Patent ID: 7634484

Claim:
A metadata distribution management system being configured to include at least one metadata distribution management apparatus for managing a metadata relating to a digital content, and at least one client terminal connectable to the metadata distribution management apparatus through a communications network, wherein; said metadata distribution management apparatus comprises; metadata memory means for storing two or more metadata relating to the digital contents which includes at least a location information data on the digital contents, and a type information data on the digital contents; metadata package creation means for creating a metadata package by combining at least two or more of the metadata stored in the metadata memory means; container generation means for generating a container including the metadata package created by the metadata package creation means, the container including identification links to containers having related contents, a list of metadata that is located in the container, and a presentation image metadata list, the presentation image metadata list having a plurality of representative images for visually representing the digital content referenced with the metadata included in the container; metadata package distribution means for distributing the container to the client terminal through the communications network; metadata package destination information storage means for storing destination information data linking an information data identifying a user who uses the client terminal to which the container is distributed, and an information data identifying the metadata package; a recommendation search process means for generating a search result by searching a search database including the type information data on the digital content, based on an individual profile of the user including a profile vector, and for sending the search result to the client terminal; and a verification means for checking if the digital content referenced by the location information data is present in a content cache memory, and in case the digital content is not present, the digital content is acquired from a content provision server and stored in the content cache memory, and said client terminal comprises; metadata package acquisition means for acquiring the container from the metadata distribution management apparatus through the communications network; metadata package operation processing means for acquiring the digital content with reference to the location information data included in the metadata package of the container, and performing a process suitable for the type of the digital content with reference to the type information data; and a screen display means for extracting and displaying the plurality of representative images included in the container of the metadata package, and establishing a user-selectable link from each displayed representative image to digital content that is represented by the plurality of representative images based on the location information data.