System and method for secure appliance operation

A system comprising:

• a first secure control hub;
• a cellular transceiver within the first hub configured for communication with a cellular communication network;
• a short-range transceiver within the first hub configured for communication with other than the cellular communication system, the first hub having a coverage range defined by a range of the first hub short-range transceiver;
• a processor within the first hub to control operations of the first hub;
• a plurality of network appliances distributed throughout a facility, each of the plurality of network appliances having a short-range transceiver for communication with the first hub and at least a first portion of the plurality of network appliances being within the coverage range of the first hub short-range transceiver;
• a Blockchain data storage area configured to store encrypted data related to the plurality of network appliances controlled by the first hub;
• wherein the first hub and the first portion of the network appliances form an intranet network via the respective short-range transceivers;
• wherein the first hub processor uses the stored encrypted data to generate an encrypted command message to a selected one of the plurality of network appliances and to control the first hub short-range transceiver to transmit the command message;
• wherein the first portion of the network appliances are configured to receive the command message from the first hub via the respective short-range transceivers, but only the selected one of the plurality of network appliances to whom the command message is directed can decrypt the command message and process the decrypted command message;
• and
• wherein all communication with the Internet occurs via the cellular transceiver so that none of the plurality of network appliances can communicate directly with the Internet.