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Method for providing gui for selecting broadcast channel with keypad operated by pointer and broadcast receiving apparatus thereof

Method for providing gui for selecting broadcast channel with keypad operated by pointer and broadcast receiving apparatus thereof description/claims

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0008525 filed on Jan. 26, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to a method for providing Graphical User Interface (GUI) for selecting a broadcast channel and a broadcast receiving apparatus thereof, and more particularly, a method for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to select a preferred broadcast channel and a broadcast receiving apparatus thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A TV is a typical apparatus for receiving a broadcast. A user selects a preferred broadcast channel by using a remote control. More particularly, the broadcast channel is selected by pressing keys of the remote control.

The remote control size is comparatively large because of the number-keys for inputting the broadcast channel. However, users prefer a remote control of small size such that there is a need to provide a method for inputting the preferred broadcast channel using a remote control without number-keys.

The present invention has been provided to address the above-mentioned and other problems and disadvantages occurring in the conventional arrangement, and an aspect of the present invention provides a method for inputting a preferred broadcast channel without using number-keys, and providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to select a broadcast channel having a keypad operable with a pointer, and a broadcast receiving apparatus thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for selecting a broadcast channel comprises generating a keypad having a pointer to be moved by manipulation of a user on a remote control apparatus, and keys selectable by the pointer, and combining the generated keypad with an image to be displayed; and tuning to a broadcast channel input by the user using the keypad and the pointer.

The keypad comprises number keys which input numbers, and a subdividing key which divides channel numbers into a major broadcast channel number and a minor broadcast channel number.

The generating and combining the keypad may be conducted, if an icon which inputs a command for calling for the keypad onto the display D, is selected by the pointer.

The generating and combining the keypad may be conducted, if a corresponding manipulation is input by the user using the remote control apparatus.

The corresponding manipulation may comprise double-clicking of a certain key on the remote control apparatus within a reference time.

The method for providing GUI for selecting the broadcast channel further comprises generating a channel list and combining the generated channel list with the image to be displayed; and tuning to a broadcast channel selected by the pointer from broadcast channels listed in the broadcast channel list.

The pointer may be moved in a space by two-dimensional movement of the remote control apparatus by user.

The pointer may move to the same direction as the face of the remote control is moved on a virtual plane which is parallel with the screen of the display D.

The method for providing GUI for selecting the broadcast channel further comprises displaying a broadcast combining the pointer and the keypad on the display; and displaying a broadcast provided from the broadcast channel tuned at the tuning, on the display.

A broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises a broadcast receiving unit which tunes to a broadcast channel; a Graphical User Interface (GUI) generator which generates a GUI and combines the generated GUI with an image to be displayed; and a controller which controls the GUI generator which generates a keypad having a pointer to be moved by manipulation of a user on a remote control apparatus and keys selectable by the pointer and combines the generated keypad with an image to be displayed, and controls the broadcast receiving unit which tunes to a broadcast channel input by the user using the keypad and the pointer.

The keypad may comprise number keys which input numbers, and a subdividing key which divides channel numbers into a major broadcast channel number and a minor broadcast channel number.

The controller may control the GUI generator to generate the keypad and combine the generated keypad with the image to be displayed on the display, if an icon which inputs a command for calling for the keypad onto the display D, is selected by the pointer.

The controller may control the GUI generator to generate the keypad and combine the generated keypad with the image to be displayed on the display, if a corresponding manipulation is input by the user using the remote control apparatus.

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