B.7 OPC UA References for Assets
An asset defined in the Joining System can reference other assets in multiple ways such as Logical Connection, Network Connection, Physical Connection, Component (Attached Component, Built-in Component, Sub-Part, etc.), ConnectsTo, IsConnectedTo, etc.
For this version of the specification, only a generic reference AssociatedWith is used to enable the topological infrastructure which will be used by the client applications to build required tree view or hierarchies or a mesh of inter-linked nodes. There is no restriction on adding additional references.
Note: The assets model defined in Joining System is flexible to cover various type of systems. For example, a Controller and MemoryDevice can have HasAttachedComponent or HasContainedComponent reference.
OPC UA base specifications provides standardized set of references which can be used at application level.
Note: Table 278 provides few examples as general information few examples.
| Source Object | Possible Reference Types | Target Object |
| Controller | AssociatedWith IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Tool |
| Controller | AssociatedWith IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Servo |
| Controller | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes RepresentsSameFunctionalityAs IsHostedBy | Controller |
| Controller | HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | MemoryDevice |
| Controller | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Feeder |
| Controller | HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | Sensor |
| Controller | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Accessory |
| Controller | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | SubComponent |
| Controller | AssociatedWith Utilizes Requires | VirtualStation |
| Tool | AssociatedWith Utilizes Requires | VirtualStation |
| Tool | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes IsHostedBy | Controller |
| Tool | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | Battery |
| Tool | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | Sensor |
| Tool | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | Accessory |
| Tool | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes HasAttachedComponent HasContainedComponent | SubComponent |
| Servo | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Tool |
| PowerSupply | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Controls Utilizes | Servo |
| Battery | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo Requires Utilizes | PowerSupply |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Controller |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Servo |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Tool |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Feeder |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | PowerSupply |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Sensor |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | Accessory |
| Cable | IsPhysicallyConnectedTo | SubComponent |