a network for carrying out control , sensing and data communications , comprising a plurality of nodes . each node may be connected to a payload , which comprises sensors , actuators and dte &# 39 ; s . the network is formed using a plurality of independent communication links , each based on electrically - conducting communication media comprising at least two conductors and interconnecting two nodes , in a point - to - point configuration . during network operation , nodes can be dynamically configured as either data - generating nodes , wherein data is generated and transmitted into the network , or as receiver / repeater / router nodes , wherein received data is repeated from a receiver port to all output ports . during normal network operation , the network shifts from state to state . each state is characterized by assigning a single node as the data - generating node , and configuring all other nodes in the network as repeaters and receivers . the network can be configured in linear or circular topology , or any mixture of both . the nodes and the payloads can each be powered by local power supply or via the network wiring . in the latter case , dedicated wires can be used , or the same conductors may be employed for both power distribution and communication . network control can be performed external to the network , or by using the network itself as transport for control messages . shifting from state to state can be done by selecting sequential nodes to be the data - generating node , or by selecting arbitrary nodes to be the data - generating node .