Patent ID: 7805475

Claim:
A contents data distribution system, comprising: a contents distribution apparatus which distributes contents data via a network; a plurality of terminal apparatus which, being connected in a multi-leveled hierarchical structure on the network for each of a plurality of contents channels, with the contents distribution apparatus as an apex, receive the contents data via the network, and reproduce the contents data, wherein the terminal apparatus include: a connection unit which connects to the contents distribution apparatus or to other terminal apparatus, via the network; a connection terminal apparatus storage unit which stores a terminal apparatus previously connected by the connection unit, correlated to a contents channel; a contents channel change determination unit which determines whether or not a change instruction, changing a contents channel, has been issued; a connection destination candidate introduction terminal apparatus selection unit which, in the event that the contents channel change determination unit determines that an instruction to change a contents channel has been issued, selects a terminal apparatus, from among the other terminal apparatus connected by the connection unit, or the previously connected terminal apparatus stored by the connection terminal apparatus storage unit in the terminal apparatus, corresponding to the contents channel for which the change instruction has been issued, as a connection destination candidate introduction terminal apparatus which introduces a connection destination candidate; a connection destination candidate request unit which requests a connection destination candidate, corresponding to the contents channel for which the change instruction has been issued, of the connection destination candidate introduction terminal apparatus selected by the connection destination candidate introduction terminal apparatus selection unit; a connection destination candidate selection unit which selects a connection destination candidate corresponding to the contents channel requested by the connection destination candidate request unit; a connection destination candidate notification unit which notifies the terminal apparatus which has requested the connection destination candidate of the connection destination candidate selected by the connection destination candidate selection unit; and a connection destination candidate reception unit which receives the connection destination candidate reported by the connection destination candidate notification unit, wherein the connection unit has a function of connecting to the connection destination candidate received by the connection destination candidate reception unit.