1. A system, comprising: a plurality of minimalistic data collection nodes in a computer network, the minimalistic data collection nodes configured to generate sensed data values of a particular type and to communicate the data values within the computer network in substantially real-time using distributed data acquisition (DA) packets specific to the particular type of the data values; a plurality of capable data collection nodes in the computer network, the capable data collecting nodes configured to store the data values of the minimalistic data collection nodes from the DA packets; and one or more points of use configured to request the data values, wherein one or more particular capable data collection nodes are configured to service the request in substantially real-time on behalf of the minimalistic data collection nodes with the stored data values.