Patent ID: 7349986

Claim:
A data distribution method of distributing data including reproduction time information read from a first information storage device to an information reception apparatus by an information transmission apparatus via a network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the data at an information relay apparatus interposed between the information transmission apparatus and the information reception apparatus, and writing the received data in a second information storage device; when a difference of the reproducing time information included in preceding data and trailing data already stored in the second information storage device is calculated by the information relay apparatus and it can be confirmed that the difference amount is equal to more than a specified amount, reading the data from the second information storage device and transmitting the data to the information reception apparatus; if the information relay apparatus detects data not stored in the second information storage device, transmitting a redistribution request for the data to either the information transmission apparatus or another information relay apparatus; and reading the data from the first or second information storage device at the information transmission apparatus or the other information relay apparatus that received the redistribution request and transmitting the read data.