Abstract: Techniques and devices for automatically identifying a local device are provided. An adapting device is interposed in between a local device and a central processing device. The adapting device receives a unique transmission frequency from the processing device over electrical power lines. The unique transmission frequency is communicated to the local device and is used by the local device and the processing device for subsequent communications. Moreover, in some embodiments, the local device provides a local device type to the adapting device that is sent by the adapting device to the processing device and used by the processing device to identify a command set recognized by the local device. In other embodiments, the adapting device translates messages sent from the processing device and communicates the messages to the local device. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adapting device translates messages sent from the local device and communicates the messages to the processing device.