Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding methods for representing process alarms in a parent-child relationship includes an interface having an input and an output and a controller coupled to the interface. The controller is configured to access a hierarchal data structure through the interface. The data structure has at least one parent element and at least one child element, the elements representing at least one parameter in a control system. The controller is further configured to receive values of the parameter related to operation of the components at the interface and determine whether the received values indicate an alarm condition. If the received values do indicate an alarm condition, the controller is configured to access the data structure with the interface and identify an alarm element in the data structure that is associated with the alarm condition. The controller further determines, based on an examination of the alarm element, a cause of the alarm condition.

Abstract: A method for virtual communication relationship extraction, availability determination and validation from a foundation fieldbus device descriptor file can include obtaining a number of virtual communication relationships for fieldbus and linking devices coupled to a host system, identifying types of the virtual communication relationships for the fieldbus and linking devices, configuring function blocks related to the fieldbus and linking devices, reporting a count of consumed virtual communication relationships and available virtual communication relationships for the fieldbus and linking devices, determining an availability of a total number of virtual communication relationships and in response to no availability of virtual communication relationships, generating a message on the host system.

Abstract: A method for extracting and reporting a foundation fieldbus device description (DD) file for device selection and data validation can include obtaining the DD file for an intelligent field device (H1 device), extracting device information from the DD file, reading live data generated by the H1 device and generating a report including compliant values and functionality of the H1 device.