Interface link layer device for long delay connections

An interface link layer device for use in a network comprising a first bus having one or more nodes local thereto, a second bus having one or more nodes local thereto and a bridge via which said first and second busses are connected, said interface link layer device comprising:

• means for interconnecting said bridge and first bus;
• and
• means for receiving information about said one or more nodes local to said second bus stored at said second bus;
• means for initiating a first self-ID phase on said first bus due to a connecting/disconnecting of a node local to said first bus, 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 on said first bus 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 local to said first bus;
• and
• means for simulating or replacing, in lieu of at least one of said nodes local to said second bus, time critical self-ID packets to be effected on said first bus based on said received information about said one or more nodes local to said second bus, wherein a simulation takes place during said second self-ID phase.

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:

• an interface configured to interconnect said long delay link and said first sub-network;
• said interface configured to receive 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;
• a first module configured to initiate a first self-ID phase within said first sub-network due to a connecting/disconnecting of a node to said first sub-network, wherein after said first self-ID phase said interface link layer device has a node ID;
• a second module configured to initiate 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
• a third module configured to simulate, 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.

A method to operate an interface link layer device connecting a long delay link and a first sub-network of a network, said method comprising:

• receiving information about one or more nodes of a second sub-network stored at another link layer device, which is configured to interconnect said long delay link and said second sub-network;
• initiating a first self-ID phase within said first sub-network due to a connecting/disconnecting of a node to said first sub-network, wherein after said first self-ID phase said interface link layer device has a node ID;
• 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
• 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.