Networked movable barrier operator system

A method for controlling a network appliance and a barrier operator, comprising:

• providing a barrier operator that moves a barrier between limit positions, said barrier operator being configured to receive, via a receiver antenna, local command signals;
• removably coupling a network operator radio module to the barrier operator using a communication interface, said network operator radio module comprising a microprocessor and a transceiver circuit configured to receive, via the receiver antenna, local communication signals;
• receiving, using the transceiver circuit of the network operator radio module, a first local communication signal, wherein the first local communications signal contains a first command to control at least one function maintained by a network appliance;
• converting, using the microprocessor of the network operator radio module, said first local communication signal to a network communication signal containing said first command;
• transmitting, using the transceiver circuit of the network operator radio module, said network communication signal containing said first command to a communication network maintaining at least one network communication module associated with said network appliance;
• and
• receiving, simultaneously at said barrier operator and said network operator radio module, a second local communication signal containing a second command to control at least one function maintained by said barrier operator, wherein said barrier operator is configured to respond to the second local communication signal and the network operator radio module is configured to not respond to the second local communication signal.