A method is provided for the periodic detecting of measured values in a distributed real-time computer system, which comprises a plurality of intelligent sensors, node computers, and distribution units, wherein the intelligent sensors, the node computers, and the distribution units have access to a global time, wherein real-time data is transported in the real-time computer system by time-triggered real-time messages, wherein periodically recurring global observation instants are established or will be established in the real-time computer system at the beginning of a frame, wherein each node computer controlling a physical sensor outputs a trigger signal to the the physical sensor at a sensor-specific trigger instant of the sensor controlled by the node computer, which specific trigger instant is calculated from the difference between the global observation instant and a sensor-specific startup interval.