JP2000105653A - Device and method for information display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make visually and clearly recognizable the positional relation between an upper hierachy and a lower hierachy by displaying the lower hierachy over the upper hierachy so that when the lower hierachy is selected, the whole lower hierachy appears on a screen and then part of the upper hierachy appears on the screen. SOLUTION: A selecting means for image display when displaying the upper hierachy 300 and lower hierachy 400 on the screen displays the upper hierachy 300 over the lower hierachy 400 so that the whole upper hierachy 300 appears on the surface and a part of the lower hierachy 400 appears on the screen. Further, when a user selects the lower hierachy 400, the selecting means displays the lower hierachy 400 over the upper hierachy 300 so that the whose lower hierachy 400 appears on the screen and a part of the upper hierachy 300 appears on the screen. consequently, while the upper hierachy 300 and lower hierachy 400 are displayed on the one screen, the user can know which of the upper hierachy 300 and lower hierachy 400 is being selected.

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 on the screen using a GUI.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A GUI as described above
For example, when an image of a television receiver is adjusted using, an upper layer (upper menu) and a lower layer (lower menu) are sequentially displayed on a screen, and the user adjusts the image while watching it. . First, the upper layer is displayed on the screen, and if necessary, the screen is switched to the lower layer screen. However, when the page is displayed on the screen one page at a time, that is, the upper layer and the lower layer are separately displayed, the user is currently at which level of the menu, and further, from the level currently displayed on the screen to the lower level. There is a problem that it is difficult to visually determine whether to proceed or return to a higher level. Therefore, the present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display device and an information display method capable of displaying an upper layer and a lower layer on one screen and visually recognizing the positional relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a screen, and displaying an upper layer and a lower layer on the screen of the display unit. Appears on the screen and displays the upper layer on the lower layer so that a part of the lower layer appears on the screen, and when the lower layer is selected,
Image display selecting means for superimposing and displaying the lower layer on the upper layer so that the entire lower layer appears on the screen and a part of the upper layer appears on the screen. This is achieved by an information display device.

[0006] In the information display device of the present invention, the display means has a screen. The image display selecting means superimposes the upper layer on the lower layer so that the entire upper layer appears on the screen and a part of the lower layer appears on the screen when the upper layer and the upper layer are displayed on the screen of the display means. Display. In addition, the image display selecting means displays the lower layer on the upper layer so that when the user selects the lower layer, the entire lower layer appears on the screen and a part of the upper layer appears on the screen. It has become. Thus, while the upper layer and the lower layer are displayed on one screen, the user can visually and clearly know which of the upper layer and the lower layer is currently selected.

In the information display apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, when the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen, and a part of the lower layer is removed. When all are disappeared, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer. Thereby, when the lower layer is selected, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen, and when all the parts of the lower layer disappear, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer. go. The user can visually and clearly recognize that the lower layer is formed so as to overlap the upper layer.

In the information display apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the horizontal direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer may disappear. Are gradually formed on the upper layer along the horizontal direction of the screen. As a result, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer along the horizontal direction of the screen,
The user can recognize visually clearly.

In the information display apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the vertical direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer is removed. Are gradually formed on the upper layer along the vertical direction of the screen. As a result, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer along the vertical direction of the screen,
The user can recognize visually clearly.

[0010] In the information display device of the present invention, preferably, the upper layer and the lower layer indicate operation items for image adjustment on the screen. Thus, even when there are many operation items on the screen, the user can visually and clearly determine whether the user is in the upper layer or the lower layer.

[0011] In the present invention, when the upper layer and the lower layer are displayed on the screen of the display means, the entire upper layer appears on the screen and a part of the lower layer is displayed on the screen. The upper layer is displayed on the lower layer so as to appear on the lower layer, and when the lower layer is selected, the entire lower layer appears on the screen and a part of the upper layer appears on the screen. This is achieved by an information display method, wherein the lower layer is displayed so as to overlap the upper layer. Thus, while the upper layer and the lower layer are displayed on one screen, the user can visually and clearly know which of the upper layer and the lower layer is currently selected.

In the information display method according to the present invention, preferably, when the lower layer is selected, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen, and when the entire part of the lower layer disappears, the above-mentioned information is displayed. The lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer. This allows
When the lower layer is selected, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen, and when all of the lower layer disappears, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer. The user can visually and clearly recognize that the lower layer is formed so as to overlap the upper layer.

In the information display method according to the present invention, preferably, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the horizontal direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer may disappear. Are gradually formed on the upper layer along the horizontal direction of the screen. As a result, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer along the horizontal direction of the screen,
The user can recognize visually clearly.

In the information display method according to the present invention, preferably, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the vertical direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer may disappear. Are gradually formed on the upper layer along the vertical direction of the screen. As a result, the lower layer is gradually formed on the upper layer along the vertical direction of the screen,
The user can recognize visually clearly.

In the information display method according to the present invention, the upper layer and the lower layer indicate operation items for image adjustment on the screen.

[0016]

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, but the tuning unit 40 receives a CATV, terrestrial broadcast wave, satellite broadcast wave 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 is displayed on the screen 4A. The information content 200 is configured to display, for example, an information content 202 for adjusting a television receiver, superimposed on an image 201 of a normal television program. This information content 202 is a GUI for image adjustment by the user. The information content 202 includes a content item selection button 203 and other content item selection buttons 204 to 2.
07 etc. are displayed. Button 203 is “Set U
p "and the button 204 is" Picture Adj "
button, and the button 205 indicates “Audio”.
Adjustment ". Button 206
Indicates “Feature” and the button 207 indicates “Tex
t ”. Selection buttons 203 to
Next to 207, an upper menu 300 as an upper hierarchy
And a lower layer menu 400 as a lower layer is displayed in an overlapping manner. In the case of FIG. 4, the upper menu 300 is displayed almost superimposed on the lower menu 400, and FIG.
In the case of, conversely, the lower menu 400 is changed to the upper menu 3
It is almost superimposed on 00.

In the case of FIG. 4, the lower menu 400
Is displayed so as to protrude from the end of the upper layer menu 300. In the case of FIG. 5, a part 300A of the upper menu 300 is
It is displayed so as to protrude from the end of 0. FIG.
In the case of, it is visually clear that the upper menu 300 is displayed substantially superimposed on the lower menu 400. In the case of FIG. 5, it is visually clear that the lower menu 400 is displayed substantially superimposed on the upper menu.

Here, the content items of the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400 will be briefly described. The upper menu 300 in FIG. 4 includes the content items 301, 302, 30
3, 304, 305, 306, 307 and the like.
Content item 301 is Auto-Programme P
reset (each TV (television) program automatically
The content item 302 is “Program Sorting”.
(A function of changing the order of programs read into each channel). Content item 303 is Next View
Set Up (Adjustment of EPG (Next View))
And the content item 304 is Dolby Pro Lo
gicSet Up (adjustment of Dolby), and the content item 305 includes Parental Lock (T
Lock function for preventing V from being seen).
The content item 306 is an AV Preset (adjustment of input of AV (audiovisual)), and the content item 30
7 is Installation (initial setting).

The content item of the lower menu 400 in FIG.
01 to 408. The content item 401 is
Language / Country (language / country), content item 402 is Clock (time setting of the clock in the TV), and content item 403 is Manual P.
This is a program preset (a function for causing each channel to read a program). Content item 40
4 is Further Program Pres
et (a function for reading a program into each channel different from the Manual Program), and the content item 405 is an RGB Set Up (adjustment of display size and display position of the screen). Content item 406
Is a Picture Rotation (for correcting the distortion of the screen due to the magnetic force).
Is a Personal ID (registering its ID (identification) number in the TV), and a content item 408
Is Demo (storefront demonstration mode). One of the content item selection buttons 203 to 207 in FIG. 4 is selected by the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E of the remote commander 5 in FIG.
The user can press the up arrow or the down arrow to move the cursor, and the user can press the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E to determine the position.
In the example of FIG. 4, the content item selection button 203 is selected and determined. The button 203 changes from a parallelogram to a rectangle as determined, and is in contact with the upper menu 300 side.

In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 4 corresponding to the content item selection button 203 are displayed.
00 is displayed. When selecting one of the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400, the selection can be made by operating the right and left arrows of the up, down, left and right operation keys 5E. In other words, if the user presses the right arrow, the menu switches from the upper menu 300 to the lower menu 400 as shown in FIG. 5, and if the user presses the left arrow, the menu switches from the lower menu 400 to the upper menu 300 as shown in FIG. Be replaced. FIG. 6 shows a case where the display state of FIG. 4 is changed to the display state of FIG.
9 shows an example of a change operation when changing from a state in which is displayed to a state in which the lower menu 400 is displayed.

When the user presses the right arrow of the up / down / left / right operation key 5E in FIG. 2, the display gradually changes from the upper menu 300 to the lower menu 400. FIG.
4A shows the state shown in FIG.
0 is formed on the lower menu 400, and a part 400A of the lower menu 400 is
Are partially protruded from the end of the mark. FIG. 6 (B)
Then, a part 400A of the lower menu 400 gradually disappears from the screen 4A along the horizontal direction H1. FIG.
In (C), a part 400A of the lower menu 400 completely disappears from the screen 4A. Therefore, the upper menu 30
Only 0 is displayed. In FIG. 6D, conversely, the lower menu 400 is formed so as to substantially overlap the upper menu 300 from the lower right side of the upper menu 300 and to the left along the horizontal direction H2. In FIG. 6E, the lower menu 400 is completely formed on the upper menu 300. In this case, a part 300A of the upper menu 300 is displayed so as to protrude from an end of the lower menu 400.

In this way, from the state of FIG. 4 displaying the upper menu 300 to the display example of FIG. 5 displaying the lower menu 400, visually gradually as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6E. Can be switched by having a dynamic expression that changes. That is, when there is a lower menu 400 below the upper menu 300, the upper menu 300 is displayed over the lower menu 400 so that a part 400A of the lower menu 400 can be seen. When the user desires to display the lower menu 400 and selects it, the user presses the right arrow of the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E in FIG. 2 to reverse the overlapping position of the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400. Thus, the lower menu 400 can be entirely displayed, and a part 300 of the upper menu 300 can be displayed.
A is displayed so as to partially protrude from the end of the lower menu 400. Conversely, in order to return to FIGS. 6E to 6A, the user may press the left arrow of the up / down / left / right operation keys 5E.

FIG. 7 shows another display change example of the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400. In the example of FIG. 6, the lower menu 400 disappears along the horizontal direction H1, and then the lower menu 400 is superimposed and displayed along the horizontal direction H2. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 7, the lower menu 400 gradually disappears in the vertical direction V1 (downward), and at the next time, the lower menu 400 moves upward in the vertical direction V2 (upward). It can be displayed over the menu 300.

That is, the state of FIG. 7A is the state of FIG. 4, but in FIG. 7B, the lower menu 400 gradually disappears along the vertical direction V1. And FIG.
In the state where only the upper menu 300 is displayed as in (C), the lower menu 400 is almost superimposed on the upper menu 300 and displayed in the vertical direction V2 as shown in FIG. go. 7 (E), the lower menu 400 is displayed substantially superimposed on the upper menu 300, and a part 3 of the upper menu 300 is displayed.
00A is displayed so as to protrude from the end of the lower layer menu 400. As described above, several layers, for example, the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400 are simultaneously displayed on one screen 4A, and at which stage the user is currently selecting the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400 Can be visually and clearly displayed according to the degree of overlap between the upper menu 300 and the lower menu 400 and the movement thereof. From this, it is clear that the user is at which stage of the menu (at which stage in the plurality of hierarchical relationships), and can move to the lower menu or return to the upper menu.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the content item of the hierarchy indicating the information content is an item for the user to set the image quality of the screen of the monitor device. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is received from a satellite broadcast, a terrestrial broadcast, a cable broadcast, or the like, even if the content items of such a program guide are displayed in, for example, an upper hierarchy and a lower hierarchy, the same applies. The present invention can be applied. In the illustrated example, one upper layer and one lower layer are displayed on a single screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, even when there are a plurality of upper layers and a plurality of lower layers, The present invention can be applied.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The upper layer and the lower layer can be displayed on one screen, and the positional relationship between the upper layer and the lower layer can be visually recognized clearly.

[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 view showing a state in which an upper layer is displayed on a screen so as to be superimposed on a lower layer;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a lower layer is displayed on a screen so as to be superimposed on an upper layer;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where a lower layer is formed on an upper layer from a state where an upper layer is formed on a lower layer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which an upper layer is formed on a lower layer by moving in a direction different from that in FIG. 6 to a state in which a lower layer is formed on an upper layer;

[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 layer, 400
..Lower hierarchy

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/035 (72) Inventor Aya Satahata 6-35 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 CA06 CA09 CB01 CB09 CB10 DA04 DA05 5C063 EB33 EB38 EB42 5C082 AA02 AA21 BA02 BA12 BA34 BA35 BA41 BB03 BB12 CA56 CA63 CA76 CB05 DA01 DA51 MM09 MM10

Claims (10)

[Claims] A display unit having a screen, and when an upper layer and a lower layer are displayed on the screen of the display unit, the entire upper layer appears on the screen and a part of the lower layer is displayed on the screen. The upper layer is displayed so as to be superimposed on the lower layer so as to appear, and when the lower layer is selected, the entire lower layer is displayed on the screen and a part of the upper layer is displayed on the screen. An image display selecting means for displaying the lower layer superimposed on the upper layer and displaying the lower layer. 2. When the lower layer is selected by the image display selecting means, a part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer disappears. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein a hierarchy is gradually formed on the upper hierarchy. 3. A part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the horizontal direction of the screen on the screen, and when a part of the lower layer disappears, the lower layer moves along the horizontal direction of the screen. 3. The information display device according to claim 2, wherein the information display device is formed so as to gradually overlap the upper layer. 4. A part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the vertical direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer moves along the vertical direction of the screen. 3. The information display device according to claim 2, wherein the information display device is formed so as to gradually overlap the upper layer. 5. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer have operation items for image adjustment on the screen. 6. When the upper layer and the lower layer are displayed on the screen of the display means, the lower layer is displayed on the lower layer so that the entire upper layer appears on the screen and a part of the lower layer appears on the screen. When the lower layer is selected by superimposing and displaying the upper layer, the lower layer is superimposed on the upper layer so that the entire lower layer appears on the screen and a part of the upper layer appears on the screen. An information display method characterized by displaying the information. 7. When the lower hierarchy is selected, a part of the lower hierarchy gradually disappears on the screen, and when the whole of the lower hierarchy disappears, the lower hierarchy gradually becomes the upper hierarchy. 7. The information display method according to claim 6, wherein the information display method is formed so as to be superimposed on the information. 8. A part of the lower layer gradually disappears on the screen along the horizontal direction of the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer moves along the horizontal direction of the screen. 8. The information display method according to claim 7, wherein the information display method is formed so as to be gradually superimposed on the upper layer. 9. A part of the lower layer gradually disappears along the vertical direction of the screen on the screen, and when the part of the lower layer completely disappears, the lower layer moves along the vertical direction of the screen. 8. The information display method according to claim 7, wherein the information display method is formed so as to be gradually superimposed on the upper layer. 10. The information display method according to claim 6, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer indicate operation items for image adjustment on the screen.