Patent ID: 7658693

Claim:
A method of operating of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having at least a drive motor and an automatic transmission with at least five shift elements, the method improving a shift speed of at least one of a successive upshift and a successive downshift such that, during a first upshift or a first downshift, at least one shift element, required for the respective successive upshift or the successive downshift, is prepared such that when a synchronous speed of the first upshift or the first downshift, in progress, is reached, the successive upshift or the successive downshift can be immediately carried out, the method comprising the steps of: enabling actuation of four shift elements to carry out two respective consecutive upshifts or two respective consecutive downshifts with at least some overlap; executing the first upshift and the first downshift as a multiple gear shift; preparing the successive upshift or the successive downshift, during execution of the first upshift or the first downshift, with the successive upshift or the successive downshift being a single gearshift; disengaging a first shift element and engaging a second shift element during execution of the first upshift or the first downshift; preparing a third shift element for disengagement, during execution of the first upshift or the first downshift, in the successive upshift or the successive downshift; and preparing a fourth shift element for engagement, during execution of the first upshift or the first downshift, in the successive upshift or the successive downshift.