From a topological viewpoint, it can be envisaged that automation will continue to require structured networks even if they are partly wireless.
A typical configuration will therefore consist of a two-level hierarchy with a wireless lower (field) level and a wired field-level backbone network likely based on Ethernet (see Fig. 6).
The wireless segments will not be organized in a peer-to-peer fashion but will each have a central access point connected to the backbone network, which will typically belong to the middle level of the automation pyramid shown in Fig.1.The field-level backbone,inturn,will typically be connected to a company network through some sort of gateway.
On the company level, field-level data will be gathered and processed for various purposes, including resource planning, quality control, or—in building automation—facility management.