diff --git a/src/core/object.cc b/src/core/object.cc
index d164ca675..874ada6d3 100644
--- a/src/core/object.cc
+++ b/src/core/object.cc
@@ -1165,6 +1165,12 @@ Object::TraceSourceDisconnect (std::string name, const CallbackBase &cb)
   return ok;
 }
 
+TypeId 
+Object::GetRealTypeId (void) const
+{
+  return m_tid;
+}
+
 
 Ptr<Object>
 Object::DoGetObject (TypeId tid) const
diff --git a/src/core/object.h b/src/core/object.h
index 795fd2197..f3ae57d96 100644
--- a/src/core/object.h
+++ b/src/core/object.h
@@ -240,6 +240,18 @@ public:
                          std::string help,
                          Ptr<const TraceSourceAccessor> accessor);
 
+  struct AttributeInfo {
+    Ptr<const AttributeAccessor> accessor;
+    Attribute initialValue;
+    uint32_t flags;
+    Ptr<const AttributeChecker> checker;
+  };
+  /**
+   * \param name the name of the requested attribute
+   */
+  bool LookupAttributeByName (std::string name, struct AttributeInfo *info) const;
+
+
   // construct an invalid TypeId.
   TypeId ();
   ~TypeId ();
@@ -249,20 +261,9 @@ private:
   friend bool operator == (TypeId a, TypeId b);
   friend bool operator != (TypeId a, TypeId b);
 
-  struct AttributeInfo {
-    Ptr<const AttributeAccessor> accessor;
-    Attribute initialValue;
-    uint32_t flags;
-    Ptr<const AttributeChecker> checker;
-  };
 
   Ptr<const TraceSourceAccessor> LookupTraceSourceByName (std::string name) const;
 
-  /**
-   * \param name the name of the requested attribute
-   * \returns the Accessor associated to the requested attribute
-   */
-  bool LookupAttributeByName (std::string name, struct AttributeInfo *info) const;
   /**
    * \param i the position of the requested attribute
    * \returns the Accessor associated to the requested attribute
@@ -387,6 +388,8 @@ public:
   bool TraceSourceConnect (std::string name, const CallbackBase &cb);
   bool TraceSourceDisconnect (std::string name, const CallbackBase &cb);
 
+  TypeId GetRealTypeId (void) const;
+
   /**
    * Increment the reference count. This method should not be called
    * by user code. Object instances are expected to be used in conjunction