Patent ID: 8423248

Claim:
A method for checking an operation of specifying an output variable of a drive unit, wherein a setpoint value for the output variable is specified by a control element in normal operation, the method comprising: detecting a specification of the setpoint value for the output variable; performing a check to determine whether the specification of the setpoint value is caused by an operation of the control element; and detecting an error if it is determined that the specification of the setpoint value is not caused by the operation of the control element, wherein a check is performed regarding whether the setpoint value is specified, and if the setpoint value is specified, a further check is performed regarding whether prior to the first detection of the specification of the setpoint value the control element was operated, and if this is not the case, an error is detected; and in the event that no error is detected on account of the operation of the control element detected prior to the first detection of the specification of the setpoint value, comparing the specification of the setpoint value to a most recently specified setpoint value to determine whether a change occurred, and if a change is detected that cannot be attributed to an operation of the control element, an error is detected.