Mr. Damm presented in the PNO - OPC JWG the problem that different companion specs define own device types for the same "real life device" to model different aspects of that device. In computer languages such problems would be solved by multi inheritance, which is not possible in OPC UA.
So he proposed to use the connection point type to model such aspects.
We understand that proposal and the problem with the multiple device types. But our concern is, that not all of these aspects are limited to communication aspects. But a connection point suggests a communication feature. Especially inside the PROFINET data structures are connection points contained. So, with the proposal of Matthias we would have different understanding of a connection point in the same information area.
So we propose different ways to solve the described problem:
1.) A new object type "deviceFacet". Instances of this type are children of the instance of the device type and divides the different features/aspects of the device instance (of a device type) So a device can have multiple facets like "PROFINET", "Sercos", "Robot", "Safety", ... To be backward compatible not all the the today defined structures fit to that new scheme. But all new specification should use that new scheme.
2.) Defining a new object type "RealLifeDeviceType" that compromizes the different deviceTypes of that real device.
3.) Additionally see Mantis Issue#0003959 „Define a way to link objects together which are representing the same real life object“

Ignoring the backward compatibility we would prefer proposal #1, but we can also live with proposal #2. proposal #3 is the real miminum solution.

We will add nodeset samples for the proposals later.