Abstract: A broadcast receiver includes a mode determination unit to determine a current operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, a communication interface to transmit the determined current operation mode to a mobile device through interactive communication, and to receive a control command from the mobile device, and a controller to provide a service of the determined current operation mode according to the control command received from the mobile device. Accordingly, a user controls the broadcast receiver through the mobile device according to the operation mode so that user's convenience is improved.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for communication between client and service provider using external server, and a method and apparatus for controlling communication between a client and a service provider are provided. The method includes: receiving from the service provider a first authentication token indicating that the service provider has authenticated communication with the client by logging on the service provider; storing, in the external server, authentication information containing the first authentication token and additional information relating to communication with the service provider; receiving, when there is a request to access the service provider, authentication information corresponding to the request from the external server; and communicating with the service provider using the received authentication information.

Abstract: Provided is a distributed control method of data by a client connected to a first server and a network and a distributed control apparatus. The distributed control method includes: registering at least one piece of characteristic information of the client in the first server; generating a uniform resource locator (URL) address in a URL format based on the registered at least one piece of characteristic information; and acquiring data stored on the second server, wherein the acquired data is mirrored from data stored on the first server by using the generated URL address.

Abstract: Provided are a question and answer service method for exchanging information related to a program or a scene being viewed, a broadcast receiver having a question and answer service function, and a computer readable storage medium storing a program for executing the method. The question and answer service method includes: obtaining image information on a special area on a screen image displayed on a display unit at a point of time when a question of a user is generated while watching a program; selecting question type information displayed on the display unit with respect to the obtained image information; transmitting information about the obtained image information and information about the selected question type to a server via a network; and outputting, if information about at least one answer to the selected question type information is sent from the server via the network, information on the received answer.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for sharing a broadcasting program, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for sharing a broadcasting program via the Internet. The apparatus includes a list manager which manages a list of devices storing a broadcasting program and a device information transmitter which transmits information, to a first device, about a second device storing a broadcasting program requested by the first device, wherein the second device divides the requested broadcasting program into time slots and transmits each time slot to the first device.

Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for forming highlight content, the apparatus including a receiving unit receiving a highlight content formation command which requests formation of the highlight content; an event detection unit detecting an event generation point-in-time for each event of a program from which the highlight content is to be formed, wherein the event generation point-in-time is a point of time at which an event occurs; and a highlight content generation unit forming highlight content for each event from content corresponding to a predetermined period of time ranging before and after the event generation point-in-time.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for shopping, and more particularly, a system and method for shopping, in which a display device transmits control authority to a content-providing device connected by a predetermined communication network, and the content-providing device receives the control authority, configures a screen, which includes at least a piece of content, according to the received control authority and the results of a service request, and provides the configured screen to the display device so that the configured screen can be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: Provided are a content provision apparatus and method. The content provision apparatus includes a message reception module receiving a service request message from a display apparatus which displays first content; a content extraction module analyzing the received service request message and extracting second content associated with the first content; and a communication module transmitting the extracted second content.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a security level of a device. The method includes: requesting a server to authenticate a device, wherein the requesting is performed by a second application installed in the device; generating a device-server session for communication between the server and the device, based on the authentication of the device by the server; requesting access to the server by using the generated device-server session, wherein the requesting is performed by a first application installed in the device; and receiving content from the server due to the first application accessing the server.

Abstract: The present invention provides to a system and method of sharing contents using a messenger program. The system includes a device server which registers Consumer electronic (CE) devices of the same user and CE devices of different users, and generates a messenger account; a messenger server which registers the generated messenger account; and a buddy setting module which sets a buddy relationship among the CE devices of the same user and a buddy relationship among the CE devices of different users, such that contents are shared by the CE devices having the buddy relationship.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for managing device users over a network are provided. The method of managing users of a device in which network communication is possible, includes: inputting a request of a device user to manage a device user list; providing a user identifier candidate list including at least one user identifier based on the device user request; and managing the device user list based on a user's selection of at least one user identifier in the user identifier candidate list.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for relaying a communication between a terminal and an external communication network, and a method and apparatus for controlling a relay of a communication between a terminal and an external communication network. The method includes receiving safety policy information of the terminal from an external server that stores a plurality of pieces of safety policy information used to control a communication between at least one terminal and the external communication network.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for providing/receiving a service from a plurality of service providers. In the method, in order to receive a service from a plurality of Internet protocol television (IPTV) service providers, a client receives information regarding at least one of a feed that syndicates web information and a web-based application from a server of a service provider selected from the IPTV service providers. Then, the client requests the server to provide a service providing at least one of the feed and the application based on the received information, and receives the service from the server. Accordingly, it is possible to provide or receive web-based services via an IPTV network.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting data which includes a management unit that manages network-topology information of clients participating in the P2P service, and an interface unit that provides to a first client a peer list including information of a client having the minimum network distance to the first client, based on the network topology information, when receiving a request for content from the first client.

Abstract: A method for transmitting information effectively in a server/client network system is provided, the network system including a client placed behind a firewall and a server that provides the client with a predetermined service. The method includes the client generating a hole packet which is for making a hole in the firewall to allow a packet to pass through the firewall from the server, the hole being maintained for a certain period of time, and transmitting the hole packet to the firewall; and transmitting a packet from the server to the client through the hole made by the hole packet.

Abstract: A system and method of providing quality of service (QoS)-enabled digital content in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks are provided. The QoS-enabled service system on the P2P network includes: a service provider capable of providing digital content; one or more user nodes receiving digital content from the service provider; one or more donor nodes lending resources for providing digital content; and a supernode receiving information on user nodes and donor nodes, and a copy of digital content from the service provider, allowing the exchange of digital content among the user nodes through P2P networking, and when at least one user node experiences a P2P networking error during the exchange of the digital content, arranging for a predetermined number of donor nodes from among the one or more donor nodes to join the P2P networking.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for relaying streaming data between peers including a first device and a second device in a peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay network. A method of relaying streaming data from the first device to the second device includes determining whether requested streaming data is streaming data that the first device is currently receiving when the first device is requested by the second device to relay streaming data to the second device. Then, the first device assigns a reception bandwidth for receiving the requested streaming data from a source device according to the determination result and receives the requested streaming data using the assigned reception bandwidth to relay the requested streaming data to the second device. Therefore, peers can receive streaming data at a high rate in a P2P network.

Abstract: A cyclic referencing management method and apparatus, a parsing method and apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium storing a program to implement the methods are provided. The method for managing cyclic referencing that may occur by mutual references of assets in a file provided to control assets in a multimedia application environment, includes: detecting an asset generating cyclic referencing; and ignoring the asset generating cycling referencing. According to the methods and apparatuses, cyclic referencing that can occur in a file to control assets can be detected and processed such that the system can be prevented from entering an indefinite loop or causing an erroneous operation.

Abstract: A multi-pointing method using a magnetic field is provided. When one or more pointing devices that generate magnetic fields move or rotate, locations and directions of rotation of the one or more pointing devices are sensed based on patterns of magnetic fields generated by the one or more pointing devices and changes in the patterns.

Abstract: A multimedia content conversion apparatus and method, and a multimedia content distribution system are provided. The apparatus includes a storage unit storing original data received from a multimedia content provider, an authentication unit determining whether a viewer is authorized with respect to the original data stored in the storage unit, a decryptor decrypting the original data if it is determined by the authentication unit that the viewer is authorized, and a data combiner combining the original data and the data decrypted by the decryptor. Accordingly, even if several TVs are installed in a home, a viewer can view desired multimedia content through all of the TVs with only one content conversion apparatus. Even when the viewer watches a TV in which the content conversion apparatus is not included, the viewer can view desired multimedia content by changing a channel of a TV which includes the content conversion apparatus.