The key to the successful development of distributed measurement and control systems is the communications link. emphasising the importance of communications standards, this topical text describes and discusses serial data highways developed for measurement and control applications. such standards demand conformity to a protocol which ensures reliable transmissions between digital field devices, using a common communications interface. this comprehensive overview of the large family of data highways currently in use addresses all aspects of the practical implementation of industrial control systems. features include:* up-to-date overview of serial networking technology for measurement and control applications.* review of the fundamental concepts and relative merits of twelve serial network communication standards.* a valuable insight into a wide range of market sectors where proprietary, national and international standards now apply.* discussion of each established or evolving serial data highway in the context of its application.this text is an invaluable reference source for engineers and product designers in measurement and control seeking to increase their awareness of developments in the complete range of market sectors. for anyone contemplating the development of a communications standard, this will prove an indispensable frame of reference. in addition to providing detailed information about the serial bus, this unique book will furnish advanced students of electronic and electrical engineering with a broader view of their subject and encourage a more product-oriented approach. serial networked field instrumentation forms part of the wiley series in measurement science and technology. chief editor: peter sydenham australian centre for test and evaluation, university of south australia. this series was founded to coincide with the recognition of measurement science and instrument technology as fields with their own scholarship and techniques.