diff --git a/include/reactor-uc/network_channel.h b/include/reactor-uc/network_channel.h
index 0f5bb35c..ac439a0f 100644
--- a/include/reactor-uc/network_channel.h
+++ b/include/reactor-uc/network_channel.h
@@ -23,14 +23,15 @@ typedef struct NetworkChannel NetworkChannel;
 
 struct NetworkChannel {
   /**
-   * @brief Used to identify this NetworkChannel among other NetworkChannels at the other federate.
+   * @brief Expected time until a connection is established after calling @p try_connect.
    */
-  size_t dest_channel_id;
+  interval_t expected_try_connect_duration;
 
   /**
-   * @brief Expected time until a connection is established after calling @p try_connect.
+   * @brief Get the other federates channel id.
+   * Used to identify this NetworkChannel among other NetworkChannels at incoming messages from the other federate.
    */
-  interval_t expected_try_connect_duration;
+  uint32_t (*get_dest_channel_id)(NetworkChannel *self);
 
   /**
    * @brief Get the current state of the connection.
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/tcp_ip_channel.c b/src/platform/posix/tcp_ip_channel.c
index 0ad78aa2..a61c6f3f 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/tcp_ip_channel.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/tcp_ip_channel.c
@@ -469,7 +469,17 @@ static void TcpIpChannel_free(NetworkChannel *untyped_self) {
   self->super.close_connection((NetworkChannel *)self);
 }
 
-NetworkChannelState TcpIpChannel_get_state(NetworkChannel *untyped_self) {
+static uint32_t TcpIpChannel_get_dest_channel_id(NetworkChannel *untyped_self) {
+  TcpIpChannel *self = (TcpIpChannel *)untyped_self;
+
+  if (self->server) {
+    return self->client;
+  } else {
+    return self->fd;
+  }
+}
+
+static NetworkChannelState TcpIpChannel_get_connection_state(NetworkChannel *untyped_self) {
   TcpIpChannel *self = (TcpIpChannel *)untyped_self;
   return self->state;
 }
@@ -486,6 +496,8 @@ void TcpIpChannel_ctor(TcpIpChannel *self, const char *host, unsigned short port
   self->fd = 0;
   self->state = NETWORK_CHANNEL_STATE_UNINITIALIZED;
 
+  self->super.get_dest_channel_id = TcpIpChannel_get_dest_channel_id;
+  self->super.get_connection_state = TcpIpChannel_get_connection_state;
   self->super.open_connection = TcpIpChannel_open_connection;
   self->super.try_connect = TcpIpChannel_try_connect;
   self->super.close_connection = TcpIpChannel_close_connection;