Networking systems, protocols, and methods for controlling target devices

A network system, comprising:

• at least one adaptor, each comprising:
• a transceiver configured to send and receive control signals via a short-range wireless communications protocol;
• a memory storing a Location Id identifying the network system and at least one of a Group Id and a Device Id identifying the adaptor;
• a central processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory;
• and
• a power/control module communicatively coupled between the transceiver and at least one target device communicatively coupled to the adaptor, wherein
• the power/control module receives a control signal from the transceiver and is responsible for implementing the control signal on the at least one target device, and wherein
• the power/control module is coupled to at least one power control line and configured to receive, from the at least one power control line, a power signal having an electric power distribution frequency, count a number of cycles of the electric power distribution frequency, and generate a software synchronous clock output based on the counted number of cycles;
• the at least one target device communicatively coupled to each adaptor;
• and at least one switch, each comprising:
• a transceiver configured to send and receive control signals via the short-range wireless communications protocol;
• a memory storing the Location Id, a Device Id identifying the switch, and a target address identifying the adaptor(s) the switch is programmed to control;
• and
• a central processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, wherein each switch is configured to, in response to receiving a first control signal, generate and broadcast a second control signal carrying the target address, and wherein each adapter is configured to receive the second control signal and operate the target device based on the second control signal when the target address matches the Group Id or the Device Id identifying the adaptor.