Patent ID: 8327412

Claim:
A method for interference-free, centrally controlled switchover from a first program channel to a second program channel in a data transmission system for distributing encoded program data streams to multiple subscribers, the method comprising: delivering at least two program data streams, each of which is associated with a separate program channel, to separate, controllable encoders; encoding a first program data stream associated with a first program channel in a first encoder; encoding a second program data stream associated with a second program channel in a second encoder; feeding the encoded first and second program data streams into a distribution network; delivering the encoded first program data stream through at least one routing device to at least one target subscriber, where the first program data stream is played back; determining that playback at the at least one target subscriber is to be switched over to the second program data stream; sending a control command to the second encoder to generate a set of reference information corresponding to the second program data stream; delivering the generated set of reference information through the at least one routing device to the at least one target subscriber; and delivering an additional control command to at least one switching device that causes playback at the at least one target subscriber to be switched over to the second program data stream after the generated set of reference information is delivered.