Method and apparatus for connecting to online service

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of connecting to an online service, in which first authentication information is received from a terminal, at least one service available to the terminal is detected by using the first authentication information, and an automatic logging into the detected at least one service is performed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of connecting to an online service, the method comprising:
 receiving first authentication information from a terminal;   detecting at least one service available to the terminal by using the first authentication information; and   automatically logging into the detected at least one service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 authenticating the terminal by comparing the first authentication information received from the terminal with previously stored first authentication information;   calling second authentication information corresponding to the at least one service available to the terminal if the first authentication information received from the terminal and the previously stored first authentication information are identical; and   automatically logging into the at least one service by using the called second authentication information.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second authentication information comprises an identification and a password for logging into the at least one service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing at least one piece of second authentication information received from a user, for logging into the at least one service;   storing the first authentication information corresponding to the at least one piece of second authentication information received from the user; and   automatically logging into the at least one service by using the at least one piece of second authentication information corresponding to the first authentication information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a list of the at least one service automatically logged into to the terminal;   receiving a user input for selecting a service from the list of the at least one service; and   providing the selected service to the terminal.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving unique identification information of the terminal from the terminal; and   authenticating the terminal by using the first authentication information and the unique identification information of the terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving information regarding at least one online service, the first authentication information, second authentication information regarding the at least one online service, and the unique identification information of the terminal from the terminal; and   storing the information regarding the at least one online service, the first authentication information, the second authentication information regarding the at least one online service, and the unique identification information of the terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the first authentication information is received from an external terminal different from the terminal, providing the at least one service available to the terminal to the external terminal by using the first authentication information.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the at least one service to the external terminal comprises:
 receiving the first authentication information and unique identification information of the external terminal from the external terminal different from the terminal;   authenticating the external terminal based on pieces of information received from the external terminal;   calling second authentication information corresponding to the at least one service, if the external terminal is authenticated; and   automatically logging into the at least one service by using the called second authentication information.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for connecting to an online service, the apparatus comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive first authentication information from a terminal; and   a controller configured to detect at least one service available to the terminal by using the first authentication information and to automatically log into the detected at least one service.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to authenticate the terminal by comparing the first authentication information received from the terminal with previously stored first authentication information, call second authentication information corresponding to the at least one service available to the terminal, if the first authentication information received from the terminal and the previously stored first authentication information are identical, and automatically log into the at least one service by using the called second authentication information. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second authentication information comprises an identification and a password for logging into the at least one service. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a storage unit configured to store at least one piece of second authentication information received from a user, for logging into the at least one service, and to store the first authentication information corresponding to the at least one piece of second authentication information received from the user,   wherein the controller is further configured to automatically log into the at least one service by using the at least one piece of second authentication information corresponding to the first authentication information, if the first authentication information is received from the terminal.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a list of the at least one service automatically logged into to the terminal and to provide, according to a user input for selecting a service from the list of the at least one service, the selected service to the terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive unique identification information of the terminal from the terminal, and
 the controller is further configured to authenticate the terminal by using the first authentication information and the unique identification information of the terminal.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store information regarding at least one online service, the first authentication information, second authentication information regarding the at least one online service, and the unique identification information of the terminal, which are received via the receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide, if the first authentication information is received from an external terminal different from the terminal, the at least one service available to the terminal to the external terminal by using the first authentication information. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to authenticate, if the first authentication information and unique identification information of the external terminal are received from the external terminal different from the terminal, the external terminal based on pieces of information received from the external terminal, call second authentication information corresponding to the at least one service, if the external terminal is authenticated, and automatically log into the at least one service by using the called second authentication information. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for implementing a method of connecting to an online service, the method comprising:
 receiving first authentication information from a terminal;   detecting at least one service available to the terminal by using the first authentication information; and   automatically logging into the detected at least one service.