ICSockets
ICSockets is a conceptual framework for a socket-like interface designed for industrial control systems (ICS). It provides a uniform API for inter-device communication across heterogeneous networks, aiming to blend traditional fieldbus access with modern Ethernet-based protocols. The goal is to offer deterministic timing, reliability, and security for critical control tasks, while remaining interoperable with existing ICS technologies.
The API resembles conventional sockets but extends it with real-time semantics. Applications can open endpoints, connect,
Use cases include industrial automation, SCADA, and robotics, where cross-vendor integration is required. ICSockets can be
Standards status: the concept remains experimental and is not widely standardized. It overlaps with goals of