US Patent 7269839 Data distribution apparatus and method, and data distribution system

A special playback controller receives a special playback request from a user. A data storage unit stores data. In response to the special playback request received by the special playback controller, a data converter converts the data stored in the data storage unit into special playback data according to the type of special playback operation. The special playback data converted by the data converter is transmitted to a decoding terminal via a multiplexer, a transmitter, and a communication line, thereby enabling the decoding terminal to perform the special playback operation.