A system for automatically assigning sequential identification values to a plurality of networked nodes, the system comprising: a host controller operatively interconnected with a plurality of client controllers by a shared, multi-drop communications bus , and the host controller being further operatively interconnected with a first controller of the plurality of client controllers by an initial segment of a daisy-chained, point-to-point communications bus , and each previous controller of the plurality of client controllers being operatively connected to a subsequent controller of the plurality of client controllers by another segment of the point-to-point communications bus ; said system being characterized in that : the host controller includes control logic to (i) issue a token to the first of the plurality of client controllers via the initial segment of the point-to-point communications bus, (ii) following issue of the token , query the plurality of client controllers via the multi-drop communications bus, (iii) receive a reply via the multi-drop communications bus and, upon receiving the reply, associate a replying client controller with a sequential identification value, and (iv) command via the multi-drop communications bus passing of the token via the point-to-point communications bus; and each the plurality of client controllers includes control logic to (i) receive the token via the point-to-point communications bus, (ii) receive the query via the multi-drop communications bus, (iii) if that controller has the token, issue the reply to the query via the multi-drop communications bus, and (iv) receive the command via the multi-drop communications bus and, if that controller holds the token, pass the token via the point-to-point communications bus to a subsequent controller of the plurality of client controllers. a host controller operatively interconnected with a plurality of client controllers by a shared, multi-drop communications bus , and the host controller being further operatively interconnected with a first controller of the plurality of client controllers by an initial segment of a daisy-chained, point-to-point communications bus , and each previous controller of the plurality of client controllers being operatively connected to a subsequent controller of the plurality of client controllers by another segment of the point-to-point communications bus ; said system being characterized in that : the host controller includes control logic to (i) issue a token to the first of the plurality of client controllers via the initial segment of the point-to-point communications bus, (ii) following issue of the token , query the plurality of client controllers via the multi-drop communications bus, (iii) receive a reply via the multi-drop communications bus and, upon receiving the reply, associate a replying client controller with a sequential identification value, and (iv) command via the multi-drop communications bus passing of the token via the point-to-point communications bus; and each the plurality of client controllers includes control logic to (i) receive the token via the point-to-point communications bus, (ii) receive the query via the multi-drop communications bus, (iii) if that controller has the token, issue the reply to the query via the multi-drop communications bus, and (iv) receive the command via the multi-drop communications bus and, if that controller holds the token, pass the token via the point-to-point communications bus to a subsequent controller of the plurality of client controllers. <EOS>