Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method to convert an analog signal into a digital signal, more particularly, an apparatus and method for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, the apparatus and method to perform a sampling operation by taking an average value of an analog signal for a predetermined sample period as a sample value and converting the analog signal into a digital signal using the sample value. The apparatus includes a signal input unit to which an analog signal is input; a sampling unit to perform a sampling operation by taking an average value of the analog signal for a predetermined sample period as a sample value; and a signal conversion unit to convert the analog signal into a digital signal using the sample value.

Abstract: A pointing input device and method, a pointer control device and method, and an image pattern generation device and method which move a mouse pointer displayed in a display region according to the movement of a location pointed at by the pointing input device. The pointing input device includes an image reception unit capturing an image pattern, which is displayed in a display region of a perceived size and based on which the scope of the display region is sensed, and sensing the scope of the image pattern; a coordinate extraction unit extracting coordinates of a location pointed at in the display region based on a center of the sensed scope of the image pattern; and a transmission unit transmitting the extracted coordinates to a pointer control device which controls a mouse pointer displayed in the display region.

Abstract: A pointing method, medium, and system detecting a synchronization signal from a plurality of light sources sequentially blinking at predetermined periods, detecting position information of the light sources by driving a video camera in synchronization with the synchronization signal, removing noise from among observed light sources by using the position information, and calculating a pointed to position by using the position information of the non-noise light sources. Provided is also a pointing reception method, medium, and system using a plurality of light sources blinking sequentially at predetermined periods, receiving the position information corresponding to light sources presenting the signals received by a pointing device and the position information pointed by the pointing device, and changing output data with respect to the pointed position information.

Abstract: A pointing apparatus and method and a pointer display apparatus and method using a virtual region which generate a virtual region corresponding to a detected display region, convert coordinates of a location, and display a pointer at the converted coordinates. The pointing device includes a region detector detecting a display region, which displays a pointer, using at least one received signal; a virtual region generator generating the virtual region corresponding to the display region and having an aspect ratio equal to that of the display region; a coordinate converter converting coordinates of a location, which is pointed at by the pointing device, in the virtual region into ratios of the coordinates of the location to a size of the virtual region; and a coordinate ratio transmitter transmitting the ratios.

Abstract: A pointer displaying apparatus, method, and medium are provided. The pointer displaying apparatus includes a management unit which sets an event zone for an object currently being displayed on a screen, the object being referred to as the current object; a reception unit which receives the coordinates of a pointed-to-spot currently being pointed at by a direct pointing device; a control unit which determines whether the pointed-to-spot is included in the event zone; and a screen coordinate determination unit which determines screen coordinates of a location on the screen where a pointer is to be displayed based on the coordinates of the center of the current object and the coordinates of the pointed-to-spot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a user interface that enables a user to select a menu having the same position or direction as a position selected by a remote control. The apparatus includes an interface storing unit which stores items of menus and information about functions provided by the menus, an output unit which outputs items of a first menu stored in the interface storing unit on the circumference of a figure, a receiving unit which receives an input signal from the remote control, and a control unit which, when the input signal received by the receiving unit includes a position selected by the remote control, selects an item of the first menu located at a position of the figure corresponding to the position selected by the remote control and executes a function corresponding to the selected item of the first menu.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a display. The apparatus includes a focus matching unit and an image control unit. A reference display receives a signal of a sample image during a first output period and displays a reference image according to the received signal. A target display receives the signal of the sample image during a second output period that does not overlap with the first output period and displays a test image according to the received signal. The focus matching unit may match display positions and sizes of the reference image and the test image. The image control unit may control the signal of the sample image stored in a predetermined memory to be output to the reference display during the first output period and controls the signal of the sample image to be output to the target display during the second output period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for proactive recording and displaying of a preferred television (TV) program, determined based on a user's eye gaze, are provided. The method includes extracting a parameter used to estimate a preference of the user for a currently broadcast TV program from information on the user's eye gaze obtained through a camera; estimating the preference based on the extracted parameter, determining whether the preference exceeds a predetermined reference value, and generating a preferred program registration signal if it is determined that the preference exceeds the predetermined reference value; and in response to the preferred program registration signal, detecting an ID of the currently broadcast TV program from electronic program guide (EPG) information, and storing the detected ID in the preferred program list.