1. A network device for an automation network, the network device being set up with the help of a real-time application for providing a function of the network device, the real-time application having at least one predefined, updatable parameter, the network device comprising: a storage device operable to store update data for the updatable parameter in an update storage area and store application data for the real-time application in an application storage area, the update storage area and the application storage area being separate from one another, wherein the network device is configured such that, after update data is written into the update storage area at a predefined update time, a first memory address referring to the application storage area is switched to a second memory address referring to the update storage area in which the update data is stored, the switch taking place deterministically within a predefined update timeslot during runtime of the real-time application.