HK1186608B - Method and system for reproducing contents, and computer-readable recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Description

Method and system for reproducing content and computer-readable recording medium thereof

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 13/664,928, filed on October 31, 2012, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0036402, filed on April 7, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to content reproduction, and more particularly, to a method and system for reproducing content, by which seamless playback of content can be performed between devices.

Background Art

The functions of devices such as smartphones, handheld personal computers (PCs), tablet PCs, and smart televisions (TVs) have gradually diversified, and accordingly, it has become possible to reproduce the same content using different devices.

For example, a user can watch and listen to broadcast content on a smart TV and a smartphone. A game application running on a smartphone can also run on a smart TV. A sound source running on a smartphone can also run on a smart TV. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the performance of seamless playback or output of content between devices.

Summary of the Invention

Example embodiments provide a method and system for seamless playback of content between different devices, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof.

Example embodiments also provide a method and system for seamless playback of content between different devices by sharing information required to reproduce the content between the devices, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof.

Example embodiments also provide a method and system for seamless playback of content between different devices based on near field communication (NFC) contact, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof.

Example embodiments also provide a method and system for seamlessly outputting information between different devices, and a computer-readable recording medium thereof.

According to an aspect of an example embodiment, there is provided a content reproducing method executable by using a portable device, the content reproducing method including: reproducing content; detecting occurrence of short-range communication with a remote controller configured to control an electronic device; generating data required for the electronic device to reproduce the content; and transmitting the generated data to the remote controller.

The short-range communication may be based on at least one Near Field Communication (NFC) standard.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is provided a content reproduction method operable by using a remote controller configured to control an electronic device, the content reproduction method comprising: detecting occurrence of short-range communication with a portable device; receiving data required for the electronic device to reproduce content being reproduced by the portable device from the portable device; and transmitting the received data to the electronic device.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, a portable device is provided, comprising: a short-range communication unit that performs short-range communication; a touch screen that displays an image including content being reproduced and receives user input information; and a processor that provides a user interface based on the touch screen, controls the reproduction of the content, detects the occurrence of short-range communication with a remote controller configured to control an electronic device via the short-range communication unit, generates data required for the electronic device to reproduce the content, and transmits the generated data to the remote controller via the short-range communication unit.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, a portable device is provided, comprising: a short-range communication unit that performs short-range communication; a touch screen that displays an image including content being reproduced and receives user input information; and at least one processor that provides a user interface based on the touch screen; and a memory that stores at least one program executable by the at least one processor, wherein the at least one program includes commands for the following operations: reproducing content; detecting, via the short-range communication unit, the occurrence of short-range communication with a remote control configured to control an electronic device; generating data required for the electronic device to reproduce the content based on detecting the occurrence of the short-range communication; and transmitting the generated data to the remote control.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, a remote controller configured to control an electronic device is provided, the remote controller comprising: a short-range communication unit that performs short-range communication with a portable device; a user input unit that inputs user information; and a processor that detects the occurrence of short-range communication with the portable device via the short-range communication unit, receives data from the portable device via the short-range communication unit, and transmits the received data to the electronic device via the wireless communication unit, wherein the received data includes data required for the electronic device to reproduce content being reproduced by the portable device.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is provided a content reproduction system including a portable device, a remote controller, and an electronic device, wherein, when short-range communication with the remote controller matched to control the electronic device occurs during reproduction of content, the portable device generates data required for the electronic device to reproduce the content and transmits the generated data to the remote controller; the remote controller receives the transmitted data from the portable device based on the occurrence of short-range communication with the portable device and transmits the received data to the electronic device; and the electronic device receives the content from a content provider based on the data received from the remote controller and reproduces the received content.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, a content reproduction method that can be performed by using a portable device is provided, the content reproduction method including: detecting the occurrence of short-range communication with a remote controller configured to control an electronic device; receiving data required for the portable device to reproduce content being reproduced by the electronic device from at least one of the remote controller and the electronic device; receiving the content from a content provider based on the received data; and reproducing the received content.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is provided a content reproduction method operable by using a remote controller configured to control an electronic device, the content reproduction method comprising: detecting occurrence of short-range communication with a portable device; receiving from the electronic device data required for the portable device to reproduce content being reproduced by the electronic device; and transmitting the received data to the portable device.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, there is provided a content reproduction method executable by using an electronic device, the content reproduction method including: reproducing content; receiving a data transmission request signal related to data required for the portable device to reproduce the content from at least one of a remote control and a portable device configured to control the electronic device; generating data required for the portable device to reproduce the content; and transmitting the generated data to at least one of the remote control and the portable device, wherein the data transmission request signal is received based on the occurrence of short-range communication between the remote control and the portable device.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon at least one program, wherein the at least one program includes a command for executing the above-described content reproducing method executable by using a portable device.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon at least one program, wherein the at least one program includes a command for executing the above-mentioned content reproducing method executable by using a remote controller configured to control an electronic device.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon at least one program, wherein the at least one program includes a command for executing the above-described content reproducing method executable by using an electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become more apparent by describing in detail example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG1A is a configuration diagram of a content reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG1B is an example of the content reproduction system of FIG1A;

FIG2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a portable device as shown in FIG1A according to an example embodiment;

3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a remote controller as shown in FIG. 1A according to an example embodiment;

FIG4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electronic device as shown in FIG1A according to an example embodiment;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a portable device according to an exemplary embodiment;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a portable device according to another exemplary embodiment;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a portable device according to another exemplary embodiment;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a remote controller configured to control an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

9 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a remote controller configured to control an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment;

10 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

11 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment;

12 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment;

13 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, and an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment;

14 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, and an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment;

15 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, an electronic device, and a server according to an exemplary embodiment;

16A is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using a portable device according to another exemplary embodiment;

16B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an operation of receiving content from a content provider as shown in FIG. 16A according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG17 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a remote controller according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG18 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an operation of receiving data from an electronic device mentioned in FIG17 according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG19 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an electronic device according to another example embodiment;

20 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, and an electronic device in a content reproducing method according to an exemplary embodiment;

21 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, an electronic device, and a server in a content reproducing method according to another exemplary embodiment;

22 is a flowchart illustrating operations among a portable device, a remote controller, and an electronic device in a content reproducing method according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG23 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a content reproducing method according to another exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a method for outputting information according to another example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the detailed description provided herein allows for various changes and multiple embodiments, specific example embodiments will be described in detail in the accompanying drawings and in the written description. However, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. In the description given herein, specific explanations of related art will be omitted when it is believed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present disclosure.

Terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein only to describe a plurality of constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one constituent element from another constituent element.

Most of the terms used herein are general terms that have been widely used in the technical field to which the exemplary embodiments belong. However, some of the terms used herein may be created to reflect the intentions, precedents, or new technologies of those skilled in the art. In addition, some of the terms used herein may be selected at will by the applicant. In this case, these terms are specifically defined below. Therefore, these terms should be understood based on the unique meaning of the specific terms used here and the entire context of this disclosure.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "comprises" or "comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. When a statement such as "at least one" appears before a list of elements, the statement modifies the elements of the entire list, rather than the individual elements in the list.

Throughout this specification, the term "content" may include video images, still images, sound sources, files, broadcast content, text, and/or any other appropriate form of content. In addition, content may include content based on social network services (such as, for example, mobile messengers, Internet phones, Twitter, and blogs), content based on online shopping sites, information that can be output through a communicative external device (such as an appcessory), and content based on an application, but is not limited thereto.

For example, content based on an online shopping site may include information about shopping items, information about the seller, user review information, and payment information (or transaction information), but is not limited to this. The information that the external device can output may be determined based on the functions that the external device can provide. For example, when the external device is a pedometer, the information that the external device can output may include distance information, speed information, and specific user history information. However, the information that the external device can output is not limited to this. The information that the external device can output may include information stored in the external device. Application-based content may include content based on gaming applications. The content is not limited to this.

An application accessory is a device including hardware and software that can operate based on an application, and may be a peripheral device or an accessory device.

Throughout this specification, the term "seamless playback of content" in the context of content reproduction refers to the process of continuously reproducing content using different devices as if the content were being reproduced by a single device. Seamless playback of content may also refer to the process of reproducing content between different devices in the same or similar reproduction environments. Parameters related to the same or similar reproduction environments may include, for example, subtitle settings, equalizer settings, sound settings, resolution, and/or any other suitable parameters related to the reproduction environment.

For example, when the content being reproduced by a first device includes movie content having a 16:9 aspect ratio, three-dimensional (3D) stereo sound effects, and English subtitles (or closed captions), seamless playback of the content by a second device may refer to a process of reproducing the movie content starting from the point corresponding to the time when the content reproduction was stopped on the first device. Here, the reproduction environment of the movie content reproduced by the second device may not include a 16:9 aspect ratio, 3D stereo sound effects, and English subtitles.

The time at which the content reproduction is stopped at the first device is used to understand the connection relationship between the content being reproduced by the first device and the content to be reproduced by the second device with respect to seamless playback of the content. Therefore, example embodiments are not limited to the case where the reproduction of the content being reproduced by the first device is stopped during seamless playback of the content.

When the content being reproduced by the first device includes movie content with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 3D stereo effects, and English subtitles, seamless playback of the content by the second device may refer to a process of reproducing the movie content with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 3D stereo effects, and English subtitles starting from the content corresponding to the time when the reproduction of the movie content was stopped at the first device.

Information related to a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 3D stereo effect, and subtitles (or captions) may be included in metadata related to respective contents used throughout this specification.

Furthermore, for example, when the content being reproduced by the first device includes a mobile messenger used by the user to chat with "A", seamless playback of the content by the second device may refer to a process of opening a chat window with "A" based on the mobile messenger and continuously transmitting and receiving messages to and from "A". Therefore, the user can continuously transmit and receive messages to and from "A" via the same chat window opened using the second device.

Furthermore, for example, when the content being played back by the first device includes a game application, seamless playback of the content by the second device may refer to a process of starting the game application from a game level of the game application being played back using the first device, or playing back the same game content as the running game content. Thus, the user can continuously play the game being played back on the first device using the second device.

Throughout this specification, user input information may be based on user gestures. User gestures may be defined based on the input device. Specifically, when the input device is a touch screen-based device, the user gesture may include, for example, but not limited to, tap (or touch), touch and hold, touch and drag, double-click, drag, panning, flick, drag and drop, sweep, and/or any other suitable user gesture.

User gestures performed using a touch screen-based device may be performed using a user's finger or a contact tool (e.g., a stylus). When the input device is a camera-based device, the user gesture may include a spatial gesture based on an image captured by the camera. When the input device includes a physical button, dial, slide switch, joystick, click wheel, and/or any other suitable component for receiving user input, the user input information may depend on the user's physical control over the input device.

Throughout this specification, NFC contact may refer to NFC tagging.

Hereinafter, the present inventive concept will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote similar elements, and repeated description thereof will not be provided.

FIG1A is a block diagram of a content reproduction system according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG1A may refer to a block diagram of a network for performing a content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment. The content reproduction system shown in FIG1 includes a portable device 100, a remote controller 110 configured to control an electronic device 120, the electronic device 120, and a server 130.

However, the content reproduction system according to this exemplary embodiment is not limited to the case shown in FIG1A . For example, the content reproduction system according to this exemplary embodiment may include multiple servers that provide various contents. In addition, the content reproduction system according to this exemplary embodiment may include a portable device 100, a remote controller 110, and an electronic device 120. In the aforementioned example related to seamless playback of content, the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 may be exemplified as the first device and the second device, respectively.

In the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1A, when the short-range communication units 101 and 111 are configured, seamless playback of content can be performed according to the occurrence of NFC contact based on user intention, a small amount of data can be transmitted between the portable device 100 and the remote control 110, and information for user authentication can be transmitted between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 or between the portable device 100 and the remote control 110.

The small amount of data transmitted between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 may include, for example, but not limited to, data that must be shared between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 for seamless reproduction of content. The data to be shared will be described later.

Examples of portable device 100 shown in FIG. 1A may include a smartphone, a notebook, a tablet PC, a mobile device, a handheld device or handheld computer, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or any other suitable type of portable device.

The portable device 100 includes a short-range communication unit 101 for performing short-range communication. The short-range communication unit 101 may include, for example, at least one of an NFC-based communication chip, a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based communication chip, and other short-range communication chips.

When the short-range communication unit 101 is configured based on the NFC standard, the short-range communication unit 101 may include active circuitry for transmitting and receiving data and information to and from the short-range communication unit 111 when the short-range communication unit 101 is brought into contact with the short-range communication unit 111 or brought within a predetermined distance physically close to the short-range communication unit 111. In this case, the short-range communication unit 111 may include a passive NFC tag, but may also include active circuitry. The predetermined distance may be set to approximately within a range between zero and 20 centimeters, but is not limited thereto.

When the short-range communication unit 101 is configured based on RFID, the short-range communication unit 101 may include an active circuit for transmitting and receiving data and information to and from the short-range communication unit 111 located at a relatively long distance compared to the case where the short-range communication unit 101 is configured based on NFC. In this case, the short-range communication unit 111 may include a passive RFID tag, but may also include an active circuit.

In addition, the following button (not shown) may be installed on the portable device 100, which is used to input the user's intention regarding whether the contact or physical proximity between the short-range communication units 101 and 111 is valid for the portable device 100, thereby preventing the short-range communication unit 101 from operating when unnecessary contact or unnecessary physical proximity of the short-range communication units 101 and 111 occurs.

Short-range communication unit 101 may convert data intended for transmission to short-range communication unit 111 into data in a short-range communication data exchange format and may transmit the converted data to short-range communication unit 111. If short-range communication units 101 and 111 are based on the NFC format, the short-range communication data exchange format may be the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF). However, the short-range communication data exchange format is not limited thereto. Accordingly, when transmitting data to short-range communication unit 111, short-range communication unit 101 may transmit the data by writing the data to short-range communication unit 111.

In addition, the short-range communication unit 101 may convert the short-range communication data exchange format data received from the short-range communication unit 111 into data processable by the portable device 100. The data processable by the portable device 100 may be determined based on, for example, at least one of the operating system of the portable device 100, the manufacturer of the portable device 100, the model of the portable device 100, etc., but is not limited thereto. For example, if the portable device 100 is based on the Android operating system (Android OS), the manufacturer of the portable device 100 is Samsung Electronics, and the model of the portable device 100 is Note, the data processable by the portable device 100 may be determined based on at least one of the above conditions.

For example, when receiving NDEF-based data and the portable device 100 is an Android-based device, the short-range communication unit 101 may convert the NDEF-based data into data processable by the Android OS.

As described above, when the short-range communication unit 101 receives data from the short-range communication unit 111 , the short-range communication unit 101 may receive the data by reading the data from the short-range communication unit 111 .

When the remote controller 110 is capable of one-way communication with the electronic device 120, the short-range communication unit 111 may include at least one of a passive NFC tag and a passive RFID tag. However, when the remote controller 110 is capable of two-way communication with the electronic device 120, the short-range communication unit 111 may include an active circuit for performing a read function or a write function.

Specifically, when the short-range communication unit 111 includes an active circuit and transmits data to the short-range communication unit 101, the short-range communication unit 111 may transmit the data by writing the data to the short-range communication unit 101. In addition, when the short-range communication unit 111 includes an active circuit and receives data from the short-range communication unit 101, the short-range communication unit 111 may receive the data by reading the data from the short-range communication unit 101.

When the short-distance communication units 101 and 111 are configured based on NFC, they can each be used as an NFC interface. When the short-distance communication units 101 and 111 are configured based on RFID, they can each be used as an RFID interface.

The remote controller 110 is a device configured to control the electronic device 120. As described above, the remote controller 110 may be configured to control the electronic device 120 while performing one-way communication or two-way communication with the electronic device 120.

The electronic device 120 is a media reproduction device, a content reproduction device, or an information output device that can be controlled using the remote controller 110. The electronic device 120 may include, for example, a TV with a communication function or a digital consumer electronics (CE) device with a communication function. The digital CE device may include, for example, a refrigerator, an audio system, and/or any other suitable type of digital CE device, and may also include a digital television (DTV) or an Internet Protocol television (IPTV).

The server 130 provides content requested by at least one of the electronic device 120 and the portable device 100. The server 130 may include a content providing server connected via a web page, a broadcast content providing server, a server based on an online shopping site, a server providing information about applications related to external devices (such as application accessories), and/or a cloud server, a home gateway, and/or any other suitable type of server device.

The server 130 may store content and data required for reproducing content based on a request from either or both of the electronic device 120 and the portable device 100. The content and data required for reproducing content stored in the server 130 may be provided from either or both of the electronic device 120 and the portable device 100. However, the server 130 may acquire the content and data required for reproducing content from another database server (not shown).

In the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1A, when the portable device 100 reproduces content, based on the occurrence of short-range communication between the short-range communication units 101 and 111, data to be shared between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 can be transmitted via the remote controller 110 so as to perform seamless playback of the content by using the electronic device 120.

The data to be shared may include, for example, identification information about the content being reproduced by the portable device 100, information about the content provider, and information about the playback position of the content being reproduced by the portable device 100 when the short-range communication occurs, but is not limited thereto.

The information about the playback position of the content being reproduced by the portable device 100 may include, for example, information about the playback time of the content. In other words, if the total playback time of the content is 60 minutes and content corresponding to a playback time of 36 minutes and 20 seconds is being reproduced when short-range communication occurs, the information about the playback position of the content may include time information indicating 36 minutes and 20 seconds, or may include time information including the total playback time and time information indicating 36 minutes and 20 seconds. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the information about the playback position of the content may include frame identification information.

In the content reproduction system shown in FIG1A , when the electronic device 120 reproduces content, based on the occurrence of short-range communication between the short-range communication units 101 and 111, data to be shared between the electronic device 120 and the portable device 100 can be transmitted via the remote controller 110 or through direct communication between the electronic device 120 and the portable device 100, so as to seamlessly play back the content using the portable device 100. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the data to be shared can be transmitted between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 via the server 130.

In order to enable the portable device 100 or the electronic device 120 to perform seamless playback of the content reproduced by the portable device 100 at a later time, the information required for reproducing the content can be transmitted to the server 130 and stored in the server 130. If necessary, the information stored in the server 130 can be downloaded and used by the portable device 100 or the electronic device 120 to seamlessly reproduce the content.

In addition, in order for the portable device 100 or the electronic device 120 to perform seamless playback of content reproduced by the electronic device 120 at a later time, information required for reproducing the content may be transmitted to and stored in the server 130 .

In the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1A, when the portable device 100 is a smart phone, the electronic device 120 is a TV, and each of the short-range communication units 101 and 111 is an NFC-based communication module, the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1A functions as the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1B.

The content reproduction system shown in Figure 1B includes: a smart phone 150 including an NFC-based communication module 151, a remote controller 160 including an NFC-based communication module 161 and configured to control TV170, TV170 controllable by using the remote controller 160, and a server 180 connected to TV170 and smart phone 150 and providing information to each of TV170 and smart phone 150.

Therefore, in the content reproduction system shown in Figure 1B, when the smart phone 150 reproduces content, based on the occurrence of short-range communication (or contact) between the NFC-based communication module 151 of the smart phone 150 and the NFC-based communication module 161 of the remote controller 160, data to be shared between the TV 170 and the smart phone 150 can be transmitted via the remote controller 160 so as to perform seamless playback of the content by using the TV 170.

In the content reproduction system shown in FIG1B , when the TV 170 reproduces content, based on the occurrence of short-range communication (or contact) between the NFC-based communication module 151 of the smartphone 150 and the NFC-based communication module 161 of the remote controller 160, data to be shared between the TV 170 and the smartphone 150 can be transmitted via the remote controller 160 or through direct communication between the TV 170 and the smartphone 150, so as to perform seamless playback of the content using the smartphone 150. However, similarly to what has been described above with respect to FIG1A , the transmission of data to be shared in the content reproduction system shown in FIG1B is not limited to the above example.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the portable device 100 shown in FIG. 1A according to an example embodiment.

2 , the portable device 100 includes a user input unit 201, a sensor 202, a touch screen 203, a camera 204, an audio input unit 205, an audio output unit 206, a storage device 207, a communication unit 208, a port 209, a processor 210, a power supply 211, and a short-range communication unit 101. The configuration of the portable device 100 is not limited to that shown in FIG 2 . In other words, the portable device 100 may include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG 2 .

The user input unit 201 generates input data (or control data) or the above-mentioned user input information for controlling the operation of the portable device 100. The user input unit 201 may include, for example, a keyboard, a dome switch, a touch pad instead of a mouse, a scroll wheel, a jog switch, a hardware (H/W) button, and/or any other suitable component for receiving user input.

The sensor 202 detects a current state of the portable device 100, such as, for example, a position of the portable device 100, user contact, bearing of the portable device 100, acceleration or deceleration of the portable device 100, and/or any other suitable parameter related to the current state of the portable device 100, and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the portable device 100. The sensor 202 may include a proximity sensor.

A proximity sensor refers to a sensor for detecting the presence of at least one of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface and an object located near the sensor by using electromagnetic force or infrared rays without physical contact. Examples of the proximity sensor may include any one or more of a transmissive photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high-frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infrared proximity sensor, and/or any other suitable type of proximity sensor.

The user input information obtained by using the touch screen 203 can be generated based on a user selection or a user request, which can be expressed as a user gesture. Similar to the above example of a user gesture, a user gesture can be defined differently according to different combinations of the number of contacts, the contact pattern, and the contact strength.

In addition, the touch screen 203 may include a variety of sensors for detecting contact or near-contact with the touch screen 203. The sensors included in the touch screen 203 include sensors that detect user gestures or patterns on the touch screen 203 and may generate signals obtained by sensing at least one of dragging, clicking, tapping, contact and holding, contact and dragging, double-clicking, swinging, sweeping, and/or any other suitable form of user contact input as a user gesture on the touch screen 203.

Examples of sensors for detecting contact with the touch screen 203 include tactile sensors. Tactile sensors can detect various information, such as the roughness of the contact surface, the hardness of the contact object, the temperature of the contact point, and so on. Contact with the touch screen 203 can be generated by contacting the panel with a pointer. Contact may include multiple points of contact. Near contact with the touch screen 203 corresponds to a situation where the pointer does not actually contact the touch screen 203 but approaches the touch screen 203 at a predetermined proximity distance. The pointer is a tool used to contact or near-contact a predetermined portion of the touch screen 203. Examples of the pointer include a stylus, a finger, and/or any other suitable type of pointer. Therefore, the pointer will also be referred to as an external input device.

The touch screen 203 outputs information to be processed by the portable device 100. For example, the touch screen 203 displays an image in response to a user gesture or touch pattern detected by the sensor 202 included in the touch screen 203, control data or user input information received via the user input unit 201, or a sensing signal provided by the sensor 202.

The touch screen 203 will also be referred to as an input/output device. When the touch screen 203 is an input/output device, the image displayed on the touch screen 203 includes a user interface (UI) image or a graphical user interface (GUI) image. The UI image or GUI image is pre-stored in the storage unit 207 and, if necessary, can be read from the storage unit 207 and displayed on the touch screen 203. The UI image or GUI image may be pre-stored in the storage unit 207 by the user or the manufacturer of the portable device 100. The touch screen 203 can display an image including information related to the content being reproduced and can also receive user input information.

The touch screen 203 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode display, a flexible display, a three-dimensional (3D) display, an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display, and/or any other suitable type of display. The touch screen 203 will also be referred to as a display. The portable device 100 may include two or more touch screens 203 depending on the configuration type of the portable device 100. For example, if the portable device 100 includes touch screens on both sides (e.g., the front and back), the portable device 100 may include two touch screens.

The camera 204 processes image frames of still images or video images obtained by the image sensor in the video call mode or the camera mode. In addition, the processed image frames can be displayed on the touch screen 203. The image frames processed by the camera 204 can be stored in the storage unit 207, or can be transmitted to the outside of the portable device 100 via the communication unit 208 or the port 209. Depending on the configuration type of the portable device 100, the portable device 100 may include two or more cameras 204. For example, the portable device 100 may include a front camera and a rear camera. The camera 204 can be used as an input device for recognizing the spatial posture of the user.

In at least one of a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and/or any other suitable mode for transmitting voice data, the audio input unit 205 receives an external voice signal, converts the external voice signal into electrical voice data, and transmits the electrical voice data to the processor 210. The audio input unit 205 may include, for example, a microphone. The audio input unit 205 may be configured to implement various noise filtering algorithms for filtering out noise generated during the process of receiving the external voice signal. The voice signal received using the audio input unit 205 may include natural language-based user input information for executing the method for reproducing content according to an example embodiment. The natural language-based user input information may refer to user input information based on voice recognition. The external voice signal received via the audio input unit 205 may be stored in the storage unit 207, or may be transmitted by the portable device 100 via at least one of the communication unit 208 and the port 209.

Depending on the user interface function between the portable device 100 and the user, each of the user input unit 201, the sensor 202, the touch screen 203, the camera 204, and the audio input unit 205 may also be referred to as an input device or an input/output device. For example, when the user interface function between the portable device 100 and the user has a contact recognition function, a voice recognition function, and a spatial gesture recognition function, each of the user input unit 201, the sensor 202, the camera 204, and the audio input unit 205 may also be referred to as an input device, and the touch screen 203 may be referred to as an input/output device.

The audio output unit 206 outputs at least one of a sound signal and an audio signal received from an external source in a call mode, an audio reproduction mode, and/or any other mode suitable for receiving an audio signal. The audio output unit 206 may include a speaker. According to this exemplary embodiment, when the portable device 100 reproduces content, if the reproduced content includes an audio signal, the audio output unit 206 outputs the audio signal included in the reproduced content. The audio input unit 205 and the audio output unit 206 may be integrated with each other, such as, for example, a headset.

The storage unit 207 stores resources and at least one program executable by the processor 210, which will be described below. The at least one program may include, but is not limited to, a program for executing the content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment, an operating system (OS) program for the portable device 100, applications provided in the portable device 100, and one or more programs required for executing various functions of the portable device 100 (e.g., communication functions and display functions). The programs stored in the storage unit 207 can be loaded into the processor 210 and executed.

The resources stored in the storage unit 207 may include metadata related to the content according to the aforementioned example embodiments, device information related to the portable device 100, user information related to the portable device 100, information required for running applications residing in the portable device 100, and programs required to perform the above functions.

If the program for executing the content reproduction method according to an example embodiment is an application residing in the portable device 100, the information required for operating the application may include, for example, UI image information provided via the touch screen 203, GUI image information provided via the touch screen 203, boot information provided via the touch screen 203, user input information, program identification information, program version information, information about the location of a server providing the program (e.g., a uniform resource locator (URL)), information for accessing a server for program updates (e.g., login information), and at least one of arbitrary information required to run the program, but such information is not limited thereto.

The information required to run programs for executing various functions of the portable device 100 may include UI image information provided via the touch screen 203, GUI image information provided via the touch screen 203, guide information provided via the touch screen 203, user input information, and at least one item of any information required to run the program, but such information is not limited thereto.

In addition, the storage unit 207 includes information for generating data required for the electronic device 120 to perform seamless playback of content being reproduced by the portable device 100 .

The information used to generate data required for the electronic device 120 to perform seamless playback of content may include identification information about the electronic device 120 (for example, information about the model name of the electronic device 120 and information about the manufacturer of the electronic device 120), information about the content reproduction environment of the electronic device (for example, resolution information, information indicating whether it is 2D content or 3D content, etc.), a command set for controlling the electronic device 120 (for example, information about a binary code corresponding to a play command or a stop command defined by the electronic device 120), and operating condition information of the electronic device 120 (for example, binary data indicating whether the electronic device 120 searches for a playback position by using time information or by using frame information), information related to a communication protocol of the electronic device 120, or at least one of information related to a communication protocol of the remote controller 110, but such information is not limited thereto.

The data required by the electronic device 120 may include at least one of information related to the content provider, device-specific information related to the portable device 100, user information related to the portable device 100, metadata related to the reproduced content, and information related to the time when the content was reproduced (which corresponds to the time when the short-range communication was detected), but such data is not limited to this. The metadata related to the content may include title information related to the content and the content reproduction environment information described above. The information related to the content provider may include content reception channel information and the URL of the content providing server, but such data is not limited to this.

The storage unit 207 may independently include a storage device storing at least one program required to perform various functions of the portable device 100, and a storage device storing at least one program, resources, and applications for performing the content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment in addition to the above-mentioned OS system.

The storage device 207 may include at least one of a high-speed random access memory, a disk storage device, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and/or other non-volatile memory. Therefore, the storage device 207 may be referred to as a memory.

The programs stored in the storage device 207 may be divided into a plurality of modules according to their functions. Specifically, the programs stored in the storage device 207 may be divided into an operation module, a communication module, a graphic module, an input module, and/or any other suitable type of program module, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

The communication module may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a broadcast receiving module, a mobile communication module, a wireless Internet module, a wired Internet module, a short-range communication module, and a location information module, as described below with respect to the communication unit 208. The short-range communication module may include at least one of an NFC module, a Bluetooth module, a WiFi direct module, an RFID module, and/or any other suitable type of module.

The input module may include, but is not limited to, a touch module based on the touch screen 203, a hardware key input module based on the user input unit 201, a position recognition module of the portable device 100, a motion recognition module based on the sensor 202, a module for recognizing user contact, a module for recognizing acceleration and deceleration of the portable device 100, a motion recognition module based on the camera 204, and/or at least one of any other suitable type of module.

The location information module may include, but is not limited to, a location tracking module of the portable device 100 , which is based on a global positioning system (GPS).

The graphics module may adjust image quality on the touch screen during seamless playback of content between devices, but is not limited thereto.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the application modules stored in the storage unit 207 may include a module for seamless playback of content between devices. The module for seamless playback of content between devices may be configured as a module for seamless playback of content between devices in combination with NFC contact between the NFC-based communication module 161 of the remote controller 160 and the NFC-based communication module 151 of the smartphone 150 in FIG. 1B , or alternatively, may include at least one of various modules based on short-range communication between devices other than NFC contact. In other words, for example, the module for seamless playback of content between devices may include a Bluetooth-based module. The Bluetooth-based module can detect the occurrence of short-range communication between devices using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and can seamlessly reproduce content between the devices.

The module for seamless playback of content between devices can be classified into various modules, such as a module for seamless playback of content from the portable device 100 only to the electronic device 120, a module for seamless playback of content from an external device (not shown) only to the portable device 100, and a module obtained by combining these two modules, but is not limited thereto.

The communication unit 208 can be configured to transmit data to and receive data from the electronic device 120 and the server 130 via a wireless network or a wired network, such as wireless Internet, wireless Ethernet, wireless telephone network, wireless LAN, Wi-Fi network, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) network, third generation (3G) network, 4G long term evolution network, Bluetooth network, infrared data association (IrDA) network, RFID network, ultra-wideband (UWB) network, ZigBee network, and NFC network, and wherein the wired network is such as wired Internet.

When both the short-range communication unit 101 and the communication unit 208 are RFID-based, the communication unit 208 may include an RFID-based communication unit having a longer maximum communication distance than the RFID-based communication unit included in the short-range communication unit 101 .

The communication unit 208 may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a broadcast receiving module, a mobile communication module, a wireless Internet module, a wired Internet module, a short-range communication module, and a location information module.

The broadcast receiving module receives broadcast signals and/or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel or a terrestrial channel. The mobile communication module transmits and receives wireless signals using at least one of a base station on a mobile communication network, an external device (e.g., an electronic device), and server 130. The wireless signals may include at least one of a voice call signal, a video call signal, and/or various types of data transmitted according to text/multimedia messaging. The wireless Internet module may refer to a module for wireless Internet access. The wired Internet module may refer to a module for wired Internet access.

The short-range communication module may refer to a module for short-range communication. In addition, the short-range communication module may use a short-range communication technology, such as at least one of a Bluetooth network, an RFID network, an IrDA network, an UWB network, a ZigBee network, a WFD network, an NFC network, and/or any other suitable communication technology. The position information module may include a module for checking or obtaining the position of the portable device 100. An example of the position information module may be a GPS module. The GPS module receives position information from a plurality of artificial satellites. The position information may include coordinate information indicated by latitude and longitude.

The port 209 can transmit and receive data to and from an external device (not shown) using a plug-and-play interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port (not shown). The plug-and-play interface may refer to a module that automatically recognizes an external device when the external device is plugged into a socket (plug) of the portable device 100.

The power supply 211 supplies power to the various components of the portable device 100. The power supply 211 includes one or more power sources such as, for example, a battery or an alternating current (AC) power source. The portable device 100 may not include the power supply 211, but may include a connection unit (not shown) that can be connected to an external power source (not shown).

The processor 210 may control the overall operation of the portable device 100 and may also be referred to as one or more processors. Although FIG. 2 shows a case in which the processor 210 is configured as a single chip, the processor 210 may also be referred to as one or more processors because the processor 210 may be classified as a plurality of processors and may operate according to the function of the portable device 100.

The processor 210 may control the overall operation of the user input unit 201, the sensor 202, the touch screen 203, the camera 204, the audio input unit 205, the audio output unit 206, the storage device 207, the communication unit 208, the port 209, and the short-range communication unit 101. Therefore, the processor 210 may also be referred to as a controller, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, etc. In addition, the processor 210 may provide a user interface by using at least one of the user input unit 201, the sensor 202, the touch screen 203, the camera 204, and the audio input unit 205.

The processor 210 can execute at least one program related to the content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment. The processor 210 can read a program from the storage device 207 and execute it. Alternatively, the processor 210 can download a program from an external device connected to the processor 210, such as an application providing server (not shown) or a market server (not shown), via the communication unit 208 and execute it. The processor 210 may include an interface function unit between the various functional modules within the portable device 100 and the processor 210. The operations of the processor 210 related to the content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment can be performed as shown in the flowcharts of Figures 5, 6, 7, 16A, and 16B described below.

3 is a functional block diagram of the remote controller 110 shown in FIG1A according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG3 , the remote controller 110 includes a short-range communication unit 111 , a user input unit 301 , a wireless communication unit 302 , a processor 303 , and a storage unit 304 .

The user input unit 301 may receive a user command and/or user input information using a key button or contact.

The wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication for transmitting data transmitted from the processor 303 to the electronic device 120. The wireless communication unit 302 can transmit data to the wireless communication unit 401 of Figure 4 and/or receive data from the wireless communication unit 401 of Figure 4. The wireless communication unit 302 can convert the data transmitted from the processor 303 into a data format according to the communication protocol to be used with the wireless communication unit 401, and transmit the converted data to the wireless communication unit 401.

For example, when the remote controller 110 includes an IrDA-based remote controller that performs one-way communication with the electronic device 120, the wireless communication unit 302 may include an infrared (IR) transmitter. When the wireless communication unit 302 includes the IR transmitter, the wireless communication unit 302 radiates infrared rays toward the electronic device 120 according to an infrared ray communication method to transmit a signal to the electronic device 120.

The wireless communication unit 302 converts the data received from the processor 303 into infrared ray signals and transmits the infrared ray signals to the electronic device 120. The data received from the processor 303 depends on user commands and/or user input information and/or data received via the short-range communication unit 111.

Specifically, when the occurrence of short-range communication in combination with contact between the short-range communication unit 111 and the short-range communication unit 101 is detected, or when the short-range communication in combination with approach of a predetermined proximity distance between the short-range communication unit 111 and the short-range communication unit 101 is detected, data required for the electronic device 120 to reproduce content, which is received from the portable device 100, is transmitted from the short-range communication unit 111 to the processor 303. The processor 303 transmits the data received from the short-range communication unit 111 to the wireless communication unit 302.

The processor 303 may be configured to transmit data received via the short-range communication unit 111 to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302 when the processor 303 receives a data transmission request signal via the user input unit 301. At this point, the processor 303 may store the received data in the storage unit 304.

In addition, the processor 303 may be configured to transmit a power-on request signal to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302 when the processor 303 detects that short-range communication has occurred. In this case, the processor 303 may be configured to generate the power-on request signal differently from the power-on request signal received through the electronic device 120 based on the control of an on/off button (not shown) included in the user input unit 301.

For example, when a power-on request signal is transmitted due to detection of the occurrence of a short-range communication signal, the power-on request signal may be transmitted after data "0" is added to a preamble of the power-on request signal, and the power-on request signal according to the control of a power-on/off button (not shown) included in the user input unit 301 may be transmitted after data "1" is added to the preamble of the power-on request signal. The electronic device 120 is configured to analyze the information included in the preamble of the received power-on request signal and determine whether the received power-on request signal is a power-on request signal according to the occurrence of a short-range communication or a power-on request signal according to the control of the power-on/off button (not shown) included in the user input unit 301.

When the occurrence of short-range communication is detected and data is then received from the portable device 100 , the processor 303 may transmit the data received from the portable device 100 to the electronic device 120 together with a power-on request signal.

The electronic device 120 may be powered on according to the power-on/power-off state of the electronic device 120. Specifically, when the electronic device 120 is powered on, the electronic device 120 ignores the received power-on request signal. When the electronic device 120 is powered off, the electronic device 120 may be powered on in response to the received power-on request signal.

When the communication protocol between the remote controller 110 and the electronic device 120 is a radio frequency (RF) communication-based protocol for two-way communication, the wireless communication unit 302 may include an RF module.

When the wireless communication unit 302 includes an RF module, the processor 303 can transmit data received from the short-range communication unit 111 to the wireless communication unit 302. The wireless communication unit 302 converts the data received from the processor 303 into an RF signal and transmits the RF signal to the electronic device 120. In addition, if the wireless communication unit 302 is an RF module and the content being reproduced by the electronic device 120 is to be seamlessly reproduced by the portable device 100, the processor 303 can transmit a request for data required for the content to be reproduced by the portable device 100 to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302, and can receive the data required for the content to be reproduced from the electronic device 120.

In addition, the processor 303 can monitor the power on/off status of the electronic device 120 by using two-way communication with the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302, and can store the monitoring results in the storage unit 304. When the occurrence of short-range communication is detected, the processor 303 can determine whether to generate a power on request signal for the electronic device 120 based on the information related to the power on/off status of the electronic device 120 stored in the storage unit 304. Then, based on the determination result, the processor 303 can transmit the power on request signal to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302.

The wireless communication unit 302 may be configured based on short-range communication such as a Bluetooth standard format (e.g., Bluetooth 4.0). In this case, the wireless communication unit 302 converts data received from the processor 303 into a data format that can be transmitted via the Bluetooth standard format and transmits the converted data to the electronic device 120. If the wireless communication unit 302 is configured based on the Bluetooth standard format, the wireless communication unit 302 may be integrated with the short-range communication unit 111 to form a single chip.

Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of the electronic device 120 shown in Fig. 1A according to an exemplary embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of a case in which the electronic device 120 is a TV with a communication function.

4 , the electronic device 120 includes a wireless communication unit 401 , a communication unit 402 , a broadcast signal receiving unit 403 , a storage device 404 , a processor 405 , an image processor 406 , a display 407 , an audio processor 408 , an audio output unit 409 , and an audio input unit 410 .

The wireless communication unit 401 may be configured to communicate with the wireless communication unit 302 included in the remote controller 110. Specifically, when the wireless communication unit 302 includes an IR transmitter, the wireless communication unit 401 includes an IR receiver, receives an infrared signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 302, demodulates the received infrared signal, and transmits the demodulated signal to the processor 405.

When the wireless communication unit 302 includes an RF module, the wireless communication unit 401 includes the RF module, receives and demodulates the RF signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit 302 , and transmits the demodulated RF signal to the processor 405 .

Wireless communication unit 401 is not limited to the aforementioned IR module and RF module. Specifically, similar to wireless communication unit 302, wireless communication unit 401 can be configured based on short-range communication such as the Bluetooth standard. If wireless communication unit 401 is configured based on the Bluetooth standard, wireless communication unit 401 receives data in a format based on the Bluetooth standard, demodulates the received data, and transmits the demodulated data to processor 405.

The communication unit 402 performs wireless data communication with at least one of the portable device 100 and the server 130 via the wireless communication module. The electronic device 120 can perform data communication with the portable device 100 or the server 130 by using at least one of a wireless communication-based network (such as a Bluetooth network, an RFID network, a WiFi network, an IrDA network, a UWB network, a ZigBee network, and an NFc network), a wired communication-based network (such as the Home Phoneline Network Alliance (PNA), Power Line Communication (PLC), IEEE1394, and wired Internet), and/or various home networks.

The processor 405 may receive data required for reproducing content from at least one of the portable device 100 and the server 130 via the communication unit 402. The processor 405 may include at least one processor, such as the processor 210 shown in FIG.

The broadcast signal receiving unit 403 divides the broadcast signal received via a tuner (not shown) into an image signal and an audio signal, and outputs the image signal and the audio signal. Specifically, the tuner selects an RF broadcast signal corresponding to a user-selected channel or any previously stored channel from the RD broadcast signal received via the antenna. Furthermore, the tuner converts the selected RF broadcast signal into at least one of an intermediate frequency signal, a baseband signal, and an audio signal. The at least one of the intermediate frequency signal, the baseband signal, and the audio signal may be transmitted to the processor 405.

The storage device 404 may store at least one program for controlling and processing various signals in the processor 405 , and may store information related to authentication of the portable device 100 , device-specific information related to the electronic device 120 , and user information related to the electronic device 120 .

The processor 405 controls the overall functions of the electronic device 120. The processor 405 may control the electronic device 120 to transmit and receive data to and from the portable device 100 via the communication unit 402. According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one program stored in the storage device 404 may be loaded to configure a user interface (UI) image, and the UI image may be displayed on the display 407 via the image processor 406.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the UI image may include a UI image (or a UI menu screen) that facilitates the user to select content to be reproduced. The UI image that facilitates the user to select content to be reproduced may be generated by the processor 405 when the electronic device 120 reproduces content and data required for the electronic device 120 to reproduce the content is received via at least one of the wireless communication unit 401 and the communication unit 402 in conjunction with the occurrence of short-range communication between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110.

In addition, after the electronic device 120 is powered on, the UI image may include a first menu image. If the powered-on state of the electronic device 120 is caused by the occurrence of short-range communication between the remote controller 110 and the portable device 100, the first menu image may include items for user selection, the items for user selection being related to whether to perform seamless playback of the content being reproduced by the portable device 100, whether to reproduce all content, or whether to view additional information or store the additional information for later seamless playback.

If the power-on state of the electronic device 120 is caused by the occurrence of short-range communication, the data received from the remote controller 110 or the portable device 100 may include a content list stored in the portable device 100, which does not correspond to data unrelated to the content being reproduced by the portable device 100. In this case, the first menu image of the electronic device 120 may include the content list. Therefore, the user can select desired content based on the content list provided via the first menu image.

However, if the power-on state of the electronic device 120 is not caused by the occurrence of short-range communication but by stored information related to the later execution of seamless playback, the first menu image of the electronic device 120 may include an item that facilitates user selection related to whether to execute seamless playback of content. The power-on state of the electronic device 120 caused by the stored information for later execution of seamless playback can be executed through a reservation function.

The image processor 406 includes an image decoder (not shown) and a scaler (not shown). The image processor 406 can process the image output from the broadcast signal receiving unit 403 to display the image on the screen. The image decoder decodes the demultiplexed image signal. The scaler performs scaling to output the resolution of the decoded image signal from the display 407. The image decoder can include decoders of various standards. For example, when the demultiplexed image signal is an image signal compatible with the MPEG-2 standard, the demultiplexed image signal can be decoded by an MPEG-2 decoder. For example, when the demultiplexed image signal is a decoded image signal compatible with the H.264 standard according to the Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) method or DVB-H, the demultiplexed image signal can be decoded by an H.264 decoder.

The display 407 may output an image that has been processed by the image processor 406. The output image may include at least one of an image that has been received from the broadcast signal receiving unit 403, a UI image, and an image including content received from the portable device 100 or the server 130 via the communication unit 402. However, the display 470 may include a touch screen and may be used as an input device.

The audio processor 408 processes at least one of the audio signal that has been output from the broadcast signal receiving unit 403 and the audio signal contained in the content received via the communication unit 402, and transmits the processed audio signal to the audio output unit 409. The audio output unit 409 can be configured in various ways. For example, the audio output unit 409 can output at least one of a stereo signal, a 3.1-channel signal, and a 5.1-channel signal.

In addition, the audio processing unit 408 may process a signal that has been received from the audio input unit 410 and transmit the processed signal to the processor 405. The audio input unit 410 may include a microphone.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using the portable device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG. 5 may be performed by the processor 210 shown in FIG.

In operation S501, the portable device 100 reproduces content on the touch screen 203. Then, after detecting the occurrence of short-range communication with the remote controller 110 in operation S502 via the short-range communication unit 101, the processor 210 generates data required for the electronic device 120 to reproduce the content being reproduced on the touch screen 203 in operation S503. As described above with reference to FIG. 2 , the generated data includes at least one of the following: content provider information, device-specific information related to the portable device 100, user information related to the portable device 100, metadata related to the content, and information related to the time when the content was reproduced (which corresponds to the time when the occurrence of the short-range communication was detected).

Then, the processor 210 transmits the generated data to the remote controller 110 via the short-range communication unit 101 at operation S504. The short-range communication unit 101 converts the generated data into data having a short-range communication data exchange format and transmits the data having the short-range communication data exchange format to the remote controller 110.

FIG6 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproduction method executable by using the portable device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG6 may be performed by the processor 210 shown in FIG2. Each operation S601, S602, S603, and S604 of FIG6 is the same as the corresponding operation S501, S502, S503, and S504 of FIG5, respectively, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In operation S604, the processor 210 transmits the generated data to the remote controller 110 via the short-range communication unit 101, and then in operation S605, the processor 210 receives a content transmission request signal from the electronic device 120 and information related to the electronic device 120 from the electronic device 120 via the communication unit 208. The content transmission request signal and the information related to the electronic device 120 may be received from the remote controller 110 via the short-range communication unit 101. Therefore, in operation S606, the processor 210 transmits the content to the electronic device 120 via the communication unit 208 by using the received information related to the electronic device 120.

In this case, the processor 210 may output a message indicating the content transfer status, such as, for example, "Transferring content," to the touch screen 203, or may output a message indicating the content transfer status including various steps, such as, for example, "Start content transfer," "Transferring content," and "End content transfer." When the message indicating the content transfer status including various steps is displayed on the touch screen 203, the processor 210 may monitor the amount of data in the content to be transferred and the communication speed of the communication unit 208, and may control the timing of outputting the message indicating the content transfer status.

FIG7 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproduction method executable by using the portable device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG7 may be performed by the processor 210 shown in FIG2. Each operation S701, S702, S703, S704, S705, and S706 of FIG7 is the same as the corresponding operations S601, S602, S603, S604, S605, and S606 of FIG6, respectively, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the processor 210 receives the reproduction completion guide message from the electronic device 120 via the communication unit 208 at operation S707, the processor 210 displays the received reproduction completion guide message on the touch screen 203 at operation S708.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using the remote controller 110 configured to control the electronic device 120, according to an exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG8 may be performed by the processor 303 shown in FIG3.

8 , in operation S801, the processor 303 detects the occurrence of short-range communication between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 via the short-range communication unit 111, and then in operation S802, the processor 303 receives data required for the electronic device 120 to reproduce the content being reproduced by the portable device 100 from the portable device 100 via the short-range communication unit 111 in the electronic device 120. In conjunction with the detection of the occurrence of the short-range communication, the processor 303 may transmit a power-on request signal to the electronic device 120. Thus, the electronic device 120 may recognize the power-on request signal and the occurrence of the short-range communication, and may control the power-on state of the electronic device 120.

In operation S803, the processor 303 transmits the received data to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302. The received data is transmitted to the electronic device 120 in response to a data transmission request signal received via the user input unit 301 of the remote control device 110. In addition, as described above with reference to FIG3 , the received data is converted in the wireless communication unit 302 into data having a data format according to the communication protocol between the electronic device 120 and the remote controller 110, and the converted data is then transmitted to the electronic device 120.

As described above with reference to FIG. 3 , the processor 303 may transmit a power-on request signal related to the electronic device 120 before or at the time when the received data is transmitted to the electronic device 120 .

FIG9 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproduction method executable by using the remote controller 110 configured to control the electronic device 120 according to another exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG9 may be performed by the processor 330 shown in FIG3. Each operation S901, S902, and S903 of FIG9 is the same as the corresponding operation S801, S802, and S803 of FIG8, respectively, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In operation S904, the processor 303 receives a content transmission request signal and information related to the electronic device 120 from the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302, and then in operation S905, the processor 303 transmits the content transmission request signal and information related to the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100 via the short-range communication unit 111.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproduction method executable by using the electronic device 120 according to an exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG10 may be performed by the processor 405 shown in FIG4.

In operation S1001, the processor 405 receives information from the remote controller 110 via the communication unit 402. In operation S1002, the processor 405 analyzes the received data. In operation S1003, the processor 405 transmits a content transfer request signal to the content provider based on the result of the data analysis. When the result of the analysis indicates that the content provider is the server 130, the processor 405 transmits the content transfer request signal to the server 130 via the communication unit 402. When the result of the analysis indicates that the content provider is the portable device 100, the processor 405 transmits the content transfer request signal to the portable device 100 via the communication unit 402. When the result of the analysis indicates that the content provider includes both the server 130 and the portable device 100, the processor 405 outputs a UI image (or UI menu screen) to the display 407 so that the user can select a content provider.

In operation S1004, the processor 405 receives content from a content provider via the communication unit 402. In operation S1005, when the received content is combined with an image signal and an audio signal, the processor 405 reproduces the image signal by using the image processor 406 and the display 407, and reproduces the audio signal by using the audio processor 408 and the audio output unit 409.

In this case, when the received content has multiple resolutions, the processor 405 receives information related to the multiple resolutions via the communication unit 402. The processor 405 may display a UI image (or a UI menu screen) on the display 407, which shows the user information related to the multiple resolutions. Therefore, when the user selects a resolution, the information related to the selected resolution is transmitted to the content provider, and the content having the resolution selected by the user can be received.

However, when the received content has multiple resolutions and when the content provider has information related to the resolution of the electronic device 120, the processor 405 can receive content suitable for the resolution of the electronic device 120 via the communication unit 402 and can directly reproduce the content by using the image processor 406 and the display 407.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproduction method executable by using the electronic device 120 according to another exemplary embodiment. The method of FIG.

Similar to what is described above with respect to operation S1001 , in operation S1101 , the processor 405 receives information from the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401 , and then in operation S1102 , the processor 405 analyzes the received data.

In operation S1103, the processor 405 performs an authentication process related to the portable device 100 by using the data related to the authentication process that has been detected from the analyzed data. Specifically, the processor 405 compares the authentication-related information previously stored in the storage device 404 with the data related to the authentication process that has been detected from the analyzed data. If the previously stored authentication-related information and the detected authentication-related data are different, then in operation S1104, the processor 405 does not perform seamless playback of the content. The data related to the authentication process may include, for example, at least one of device-specific information related to the portable device 100 and user information related to the portable device 100. The authentication process may refer to a authentication process related to whether seamless playback of the content is permitted.

However, as a result of the verification processing, when device-specific information related to the portable device 100 (e.g., unique identification information related to the portable device 100) or user information related to the portable device 100 (e.g., user identification information) included in the analyzed data is the same as previously stored verification-related information (e.g., information about content type preferences), then in operation S1105, the processor 405 transmits a content transfer request signal to the content provider via the communication unit 208 based on the analysis result.

Therefore, similarly, as described above, in operation S1106, the processor 405 receives content from the content provider via the communication unit 208, and then in operation S1107, the processor 405 reproduces the received content by using the image processor 406, the display 407, the audio processor 408, and the audio output unit 409.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a content reproducing method executable by using the electronic device 120 according to another exemplary embodiment. FIG12 shows a case in which short-range communication occurring between the remote controller 110 and the portable device 100 is detected while the electronic device 120 reproduces content.

In operation S1201, in conjunction with the occurrence of short-range communication, the processor 405 receives information from the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401. If it is determined in operation S1202 that content is being reproduced by using at least one of the image processor 406, the display 407, the audio processor 408, and the audio output unit 409 as described above, then in operation S1203, a UI image (or UI menu screen) that facilitates selection related to a playback method, specifically, whether content currently being reproduced should be reproduced or whether seamless playback of content reproduced by the portable device 100 should be performed, is output to the display device 407.

When the user input information received from the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401 does not indicate a selection related to seamless playback of the content, the processor 405 continuously reproduces the content being reproduced in operation S1205. On the contrary, when the user input information received from the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401 indicates a selection related to seamless playback of the content, the processor 405 analyzes the data received via the communication unit 402 in operation S1206 and then performs respective operations S1207, S1208, and S1209, which are similar to the corresponding operations S1105, S1106, and S1107 described above in FIG. 11.

In operation S1201 of FIG. 12 , when information is received from remote controller 110 via wireless communication unit 401 in conjunction with the occurrence of short-range communication, a power-on request signal associated with electronic device 120 may be included in the received information. In this case, as described above, processor 405 may recognize the power-on request signal associated with the occurrence of short-range communication, rather than a typical power-on request signal. Therefore, when processor 405 is powered on, processor 405 ignores the power-on request signal received via wireless communication unit 401. However, when processor 405 is powered off, processor 405 may be powered on.

In addition, when the content subjected to seamless playback is a normal broadcast signal, the processor 405 may set a broadcast channel based on the analysis result obtained in operation S1206 and may receive the broadcast signal via the broadcast signal receiving unit 403 in operation S1208.

13 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 when the electronic device 120 performs seamless playback of content being reproduced by the portable device 100 and provides a request for the content to the portable device 100, according to an exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed by using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 , and 4 .

When the portable device 100 reproduces content in operation S1301, if NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote control device 110 in operation S1302, the portable device 100 generates data required for the electronic device 120 to reproduce the content in operation S1303. The generated data may include the generated data described above with reference to FIG.

In operation S1304, the portable device 100 transmits data to the remote controller 110. In operation S1305, the remote controller 110 transmits the received data to the electronic device 120. In this case, as described above with reference to FIG. 3 , a power-on request signal may also be transmitted to the electronic device 120. In addition, in operation S1305, when data is transmitted from the remote controller 110 to the electronic device 120, the data may be converted into a format according to a communication protocol between the remote controller 110 and the electronic device 120, and the converted data may be transmitted to the electronic device 120.

Therefore, in operation S1306, the electronic device 120 converts the received data into data having a format suitable for the electronic device 120 and analyzes the converted data. The data having a format suitable for the electronic device 120 refers to data having a format that can be recognized by the electronic device 120. Therefore, the format suitable for the electronic device 120 can be determined based on at least one of the operating system of the electronic device 120, the manufacturer of the electronic device 120, and the binary code of the control command for the electronic device 120, but the format is not limited thereto.

According to the result of the analysis in operation S1306, when the electronic device 120 determines to receive content from the portable device 100, then in operation S1307, the electronic device 120 establishes a channel for communicating with the portable device 100. In this case, when the electronic device 120 is not pre-set with a function for communicating with the portable device 100, the electronic device 120 may activate the communication function based on the communication function information related to the portable device 100 (which is included in the analyzed data), and may establish a communication channel with the portable device 100.

For example, when the communication function is based on a WiFi Direct network, the electronic device 120 may activate the WiFi Direct communication function and may establish a communication channel based on the WiFi Direct network included in the information received from the portable device 100 .

After the communication channel is established, in operation S1308, the electronic device 120 transmits a content transfer request signal and information related to the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100 using the established communication channel. Therefore, when the portable device 100 transmits content in operation S1309, the electronic device 120 receives the transmitted content from the portable device 100 and reproduces the received content in operation S1310. The communication channel can be established by using a short-range communication protocol other than the above-mentioned WiFi Direct connection. For example, the communication channel can be established by using a short-range communication protocol such as Bluetooth.

14 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 when the electronic device 120 performs seamless playback of content being reproduced by the portable device 100 and provides a request for the content to the portable device 100, according to another exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed by using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 , and 4 .

In FIG14 , a content transmission request signal generated by the electronic device 120 and information related to the electronic device 120 are transmitted to the portable device 100 via the remote controller 110, and the content transmission request signal generated by the electronic device 120 and information related to the electronic device 120 are received by the portable device 100. Therefore, each operation S1401, S1402, S1403, S1404, S1405, and S1406 of FIG14 is the same as the corresponding operations S1301, S1302, S1303, S1304, S1305, and S1306 of FIG13 , respectively, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In operation S1407, when the electronic device 120 determines to receive content from the portable device 100, the electronic device 120 transmits a content transfer request signal and information related to the electronic device 120 to the remote control 110. In operation S1408, the remote control 110 transmits the content transfer request signal and information related to the electronic device 120 to the portable device. Therefore, in operation S1409, a communication channel is established between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 based on the request received by the portable device 100. In this case, if the portable device 100 does not have a function pre-set for communicating with the electronic device 120, the portable device 100 can activate the communication function based on the received information related to the electronic device 120 and establish the communication channel. Specifically, similar to the description above with reference to FIG. 13 , when the communication function information included in the information related to the electronic device 120 corresponds to WiFi Direct, the portable device 100 can activate the WiFi Direct function based on the information related to the electronic device 120 received from the remote control 110 and establish the communication channel accordingly.

After establishing the communication channel, the portable device 100 transmits the content to the electronic device 120 in operation S1410, and the electronic device 120 then reproduces the content in operation S1411. The communication channel may be established by using a short-range communication protocol such as Bluetooth in addition to the above-described WiFi Direct.

15 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote control device 110, the electronic device 120, and the server 130 when the electronic device 120 provides a request for content to the server 130 according to an exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote control device 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed by using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote control device 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIGS. 2 , 3 , and 4 .

The respective operations S1501, S1502, S1503, S1504, S1505 and S1506 of FIG15 are respectively the same as the corresponding operations S1301, S1302, S1303, S1304, S1305 and S1306 of FIG13, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In operation S1507, when the electronic device 120 determines to receive content from the server 130, the electronic device 120 establishes a communication channel with the server 130. To establish the communication channel between the electronic device 120 and the server 130, data may be transmitted and received between the electronic device 120 and the server 130. The communication channel between the electronic device 120 and the server 130 may be established based on at least one of the wireless communication protocol or the wired communication protocol described above with respect to the communication unit 402 of FIG. 4 . The communication channel between the electronic device 120 and the server 130 may be automatically established by using information about the server 130 and/or information about the user of the portable device 100 included in the data received from the portable device 100. However, the information used to establish the communication channel between the electronic device 120 and the server 130 is not limited thereto.

After the communication channel is established, in operation S1508, the electronic device 120 transmits a content transmission request signal to the server 130 by using information about the content included in the received data. The server 130 searches for content by using metadata related to the content indicated in the received content transmission request signal, and in operation S1509, transmits the found content to the electronic device 120. Then, in operation S1510, the electronic device 120 reproduces the received content.

5 to 15 respectively illustrate various situations in which, when the portable device 100 reproduces the content, the electronic device 120 performs seamless playback of the content being reproduced by the portable device 100 in conjunction with the occurrence of short-range communication such as NFC contact between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110.

However, instead of the above-mentioned content being reproduced by the portable device 100, the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments may also be applied to content in a paused state in the portable device 100. In this case, the data required by the electronic device 120 and generated by the portable device 100 may include information related to the content playback position corresponding to the content pause time.

Figures 16A, 16B, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are flowcharts illustrating various situations in which the portable device 100 performs seamless playback in conjunction with the occurrence of short-range communication, such as NFC contact, between the remote controller 110 and the portable device 100 when the portable device 120 reproduces content according to example embodiments.

16A is a flowchart illustrating operations of the portable device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment. The operations of FIG. 16A may be performed by the processor 210.

In operation S1601, when the electronic device 120 reproduces content and the communication unit 208 detects that short-range communication occurs between the remote controller 110 and the portable device 100, in operation S1602, the processor 210 receives data required for the portable device 100 to reproduce the content being reproduced by the electronic device 120 from the remote controller 110 via the communication unit 208, or directly receives data from the electronic device 120 via the communication unit 208. The received data may include at least one of the following: content provider information, device information related to the electronic device 120, user information related to the electronic device 120, metadata related to the content, and information related to a playback time indicating a position when the content is reproduced (which corresponds to the time when the short-range communication is detected).

The processor 210 performs verification processing related to the electronic device 120 by using at least one of device information related to the electronic device 120 and user information related to the electronic device 120, wherein at least one of the device information related to the electronic device 120 and the user information related to the electronic device 120 is included in the received data. The verification processing can be performed by comparing the user information related to the electronic device 120 or the device information related to the electronic device 120 that has been pre-stored in the storage device 207 with the received information. The verification processing can refer to verification processing related to whether seamless playback of content is allowed. When the verification is successful, in operation S1603, the processor 210 receives content from the content provider based on the data received via the communication unit 208. However, when the verification fails, the processor 210 does not perform seamless playback of the content.

The receiving of the content in operation S1603 may be performed according to the operation illustrated in Figure 16B. Figure 16B is a detailed flowchart illustrating an operation of receiving content from a content provider according to an exemplary embodiment.

16B , in operation S1603_1, the processor 210 displays a UI image (or a UI menu screen) on the touch screen 203, wherein on the touch screen 203, a content provider can be selected via the UI image based on data received via the short-range communication unit 101. Upon detecting that a content provider has been selected based on the UI image displayed via the touch screen 203, in operation S1603_2, the processor 210 transmits a content transmission request signal to the selected content provider via the communication unit 208. Accordingly, in operation S1603_3, the processor 210 receives content from the selected content provider via the communication unit 208.

16A , when the received content combines an image signal and an audio signal, in operation S1604, the processor 210 performs seamless playback based on the received content via the touch screen 203 and the audio output unit 206. When the received content includes an image signal, the processor 210 reproduces the received content via the touch screen 203. The received content can be seamlessly reproduced by using the data received in operation S1602.

Subsequent operations of the above-described operation S1602 may be performed based on a content reproduction request signal received via at least one of the user input unit 201 , the touch screen 203 , the sensor 202 , and the audio input unit 205 of the portable device 100 .

17 is a flowchart illustrating operations executable by using the remote controller 110 according to another exemplary embodiment. The operations of FIG.

In operation S1701, the processor 303 detects via the short-range communication unit 111 that short-range communication occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote control device 110, and then in operation S1702, the processor 303 receives from the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302 data required for the portable device 100 to reproduce the content being reproduced by the electronic device 120.

Receiving content from the electronic device 120 may be performed according to the operations illustrated in Figure 18. Figure 18 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an operation for receiving data from the electronic device 120 according to an exemplary embodiment.

18 , when the processor 303 detects via the short-range communication unit 111 that short-range communication occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110, in operation S1801, the processor 303 transmits a data transmission request signal to the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302. Accordingly, in operation S1802, the processor 303 receives data from the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302. The received data may include a response signal with respect to the data transmission request signal.

17 , the processor 303 receives data required to reproduce content from the electronic device 120 via the wireless communication unit 302 , and then transmits the received data to the portable device 100 via the short-range communication unit 111 in operation S1703 .

FIG19 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the electronic device 120 according to another exemplary embodiment. The method illustrated in FIG19 may be performed by the processor 405.

In operation S1901, the electronic device 120 reproduces content. Then, in operation S1902, the processor 405 receives a data transmission request signal required by the portable device 100 to seamlessly playback the content being reproduced by the electronic device 120. The data transmission request signal is received from at least one of: the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401; and the portable device 100 via the communication unit 402. Therefore, in operation S1903, the processor 405 generates data required for the portable device 100 to reproduce the content.

In operation S1904 , the processor 405 transmits the generated data to the remote controller 110 via the wireless communication unit 401 , or directly transmits the generated data to the portable device 100 via the communication unit 402 .

FIG20 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 in a content reproduction method according to an exemplary embodiment. Specifically, FIG20 illustrates a case in which, based on the occurrence of NFC contact between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110, when the portable device 100 performs seamless playback of content being reproduced by the electronic device 120, the remote controller 110 transmits a request for data to the electronic device 120. Hereinafter, for ease of description, operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIG2, 3, and 4.

20 , when the electronic device 120 reproduces content in operation S2001 and detects the occurrence of NFC contact between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 in operation S2002, the remote controller 110 transmits information related to the portable device 100 to the electronic device 120 in operation S2003. The information related to the portable device 100 transmitted to the electronic device 120 includes information transmitted from the portable device 100 to the remote controller 110 based on the occurrence of the NFC contact. The information related to the portable device 100 includes information required for the electronic device 120 to transmit the information to the portable device 100. The information related to the portable device 100 may include, for example, information regarding a communication protocol supported by the portable device 100 (e.g., WiFi Direct, Bluetooth, etc.) and identification information used to establish a communication channel for communicating with the portable device 100.

In operation S2004, the electronic device 120 transmits the content being reproduced to the portable device 100 by using the received information related to the portable device 100. Therefore, in operation S2005, the portable device 100 performs seamless playback of the content. In operation S2004, in order to transmit the content from the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100, the electronic device 120 may establish a communication channel between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 by using the information related to the portable device 100.

FIG21 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, the electronic device 120, and the server 130 in a content reproduction method according to another exemplary embodiment. Specifically, FIG21 illustrates a case in which data required for seamless playback of content being reproduced by the electronic device 120 is transmitted from the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIG2, 3, and 4.

Respective operations S2101 , S2102 , and S2103 of FIG. 21 are respectively the same as corresponding operations S2001 , S2002 , and S2003 of FIG. 20 , and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In operation S2104, the electronic device 120 generates data required for the portable device 100 to perform seamless playback of the content being reproduced. Then, in operation S2105, the electronic device 120 transmits the generated data to the portable device 100 based on the information related to the portable device 100 received in operation S2103. In order to transmit the generated data to the portable device 100, the electronic device 120 establishes a communication channel with the portable device 100 as described above with respect to operation S2003.

When the portable device 100 analyzes the received data in operation S2106 and determines to receive content from the server 130, the portable device 100 transmits a request signal for the content to the server 130 in operation S2107. At this point, the portable device 100 can establish a communication channel with the server 130. To establish the communication channel with the server 130, the portable device 100 can use the content provider information included in the data received from the electronic device 120. The portable device 100 can automatically establish the communication channel with the server 130 by using the content provider information. Alternatively, the communication channel can be established after confirming that the user of the portable device 100 has established the communication channel with the server 130; or the communication channel can be established by using information input by the user of the portable device 100 based on the content provider information.

When the portable device 100 receives content from the server 130 via the communication channel established between the portable device 100 and the server 130 in operation S2108, the portable device 100 reproduces the received content in operation S2109.

22 is a flowchart illustrating operations among the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 in a content reproduction method according to another exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, for ease of description, the operations are described as being performed by the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120. However, it should be understood that the operations are performed using the components included in the portable device 100, the remote controller 110, and the electronic device 120 as shown in FIGs. 2, 3, and 4.

22 , when the electronic device 120 reproduces content in operation S2201, and when NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote control device 110 in operation S2202, the remote control 110 transmits information related to the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100 in operation S2203. Then, when the portable device 100 transmits a request signal for content to the electronic device 120 in operation S2204, the portable device 100 receives the content from the electronic device 120 in operation S2205 and reproduces the received content in operation S2206. In operation S2204, the portable device 100 can establish a communication channel with the electronic device 120 by using the information related to the electronic device 120, and can transmit a content request signal to the electronic device 120.

Figure 23 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a content reproduction method according to another exemplary embodiment. Figure 23 shows a case in which content based on an online shopping site is seamlessly reproduced. Figure 23 shows a case in which the electronic device 120 performs web browsing related to online shopping for items.

23 , the electronic device 120 performs browsing related to online shopping according to a control signal from the remote controller 110 (operation S2301), decides to purchase a selected item (operation S2302), an NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 (operation S2304), and a communication channel is established between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 (operation S2305).

The electronic device 120 generates information required for the portable device 100 to display the current purchase decision screen (operation S2306). The information generated by the electronic device 120 may include at least one of the following: online shopping site location information (e.g., URL information), purchase decision screen information (e.g., identification information related to the web page displayed by the electronic device 120), and online shopping site access information (e.g., user login information and password information), but such information is not limited thereto.

Electronic device 120 transmits the generated information to portable device 100 (operation S2307). Portable device 100, using the received information, submits a request for information to server 130 (operation S2308). In operation S2308, portable device 100 establishes a communication channel with server 130 using the received information. The received information may include online shopping site location information and online shopping site access information, but such information is not limited thereto. Server 130 is a server for operating an online shopping site and may be a virtual server.

After the communication channel is established, the request signal transmitted from the portable device 100 to the server 130 may include at least purchase decision screen information.

In response to the received information request signal, the server 130 transmits information to the portable device 100 (operation S2309 ). Accordingly, the portable device 100 displays a purchase decision screen.

When the user of the portable device 100 enters payment information (or transaction information) (operation S2310), the portable device 100 transmits the entered payment information to the server 130 (operation S2311). When the purchase is completed based on the transmitted information, the server transmits a purchase completion message to the portable device 100 (operation S2312).

23 shows a case where the portable device 100 and the server 130 are directly connected to each other and exchange payment information. Therefore, no user information related to payment is stored in the electronic device 120, and such user information related to payment is stored only in the portable device 100, so the user can easily input payment information by using the portable device 100.

In addition, the example embodiment shown in FIG. 23 may be modified so that payment information is transmitted to the server 130 via the electronic device 120. In this case, the electronic device 120 may generate only purchase decision screen information in operation S2306 and transmit the purchase decision screen information to the portable device 100 in operation S2307. In this case, a purchase completion message may be transmitted to the portable device 100 via the electronic device 120. Here, the electronic device 120 may display a screen image synchronized with the screen image displayed on the portable device 100. Alternatively, the electronic device 120 may not display the screen image and may transmit only the purchase completion message.

23 illustrates a case where, after NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110, a direct communication channel is established between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120. However, the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG23 may be modified so that a communication channel is established between the portable device 100 and the electronic device 120 via the remote controller 110. In this case, information generated by the electronic device 120 may be transmitted from the electronic device 120 to the portable device 100 via the remote controller 110.

23 shows a case where NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 after a purchase decision has been made. However, the operation shown in FIG23 can also be applied to a case where NFC contact occurs during casual browsing for online shopping. For example, if NFC contact occurs during selection of an item to be purchased, the electronic device 120 can transmit the requested information to the portable device 100, causing the purchase item selection screen to be displayed on the portable device 100.

Furthermore, the example embodiment shown in FIG. 23 may be modified such that, during browsing for purchase items, when NFC contact occurs between the portable device 100 and the remote controller 110 , the electronic device 120 continuously performs browsing for purchase items.

Figure 24 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a method for outputting information according to another example embodiment. Depending on the type of information output, Figure 24 can be considered a flowchart of the operation of a content reproduction method. For example, if external device 2410 is a camera and is outputting a still image or a moving picture, Figure 24 can be considered a flowchart of the operation of the content reproduction method. Figure 24 shows a situation where electronic device 120 seamlessly displays the information being displayed by external device 2410.

24 is a peripheral device of the electronic device 120 as described above, and may include a communicable peripheral device and/or a communicable application accessory. The external device 2410 may include a device whose operation can be controlled by an application that can be run on the electronic device 120, but the external device 2410 is not limited thereto.

In operation S2411, the external device 2410 outputs information. The output information may be determined based on the function of the external device 2410. For example, if the external device 2410 is an indoor and outdoor sports watch, the output information may include at least one of exercise location, exercise speed, calorie consumption, and user-related information. However, the output information is not limited thereto.

If NFC contact occurs between external device 2410 and remote controller 110 while the information described above is being output, a communication channel is established between external device 2410 and electronic device 120 (operation S2413). The communication channel can be established using information related to electronic device 120 that was transmitted from remote controller 110 to external device 2410 when the NFC contact occurred. The information related to electronic device 120 may include information about the communication protocol and identification information of electronic device 120.

When the remote controller 110 transmits the stored information about the electronic device 120 to the external device 2410 , or if NFC contact occurs, the remote controller 110 may request the electronic device 120 for information about the electronic device 120 and may transmit the information received from the electronic device 120 to the external device 2410 .

However, when NFC contact occurs, the remote control 110 can receive information about the external device 2410 from the external device 2410 and transmit the information about the external device 2410 to the electronic device 120, thereby establishing a communication channel between the external device 2410 and the electronic device 120 through the electronic device 120. Here, the information about the external device 2410 transmitted to the electronic device 120 is information required to establish the communication channel, and may include communication protocol information and identification information related to the external device 2410, but such information is not limited thereto.

After establishing a communication channel with the external device 2410, the electronic device 120 determines whether to store an application associated with the external device 2410 in the electronic device 120 using the information about the external device 2410 received from the external device 2410 (operation S2414). The information about the external device 2410 may include information required to run the application associated with the external device 2410, such as identification information associated with the external device 2410 and identification information associated with the application associated with the external device 2410, but such information is not limited thereto. The application associated with the external device 2410 may be an application for controlling the operation of the external device 2410 based on the connection to the external device 2410.

The identification information about the external device 2410 may include at least one of the following: information about the model name of the external device 2410, information about the manufacturer of the external device 2410, and the version of the external device 2410, but such identification information is not limited thereto. For example, the identification information about the external device 2410 may include at least one of the following: the date on which the external device 2410 was manufactured, and information related to the operating system of the external device 2410.

As a result of the determination of the external device 2410 in operation S2414 , if an application related to the external device 2410 is stored in the electronic device 120 , the electronic device 120 automatically executes the related application (operation S2415 ).

Therefore, electronic device 120 submits a request for information to external device 2410 (operation S2416), and external device 2410 transmits the information currently being output to electronic device 120 (operation S2417). Electronic device 120 outputs the received information (operation S2418). Therefore, electronic device 120 can seamlessly reproduce the information being reproduced by external device 2410.

In operation S2414, as a result of the determination, if no application related to the external device 2410 is stored in the electronic device 120, the electronic device 120 downloads the application related to the external device 2410 from the server 130 using the identification information related to the external device 2410, and operations S2415 to S2418 can be performed.

Here, if there are multiple applications related to the external device 2410, the server 130 provides information about the multiple applications to the electronic device 120. The electronic device 120 displays the information about the multiple applications. The user can transmit a control signal for selecting desired application information from the information about the multiple applications to the electronic device 120 by using the remote controller 110.

In response thereto, the electronic device 120 transmits information about the selected application to the server 130, and may download and execute the selected application from the server 130. Accordingly, the electronic device 120 may perform operations S2415 to S2418.

In the above-described operation S2418, the electronic device 120 can update the information related to the external device 2410 stored in the electronic device 120 by using the information received from the external device 2410. Here, the information related to the external device 2410 refers to the information generated or output by the external device 2410 after running the application. If the external device 2410 is a device with the function of capturing images, such as a camera, the operation 2411 can be modified to an operation for obtaining and storing information. When the information is obtained and stored in the external device 2410 via the external device 2410, and when NFC contact occurs between the external device 2410 and the remote control 110, the information obtained and stored by the external device 2410 is transmitted to the electronic device 120. Therefore, the electronic device 120 can update the information related to the external device 2410 stored in the electronic device 120 by using the information obtained and stored by the external device 2410.

In operation S2417, since the information transmitted from the external device 2410 to the electronic device 120 is determined based on the functions supported by the external device 2410, the information transmitted from the external device 2410 to the electronic device 120 may be information related to monitoring the functions of the external device 2410 and information stored in the external device 2410. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. If the information transmitted from the external device 2410 to the electronic device 120 is information stored in the external device 2410, operation S2411 may be omitted.

One or more programs including commands for executing the method for reproducing content according to one or more of the above-described exemplary embodiments may be embodied as computer-readable code on a transient or non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium may include any data storage device that can store data that can then be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and/or any other suitable medium. The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed across network-coupled computer systems, thereby storing and executing the computer-readable code in a distributed manner.

While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in the example embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A content reproduction method executable using a portable device, the portable device including a first communication unit configured to perform short-range communication and a second communication unit configured to communicate with an electronic device, the content reproduction method comprising: Reproduction content; detecting, by using a first communication unit, occurrence of short-range communication with a remote controller configured to control the electronic device; generating data to be used by the electronic device to reproduce the content; and transmitting the generated data to the remote controller; After the generated data is transmitted to the remote controller, receiving, via at least one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit, the content of the request signal transmitted from the electronic device and information related to the electronic device; and The content is transmitted to the electronic device via the second communication unit by using the received information about the electronic device. 2 . The content reproducing method according to claim 1 , wherein the data required for the electronic device to reproduce the content includes data required for the electronic device to perform seamless playback of the content. 3. The content reproduction method of claim 1 , wherein the generated data includes at least one of the following: information related to a content provider, device information related to a portable device, user information related to a portable device, metadata related to the content, and information related to a time at which the content is reproduced, the time at which the content is reproduced corresponding to a time at which short-range communication is detected to have occurred. 4. The content reproducing method according to claim 1 , further comprising: After transmitting the generated data to the remote controller, receiving a content transmission request signal from the electronic device and information related to the electronic device from at least one of the electronic device and the remote controller; and The content is transmitted to the electronic device by using the received information related to the electronic device. 5. The content reproducing method according to claim 4 , further comprising: receiving a reproduction completion guide message from the electronic device; and The received reproduction completion guide message is displayed on the portable device. 6. A portable device comprising: a short-range communication unit for performing short-range communication; a touch screen that displays an image including content being reproduced and receives user input information; A processor configured to: Provides a user interface based on a touch screen, Control the reproduction of content, detecting, via the short-range communication unit, occurrence of short-range communication with a remote controller configured to control the electronic device, generating data to be used by the electronic device to reproduce the content; and transmitting the generated data to the remote controller via the short-range communication unit; as well as a second communication unit for communicating with the electronic device; wherein, after the generated data is sent to the remote controller, the content of the request signal sent from the electronic device and the information related to the electronic device are received via at least one of the second communication unit and the short-range communication unit, and the content is sent to the electronic device via the second communication unit by using the received information related to the electronic device. 7 . The portable device of claim 6 , wherein the data required by the electronic device to reproduce the content includes data required by the electronic device for performing seamless playback of the content using the electronic device. 8. A content reproduction system comprising: The portable device according to claim 6; a remote controller that receives the transmitted data from the portable device and transmits the received data to the electronic device based on the occurrence of short-range communication with the portable device; and An electronic device receives content from a content provider based on data received from the remote controller and reproduces the received content.