Patent Publication Number: US-9407951-B2

Title: Image display apparatus and method for operating the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Phase of PCT/KR2010/009047 filed on Dec. 17, 2010, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/379,371 filed on Sep. 1, 2010 and under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2010-0086150 filed in the Republic of Korea on Sep. 2, 2010, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and a method for operating the same, and more particularly, to an image display apparatus and a method for operating the same, which increase user convenience. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An image display apparatus has a function of displaying images to a user. The image display apparatus can display a broadcast program selected by the user on a display from among broadcast programs transmitted from broadcasting stations. The recent trend in broadcasting is a worldwide shift from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. 
     As it transmits digital audio and video signals, digital broadcasting offers many advantages over analog broadcasting, such as robustness against noise, less data loss, ease of error correction, and the ability to provide high-definition, clear images. Digital broadcasting also allows interactive viewer services, compared to analog broadcasting. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus and a method for operating the same, which can increase user convenience. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus and a method for operating the same, which can provide various user interfaces. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method for operating an image display apparatus, including receiving a notification through a network interface or a tuner, generating a promotion card object including the notification by processing the received notification by a card object generator, and displaying the promotion card object on a display. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an image display apparatus, including displaying a home screen including a plurality of card objects on a display, moving at least one of the card objects, and displaying a promotion card object representing a notification on the home screen according to the movement. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus, including a tuner for receiving the broadcast image, a network interface for transmitting data to or receiving data from a network, a card object generator for generating a promotion card object including a notification received through the network interface or the tuner by processing the notification, and a display for displaying the promotion card object. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     As is apparent from the above description of the embodiments of the present invention, since a promotion card object including a notification can be displayed on a home screen, a user can readily check the notification. 
     The promotion card object may be easily displayed through movement of another card object. 
     Upon selection of a card object name in the promotion card object, the promotion card object is fullscreened. Hence, the user can clearly identify notifications. 
     Upon selection of a notification in the promotion card object, the selected notification is displayed fullscreen or information linked to the selected notification is displayed. Hence, the user can acquire details of the notification. 
     Because an image display apparatus provides a variety of UIs, user convenience can be increased. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the overall configuration of a broadcasting system including an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the overall configuration of a broadcasting system including an image display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for an operation for attaching to a Service Provider (SP) and receiving channel information from the SP in the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of data used in the operation illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed block diagram of the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed block diagram of the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2  according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are block diagrams illustrating either of the image display apparatuses separately as a set-top box and a display device according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an operation for communicating with third devices in either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a controller illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a platform architecture for either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a platform architecture for either of the image display apparatuses according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a method for controlling either of the image display apparatuses in a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed block diagram of the remote controller in either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a UI in either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a UI in either of the image display apparatuses according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a UI in either of the image display apparatuses according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a UI in either of the image display apparatuses according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 20 to 39  are views referred to for describing various examples of the method for operating an image display apparatus, illustrated in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     The terms “module” and “unit” used to signify components are used herein to help the understanding of the components and thus they should not be considered as having specific meanings or roles. Accordingly, the terms “module” and “unit” may be used interchangeably. 
     An image display apparatus as set forth herein is an intelligent image display apparatus equipped with a computer support function in addition to a broadcast reception function, for example. Thus the image display apparatus may have user-friendly interfaces such as a handwriting input device, a touch screen, or a pointing device. Further, because the image display apparatus supports wired or wireless Internet, it is capable of e-mail transmission/reception, Web browsing, banking, gaming, etc. by connecting to the Internet or a computer. To implement these functions, the image display apparatus may operate based on a standard general-purpose Operating System (OS). 
     Various applications can be freely added to or deleted from, for example, a general-purpose OS kernel in the image display apparatus according to the present invention. Therefore, the image display apparatus may perform a number of user-friendly functions. The image display apparatus may be a network TV, a Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV), a smart TV, etc. for example. The image display apparatus is applicable to a smart phone, as needed. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, but it should be understood that they are merely illustrative of the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     In addition, although the terms used in the present invention are selected from generally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in the description of the present invention, the detailed meanings of which are described in relevant parts of the description herein, have been selected by the applicant at his or her discretion. Furthermore, the present invention must be understood, not simply by the actual terms used but by the meanings of each term lying within. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the overall configuration of a broadcasting system including an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the broadcasting system may include a Content Provider (CP)  10 , a Service Provider (SP)  20 , a Network Provider (NP)  30 , and a Home Network End Device (HNED)  40 . The HNED  40  corresponds to, for example, a client  100  which is an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As stated before, the image display apparatus may be a network TV, a smart TV, an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), etc. 
     The CP  10  creates and provides content. The CP  10  may be, for example, a terrestrial broadcaster, a cable System Operator (SO) or Multiple System Operator (MSO), a satellite broadcaster, or an Internet broadcaster, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Besides broadcast content, the CP  10  may provide various applications, which will be described later in detail. 
     The SP  20  may provide content received from the CP  10  in a service package. For instance, the SP  20  may package first terrestrial broadcasting, second terrestrial broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, Internet broadcasting, and applications and provide the package to users. 
     The SP  20  may unicast or multicast a service to the client  100 . Unicast is a form of transmission in which information is sent from only one transmitter to only one receiver. In other words, unicast transmission is point-to-point, involving two nodes only. In an example of unicast transmission, upon receipt of a request for data from a receiver, a server transmits the data to only one receiver. Multicast is a type of transmission or communication in which a transmitter transmits data to a group of receivers. For example, a server may transmit data to a plurality of pre-registered receivers at one time. For multicast registration, the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) may be used. 
     The NP  30  may provide a network over which a service is provided to the client  100 . The client  100  may construct a home network and receive a service over the home network. 
     Content transmitted in the above-described broadcasting system may be protected through conditional access or content protection. CableCard and Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) are examples of conditional access or content protection. 
     The client  100  may also transmit content over a network. In this case, the client  100  serves as a CP and thus the CP  10  may receive content from the client  100 . Therefore, an interactive content service or data service can be provided. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the overall configuration of a broadcasting system including an image display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image display apparatus  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention is connected to a broadcast network and the Internet. The image display apparatus  100  is, for example, a network TV, a smart TV, an HbbTV, etc. 
     The image display apparatus  100  includes, for example, a broadcast interface  101 , a section filter  102 , an Application Information Table (AIT) filter  103 , an application data processor  104 , a broadcast data processor  111 , a media player  106 , an IP processor  107 , an Internet interface  108 , and a runtime module  109 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  receives AIT data, real-time broadcast content, application data, and stream events through the broadcast interface  101 . The real-time broadcast content may be referred to as linear Audio/Video (A/V) content. 
     The section filter  102  performs section filtering on the four types of data received through the broadcast interface  101 , and outputs the AIT data to the AIT filter  103 , the linear A/V content to the broadcast data processor  111 , and the stream events and application data to the application data processor  104 . 
     Meanwhile, the image display apparatus  100  receives non-linear A/V content and application data through the Internet interface  108 . The non-linear A/V content may be, for example, a Content On Demand (CoD) application. 
     The non-linear A/V content and the application data are transmitted to the media player  106  and the runtime module  109 , respectively. 
     The runtime module  109  includes, for example, an application manager and a browser as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The application manager controls the life cycle of an interactive application using the AIT data, for example. The browser displays and processes the interactive application. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for an operation for attaching to an SP and receiving channel information from the SP in the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2 . Needless to say, the operation illustrated in  FIG. 3  is an embodiment, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an SP performs an SP Discovery operation (S 301 ) and the image display apparatus transmits a Service Provider Attachment Request signal to the SP (S 302 ). Upon completion of attachment to the SP, the image display apparatus receives provisioning information from the SP (S 303 ). Further, the image display apparatus receives Master System Information (SI) Tables, Virtual Channel Map Tables, Virtual Channel Description Tables, and Source Tables from the SP (S 304  to S 307 ). 
     More specifically, SP Discovery is a process by which SPs that provide IPTV services search for Service Discovery (SD) servers having information about the offerings of the SPs. 
     In order to receive information about the SD servers, an SD server address list can be detected, for example, using three methods, specifically use of an address preset in the image display apparatus or an address manually set by a user, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)-based SP Discovery, and Domain Name System Service (DNS SRV)-based SP Discovery. The image display apparatus accesses a specific SD server using the SD server address list obtained through one of the above three methods and receives a SP Discovery record from the specific SD server. The Service Provider Discovery record includes information needed to perform Service Discovery on an SP basis. The image display apparatus then starts a Service Discovery operation using the SP Discovery record. These operations can be performed in a push mode or a pull mode. 
     The image display apparatus accesses an SP attachment server specified by an SP attachment locator included in the SP Discovery record and performs a registration procedure (or a service attachment procedure). 
     Further, after accessing an authentication service server of an SP specified by an SP authentication locator and performing an authentication procedure, the image display apparatus may perform a service authentication procedure. 
     After service attachment is successfully performed, a server may transmit data in the form of a provision information table to the image display apparatus. 
     During service attachment, the image display apparatus may include an Identifier (ID) and location information thereof in data and transmit the data to the service attachment server. Thus the service attachment server may specify a service that the image display apparatus has subscribed to based on the ID and location information. In addition, the service attachment server provides, in the form of a provisioning information table, address information from which the image display apparatus can obtain Service Information (SI). The address information corresponds to access information about a Master SI Table. This method facilitates provision of a customized service to each subscriber. 
     The SI is divided into a Master SI Table record for managing access information and version information about a Virtual Channel Map, a Virtual Channel Map Table for providing a list of services in the form of a package, a Virtual Channel Description Table that contains details of each channel, and a Source Table that contains access information about actual services. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of data used in the signal flow illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed diagram of  FIG. 3 , illustrating a relationship among data in the SI. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a Master SI Table contains information about the location and version of each Virtual Channel MAP. 
     Each Virtual Channel MAP is identified by its Virtual Channel MAP identifier. VirtualChannelMAP Version specifies the version number of the Virtual Channel MAP. If any of the tables connected to the Master SI Table in the arrowed direction is modified, the versions of the modified table and overlying tables thereof (up to the Master SI Table) are incremented. Accordingly, a change in any of the SI tables can be readily identified by monitoring the Master SI Table. 
     For example, when the Source Table is changed, the version of the Source Table is incremented and the version of the Virtual Channel Description Table that references the Source Table is also incremented. In conclusion, a change in any lower table leads to a change in its higher tables and, eventually, a change in the Master SI Table. 
     One Master SI Table may exist for each SP. However, in the case where service configurations differ for regions or subscribers (or subscriber groups), an SP may have a plurality of Master SI Tables in order to provide a customized service on a region, subscriber or subscriber group basis. Thus it is possible to provide a customized service to a subscriber according to a region in which the subscriber is located and subscriber information regarding the subscriber. 
     A Virtual Channel Map Table may contain a list of one or more virtual channels. A Virtual Channel Map includes not details of the channels but information about the locations of the details of the channels. In the Virtual Channel Map Table, VirtualChannelDescriptionLocation specifies the location of a Virtual Channel Description Table that provides virtual channel descriptions. 
     The Virtual Channel Description Table contains the details of the virtual channels. The Virtual Channel Description Table can be accessed using VirtualChannelDescriptionLocation of the Virtual Channel Map Table. 
     A Source Table provides information necessary to access actual services (e.g. IP addresses, ports, AV Codecs, transmission protocols, etc.) on a service basis. 
     The above-described Master SI Table, the Virtual Channel Map Table, the Virtual Channel Description Table and the Source Table are delivered in four logically separate flows, in a push mode or a pull mode. For version management, the Master SI Table may be multicast and thus a version change can be monitored by receiving a multicast stream of the Master SI Table. 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed block diagram of the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the image display apparatus in  FIG. 5  is purely exemplary and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an image display apparatus  700  includes a network interface  701 , a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) manager  702 , a service delivery manager  703 , a Demultiplexer (DEMUX)  705 , a Program Specific Information (PSI) &amp; (Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) and/or SI) decoder  704 , a display A/V and On Screen Display (OSD) module  708 , a service control manager  709 , a service discovery manager  710 , a metadata manager  712 , an SI &amp; metadata DataBase (DB)  711 , a User Interface (UI) manager  714 , and a service manager  713 . 
     The network interface  701  transmits packets to and receives packets from a network. Specifically, the network interface  701  receives services and content from an SP over the network. 
     The TCP/IP manager  702  is involved in packet reception and transmission of the image display apparatus  700 , that is, packet delivery from a source to a destination. The TCP/IP manager  702  classifies received packets according to appropriate protocols and outputs the classified packets to the service delivery manager  705 , the service discovery manager  710 , the service control manager  709 , and the metadata manager  712 . 
     The service delivery manager  703  controls received service data. For example, when controlling real-time streaming data, the service delivery manager  703  may use the Real-time Transport Protocol/Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTP/RTCP). If real-time streaming data is transmitted over RTP/RTCP, the service delivery manager  703  parses the received real-time streaming data using RTP and outputs the parsed real-time streaming data to the DEMUX  705  or stores the parsed real-time streaming data in the SI &amp; metadata DB  711  under the control of the service manager  713 . In addition, the service delivery manager  703  feeds back network reception information to a server that provides the real-time streaming data service using RTCP. 
     The DEMUX  705  demultiplexes a received packet into audio data, video data and PSI data and outputs the audio data, video data and PSI data to the audio decoder  706 , the video decoder  707 , and the PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704 , respectively. 
     The PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704  decodes SI such as PSI. More specifically, the PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704  decodes PSI sections, PSIP sections or SI sections received from the DEMUX  705 . 
     The PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704  constructs an SI DB by decoding the received sections and stores the SI DB in the SI &amp; metadata DB  711 . 
     The audio decoder  706  and the video decoder  707  decode the audio data and the video data received from the DEMUX  705  and output the decoded audio and video data to a user through the display A/V and OSD module  708 . 
     The UI manager  714  and the service manager  713  manage the overall state of the image display apparatus  700 , provide UIs, and manage other managers. 
     The UI manager  714  provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) in the form of an OSD and performs a reception operation corresponding to a key input received from the user. For example, upon receipt of a key input signal regarding channel selection from the user, the UI manager  714  transmits the key input signal to the service manager  713 . 
     The service manager  713  controls managers associated with services, such as the service delivery manager  703 , the service discovery manager  710 , the service control manager  709 , and the metadata manager  712 . 
     The service manager  713  also makes a channel map and selects a channel using the channel map according to the key input signal received from the UI manager  714 . The service manager  713  sets the audio/video Packet ID (PID) of the selected channel based on SI about the channel received from the PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704 . 
     The service discovery manager  710  provides information necessary to select an SP that provides a service. Upon receipt of a channel selection signal from the service manager  713 , the service discovery manager  710  detects a service based on the channel selection signal. 
     The service control manager  709  takes charge of selecting and control services. For example, if a user selects live broadcasting, like a conventional broadcasting service, the service control manager selects and controls the service using Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) or Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). If the user selects Video on Demand (VoD), the service control manager  709  selects and controls the service. RTSP supports trick mode for real-time streaming. Further, the service control manager  709  may initialize and manage a session through an IP Multimedia Control (IMC) gateway using IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The protocols are given by way of example and thus other protocols are also applicable according to other embodiments. 
     The metadata manager  712  manages metadata related to services and stores the metadata in the SI &amp; metadata DB  711 . 
     The SI &amp; metadata DB  711  stores the SI decoded by the PSI &amp; (PSIP and/or SI) decoder  704 , the metadata managed by the metadata manager  712 , and the information required to select an SP, received from the service discovery manager  710 . The SI &amp; metadata DB  711  may store setup data for the system. 
     The SI &amp; metadata DB  711  may be constructed in a Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM) or a flash memory. 
     An IMS gateway  705  is a gateway equipped with functions needed to access IMS-based IPTV services. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed block diagram of the image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 or 2  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an image display apparatus  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcasting receiver  105 , an external device interface  135 , a memory  140 , a user input interface  150 , a controller  170 , a display  180 , an audio output unit  185 , a power supply  190 , and a camera module (not shown). The broadcasting receiver  105  may include a tuner  110 , a demodulator  120  and a network interface  130 . As needed, the broadcasting receiver  105  may be configured so as to include only the tuner  110  and the demodulator  120  or only the network interface  130 . 
     The tuner  110  selects a Radio Frequency (RF) broadcast signal corresponding to a channel selected by a user from among a plurality of RF broadcast signals received through an antenna and downconverts the selected RF broadcast signal into a digital Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal or an analog baseband A/V signal. 
     More specifically, if the selected RF broadcast signal is a digital broadcast signal, the tuner  110  downconverts the selected RF broadcast signal into a digital IF signal DIF. On the other hand, if the selected RF broadcast signal is an analog broadcast signal, the tuner  110  downconverts the selected RF broadcast signal into an analog baseband A/V signal, CVBS/SIF. That is, the tuner  110  may be a hybrid tuner capable of processing not only digital broadcast signals but also analog broadcast signals. The analog baseband A/V signal CVBS/SIF may be directly input to the controller  170 . 
     The tuner  110  may be capable of receiving RF broadcast signals from an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) single-carrier system or from a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) multi-carrier system. 
     The tuner  110  may sequentially select a number of RF broadcast signals corresponding to all broadcast channels previously stored in the image display apparatus  100  by a channel add function from a plurality of RF signals received through the antenna and may downconvert the selected RF broadcast signals into IF signals or baseband A/V signals. 
     The demodulator  120  receives the digital IF signal DIF from the tuner  110  and demodulates the digital IF signal DIF. 
     For example, if the digital IF signal DIF is an ATSC signal, the demodulator  120  may perform 8-Vestigal SideBand (VSB) demodulation on the digital IF signal DIF. The demodulator  120  may also perform channel decoding. For channel decoding, the demodulator  120  may include a Trellis decoder (not shown), a de-interleaver (not shown) and a Reed-Solomon decoder (not shown) so as to perform Trellis decoding, de-interleaving and Reed-Solomon decoding. 
     For example, if the digital IF signal DIF is a DVB signal, the demodulator  120  performs Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (COFDMA) demodulation upon the digital IF signal DIF. The demodulator  120  may also perform channel decoding. For channel decoding, the demodulator  120  may include a convolution decoder (not shown), a de-interleaver (not shown), and a Reed-Solomon decoder (not shown) so as to perform convolution decoding, de-interleaving, and Reed-Solomon decoding. 
     The demodulator  120  may perform demodulation and channel decoding on the digital IF signal DIF, thereby obtaining a stream signal TS. The stream signal TS may be a signal in which a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal are multiplexed. For example, the stream signal TS may be an MPEG-2 TS in which an MPEG-2 video signal and a Dolby AC-3 audio signal are multiplexed. An MPEG-2 TS may include a 4-byte header and a 184-byte payload. 
     In order to properly handle not only ATSC signals but also DVB signals, the demodulator  120  may include an ATSC demodulator and a DVB demodulator. 
     The stream signal TS may be input to the controller  170  and thus subjected to demultiplexing and A/V signal processing. The processed video and audio signals are output to the display  180  and the audio output unit  185 , respectively. 
     The external device interface  135  may serve as an interface between an external device and the image display apparatus  100 . For interfacing, the external device interface  135  may include an A/V Input/Output (I/O) unit (not shown) and/or a wireless communication module (not shown). 
     The external device interface  135  may be connected to an external device such as a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a Blu-ray player, a game console, a camera, a camcorder, or a computer (e.g., a laptop computer), wirelessly or by wire. Then, the external device interface  135  externally receives video, audio, and/or data signals from the external device and transmits the received input signals to the controller  170 . In addition, the external device interface  135  may output video, audio, and data signals processed by the controller  170  to the external device. In order to receive or transmit audio, video and data signals from or to the external device, the external device interface  135  includes the A/V I/O unit (not shown) and/or the wireless communication module (not shown). 
     The A/V I/O unit of the external device interface  135  may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a Composite Video Banking Sync (CVBS) port, a Component port, a Super-video (S-video) (analog) port, a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) port, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) port, and a D-sub port. 
     The wireless communication module of the external device interface  135  may perform short-range wireless communication with other electronic devices. For short-range wireless communication, the wireless communication module may use Bluetooth, Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra WideBand (UWB), ZigBee, and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). 
     The external device interface  135  may be connected to various set-top boxes through at least one of the above-described ports and may thus receive data from or transmit data to the various set-top boxes. 
     The external device interface  135  may receive applications or an application list from an adjacent external device and provide the applications or the application list to the controller  170  or the memory  140 . 
     The network interface  130  serves as an interface between the image display apparatus  100  and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet. The network interface  130  may include an Ethernet port for connection to a wired network. The wireless communication module of the external signal I/O unit  128  may wirelessly access the Internet. For connection to wireless networks, the network interface  130  may use Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) (i.e., Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), and High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). 
     The network interface  130  may transmit data to or receive data from another user or electronic device over a connected network or another network linked to the connected network. Especially, the network interface  130  may transmit data stored in the image display apparatus  100  to a user or electronic device selected from among users or electronic devices pre-registered with the image display apparatus  100 . 
     The network interface  130  may access a specific Web page over a connected network or another network linked to the connected network. That is, the network interface  130  may access a specific Web page over a network and transmit or receive data to or from a server. Additionally, the network interface  130  may receive content or data from a CP or an NP. Specifically, the network interface  130  may receive content such as movies, advertisements, games, VoD files, and broadcast signals, and information related to the content from a CP or an NP. Also, the network interface  130  may receive update information about firmware and update files of the firmware from the NP. The network interface  130  may transmit data over the Internet or to the CP or the NP. 
     The network interface  130  may selectively receive a desired application among open applications over a network. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, when a game application is executed in the image display apparatus  100 , the network interface  130  may transmit data to or receive data from a user terminal connected to the image display apparatus  100  through a network. In addition, the network interface  130  may transmit specific data to or receive specific data from a server that records game scores. 
     The memory  140  may store various programs necessary for the controller  170  to process and control signals, and may also store processed video, audio and data signals. 
     The memory  140  may temporarily store a video, audio and/or data signal received from the external device interface  135  or the network interface  130 . The memory  140  may store information about broadcast channels by the channel-add function. 
     The memory  140  may store applications or a list of applications received from the external device interface  135  or the network interface  130 . 
     The memory  140  may store a variety of platforms which will be described later. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, when the image display apparatus  100  executes a game application, the memory  140  may store user-specific information and game play information about a user terminal used as a game controller. 
     The memory  140  may include, for example, at least one of a flash memory-type storage medium, a hard disk-type storage medium, a multimedia card micro-type storage medium, a card-type memory (e.g. a Secure Digital (SD) or eXtreme Digital (XD) memory), a Random Access Memory (RAM), or a Read-Only Memory (ROM) such as an Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory. The image display apparatus  100  may reproduce content stored in the memory  140  (e.g. video files, still image files, music files, text files, and application files) to the user. 
     While the memory  140  is shown in  FIG. 6  as configured separately from the controller  170 , to which the present invention is not limited, the memory  140  may be incorporated into the controller  170 , for example. 
     The user input interface  150  transmits a signal received from the user to the controller  170  or transmits a signal received from the controller  170  to the user. 
     For example, the user input interface  150  may receive various user input signals such as a power-on/off signal, a channel selection signal, and a screen setting signal from a remote controller  200  or may transmit a signal received from the controller  170  to the remote controller  200 , according to various communication schemes, for example, RF communication and IR communication. 
     For example, the user input interface  150  may provide the controller  170  with user input signals or control signals received from local keys (not shown), such as inputs of a power key, a channel key, and a volume key, and setting values. 
     Also, the user input interface  150  may transmit a control signal received from a sensor unit (not shown) for sensing a user gesture to the controller  170  or transmit a signal received from the controller  170  to the sensor unit. The sensor unit may include a touch sensor, a voice sensor, a position sensor, a motion sensor, etc. 
     The controller  170  may demultiplex the stream signal TS received from the tuner  110 , the demodulator  120 , or the external device interface  135  into a number of signals and process the demultiplexed signals into audio and video data. 
     The video signal processed by the controller  170  may be displayed as an image on the display  180 . The video signal processed by the controller  170  may also be transmitted to an external output device through the external device interface  135 . 
     The audio signal processed by the controller  170  may be output to the audio output unit  185 . Also, the audio signal processed by the controller  170  may be transmitted to the external output device through the external device interface  135 . 
     While not shown in  FIG. 6 , the controller  170  may include a DEMUX and a video processor, which will be described later with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     In addition, the controller  170  may provide overall control to the image display apparatus  100 . For example, the controller  170  may control the tuner  110  to select an RF broadcast signal corresponding to a user-selected channel or a pre-stored channel. 
     The controller  170  may control the image display apparatus  100  according to a user command received through the user input interface  150  or according to an internal program. Especially the controller  170  may access a network and download an application or application list selected by the user to the image display apparatus  100  over the network. 
     For example, the controller  170  controls the tuner  110  to receive a channel selected according to a specific channel selection command received through the user input interface  150  and processes a video, audio and/or data signal of the selected channel. The controller  170  outputs the processed video or audio signal along with information about the user-selected channel to the display  180  or the audio output unit  185 . 
     In another example, the controller  170  outputs a video or audio signal received from an external device such as a camera or a camcorder through the external device interface  135  to the display  180  or the audio output unit  185  according to an external device video playback command received through the external device interface  150 . 
     The controller  170  may control the display  180  to display images. For instance, the controller  170  may control the display  180  to display a broadcast image received from the tuner  110 , an external input image received through the external device interface  135 , an image received through the network interface  130 , or an image stored in the memory  140 . The image displayed on the display  180  may be a Two-Dimensional (2D) or Three-Dimensional (3D) still image or moving picture. 
     The controller  170  may control content playback. The content may include any content stored in the image display apparatus  100 , received broadcast content, and external input content. The content includes at least one of a broadcast image, an external input image, an audio file, a still image, a Web page, or a text file. 
     Upon receipt of a go-to-home input, the controller  170  may control display of the home screen on the display  180  in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The home screen may include a plurality of card objects classified according to content sources. The card objects may include at least one of a card object representing a thumbnail list of broadcast channels, a card object representing a broadcast program guide, a card object representing a program reservation list or a program recording list, or a card object representing a media list of a device connected to the image display apparatus  100 . The card objects may further include at least one of a card object representing a list of connected external devices or a card object representing a call-associated list. 
     The home screen may further include an application menu with at least one application that can be executed. 
     Upon receipt of a card object move input, the controller  170  may control movement of a card object corresponding to the card object move input on the display  180 , or if the card object is not displayed on the display  180 , the controller  170  may control display of the card object on the display  180 . 
     When a card object is selected from among the card objects on the home screen, the controller  170  may control display of an image corresponding to the selected card object on the display  180 . 
     The controller  170  may control display of an input broadcast image and an object representing information about the broadcast image in a card object representing broadcast images. The broadcast image may be fixed in size through lock setting. 
     The controller  170  may control display of a set-up object for at least one of image setting, audio setting, screen setting, reservation setting, setting of a pointer of the remote controller, or network setting on the home screen. 
     The controller  170  may control display of a log-in object, a help object, or an exit object on a part of the home screen. 
     The controller  170  may control display of an object representing the total number of available card objects or the number of card objects displayed on the display  180  among all card objects, on a part of the home screen. 
     If one of the card objects displayed on the display  180  is selected, the controller  170  may fullscreen the selected card object to cover the entirety of the display  180 . 
     Upon receipt of an incoming call at a connected external device or the image display apparatus  100 , the controller  170  may control focusing-on or shift of a call-related card object among the plurality of card objects. 
     If an application view menu item is selected, the controller  170  may control display of applications or a list of applications that are available in the image display apparatus or downloadable from an external network. 
     The controller  170  may control installation and execution of an application downloaded from the external network along with various UIs. Also, the controller  170  may control display of an image related to the executed application on the display  180 , upon user selection. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, when the image display apparatus  100  provides a game application, the controller  170  may control assignment of player IDs to specific user terminals, creation of game play information by executing the game application, transmission of the game play information to the user terminals through the network interface  130 , and reception of the game play information at the user terminals. 
     The controller  170  may control detection of user terminals connected to the image display apparatus  100  over a network through the network interface  130 , display of a list of the detected user terminals on the display  180  and reception of a selection signal indicating a user terminal selected for use as a user controller from among the listed user terminals through the user input interface  150 . 
     The controller  170  may control output of a game play screen of the game application, inclusive of player information about each user terminal and game play information, through the display  180 . 
     The controller  170  may determine the specific signal received from a user terminal through the network interface  130  as game play information and thus control the game play information to be reflected in the game application in progress. 
     The controller  170  may control transmission of the game play information about the game application to a specific server connected to the image display apparatus  100  over a network through the network interface  130 . 
     As another embodiment, upon receipt of information about a change in the game play information from the server through the network interface  130 , the controller  170  may control output of a notification message in a predetermined area of the display  180 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  may further include a channel browsing processor (not shown) for generating thumbnail images corresponding to channel signals or external input signals. 
     The channel browsing processor may extract some of the video frames of each of stream signals TS received from the demodulator  120  or stream signals received from the external device interface  135  and display the extracted video frames on the display  180  as thumbnail images. The thumbnail images may be directly output to the controller  170  or may be output after being encoded. Also, it is possible to encode the thumbnail images into a stream and output the stream to the controller  170 . The controller  170  may display a thumbnail list including a plurality of received thumbnail images on the display  180 . The thumbnail images may be updated sequentially or simultaneously in the thumbnail list. Therefore, the user can readily identify the content of broadcast programs received through a plurality of channels. 
     The display  180  may convert a processed video signal, a processed data signal, and an OSD signal received from the controller  170  or a video signal and a data signal received from the external device interface  135  into RGB signals, thereby generating driving signals. 
     The display  180  may be various types of displays such as a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, and a 3D display. 
     The display  180  may also be a touch screen that can be used not only as an output device but also as an input device. 
     The audio output unit  185  may receive a processed audio signal (e.g., a stereo signal, a 3.1-channel signal or a 5.1-channel signal) from the controller  170  and output the received audio signal as sound. The audio output unit  185  may employ various speaker configurations. 
     To sense a user gesture, the image display apparatus  100  may further include the sensor unit (not shown) that has at least one of a touch sensor, a voice sensor, a position sensor, and a motion sensor, as stated before. A signal sensed by the sensor unit may be output to the controller  170  through the user input interface  150 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  may further include the camera unit (not shown) for capturing images of a user. Image information captured by the camera unit may be input to the controller  170 . 
     The controller  170  may sense a user gesture from an image captured by the camera unit or a signal sensed by the sensor unit, or by combining the captured image and the sensed signal. 
     The power supply  190  supplies power to the image display apparatus  100 . Particularly, the power supply  190  may supply power to the controller  170 , the display  180 , and the audio output unit  185 , which may be implemented as a System On Chip (SOC). 
     For supplying power, the power supply  190  may include a converter (not shown) for converting Alternating Current (AC) into Direct Current (DC). If the display  180  is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of backlight lamps, the power supply  190  may further include an inverter (not shown) capable of performing Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for luminance change or dimming driving. 
     The remote controller  200  transmits a user input to the user input interface  150 . For transmission of user input, the remote controller  200  may use various communication techniques such as Bluetooth, RF communication, IR communication, UWB and ZigBee. 
     In addition, the remote controller  200  may receive a video signal, an audio signal or a data signal from the user input interface  150  and output the received signals visually, audibly or as vibrations. 
     The above-described image display apparatus  100  may be a fixed digital broadcast receiver capable of receiving at least one of ATSC (8-VSB) broadcast programs, DVB-T (COFDM) broadcast programs, and ISDB-T (BST-OFDM) broadcast programs. 
     The block diagram of the image display apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is purely exemplary. Depending upon the specifications of the image display apparatus  100  in actual implementation, the components of the image display apparatus  100  may be combined or omitted or new components may be added. That is, two or more components are incorporated into one component or one component may be configured as separate components, as needed. In addition, the function of each block is described for the purpose of describing the embodiment of the present invention and thus specific operations or devices should not be construed as limiting the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Unlike the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the image display apparatus  100  may be configured so as to receive and playback video content through the network interface  130  or the external device interface  135 , without the tuner  100  and the demodulator  120 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  is an example of image signal processing apparatus that processes a stored image or an input image. Other examples of the image signal processing apparatus include a set-top box without the display  180  and the audio output unit  185 , a DVD player, a Blu-ray player, a game console, and a computer. The set-top box will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are block diagrams illustrating either of the image display apparatuses separately as a set-top box and a display device according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a set-top box  250  and a display device  300  may transmit or receive data wirelessly or by wire. 
     The set-top box  250  may include a network interface  255 , a memory  258 , a signal processor  260 , a user input interface  263 , and an external device interface  265 . 
     The network interface  255  serves as an interface between the set-top box  250  and a wired/wireless network such as the Internet. The network interface  255  may transmit data to or receive data from another user or another electronic device over a connected network or over another network linked to the connected network. 
     The memory  258  may store programs necessary for the signal processor  260  to process and control signals and temporarily store a video, audio and/or data signal received from the external device interface  265  or the network interface  255 . The memory  258  may also store platforms illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , as described later. 
     The signal processor  260  processes an input signal. For example, the signal processor  260  may demultiplex or decode an input video or audio signal. For signal processing, the signal processor  260  may include a video decoder or an audio decoder. The processed video or audio signal may be transmitted to the display device  300  through the external device interface  265 . 
     The user input interface  263  transmits a signal received from the user to the signal processor  260  or a signal received from the signal processor  260  to the user. For example, the user input interface  263  may receive various control signals such as a power on/off signal, an operation input signal, and a setting input signal through a local key (not shown) or the remote controller  200  and output the control signals to the signal processor  260 . 
     The external device interface  265  serves as an interface between the set-top box  250  and an external device that is connected wirelessly or by wire, particularly the display device  300 , for signal transmission or reception. The external device interface  265  may also interface with an external device such as a game console, a camera, a camcorder, and a computer (e.g. a laptop computer), for data transmission or reception. 
     The set-top box  250  may further include a media input unit for media playback. The media input unit may be a Blu-ray input unit, for example. That is, the set-top box  250  may include a Blu-ray player. After signal processing such as demultiplexing or decoding in the signal processor  260 , a media signal from a Blu-ray disk may be transmitted to the display device  300  through the external device interface  265  so as to be displayed on the display device  300 . 
     The display device  300  may include a tuner  270 , an external device interface  273 , a demodulator  275 , a memory  278 , a controller  280 , a user input interface  283 , a display  290 , and an audio output unit  295 . 
     The tuner  270 , the demodulator  275 , the memory  278 , the controller  280 , the user input interface  283 , the display  290 , and the audio output unit  295  are identical respectively to the tuner  110 , the demodulator  120 , the memory  140 , the controller  170 , the user input interface  150 , the display  180 , and the audio output unit  185  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and thus a description thereof is not provided herein. 
     The external device interface  273  serves as an interface between the display device  300  and a wireless or wired external device, particularly the set-top box  250 , for data transmission or reception. 
     Hence, a video signal or an audio signal received through the set-top box  250  is output through the display  290  or the audio output unit  295  through the controller  280 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the configuration of the set-top box  250  and the display device  300  illustrated in  FIG. 8  is similar to that of the set-top box  250  and the display device  300  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , except that the tuner  270  and the demodulator  275  reside in the set-top box  250 , not in the display device  300 . Thus the following description is given focusing on such difference. 
     The signal processor  260  may process a broadcast signal received through the tuner  270  and the demodulator  275 . The user input interface  263  may receive a channel selection input, a channel store input, etc. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an operation for communicating with third devices in either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image display apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 9  may be one of the afore-described image display apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the image display apparatus  100  may communicate with a broadcasting station  210 , a network server  220 , or an external device  230 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  may receive a broadcast signal including a video signal from the broadcasting station  210 . The image display apparatus  100  may process the audio and video signals of the broadcast signal or the data signal of the broadcast signal, suitably for transmission from the image display apparatus  100 . The image display apparatus  100  may output images or sound based on the processed video or audio signal. 
     Meanwhile, the image display apparatus  100  may communicate with the network server  220 . The network server  200  is capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the image display apparatus  100  over a network. For example, the network server  220  may be a portable terminal that can be connected to the image display apparatus  100  through a wired or wireless base station. In addition, the network server  200  may provide content to the image display apparatus  100  over the Internet. A CP may provide content to the image display apparatus  100  through the network server  220 . 
     The image display apparatus  100  may communicate with the external device  230 . The external device  230  can transmit and receive signals directly to and from the image display apparatus  100  wirelessly or by wire. For instance, the external device  230  may be a media memory device or a player. That is, the external device  230  may be any of a camera, a DVD player, a Blu-ray player, a PC, etc. 
     The broadcasting station  210 , the network server  220  or the external device  230  may transmit a signal including a video signal to the image display apparatus  100 . The image display apparatus  100  may display an image based on the video signal included in the received signal. Also, the image display apparatus  100  may transmit a signal received from the broadcasting station  210  or the network server  220  to the external device  230  and may transmit a signal received from the external device  230  to the broadcasting station  210  or the network server  220 . That is, the image display apparatus  100  may transmit content included in signals received from the broadcasting station  210 , the network server  220 , and the external device  230 , as well as playback the content immediately. 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of the controller illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the controller  170  may include a DEMUX  310 , a video processor  320 , an OSD generator  340 , a card object generator  345 , a mixer  350 , a Frame Rate Converter (FRC)  355 , and a formatter  360  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The controller  170  may further include an audio processor (not shown) and a data processor (not shown). 
     The DEMUX  310  demultiplexes an input stream. For example, the DEMUX  310  may demultiplex an MPEG-2 TS into a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal. The input stream signal may be received from the tuner  110 , the demodulator  120  or the external device interface  135 . 
     The video processor  320  may process the demultiplexed video signal. For video signal processing, the video processor  320  may include a video decoder  325  and a scaler  335 . 
     The video decoder  325  decodes the demultiplexed video signal and the scaler  335  scales the resolution of the decoded video signal so that the video signal can be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The video decoder  325  may be provided with decoders that operate based on various standards. 
     If the demultiplexed video signal is, for example, an MPEC-2 encoded video signal, the video signal may be decoded by an MPEC-2 decoder. 
     On the other hand, if the video signal is an H.264-encoded DMB or DVB-handheld (DVB-H) signal, the video signal may be decoded by an H.264 decoder. 
     The video signal decoded by the video processor  320  is provided to the mixer  350 . 
     The OSD generator  340  generates an OSD signal autonomously or according to user input. For example, the OSD generator  340  may generate signals by which a variety of information is displayed as images or text on the display  180 , according to control signals received from the user input interface  150 . The OSD signal may include various data such as a UI, a variety of menu screens, widgets, icons, etc. 
     For example, the OSD generator  340  may generate a signal by which subtitles are displayed for a broadcast image or Electronic Program Guide (EPG)-based broadcasting information. 
     The card object generator  345  may generate a plurality of card objects displayed on the home screen according to go-to-home input. The card object generator  345  may be included in the controller  170 . While not shown in  FIG. 10 , the card object generator  345  may be included in the OSD generator  340  of the controller  170  or may be configured as a separate GPU. The plurality of card objects generated from the card object generator may be transmitted to and displayed on the display  180 . 
     The mixer  350  may mix the decoded video signal with the OSD signal and output the mixed signal to the formatter  360 . As the decoded broadcast video signal or the external input signal is mixed with the OSD signal, an OSD may be overlaid on the broadcast image or the external input image. 
     The FRC  355  may change the frame rate of an input image. For example, a frame rate of 60 Hz is converted into a frame rate of 120 or 240 Hz. When the frame rate is to be changed from 60 Hz to 120 Hz, a first frame is inserted between the first frame and a second frame, or a predicted third frame is inserted between the first and second frames. If the frame rate is to be changed from 60 Hz to 240 Hz, three identical frames or three predicted frames are inserted between the first and second frames. It is also possible to maintain the frame rate of the input image without frame rate conversion. 
     The formatter  360  changes the format of the signal received from the FRC  355  to be suitable for the display  180 . For example, the formatter  360  may convert a received signal into an RGB data signal. The RGB signal may be output in the form of a Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS) or mini-LVDS. 
     The audio processor (not shown) of the controller  170  may process the demultiplexed audio signal. For audio signal processing, the audio processor may have a plurality of decoders. 
     If the demultiplexed audio signal is a coded audio signal, the audio processor of the controller  170  may decode the audio signal. For example, the demultiplexed audio signal may be decoded by an MPEG-2 decoder, an MPEG-4 decoder, an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) decoder, or an AC-3 decoder. 
     The audio processor of the controller  170  may also adjust the bass, treble or volume of the audio signal. 
     The data processor (not shown) of the controller  170  may process the data signal obtained by demultiplexing the input stream signal. For example, if the data signal is an encoded signal such as an EPG which includes broadcasting information specifying the start time, end time, etc. of scheduled broadcast TV or radio programs, the controller  170  may decode the data signal. Examples of an EPG include ATSC-Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) information and DVB-Service Information (SI). 
     ATSC-PSIP information or DVB-SI may be included in the header of a TS, i.e., a 4-byte header of an MPEG-2 TS. 
     The block diagram of the controller  170  illustrated in  FIG. 10  is an embodiment of the present invention. Depending upon the specifications of the controller  170 , the components of the controller  170  may be combined, or omitted. Or new components are added to the controller  170 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a platform architecture for either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 12  illustrates a platform architecture for either of the image display apparatuses according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     A platform for either of the image display apparatuses may have OS-based software to implement the above-described various operations according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a platform for either of the image display apparatuses is a separate type according to an embodiment of the present invention. The platform may be designed separately as a legacy system platform  400  and a smart system platform  405 . An OS kernel  410  may be shared between the legacy system platform  400  and the smart system platform  405 . 
     The legacy system platform  400  may include a stack of a driver  420 , middleware  430 , and an application layer  450  on the OS kernel  410 . 
     On the other hand, the smart system platform  405  may include a stack of a library  435 , a framework  440 , and an application layer  455  on the OS kernel  410 . 
     The OS kernel  410  is the core of an operating system. When the image display apparatus is driven, the OS kernel  410  may be responsible for operation of at least one of hardware drivers, security protection for hardware and processors in the image display apparatus, efficient management of system resources, memory management, hardware interfacing by hardware abstraction, multi-processing, or scheduling associated with the multi-processing. Meanwhile, the OS kernel  410  may further perform power management. 
     The hardware drivers of the OS kernel  410  may include, for example, at least one of a display driver, a Wi-Fi driver, a Bluetooth driver, a USB driver, an audio driver, a power manager, a binder driver, or a memory driver. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the hardware drivers of the OS kernel  410  may be drivers for hardware devices within the OS kernel  410 . The hardware drivers may include a character device driver, a block device driver, and a network device driver. The block device driver may need a buffer for buffering data on a block basis, because data is transmitted on a block basis. The character device driver may not need a buffer since data is transmitted on a basic data unit basis, that is, on a character basis. 
     The OS kernel  410  may be implemented based on any of various OSs such as Unix (Linux), Windows, etc. The OS kernel  410  may be a general-purpose open OS kernel which can be implemented in other electronic devices. 
     The driver  420  is interposed between the OS kernel  410  and the middleware  430 . Along with the middleware  430 , the driver  420  drives devices for operations of the application layer  450 . For example, the driver  420  may include a driver(s) for a microcomputer, a display module, a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), the FRC, a General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pin, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a System Decoder (SDEC) or DEMUX, a Video Decoder (VDEC), an Audio Decoder (ADEC), a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), and/or an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C). These drivers operate in conjunction with the hardware drivers of the OS kernel  410 . 
     In addition, the driver  420  may further include a driver for the remote controller  200 , especially a pointing device to be described below. The remote controller driver may reside in the OS kernel  410  or the middleware  430 , instead of the driver  420 . 
     The middleware  430  resides between the OS kernel  410  and the application layer  450 . The middleware  430  may mediate between different hardware devices or different software programs, for data transmission and reception between the hardware devices or the software programs. Therefore, the middleware  430  can provide standard interfaces, support various environments, and enable interaction between tasks conforming to heterogeneous communication protocols. 
     Examples of the middleware  430  in the legacy system platform  400  may include Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Experts Group (MHEG) and Advanced Common Application Platform (ACAP) as data broadcasting-related middleware, PSIP or SI middleware as broadcasting information-related middleware, and DLNA middleware as peripheral device communication-related middleware. 
     The application layer  450  that runs atop the middleware  430  in the legacy system platform  400  may include, for example, UI applications associated with various menus in the image display apparatus. The application layer  450  may allow editing and updating over a network by user selection. With use of the application layer  450 , the user may enter a desired menu among various UIs by manipulating the remote controller  210  while viewing a broadcast program. 
     The application layer  450  may further include at least one of a TV guide application, a Bluetooth application, a reservation application, a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) application, and a hotkey application. 
     In the smart system platform  405 , the library  435  is positioned between the OS kernel  410  and the framework  440 , forming the basis of the framework  440 . For example, the library  435  may include Secure Socket Layer (SSL) being a security-related library, WebKit being a Web engine-related library, c library (libc), and Media Framework being a media-related library specifying, for example, a video format and an audio format. The library  435  may be written in C or C++. Also, the library  435  may be exposed to a developer through the framework  440 . 
     The library  435  may include a runtime  437  with a core Java library and a Virtual Machine (VM). The runtime  437  and the library  435  form the basis of the framework  440 . 
     The VM may be a virtual machine that enables concurrent execution of a plurality of instances, that is, multi-tasking. For each application of the application layer  455 , a VM may be allocated and executed. For scheduling or interconnection between instances, the binder driver (not shown) of the OS kernel  410  may operate. 
     The binder driver and the runtime  437  may connect Java applications to C-based libraries. 
     The library  435  and the runtime  437  may correspond to the middleware  430  of the legacy system platform  400 . 
     In the smart system platform  405 , the framework  440  includes programs on which applications of the application layer  455  are based. The framework  440  is compatible with any application and may allow component reuse, movement or exchange. The framework  440  may include supporting programs and programs for interconnecting different software components. For example, the framework  440  may include an activity manager related to activities of applications, a notification manager, and a CP for abstracting common information between applications. This framework  440  may be written in Java. 
     The application layer  455  on top of the framework  440  includes a variety of programs that are executed and displayed in the image display apparatus. The application layer  455  may include, for example, a core application that is a suit having at least one solution of e-mail, Short Message Service (SMS), calendar, map, or browser. The application layer  455  may be written in Java. 
     In the application layer  455 , applications may be categorized into user-undeletable applications  465  stored in the image display apparatus  100  that cannot be modified and user-installable or user-deletable applications  475  that are downloaded from an external device or a network and stored in the image display apparatus. 
     With the applications of the application layer  455 , a variety of functions such as Internet telephony, VoD, Web album, Social Networking Service (SNS), Location-Based Service (LBS), map service, Web browsing, and application search may be performed through network access. In addition, other functions such as gaming and schedule management may be performed by the applications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a platform for the image display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is an integrated type. The integrated platform may include an OS kernel  510 , a driver  520 , middleware  530 , a framework  540 , and an application layer  550 . 
     Compared to the separate-type platform illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the integrated-type platform is characterized by the absence of the library  435  and the application layer  550  being an integrated layer. The driver  520  and the framework  540  correspond to the driver  420  and the framework  440  of  FIG. 5 , respectively. 
     The library  435  of  FIG. 11  may be incorporated into the middleware  530 . That is, the middleware  530  may include both the legacy system middleware and the image display system middleware. As described before, the legacy system middleware includes MHEG or ACAP as data broadcasting-related middleware, PSIP or SI middleware as broadcasting information-related middleware, and DLNA middleware as peripheral device communication-related middleware, whereas the image display system middleware includes SSL as a security-related library, WebKit as a Web engine-related library, libc, and Media Framework as a media-related library. The middleware  530  may further include the afore-described runtime. 
     The application layer  550  may include a menu-related application, a TV guide application, a reservation application, etc. as legacy system applications, and e-mail, SMS, a calendar, a map, and a browser as image display system applications. 
     In the application layer  550 , applications may be categorized into user-undeletable applications  565  that are stored in the image display apparatus and user-installable or user-deletable applications  575  that are downloaded from an external device or a network and stored in the image display apparatus. 
     Based on the afore-described platforms illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a variety of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and Software Development Kits (SDKs) necessary to develop applications may be opened. APIs may be implemented functions that provide connectivity to specific sub-routines, for execution of the functions within a program. Or APIs may be implemented programs. 
     For example, sources related to hardware drivers of the OS kernel  410 , such as a display driver, a WiFi driver, a Bluetooth driver, a USB driver or an audio driver, may be opened. Related sources within the driver  420  such as a driver for a microcomputer, a display module, a GPU, an FRC, an SDEC, a VDEC, an ADEC or a pointing device may be opened. In addition, sources related to PSIP or SI middleware as broadcasting information-related middleware or sources related to DLNA middleware may be opened. 
     Such various open APIs allow developers to create applications executable in the image display apparatus  100  or applications required to control operations of the image display apparatus  100  based on the platforms illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     The platforms illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  may be general-purpose ones that can be implemented in many other electronic devices as well as in image display apparatuses. The platforms may be stored or loaded in the memory  140 , the controller  170 , or any other processor (not shown). To execute applications, an additional application processor (not shown) may be further provided. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a method for controlling either of the image display apparatuses using a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13( a )  illustrates a pointer  205  representing movement of the remote controller  200  displayed on the display  180 . 
     The user may move or rotate the remote controller  200  up and down, side to side ( FIG. 13( b ) ), and back and forth ( FIG. 13( c ) ). Since the pointer  205  moves in accordance with the movement of the remote controller  200 , the remote controller  200  may be referred to as a pointing device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13( b ) , if the user moves the remote controller  200  to the left, the pointer  205  moves to the left on the display  180 . A sensor of the remote controller  200  detects the movement of the remote controller  200  and transmits motion information corresponding to the result of the detection to the image display apparatus. Then, the image display apparatus determines the movement of the remote controller  200  based on the motion information received from the remote controller  200 , and calculates the coordinates of a target point to which the pointer  205  should be shifted in accordance with the movement of the remote controller  200  based on the result of the determination. The image display apparatus then displays the pointer  205  at the calculated coordinates. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13( c ) , while pressing a predetermined button of the remote controller  200 , the user moves the remote controller  200  away from the display  180 . Then, a selected area corresponding to the pointer  205  may be zoomed in on and enlarged on the display  180 . On the contrary, if the user moves the remote controller  200  toward the display  180 , the selection area corresponding to the pointer  205  is zoomed out and thus contracted on the display  180 . The opposite case is possible. That is, when the remote controller  200  moves away from the display  180 , the selection area may be zoomed out and when the remote controller  200  approaches the display  180 , the selection area may be zoomed in. 
     With the predetermined button pressed in the remote controller  200 , the up, down, left and right movements of the remote controller  200  may be ignored. That is, when the remote controller  200  moves away from or approaches the display  180 , only the back and forth movements of the remote controller  200  are sensed, while the up, down, left and right movements of the remote controller  200  are ignored. Unless the predetermined button is pressed in the remote controller  200 , the pointer  205  moves in accordance with the up, down, left or right movement of the remote controller  200 . 
     The speed and direction of the pointer  205  may correspond to the speed and direction of the remote controller  200 . 
     The pointer  205  is an object displayed on the display  180  in correspondence with the movement of the remote controller  200 . Therefore, the pointer  205  may have various shapes other than the arrow illustrated in  FIG. 13 . For example, the pointer  205  may be a dot, a cursor, a prompt, a thick outline, etc. The pointer  205  may be displayed across a plurality of points, such as a line and a surface, as well as at a single point on horizontal and vertical axes. 
       FIG. 14  is a detailed block diagram of the remote controller in either of the image display apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the remote controller  200  may include a wireless communication module  225 , a user input unit  235 , a sensor unit  240 , an output unit  250 , a power supply  260 , a memory  270 , and a controller  280 . 
     The wireless communication module  225  transmits signals to and/or receives signals from either of the afore-described image display apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention, herein, the image display apparatus  100 . 
     The wireless communication module  225  may include an RF module  221  for transmitting RF signals to and/or receiving RF signals from the image display apparatus  100  according to an RF communication standard. The wireless communication module  225  may also include an IR module  223  for transmitting IR signals to and/or receiving IR signals from the image display apparatus  100  according to an IR communication standard. 
     The remote controller  200  transmits motion information representing the movement of the remote controller  200  to the image display apparatus  100  through the RF module  221  in this embodiment. The remote controller  200  may also receive signals from the image display apparatus  100  through the RF module  221 . As needed, the remote controller  200  may transmit commands such as a power on/off command, a channel switch command, or a volume change command to the image display apparatus  100  through the IR module  223 . 
     The user input unit  235  may include a keypad, a plurality of buttons, a touchpad and/or a touch screen. The user may enter commands to the image display apparatus  100  by manipulating the user input unit  235 . If the user input unit  235  includes a plurality of hard buttons, the user may input various commands to the image display apparatus  100  by pressing the hard buttons. Alternatively or additionally, if the user input unit  235  includes a touch screen displaying a plurality of soft keys, the user may input various commands to the image display apparatus  100  by touching the soft keys. The user input unit  235  may also include various input tools other than those set forth herein, such as a scroll key and/or a jog wheel, which should not be construed as limiting the present invention. 
     The sensor unit  240  may include a gyro sensor  241  and/or an acceleration sensor  243 . The gyro sensor  241  may sense the movement of the remote controller  200 , for example, in X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, and the acceleration sensor  243  may sense the speed of the remote controller  200 . The sensor unit  240  may further include a distance sensor for sensing the distance between the remote controller  200  and the display  180 . 
     The output unit  250  may output a video and/or audio signal corresponding to manipulation of the user input unit  235  or corresponding to a signal received from the image display apparatus  100 . The user may easily identify whether the user input unit  235  has been manipulated or whether the image display apparatus  100  has been controlled, based on the video and/or audio signal output by the output unit  250 . 
     The output unit  250  may include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module  351  which is turned on or off whenever the user input unit  235  is manipulated or whenever a signal is received from or transmitted to the image display apparatus  100  through the wireless communication module  225 , a vibration module  253  which generates vibrations, an audio output module  255  which outputs audio data, and/or a display module  257  which outputs video data. 
     The power supply  260  supplies power to the remote controller  200 . If the remote controller  200  is kept stationary for a predetermined time or longer, the power supply  260  may, for example, reduce or shut off supply of power to the spatial remote controller  200  in order to save power. The power supply  260  may resume power supply if a predetermined key on the spatial remote controller  200  is manipulated. 
     The memory  270  may store various types of programs and application data necessary to control or drive the remote controller  200 . The spatial remote controller  200  may wirelessly transmit signals to and/or receive signals from the image display apparatus  100  over a predetermined frequency band with the aid of the RF module  221 . The controller  280  of the remote controller  200  may store information regarding the frequency band used for the remote controller  200  to wirelessly transmit signals to and/or wirelessly receive signals from the paired image display apparatus  100  in the memory  270 , for later use. 
     The controller  280  provides overall control to the remote controller  200 . The controller  280  may transmit a signal corresponding to a key manipulation detected from the user input unit  235  or a signal corresponding to motion of the spatial remote controller  200 , as sensed by the sensor unit  240 , to the image display apparatus  100 . 
       FIGS. 15 to 18  illustrate UIs in either of the image display apparatuses according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , an application list available from a network is displayed on the display  180 . A user may access a CP or an NP directly, search for various applications, and download the applications from the CP or the NP. 
     Specifically,  FIG. 15( a )  illustrates an application list  610  available in a connected server, displayed on the display  180 . The application list  610  may include an icon representing each application and a brief description of the application. Because each of the image display apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention is capable of full browsing, it may enlarge the icons or descriptions of applications received from the connected server on the display  180 . Accordingly, the user can readily identify applications, which will be described later. 
       FIG. 15( b )  illustrates selection of one application  620  from the application list  610  using the pointer  205  of the remote controller  200 . Thus, the selected application  620  may be easily downloaded. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an application list available in the image display apparatus, displayed on the display  180 . Referring to  FIG. 16( a ) , when the user selects an application list view menu by manipulating the remote controller  200 , a list of applications  660  stored in the image display apparatus is displayed on the display  180 . While only icons representing the applications are shown in  FIG. 16 , the application list  660  may further include brief descriptions of the applications, like the application list  610  illustrated in  FIG. 15 . Therefore, the user can readily identify the applications. 
       FIG. 16( b )  illustrates selection of one application  670  from the application list  660  using the pointer  205  of the remote controller  200 . Thus, the selected application  670  may be easily executed. 
     While it is shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  that the user selects a desired application by moving the pointer  205  using the remote controller  200 , the application may be selected in many other ways. For example, the user may select a specific application using a cursor displayed on the display  180  by a combined input of a local key and an OK key in the remote controller  200 . 
     In another example, if the remote controller  200  has a touch pad, the pointer  205  moves on the display  180  according to touch input of the touch pad. Thus the user may select a specific menu using the touch-based pointer  205 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a Web page displayed on the display  180 . Specifically,  FIG. 17( a )  illustrates a Web page  710  with a search window  720 , displayed on the display  180 . The user may enter a character into the search window  720  by use of character keys (not shown) of a keypad displayed on a screen, character keys (not shown) provided as local keys, or character keys (not shown) of the remote controller  200 . 
       FIG. 17( b )  illustrates a search result page  730  having search results matching a keyword entered into the search window  720 . Since the image display apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention are capable of fully browsing a Web page, the user can easily read the Web page. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates another Web page displayed on the display  180 . Specifically,  FIG. 18( a )  illustrates a mail service page  810  including an ID input window  820  and a password input window  825 , displayed on the display  180 . The user may enter a specific numeral and/or text into the ID input window  820  and the password input window  825  using a keypad (not shown) displayed on the mail service page  810 , character keys (not shown) provided as local keys, or character keys (not shown) of the remote controller  200 . Hence, the user can log in to a mail service. 
       FIG. 18( b )  illustrates a mail page  830  displayed on the display  180 , after log-in to the mail service. For example, the mail page  830  may contains items “read mail”, “write mail”, “sent box”, “received box”, “recycle bin”, etc. In the “received box” item, mail may be ordered by sender or by title. 
     The image display apparatuses according to the embodiments of the present invention are capable of full browsing when displaying a mail service page. Therefore, the user can use the mail service conveniently. 
       FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and  FIGS. 20 to 39  are views referred to for describing various examples of the method for operating an image display apparatus, illustrated in  FIG. 19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , it is determined whether a go-to-home input has been received (S 1910 ). Upon receipt of a go-to-home input, a home screen including a card object area and an application menu area is displayed (S 1915 ). 
     Specifically, the controller  170  determines whether a go-to-home input has been received, through input of a local key (not shown) or manipulation of the remote controller  200 . The go-to-home input may be generated when the image display apparatus is powered on or wakes from standby mode, or when a local key (not shown) or a home key or menu key of the remote controller  200  is manipulated. 
     Upon receipt of the go-to-home input, the controller  170  may control display of a home screen including a plurality of card objects and an application menu on the display  180 . The plurality of card objects and the application menu may be sequentially displayed. 
     On the home screen, the card object area may include a plurality of card objects classified according to content sources. For examples, the card objects may be a card object for displaying a broadcast image, a card object for providing a CP list, and a card object for providing a list of applications. The card objects will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 20 to 39 . 
     These card objects may be generated in a card object generator  345  of the image display apparatus  100 . The card object generator  345  may be included in the controller  170  or may be included in the OSD generator  340  of the controller  170  or may be configured as a separate GPU. The plurality of card objects generated from the card object generator  345  may be transmitted to and displayed on the display  180 . 
     On the home screen, the application menu area may include a plurality of application menu items, particularly mandatory application menu items and optional application menu items set by the user. The application menu is an application compact-view menu, which may include a view more menu item for a fullscreen-view function. The application menu will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 20 to 39 . 
     The application menu may be generated in an application menu generator (not shown) of the image display apparatus  100 . The application menu generator may be included in the OSD generator  340  of the controller  170  or may be configured as a separate GPU. The application menu generated from the application menu generator may be transmitted to and displayed on the display  180 . 
     A favorite channel object for indicating favorite channels may be displayed on the home screen. Especially, the favorite channel object may be included in the card object that displays a broadcast image among the plurality of card objects. The favorite channel object will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 20 to 39 . 
     As stated before, the display  180  may display the home screen when the image display apparatus is powered on or a home key is input. The configuration of the home screen allows the user to easily select a desired service, thus increasing user convenience. 
     It is then determined whether a card object move input has been received (S 1920 ). Upon receipt of the card object move input, a PROMOTION card object is displayed on the home screen (S 1925 ). 
     Specifically, the controller  170  determines whether a card object move input has been received through input of a local key (not shown) or manipulation of the remote controller  200 , with the home screen displayed on the display  180 . Upon receipt of the card object move input, the controller  170  may control movement of at least one card object corresponding to the card object move input on the display  180 . For example, the PROMOTION card object hidden from the display  180  in a hidden area may show up on the display  180  according to the card object move input. This operation will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 20 to 21 . 
     It is determined whether a notification has been selected from the PROMOTION card object (S 1930 ). Upon selection of the notification, the notification is displayed in fullscreen on the display  180  or information linked to the notification is displayed on the display  180  (S 1935 ). 
     Specifically, with the PROMOTION card object displayed on the home screen, the controller  170  determines whether a notification included in the PROMOTION card object has been selected through input of a local key (not shown) or manipulation of the remote controller  200 . Upon selection of the notification, the controller  170  controls fullscreen display of the selected notification or display of information linked to the selected notification, which will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 24 and 25 . 
     With the PROMOTION card object displayed on the home screen, it is determined whether a card object name has been selected in the PROMOTION card object (S 1940 ). Upon selection of the card object name in the PROMOTION card object, a promotion screen may be displayed (S 1945 ). 
     Specifically, with the PROMOTION card object displayed on the home screen, the controller  170  determines whether the card object name has been selected from the PROMOTION card object through input of a local key (not shown) or manipulation of the remote controller  200 . Upon selection of the card object name in the PROMOTION card object, the controller  170  controls display of a promotion screen including at least one of a notification list or an advertisement area, which will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 26 and 27 . 
     With the advertisement area displayed on the promotion screen, it is determined whether the advertisement area has been selected (S 1950 ). Upon selection of the advertisement area, the advertisement area may be displayed fullscreen (S 1955 ). 
     Specifically, with the advertisement area displayed on the promotion screen, the controller determines whether the advertisement area has been selected though input of a local key (not shown) or manipulation of the remote controller  200 . Upon selection of the advertisement area, the controller  170  controls fullscreen display of the advertisement area, which will be described later with reference to  FIG. 28 . 
     As described before, if the image display apparatus  100  is a set-top box without the display  180 , the operation method illustrated in  FIG. 19  may amount to output of data for displaying an image or a screen on the display  180 . 
     For example, the controller  170  determines whether a go-to-home input has been received in step S 1910 . Upon receipt of the go-to-home input, the controller  170  may output data needed to display a home screen including a card object area and an application menu area. The display  180  may display the home screen using the data. 
     In the same manner, steps S 1915 , S 1925 , S 1935 , S 1945  and S 1955  may be performed as the process of outputting data for displaying an image or a screen. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary home screen displayed on the display  180 . 
     The home screen configuration illustrated in  FIG. 20  may be an example of a default screen configuration for a smart TV. The home screen may be set as an initial screen that is displayed when the image display apparatus is powered on or wakes from standby mode, or as a default screen that is displayed when a local key (not shown) or a home key of the remote controller  200  is manipulated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , a card object area and an application menu area may be defined in a home screen  2000 . 
     The card object area may include a plurality of card objects  2010 ,  2020  and  2030  classified according to content sources. 
     In the illustrated case of  FIG. 20 , the card object  2010  is named BROADCAST and displays a broadcast image. The card object  2020  is named NETCAST PREMIUM and provides a CP list. The card object  2030 , which is named NETCAST APPS, provides a list of applications. 
     Other card objects may be arranged in a hidden area  2001  and thus not displayed on the display  180 . These card objects may be shifted to show up on the display  180 , substituting for card objects displayed on the display  180 . The hidden card objects are a CHANNEL BROWSER card object  2040  for providing a thumbnail list of broadcast channels, a TV GUIDE card object  2050  for providing a program list, a RECORDED LIST card object  2060  for providing a list of recorded programs, a MY MEDIA card object  2070  for providing a media list, a PROMOTION card object  2080  for announcing a notification, and a RECOMMENDED card object  2090  for providing a list of content recommended by a CP. 
     The BROADCAST card object  2010  may contain a broadcast image  2015  received through the tuner  110  or the network interface  130 , an object  2021  for providing information about the broadcast image  2015 , an object  2017  representing an external device, a setup object  2018 , and a favorite channel object  2019  for indicating favorite channels. 
     The broadcast image  2015  is displayed as a card object. Since the broadcast image  2015  may be fixed in size by a lock function, the user may continue viewing the broadcast image  2015  conveniently. 
     It is also possible to scale the broadcast image  2015  according to user manipulation. For instance, the broadcast image  2015  may be enlarged or contracted by dragging the broadcast image  2015  with the pointer  205  of the remote controller  200 . As the broadcast image  2015  is scaled up or down, four or two card objects may be displayed on the display  180 , instead of the current three card objects. 
     When the broadcast image  2015  is selected in the card object  2010 , the broadcast image  2015  may be fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     The object  2021  representing information about the broadcast image  2015  may include a channel number (DTVI-1), a channel name (YBC HD), the title of a broadcast program (Oh! Lady), and airing time (8:00-8:50 PM) of the broadcast program. Therefore, the user can readily be aware of information about the displayed broadcast image  2015 . 
     If the user selects the object  2021 , related EPG information may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     An object  2002  for notifying a date (03.24), a day (THU), and a current time (8:13 PM) may be positioned above the card object  2010  that displays a broadcast image. Thus the user can readily identify time information through the object  2002 . 
     The object  2017  may represent an external device connected to the image display apparatus  100 . For example, if the object  2017  is selected, a list of external devices connected to the image display apparatus  100  may be displayed. 
     The setup object  2018  may be used to set various settings of the image display apparatus  100 , such as video settings, audio settings, screen settings, program scheduling settings, setting of the pointer  205  of the remote controller  200 , and network settings. 
     The favorite channel object  2019  may be used to list favorite channels. For example, upon selection of the favorite channel object  2019 , a favorite channel card object  2610  may be displayed. 
     The card object  2020  representing a CP list may contain a card object name  2022  (NETCAST PREMIUM) and a CP list  2025 . While Yakoo, Metflix, weather.com, Picason, and My tube are shown as CPs in the CP list  2025  in  FIG. 20 , it is obvious that many other options are possible. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2022 , the card object  2020  may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . 
     If a specific CP is selected from the CP list  2025 , a screen with a list of content provided by the selected CP may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2030  representing an application list may include a card object name  2032  (NETCAST APPS) and an application list  2035 . Applications may be sorted into predetermined categories in the application list  2035 . In the illustrated case of  FIG. 20 , applications are sorted by popularity (HOT) and by time (NEW), which should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2032 , the card object  2030  may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of an application from the application list  2035 , a screen that provides information about the selected application may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     A Login menu item  2027 , a Help menu item  2028 , and an Exit menu item  2029  may be displayed above the card objects  2020  and  2030 . 
     The user may log in to an app store or a network connected to the image display apparatus using the Login menu item  2027 . The Help menu item  2028  provides guidance on operation of the image display apparatus  100 . The Exit menu item  2029  is used to exit the home screen. When the Exit menu item  2029  is selected, a received broadcast image may be fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     An object  2037  may be displayed under the card objects  2020  and  2030  to indicate the total number of available card objects. Alternatively or additionally, the object  2037  may indicate the number of card objects being displayed on the display  180  as well. 
     The card object  2040  representing a thumbnail list of broadcast channels may include a card object name  2042  (CHANNEL BROWSER) and a thumbnail list of broadcast channels  2045 . Sequentially received broadcast channels are represented as thumbnail images in  FIG. 20 . The thumbnail images may be still images or moving pictures. The thumbnail list  2045  may include information about the channels along with the thumbnail images of the channels, so that the user can readily identify broadcast programs of the channels. The thumbnail images may include a thumbnail image of a broadcast image that the user is viewing or thumbnail images of channels following or previous to the channel of the broadcast image  2015  displayed in the card object  2010 . Although eight thumbnail images are displayed in  FIG. 20 , many other configurations are possible. Thumbnail images may be updated in the thumbnail list  2045 . 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2042 , the card object  2040  may be fullscreened on the display  180 . That is, information about the thumbnail list  2045  may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of a thumbnail image from the thumbnail list  2045 , a broadcast image corresponding to the channel of the selected thumbnail image may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2050  providing a program list may contain a card object name  2052  (TV GUIDE) and a program list  2055 . The program list  2055  may list broadcast programs that air after the broadcast program of the broadcast image  2015  or broadcast programs of other channels, to which the present invention is not limited. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2052 , the card object  2050  may be fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     If a program is selected from the program list  2055 , a broadcast image of the selected program or broadcast information about the selected program may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2060  representing a recorded program list may include a card object name  2062  (RECORDED LIST) and a scheduled or recorded program list  2065 . The scheduled or recorded program list  2065  may include programs scheduled for recording or programs recorded by scheduling. Although a thumbnail image is displayed for each program, this is merely an exemplary application and thus various examples can be considered. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2062 , the card object  2060  may be fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of a scheduled program or a recorded program from the scheduled or recorded program list  2065 , broadcast information about the scheduled or recorded broadcast program or broadcast images of the scheduled or recorded broadcast program may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2070  representing a media list may include a card object name  2072  (MY MEDIA) and a media list  2075 . The media list  2075  may list media available in the image display apparatus  100  or a device connected to the image display apparatus  100 . While the media are shown as moving pictures, still images, and audio in  FIG. 20 , many other media such as text, e-books, etc. may be added to the media. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2072 , the card object  2070  may be fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of a file from the media list  2075 , the selected file may be opened and a screen corresponding to the selected file may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2080  representing a notification may contain a card object name  2082  (PROMOTION) and a notification  2083  and  2085 . The notification  2083  and  2085  include a notification or an advertisement received from at least one of a CP, a service provider, a network provider, or an application provider. Therefore, the user can easily read the notification. 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2082 , the card object  2080  may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of the notification  2083  and  2085 , the notification  2083  and  2085  may be displayed fullscreen or information linked to the notification  2083  and  2085  may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card object  2090  representing a list of content recommended by a CP may contain a card object name  2092  (RECOMMENDED) and a recommended content list  2095 . The recommended content list  2095  may be a list of content recommended by a CP or a user of a network. While recommended content is classified into drama and entertainment such as news and sports in the illustrated case of  FIG. 20 , this is purely exemplary and thus many other options are possible. For example, the recommended content may be classified into drama, movies, news, sports, animation, music, books, Web, etc. Hence, the user can easily identify recommended content by category. 
     Upon selection off the card object name  2092 , the card object  2090  may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . 
     Upon selection of specific content from the recommended content list  2095 , an image corresponding to the selected content may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     The card objects  2020  and  2030  displayed on the display  180  may be exchanged with the hidden card objects  2040  to  2090  according to a card object move input. Specifically, at least one of the card objects  2020  or  2030  being displayed on the display  180  may move to the hidden area  2001  and in turn, at least one of the hidden objects  2040  to  2090  may appear on the display  180 . 
     An application menu  2005  includes a plurality of application menu items, particularly predetermined menu items  2006  to  2009  selected from among all available application menu items on the display  180 . Thus the application menu  2005  may be referred to as an application compact-view menu. 
     The application menu items  2006  to  2009  may be divided into mandatory application menu items  2006 ,  2007  and  2009  (Search, App Store, and +) and optional application menu items  2008  (Music, Book, MAZON, and SNS) set by the user. 
     The mandatory application menu items  2006 ,  2007  and  2009  may be preset as default menu items such that the user is not allowed to edit the same. 
     The Search application menu item  2006  provides a search function based on an input search keyword. The App Store application menu item  2007  enables the user to access an app store directly. The +(View More) application menu item  2009  may provide a fullscreen function for displaying application menu items fullscreen. 
     The user-set application menu items  2008  may be edited to represent applications that the user most frequently uses. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an Internet application menu item (not shown) and a mail application menu item (not shown) may be added to the application menu  2005 . 
     For example, upon selection of the Internet application menu item, a Web page may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . Upon selection of the mail application menu item from the application menu  2005 , a mail service page may be displayed on the display  180 , as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
     The Internet application menu item and the mail application menu item may be fixed items and, accordingly, the user may not delete, rearrange, change or otherwise edit these items. On the other hand, the Internet application menu item and the mail application menu item may be added as user-set application items  2008  so that the user may delete, rearrange, change or otherwise edit these items. 
       FIGS. 20, 21 and 22  illustrate exemplary display of the PROMOTION card object. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , upon receipt of a card object move input while the home screen  2000  including the card objects  2010 ,  2020  and  2030  and the application menu  2005  is being displayed, the PROMOTION card object  2080  moves from the hidden area  2001  to the home screen  2000 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates movement of the PROMOTION card object  2080  and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090 . Therefore, the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are arranged side by side on the home screen  2000  as illustrated in  FIG. 22 . Therefore, the user can easily view a notification in the PROMOTION card object  2080 . 
       FIG. 23  is an enlarged view of the PROMOTION card object  2080  illustrated in  FIG. 20 . Referring to  FIG. 23 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  representing a notification may include the card object name (PROMOTION)  2082  and the notification  2083  and  2085 . 
     The notification  2083  and  2085  may include a notification or an advertisement received from at least one of a CP, a service provider, a network provider, or an application provider. Hence, the user can be readily read the notification. 
     The notification  2083  and  2085  may take the form of at least one of text, an image or a moving picture. In  FIG. 23 , the notification includes an image  2083  and text  2085 . While a single notification is illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  may contain a plurality of notifications. A notification list will be described later with reference to  FIG. 25 . 
     The notification  2083  and  2085  may be updated periodically. Upon receipt of a new notification or upon updating of an existing notification, the PROMOTION card object  2080  in the hidden area illustrated in  FIG. 20  may appear on the home screen  2000  as illustrated in  FIG. 22  without a card object move input. Hence, the user can be immediately notified of the latest notification. 
     The notification data may be received through the network interface  130  or the tuner  110 . The card object generator  345  may generate the PROMOTION card object  2080  including the notification  2083  and  2085  using the received notification data. Hence, the PROMOTION card object  2080  may be displayed on the home screen  2000 . 
     While it is shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21  that the PROMOTION card object  2080  resides in the hidden area  2001  and appears on the display  180  according to a card object move input, alternatively, the card object generator  345  may generate the PROMOTION card object  2080  upon receipt of the card object move input and then display the PROMOTION card object  2080  on the display  180 . The PROMOTION card object  2080  may be generated in real time or stored in advance. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  illustrate an exemplary operation for selecting a notification in the PROMOTION card object  2080 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 24 , with the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the PROMOTION card object  2080 , and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  displayed on the home screen  2000 , the image notification  2083  is selected by a cursor  2105  of a remote controller  2100 , by way of example. It is also possible to select both the image notification  2083  and the text notification  2085 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 25 , upon selection of the image notification  2083  in the PROMOTION card object  2080 , information linked to the image notification  2083  is displayed fullscreen. It is also possible to display the selected image notification  2083  fullscreen and then, upon reselection of the notification, to display information linked to the selected notification. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the image notification  2083  is about baseball. Hence, baseball-related content may be displayed. For example, menus  2220  may be displayed in the form of tabbed menus including Today&#39;s games, Calendar and Standings. For each menu, related information  2210  may be displayed. In the illustrated case of  FIG. 25 , the Today&#39;s Games menu is selected and thus game results are displayed as the information  2210 . A menu  2230  including an Exit menu item may be disposed in a lower part of the display  180  for transition to another screen. 
     Since a CP or any other provider provides a notification, the menu  2230  may further include a menu item “Netcast” for allowing direct access to the CP or any other provider. 
     The notification may include various information such as soccer information, basketball information, product information, news, emergency notifications, etc. 
     Because the image display apparatus is capable of full browsing, details of a notification such as game results  2210  may be clearly organized on the display  180 . 
       FIGS. 26, 27 and 28  illustrate an exemplary operation for selecting the card object name in the PROMOTION card object  2080 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 26 , the card object name  2082  is selected by means of the cursor  2105  of the remote controller  2100 , while the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are being displayed on the home screen  2000 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 27 , upon selection of the card object name  2082  in the PROMOTION card object  2080 , a promotion screen including at least one of a notification list or an advertisement area  2320  is displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . 
     In the notification list, notifications may be arranged in the order in which they are received, that is, most recent first, or notifications may be sorted by notification provider or by notification content. 
     In  FIG. 27 , notifications are arranged in order of reception, by way of example. Thus a thumbnail image  2310  of the notification displayed in the PROMOTION card object  2080  may be disposed at the top leftmost corner of the promotion screen. 
     The thumbnail image  2310  of the notification may contain information about a date or time. In  FIG. 27 , the thumbnail image  2310  includes date information  2315  (04.01) and thumbnail images representing notifications are displayed in order of date. 
     In addition to the notification list, the advertisement area  2320  may be defined in a part of the display  180 . 
     As stated before, a notification is received from at least one of a CP, a service provider, a network provider, or an application provider. An advertisement may also be received from any of such providers. 
     In  FIG. 27 , the advertisement area  2320  is selected by means of the cursor  2105  of the remote controller  2100 , by way of example. Thus the selected advertisement area  2320  may be displayed fullscreen, as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . Therefore, the user may easily watch the advertisement. 
       FIGS. 29, 30 and 31  illustrate an exemplary operation for moving card objects by means of a pointer corresponding to movement of a remote controller. 
     Referring to  FIG. 29 , while the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the NETCAST PREMIUM card object  202 , and the NETCAST APPS card object  2030  are displayed on the home screen  2000 , a card object, particularly the NETCAST PREMIUM card object  2020  is flicked to the left by the pointer  205  of the remote controller  200 , by way of example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 30 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are moved. 
     Therefore, the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the PROMOTION card object  2080 , and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are displayed side by side on the home screen  2000 , as illustrated in  FIG. 31 . Accordingly, the user can readily identify the contents of the PROMOTION card object such as a notification. 
     While card objects including the PROMOTION card object  2080  are moved in twos by moving another card object in  FIG. 31 , they may be moved one by one. The number of moved card objects may depend on the strength and/or speed with which another card object is flicked. 
       FIGS. 32 and 33  illustrate an exemplary operation for moving card objects through input of a direction key of the remote controller, similarly to  FIGS. 29, 30 and 31 . 
     To move a card object, a left movement object and a right movement object may further be displayed at the left side of the NETCAST PREMIUM card object  2020  and at the right side of the NETCAST APPS card object  2030 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 32 , with the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the NETCAST PREMIUM card object  2020  and the NETCAST APPS card object  2030  displayed on the home screen  2000 , the left movement object may be selected by means of a left directional key or an OK key of the remote controller  2100 . Herein, the left movement object is selected using the cursor  2105  of the remote controller  2100 , by way of example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 33 , the PROMOTION card object  2080  and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are moved. 
     Therefore, the BROADCAST card object  2010 , the PROMOTION card object  2080 , and the RECOMMENDED card object  2090  are displayed side by side on the home screen  2000 , as illustrated in  FIG. 34 . Accordingly, the user can readily identify the contents of the PROMOTION card object such as a notification. 
     While card objects are moved in twos in  FIG. 34 , they may be moved one by one. The number of moved card objects may depend on the number of times the left movement object is selected. 
     The home screen  2000  illustrated in  FIG. 35  is different from the home screen  2000  illustrated in  FIG. 20  in that a card object  2610  representing favorite channels is further provided at the right side of the TV GUIDE card object  2050  in the hidden area. 
     The card object  2610  may include a card object name  2612  (FAVORITE CH) and a list of pre-stored favorite channels  2615 . While favorite channels are represented by thumbnail images, to which the present invention is not limited, they may be represented by moving pictures. The favorite channel list  2615  may include information about the favorite channels as well as the thumbnail images of the favorite channels. Hence, the user can readily identify programs airing on the favorite channels. While the FAVORITE CH card object  2610  represents 8 favorite channels in  FIG. 35 , many other configurations are possible. The thumbnail images may be updated in the FAVORITE CH card object  2610 . 
     Upon selection of the card object name  2612 , the card object  2610  may be displayed fullscreen on the display  180 . Thus, information about the favorite channel list  2615  may be displayed. 
     Upon selection of a thumbnail image in the favorite channel card list  2615 , a broadcast image of a channel corresponding to the thumbnail image may be displayed on the display  180 . 
     Also in  FIG. 35 , as a card object is moved, the PROMOTION card object  2080  is displayed on the home screen  2000 . Thus the user can readily view the contents of the PROMOTION card object  2080  such as a notification. 
       FIGS. 36 and 37  illustrate an exemplary operation for displaying an object indicating reception of a notification, while an image is being displayed fullscreen. 
     Upon receipt of a new notification or a notification update through the network interface  130  or the tuner  110  while an image  2710  is being displayed on the display  180  as illustrated in  FIG. 36 , an object  2720  indicating reception of a notification may pop up on the display  180 . 
     Upon user selection of the object  2720 , a home screen as illustrated in  FIG. 24  may appear, in which the PROMOTION card object  2080  is focused on. 
     Alternatively or additionally, upon user selection of the object  2720 , a promotion screen including a notification list as illustrated in  FIG. 27  is fullscreened on the display  180 . 
     As the user is instantly aware of the notification, user convenience increases. 
       FIGS. 38 and 39  illustrate an exemplary promotion setup operation. 
     Upon selection of a setup object  2018  with a PROMOTION card object  2082  displayed on the home screen as illustrated in  FIG. 38 , a promotion setup menu  2810  may be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 39 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 39 , a promotion update period, a promotion reception time, a promotion provider, and/or a notification type may be set in the promotion setup menu  2810 . Many other promotion settings can be considered, such as differentiating promotion settings for individual users. Emergency notification may be set as a default setting that does not allow editing. 
     The user can receive a desired notification at a desired time using this promotion setup menu. 
     The image display apparatus and the method for operating the same according to the foregoing exemplary embodiments are not restricted to the embodiments set forth herein. Therefore, variations and combinations of the embodiments set forth herein may fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     The method for operating an image display apparatus according to the foregoing embodiments may be implemented as code that can be written on a computer-readable recording medium and thus read by a processor. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission over the Internet). The computer-readable recording medium can be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. Programs, code and code segments to realize the embodiments herein can easily be realized by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.