JP2000105649A - Device and method for information display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make recognizable a lower hierachy visually comfortably and that the lower hierachy is displayed dynamically and clearly by displaying the lower hierachy corresponding to a content item of an upper hierachy by visually rotating and visibly expanding the lower hierachy when the item is selected. SOLUTION: When the upper hierachy and lower hierachy are displayed, the lower hierachy corresponding to the content item of the upper hierachy is visually rotated, visibly expanded, and displayed once the item is selected. For example, information contents 200 are superimposed on a normal image 201 of a television receiver, so that the upper hierachy (upper-hierachy menu) 300 and lower hierachy (lower-hierachy menu) 400 can be displayed at the same time. For example, the user presses a button 301 for content item selection of the upper-hierachy menu 300 by using up and down, and right and left operation keys and then the lower-hierachy menu 400 is expanded and displayed on the screen 4A as if the area is visually rotated and moved along the vertical direction V.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device and an information display method for displaying an upper layer and a lower layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system has been operated in which television broadcast signals (broadcast waves) are digitized and transmitted via artificial satellites such as broadcast satellites and communication satellites, and received at homes. In this system, for example, it is possible to secure many channels,
Very many types of programs can be broadcast. In such a system, since the number of programs that can be transmitted increases, an electronic program guide (EPG: Electronic Program G) for selecting a desired program is provided.
uide) is transmitted together with the program, and is displayed on the monitor device, so that the user (viewer) can use the displayed electronic program guide to quickly and surely select a desired program. The user inputs a GUI (G
Using a graphical user interface, a desired program can be quickly and appropriately grasped and selected according to the displayed electronic program guide.

[0003] As electronic equipment, for example, a television set (television receiver) and the like, in order to achieve more functions, display various types of program contents or multimedia functions using a communication network. The demand for functionalization is increasing. Further, in this type of television receiver, for example, the user sometimes adjusts the image receiving state of the television receiver, for example, the brightness, color, brightness, or the like of the image. There has been an attempt to adjust the image by selecting and setting such an image adjustment item or the like using a GUI on the screen.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A GUI as described above
For example, when adjusting the image of a television receiver using the above, the user displays the upper layer (upper menu) and the lower layer (lower menu) on the screen at the same time, and first selects the content item of the upper menu. Thus, the content item of the selected upper menu may be displayed in the lower menu. However, the upper menu and the lower menu are displayed on one screen, and when the content item of the upper menu selected by the user at the present time is displayed in the lower menu, the lower menu is displayed at once as a whole. However, there is a problem that the lower-level menu can only be visually recognized and the lower-level menu selection operation cannot be performed easily. Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and when displaying a lower hierarchy selected from an upper hierarchy, an information display device that makes it easier to visually recognize the lower hierarchy and dynamically and clearly recognizes that the lower hierarchy is displayed. And an information display method.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display unit having a screen, and when displaying an upper layer and a lower layer on the screen of the display unit, the contents of the upper layer are displayed. An information display device comprising: an image display selecting means for, when an item is selected, expanding and displaying the lower hierarchy corresponding to the selected content item so as to be visually rotated. Is achieved by In the present invention, the display means has a screen. The image display selection means, when displaying the upper layer and the lower layer on the screen of the display means, selects a content item of the upper layer so that the lower layer corresponding to the selected content item appears to be visually rotated. Is expanded and displayed. In this way, when the display shifts from the upper layer to the lower layer, the lower layer is expanded and displayed so as to be visually rotated, that is, the area is changed to be expanded and displayed. The display can be easily visually and dynamically recognized.

In the information display device according to the present invention, preferably, when the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, the lower layer is expanded and displayed on the screen in a vertical direction. As a result, it is possible to develop and display the lower hierarchy on the screen so that the lower hierarchy can be visually dynamically rotated along the vertical direction.

In the information display device according to the present invention, preferably, when the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, the lower layer is developed and displayed along the horizontal direction on the screen. As a result, it is possible to develop and display the lower hierarchy so as to be visually dynamically rotated along the horizontal direction on the screen.

In the information display device of the present invention, preferably, the lower hierarchy includes a content item for changing an adjustment item relating to audio. This allows the lower hierarchy to appear to rotate dynamically as the user changes the audio adjustments.

According to the present invention, in the information display method for displaying a plurality of hierarchies, when the upper hierarchy and the lower hierarchy are displayed on the screen of the display means, the content item of the upper hierarchy is selected. The information display method is characterized in that the lower hierarchy corresponding to the selected content item is expanded and displayed so as to be visually rotated. Thereby, when the display shifts from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, the lower hierarchy is expanded and displayed so that it can be visually rotated, that is, the lower hierarchy is expanded and displayed by changing the area. Visual recognition can be facilitated dynamically.

In the information display method of the present invention, preferably, when the lower hierarchy is selected, the lower hierarchy is:
The image is developed and displayed along the vertical direction on the screen. As a result, it is possible to develop and display the lower hierarchy on the screen so that the lower hierarchy is visually rotated in the vertical direction.

In the information display method of the present invention, preferably, when the lower hierarchy is selected, the lower hierarchy is:
The screen is developed and displayed along the left-right direction on the screen. As a result, the lower hierarchy can be developed and displayed on the screen so that the lower hierarchy is visually rotated in the left-right direction.

In the information display method according to the present invention, preferably, the lower layer includes a content item for changing an adjustment item relating to audio. This allows the lower hierarchy to appear to rotate dynamically as the user changes the audio adjustments.

[0013]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a viewing electronic device 10 including a preferred embodiment of the information display device of the present invention. The electronic device 10 generally includes a parabolic antenna 3, an information display device 100, and the like. The information display device 100 includes a monitor device 4 as a display unit and an IRD (I
integrated Receiver / Decode
r) 2, a remote commander 5 is provided. The IRD 2 and the remote commander 5 constitute a selecting means 70, and the IRD 2
Are built in the monitor device 4.

The monitor device 4 is, for example, a cathode ray tube (CR)
T). However, this monitor 4
Is not limited to a display device having a cathode ray tube, but may be a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, or another type of display device. Electronic equipment 10
Constitutes a part of a digital satellite broadcasting system, for example, and the parabolic antenna 3 converts a broadcast wave BC transmitted from a parabolic antenna 130C of a content supply source (for example, a broadcasting company or a contract broadcasting company) 130 into a satellite. 13
It can be received by the parabolic antenna 3 via the 0D transponder 130E. The received signal RS received by the parabolic antenna 3 is supplied to the IRD 2.

The remote commander 5 is a user's operation input unit for the IRD 2, and is, for example, an infrared ray (IR: In).
A variety of commands can be given to the IRD 2 by a framed signal. When the user presses any of the keys described after the remote commander 5,
An infrared signal IR corresponding to the key function is output from the IR transmitting section 51 and can be received by the IR receiving section 39 of the IRD 2. The monitor device 4 has a screen 4A.

Next, an example of the remote commander 5 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Remote Commander 5
Has various operation keys as shown in FIG. 2, a television power key 5A, a main power key 5B, a channel selection key 5C, a numeric keypad 5D, up / down / left / right operation keys 5E, a current program table key 5F, a weekly program Table key 5G, date button 5H,
Genre button 5I, volume key 5J, channel key 5
K, other program explanation keys 5L, radio keys 5M, menu keys 5T and the like. Up / Down / Left / Right operation keys 5E
Is a key for selecting a content item displayed on the screen 4A and determining the selection.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the information display device 100. The IRD 2 has a tuning unit 40 for receiving the received signal RS of the broadcast wave BC. The tuning unit 40 outputs a broadcast wave BC (received signal RS)
For example, it can receive cable TV broadcast waves (CATV), terrestrial broadcast waves, satellite broadcast waves, and the like. The tuning unit 40 is connected to the internal control computer 42 and the video signal reproducing unit 46. The video signal reproducing unit 46 is connected to the monitor device 4 via the video mixing unit 50. The audio signal reproducing unit 48 is connected to the speaker 4S of the monitor device 4. Internal control computer 4
2 is connected to the display screen signal generation unit 52, and the display screen signal generation unit 52 is connected to the video mixing unit 50.

The tuning unit 40 receives the reception signal RS of the broadcast wave BC as described above. The tuning unit 40 receives a CATV, a terrestrial broadcast wave, and a satellite broadcast wave according to a command from an internal control computer (microcomputer) 42. The tuning of the received signal RS is controlled in accordance with which of the above. Program data (tuning signal T) in received signal RS provided from tuning section 40
S) Since the PD has video and audio information data,
The video signal reproducing unit 46 reproduces the video signal in the information data and supplies the video signal IS to the video mixing unit 50.
The audio signal reproducing unit 48 reproduces the audio signal AS from the information data of the number data PD, and supplies the audio signal AS to, for example, the speaker 4S of the monitor device 4 so that an audio output can be output.

The video signal IS is supplied to the video mixing section 50, and the display screen signal DS from the display screen signal generation section 52 is supplied to the video mixing section 50. The screen display signal creation section 52 receives the data DSS from the internal control computer 42, creates various data for creating a display screen as a screen display creation signal DS, and generates the screen display creation signal DS.
Are mixed by the video mixing unit 50 with the video signal IS. The video mixing section 50 supplies the video output IO obtained by mixing the display screen signal DS and the video signal IS to the screen 4A of the monitor device 4.

Examples of information contents that can be displayed on the screen 4A shown in FIG. 1 include those shown in FIGS. In this example, the information content 200 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is superimposed on a normal image 201 of the television receiver, and an upper menu (upper hierarchy) 300 and a lower menu (lower hierarchy) 4
00 can be displayed simultaneously. Upper menu 30
0 is a button 301, 302, 30 for selecting a content item.
3, 304, and 305 are displayed. In the example of FIG.
The button of the content item 301 has been selected by the user. A button 301 indicates an audio adjustment item, and a button 302 indicates “Picture Adju.
button to show the icon to go to "
03 shows an icon for going to “Installation”, a button 304 shows an icon for going to “Set up”, and a button 305 shows an icon for going to “Tex
An icon for going to “t” setting is shown. When a button 301 for selecting a content item of the upper menu 300 is selected, a lower menu 400 corresponding to this button 301 is displayed as an audio as shown in FIG. In Fig. 6, a lower menu 400 includes content items 401 and 40.
2, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, etc. are displayed.

The content item 401 is Graphic Eq
ualizer (graphic equalizer: a function of selecting four to eight frequencies in advance), and a content item 40
Reference numeral 2 denotes an equalizer adjustment (equalizer adjustment: a function that can adjust the frequency of a sound).
The content item 403 is a Surround Mode.
(Sound mode: Selection of sound mode according to the program)
And the content item 404 is Dual Sound (dual sound: switching between stereo and monaural). The content item 405 is Volume and the volume (volume) of the headphones, and the content item 406 is Dual
Sound (dual sound: headphone stereo or monaural switching). A display unit 407 for displaying the Nicorizer adjustment is displayed between the content items 402 and 403.

Characteristically, for example, when the user presses a button 301 for selecting a content item of the upper menu 300 as shown in FIG. 4 using the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E in FIG. 2, the area of the lower menu 400 is reduced. 4, FIGS. 5 and 6
As shown in the order, the image is displayed as if it were rotated visually along the vertical direction V on the screen 4A so as to be dynamically viewed. That is, in the initial state of FIG.
However, at the next moment, as shown in FIG. 5, its area is enlarged to become a slightly wide band 400B, and as shown in FIG. 6, it is completely expanded, so that all the contents of the lower menu 400 can be displayed. ing. Conversely, when the lower menu 400 is closed, it is closed at the stage shown in FIGS. 6, 5 and 4, that is, the area is reduced and disappears from the screen 4A.

To select any of the content item selection buttons 301 to 305 of the upper menu 300, the user presses the up arrow or the down arrow of the up / down / left / right operation key 5E in FIG. By moving within 400 and pressing up / down / left / right operation keys 5E,
For example, as shown in FIG.
1 is determined. When the user presses the right arrow of the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E, the lower menu 400 is displayed on the screen 4A.
Superimposed on the image 201 of 400A
As shown in FIG.
B, and the contents of the lower menu 400 are completely displayed as shown in FIG. Conversely, when the lower menu 400 is closed, the lower menu 400 is changed from the state of FIG. 6 to the state of FIG. 5 and then to the state of FIG. Eventually, the display disappears from the image 201. In the display examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, since the area of the lower menu 400 increases in the V direction, the lower menu 400 can be visually and dynamically made to appear as if rotating. Conversely, at the time of closing, the image closes dynamically while rotating, and disappears from the image 201.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 7, the lower menu 400
(A), as shown in FIG. 7 (B) and FIG. 7 (C), while expanding the area along the left-right direction (horizontal direction) H on the screen 4 </ b> A, it is developed as if rotating, and dynamically. It can be displayed. In the initial state of FIG. 7A, for example, a button 301 for selecting a content item of the upper menu 300 is operated by the user using the up / down / left / right
When the button E is selected by using the up arrow and the down arrow of E and the up / down / left / right operation key 5E is pressed, the button 301 is determined. As a result, the lower menu 400 corresponding to the button 301 starts to appear as a bar-shaped band 400C as shown in FIG. 7, and then becomes a wide band 400D as shown in FIG. 7B, and further, as shown in FIG. Thus, the contents of the lower menu 400 are completely displayed.

Conversely, when closing the lower menu 400,
When the user presses the left arrow of the up / down / left / right operation key 5E, the lower menu 400 is changed from FIG.
(B) And the area is reduced as shown in FIG. 7 (A), and the lower menu 400 is the image 201 of the screen 4A.
Disappears from above. Even in this case, lower menu 4
00 visually appears to the user as if the display appears dynamically while rotating, and conversely, it appears to disappear dynamically while rotating when closed.

By doing the above, the upper menu 3
When the display is moved from 00 to the lower-level menu 400, the lower-level menu can be dynamically displayed. That is, since the lower-level menu 400 can be displayed in an image that is displayed while being rotated and expanded, the lower-level menu 400 can be displayed. The display of the menu is easily noticeable to the user, and the visual display effect of the lower menu is high.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the content item of the layer indicating the information content is an item for the user to set the adjustment function relating to the audio in the monitor device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where such a program guide is displayed on, for example, an upper layer and a lower layer when received from a terrestrial broadcast, a cable broadcast, or the like. The upper layer may be not only one layer but also a plurality of layers. Similarly, the lower layer may have a plurality of layers.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the lower hierarchy selected from the upper hierarchy is displayed, the lower hierarchy is visually pleasing and the fact that the lower hierarchy is displayed can be dynamically and clearly recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an electronic apparatus including a preferred embodiment of an information display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a remote commander (remote control device) used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information display device and the like in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an initial state of a displayed upper menu and a lower menu to be displayed from now on.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a displayed upper menu and a lower menu are being displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an upper menu and a completely displayed lower menu.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a lower menu corresponding to an upper menu is expanded and displayed as if rotating in the horizontal direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 monitor device (display means), 4A screen, 5
... remote commander, 5E ... movement and determination function key, 10 ... electronic equipment, 70 ... selection means, 100
... information display device, 300 ... upper menu (upper layer), 400 ... lower menu (lower layer)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/035 (72) Inventor Aya Satahata 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Stock Inside the company (72) Inventor Yukiko Okura 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Jun Jun 7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Armin Mang, Germany 7050 Biplingen-Heknach, Burgstraße 11 (72) Inventor Martin Bobbert, Germany Weiplingen, Weim Wassaturm (addressless) F-term (reference) 5C025 AA29 CA09 CB09 DA05 5C063 AC05 CA40 EB33 5C082 AA02 AA14 AA15 AA22 CA02 CA03 CA42 CA59 CB05 DA87 MM09 MM10 5E501 AA19 AB06 AC37 BA03 CA03 CB03 CC02 EA05 EA10 EB05 FA03 FA22 FB04 FB24 FB25

Claims (8)

[Claims] A display unit having a screen, and when displaying an upper layer and a lower layer on the screen of the display unit, selecting a content item of the upper layer, the lower layer corresponding to the selected content item. An image display selecting means for expanding and displaying the hierarchy so as to be visually rotated and viewed. 2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein when the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, the lower layer is displayed by being expanded along the vertical direction on the screen. . 3. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein when the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, the lower layer is displayed by being developed along a horizontal direction on the screen. . 4. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the lower hierarchy includes a content item for changing an adjustment item relating to audio. 5. An information display method for displaying a plurality of hierarchies, wherein when an upper hierarchy and a lower hierarchy are displayed on a screen of a display means, when the content item of the upper hierarchy is selected, the content item corresponding to the selected content item is selected. An information display method, wherein the lower hierarchy is expanded and displayed so as to be visually rotated. 6. The information display method according to claim 5, wherein when the lower hierarchy is selected, the lower hierarchy is expanded and displayed on the screen in a vertical direction. 7. The information display method according to claim 5, wherein when the lower layer is selected, the lower layer is displayed in the screen by being developed in a horizontal direction. 8. The information display method according to claim 5, wherein the lower layer includes a content item for changing an adjustment item relating to audio.