Abstract
Consideration is given to the concept of the 'intelligent transducer' with particular reference to the expected capabilities of an instrument incorporating local signal processing. The implications of devolving the tasks of instrument management and data transmission to separate processing elements are explored. The use of communication protocols within instrumentation systems is discussed both in the context of techniques currently in use and proposed future standards. A three-layer instrumentation protocol model consisting of physical link, transport mechanism and application data layers is defined together with a consideration of the individual layers. The networking of power and data within distributed instrumentation systems is considered with a view to the commercial implications of the multiplicity of techniques both existing and proposed.