Method for the identification, by a higher-level device, of devices combined in a communication network, wherein each device is assigned a unique address in a predefined address space, comprising the following steps: the higher-level device subdivides the address space into request regions, wherein the method begins with a single request region and, as it proceeds, new request regions (28, 26) can arise which come to replace previous request regions, wherein the request regions comprise coherent parts of the address space the higher-level device sends an identification request to all the addresses in the first request region, devices which receive the identification request answer with an identification code which comprises at least the address of the respective device, the higher-level device collects the identification codes received, characterised in that the higher-level device collects the identification codes received in a list sorted by the addresses of the devices and compares a number of identification codes received with a predefined threshold value, if the number of identification codes received is below the threshold value, the method is continued with a new request region bordering the request region, if the number of identification codes received is above the threshold value, the method is continued with a reduced request region which is a subset of the request region, wherein when the method is continued with a reduced request region an upper limit of the new request region is defined by the address of an already identified device, i.e. by an address which is located in the top list, and wherein the lower limit of the reduced request region is identical to the lower limit of the preceding request region, wherein the upper limit of the new request region is defined by an address of an identified device stored in the list at an access position and wherein the access position is determined by the sum of the list index of the address defined as the lower limit and the number of devices identified in the first request exceeding the threshold value. the higher-level device subdivides the address space into request regions, wherein the method begins with a single request region and, as it proceeds, new request regions (28, 26) can arise which come to replace previous request regions, wherein the request regions comprise coherent parts of the address space the higher-level device sends an identification request to all the addresses in the first request region, devices which receive the identification request answer with an identification code which comprises at least the address of the respective device, the higher-level device collects the identification codes received, characterised in that the higher-level device collects the identification codes received in a list sorted by the addresses of the devices and compares a number of identification codes received with a predefined threshold value, if the number of identification codes received is below the threshold value, the method is continued with a new request region bordering the request region, if the number of identification codes received is above the threshold value, the method is continued with a reduced request region which is a subset of the request region, wherein when the method is continued with a reduced request region an upper limit of the new request region is defined by the address of an already identified device, i.e. by an address which is located in the top list, and wherein the lower limit of the reduced request region is identical to the lower limit of the preceding request region, wherein the upper limit of the new request region is defined by an address of an identified device stored in the list at an access position and wherein the access position is determined by the sum of the list index of the address defined as the lower limit and the number of devices identified in the first request exceeding the threshold value.