It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.

A slave station (102), in an initial state, puts a relay device to a relay-disconnected status and transmits an assignment request requesting address assignment for the own slave station. A master station (101), in response to an assignment request from an adjacent slave station (102), performs address assignment for the slave station (102), and transmits an assignment request response containing an assigned address. The slave station (102), upon reception of the assignment request response, stores the address contained in the assignment request response to a memory, and puts the relay device to a relay status. If the slave station (102) receives the assignment request after address assignment for the slave station is completed, the slave station performs address assignment for a slave station being a sender of the assignment request instead of relaying the assignment request, and transmits an assignment request response containing an assigned address.

It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.

It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.