A process for operating a respiration system (3) makes it possible, rapidly and with simple means, to operate the respiration system (3). The system and method use respiratory flow sensor-specific, patient- and/or treatment-related operating data and a respiratory flow sensor (1). A reading unit present in the respiration system (3) reads the contents of a transponder (2) connected to the respiratory flow sensor (1), so that the respiration system (3) is ready to operate only after the operating data have been read.