A method assigns addresses from a master unit to a number of slave units. The slave units are connected to the master unit for the transmission of information. An address output of the master unit is connected to an address input of a first slave unit and the address output of an n-th slave unit is connected to the address input of an n+1-th slave unit. The slave units, when a first level is applied to their address input, set the level at their address output to the first level and change to the first, “non-addressed” state, in the event of a transition of the level at their address input from the first level to a second level, change to the “addressable” state, upon receiving an address from the master unit, check the received address for validity in the “addressable” state and, acknowledge the reception to the master unit.