DATA DELIVERY SYSTEM AND SENDING STATION THEREFOR

A data delivery system which delivers created data to all the parties that need it. Documents such as engineering drawings are stored as bulk data files in a bulk data database. Metadata files containing attribute information of bulk data are stored in a metadata database. When the date and time of a data distribution session is given to a date/time setting unit, an attribute identification unit makes access to a relevant metadata file to identify the attributes of the bulk data to be transmitted. Based on this result, a destination determination unit determines the destinations of each bulk data file. A format identification unit then identifies which data formats the receiving stations can handle. If necessary, the data format is changed by a format converter, so as to meet the requirements of each destination. Summary data briefly describes what kinds of bulk data files are to be distributed. A summary data transmitter compiles such summary data and sends it to the receiving stations. Each receiving station now returns a downloading request, and in response to this, a transmitter sends out the requested bulk data files, which meets the destination's format guideline. A receiver in the receiving station accepts those bulk data files and a reproduction unit restores the received data to its original form.