Provided is a machine-implemented method for operating a device in a network, comprising entering the device into a non-router membership relation with a self-organizing subnet of the network; receiving at least one message making known parameters of the subnet, the at least one message comprising a centrally-generated and propagated sequence number; detecting, based on the received at least one message comprising a sequence number, a deterioration in propagation of said at least one message; and responsive to the detecting, entering the device into a router membership relation with the self-organizing subnet of the network.