A method for operating a sanitary device with at least one sensor device , wherein the sanitary device has a control unit for adjusting at least one actuator of the sanitary device , wherein the sensor device has a measuring unit for assessing environmental situations of the sanitary device , wherein the measuring unit is connected to the control unit such that data are carried, wherein the sensor device comprises a plurality of infrared LED light emitters , which can reach multiple zones of the environment of the sanitary device separately, and at least one light receiver , said method comprising at least the following steps: a) defining multiple zones of an environment of the sanitary device , wherein a plurality of zones are established in a proximal environmental area of the sanitary device and in a distal environmental area of the sanitary device , respectively, and the zones are formed with a widening light beam generated by the infrared LED; b) detecting a current environmental situation by means of a sensor device ; c) defining a standard environmental situation; d) monitoring the multiple zones by means of the sensor device ; e) triggering an action of the sanitary device if a characterizable change of the environmental situation is detected in step d), wherein step e) comprises at least the following subprocesses: i. comparing the detected change of the environmental situation with prespecified change schemata learned in the context of the operation of the sanitary device ; ii. selecting an appropriate stored or retrievable change scheme; iii. selecting at least one action for actuating the sanitary device in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme; iv. aligning the monitoring scheme in step d) in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme, if it can be expected therefrom that the user will then act in a prespecified manner. a) defining multiple zones of an environment of the sanitary device , wherein a plurality of zones are established in a proximal environmental area of the sanitary device and in a distal environmental area of the sanitary device , respectively, and the zones are formed with a widening light beam generated by the infrared LED; b) detecting a current environmental situation by means of a sensor device ; c) defining a standard environmental situation; d) monitoring the multiple zones by means of the sensor device ; e) triggering an action of the sanitary device if a characterizable change of the environmental situation is detected in step d), wherein step e) comprises at least the following subprocesses: i. comparing the detected change of the environmental situation with prespecified change schemata learned in the context of the operation of the sanitary device ; ii. selecting an appropriate stored or retrievable change scheme; iii. selecting at least one action for actuating the sanitary device in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme; iv. aligning the monitoring scheme in step d) in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme, if it can be expected therefrom that the user will then act in a prespecified manner. i. comparing the detected change of the environmental situation with prespecified change schemata learned in the context of the operation of the sanitary device ; ii. selecting an appropriate stored or retrievable change scheme; iii. selecting at least one action for actuating the sanitary device in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme; iv. aligning the monitoring scheme in step d) in accordance with the selected appropriate change scheme, if it can be expected therefrom that the user will then act in a prespecified manner. <EOS>