Abstract: A quality of service (QoS) securing apparatus and method using a communication protocol is provided. The QoS securing method is performed by a reception side that is receiving data from a transmission side. The method includes generating information about a changed communication environment according to a change in a communication environment of the reception side, and transmitting the information to the transmission side. An exchange of information about a communication environment using the communication protocol between the reception side and the transmission side can inform the transmission side about resources of the reception side, link characteristics, characteristics of a link on a transmission path, etc., thereby securing a QoS of data communication between the reception side and the transmission side.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus and method. A client-side remote control method includes: receiving characteristic information for each of plural windows from a server; identifying each of the plural windows by referring to the received characteristic information; and transmitting a display update request for the each of the identified windows to the server.

Abstract: A method of adaptively updating a first recommended user group list of a first user connected to a network, in which a predetermined number of second users are selected from the first recommend user group list that is a list of users having a high similarity to the first user in consuming contents. A predetermined number of third users having a high similarity to the first user is selected from second recommend user group lists respectively of the selected second users possess. The first recommend user group list is updated to include the selected third users. As the preference of a user changes, the recommend user group may be reconfigured with updated recommend users by reflecting a corresponding preference. Also, quality contents can be provided by recommending a user of a corresponding terminal with the contents preferred by other users in the updated recommend user group list.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for predicting a preference rating for content, and a method and an apparatus for selecting sample content in order to predict a preference rating for the content. In the method of predicting a preference rating for the content, a list of users having similar preferences to a target user is extracted from content usage information collected with respect to the same content, and the target user's preference rating for the content is predicted by applying preference rating information of the users with similar preferences to a machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: A credit transaction system, apparatus, and method are capable of grading credit to other people. The credit transaction system includes a relay unit, a user terminal, and a seller terminal. The relay unit stores credit information including at least one of credit card information and account information of a credit owner, user information and terminal information on a user designated by the credit owner, and credit limit information on a limit usable by the user. The user terminal transmits the user's terminal information to a seller terminal corresponding to the seller. The seller terminal transmits billing records on the goods or service purchased by the user in response to the received user's terminal information. Here, the relay unit performs an authentication process for the user corresponding to the user terminal, and then relays to process payment regarding the billing records via the credit information within the credit limit information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a transaction service, which includes receiving, by a service server, a transaction ID request for the transaction service with a service provider, from a user terminal, generating a transaction ID in response to the transaction ID request, providing the transaction ID to the user terminal, and receiving a transaction specification that corresponds to the transaction ID, from the service provider. The transaction specification is generated by the service provider using the transaction ID that is provided to the user terminal.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for constructing a user profile using a content tag, a method of recommending digital content by using a user profile including a tag included in the digital content and a preference value for the tag. According to the methods and apparatus, a user profile is generated by using a content tag, and thus the taste of the user according to digital content consumption can be expressed in more varied ways. Also, by suggesting a method of generating a tag from web content, construction of a user profile for digital content having no tag is enabled. Furthermore, a tag extracted from digital content used by a user is included in a profile and it can be used for a variety of purposes, such as expansion of a comparison scope, use of preference keywords, providing of content links, and expansion of search scope.

Abstract: A method of managing user purchase information includes parsing information related to a product from a user uploaded data, comparing the parsed information with a purchase data of the product by the user, and linking an indicator to the user uploaded data according to the comparison and a method of providing user purchase data in user equipment. The method also includes purchasing and paying for a product with the user equipment, and posting payment information about the product on a social networking service (SNS).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for constructing a user profile using a content tag, a method of recommending digital content by using a user profile including a tag included in the digital content and a preference value for the tag. According to the methods and apparatus, a user profile is generated by using a content tag, and thus the taste of the user according to digital content consumption can be expressed in more varied ways. Also, by suggesting a method of generating a tag from web content, construction of a user profile for digital content having no tag is enabled. Furthermore, a tag extracted from digital content used by a user is included in a profile and it can be used for a variety of purposes, such as expansion of a comparison scope, use of preference keywords, providing of content links, and expansion of search scope.

Abstract: Provided is data transmission method and apparatus. A method for transmitting data from a first device to a second device includes detecting information on a communication environment of the first device; receiving information on a communication environment of the second device from the second device; and adjusting the QoS of the data transmission in an application layer based on at least one of the information on the communication environment of the first device and the information on the communication environment of the second device. Accordingly, when a sender transmits data to a receiver, the QoS of data transmission can be adjusted by considering communication environments of the sender and the receiver, and thus optimized data transmission can be achieved.

Abstract: Device integrated-control according to user's needs. A device information providing method for a device integrated-control includes receiving device capability and status information from one or more devices, determining a device-based usage goal example capable of achieving the predetermined aim by using the received device capability and status information, and planning the at least one actions, which have to be executed to attain the device-based usage goal example, for the respective devices, providing information about at least one capability of a device necessary for attaining a usage goal example, which is capable of satisfying user's needs, from the device to a device integrated-controller and providing information about statuses of at least one of the device and content for executing the at least one capabilities from the predetermined device to the device integrated-controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting content preferences of an active user with reference to content preferences of other users that are similar to those of the active user, the method including: measuring similarity ratios of the active user and other users using an overlapping ratio of use of content items commonly used between the active user and the respective other users; generating a recommender list for the active user based on the measured similarity ratios; and predicting a preference rating of the first user with respect to an unused content item based on a preference rating of an other user included in the recommender list with respect to the unused content item. Accordingly, the similarity ratio between the users can be accurately measured so that reliability of a preference rating prediction system can be increased.

Abstract: A method of providing a user interface based on a physical icon (PHYCON), the method including: obtaining information required for executing an application from a PHYCON constituting a recording medium on which the information is recorded, by using a communication medium; and controlling to execute the application by using the information obtained from the PHYCON.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for predicting a preference rating for content, and a method and an apparatus for selecting sample content in order to predict a preference rating for the content. In the method of predicting a preference rating for the content, a list of users having similar preferences to a target user is extracted from content usage information collected with respect to the same content, and the target user's preference rating for the content is predicted by applying preference rating information of the users with similar preferences to a machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus and method of reducing an output time of broadcast content, includes for the apparatus, a transport stream generator generating a transport stream from a digital broadcast signal, a transport stream buffer buffering the transport stream, a controller determining whether the buffered transport stream is reliable; a transport stream processor searching for interpretation information for interpreting broadcast content from the buffered transport stream, and searching for the broadcast content based on the interpretation information, if the buffered transport stream is determined as reliable, and an audio and video processor processing the searched broadcast content. Therefore, it is possible to quickly output and provide broadcast content to users.

Abstract: Provided is data transmission method and apparatus. A method for transmitting data from a first device to a second device includes detecting information on a communication environment of the first device; receiving information on a communication environment of the second device from the second device; and adjusting the QoS of the data transmission in an application layer based on at least one of the information on the communication environment of the first device and the information on the communication environment of the second device. Accordingly, when a sender transmits data to a receiver, the QoS of data transmission can be adjusted by considering communication environments of the sender and the receiver, and thus optimized data transmission can be achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a content recommending method including receiving from second users meta data regarding content belonging to each of the second users having a content preference similar to a content preference of a first user, detecting based on the received meta data a plurality of pieces of recommended content similar to content that the first user is currently using, and outputting information regarding the respective pieces of detected recommended content.

Abstract: A method of generating integrated metadata. The method includes receiving metadata about second contents including content access information for accessing the second contents from one or more content providers, which provide the second contents generated by changing at least one of quality, viewing cost, viewing time, and content providing method of at least one piece of first content; and generating integrated metadata using the received metadata about the second contents.

Abstract: A method of adaptively updating a first recommended user group list of a first user connected to a network, in which a predetermined number of second users are selected from the first recommend user group list that is a list of users having a high similarity to the first user in consuming contents. A predetermined number of third users having a high similarity to the first user is selected from second recommend user group lists respectively of the selected second users possess. The first recommend user group list is updated to include the selected third users. As the preference of a user changes, the recommend user group may be reconfigured with updated recommend users by reflecting a corresponding preference. Also, quality contents can be provided by recommending a user of a corresponding terminal with the contents preferred by other users in the updated recommend user group list.

Abstract: Provided is a method of performing communication by using a plurality of network interfaces mounted on a communication terminal apparatus. The method includes allocating different Internet protocol (IP) addresses corresponding to the plurality of network interfaces to a plurality of applications of the communication terminal apparatus, relaying data transmitted or received between the plurality of applications and the plurality of network interfaces based on the allocated IP addresses, and simultaneously performing communication with an external network by the plurality of network interfaces through the relaying of the data.