Direct fuel, e.g. diesel, injection internal combustion engine control, involves operating engine in operating mode predefined by coordinator that selects specification with high priority using negative exclusion logic

The method involves operating an internal combustion engine in an operating mode, which is predefined by a coordinator (100). The coordinator selects a specification with a high priority from operating mode specifications using negative exclusion logic, where the selected specification is not forbidden by another specification. The specification includes a bit-coded operating mode mask, the priority and a presetable level of the mode. An independent claim is also included for a device for controlling an internal combustion engine. Verfahren zur Steuerung einer Brennkraftmaschine, wobei die Brennkraftmaschine in einer Betriebsart betrieben wird, die von einem Betriebsartenkoordinator (100) festgelegt wird, der aus Betriebsartenanforderungen die Anforderung mit der höchsten Priorität auswählt, die nicht durch andere Betriebsartenanforderungen verboten ist.