Method and apparatus for searching and downloading related contents by terminal through broadcast service

Abstract

A method and apparatus for receiving information regarding content related to particular content interested by a user and downloading the related contents in a terminal are disclosed. The method for receiving content related to a particular content, includes: transmitting a content request message including a content identifier of a particular content to a server; receiving a content response message including information regarding content related to the content identifier from the server, wherein if there are at least one or more contents related to a global content identifier, the global state code has a value indicating success; checking whether there exists second information in guide information referred to by the first information on the related contents; receiving the second information if there is not the second information; and initiating a service request procedure by using the referred reception information.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]The present disclosure claims priority benefit to the following applications, which contents are all incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61 / 180,923 (filed May 25, 2009), 61 / 185,177 (filed Jun. 8, 2009), 61 / 240,288 (filed Sep. 7, 2009), 61 / 263,821 (filed Nov. 23, 2009), and Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2009-0116117 (filed Nov. 27, 2009), 10-2010-0020517 (filed Mar. 8, 2010).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for searching and downloading content in a terminal and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for searching and downloading content related to particular content through a broadcast service received by the terminal.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]These days, in general, a terminal such as a mobile communication terminal or the like provides a supplementary service such as receiving and outputting video in addition to i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to simplify the process of searching and downloading content viewed by a user and related content. It does this by providing a method for receiving content related to a particular content, including transmitting a content request message to a server and receiving a content response message including first information on at least one or more contents related to the content identifier of the particular content. The method also allows the user or terminal to check whether or not service guide fragments of the content related to the content designated by the user are stored in the terminal, and to purchase the entire related content through an interactive channel. The invention also allows a server side to perform more operations to enhance the speed of an overall operation and provides a method for checking whether or not a related service in which the user may have an interest with respect to particular content designated by the user and service guide fragments, among service guide fragments which have been received by the terminal via a broadcast server. The invention also provides a terminal for receiving content related to particular content, including a transceiver and a controller for controlling the transceiver. The technical effects of the invention include simplifying the process of searching and downloading content, reducing network communication data, preventing waste of memory resources, inducing a user's purchase procedure, and allowing a server side to perform more operations to enhance the speed of an overall operation.

Problems solved by technology

However, the point-to-point method may apply an excessive load to a mobile communication network in terms of mobile communication having a limited bandwidth.

However, even when the user subscribes to the service, the service guide does not provide VOD information of different contents (e.g., a different episode of a TV show viewed by the user) related to the content currently viewed by the user.

In addition, when the terminal has not subscribed to the service providing the VOD in addition, the service guide does not provide even the VOD information is regarding the content currently viewed.

Also, when the terminal stores the general service guide, the general service may be limited to be stored due to a limited memory capacity of the terminal.

Also, when the user of the terminal wants to purchase the entirety of different episodes of a miniseries to which the content currently viewed belongs, the service guide does not provide VOD information regarding the entire episodes.

Also, service guide fragments required to obtain information regarding the service guide are transmitted to the user via a broadcast channel or an interactive channel, they are likely to be lost during the transmission.

In addition, even a service guide fragment which has been already transmitted may be erased before its use is completed due to a limited memory capacity of the terminal.

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