Patent ID: 6928261

Claim:
A music data distribution apparatus connected to a network for distributing music data to an external device, the apparatus comprising: a storage device that stores a plurality of music data; a first receiver that receives music data distribution request and terminal identification information from the external device connected to the network, wherein the music data distribution request comprises music data identification information for specifying a desired music and the terminal identification information is information specifying a product type of the external device; a searching device that searches music data corresponding to the desired music from the plurality of the music data stored in the storage device in accordance with the music data identification information; a determining device that determines at least one quality of music data that can be used by the external device for the searched music data in accordance with the terminal identification information; a first transmitter that transmits information regarding to the determined quality of the searched music data to the external device; a second receiver that receives selection information regarding to selection of the quality from the determined quality of the searched music data from the external device; a converter that converts the searched music data to music data having the selected quality in accordance with the received selection information; and a second transmitter that transmits the converted music data having the selected quality to the external device.