Method For Activating A Network Component Of A Vehicle Network System

1. A method for activating at least one temporarily inactive network component of a network system for a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, comprising: transmitting by a central network device of the network system a signal to a first network component via a path inside the network system that leads at least partially across a network segment of the network system; connecting at least partially in response to the signal the first network component and its associated first activation device connected unbranched to at least one switch device arranged in a path and to an associated second activation device; and the central network device addressing the associated first activation device by the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal whereby the at least one temporarily inactive machine network component is activated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: activating the first network component by the associated first activation device after receipt of the network function control signal; and subsequently the first network component sending out a further network function control signal to the associated second activation device to confirm the activation.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second activation device brings the at least one switch device into a transmitting/receiving state after receipt of the further network function control signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network system is an Ethernet network.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network system has a tree topology formed by the central network device, the at least one switch device and the at least one network component.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first network component and the central network device is at least part of a control device of a vehicle component.

7. A network system of a vehicle, configured to activate at least one temporarily inactive network component, comprising: at least one network component having an associated first activation device; at least one switch device; a central network device connected for signal communication to the at least one network component via a path within the network system, the path leading at least partially across a network segment of the network system and the network segment connecting for signal communication the at least one network component and the associated first activation device unbranched to the at least one switch device arranged in the path and to an associated second activation device, wherein the central network device addresses the associated first activation device via the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal.

8. The network system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the network system is an Ethernet network.

9. The network system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the network system is a tree topology formed by the central network device, the at least one switch device and the at least one network component.

10. A motor vehicle comprising: a network system configured to activate at least one temporarily inactive network component, having: at least one network component having an associated first activation device; at least one switch device; a central network device connected for signal communication to the at least one network component via a path within the network system, the path leading at least partially across a network segment of the network system and the network segment connecting for signal communication the at least one network component and the associated first activation device unbranched to the at least one switch device arranged in the path and to an associated second activation device, wherein the central network device addresses the associated first activation device via the at least one switch device by sending a network function control signal.