Method for reproducing the sequence of a control program provided for process control in an automation device, wherein - a control program which corresponds, in terms of content, to the control program in the automation device with regard to process control is stored on a backup device, wherein the backup device is provided for the purpose of reproducing the sequence of the control program, - the automation device is used to store an image (Ab) in a backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control, wherein the image (Ab) represents an internal state of the automation device at this time, - the automation device is used to transmit a release (F1, F2,...) to the backup device during process control, in each case after the expiry of a predefined interval of time (Zi, i=1, 2,...), wherein the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and process input values are stored in the backup memory, and wherein the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) indicate which processing sections (Va) of the control program in the automation device have already been processed by the automation device and indicate them to the backup device, - the backup device is used to read the image (Ab) as well as the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and the process input values from the backup memory, - the backup device is used to process processing sections (Va) of its control program, which correspond to those processing sections (Va) of the control program in the automation device which have already been processed, on the basis of the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and the process input values taking into account the image (Ab), characterized in that, after the occurrence of an event, the automation device processes higher-priority processing sections (Va) during an interval of time and carries out a thread change at a first time within the interval of time, wherein, after the expiry of the interval of time, the automation device transmits the release to the backup device at a time at which a first interruption point (P1_12) of the control program, following the interval of time, occurs, and wherein the backup device reads the release and, on the basis of this release, processes processing sections (Va) until a second interruption point (P2_12) of the backup device program, wherein these processing sections (Va) correspond to the processing sections (Va) of the control program between the first and second times, and wherein the backup device likewise carries out a thread change. - a control program which corresponds, in terms of content, to the control program in the automation device with regard to process control is stored on a backup device, wherein the backup device is provided for the purpose of reproducing the sequence of the control program, - the automation device is used to store an image (Ab) in a backup memory at at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control, wherein the image (Ab) represents an internal state of the automation device at this time, - the automation device is used to transmit a release (F1, F2,...) to the backup device during process control, in each case after the expiry of a predefined interval of time (Zi, i=1, 2,...), wherein the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and process input values are stored in the backup memory, and wherein the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) indicate which processing sections (Va) of the control program in the automation device have already been processed by the automation device and indicate them to the backup device, - the backup device is used to read the image (Ab) as well as the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and the process input values from the backup memory, - the backup device is used to process processing sections (Va) of its control program, which correspond to those processing sections (Va) of the control program in the automation device which have already been processed, on the basis of the releases (F1, F2, F3, F4) and the process input values taking into account the image (Ab),