Switching MPEG 2

This paper is about MPEG2 programme switching. It does not consider multiplexing of components to make a programme, but multiplexing programmes to make bouquets of programmes. Another word for switching may be remultiplexing which includes demultiplexing and multiplexing of MPEG2 programmes. An MPEG2 switch may therefore be called a remultiplexer. A remultiplexer may be considered as a second stage multiplexer with a single output (multiplexing programmes after multiplexing components); it may also be a complete MPEG2 switch with several inputs and several outputs. Why is it necessary to switch MPEG2 programmes, in which applications, what are the functions ensured by a remultiplexer, and what are the problems to be solved ? These are the questions we try to answer in this paper