diff --git a/slic/core/acquisition/broker_tools.py b/slic/core/acquisition/broker_tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e56f25f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slic/core/acquisition/broker_tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+import socket
+import epics
+
+from slic.utils import singleton
+
+
+PULSEID_PVS = {
+    "alvra"   : "SLAAR11-LTIM01-EVR0:RX-PULSEID",
+    "bernina" : "SLAAR21-LTIM01-EVR0:RX-PULSEID",
+    "maloja"  : "SLAAR11-LTIM01-EVR0:RX-PULSEID",
+}
+
+IP_TO_BEAMLINE = {
+    "129.129.242": "alvra",
+    "129.129.243": "bernina",
+    "129.129.246": "maloja"
+}
+
+
+def get_beamline():
+    ip = socket.gethostbyname(socket.gethostname())
+    key = ip[:11] #TODO: split at "." ?
+    return IP_TO_BEAMLINE.get(key)
+
+
+def get_fake_current_pulseid():
+    # 2020-05-08 08:29:52.742737 : 11718049010
+    # 2020-05-28 - checked compared to "real" pulse-id: 2380 pulses difference
+    reference_date = datetime(2020, 5, 8, 8, 29, 52)
+    now = datetime.utcnow()
+    delta_t = now - reference_date
+    delta_p = delta_t.total_seconds() * 100
+    delta_p = int(delta_p)
+    pid = delta_p + 11718049010 + 2361
+    return pid
+
+
+
+@singleton
+class get_current_pulseid():
+    """
+    This is a "pretend function" that tries to use the correct PV to retrieve the PID
+    If the PV cannot connect, a fake PID is returned that is calculated from the time
+    The implementation only does/needs one connection check at the start
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.get = get_fake_current_pulseid
+        beamline = get_beamline()
+        pulseid_pv = PULSEID_PVS.get(beamline)
+        if pulseid_pv:
+            pv = epics.PV(pulseid_pv)
+            if pv.connected:
+                self.get = pv.get
+
+    def __call__(self):
+        return self.get()
+
+
+