Abstract: A method and a device by means of which the response time of a software process is limited to a predetermined maximum response time is provided. The response time is the sum of latency time (period between triggering event and start of the process) and execution time. The software process is, for example, an interrupt service routine which is triggered by an interrupt request. According to the invention, the software process is subdivided into a number of partial processes which in each case supply a result. If the software process is terminated because the maximum response time has been reached, the result of a previously selected partial process is used as the final result of the process. This partial process is, for example, the one completely executed as the last one.