Interface link layer device for long delay connections

Abstract

An interface link layer device ( 1 ) to be connected in-between a first sub net-work ( 5 ) and a long delay link ( 3 ) to which at least one second sub network ( 4 ) is connected via another interface link layer device ( 2 ) is able to simulate or replace time critical messages of the at least one second sub network ( 4 ). To set-up a network with such interface link layer devices information about the configuration of the sub network ( 5; 4 ) connected to an interface link layer device ( 1; 2 ) is transmitted from said respective interface link layer device ( 1; 2 ) to all other interface link layer devices ( 2; 1 ) connected to said respective interface link layer device ( 1; 2 ) via the long delay link ( 3 ), whereafter a respective interface link layer device ( 2; 1 ) connected thereto which received information about the configuration of at least one other sub network ( 5; 4 ) is able to perform the necessary simulation.

1 . A portal connected as a local node to a first bus and configured to exchange data between the first bus, and a second portal connected as a local node to a second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 an interface configured to receive, from said second portal, node information comprising node ID information pertaining to nodes remote to said first bus;    a memory configured to store node ID translation information based on said node ID information; and    a module configured to translate, on the basis of said node ID translation information, a node ID of packets sent via said portal from a local node of said first bus to a local node of said second bus.    
   
   
       2 . A portal connected as a local node to a first bus and configured to exchange data between the first bus and a second portal that is connected as a local node to a second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 an interface configured to receive, from said second portal, node information comprising node ID information pertaining to nodes remote to said first bus;    a memory configured to store node ID translation information based on said node ID information; and    a module configured to translate, on the basis of said node ID translation information, a node ID of packets received at said portal from a local node of said second bus destined for a local node of said first bus.    
   
   
       3 . A portal connected as a local node to a first bus and configured to exchange data between the first bus and a second portal that is connected as a local node to a second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 an interface configured to send, to said second portal, node information comprising node ID information pertaining to nodes local to said first bus;    a memory configured to store node ID translation information based on node ID information received from said second portal; and    a module configured to translate, on the basis of said node ID translation information, a node ID of packets sent via said portal from a local node of said first bus to a local node of said second bus.    
   
   
       4 . A portal connected as a local node to a first bus and configured to exchange data between the first bus and a second portal that is connected as a local node to a second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 an interface configured to send, to said second portal, node information comprising node ID information pertaining to nodes local to said first bus;    a memory configured to store node ID translation information based on node ID information received from said second portal; and    a module configured to translate, on the basis of said node ID translation information, a node ID of packets received at said portal from a local node of said second bus destined for a local node of said first bus.    
   
   
       5 . A portal for interfacing data packets between a first bus and a bridge over a network in which said portal interconnects said first bus and said bridge and a second portal interconnects said bridge and a second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 a memory configured to store node ID information for each node local to a bus other than said first bus, said node ID information comprising a virtual node ID assigned to the respective node in correlation with a physical node ID of said respective node; and    a module configured to selectively transform, when said bus receives/sends data packets from/over said network, addressing information of said data packets on the basis of said node ID information from a virtual node ID to a corresponding physical node ID or from a physical node ID to a corresponding virtual node ID.    
   
   
       6 . A portal for routing data packets between a first bus and a second bus in a network, wherein in said network said portal interconnects said first bus and a bridge and a second portal interconnects said bridge and said second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 a first interface configured to perform serial data communication with a node of said first bus via said first bus;    the interface configured to forward data packets received via said bridge from said second bus to said node; and    a first module configured to transform a destination ID of said data packets to be forwarded to said node from a node ID assigned by said second portal into a node ID locally assigned to said node at said first bus.    
   
   
       7 . The portal of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a second interface configured to transmit data packets received from said node to said second bus via said communication path; and    a second module configured to transform a source ID of said data packets to be transmitted to said second bus from a node ID locally assigned to said node in said first bus into a node ID used by said second portal.    
   
   
       8 . The portal of  claim 7 , wherein 
 said first module and said second module are the same module.    
   
   
       9 . The portal of  claim 7 , wherein 
 said first interface and said second interface are the same interface.    
   
   
       10 . A portal for routing data packets between a first bus and a second bus in a network, wherein in said network said portal interconnects said first bus and a bridge and a second portal interconnects said bridge and said second bus, wherein said portal, comprises: 
 an interface configured to transmit data packets received from a node connected to said first bus to said second bus via said bridge; and    a module configured to transform a source ID of said data packets to be transmitted to said second bus from a node ID locally assigned to said node in said first bus into a node ID used by said second portal.