In a transition of a transport unit of a long stator linear motor from a first control zone to a following second control zone in a movement direction, a first segment control unit is responsible for controlling the movement of the transport unit and the first control zone is extended, in the movement direction, by a number of virtual drive coils. The first segment control unit, which is assigned to the first control zone, calculates manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils, and transmits the manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils to the second segment control unit, which is assigned to the second control zone. The second segment control unit uses the transmitted manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils in order to energize the drive coils of the second control zone for moving the transport unit.