Patent ID: 6862742
Filing Date: 2005-03-01
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An information distribution apparatus for a CATV system provided with an information distributing section to which a plurality of set-top boxes are connected, and a distribution control section situated between the information distributing section and a head-end section, comprising: path identification number decision means provided in the distribution control section, for determining an identification number of a single communication path for a plurality of set-top boxes when distribution of identical information is requested from said plurality of set-top boxes; distribution information transmitting means provided in the distribution control section, for transmitting the requested distribution information to the information distributing section via the communication path with the identification number determined by said path identification number decision means; set-top box identifying means provided in the information distributing section, for identifying individual set-top boxes to which the distribution information is to be distributed, based on the identification number of the communication path used for transmission by said distribution information transmitting means when the distribution information is received from said distribution information transmitting means; and distribution information distributing means provided in the information distributing section, for distributing the distribution information to each of the set-top boxes identified by said set-top box identifying means, wherein an identical program directed to a plurality of set-top boxes can be transmitted using the single communication path, identified by the identification number, between the distribution control section and the information distributing section, and wherein said path identification number decision means includes a common distribution map having fields respectively associated with all set-top boxes connected to the information distributing section, flag setting means for setting a value of path identification number creating means for relating each field of said common distribution map in which said flag setting means has set a flag, with each digit of a binary number, to thereby create part of the identification number of the communication path.