Method for providing widgets and TV using the same

Abstract

A method for providing widgets and a TV using the same are disclosed. The method for providing widgets includes searching for widgets related to a certain keyword or a broadcast program among widgets provided by a plurality of content providers, and displaying the searched widgets on a widget search list classified according to content provider. A user can thereby search for and use the widgets provided from various content providers more easily.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing dynamic content widget applications on a graphical user interface in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving a search inquiry for searching for a plurality of dynamic contents widget applications provided by a plurality of content providers, wherein each of the plurality of widget applications provides a widget image based on content information received from a corresponding content provider, and at least one of the plurality of dynamic contents widget applications is user-interactive and automatically changes over time; 
 searching for a dynamic content widget applications related to the search inquiry from among the plurality of dynamic contents widgets applications by searching one or more servers that provide the plurality of widget applications to the electronic device; and 
 displaying a search result in a dynamic content widget search list on the graphical user interface of the electronic device, the dynamic content widget search list including a plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications, each searched dynamic content widget application being identified with a the corresponding content provider, 
 wherein the dynamic content widget search list is divided into a plurality of areas, each area being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting at least one dynamic content a widget application from the displayed dynamic content widget search list; 
 receiving a dynamic content widget application from a content provider corresponding to the selected dynamic content widget application; and 
 displaying the received dynamic content widget application on a screen of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the displaying the received dynamic content widget application comprises, if two or more dynamic contents widget applications are selected, displaying together the two or more selected dynamic contents together widget applications. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the two or more selected dynamic contents widget applications display content on a same subject. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 displaying content information received from the content providers on the dynamic contents electronic device by using the widget applications of the content providers corresponding to the selected dynamic contents from among a plurality of applications respectively corresponding to the plurality of content providers widget applications. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the dynamic contents widget image is displayed simultaneously with a television broadcast image. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the dynamic contents widget image partially overlaps the television broadcast image. 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic content widget search list is displayed with dynamic contents images searched for each item widget application. 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search inquiry is related to a subject of the dynamic contents content information provided by the plurality of content providers. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic contents widget applications provided by the plurality of content providers include at least one of image widgets widget applications, music widgets widget applications, VOD widgets widget applications, news widgets widget applications, weather widgets widget applications, stocks widgets stock widget applications, map widgets widget applications, and web page widgets widget applications. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search inquiry is a keyword input or selected by a user or is a preset keyword. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic contents are plurality of widget applications is provided by IPTV Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method electronic device is incorporated in an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) set-top. 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method electronic device is incorporated in a television. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic contents are widget image is generated by the television receiving electronic device. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic contents are received from one or more servers are one or more of the plurality of content provider providers. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the searching for the dynamic contents are is further performed from the by searching widget applications stored dynamic contents in the electronic receiving device. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the searching for the dynamic contents is performed from the dynamic contents available on the Internet. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic content widget search list visually indicates an identification of the corresponding content provider for the corresponding dynamic contents each widget application in the widget search list. 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search inquiry comprises a search text. 
     
     
       21. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the search inquiry is associated with a content being viewed by a user. 
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic content comprises a widget. 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a user selection of at least one dynamic content widget application in the dynamic content widget search list; and 
 displaying the at least one selected dynamic content widget application at a user defined area of a display screen of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       24. The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the dynamic content widget image is displayed in an area that does not interrupt a display of contents on the display screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
       25. An electronic receiving device, comprising:
 a receiving unit which receives a search inquiry for searching for a plurality of dynamic contents widget applications provided by a plurality of content providers, wherein each of the plurality of widget applications provides a widget image based on content information received from a corresponding content provider, and at least one of the plurality of dynamic contents widget applications is user-interactive and automatically changes over time; and 
 a control unit which searches controls search for a dynamic content widget applications related to the search inquiry from among the plurality of dynamic contents widget applications by searching one or more servers that provide the plurality of widget applications to the electronic device and displays controls display of a search result in a dynamic content widget search list on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the dynamic content widget search list including a plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications, each searched dynamic content widget application being identified with a the corresponding content provider, 
 wherein the dynamic content widget search list is divided into a plurality of areas, each area being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications. 
 
     
     
       26. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein if at least one of the dynamic contents a widget application is selected from the displayed dynamic content widget search list, the control unit receives dynamic contents controls the receiving unit to receive the widget application from a content providers provider corresponding to the selected dynamic contents widget application and controls control the received dynamic contents widget application to be displayed on a screen. 
     
     
       27. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein if two or more dynamic contents widget applications are selected, the control unit controls the two or more selected dynamic contents widget applications to be displayed together. 
     
     
       28. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the two or more selected dynamic contents widget applications display content on a same subject. 
     
     
       29. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the control unit displays controls display of content information received from the content providers on the dynamic contents electronic device by using the widget applications of the content providers corresponding to the selected dynamic contents from among a plurality of applications respectively corresponding to the plurality of content providers widget applications. 
     
     
       30. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the dynamic content widget search list is displayed with dynamic contents images searched for each item widget application. 
     
     
       31. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the search inquiry is related to subjects a subject of the dynamic contents content information provided by the plurality of content providers. 
     
     
       32. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the dynamic contents widget applications include at least one of image widgets widget applications, music widgets widget applications, VOD widgets widget applications, news widgets widget applications, weather widgets widget applications, stock widgets widget applications, map widgets widget applications, and web page widgets widget applications. 
     
     
       33. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the search inquiry is a keyword input by a user. 
     
     
       34. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the dynamic contents are plurality of widget applications is provided by Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services. 
     
     
       35. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the search inquiry is a keyword selected from a list provided by the control unit. 
     
     
       36. The television receiving electronic device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the search inquiry is a preset keyword provided by the control unit. 
     
     
       37. A method for providing dynamic content widget applications on a graphical user interface in an electronic receiving device, the method comprising:
 receiving a search inquiry for searching for a plurality dynamic contents of widget applications provided by at least one content provider, wherein each of the plurality of widget applications provides a widget image based on content information received from a corresponding content provider, and at least one of the plurality of dynamic contents widget applications is user-interactive and automatically changes over time; 
 searching for a dynamic content widget applications related to the search inquiry or a television program from among the plurality of dynamic contents widgets applications by searching one or more servers that provide the plurality of widget applications to the electronic device; and 
 displaying a search result in a dynamic content widget search list, the dynamic content widget search list including a plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications on the graphical user interface of the electronic device, each searched dynamic content widget application being identified with a the corresponding content provider, 
 wherein the dynamic content widget search list is divided into a plurality of areas, each area being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of searched dynamic contents widget applications. 
 
     
     
       38. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the method electronic device is incorporated in an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) set-top. 
     
     
       39. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the method electronic device is incorporated in a television. 
     
     
       40. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the dynamic contents are widget image is generated by the electronic receiving device. 
     
     
       41. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the dynamic contents are received from one or more servers are one or more of the at least one plurality of content provider providers. 
     
     
       42. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the searching for the dynamic contents is further performed from dynamic contents by searching widget applications stored in the electronic receiving device. 
     
     
       43. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the searching for the dynamic contents is performed from dynamic contents available on the Internet. 
     
     
       44. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the dynamic content widget search list visually indicates an identification of the corresponding content provider for the corresponding dynamic content each widget application in the widget search list. 
     
     
       45. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the dynamic content widget image is caused to be displayed simultaneously with a television broadcast image. 
     
     
       46. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the dynamic content widget image partially overlaps a television broadcast image. 
     
     
       47. The method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the at least one content provider comprises a plurality of content providers, and
 wherein the searching for the dynamic contents is performed from by searching the plurality of content providers and a resulting list of the dynamic contents is displayed, wherein dynamic contents in the displayed dynamic content search list are classified according to the plurality of the content providers as the one or more servers. 
 
     
     
       48. An electronic device, comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive a search inquiry for searching for a plurality of widget applications provided by a plurality of widget providers, wherein each of the plurality of widget applications provides a widget image based on content information received from a corresponding widget provider; and   a control unit configured to control searching for widget applications related to the search inquiry from among the plurality of widget applications by searching one or more servers that provide the plurality of widget applications to the electronic device, process a search result related to the search inquiry, control display of the search result in a widget search list on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the widget search list including a plurality of searched widget applications, each searched widget application in the displayed widget search list being visually identified with the corresponding widget provider and an image representing a corresponding widget application, and in response to a user input selecting a widget application in the widget search list, to control the receiving unit to receive data associated with the selected widget application to install the selected widget application in the electronic device,   wherein the widget applications are user-interactive and automatically change over time, and the widget search list is divided into a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of searched widget applications.   
     
     
       49. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein the image representing a corresponding widget application represents a function of the corresponding widget application. 
     
     
       50. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the receiving unit to access a contents providing server and download content information from the contents providing server, and change at least one widget from among a plurality of widgets to correspond to the downloaded content information. 
     
     
       51. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein the widget search list is in a table format. 
     
     
       52. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the receiving unit to receive securities information from a securities information providing server, and
 provide a widget application corresponding to the received securities information.   
     
     
       53. The device as claimed in claim 48, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the receiving unit to receive weather information from a weather information providing server, and
 provides a widget application corresponding to the received weather information.   
     
     
       54. A method for providing a widget application in a graphical user interface of an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving a search inquiry for searching for a plurality widget applications provided by a plurality of widget providers, each of the plurality of widget applications provides a widget image based on content information received from a corresponding widget provider;   searching for widget applications related to the search inquiry from among the plurality of widget applications by searching one or more servers that provide the plurality of widget applications to the electronic device; and   generating and displaying a search result in a widget search list on the graphical user interface of the electronic device, the widget search list including a plurality of searched widget applications, each searched widget application being identified with the corresponding widget provider and an image representing a corresponding widget application,   wherein the widget applications are user-interactive and automatically change over time, and the widget search list is divided into a plurality of areas, each area being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of searched widget applications.   
     
     
       55. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the image representing a corresponding widget application represents a function of the corresponding widget application. 
     
     
       56. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein the widget search list is in a table format. 
     
     
       57. The method as claimed in claim 54, further comprising:
 receiving securities information from a securities information providing server; and   providing a widget application corresponding to the received securities information.   
     
     
       58. The method as claimed in claim 54, further comprising:
 receiving weather information from a weather information providing server; and   providing a widget application corresponding to the received weather information.