Patent ID: 8002669

Claim:
A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having at least a drive motor and an automatic transmission with 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 synchronization point 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: requiring three shifting elements be engaged and two shifting elements are disengaged, in each of a plurality of forward and reverse gears, for transferring torque and force, and two respective consecutive upshifts or two respective consecutive downshifts are accomplished with at least some overlap; defining the first upshift and the first downshift as a multiple gear shift; preparing the successive upshift or the successive downshift during the first upshift or the first downshift, the successive upshift or the successive downshift being one of a single gearshift or a multiple gearshift; disengaging a first shift element and engaging a second shift element during the first upshift or the first downshift; preparing a third shift element, during the first upshift or the first downshift, for disengagement in the successive upshift or the successive downshift; preparing a fourth shift element, during the first upshift or the first downshift, for engagement in the successive upshift or the successive downshift; and at least partially retaining at least a fifth shift element during the first upshift or the first downshift and during the successive upshift or the successive downshift.