Method for operating a control device and for external bypassing of a configured control device

A controller for external bypassing, the controller being connected to a technical process via an I/O interface, wherein the controller comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium with program code stored thereon, the program code having internal controller functions, and the program code being equipped with at least one service function and, wherein execution of the program code facilitate performance of the following:

• outputting control signals to the technical process via the I/O interface and receiving state variables of the technical process as signals via the I/O interface;
• detecting a service configuration for at least one service function during operation of the controller;
• and
• executing a service functionality in accordance with the service configuration when the at least one service function is invoked;
• wherein the service configuration denotes at least one internal controller function which is executed as a service functionality of the corresponding at least one service function;
• wherein the at least one service function via the service configuration, provides at least one value for at least one argument of the at least one internal controller function in the controller and/or receives at least one return value of the at least one internal controller function.