An interface module is operatively connected to a Fieldbus process control
network and to at least one non-Fieldbus process control network to
facilitate the exchange of process control information between the
networks. The interface module stores a database in which the process
control parameters of the function blocks in the field devices of the
Fieldbus process control network are mapped to corresponding process
control parameters of the non-Fieldbus process control network. Once the
Fieldbus process control parameters are mapped to the non-Fieldbus
process control parameters, the interface module is adapted to transmit
request messages on the Fieldbus process control network to the Fieldbus
field devices for the current values of the process control parameters,
receive response messages from the Fieldbus field devices, and store the
current values of the process control parameters in the database. The
interface module may also function in the other direction to map
non-Fieldbus process control parameters to corresponding Fieldbus process
control parameters.