Method and apparatus for sharing content in home network environment

1. A method of a mobile terminal for sharing content in a home network environment, the method comprising:

detecting a connection to a network;

searching for at least one device connected to the network; and

when the at least one device is connected to the network, checking a type of the at least one device connected to the network, determining whether to operate the mobile terminal as a content providing server according to the type of the at least one device, and storing information of the at least one device corresponding to an Access Point (AP) connected to the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal operates as the content providing server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to operate the mobile terminal as the content providing server according to the type of the at least one device connected to the network comprises:

determining to operate the mobile terminal as the content providing server, when the at least one device connected to the network does not include the content providing server.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to operate the mobile terminal as the content providing server according to the type of the at least one device connected to the network comprises:

determining to operate the mobile terminal as either a player for playing content or a controller for controlling playing the content, when the at least one device connected to the network includes the content providing server.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

mapping and storing the information of the at least one device with the AP;

receiving content information from the content providing server among the at least one device connected to the network; and

receiving a thumbnail of the content.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

setting state information of the stored at least one device to an active state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying pre-stored data, when no devices are connected to the network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pre-stored data is verified using at least one of a data size, an access count, an access frequency, and a Time To Live (TTL) from a last access time to a current time.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting network disconnection of the at least one device connected to the network; and

setting active state information of the disconnected device to an inactive state.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to execute a home network service from a user;

searching for at least one AP capable of providing the home network service; and

attempting access to any one of APs identified during searching,

wherein the at least one AP capable of providing the home network service is mapped and stored with the information of the at least one device connected to the network.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aborting a home network service related operation, when detecting a network disconnection according to a network connection detection result.

11. An apparatus of a mobile terminal for sharing content in a home network environment, the apparatus comprising:

a storage unit; and

a control unit for detecting a connection to a network, searching for at least one device connected to the network, and when the at least one device is connected to the network, checking a type of the at least one device connected to the network, determining whether to operate the mobile terminal as a content providing server according to the type of the at least one device, and storing information of the at least one device corresponding to an Access Point (AP) connected to the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal operates as the content providing server, in the storage unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit determines to operate the mobile terminal as the content providing server, when the at least one device connected to the network does not include the content providing server.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit determines to operate the mobile terminal as either a player for playing content or a controller for controlling playing the content, when the at least one device connected to the network includes the content providing server.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a communication unit for receiving content information from the content providing server among the at least one device connected to the network under control of the control unit, and receiving a thumbnail of the content.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein the control unit sets state information of the at least one stored device to an active state.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit verifies pre-stored data, when no device is connected to the network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the control unit verifies the pre-stored data using at least one of a data size, an access count, an access frequency, and a Time To Live (TTL) from a last access time to a current time.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit detects a network disconnection of the at least one device connected to the network, and sets active state information of the disconnected device to an inactive state.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit receives a request to execute a home network service from a user, searches for at least one AP capable of providing the home network service, and attempts to access any of the searched APs, and

wherein the AP capable of providing the home network service is mapped and stored with the information of the at least one device connected to the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control unit aborts a home network service related operation, when detecting a network disconnection according to a network connection detection result.