System and method for accessing parameters in a fieldbus network using a tag parameters interface

摘要

A system and method for accessing parameters or objects using a tag parameter interface in a fieldbus system. The present invention enables access to parameters or objects using the tag parameter construct without requiring the user to perform any pre-configuration of connections or name to index mappings. This considerably simplifies user development of applications in a fieldbus network, wherein the user is completely shielded from all Fieldbus Foundation protocol details. According to the present invention, the user is not required to have any knowledge about the details of the VCR, how to set up or establish the VCR, or even that an entity called "VCR" exists in the system. Also, the present invention automatically maps the parameter name to an index, and thus the user is shielded from the details of construction of the device. Also, if a new function block is instantiated or an existing function block is de-instantiated, the method of the present invention handles the configuration management without requiring any user involvement.