U.S. patent application number 13/408518 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-18 for user terminal device and content sharing method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Sahng-hee Bahn, Ray HONG, Chang-hwan Hwang. Invention is credited to Sahng-hee Bahn, Ray HONG, Chang-hwan Hwang.
Application Number | 20130097516 13/408518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48082025 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130097516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HONG; Ray ; et al. |
April 18, 2013 |
USER TERMINAL DEVICE AND CONTENT SHARING METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
A user terminal device is provided. The user terminal device
includes a network interface unit for connecting to a network; a
storage unit for storing content; a control unit for operating in
local mode to search for content from the storage unit or network
mode to search for content from the network in response to a user's
selection; and a display unit for displaying the local mode User
Interface (UI) or the network mode UI in accordance with whether
the control unit is operating in the local mode or the network
mode, respectively.
Inventors: |
HONG; Ray; (Seoul, KR)
; Bahn; Sahng-hee; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Hwang;
Chang-hwan; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONG; Ray
Bahn; Sahng-hee
Hwang; Chang-hwan |
Seoul
Yongin-si
Seoul |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
48082025 |
Appl. No.: |
13/408518 |
Filed: |
February 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/739 ;
709/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/306 20130101;
H04N 21/433 20130101; H04N 21/47202 20130101; H04L 67/16 20130101;
H04N 21/4828 20130101; H04M 1/72527 20130101; H04N 21/8113
20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/739 ;
709/217 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16; G06F 3/048 20060101 G06F003/048 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 14, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0105490 |
Claims
1. A user terminal device, the device comprising: a network
interface unit for connecting to a network; a storage unit for
storing content; a control unit for operating in local mode to
search for content from the storage unit or network mode to search
for content from the network in response to a user's selection; and
a display unit for displaying a local mode User Interface (UI) or a
network mode UI in accordance with whether the control unit is
operating in the local mode or the network mode, respectively.
2. The user terminal device of claim 1, wherein: the control unit
searches for content from the storage unit and displays the results
of the searching via the local mode UI, when the control unit is in
the local mode, and the control unit searches for content from
devices connected to the network and displays the results of the
searching via the network mode UI, when the control unit is in the
network mode; and the local mode UI and the network mode UI
includes a mode switching area to switch the control unit between
the local mode and the network mode.
3. The user terminal device of claim 2, wherein the mode switching
area comprises a bar-shaped section and a sliding switch which
slides from one end to another end of the bar-shaped section in
response to a touch of the user or drag manipulation selecting the
local mode or the network mode.
4. The user terminal device of claim 2, wherein the control unit
operates in whichever of the local mode and the network mode is set
as a default mode and controls the display unit to display
whichever of the local mode UI and the network mode UI corresponds
to the default mode, if a content sharing icon is selected from a
background screen that is displayed by the display unit; and the
control unit controls the display unit to display whichever of the
local mode UI and the network mode UI corresponds to the other
non-default mode, in response to a switch from the default mode to
the other non-default mode via the mode switching area.
5. The user terminal device of claim 4, wherein: the local mode UI
includes an image area in which an image representing the local
mode is displayed, an information area in which content categories
obtained by classifying the content stored in the storage unit and
a number of content items belonging to each of the content
categories are displayed, and the mode switching area; and the
network mode UI includes an image area in which an image
representing the network mode is displayed, an information area in
which content categories obtained by classifying the content
searched for from the network and a number of content items
belonging to each of the content categories are displayed, and the
mode switching area.
6. The user terminal device of claim 5, wherein the control unit
controls the display unit to display a list or a thumbnail view of
content items belonging to a selected content category, if one of
the content categories is selected from the information area of the
local mode UI or the network mode UI.
7. The user terminal device of claim 6, wherein the control unit
controls the display unit to display a device icon representing a
device in which a corresponding content item is stored for each of
the content items.
8. The user terminal device of claim 5, wherein the information
area of the local mode UI or the network mode UI displays a
"Videos" category, a "Photos" category, and a "Music" category; the
control unit displays a list of content items belonging to the
"Videos" category or the "Music" category, in response to a
selection of the "Videos" category or the "Music" category from the
local mode UI or the network mode UI; and the control unit displays
a thumbnail view of content items belonging to the "Photos"
category, in response to a selection of the "Photos" category from
the local mode UI or the network mode UI.
9. The user terminal device of claim 6, wherein: while the user
terminal is in the network mode, the control unit searches for the
devices connected to the network and controls the display unit to
display a number of content items that are searched for from the
devices connected to the network in the network mode UI and to, in
response to a selection of a content category from the information
area of the network mode UI, display a list or a thumbnail view of
content items belonging to the selected content category; and the
control unit controls the display unit to display new device icons
representing devices having new content items on the list or the
thumbnail view and further controls the display unit to
additionally display a Graphic UI (GUI) indicating a progress of
gathering over one of the new device icons while sequentially
gathering content information relating to the new content items via
the network, if the list or the thumbnail view includes the new
content items.
10. The user terminal device of claim 9, wherein the GUI is a
progress bar which is displayed over the new device icons and is
gradually filled in accordance with the progress of the gathering
operation.
11. The user terminal device of claim 10, wherein the control unit
controls the display unit to replace a new device icon
corresponding to the current device with at least one content icon
provided by the current device while applying a graphical effect to
the new device icon, and performs a gathering operation for a
subsequent device, if the gathering operation for a current device
is complete.
12. The user terminal device of claim 9, wherein the control unit
stops performing a gathering operation, if one of the new device
icons is touched during the gathering operation for a device
corresponding to the touched new device icon.
13. The user terminal device of claim 1, wherein, the control unit
controls a selected content item to be transmitted to and played by
the target-rendering device, if a content item is selected from the
local mode UI or the network mode UI and a target-rendering device
to play the selected content item is selected.
14. A content-sharing method of a user terminal device, the
content-sharing method comprising: displaying one of a local mode
UI and a network mode UI, each UI including a mode switching area
to switch from one mode to another mode; and displaying an other UI
not yet displayed, in response to the switch from the one mode to
the another mode, wherein the local mode UI is a UI corresponding
to a local mode for searching for content from the user terminal
device and providing the content to a rendering device and the
network mode UI is a UI corresponding to a network mode for
searching for content from a network to which the user terminal
device is connected and providing the content to the rendering
device.
15. The content-sharing method of claim 14, wherein the mode
switching area comprises a bar-shaped section and a sliding switch
which slides from one end to the other end of the bar-shaped
section in response to the user's touch or drag manipulation
thereof so as to select the local mode or the network mode.
16. The content-sharing method of claim 14, further comprising:
displaying a background screen; and displaying whichever of the
local mode UI and the network mode UI corresponds to default mode,
if a content sharing icon is selected from the background
screen.
17. The content-sharing method of claim 14, wherein the local mode
UI includes an image area in which an image representing the local
mode is displayed, an information area in which content categories
obtained by classifying the content stored in the storage unit and
a number of content items belonging to each of the content
categories are displayed, and the mode switching area; and the
network mode UI includes an image area in which an image
representing the network mode is displayed, an information area in
which content categories obtained by classifying the content
searched for from the network and a number of content items
belonging to each of the content categories are displayed, and the
mode switching area.
18. The content-sharing method of claim 17, further comprising:
displaying a list or a thumbnail view of content items belonging to
the selected content category, if one of the content categories is
selected from the information area of the local mode UI or the
network mode UI.
19. The content-sharing method of claim 18, wherein the list or the
thumbnail view displays a device icon representing a device in
which a corresponding content item is stored, for each of the
content items.
20. The content-sharing method of claim 17, further comprising:
displaying a list of content items belonging to a "Videos" category
or a "Music" category, if the "Videos" category or the "Music"
category is selected from the local mode UI or the network mode UI;
and displaying a thumbnail view of content items belonging to a
"Photos" category, if the "Photos" category is selected from the
local mode UI or the network mode UI.
21. The content-sharing method of claim 14, further comprising:
searching for devices connected to a network, in response to a
switch to the network mode; searching for content from the devices;
displaying a number of content items that are searched for from the
devices in the network mode UI; displaying a list or a thumbnail
view of content items belonging to the selected content category,
if a content category is selected from the information area of the
network mode UI; and displaying new device icons representing
devices having new content items on the list or the thumbnail view,
and additionally displaying a GUI indicating the progress of
gathering over one of the new device icons while sequentially
gathering content information relating to the new content items via
the network, if the list or the thumbnail view includes the new
content items.
22. The content-sharing method of claim 21, wherein the GUI is a
progress bar which is displayed over one of the new device icons
and is gradually filled in accordance with the progress of
gathering.
23. The content-sharing method of claim 22, further comprising:
replacing a new device icon corresponding to the current device
with at least one content icon provided by the current device while
applying a graphical effect to the new device icon, and performs a
gathering operation for a subsequent network-connected device, if
the gathering operation for a current device is complete.
24. The content-sharing method of claim 22, further comprising:
stopping performing the gathering operation, if one of the new
device icons is touched during the gathering operation for a device
corresponding to the touched new device icon.
25. The content-sharing method of claim 14, further comprising:
displaying a UI for selecting a target-rendering device to play the
selected content item, if a content item present in the user
terminal device is selected from the local mode UI; and
transmitting the selected content item to the target-rendering
device.
26. The content-sharing method of claim 14, further comprising:
displaying a UI for selecting a target-rendering device to play the
selected content item, if a content item is selected from the
network mode UI; allowing the user terminal device to receive the
selected content item from a digital media server (DMS) and play
the selected content item, if the user terminal device is selected
from the UI as the target-rendering device; and controlling the DMS
to transmit the selected content item to the device selected as the
target-rendering device, if a device other than the user terminal
device is selected from the UI as the target-rendering device.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) to patent application Ser. No. 10-2011-0105490, filed
on Oct. 14, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a user terminal
device and a content-sharing method thereof, and more particularly,
to a user terminal device capable of searching for and sharing
content locally or via a network and a content-sharing method of
the user terminal device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recent developments in electronic technology have paved the
way for the development and commercialization of various types of
electronic devices, and, particularly, user terminal devices with
improved functionality such as, for example, smartphones, smart
TeleVisions (TVs) and the like.
[0006] Users connect their user terminal devices and various
peripheral devices via a network by using, for example, a Digital
Living Network Alliance (DLNA) function, which allows users to
share content such as music, photos, videos, and the like between
multiple devices.
[0007] A device that provides content is referred to as a Digital
Media Server (DMS), and a device that renders content provided by a
DMS is referred to as a Digital Media Renderer (DMR) or a Digital
Media Player (DMP).
[0008] A user terminal device equipped with the DLNA function
accesses a DMS, and shares content with the DMS. In response to the
execution of the DLNA function, the user terminal device loads by
searching for content from all devices that are connected to it via
a network. Since loading generally takes some time, a user who is
relatively unfamiliar with the DLNA function mistakenly terminates
the DLNA function before the DLNA function is complete.
Additionally, it is generally not easy for the user to select a DMS
and a DMR and properly use the DLNA function.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for methods for the user to
efficiently use the DLNA function.
SUMMARY
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-stated problems occurring in the prior art, and an aspect
of the present invention provides a user terminal device capable of
effectively sharing content and a content-sharing method of the
user terminal device.
[0011] According to an aspect of an embodiment, a user terminal
device is provided. The user terminal device includes a network
interface unit for connecting to a network; a storage unit for
storing content; a control unit for operating in local mode to
search for content from the storage unit or network mode to search
for content from the network in response to a user's selection; and
a display unit for displaying the local mode User Interface (UI) or
the network mode UI in accordance with whether the control unit is
operating in the local mode or the network mode, respectively.
[0012] According to another aspect of an embodiment, a
content-sharing method of a user terminal device is provided. The
content-sharing method includes displaying one of a local mode UI
and a network mode UI, each UI including a mode switching area to
switch from one mode to another mode; and displaying an other UI
not yet displayed, in response to the switch from the one mode to
the another mode, wherein the local mode UI is a UI corresponding
to a local mode for searching for content from the user terminal
device and providing the content to a rendering device and the
network mode UI is a UI corresponding to a network mode for
searching for content from a network to which the user terminal
device is connected and providing the content to the rendering
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a content sharing system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal
device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating User Interfaces (UIs)
displayed by the user terminal device, according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating content search screens
using a local mode UI, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating content search screens
using a network mode UI, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating thumbnail views having
added thereto a Graphic UI (GUI) displaying the gathering status of
content information, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating lists having added thereto
a GUI displaying the gathering status of content information,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content-sharing method
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a content-sharing method
according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating device browsing view
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0024] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention
are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Similar components is designated by similar reference
numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. In
the following description, a detailed explanation of known related
functions and parts is omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
subject matter of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a content sharing system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to
FIG. 1, the content sharing system includes a user terminal device
100, an Access Point (AP) 200, and a plurality of devices 10, 20,
30, and 40. The user terminal device 100 and each of the devices
10, 20, 30, and 40 form a network via the AP 200. The user terminal
device 100 and the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 are illustrated in
FIG. 1 as connected to one another via the AP 200. Alternatively,
the user terminal device 100 and the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40
form a network via other types of relay devices or form a network
by being directly connected to one another.
[0026] In the case in which a content sharing function is selected,
the user terminal device 100 searches for one or more devices that
are connected to it via a network, i.e., the devices 10, 20, 30,
and 40, via the AP 200. The term `content sharing function`
indicates a function of sharing content between multiple devices
and allowing the multiple devices to reproduce the shard content.
For example, the content sharing function is a Digital Living
Network Alliance (DLNA) function.
[0027] The user terminal device 100 operates as a Digital
Multimedia Server (DMS) that provides content or as a Digital
Multimedia Renderer (DMR) or a Digital Multimedia Player (DMP) that
reproduces or plays content provided by other devices. A device
that reproduces content will be referred to as a rendering
device.
[0028] In the case in which a content sharing function is selected,
the user terminal device 100 operates in local mode or network
mode.
[0029] The term "local mode" indicates a mode for providing content
present in the user terminal device 100 to a rendering device. In
local mode, the user terminal device 100 serves as a DMS. In local
mode, the user terminal device 100 is prevented from accessing
other DMSs or loading any content information, thus saving time.
The operation of the user terminal device 100 in local mode also
includes searching through one or more devices that are within a
limited range of the user terminal device 100 (for example, one or
more devices that are connected to the user terminal device 100 via
a local interface).
[0030] The term "network mode" indicates a mode in which the user
terminal device 100 searches content from its network and provides
the identified content to a rendering device. In network mode, the
user terminal device 100 requests content information by searching
the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40, which are connected to the user
terminal device 100 via a network. For example, the user terminal
device 100 broadcasts a data request signal via the
[0031] AP 200. In response to receiving the data request signal via
the AP 200, each of the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 transmits a
response signal including device information relating to a
corresponding device. The user terminal device 100 accesses each of
the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 based on the device information
included in the response signal transmitted by each of the devices
10, 20, 30, and 40, and thus acquires content information. One or
more DMSs, among the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 that are connected
to the user terminal device 100 via a network, transmits content
information that the DMSs can provide to the user terminal device
100. The user terminal device 100 acquires detailed content
information relating to the content based on the information
transmitted by the DMSs by using the Simple Object Access Protocol
(SOAP). The user terminal device 100 displays the detailed content
information and allows a user to select desired content based on
the detailed content information. If the user selects content, the
user terminal device 100 requests a DMS having the selected content
to transmit the selected content to a rendering device. The
rendering device is one of devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 that are
connected to the user terminal device 100 via a network or the user
terminal device 100. If the rendering device is one of the devices
10, 20, 30, and 40, the user terminal device 100 operates as a
Digital Multimedia Controller (DMC), and controls the operation of
the rendering device. The DMS transmits the selected content to the
rendering device by using the HyperText Transfer Protocol
(HTTP).
[0032] In local mode, the user terminal device 100 cannot perform a
browsing function to browse through other devices or a library
function to provide a library to other devices, but can perform a
rendering function to provide content to a rendering device or
control the operation of a rendering device.
[0033] The user selects one of the local mode and the network mode.
In response to the selection of one of the local mode and the
network mode by the user, the user terminal device 100 provides a
UI that corresponds to the selected mode while operating in the
selected mode.
[0034] For example, in response to the selection of an icon for
performing a content sharing function, the user terminal device 100
displays a UI that corresponds to whichever of the local mode and
the network mode is set as default mode for the content sharing
function. If the default mode for the content sharing function is
the local mode, the user terminal device 100 searches for content
therein and displays the identified content in a local mode UI so
that the user selects content from the local mode UI. In response
to the selection of content from the local mode UI, the user
terminal device 100 displays a list of devices from which a
target-rendering device to share the selected content with is
selected. Alternatively, the user terminal device 100 reproduces
the selected content and then displays the list of devices in
response to the user selecting a menu for choosing the
target-rendering device while viewing the selected content. In
response to the selection of the target-rendering device from the
list of devices by the user, the selected content is transmitted to
the target-rendering device.
[0035] A mode-switching area for switching from one mode to another
mode is provided in the local mode UI. The user switches the user
terminal device 100 from local mode to network mode by using the
mode-switching area in the local mode UI.
[0036] When the user terminal device 100 is switched from local
mode to network mode, the user terminal device 100 searches for
content from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40, which are all
connected to the user terminal device 100 via a network, and
displays the found content in a network mode UI. In response to the
selection of content in the network mode UI, the user terminal
device 100 displays a list of devices from which to select the
target-rendering device. In response to the selection of the
target-rendering device from the list of devices, the user terminal
device 100 transmits a control signal to a DMS to send the selected
content to the target-rendering device.
[0037] Alternatively, the user terminal device 100 requests the DMS
having the selected content to send the selected content. In
response to receiving the selected content, the user terminal
device 100 reproduces the selected content. In response to the user
selecting a particular menu while viewing the selected content, the
user terminal device 100 displays a list of devices, and allows the
user to select the target-rendering device from the list of
devices. In response to the selection of the target-rendering
device, the user terminal device 100 directly transmits the
selected content to the target-rendering device or transmits a
control signal to the DMS having the selected content so that the
DMS having the selected content transmits the selected content to
the target-rendering device.
[0038] The user selects the user terminal device 100 from a list of
devices displayed by the user terminal device 100 as the
target-rendering device.
[0039] A mode-switching area is also provided in the network mode
UI. The user switches the user terminal device 100 from the network
mode to the local mode by using the mode-switching area in the
network mode UI.
[0040] In another example, in response to the execution of a
content sharing function, the user terminal device 100 displays an
initial UI to select one of the local mode and the network mode. In
response to the user selecting the local mode from the initial UI,
the user terminal device 100 searches for content therein, and
displays the identified content in a local mode UI.
[0041] In response to the user selecting the network mode from the
initial UI, the user terminal device 100 searches its network for
content and displays the found content in a network mode UI.
[0042] In this example, a mode-switching area for switching the
user terminal device 100 from the local mode to the network mode or
vice versa is provided in the local mode UI and the network mode
UI, respectively.
[0043] Alternatively, a menu for returning to the initial UI is
provided. The user returns to the initial UI by using this menu,
and then switches the user terminal device 100 from the local mode
to the network mode or vice versa.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the user terminal device 100 includes a
network interface unit 110, a control unit 120, a display unit 130,
and a storage unit 140. The network interface unit 110 is connected
to a network. For example, the network interface unit 110 is
connected to a mobile communication network or a Wireless Fidelity
(WiFi.RTM.) network by using a mobile communication protocol or a
WiFi.RTM. protocol.
[0045] The storage unit 140 stores content or various programs. For
example, various types of multimedia content items such as videos,
photos, music, and etc is stored in the storage unit 140.
[0046] The display unit 130 displays various types of UIs under the
control of the control unit 120. In the case in which the display
unit 130 includes a touchscreen, the user enters a variety of user
commands to the user terminal device 100 simply by directly
touching a UI on the display unit 130. Alternatively, In the case
in which the display unit 130 does not include a touchscreen, the
user enters a variety of user commands to the user terminal device
100 by using various keys provided on the main body of the user
terminal device 100 or various types of input tools that are
connected to the user terminal device 100 such as, for example, a
mouse, a keyboard, a joystick and the like.
[0047] The control unit 120 performs various functions by
controlling the operation of the user terminal device 100 in
response to receiving various user commands from the user. In the
case in which a content sharing function is selected, the control
unit 120 searches for and share content while operating in the
local mode or the network mode.
[0048] In the case in which the local mode is selected, the control
unit 120 searches for content from the storage unit 130 and
controls the display unit 130 to display the results of the search
in a local mode UI.
[0049] In the case in which the network mode is selected, the
control unit 120 searches for all the devices that are connected to
the user terminal device 100 via a network with the aid of the
network interface unit 110, searches for content from the
corresponding devices, and controls the display unit 130 to display
the search results in a network mode UI.
[0050] The local mode UI and the network mode UI each includes a
mode-switching area for switching the user terminal device 100 from
the local mode to the network mode or vice versa. In response to
the manipulation of the mode-switching area, the control unit 120
switches the user terminal device 100 from the local mode to the
network mode or vice versa. In the case in which one of the local
mode and the network mode is set as the default mode, the control
unit 120 controls the display unit 130 to display a UI for
whichever of the local mode and the network mode is set as default
mode first. Then, in response to a mode switch between the local
mode and the network mode, the control unit 120 controls the
display unit 130 to display a UI for the local mode or the network
mode not set as default mode.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a local mode UI, a network
mode UI, and a method of switching from the local mode to the
network mode in the case in which the local mode is set as default
mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, in response to the selection of an icon
50 for performing a content sharing function when a background
screen (a) is displayed on the display unit 130 of the user
terminal device 100, the display unit 130 displays a local mode UI
(b).
[0053] The local mode UI (b) includes an image area 60 in which an
image indicating that the user terminal device 100 is in the local
mode is displayed, a mode-switching area 70, and an information
area 80 in which the number of content items in each content
category that are present in the storage unit 140 is displayed.
[0054] The mode-switching area 70 includes a bar-shaped section and
a sliding switch that is provided in the bar-shaped section. The
sliding switch slides within the bar-shaped section in response to
being touched or dragged by the user. For example, a first end of
the bar-shaped section corresponds to the local mode, and a second
end of the bar-shaped section corresponds to the network mode. In
this example, the user terminal device 100 is switched to the local
mode in response to the sliding switch sliding toward the first end
of the bar-shaped section, and is switched to the network mode in
response to the sliding switch sliding toward the second end of the
bar-shaped section.
[0055] The information area 80 displays various content categories.
For example, referring to FIG. 3, the information area 80 displays
a "Videos" category, a "Photos" category, and a "Music" category.
However, there is no restriction as to the types of content
categories that is displayed in the information area 80.
[0056] In response to the sliding switch sliding toward the second
end of the bar-shaped section, the control unit 120 switches the
user terminal device 100 to the network mode, and a network mode UI
(c) is displayed on the display unit 130.
[0057] The network mode UI (c) has the same configuration as the
local mode UI (b). That is, the network mode UI (c) includes an
image area 60, a mode-switching area 70, and an information area
80. In the image area 60 of the network mode UI (c), an image
indicating that the user terminal device 100 is in the network mode
is displayed. The information area 80 of the network mode UI (c)
displays the total number of content items that are found from the
network of the user terminal device 100, and thus provides
different content quantities from the information area 80 of the
local mode UI (b). In response to the user terminal device 100
being switched to the network mode, the user terminal device 10
searches for content in real time for a predefined amount of time
(for example, less than a second) from the devices 10, 20, 30, and
40 that are connected to the user terminal device 100 via a
network, and displays the number of content items in each content
category that are found from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40. The
counting of content items is performed during or after the search
of content from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40. The information
area 80 of the network mode UI (c) displays the total number of
content items found from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 after the
search of content from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40, or displays
the number of content items that are counted as they are found from
the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 in the course of the search of
content from the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40. In the latter, the
number of content items in each category is displayed in the
information area 80 of the network mode UI (c) as incrementally
increasing. In the mode switching area 70 of the network mode UI
(c), unlike in the mode switching area 70 of the local mode UI (b),
a sliding switch is displayed at a side of the mode switching area
70 corresponding to the network mode.
[0058] The user chooses one or more content categories to be
displayed in the information area 80 of the local mode UI (b) or
the network mode UI (c).
[0059] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating selecting content using a
local mode UI, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, in response to a content category (for
example, a "Videos" category) being selected from an information
area 80 of a local mode UI (b), the local mode UI (b) displays
information on one or more content items that belong to the
"Videos" category as a list or as a thumbnail view. For example, in
response to the selection of the "Videos" category or a "Music"
category, a list (d) including one or more content items included
in the selected category is displayed. Alternatively, in response
to the selection of a "Photos" category, a thumbnail view (e)
displaying one or more photos included in the "Photos" category is
displayed.
[0060] The user easily identifies each photo from the thumbnail
view (e) without having to see text data. The user easily
identifies each video or music content from the list (d) with the
aid of text data relating to the title or other identification
information of each video or music content. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 4, the manner in which content information is
displayed varies from one content category to another content
category. In another example, content information is uniformly
displayed either as a list or as a thumbnail list irrespective of
content category.
[0061] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the list (d) also
provides the representative image of each content item. In another
example, no representative image is provided for each content item
classified into the "Music" category.
[0062] A plurality of category tabs 81, 82, and 83 is displayed at
the top of the list (d) or at the thumbnail view (e). The user
selects one of the category tabs 81, 82, and 83 to view a list of
content items or a thumbnail view relevant to the selected category
tab. If too many content items are displayed in a list or a
thumbnail view, the user is allowed to scroll up and down or left
and right in the list or the thumbnail view to identify content
information relating to each of the content items.
[0063] The user selects a content item from the list (d) or the
thumbnail view (e). The control unit 120 reads out the selected
content item from the storage unit 140, and plays the read-out
content item. To play the read-out content item, one or more
additional elements such as, for example, an audio processor for
processing an audio signal, a speaker for outputting an audio
signal, a video processor for processing a video signal, and the
like, are required. However, since these additional elements are
well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, detailed
descriptions and illustrations of these additional elements will be
omitted.
[0064] In response to the user selecting a menu in a particular
area on the screen of the user terminal device 100 or selecting a
particular key on the main body of the user terminal device 100
during the play of the read-out content item, a list of one or more
rendering devices from which to select a target-rendering device to
share the read-out content item with is displayed. In response to
the selection of one of the rendering devices, the control unit 120
transmits the read-out content item to the target-rendering device
via the network interface unit 110.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of selecting
content using a network mode UI, according to an embodiment of the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the user identifies content
information relating to each content item in each content category
by selecting one of a plurality of content categories displayed in
an information area 80 of a network mode UI. The identified content
information is displayed as a list (d) or a thumbnail view (e).
[0066] In network mode, content is provided by various devices
connected to the user terminal device 100 via a network. Thus, to
allow the user to easily identify the source of each content item,
device icons 91 and 92 are additionally provided on the list (d) or
the thumbnail view (e). Various types of icons such as, for
example, an icon (i.e., the device icon 91) representing a mobile
phone and an icon (i.e., the device icon 92) representing a TV, are
displayed on the list (d) or the thumbnail view (e) along with
content information relating to each content item.
[0067] In response to the selection of a content item from the list
(d) or the thumbnail view (e), the user terminal device 100 is
provided with the selected content item from a DMS having the
selected content item, and plays the selected content item. For
example, the control unit 120 issues a request for the selected
content item to the DMS. In response to receiving the selected
content item from the DMS, the control unit 120 controls the
display unit 130 to play the selected content item. In response to
the user selecting a menu for selecting a target-rendering device
during the play of the selected content item, the control unit 120
controls the display unit 130 to display a list of one or more
rendering devices from which to select the target-rendering device.
In response to the selection of the target-rendering device, the
control unit 120 transmits a control signal to the DMS to request
the DMS to transmit the selected content item to the
target-rendering device.
[0068] Alternatively, the control unit 120 directly transmits the
selected content item provided by the DMS to the target-rendering
device.
[0069] Alternatively, in response to the selection of a content
item from the list (d) or the thumbnail view (e), the control unit
120 controls the display unit 130 to display a list of one or more
rendering devices from which to select the target-rendering device,
and controls the DMS to transmit the selected content item to the
target-rendering device.
[0070] In the above examples, the user terminal device 100 serves
as a DMC in response to the provision of content to the
target-rendering device. That is, the control unit 120 controls the
display unit 130 to display a control UI for controlling the
operation of the target-rendering device. The control UI displays
various control menus that are selected or manipulated by the user.
In response to the selection of one of the various control menus by
the user, the control unit 120 performs various operations such as,
for example, playing, stopping, and pausing content, and the
like.
[0071] In response to the selection of a content item from the list
(d) or the thumbnail view (e), the user terminal device 100 is
provided with the selected content item from the user terminal
device 100 is provided with the selected content item from a DMS
having the selected content item, and plays the selected content
item. For example, the control unit 120 issues a request for the
selected content item to the DMS. In response to receiving the
selected content item from the DMS, the control unit 120 controls
the display unit 130 to play the selected content item. In response
to the user selecting a menu for selecting the target-rendering
device during the play of the selected content item, the control
unit 120 controls the display unit 130 to display a list of one or
more rendering devices from which to select the target-rendering
device. In response to the selection of the target-rendering
device, the control unit 120 transmits a control signal to the DMS
to request the DMS to transmit the selected content item to the
target-rendering device.
[0072] In local mode, the user terminal device 100 collects content
information relating to each content item that is stored in the
storage unit 140.
[0073] Alternatively, in network mode, the user terminal device 100
needs to collect content and content information relating to the
content from each DMS that is connected to the user terminal device
100 via a network, and displays the collected content and the
collected content information in a list or a thumbnail view. The
term "content information" includes a representative image, text
data, a thumbnail image, and various information such as, for
example, the creator of content, and the name of a DMS that
provides content. Collecting of content information is referred to
as gathering.
[0074] In response to a switch from the local mode to the network
mode, the control unit 120 generates a DMS content table, generates
a network mode UI based on the DMS content table, and provides the
network mode UI to the display unit 130. The DMS content table
displays various information such as, for example, DMS information,
content type information, folder names, file names, and the like.
If no new content is found, the user terminal device 100 displays
the network mode UI based on previously-loaded content information
without the need to perform gathering. Alternatively, if new
content is found, the user terminal device 100 needs to perform
gathering to collect content information relating to the new
content. For example, the new content is gathered from an existing
DMS or from a new DMS that is newly added to the network of the
user terminal device 100. The control unit 120 performs gathering
periodically to collect information necessary for updating.
[0075] Since gathering generally takes time, the user often
mistakenly determines that the user terminal device 100 is
malfunctioning or has stopped operating even when the user terminal
device 100 is still performing gathering. Moreover, since it is
generally difficult for the user to precisely determine when
gathering is complete, the user stops gathering even when gathering
is not yet complete.
[0076] To address these problems, the control unit 120 displays a
Graphic User Interface (GUI) indicating the progress of gathering
on the screen of the user terminal device 100 so that the user
easily identifies the progress of gathering.
[0077] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a GUI image
that is additionally displayed on a thumbnail view. Referring to
FIG. 6, the display unit 130 displays a thumbnail view of one or
more previously loaded content items, and also displays device
icons 310, 320, and 330 that respectively represent devices each
having new content items. A GUI 400 is displayed over a device icon
corresponding to a current device on which a gathering operation is
being performed, for example, the device icon 310, to indicate the
progress of the gathering operation.
[0078] In FIG. 6, the GUI 400 is implemented as a progress bar.
That is, in another example, the GUI 400 may be implemented as a
progress circle that is gradually filled clockwise or
counterclockwise as the gathering progresses. Alternatively, in
another example, the GUI 400 may be implemented as an image
indicating a percentage that expresses the progress of
gathering.
[0079] When the gathering operation for the current device is
complete, the control unit 120 controls the display unit 130 to
apply a graphical effect to the device icon corresponding to the
current device, i.e., the device icon 310. For example, when the
gathering operation for the current device is complete, the display
unit 130 displays one or more content icons 310-1 to 310-5,
representing one or more content items that is provided by the
current device, along with a graphical effect of the device icon
310 exploding and the content icons 310-1 to 310-5 pouring out of
the device icon 310. However, there is no restriction on the type
of graphical effect that may be applied by the display unit
310.
[0080] When gathering for one device is complete, the control unit
120 initiates gathering for another device. That is, the control
unit 120 sequentially performs gathering for one device and
gathering for another device. Therefore, when gathering for the
current device is complete, the control unit 120 displays a GUI 400
over the device icon 320 corresponding to a subsequent device that
is subject to gathering after the current device.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a GUI that is additionally
displayed on a list. Referring to FIG. 7, device icons 510, 520,
and 530 respectively representing devices each having new content
items is displayed at the bottom of a list of content items, and a
GUI 600 is displayed next to a device icon corresponding to a
current device on which gathering is being performed, i.e., the
device icon 510, to indicate the progress of the gathering
operation for the current device. When the gathering operation for
the current device is complete, the device icon 510 disappears, and
a content item 510-1 that is provided by the current device is
added to the list, and a GUI 600 is displayed next to the device
icon 520 corresponding to the device that is subject to gathering
after the current device.
[0082] If, during a gathering operation for a particular device, a
device icon corresponding to the particular device is touched, the
control unit 120 stops the gathering operation. In this example,
the control unit 120 is configured to initiate a gathering
operation for another device or to perform no gathering any
longer.
[0083] According to the above-mentioned examples, the user chooses
between the local mode and the network mode with convenience. A
content sharing function is used to transmit content present in the
user terminal device 100 to another device such as, for example, a
TV or and to allow the TV to play the content. In this example,
since there is no need to search for content from all the devices
that are connected to the user terminal device 100 via a network,
the user shares the content present in the user terminal device 100
simply by selecting a content item from the user terminal device
100 and selecting a rendering device to share the selected content
item with. In the above-mentioned examples, the local mode is set
as default mode. In another example, the network mode is set as
default mode.
[0084] According to the above-mentioned examples, it is possible to
provide not only a local-mode UI and a network-mode UI but also an
initial mode and allow at least one of the local mode and the
network mode to be realized on the initial UI.
[0085] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a content-sharing method
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to
FIG. 8, in step S810, a local mode UI or a network mode UI is
displayed on the screen of a user terminal device. In step S820, in
response to the manipulation of a mode-switching area, in step
S830, the user terminal device is switched from local mode to
network mode or vice versa, and whichever of the local mode UI and
the network mode UI is displayed on the screen of the user terminal
in step S810 device is changed. For example, if the local mode UI
is displayed on the screen of the user terminal device in step
S810, the user terminal device is switched to the network mode in
response to the manipulation of the mode-switching area.
Alternatively, if the network mode UI is displayed on the screen of
the user terminal device in step S810, the user terminal device is
switched to the local mode in response to the manipulation of the
mode-switching area. For example, the mode-switching area is
provided on the local mode UI and the network mode UI,
respectively, to facilitate the manipulation of the mode-switching
area.
[0086] The operation of the user terminal device in local mode and
the operation of the user terminal device the network mode have
already been described above, and thus, detailed descriptions
thereof will be omitted.
[0087] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a content-sharing method
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 9, in step S910, a background screen is
displayed on the screen of a user terminal device. In step S915, in
response to a selection of a content sharing icon, in step S920,
the user terminal device searches for content present therein the
user terminal device in local mode, which is set as default mode.
In step S925, a local mode UI is displayed. The local mode UI
displays a number of content items that are searched for from the
user terminal device in step S920.
[0089] A mode-switching area is provided on the local mode UI. A
user switches the user terminal device from the local mode to
network mode by manipulating the mode-switching area.
[0090] The user terminal device is maintained in the local mode
until switched to the network mode. In step S935, the user selects
a content item by using the local mode UI. In step S940, the user
also selects a target-rendering device to share the selected
content item with by using the local mode UI. In step S945, the
user terminal device transmits the selected content item to the
target-rendering device.
[0091] In step S930, in response to the user terminal device being
switched from the local mode to the network mode, one or more
devices that are connected to the user terminal device via a
network is searched for. In step S955, content is searched for from
each of the network-connected devices. In step S960, a network mode
UI is displayed. The network mode UI displays the network-connected
devices and the content present in each of the network-connected
devices.
[0092] In step S965, in response to receiving a user command to
identify each content item on the network mode UI, the user
terminal device performs a gathering operation to collect content
information relating to each content item provided by each of the
network-connected devices. A GUI indicating the progress of the
gathering operation is additionally displayed on a content
information list or a thumbnail view.
[0093] The content-sharing method illustrated in FIG. 9 includes
replacing a device icon corresponding to a device with one or more
content icons respectively representing one or more content items
provided by the device when a gathering operation for the device is
complete while applying a graphical effect to the device icon; and
in response to the device icon being touched when the gathering
operation for the device is not yet complete, terminating the
gathering operation for the device.
[0094] In step S970, the user selects a content item from among a
number of content items obtained by the gathering operation
performed in step S965. In step S975, the user selects a
target-rendering device. In step S980, the user terminal device
controls the transmission of the selected content item such that
the target-rendering device plays the selected content item. The
user terminal device is provided with the selected content item
from a DMS and provides the selected content item to the
target-rendering device. Alternatively, the user terminal device
controls the DMS to transmit the selected content item directly to
the target-rendering device.
[0095] The local mode UI displayed in step S925 and the network
mode UI displayed in step S960 both include an information area, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. In this example, the content-sharing method
illustrated in FIG. 9 includes displaying a list or thumbnail view
of one or more content items that are included in a content
category selected from the information area, as illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5. The displaying of a list or thumbnail view of
content in response to a selection of a content category from the
information area has already been described above with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5, and, thus, a detailed description thereof will be
omitted.
[0096] The operation of the user terminal device in local mode and
the operation of the user terminal device in network mode have
already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, and, thus,
detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0097] According to the example illustrated in FIG. 9, it is
possible to efficiently perform a content sharing function while
preventing unnecessary network access. In this disclosure, the mode
for searching for content from a user terminal device or a device
that is located within a limited range of the user terminal device
and connected to the user terminal device via a local interface is
referred to as local mode, and the mode for searching for content
from all devices that are connected to the user terminal device via
a network is referred to as network mode. The local mode is
referred to as a regular mode, and the network mode is referred to
as a convergence mode.
[0098] Similarly, a content sharing function is referred to as a
DLNA function, a convergence function or the like.
[0099] Referring back to FIG. 5, the list (d) or the thumbnail view
(e) corresponds to an integrated browsing view displaying all
content items that are searched for from a network. Alternatively,
a per-device browsing view is provided. That is, referring to FIG.
5, in response to the selection of a content category from the
information area 80, a list or a thumbnail view of images of and
information relating to devices that provide content corresponding
to the selected content category is displayed. In this example, the
list or the thumbnail view includes tabs respectively corresponding
to the devices. Each of the tabs is opened up or closed by a user.
In response to one of the tabs being opened up, a list or a
thumbnail view of one or more content items that is provided by a
device corresponding to the opened-up tab is displayed.
[0100] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device
browsing view according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, in response to the selection of a tab
corresponding to a particular device, a list of one or more content
items that is provided by the particular device is displayed. Thus,
content is provided via various types of UIs.
[0101] The processes, functions, methods, and/or software described
herein is recorded, stored, or fixed in one or more
computer-readable storage media that includes program instructions
to be implemented by a computer to cause a processor to execute or
perform the program instructions. The media includes, alone or in
combination with the program instructions, data files, data
structures, and the like. The media and program instructions are
those specially designed and constructed, or they is of the kind
well known and available to those having skill in the computer
software arts. Examples of computer-readable storage media include
magnetic media, such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic
tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVDs; magneto-optical
media, such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are
specially configured to store and perform program instructions,
such as Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), flash
memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include
machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing
higher level code that is executed by the computer using an
interpreter. The described hardware devices is configured to act as
one or more software modules that are recorded, stored, or fixed in
one or more computer-readable storage media, in order to perform
the operations and methods described above, or vice versa. In
addition, a computer-readable storage medium is distributed among
computer systems connected through a network and computer-readable
codes or program instructions is stored and executed in a
decentralized manner.
[0102] According to the above-mentioned embodiments, it is possible
to readily share content when there is no need to search a whole
network. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of
content sharing.
[0103] While the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to certain embodiments and drawings of the portable
terminal, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *