Network based electrical control system with distributed sensing and control

A control unit for use in a local operating network, said control unit comprising:

• load control means adapted to control electrical power to a load electrically connected to said control unit;
• a communications transceiver for transmitting and receiving data between said control unit and said local operating network, with the local operating network including:
• a communications network;
• and
• a plurality of electrical devices operatively connected to the communications network, each electrical device adapted to perform a first function,
• wherein function-specific information is generated by a first electrical device having the associated first function,
• wherein such function-specific information is transmitted to the plurality of electrical devices over the communications network, and
• wherein such function-specific information is received by a second electrical device adapted to detect such function-specific information over the communications network and to respond to such function-specific information to perform a second function associated with the first function;
• memory means for storing software application code;
• a controller adapted to execute one or more software applications stored in said memory means, said controller, in combination with said one or more software applications, operative to receive the function-specific information over said local operating network from one or more electrical devices and to control said load control means in accordance thereto, said controller also operative to transmit the function-specific information over said local operating network to one or more electrical devices;
• power supply circuitry electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, said power supply circuitry adapted to generate one or more voltages for use by said control unit and an output voltage for use by a plurality of external electrical devices.