Method for providing widgets and TV using the same

A method for providing widgets and a TV using the same are disclosed. The method for providing widgets includes searching for widgets related to a certain keyword or a broadcast program among widgets provided by a plurality of content providers, and displaying the searched widgets on a widget search list classified according to content provider. A user can thereby search for and use the widgets provided from various content providers more easily.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-66994, filed on Jul. 10, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to providing a method for providing widgets and a TV using the same, and more particularly, to providing a method for providing widgets in which a user receives widgets from various service providers, and a TV using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, televisions (TVs) not only display broadcasting programs on a screen but also receive diverse information through data broadcasting and the Internet, and display the information on the screen. In particular, as a TV is connected to the Internet, a user can receive more diverse content than in the past.

A TV connected to the Internet may receive information on news, weather or the like from content providers and displays it in widget forms. As information such as news, weather, or the like is continuously displayed in the form of widgets, the user can check the latest information on news, weather, or the like with ease.

As the TV is connected to the Internet, the user can receive widgets from more diverse content providers.

There is thus a demand for a method by which a user can search for widgets provided by diverse content providers more easily.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method for providing widgets, in which widgets related to a certain keyword are searched for from among widgets provided by a plurality of content providers related to a certain keyword and the searched for widgets are classified and displayed according to content provider, and a TV using the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing widgets on a TV comprising searching for widgets related to a certain keyword among widgets provided by a plurality of content providers, and displaying the searched for widgets on a widget search list according to content provider.

The method may further comprise selecting at least one widget from the displayed widget search list, receiving a widget from a content provider corresponding to the selected widget, and displaying the received widget on a screen.

The displaying the received widgets may comprise, if two or more widgets are selected, displaying the two ore more selected widgets together.

The two or more selected widgets may display content on the same subject.

The method may further comprise displaying the content information received from the content providers on the widgets by using applications of the content providers corresponding to the selected widgets from among a plurality of applications corresponding respectively to the plurality of content providers.

The widget search list may be displayed with widget images searched for each item.

The keyword may be related to subjects of the widgets provided by the content providers.

The widgets provided by the plurality of content providers may include diverse types of widgets such as music widgets, video on demand (VOD) widgets, news widgets, weather widgets, stock widgets, map widgets, and web page widgets.

The certain keyword may be a keyword input or selected by a user or may be a preset keyword.

The widgets may be provided by Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a TV comprising an interface which receives widgets from a plurality of content providers, and a control unit which searches for widgets related to a certain keyword from among the widgets and controls the searched for widgets to be displayed on a widget search list according to content provider.

If at least one the control unit is selected from the displayed widget search list, the control unit may receive widgets from content providers corresponding to the selected widgets and control the received widgets to be displayed on a screen.

If two or more widgets are selected, the control unit may control the selected two or more widgets to be displayed together.

The selected two or more widgets may display content on the same subject.

The control unit may display content information received from the content providers on the widgets by using applications of the content providers corresponding to the selected widgets from among a plurality of applications corresponding respectively to the plurality of content providers.

The widget search list may be displayed with widget images searched for each item.

The keyword may be related to subjects of the widgets provided by the content providers.

The widgets may include at least one of image widgets, music widgets, VOD widgets, news widgets, weather widgets, stock widgets, map widgets, and web page widgets.

The certain keyword may be a keyword input or selected by a user or may be a preset keyword.

The widgets may be provided by Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a diagram showing a TV content providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, a TV content providing system includes a TV100, an internet150, a hub site170, a content provider (CP)1and a CP2.

The TV100is connected to the hub site170through the internet150. The TV100receives, in the forms of widgets, multimedia content such as moving pictures, music and the like from the hub site170. The TV100also receives, in widget forms, data information content such as news, stock reports, weather information and the like from the hub site170.

Here, a widget refers to a mini-item image on which content received by a content provider is displayed. The widget may be generated by the TV100based on the content received from a service provider. The widget may be generated by the service provider, and the TV100may receive the generated widget from the service provider and display the generated widget as it is.

The TV100sets a portion of a screen as a widget display region and the widget display region always has the widgets displayed thereon. The widgets, however, may be displayed on regions other than the widget display region.

The hub site170receives content from the CP1180and CP2190. The hub site170manages the received content by forming databases, and transmits the content to the TV connected via the internet150. The hub site170may receive the widgets from the CP1180and CP2190, and may transmit the widgets to the TV100.

Generally, the hub site170is a server that is operated by a manufacturer of the TV100so as to provide consumers who buy their TV with content services. The hub site170receives content from an external content provider. Alternately, the server may be operated by a third-party operator.

The CP1180and CP2190are content providers which provide respective content to the hub site170. For example, the CP1180may be Naver, and may provide weather forecast and stock reports to the hub site170. The CP2190may be You-Tube, and may provide multimedia content such as moving pictures, music and the like to the hub site170. The CP1180and CP2190may provide the content in the form of widgets.

Any provider which provides content or widgets to the hub site170may take the role of the CP1180or CP2190. The CP1180and CP2190may provide the content or the widgets directly to the TV100, without the content passing through the hub site170. Hereinafter, the used content provider refers to a general content provider which includes the CP1180and CP2190.

Through the system described above, a user may receive various information and multimedia content from the hub site4using the TV.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a TV according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the TV100includes a broadcasting receiving unit210, an A/V processing unit220, an audio outputting unit230, a GUI generating unit240, a display unit245, a storage unit250, an interface unit260, a control unit270, a remote control receiving unit280, and a remote controller290.

The broadcasting receiving unit210receives and demodulates broadcasting by wire or wirelessly from a broadcasting station or a satellite. The broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiving unit210includes a data broadcasting signal. The data broadcasting signal includes news, weather forecast, stock reports and the like.

The A/V processing unit220performs signal processing, such as video decoding, video scaling, or audio decoding, on the image signal and the audio signal input from the broadcasting receiving unit210and the control unit260. The A/V processing unit220generates the image signal to the GUI generating unit240, and outputs the audio signal to the audio outputting unit230.

When the received image and audio signals are stored in the storage unit250, the A/V processing unit220outputs the image and audio in a compressed shape to the storage unit250.

The audio outputting unit230outputs the audio output from the A/V processing unit220through a speaker.

The GUI generating unit240generates a Graphic User Interface (GUI) and provides the GUI to a use. The GUI generating unit240may generate a GUI including an on-screen display (OSD) menu and OSD items. The GUI generating unit240may generate a GUI for a widget search list which classifies the widgets searched for according to the content provider. The GUI generating unit240adds the generated GUI to the image output form the A/V processing unit220.

Here, the widget search list refers to a list of the widgets searched for when a user searches for widgets using a certain keyword or based upon its relation to a certain program. That is, there may be widgets stored or on the web that are related to a certain program or a current program in which the viewer is currently viewing. The viewer may be able to search and select widgets that are related to a certain program. The widget search list will be described in detail later.

The display unit245displays the image output from the A/V processing unit220. The display unit245may also display the image to which the widget search list generated by the GUI generating unit240is added, or the image to which the widget received using the interface260is added.

The storage unit250stores multimedia content or data information received by the broadcasting receiving unit210. The storage unit250may also store multimedia content or data information received by the interface260, or widget providing applications corresponding to a respective content provider. The storage unit250may be implemented as a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, or the like.

The interface260functions as a connection path which allows the TV100to communicate with the hub site170. The interface260connects the TV100to the hub site170so that the TV100can communicate with the hub site170through a communication network such as an internet150or the like.

As the TV100is connected to the internet using the interface260as described above, the user may receive an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service. The IPTV service refers to a two-way television service provided using a high speed internet network. The IPTV is distinct from general cable broadcasting in that a viewer is able to view only the programs that he or she desires to view, at a time convenient to him or her. The IPTV may also provide services which provide widgets for displaying content such as news, weather forecast, stock reports, images, music and the like, in addition to the broadcasting program service.

The remote control receiving unit280receives a user command input using the remote controller290and transmits the user command to the control unit270.

The control unit270determines the user command by the remote controller290, and controls the entire operation of the TV100according to the user command.

The control unit270searches for content related to the certain keyword from the widgets on the web or among the widgets received using the interface260, and controls a widget search list which classifies the searched widgets according to content provider to be displayed.

Here, the widget search list refers to a list displaying the widgets searched when the user searches for widgets using a certain keyword. The widget search list displays widgets searched for according to content provider, for a subject related to one or more keyword. The widget search list classifies the widgets of one subject according to content provider, so the user can select a widget of his or her desired content provider from among various content providers, using the widget search list.

When the widgets related to the certain keyword are searched, the control unit270controls the widget search list to be displayed in a form having widget images. If the widget search list including the widget images is displayed as described above, the user can visually determine the widgets provided according to content provider at a glance and select his or her desired widgets with ease.

When at least one widget is selected from the widget search list, the control unit270receives the widget from the content provider corresponding to the selected widget and controls the received widget to be displayed on a screen.

More specifically, if the widget search list is displayed, the user may select the widget corresponding to his or her desired content provider using the remote controller290. If his or her desired widget is selected by the user, the control unit270controls the widget to be received from the content provider corresponding to the selected widget. The control unit270then controls the widget to be displayed, the widget being received from the selected content provider.

The widget receiving process may be specifically divided into a widget-related application receiving process and a content receiving process. The control unit270controls the widget-related application to be received from the selected content provider and to be installed on the TV100. The widget-related application serves to generate the widget image of the content provider and display the received content using the widget. Thereafter, the TV receives the content information from the selected content provider, and the control unit270controls the content information received using the application to be displayed using the widget.

However, widgets may of course be received using various methods other than the method described above.

The control unit270thus displays the received content information on the widget using the application of the content provider corresponding to the selected widget from among a plurality of applications corresponding respectively to a plurality of content providers.

The widgets provided in the TV100are generally more conveniently provided from one content provider. The reason is that unless a single widget related application can be compatible with a plurality of content providers, a separate widget-related application may be needed corresponding to each content provider. If a plurality of applications corresponding to each of the content providers are incorporated or received and stored into the TV100, the widgets of each content provider may be displayed on the screen. The TV100may thus display the widgets of the same subject received from the plurality of content providers together.

When there are two or more selected widgets, the control unit270controls the two or more selected widgets to be displayed together. Even though the two or more selected widgets display the same content, the two or more selected widgets are displayed together. As the widgets for the same content are displayed together, the user can use information on the same subject in diverse forms.

The keyword may be input directly by the user using the remote controller290, or may be selected from among several keywords preset by the user. The keyword may also be preset by the user.

For example, when the user's desired keyword is “weather”, the user may input “weather” directly using the remote controller290to check the widget search list related to the weather. The user may also check the widget search list related to the weather by selecting “weather” from among four keywords stored in the TV100, such as “news”, “weather”, “stocks” and “VOD”, using the remote controller290. The user may also set the widget search list related to “weather” to be always displayed on the TV100by setting only the keyword “weather” to be used on the TV100.

As described above, the TV100may receive widgets from various content providers and may provide the widgets.

Hereinafter, a method for providing widgets will be described with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a flowchart explaining a method for providing widgets according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, a user inputs a keyword for his or her desired subject using a remote controller290in operation S310. The keyword may be input directly by the user using the remote controller290, or may be selected from among preset several keywords by the user. The keyword may also be a keyword preset by the user.

The TV100searches for widgets related to the keyword from among the widgets provided from content providers in operation S320. The TV100displays a widget search list which classifies the widgets searched for according to content provider in operation S330.

The widget search list displays widgets searched for according to content provider, for the subject related to one keyword. The widget search list provides widgets of one subject according to content provider, so the user may select the widget of his or her desired content provider from among various content providers using the widget search list.

The widget search list will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a diagram showing a screen on which a widget search list which classifies the widgets searched for according to content provider is displayed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 4, a widget search list400of the search result for weather widgets is displayed on the broadcasting screen of the TV100. In other words, the user inputs the keyword “weather” and the weather widget search list400is displayed as the search result thereof.

Names of the content providers and widget images are displayed on each item of the widget search list400. The names of the content providers are “Naver I”, “Naver II”, “Yahoo” and “Google”, and the corresponding widget images are displayed in each widget image. In particular, the widgets of the same subject “weather” are displayed according to content provider.

As described above, as the widgets of the same subject are displayed on one widget search list400, the user can use the widgets provided by various content providers more easily.

Returning toFIG. 3, the user selects at least one widget from the displayed widget search list in operation S340. The TV100receives the widget from the content provider corresponding to the selected widget in operation S350. The TV100displays the content received from the selected content provider on the widget using an application of the content provider corresponding to the selected widget in operation S360.

The user may also select two or more widgets from the widget search list. When two or more widget are selected, the TV100controls the two or more selected widgets to be displayed together. As described above, even though the two or more selected widgets display the content of the same subject, the two or more selected widgets are displayed together. As the widgets of the same subject are displayed together, the user can use information on the same subject in diverse forms.

The TV100may receive and display the widgets on the screen through the process described above.

The screen on which the widgets are displayed through the process described above will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 5 to 7.FIG. 5is a diagram showing a screen on which a weather widget provided by Google is displayed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 5, on the screen of the TV100a broadcasting screen510is displayed together with a Google weather widget500, a Yahoo news widget530, and a YouTube VOD widget540. The widgets may be displayed on a right-hand side of the TV100so that watching the broadcasting screen510is not interrupted.

The widgets may be displayed in any position that does not interrupt the broadcasting screen510. For example, any separate allocated region other than the broadcasting screen510region may also be set as a widget display region.

InFIG. 5, the user selects “Google” from among weather widgets, so the Google service weather widget is displayed.

At this time, when the user inputs a widget search command using a remote controller290and inputs the keyword “weather”, the widget search list400ofFIG. 4is displayed on the screen.

When the user selects “Google” from the widget search list400ofFIG. 4, the weather widget is changed as shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a diagram showing a screen on which, after a user selects a Google weather widget from a widget search list, a weather widget is changed into the Google weather widget, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the user selects a Naver I weather widget from the widget search list400ofFIG. 4, the Naver I weather widget600is displayed as shown inFIG. 6.

In particular, the Naver I weather widget600ofFIG. 6has the same form as the weather widget displayed for Naver I in the widget search list400ofFIG. 4.

As described above, the user can check the form of widgets searched at a glance using the widget search list400, making it possible to select his or her desired widgets more easily.

The user may select two or more widgets from the widget search list400ofFIG. 4. For example, when the user selects Google and Naver I from the widget search list400, two weather widgets are displayed together as shown inFIG. 7. This feature will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 7.

FIG. 7is a diagram showing a screen on which selected widgets are displayed together, if a user selects a plurality of widgets, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 7, Google weather widget710and Naver I weather widget720selected by the user are displayed together. A Yahoo news widget530is pushed down, and a YouTube VOD widget540has disappeared.

As described above, as two or more widgets of the same subject are displayed, the user can receive widgets of the same subject from various service providers and set the received widgets to be displayed on the screen.

In the present embodiment, the case in which the widget search list related to the keyword “weather” is displayed has been described, but any keywords may of course be applied to the widget search list. For example, stocks, maps, news, VOD, music, photos, or the like may be keywords, in addition to weather.

In other words, widgets may include photo widgets, music widgets, VOD widgets, news widgets, weather widgets, stocks widgets, map widgets, web-page widgets, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the widgets are described to be provided in a TV100, but the widgets may of course be applied to any display apparatuses on which the widgets are displayed.

In the present embodiment, the TV100is described as receiving the widgets from the content providers CP1:180and CP2:190, but the TV100may be implemented to receive the widgets from the content providers, passing through a Hub Site170.

In the present embodiment a conventional television device was described, however any television receiving device such as an IPTV set-top may incorporate the present invention.

In the present embodiment the searching of the widgets was performed from a plurality of content providers; however the present invention may be implemented to perform search from a single content provider and thus, the list of the widgets may be from a single content provider.

As described above, the present invention provides a method for providing widgets in which widgets related to a certain keyword from among widgets provided from a plurality of content providers are searched and the searched widgets are classified according to the content provider and displayed, and a TV using the same, so a user can search for and use the widgets provided from various content providers more easily.