Patent ID: 7010450

Claim:
A function block entity for use in a process environment having a processor communicatively coupled to control one or more field devices, at least one of which is configurable to be set into a plurality of different configuration states including a normal operating configuration state and at least one non-normal operating configuration state, the function block entity comprising: a computer readable medium; and a function block stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed on the processor, the function block including; an input adapted to receive an input signal from within the process environment indicating a configuration state of at least one of the field devices; a detection unit coupled to the input that detects when the at least one of the field devices is in a non-normal operating configuration state; and inhibit logic that automatically produces an inhibit signal when the at least one of the field devices is in a non-normal operating configuration state to inhibit the use of a further signal from the at least one of the field devices.