Metadata searching method and apparatus using indices of metadata

(19)

(11)

EP 1 515 247 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	08.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/23

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	16.03.2005 Bulletin 2005/11

(21)	Application number: 04078007.4

(22)	Date of filing: 16.07.2003

(51)	Int. Cl.⁷: G06F 17/30

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK

(30)

Priority:

23.07.2002 KR 2002043097
15.10.2002 KR 2002062913

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	03741583.3 / 1490801

(71)	Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
	Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do (KR)

(72)	Inventor:
	Shin, Hyoseop Kangseo-gu, Seoul (KR)

(74)	Representative: Robinson, Ian Michael et al
	Appleyard Lees, 15 Clare Road Halifax HX1 2HY Halifax HX1 2HY (GB)

(54)	Metadata searching method and apparatus using indices of metadata

(57) An index structure of metadata provided for searching for information on contents, a method for providing indices of the metadata, and a method and an apparatus for searching for the metadata using the index structure of the metadata are provided. The index structure of the metadata includes a list of keys composed of predetermined fields of the metadata, wherein the list contains therein location information of the fields in the metadata, wherein at least a part of the location information is expressed as predetermined code.