speed, making it especially useful for motion-control applications.
-
Enhanced security during data transfer—highly valued in sectors where sensitive information is handled.
-
Greater performance and power compared to other solutions.
In short, the PROFINET protocol has brought communications to new levels of efficiency. Moreover, implementing it in hospitals and care facilities is very easy with Advantencia.
Get in contact with us and benefit from the peace of mind of working with a company specialized in healthcare communication systems.
