# US 8,543,940 B2 · Method and apparatus for browsing media content and executing functions related to media content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,940 B2 - Document ID: US8543940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/911,295 - Filed: 2010-10-25 - Published: 2011-04-28 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-23 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nitin Singhal; Sung-Dae Cho; Chung-Hoon Kim; Yoon-Choon Hwang - Inventors: Nitin Singhal; Sung-Dae Cho; Chung-Hoon Kim; Yoon-Choon Hwang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543940B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for browsing media content and executing functions related to the media content are provided. Under the state that a collage image generated by combining a plurality of image elements corresponding respectively to a plurality of media contents is displayed, if a selection input is generated on the collage image, a preview window for a media content corresponding to a location of a point where the selection input is generated is configured to overlay the preview window on the collage image. If a function execution input is generated on the collage image, a representative function is performed using a media content corresponding to a location of a point where the function execution input is generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for browsing media content and executing functions related to the media content by a browser device, comprising: displaying a collage image generated by combining a plurality of image elements corresponding respectively to a plurality of media contents into the collage image; if a selection input is generated on the collage image, obtaining at least one element of an image element and a text element corresponding to a pixel location where the selection input is generated using a meta data file, where the obtained at least one element corresponds to a specific media content from among the plurality of media contents; and configuring a preview window for the specific media content using the obtained at least one element to overlay the preview window on the collage image, wherein the text element corresponds to the specific media content and includes information about the specific media content, wherein the meta data file includes identifier information of each of the plurality of image elements corresponding to respectively to pixel locations of the collage image, and wherein the obtaining the at least one element of the image element and the text element corresponding to the pixel location where the selection input is generated using the meta data file comprises: sensing whether there is the selection input generated on the collage image; determining location coordinates of the pixel corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated; determining a label allocated to the location coordinates; and obtaining at least one element of the image element and the text element corresponding to the one of the plurality of media contents corresponding to the determined label. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: if a function execution input is generated on the collage image, obtaining a text element corresponding to a pixel location where the function execution input is generated using the meta data file; and performing a representative function using a media content corresponding to the obtained text element according to information about the representative function included in the obtained text element, wherein the meta data file includes identifier information of each of a plurality of text elements corresponding to respectively to pixel locations of the collage image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, if a function icon included in the preview window is selected, performing a function corresponding to the function icon using the specific media content corresponding to the obtained at least one element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: confirming a current location of a pointer on the collage image; confirming representative information by obtaining a text element corresponding to the location of the pointer; and overlaying a window including the representative information on the collage image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the collage image is generated as one image by arranging and combining the plurality of image elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of image elements is arranged in image element regions of the collage image and a gray level of an image element is allocated to each pixel corresponding to each of the image element regions as a label. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein, if a type of the specific media content is phonebook data, an outgoing call is made using a telephone number registered in a name entry corresponding to a location of a point where the function execution input is generated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a type of the plurality of media contents is any one of image data, moving picture data, text data, and audio data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the at least one element and the text element corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated comprises: checking a gray level of a pixel in a metadata file at a location corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated in the collage image; determining a one of the plurality of image elements corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated according to the checked gray level; and obtaining at least one element and a text element corresponding to one of the plurality of media contents corresponding to the determined one of the plurality of image elements. ### Claim 10 A browser device for browsing media content and executing functions related to the media content, comprising: a display; a memory for storing a plurality of media contents; and a controller for controlling the display to display a collage image generated by combining a plurality of image elements corresponding respectively to a plurality of media contents into the collage image, if a selection input is generated on the collage image, obtaining at least one element of an image element and a text element corresponding to a pixel location where the selection input is generated, using a meta data file, where the obtained at least one element corresponds to a specific media content from among the plurality of media contents, and configuring a preview window for the specific media content using the at least one element to overlay the preview window on the collage image, wherein the text element corresponds to the specific media content and includes information about the specific media content, wherein the meta data file includes identifier information of each of the plurality of image elements corresponding to respectively to pixel locations of the collage image, and wherein the controller senses whether there is the selection input generated on the collage image, determines location coordinates of the pixel corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated, determines a label allocated to the location coordinates, and obtains at least one element of the image element and the text element corresponding to the one of the plurality of media contents corresponding to the determined label. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein, if a function execution input is generated on the collage image, the controller obtains a text element corresponding to a pixel location where the function execution input is generated using the meta data file, and performs a representative function using the specific media content according to information about the representative function included in the obtained text element, wherein the meta data file includes identifier information of each of a plurality of text elements corresponding to respectively to pixel locations of the collage image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein, if a function icon included in the preview window is selected, the controller performs a function corresponding to the function icon using the specific media content corresponding to the obtained at least one element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein the controller confirms a current location of a pointer on the collage image, confirms representative information by obtaining a text element corresponding to the location of the pointer, and overlays a window including the representative information on the collage image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein the collage image is generated as one image by arranging and combining the plurality of image elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The browser device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of image elements is arranged in image element regions of the collage image and a gray level of an image element is allocated to each pixel corresponding to each of the image element regions as a label. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The browser device of claim 11, wherein, if a type of the specific media content is phonebook data, an outgoing call is made using a telephone number registered in a name entry corresponding to a location of a point where the function execution input is generated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein a type of the plurality of media contents is any one of image data, moving picture data, text data, and audio data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The browser device of claim 10, wherein obtaining the at least one element and the text element corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated includes checking a gray level of a pixel in a metadata file at a location corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated in the collage image, determining a one of the plurality of image elements corresponding to the location of the point where the selection input is generated according to the checked gray level, and obtaining at least one element and a text element corresponding to one of the plurality of media contents corresponding to the determined one of the plurality of image elements.