The INA700 is designed to respond to the SMBus Alert Response address. The SMBus Alert Response provides a quick fault identification for simple secondary devices. When an Alert occurs, the main device can broadcast the Alert Response secondary device address (0001 100) with the R/W bit set high. Following this Alert Response, any secondary device that generates an alert can identify itself by acknowledging the Alert Response and sending its address to the bus.

The Alert Response can activate several different target devices simultaneously, similar to the I²C General Call. If more than one target attempts to respond, bus arbitration rules apply. The losing device does not generate an Acknowledge and continues to hold the Alert line low until that device wins arbitration.