METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING/RECEIVING WEB-BASED SERVICE OF PLURALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDERS

• US 20090043842A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: RHIM, Eun-hee, Choi, Hyok-sung, Hwang, In-chul, Park, Sung-jin
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for providing/receiving a service from a plurality of service providers. In the method, in order to receive a service from a plurality of Internet protocol television (IPTV) service providers, a client receives information regarding at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application from a server of a service provider selected from the IPTV service providers. Then, the client requests the server to provide a service providing at least one of the feed and the application based on the received information, and receives the service from the server. Accordingly, it is possible to provide or receive web-based services via an IPTV network.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a client to receive services from a plurality of service providers, the method comprising:

receiving information regarding at least one service that is to be received from a first server of a service provider selected from among the plurality of service providers, from a second server;

requesting in a request, the first server to provide a predetermined service from among the at least one service, based on the received information; and

receiving the predetermined service provided from the first server in response to the request,

wherein the predetermined service is a web-based service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one service comprises an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, and

the plurality of service providers comprise a plurality of IPTV service providers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feed comprises a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the RSS feed.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving of the predetermined service comprises periodically receiving the RSS feed from the first server.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the web-based application comprises a widget.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the web-based application.

30. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 1.

9. A method of allowing a server to provide a client with information regarding at least one service provided from a plurality of service providers, the method comprising:

receiving and registering the information regarding the at least one service provided from the plurality of servers of the plurality of service providers; and

providing the registered information to the client,

wherein the at least one service comprises a web-based service.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one service comprises Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, and

the plurality of service providers comprise a plurality of IPTV service providers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the feed comprises an Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the RSS feed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the web-based application comprises a widget.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the web-based application.

31. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 9.

16. A method of allowing a first server of a service provider to provide a predetermined service to a client, the method comprising:

registering information regarding at least one service that is to be provided from the service provider, with a second server;

receiving a request for a predetermined service from among the at least one service, based on the registered information, from the client; and

providing the predetermined service to the client in response to the request,

wherein the second server provides the client with the information regarding the at least one service provided from a plurality of service providers including the service provider, and

the predetermined service is a web-based service.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one service comprises Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services, and

the plurality service providers comprise a plurality of IPTV service providers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the feed comprises an Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the RSS feed.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the providing of the predetermined service comprises periodically providing the RSS feed to the client.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the web-based application comprises a widget.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the information regarding the at least one service comprises information regarding a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the web-based application.

32. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 16.

24. A client for receiving services from a plurality of service providers, the client comprising:

a service search unit which receives information regarding at least one service that are to be received from a first server of a service provider selected from the plurality of service providers, from a second server; and

a service receiving unit which requests in a request, the first server to provide a predetermined service from among the at least one service, based on the received information, and receives the predetermined service provided from the first server in response to the request,

wherein the predetermined service is a web-based service.

25. The client of claim 24, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.

26. A search server for providing a client with information regarding at least one service that a plurality of service providers provide, the search server comprising:

an information storage unit which receives and registers the information regarding the at least one service from a plurality of servers of the plurality of service providers; and

an information providing unit which provides the registered information to the client,

wherein the at least one service comprises a web-based service.

27. The search server of claim 26, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.

28. A server of a service provider providing a predetermined service to a client, the server comprising:

an information registration unit which registers information regarding at least one service that is to be provided from the service provider, with a search server; and

a service providing unit which receives a request for a predetermined service of the at least one service, which is made based on the registered information, from the client, and provides the predetermined service to the client in response to the request,

wherein the search server provides the client with information regarding the at least one service provided from a plurality of service providers including the service provider,

and the predetermined service is a web-based service.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the web-based service provides at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application.