Content distribution system, content reservation management apparatus, content reservation management method, content reservation management program, and content reservation management program storage medium

A content reservation management 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 reservation management apparatus comprising:

• an interface configured to transmit a menu to the user terminal via the first network, the menu configured to display service times and unoccupied available channels to distribute content from the content distribution server and a service fee, availability and cost corresponding to each of the available service times and unoccupied available channels;
• real-time distribution reservation receiving means for receiving a real-time distribution reservation request from the user terminal via a first network in order to immediately distribute the content;
• and
• control means, for reserving, in response to the real-time distribution reservation request from said user terminal a current time at which the request is received, in a requested distribution channel which is unoccupied at the current time, and sending reservation setting information concerning the reservation to the user terminal and to the content distribution server, thereby achieving real-time distribution at the current time for immediately distributing the content received from the user terminal via a second network to the client via said first network in real time via the content distribution server based on the reservation setting information.

A content reservation management 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 video 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 reservation management method comprising:

• transmitting a menu to the user terminal, the menu configured to display service times and unoccupied available channels to distribute content from the content distribution server and a service fee, availability and cost corresponding to each of the available service times and unoccupied available channels;
• receiving a real-time distribution reservation request from the user terminal via a first network in order to immediately distribute the video content;
• and
• reserving, in response to the real-time distribution reservation request from said user terminal, a current time at which the request is received, in a requested distribution channel which is unoccupied at the current time, and sending reservation setting information concerning the reservation to the user terminal and to the content distribution server, thereby achieving real-time distribution at the current time for immediately distributing the content received from the user terminal via a second network to the client via said first network in real time via the content distribution server based on the reservation setting information.

A computer-readable medium including a content reservation management program for allowing a computer to execute:

• transmitting a menu to a user terminal, the menu configured to display service times and unoccupied available channels to distribute content from a content distribution server and a service fee, availability and cost corresponding to each of the available service times and unoccupied available channels;
• receiving a real-time distribution reservation request from the user terminal via a first network in order to immediately distribute video content, when a reservation for a distribution channel and a time slot in which the distribution channel to be used is received from the user terminal,
• distributing the content received from the user terminal via a second network from the content distribution server to a client via said first network, according to the reservation request;
• and
• reserving, in response to the real-time distribution reservation request from said user terminal, a current time at which the request is received, in a requested distribution channel which is unoccupied at the current time, and sending reservation setting information concerning the reservation to the user terminal and to the content distribution server, thereby achieving real-time distribution at the current time for immediately distributing the content received from the user terminal via said second network to the client via said first network in real time via the content distribution server based on the reservation setting information.