CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION PATH CREATION METHOD, CONSISTENCY CONFIRMATION METHOD OF CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION PATH, ESTIMATE METHOD OF USER TERMINAL INFLUENCED BY CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION, PROGRAM FOR CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION PATH MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, AND CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION PATH MANAGEMENT APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate the state of contents distribution in a multicast network. SOLUTION: A contents distribution path management apparatus 1 creates a path after the occurrence of a fault on the basis of information related to a network connection apparatus 21 where the fault has arisen and compares this path with a logical contents distribution path to particularize the network connection apparatus 21 whose path is interrupted due to the fault or whose path is changed. Then the apparatus 1 detects a network connection apparatus 21 acting as the termination apparatus of the network connection apparatus 21 whose path is interrupted or whose path is changed, references information related to the connection time of each user terminal connected to the multicast network and information related to the network connection apparatus 21 connected to the user terminal to search the user terminal connected to the network connection apparatus 21 and particularizes the user terminal possibly affected by the network fault. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI