Apparatus and method of browsing contents

An apparatus for browsing contents, the apparatus comprising:

• a control unit which analyzes a plurality of contents, determines, from the analyzed contents, a plurality of characteristic vector types, each of the plurality of characteristic vector types indicating a content-based characteristic of the plurality of contents and each of the plurality of characteristic vector types comprising a plurality of characteristic value types, determines for each of the plurality of contents, a value of each of the plurality of characteristic value types and, for each of the plurality of characteristic vector types, standardizes the values of the plurality of characteristic value types to a same dynamic range, displays the plurality of characteristic vector types, receives a first selection input of a first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types, displays the standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types, and receives a second selection input of a first one of the displayed standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types;
• an array unit which determines a first arrangement order of the plurality of contents according to the values of the selected first one of the displayed standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of contents;
• and
• a preview information providing unit which displays the plurality of contents in the arrangement order and, in response to the control unit receiving an input of a user that selects one of the displayed plurality of contents, displays a location of the selected one of the displayed plurality of contents within the first arrangement order of the displayed plurality of contents,
• wherein the control unit receives a third selection input of one of (i) a second one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types and (ii) a second one of the displayed standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types,
• the array unit determines a second arrangement order of the plurality of contents according to one of (i) values of a reference characteristic value type among the plurality of characteristic value types that is associated with the second one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of contents, if the third selection input selects the second one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types, and (ii) values of the second one of the displayed standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of contents, if the third selection input selects the second one of the displayed standardized plurality of characteristic value types of the selected first one of the displayed plurality of characteristic vector types, and
• the preview information providing unit displays the plurality of contents in the second arrangement order while maintaining display of the selected one of the displayed plurality of contents, and displaying a second location of the selected one of the displayed plurality of contents within the second arrangement order of the displayed plurality of contents.

A method of browsing contents, the method comprising:

• analyzing a plurality of audio contents and determining, from the analyzed plurality of audio contents, a plurality of characteristic vector types, each of the plurality of characteristic vector types indicating a content-based characteristic of the plurality of audio contents, and each of the plurality of characteristic vector types comprising a plurality of characteristic value types;
• determining, for each of the plurality of audio contents, a value of each of the plurality of characteristic value types and, for each of the plurality of characteristic vector types, standardizing the values of the plurality of characteristic value types to a same dynamic range;
• determining a first arrangement order of the plurality of audio contents according to the values of a first one the plurality of characteristic value types of a first one of the plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of audio contents;
• displaying the plurality of audio contents in the first arrangement order;
• receiving an input of a user that selects one of the displayed plurality of audio contents, and displaying a location of the selected one of the displayed plurality of audio contents within the first arrangement order of the displayed plurality of audio contents;
• receiving a selection input of one of (i) a second one of the plurality of characteristic vector types and (ii) a second one of the plurality of characteristic value types of the first one of the plurality of characteristic vector types;
• determining a second arrangement order of the plurality of contents according to one of (i) values of a reference characteristic value type among the plurality of characteristic value types that is associated with the second one of the plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of contents, if the selection input selects the second one of the plurality of characteristic vector types, and (ii) values of the second one of the plurality of characteristic value types of the first one of the plurality of characteristic vector types for the plurality of contents, if the selection input selects the second one of the plurality of characteristic value types of the first one of the plurality of characteristic vector types;
• and
• displaying the plurality of audio contents in the second arrangement order while maintaining display of the selected one of the plurality of audio contents, and displaying a second location of the selected one of the plurality of audio contents within the second arrangement order of the displayed plurality of audio contents,
• wherein the characteristic vector type comprises one of a timbre, a melody, a rhythm, and a tempo of the plurality of audio contents.