Patent ID: 8089345

Claim:
A power and data delivery system for a machine, comprising: a conductor for delivering power on a machine; a plurality of nodes, each connected to the conductor at a respective location along the conductor; and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding node; wherein at least one node controls the delivery of power and data from the conductor to a smart connector connected to at least one corresponding connected device by way of a message containing a unique identifier, the message being conveyed through the conductor, and wherein the message is conveyed between at least one of: from the at least one corresponding connected device to an electronic control module operably associated with the conductor, from the electronic control module to the at least one corresponding connected device, from the at least one corresponding connected device to an additional connected device, and from the additional connected device to the at least one corresponding device, such that two-way communication of messages can be conducted between the electronic control module and the at least one corresponding connected device or between the at least one corresponding connected device and the additional connected device.