Apparatus and method for playing content based on the last-watched-point of series content

1. An apparatus for playing content based on a last-watched-point in a series content, the apparatus comprising:

an information-extracting unit which extracts a series title and a program title with respect to content based on an electronic program guide of the series content;

a control unit which generates a file name based on the extracted series title and the extracted program title;

an item-generating unit which generates an item of the content based on the extracted series title and the extracted program title, and the generated file name; and

a retrieval unit which, if the content is to be played, extracts a last-watched-point value by searching for information on a play point based on the file name.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a storage unit which stores the item generated by the item-generating unit and the information extracted by the information-extracting unit;

a mode setting unit which sets a play mode of the content that is requested to be played;

a checking unit which determines a last-watched-point of content, at predetermined time periods, and updates the last-watched-point value; and

a record-processing unit which records the content based on the series information of the content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generated item is a series item and a file name and a series title item.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the series item comprises at least one of the series title, a last-played point, and a program list.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the last-played point comprises at least one of a program link, a last-watched-point, and a total play time.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the series title includes one of a name of the series and a name of an episode of the series.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the series title includes an episode number.

8. A method of playing content based on a last-watched-point in series content, the method comprising:

extracting a series title and a program title based on an electronic program guide (EPG) of the series content;

generating an item based on the extracted series title and the extracted program title, and a file name;

requesting playing of content using the file name; and

searching for a last-watched-point value based on the file name, and playing the content based on the last-watched-point value.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after extracting the series title and program title, generating a file name based on the extracted series title and program title.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein searching for the last-watched-point value based on the file name comprises:

searching for a desired series title corresponding to the file name;

searching for a desired series item of corresponding content based on the desired series title; and

extracting the last-watched-point value of the corresponding content based on the last-played point information in the desired series item.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

checking a last-watched-point at predetermined time periods;

comparing the last-watched-point and the total play time;

if the last-watched-point and the total play time are identical as a result of the comparison, setting a current last watched point as a next program link; and

if the last-watched-point and the total play time are not identical, updating the last-watched point value.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein, if playing of specific content using the file name is requested,

searching for the last-watched-point value of the corresponding content with respect to the series.