Method and device for monitoring the functioning of a system

A method of monitoring a functioning of a system, the method comprising:

• checking input signals, output signals and functions of the system, wherein the system includes lower-level subsystems or is a component of a higher-level system, the system includes components implemented as hardware, the components including at least one of sensors, actuators and function computers, and the system is divided into individual functions;
• providing via the monitoring functions status information to at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance, the monitoring instance at least partially combining the status information;
• wherein the monitoring method is structured to provide a plurality of decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and to provide the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions, and
• wherein the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance centrally detects global ambient data and stores the global ambient data and a detected fault in a fault memory.

A memory element for a device for monitoring a functioning of a system, the system one of including a lower-level subsystem and being a component of a higher-level system, the system further including hardware components, including at least one of sensors, actuators and function computers, the memory element comprising:

• a memory storage arrangement to store a computer program executable on a computer, the computer program operable to perform the following:
• checking input signals, output signals, and functions of the system, wherein the system is divided into individual functions;
• providing via the monitoring functions status information to at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance, the monitoring instance at least partially combining the status information;
• wherein the monitoring method is structured to provide a plurality of decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and to provide the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions, and
• wherein the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance coordinates an administration of a fault memory.

A computer program for execution on a computer, comprising:

• a program fragment operable to perform the following when executed on the computer:
• checking input signals, output signals, and functions of a system, the system one of including a lower-level subsystem and being a component of a higher-level system, the system further including hardware components, including at least one of sensors, actuators and function computers, wherein the system is divided into individual functions;
• providing via the monitoring functions status information to at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance, the monitoring instance at least partially combining the status information;
• wherein the monitoring method is structured to provide a plurality of decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and to provide the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions, and
• wherein the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance coordinates an administration of a fault memory.

A memory element for a device for monitoring a functioning of a system, the system one of including a lower-level subsystem and being a component of a higher-level system, the system further including hardware components, including at least one of sensors, actuators and function computers, the memory element comprising:

• a memory storage arrangement to store a computer program executable on a computer, the computer program operable to perform the following:
• checking input signals, output signals, and functions of the system, wherein the system is divided into individual functions;
• providing via the monitoring functions status information to at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance, the monitoring instance at least partially combining the status information;
• wherein the monitoring method is structured to provide a plurality of decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and to provide the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions, and
• wherein the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance centrally detects global ambient data and stores the global ambient data and a detected fault in a fault memory.

A computer program for execution on a computer, comprising:

• a program fragment operable to perform the following when executed on the computer:
• checking input signals, output signals, and functions of a system, the system one of including a lower-level subsystem and being a component of a higher-level system, the system further including hardware components, including at least one of sensors, actuators and function computers, wherein the system is divided into individual functions;
• providing via the monitoring functions status information to at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance, the monitoring instance at least partially combining the status information;
• wherein the monitoring method is structured to provide a plurality of decentralized monitoring functions provided in the individual functions of the system for monitoring the functioning of the individual functions, and to provide the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance for coordinating the monitoring functions, and
• wherein the at least one higher-level, functions-overreaching monitoring instance centrally detects global ambient data and stores the global ambient data and a detected fault in a fault memory.