Method of providing service for user search, and apparatus, server, and system for the same

• US 9,547,688 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sagoo, Kiran Pal, Rhee, Young-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/308,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20140317094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/212, 709/213, 709/217, 709/245, 709/248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1053 with pre-configuration of logical or physical connections with a determined number of other peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A service provision method is provided for user search, and an apparatus, a server, and a system for the same. A service provision method includes transmitting a terminal search request message including a contents information element to a service provision server, receiving positional information of a terminal, which is playing first contents related to the contents information element, from the service provision server, and displaying the received positional information.

Claims

1. A terminal communication method performed by a first terminal, the method comprising:

reproducing a first content on the first terminal;

receiving user input to search for another terminal reproducing content related to the first content, while reproducing the first content on the first terminal;

transmitting a search request to search for another terminal reproducing content related to the first content, the search request comprising metadata of the first content;

receiving a search result based on the metadata of the first content that identifies a second terminal reproducing a second content related to the first content, the search result comprising positional information of the second terminal reproducing the second content; and

displaying the search result.

2. The terminal communication method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing communication with the second terminal, based on the search result.

3. The terminal communication method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the search result, while reproducing the first content on the first terminal.

4. The terminal communication method of claim 2, wherein the communication comprises at least one of an instant messaging service, a short messaging service, a voice-based call, and a video-based call.

5. The terminal communication method of claim 1, wherein the search result comprises an identity of the second terminal.

6. The terminal communication method of claim 5, wherein the identity of the second terminal comprises an identity of a user of the second terminal.

7. The terminal communication method of claim 1, wherein the positional information comprises a location of the second terminal.

8. The terminal communication method of claim 7, wherein the location of the second terminal comprises a geographic location relative to a location of the first terminal.

9. A digital device comprising:

a processor configured to reproduce a first content;

a user interface configured to receive user input to search for another terminal reproducing content related to the first content, while the processor reproduces the first content;

a network interface unit configured to transmit a terminal search request to search for another terminal reproducing content related to the first content, the terminal search request comprising metadata of the first content, and to receive a search result based on the metadata of the first content that identifies a second terminal reproducing a second content related to the first content, the search result comprising positional information of the second terminal reproducing the second content; and

a display unit configured to display the search result.

10. The digital device of claim 9, further comprising:

a communication service processing unit configured to establish communication with the second terminal, based on the search result.

11. The digital device of claim 9, wherein the network interface unit is further configured to receive the search result, while the processor is reproducing the first content.

12. The digital device of claim 10, wherein the communication comprises at least one of an instant messaging service, a short messaging service, a voice-based call, and a video-based call.

13. The digital device of claim 9, wherein the search result comprises an identity of the second terminal.

14. The digital device of claim 13, wherein the identity of the second terminal comprises an identity of a user of the second terminal.

15. The digital device of claim 9, wherein the positional information comprises a location of the second terminal.

16. The digital device of claim 15, wherein the location of the second terminal is a geographic location relative to a location of the first terminal.

17. The digital device of claim 9, wherein the second terminal is determined by a service provision server from among a plurality of terminals which transmit metadata of the second content to the service providing server or which play the second content in a streaming method.

18. The terminal communication method of claim 12, wherein the second terminal identified in the search result is in a state in which the second terminal plays the second content in relation to the first content, and

wherein the search result comprises a plurality of second terminals including the second terminal, and the first terminal selects the second terminal from among the plurality of second terminals.

19. The digital device of claim 9, wherein the second terminal identified in the search result is in a state in which the second terminal plays the second content in relation to the first content, and

wherein the search result comprises a plurality of second terminals including the second terminal, and the digital device selects the second terminal from among the plurality of second terminals.