Method and apparatus for prescribing station identifiers in a profit IO network

A method for prescribing, on a Profinet IO compatible device, a station identifier, the method comprising:

• receiving a setting via an address selector switch;
• and
• combining (i) the setting received by the address selector switch with (ii) a group identifier that is (a) firmly prescribed for the Profinet IO compatible device and (b) associated with a specific device group, resulting in the station identifier,
• whereby logical network subscriber device addresses and physical network subscriber device addresses can be subsequently allocated based on the station identifier, with the station identifier being allocated as a symbolic name prior to allocation of the logical network subscriber device addresses and the physical network subscriber device addresses.

A method for prescribing, on a Profinet IO compatible device, a station identifier being allocated as a symbolic name prior to associating a logical network subscriber device address and a physical network subscriber device address, the method comprising:

• sensing a selector switch arranged directly on the Profinet IO compatible device as having been set to a desired selector position;
• in response to the selector switch having been set, automatically generating the station identifier associated with the Profinet IO compatible device, based on
• (i) the desired selector position that is set on the selector switch, and
• (ii) a group identifier that is (a) firmly prescribed for the Profinet IO compatible
• device and (b) associated with a specific device group that includes the Profinet IO compatible device;
• and
• allocating the logical network subscriber device address and the physical network subscriber device address, based on the station identifier generated.