Data distribution system

A user processing terminal connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects and to one or more other user processing terminals, comprising:

• a file piece obtaining unit configured to obtain each of a plurality of file pieces of a target data file from among the plurality of data files from any one or more others of the user processing terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces having been obtained by dividing the target data file;
• and
• a file obtaining unit configured to assemble the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the target file, wherein:
• the file piece obtaining unit, when obtaining a file piece from a given one of the other user processing terminals, obtains a list of data files which have been obtained by the given user processing terminal, together with the file piece, where the list of data files includes data files other than the target data file,
• the file piece obtaining unit is configured to obtain a respective list of data files which have been obtained by each of the one or more other user processing terminals, together with a respective file piece, and
• information of the data files included in each of the respective lists, other than the target data file, is used by each of the user processing terminals in selecting a new target data file to obtain, where the new target data file must be a data file included in at least one of:
• (i) more than a predetermined number of the respective lists, or (ii) more than a predetermined percentage of the plurality of lists.

An information processing method to be carried out using a user terminal connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects, and to one or more other user terminals, the method comprising:

• obtaining each of a plurality of file pieces of a target data file from among the plurality of data files from any of the one or more other user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces having been obtained by dividing the target data file;
• and
• assembling the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the target file, wherein:
• at the step of obtaining, a list of data files which have been obtained by a given one of the one or more other user terminals is obtained when obtaining a file piece from the given user terminal, together with the file piece, where the list of data files includes data files other than the target data file, and the step of obtaining further comprises obtaining a respective list of data files which have been obtained by each of the one or more other user terminals, together with a respective file piece, and
• information of the data files included in each of the respective lists, other than the target data file, is used by each of the user terminals in selecting a new target data file to obtain, where the new target data file must be a data file included in at least one of:
• (i) more than a predetermined number of the respective lists, or (ii) more than a predetermined percentage of the plurality of lists.

A non-transitory, computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a user terminal, which is connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects, and to one or more other user terminals, to function as:

• a file piece obtaining unit configured to obtain each of a plurality of file pieces of a target data file from among the plurality of data files from any one or more others of the user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces having been obtained by dividing the target data file;
• and
• a file obtaining unit configured to assemble the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the target file, wherein:
• the file piece obtaining unit, when obtaining a file piece from a given one of the other user terminals, obtains a list of data files which have been obtained by the given user terminal, together with the file piece, where the list of data files includes data files other than the target data file,
• the file piece obtaining unit is configured to obtain a respective list of data files which have been obtained by each of the one or more other user terminal, together with a respective file piece, and
• information of the data files included in each of the respective lists, other than the target data file, is used by each of the user terminals in selecting a new target data file to obtain, where the new target data file must be a data file included in at least one of:
• (i) more than a predetermined number of the respective lists, or (ii) more than a predetermined percentage of the plurality of lists.