This ObjectType represents the logical interface of a Device to a Network. A specific subtype shall be defined for each protocol. Figure 20 shows the ConnectionPointType including some specific types.

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Figure 20 – Example of ConnectionPointType hierarchy

A Device can have more than one such interface to the same or to different Networks. Different interfaces usually exist for different protocols. Figure 21 shows the ConnectionPointType components. It is formally defined in Table 41.

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Figure 21 – ConnectionPointType

Table 41 – ConnectionPointType definition

Attribute

Value

BrowseName

ConnectionPointType

IsAbstract

True

References

NodeClass

BrowseName

DataType

TypeDefinition

Other

Subtype of the TopologyElementType defined in 4.2.

0:HasComponent

Object

NetworkAddress

FunctionalGroupType

M

0:HasComponent

Object

<ProfileIdentifier>

ProtocolType

MP

ConnectsTo

Object

<NetworkIdentifier>

NetworkType

OP

Conformance Units

DI ConnectionPoint

ConnectionPoints are components of a Device, represented by a subtype of ComponentType. To allow navigation from a Network to the connected Devices, the ConnectionPoints shall have the inverse Reference (ComponentOf) to the Device.

ConnectionPoints have Properties and other components that they inherit from the TopologyElementType.

The NetworkAddress FunctionalGroup includes all Parameters needed to specify the protocol-specific address information of the connected Device. These Parameters may be components of the NetworkAddress FunctionalGroup, of the ParameterSet, or another Object.

<ProfileIdentifier> identifies the Communication Profile that this ConnectionPoint supports. ProtocolType and Communication Profile are defined in 5.2. It implies that this ConnectionPoint can be used to connect Networks and Devices of the same Communication Profile.

ConnectionPoints are between a Network and a Device. The location in the topology is configured by means of the ConnectsTo ReferenceType. Figure 22 illustrates some usage models.

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Figure 22 – ConnectionPoint usage