It is just an IR/optical transmitter as Ray says, the speedlites in slave mode will pick up the popup flashe's firring and sync up their output. What we're on about here are proper radio commanders/triggers that don't need an optical signal to work.
The YN-622c will handle the 430EX II and 580EX II no problem. You can then manage the parameters of each flash plugged into a 622c on the same channel from the in camera menu for external flash control. That's the part the 7D does have IIRC so as long as a compatible radio trigger is attached to the hotshoe and each subsequent flash is attached to a 622c as well you'll get ETTL/Manual control over each speedlite.
Here's what the menu looks like on my 5D3 with just the 622c transceiver attached:
http://i.imgur.com/7Do5Wex.jpg[/IMG
I used 2 flashes on each corner of the dancefloor this weekend just gone, moved around so each time the B&G were in front of either for rim lighting and used manual control for that. nice and handy having full control from the commander this way either from camera or the 622c-TX unit. Shame the TX doesn't have a hotshoe o it like the 622c though, I might buy another 622c and another YN-568 in the near future depending on need as I can then use the master one as front fill with the others set to rim.
So far there's always been some decent illumination for front from ambience anyway but I know the need will come at a venue one day...[/QUOTE]
Here is something I've discovered...
The Canon, if you like me shoot with 2 bodies, put a transmitter on each (or 600EX-RT), put them in the same channels and group. Both cameras can trigger the off camera flashes. What does that mean?
It means you can still shoot with 2 bodies, put a flash on each, a different lens in each, and pick up and choose the body you want and both triggers the off camera flash, but not the flash on the other body (as it is in Master). So the Slaves can have more than 1 Master. I never had enough flashes to do that before, always had to either change lens or take flash off and put it on the other body.