METHOD OF GENERATING SEARCH INFORMATION AND IMAGE APPARATUS USING THE SAME

• US 20140136562A1
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YANG, Gyung-hye, KWAHK, Ji-Young, SUNG, Ju-Yun, LIM, Eun-Young, CHO, Bong-Hyun, HWANG, Sang-Woong, HER, Jee-Young
• Granted Patent: US 9,928,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/437 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialisation, adaptation, distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions

Abstract

A method of generating search information enables efficient navigation of content and an image apparatus therefore. The method of generating search information includes extracting and storing a portion of a plurality of searched screens, and generating search information using the stored screens. Accordingly, search information regarding digital content can be generated in a more convenient manner. In addition, since searched screens are generated as search information, search information which enables more efficient navigation can be provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method of generating search information of content from screens displayed on a display of an apparatus, the method comprising:

extracting images of a portion of a plurality of previously searched screens;

storing the extracted images of the plurality of previously searched screens; and

generating the search information, which is used in a searching operation, using the stored extracted images of the plurality of previously searched screens.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the search information comprises a search history in which the stored extracted images of the plurality of previously searched screens are arranged in an order in which they are searched.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the images includes extracting an image of a previously searched screen which has a hierarchical relationship with a previous extracted screen based on screen information contained in the previous extracted screen.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the screen information comprises information regarding items which are displayed on the previous extracted screen.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search command;

determining if a screen searched according to the search command is similar to at least one of the stored extracted images of the plurality of previously searched screens; and

displaying the search information or at least one of the extracted images in the search information, on the screen searched according to the search command if the screen searched according to the search command is similar to the at least one of the extracted images.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of previously searched screens is screens which are searched using a keyword.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing the generated search information along with the keyword.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the images includes extracting the portion of the plurality of previously searched screens in reverse order from a search result screen to an initial search screen.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the images includes extracting the portion of the plurality of previously searched screens during a preset period of time preceding a time when a search result screen is extracted.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the images include extracting a portion of the previously searched screens which is displayed for the longest period of time.

11. An image apparatus to generate search information of contents from previously searched screens displayed on a display of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a storage unit which stores images of the previously searched screens; and

a control unit which extracts the images of a portion of a plurality of the previously searched screens, stores the extracted images of the plurality of the previously searched screens in the storage unit, and generates search information, which is used in a searching operation, using the stored extracted images of the plurality of the previously searched screens.

12. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the search information is information regarding a search history in which the stored extracted images of the plurality of the previously searched screens are arranged in an order in which they are searched.

13. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit extracts an image of a previously searched screen which has a hierarchical relationship with a previous extracted screen based on screen information contained in the previous extracted screen.

14. The image apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the screen information comprises information regarding items which are displayed on the previous extracted screen.

15. The image apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a user command receiving unit which receives a search command, wherein if the user command receiving unit receives the search command, the control unit compares a screen searched according to the search command with at least one of the stored extracted images of the plurality of the previously searched screens, and displays the search information or at least one of the extracted images in the search information, on the screen searched according to the search command if the screen searched according to the search command is similar to the at least one of the extracted images.

16. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of the previously searched screens are screens which are searched using a keyword.

17. The image apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control unit stores the generated search information along with the keyword in the storage unit.

18. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit extracts the portion of the plurality of the previously searched screens in reverse order from a search result screen to an initial search screen.

19. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit extracts the portion of the plurality of the previously searched screens during a preset period of time preceding the time when the search result screen is extracted.

20. The image apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the extracted screen is a portion of a view of a previously searched screen which is displayed for a longest period of time.