I Description Title of Invention: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DEVICE [1] This application is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application number 20 11355875, the etire coments of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field [2] The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus tOr controlling a device, and more particularly to a method and apparatus fr controlling a content reproducing device, by which content of a device recognized in an irnage captured by a camera is displayed and reproduced in another device connected to the device Background Art [3] Presently, the Augmented Reality (AR) technology is widely used in our society and culure. In particular, the introduction of high-performance smartphones and tablet Personal Computers (PCs) increases the practical use of AR-related application software. AR is technology that displays a virtual object to ovedap with the real wod as viewed by a user. Since the AR technology displays a single image in which the real world is displayed in real-time mixed with a virtual world having additional information AR is also called Mixed Reality (MR) AR technology has been being researched and developed as hybid VMtual Reality (VR) systems merging a real environment and a virtual environment since the late 990s, mostly in the United States and Japan, [4] Although AR is a concept in which the real word is displayed with a vtual wodld, which is created with a computer graphics technique, the main part is a real environment. The computer graphics technique additionally provides information required tbr the real environment.his means that the distinction between the real environment and a virtual screen is vague due to overlaps between a 3-dimensional (3D) virtual image and a real image viewed by a user. [5] VR technology allows a user to become imnmersed in a virtual environment and not to display a real environment. However, in AR technology, in which a real environment and virtual objects are nixed makes a user view the real environment thus providing a better real sense and additional information as compared to VR technology. For example, when the surroundings are viewed on a smartphone camera intbrmation, such as positions and telephone numbers of nearby shops, is displayed in a stereoscopic image. [6] The AR technology is used for remote medical diagnosis, broadcasting, architectural designs, manufacturing process management, and the like. Recently, the wide spread of smartphones makes the AR technology enter into a full-fledged commercialized stage in which various products are introduced in the gaming, mobile solution, and education fields. Disclosure of Invention Solution to Problem [7] Embodiennts of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for controlling a content reproducing device to intuitively share content whileM viewing a device in which the content is to be reproduced and a device which has the content. Brief Description of Drawings [8] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: [9] FIG. is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [10] FHG- 2 is a flowchart illustrating a registering method, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 11] FIG3is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [12] FIGS, 4a and 4b illustrate an example of the method of FIG. 3; [13] FIG, 5 is a flowchart illustrating a niethod of controlling a content reproducing device ,according to another embodiment of the present invention' [14] FIGS. 6a and 6biustrate an example of the method of FIG 5 [15] FIG 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to another embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIGS. Sa and 8b illustrate an example of the method of FIG. 7 [17] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to another embodiment of the presentlinvention; and [IS] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a content reproducing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 Best Mode for Carrying out the invention [19] According to an aspect of the present ientntion, there is provided a method of transmitting a content performed by an electronic apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, from a first device, a request to sending content infonnation about a content stored in the electronic apparatus; transmitting the content information to the firs device based on the request; receiving, rnom the first device, a control command related to reproduction of the content corresponding to thetent ent information; and transmitting the content to a second device based on the control command. [20}-[21] [Left Blank] Mode for the Invention [22] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. 23] FIG. I is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, [241 Referring to FIG. , in step 110, a content reproducing device controller identifies a registered device from a sceen input by a camera The registered device indicates a device of which image recognition information has already been stored in the content reproducing device controler. The content reproducing device controller stores image recognition infonnation of devices recognized by the camera and device information of devices selected by a user in advance by matching them, respectively. The content reproducing device controller then compares image recognition information of a device recognized in an image input from the camera with the stored image recognition information and identifies a device corresponding to device information matching the compared image recognition information if the image recognition information of the device recognized from the screen input by the camera matcbes the stored image recognition information [25] In step 120, the content reproducing device controller receives a user input for the identified device. For example, the content reproducing device controller may request the identified device for content information and receive and display the content information, or display content information stored therein. The content reproducing device controller may then receive a user input for moving the displayed content information to a reproducible identified device or receive a user input for reproducing content corresponding to the content information stored therein. As another example, when the content reproducing device controller displays content information of stored content, the content reproducing device controller may receive a user input for moving the displayed content information to a reproducible identified device. According to the present invention, an example of moving content information is dragging, by the user, one of a plurality of pieces of displayed content information and dropping the dragged content information onto the identified device. 126] In step 130 the content reproducing device controller transmits a control command conTesponding to the user input to the identified device, In the example of step 120, the control command indicates a reproducing command of content corresponding to the content information. However the control command is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto. 1271 FIG 2 is a flowchart ilustrating a registering method, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [28] Referring to FIG. 2, in step 210, the content reproducing device controller receives an image of a device captured and displayed by the camera included therein. [291 In step 220, the contem reproducing device conroller analyzes device image recognition infornaton from the received device image. Further, the content re producing device controler searches ftr a device connectable via a predetermined network. The predetermined network is, for example, a wireless protocol-based network, such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.1L Home Radio Frequency (HomeRF) , Infrared Data Association (IrDA)|, Ultra WideBand (IJWB), Near Field Communication (NFC) , Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) , or wireless 1394, or a wire-based protocol network such as Ethernet, Home Phoneine Networking Allance (IonePNA) , Power Line CommunicationjPLC) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, or Universal Serial Bus (USB). [30] In step 230, the content reproducing device controller matches the analyzed device image recognition information to corresponding device information. For example, the content reproducing device controller displays the analyzed device image recognition information and the found connectable device. Thereafter, when a user selects the displayed device image recognition information and the found connectable device, the content reproducing device controller matches the selected device image recognition information to the found connectable device. [311 in step 240, the content reproducing device controller stores the device image recognition information and the device information. For example, the content re producing device controller stores the displayed device image recognition information and device information 'for example, a device-specific ID) of a connected device in a storage unit thereof. The content reproducing device controller also stores matching in formation of the two pieces of information. [321 FIG. 3 is a flowchart lustrating a method of controling a content reproducing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[33] Referring to FIG 3, in step 310, the content reproducing device controller identifies a registered device from a screen input by the camera. For example, the content re producing device controller recognizes a device from the screen input by the camera. The content reproducing device controler then extracts image recognition information of the recognized device and compares the extracted device image recognition in formation with image recognition information of a device registered by the method of FIG. 2. If they match each other, the content reproducing device controller identifies the recognized device as a device matching the compared image recognition in formation. The content reproducing device controller may mark the identified device with a predetermined mark (for example, add a colored line to an outline to distinguish the device other devices) The content reproducing device controller may further mark a content- reproducible device among identified levies in a different method from the predetermined mark. [341 In step 320, the content reproducing device controller requests the identified device for content information. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the content information may include at least one of a thumbnail of the content, address in formation of the content, such as a storage folder name of the cogent, and a file name of the contend. The thumbnail of the content and the file name of the content may also include the address information of the content. f35 In step 330, the content reproducing device controller receives and displays the content information. There is no limit in a method of displaying the content in formation. For example the content reproducing device controller may display the content information by displaying it around the identified device that has transmitted it or display it in a menu screen, such as a play list, regardless of a position of the identified device. When the content information is plural the content reproducing device controller may display the content information by limiting the number of pieces of the content information and further display other content information in response to a user input For example, the content reproducing device controller may display the content information in a form of a semicircle around the identified device, and when a user inputs a clockwise or counterclockwise drag signal the content reproducing device controller may rotate the content information and display other content in formation. According to another embodiment of the present invention when the content reproducing device controller provides a focusing function, the content re producing device controller may perform steps 310 to 330 for only a specific device instead of displaying content information of all registered devices. [36 In step 340, the content reproducing device controller receives a user input for moving the displayed content information to a reproducible identified device. The user moves the displayed content information to the identified device with a predetermined input means. For example 5 [he user drags one piece of the displayed content in formation and drops it onto a reproducible identified device, [37] In step 350, the content reproducing device controller transmits a content re producing command corresponding to the moved content information to the re producible identified device. The content reproducing device controller may transmit address information of content corresponding to the moved content information together with the content reproducing command to the reproducible identified device When the content address information is stored in the content reproducing device controller, the content reproducing device controller may transmit the content address information together with the content reproducing command to the reproducible identified device, and when the content address information is not stored in the content reproducing device controller, the content reproducing device controller may request and receive the content address information from the identified device that has transmitted the content information and transmit the content address information together with the content reproducing command to the reproducibe identified device Moreover, the contentdeproducing device controller may request the identified device that has transmitted the content information to directly transmit the content address in formation to thereproducible identified device When the content address information is included in the content information, the above-described processes may not be necessary. The content reproducing device (the reproducible identified devicethen receives and reproduces the content according to the content address information. [38] HGS. 4a and 4b illustrate an example of the method of FIG, 3 [391 Referring to FIG 4a, a content reproducing device controller 400 includes a display unit 410 and a camera 420 he content reproducing device controller 400 identifies a registered device in an image input from the camera 410 In FIG. 4a, devices displayed on a screen of the display unit 410 are a TV 411, a laptop 4, and a refrigerator 413 The content reproducing device controller 400 then identifies a registered device from among devices 411. 412, and 413 displayed on the screen of the display unit 410 via the camera 420 A predetermined mark (for example, a color added to an outline)may be added to the identified device to be discriminated from other devices. In FIG. 4a, it is assumed that the identified device includes the TV 4'1 and the laptop 412. After identifying the registered device, the content reproducing device controller 400 requests the identified device forcontent information. Thereafter when the requested content information is received, the content reproducing device controller 400 displays the received content information on the screen of the display unit 410In FIG. 4a thumbnails 40, 402, 403 and 404 of respective pieces of content are displayed on the screen of the display unit 410 as examples of the content information. In FIG, 4a, the content thumbnails 401, 402. 403 and 404 are displayed around a device ie. the laptop 412, which has transmitted the content infonnation. When a user 430 drags a certain thumbnailelockwise or counterclockwise, the content thumbnails 401, 402, 403 and 404 in the form of a semicircle rotate to display other thumbnails. When the user 430 drag-and-drops the content thumbnail 403 onto the TV 4 that is a reproducible identified device, the content reproducing device controller 400 extracts a content address included in the content thumbnail 403, transmits the content address to the TV 411, and transmits a content reproducing command to the TV 41 1. The TV 411 then receives and reproduces content according to the received content address. FIG. 4b shows that the TV 411 reproduces content corresponding to the content thumbnail 403. [40] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to another embodiment of the present invention. [411 Referring to FIG. 5, since step 510 is identical to step 310 of FIG, 3, and thus a repeated description is omitted. [42] In step 520 the content reproducing device controller displays alreadystored content information. That is, the content reproducing device controller displays content in formation stored therein. The content information is identical to the content in formation described in step 320 of FIG, 3. In step 520 after displaying content in formation received by requesting the contend information from the identified device as in steps 320 and 330 of FIG. 3, the content reproducing device controller may further display the content information stored therein. 1431 Steps 530 and 540 are similar to steps 340 and 350 of FIG. However there is a difference in that content information movable by the user is the content information of content stored in the content reproducing device controller When content information is received from the identified device and further displayed, there is a difference in that content information movable by the user is not only the content information of content stored in the content reproducing device controller but also the received content in formation. [441 FIGS. 6a and 6b show an example of the method of FIG. 5. [451 Referring to FIG. 6a, a content reproducing device controller 00 includes a display unit 610 and a camera 62 The content reproducing device controller 600 identifies a registered device in an image input from the camera 620. In FIG. 6a. devices displayed on a screen of the display unit 610 are a TV 611 and a laptop 612, The content re producing device controller 600 then identifies a registered device from among the devices displayed on the screen of the display unit 610 via the camera 620 A prede termined mark (for example, a color added to an outline) may be added to the identified device to distinguish the device from other devices. In FIG. 6a, it is assumed that the identified device includes the TV 611 and the laptop 612. The content re producing device controller 600 displays content thumbnails 605 to 60A which are content information stored therein, in a predetermined area 630 Alternatively or, the content reproducing device controler 600 additionally requests the identified device for content information. Thereafter, when the requested content information is received, the content reproducing device controller 600 displays the received content information on the screen of the display unit 610. In FIG. 6a, content thunhnails 601, 602, 603 and 604 of respective pieces of content are displayed on the screen of the display unit 610 as examples of the content information. A user 640 may drag and-drop one of the stored content thumbnails 605 to 608 or one of the received content thumbnails 601, 602, 603 and 604 to move it to a reproducible identified device. In FIG. 6a, when the user 430 drag-and-drops the stored content thumhnail 606 to the laptop 612 that is a reproducible identified device, the content reproducing device controller 600 extracts a content address crresponding to the content thumbnail 606, transmits the content address to the laptop 612, and transmits a content re producing command to the laptop 612. Thereafter, the laptop 612 receives and re produces content according to the received content address. FIG. 6b shows that the laptop 612 reproduces content corresponding to ihe content thumbnail 606. [46] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to another embodiment of the present invention. [47] Referring to FIG. 7 since steps 710 to 730 are identical to steps 310 to 330 of FIG. 3, a repeated description is omitted. 48 In step 740, the content reproducing device controllerreceives a user input for the displayed content information. In FIG. 7, unlike the method of FIGS. 3 or 5, the content reproducing device controller reproduces content corresponding to the displayed content information. That is, the user input is to reproduce content corre sponding to content information selected by the user in the content reproducing device controller. Examples of an interface for the user input are recognizing an action of simply clicking content information as the user input and recognizing an action ot ac tivating a button (for example, dragging one piece of the displayed content information and dropping it to the button), which provides an interface for reproduction in the content reproducing device controller, as the user input. [49] In step 750, the content reproducing device controler reproduces content corre sponding to the content information. The content reproducing device controller receives and reproduces the content according to address information of the content corresponding to the content information according to a user input. [50] FIGS. 8a and Sb show an example regarding the method of FIG. 7. [11 Referring to FIG. 8a, a content reproducing device controller 800 includes a display unit 810 and a camera 820. The content reproducing device controller 800 identifies a registered device in an image input from the camera 820 In FIG. Sa, devices displayed on a screen of the display unit 810 are a TV 811. a laptop 812 and a refrigerator 81,3 The content reproducing device controller 800 then identifies a registered device from among the devices 811, 812, and 813 displayed on the screen of the display unit 810 via the camera 820. A predetermined mark (for example, add a color to an outline) may be added to the identified device to distinguish the identified device from other devices. In FIG. 8a, it is assumed that the identified device includes the TV 811 and the laptop 812. After identifying the registered device, the content reproducing device controller 800 requests the identified device for content information When the requested content information is received, the content reproducing device controler 800 then displays the received content information on the screen of the display unit 810. In FIG. 8a, thumbnails 801, 802, 803 and 804 of respective pieces of content are displayed on the screen of the display unit 810 as examples of the content information. In FIG. 8a, the content thunnails 801, 802, 803 and 804 are displayed around a device, i.e,, the laptop 812, that has transmitted the content information. When a user 840 drags a certain thumbnail lockwise or counterclockwise, the content thumbnails 801, 802, 803 and 804 in a form of a senicircle rotate to display other thumbnails When the user 840 drag-and-drops the contem thumbnail 803 to a take button 830, the content reproducing device controller 800 extracts a content address corresponding to the content thumbnail 803, receives content according to the content address, and re produces the content therein. FIG. 8b shows that the content reproducing device controller 800 reproduces the content corresponding to the content thumbnail 803. 1521 FIG, 9 shows an example of a method of controlling a content reproducing device, according to another embodiment of the present invention. [53] While a TV is rarely moved, a laptop may not have a fixed location and may be frequently moved. A device (for example, a refrigerator or a washing machine) having no content may be registered as a virtual laptop according to the method of FIG. 2. When a registered virtual device is viewed via the camera, the content reproducing device controller may identify a device registered as a laptop, request the device for content information, and display the content information. However, the virtually registered device must be connected to the laptop to communicate with each other Refenring to FIG. 9, when a content reproducing device controller 900 recognizes a re frigerator 912 on a screen of a display unit 910 via a camera 920, the content re producing device controller 900 may recognize the refrigerator 912 as a laptop that is a registered device, request for and display content information 901 L902, 903 and 904, and perform the method of FIG3, 5, or L [54] According to another embodiment of the present invention, only if the content re producing device controller maimains a communication state with a registered device, when there is an obstacle (for example, a wall), the content reproducing device controller may display the registered device, request the registered device for content information, and display the content information. Thereafter, the content reproducing device controller may perform the method of FIG 3, 5, or 7, [551 FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an apparatus 1000 for controlling a content re producing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [561 Referring to FIG. 10, the content reproducing device controller 1000 includes an image input unit 1010, a controler 1020, a storage unit 1030, a user input undt 1040, a display unit 1050, and a communication unit 1060. The content repoducing device controller 1000 is connected via a predetermined network to a device to be recognized by using the image input unit 1010.The predetermined network is, for example, a wireless pmtocol-based network, such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 lomeRF, DA, IWB, NFC. RFID, or wireless 1394, or a wire protocol-based network such as Ethernet, HomePNA, PLC, IEEE 1394, or US3, [5y] The image input unit 1010 may be a camera. However, the image input unit 1010 is not limited to a camera, and there is no limit as long as it is a device for providing an image obtained by capturing an object. [58] The display unit 1050 displays an image input via the image input unit 1010, Moreover, the display unit 1050 displays contem information to be described below. [591 The controller 1020 identifies a registered device on a screen of the display unit 1050 on which the image input via the image input unit 1010 is displayedThe registered device indicates a device of which image recognition information has already been stored in the storage unit 1030. The controller 1020 stores image recognition in formation of devices recognized by the image input unit 1010 and device information of devices selected by a user in advance by matching them, respectively The controller 1020 then compares image recognition information of a device recognized in an image input from the image input unit 101h) with the stored image recognition information and identifies a device corresponding to device information matching the compared image recognition information if the image recognition information of the device recognized in the image input from the image input unit 1010 matches [he stored image recognition information. [601 The user input unit 1040 receives a user input for the identified device. For example the controller 1020 may request the identified device for content information by using the communication unit 1060 and receive and display the content information, or display content information stored in the storage unit 1030. The user input unit 1040 may receive a user input for moving the displayed content information to a re producible identified device or receive a user input for reproducing content corre sponding to the content information stored in the storage unit 1030, As another example, when the display unit 1050 displays content information of stored content, the user input unit 1040 may receive a user input for moving the displayed comment in fornatIon to a reproducible identified device. According to the present invention, an example of moving content information is draggingby the user, one of a plurality of pieces of displayed content information and dropping the dragged content information to the identified device. The user input unit 1040 may be, for example, a touchscreen or may be near the display unit 1050. [61] The controller 1020 then transmits a control command corresponding to the user input to the identified device via the communication unit 1060. The control command indicates a reproducing command of content corresponding to the content information. However, the control command is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto. [62] Hereinafter, an embodiment for the content reproducing device controller 1000 performing a method of registering a predetermined device is described. [631 The controller 1020 receives an image of a device captured by the image input unit 1010 and displayed by the display unit 1050. 'The controller 1020 then analyzes device image recognition information from the received device image. Furthermore, the controller 1020 searches for a device connectable via a predetermined network Thereafer, the controller 1020 displays the analyzed device image recognition in formation and the found connectable device on the display unit 1050. Thereafter, when the user selects via user ser input unt 1040 the device image recognition information and the found connectable device displayed on the display unit 1050, the controller 1020 matches the selected device age recognitioninformation to the found con nectable device. Thereafter the controler 1020 stores the device image recognition in formation and the device information in the storage unit 1030. [64] Hereinafter, a first embodiment for the content reproducing device controller 1000 performing a content reproducing device control method wil be described. [65 The controler 1020 idetRifies a registered device in an image input from the image input unit 1010 For example, the controer 1020 recognizes a device in the image input from the image input unit 1010, extracts image recognition information of the recognized device, and compares the extracted device image recognition information with image recognition information of registered devices stored in the storage unit 1030. f they match one another, the controller 1020 identifies the recognized device as a device matching the compared inage recognition information. The contoller 1020 may rnark the identified device with a predetermined mark for example. a colored line added to an outline so it can be tistinguished from other devices) on the display unit 1050. The controler 1020 may further mark a content-reproducible device among identified devices in a different method from the predetermined mark. [661 The controller 1020 requests the identified device for content information via the communication unit 1060. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the content information may include at least one of a thumbnail of the content, address in formation of the content such as a storage folder name of the content, and a file name of the content. The thumbnail of the content and the file name of the content may also include the address information of the content. [67] The display unit 1050 receives and displays the content information. There is no limit in a method of displaying the content information. For example, the display unit 1050 may display the content information by displaying it around the identified device that has transmitted it or display it in a menu screen, such as a play list, irrespective of a position of the identified device. When there are multiple pieces of content in formation, the display unit 1050 may display the content information by limiting the number of pieces of the content information and further displther her content in formation in response to a user input. For example, the display unit 1050 may display the content information a fon of a semicircle around the identified device that has transmitted it, and when a user inputs a clockwise or counterclockwise drag signal via the user input unit 1040, the display unit 1050 may rotate the content information to display other content information, According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the content reproducing device controller 1000 provides the focusing function, the display unit 1050 may display only content information associated with a specific device instead of displaying content information of all registered devices. [68] The user input unit 1040 receives a user input for moving the displayed content in formation to a reproducible identified device. The user moves the displayed content in formation to the identified device with a predetermined input means by using the user input unit 1040. For example, the user drags one piece of the displayed content in formation and drops it onto a reproducible identified device. [69] Thereafter, the controller 1020 transmits a contem reproducing command corre sponding to the moved content information to the reproducible identified device. The controller 1020 may transmit address information of content corresponding to the moved content information together with the content reproducing command to the re producible identified device via the communication unit 1060. When the content address information is stored in the storage unit 1030, the controller 1020 may transmit the content address information together wih the content reproducing command to the reproducible identified device, and when the content address information is not stored in the storage unit 1030, the controller 1020 may request and receive the content address information from the identified device that has transmitted the content in formation and transmit the content address information together with the content re producing command to the reproducible identified device. Also, the controller 1020 may request the identified device that has transmitted the content information to directly transmit the content address information to the producible identified device When the content address information is included in the content inforation, the above-described processes may not be performed. Thereafter, the content reproducing device (the reproducible identified device) receives and reproduces the content according to the content address information [70] Hereinafter, a second embodiment for the content reproducing device controller 1000 performing a content reproducing device controlmethod is described. 1711 The display unit 1050 displays content information corresponding to content stored in the storage unit 1030. That is. the display unit 1050 displays content information stored in the content reproducing device contoller 1000. The display unit 1050 may also display content information received from an external device as described in the first embodiment. [72] The user input unit 1040 receives a user input for moving the displayed content in formation to a reproducible identified device. The controller 1020 then transmits a content reproducing command correponding to the moved content information to the reproducible identified device. [73] That is the second embodiment is different front the first embodiment in that content stored in the contem reproducing device controller 1000 can also be displayed and transmitted to a reproducible registered device, [74] Hereinafter, a third embodiment for the content reproducing device controller 1000 performing a content reproducing device control method is described. [751 The user input unit 1040 receives a user input for displayed content information. The user input is to reproduce content corresponding to content information selected by the user in the content reproducing device controller 1000. Examples of an interface for the user input are recognizing an action of simply clicking content information as the user input and recognizing an action of activating a button (for example, dragging one piece of the displayed content information and dropping it onto the button), which provides an interface for reproduction in the content reproducing device controller 1000, in the user input unit 1040 as the user input. 176] The controller 1020 reproduces content corresponding to the content information. The controller 1020 receives and reproduces the content according to address in formation of the content corresponding to the content information according to a user input. [77] The third embodimen is different from. the first embodiment in that content corre sponding to displayed content information is reproduced by the content reproducing device controller 1000. [78] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 1020 may register a device (for example, a refrigerator or a washing machine) having no content 14 as a virtual device having content When a device having no content is viewed via the image input unit 1010, the controller 1020 may identify the device as a registered device, request the device for content information, and display the content information. However. the device having no content must be connected to the virtual device to communicate with each other. [79] According to another embodiment of the present invention, if only the content reproducing device controller 1000 maintains a communication state with a registered device, even en n there is an obstacle (for example, a wall), the controller 1020 may display the registered device, request the registered device for content information, display the content information, and perform the content reproducing device control method. [80] The methods of controlling a content producing device can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data-recording medium that can store data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include Read-Only Menory (RON) Random--Access Memory (RAM), CD ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, funciional programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. [81] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be inade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [82] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and composess, is not intended to exclude other additives, components integers or steps. [83] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations ofthe word, such as "comprising" and "comprises, is not intended to exclude other additives componentsintegers or steps.