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A method and apparatus for setting a TV operation environment for users submitting authorizing passwords. The method of setting a user environment of a television (TV) includes displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of the IDs corresponding to an operatio

A method and apparatus for setting a TV operation environment for users submitting authorizing passwords. The method of setting a user environment of a television (TV) includes displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of the IDs corresponding to an operation environment for a user. If an ID icon is selected among the displayed icons, a password corresponding to the selected ID icon is authenticated, and if a user is authenticated by the password, a preset operation mode for the user is set.

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1. A method of setting a personalized user environment for a television comprising a screen, a memory, and a processor, comprising: registering at least one user to at least one personalized user setting, wherein each user setting defines a personalized television user environment for the at least o

1. A method of setting a personalized user environment for a television comprising a screen, a memory, and a processor, comprising: registering at least one user to at least one personalized user setting, wherein each user setting defines a personalized television user environment for the at least one user or at least one group of usersdisplaying on the screen a plurality of identifications (IDs) symbols for the at least one personalized user setting;in response to a selection of one of the plurality of ID symbols by a user, prompting an authentication request to the user for a log in process on the screen;receiving authentication information from the user and authenticating by comparing the received authentication information with each of preregistered authentication information stored in the memory;if the received authentication information matches with one of the preregistered authentication information, changing an operation mode of the television user environment to the personalized television user environment corresponding to the personalized user setting for the selected ID symbol;wherein the at least one ID symbol for the at least one users and the at least one personalized user setting for the at least user is selectively enabled to be registered by a master user,wherein the master user is selectively enabled to assign each of the plurality of ID symbols to the at least one user or the at least one group of users,wherein the operation mode of the television user environment comprises at least one of picture quality, color preference, sound effect, and an on-screen-display location, andwherein the processor is configured to change the operation mode of the television environment to a default setting when a log out by the user. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation mode is a preferred channel list for the corresponding at least one user or at least one group of users. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a channel list for the corresponding at least one user or at least one group of users on the screen if the received authentication information is validated. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the master user is selectively enabled, compared to a non-master user, to manages all IDs symbols and preregistered authentication information of the respective users or group of users. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the master user is selectively enabled, compared to a non-master user, to delete at least one ID symbol and corresponding personalized user setting. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selectively enabling a master user, compared to a non-master user, to set user IDs symbols and personalized user settings for other users if the received authentication information is confirmed as that of the master user. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: switching to the default setting if the received authentication information does not match one of the preregistered authentication information. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the master user is selectively enabled, compared to a non-master user, to generate the plurality of ID symbols for the respective users, with at least two ID symbols, representing the same user, being displayed with at least one additional displayed symbol representing a different user. 9. An apparatus for setting a television personalized user environment, comprising: an input unit to generate an ID and password for each of a plurality of users and/or group of users by registering at least one user to at least one personalized user setting, wherein each personalized user setting defines a personalized television user environment for the at least one user or at least one group of users;a memory unit;a signal output unit to output a television signal to display on a screen a plurality of identification (ID) symbols for the at least one personalized user setting;a control unit, in response to a selection of one of the plurality of ID symbols by a user, to prompt an authentication request to the user on the screen for a log in process, to receive authentication information from the user, and to authenticate by comparing the received authentication information with each of preregistered authentication information stored in the memory unit;if the received authentication information matches with one of the preregistered authentication information, changing an operation mode of the television user environment to the personalized television user environment corresponding to the personalized user setting for the selected ID symbolwherein each user within the group of users is authenticated based on a selection of a same ID symbol, of the plurality of ID symbols, and a same preregistered authentication information,wherein the operation mode of the television user environment comprise at least one of picture quality, color preference, sound effect, and an on-screen-display location, andwherein the control unit selectively changes the Operation mode of the television environment to a default setting when a log out by the user. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the signal output unit further comprises an image output unit to display the television signal, an audio output unit to output audible information from the television signal, and/or an on-screen-display output unit to control the display of on-screen information. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal output unit displays ID symbols in the form of icons for each of the plurality of users or group of users. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the selection of the one of the plurality of ID symbols is input by selecting one of the icons, the authentication information is input after displaying the prompting of the authentication request by the signal output unit. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input unit is a remote controller. 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the selection of the ID symbol and authentication information wirelessly. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, when the ID symbol represents at least one user, the user authentication includes comparing the authentication information to at least one preregistered authentication information. 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein another user outside of the group of users is authenticated based on a selection of a different displayed ID symbol, of the plurality of displayed ID symbols, by the other user and different preregistered authentication information. 17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium causing a computer to execute a personalized user environment setting method for a television comprising a screen, a memory, and a processor, the method comprising: detecting an input by a user for selection of one of a plurality of displayed ID symbols, and prompting an authentication request to the user on the screen for a log in process;receiving authentication information from the user and authenticating by comparing the received authentication information with each of preregistered authentication information stored in the memory;if the received authentication information matches with one of the preregistered authentication information, changing an operation mode of a television user environment to a personalized television user environment corresponding to a personalized user setting for the selected ID symbol, wherein at least one user is preregistered to at least one personalized user setting, and wherein each user setting defines a personalized television user environment for the at least one user or at least one group of users,wherein each user, of a plurality of users, within a group of select users is authenticated based on a selection of a same ID symbol, of the plurality of ID symbols, and a same preregistered authentication information,wherein the operation mode of the television user environment comprises at least one of picture quality, color preference, sound effect, and an on-screen-display location, andwherein the processor is configured to change the operation mode of the television user environment to a default setting if a logout by the user. 18. The medium of claim 17, comprising controlling information relating to IDs symbols to be displayed in the form of icons for each user or user group along with icons for a plurality of other users and/or user groups. 19. The medium of claim 17, wherein another user outside of the group of users is authenticated based on a selection of a different displayed ID symbol, of the plurality of displayed ID symbols, by the other user and different prereqistered authentication information.