1.1 OverviewThis part of IEC 61158 provides common elements for basic time-critical messaging communications between devices in an automation environment. The term “time-critical” is used to represent the presence of a time-window, within which one or more specified actions are required to be completed with some defined level of certainty. Failure to complete specified actions within the time window risks failure of the applications requesting the actions, with attendant risk to equipment, plant and possibly human life.This standard defines in an abstract way the externally visible service provided by the Type 2 fieldbus data-link layer in terms ofa) the pr