Automatic configuration of synchronous block execution for control modules run in fieldbus networks

The present invention discloses a process control network, comprising: a user interface device; a process controller communicatively coupled to the user interface device via a first communication network; a Fieldbus segment including a data bus and one or more Fieldbus field devices communicatively connected to the data bus, wherein the one or more Fieldbus field devices communicate over the data bus using a pre-established communication schedule; an input/output device directly connected to the data bus and communicatively connected between the process controller and the data bus; and a control module having aplurality of communicatively linked function blocks which operate together to perform a process control loop. The plurality of communicatively linked function blocks includes: an input function block; an output function block; and at least one intermediate function block, wherein the input function block and the output function block are located in the one or more Fieldbus field devices and the at least one intermediate function block is located in the input/output device and wherein each of the input function block, the output function block and the at least one intermediate function block communicates over the data bus using the pre-established communication schedule.