Patent Publication Number: US-2009228921-A1

Title: Content Matching Information Presentation Device and Presentation Method Thereof

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese patent application serial no. 2006-345231, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to technology of presenting content through a network. 
     The technology of combining and transmitting video data and video-data accompanying metadata when video content is transmitted to a viewing device through a television broadcasting wave, a network, and the like is disclosed by Document 1 (US 2002/0116471 A1). 
     Here, the video content shall be composed of video data and metadata. The video data shall indicate the content of a program or video which a viewer watches on a viewing screen, and the digital or analogue data in which the program or video are recorded. The metadata shall refer to pertinent information which accompanies the video content, such as the explanation of video and the screen time. 
     The technology disclosed by Document 1 employs a method in which the video data to be distributed and the metadata are combined together to one video content and transmitted, and in a viewing device, when the video content is received, the video data is extracted from the combined data and displayed and/or reproduced, and the remaining metadata is displayed and/or reproduced separately. 
     For example, in Electronic Program Guide (EPG), video data and EPG data are distributed separately. The feature of the invention of Document 1 described above can be found in the fact that each data is combined together to one data and distributed. 
     In the present application, one who makes video content (video data and metadata) and provides broadcast (program production station etc.) shall be called a content provider, and one who distributes secondarily the video content which is provided by the content provider shall be called a content distributor. 
     However, in the invention disclosed by Document 1, when a content distributor distributes video content, the information which the content distributor wants to present cannot be added. Therefore, the information which the content distributor intends to distribute cannot be presented to a viewer. 
     For example, it becomes possible, using the above-mentioned technology, for the news video data providers (a program production station, broadcasting station, etc.) to combine metadata (EPG) and video content and to distribute the combined content to viewing devices (television receiving set etc.). 
     However, when the content distributor, who distributes such news video content secondarily, wants to combine the news video content and the commercial advertisement and pertinent information on own products according to the genre and content of the video content, it is necessary for the content distributor to have the contents of news notified in advance by the content provider before the content provider starts supply and to be prepared for producing the commercial advertisement video which matches well with the contents of news. 
     For example, suppose that there is a distributor of video content, such as a financial institutions etc., who wants to make a viewer refer to the news (the finance and business information of the news) for motivating the purchase of own financial products or improving the customer satisfaction measurement. When one wants to display, on the same viewing screen as the video content, the information of own products which has a close relation to the video content, one has to have the content of the video content taught in advance. 
     Actually, however, it is difficult to make the above-mentioned preparations in advance to the news video content or the broadcast content which is featured by the high freshness of information, since there are time restrictions as well as high load in making the preparations. 
     The present invention is made paying attention to such a conventional problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a content presentation device in which a distributor of content, such as video, is able to extract, at the time of distribution, information which matches with the content of the video content to distribute from the previously-prepared additional information such as an advertisement of the own products. Using the content presentation device, the distributor of content is further able to create a viewing screen composed of the extracted information and the video content concerned and to present to a viewer the information which the distributor wants to present. 
     As a means to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides the content presentation device which is able 
     to store a predetermined keyword and additional information and priorities in a manner associated with each other; 
     based on video data broadcasted and metadata data corresponding to the video data concerned, to search a keyword to the metadata data and to extract additional information; 
     to impart a priority to the additional information, according to the priorities; 
     to create a content-viewing screen information based on the video data and the prioritized additional information; and 
     to transmit the content-viewing screen information responding to the request to transmit from a viewing terminal. 
     According to the present invention, the distributor of content, such as video, is able to extract, at the time of distribution, the information matched with the content of the content concerned to distribute, from the previously-prepared additional information such as an advertisement of the own products. The distributor is further able to create a viewing screen composed of the extracted information and the content concerned and to present to a viewer the information which the distributor wants to present. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a content matching information presentation server; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a format of a video contents storage area; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a format of an additional information storage area; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a format of an additional information correspondence table; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a format of an additional information priority table; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an additional information registration server; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating procedure in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a chart illustrating a distribution screen in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a chart illustrating a screen linked from the distribution screen in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a chart illustrating a distribution screen in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a chart illustrating a screen linked from the distribution screen in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart illustrating maintenance procedure in the first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating procedure in a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12 , a first embodiment is explained. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a content distribution system according to the first embodiment. 
     In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there exist a base  1  of a distributor who distributes content, and a base  2  of a content provider who provides the content distributor with the content. Moreover, it is assumed that the base  1  and the base  2  are connected through a network  3 . In the present embodiment, the network  3  is an IP-based network which uses an IP address as a communication method. However, the network  3  is not limited to this, it may be a broadcast-based network which uses a broadcast wave etc., or it may be a composite of the IP-based network and the broadcast-based network. 
     In addition, the present embodiment further includes a viewing terminal  50  such as a personal computer or a portable terminal which are used in a home etc. when a viewer views content, a television receiver  70  to be used in viewing broadcast, and the like. These devices are connected to an IP-based network  4  through the public network etc. or to a network  6  using a broadcast wave. 
     Furthermore, the network  3  is connected to the IP-based network  4  to which a viewing terminal  50  is connected. The network  3  is connected also to the broadcast-based network  6  to which the television receiver  70  is connected. 
     Through these networks, the viewing terminal  50  and the television receiver  70  can view content by communicating with the base  1  of the distributor and the base  2  of the content provider. 
     In the base  1  of the distributor, a local network  10  connected to the network  3  through network equipment (not shown) is provided. 
     A content matching information presentation server  11  which assumes the role of distribution of content, and an additional information registration server  12  which assumes the role of maintenance of information to be added to the content are connected to the local network  10 . A storage device  13  which stores the video content and the information to be added is connected with the content matching information presentation server  11 . 
     In the base  2  of the content provider, a local network  20  connected to the network  3  through network equipment (not shown) is provided. 
     A video content delivery device  21  and a storage device  22  are connected to the local network  20 . 
     In the present embodiment, the storage device  22  is connected with the video content delivery device  21  through the local network  20 . Alternatively, the storage device  22  may be directly connected with the video content delivery device  21 , without passing through the local network  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the content matching information presentation server  11  is composed of a processor  111 , a main memory  112 , and a communication interface  113  for connecting to the local network  10 . 
     The processor  111  includes, as functional units, a video content input unit  1111  to receive video content as an input, a video content storage processing unit  1112  to store the received video content, an additional information acquiring unit  1113  to acquire additional information according to link information, an additional information storage processing unit  1114  to store the acquired additional information, a distribution screen creating unit  1115  to create a distribution screen from the video content and the additional information, and a distribution screen output unit  1116  to perform output such as transmitting the created distribution screen. 
     These functional units are realized through the execution of instruction codes developed in the main memory  112 , by the processor  111 . 
     The storage device  13  stores a video content storage area  131 , an additional information storage area  132 , an additional information correspondence table  133  to store keywords and the stored additional information in a manner associated with each other, and an additional information priority table  134  to store priorities which are used at the time of choosing the additional information to present, in distributing the video content with plural keywords. 
     The video content storage area  131  allotted in the storage device  13  stores the video content in a data format as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . That is, in the video content storage area  131 , one record of the video content is stored in units of a program or in units of one corner of the program. Each record constitutes a unit of recording of a video content storage number  1311  which enables identification of the video content and a video content name  1312  which indicates the name of the video content. 
     The additional information storage area  132  allotted in the storage device  13  stores the additional information in a data format as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . That is, one record is stored per pieces of additional information. Each record constitutes a unit of recording of additional information serial number  1321  which enables identification of the additional information and an additional information link address  1322  which indicates a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the additional information. 
     The additional information correspondence table  133  allotted in the storage device  13  stores an additional information corresponding information in a data format as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, one record is stored per keyword. In each record, a keyword  1331  and the additional information serial number relevant to the keyword up to three pieces ( 1332 ,  1333 ,  1334 ) can be stored. When the additional information serial number is stored in relationship to the keyword, the additional information specified by the additional information serial number is presented when distributing the content including the related keyword. 
     The additional information storage area  134  allotted in the storage device  13  stores the presentation priority of the additional information in a data format as indicated in  FIG. 6 . That is, one record is stored per additional information serial number. Each record constitutes a unit for recording the additional information serial number  1341  which enables identification of the additional information and the priority  1342  which indicates the relative priority among pieces of the additional information. 
     Next, the structure of the additional information registration server  12  is explained using  FIG. 7 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the additional information registration server  12  includes a processor  121 , an input operation device  122  such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output display device  123  such as a display screen, a communication interface  124  such as a network interface for connecting to the local network  10 , and a main memory  125 . 
     The processor  121  includes, as functional units, an input receiving unit  1211  to receive a content which the user inputs by operating the input operation device  122 , a keyword managing unit  1212  to edit a keyword based on the received input, an additional information managing unit  1213  to edit the additional information, and an output unit  1214  to output information to an output display device such as a screen. 
     These functional units are realized through the execution of instruction codes developed in the main memory  125 , by the processor  121 . 
     Next, operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment is explained using  FIG. 1 . 
     The content distribution system of the present embodiment operates at a trigger of process in which the content provider transmits, from the base  2  by the video content delivery device  21 , the video content which includes the metadata stored in the storage device  22 . 
     Upon receiving the video content transmitted, the content matching information presentation server  11  arranged at the base  1  of the distributor scans the metadata included in the video content concerned, extracts a keyword, creates a viewing screen by adding the additional information related to the keyword, and transmits to the network  3  successively. 
     This is repeatedly carried out in accordance with the speed of transmission until the video content concerned terminates. (This is called a live distribution although some degree of time-lag occurs compared with the video content transmitted by a content provider, such as a broadcasting station.) 
     With the viewing terminal  50  or the television receiver  70 , a viewer receives the live-distributed viewing screen, and reproduces it as video. Consequently, the viewer can view the video content and the video content-related additional information. 
     The above is the outline of the operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment. 
     Next, the details of the operation in the first embodiment are explained in the following, based on the flow chart of  FIG. 8 . 
     When the content provider transmits, using the video content delivery device  21 , the video content including the metadata stored beforehand in the storage device  22  arranged at the base  2 , the transmitted video content concerned is streamed as data in the network  3  after passing through the local network  20 . In addition, although in the example described above, the video data and the metadata are transmitted simultaneously, the present invention is not limited to the example, and the video data and the metadata may be transmitted separately. 
     In the content matching information presentation server  11  arranged at the base  1  of the distributor, the video content input unit  1111  receives the video content concerned through the communication interface  113 . 
     The video content input unit  1111  scans the received video content, and extracts the information which is marked up by a tag or the like, called metadata. In addition, in the present embodiment, the recording mode of the metadata assumes BML (Broadcast Markup Language) etc.; however, it may be another recording mode using markup languages, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML), etc. 
     In addition, the video content storage processing unit  1112  stores the extracted metadata and the video-data part of the video content in the main memory  112  (Step  001 ). 
     Next, to the metadata stored in the main memory  112 , the distribution screen creating unit  1115  investigates, using a character string search method or the like, the existence of the keyword  1331  recorded on the additional information correspondence table  133 , and lists the keyword  1331  in agreement (Step  002 ). 
     Then, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  lists the additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334  related to the keyword  1331  which is listed at Step  002  from the additional information correspondence table  133  (Step  003 ). Moreover, the present process is practiced for all the keyword  1331  listed at Step  002  (Step  004 ). 
     Next, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  rearranges the additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334  listed at Steps  003  and  004 , according to the priority  1342  which is acquired with reference to the additional information serial number  1341  recorded on the additional information priority table  134 . 
     For the additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334  rearranged on a list, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  replaces the additional information with the corresponding additional information link address  1322 , referring to the additional information storage area  132  (Step  005 ). 
     Based on the list of the additional information link address  1322  obtained by the replacement at Step  005 , the distribution screen creating unit  1115  embeds the link acquired from the additional information link address  1322  according to the priority, into the additional-information display column of the form (not shown) of the viewing screen to be used for a screen output. 
     In the present embodiment, the additional information link address  1322  is expressed by URI, and embedding is carried out by arranging URIs one by one on the screen layout for an additional-information display (Step  006 ). 
     Alternatively, instead of arranging URIs, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  may acquire and arrange the content (for example, a text, a picture, an animation, an HTML document etc.) which can be accessed by URIs. 
     In this case, in order to acquire the content which can be accessed by the above-described URI, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  transfers the processing to the additional information acquiring unit  1113 . The additional information acquiring unit  1113  acquires the content indicated by URI (that is, additional information) and requests the additional information storage processing unit  1114  to store and arrange the acquired additional information. 
     Next, the distribution screen creating unit  1115  embeds the video content received at Step  001 , into the specified position on a screen layout, thereby creating the screen (Step  007 ). 
     Before transmitting or distributing the screen completed at Step  007  to the viewing terminal  50  or the television receiver  70  through the communication interface  113  (Step  008 ), the distribution screen output unit  1116  may alternatively adopt a scheme to transmit the screen to a mobile terminal device after transforming the screen into a mobile-terminal-device-oriented screen structure using the existing content conversion technology etc., in consideration of the case where the viewing terminal  50  may be a mobile terminal device, for example, a mobile phone unit, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), etc. 
     By executing repeatedly the above-mentioned Steps  001  to  008  until the video content terminates and by transmitting the distribution screen, it becomes realizable that the distributor of the video content makes addition and alteration to the live-distributed information at the time of distribution so that the information may match the content of the video content to be distributed and presents to a viewer the information which the distributor intends. 
     By receiving the viewing screen created, transmitted (live-distributed) through the above-mentioned Steps S 001  to S 009  and reproducing as a video, with the viewing terminal  50  and the television receiver  70 , the viewer can view the video content and the additional information relevant to it. 
     A screen image  71  illustrated in  FIG. 9  is the example of an image which the viewing terminal  50  or the television receiver  70  receives and displays the viewing screen distributed by the content matching information presentation server  11  of the content distributor. 
     The screen image  71  is composed of a video content screen  72  and a link display area  73 . The screen image  71  is the screen created at Step  007  of  FIG. 8 . The video content transmitted from the video content delivery device  21  of the content provider is embedded in the video content screen  72  (the news picture is displayed in  FIG. 9 ). In the link display area  73 , the link information arranged in order of the priority is embedded as a URI link from the top of the screen toward the bottom. 
     When the viewer operates operation equipment in the screen of  FIG. 9  so that Link  1  may be chosen, the screen of  FIG. 9  is changed off to the screen of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a screen image  75  obtained when URI indicated by Link  1  in the screen of  FIG. 9  is accessed. 
     The screen image  75  is composed of a video content screen  76  (related financial products video information) and a related information screen  77  (related financial products WEB information). This screen structure is simply an illustration and the screen is not necessarily displayed with this structure. As an alternative, the screen may simply display a dynamic information screen as in the video content screen  76  or a static information screen as in the related information screen  77 . As a further alternative, the video content screen  72 , the video content screen  76 , and the related information screen  77  may be displayed on the same screen. 
     Similarly,  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate a screen image in a case that the viewing terminal  50  is mobile equipment such as a cellular phone. 
       FIG. 11  is the example in which a screen image  91  including a video content screen  92  and a link display area  93  is displayed, as in  FIG. 9 . The video content screen  92  and the link display area  93  are vertically arranged due to the restricted size of the screen display area. 
       FIG. 12  is the example in which a screen image  95  including a video content screen  96  (related sport goods video information) and a related information screen  97  (related sport goods WEB information) is displayed, as in  FIG. 10 . 
     Among the distribution system of the content described above, the following explains about the maintenance function used for the management of keywords and the management of priorities used in determining the additional information to distribute. 
     The additional information registration server  12  provides the function of the management of keywords and the management of priorities of the present embodiment. 
     The flow of processing of the management is explained using the flow chart of  FIG. 13 . 
     Upon receiving a menu display request from the input operation device  122 , the input receiving unit  1211  provided in the processor  121  of the additional information registration server  12  composes a keyword management menu panel, and requests the output unit  1214  to display the keyword management menu panel. The output unit  1214  outputs the menu panel to the output display device  123 , thereby displaying the menu panel (Step  200 ). 
     Through the input operation device  122 , the input receiving unit  1211  receives the content inputted on the keyword management menu panel displayed on the output display device  123  at Step  200 , and stores the inputted content in a storage device, such as the main memory  125  (Step  201 ). 
     If the inputted content is “display keyword setup” (“YES” at Step  202 ), the input receiving unit  1211  displays the keyword setup by list (Step  203 ). If the inputted content is not “display keyword setup” (“NO” at Step  202 ), Step  203  is skipped. 
     Specifically, at Step  203 , the keyword managing unit  1212  accesses the storage device  13  included in the content matching information presentation server  11  connected to the network  10  through the communication interface  124 , reads the additional information correspondence table  133  stored in the storage device  13 , rearranges the keyword column  1331  in a fixed order (in alphabetical order etc.), and lists it with additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334 . 
     The output unit  1214  outputs the listed keyword to the output display device  123 . 
     Subsequently, if the inputted content is “management of keyword” (“YES” at Step  204 ), the input receiving unit  1211  displays an operation screen on which a keyword can be chosen and edited, added newly, or deleted. The operation received by the input receiving unit  1211  is then executed (Step  205 ). If the inputted content is not “management of keyword” (“NO” at Step  204 ), processing at Step  205  is skipped. 
     Specifically, at Step  205 , the keyword managing unit  1212  reads in the additional information correspondence table  133  stored in the storage device  13 , rearranges the keyword column  1331  in a fixed order (in alphabetical order etc.), and, lists it with additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334 . 
     The output unit  1214  outputs the listed keywords to the output display device  123  (almost the same as that of Step  203 ). Then, accepting the editing for the select-and-inputted keyword, the additional information correspondence table  133  is edited, or accepting the new keyword input, the additional information correspondence table  133  is appended. Or accepting the deletion directions for the select-and-inputted keyword, the corresponding keyword  1331  and additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334  are deleted from the additional information correspondence table  133 . 
     Next, if the inputted content is “management of additional information” (“YES” at Step  206 ), the input receiving unit  1211  displays an operation screen on which the selection and edit of the additional information, the addition of new additional information, or the deletion of the existing additional information can be performed. Subsequently the input receiving unit  1211  executes the editing that the user specifies (Step  207 ). If the inputted content is not “management of additional information” (“NO” at Step  206 ), the processing at Step  207  is skipped. 
     Specifically, at Step  207 , the additional information managing unit  1213  reads the additional information storage area  132  and the additional information priority table  134 , both of which are stored in the storage device  13 , rearranges the additional information link address  1322  in a fixed order (in alphabetical order etc.) such as the order of the additional information serial number  1321 , and lists the additional information link address  1322  with the corresponding additional-information priority  1342 . 
     The output unit  1214  outputs the listed additional information link address  1322  and the listed additional-information priority  1342  to the output display device  123 . Then, accepting the editing of the select-and-inputted additional information link address, the additional information storage area  132  and the additional information priority table  134  are edited. Alternatively, accepting a new additional information input, the additional information storage area  132  and the additional information priority table  134  are appended. As a further alternative, accepting the deletion directions for the select-and-inputted additional information, the records of corresponding items are deleted from the additional information storage area  132 , the additional information correspondence table  133 , and the additional information priority table  134 . The records targeted for deletion are the additional information serial number  1321  and the additional information link address  1322  of the additional information storage area  132 , the additional information serial numbers  1332  to  1334  of the additional information correspondence table  133 , and the additional information serial number  1341  and the priority  1342  of the additional information priority table  134 . 
     Furthermore, as another alternative, it is also possible to change only the presentation priority of the additional information link address. The additional information managing unit  1213  receives directions of the priority change for the select-and-inputted additional information, and carries out editing of the priority  1342  of the additional information priority table  134  (detail of Step  207 ). 
     Finally, if the inputted content is “end of the processing” (“YES” at Step  208 ), the input receiving unit  1211  terminates the maintenance processing concerned. If the inputted content is not “end of the processing” (“NO” at Step  208 ), the control returns to Step  200  and the processing is executed again from Step  200 . 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the video content which a video-content provider transmits is received by the content matching information presentation server  11  which a content distributor provides, the additional-information link in close relationship to the keyword which is the metadata included in the video content is selected to compose a viewing screen. Thereby, the video content is reproduced and distributed in almost real time (live distribution), and the video content can be presented to a viewer. Therefore, it is possible to distribute to the viewer the viewing screen which incorporates the advertisement etc. according to the content of the video content at the time of distribution, without changing the video content itself. 
     For the viewer, information deeply connected with the content which the viewer is viewing (the viewer has interest) can be obtained. Furthermore, since the added presentation information is the link presented from the distributor who the viewer trusts, there is little concern about the reliability of information; therefore, the link information which can be used with a sense of reliability is provided to the user. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, the content matching information presentation server  11  receives the broadcast transmitted from the video content delivery device  21  of the content provider, and composes and distributes the viewing screen in real time (live distribution). However, the acquisition method of the video content is not limited to the case. 
     For example, one may receive the video content from the video content delivery device  21 , using a file transfer or the method which transmits and receives a package of data file to which the video content has been converted. 
     A second embodiment is explained in the following with reference to  FIG. 14 . 
     The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in the fundamental structure. However, operation of the video content storage processing unit  1112  which is included in the processor  111  of the content matching information presentation server  11  is different. 
     That is, the difference lies in the operation at Step  100  illustrated in  FIG. 14 , and the addition of Step  101 . 
     Step  100  is the processing corresponding to Step  001  in the first embodiment. Step  100  is the processing to receive the transmitted video, and to store the data file of the received video content in the video content storage area  131  of the storage device  13 , by the action of the video content storage processing unit  1112  of the storage device  13 . The storing of the data file itself to the storage device  13  is not included in Step  001  of the first embodiment. By the storing to the storage device  13 , the video-content reception by file format becomes attainable in the second embodiment. 
     Step  101  is the processing corresponding to the processing carried out between Step  100  (corresponding to Step  001  of the first embodiment) and Step  102  (corresponding to Step  002  of the first embodiment). In the first embodiment, the video content input unit  1111  receives the transmitted video-content data flowing on the local network  10 , and adds the additional information. However, the video content itself is distributed fundamentally as it is. Therefore, the received data does not need to be reproduced again by the content matching information presentation server  11 . In the second embodiment, however, the video content input unit  1111  receives the video content by file format at Step  100 ; therefore, the video content input unit  1111  needs to reproduce the file-formatted video content. This is the reason for adding Step  101 . 
     Excluding these two Steps S 100  and S 101 , Steps S 102  to S 109  perform the same operation as that in the first embodiment basically. 
     As a modification of the second embodiment, in Step  107 , just before transmitting, the viewing screen may be stored in the video content storage area  131  of the storage device  13 ; thereby the data file of the video content may be acquired. 
     The second embodiment described above and the present modification of the second embodiment allow the realization of a distributing method in which a distributor distributes according to a determined schedule, and VOD (Video On Demand) which enables a viewer to start viewing in response to a viewing request made when the viewer desires.