IP streaming system, network router, IP-streaming set-top box, and IP streaming distribution method

An IP streaming system which includes a user terminal which generates a viewing request for a content, and performs IP streaming of a content for the user terminal via a CATV cable, comprising:

• a distribution server which holds a content and distributes the content;
• a management server which holds frequency band information of the CATV cable for distributing the content;
• and
• a CMTS which has a VOD (Video On Demand) cable interface to which a frequency band of the CATV cable is assigned in advance and distributes to the user terminal the content distributed from the distribution server.

A network router installed between distribution servers which hold and distribute broadcast contents and VOD contents and user terminals which receive the content distributed from the distribution servers via CATV cables, comprising:

• a broadcast cable interface which is assigned a frequency band for distributing the broadcast content;
• a VOD cable interface which is assigned a frequency band for distributing the VOD content;
• first distribution means for distributing the broadcast content distributed from the distribution server in advance to the user terminal, on the basis of a viewing request from the user terminal, to the user terminal which has generated the viewing request via the broadcast cable interface;
• and
• second distribution means for, when a viewing request for a VOD content is generated from the user terminal, assigning the VOD cable interface a frequency band different from an operating frequency band of the user terminal which has generated the viewing request which has been checked by the server, and distributing the VOD content to the user terminal, which has generated the viewing request, via the VOD cable interface.

A set-top box in an IP streaming system including a distribution server which holds a content and distributes the content, a management server which holds frequency band information of a CATV cable for distributing the content, a network router, and a CATV cable, the set-top box receiving the content distributed via the network router and the CATV cable, comprising:

• interface means between the set-top box and the network router;
• first control means for, when the content is to be viewed by broadcasting, acquiring, from the management server, a frequency band of the CATV cable for distributing the content to be viewed by broadcasting, and tuning the interface means to the acquired frequency band;
• and
• second control means for, when the content is to be viewed by VOD, changing a frequency band to which the interface is to be tuned to a frequency band different from a frequency set when the content is viewed by broadcasting.

An IP streaming distribution method in an IP streaming system which includes a distribution server which holds a content and distributes the content, a management server which holds frequency band information of CATV cables for distributing the content, a navigation server which provides a menu for the contents, a network router, a CATV cable, and a user terminal which receives the content distributed via the network router and the CATV cable, comprising the steps of:

• when the user terminal generates a request to view a content by broadcasting which is held by the management server, providing frequency band information for broadcasting from the management server to the user terminal, and setting the user terminal in a state in which the user terminal can communicate with the network router on the basis of the provided frequency and for broadcasting;
• when the user terminal generates a request for a menu for the content, providing the menu from the navigation server to the user terminal;
• and
• when the user terminal designates a content to be viewed on the basis of the menu, distributing the designated content to the user terminal via the network router and the CATV cable.

An IP streaming distribution method in an IP streaming system which includes a distribution server which holds a content and distributes the content, a management server which holds frequency band information of CATV cables for distributing the content, a navigation server which holds a menu for the contents and provides a corresponding message, a network router, a CATV cable, and a user terminal which receives the content distributed via the network router and the CATV cable, comprising the steps of:

• when the user terminal generates a request for a menu for the content, providing the menu from the navigation server to the user terminal;
• when the user terminal generates a request to view a VOD content on the basis of the menu, causing the navigation server to give the distribution server a request to distribute the content;
• transmitting an RSVP message from the distribution server, which has received the distribution request, to the user terminal which has generated the viewing request, and causing the network router to reserve an operating frequency band for the CATV cable on the basis of a return message returned from the user terminal which has received the RSVP message;
• notifying that the network router changes a frequency band used for the user terminal to the reserved operating frequency band, and notifying the distribution server of reservation of the frequency band;
• and
• causing the distribution server, which has received notification of reservation of the frequency band, to distribute a VOD content for which the viewing request has been received to the user terminal which has generated the viewing request.