Patent ID: 9535413
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: G05B,G06F,H02J

Claim:
1. A method for distributed control of a process, comprising: accessing a function block configured to perform an arithmetic or logical operation on a parameter having a first parameter designation; and configuring a distributed automation control device that forms part of a machine or process control system, the distributed automation control device storing the function block and executing the function block in operation in the machine or process control system, wherein configuring the distributed automation control device comprises storing in the distributed automation control device a virtual data table comprising a conversion of the first parameter designation to a second parameter designation utilized for the parameter in the machine or process control system, wherein the first parameter designation is in a software domain of a configuration tool used to configure the distributed automation control device, and the second parameter designation is outside of the software domain and independent from the software domain, wherein the virtual data table provides an addressing space that facilitates conversion between a path for the first parameter designation and a pointer for the second parameter designation during use of the distributed automation control device.