Abstract: An industrial local area network module comprises a transceiver for supporting communication between the module and a communications network in a first data format. The module further comprises a parallel interface for supporting communication between the module and a respective embedded controller in a second data format. A microcontroller is provided for (i) controlling the orderly flow of messages between the module and the communications network through the transceiver and (ii) controlling the orderly flow of messages between the module and the embedded controller through the parallel interface. A memory stores program instructions to be retrieved by the microcontroller and then executed by the microcontroller to control the orderly flow of messages between the module and the communications network through the transceiver and to control orderly flow of messages between the module and the embedded controller through the parallel interface.