Method and Device for Controlling the Residual Gas Mass Remaining in the Cylinder of an Internal Combustion Engine After a Gas Exchange Process and/or the Purge Air Mass Introduced During a Gas Exchange Process

Various embodiments may include a method for controlling the residual gas mass remaining in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine after a gas exchange process and/or the purge air mass introduced into an exhaust manifold during a gas exchange process, the method comprising: specifying at least one of a desired residual gas mass or a purge air mass of the cylinder of the internal combustion engine; determining a setpoint position of an actuator which influences the specified mass, based on an inverse residual gas model; and setting the determined setpoint position of the actuator.