Hierarchical combination of distributed statistics in a monitoring network

A system for wireless tracking, comprising:

• a plurality of wireless tracking nodes, comprising:
• a first wireless tracking node, having a first wireless communications interface of a first type with a first communication range and a second wireless communications interface of a second type with a second communication range that is longer than the first type;
• at least one additional wireless tracking node each having an additional wireless communications interface of the first type;
• a server in communication with at least the first wireless tracking node;
• each of the first wireless tracking node and the at least one additional wireless tracking node being assigned, by the server, a position within a hierarchy of levels for monitoring one or more assets.

A network of intelligent nodes, comprising, a plurality of nodes configured in a hierarchy of a plurality of levels, comprising:

• a first node at a first level of the plurality of levels;
• and,
• a second node at a second level of the plurality of levels, the second level being lower in the hierarchy than the first level:
• wherein the second node is configured to receive, from the first node, instructions, and operate according to the instructions.