Patent ID: 8509989

Claim:
A method for monitoring a computing element in a control device of a motor vehicle, wherein the computing element comprises three program modules by which a performance of the motor vehicle is influenced, wherein the computing element generates, by the program modules and dependently on at least one input quantity, at least one quantity for controlling at least one function of the motor vehicle, wherein: the first program module is a functional module for functional control of the motor vehicle, the second program module is a safety module for checking the functional module, the third program module is a monitoring module at least for checking the safety module, wherein the monitoring module comprises a first monitoring unit including a first monitoring element for monitoring the second program module, and a second monitoring unit including a second monitoring element for monitoring the third program module, the first monitoring unit being independent of the second monitoring unit and being configured by respective and independent state machines to monitor the respective second and third program modules if both state machines are passed through successfully.