Abstract:
A display apparatus and a driving method thereof, which are able to conveniently and efficiently provide a social networking service and a broadcasting service between users. The display apparatus may display a web page, receive a broadcasting signal, and display an image of the broadcasting signal. By transmitting at least one of the web page and the image to another user, the display apparatus conveniently provides the social networking service and the broadcasting service to the users.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0087286, filed on Sep. 16, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Apparatuses and methods consistent with the exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and a driving method thereof, and more particularly to a display apparatus capable of providing web pages for community service and broadcasting, and a driving method thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With regard to the fields of digital signal transmission through a network, data multiplexing, audio and video (A/V) signal processing, digital television broadcasting and display, etc., various techniques have been developed. For example, digital broadcasting has been rapidly standardized and will replace conventional analog broadcasting. As compared with analog broadcasting, digital broadcasting enables data compression and provides excellent transmission speed, sound quality, and picture quality. Also, digital broadcasting is able to provide an interactive service, so that diverse information can be transmitted via the television. In the future, the diverse information will be distributed under television environments. For example, as an interactive television service using high-speed Internet, an internet protocol television (IPTV) provides information service, moving-picture contents, broadcasting, etc. to a television receiver through the Internet. Accordingly, IPTV may be described as a kind of digital convergence fusion between the Internet and television. 
         [0006]    Meanwhile, a social network service (SNS) using the Internet has become available. The SNS focuses on building online communities of people who interact through personal connections, sharing information, etc. As an example of an SNS, there are Cyworld, Ontown, Facebook, and so on. The SNS was derived from expression of various exchanging systems such as mail or chatting in real time. In an SNS, homepage contents of all users are stored in one central service server, and a user accesses the server to administer his/her own homepage, or accesses the homepages of others to achieve mutual exchange. Thus, if data such as homepage data of all users is stored in a service server, not only are high maintenance costs of server management needed, but the speed of uploading to and downloading a file from the SNS is varied depending on performance of server. Further, if the server is vulnerable to hacking, personal information may be stolen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Accordingly, an aspect is to provide a display apparatus which can store a web page and provide the web page, as well as broadcasting to a visitor of the display apparatus, so as to provide a convenient and efficient social network service (SNS), and a driving method thereof. 
         [0008]    The foregoing and other aspects can be achieved by providing a display apparatus including: a receiver which receives a broadcasting signal; a video processor which processes the broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiver to generate a video signal; a storage unit which stores data of a web page; a display unit which displays at least one of the video signal and the web page; a communication unit which communicates with a communication terminal of a different user through a network; and a controller which controls the display unit to display the web page and the video signal, and controls the communication unit to transmit at least one of the video signal and the web page displayed on the display unit to the communication terminal. 
         [0009]    The display apparatus may be assigned an Internet protocol (IP) address by an Internet service provider (ISP). 
         [0010]    The controller may control the display to display an indication that there is a request to communicate with the display apparatus when the communication terminal attempts to communicate with the display apparatus. 
         [0011]    The controller may control the display unit to selectively display the at least one of the video signal and the web page. 
         [0012]    The controller may control the display unit to simultaneously display the video signal and the web page. 
         [0013]    The controller may control the display unit to change display of the at least one of the video signal and the web page in response to input of a user of the display apparatus. 
         [0014]    The storage may store a web program, the data of the web page, and identification (ID) of the different user. 
         [0015]    A user of the display apparatus may access the communication terminal of the different user by clicking at least one of an ID and a name of the different user. 
         [0016]    The controller may control the display unit to display a conversation box and controls the display to display information in the conversation box in response to at least one of input by the user of the display apparatus and information received from the different user by the communication unit. 
         [0017]    Another aspect can be achieved by providing a method driving of a display apparatus, the method including: receiving a broadcasting signal, processing the received broadcasting signal to generate a video signal, and displaying the video signal on a display; displaying a web page on the display; and transmitting at least one of the video signal and the web page displayed on the display of the display apparatus to an external communication terminal. 
         [0018]    The display apparatus may be assigned an Internet protocol (IP) address by an Internet service provider (ISP). 
         [0019]    The method may further include displaying an indication that there is a request to communicate with the display apparatus when the external communication terminal attempts to communicate with the display apparatus. 
         [0020]    The video signal and the web page may be selectively displayed. 
         [0021]    The video signal and the web page may be simultaneously displayed. 
         [0022]    The method may further include changing display of the at least one of the video signal and the web page in response to input of a user of the display apparatus. 
         [0023]    The display apparatus may store a web program, the web page, and identification (ID) of a user of the external communication terminal. 
         [0024]    A user of the display apparatus may access the external communication terminal by clicking at least one of an ID and a name of a user of the external communication terminal. 
         [0025]    The method may further include displaying a conversation box on the display, and displaying information in the conversation box in response to at least one of input by the user of the display apparatus and information received from a user of the external communication terminal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The above and other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a community system using a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a configuration of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3A  shows an web page displayed on the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3B  shows a web page displayed on the display apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3C  shows a web page displayed on the display apparatus according to still another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an environment setup of the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an external medium accessing the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing operation of the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Below, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well-known parts are omitted for clarity, and like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a community system using a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. Here, a television (TV) will be described as an example of the display apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first TV  100 , a second TV  140 , a personal computer (PC)  110 , an account server  120 , an Internet service provider (ISP)  130  may be connected through Internet  150 . The ISP  130  is a company that provides a user with an Internet connection service, a website building service, a webhosting service, etc. The ISP  130  has equipment needed for Internet connection, and a communication line. Some ISPs  130  may have a high-speed private line to provide a better service to their own customers, while reducing dependency on a telephone network provider. When an identification (ID), a name, or a universal resource locator (URL) is input with respect to a specific TV, the account server  120  performs redirection to the corresponding TV. The account server  120  can store information about a TV user name, a TV user ID, a TV domain name system (DNS), a TV URL, whether the TV accesses the account server  120 , etc. Buyers of the first TV  100  and the second TV  140  register serial numbers of the purchased TV, their names, their IDs, etc. to the account server  120 . If the second TV  140  or the PC  110  tries to access the first TV  100  through the user ID, the name, or the URL of the first TV  100 , the account server  120  connects the second TV  140  or the PC  110  to the first TV  100 . The account server  120  may be a dynamic domain name server (DDNS). The user names, the IDs, the URLs, and internet protocols (IP) stored in the account server  120  are matched with the first TV  100  and the second TV  140 , respectively. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a configuration of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. The display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment includes a broadcasting receiver  200 , a video processor  210 , a display unit  220 , a communication unit  250 , a controller  240  and a storage  230 . The broadcasting receiver  200  receives a broadcasting signal. The video processor  210  processes the broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiver  200  and a web page supplied from the controller  240  to be displayed. The display unit  220  displays an image and the web page based on the broadcasting signal and the web page processed by the video processor  210 , respectively. The communication unit  250  communicates with an external medium, for example through the Internet. The external medium may include an account server, an ISP, a PC, a mobile terminal, etc. The storage  230  stores data such as an avatar showing a character of a user of the PC, the mobile terminal or the like, a photograph, a moving picture, writing, etc. The controller  240  controls the broadcasting receiver  200 , the video processor  210 , the communication unit  250 , and the storage  230 . Also, the controller  240  may include a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), etc. and stores a web server program and a web application. 
         [0038]    In this exemplary embodiment, the display apparatus  100  uses an automatically assigned internet protocol (IP) address because the number of IP addresses held by each ISP  130  is limited. Thus, if the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment is turned on, the ISP  130  assigns an IP address to the display apparatus  100  so that the display apparatus  100  can communicate with other devices, for example through the Internet. If the display apparatus  100  is turned off, the assigned IP address is withdrawn (released or times out) from the display apparatus  100 . That is, the ISP  130  assigns the IP address to the display apparatus  100  through the communication unit  250  whenever the display apparatus  100  is turned on, and the controller  240  communicates the assigned IP address to the account server  120 . The IP addresses of all display apparatuses registered to the account server  120  are stored in the account server  120 , in which the IP addresses of apparatuses are updated when the IP addresses change. 
         [0039]    Meanwhile, the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment may selectively output one of a broadcast and a web page, or may output both at the same time. While a user watches the broadcast, the controller  240  controls the broadcasting receiver  200  to receive a broadcasting signal corresponding to a channel selected by a user. Then, the received broadcasting signal is transmitted to the video processor  210 , and the video processor  210  processes the received broadcasting signal to be displayed. The processed broadcasting signal is output through the display unit  220 . If an external medium communicates with the display apparatus  100 , such as the PC  110 , while the broadcast is output, an avatar corresponding to a user of the PC  110  is displayed or alarm is sounded, thereby informing a user of the display apparatus  100  that there is a connection request, information, etc. from the external medium. A user of the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment may enter into conversation with or share the currently viewing broadcast with the user of the PC  110 . If the user of the PC  110  requests an image displayed on the display apparatus  100 , the controller  240  receives a video signal from the video processor  210  and supplies the video signal to the PC  110  through the communication unit  250 . Alternatively, the controller  240  may receive a broadcasting signal from the broadcasting receiver  200  and supply the broadcasting signal to the PC  110 . Also, if it is desired that the web page is output simultaneously while the broadcast is output, the broadcast may be output on a part of a screen and the web page may be output on another part thereof. At this time, if it is desired that the currently displayed image and web page is shared with the external medium, the controller may receive the video signal from the video processor  210  or the broadcasting signal from the broadcasting receiver  200 , and at the same time may supply the web page stored therein to the external medium. A communication terminal of the external medium may be a TV, a PC, and a mobile terminal (e.g., a cellular phone, an MP3 player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.), and include a wired or wireless communication module capable of communicating with the display apparatus  100  on the basis of transmission control protocol (TCP)/IP. Further, the communication terminal may include a web program and a video processor to display a broadcast or a web page when receiving the broadcast or the web page from the display apparatus  100 . 
         [0040]    If a user wants to view a web page, the controller  240  may control the web program, which can display a web page, to display a web page. The controller  240  executes the web program stored in the RAM or ROM, and supplies the web page to the video processor  210 . The web page may include a photograph, a moving picture, writing, etc., but is not limited thereto. If there is a connection request or information from the external medium while the web page is output, an avatar corresponding to a user of the external medium is displayed or alarm is sounded. The user of the external medium may view the photograph, the moving picture, the writing, etc. on the web page, and may post up his/her own writing. The broadcast may be output while the web page is displayed in the same manner that the web page is output while an image is displayed. Further, to share an image or a web page with the user of the external medium, the like method may be employed. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3A  shows an web page  300  displayed on the display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment, in which a broadcast  310  is displayed on an upper portion of the web page  300 . A box  360  for showing an avatar  320  indicating a user of the display apparatus  100  and a conversation box  340  are displayed on a lower portion of the web page  300 . Further, avatars  320  and  370  for a user of the display apparatus  100  and a user of the external medium, and a door  330  are displayed between the upper and lower portions. If there is a connection request or information from the external medium, the avatar  370  corresponding to the visitor appears through the door  330 . The avatars  320  and  370  may have various shapes and colors, so that the user of the display apparatus  100  and users of the external medium can be distinguished from one another by the avatars. 
         [0042]    In the meantime, a user of the display apparatus  100  may enter into conversation with a user of the external medium and may share the broadcast with him/her. If a user of the display apparatus  100  inputs and sends a message through the conversation box  340 , the message  350  is displayed above the avatar  320 . Then, if the user of the external medium sends a message, the corresponding message  380  is displayed above the avatar  370 . Likewise, conversation contents may be displayed in the case of entering into conversation with another user of a different external medium. 
         [0043]    Also, the broadcast  310  may be shared with a user of the external medium as being displayed on a web page. A portion where the broadcast  310  is displayed may be changed by a user&#39;s intention, and a size of a screen may be adjustable. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3B  shows a web page  300  displayed on the display apparatus  100  according to another exemplary embodiment, in which a broadcast  310  and a clock  390  are displayed on an upper portion of the web page  300 , and a conversation box  340  is displayed on a lower portion thereof. Also, avatars  320  and  370  indicating a user of the display apparatus  100  and a user of an external medium are displayed between the upper portion and the lower portion. In the conversation, if a user of the display apparatus  100  inputs and sends a message through the conversation box  340 , the message  350  is displayed above the avatar  320 . Then, if a user of the external medium sends a message, the corresponding message  380  is displayed above the avatar  370 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3C  shows a web page  300  displayed on the display apparatus  100  according to still another exemplary embodiment. In  FIG. 3C , a box  360  for showing an avatar indicating a user of the display apparatus  100  and a conversation box  340  are displayed in a lower portion of the web page  300 . A broadcast  310  and an avatar  370  indicating a user of an external apparatus are displayed in an upper portion of the web page  300 . In the conversation, a user of the display apparatus  100  can input and send a message through the conversation box  340 . If a user of the external medium sends a message, the corresponding message is output at a lateral side of the avatar  370 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an environment setup of the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. After the web page is output, if a user selects an environment setup mode for changing the color, the shape, the configuration, etc. of the web page at operation  400 , the controller  240  implements the environment setup in response to the user&#39;s selection. At operation  405 , a user may receive external data even though he/she can use data stored in the storage  230 . That is, desired data can be downloaded from a universal serial bus (USB) memory or Internet, and then used. In the case of receiving external data, the data is received from the corresponding medium at operation  410  and the environment setup is performed at operation  430 . In the case of using the data stored in the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment at operation  420 , the environment setup is performed using the stored data at operation  430 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an external medium accessing the display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. First, like the case a connection between a display apparatus and another display apparatus registered to the account server  120 , if the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment accesses another display apparatus registered to the account server  120 , an ID and a name are clicked through the display apparatus  100  since the ID and the name are registered to the account server  120 , so that the account server  120  uses a redirection function to access a desired display apparatus. For quick access, a user may separately manage the IDs and the names with respect to favorite display apparatuses. In the case that a user does not know the corresponding ID and name at operation  501  (NO), he/she can search for the ID or the name through the display apparatus  100  at operation  510 . The account server  120  searches the ID or the name and performs the access at operation  520 . At this time, the names may be duplicated. At this time, users having duplicated names are all displayed, and then the ID of the other party who wants to access is used in the access. 
         [0048]    On the other hand, in the case that an external medium such as a PC, a mobile terminal, etc., not registered to the account server  120  tries to access the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment, if a user of the PC or the like knows the ID of the user of the display apparatus  100  in this exemplary embodiment, he/she can access the display apparatus  100  at operation  510  (YES) by directly writing URL at operation  500 . For example, a user may input http://tvuser.samsung.com/ID as a URL. If a user does not know the ID, he/she has to search the ID or the name of a user of the display apparatus  100  by accessing the account server  120  at operation  510 , and clicks the corresponding ID or name to access the display apparatus  100  at operations  530  and  540 . Here, direct access may be possible using the redirection function while searching the ID or the name. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing operation of the display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. If the display apparatus  100  is turned on, the broadcasting receiver  200  receives a broadcasting signal corresponding to a user&#39;s desired channel and supplies it to the video processor  210 , and the video processor  210  processes the broadcasting signal to be displayed at operation  600 . Then, if a user wants to output an web page, the controller  240  uses the web program to supply a web page to the video processor  210 , and the video processor  210  processes the web page to be displayed, thereby displaying the processed web page at operation  610 . While viewing the broadcast or the web page through the display apparatus  100 , if there is external access from a user of an external medium, the display unit  220  displays an avatar or informs that there is external access from a user of the external medium, and the controller  240  sends the broadcast or the web page to the external medium at operation  620 , thereby sharing the broadcast or the web page. 
         [0050]    Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.