OPC

OPC (OLE for Process Control) is a non-proprietary set of standard interfaces based upon Microsoft’s OLE/COM technology. This standard makes possible interoperability between automation/control applications, field systems/ devices and business/office applications. Avoiding the traditional requirement of software/application developers to write custom drivers to exchange data with field devices, OPC defines a common, high performance interface that permits this work to be done once, and then easily reused by HMI, SCADA, control and custom applications. Over the network, OPC uses DCOM (Distributed COM) for remote communications.