Method and system for monitoring and switching between a primary encoder and a back-up encoder in a communication system

1. A method comprising:

processing a first channel signal with a first encoder; selecting a second encoder;

visually previewing a display of the first channel signal encoded through the second encoder while generating a first broadcast signal using the first channel signal encoded through the first encoder;

redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal; and

generating a second broadcast signal with the first channel signal through the second encoder.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating the first broadcast signal comprises generating a first uplink signal and uplinking the first uplink signal to a satellite and wherein generating the second broadcast signal comprises generating a second uplink signal and uplinking the second uplink signal to the satellite.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the first uplink signal comprises a high-definition digital television signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the first channel signal corresponds to a single program transport signal.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first encoder and the second encoder comprise an IP encoder.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network to an uplink signal processing system.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network to a multiplexer of an uplink signal processing system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network to a primary multiplexer and a secondary multiplexer of an uplink signal processing system.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal comprises routing the first channel signal to the second encoder using a router.

11. A method comprising:

processing a first channel signal with a first encoder, said channel signal having a channel service profile;

selecting a second encoder;

copying the channel service profile to a monitoring service profile of a monitoring system;

visually previewing a display of the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal while generating a first broadcast signal using the first channel signal through the first encoder;

redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder; and

generating a second broadcast signal with the first channel signal through the first encoder.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein generating the first broadcast signal comprises generating a first uplink signal and uplinking the first uplink signal to a satellite and wherein generating the second broadcast signal comprises generating a second uplink signal and uplinking the second uplink signal to the satellite.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the first uplink and the second uplink signal comprise a high-definition digital television signal.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the first channel signal corresponds to a single program transponder signal.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the first encoder and the second encoder comprise an IP encoder.

16. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network to an uplink signal processing system.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein after redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder, communicating the second encoded signal through a local area network to a multiplexer of an uplink signal processing system.

18. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder comprises routing the first channel signal to the second encoder using a router.

19. A system comprising:

a first encoder processing a first channel signal to form a first encoded signal;

a second encoder;

an uplink signal processing system generating a first uplink signal from the first encoded signal;

a monitoring system visually previewing a display of the first channel signal encoded through the second encoder while the uplink signal processing system generates a first broadcast signal using the first channel signal encoded through the first encoder, said monitoring system redirecting the first channel signal through the second encoder to form a second encoded signal; and

said uplink signal processing signal generating a second broadcast signal with the first channel signal through the second encoder.

20. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a satellite and wherein first broadcast signal comprises a first uplink signal and the second broadcast signal comprises a second uplink signal.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein the first uplink signal and the second uplink signal comprise a digital television signal.

22. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the first channel signal corresponds to a single program transport signal.

23. A system as recited in claim 19 wherein the first encoder and the second encoder comprise an IP encoder.

24. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a local area network communicating the second encoded signal to the uplink signal processing system.

25. A system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a router, said monitoring system redirecting the first channel signal to the second encoder through the router.