Patent ID: RE44554

Claim:
An information receiving apparatus which is connected to an information providing apparatus by forming a connection in a communication network and which receives content information from the information providing apparatus through the connection, comprising: input means for inputting a command based on an operation by a user; communication means for making communication through the communication network; control means for controlling the communication means so as to output an instruction signal, based on the command inputted through the input means; and display means for displaying the content information received by the communication means, characterized in that if a switching instruction which indicates that second content information should be received in place of first content information is inputted as the command to the communication means when the communication means is receiving the first content information through the connection formed in the communication network, the control means makes control so as to output a disconnection instruction for disconnecting the connection for transmitting the first content information, which is formed in the communication network connecting the communication means and the information providing apparatus, and a formation instruction for forming the connection for transmitting the second content information, which is formed in the communication network connecting the communication means and the information providing apparatus, further characterized in that prior to formation of the connection, the control means controls makes control such that the communication means outputs a reservation instruction signal for making reservation of a communication band resource of the communication network, as the instruction signal, and further characterized in that if the control means recognizes the communication band resource which is necessary for the content information to be received, the control means makes control such that the communication means outputs the reservation instruction signal containing resource information indicating the communication band resource, or if the control means does not recognize the communication band resource which is necessary for the content information to be received, the control means makes control such that the communication means outputs the reservation instruction signal without containing the resource information indicating the communication band resource.