1 DESCRIPTION Invention Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING CONTENTS [I] The present application is a divisional application from Australian Patent Application No. 2011292601, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field [la] The present invention relates to content searching techniques, and more particularly, to method and apparatus for searching contents. Background Art [2] Currently, if a user wants to display a map such as a Google map at a desired magnification, the user has to conduct a zoom in/out function of the map several times. For example, in the case of Naver map provided by the Korean internet service provider Naver, a total of twelve steps are conducted from the lowermost step to the uppermost step. [3] In order to alleviate or reduce such an inconvenience, the internet service providers of the map often provide a function of moving the map to various levels using a zoom bar control or a zoom in/out function using a mouse wheel control. However, a result of adjustment can be selected only after the map is loaded, and a desired level is, in many cases set after undergoing several iterative repetitions of the zoom in/out functions. Disclosure Technical Solution [4] To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object to provide one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for searching for contents by classifying contents such as an image or a video according to certain relevant regions and displaying the contents with relevant regional information according to one or more levels. Description of Drawings [5] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: [6] FIGURES 1 through 3 illustrate an example contents searching system according to this disclosure; [7] FIGURE 4 illustrates an example tree structure between groups according to this disclosure [8] FIGURES 5a through 5d illustrate an example in which a group to which an expansion level is designated is displayed on a map, according to this disclosure; 19] FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching contents, according to an 2 embodiment of the present invention; [10] FIGURE 7 illustrates an example method of searching contents, according to this disclosure; and [11] FIGURE 8 illustrates another example method of searching contents, according to this disclosure. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [12] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contents searching method, comprising: grouping contents based on a region; displaying on a map, at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to a geographical distribution of the grouped contents and at least one photo, on the map, that is representative of photos included in the at least one group; receiving a user input to select one of the at least one group; and in response to receiving the user input, enlarging display of the map and displaying a plurality of photos of the selected group according to an expansion level of the selected group, wherein at least one of the displayed plurality of photos of the selected group represent a sub-group associated with the expansion level of the selected group, and the sub-group includes a plurality of photos. [13] In certain embodiments, the contents searching method may further comprise automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on a screen size of a display device. [14] Certain embodiments of the contents searching method may further comprise automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on the resolution of a screen of a display device. [15] Certain embodiments of the contents searching method may further comprise displaying information about an expansion level of the selected group when the at least one group is selected. [16] Certain embodiments may provide a method that includes grouping of contents may be selected according to specified regional standards, which may be displayed on a map according to at least one of group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution. The method also includes receiving contents from the outside, grouping the received contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on the map the at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution. [17] In certain embodiments, the operation of receiving contents may comprise receiving the contents from at least one device connected via a first network. [18] In certain embodiments, the operation of receiving contents may comprise receiving the contents via a web service. [19] Certain embodiments may provide a method that includes grouping contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on a map at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution. The method further includes classifying contents according to specified classification standards, grouping 3 the classified contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on the map the at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution. [20] Certain embodiments may provide a method that includes displaying contents of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group. The method further includes determining at least one display device connected via a second network, and displaying contents of the selected group on the determined at least one display device by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group. [21] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contents searching apparatus comprising: a controller configured to group contents based on a region, set an expansion level to at least one group based on a geographical distribution of the grouped contents, and set at least one photo, for display on a map, that is representative of photos included in the at least one group; and an interface unit configured to receive a user input to select one of the at least one group; wherein in response to receiving the user input, the controller controls a display of the map and controls the the display to display a plurality of photos of the selected group according to an expansion level of the selected group, wherein at least one of the displayed plurality of photos of the selected group represent a sub-group associated with the expansion level of the selected group, and the sub-group includes a plurality of photos. [21a] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium embodying a computer program comprising computer readable code for: grouping contents based on a region; displaying, on a map, at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to a geographical distribution of the grouped contents and at least one photo, on the map, that is representative of photos included in the at least one group; receiving a user input to select one of the at least one group; and in response to receiving the user input, enlarging display of the map and displaying a plurality of the photos of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group, wherein at least one of the displayed plurality of photos of the selected group represent a sub-group associated with the expansion level of the selected group, and the sub-group includes a plurality of photos. [22] Before undertaking the "Mode for invention" below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprise", as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term 3a "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. Mode for Invention [23] FIGURES 1 through 8, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged computing system. The '4 present invention will now he described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which example embodiments of the invention are shown. 1241 According to an embodiment of tre present disclosure, contents refer to those type of contents that include additional informant such as position information. For exiumple contents marefer to an iNae or a video including global positioning sytem (GPS) information. t251 FIGURES through 3 are block diagrams illustrating a contents teaching system 100 according to this disclosure, The contents searching system 100 includes a contents searching apparatus 110, a contents provider 120, and a display device 130. The contents searching apparatus 10 transmits contents to the display device 130 that is comtmunicantveiy coupled to the contents searching apparatus i 10 via a prede termined wired or wireless network to display the contents thereon, Altematively, the contents searching apparatus 110 may he included in the display device i30 or may include a display panel corresponding to the display device 130, 126] Referring to FIGURE 2. the contents searching apparatus 110 may receive contents rom at least one of several devices 121 provided by the contents provider 120 via a network, such as a home network using a device, such as mobile devices (e. smart phones), a home server, or a set-top box. Alternatively, the contents searching apparatus 110 may receive contents from a contents providing service 122 provided by the contents provider 120, which may be for examplean Internet web service, such as Picasa oFickAr The contents po iider 120 may provide a contents list, The content provider 20 may be any type the provides contents to the nitents searching apparatus 110, 1271 Referring to F1GU RE 3. the contents searching apparaus 1 10 may designate at least one type of die display device 130 that is configured to display contents, such as a TV 131, a PC 132, a mobile device 133, a proentr 134, or a monitor 13 1 le contents sear'cliing apparatus 110 may designate the at least one type of the display device 130 automatically or by manual selection, In certain embodiments, the contents searching appatratus 110 may be included in one of the display devices 130. [28] Referring to FIGURE 1 again, the contents searching apparatus 110 includes a reception unit I11, a classification unit 112, a level setting unit 13, an interface unit 1 14, a control unit A11 and a storage unit 116, In somn embodiments, the contents searching apparatus 10 miay further include its own display unit (no t shown). 129] The contents seanhing apparatus 110 may receive contents or a comments list frorn the contents prov'ider 120, The conmteis searching apparatus 110 is connected to the conets provider 120 via a wired or wireless communication network. The contents pmovider 1.20 may include any device that is communicatively coupled to the contents sealing apparatus D0 via, a network, or miay he a cntentspviding service like a web service, [301 The reception unit Ill ree ives contents or a contents ist from the contents provider 120 he received contents are stored in the storageuni 1 [314 The Sinasfication unit 112 classifies the rece ied contents or the contents stored in the storage unit [16 according to specified classification standards The classification unit 112 may classify the contents according to classification standards which may include additional information included in the contents, For example. addiiona in tormation may include one or more persons, a time associated with the contents, a preference associated with the contents, a frequency of occurrence of the contents, a number of cinecion times associated with the contents, or the like. Thus, certain em bodiment may display all comments or oy classified contents on. a map that wili he desibed h in detail below. [321 The level setting unit 13 gops thdgec noin te sit 1 16 according specfed irgionalatnards based on the position inforima ton included in the contents, and sets an expansion level to the content group baSed on contents dis tibution - The le setting unit 113 extracts additional inforttatior related to position iornatonsuch as CPS information included in nage, fom the contens and groups adjacent contents according to specified regional standards, such as the continent or countries associated with the contents, based on tihe extracted additional information Then, he Jevel setting unit 113 sets an expanson evel to each of the COntn gno accoinng to The distribution ofntets included in the gops a i, according to the number of pieces~ of additional Liformation associate d with the contents he expan sion level peneitaiy rnfers to a degree of magnifying a map to be displayed For exampe, an expanssn lvel of Tmay be set to a 12000 zoom lvel and an expansion level f 2 may be set to a 5000 oom evel cording to the one embodimentf a relaely excessiveuantity of contents are included in a group a degre of magnifying the zoom eveitof the map on which the group is displayed may be set to a low les Iand ifW he number of contents included in a group is relatively sa al a degree of magnifying the mrap on which te group is displayed may e set to a high level. A low level of imiaYfication indicates that a zom level at which a ma is displayed is hih a ri a relatively lace reduction from the actualie For e nple, if all of the nadon of SOuth Korea i shown a sir± screen, a zoom Oee in this case may be ggarded to he lower than a of the Cty of Seoul is shoWn if there ar many content related to Korea, an expansion level f content grupscassified in onneio with Korea is settoa low level. and ihalofKrea is displayed on tin map shown on the screen. However if there are few contents related to a geographical rion such as the US A, an expansion level of content groups classified in conecto with t U.SA. is set to a bigh level, and thus, a vA inmay be displayed at wich U.S. cities, 6 which are smaller in size tan Korea are displayed on the map, [33] FiGURE 4illustrates an example tree structe between groups according to this disclosure, Vrious group: ar orga zed in diffrent levels namnei level 410, level- 7 420. kvel 14 430, and level19 440ach group is oupie certain other groups of dliff etnt 1ev Isina tree.tructure. in this particulainodimentke 'i 410 represents a leave at which th map is reduced the ostand leve-9 440represes a level at whichrthe nap i Mepandd theaist, In otherembodinients the levels f t tree iay be confirmed inany suitable manner in FIGURE 4, refers to a gfoq and L refers to an t event refies nt to gro bu t to eadgcntent. At level-- 410 two group. 411 and 412 ae disp Iayed on the map One gtuup 411 is set to an expansion level corresponding to levelI 1 410 and is connected to an event 441 of the level19 410 When the user selects the left group 411 in the levelI 410. the map is magnif ied at a nang ification correpnondin to the leel-19 440, and the eet 4 i of the level19 440 i displayed.A her gotp 41 2 is set to an expansonlevelcesponding to the level I 410 andis connected to a group 421of thieel-a-0 When the user selects the right group 412 in the level-I 4i0 the mrap is expanded at a rmagnification corre sponding to the leeM 420, and he group 421 s displayed on the expandedA ap. The group 42l at an expans ton level corresponding to level410 is connected to groups 131 and 432 of thedev-i4430. When te userhseets thegroup 421oine lev 420, the map is expanded at a magnification responding to the. level 14 430 and the grou, 431 and 432 of the level 1430 am displed o w map in M iast, the group Li of the level- 420 is cnneded to groups 431 and 4% of the level 14 430 and in thisase, te. goups 4M and 43 are onmected aeoding to reg0'r aacr and thus are diplayed on onesreen t lft'owst group 431 of the ILev1e1 430 is connected to an event 442 of the level-9 440 and he rigtht-mosgrotp 43 ot the level-il4 430 is connected to events 1443 and 44 of the level- 9 440 Xhen the user selects tbe groups 431 and432, the map is expanded at a magnification coreponding to te leve19 440 and the connected events 442, 443 ad 444 are disp [341 The interface un 11 may se t one if the groups disphyed on the display unit based on aser selnioi he] n control unil dipas etntf goup that i se leted by enlargng the r5] Tho uso nt5 display vcotnts ofa piry&, nap image according to the expansion level of a selected group on the display unt. In on membodi ine the onti-l init 151 may adjust a range ofspecific gropsand a range of an area ta be di played on the map, according to the size or resolution of the display unit. A al when the control unit 115 selects one fthe grotpa, inormaion about the cxpanson level of the selected group for example. a bar-type indicator showing an expansion degree is generated and displayed on the display unit.in this particar case, the user may predict to what expansion level the map is to le 7 expanded. [361 FIGUR ES 5a through 5d illustrate an example in which a group to which an expaNson lev el is desinated is displayed on a imap 500, according to this-\sclsure. GkoupS hang identcal expansion levels displayed on a display unit are illustrated in F E&5aFS through 'd. [3 Groups 50a t through A09a having in uppermost level air i payed. A ntagni icaon ofa map cu rreponds to that of a current level. In this partcular embdcimn ai world map is displayed a magnifiation of a Nap conspondig to a We . A show. the group 50la having the relatively argest quaniy of contents are be highlighted or displayed with a relatively larger vieWig area than the othr groups 02a through 509a, lso, the quantity of contents eisuing lin the group may be displayed on the grup 50a. in certainethodinents if a tu input isn available on the diplay device the user may select a group by touching the display screen. In other eimbodiments, the user may seject a group via an identifier assigned to each gm~up using a remote cntrL A utber displayed over the grp 501 correspond: s a rubber key of a keypad configured on the remote control The map 500 of FIGURE i May inchide a change Device button 521 hrough wvhicb a display dece an be changed aoom hOu button 540 i-ro uh which expansion or reductionof a map may be performed a Tool'-utton 50 to which various functions ;elaed to a map are attached, and a Retun' hutton 5T6 duough which to a previous screen or a main screen can be rturned. Also a nype indicator 51indicing a magnification 511 of a current map may be minded in a spejfied area of the map. Alo, the bar-type indicator 510 may display aA alonifican 5 a map corresponding to expansion level set to a group that i currently being hihghted by overlapping or example, het the user selcs a grup 51athe bar-type indic-ator 50 is moved to a 1evel hat is set to the selected group. [381 FTGUR E 5F ihistrates another example ma p 521 that may be displayed cn the display according to tis disclosure. Groups 522b through 529b have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of gmup 50la when selected in the map 500 illustrated in FIGURE 5a. A magnification of the map 521 corresponds to a current level The group 522b Minlding the relatively largest amount of contents may be highlighted or displayed larger than the other groups 523b through 529b. Also the number of contents in the group 522b may ie displayed w-h the gmup 522b, The groups may be displayed in the s-me manner as described with reference to FIGURE A The bar-type indicator 510 may display a magnification 513 4 a map corre sponding to an expansion level of a previous stage by overlapping lo, a map 570 corresponding tothe uppemiostevel may be displayed in a specifed area of a current iap. and parilar nrhing may be done so that a coresponding reginn can be S recognized Altematvelyhe map ,may be fhaof a prev'ous'y selected pansna tevet [391 FIGURES Kc and d illustrate other maps 531 and 5320o which goups corre sponding kwer levels are displayed in the same mamera described with reference to F IGURE Sb, 1401 IOlR B 6 is a lowchar illustrating a method of searchng contentsacconding to an embodiment o the present inVention. [41] Referring to FIGURE 6.in operation 610 a contents searchri apparatus groups contents top regional standards. Additional information related to position, such as 01PS information included in an image, is extracted front the conents, and adjacent contents are grouped based on the specified regional standards such as the continent or the counties based on the extracted position information. 1421 In operation 620 the contents searching appartus sets an expansionlevel t each of the content gn ups according to contents distribution included in the grups.that is according to theumber of instance f coLntens. The expansion level efersto a relative magnification degree of a tan. or example an expansionlevel Inay represent a se ratio of 2i300 whereas an expansion kleW 2 may represenM a size ratio of 15000 According to one enboiment if too many contents are included in a group, a magnfcation degree of the map on wich the group is displayed may be set to a low level andif the number of contents included in a group is relatively smnai, a magnification degree of the map on which the grup is displayed is set to a relatively high level. A low level or magnification indicates that at magnification at which a map is displayed is high, that is, too much reduction has been done from the actual size. For example, if all of Korea is shown on a map on a single screen, a magnification ievel shown in this case may be regarded to he lower than all of Seoul is shown. if there are many contest rated to Korea, an expansion level of content groups based on Korea Ks set to a low level, and thut all of Korea is displayed on the map shown on the screen; if there are few c1tems related to the U.SA, a magnification level of comem groups based on the U.SA. is set to a high level, and thus U.S. cities, which may be smaller in size than Korea. is displayed on the map, [431 In operation 6301 the contents searching apparatus displays at least one set group on a map. [44] In operating 640 the contents saying apparatsselects one of groups arno the groups displayed ot the map based on a selection of iteuser, [] Inperation 650. thecontents searching apparatus displays contents of a selected group by enlarging a map according to an expansion level of the selected group. In this case, a range of specific groups and a range of an area displayed on the map may be adjusted according these or resolutio ofadisplay unit. Also inflation about the expansion level of the selected group forexample, a bartypeindicator showing an expaniion degree may be dsplayed on the map In this case, the use may predict how much the map is to be expanded. 1461 FIGURE 7 illustrates an example method of searching co1nent accord to tis disclosure. In operation 710, the contents searching apparatus receives contents from at leas one of device to which t is communicatively coupled via a first network or via a web service. The contents searching apparatus may eceive contents fom at least one of device, such as TV, PC, a mobile device (e,g. sm t-phones), a home server or a set-top box. connected via a homte network, Aitermatively, the contents searching aparatus may receive contents from an Internet web service, such as Picasa or Flice In some embodiments, the contents searching apparatus may receive a contents list from a contents provider, [471 In operation720, the contents searching apparatus classifies contents according to specified classification standards.Thecntents searching appV.aratuis niy classit o only received contents but alse pre vwousiy stored contents. The contents searhing apparatus rmayclassif additional information included in the conents accordlg to classificationstandard: suchas on or more persons. a Ame associatewiw i the contents, a preference associated with the contents, a frequency of occurrence of the contents, number of connecan tmes associated with the cents, or the like. [481 In operation730 the contents searching apparatus groups the classified contents according to specified gionalstandards Ope raTon 230 is dentical to operation 610 except for the grouping of the classified ontentsand thus, the description of oper'Aia 730 isomitted 19] Operations 74 troug '70 are respectivelyidentical to operations 620 though 650 of OIURi 6 and thuthe desertion. thereafi omittedU i501iGRE s illustrates an example method of searing c tents, according to this em bodiment Operations 810 and 820 are respectively identical to operation. 61 0 and 620 of FIGURE 6 and thus the deso no thereof is omitted. [51] In operation 830 a contents searching apparatus determine at least one dishpy dev-c to w i i is coupled via asecod netWOrk, The ontens searching apparatu may designate display device, which is c-pable of displaying contents. via a prede termied wired or wireless communication network. For example, the cntents searching apparatus may designed at least one devce, uch as a TV, a PC, a mobile vice, a projector. o a monio c ennected va a communication network. The contenis snarhing appnatus may designate tie at least one display device. -Wto niatically or by selecion. 1521 In operation 840, the contents searching apparatus displays at least one set group on a map that is displayed on a selected diplay deve.
10 153 Operanons 850 and 860 are respectivey identical to operations 640 though 650 of FIGURE 6, and thusP., the description thereof is onitued. [54] The contents seawhing apparatus may also be embodied as computer readable codes on a comp uterneadable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium iMaay data store. device that can store daawhich canhe hereafterr read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readabie recording median eude readt only memory (ROM)random-acces memorvRAM) CDROMs, magetic tapes floppy disksoptical data forage devicesetc. (such as data transmission though the Internet}. The computer-eadable recording mediumncan also he distributed over network-coupled computer VStems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a dsibuted tashAion. Also funconal programs, codes. and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easily eonstrued by pogrammers skied in the art to which the present invention peatis. [554 Although hepvresntr disct sur ha Mecribed with an exemplary embodim, varbus changes and rmodiftcations may be suggested to onekiled in the art, it is nitecned tha the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and todificaions as fall within the scope of the appended aims.