Apparatus for providing digital content and method thereof

• US 9,367,545 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Woo-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US13/087,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 375/259
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/436 using biological or physiological data of a human being, e.g. blood pressure, facial expression, gestures

Abstract

An apparatus for providing content operable in association with an input apparatus, and a method thereof are provided. According to the apparatus and method, a control signal corresponding to an action of a user is received from an input apparatus associated with the content, a content associated with the input apparatus based on the received control signal is searched, and the searched content is provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing a digital content of an apparatus for providing digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a control signal corresponding to an action of a user from an input apparatus associated with the content;

searching the content associated with the input apparatus based on the received control signal; and

providing the searched content,

wherein the control signal comprises;

identifier information of the input apparatus,

a sensor value varied and measured at the input apparatus,

user action information acquired based on the sensor value, and

device control information acquired based on the user action information,

wherein the content associated with the input apparatus is executed and controlled by the action of the user detected at an input apparatus identified by the identifier information,

wherein the action of the user is varied according to a type of input apparatus, and

wherein the device control information comprises information to control the apparatus for providing digital content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal further comprises:

apparatus control information acquired based on the user action information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein searching comprises:

switching on power of the apparatus for providing digital content, if power of the apparatus for providing digital content is in an off state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the searched content comprises:

providing a list of the searched content.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

receiving a control signal corresponding to a selection of at least one content from the searched content list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one of the provided content and information related to the content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the searched content comprises:

executing a content controller module to provide the content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the content comprises:

ending execution of at least one of a content controller module and a Digital Television (DTV) controller module.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein user action information is mapped to corresponding sensor values utilizing a table mapping function.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the apparatus is a bar type apparatus, gripping by the user for a predetermined time measures one of time, pressure, temperature and motion regarding an action of the user utilizing one of a grip sensor, a touch sensor, a temperature sensor, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

9. A method for providing digital content, comprising:

receiving, at a first apparatus, a control signal corresponding to an action of a user from an input apparatus associated with the content;

searching a second apparatus operable in association with the input apparatus based on the received control signal; and

transmitting the control signal to the searched second apparatus,

wherein the external apparatus includes a content controller module operable in association with the input apparatus,

wherein the control signal comprises;

identifier information of the input apparatus,

a sensor value varied and measured at the input apparatus,

user action information acquired based on the sensor value, and

device control information acquired based on the user action information,

wherein the content associated with the input apparatus is executed and controlled by the action of the user detected at an input apparatus identified by the identifier information,

wherein the action of the user is varied according to a type of input apparatus, and

wherein the device control information comprises information to control the apparatus for providing digital content.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein the user action information is mapped to corresponding sensor values utilizing a table mapping function.

10. An apparatus for providing digital content, comprising:

a communication unit, which receives a control signal corresponding to an action of a user from an input apparatus associated with the content;

a control unit which searches a content associated with the input apparatus based on the received control signal; and

an output unit which provides the searched content,

wherein the control signal comprises;

identifier information of the input apparatus,

a sensor value varied and measured at the input apparatus,

user action information acquired based on the sensor value, and

device control information acquired based on the user action information,

wherein the content associated with the input apparatus is executed and controlled by the action of the user detected at an input apparatus identified by the identifier information,

wherein the action of the user is varied according to a type of the input apparatus, and

wherein the device control information comprises information to control the apparatus for providing digital content.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control signal further comprises:

apparatus control information acquired based on the user action information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit switches on power of the apparatus for providing digital content, if power of the apparatus for providing digital content is in off state.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit provides a list of the searched content.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication unit receives a control signal corresponding to at least one action of the user from the content list.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a display which displays at least one of the provided content and information related to the content.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit executes a content controller module to provide the content, if the content is provided.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein if the content is provided, the control unit ends execution of at least one of a content controller module and a Digital Television (DTV) controller module.

23. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user action information is mapped to corresponding sensor values utilizing a table mapping function.

18. An apparatus for providing digital content, the apparatus comprising:

a communication unit, which receives a control signal corresponding to an action of a user from an input apparatus associated with the content;

a control unit which searches an external apparatus operable in association with the input apparatus based on the received control signal; and

a transmitting unit which transmits the control signal to the searched second apparatus,

wherein the external apparatus includes a content controller module operable in association with the input apparatus,

wherein the control signal comprises;

identifier information of the input apparatus,

a sensor value varied and measured at the input apparatus

user action information acquired based on the sensor value, and

device control information acquired based on the user action information,

wherein the content associated with the input apparatus is executed and controlled by the action of the user detected at an input apparatus identified by the identifier information,

wherein the action of the user is varied according to a kind of input apparatus, and

wherein the device control information comprises information to control the apparatus for providing digital content.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user action information is mapped to corresponding sensor values utilizing a table mapping function.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a program to execute a method, comprising:

receiving a control signal corresponding to an action of a user from an input apparatus associated with the content;

searching a content associated with the input apparatus based on the received control signal; and

providing the searched content,

wherein the control signal comprises;

identifier information of the input apparatus,

a sensor value varied and measured at the input apparatus, user action information acquired based on the sensor value, and

device control information acquired based on the user action information,

wherein the content associated with the input apparatus is executed and controlled by the action of the user detected at an input apparatus identified by the identifier information,

wherein the action of the user is varied according to a type of the input apparatus, and

wherein the device control information comprises information to control the apparatus for providing digital content.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 19, wherein user action information is mapped to corresponding sensor values utilizing a table mapping function.