AU2015204388B2

AU2015204388B2 - Method and apparatus for searching contents

Info

Publication number: AU2015204388B2
Application number: AU2015204388A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Young-Joon Ahn; Jeong-Hun Park; Seung-Woo Shin
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-19
Filing date: 2015-07-17
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-18
Also published as: AU2015204388A1

Abstract

A contents searching apparatus that includes a level setting unit configured to group contents according to specified regional standards and set an expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution, and an interface unit configured to select one of the at least one group to which the expansion level is set. The contents searching apparatus also includes a control unit providing contents of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging a map.

Description

1 2015204388 17 Μ 2015

DESCRIPTION

Invention Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING

CONTENTS

[1] 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; [9] FIGURE 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching contents, according to an 2 2015204388 22 Mar 2017 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 photos 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, wherein displaying the at least one group comprises displaying both a representative photo that represents the group and a number of photos that are included in the at least one group; highlighting a group among the at least one group, based on the number of contents included in the at least one group; displaying a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted group is displayed on the GUI; receiving a selection of one of the at least one group; displaying a plurality of the photos of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group; displaying other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group.

[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. 3 2015204388 22 Mar 2017 [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 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 level setting unit 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; a display unit configured to highlight a group among the at least one group based on the number of contents included in the at least one group, and to display a GUI(Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted group is displayed on the GUI; an interface unit configured to receive a selection of one of the at least one group; and a control unit configured to provide a plurality of the photos of the selected group according to an expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map, to provide other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map, and to display.

[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; highlighting a group among the at least one group, based on the number of contents included in the at least one group; displaying a GUI(Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted 2015204388 22 Mar 2017 3a group is displayed on the GUI; receiving a selection of one of the at least one group; displaying a plurality of the photos of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map; and displaying other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group.

[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 "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 2015204388 17M2015 present invention will now fee described me©; folly with reference to foe accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention are tea, [24] According to an embodiment of foe present disclosure, contefos refer to those type of contents that include additional iriferifeitron such as position infotmarion. Ftfeekample, contents may refer id ifo ifoMe or a video ihclttiing global [>tssitifoiing system (GPS1 information, [2¾ HGGRES 1 through 3 are block diagrams ifetsiraiing a eomeatkfearehing system :100: according:tothis disclosure. The contepts searching· system. lOfemciudes a contents searching apparatus 110, a confentSiptoyidei: 1:20,:and a display device 130, The contents searching apparatus 1:10 traiisniits .contenfe to foe display device 130 that:: iSiCOinnmfflcativeiy coupled to foe: contents searching apparatus 110 via a predetermined wired or wireless network to display foe contents thereon. Alternatively., the contents featehing apparatus llOmayfodiitohaicd in the display device .130 or may include:ndiyplsy panel corresponding ui fhe display device ISO, [26] .Referilhg: to FIGURE 2, the cvmcnts searching apparatus. 1 Ifemay recfevepdiRehts ffom htipastlone of several devices 121 provided by foe content» provider 120 yitca network, siseh as a home network using a-device, such as foohife devices fe.g,, smartphones!, a home sereer, or a set-top fore. Alternatively;, the contents searching apparatus 110 may receive contents from a contents providing service 122presided by foe contend prevhtor 120, which may he for example, an internet web service, sneh as Picakaar ElleRr, The contents provider 120 may provide a contents list Tire contents provider ! 20 rnay be any type the provides contents tty the contents searching apparatus life [27] Referring to FIGURE 3, the contents searching apparatus 110 may designate at least one type of the display device 130 feat is configured to display edntenfeys a TV 131, aK 132, a mobile device 133, a projector IJfe or a moidtor 133, The contents searching apparatus 110 may: designate the at feast otte type of foe display device 130 automatically or by manual selection, In ccrtam embodmrente, the contents searching apparatus :11:0 may fee incfeded ln otic of the display devices 130.

[28] Reterring to FIGURE 1 again, fee contests searching ifeparatus 110 includes a reception unit 1! I, a classification unit 112, a level 3, .3® ihfetfii&.'&nii i!4, a control unit 115. and a storage unit 116. In some embodiments, the contents searching apparatus i 10 may ferfoer display unit (no! shown).

[29] The contents searching apparatus lit) may receive contents or a contents list from the contents provider 120; Theeontents scinching apparatus i 10 is connected to foe contents provider 120 via a wired or wireless communication network. The conten ts provider 120 may include any device that is communieafoveiy coupled to the contents seanfoing apparatus 110 Via a ifetwOrk, or may be a cfoiteMs providing service like a 5 2015204388 17 Μ 2015 web service. |30| The reception unit i Π receives contents -or a contents list from th e contents provider 120. The received contents are stored in tbe storage nnii Π& [SI] The bias slficafion unit 112 classifies thereceived aniieths or thesaMents stoiM in the Storage unit; 1X6 aceonfing te speciliM classification standards. The jdassifieation unit 112 may classify the contents according to classification snandatds wh include addififitM in the contents. For example, additional in.-· fdrntalon may include one or more persons, a time p^iated,'wijSt.^;^tent£ti: a pteierenee associated with the contents, a h©quency of occurrence olihe contents, a number of connection times associated with the contents, or thedikeyThus, certain embodiments may display all contents, or only classified contents on a map that will be described in detail below, |32j The level setting unit 113 groups the contents stored in the storage unit 116 according to specified regional standards based on the position inlonMfiotr included ip the: hi interns, mid sets an expansion level to the content gtoups based M contents §eif i n§' utieit 113 extracts additional inftfimattoiirMafM to position infiamation, such as CiPS informafion included in an image, from the contents, and groups adjacent contents according: to specified regional standards, such as the continent or countries associated wi th the contents, based on the extracted additional information. Then, the level setting unit 113 sets a«iexpaBsle«T8y©l.to:.each:.<>t^e: conies·! groups accoirling to the disinbution οΓ content?; included in She groups, that is, according to the number of pieces of additional irdurmadon associated with the Contents, The expansion level generally refers to a degree ol magnifying a map; to be displayed. I-or example, $p kwtpf’iTip-ay besettq a 1:26000 zoppi teyel and: an expansion level of ^2? may be seitp a 1miXH.) zoom level. According to the one embedimesa, if a relatively excessive quantity of contents are included in a group, a degree of magnifying the zoom level rf the map on which the group is displayed may be set to a low level and if the number of contents included in a groupis relatively shiaiL a degree of magniiymg the map on which the group is displayed may fcrset to a high level. A low level of m^hificafibnIndicates that a zoom level at which a map is displayed is high, that is, a from the actual size. For example, if all of the nation of South Kmpa is shown a single semen, a zoom level in this case nay be regarded trrhe lower than all of l.be city of Seopl.fe shown, If there aremiany contents relate# to Korea, an expansion level of content groups classified in connection with Korea is set: tea low level, and thus, allol'Korea is displayed on the map shown on the screen^ llawever if there are few contents related to a geographi cal region such as the U.S.A., an expansion level of content; groups classified in connection with the U.S.A. is set to a high level, and thus, a level may be displayed, at which tl.S. cities, 6 2015204388 17 Μ 2015 which are smaller in size tha» Korea, are displayed on fee map, [331 FIGURE 4 feusft-aies an example treestructure between gawps according to this disclosin-e,3%ricius groups are organized in different levels, nmnely, level-1 410, level-7 420, level-:14- 430, and ievel~19 440, Each: group is coupled to certain other group of different levels in a tree structure, in ihis particular embodiment, level 1 410 represents a level at which the map is reduced the most, and level-19 44£ί represents a level at which the map is expanded fee most. In other etnbodiraentsjhe levels of the tree may be configured in any suitable manner, in FIGURE 4, G refers to a group, and E refeis to an event. An event tefers not to group bubto each content. At level i 410, two groups 411 and 412 are displayed on the map, One gseup 411 is set to an expansion level corresponding to ievei-i 4,10.and: is connectedto an event 441 of the level-19 410, When the user selects the left groap 411 in fee level-1 410, fee map is magnified at a magnification. cpfrespOndijiig to the ievei-19 440. and the event 441 of the level-19 440 is displayed, Anofeer group 41 2 is set Man expan sit >n level corresponding to fed level-1 410 and is connected to a group 42:iof the level-7 420. When the user seiecls the right group 412 in the level-i 410, the map is^xpan^edlat'a. magpifiditipft corresponding to the level:-? 420, and the group 421 is; displayed on the expandefemap. The group 421 at an expansion level cos respondi ng to .level-14 430 is connected :to groups 431 and 432 of the teve!-l4 430. When fee user selects fee group 421 of the level-7 420, fee map-ds expanded at aimagnification eoi-responding to feelevel-M 430, and fee groups: 434 and 432 of the level-14 430 are displayed on fee map, fit this case, the group 421 of fee level· 7 420 is connected togreups -131 and 432 offed level-14 430, attddhthis case, the groups, 431 and 432 are connected according and fens axe displayed on one semen. The Igfemost group 431 of thelevel-14 430is eonneefedip an event 442 of fee ievel~’19 44fe and the right-most grppp:432Mfee level-14 4|0 is connected to events 443 and:444 of the level-10 440, When fee user selects:fee, groups 431 and 433, fee map is expanded at a rnagnlfeahon-corresponding to the level-19 440, and the connected events:442, 443, and 444 are displayed.

[34] The interface unit 1.14 may select one of fee' group's displayed on the display unit: based on a user selection, [35] The control unit 115 didplap CffeteoA of a group that Is selected by Miargihg fee map image according to fee expansion level of a selected group onfee display npit,fe one embodiment, fee ufetfpl unit i 51 nray adjust a range of specific groups and a range of an area to be displayed on the map. accmJmg to the size or resolution of fee. display unit. Also, When fee control unit ! 15 selects one of the groups-inibnmuion about the expansion level of the selected group, tor example, & .fear-type indicator showing an expansion degree* is generated anfedisplayed on fee display unit,in this particular ease, the user may predict to what expansion level the map is to be 2015204388 17 Μ 2015 expanded, [36:) FIGURES 5a through 5d illustrate an examples in; which a group1 to which an expansion level® designated,®,displayed on a map SOQ, according to this:disclosure, Gtduphhavihgi.ideniical expansion levels displayed: on a display unit: axe illustrated in FlCltiRESpa^thmugh Sd, |;37| Groups 50! a through 50&having an uppenudshlevel am displSyed. A magnification of a map corresponds to that oi' a ctuttml level, lit this paiticpiai' eiribodiment, a world map is displayed at a, magnification of a map cooxiSpCmdiug toidildvel·· 1. Asxhowm the:: group :501a having ilie rxshitiveiy largest quantity of contents pre be; highlighted or displayed with a relatively larger viewing area than the other groups 502a through 30¾. Also* the f uaiitity of contents existing in the group may toe di splayed on the group 501;a.;In chrMuerabodlments, if a toudhiiftput its available oh the display device,, the user· may select a group by touching the display screen. :J;h#Ke®ingMliments, the; user may select a group via an identifier assigned ro each group using a rehiiMe coiitrdl. A number· Ί' 'displayed over the, gftlup 501 a corresponds us a number '1 ’ Key of a keypad configured on the iMp 51)0 ot FIGURE 5a may include a ‘Change Device’ button;:520;tli];ough, a display device can be changes!, a 'Zoom In/Ouf' button 510 thnough tetr,of a map may be psrfanned, a: ‘Fooi:' bnfion 550h> which variousiftmeiions mlaieddo a map are attached, and a 'Return' button 560 through which to a previous screen or a main screen can be returned, Also, a bar-type indicator 510 indicating a magmileatidn 5! 1 of a eihrent map may be included in a specified area of the map. Also, the 'lap-type may display a magnification 512 of a map corresponding to mi expgnstoh loud! ;sdt Ed a group that iyeumeltly being highlighted by overlapping. Sxjrexm'npfev Wheh the, user selects a group: 501 a, the hijiv type indicator 510 is moved to adevg! Ehsit is set tp: the selected, group, [38]: FIGURE 5b Illustrates another example map 521 that may be displayed on: the; display according; to this disclosure. Groups 522b through 52W; have a lower expaEtdon levei tlran the expansion level of group 501a when selected in the map 500 illustrated in FIGURE 5a. A magnification of the map 521 corresponds to a current level. The ghiiip 522b ineihdmgfhe relatively largest amount of contents may be highlighted or displayed larger than the other groups 523b through 529b. Also, the number of contents ip the group 32:2b may be displayed with the gipup 522b. The groups may be displayed in the same tnannm as described with;I’pieiencc to FIGURE;·' Sit, The: bar-type·Indicator 510 may display a, magnification 513: of a man corresponding: to m expansion level of a:previous stage by overlapping. Also, a map: 570: corresponding to:the uppemtost level may be displayed in a specified area of a current map, and particular marking may be dope so that a:eorrespondih| region cho be 8 2015204388 17 Μ 2015 recounted, Alternatively,·the map may be that.of a previously selected expansion level. f39} ;F|©IIEES 5e siKl'MIIinstoe other maps :531 and 532 on: which groups correr S|>oMhg:1owefM!^l&:^xdtsp]ay«<l in hie saline manner as described with .r^feMieeto. FlCitJRE 5b.

[40] FlCjllSE 6 i*5;:a,l|0^hiS^:::ilbstratirig a method of seardhihgl: contents. according to an ethhodlmsot of the.'pssM invention.

[41] Referring to FlGtiRE 6, in operation 610» .a dOntettfs searching Apparatus groups contents aceoidlng:: to specified segkuiai stmidards, jy$$jpia| lated. to position, such as OPS information included in an image, is extracted fnmithe eontents, andadjaeent contents: are-grouped based on the specified: regional standards: such as the. continent or theeouhii&s based on the.exhnciBd1 position infermation, [42] In operation 620, the cobtenfs searching apparatus-sets an expansion level to each of the t. ontent groups according to cotitents-disti^i!ii6.0h:4hdwdet{ in die groups, that is, according to ihetiumher ofiastaiiccs of i-oments. The expansion level refersto a relaiive inaguificatioii degtpe of a map. For example, an expansion level I may represent a si/,e mdmof 1:25000, wherea* an represent a size ratio of 1:5000» jtotonetemlxxhmgKk if too many contents are included in a group, a magmfieafkar degree of the map on xvftfch the group is displayed may be set to a low level, and if the number of contents included in & group is relatively small, a ipaghification deg!:ee of me map on which the group is displayed Is set to a r®latively high level. A low level of magnification indicates Thai a magnification at which a map ikdisplayed is high, that is, too much reduction has been done from the actual size. For example, if aii of Korea is shown oft a map on a single screen, a magnificati<Mleyel shown in this case may be regarded to be lower than aii of Seoul is shown. If there are many eontentsmla^ to Eorea, an expansion level of content groups based on Korea is set to a low level, and thus, all of Korea is dlsplayedon the map shown on the screen; if therevans lew contents related to the tJ,S«A* a magnification level of content groups based onSie lhS,A. is set to a high level, and thus ITS. cities, which may be is displayed, on the map. j 1.3] In operation bdi), die;cfm®fttg^^Searching apparatus displays at least one set group on a map.

[44{ [η operation among the groups» displayed on the map based on a selection of the user, |4Sj hi operation 650, the contents searching apparatus displays contents of a selected group by enlarging a map according to an expansion level of the selected group, hr this ease, a range of specific groups and a range of an area displayed on the map may he adjusted according to the size or resolution of a display unit. Alsu, information about 9 2015204388 17 Μ 2015 the-expssskm level ofthe selected group, for example, a bar-type indicator showing an expansion degree, may be displayed on foe map. in thiseasev the user may predict Mow much foe map is to be expanded. 146] HOURE 7 illustrates an example method of searching con tea is, acceding to this

disclo-.uro. in optnaiioi: 710, the content,» searching apparatus mouses coptifotsffoim at least one <„>t device to- which it Is communieath’ely coupled S first Rework or via a web service. The von tents searching appurafovmay ivc<ri vci ,0csii|»^jtWpst Of device, such as TV. PC. a mobile I set-top box, connected via a home network... Mtematiyely, se^hing apparatus may receive contents from an Internet web service, such as Pieasaor Fl:tekr,: In sxjme embidtments, foe contents searching apparatus may receive a contents list from a contents provider, }47 j In operation 720, foe contents searching apparatus classiries contents according to specified clsxsificafojn standards; The contents searchi^ sppifoafo^ only focelved coatenls but also preViously stored contents, appaifons may classify additional informatiou incluied irt foe ctmtents according to classificadou staifourds such as one err more pers<msv a fime asspciated wlfo foe contents, a preference associated with foe contents, a frequency of oeemTepce of foe contents, number of cortneelaon times associated with the contents, or foe like, [48]: In .operation "TO, the contents searching apparatus groups foe classified contents acctMing to specified regional -.laudcrd». Operation 730 is Identical To operation filtl exceptler the grouping of foe classified contents, and tints, the Jcscoption pi operation 730 is omitted, [4$| Operations 740 fofough 770 ate respectively identical to operations 620 through 650 of FIGURE 6 and fons, the desertsfoor thereof: is omitted. jSOj: FIGURE 8 iilustrates an example method of searching contents, according to this efo* bodimem. Operations 810 nod 820 are respectively identical to operations 610 and 620 of EIGURE 6, and thus; the desciiptkni thereof :Is omitted, [51] In operation 83.0, a contents searching apparatus determines.tit least one display" device to which it is coupled via a second network. The. contents semefamg apparatus mgy designate a display device, which is capable of display ng contentSi via a predetermined wired or wireless comm u m cat ion network, searching apparatus may designate at least one device. Mich as a TVisa 'pCi, afooMe deyice, a projector; or V monitor, connected via a communication network, The contents searching apparatus may designate the at loasi one display device automatically or by selection, [32]; In operation 840, foe contents seamlnngmpparafos displays at feast one: set group on a map that is displayed on: a selected display'device. 2015204388 17 Jul 2015 [531 154| 1:0

Operations 8;50 anti 86t):are respectively yeafiietl.to-operatioHSi^O' through hSOlof FlCiURE 6s anil feus, feu description thereofis omitted. 'The contents semuhmg apparatus may also be embodied as computer readable codes Pit a emnptrterngadable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any da ta stdmpe device that can store data which can he thereafter mad by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include mad-on!}’ memory fROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disk.s, optnai daiu storage devices, etc, (such as data transmission through the Internet), The ccmippteRreaduble recording 'medium can also he distributed over network-coupled computer systems: so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributedifashion. Alsot functional programs, codes, and-code. segments for accomplishing the present invention can be: easily coitstmedlhy ptxtgiAmmet-s skilled m the urf to whkh the present invention pertains.

Although the preseus disclosure has been described with arf exemplai^remlxKiimetit, various changes »md modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the ait. it is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and mrMiflcauonkas fall within fhe: scope of the: appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] A contents searching method comprising: grouping photos 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; highlighting a group among the at least one group, based on the number of contents included in the at least one group; displaying a GUI(Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted group is displayed on the GUI; receiving a selection of one of the at least one group; displaying a plurality of the photos of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group; displaying other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group. [Claim
2] The contents searching method of claim 1, further comprising automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on a screen size of a display device. [Claim
3] The contents searching method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on a resolution of a screen of a display device. [Claim
4] The contents searching method of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising displaying information about an expansion level of the selected group when the at least one group is selected. [Claim
5] The contents searching method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein grouping the contents and displaying the at least one group comprises: receiving an input of the contents; grouping the received contents according to specified regional standards; and displaying, on the map, the at least one group to which the expansion level is set according to the geographical distribution of the grouped contents. [Claim
6] The contents searching method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein grouping the contents and displaying the at least one group comprises: classifying the contents according to specified classification standards; grouping the classified contents according to specified regional standards; and displaying, on the map, the at least one group to which the expansion level is set according to the geographical distribution of the grouped contents. [Claim
7] The contents searching method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein displaying the plurality of photos of the selected group comprises: determining at least one display device connected via a second network; and displaying the plurality of photos of the selected group on the at least one display device by enlarging the map according to the expansion level of the selected group. [Claim
8] A contents searching apparatus comprising: a level setting unit 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; a display unit configured to highlight a group among the at least one group based on the number of contents included in the at least one group, and to display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted group is displayed on the GUI; an interface unit configured to receive a selection of one of the at least one group;and a control unit configured to provide a plurality of the photos of the selected group according to an expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map, to provide other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map, and to display. [Claim
9] The contents searching apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically modify a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on the size of a screen of a display device. [Claim
10] The contents searching apparatus of claim 8 or 9, wherein the control unit is configured to modify a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on the resolution of a screen of a display device. [Claim
11] The contents searching apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein when the at least one group is selected, the control unit is configured to generate information about the expansion level of the selected group; and the display unit is configured to display the information about the expansion level of the selected group. [Claim
12] The contents searching apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising a reception unit configured to receive an input of the contents, wherein the level setting unit is configured to group the received contents according to specified regional standards, and set the expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution. [Claim
13] The contents searching apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising; a classification unit configured to classify contents according to specified classification standards, wherein the level setting unit is configured to group the classified contents according to specified regional standards, and set an expansion level to at least one group based on the geographical distribution of the grouped contents. [Claim
14] The contents searching apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the control unit is configured to determine at least one display device connected via a second network, and provide the plurality of photos of the selected group to the at least one display device according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map. [Claim
15] 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; highlighting a group among the at least one group, based on the number of contents included in the at least one group; displaying a GUI(Graphical User Interface) for indicating the expansion level of the at least one group, wherein an object which indicates an expansion level corresponding to the highlighted group is displayed on the GUI; receiving a selection of one of the at least one group; displaying a plurality of the photos of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map; and displaying other group which have a lower expansion level than the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group.