The invention relates to a method and device for the plotting of the curve (12) for information data. The information data are collected with a given scanning time and are, in particular, the operating data for a motor vehicle. The scanned information data are subjected to a data reduction and the reduced information data is recorded. According to the invention, the curve for the relevant digital information data, in particular the operating data of a motor vehicle, may be plotted using the least possible memory, whereby during the data reduction, the curve (12) of the scanned information data is viewed on a time-base which is a multiple of the scanning time and, within the individual scanning steps (13), at least one characteristic parameter (14, 15, 16) of the curve (12) of scanned information data is determined. Said device is preferably a component of a controller (1) for controlling/regulating certain motor vehicle components or an operating or accident data recorder (2) on a motor vehicle.