In accordance to one aspect, a method for optimizing the effective data transmission rate in a bus system, in particular in automation technology is provided. A data telegram used in higher-order data networks based on the Internet protocol, with at least one data telegram, at least one data segment and/or at least one data section being generated and/or modified and/or deleted by at least one slave. The topology of the bus system can hereby be selected according to the application and is taken into account in the configuration of the data contained in the data telegrams, without infringing the protocol characteristics of the higher-order data network. The number of data telegrams required is hereby significantly reduced, in particular on communication links with maximum loading.