Apparatus and method for performing a network diagnosis procedure

An apparatus configured to perform a network diagnosis procedure within a message-based protocol network comprising a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• a diagnosis test device configured to perform diagnosis tests;
• and
• a diagnosis control device wherein, in order to perform the network diagnosis procedure,
• wherein the diagnosis control device is configured to:
• receive a diagnosis request from a commander node wherein the diagnosis request is directed to a target node, and wherein the diagnosis request comprises a first message identifier;
• compare the first message identifier to a predetermined diagnosis identifier;
• receive a diagnosis response from the target node, wherein the diagnosis response comprises a second message identifier and a test pattern;
• compare the second message identifier to a predetermined diagnosis identifier;
• and
• in response to determining that the first message identifier and the second message identifier are identical to the predetermined diagnosis identifier, use the diagnosis test device to perform a diagnosis test using the test pattern.

A method for performing a network diagnosis procedure within a message-based protocol network, the method comprising:

• receiving a diagnosis request from a commander node wherein the diagnosis request is also directed to a target node, and wherein the diagnosis request comprises a first message identifier;
• receiving a diagnosis response from the target node, wherein the diagnosis response comprises a second message identifier and a predetermined test pattern;
• performing comparisons of each of the first message identifier and the second message identifier to a predetermined diagnosis identifier;
• and
• determining, based on the comparisons, to perform a diagnosis test on the predetermined test pattern or to terminate the network diagnosis procedure.