JP2001076038A - Device, method, and medium for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To leave a history of the new generation, pasting, movement, deletion, etc., of a label and to show the history to a user in an easy-to-understand state. SOLUTION: A 'graph of life time' showing the history and life time of a label is displayed m the dialog of properties of the label. Here, a longitudinal line VLs1 indicates the generation time of the label and a longitudinal line VLp in read shows the current time. Furthermore, respective longitudinal lines VLe1, VLs2, VLe2, and VL3s are, for example, yellow lines and shows change points of the information of the label respectively. Additionally, a lateral bar HBb1 between the longitudinal lines VLs1 and VLe1 and a lateral bar are, for example, blue lines and indicate that the label was displayed only for the period represented by the lateral bars HBb1 and HBb2. A lateral bar HBr after the longitudinal line VLp is, for example, a pink lateral line and shows that the label is displayed from the present to the future.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and medium, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus capable of displaying a label pasted and displayed as a virtual sticky note on a desktop screen of a personal computer. And a method, and a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, it has been common practice to attach a sticky note as a mark to a paper document or write a memo on the sticky note and attach it to a desired place to use it as a reminder. The present applicant has proposed an application program that reproduces the same thing on a desktop screen of a personal computer, and a personal computer in which the application program is actually preinstalled is also sold. Hereinafter, one virtual sticky note displayed on the desktop screen is called a label, and an application program for displaying the label on the desktop screen is called label software. This label handles (pastes) not only text such as characters, but also images including sound and moving images, using the fact that the label software is an application program on a personal computer.
It has become possible. That is, according to an application program (label software) that allows a label to be attached on the desktop screen, label creation,
In addition to the operations of moving and deleting, it is also possible to change the text of the label, change the image, and record the sound. It is needless to say that sound and images (for example, moving images) cannot be handled with paper sticky notes.

FIG. 24 shows a display example of labels on the desktop screen. In FIG. 24, not only text such as characters, but also images including sound and moving images can be attached to the label L. Note that the label L at the bottom of FIG. 24 shows the state when the image is pasted. Here, when a moving image is pasted on the label L, for example, when the reproduction button PB is clicked with a mouse or the like, the moving image can be reproduced. During the reproduction of the moving image, the stop button SB is pressed with the mouse or the like. When clicked, it becomes possible to stop the reproduction of the moving image. When a sound or the like is attached to these labels L, for example, by clicking the play button PB with a mouse or the like, the sound can be played. By clicking on, the reproduction of the sound can be stopped.

As described above, according to the application program (label software) that allows a label to be pasted on the desktop, the operation of creating, moving, and deleting a label can be performed. Change, image change, sound recording, etc. are possible.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional label software, a new label is created, the created label is pasted at a desired position on the desktop, or the label is pasted on the desktop. Although it is possible to move or delete a label, it is not possible to leave a history of label creation, pasting, moving, deleting, etc., and to show the history to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and leaves a history of label creation, pasting, moving, deleting, etc., and presents the history to the user in an easy-to-understand manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a method, and a medium which enable the information processing.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing time information in which a predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen; and displaying the predetermined processing unit based on the time information. The above-described problem is solved by having a display period generation unit that determines a period existing on the screen and an image generation unit that generates a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen as an image expressing a time axis. Resolve.

According to the information processing method of the present invention, time information in which a predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen is stored, and a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen is obtained based on the time information. The above-described problem is solved by generating a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen as an image expressing a time axis.

[0009] The medium of the present invention stores the time information in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen, and obtains the period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen based on the time information. Solving the above-mentioned problem by causing an information processing apparatus to execute a program characterized by including a step of generating a period in which the predetermined processing unit is present on a display screen as an image expressing a time axis. I do.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the appearance of a notebook personal computer as an example to which the information processing apparatus and method and the medium of the present invention are applied. This notebook personal computer 1 basically includes a main body 2 and
The main body 2 comprises a display unit 3 which can be opened and closed freely. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state where the display unit 3 is opened with respect to the main body 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main body 2,
FIG. 3 shows a jog dial 4 described later provided on the main body 2.
It is an enlarged view of the vicinity. FIG. 4 is a side view of the main body 2 on the jog dial 4 side.

The main body 2 includes a keyboard 5 operated when inputting various characters and symbols, a touch pad 6 operated as a pointing device for moving a pointer (mouse cursor), and a power switch 8.
Is provided on the upper surface, and the jog dial 4
And an IEEE 1394 input / output port 101 are provided on the side surface. Note that a stick-type pointing device can be provided instead of the touch pad 6.

An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 7 for displaying an image is provided in front of the display unit 3. In the upper right part of the display unit 3, a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML as required, and other lamps including LEDs are provided. Further, for example, a CCD (solid-state imaging device)
Video camera 102 with microphone and microphone 10
The shutter button 105 of the video camera 102 is provided at, for example, the upper right end of the main body 2. The CCD video camera 102 is provided on a rotary movement mechanism 103 that allows the camera lens unit to be rotatable with respect to, for example, the display unit 3. The power lamp PL, the battery lamp BL, the message lamp ML
And the like can be provided below the display unit 3.

Next, the jog dial 4 is, for example,
It is incorporated between the keys A and B (the rightmost key) of the upper keyboard 5 and is mounted so as to be almost the same height as the keys A and B. Jog dial 4
A predetermined process is executed in response to a rotation operation indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 3, and a process corresponding to a movement operation indicated by an arrow b in FIG. The jog dial 4 may be arranged on the left side of the main body 2. The jog dial 4 may be arranged on the left side or right side of the display unit 3 provided with the LCD 7, or the G key and the H key of the keyboard unit 5.
It may be arranged vertically between the keys. The jog dial 4 may be arranged at the center of the front surface so that the touch pad 6 can be operated with the thumb while operating the touch pad with the index finger, or the jog dial 4 may be arranged in the horizontal direction along the upper edge or the lower edge of the touch pad 6. , Or between the right and left buttons of the touch pad 6 in the vertical direction. further,
The jog dial 4 is not limited to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and may be arranged at a predetermined angle in an oblique direction that is easy to operate with each finger. In addition, the jog dial 4 can be arranged at a position operable with the thumb on the side of the mouse as a pointing device. A jog dial is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-108 filed by the present applicant and a joint applicant.
It is possible to use a rotary operation type electronic component with a push switch disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 203387.

Next, an example of the electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The central processing unit (CPU) 51 includes, for example,
It is composed of a Pentium (trademark) processor manufactured by Intel Corporation and connected to a host bus 52. A north bridge (AGP Host Bridge Controller) 53 is further connected to the host bus 52. The north bridge 53 is connected to an AGP (Accelerated Graph).
phics Port) 50 and a PCI bus 56. The north bridge 53 is, for example, an Intel 4
00BX and the like, and controls around the CPU 51 and the main memory 54. Further, the north bridge 53 is connected to the video controller 57 via the AGP 50. The north bridge 53 and the south bridge (PCI-ISA Bridge) 58
Thus, a so-called chipset is configured.

The north bridge 53 is further connected to a main memory 54 and a cache memory 55. The cache memory 55 caches data used by the CPU 51. Although not shown, the CPU 51 also includes a primary cache memory.

The main memory 54 is, for example, a DRAM
(Dynamic Read Only Memory).
Are stored, and data necessary for the operation of the CPU 51 are stored. Specifically, the main memory 54 stores, for example, an e-mail program 54A, an auto-pilot program 54B, a jog dial status monitoring program 54
C, a jog dial driver 54D, an operating program (OS) 54E, and a label software 54 according to the embodiment of the present invention, which will be described later as an application program.
F, the capture program 54G, and other application programs 54H1 to 54Hn are transferred from the HDD 67 and stored.

The e-mail program 54A is connected to the modem 7
5 is a program for exchanging messages via a network from a communication line such as a telephone line 76 via the network 5. The electronic mail program 54A has an incoming mail acquisition function as a specific function. This incoming mail acquisition function checks whether a mail addressed to the user (user) has arrived in the mailbox 79 with respect to the mail server 78 provided in the provider 77, and if there is mail addressed to the user, Execute the acquisition process.

The auto-pilot program 54B includes a plurality of preset processes (or programs) and the like.
This is a program that is started and processed sequentially in a preset order.

OS (basic program software) 54
E controls the basic operation of a computer represented by, for example, so-called Windows 95 and 98 (both trademarks) of Microsoft Corporation and so-called Mac OS (trademark) of Apple Computer Corporation.

Jog dial status monitoring program 54C
Receives notification from the application programs as to whether or not it is compatible with the jog dial, and operates, for example, to display what can be performed by operating the jog dial 4 if it is compatible. The jog dial status monitoring program 54C is usually waiting for an event of the jog dial 4, and also has a list for receiving a notification from the application program. The jog dial driver 54D executes various functions in response to the operation of the jog dial 4.

The video controller 57 is connected to the PCI bus 5
6 to control the display of the LCD 7 on the display unit 3 based on the data supplied via the PCI bus 56, and to send the video data from the CCD video camera 102 to the PCI bus. Has been made.

A sound controller 64 is connected to the PCI bus 56 to receive an audio input from a microphone 66 or to supply an audio signal to a speaker 65. A modem 75 is also connected to the PCI bus 56.

The modem 75 can be connected to a communication network 80 such as the Internet, a mail server 78, and the like via a public telephone line 76 and an Internet service provider 77.

A south bridge 58 is also connected to the PCI bus 56. The south bridge 58 is composed of, for example, PIIX4E manufactured by Intel Corporation, and controls various I / Os (Input / Output). That is, the south bridge 58
(Integrated Drive Electronics) A device that includes a controller / configuration register 59, a timer circuit 60, an IDE interface 61, and is connected to the IDE bus 62, and an ISA / EIO (Indu
stry Standard Architecture / Extended Input Outpu
t) Control of devices connected via the bus 63 and the embedded controller 68 is performed.

The IDE controller / configuration register 59 has two IDs of a so-called primary IDE controller and a secondary IDE controller.
It is composed of an E controller, a configuration register and the like (both not shown).

The primary IDE controller is an IDE
It is connected to a connector (not shown) via a bus 62, and an HDD 67 is connected to the connector. Also, the secondary IDE controller can be connected to a CD-ROM drive (not shown) via another IDE bus or the like,
When a bay device, which is a so-called IDE device, such as a second HDD or FDD, is mounted, a connector of the mounted bay device is electrically connected.

The HDD 67 has an electronic mail program 67A, an autopilot program 67B, a jog dial status monitoring program 67C, a jog dial driver 67D, and an OS (basic program software).
67E, label software 67F of the present embodiment as an application program, capture program 67
G, other plural application programs 67H
1 to 67Hn are stored. Each of the programs 67A, 67B, 67C, 67D, 67E in the HDD 67,
67F, 67G, 67H1 to 67Hn, etc. are sequentially transferred into the RAM 54 during the boot-up process,
Is stored.

An embedded controller 68 is further connected to the ISA / EIO bus 63. The embedded controller 68 comprises a microcontroller and is used as an I / O controller. That is, the embedded controller 68 is configured by connecting the I / O interface 69, the ROM 70, the RAM 71, and the CPU 72 to each other.

The ROM 70 includes an LED control program 70A, a touch pad input monitoring program 70B, a key input monitoring program 70C, a wake-up program 70D, a jog dial status monitoring program 70E,
The IEEE 1394 I / F program 70G and the like are stored in advance.

The LED control program 70A is a program for controlling lighting of a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML as required, and other lamps including LEDs. The touchpad input monitoring program 70B is a program that monitors a user input from the touchpad 6. Key input monitoring program 7
0C is a program for monitoring inputs from the keyboard 5 and other key switches. The wake-up program 70D is connected to the timer circuit 60 in the south bridge 58.
It checks whether or not a preset time is reached based on the current time data supplied from the server. When the preset time comes, the management of each chip power supply to start a predetermined process (or program) or the like is performed. Is a program that performs IEEE 1394 I / F program 70G is IEEE
I transmitted / received via E1394 input / output port 101
This is a program for I / F of data conforming to EEE1394. The jog dial status monitoring program 70E
This is a program for constantly monitoring whether the rotary encoder unit 12 of the jog dial 4 has been rotated or pressed.

The BIOS 70F is further written in the ROM 70. BIOS (Basic Input / Output Sys
The term “tem” refers to a basic input / output system, and is a software program that controls data transfer (input / output) between an OS or application program and peripheral devices (display, keyboard, HDD, etc.).

The RAM 71 includes registers for LED control, touch pad input status, key input status, and set time, an I / O register for monitoring a jog dial state, an IEEE 1394 I / F register, and the like.
1A to 71F. For example, the LED control register controls lighting of a message lamp ML that displays the instantaneous start-up state of an e-mail when the jog dial 4 is pressed. The key input status register stores an operation key flag when the jog dial 4 is pressed (pushed). The set time register can arbitrarily set a certain time.

The embedded controller 68
Are connected to a jog dial 4, a touch pad 6, a keyboard 5, an IEEE 139 via a connector (not shown).
4 input / output port 101, shutter button 105, etc., are connected to each other, and output signals corresponding to the respective operations of the jog dial 4, touch pad 6, keyboard 5, and shutter button 105 to the ISA / EIO bus 63. Also, IEEE 1394 input / output port 1
01, data is transmitted to and received from the outside. Further, the embedded controller 68 includes a power lamp P
L, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML, a power control circuit 73, and other lamps including LEDs are connected.

The power supply control circuit 73 is connected to the built-in battery 74 or the AC power supply, supplies necessary power to each block, and controls the charging of the built-in battery 74 and a second battery of a peripheral device. Has been made to do. Also, the embedded controller 68
Power switch 8 operated when turning power on or off
Is monitoring.

The embedded controller 68 includes a power supply 8
, The above programs 70A, 70B, 70C, 70D, 70E, 70G can always be executed by the internal power supply. That is, each of the above programs
Even if no window is open on the LCD 7 of the display unit 3, it is always working. That is, the embedded controller 68 has the power switch 8 turned off and the OS 54E
1, the jog dial state monitoring program 70E is always executed, and the notebook personal computer 1 is provided with a programmable power key (PPK) function without providing a dedicated key. Jog dial 4 when power is off or power is off
It allows users to launch their favorite software or script files simply by pressing.

Next, an example of an application program stored in the HDD 67 will be described below.

As a first specific example of the application program, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-10 proposed previously by the present applicant.
There is an application program disclosed in the specification and drawings related to Japanese Patent Application No. 8535 (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-321772) that displays a label as a tag on a desktop and realizes a desktop environment that can be moved over time. FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen when a time-based cooperation is performed between an application that realizes a desktop environment capable of moving in time and an application program of an image browser. In FIG. 6, it is assumed that a search is first performed on the desktop by an application program for realizing the desktop environment capable of moving in time, for example, and the character is moved in time until a certain character string or icon appears on the desktop. In this example,
For example, a character string “wearable” is input into the search character input space 125, and the application program that realizes the desktop environment that can be moved over time inputs the “weable”.
It is assumed that the character string “arable” is searched, and the icon, character string, and the like used at the time of the meeting related to the character string “wearable” are displayed on the time-movable desktop window 200. In this example, the date and time display unit 1
27, November 20, 1998
The desktop environment at the time of the meeting held at 15:00 on Friday (Fri) is displayed on the window 200. As described above, when the “application time” is determined by the application program that realizes the desktop environment capable of moving in time, the time information is notified to the capture program having a function as an image browser. The capture program having received the time information may be a photographic image taken by, for example, the CCD video camera 102 near the time (during the meeting) or a video camera externally connected via the IEEE 1394 input / output port 101. Is displayed on the window 201. In this example, a photographic image taken at 16:00 on November 20, 1998 is displayed in the window 201 as can be seen from the display contents of the creation time display unit 203 of the image file. Conversely, when the capture program is operated, the state of the desktop at the time when the photographic image was taken is reproduced. Therefore, even if the photographic image does not have a special caption (explanation), it is possible to understand under what circumstances the photographic image was taken. If, for example, the event operation of the jog dial 4 is associated with such an application program, the time movement direction and amount of the time movable desktop 200 can be operated with the jog dial 4. That is, for example, the jog dial window 90 is displayed at the lower right of the time-movable desktop 200, and the time movement operation to the past and the future can be performed in response to the scroll of the jog dial 4.

As a second specific example, there is Smart Capture (trademark) as the capture program, which is a still image / moving image capturing tool of a digital video camera.

As a third specific example, there is a media bar (trademark) which is a music-related operation tool. In this media bar, for example, an operation of selecting reproduction of the next music or the previous music or temporarily stopping the reproduction by scrolling with a jog dial or a keyboard is performed. In the case of the present embodiment, the label software also has a function of recording (recording) audio data.

As a fourth specific example, there is a Smart Pad (trademark) which is a handwriting memo tool using the touch pad 6, for example. In this handwritten memo tool, a touchpad 6 is used as an absolute coordinate detecting means, and a handwritten memo input from the touchpad 6 is processed by a drawing application program and displayed.

Further, as a fifth specific example, a schedule management tool can be considered.

As a sixth specific example, a document creation program (word processor program) can be considered. As an example of this document creation program, along with document creation,
A Smart Write (trademark) that can also create an HTML file is also conceivable.

Next, the label software according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The label software according to the present embodiment is a personal computer that allows a user to write a note on a paper document as a mark and write a memo on the sticky note and paste it somewhere and use it as a reminder. An application program that is reproduced on the desktop screen of a computer. In the present embodiment, one sticky note displayed on the desktop screen is called a label, and an application program for displaying the label on the desktop is called the label software.

The label software according to the present embodiment includes, as objects that can be pasted on the label, which is one sticky note displayed on the desktop, text such as characters and symbols, and still images and moving images. A function to handle sounds such as images, voices and musical sounds, a function to edit text to be pasted on a label, and a sound recording /
It has a playback function, a function of capturing / displaying an image including a moving image to be attached to a label, and a function of linking an application program (capture program) for capturing an image from a CCD camera added to a digital camera or a personal computer. Further, as a time management function, a function of managing a schedule and creating a label having a change history, a function of importing schedule data from another schedule software, and a function of exporting schedule data to another schedule software, The management function includes a function to fully support the jog dial, a function to handle a link as an object to be attached to a label, and the like.

The data structure handled by the label software of this embodiment having these functions has the following three items: project, label, and object. FIG. 7 shows the mutual relationship between these data.

The project is a set of all label data. Usually, only one project is created. In one project, past, present,
It has all future label information. However, in order to provide, for example, sample contents and exchange of project information via the Internet, the label software of the present embodiment supports switching and addition of projects.

The label corresponds to one sticky note on the desktop. The label has information from generation to destruction. This information includes all actions performed by the user on the label from the time the label was created to the time it was destroyed, including label resizing, color changing, text modification, image modification, sound modification, etc. Information. However, the position information of the label on the screen always has an attribute for displaying the near side, but does not hold information on the vertical relationship between labels, between windows, or between labels and windows. Further, the labels can be divided into three types: a current label, a past label, and a future label. The current label is a label whose label creation time is before the current time and has not been deleted at the current time. The relationship between the creation time, the current time, and the end (deletion) time in this current label is
(Creation time ≦ current time <end (deletion) time). The past label is a label that has already been deleted at the current time. Creation time in this past label,
The relationship between the end (delete) time and the current time is (creation time <end (delete) time ≦ current time). What is a future label?
This is a label that has not yet been created at the current time, and has a future set for the creation time.
The relationship between the current time, the creation time, and the end (deletion) time in this future label is (current time <creation time <end (deletion) time). Details of the label will be described later.

The above-mentioned object is data to be pasted into a label, and specifically includes a text object, an image object, a sound object, a link object, and the like.

Next, main components of the desktop screen when the label software of this embodiment is executed will be described. First, the overall configuration of the screen will be described.

The state of the label software (the state of the application) according to the present embodiment is roughly classified into the following two modes: a normal mode and a time view mode.

The normal mode is a state in which the label is pasted on the desktop without being in the time view mode. FIG. 8 shows an example of the desktop screen in the normal mode. The label indicated by the reference symbol L in FIG. 8 is a label. In the normal mode, the icon IL of the label software of the present embodiment is displayed on the task tray TT of the task bar TB on the desktop screen, and the icon IL is accessed (clicked) with a pointing device such as a mouse. )
It is possible to control all functions of the label software application according to the present embodiment.

The time view mode is a mode in which time operation can be performed by the label software of the present embodiment, and is divided into the following three modes: a current mode, a past mode, and a future mode. FIG. 9 shows an example of a desktop screen in a present mode, FIG. 10 shows an example of a desktop screen in a past mode, and FIG. 11 shows an example of a desktop screen in a future mode. An example of the configuration is shown. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, in each of the current mode, past mode, and future mode, the current state, past state, and future state of the label included in the project are displayed. 9 to 11, the characters “Present” indicating the current mode, the characters “Past” indicating the past mode, and the characters “Past” indicating the future mode are displayed on the desktop screens of FIGS. “Future” is displayed near the center and at the four corners, respectively, so that the user can visually recognize whether the current mode, the past mode, or the future mode is in. Also, in the time view mode, the task bar T on the desktop screen is displayed.
On the task tray TT of B, an icon IL of the label software of the present embodiment is displayed.

When the mode is switched to the time view mode, all areas on the desktop (if there are a plurality of monitors, on all monitors) are covered with the image by the label software, and the labels are displayed thereon. At this time, a time view console TVC for displaying / changing the currently operated time is displayed on the screen. Note that the time view console TVC is displayed at the upper part of the screen by default, but FIGS. 9 to 11 show an example displayed at the lower part of the screen. Hereinafter, the time during which the desktop is displayed in the time view mode is referred to as operation time.

The time view console TVC has two states: a window in a bar state shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and 12 and a window in a floating state as shown in FIG. In other words, the time view console TVC can be dragged with a pointing device such as a mouse, and when the time view console TVC is moved up or down on the screen by the dragging, the bar state shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and FIG. Window
Otherwise, the window is in a floating state as shown in FIG. The screen configuration is different between the bar state and the floating state, but the function of the time view console TVC is the same.

The window of the time view console TVC in a bar state as shown in FIG. 12 includes a window title part wt, a year gauge part cg, a current button bb,
Operation time display section ot i, up / down buttons tu and tdb, time increase / decrease step selection list box ssl, time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb, menu button mb, close button cb
, A help button hb, and a rotation animation unit ra. Note that the rotation animation units ra are provided at both ends of the window of the time view console TVC in the bar state.

The window title part wt is a part for displaying the title (time view in this example) of the window, and only the title is displayed. That is, the window title part wt is provided in order to clarify that the application program that currently controls the entire screen function is label software.

The above-mentioned year gauge part cg is provided so that the user can see at a glance which time the label currently displayed corresponds to in the year. This year gauge part cg is displayed so that the time when the label is displayed on the screen is always at the center of the gauge,
Further, for example, a yellow vertical line le is also displayed to clearly indicate this time. That is, the corresponding year gauge part cg
Is the real time (real world current time)
Instead, it is a time corresponding to the past or future (or current time) label displayed on the desktop screen. The year gauge part cg in the example of FIG. 12 is the time when the label is displayed on the screen (time at the center of the gauge).
Is a display example in the case of November 1999, for example.
A yellow vertical line le is displayed at the center of the gauge. Further, for example, a red vertical line lr is displayed on the year gauge part cg to indicate the actual time (not the time corresponding to the displayed label, but the current time in the real world). In the example of FIG. 12, the red vertical line lr indicating that the real time (current time in the real world) is, for example, May 1999 is displayed on the Christian gauge part cg. Thus, according to the year gauge part cg,
The time corresponding to the displayed label (for example, 1999)
(November, 1999) and the actual time (for example, May, 1999) can be easily recognized.

The current button bb is a button for instructing to return to the actual time (current time in the real world) from the time corresponding to the displayed label. Therefore, by clicking the current button bb with, for example, a mouse or the like, the operation time returns to the current time (current time in the real world). Note that, even if the current time (the current time in the real world) is returned by the current button bb, the state of the label software (the state of the application) maintains the time view mode.

The operation time display section oti is:
This is a part for displaying at what time the state where the label is displayed on the screen is. In the example of FIG. 12, the state of the label at 15:27:09 on November 11, 1999 is displayed on the screen.

The up / down buttons tub and tdb
Is a button for increasing / decreasing the time displayed on the operation time display section oti in a designated time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step). Here, for example, the focus is on the operation time display unit otti, and the year, month,
When any one of the day, hour, minute, and second is in the active state, when the up button tub is pressed, the value of the part in the active state is changed to a designated time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step). ), And conversely, when the down button tdb is pressed, the value of the portion in the active state decreases in the designated time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step). Further, in the label software of the present embodiment, the up / down buttons tub and t
The same function as db can be realized by rotating the wheel of a mouse with a wheel, moving the cursor key up and down, rotating the jog dial 4, and the like. That is, in this case, the focus is on the operation time display unit ot i, and the year,
When any one of the month, day, hour, minute, and second is set to the active state, for example, rotate the wheel of a mouse with a wheel, press the up / down cursor keys on the keyboard, or rotate the jog dial 4. Then, the value of the portion in the active state increases or decreases (increases or decreases the time) in the designated time increment or decrement unit (time increment or decrement step).

The time increase / decrease step selection list box ssl is a portion for displaying the time increase / decrease unit (time increase / decrease step) when increasing / decreasing the time in the operation time display section otii. In other words, in the time increase / decrease step selection list box ssl, the year, month, day, hour,
A time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step) corresponding to the active time display portion among minutes, seconds, and the like is displayed. In the example of FIG. 12, “*” appended to the character of the time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step) displayed in the time increment / decrement step selection list box ssl indicates the time with the “*” appended. This indicates that the increase / decrease unit (time increase / decrease step) is currently selected. Here, in the present embodiment, for example, 100 years, 10
There are year, year, month, hour, minute, second, change point, etc., and the time increase / decrease step selection list box ssl shows any of these time increase / decrease steps. Is displayed. The time increase / decrease in units of change points is defined as a point in time when the user changes the label by performing some operation on the label (for example, a point in time when the label is moved, the size is changed, or the object is corrected; This means that the time is increased or decreased in a unit from the time when the state changes) to the time when the next change occurs. Therefore, when the time is increased or decreased in the unit of the change point, the time interval that changes by one increase or decrease of the time at the change point is not constant.

The time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb is operated in the time increase / decrease step selection list box ss.
A button for designating a time increase / decrease step displayed in 1 by menu selection. In other words, the time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb displays the year, month, day,
It is a button for selecting a time display portion desired to be activated from among hours, minutes, seconds and the like. When the time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb is pressed (clicked), the time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb is pressed.
Below b, 100 years, 1
0 years, 1 year, 1 month, 1 hour, 1 minute, 1
The time increment / decrement unit (time increment / decrement step) such as a unit of seconds or a change point is displayed. Therefore, by selecting a desired time increase / decrease step from this pull-down menu, the year, month,
The corresponding time display portion is selected from the day, hour, minute, and second displays, and the display becomes active. That is, for example, when a month unit is selected from the pull-down menu of the time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb, for example,
Year, month, day,
The month display portion of the hour, minute, and second displays is in an active state. In this state, the rotation of the up / down buttons tub and tdb, the rotation of the wheel of the mouse with a wheel, the depression of the up / down cursor key, the rotation of the jog dial 4, and the like are performed. By doing so, the value of the month can be changed.

In the label software according to the present embodiment, the same function as the time increase / decrease step selection function by the time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb can be used, for example, by pressing the left and right cursor keys on the keyboard or by using the mouse with a wheel. It can also be realized by rotation of the wheel, rotation of the jog dial 4, and the like. That is, in this case,
In a state where the focus is on the operation time display unit oti, for example, by rotating the wheel of a mouse with a wheel, pressing the left or right cursor key, or rotating the jog dial 4, the operation time display unit oti is displayed. Any of the time display portions arranged in the horizontal direction, that is, any of the time display portions of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second can be selected to be in the active state.

When the time is increased or decreased by operating the mouse, keyboard and jog dial 4 with a wheel, for example, the continuous operation of the keyboard, the rotational speed of the wheel of the mouse with a wheel, and the rotational speed of the jog dial are detected. Depending on the detection result, it is also possible to change how to advance or return the time at an accelerated rate. Thereby, it is possible to easily move to a target time. When the function of selecting the time increase / decrease step is realized by rotation of the wheel of the mouse with a wheel or rotation of the jog dial, the function of selecting the time increase / decrease step is provided for the rotation of the wheel of the mouse with the wheel or the rotation of the jog dial. It is necessary to set up the environment to make it work.

The menu button mb is a button for displaying all operation menus related to the project, for example, file, addition of new label, time, label, and the like. When this menu button mb is pressed (clicked), an operation menu such as a file, addition of a new label, time, and a label is displayed as a pull-down menu near the menu button mb.
In each part of the time view console TVC, when the right mouse button is clicked, or when an application key is pressed with the focus (context menu), the menu button m
The menu items are displayed in the same manner as when the button b is clicked.

The close button cb is a button for instructing to close the time view console.

The help button hb is a button for instructing the display of a help window used for checking unclear points when the user operates the label software of the present embodiment.

The rotation animation unit ra is changed according to the change of the operation time.
This is a part for visually displaying to the user that time is moving by displaying an animation of rotating the time, and the rotation direction is reversed when the time goes to the future and when the time returns to the past. become. As described above, by performing the animation display in which the rotation animation unit ra rotates, it is possible for the user to recognize that the time is changing.

A window of the time view console TVC in a floating state as shown in FIG. 13 has a window title portion wt which displays the title of the window (in this example, the time view console).
And a window menu section wm in which operation menus related to the project such as file, addition of new label, time, label, help, etc. are displayed, a year gauge section cg similar to that in the window in a bar state, and a current button. bb, an operation time display section oti, up / down buttons tub and tdb, a time increase / decrease step selection list box ssl, and a time increase / decrease step selection menu button sb. In the case of FIG. 13, there is an "x" button as a close button for instructing to close the time view console.

Next, the window screen of the label displayed on the desktop includes a play button, a stop button, a link button, a menu button, and an object (text, It is composed of components such as images and sounds) and icons (alarms and repetitions).

FIG. 14 shows an example of the window screen of the label L. In the example of the label L shown in FIG. 14, a play button PB, a stop button SB, a link button LB, and a menu button MB are displayed, and further, a text, a sound, an image, and a link are pasted in the label L. Is represented. Note that the example of FIG. 14 particularly shows a state when an image is displayed.

When the label L includes a sound object, the play button PB serves as a button for instructing the start or pause of reproduction of the sound. On the other hand, the label L includes an image (moving image) object. If it is, it is a button for instructing the reproduction start and pause of the reproduction of the moving image. That is, when the play button PB is pressed (for example, clicked with a mouse or the like) while the label L includes a sound object, the sound is played, and the play button PB is pressed during the play of the sound. When pressed (clicked), playback of the sound is paused. When the play button PB is pressed (for example, clicked with a mouse or the like) while the label L includes an image (moving image) object, the moving image is reproduced, and further, the reproduction is performed during reproduction of the moving image. When the button PB is pressed (clicked), the reproduction of the moving image is paused.

The stop button SB is a button for stopping the reproduction of the sound or the moving image being reproduced. When the stop button SB is pressed (clicked) during the reproduction of the sound, the reproduction of the sound is stopped. Then, the stop button SB is pressed (clicked) during the reproduction of the moving image.
And the playback of the video stops.

The link button LB is used to open a link destination file associated with the label L,
A button for displaying an L (HyperText Markup Language) format window. That is, when a file path is set as the link destination address in the label L, when the link button LB in the label window in FIG. 14 is pressed (clicked), the file set in the file path is changed. The URL is opened and the label L is linked to the URL (Uniform Resource
If the link button LB is pressed (clicked), the HTML (Hyce Locator) is specified.
A window in the format of perText Markup Language) is displayed. Further, the link button LB is used to display the HTML format window,
P (File Transfer Protocol) site (for example, ftp: //
ftp.sony.co.jp), a window for accessing this FTP site is displayed, or an e-mail destination address (eg, mailto: h
(ana@sony.co.jp), it is possible to display a window for sending an e-mail. Further, the link button LB is associated with a tool tip TCl indicating link contents (a file path or a URL of a link destination) as shown in FIG. 15, for example, when the pointer MC moves over the link button LB. A tool tip TCl indicating the contents of the link is displayed on the screen.

The menu button MB arranged at the upper right of the label window is a button for displaying a menu of all operations related to the label (for example, file, addition of new label, time, label, help, etc.). It is. When the menu button MB is pressed (clicked), the menu items (file, addition of new label, time, label, help, etc.) are displayed as a pull-down menu near the menu button MB, for example. In addition, in each part on the label L, for example, when the right button of the mouse is clicked, or when the application key is pressed with the focus,
Menu (context menu) items are displayed in the same manner as when the menu button MB is clicked.

Further, depending on the status and setting of the label, an icon indicating the current state is displayed at the upper right of the label L (for example, to the left of the menu button MB). The icons include types such as an alarm icon IA and a repetition icon IR as shown in FIG. The alarm icon IA is an icon that is displayed when an alarm is set for a label, and is a repetitive icon IR.
Is an icon displayed when the repeated display is set.

Next, according to the label software of this embodiment, “new creation”, “addition of object”, “modification of object”, “layout”, “alignment”, “ Each operation of "property", "import / export of object", and "delete label" is enabled.

As the “new creation” of the operation on the label, when creating a new label, an object to be inserted first can be designated. The label creation time is displayed on the newly created label.
Whether to display the creation time can be set on the setting screen. Each object is displayed according to the default layout, and the display position of a newly created label is automatically determined. At the same time that a new label is created, a label file for storing the label information is created.

The "new creation" of the operation for the label includes a new creation in the future mode. That is, in the time view mode, a label to be created in the future (future label) can be added. In the new creation in the future mode, the user sets the label start time, end time, repetition, and alarm, thereby creating a new future label. The default value of the display time of the property screen is
The operation time at that time.

In the "add object" operation for the label, an object can be added to the currently displayed label. Note that two or more objects of the same type cannot exist for one label. In addition, “adding an object by dragging and dropping”, “adding the position and size of an object”, and “adding in a time view mode” are also possible in the “adding an object” operation for the label.

In the operation of modifying the above-mentioned label, "modification of object" includes "modification of text", "modification of sound", "modification of image", "modification of handwritten memo", "modification of link", "time view mode". Time correction "and" Paste from clipboard "are possible.

Next, the "layout" of the operation on the label is determined based on the default layout. However, this default layout setting is used when creating a label and adding a new object. The default layout is also used when the user explicitly selects the re-layout command. Furthermore, according to the label software of the present embodiment, the user can freely customize the layout for each label in addition to the default layout, and can change the size of the object.

Next, "alignment" of the operation for the label
There are three types of alignment: "Align to left edge of screen", "Align to top edge of screen", "Align to right edge of screen", "Align to bottom edge of screen"
There is. The labels are aligned so that they do not overlap each other, and the size of the labels does not change.

Next, as “import / export of objects” of the operation on the label, the label can import and display text, sound, and image files. The operation when imported is the same as adding or modifying an object. The label object can extract only its data as an export file.

Further, the "delete label" operation for the label includes the deletion of the current label and the deletion of the future label. If the user selects to delete the current label, the current time is recorded as the end time and is deleted from the screen. However, the label file is not deleted, and the label can be displayed by returning to the past in the time view mode. When the label is deleted in the future mode of the time view mode, the user selects whether to set the operation time to the end time or to delete the label at the current time. If the deletion of the future label is selected, the user selects whether to set the operation time to the end time or to completely delete the label. If you delete the label completely, the file and record of the label will be deleted and will not be displayed again in the time view mode. The past label cannot be further deleted because it has already been deleted.

By the way, as the dialog that displays the “property” of the operation on the label, the most conceivable dialog is, for example, the one shown in FIG. That is, in the example of FIG. 17, the display contents of the label property include “label number”, “history number”,
“Valid period”, “repeated setting”, “alarm setting”, and the like can be considered. The “Label Number” displays the unique label number within the project, the “History Number” displays the number of times the label has been modified since it was created, and the “Validity Period” shows the “creation time” And "deletion time" are displayed. In the “repetition setting”, the interval and unit of “repetition” when the label is repeatedly displayed at regular intervals, for example, “the next display start time” and “the next display end time” when the label is displayed Set. In the above “alarm setting”, a time when the “alarm” is activated is set.

However, in the case of the dialog shown in FIG. 17, the “history number” is displayed only with a numerical value, and the setting of “repeat” is displayed only with a numerical value. The drawback is that it is difficult to grasp.

Therefore, in the label software of this embodiment, in the dialog of the label property, FIG.
8. By displaying the label history as a graph as shown in FIG. 19, the contents of the history can be easily grasped visually. In addition, a graph focusing only on the vicinity of the time when the setting is repeatedly set is displayed. By doing so, the status of the repetitive setting can be easily grasped visually.

That is, according to the label software of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the label properties include “validity period”, “information”, “alarm setting”, and “repetition setting”. Each item is provided. In addition, under the tab of “information”, items of “label number”, “number of histories”, and “lifetime graph” are provided as shown in FIG. 18, and under the tab of “repetition setting”. In
As shown in FIG. 19, a check box indicating whether or not to “perform periodic repetition label”, the number and time interval of “repetition” as “repetition details”, “next display start time”,
Items such as “time display end time” and “display period graph” are provided.

In the dialog (page) in which the “information” tab is opened as shown in FIG. 18, “label number” and “history number” are displayed as numbers as label information, and the label is still alive. The period of time that has elapsed is represented as a “survival period graph”. In the “survival period graph” of FIG. 18, the vertical line VLs1 located at the left end is, for example, a white line, and the label generation time (21 in the example of FIG. 18).
Hours 56:00). On the other hand, the vertical line VLp located at the right end is, for example, a red line and represents the current time (22:02:32). Each of the vertical lines VLe1, VLs2, VLe2, and VL3s is, for example, a yellow line, and represents a change point of the label information. Further, the horizontal bar H between the vertical lines VLs1 to VLe1
Bb1 and the horizontal bar HBb2 between the vertical lines VLs2 and VLe2
Are, for example, blue lines, respectively, indicating that the label was displayed only during the period represented by these blue horizontal bars HBb1 and HBb2. The horizontal bar HBr after the vertical line VLp is, for example, a pink horizontal line, indicating that the label is displayed from the present to the future.

As shown in FIG. 18, according to the label software of the present embodiment, the history information is graphed (survival period graph) as one of the “information” items of the label. By displaying the generation time of label, the point of change of label information, the current time, the period during which the label was displayed, and the like in the graph in different colors, the user can easily perform a rough flow such as the history of the label and the lifetime. It is possible to grasp.

Further, in the dialog (page) with the “Repeat Setting” tab shown in FIG. 19, the number of “repeats” and the time interval, “next display start time” and “ "Next display end time" is displayed as a number, and the "display period graph" is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the time of particular interest (before and after the repeatedly set time) in the setting items, not the entire lifetime. Is displayed. In the “display period graph” of FIG. 19, the vertical line VLgb located at the left end is, for example, a yellow line, and is slightly before the current time indicated by the vertical line VLp, which is a red line. This represents the time that has been traced back (21:59:32 in the example of FIG. 19 instead of the label generation time). On the other hand, the vertical line VLre located at the right end is, for example, a yellow line, and represents the time during which three repetitions are displayed (22:08:32 in the example of FIG. 19). Each horizontal bar HBb is, for example, a blue line, which indicates that the label was displayed in the past only during the period represented by these blue horizontal bars HBb. The horizontal bar HBr is, for example, a pink horizontal line, and indicates that a label will be displayed in the future as a result of repeated setting. If the repetition setting has not been made, no graph is displayed in the “display period graph” of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, according to the label software of the present embodiment, as one of the items of the “repetition setting” of the label, only before and after the time set repeatedly are graphed (displayed). Graph of the period), and furthermore, in the graph, a time slightly preceding the current time in the past, a time in which three repetitions are displayed, a period in which the label was displayed in the past, and a future in the future by the repetition setting. By displaying the state in which the label is displayed in different colors, it is possible for the user to easily grasp the state of the repeated setting of the label.

As described above, according to the label software of the present embodiment, when confirming and setting information of a label having a concept of time, a graph focusing on the portion is performed, thereby providing a user with an advantage. Easy-to-understand information can be provided.

Next, referring to FIG. 20 to FIG. 23, the processing of the CPU 51 when the above-mentioned label information and the graph display of the repetition setting are realized by a personal computer by the label software of the present embodiment. The flow will be described.

FIG. 20 shows the overall flow of the label property sheet process.

In FIG. 20, if the label property sheet is activated, the CPU 51 proceeds to step S
As a process 1, the display of each item of the label property dialog is updated to the latest information.
In the process (1), the display contents of each graph described above are also updated to the latest one.

Next, as the process of step S3, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the setting of each item on the dialog has been changed by, for example, the user's operation. When the change has been made, the process returns to step S1, and again. The display of each item of the label property dialog is updated to the latest information, and the display content of each graph is also updated to the latest information in the process of step S2. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the item setting has not been changed, the CPU 51 proceeds to step S4.

When the process proceeds to step S4, the CPU 51
Determines whether the user has selected the end of the process. If the end has not been selected, the process returns to step S3, and if the end has been selected, the process of the property sheet ends.

Next, FIG. 21 shows a detailed flow of the graph updating process which is the process of step S2 in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 21, when the graph updating process is started, the CPU 51 determines whether or not it is necessary to display a “lifetime graph” as the process of step S11. That is, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the property page selected to be displayed by the user is a page of the “information” tab, and when the property page is a page of the “information” tab, the “lifetime graph” is displayed. Need to be drawn, so step S12
The processing of drawing the “lifetime graph” shown in FIG. 18 is executed. After the processing in step S12, the CPU 51 ends the graph update processing. On the other hand, if the property page selected to be displayed by the user is not the page of the “information” tab, the CPU 51 proceeds to the processing in step S13.

When the process proceeds to step S13, the CPU 5
1 determines whether or not it is necessary to display a “repeated graph”. That is, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the property page selected to be displayed by the user is a page of the “Repeat Setting” tab. "Must be drawn,
Proceeding to the process in step S14, the process of drawing the “repeated graph” shown in FIG. 19 is executed. After the processing in step S14, the CPU 51 ends the graph update processing.

Next, FIG. 22 shows a detailed flow of the life time graph drawing processing which is the processing of step S12 in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 22, when the drawing process of the graph of the lifetime is started, the CPU 51 proceeds to step S2.
As processing 1, the label creation time Tm (corresponding to the vertical line VLs 1 in FIG. 18), the current time Tc (the vertical line VL in FIG. 18)
p), and calculates a label deletion time Td.

Next, the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of step S22, compares the label creation time Tm with the current time Tc, and determines whether the label creation time Tm is smaller than the current time Tc, that is, whether the label creation time Tm is smaller than the current time Tc. The creation time Tm is a time earlier than the current time Tc (when the condition of Tm <Tc is Ye
s) is determined. In the process of step S22, if it is determined that the label creation time Tm is earlier than the current time Tc (the condition of Tm <Tc is Yes), the process of the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of step S23, while Label creation time Tm is current time Tc
If it is determined that it is a future time (the condition of Tm <Tc is No), the process of the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of step S25.

When the process proceeds to step S25, the CPU 5
1 draws a display graph from the label creation time Tm to the future deletion time Td with a pink horizontal bar HBr that is a color representing the future, as shown in FIG. After the processing in step S25, the CPU 51 ends the graph drawing processing for the lifetime.

On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S23, C
The PU 51 draws a change point graph from the label creation time Tm to the current time Tc, as shown in FIG. 18, with yellow vertical lines VLe1, VLs2, VLe2,
Draw with VLs3. After the processing in step S23, the CP
U51 proceeds to the process in step S24.

When the process proceeds to step S24, the CPU 5
1 shows the display graphs between the changing points from the label creation time Tm to the current time Tc, as shown in FIG.
Blue bars HBb1, HBb2, HBb3 that represent the past
To draw. After the processing in step S24, the CPU 51
Proceeds to the process of step S26.

When the process proceeds to step S26, the CPU 5
1 compares the current time Tc with the deletion time Td, and determines whether the current time Tc is smaller than the deletion time Td, that is, whether the current time Tc is earlier than the deletion time Td (when the condition of Tc <Td is satisfied). (Yes) is determined. In the process of step S26, the current time Tc
Is longer than the deletion time Td (the condition of Tc <Td is Yes), the process of the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of step S27, while the current time Tc is a time later than the deletion time Td. (Condition of Tc <Td is No)
When the CPU 51 determines that the graph of the lifetime is present, the CPU 51 ends the graph drawing process of the lifetime.

When the process proceeds to step S27, the CPU 5
1 draws a display graph from the current time Tc to the future deletion time Td with a horizontal bar HBr of a pink color representing the future, as shown in FIG. This step S
After the process in step S27, the CPU 51 ends the graph drawing process for the lifetime.

Next, FIG. 23 shows a detailed flow of the drawing process of the graph of the repeated display period, which is the process of step S14 in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 23, when the drawing processing of the graph during the repetitive display period is started, the CPU 51 determines in step S31 that the label creation time Tm (corresponding to the vertical line VLs1 in FIG. 18) Time Tc (FIG. 18)
And a vertical line VLp in FIG. 19), a label deletion time Td, and a repetition interval Tp.

Next, the CPU 51 proceeds to the process of step S32, and starts the graph display start time Tb (vertical line V in FIG. 19).
Lgb), and as a process of step S33, a graph display end time Te (vertical line H in FIG. 19).
(Corresponding to Br).

At this time, the graph display start time Tb and the display end time Te are set so that repetition of approximately three times from the current time Tc can be displayed (parts related to the setting of repetition are displayed with emphasis). .

Therefore, the CPU 51 determines in step S
32, the label creation time Tm, the current time Tc, and the repetition interval T are set as the display start time Tb.
Set the larger value of the differences (Tc−Tp) of p,
Next, in the process of step S33, the current time Tc and the repetition interval Tp are set to 3 as the graph display end time Te.
Sum of batches (Tc + 3Tp) and label deletion time Td
Set the smaller value of

Next, as a process of step S34, the CPU 51 compares the display start time Tb with the current time Tc, and determines whether or not the display start time Tb is smaller than the current time Tc, that is, the display start time Tb. It is determined whether or not the current time is before the current time Tc (the condition of Tb <Tc is Yes). In the process of step S34,
The display start time Tb is earlier than the current time Tc (T
If it is determined that the condition of b <Tc is Yes, the CP
The process of U51 proceeds to the process of step S35, while the display start time Tb is a time (Tb) that is later than the current time Tc.
If it is determined that the condition of <Tc is No), the CPU 5
The process of 1 proceeds to the process of step S37.

When the process proceeds to step S37, the CPU 5
1 draws a display graph from the display start time Tb of the graph to the future display end time Te with a pink horizontal bar HBr that is a color representing the future, as shown in FIG. After the process in step S37, the CPU 51 ends the graph drawing process in the repeated display period.

On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S35, C
The PU 51 calculates the current time T from the graph display start time Tb.
As shown in FIG. 19, each display graph up to c
Drawing is performed using blue horizontal bars HBb which are colors representing the past. After the process in step S35, the CPU 51 proceeds to step S35.
Proceed to 36.

When the process proceeds to step S36, the CPU 5
1 draws the display graph up to the current time Tc and the future display end time Te with the horizontal bars HBr of pink, which is the color representing the future, as shown in FIG. After the process in step S36, the CPU 51 ends the graph drawing process in the repeated display period.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the "information" of the label is displayed as a "lifetime graph" as shown in FIG. It is possible to easily grasp the general flow such as.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the status of the label repetition setting is displayed as a “display period graph” as shown in FIG. 19, so that the user can easily understand the status of the label repetition setting. It is possible to grasp.

As a medium used to install a program for realizing the series of processes described above in a computer and to make it executable by the computer, for example, a floppy disk, a CD-RO
It may be realized not only by package media such as M and DVD, but also by a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored, and may be realized by a cable such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting. And a wireless communication medium, and various communication interfaces such as a router and a modem for transferring or receiving a program provided through these communication media. Means a broad concept including.

[0126]

As is apparent from the above description, in the information processing apparatus, method and medium according to the present invention, the time information in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen is stored, and the predetermined processing unit is displayed. By obtaining a period existing on the screen and generating a period in which a predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen as an image expressing a time axis, for example, newly creating, pasting, moving, a label as a predetermined processing unit It is possible to leave a history of deletion and the like, and to show the history to the user in an easy-to-understand manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main body of the notebook personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a jog dial of the notebook personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the jog dial side of the notebook personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration inside the notebook personal computer whose external appearance is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a window display example of a first specific example of a jog dial application program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mutual relationship among three data of a project, a label, and an object handled by the label software of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a desktop screen in a normal mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a desktop screen in a current (Present) mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a desktop screen in a past (Past) mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a desktop screen in a future mode.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a time view console window in a bar state.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a time view console window in a floating state.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a label window screen according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram used to explain a tooltip indicating the link contents (link destination file path and URL) associated with the link button.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alarm icon and a repetition icon.

FIG. 17 In the label property dialog,
It is a figure used for explaining the fault when various settings are displayed by a numerical value etc.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a page of a label “information” tab in a label property dialog of the label software according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 19: “Repeat setting” of a label in a label property dialog of the label software according to the present embodiment.
It is a figure showing the page of a tab.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an overall flow of a property sheet process.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a grab update process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of a life time graph drawing process.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of a graph drawing process in a repeated display period.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional sticky note (label) pasted on a desktop.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 notebook personal computer, 2 main unit,
3 display unit, 4 jog dial, 5 keyboard, 6 touch pad, 7 LCD, L label,
TT task tray, IL icon, TVC
Time view console, L label, PB play button

Continued on front page F term (reference) 5B049 AA02 CC02 CC31 DD01 DD03 DD05 EE05 EE07 EE59 FF04 FF06 FF09 GG04 GG07 5E501 AA02 AC34 BA03 BA05 DA17 EA33 FA12 FA46 FB28

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing time information in which a predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen, and a display period generation for obtaining a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen based on the time information. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for generating a time period in which the predetermined processing unit is present on a display screen as an image expressing a time axis. 2. The storage means stores time information indicating that the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen in the past or the future. The display period generating means stores the time information of the predetermined processing unit in the past or the future. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a period existing on the display screen is obtained. 3. The display period generating means obtains a period in which the predetermined processing unit is present on a display screen near a desired time, and the image generating means obtains the period obtained near the desired time. The period during which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is generated as an image representing the time axis. 4. The storage means stores time information in which the predetermined processing unit repeatedly exists on the display screen, and the display period generating means stores a time period in which the predetermined processing unit repeatedly exists on the display screen. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 5. The image generating means according to claim 1, wherein a period during which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen is generated as an image expressing the time axis which is color-coded according to a predetermined rule. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. A method for storing time information in which a predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen, obtaining a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen based on the time information, An information processing method comprising: generating a period in which a symbol exists on a display screen as an image expressing a time axis. 7. A time period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen in the past or future is stored, and a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen in the past or future is obtained. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein 8. A period in which the predetermined processing unit is present on the display screen near a desired time is determined, and a period in which the predetermined processing unit is found on the display screen near the desired time is determined. 7. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein the information is generated as an image representing the time axis. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein information on the time during which the predetermined processing unit repeatedly exists on the display screen is stored, and a period during which the predetermined processing unit repeatedly exists on the display screen is obtained. Information processing method. 10. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on the display screen is generated as an image expressing the time axis, which is color-coded according to a predetermined rule. 11. A step of storing time information in which a predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen; a step of obtaining a period in which the predetermined processing unit exists on a display screen based on the time information; Generating a time period during which a predetermined processing unit is present on the display screen as an image expressing a time axis, the information processing apparatus causing the information processing apparatus to execute the program.