Patent ID: 7724778

Claim:
A hierarchical control network, comprising: a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, said network nodes comprising a plurality of first-tier nodes and a plurality of lower tier nodes; a master control bus interconnecting said first-tier nodes; an input power line electronically coupled to said first-tier nodes, said input power line providing a power signal derived from a high voltage power source; and one or more lower-tier buses interconnecting said first-tier nodes to groups of said lower tier nodes, said lower-tier buses including both data lines and a power source line, said power source line derived from said input power line for providing high power to said lower tier nodes for local distribution; wherein each lower-tier bus interconnects one of said first-tier nodes with one or more of said lower tier nodes, at least one of said lower-tier buses interconnecting one of said first-tier nodes with more than one of said lower tier nodes; wherein data signals and high voltage are communicated over the data lines and power source line, respectively, from the first-tier node to the respective lower tier nodes with which it is connected over the first-tier node's respective lower-tier bus; and wherein said lower tier nodes selectively distribute power from the power source line to local loads.