A method and apparatus for controlling and supervising electronic devices, such as devices that receive, transmit and process signals in radio relay systems. The method comprises the steps of controlling each peripheral unit of the device through a controller; identifying a plurality of data to be handled for carrying out the control and the supervision of the device; and generating/receiving, through said controllers, messages each containing one or more of said data to be handled, wherein it further comprises the step of connecting said controllers via a common bus and wherein the format of said controller- generated/received messages is pre-established and substantially independent of the size of data contained therein.