Abstract: A system and method of addressing and configuring a remote device implement a dynamic device addressing and configuration protocol. Equipment such as industrial automation devices may be dynamically coupled to a communications network, providing flexibility and redundancy in network device configuration. Industrial automation devices may be assigned both network address information as well as operational parameters according to a dynamic protocol.

Abstract: A control method, apparatus, and system capable of finding the location of an intended recipient with an audio/video broadcast, and then enabling a point-to-point reply between the intended recipient and an initiating party. In one embodiment, a broadcast source broadcasts an audio, visual or multimedia message to all machines on a network. A receiving machine plays the message and a receiving party hears, sees or otherwise becomes aware of the broadcast message. The receiving party may then prompt the receiving machine to then resolve the broadcast source, and send a reply to the broadcast source, opening a point-to-point communication with the broadcast source.