Node for providing power and communication functionality to field deployed systems

A system comprising:

• a central controller comprising one or more applications configured to be executed by one or more computing systems;
• a network configured provide communication between the central controller and a plurality of nodes remote from the central controller, the network comprising radio relay nodes, the network further comprising wireless access points configured to connect wireless communications to a wired terrestrial information technology network;
• the plurality of nodes being configured to provide electrical power and a communication functionality to corresponding field deployed systems, at least one of the plurality of nodes comprising:
• at least two power outlets;
• a plurality of communication links configured to communicate with the central controller through the network;
• an interface comprising a plurality of data ports separate from the at least two power outlets and configured to be connected to data lines of a corresponding plurality of components of the field deployed system;
• a router configured to route communication messages between the plurality of data ports and the plurality of communication links;
• a power distributor configured to:
• receive electrical power from an external power source and controllably distribute the electrical power to the field deployed system through the at least two power outlets,
• convert a portion of the electrical power from:
• alternating current power to direct current power, or
• direct current power to alternating current power, and
• distribute the converted portion of electrical power to the field deployed system through at least one of the at least two power outlets;
• and
• one or more processors configured to control the plurality of communication links, the interface, the router, and the power distributor.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a node providing electrical power and a communication functionality to a field deployed system, one or more configuration parameters from a remote central controller;
• transmitting, by the node, the one or more configuration parameters to a plurality of components of the field deployed system and an external power source;
• controllably distributing, by the node, power received from the external power source to the plurality of components based on the one or more configuration parameters;
• continuously gathering, by the node, data from the plurality of components of the field deployed system;
• transmitting, by the node, the gathered data to the remote central controller.