Abstract:
A managing apparatus for managing data necessary for providing a content is disclosed, that includes a reserving element for reserving a delivery resource for each content, a storing element for storing reserved delivery resource assignment information, and a transmitter for transmitting the reserved delivery resource assignment information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a managing apparatus and a managing method for managing data necessary for delivering a content composed of a picture, a sound, and characters, and other data that are delivered. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the conventional CS (Communication Satellite) digital broadcast corresponding to the MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group Phase 2) system, bands (channels) assigned to individual contents are pre-designated. A content provider creates a transmission schedule for a content with a pre-designated band and provides the content under the total control of a broadcasting station as a delivering device for each channel. As the number of channels of the digital broadcast increases, the number of content providers increases. In addition, the provided contents are diversified and the content providers are distributed. 
   Thus, conventionally, bands, broadcast time, and so forth assigned to contents are totally managed. Thus, a content provider can not select a transmission band, transmission time, and a transmission path by his or her preference. For example, when a content provider transmits a content through a particular channel, he or she should request the broadcasting station that manages the channel to reserve designated transmission band and time for the content. 
   In the environment that the number of content providers increases and they are distributed, when the broadcasting station side totally manages transmission bands and transmission time for contents, the flexibility of transmission bands and transmission time for contents is lost. A content provider may want to deliver a content with his or her convenient band and time from view points of the provided content, expected number of audiences, the cost, and so forth. However, the conventional content delivering system cannot satisfy the needs of content providers. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a managing apparatus and a managing method that allow a content provider to designate his or her desired transmission band, transmission time, and so forth for a content that he or she will provide. 
   A first aspect of the present invention is a managing apparatus for managing data necessary for providing a content, comprising a reserving means for reserving a delivery resource for each content, a storing means for storing reserved delivery resource assignment information, and a transmitting means for transmitting the reserved delivery resource assignment information. 
   A second aspect of the present invention is a managing method corresponding to the first aspect of the present invention. 
   A third aspect of the present invention is a managing apparatus for managing data necessary for providing a content, comprising a content list displaying means for displaying a list of contents that can be provided, a reservation state displaying means for displaying a reservation state of a delivery resource, a content selecting means for selecting a content to which a resource is assigned, and an operating means for assigning a delivery resource to the selected content. 
   A fourth aspect of the present invention is a managing method corresponding to the third aspect of the present invention. 
   According to the present invention, delivery resources for individual contents can be totally managed. In addition, distributed content providers can reserve delivery resources. Thus, when limited delivery resources are shared by a plurality of content providers, delivery resources can be dynamically assigned corresponding to conveniences of the individual content providers. As a result, delivery resources can be effectively used. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a content delivering system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of a more detailed structure of a content delivering system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an example of a content transmission managing device of a transmitting device; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a content delivery resource reserving device of the transmitting device; 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a content providing device; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing an example of a delivery resource reservation management screen of the transmitting device; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing an example of the delivery resource reservation management screen of the content providing device; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart for explaining a content delivery resource reserving process according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart for explaining a content delivery resource managing process according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows an outlined structure of a content delivering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Content providing device  101   1  and  101   2  store content data and meta data thereabout to respective databases. Content data is a multimedia content such as a television program that contains video data and/or audio data of news, sports, or the like, a radio program, or a movie played in a theater. Content data can be uniquely identified with a content identifier. In addition, data that can be identified with a content identifier can be handled as a content that is provided.  FIG. 1  shows two content providing devices. Alternatively, one content providing device may be disposed. Further alternatively, three or more content providing devices may be disposed. The content providing device  101   1  and  101   2  provide content data and meta data to a transmitting device (for example, a broadcasting station)  102  through a bi-directional network  105  such as the Internet. 
   The transmitting device  102  stores content data and meta data that are provided in its database. Content data and meta data are provided by the content delivering devices  101   1  and  101   2 . Alternatively, content data and meta data are created by the transmitting device  102 . An example of content data is a broadcast program. The transmitting device  102  delivers content data, meta data, and content access information to receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  through a multicast network  104  such as a digital broadcast.  FIG. 1  shows only two receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2 . In reality, three or more receiving devices are disposed. 
   In addition, the content providing devices  101   1  and  101   2  can deliver content data, meta data, and content access information to the receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  through the bi-directional network  105 . In other words, in the system shown in  FIG. 1 , the receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  can receive content data, meta data, and content access information through other networks that are different from the multicast network  104  and the bi-directional network  105 . 
   The receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  are owned by individual users. The receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  store received content data, meta data, and content access information to respective storing portions such as hard disks so as to structure their databases. In addition, the receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  have respective data displaying portions such as LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) that display data for the respective users. 
     FIG. 2  shows a more detailed structure of a delivering system. The content providing device  101   1  is composed of a database  201 , a content server  202 , a program information client  203 , and a delivery resource reserving client  204 . The structure of other content providing devices is the same as the structure of the content providing device  101   1 . The content providing device  101   1  is for example a program production company. 
   The database  201  stores data that the content providing device  101   1  requires. The content server  202  is connected to the transmitting device  102  through the Internet  205  that is an example of the bi-directional network  105 . The content providing device  101   1  provides its content to the transmitting device  102  through the Internet  205 . 
   The program information client  203  communicates with a program information server  302  of the transmitting device  102  through the Internet  205 . The program information is information about a content that is provided. Examples of program information are a genre of a program, a program name, and actor and actress names. The delivery resource reserving client  204  communicates with a delivery resource reserving server  304  of the transmitting device  102  through the Internet  205 . Thus, the content providing device  101   1  can reserve a part of delivery resources. 
   In more reality, the delivery resource reserving client  204  is composed of a user interface portion and a slave database. The user interface portion is used to browse a band reservation state, register it, and change it. The slave database is a partial replication of a master database  305  (transmitting device  102 ). The master database  305  manages meta information. The slave database is composed of a part of the database  202 . 
   The delivery resource reserving client  204  not only browses the current band blank state through a user interface as a band reservation screen, but assigns a band to each content (program) corresponding to a contract class. Attributes of contract classes are for example speed assurance type, total capacity assurance type, and best effort type. As the user interface, a band and time corresponding to a file capacity are displayed and (when necessary) shaped by a drag and drop operation on the desktop. A reservation and a change performed by the delivery resource reserving client  204  are updated to (synchronized with) the master database  305 . 
   The transmitting device  102  comprises a content server  301 , a program information server  302 , a program information database  303 , a delivery resource reserving server  304 , a delivery resource database  305 , a complex data sending server  306 , an MPEG multiplexing device  307 , and an IP multiplexing device  308 . The content server  301  stores a content provided by the content providing device  101   1  through the Internet  205 . Multimedia data is output from the content server  301  to the MPEG multiplexing device  307 . The content server  301  contains an archiver for the Internet. The archiver outputs data to the IP multiplexing device  308 . 
   The program information server  302  communicates with the program information client  203  of the content providing device  101   1  and manages program information. In other words, the program information server  302  totally manages the database  303  for meta information of registered television programs and meta information of multimedia contents. The database  303  is a master database for all meta information. Data of registered programs and reserved bands in the slave databases ( 202 ) in a distributed environment is totally managed by the program information server  302 . Replicated meta information is supplied to each slave database. 
   The delivery resource reserving server  304  communicates with the delivery resource reserving client  204  of the content providing device  101   1  and manages reservations of delivery resources. In other words, the delivery resource reserving server  304  manages a band assignment schedule of all the broadcast band assigned to the transmitting device  102 . The delivery resource reserving server  304  is composed of a master database  305  and a user interface portion. The master database  305  manages individual delivery data as individual programs. The user interface portion is used to browse and operate the delivery resource reservation state. As with a television program, meta information such as a title and a remark of a content is added to the individual delivery data. Thus, individual delivery data can be contained as one program in a time table of regular television programs (this time table is referred to as EPG (Electronic Program Guide)). The databases  303  and  305  may be integrated. 
   The complex data sending server  306  multiplexes data other than content data and generates complex data. The complex data sending server  306  sends the generated complex data to the MPEG multiplexing device  307  and the IP multiplexing device  308 . The MPEG multiplexing device  307  multiplexes the complex data and content data supplied from the content server  301  and transmits the multiplexed data through a transmission antenna  309 . Complex data and content data are delivered through a satellite  310  such as a CS (Communication Satellite) or a BS (Broadcast Satellite). Alternatively, a program may be delivered using a ground wave rather than a satellite. The IP multiplexing device  308  delivers complex data and content data through the Internet  205 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the receiving devices  103   1  and  103   2  and a receiving and content providing device  106 . These receiving devices have functions for reserving the reception of a content (program), receiving and storing the reserved content, and managing the stored content. In addition, the receiving device  103   1  receives a broadcast wave delivered through the satellite  310 . The receiving device  103   2  receives a broadcast wave delivered through the satellite  310 . In addition, the receiving device  103   2  is connected to the Internet  205 . The receiving device  103   2  is an Internet television set of which a dedicated browser and a dedicated modem are built in a television set that receives a satellite broadcast. Multimedia data that has been encoded corresponding to the MPEG4 system or the like and file-formatted is transmitted to the Internet television set. 
   Like with the receiving device  103   2 , the receiving and content providing device  106  has a function for providing a content to the transmitting device  102  through the Internet  205  along with the function of the Internet television set. Although the receiving and content providing device  106  has the same content providing function as the content providing device  1011 , normally, the performance of the receiving and content providing device  106  is inferior to the performance of the content providing device  101   1 . 
   Further, the embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 3  shows a more detailed structure of the transmitting device  102 . Reference numeral  401  represents a communication controlling portion that communicates with a content providing device ( 101   1 ,  102 ,  106 ). Multimedia content data, program information (generally, content information) and delivery resource reservation information are communicated between the communication controlling portion  401  and a content providing device. Content data supplied from the communication controlling portion  401  is stored to a content storing portion  403  through a content obtaining portion  402 . 
   Program information supplied from the communication controlling portion  401  is stored to a program information storing portion  405  through a program information registering portion  404 . The program information registering portion  404  registers titles, genres, time, and so forth of all contents that are delivered along with content identifiers and stores them to the program information registering portion  404 . 
   Delivery resource reservation information supplied from the communication controlling portion  401  is stored to a resource reservation information storing portion  407  through a delivery resource reserving portion  406 . The delivery resource reserving portion  406  performs a reserving process for assigning a transmission band and transmission time or the capacity of a storage medium necessary for transmitting a content as a delivery resource. Resource reservation information is stored to the resource reservation information storing portion  407 . The program information storing portion  405  and the delivery resource reserving portion  406  are connected. A data send managing portion  408  is connected to the content storing portion  403 , the program information storing portion  405 , and the resource reservation information storing portion  407 . The data send managing portion  408  manages the sending of reservation information of content data, program information, and delivery resources. 
   A data multiplexing portion  409 , a data multiplexing portion  411 , and a data access controlling portion  413  are connected to the data send managing portion  408 . The data multiplexing portion  409  multiplexes content data, program information, and resource reservation information and supplies the multiplexed data to a data sending portion  410 . The data sending portion  410  converts the multiplexed data into a transmission signal corresponding to for example the MPEG2 system. In other words, the data multiplexing portion  409  and the data sending portion  410  correspond to the MPEG multiplexing device  307  (see  FIG. 2 ). The data multiplexing portion  411  and a data sending portion  412  have the same functions as the data multiplexing portion  409  and the data sending portion  410 , respectively. A transmission signal sent from the data sending portion  412  is transmitted through the Internet  205 . In such a manner, content data and so forth are encoded and formatted corresponding to information contained in resource reservation information. 
   In addition, a communication controlling portion  414  is disposed. The communication controlling portion  414  controls a communication between the receiving device  103   2  and the receiving and content providing device  106  through the Internet  205 . The communication controlling portion  414  accepts a content delivery request and performs a delivering process for a requested content under the control of the data access controlling portion  413 . In addition, the content obtaining portion  402 , the program information registering portion  404 , and the delivery resource reserving portion  406  are connected to the communication controlling portion  401 . Thus, they can be remotely operated. 
   In  FIG. 3 , signal paths including the communication controlling portion  401  are denoted by dotted lines. These signal paths represent that the transmitting device  102  may communicate with the receiving device  103   2  and the receiving and content providing device  106  through another communication path other than the Internet  205  (in other words, a dedicated line or the like). In addition, content data may be supplied to the transmitting device  102  with a medium that records the content data. 
   In the relation between the structure shown in  FIG. 3  and the structure shown in  FIG. 2 , the content storing portion  403  corresponds to the content server  301 ; the program information registering portion  404  and the program information storing portion  405  correspond to the program information server  302  and the database  303 ; and the content obtaining portion  402 , the delivery resource reserving portion  406 , and the resource reservation information storing portion  407  correspond to the delivery resource reserving server  304  and the database  305 . 
   Delivery resources can be reserved through a multicast network (for example, a digital broadcast), a bi-directional network (for example, the Internet), and a storage medium (an archiver of the Internet). A content providing device can manage the sending of data corresponding to its convenient transmission path, transmission time, and storage duration. 
     FIG. 4  shows a more detailed structure of a portion that reserves delivery resources. The delivery resource reserving portion  406  comprises a content list displaying portion  501 , a resource reservation information displaying portion  502 , a content selecting portion  503 , a resource automatic assigning portion  504 , and a resource assignment operating portion  505 . The content selecting portion  503  selects a desired content from a content list and issues a resource assigning instruction for delivering the selected content. The resource automatic assigning portion  504  calculates the minimum band resource or the minimum storage resource necessary for delivering the selected content corresponding to the program information thereof, assigns an initial value of the delivery resource, and displays the assigned value. 
   The resource assignment operating portion  505  can change the initial value with reference to an indication displayed on the resource reservation information displaying portion  502 . The resource reservation information changed by the resource assignment operating portion  505  is stored in the resource reservation information storing portion  407 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a structure of a resource reserving portion of a content providing device. Reference numeral  601  represents a content storing portion that stores content data (multimedia data). The content storing portion  601  corresponds to the content server  202  of the system structure shown in  FIG. 2 . Reference numeral  602  represents a program information operating portion. Reference numeral  603  represents a program information storing portion. The program information operating portion  602  and the program information storing portion  603  correspond to the program information client  203  of the system structure shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Reference numeral  604  represents a resource reservation information storing portion. Reference numeral  605  represents a delivery resource reserving portion. The resource reservation information storing portion  604  and the delivery resource reserving portion  605  correspond to the delivery resource reserving client  204  of the system structure shown in  FIG. 2 . Data transmitted through a multicast network for example a digital satellite broadcast is received by a data receiving portion  606 . Program information contained in the received data is stored to the program information storing portion  603 . The resource reservation information contained in the received data is stored to the resource reservation information storing portion  604 . The resource reservation information represents the contents resource reservation state. The resource reservation information may be received through a bi-directional network (for example, the Internet). 
   The content storing portion  601  stores a content that is delivered. Program information necessary for delivering a content is created by the program information operating portion  602 . The created program information is stored to the program information storing portion  603 . The delivery resource reserving portion  605  reserves a delivery resource corresponding to program information stored in the program information storing portion  603  and program reservation information stored in the resource reservation information storing portion  604 . Reservation operation information for a delivery resource is transmitted to the transmitting device  102  through a communication controlling portion  607  and the Internet  205 . Thus, in the structure shown in  FIG. 3 , the reservation operation for a delivery resource performed by a content providing device is reflected to the delivery resource reserving portion  406 . 
   Program information supplied from the program information storing portion  603  is transmitted to the transmitting device  102  through the data send managing portion  608 , the communication controlling portion  607 , and the Internet  205 . Thus, in the structure shown in  FIG. 3 , the program information is reflected to the program information registering portion  404 . The data reflected to the delivery resource reserving portion  406  and the program information registering portion  404  are transmitted to all the content providing devices and receiving devices through the data send managing portion  408  and synchronized. 
   When a resource has been successfully reserved, content data stored in the content storing portion  601  shown in  FIG. 5  is temporarily stored to a content storing portion of the data send managing portion  608  so as to transmit a real content from the transmitting device  102 . A content is transmitted in a format, an encoding method, and so forth corresponding to the reserved resource through the communication controlling portion  607  and the Internet  205 . 
   The structures shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  can be accomplished with software as well as hardware. 
     FIG. 6  shows an example of a delivery resource reservation management screen displayed by the resource reservation information displaying portion  502  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the delivery resource reserving portion  406  of the transmitting device  102 . The delivery resource reservation management screen is used to manage information of all contents managed in the system and assign all delivery resources on a list. Indications on the delivery resource reservation management screen shown in  FIG. 6  may be in a window format or a tab format. 
   In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , a satellite broadcast A band reservation state indication  701 , a satellite broadcast B band reservation state indication  702 , an Internet broadcast band reservation state indication  703 , and an Internet archive capacity reservation state indication  704  are displayed. The satellites A and B correspond to respective transponders. The vertical axis represents a band (Mbps) or a capacity (GB), whereas the horizontal axis represents a time axis or month/day. For example, the band of a satellite broadcast is 30 Mbps and the band of an Internet broadcast is 1 Mbps. In  FIG. 6 , shaded portions such as Content  1  represent reserved portions. Non-shaded portions represent blank portions. In  FIG. 6 , for simplicity, reserved portions are shaded. In reality, contents are represented in different colors corresponding to content providers. 
   In the satellite broadcast A band reservation state indication  701 , a narrow band is reserved for Content  1 . Content  1  is a content such as music data having a relatively narrow band. Content  2  and Content  4  are for example high picture quality contents. Content  2  and Content  4  are reserved for most of the 30 Mbps band. Content  3  is a normal picture quality content. In the satellite broadcast B, the band assigned for Content  6  varies. This is because each receiving device temporarily stores received data and then reproduces the stored data. Thus, when it is not necessary to assign all the band to a content, the remaining band can be assigned on the best effort basis. In  FIG. 6 , reference numerals such as Content  1  are assigned for identifying contents. In other words, the reference numbers do not have meanings. 
   In addition, contents delivered to receiving devices through the Internet are stored to an Internet archive. Thus, the month/day on the horizontal axis of the indication  704  represents the period for which contents are stored in the archive. A content is delivered with a reserved band to receiving devices. As a band is larger, a content can be delivered to receiving devices in a shorter time. 
   As shown at a lower right portion of  FIG. 6 , the delivery resource reservation management screen displays a list of all contents managed by the system is displayed. The content list displaying portion  501  of the delivery resource reserving portion  406  (see  FIG. 4 ) displays a list indication. The list indication is composed of a list  705  that display a list of contents and an indication  706  that displays the details of a content selected on the list  705  and assigned information of the selected content. 
   When an item contained in the list  705  is dragged and dropped to a blank area of the reservation state indications  701  to  704 , a new delivery resource can be assigned. When the length of the assigned area is dragged and changed, the resource reservation date and time and the duration can be adjusted. 
   In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , Content  3  has been selected on the list. Thus, information about Content  3  is displayed in the program and assigned information indication  706 . As program information of Content  3 , for example, a title (“Content  3 ”), a production (“Provider  1 ”), a genre (“sports”), a remark (“professional baseball, A vs. B, 13rd game”) are displayed. As a resource assignment state, a satellite broadcast band and an Internet archive capacity are displayed. In this example, in the satellite broadcast A band reservation state indication  701  and the Internet archive capacity reservation state indication  704 , a resource for Content  3  has been reserved. In the satellite broadcast A band reservation state indication  701  and the Internet archive capacity reservation state indication  704 , the reserved area is highlighted in a particular color different from colors of other areas. With reference to information displayed with the program and assigned information indication  706 , resource assignment information can be designated. 
     FIG. 7  shows an example of a delivery resource reservation screen displayed by the delivery resource reserving portion  605  of each content providing device. With the content providing device, the resource reservation state of the entire system can be browsed. However, with the content providing device, only a content thereof can be operated. 
   The delivery resource reservation screen shown in  FIG. 7  corresponds to the delivery resource reservation screen (see  FIG. 6 ) provided by a transmitting device. In other words, a satellite A band reservation state indication  801 , a satellite broadcast B band reservation state indication  802 , an Internet broadcast band reservation state indication  803 , and an Internet archive capacity reservation state indication  804  are displayed. In these indications, reserved areas for a band and time (or month/day) are distinguished from blank areas. In addition, a content list  805  and a detail and assigned information indication  806  are displayed. The list  805  displays contents that the local content providing device can provide. The indication  806  displays the detail of a content selected on the list  805  and assigned information of the selected content. 
   The list  805  displays Content  3 , Content  5 , and so forth that the local content providing device can provide. Contents of other content providing devices are not displayed on the list  805 . On the list  805 , Content  3  has been selected. When an item (content) displayed on the list  805  is dragged and dropped to a blank area of the reservation state indications  801  to  804 , a new delivery resource can be reserved. When the length of the assigned area is changed by a drag operation, the resource reservation date/time and the duration can be adjusted. With the delivery resource reservation operation shown in  FIG. 7 , the delivery resource reservation shown in  FIG. 6  is remotely performed. Of course, the delivery resource reservation operation can be performed with the transmitting device. 
     FIG. 8  is a flow chart for explaining the content delivery resource reserving process. At step S 1 , resource reservation information is read. Corresponding to the resource reservation information, the delivery resource reservation screen (see  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 7 ) is displayed. At step S 2 , program information and content list are read. Corresponding to these information, the detailed and assigned information indication  706  or  806  is displayed. 
   A content is selected by the above-described drag and drop operation (at step S 3 ). At step S 4 , the delivery quality of the selected content is selected. The delivery quality is for example one of standard picture quality, high picture quality, and so forth. At step S 5 , the delivery method is selected. In this example, one of broadcast and archive is selected. 
   When the broadcast has been selected at step S 5 , the flow advances to step S 6 . At step S 6 , a transmission path is selected. The transmission path is for example one of satellite, ground wave, and Internet. At step S 7 , all the band or a remaining band is selected. At step S 8 , a relevant resource reservation (the stripe shaped indication  701  or the like shown in  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 7 ) is dragged and dropped. 
   When the archive is selected as the delivery method at step S 5 , the flow advances to step S 9 . At step S 9 , a storage device is selected. For example, one of web site  1 , web site  2 , and so forth is selected. The relevant resource reservation is dragged and dropped (at step S 8 ). 
   Thereafter, the flow advances to step S 10 . At step S 10 , the date/time and duration of the delivery are adjusted by for example the drag operation. At step S 9 , the delivery resource reservation information is updated. In such a manner, the content delivery resource reserving process is performed. As was described above, the content delivery resource reserving process performed by a content providing device is the same as the content delivery resource reserving process performed by a transmitting device. 
   Next, with reference to  FIG. 9 , the content delivery resource managing process performed by a transmitting device will be described. At step S 21 , the content delivery resource reserving information list is read. In addition, a sequential parallel process is performed. In other words, a managing process is started in parallel for each content delivery resource reservation information. 
   At step S 22 , it is determined whether or not the content server stores a content that is delivered. When the content server does not store it, a content is obtained (at step S 23 ). When the content server stores the content or it has been obtained, the flow advances to step S 24 . At step S 24 , it is determined whether or not the current date/time is the delivery date/time. When the current date/time is the delivery date/time, a delivery resource is assigned (at step S 25 ). 
   At step S 26 , it is determined whether or not the delivery duration has expired. When the delivery duration has expired, the assignment of the delivery resource is completed (at step S 27 ). As a result, the content delivery resource managing process is completed. 
   Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to a best mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, according to the embodiment of the present invention, both content data and data for managing a content (program information, resource reservation information, and so forth) are handled by a transmitting device or a content providing device. Alternatively, only data for managing a content can be handled corresponding to the present invention. At that point, content data may be stored at another location. 
   According to the present invention, when data necessary for providing a content is managed, delivery resources for individual contents can be totally managed. In addition, distributed content providers can reserve delivery resources. Thus, when limited delivery resources are shared by a plurality of content providers, the delivery resources can be dynamically assigned. Thus, the delivery resources can be effectively used.