A communication function between ports on a node that does not require a common time base to be distributed across the network is disclosed. A data stream received over a first port is placed on an interlace between nodes using the time base of the first port; a second port samples the data stream on the interface and timestamps it using the time base of the second port. The data stream is timestamped by the second port and packetized before transmitted to the second node to another bridge or device. Alternatively, the first port extracts a time stamp from the data stream and calculates an offset using a cycle timer value from the bus connected to the first port. The offset is added to the cycle timer value on the bus connected to the second port and used to timestamp the data stream.