COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN MOTOR VEHICLE

In a communication system in a motor vehicle (V) a network gateway node (GW) communicates with a diagnosis client (D) via a first bus (B1). A superordinate node (M) communicates with the network gateway node (GW) via a second bus (B2). A set of subordinate nodes (SN) including at least one node (SN1, ..., SNn) are each communicatively connected to the superordinate node (M). The superordinate node (M) serves as an interface for the subordinate nodes (SN) relative to the second bus (B2). In a normal operating state of the motor vehicle (V) the superordinate node (M) provides any fault codes arising from the subordinate nodes (SN) on the second bus (B2) via a shared network address. In a programming state the network gateway node (GW) allows the diagnosis client (D) to have access to the subordinate nodes (SN1, ..., SNn) via the first and second buses (B1; B2), the network gateway node (GW) and the superordinate node (M). The diagnosis client (D) is thus enabled (i) to review which specific nodes (SN1, ..., SNn) are part of the set of subordinate nodes (SN) and (ii) to effect updating of software in one or more nodes in said set. After completion of updating, the superordinate node (M) is returned to the operating state.