Patent ID: 7898978

Claim:
A method for determining a network topology of a distributed automation system having a plurality of automation devices connected to the system, comprising: assigning a network address to each of the automation devices; sending a request for information from a first automation device to a plurality of other ones of the automation devices within the automation system; wherein a first of the first automation devices sends the request to each automation device connected directly to the first automatic device and wherein each automation device reached by the request forwards the request to each further automation device connected directly to the applicable automation device; sending a reply from each automation device receiving the request, each reply including a location code suitable, in combination with location codes provided in other replies, for generating a topology of the automation system determinative of physical positions of the replying automation devices, wherein actual spatial positions of automation devices are encoded in the location codes; and generating a representation of the network topology of the distributed automation system based on location codes provided in the replies.