Devices and methods for automatically switching the content displayed on a display system from a single-stream mode displaying a single video stream to a multi-stream mode displaying more than one video stream.

A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects. The virtual objects may be targeted based on individual subscriber information or on information related to groups of subscribers. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' television terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A retrieval plan is then generated that instructs the television terminals to select the desired virtual object for display. The television terminals record which virtual objects were displayed, and report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. Interactive virtual objects are received by the television terminal with directions on actions to be taken upon selection of the interactive virtual object. Actions may result in the initiation of processes locally at the television terminal, or communication with a remote site for the initiation of processes to be performed remotely. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions.

A method of controlling a display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus displays a screen comprising a plurality of content areas which indicate different content, in response to a predefined control signal being received, displays a UI screen for selecting a content area to be controlled based on an attribute of the received predefined control signal, among the plurality of content areas, and in response to at least one content area being selected, controls a display operation of the selected at least one content area according to the control signal.

A method of controlling a display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus displays a screen comprising a plurality of content areas which indicate different content, in response to a predefined control signal being received, displays a UI screen for selecting a content area to be controlled based on an attribute of the received predefined control signal, among the plurality of content areas, and in response to at least one content area being selected, controls a display operation of the selected at least one content area according to the control signal.

A display device, a remote control device for the display device, a method of controlling the display device, a method of controlling the remote control device, and a method of controlling a server includes collecting at least one piece of situation information or receiving at least one piece of situation information from a remote control device, determining a current state of a user based on the collected or received at least one piece of situation information, instructing the remote control device to output a notification signal corresponding to the current state of the user, and generating the control command according to the current state of the user and providing a sense-based image service to the user according to the control command.

A display device, a remote control device for the display device, a method of controlling the display device, a method of controlling the remote control device, and a method of controlling a server includes collecting at least one piece of situation information or receiving at least one piece of situation information from a remote control device, determining a current state of a user based on the collected or received at least one piece of situation information, instructing the remote control device to output a notification signal corresponding to the current state of the user, and generating the control command according to the current state of the user and providing a sense-based image service to the user according to the control command.

Bandwidth optimized channel surfing allow users to experience channel surfing without delay between switching channels when buffering delays are a concern. Audio associated with the surfed channel can be presented to the user in full. Video can be presented at lower frame rates per second than for continuous video. Video sampling or channel surfing mode can mean, for example, that 5 frames per second are displayed to the user. Main video viewing mode can display the full 24 or more frames per second that continuous video is presented at. An interface for channel surfing can determine an automatic switch back to full video. This switch back to full frames per second can occur when a user has hovered over a channel being surfed for a pre-determined amount of time. A user interactive selection of the channel can also result in the switch from channel surfing to main video viewing mode.

Bandwidth optimized channel surfing allow users to experience channel surfing without delay between switching channels when buffering delays are a concern. Audio associated with the surfed channel can be presented to the user in full. Video can be presented at lower frame rates per second than for continuous video. Video sampling or channel surfing mode can mean, for example, that 5 frames per second are displayed to the user. Main video viewing mode can display the full 24 or more frames per second that continuous video is presented at. An interface for channel surfing can determine an automatic switch back to full video. This switch back to full frames per second can occur when a user has hovered over a channel being surfed for a pre-determined amount of time. A user interactive selection of the channel can also result in the switch from channel surfing to main video viewing mode.

An image display apparatus including a display unit a data on a screen; a communication unit receiving a signal transmitted from a remote control device; and a control unit configured to detect whether an external device is connected to the apparatus; display a menu allowing an user to select whether or not to transmit an image being displayed on the external device to the screen; and display the image on the screen.

An image display apparatus including a display unit a data on a screen; a communication unit receiving a signal transmitted from a remote control device; and a control unit configured to detect whether an external device is connected to the apparatus; display a menu allowing an user to select whether or not to transmit an image being displayed on the external device to the screen; and display the image on the screen.