Patent ID: 8392764

Claim:
A control system network comprising: a communication link; a plurality of interchangeable and replaceable control devices each connected to the communication link and operatively connectable to at least one input/output device of a controlled system; and an identification key associated with each respective control device, each identification key including configuration data corresponding to the respective control device, each identification key being electronically readable by one of the control devices when introduced to the network; wherein each identification key includes a first data structure including configuration data and information, each control device including a second data structure including data and information stored in the control device, each control device configured to compare information from the first data structure to information in the second data structure to evaluate a compatibility of the control device with the network; and wherein if information from the first data structure does not match information in the second data structure when a control device is introduced to the network, the control device is configured to invalidate the information in the second data structure and request correct configuration data and software from another of the control devices on the network.