Image display apparatus and operating method thereof

Abstract

A method for operating an image display apparatus includes providing input signals to the image display apparatus, displaying at least one image on a display based on the input signals, generating a plurality thumbnail images based on the input signals, and displaying a thumbnail-image list which includes a plurality of generated thumbnail images.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display;   an external input unit configured to receive an external input signal from a plurality of external devices, the external input unit having a plurality of input ports;   an interface configured to receive a request for displaying a list of thumbnails corresponding to the plurality of input ports; and   a controller configured to control the display to display the list of thumbnails in response to the request,   wherein each of the thumbnails correspond to a respective one of the input ports, and   wherein an image of each thumbnail is different based on a connected state of a corresponding external device.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the external input unit includes a prescribed number of input ports and the list of thumbnails includes a prescribed number of thumbnails corresponding to respective ones of the prescribed number of input ports. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein
 when an external device is not connected to an input port, a first thumbnail image is displayed, and   when an external device is connected to an input port and an external input signal is received from the external device, a second thumbnail image of a content from the external device is displayed, the first and second thumbnail images being different images.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of claim  3 , wherein the first thumbnail is a default image for the external device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of claim  3 , wherein the second thumbnail image of the content from the external device corresponds to a recently viewed image, and the recently viewed image includes an image previously stored in a memory. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the controller is configured to display an external input port name information on the thumbnail image. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of claim  1 , further comprising a tuner to receive a broadcast signal,
 wherein the controller is configured to display a broadcast video based on the broadcast signal, and to display the list of thumbnails with the broadcast video in response to the request.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display a pointer based on an RF signal received through the interface from a remote controller, and   in response to a selection of a thumbnail in the list of thumbnails by a direction-key input from the remote controller or by the pointer, highlight or enlarge the thumbnail image corresponding to the selected thumbnail.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein each thumbnail includes a respective input port name information. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein a thumbnail corresponding to an input port without an external input signal is differentiated in the list of thumbnails from a thumbnail corresponding to an input port receiving an external input signal. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the external input unit includes at least one of
 a HDMI port;   a USB port; or   a component port.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to selection of one of the thumbnails, display an input image corresponding to the selected thumbnail. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein, when a thumbnail corresponding to a HDMI port is selected from the list of thumbnails, the controller is configured to display an image from the HDMI port. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to claim  1 ,
 wherein a thumbnail corresponding to an input port that is connected to an external device is distinguished from another thumbnail corresponding to an input port that is not connected to an external device by at least one of brightness, contrast, fade, or transparency.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein, when an external device is not connected to the apparatus, a thumbnail image is not displayed and an external input port name information is displayed. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein, when an external device is not connected to the apparatus, a default image is displayed with the external input port name information. 
     
     
         37 . An operating method of an image display apparatus, comprising:
 receiving an external input signal from an external device connected to one of a plurality of input ports;   receiving a request for displaying a list of thumbnails corresponding to the plurality of input ports;   displaying the list of thumbnails on a display in response to the request,   wherein each of the thumbnails correspond to a respective one of the input ports, and   wherein an image of each thumbnail is different based on a connected state of a corresponding external device.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of claim  17 , wherein the external input unit includes a prescribed number of input ports and the list of thumbnails includes a prescribed number of thumbnails corresponding to respective ones of the prescribed number of input ports. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of claim  17 , wherein
 when an external device is not connected to an input port, displaying a first thumbnail image, and   when an external device is connected to an input port and an external input signal is received from the external device, displaying a second thumbnail image of a content from the external device, the first and second thumbnail images being different images.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of claim  19 , wherein the first thumbnail is a default image for the external device.