6. Conclusion

This dossier presented the temporal characteristics of industrial networks.

These are mainly low-layer issues, as these networks are rarely meshed and therefore do not present the same problems as large packet (or datagram) switched networks.

To extend these concepts to large networks, we would need to take into account other traffic models, models of intermediate stations such as routers or packet switches, and models of network, transport and application layer protocols.

In our case, the characteristics depend firstly on the physical characteristics of the physical channels, then on the behavior of the intermediate stations, and finally on the Medium Access Control protocols. It is important to distinguish the type of result according to the protocol model. Controlled-access protocols can be modeled to obtain results...