The Network Gateway (NG) is a node specifically developed to provide a communications path between two or more Local Control Networks (LCN).

A Network Gateway Plant Information Network, referred to as PIN, is any network capable of conforming to IEEE 802.4. There are two types of PIN supported by the Network Gateway.

• Carrier Band network such as the Universal Control Network (UCN) used for Network Interface Module (NIM), Process Manager, Advanced Process Manager, and Logic Manager products. The NG PIN cannot be connected to a UCN cable system; the two networks will not function if tied together.
• Fiber Optic network physically configured as a star network.

The throughput of the NG is up to 1200-point parameters per second with a minimum 3-second delay, concurrent with file transfer operations up to 12000 words per second. The parameter passing and file transfer capabilities are controlled by independent channels inside the NG and changing the demand on one, does not affect the other.