System for distributing contents on a network, a method of distribution and a computer program product therefor

A distribution system having a parent server and a plurality of child servers, the being arranged to be capable of connection with a plurality of clients through communication circuits, so that contents held by the parent server and/or the child servers are distributed to the clients;

• wherein
• the parent server comprises an unit that ascertains the presence or absence of a distribution request or the frequency of distribution requests for said contents from the clients situated in an area for which the child server is responsible, and
• the child server comprises an unit that acquires and copies from the parent server the contents which are not held by said child server on the basis of the ascertained presence or absence of a distribution request or the frequency of distribution requests.

A computer program product that operates on a parent server in a distribution system having the parent server and a plurality of child servers, being arranged to be capable of connection with a plurality of clients through communication circuits, so that contents held by the parent server and/or the child servers are distributed to the clients, said computer program product comprising:

• a step of selecting the child server that holds the contents whose distribution is requested and that is closest to the client that made the distribution request on the basis of position information of the client that makes a distribution request for the contents and identification information of the contents whose distribution is requested by the client;
• and
• a step of communicating the position information of the selected child server to the client that makes the distribution request.

A computer program product that operates on a parent server in a distribution system having the parent server and a plurality of child servers, being arranged to be capable of connection with a plurality of clients through communication circuits, so that the contents held by the parent server and/or the child servers are distributed to the clients, said computer program product comprising:

• a step of ascertaining the presence or absence of a distribution request or the frequency of distribution requests in respect of the contents from the clients situated within an area for which the child server is responsible;
• and
• a step of giving the child server notification to prompt copying to the child server from the parent server of the contents that are not held by the child server, or deleting from the child server the contents that are held by the child server, on the basis of the ascertained presence or absence of a distribution request or the frequency of distribution requests.

A computer program product that operates on a child server in a distribution system having a parent server and a plurality of child servers, being arranged to be capable of connection with a plurality of clients through communication circuits, so that the contents held by the parent server and/or the child servers are distributed to the clients, said computer program product comprising:

• program code which copies to the child server from the parent server the contents that are not held by the child server, or deletes from the child server the contents that are held by the child server, on the basis of presence or absence of a distribution request or frequency of distribution requests for the contents from the clients situated in an area for which the child server is responsible.

A distribution system comprising a parent server, a plurality of child servers and a plurality of clients which are connected through communication circuits so that contents held by the parent server and/or the child servers are distributed to the clients, wherein:

• the clients communicate to the parent server position information of the clients and identification information of the contents whose distribution is requested by the clients,
• the parent server selects, on the bases of the position information of the client and the contents identification information that is communicated thereto, the child server that holds the contents whose distribution is requested and that is closest to the client that originates the distribution request, and communicates the position information of the selected child server to the client originating the distribution request, and
• the client that originates the distribution request receives the contents whose distribution is requested from the selected child server, on the basis of the position information of the selected child server.