A real-time network control architecture for a distributed control, data acquisition and data distribution system of an industrial plant having a plurality of actuators and transducers for controlling and monitoring aspects of the plant comprising: a first chain of nodes wherein each node is coupled to a network connection and to one of an actuator and a transducer in the industrial plant, the first chain of nodes including a first terminus end node at a first end of the first chain of nodes, a second terminus end node at a second end of the first chain of nodes, and a first intermediate node between the first terminus end node and the second terminus end node, wherein the first terminus end node is configured to periodically generate a first synchronous data stream for transmission through the first chain of nodes to the second terminus end node in an outgoing transmission and the second terminus end node is configured to transmit back the first synchronous data stream to the first terminus end node in a return transmission, wherein each node of the first chain of nodes is configured to automatically move data one of to and from the first synchronous data stream without management of a master node as the first synchronous data stream passes through the node, wherein each node of the first chain of nodes is configured to calculate an offset due to transmission and propagation delays of the first synchronous data stream to keep the first chain of nodes synchronized, each node comprising a timer configured to start as the first synchronous data stream arrives at the node during the outgoing transmission and configured to stop when the first synchronous data stream arrives at the node during the return transmission to provide timing information, the transmission delays being computed using the timing information. a first chain of nodes wherein each node is coupled to a network connection and to one of an actuator and a transducer in the industrial plant, the first chain of nodes including a first terminus end node at a first end of the first chain of nodes, a second terminus end node at a second end of the first chain of nodes, and a first intermediate node between the first terminus end node and the second terminus end node, wherein the first terminus end node is configured to periodically generate a first synchronous data stream for transmission through the first chain of nodes to the second terminus end node in an outgoing transmission and the second terminus end node is configured to transmit back the first synchronous data stream to the first terminus end node in a return transmission, wherein each node of the first chain of nodes is configured to automatically move data one of to and from the first synchronous data stream without management of a master node as the first synchronous data stream passes through the node, wherein each node of the first chain of nodes is configured to calculate an offset due to transmission and propagation delays of the first synchronous data stream to keep the first chain of nodes synchronized, each node comprising a timer configured to start as the first synchronous data stream arrives at the node during the outgoing transmission and configured to stop when the first synchronous data stream arrives at the node during the return transmission to provide timing information, the transmission delays being computed using the timing information.