Patent Publication Number: US-2009235320-A1

Title: Image processing apparatus, image processing system having the same, and control method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0023494, filed on Mar. 13, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     Apparatuses, systems and methods consistent with the present invention relate to an image processing, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus displaying a video content received through an two-way communication, an image processing system having the same, and a control method thereof 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, an image processing apparatus receives and displays a video signal from a digital versatile disc (DVD) or the like. Recently, the image processing apparatus not only receives a video signal from a video source such as a broadcasting station and a server, but also interactively communicate with the video source through Ethernet, the Internet, etc. to thereby receive appendix information. For example, a user can select an Internet function and do web surfing while watching the video signal. 
     However, a conventional image processing apparatus displays only the appendix information instead of displaying video signal when a user selects the Internet function, so that it is difficult for the user to watch both the received video signal and the appendix information received through the Internet, and the video signal or the appendix information is displayed as only a full screen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of displaying a video signal and appendix information through an duplex transmission, an image processing system having the same and a control method thereof. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which can receive content organization information about a video signal and appendix information and display the video signal and the appendix information in various forms on the basis of the content organization information, an image processing system having the same and a control method thereof 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing an image processing apparatus with a display unit, comprising: a communication unit which communicates with a server that stores therein content organization information of a video content; an input unit through which a video signal contained in the video content is input; a processing unit which processes the video content; and a controller which controls the processing unit to display the video content based on the content organization information on the display unit. 
     The video content may comprise appendix information. 
     The content organization information may comprise at least one of source information of the video signal and source information of the appendix information. 
     The video signal may comprise a broadcasting signal, an internal image input from an internal video source, an external image input from an external video source, and a server image input from the server. 
     The source information of the video signal may comprise at least one of a channel name, a channel number, an image size and a genre. 
     The appendix information may comprise at least one of an image, a moving picture and a text. 
     The source information of the appendix information may comprise a link address of the appendix information. 
     The controller may control the processing unit to create a content list based on the content organization information received from the server. 
     The image processing apparatus may further comprise a user input unit, wherein the controller controls the processing unit to display the video content on the display unit on the basis of the content organization information selected through the user input unit. 
     The content organization information may use a tag format. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method of controlling an image processing apparatus, the method comprising: receiving content organization information of a video content; receiving the video content on the basis of the content organization information; and displaying the video content. 
     The receiving the video content may comprise receiving a video signal contained in the video content. 
     The receiving the video content may comprise receiving appendix information contained in the video content. 
     The content organization information may comprise at least one of source information of the video signal and source information of the appendix information. 
     The source information of the video signal may comprise at least one of a channel name, a channel number, an image size and a genre. 
     The appendix information may comprise at least one link address of an image, a moving picture and a text. 
     The method may further comprise creating a content list based on the content organization information, wherein the receiving the video content comprises receiving the video content on the basis of the content organization information selected in the content list. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing an image processing system comprising a server which stores therein content organization information of a video content; and an image processing apparatus which displays the video content on the basis of the content organization information received by communication with the server. 
     The video content may comprise a video signal. 
     The video content may comprise appendix information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  shows content organization information stored in a server of the image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a video signal corresponding to the content organization information of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  shows content organization information stored in the server of the image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a video signal and appendix information corresponding to the content organization information of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a control method in an image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates that the content organization information is changed in the image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image processing system includes a server  200  and an image processing apparatus  100 . 
     The server  200  communicates with the image processing apparatus  100  and offers appendix information requested by the image processing apparatus  100 . Content organization information of a video content is stored in the server  200 . The video content includes a video signal and the appendix information. The video content may include only the video signal or both the video signal and the appendix information. The content organization information may be generated by a broadcasting station for terrestrial broadcasting, cable television, local broadcasting or the like and a server manager, and stored in the server  200 . 
     Here, the content organization information is source information that includes information about a source of the video signal, and information about an image to be displayed. The video signal may contain a broadcasting signal; an image from an internal or external image source such as a video cassette recorder (VCR), a digital versatile recorder (DVDR), etc.; and an image from a server  200 . If the video signal is the broadcasting signal, the source information includes a channel name, a channel number, an image size, a genre, a resolution, a display position, etc. If the video signal is output from the internal or external image source, the source information includes a name of an image source, a port number of a connector unit to which the image source is connected, an image size, a genre, a resolution, a display position, etc. If the video signal is output from the server  200 , the source information includes a server name, a server internet protocol (IP) address, an image size, a genre, a resolution, a display position, etc. 
     Further, the content organization information includes source information of appendix information displayed together with the video signal. The appendix information may be a web document such as an image, a moving picture, a text, and the source information of the appendix information may include a web address linked to the web document. 
     The content organization information may be stored in the server  200  in the form of a programming language such as a hypertext markup language (HTML) using a tag format. When the image processing apparatus  100  requests the content organization information, the server  200  offers the content organization information to the image processing apparatus  100 . 
     The image processing apparatus  100  processes and displays the video signal and the appendix information on the basis of the content organization information offered from the server  200 . The image processing apparatus  100  may be realized as a television and include an input unit  10 , a communication unit  20 , a processing unit  30 , a display unit  40 , a user input unit  50 , and a controller  60 . 
     The input unit  10  includes a tuner unit (not shown) and the connector unit (not shown) to which an external device is connected, thereby receiving the video signal. The tuner (not shown) includes one or more tuners, a demodulator to demodulate a tuned signal, a decoder, a multiplexer (MUX), etc. The tuner unit is turned to a broadcasting signal having a frequency band corresponding to a tuning control signal from the controller  60  (to be described later). The broadcasting signal of the tuned channel contains various signal such as a video signal, an audio signal and data signal. The signals are time-division multiplexed and packetized so that the input unit  10  receives the signals in the form of a transport stream. 
     For example, in the case of a digital broadcasting signal, a demodulator applies a vestigial side band (VSB) demodulation, error correction, etc. to the received broadcasting signal, and outputs the transport stream. At this time, the tuner unit (not shown) may include an analog tuner, a digital tuner or a multi-tuner to receive all of an analog broadcasting signal and a digital broadcasting signal. 
     If the image processing apparatus  100  is realized as an Internet protocol television (IPTV), the input unit  10  may include a content receiver to receive a video content through an Internet line. 
     The communication unit  20  communicates with the sever  200  and receives the content organization information from the server  200 . Further, the communication unit  20  receives the appendix information which is linked through the source information, such as an image, a text or the like. The source information of the appendix information is contained in the content organization information. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit  20  may be achieved by a wire/wireless local area network (LAN), a wire/wireless modem, etc. as long as it can communicate with the server  200 . 
     Here, the image processing apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the input unit  10  and the communication unit  20  which are separated from each other, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, if the video signal is transmitted through an Internet line, the input unit  10  and the communication unit  20  may be integrated into a single unit. In this case, the communication unit  20  communicates with the server  200  to receive both the video signal and the appendix information. 
     The processing unit  30  processes the video content, i.e., the video signal and the appendix information received on the basis of the content organization information. Further, the processing unit  30  converts the video signal and the appendix information to have a format displayable on the display unit  40 , e.g., into a digital RGB signal. In this embodiment, the processing unit  30  may include an analyzing unit  35  for analyzing the content organization information received from the server  200  and providing it to the controller  60 . That is, the analyzing unit  35  divides a character string of a program language constituting the offered content organization information and analyzes the source information of the video signal and the source information of the appendix information contained in the content organization information. 
     Also, the processing unit  30  may have various functions corresponding to the formats of the input video signal. For example, the processing unit  30  may have an analog/digital (A/D) converting function to convert a video signal having various formats into a digital video signal having a certain format; a digital decoding function; a scaling function to adjust a vertical frequency a resolution, a screen ratio, etc. of the received digital and/or analog video signal to be adapted to output regulations of the display unit  40 ; and a predetermined format converting function. 
     The display unit  40  displays the video content processed by the processing unit  30 . For example, the display unit  40  may be achieved by a digital light processing (DLP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), etc. Further, the display unit  40  may be separately provided in the outside and connected via a connector (not shown). 
     The user input unit  50  is provided with a key or the like for selecting a content display function to display the video signal and the appendix information on the basis of the content organization information. In the user input unit  50 , the key for selecting the content display function is provided as a hot key. Also, the user input unit  50  may include a number key for selecting a channel, an arrow key, and a function key for selecting the function of the image processing apparatus  100 . The user input unit  50  may include a menu key placed in a remote controller or a casing of the image processing apparatus  100 , and a key signal generator generating a key signal corresponding to key manipulation. 
     The controller  60  controls the processing unit  30  so that the video content can be displayed on the basis of the content organization information received from the server  200 . Here, the controller  60  may be achieved by a central processing unit (CPU), a microcomputer, etc. 
     In more detail, when the content display function is selected through the user input unit  50 , the controller  60  communicates with the server  200  and receives the content organization information. The content organization information received from the server  200  is analyzed by the analyzing unit  35 . As described above, the content organization information may contain the source information of the video signal together with the source information of the appendix information. If the content organization information contains the source information of the video signal, the controller  60  controls the input unit  10  to receive the video signal on the basis of the source information of the video signal contained in the content organization information. If the content organization information contains the source information of the appendix information, the controller  60  controls the communication unit  20  to receive the appendix information on the basis of the source information of the appendix information contained in the content organization information. The received video signal and the received appendix information are processed by the processing unit  30  and then displayed on the display unit  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the source information of the video signal includes &lt;title&gt; for the channel name, &lt;channel&gt; for a channel number, &lt;size&gt; for an image size, and &lt;type&gt; for a genre. Further, the source information of the appendix information includes &lt;contents&gt;. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the video signal contained in the content organization information in which the channel name is “AAA,” the channel number is “11,” the image size is “1920*1080,” and the genre is “NEWS.” Further, the appendix information is “President was selected.” In this case, the controller  60  controls the input unit  10  to receive the video signal corresponding to the channel of “11” whose genre is “NEWS” on the basis of the content organization information. Then, the controller  60  controls the processing unit  30  to display the received video signal by the size of “1920*1080” as shown in  FIG. 2B . If the display unit  40  is set to have a resolution of “1920*1080,” the video signal is processed to be displayed as a full screen. Since the video signal is processed to be displayed as a full screen, the appendix information is not shown in  FIG. 2B  but may be displayed by a separate manipulation. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the video signal contained in the content configuration information in which the channel name is “BBB,” the channel number is “9,” the image size is “200*100,” and the genre is “NEWS.” Further, the appendix information is a link address of “http://a.com/a.jpg” and a description file “Aerospace will be good . . . ” In this case, the controller  60  controls the input unit  10  to receive the video signal corresponding to the channel of “9” whose genre is “NEWS” on the basis of the content organization information. Then, the controller  60  controls the communication unit  20  to access “http://a.com/a.jpg” and receive an image file and a description file. Thus, the video signal is displayed as a size of 200*100 in a region S, the image film is displayed in a region I, and the description file of “Aerospace will be good . . . ” is displayed in a region D. Accordingly, both the video signal and the appendix information are displayed at the same time. 
     The controller  60  creates a content list based on the channel name of the video signal contained in the content organization information received from the server  200 . Further, the video content is received and displayed according to the content organization information selected through the user input unit  50 . 
     Below, a control method of the image processing apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the content display function is selected through the user input unit  50  (S 1 ), the controller  60  controls the communication unit  20  to communicate with the server  200  and receive the content organization information (S 3 ) 
     Then, the content list is created using the channel name of the video signal contained in the received content organization information (S 5 ). 
     When one video content is selected in the content list (S 7 ), the controller  60  controls the input unit  10  to receive the video signal on the basis of the content organization information corresponding to the selected video content, and controls the communication unit  20  to receive the appendix information. 
     Further, the processing unit  30  is controlled to display the received video signal and the received appendix information on the basis of the content organization information (S 9 ). 
     Thus, the image processing apparatus receives and displays the video signal and the appendix information on the basis of the content organization information offered from the server  200 . 
     Further, the video signal and the appendix information may be displayed in the various forms based on the content organization information at the same time. Also, it is easy to select one among plural channels through the content list, and it is possible to watch both the video signal and the appendix information. 
     Second Embodiment  
     Below, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, and repetitive descriptions to the first embodiment will be avoided as necessary. 
     According to the second embodiment, a user can change the content organization information stored in the server  200 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the controller  60  creates the content list based on the content organization information received from the server  200 . A user selects the content organization information he/she wants to change in the content list. If the content organization information corresponding to the channel name of “AAA” is selected, an instruction code is displayed. The user changes at least one of the source information of the video signal and the source information of the appendix information. Then, the controller  60  sends the content organization information changed by the user to the server  200 , thereby changing the content organization information. 
     Accordingly, the user may change the content organization information so that the video signal and the appendix information can be displayed as desired. 
     As described above, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus which communicates with a server to receive content organization information, receives a video signal and appendix information corresponding to the received content organization information, and displays the video signal and the appendix information on the basis of the content organization information, an image processing system having the same and a control method thereof 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which displays a video signal and appendix information in various desired styles based on content organization information changeable by a user, an image processing system having the same and a control method thereof 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of easily selecting a channel among a plurality of channels through a contents list and shows a video signal and appendix information corresponding to the selected channel, an image processing system having the same and a control method thereof 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.