Patent ID: 7454513

Claim:
An interface link layer device for use in a network comprising a first sub-network having one or more nodes, a second sub-network having one or more nodes and a long delay link via which said first and second sub-networks are connected, said interface link layer device comprising: means for interconnecting said long delay link and said first sub-network; means for receiving information about said one or more nodes of said second sub-network stored at another link layer device, which is configured to interconnect said long delay link and said second sub-network; means for initiating a first self-ID phase within said first sub-network due to a connecting/disconnecting of a node to at least one said first sub-network and said second sub-network, wherein after said first self-ID phase said interface link layer device has a node ID; means for self-initiating a second self-ID phase within said first sub-network after said first self-ID phase, wherein after said second self-ID phase said interface link layer device has no node ID and is transparent to said one or more nodes of said first sub-network; and means for simulating in lieu of at least one of said nodes of said second sub-network, time critical self-ID packets to be effected on said first sub-network based on said received information about said one or more nodes of said second sub-network, wherein a simulation takes place during said second self-ID phase.