Module identification method for expandable gateway applications

A modular wireless communications system, comprising:

• a base unit comprising a base unit processor;
• and
• one or more additional units that each comprise a processor, wherein the base unit processor is configured with processor-executable software instructions to:
• determine whether the base unit has been combined with the one or more additional units to create a combined unit;
• determine whether one or more of the additional units have been detached from the combined unit;
• identify the one or more additional units that are currently included in the combined unit in response to determining the base unit has been combined with the one or more additional units to create the combined unit or in response to determining that at least one of the one or more of the additional units have been detached from the combined unit;
• determine a purpose for each of the identified additional units;
• determine one or more functional capabilities for each of the identified additional units;
• identify redundancies in the combined unit based on the determined purposes and determined functional capabilities of the identified additional units;
• and
• eliminate identified redundancies in the combined unit.