WO2015088257A1

WO2015088257A1 - System and method for providing a related content service using a still image or video clip, and cloud server applicable for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2015088257A1
Application number: PCT/KR2014/012173
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Cheol Kang
Original assignee: Alticast Corporation
Priority date: 2013-12-11
Filing date: 2014-12-11
Publication date: 2015-06-18
Also published as: KR102157396B1; KR20150068556A

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and method for providing a related content service that provides items of related contents as still images or video clips. The method for providing a related content service includes: displaying at least one item representing a related content associated with a first content; and providing a user with a related content of an item selected by the user. Here, the item is displayed as a still image or a video clip.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A RELATED CONTENT SERVICE USING A STILL IMAGE OR VIDEO CLIP, AND CLOUD SERVER APPLICABLE FOR THE SAME

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a related content service and to a cloud server applicable for the same.

In the past, the TV set provided unidirectional services only, but with recent advances, it is now possible to compress broadcast signals, which may include video, audio, and data, into digital signals, opening the possibility of providing multiple channels. Moreover, increases in network processing capacity have also made it possible to provide bidirectional broadcast services.

Based on improvements in the performance of the set-top box or TV set as well as increases in network bandwidth, various types of services are being provided, including not only live programs, which have been provided in the past, but also various on-demand programs requested by the user. Of course, the various services currently being provided also include games, shopping, etc., in addition to real-time or on-demand programming.

Also, in recent times, various services are being provided that connect the TV set with a mobile terminal.

For example, a service is being provided in which supplementary information (product information, character information, etc.) for a broadcast program outputted on the TV can be transmitted to a mobile terminal when a request is made by a user through the mobile terminal.

However, a conventional service for connecting a TV with a mobile terminal simply provides supplementary information related to a broadcast program and does not provide services that may interest a user based on an interaction between the TV and the mobile terminal without a complicated manipulation on the part of the user.

Furthermore, a mirroring service is being provided by which a content being played on a mobile terminal can be viewed on a TV set.

However, with a conventional mirroring service, an image being played on a mobile terminal is simply outputted on the TV, and there are no other related content services provided.

[Prior Art Documents]

Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0066331 (publication date: August 9, 2003)

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing a related content service and to a cloud server applicable for the same which provide items of related contents as still images and video clips.

To achieve the objective above, a method for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: displaying at least one item representing a related content associated with a first content; and providing a user with a related content of an item selected by the user. Here, the item is displayed as a still image or a video clip.

A method for providing a related content service according to another embodiment of the present invention includes: acquiring title information of a first content based on an image or audio of the first content without the title information of the first content; and showing a related content associated with the first content as a still image or a video clip in a preset area of a terminal based on the acquired information.

A related content service server according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a communication part configured as a connection path with a second terminal; and a related content service part configured to generate a content list including at least one item representing a related content associated with a first content and to transmit the generated content list via the communication part to the second terminal, where the item is implemented as a still image or a video clip.

A terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display part and a UI part configured to display at least one item that includes a related content related to a first content in a preset area of the display part. Here, the item is implemented as a still image or a video clip.

The system and method for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide the user with related contents associated with the content of a first terminal through a second terminal, so that the user can enjoy a richer service experience.

Also, with the system for providing a related content service, items that represent related contents can be displayed as still images or video clips, so that the user can immediately perceive the type, plot, etc., of the item and make a selection easily and conveniently. In particular, the price information, episode number information, discount information, source information, picture quality information, etc., of the related content can be provided with the item, so that the user can select and view a desired related content easily and conveniently.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the screen of a second terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a pairing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a 4-direction UI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to a first example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to a second example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to a third example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to a fourth example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating a related content service server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating a second terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a system for providing a related content service and presents a method of displaying a service (a related content service) that is associated with a first content from a first terminal used by the user, such as a smart phone for example, on a second terminal, such as a television set for example. The related content service can be a service which, for example, provides related contents that are associated with the first content.

An item that represents the related content displayed on the second terminal can be implemented as a still image or a video clip. In particular, price information, time information, discount information, picture quality information, etc., can be shown on the icon or in a portion of a preset area for showing the icon, to induce the user to purchase a related content.

Various embodiments of a system for providing a related content service will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, a system for providing a related content service based on the present embodiment can include a first terminal 100, a second terminal 102, a service means part 104, and a content business server 106. The first terminal 100, second terminal 102, service means part 104, and content business server 106 can be connected over a network, where the network can include any of wired and wireless Internet networks, mobile communication networks, etc.

The first terminal 100 can be connected with the second terminal 102 after authentication based on a pairing process described later, and can transmit a first content, such as a multimedia file, etc., to the second terminal 102 while in a connected state with the second terminal 102. Preferably, the first terminal 100 may stream or mirror the first content to the second terminal 102. Here, the mirroring refers to showing the entirety of or a portion of the screen of the first terminal 100 on the second terminal 102. During a mirroring, the data corresponding to the screen or to elements composing the screen can be transmitted to the second terminal 102.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first screenof the first terminal 100 corresponding to the first content can be mirrored to the second terminal 102 such that a second screen corresponding to the first screen is displayed on the second terminal 102. The second screen can be the same screen as the first screen or can be a portion of the first screen. The transmitting of the first content from the first terminal 100 to the second terminal 102 can, for example, be achieved in units of frames based on Wi-Fi.

For example, the first terminal 100 can transmit the first content or the first screen to the second terminal 102 while displaying the stored first content, and as a result, the second terminal 102 can display a second screen that is substantially the same as the first screen of the first terminal 100.

In another example, the first terminal 100 can display in real time a first content, for example a content provided by Youtube, and can continuously stream the first content to the second terminal 102. As a result, a second screen that is substantially the same as the first screen of the first terminal 100 can be displayed on the second terminal 102.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, the first terminal 100 can transmit the first content to the second terminal 102 withouth displaying the first content, and the second terminal 102 can receive the first content without displaying the first content.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first terminal can be installed with an application for a related content service. That is, first terminal 100 can transmit the first content or the first screen to the second terminal 102 while the application is running, according to the control provided by the application.

Thus, the first terminal 100 is the terminal that provides a first content or a first screen to a second terminal 102 and can be, for example, a portable smart phone, a tablet PC, a laptop, etc. The first content, being displayed on the first terminal 100, can be transmitted by the first terminal 100 to the second terminal 102, but it is also possible to have only a portion of the first content to the second terminal 102. For example, the first terminal 100 can transmit only a still image of the first content to the second terminal 102.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first terminal 100 can be installed with an application that supports the providing of a related content service, and the first terminal 100 can mirror the first content to the second terminal 102 while the application is running. Also, the application can perform a pairing operation, which will be described later on.

The second terminal 102 may be a terminal that provides a related content service related to the first content or first screen transmitted from the first terminal 100 and can display icons that represent related contents as a related content service. More specifically, the second terminal 102 can transmit an image or audio extracted from the first content to the service means part 104 and can provide a related content service based on information provided from the service means part 104 in response to said transmitting. A related content can be a content that is the same as the first content but is provided from another source, or can be a content for the next episode in a series to which the first content belongs. That is, the related content is not limited to a particular type as long as it is associated with the first content.

As the first content is mirrored from the first terminal 100, the second terminal 102 would not know the title of the first content. In this case, the second terminal 102 can detect the title, etc., of the first content based on the extracted image or audio, and can provide a related content service by using the detected title, etc. That is, the second terminal 102 can provide a related content that is associated with the first content even when it is not known what program the first content is.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second terminal 102 can provide related content service information, for example, by providing a content list which includes items representing related contents overlapped over the first content. In one example, the second terminal 102 can overlap a 4-direction UI over the first content, as will be described later on, and when a user selects a particular UI, can overlap items corresponding to the selected UI over the first content.

Preferably, the second terminal 102 can provide at least one of the items of the related content list as a still image or a video clip, and the price information, time information, picture quality information, discount information, episode number information, etc., can be shown on a portion of the item or in a portion of the area for showing the items. If the user selects one of the displayed items, the related content corresponding to the selected item can be played.

Generally, if only the titles of the items on a content list are shown, a user may find it difficult to make a selection and may be discouraged from making a selection at all, because the user cannot infer the plot, picture quality, etc., of a corresponding related content from only the title. Therefore, the second terminal 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention can make it easier for the user to make a selection by implementing the items, for example as video clips, with the price information, time information, picture quality information, discount information, or episode number information, etc., shown over the video clips. As a result, the user can immediately perceive the picture quality, price, etc., from the video clips, and perceive the discounted price in particular, and consequently can select an item having a desired price-to-quality ratio and play the corresponding related content.

In particular, the system for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can promote use by users of the related contents of a content business (e.g. a PayTV business), rather than a broadcast business that provides broadcast programs, so that the user can be provided with a content having a high price-to-quality ratio while the content business can generate significant profits. From the perspective of the content business, it would be easy to generate a profit by providing contents, thus enabling the content business to produce and provide better contents for the users.

Thus, the second terminal 102 can provide the user with a related content service based on the first content or the first screen. The related contents for the related content service can be provided from the service means part 104 or the content business server 106.

Such a second terminal 102 can be a set-top box (STB) or a TV having a set-top function.

The service means part 104 can include a search server 110 and a related content service server 112. The service means part 104 can further include a cloud server, and the search server 110 or the related content service server 112 can also perform the role of a cloud server.

The search server 110 can provide a search result to the second terminal 102 or the related content service server 112 according to a search request from the second terminal 102. More specifically, the second terminal 102 can extract an image or audio from the first content and transmit the extracted image or audio to the search server 110. The search server 110 may perform a search regarding what program the first content is, by using the transmitted image or audio. For example, if the first content is "Unlimited Challenge", the search server 110 can use the image or audio to detect that the first content is the "Unlimited Challenge" program. The information detected by the search server 110 can include title information and episode number information.

The search server 110 can provide the information that the image or audio corresponds to "Unlimited Challenge Episode 110", i.e. the search result, to the second terminal 102 or the related content service server 112. The second terminal 102 can request a related content service from the related content service server 112 according to the search result transmitted from the search server 110. Here, the requesting of the related content service can be performed automatically at the second terminal 102 without any input from the user.

The related content service server 112 can provide a service associated with the first content to the second terminal 102 according to a related content service request from the second terminal 102 or a search result transmitted from the search server 110. For example, the related content service can include a search service, a program list provider service, a recommended content list provider service, etc., associated with the first content.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the related content service server 112 can generate related content service information associated with the first content and provide the generated related content service information to the second terminal 102. The related content service information can include a content list that includes items representing information on related contents associated with the first content. The second terminal 102 can display the content list by way of a 4-direction UI according to the related content service information. For example, if the first content is a series, the related content service server 112 can provide the second terminal 102 with a content list that includes items representing information on series programs associated with the first content.

If the user selects an item corresponding to a particular related content, the second terminal 102 can receive the related content from the related content service server 112 or a content business server 106 and play the related content.

The content business server 106 may be a server that provides related contents and can be, for example, a PayTV server.

Although the search server 110 and the related content service server 112 are illustrated separately in Figure 1, the service means part 104 can also be implemented as a single server.

In summary, with a system for providing a related content service according to the present embodiment, a related content service associated with a first content of a first terminal 100 can be provided to a second terminal 102. In particular, the items displayed on the second terminal 102 can be implemented as still images or video clips, and the related contents can be shown with price information, time information, picture quality information, discount information, or episode number information, etc., to allow the user to easily select a content and induce the user to select a related content.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the first terminal 100 mirrors the first content to the second terminal 102, the metadata of the first content can be provided to the second terminal 102 together with the first content. In cases where the first content is a broadcast program, the metadata can include the title, main characters, synopsis, etc., and in cases where the first content is a personal image (e.g. a video clip recording of a wedding ceremony, a gaming image, travel photos, etc.), the metadata can include tag information (image title, location, etc.) relating to the image inputted by the user. In such cases, the second terminal 102 can transmit the metadata to the related content service server 112 to receive a related content service without requesting a search to the search server 110.

The operations of a system for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention are described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the screen of a second terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a pairing process according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a 4-direction UI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, a pairing process can be performed between the first terminal 100 and second terminal 102 and the related content service server 112 based on a communication protocol such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the like (S200). For example, the related content service server 112 can perform authentication as regards whether or not the first terminal 100 is a subscriber of the service. The authentication process can be performed by way of a one-time password and will be described in more detail later on.

After the authentication, the first terminal 100 can mirror the first content to the second terminal 102 (S202). That is, all of or a portion of a first screen of the first terminal 100 displaying the first content can be displayed on the second terminal 102, or the first content can be played and displayed on the second terminal 102. In this case, the second terminal 102 would not know the title of the first content, due to the properties of the mirroring process.

Continuing with the description, the second terminal 102 can extract a still image, audio, or metadata from the first content (S204). For example, the second terminal 102 can capture a portion of the first content to acquire a still image, where a multiple number of still images can be captured. For convenience, the descriptions that follow will suppose an example in which the information extracted from the first content is a still image.

Next, the second terminal 102 can transmit the acquired image to the search server 110 (S206).

Continuing with the description, the search server 110 may search to find what program the content corresponding to the transmitted image is (S208). That is, the search server 110 can detect the information of the first content through the image, and for example can detect the title of the first content. That is, the second terminal 102 can recognize the title of the first content by way of the search server 110, even though the title of the first content is not known during the mirroring.

Next, the search server 110 can transmit the search result to the second terminal 102 (S210) or transmit the search result to the related content service server 112 (S214).

Continuing with the description, the second terminal 102 may request a related content service to the related content service server 112 according to the search result (S212). Preferably, the second terminal 102 can request a related content service automatically according to the search result. For example, if the second terminal 102 receives the information of "Unlimited Challenge Episode 110" as the search result from the search server 110, then the information of "Unlimited Challenge Episode 110" can be provided to the related content service server 112.

Next, the related content service server 112 may generate related content service information according to the related content service request (S216), and may transmit the generated related content service information to the second terminal 102 (S218). The related content service information can be a content list that includes items showing the information of the related contents.

Continuing with the description, the second terminal 102 can display the content list according to the related content service information, for example by displaying the content list as a 4-direction UI (S220), as illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 5 (S220). More specifically, the 4-direction UI can include a search UI, a related content UI, a recommended content UI, and a shopping-cart UI, as illustrated in Figure 3, and each UI can include items as illustrated in Figure 5. For example, if the user uses a remote control to select the related content UI, then the items in the related content UI such as those illustrated in the left side of Figure 5 can be shown on the screen of the second terminal 102. In order to implement such UI's, the items included in the related content service information can be classified according to UI.

Of course, the type, arrangement, etc., of such UI's are not limited to those shown in Figure 3 and Figure 5 and can be changed in various ways. Also, while Figure 3 and Figure 5 illustrate the items being displayed after a 4-direction UI is displayed, it is also possible, for example, to display the items on the second terminal 102 without displaying the 4-direction UI when the user requests the related content service with the remote control.

The UI can be shown as an overlap on the screen where the first content is displayed, as illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 5. In this case, the resolution of the first content can be lowered, in order that the UI may be shown more clearly.

In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the items can be provided as a still image or a video clip. That is, a still image or a video clip can be displaed on the second terminal 102.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an item as a still image or video clip and the program title of the item can be displayed together on the second terminal 102, or just the item as a still image or video clip can be displayed on the second terminal 102. Also, the source of the item can be displayed together.

In summary, a method of providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide related contents with a related content service by using at least one of a still image, audio, and metadata of a first content provided from a first terminal 100, where an item representing the related content can be shown as a still image or video clip, so that the user may select a related content more easily. A more detailed description will be provided later on.

Although it is not mentioned above, the second terminal 102 can transmit related content service information to the first terminal 100, and thus a 4-direction UI can be displayed on the first terminal 100 as well. Such transmission of the related content service information to the first terminal 100 can be performed as the user controls the remote control or can be performed automatically according to preset configurations.

The method of providing related contents according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below in more detail, following a description of the pairing process.

First, the pairing process is described below with reference to Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the user may execute an application, by way of the first terminal 100, for connecting to the related content service server 112 (S400). After the application is executed, the first terminal 100 may search for and output a second terminal 102 that belongs to the same network as the first terminal 100 (S402), an example of the network being Wi-Fi.

In Figure 4, an example is used in which it is assumed that the second terminal 102 is a set-top box.

The user may select one of the second terminals 102 outputted at the first terminal 100 and request pairing (S404), and the pairing request may be transmitted to the related content service server 112 (S406).

The pariting request can include identification information (e.g. a MAC address) for the second terminal 102.

For the pairing with the first terminal 100, the user may execute a function for connecting with the related content service server 112 on the second terminal 102 (S408), after which the second terminal 102 may output an interface for adding another nearby terminal (S410).

If the user makes a selection for adding a nearby terminal, the second terminal 102 may transmit the pairing request to the related content service server 112 (S412).

An authentication processing part for an embodiment of the present invention may generate a password for processing the authentication. Preferably, a one-time password can be used, which involves randomly generating a password in periods of a certain duration.

The generated password may be transmitted to the second terminal 102 selected by the first terminal 100 (S414), and the second terminal 102 may output the received password (S416).

When the user checks the password outputted by the second terminal 102 and inputs the password into the first terminal 100 (S418), the password inputted at the first terminal 100 may be transmitted to the related content service server 112 (S420).

The related content service server 112 may determine whether or not the password transmitted to the second terminal 102 agrees with the password received from the first terminal 100, and if the passwords agree, the second terminal 102 may transmit an authentication completion message to the first terminal 100 to complete the pairing (S422).

After the pairing is complete, the first content outputted at the first terminal 100 may be mirrored to the second terminal 102 (S424).

Now follows a description of various methods of providing related contents in a system for providing a related content service. The items representing related contents can be displayed on the second terminal 102 after a selection on a 4-direction UI or can be displayed on the second terminal 102 directly without having the UI displayed. For convenience, the descriptions that follow will only consider an example in which the items are displayed on the second terminal 102.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the

items

600a, 600b, 600c, and 600d representing related contents can be displayed on the second terminal 102 as still images or video clips.

If an

item

600a, 600b, 600c or 600d is a still image, the

item

600a, 600b, 600c or 600d can be a portion of the corresponding related content.

If an

item

600a, 600b, 600c or 600d is a video clip, it can be played in real time from the beginning to the end of the corresponding related content in a corresponding box area. Alternatively, the video clip can be a clip of a certain segment of the corresponding related content, for example a clip of highlight segments. Of course, the video clip can also be a clip produced separately for the item.

For example, if the first content selected by the user from the first terminal 100 is "Unlimited Challenge Episode 119", the system for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can display programs related to "Unlimited Challenge Episode 119", such as "Unlimited Challenge 120" (600a), "1 Night 2 Days" (600b), "Gag Concert" (600c), and "Running Man" (600d), as items on the second terminal 102.

In this case, all of the

items

600a, 600b, 600c, and 600d can be still images or video clips, or some of the

items

600a, 600b, 600c, and 600d can be still images and others can be video clips.

In summary, the system for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide items representing related contents as still images or video clips, as a related content service.

If the items are provided as video clips, for example, as described above, the user can intuitively determine what kind of program the related content is. In particular, as the user can directly perceive the picture quality of the related content, the user can be induced to select a related content. If a user were to see items that only have the program titles recorded, the user would not know what kind of program a related content is or what picture quality it has, and therefore would be less likely to select a related content.

For example, if only the description "Unlimited Challenge Episode 120" were provided to the user as a related content, the user would not know the type of program or the picture quality of "Unlimited Challenge Episode 120" and thus may not select the related content. However, if the related content were provided as a video clip, the user would be able to perceive the type of program and picture quality of "Unlimited Challenge Episode 120" and thus would be more inclined to select the related content.

Also, if the same content were provided from multiple sources and displayed on the second terminal 102, then in order to view a desired content, the user would have to play all of the contents provided from the sources before selecting a desired content. However, if the items are shown as video clips, the user can quickly and easily select a desired content from among the same related contents.

Thus, the method of providing related contents according to an embodiment of the present invention may induce the user to select a related content and enable the user to make a selection quickly and easily.

When the user selects one of the

items

600a, 600b, 600c, and 600d, the related content of the selected item can be displayed as a full screen on the second terminal 102. In this case, the related content can be played from the beginning of the program or from a point of the related content selected by the user.

While the descriptions above imply an automatic arrangement of the

items

600a, 600b, 600c, and 600d, the items can also be arranged based on price, source, or picture quality, etc., according to the user's control. That is, the user can arrange the items in a desired manner.

As illustrated in drawing (A) of Figure 7, the second terminal 102 can display

items

700a, 700b, 700c, and 700d representing related contents as still images or video clips. In another example, the

items

700a, 700b, 700c, and 700d can be shown in preset areas of the second terminal 102.

Unlike the first example embodiment in which the related contents are provided simply as still images or video clips, the present embodiment can have the

items

700a, 700b, 700c, and 700d additionally include content-related information such as the program titles, price information, episode number information, time information, discount information, etc. The content-related information can be overlapped over the corresponding related content or can be synthesized with the related content so that the synthesized image may be provided as an item.

As the content-related information is provided together with the images, the user can select a related content more easily.

In particular, in cases where the related contents are feed, the user can check the picture quality, price, amount of discount, and plot before selecting and viewing a desired related content. For example, a user might select a related content that has a high price but a high picture quality or a related content that has a medium picture quality but a low price. That is, when content-related information is provided together with the related contents, the user can select and view a desired related content according to the user's preferences.

If such related content information is not provided, the user may face the inconvenience of having to check the price information from the screen provided after selecting the corresponding related content or even a screen provided after that. In particular, if the related content is not provided as a video clip, the user may be more likely to be dissatisfied with a paid program.

In contrast, the method of providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide the content and the content-related information while playing the related content as a video clip, making it easier and more convenient for the user to select a related content.

Referring to drawing (B) of Figure 7, the play position 710 of a related content can be shown in a preset area or on a portion of an item. Thus, the user can view the image at a corresponding segment by selecting an arbitrary point on the play position 710, to easily perceive the gist of the related content.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the user selects an item, the second terminal 102 can play the related content starting at the image of the current point on the play position 710 or starting at the image of a selected point.

Referring to drawing (C) of Figure 7, a comment object 712 can be formed in a preset area or on a portion of the item. If the user selects the comment object 712, the comments of users who have viewed the corresponding related content can be shown. Thus, the user can check from the comments whether or not the related content is a program desired by the user, and thus can reduce the time expended in finding and selecting a desired content.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the second terminal 102 can display the

items

800a, 800b, 800c, and 800d that represent related contents as still images or video clips.

Here, if the user selects one of the

items

800a, 800b, 800c, and 800d, for example item 800a,

new items

810a, 810b, and 810c that are relevant to item 800a can be displayed. For example, if the user selects the "Unlimited Challenge Episode 119" item 800a, then an "Unlimited Challenge Episode 118" item 810a, "Unlimited Challenge Episode 120" item 810b, and "Unlimited Challenge Episode 121" item 810c can be displayed on the second terminal 102. This method of providing related contents can be useful in the case of programs belonging to a series.

The cost for viewing the

items

810a, 810b, and 810c can all be the same or can be different for some.

Referring to Figure 9, as the items are displayed on the second terminal 102, the items can also be displayed in the same manner on the first terminal 100 as well. That is, the items of the second terminal 102 can be mirrored to the first terminal 100. In this case, the user can select one of the items by way of the first terminal 100 or select one of the items by way of the second terminal 102. Thus, the number of methods by which the user can select an item may be increased.

Also, in cases where the first terminal 100 is a portable terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet PC, etc., the user can view a desired related content by using the first terminal 100 in situations such as being remotely located from the second terminal 102.

Moreover, in a multi-room system, the first terminals 100 can be TV sets located in the respective rooms, while the second terminal 102 can be a gateway server or cloud server that controls the first terminals 100. In this case, the user can view a desired related content through a first terminal 100 in a desired room, and multiple users can each view a related content through a corresponding first terminal 100 in a respective room.

Referring to Figure 10, the related content service server 112 of the present embodiment can include a control part 1000, a communication part 1002, an authentication part 1004, a related content service part 1006, a content part 1008, an application part 1010, and a storage part 1012.

The communication part 1002 may act as a connection path to the

terminals

100 and 102.

The authentication part 1004 may control the overall procedures needed for authenticating the first terminal 100 during the pairing process.

The related content service part 1006 may generate related content service information associated with the first content and provide the generated related content service information to the second terminal 102. The related content service information can be a content list that includes items representing the related contents.

The content part 1008 can manage the related contents, and if a user selects a particular item, can provide the corresponding related content to the second terminal 102.

The application part 1010 may manage an application for operating a method for providing a related content service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The storage part 1012 may store various data such as the related contents, applications, etc.

The control part 1000 may control the overall operations of the components of the related content service server 112.

Referring to Figure 11, a second terminal 102 of the present embodiment can include a control part 1100, a communication part 1102, a mirroring part 1104, an image extraction part 1106, a search request part 1108, an interworking request part 1110, a UI part 1112, a display part 1114, and a remote-control interworking part 1116.

The communication part 1102 may act as the communication path to the first terminal 100, the service means part 104, and the content business server 106.

The mirroring part 1104 may manage the mirroring operation for the content or the related content service information with respect to the first terminal 100.

The image extraction part 1106 may extract an image or audio from the first content transmitted from the first terminal 100 for performing a search of related contents.

The search request part 1108 may request a search for information of related contents by transmitting the extracted image to the search server 110.

The interworking request part 1110 may request a related content service to the related content service server 112 based on the search results of the search request part 1108.

The UI part 1112 may provide UI's for showing the items that represent related contents, such as a 4-direction UI, for example.

The display part 1114 may display the first content and display the items in preset areas.

The remote-control interworking part 1116 may interwork with a remote control and may perform certain operations according to control commands from the remote control.

The control part 1100 may control the overall operations of the components of the second terminal 102.

The embodiments of the present invention set forth above are for illustrative purposes, and those having ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various modifications, alterations, and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and additions are encompassed by the scope of claims below.

[Description of Reference Numerals]

100: first terminal 102: second terminal

104: service means part 106: content business server

110: search server 112: related content service server

600, 700, 800, 810: items

Claims

A method for providing a related content service, the method comprising:

displaying at least one item representing a related content associated with a first content; and

providing a user with a related content of an item selected by the user,

wherein the item is displayed as a still image or a video clip.
The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the at least one item comprises:

mirroring the first content from a first terminal to a second terminal;

acquiring information of the first content based on at least one of an image, audio, and metadata of the first content, by the second terminal;

receiving an item representing a related content of the first content generated based on the acquired information from a related content service server, by the second terminal; and

displaying the item, by the second terminal,

wherein the second terminal does not know a title of the first content during the mirroring and detects the title of the first content from the acquired information.
The method of claim 1, wherein the item is shown overlapped with the first content at the second terminal, and

at least one of price information, discount information, episode number information, source information, and picture quality information is shown on the item or in a portion of a preset area for showing the item.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one UI on the second terminal,

wherein an item representing a related content related to the first content is displayed on the second terminal if a user selects a particular UI.
The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a video clip played in real time from a beginning to an end of the related content or is a video clip played as a portion or an edited portion of the related content.
The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a video clip, and a play position of the related content is shown on the item or in a portion of a preset area for showing the item, and the related content is played from a selected position if the user selects a particular portion on the play position.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mirroring a screen having the items displayed thereon to the first terminal, by the second terminal.
The method of claim 1, wherein the items are shown identically on a plurality of terminals, and the terminals are each serviced with a corresponding related content independently based on a selection of a particular icon.
The method of claim 1, wherein the item includes a comment object, and comments written by people who have viewed the related content are shown if the user selects the comment object.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first terminal mirrors the first content to the second terminal, and

the first terminal is a terminal having a related content service application installed thereon and mirrors the first content while the application is running.
A terminal comprising:

a display part; and

a UI part configured to display at least one item including a related content related to a first content in a preset area of the display part,

wherein the item is implemented as a still image or a video clip.
The terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a mirroring part configured to receiving a mirroring of the first content from a first terminal;

an extraction part configured to extract an image or an audio from the first content;

a search request part configured to request a search of title information of the first content based on the extracted image or audio without the title information of the first content; and

an interwork request part configured to request a related content service according to the title information provided as a result of the search.
The terminal of claim 11, wherein at least one of price information, episode number information, discount information, picture quality information, source information, a play position, and a comment object is shown in a portion of the preset area.
A related content service server comprising:

a communication part configured as a connection path with a second terminal; and

a related content service part configured to generate a content list including at least one item representing a related content associated with a first content and to transmit the generated content list via the communication part to the second terminal,

wherein the item is implemented as a still image or a video clip.
The related content service server of claim 14, further comprising:

an authentication part configured to authenticate a first terminal connected with the second terminal by way of a pairing process,

wherein at least one of price information, episode number information, discount information, picture quality information, source information, a play position, and a comment object is shown on a portion of the item.