The implementations of the ISHM in the past have primarily focused on data acquisition methods, and have not emphasized on the integration across all elements that make up a system in order to support distributed storage, distributed processing, distributed intelligence, the availability of data, information, and knowledge (DIaK) to any element as needed, and to simultaneously execute of multiple processes and representing models that contribute to the determination of the condition of each element in the system. The distributed capabilities are critical to ISHM systems and require effective network functions across the whole system. TCP/IP network addressable smart sensors are the key to deploy distributed sensor intelligent across sensor networks. Except for IEEE 1451.1, all other family standards are physical wiring specifics, which are not compatible with network standards. For example, IEEE 1451.2 specifies Transducer Independent Interface (Til) based on UART and USB interface. IEEE 1451.3 specifies the sensor interface to work with Home Phone Network Alliance (HPNA); IEEE 1451.4 specifies the interface to work with 1-Wire (MicroLAN), 1451.5 specifies wireless interfaces to Bluetooth, ZigBee, and WLAN. These distinct interfaces are not only complicated for the deployment but are also difficult to scale in small or large sensor networks. One of the main disadvantageous contributors to IEEE 1451 architecture is the lacking of an IP addressable network capability. The paper introduces a sensor area network architecture and it will be used as an element of an ISHM implementation at NASA Stennis Space Center.