It provides basic time-critical messaging communications between devices in an automation environment. This protocol provides communication opportunities to all participating data-link entities, sequentially and in a cyclic synchronous manner. Foreground scheduled access is available for time-critical activities together with background unscheduled access for less critical activities. It includes the following significant changes with respect to the previous edition deletion of the former Type 6 fieldbus, and the placeholder for a Type 5 fieldbus data-link layer, for lack of market relevance; addition of new types of fieldbuses; division of this part into multiple parts numbered.