Patent ID: 7386623
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A content distribution notification method of informing a third party by a first party that a content distribution will be performed based on a reservation by a first party distributor terminal apparatus, said reservation for use of a distribution server, via a reservation control apparatus for controlling a reservation status of said distribution server, via a first network, and for performing a live content distribution using said distribution server based on the reservation, in order to perform the live content distribution using said distribution server for distributing content by streaming via said network to a client terminal apparatus, said content distribution notification method comprising: receiving reservation request information including a desired service time to use said distribution server and third party contact address who should be informed that the content distribution will be performed, from said first party distributor terminal apparatus to said reservation control apparatus via a network; setting a reservation based on said reservation request information; a subsequent notifying step of sending notification information based on said reservation request information to notify the third party that the content distribution will be performed, from said reservation control apparatus to the third party contact address via the network when the content distribution using said distribution server in said desired service time included in said reservation request information is permitted; unidirectionally streaming the content distribution from a live distribution source to the third party based on said reservation request information; performing a capacity check before accepting the reservation, including determining whether a channel is opened or closed; providing a reservation summary to the first party including an indication of capacity, bands available, fee and a schedule showing which periods of time are free or reserved; and reserving by the third party, for rebroadcast by the distribution server, a predetermined portion of a previous live broadcast of said content distribution, wherein said reservation request information includes one of at least a first reservation type and a second reservation type; a permission notification step of sending, when content distribution using said distribution server in said desired service time included in said reservation request information is permitted, reservation permission notification information to notify the first party that the content distribution is permitted and that it is necessary for said first party to carry out a procedure for reconfirming the reservation via the network by a predetermined time before said desired service time to establish this reservation, from said reservation control apparatus to said first party distributor terminal apparatus via the network, and wherein said notification step sends said notification information upon said distributor terminal apparatus performing said reservation reconfirmation procedure.