Display device and method of driving the same

An apparatus, comprising:

• a timing control unit receiving a video signal including a control pattern from from an external device through a video interface and generating a characteristic control signal and image data based on the control pattern;
• and
• wherein the control pattern includes a data pattern having effective data, and
• the timing control unit extracts the effective data from the data pattern, and generates the characteristic control signal including the extracted effective data.

A method of driving a display device, comprising:

• receiving a video signal including a control pattern from an external device through a video interface;
• generating a characteristic control signal and image data based on the control pattern;
• and
• wherein the control pattern includes a data pattern in which effective data is encoded, and the characteristic control signal includes the effective data extracted by decoding the data pattern.