METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE FUNCTIONING OF A SYSTEM

A method of monitoring the functioning of a system by checking input signals, output signals, and functions of the system is provided. The system may have lower-level subsystems or may be a component of a higher-level system. The system has hardware components, including sensors, actuators, and/or function computers. A flexible structure, applicable to various systems to be monitored, is provided for the monitoring method. This monitoring method is structured into multiple decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and structured into at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions.