LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST CONTROLLER

The application discloses a broadcast controller 180 which acquires information about the constituent nodes of one or more independent units 110, 112 with which the broadcast controller 180 is in communication. The independent units 110; 112 include one or more commanders 250, 260, 270; 350, 360, 370 and one or more energy controllers 210, 220, 230; 310 320, 330. For example, the broadcast controller 180 communicates with a first node of a first independent unit 110, where the first node is a first commander 250, 260, 270 or a first energy controller 210, 220, 230. The broadcast controller 180 obtains an address of the first node. Also, the broadcast controller 180 obtains from the first node an address of at least one second node of the first independent unit 110. The at least one second node is a second commander or a second energy controller and the at least one second node is in communication with the first node. The broadcast controller 180 determines if at least one of the first node or the at least one second node is an energy controller. Also, the broadcast controller 180 identifies at least one of the first node or the at least one second node as an energy controller according to the determination. Additionally, the broadcast controller 180 identifies at least one of the address of the first node or the address of the at least one second node as an energy controller address according to the determination. The broadcast controller 180 determines an operational relationship between the first node and the at least one second node. Further, the broadcast controller 180 determines if the first node communicates with a node of the first independent unit other than the at least one second node. The broadcast controller 180 communicates with the at least one second node. Also, the broadcast controller 180 determines if the at least one second node communicates with a node of the first independent unit other than the first node. The broadcast controller 180 determines that all of the nodes of the first independent unit have been identified upon the determinations indicating that the first node communicates with no other nodes other than the at least one second node and the at least one second node communicates with no other nodes other than the first node. The broadcast controller 180 also obtains an address of a third node of the first independent unit 110 from the second node.