| CPC G05B 23/0208 (2013.01) | 21 Claims | 

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               1. A method comprising: 
            receiving, via an alarm configuration interface, one or more instances of user interface input that collectively define: 
                one or more conditions to be used for a process automation alarm, and 
                  a function block identifier of a function block, of a process automation system, via which the conditions are to be monitored; 
                responsive to receiving the instances of user interface input: 
                generating an alarm configuration file that specifies the conditions, and 
                  storing, in a database, the alarm configuration file in association with the function block identifier for the function block; 
                subsequent to storing, in the database, the alarm configuration file in association with the function block identifier: 
              determining that a distributed control node (DCN) of the process automation system locally utilizes the function block, identified by the function block identifier, in alarm monitoring; 
                  retrieving the alarm configuration file from the database based on it being stored in association with the function block identifier; and 
                  transmitting, via a network of the process automation system, the retrieved alarm configuration file to the DCN in response to determining that the DCN utilizes the process automation function block, identified by the function block identifier, in alarm monitoring, 
                wherein transmitting the retrieved alarm configuration file causes the DCN to implement alarm monitoring that conforms to the retrieved alarm configuration file. 
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