Patent ID: 7324464

Claim:
A communication system for communicating with multiple participating devices, said communication system comprising a plurality of the participating devices, a communication line connecting the participating devices with each other, and one or more respective connection devices for connecting an interface device for communication with a corresponding one of the participating devices indirectly via said communication line, said corresponding participating device being defined as associated with said one or more respective connection devices, said one or more respective connection devices being connected with the communication line; wherein said one or more respective connection devices are not included in said participating devices and are also not included in said interface device; wherein said one or more respective connection devices comprise readable means for identification of said corresponding participating device defined as associated with said one or more respective connection devices, wherein said readable means is readable by said interface device connectable to the one or more connection devices; wherein each of said respective connection devices connects said interface device with said corresponding one of said participating devices associated therewith, but with no others of said participating devices, when said interface device is connected with each of said respective connection devices; wherein said readable means for identification of said corresponding participating device defined as associated with said one or more respective connection devices is a programmable controller; and wherein said programmable controller is connectable and readable by means of a separate connecting line provided in said one or more respective connection devices and comprises a memory device for storage of identification information, said programmable controller being programmable during a configuration stage by said interface device.