The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating
network communications between network components operative between a
local network and a higher-level, remote, and/or information network in
an industrial controller environment. The system includes a data exchange
module that maps one or more remote network protocols to one or more
local network protocols. The data exchange module can include one or more
mapping components that map a plurality of control protocols communicated
over an information network to a local protocol that can be subsequently
employed to communicate data to a plurality of local network devices in
the industrial controller environment.