Content downloading method and apparatus used by mobile device

Abstract

A content downloading method and apparatus of a mobile device employing an Internet protocol television (IPTV) are provided. The content downloading method and apparatus allow an IPTV to provide a mobile device with content information received from a service provider, allow a user to input content desired to be downloaded to the mobile device, and allow a user to download the content to the mobile device from the service provider via the IPTV, thereby quickly and easily downloading desired content to the mobile device without a complicated process of browsing and copying the content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A content providing method comprising:
 receiving content information from a service provider which provides a broadcast service using an Internet Protocol;   transmitting the received content information to a mobile device; and   if a content download request is received from the mobile device,
 requesting the service provider for the content; 
 receiving the content from the service provider; and 
 transmitting the received content to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The content providing method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the received content information comprises:
 comparing the received content information with previously stored content information to determine whether the received content information has been updated; and   if it is determined that the received content information has been updated, transmitting the received content information to the mobile device.   
     
     
         3 . The content providing method of  claim 1 , further comprising: storing the received content; and
 wherein the stored content is transmitted to the mobile device.   
     
     
         4 . The content providing method of  claim 1 , wherein the requesting the service provider for the content comprises:
 if the content download request is received from the mobile device, standing by until the service provider provides the content.   
     
     
         5 . A content downloading method used in a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving the mobile device content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV);   displaying the received content information;   receiving at least one content list, from among content lists included in the content information; and   requesting the IPTV to download content included in the received content list.   
     
     
         6 . The content downloading method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 storing the content list; and   requesting the IPTV to download content included in the content list to the mobile device.   
     
     
         7 . A content providing apparatus of an IPTV, the apparatus comprising:
 a content information management unit which transmits content information, that is received from a service provider providing a broadcast service using an Internet protocol, to a mobile device;   a content request unit which, if a content download request is received from the mobile device, requests the service provider for the content; and   a content transmission unit which receives the content from the service provider and transmits the content to the mobile device.   
     
     
         8 . The content providing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the content information management unit comprises:
 an update determination unit which compares the received content information with previously stored content information to determine whether the received content information has been updated; and   wherein the content information management unit transmits the received content information to the mobile device according to a result of the determination of the update determination unit.   
     
     
         9 . The content providing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a content storage unit which stores the content,   wherein the content management unit transmits the stored content to the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . A content downloading apparatus in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
 a display unit which, if the mobile device receives content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV), displays the received content information;   a key input unit which receives at least one input designating a content list from among content lists included in the received content information; and   a download request unit which requests the IPTV to download content included in the content list.   
     
     
         11 . The content downloading apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a list storage unit which stores the content list,   wherein the download request unit requests the IPTV to download content included in the stored content list.   
     
     
         12 . A content downloading method of a mobile device, the method comprising:
 if content information received from a service provider is updated, transmitting the content information from an Internet protocol television (IPTV) to the mobile device;   if the mobile device receives the content information from the IPTV, displaying the received content information;   receiving at the mobile device at least one content list, from among content lists included in the received content information, at a request from a user;   requesting at the mobile device the IPTV to download content included in the received content list;   if the IPTV receives a request to download the content, requesting the service provider to transmit the content; and   receiving at the IPTV the content from the service provider and transmitting the content from the IPTV to the mobile device.   
     
     
         13 . A content downloading system comprising:
 an Internet protocol television (IPTV); and   a mobile device,   wherein if content information received from a service provider is updated, the received content information is transmitted to a mobile device,   wherein if the IPTV receives a content download request from the mobile device, then a service provider is requested to transmit the content, the content is received from the service provider, and the content is transmitted to the mobile device; and   wherein, if the mobile device receives updated content information from the IPTV, the mobile device displays the content information, receives at least one content list, from among content lists included in the content information, at a request from a user, and requests the IPTV to download content included in the content list.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for executing the method of  claim 1 .