Method for providing an expanded name service for an industrial automation system

A method for providing an expanded name service for an industrial automation system, comprising:

• providing an assigned communication network address in response to a name resolution request based on registered name-address assignments between device names and communication network addresses in a name service system comprising at least one name service server for at least one of (i) automation devices and (ii) communication devices, device names registered in the name service system having a hierarchical structure represented by a tree structure, and the tree structure comprising a root node, internal nodes and end nodes;
• registering assignments between device names and plant identification codes for at least one of (i) the automation devices and (ii) the communication devices in the name service system in addition to name-address assignments, the plant identification codes being registered within the same tree structure as the device names, and one of (i) end nodes which are respectively assigned to the plant identification codes in the tree structure containing a reference to end nodes which are respectively assigned to the device names and (ii) intermediate nodes for plant identification codes comprise a reference to intermediate nodes which are respectively assigned to plant units;
• and
• determining a device name based on assignments between the device names and plant identification codes and performing a name resolution request to determine an assigned communication network address for the device name when a request to resolve a plant identification code is present.