Method and system for determining approvals for control unit functions in a control unit of a technical device

A computer-implemented method for operating an approval manager for approving control unit functions of different safety levels in a control unit of a technical system, the method comprising the following steps:

• carrying out diagnostic functions in the control unit, wherein a safety level is assigned to each of the diagnostic functions;
• depending on a detection of a fault event or a functionality by a diagnostic function of the diagnostic functions, adjusting an associated status variable in a status variable memory area assigned to the safety level of the diagnostic function;
• and
• carrying out a control unit function, which is assigned to a particular safety level of the different safety levels, depending on one or more associated status variables, wherein only status variables which are stored in status variable memory areas assigned to the safety level of the control unit function or higher safety levels are taken into account.

An apparatus configured to operate an approval manager for approving control unit functions of different safety levels in a control unit of a technical system, the apparatus configured to:

• carry out diagnostic functions in the control unit, wherein a safety level is assigned to each of the diagnostic functions;
• depending on a detection of a fault event or a functionality by a diagnostic function of the diagnostic functions, adjust an associated status variable in a status variable memory area assigned to the safety level of the diagnostic function;
• and
• carry out a control unit function, which is assigned to a particular safety level of the different safety levels, depending on one or more associated status variables, wherein only status variables which are stored in status variable memory areas assigned to the safety level of the control unit function or higher safety levels are taken into account.

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium on which are stored commands operating an approval manager for approving control unit functions of different safety levels in a control unit of a technical system, the commands, when executed by at least one data processing device, causing the at least one data processing device to perform the following steps:

• carrying out diagnostic functions in the control unit, wherein a safety level is assigned to each of the diagnostic functions;
• depending on a detection of a fault event or a functionality by a diagnostic function of the diagnostic functions, adjusting an associated status variable in a status variable memory area assigned to the safety level of the diagnostic function;
• and
• carrying out a control unit function, which is assigned to a particular safety level of the different safety levels, depending on one or more associated status variables, wherein only status variables which are stored in status variable memory areas assigned to the safety level of the control unit function or higher safety levels are taken into account.