Relay interface module for a distributed control system

A distributed control system comprising:

• a plurality of controllers including a first controller having at least one control application, and a second controller;
• at least one input/output (I/O) device for one of sending and receiving I/O data;
• a first communication interface module adapted to function as a relay interface module being communicatively connectable with the at least one I/O device and the first controller of the plurality of controllers, the first communication interface module comprising:
• a network interface for receiving and transmitting I/O data between the at least one I/O device and the first controller, and
• a memory module configured to store location data associated with at least one control application, wherein the location data comprises location information of the first controller on which the control application is being executed;
• and
• a second communication interface module connected to the second controller of the plurality of controllers;
• wherein the first communication interface module is configured to communicate with the second controller on one of a controller communication network and a dedicated communication network, via the second communication interface module;
• wherein the first controller is an original location on which the control application is executed, wherein the control application is associated with the at least one I/O device through a soft bridge comprised in the first communication interface module, wherein the distributed control system is configured for moving the control application to the second controller, wherein the location data is updated to indicate that the control application is being executed on the second controller, and wherein the first communication interface module is updated to route packets from the at least one I/O device to the second communication interface module based on the updated location data.