Patent ID: 7526433

Claim:
A content distribution system comprising: a server device for selecting and distributing video scenes according to a user request; and a terminal device for receiving the video scenes from the server device, wherein: the server device includes: a storing unit operable to store a plurality of content files, each content file containing (i) pieces of scene data, and (ii) pieces of index information, each piece of index information being in one-to-one correspondence with a piece of scene data, each piece of scene data including pieces of frame data, and each piece of index information identifying a frame number and a frame location of each piece of frame data included in a corresponding piece of scene data; a selecting unit operable to select, from the content files, pieces of scene data matching the user request; a calculating unit operable to read, from the storing unit, pieces of the index information which correspond to the selected pieces of scene data, generate a virtual content file containing the selected pieces of scene data, calculate, based on the read pieces of index information and without re-encoding the selected pieces of scene data, (i) a frame number and (ii) one of a read location and a byte location of each piece of frame data of the selected pieces of scene data contained in the generated virtual content file, each frame number indicating a frame number in relation to a beginning of the generated virtual content file and each read location or byte location indicating a location relative to the beginning of the generated virtual content file, and generate selected-scene index information identifying, in relation to the generated virtual content file, the calculated frame number and the calculated read location or byte location of each piece of frame data of the selected pieces of scene data contained in the generated virtual content file, the selected-scene index information for allowing playback of the selected pieces of scene data in a correct playback order; and a transmitting unit operable to transmit, as a virtual content file, the selected pieces of scene data associated with the generated selected-scene index information to the terminal device; and the terminal device includes: a storage unit operable to receive the selected pieces of scene data and the selected-scene index information and store, as a virtual content file, the received pieces of scene data and selected-scene index information; and a playback unit operable to execute normal playback and trickplay playback of the virtual content file containing the received pieces of scene data, by referencing the received selected-scene index information.