Video distribution method, video reception method, server, terminal apparatus, and video distribution system

1. A method comprising:

distributing, from a server to a terminal apparatus, a first video that is one of a plurality of videos captured by a plurality of users from different viewpoints and that is requested by the terminal apparatus,

selecting a second video that is one of the plurality of videos and that is likely to be requested next by the terminal apparatus; and

starting transmission of the second video to the terminal apparatus during the distributing of the first video to the terminal apparatus,

wherein the second video is transmitted (i) after starting the distributing of the first video and (ii) in parallel with the distributing of the first video,

wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a resolution of each of the plurality of videos is the same as or is approximate to a resolution of the first video, the second video being selected when a resolution of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to a resolution of the first video, in the determining.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the selecting, the one of the plurality of videos that is selected as the second video that is likely to be requested, is a video with a high degree of relevance to the first video.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the selecting, the degree of relevance is determined to be high when a position of a capturing scene of the second video is close to a position of a capturing scene of the first video.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein in the selecting, the degree of relevance is further determined to be high when a size of the capturing scene of the second video is close to a size of the capturing scene of the first video.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the selecting, the degree of relevance of one of the videos is determined to be high when a subject identical to a subject in the first video is captured.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting includes determining whether a frame rate of each of the plurality of videos is a same as or is approximate to a frame rate of the first video, the second video being selected when a frame rate of the second video is determined to be the same or to be approximate to the frame rate of the first video, in the determining.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the selecting, the one of the plurality of videos that is selected as likely to be requested, is a video that is selected many times by another user.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the selecting, the second video that is likely to be requested is selected based on a viewing history or previously registered taste information of each of the users of the terminal apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a bit rate of each of the plurality of videos is a same as or is approximate to a bit rate of the first video, the second video being selected when the bit rate of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to the bit rate of the first video, in the determining.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the displaying, one of the plurality of icons that indicates the position of the viewpoint of the second video is bigger than the other icons.

11. A method comprising:

selecting a first video from a plurality of videos captured from a plurality of viewpoints;

requesting a server to transmit the first video;

receiving the first video from the server;

displaying the first video; and

starting reception of a second video, that is one of the plurality of videos, and that is likely to be selected next for viewing, during the receiving of the first video,

wherein the second video is received (i) after starting receiving the first video and (ii) in parallel with receiving the first video, and

wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a resolution of each of the plurality of videos is the same as or is approximate to a resolution of the first video, the second video being selected when a resolution of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to a resolution of the first video, in the determining.

12. The method according to claim 11 , comprising:

accumulating the received second video; and

displaying the accumulated second video when the second video is selected during display of the first video.

13. The method according to claim 12 , comprising:

receiving, from the server, a third video different from the first video and the second video, when the third video is selected during displaying of the first video; and

displaying the accumulated second video until reception of the third video.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein in the displaying, an image that overlooks a place in which the plurality of videos is captured and that includes a plurality of icons which indicate positions of the plurality of viewpoints is further displayed.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein in the displaying, each of the plurality of icons that indicates the position of the viewpoint of the second video is highlighted.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein in the displaying, a shape of one of the plurality of icons that indicates the position of the viewpoint of the second video is thicker than the other icons.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein in the displaying, a color of one of the plurality of icons that indicates the position of the viewpoint of the second video is different than a color of the other icons.

18. A server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program causing the processor to execute operations including:

distributing, to a terminal apparatus, a first video that is one of a plurality of videos captured by a plurality of users from different viewpoints and that is specified by the terminal apparatus;

selecting a second video that is one of the plurality of videos and that is likely to be requested next for viewing by the terminal apparatus; and

starting transmission of the second video to the terminal apparatus during distribution of the first video to the terminal apparatus,

wherein the second video is transmitted (i) after starting the distributing of the first video and (ii) in parallel with the distributing of the first video, and

wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a resolution of each of the plurality of videos is the same as or is approximate to a resolution of the first video, the second video being selected when a resolution of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to a resolution of the first video, in the determining.

19. A terminal apparatus for receiving, from a server, any one of a plurality of videos and for displaying the received video, the terminal apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program causing the processor to execute operations including:

selecting a first video from a plurality of videos, captured from a plurality of viewpoints;

requesting the server to transmit the first video;

receiving the first video from the server;

displaying the first video; and

starting reception of a second video, that is one of the plurality of videos and that is likely to be selected next for viewing, during receiving of the first video,

wherein the second video is received (i) after starting the receiving of the first video and (ii) in parallel with the receiving of the first video, and

wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a resolution of each of the plurality of videos is the same as or is approximate to a resolution of the first video, the second video being selected when a resolution of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to a resolution of the first video, in the determining.

20. A video distribution system comprising:

a server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program causing the processor to execute operations including:

distributing, to a terminal apparatus, a first video that is one of a plurality of videos captured by a plurality of users from different viewpoints and that is specified by the terminal apparatus;

selecting a second video that is one of the plurality of videos and that is likely to be next specified and requested for viewing by the terminal apparatus; and

starting transmission of the second video to the terminal apparatus during distributing of the first video to the terminal apparatus;

wherein the second video is transmitted (i) after starting the distributing of the first video and (ii) in parallel with the distributing of the first video; and

the terminal apparatus according to claim 19 .

21. A non-transitory recording medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program causing a processor to execute operations comprising:

selecting a first video from a plurality of videos captured from a plurality of viewpoints;

requesting a server to transmit the first video;

receiving the first video from the server;

displaying the first video; and

starting reception of a second video, that is one of the plurality of videos, and that is likely to be selected next for viewing, during receiving of the first video,

wherein the second video is received (i) after starting the receiving of the first video and (ii) in parallel with the receiving of the first video, and

wherein the selecting includes determining whether or not a resolution of each of the plurality of videos is the same as or is approximate to a resolution of the first video, the second video being selected when a resolution of the second video is determined to be the same as or to be approximate to a resolution of the first video, in the determining.