Communication system, communication method, distribution apparatus, distribution method and terminal apparatus

A distribution apparatus, comprising:

• storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• communication means for connecting said distribution apparatus for communication to an external apparatus;
• and
• control means for accessing the contents information stored in said storage means based on management information for managing the contents information stored in said storage means in response to a user request from the external apparatus;
• wherein said control means produces management information for each user in response to an access to the contents information in accordance with the user request and stores the produced management information into said storage means, the management information including at least an ID of the user and an address representative of a storage location of the contents information stored in said storage means.

A distribution method for distributing desired contents information in response to a user request, comprising the steps of:

• accessing the contents information stored in storage means based on management information for managing the contents information stored in said storage means in response to a user request from an external apparatus;
• producing management information for each user in response to the access to the contents information;
• and
• transmitting the accessed contents information to the external apparatus;
• wherein the management information includes at least an ID of the user and an address representative of a storage location of the contents information stored in said storage means.

A terminal apparatus for receiving contents information from a distribution apparatus, comprising:

• storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• communication means for receiving a plurality of contents IDs stored in the distribution apparatus from the distribution apparatus and transmitting at least one contents ID to the distribution apparatus in response to a user request;
• and
• control means for controlling said communication means to transmit at least one contents ID to the distribution apparatus in response to a user request and storing addresses corresponding to the contents IDs received from the distribution apparatus into said storage means;
• wherein said control means controls said communication means to transmit the addresses stored in said storage means to the distribution apparatus when said terminal apparatus requests the distribution apparatus for contents information corresponding to the contents ID.

A communication method for receiving contents information from a distribution apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of contents IDs stored in the distribution apparatus from the distribution apparatus;
• transmitting at least one contents ID to the distribution apparatus in response to a user request;
• storing addresses corresponding to the contents IDs received from the distribution apparatus into storage means;
• and
• transmitting the addresses stored in said storage means to the distribution apparatus when a request to re-send the contents information corresponding to any of the contents IDs is issued.

A communication system, comprising:

• a terminal apparatus including first storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• a distribution apparatus including second storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• communication means for interconnecting said terminal apparatus and said distribution apparatus;
• storage control means for placing a contents ID stored in said second storage means into right purchase information managed for each terminal apparatus and stored in said second storage means in response to a request from said terminal apparatus;
• access control means for controlling accessing to contents information corresponding to the contents ID stored in said second storage means in response to the right purchase information;
• and
• accounting setting means for setting an amount of money to be imposed on said terminal apparatus in response to the right purchase information.

A communication method between a distribution apparatus and a terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• placing a contents ID stored in storage means of said distribution apparatus into right purchase information managed for each terminal apparatus and stored in said storage means of said distribution apparatus in response to a request from said terminal apparatus;
• controlling accessing to contents information corresponding to the contents ID stored in said storage means of said distribution apparatus in response to the right purchase information;
• transmitting the contents information from said distribution apparatus to said terminal apparatus in response to the accessing;
• and
• setting an amount of money to be imposed on said terminal apparatus in response to the right purchase information.

A distribution apparatus connected for communication to a terminal apparatus, comprising:

• storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• storage control means for placing a contents ID stored in said storage means into right purchase information managed for each terminal apparatus and stored in said storage means in response to a request from said terminal apparatus;
• access control means for controlling accessing to contents information corresponding to the contents ID stored in said storage means in response to the right purchase information;
• and
• accounting setting means for setting an amount of money to be imposed on said terminal apparatus in response to the right purchase information.

A communication system wherein a terminal apparatus, a distribution terminal apparatus and a server apparatus are interconnected for communication, comprising:

• a first storage medium provided in said server apparatus for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• a second storage medium provided in said distribution terminal apparatus for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• a third storage medium provided in said terminal apparatus for storing a plurality of pieces of contents information;
• and
• a controller for controlling accessing to any one of said first, second and third storage media based on management information for managing contents information stored in at least two of said first, second and third storage media with a single logical memory map.