Redundant devices in a process control system

A method of implementing redundant devices within a process control system for communications in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively linked over a process control network bus, wherein each of the devices has a unique address and is capable of communicating on the bus, the method comprising:

• configuring a primary redundant device having a first unique address and a secondary redundant device having a second unique address to transmit messages containing a virtual publishing address on the process control network bus;
• operating the primary redundant device in an active mode whereby the primary redundant device transmits messages containing the virtual publishing address on the bus;
• operating the secondary redundant device in a backup mode whereby the secondary redundant device does not transmit messages on the process control network bus;
• and
• receiving messages containing the virtual publishing address at least one receiving device configured to process messages containing the virtual publishing address.

A redundant pair of devices in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively linked over a process control network bus, wherein each of the devices has a unique address and is capable of communicating on the process control network bus, at least one device being programmed to process messages published on the process control network bus containing a virtual publishing address, the redundant pair of devices comprising:

• a primary redundant device having a first unique address communicatively linked to the process control network bus and programmed to publish messages on the process control network bus including the virtual publishing address;
• and
• a secondary redundant device having a second unique address communicatively linked to the process control network bus and programmed to publish messages on the process control network bus including the virtual publishing address;
• wherein the primary redundant device operates in an active mode whereby the primary redundant device transmits messages on the process control network bus for the at least one receiving device, and the secondary redundant device operates in a backup mode whereby the secondary device does not transmit messages on the process control network bus.