VIDEO ON DEMAND PROVISION METHOD, VIDEO ON DEMAND SYSTEM ANDVIEW BOX DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video-on-demand system at low cost effectively by using a server operated in the near video-on-demand mode, sending continuously a multiple copies of a program to other channels and offsetting start of each copy at a prescribed time difference. SOLUTION: The system sends a video program(VPr) to a view box 160 via an interactive network and a controller(INAC) 140 through a transmission channel 110 from a video-on-demand(VOD) server 100 at a prescribed time difference repetitively. In response to the reception of a demand to the VPr, a head end allocates an initial part of the VPr to the box 160 and designates a channel. A receiver end selects transmission in progress of the VPr and stores it in a buffer 180, selects the initial part of the VPr and provides the output of the selected part and the transmission signals in progress stored in the end are continuously joined and thus obtained signal is outputted from the box 160 to a television receiver 195.