Content distribution system, content reserved-time-extension control apparatus, content reserved-time-extension control method, content reserved-time-extension control program, and content reserved-time-extension control program storage medium

A content reserved-time-extension control apparatus for receiving a reservation for a distribution channel and a time slot in which the distribution channel is to be used from a user terminal when content received from the user terminal is distributed from a content distribution server to a client via a network, and for managing the received reservation, said content reserved-time-extension control apparatus comprising:

• extension request receiving means for receiving an extension request for extending the time slot while the content is being distributed from the user terminal to the client via the content distribution server in the distribution channel and in the time slot;
• reservation setting information generating means for generating new reservation setting information in which the time slot is extended in response to the extension request;
• and
• control means for sending the new reservation setting information to the user terminal and to the content distribution server so as to allow the user terminal to continue to send the content to the content distribution server based on the new reservation setting information, and to allow the content distribution server to continue to distribute the content.

A content reserved-time-extension control method for receiving a reservation for a distribution channel and a time slot in which the distribution channel is to be used from a user terminal when content received from the user terminal is distributed from a content distribution server to a client via a network, and for managing the received reservation, said content reserved-time-extension control method comprising:

• an extension request receiving step of receiving an extension request for extending the time slot while the content is being distributed from the user terminal to the client via the content distribution server in the distribution channel and in the time slot;
• a reservation setting information generating step of generating new reservation setting information in which the time slot is extended in response to the extension request;
• and
• a control step of sending the new reservation setting information to the user terminal and to the content distribution server so as to allow the user terminal to continue to send the content to the content distribution server based on the new reservation setting information, and to allow the content distribution server to continue to distribute the content.

A content reserved-time-extension control program for allowing a computer to execute:

• an extension request receiving step of, in a distribution channel and a time slot in which the distribution channel is to be used reserved for distributing content received from a user terminal from a content distribution server to a client via a network, receiving an extension request for extending the time slot from the user terminal while the content is being distributed to the client;
• a reservation setting information generating step of generating new reservation setting information in which the time slot is extended in response to the extension request;
• and
• a control step of sending the new reservation setting information to the user terminal and to the content distribution server so as to allow the user terminal to continue to send the content to the content distribution server based on the new reservation setting information, and to allow the content distribution server to continue to distribute the content.

A storage medium for storing a content reserved-time-extension control program to be executed by an information processing apparatus, said content reserve-time-extension control program comprising:

• an extension request receiving step of, in a distribution channel and a time slot in which the distribution channel is to be used reserved for distributing content received from a user terminal from a content distribution server to a client via a network, receiving an extension request for extending the time slot from the user terminal while the content is being distributed to the client;
• a reservation setting information generating step of generating new reservation setting information in which the time slot is extended in response to the extension request;
• and
• a control step of sending the new reservation setting information to the user terminal and to the content distribution server so as to allow the user terminal to continue to send the content to the content distribution server based on the new reservation setting information, and to allow the content distribution server to continue to distribute the content.