Communication configuration and method for debugging, respectively for programming one or more participants of the communication configuration

A method for one of debugging or programming at least one participant of a communication system having multiple participants which are annularly disposed and are serially interconnected, one participant assuming a master status and the remaining participants assuming a slave status, the method comprising:

• transmitting, by the master, data packets to at least one of the slaves, wherein data packets in the slaves propagate through via a shift register;
• one of (i) receiving, by a first participant, data via an external interface of the first participant from outside of the communication configuration for the one of debugging or programming of the at least one participant of the communication configuration, or (ii) transmitting, by the first participant, data to outside of the communication configuration via the external interface of the first participant.