Method and apparatus for watching DMB programs on a mobile terminal by direct channel input

1 . A method of receiving digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) programs on a mobile terminal, comprising:

recognizing a DMB channel number being input through a keypad of the mobile terminal;

recognizing a DMB hotkey input proximate in time to the DMB channel number;

checking if there exists a DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number;

tuning to the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number if the channel exists;

receiving content on the DMB channel; and

displaying the content on the mobile terminal.

2 . The method in claim 1 , further comprising selecting a channel by searching electronic program guide (EPG) data if the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number does not exist.

3 . The method in claim 2 , further comprising selecting a channel by searching the EPG data when the DMB hotkey is pushed without the input of the DMB channel number.

4 . The method in claim 2 , further comprising:

selecting a channel by searching the EPG data when the DMB hotkey is pushed for a predetermined time without the input of the DMB channel number; and

receiving DMB content through a previous DMB channel that was selected before the DMB hotkey is pushed for a predetermined longer time without the input of the DMB channel number.

5 . The method in claim 2 , wherein the EPG data has previously been received from a broadcasting center and stored in the mobile terminal.

6 . A computer-readable medium including a program containing computer-executable instructions for performing the method for inputting a channel number directly for watching digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) program on a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

recognizing a DMB channel number being input through a keypad of the mobile terminal;

recognizing a DMB hotkey input proximate in time to the DMB channel number;

checking if there exists a DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number;

tuning to the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number if the channel exists;

receiving content on the DMB channel; and

displaying the content on the mobile terminal.

7 . The computer-readable medium in claim 6 , further comprising selecting a channel by searching electronic program guide (EPG) data if the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number does not exist.

8 . The computer-readable medium in claim 7 , further comprising selecting a channel by searching the EPG data when the DMB hotkey is pushed without the input of the DMB channel number.

9 . The computer-readable medium in claim 7 , further comprising:

selecting a channel by searching the EPG data when the DMB hotkey is pushed for a predetermined time without the input of the DMB channel number; and

receiving DMB content through a previous DMB channel that was selected before the DMB hotkey is pushed for a predetermined longer time without the input of the DMB channel number.

10 . The computer-readable medium in claim 7 , wherein the EPG data has previously been received from a broadcasting center and stored in the mobile terminal.

11 . A mobile terminal for inputting a channel number directly for watching digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) program, comprising:

a keypad having keys for entering a DMB channel number and a DMB hotkey;

a DMB user interface configured to: recognize an input of the DMB channel number and a DMB hotkey input, check if there exists a DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number, and request a reception of the DMB channel if the channel exists;

a tuner for channel tuning to the DMB channel; and

a display for the content being received through the DMB channel.

12 . The mobile terminal in claim 11 , wherein the DMB user interface executes EPG data if the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number does not exist.

13 . The mobile terminal in claim 12 , further comprising a memory for storing the EPG data being received from a broadcasting center.

14 . A method of watching digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) programs on a mobile terminal, comprising:

recognizing a DMB channel number being input through a keypad of the mobile terminal; and

recognizing a DMB hotkey input proximate in time to the input of the DMB channel number.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

tuning to the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number; and

displaying content being received through the tuned channel.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the DMB hotkey is a hard key in a keypad associated with the mobile terminal.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the DMB hotkey is a soft key in a display screen associated with the mobile terminal.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein recognizing a DMB hotkey input comes after recognizing the DMB channel number.

19 . A mobile handset for watching digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) programs, comprising:

a DMB hotkey;

means for recognizing a DMB channel number being input through a keypad of the mobile terminal; and

means for recognizing a DMB hotkey input proximate in time with the input of the DMB channel number,

wherein recognizing the DMB hotkey input comes after recognizing the DMB channel number.

20 . The mobile handset of claim 19 , further comprising:

means for tuning to the DMB channel corresponding to the DMB channel number; and

means for displaying content being received through the tuned channel.

21 . The mobile handset of claim 19 , wherein the DMB hotkey comprises a hard key in a keypad associated with the mobile terminal or a soft key in a display screen associated with the mobile terminal.