Patent Publication Number: US-2011060841-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for providing streaming information in a broadcast system

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to an application entitled “Method And Apparatus For Providing Streaming Information In A Broadcast System” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 8, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0084520, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a multimedia broadcast system, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for providing streaming information of another user or another client in a multimedia broadcast system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a multimedia broadcast system providing multimedia data to a plurality of users and a plurality of devices includes a home server for streaming multimedia data and a plurality of clients for receiving multimedia data from the home server. Further, it is possible to construct a multimedia broadcast system according to a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) for digital home networking. In the multimedia broadcast system, a Digital Media Control (DMC) point appoints the location of a Digital Media Server (DMS) and an address of contents stored in the DMS to a Digital Media Renderer (DMR) for reproducing contents, and the DMR can receive a streaming service by making a request for appointed contents to the DMS. 
     In a general multimedia broadcast system, a home server searches for multimedia information by using meta data information, such as a filename of multimedia data stored for search and reproduction of multimedia in a multimedia content server. Thereafter, the home server provides a list of found contents to clients through a pre-defined transmission protocol, and a client displays the list of found contents through a user interface, such as a display unit. If a content to be reproduced is selected by a user in the next client device, information on the selected content is transferred to the home server according to a pre-defined protocol, and the home server streams the requested content to the client device according to a pre-defined protocol. 
     Since the conventional multimedia content search and reproduction method of a home server as described above is based on multimedia data stored in a server, it can provide a method of searching for content stored in the server but cannot provide a function capable of searching for or reproducing content or broadcast data, which the server is currently streaming. 
     Further, since the conventional home server system aims only at distribution of the contents owned by the conventional home server system, it does not manage information on the client device having requested the content. Therefore, the conventional home server system is able to understand neither the client device reproducing the content nor the content reproduced by the client device. 
     Therefore, when a user wants to reproduce the same content as a multimedia content that is being reproduced in another client device, for example, when a user wants to view a content in his or her own room through a notebook in a state in which the same content is being reproduced by a television in a living room, the user is faced with a cumbersome job of first understanding information of the content, such as a title of the content, searching for the information of the content through a server, etc., and then requesting the server to reproduce the content. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention provides a method and an apparatus, which can provide a client with streaming information of other users in a multimedia broadcast system for a plurality of users, so that the client can easily obtain information on another client and another user, and the information on the broadcast data or multimedia contents, which another client or another user is reproducing. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system, the method including receiving information of a client connected to a home server; receiving a request from the client and analyzing the received request; and when the received request is a request for streaming information, providing information of a content, which is being streamed in the home server, to the client having sent the request. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of receiving streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system, the method including receiving information of a client connected to a home server; receiving a request from the client and analyzing the received request; when the received request is a request for a content, streaming the requested content to the client having sent the request; and storing streaming information on the content, which is being streamed. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system, the apparatus including a tuner receiving a plurality of broadcast signals; a broadcast receiving unit selecting channels of the broadcast signals and configuring a channel list and broadcast information; storage units storing multimedia content data; a content search unit securing a list of the storage units and searching for contents of the storage units; a request transmission/reception unit receiving a request from a client; a connection management unit, when receiving a request for a content from the request transmission/reception unit, transferring the requested content to a multimedia transmission unit so that the requested content can be streamed in the client having sent the request, and storing the streaming information in a database; and the multimedia transmission unit receiving multimedia content from the connection management unit and transferring the received multimedia content to a client having requested streaming. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an apparatus for providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving information of a client device by a home server at the time of an operation in order to provide streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the request transmission/reception unit in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the connection management unit in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a streaming information table stored in a home server in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the remote UI providing unit in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows an example of streaming up/down in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a state in which streaming is being performed for each client in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of a screen providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, various specific definitions are provided only to help general understanding of the present invention, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without such definitions. Further, in the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. 
     The present invention provides a method and an apparatus, which can provide a client with streaming information of other users in a multimedia broadcast system for a plurality of users, so that the client can easily obtain information on another client and another user, and the information on the broadcast data or multimedia contents, which another client or another user is reproducing. Further, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus, by which a client can easily select a content being streamed in another client and easily streams the selected content. 
     To this end, according to the present invention, a home server receives information of a client connected to the home server; streams a content upon receiving a request for the content from the client; stores streaming information including information of streamed content, information of the client receiving the streaming, and streaming status information; and provides the streaming information stored in the home server to the client upon receiving a request for the streaming information from the client. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an apparatus for providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a home server apparatus  100  for providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a tuner unit  105 , a broadcast receiving unit  110 , a connection management unit  115 , a request transmission/reception unit  120 , a multimedia transmission unit  125 , a remote User Interface (UI) providing unit  130 , a database (DB)  135 , a content search unit  140 , an internal storage unit  145 , and an external storage unit  150 . 
     The tuner unit  105  receives a broadcast signal and may include a plurality of tuners. 
     The broadcast receiving unit  110  selects a channel with a given frequency, and selects a Physical Transmission Channel according to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). The broadcast receiving unit  110  constructs a channel list and broadcast information by analyzing section table data and an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) received through a broadcast signal, and performs registration of the DB  135  and an operation for broadcast reproduction. 
     The content search unit  140  secures a list of the storage units  145  and  150  connected to the home server apparatus  100 , and scans contents of the storage units. Specifically, the content search unit  140  secures a list of connectable storage units  145  and  150  and registers the list in the database  135 . 
     The request transmission/reception unit  120  receives a request from a renderer apparatus connected to the home server apparatus  100  (that is, a client apparatus) or transmits a request to the client apparatus. In the present invention, the request transmission/reception unit  120  performs a network connection upon receiving a connection request from a client apparatus, transfers a title of contents to be streamed and a streaming request to the connection management unit  115  upon receiving the streaming request, and transfers information of the streaming information request to the remote UI providing unit  130  upon receiving the streaming information request indicating a current streaming state. 
     Upon receiving content information to be streamed from the request transmission/reception unit  120 , the connection management unit  115  loads the content information and transfers the loaded content information to the multimedia transmission unit  125 . Further, the connection management unit  115  stores information of a client having transmitted the request, which had been transferred from the request transmission/reception unit  120 , information of content to be transmitted, and streaming state information in the database  135 . If the requested content is real time broadcast content, the connection management unit  115  sends a command to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , so as to acquire the requested broadcast content stream and transfer the acquired broadcast content stream to the multimedia transmission unit  125 . If the requested content is a multimedia content stored in the internal storage unit  145  or the external storage unit  150 , the connection management unit  115  loads the stored multimedia content either internally or through an external network and transfers the multimedia content to the multimedia transmission unit  125 . 
     Further, the connection management unit  115  manages the current streaming state by means of a streaming index list. The connection management unit  115  adds streaming information to the streaming index list when a new streaming starts, and deletes streaming information in the streaming index list when the streaming terminates. Further, detailed contents of the streaming information may be stored in the database  135 . 
     Upon receiving a real time content request from the request transmission/reception unit  120 , the connection management unit  115  transfers channel index information included in the request to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , and controls the broadcast receiving unit  110  such that the broadcast receiving unit  110  selects a channel using the channel index and provides real time content to the connection management unit  115 . Further, the connection management unit  115  transfers the received real time content and client information included in the request to the multimedia transmission unit  125 , and controls the multimedia transmission unit  125  such that the multimedia transmission unit  125  streams the real time content to the client. 
     The multimedia transmission unit  125  streams and/or uploads the multimedia content, which has been transferred from the connection management unit  115 , to the client having requested the streaming. Protocols used for the transmission of the multimedia content may include a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP), Realtime Transport Protocol (RIP), and a User Datagram Protocol (UDP). 
     Upon receiving a request for streaming information indicating the current streaming state from a client device, the remote UI providing unit  130  constructs a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) user interface using the streaming information including reproduction state information, content information, and client information managed by the connection management unit  115 , and provides the constructed HTML user interface to the client. At this time, the user interface provided to the client includes information of each client, and information of content and reproduction state information of the content provided to each client. The information in the user interface may be expressed by a thumbnail image or icon, or a simplified sign. Further, the user interface may include a streaming reproduction request, by which a user selects one of contents being streamed to each client and reproduces the selected content in a client of the user, and may include an interface, which enables the selection of a streaming apparatus up/down request and a streaming content up/down request, which enables sequential selection of contents being streamed to each client. 
     The internal storage unit  145  and the external storage unit  150  store multimedia contents. The internal storage unit  145  is located within the home server  100 , and the external storage unit  150  is located outside of the home server  100  and is connected to the home server  100  either directly or through a network. 
     In the meantime, the home server  100  having the construction as described above can exchange request signals, content data, and UI information, etc. with a plurality of clients  201 ,  202 , and  203 , through the request transmission/reception unit  120 , the multimedia transmission unit  125 , and the remote UI providing unit  130 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  showing the operation of the home server  100  for providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system, first in step  210 , the home server  100  receives information of the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  connected to the home server  100 . The information of the clients may be received whenever a new client is connected. 
     Next, in step  220 , the home server  100  determines if a request from the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  has been received. As a result of the determination in step  220 , the home server  100  waits when a request has not been received and proceeds to step  230  when a request has been received. In step  230 , the home server  100  determines if the received request is a request for streaming information. As a result of the determination in step  230 , when the received request is a request for streaming information, the home server  100  proceeds to step  240 , in which the home server  100  provides the streaming information to the client having transmitted the request for the streaming information, and then proceeds to step  280 . At this time, the streaming information includes information of the content being currently streamed, information of the client receiving the streaming, and information on the streaming state. 
     As a result of the determination in step  230 , when the received request is not a request for streaming information, the home server  100  proceeds to step  250 , in which the home server  100  determines if the received request is a request for content. As a result of the determination in step  250 , when the received request is not a request for content, the home server  100  returns to step  220 . In contrast, when the received request is a request for content as a result of the determination in step  250 , the home server  100  proceeds to step  260 , in which the home server  100  streams the requested content to the client having transmitted the request for the content. At this time, when the requested content is a broadcast content, the home server  100  transfers the request information to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , thereby selecting a channel and streaming the broadcast content. When the requested content is content stored in a storage device, the home server  100  transfers the request information to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , thereby searching for corresponding content and streaming the corresponding content. However, in the present invention, the home server  100  may receive a request for a streaming content that is currently being streamed. At this time, the home server  100  may pass information of the client having transmitted the request to the request transmission/reception unit  120 , so as to add a streaming object of the multimedia transmission unit  125 , so that the multimedia transmission unit  125  can instantly perform the streaming. 
     Next, in step  270 , the home server  100  stores newly streamed content information and streaming information including client information and reproduction state information, thereby updating the streaming information stored in the database  135  of the home server  100 . 
     In step  280 , the home server  100  determines if the process has been completed, so as to terminate the process or return to step  220  in order to repeat the process. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving information of a client device by a home server at the time of an operation in order to provide streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in  FIG. 3  corresponds to step  210  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , first, when a particular client performs a multicast join procedure to the home server  100  in step  310 , the home server  100  searches for the newly joined client in step  320 . Then, the home server  100  secures an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the client in step  330 , and requests a descriptor of the client in step  340 . Next, in step  350 , the home server  100  registers information of the client, including an identifier (ID), a user, and a location of the client. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a home server and clients can construct a network by using DLNA or UPnP, and a client can connect to the home server also using the DLNA or Universal Plug ‘n’ Play (UPnP). In the case of UPnP, every apparatus to be controlled has its own Description XML file, which describes itself. Further, the Description XML file is transferred to a UPnP control access point through a UPnP discovery operation as defined in the UPnP spec. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the request transmission/reception unit  120  of  FIG. 1  in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in step  410 , the request transmission/reception unit  120  determines if a request from the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  has been received. As a result of the determination in step  410 , the request transmission/reception unit  120  waits when a request has not been received, and proceeds to step  420  when a request has been received. In step  420 , the request transmission/reception unit  120  analyzes the received request and extracts an ID of a client device. Next, in step  430 , the request transmission/reception unit  120  determines if the received request is a request for streaming information. As a result of the determination in step  430 , when the received request is a request for streaming information, the request transmission/reception unit  120  transfers information on the received request to the remote UI providing unit  130  in step  440 , and then returns to step  410 , in which the request transmission/reception unit  120  waits for another request. As a result of the determination in step  430 , when the received request is not a request for streaming information, the request transmission/reception unit  120  provides the information on the received request to the connection management unit  115  in step  450 , and then returns to step  410 , in which the request transmission/reception unit  120  waits for another request. 
     When the home server  100  provides an HTML UI to the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  like a remote UI, since an HTML script prepared in the home server  100  is transmitted to the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203 , the home server  100  can define all request command protocols. If the remote UI is not employed, the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  can define request commands between the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  and the home server  100 . At the time of providing the request commands, the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  provide command types, parameters according to the commands, and their own unique IDs. 
     The commands used in the clients  201 ,  202 , and  203  may include a real time channel setting request for setting a channel of a real time broadcast, a real time recording request for recording a real time broadcast, a real time broadcast reproduction request (real time content request) for reproducing a real time broadcast, a stored content reproduction request for reproducing contents stored in a storage device, a stored content download request for downloading contents stored in a storage device, a streaming information request for acquiring information of contents currently being streamed to another client, a streaming content request for reproducing information of contents currently being streamed to another client, a streaming content up/down request for selecting and reproducing contents currently being streamed by other clients, and a streaming device up/down request for selecting and reproducing contents currently being streamed by other clients. 
     As used herein, the real time setting request may include a channel index, and the stored content reproduction request may include a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). 
     The streaming content up/down request is a command for streaming a previous streaming content or a next streaming content with respect to a currently streamed content including a real time broadcast such as a broadcast channel up/down. This request can set a change order at the time of streaming up/down of contents by sorting the contents. 
     The streaming device up/down request is a command for receiving a streaming of a content played in a next device or a previous device in the list of devices receiving the streaming. By this request, it is possible to set a change order at the time of streaming up/down of contents by arranging the devices according to the types of the devices. For example, when there exists an audio renderer, such as an MP3 player, and a video renderer, such as a Set-Top Box (STB), a Television, and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), the streaming device up/down request may be set to first navigate the contents provided to the devices of the video renderer and then move to and stream the contents provided to the devices of the audio renderer. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the connection management unit in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , first in step  510 , the connection management unit  115  determines if a command from the request transmission/reception unit  120  has been received. As a result of the determination in step  510 , the connection management unit  115  waits when a command has not been received. When a command has been received, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  520 , in which the connection management unit  115  determines if the received command is a request for streaming content. As a result of the determination in step  520 , when the received command is a request for streaming content, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  530 , in which the connection management unit  115  extracts a streaming index from the requested information and transfers the extracted streaming index to the multimedia transmission unit  125 , and then returns to step  510 . 
     When a client has requested a content currently being streamed as described above, it implies that the home server  100  has already acquired content data from a broadcast channel or the storage units  145  and  150 , and the home server  100  instantly passes device information of the client to the multimedia transmission unit  125 , so that a streaming object of the currently streamed content is added and the streaming is instantly performed. That is, the streaming-requesting client and content information in the requested information is transferred to the multimedia transmission unit, and the requested content information is streamed to the requesting client. As a result, it is possible to instantly perform the streaming without a separate process of content loading or selection. 
     As a result of the determination in step  520 , when the received command is not a request for streaming content, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  540 , in which the connection management unit  115  determines if the received command is a request for real time content. As a result of the determination in step  540 , when the received command is a request for real time content, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  550 , in which the connection management unit  115  extracts channel information from the requested information and transfers the extracted channel information to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , and then returns to step  510 . 
     Upon receiving the request for real time content, the connection management unit  115  transfers channel index information included in the command to the broadcast receiving unit  110 , and the broadcast receiving unit  110  acquires requested real time broadcast data by selecting a channel with a given channel index and provides the acquired real time broadcast data to the connection management unit  115 . The connection management unit  115  transfers the received real time broadcast data and client information to the multimedia transmission unit  125 , so that the real time broadcast is streamed to the client. 
     As a result of the determination in step  540 , when the received command is not a request for real time content, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  560 , in which the connection management unit  115  determines if the received command is a request for stored content. When the received command is not a request for stored content, the connection management unit  115  returns to step  510 . When the received command is a request for stored content, the connection management unit  115  proceeds to step  570 , in which the connection management unit  115  extracts content information from the received request for stored content and transfers the extracted content information to the content search unit  140 . 
     Upon receiving the request for stored content, the connection management unit  115  transfers URI information included in the command to the content search unit  140 , and the content search unit  140  acquires content data having the requested URI and provides the acquired content data to the connection management unit  115 . The connection management unit  115  transfers the received content data together with client information to the multimedia transmission unit  125 , so that the multimedia content stored in the client is streamed. 
     When performing the operation according to the three types of content requests, the connection management unit  115  updates the streaming information, which includes information of the client receiving the streaming, content information, and information of the streaming state at each given time, to the database  135 . Hereinafter, a streaming information table as described above will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a streaming information table stored in a home server in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the streaming table  610  includes a streaming index, a content key, a device key, a play start time, and a play duration, and each content includes a content table  620  containing content information. The content table  620  includes a key, a type, a location, a name, a description, and a size/time. Further, information of each client device is stored in a client device information table  630 , which includes a key, a type, a location, a user name, an IP address, and information of UID. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the remote UI providing unit  130  in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     First, in step  710 , the remote UI providing unit  130  determines if a request for streaming information from the request transmission/reception unit  120  is received. As a result of the determination in step  710 , when a request for streaming information is not received, the remote UI providing unit  130  waits. As a result of the determination in step  710 , when a request for streaming information is received, the remote UI providing unit  130  proceeds to step  720 , in which the remote UI providing unit  130  requests the connection management unit  115  to provide the streaming information. Then, in step  730 , the remote UI providing unit  130  receives a streaming index list from the connection management unit  115 . In step  740 , the remote UI providing unit  130  receives the streaming information included in the streaming index list from the database  135 . Next, in step  750 , the remote UI providing unit  130  configures an HTML UI. At this time, a broadcast screen can be expressed by a thumbnail, or streaming state information can be expressed by a state bar. Thereafter, in step  760 , the remote UI providing unit  130  provides the configured HTML UI to the client requesting the streaming information. 
     Through the request for streaming information, the real time broadcast content can provide a thumbnail image of a screen, an intrinsic number of a service or channel, program information including a program title, a broadcast time, a broadcast title, and a currently played time. Further, the information of the stored content can provide meta data of the contents, such as a thumbnail image, a total reproduction time, a currently played time, a file name, a file type, genre, and an author. Further, it is possible to provide client device information, such as device type, device name, device location, and device user information. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of streaming up/down in a process of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8 , if a movie  810  is being reproduced in a first client and a drama  820  is being reproduced in a second client, a third client can identify, through a request for streaming information, the current reproduction state in the first client and the second client. Then, through streaming contents up/down or streaming device up/down, the third client can easily select and reproduce a content that the third client wants. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a state in which streaming is being performed for each client in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the first client  910  and the second client  920  are a telephone and a television (TV), respectively, which are reproducing a broadcast of “MBC”, and the third client  930  is a personal computer, which is reproducing stored content named “aa.mp3”. Further, the fourth client  940  is a DLNA STB, which is reproducing a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) content of “MBC”. 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of a screen providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , in a method of providing streaming information in a multimedia broadcast system, a client can output thumbnail type screens, which are being produced by other clients, on an upper right portion of its own screen, and can display information, such as a title of the content being streamed, elapsed reproduction duration, and the client type, in a manner that enables a user to easily and instantly understand the information. 
     In a multimedia broadcast system for a plurality of users according to an embodiment of the present invention, information of other users or other clients are provided to a client, and streaming information of other clients is provided to the client, so that the client can easily obtain information of a multimedia content or broadcast, which is being reproduced by other clients or other users. 
     Therefore, a client can easily obtain information of other clients, information of multimedia contents being viewed by other clients, a reproduction state, and other information by accessing a home server. Further, in the case of using a remote User Interface (UI), a browser installed in the client enables the client to easily use functions provided from the home server. 
     Further, through the functions, such as the streaming content up/down request and the streaming device up/down request, a client can easily and conveniently reproduce a content, which is being streamed by another client, without a separate loading or search. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.