JP2007074558A - Information display method, information display apparatus, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily read data in a table form by enlarging and displaying a cell itself selected by a user even if it is hard to watch data displayed in the table form on a screen. <P>SOLUTION: In an information display method in an information display apparatus for dividing a display region in directions of longitudinal and lateral axes and displaying information, respectively in a plurality of partial display regions constituted in a table form, one partial display region selected out of the plurality of partial display regions as a display object is enlarged in a predetermined ratio in directions of longitudinal and lateral axes and displayed in the table form. In accordance with a relationship between the longitudinal and lateral axis directions modified by the enlargement, non-selected other partial display regions are enlarged or reduced and the other partial display regions are displayed in the table form. In such a case, the information display method is characterized by widening partial display regions in the lateral axis direction according as the partial display regions become closer to the selected one partial display region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology related to display control of information in a tabular format.

  There are an electronic program guide and a schedule table that display on a monitor a table that is divided into cells in the vertical and horizontal directions by a program.

  For example, when displaying an electronic program guide, conventionally, the vertical axis is the time axis, the horizontal axis is the channel axis, and the time axis and the channel axis are equally divided as in the example shown in FIG. It was generally displayed on the screen. Users can move programs and channels from the program table displayed on the monitor by remote control, select programs, view detailed information such as program contents and performers, and perform remote control operations. You can make a recording reservation.

  In the example of FIG. 18, a lot of information such as date, time, broadcasting station name and broadcasting station logo mark, channel number, program title, etc. is included, and in order to keep these within a certain area, as a result There was a problem that it was difficult to see program titles.

  Also, the schedule table display is conventionally composed of cells that are equally divided in the day of the week axis direction and the week axis direction as shown in FIG. 19, in order to display a lot of schedule information in the same way as the program table display. Had the problem that the characters were small and difficult to see.

As a technique for solving this problem and displaying a selected cell in an easy-to-view manner, there has been a configuration in which a selected program display is enlarged (see Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a configuration in which a specified range is enlarged and displayed by a user selecting a range and giving an enlarged display instruction.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-098428

  However, there are cases where it is desired to check information around the selected range.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information display technique that facilitates reading of not only a partial display area selected by a user but also surrounding information.

  The information display method according to the present invention that achieves the above object mainly performs the following processing.

That is, the information display method according to the present invention is an information display method in an information display device that displays information in a plurality of partial display areas configured in a tabular format by dividing the display area in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction. Because
A selection unit display control step of expanding one partial display area selected from a plurality of partial display areas to be displayed in a predetermined ratio in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction and displaying the same in a table format;
A non-selected portion display that enlarges or reduces another partial display area that is not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement, and displays the other partial display area in the tabular format. A control process,
In the non-selection part display control step, the width of the partial display area in the horizontal axis direction is increased as the partial display area is closer to the selected partial display area.

  Preferably, in the information display method described above, the selection unit display control step is configured such that when the one partial display area to be selected is not included in the partial display area to be displayed, the selection target The partial display area to be displayed is switched to a range including.

  Preferably, in the information display method described above, when the selected partial display area is enlarged, the displayed character or figure is enlarged at the predetermined ratio to enlarge the selected partial display area. It is characterized by displaying in the partial display area.

  Or the information display apparatus concerning this invention which achieves the said objective is mainly provided with the following structures, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

That is, the information display device according to the present invention is an information display device that divides the display area in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction, and displays information in each of a plurality of partial display areas configured in a tabular format,
A selection unit display control means for enlarging a partial display area selected from a plurality of partial display areas to be displayed in a predetermined ratio in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction, and displaying it in a tabular format;
A non-selected portion display that enlarges or reduces another partial display area that is not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement, and displays the other partial display area in the tabular format. Control means,
The non-selection part display control means widens the width of the partial display area in the horizontal axis direction as the partial display area is closer to the selected partial display area.

  According to the present invention, even when it is difficult to see the data displayed in the table format on the screen, it is easy to read the data in the table format by enlarging the cell itself selected by the user.

  Alternatively, unselected cells are displayed in an enlarged or reduced state according to the enlargement of the selected cell, so that the contents of the selected cell and the contents of the unselected cell can be compared and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Is possible.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information display device (hereinafter referred to as “electronic program guide display device”) according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 controls the entire electronic program guide display device 10. The ROM 202 stores programs that do not need to be changed and various parameters. The RAM 203 is composed of SDRAM, DRAM, and the like, and temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like. The demodulator 205 demodulates the television signal received by the tuner 204 and outputs the demodulated signal to the demultiplexer 206. The demultiplexer 206 extracts audio data, video data, and EPG (Electric Program Guide) data constituting the program data from the input demodulated signal. The demultiplexer 206 inputs audio data to the audio decoder 207, video data to the video decoder 208, and EPG data to the CPU 201 through the bus 212, and the CPU 201 stores the data in the RAM 203.

  The audio decoder 207 decodes the input audio data and outputs it to the monitor 20. The video decoder 208 decodes the input video data and outputs it to the display control unit 211. The display control unit 211 causes the monitor 20 to display the video signal output from the video decoder 208.

  Further, the CPU 201 controls the EPG data and displays, for example, a program list on the monitor 20.

  The operation unit 210 takes in infrared and wireless signals input from the remote controller 209 or inputs from buttons and switches provided on the electronic program guide display device body. Then, the signal is output to the CPU 201, and further a signal is output to the display control unit 211 according to the operation, and the display of the monitor 20 is changed. A bus 212 is a system bus that connects the CPU 201, the ROM 202, the RAM 203, the operation unit 210, the demultiplexer 206, and the display control unit 211 in a communicable manner.

  An information display device (electronic program guide display device) that divides a display area in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction and displays information in a plurality of cells configured in a table format (hereinafter referred to as a partial display area), A selection part display control part and a non-selection part display control part are provided.

  Here, the selection unit display control unit expands one partial display area selected from the plurality of partial display areas to be displayed at a predetermined ratio in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction into a tabular format. indicate.

  Further, the non-selection part display control part enlarges or reduces other partial display areas not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by enlargement, and displays the other partial display areas in a tabular format. indicate.

  Here, the non-selection portion display control unit increases the width of the partial display region in the horizontal axis direction as the partial display region is closer to the selected partial display region.

  Here, the above-described display control unit 211 can function as a selection unit display control unit and a non-selection unit display control unit under the control of the CPU 201.

  Next, the procedure for displaying the program guide will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The process of the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed under the overall control of the CPU 201 and is started when the user switches to the program guide display mode. In step S301, a display target channel to be displayed on the program guide and a selection target (horizontal axis value) channel that is a channel of the selected program are acquired from a number of channels. It is assumed that there is one selection target channel, a plurality of display target channels exist, and the selection target channel is necessarily included in the display target channel.

  In step S302, the display target time zone is acquired as the range of the time zone to be displayed in 24 hours, and the selection target time zone is acquired as the time zone of the selected program. It is assumed that the selection target time zone is included in the display target time zone.

  Next, in step S303, a table layout is calculated.

(Layout calculation processing)
Here, the layout calculation process will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the display of the program guide displayed on the monitor. The program table displayed on the monitor includes a date display area 701 for displaying dates, a time slot display area 702 for displaying a plurality of time slots, a channel display area 703 for displaying a plurality of channels, and a program display area 704 for displaying a plurality of programs. It is composed of

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow for a specific example of the table layout calculation in step S303 of FIG. In FIG. 4, first, the area information of the channel display area 703 is acquired, and the channel display area width is obtained (S401). Next, the number of channels to be displayed is obtained (S402).

  Next, the process proceeds to step S403 to divide the channel axis. Here, the channel axis division processing will be described with reference to FIG.

(Channel axis division)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating how the channel axis is divided when calculation is performed so that the ratio of the width of the selection target channel to the width of the non-selection target channel is 2: 1.

  Since one of the three channels is a selection target channel, the width of the selection target channel is 50% of the channel display area width, and the width of the non-selection target channel is 25% of the channel display area width. If the second channel is the selection target channel when the display target channels are arranged in order, the channel axis is divided as shown in FIG. The channel axis division areas 501 and 503 are 25% of the channel display area width, and the channel axis division area 502 is 50% of the channel display area width.

  FIG. 5B shows a case where the number of display target channels is four (third selection target channel) (504 to 507), and FIG. 5C shows five display target channels (three selection target channels). Eye) (508 to 512). Further, FIG. 5D is a diagram showing a generalized relationship between display of channel axis division regions (display of selection target and non-selection target).

  Here, the ratio between the width of the selection target channel and the width of the non-selection target channel has been described as being 2: 1. However, the setting of the ratio does not limit the gist of the present invention and can be arbitrarily set. is there.

However, to enlarge the selected channel and display it,
(Width of selection target channel) / (Width of non-selection target channel)> 1
It is necessary to set a ratio such that

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the non-selection target channel is calculated so as to have the same width, but as another example, the closer the non-selection target channel region is to the region corresponding to the selection target channel, the more Processing to increase the area width is performed. That is, a case where the ratio is decreased as the number of columns up to the selection target channel increases will be described.

  In FIG. 6, the calculation is performed so that the ratio of the width of the channel to be selected and the other channels is different by one column, that is, 6: 3 if adjacent channels are different and 6: 1 if they are different from each other. It is a figure explaining how a channel axis is divided in a case. Here, description will be made assuming that the number of display target channels is three.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a case where the first channel is a selection target channel when the display target channels are arranged in order. By setting the above ratio, the width ratio of each channel is 6: 3: 1. In this case, the width of the display area 601 of the selection target channel is 60% of the channel display area width, and the display areas 602 and 603 of the non-selection target channels are 30% and 10% of the channel display area width, respectively.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining a case where the second channel is the selection target channel when the display target channels are arranged in order. By setting the above ratio, the ratio of the width of each channel is 3: 6: 3. Therefore, the width of the display area 605 for the selection target channel is 50% of the channel display area width, and the display areas 604 and 606 for the non-selection target channels are 25% of the channel display area width.

  FIG. 6C illustrates the case where the third channel is the selection target channel when the display target channels are arranged in order, but the calculation method is almost the same as the case where the third channel is the selection target channel. So it is omitted here.

  Returning the description to step S404 in FIG. 4, the information of the time zone display area is acquired, and the height of the time zone display area is obtained. Subsequently, the total time of the display target time zone and the selection target time zone are obtained (S405).

Next, in step S406, the time zone axis is divided. Here, the time zone axis division method will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
(Time zone axis division)
FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining a time zone division method. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the total display time period acquired in step S405 in FIG. 4 is 240 minutes from 17:00 to 21:00, and the selection target time period is 60 from 18:00 to 19:00. Suppose that it is minutes. Further, it is assumed that the selection target time zone and the non-selection target time zone are set so that the ratio per minute is 2: 1. This ratio can be arbitrarily set under the control of the display control unit 211.

  With the above settings, the non-selection target time zone from 17:00 to 18:00, the selection target time zone from 18:00 to 19:00, and the non-selection time zone from 19:00 to 21:00 When dividing is calculated, the ratio per minute is 1: 2: 1. The time zone axis division region 801 is from 17:00 to 18:00, the time zone axis division region 802 is from 18:00 to 19:00, and the time zone axis division region 803 is from 19:00 to 21:00.

  The height of the time zone axis division area 801 is 20% of the height of the time zone display area, the height of the time zone axis division area 802 is 40% of the height of the time zone display area, and the height of the time zone axis division area 803. The height is obtained as 40% of the height of the time zone display area. As a result, for example, the time of 18:00 can be obtained as a position of 20% of the height in the time axis display area, 19:00 is a position of 60%, and 20:00 is a position of 80%.

  FIG. 8B shows a display time zone total time of 240 minutes from 17:00 to 21:00, a ratio of the selection target time zone and the non-selection target time zone per minute of 2: 1, and the selection target time zone. It is a figure which shows the case where it is 90 minutes from 18:00 to 19:30.

  With the above settings, the non-selection target time zone from 17:00 to 18:00, the selection target time zone from 18:00 to 19:30, and the non-selection time zone from 19:30 to 21:00 When dividing is calculated, the ratio per minute is 1: 2: 1. The time zone axis division region 804 is from 17:00 to 18:00, the time zone axis division region 805 is from 18:00 to 19:00, and the time zone axis division region 806 is from 19:00 to 20:00. In this case, the height of the time zone axis division area 804 is about 18.2% of the height of the time zone display area, and the height of the time zone axis division area 805 is about 54.5% of the height of the time zone display area. The height of the time zone axis division area 806 is found to be about 27.3% of the height of the time zone display area.

  As a result, for example, the time of 18:00 is a position of 18.2% of the height in the time axis display area, 19:00 is a position of 54.5%, and 20:00 is a position of 81.8%. Can be sought.

  Returning to S407, based on the result of the channel axis division obtained in S403 and the result of the time axis division obtained in step 406, the program table is displayed for all programs in the display target channel and in the display target time zone. The cell layout calculation is performed as shown in FIG. Here, under the control of the display control unit 211, the channel in the selected time zone is enlarged and displayed at a predetermined ratio such as 902.

  Here, the ratio set for the enlarged display is set in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the area of the cell adjacent to the selected cell is constant in order to execute the layout in consideration of user visibility. It is also possible to obtain the ratio of.

  In addition, it is possible to obtain the ratio in the vertical and horizontal directions in consideration of the font size to be displayed so that the number of characters including the characters and graphics displayed in the cell is constant.

  With the above processing, the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 4 ends, and the layout calculation processing of step S303 in FIG. 3 ends.

  Next, based on the layout information obtained in step S303, the program table cell as shown in FIG. 10 is drawn, and at the same time, the time zone axis and the time zone, the channel axis frame and the channel broadcasting station name, the broadcasting station The icon and date are drawn (S304). Further, the character string information of each program is displayed in the table cell drawn in step S304 (S305).

  When the display control unit 211 enlarges the selected partial display area (selection target channel), the display control unit 211 can enlarge the displayed character or figure by a predetermined ratio and display the enlarged character or figure in the partial display area. Is possible.

  Further, the display control unit 211 enlarges or reduces the characters or figures displayed in the other partial display areas that are not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement. Is also possible.

(Drawing program string information)
A method of displaying the character string information of the program will be described in detail along the processing flow shown in FIG.

  First, in step S1201, a predetermined standard font size stored in the ROM 202 is acquired. The standard font size is preferably a size suitable for the entire character string of the program information or a predetermined maximum number of characters to fit in the cell when the time zone axis and the channel axis are equally divided. Alternatively, the standard font size is desirably a size that can be recognized by the user when temporarily displayed, but is not specified here.

  Next, in step S1202, the program cell size is acquired, and in step S1203, the magnification is calculated.

  The processing of steps S1202 to 1203 will be further described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, P1101 to 1110 represent cell areas of each program obtained by the processing of step 303. P1121 represents the size of the cell corresponding to P1102 when the time zone axis and the channel axis are equally divided for calculation.

  First, a method for calculating the cell size in P1121 will be described. The width of the program display area 704 in FIG. The number of display target channels is 3, and the display target time zone is 240 minutes from 17:00 to 21:00. Further, since it is equally divided in the channel axis direction, the width W2 of P1121 is W / 3. The height H2 is obtained as H × (60/240).

  P1102 is a case where the ratio between the width of the selection target channel and the width of the non-selection target channel is 2: 1 in step 303, and the ratio per minute of the selection target time zone and the non-selection target time zone is 2: 1. Cell. The cell size will be described. Since W1 is determined to be 50% in step 403, the width W1 is W × (1/2). Further, since the height H1 is determined to be 40% in step 406, it is determined as H × (2/5). The magnification can be obtained as channel axis direction magnification SW is W1 / W2 and time zone axis direction magnification SH is H1 / H2, and in this example, SW = 1.5 and SH = 1.25.

  When the magnification is calculated in the same manner for other cells, for example, when drawing is performed in the cell of P1109, the magnification is obtained as a reduced value.

  The description returns to step S1204 in FIG. 12, and text display processing is performed. The standard font size obtained in step S1201 is multiplied by the magnification obtained in step 1203 to draw text. When the processing of steps S1201 to S1204 is performed on all the program guide cells, the processing of step S305 in FIG. 3 is completed.

  The display screen after the completion of the processing in step S305 is as shown in FIG. The display of the cells and characters in the tables in S304 and S305 may be performed by switching the display by relay layout calculation, or may be configured to be displayed while being animatedly changed from the state before the relay layout calculation. May be.

  After completing the processing in step S305, the process waits for input from the user, and waits unless input from the remote controller 209 or the operation unit 210 is performed.

  When there is an input signal from the remote controller 209 or the operation unit 210, it is determined whether or not the signal is a program guide display end command (S306). If it is an input signal other than the end command, it is determined whether the input signal is a command to change the selected program (S307). If it is not a change command, the processing of the command of that signal is operated, and the display screen is waited again without any change.

  If it is determined in step S307 that the selected program change command has been input, the process proceeds to step S308 to determine whether the selection target channel has been changed. If it is determined in step S308 that the channel to be selected is not changed (S308-NO), the process proceeds to a determination process (S312) for determining whether or not to change the selection target time zone.

  If the selection target channel is changed by the change command, the process proceeds to step S309 to change the selection target channel. It is determined whether or not the selection target channel changed in step S309 is included in the display target channel (S310). If included, the display target channel is changed (S311).

  The display control unit 211 can switch the display according to switching between the display target channel and the selection target channel.

  That is, when one partial display area (selection target channel) to be selected is not included in the display target channel to be displayed, the display control unit 211 sets the partial display area in a range including the selection target. It is possible to switch.

  Here, the processing of steps S309 to S311 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 13A shows the relationship between the display target channel and the selection target channel in the previous stage in which the process of step S309 is performed. Three channels 1351 to 1353 are display target channels, of which the channel 1353 is the selection target channel. It has become.

  Here, when an operation for selecting the channel 1354 on the right side of the currently selected channel 1353 is performed from the remote controller 209 or the operation unit 210, the selection target is changed to the channel 1354. FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating a state where the selection target channel is changed from the channel 1353 to the channel 1354. This selection target channel changing process corresponds to step S309 in FIG.

  In the state of FIG. 13B, since the selection target channel 1302 is not included in the display target channel 1301, the display range of the display target channel 1301 is shifted to the right under the control of the display control unit 211. The display is switched to the state shown in 13 (c). This process corresponds to steps S310 and S311 in FIG. Through the above processing, the display of the selection target channel and the display target channel is changed under the control of the display control unit 211.

  The description returns to step S312 of FIG. If it is an instruction to change the selection target time zone (S312—YES), the display of the selection target time zone is changed (S313). Further, it is determined whether or not to change the display target time zone in accordance with the change of the selection target time zone (S314), and if necessary, the display of the display target time zone is changed (S315).

  The display control unit 211 can switch the display according to the change of the display target time zone and the selection target time zone.

  Here, the processing of steps S313 to S315 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14, P1401 to P1404 indicate program time zones, and FIG. 14A shows the relationship between the display target time zone and the selection target time zone in the previous stage in which the process of step S313 is performed. In this example, P1401 to 1403 are display target time zones 1455, of which P1403 is a selection target time zone 1456.

  When a command for changing the time zone of the program to be selected to P1404 is input from the remote controller 209 or the operation unit 210, the selection target time zone 1456 is changed to P1404 under the control of the display control unit 211, and FIG. The display is switched to the state of b). This selection target time zone changing process corresponds to step S313 in FIG.

  The time zone P1404 becomes the selection target time zone 1456, which is out of the range of the display target time zone 1455 in FIG. Under the control of the display control unit 211, the display range of the display target time zone is shifted so as to include the selection target time zone 1456, and the display is switched to the state shown in FIG. This process corresponds to steps S314 and S315 in FIG. Through the above processing, the display of the selection target time zone and the display target time zone is changed under the control of the display control unit 211.

  When the process of step S315 in FIG. 3 is completed, the process returns to step S301 to display the program guide again.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when it is difficult to see the data displayed in the table format on the screen, the data in the table format can be easily read by enlarging the cell itself selected by the user.

  Also, unselected cells are displayed in an enlarged or reduced state according to the enlargement of the selected cell, so that the contents of the selected cell and the contents of the unselected cell can be compared and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Is possible.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the information display device (hereinafter referred to as “schedule table display device”) according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 15, the CPU 1501 controls the entire schedule table display device 100. The ROM 1502 stores programs and various parameters that do not need to be changed. The RAM 1503 is configured by SDRAM, DRAM, and the like, and temporarily stores programs and data supplied from an external device or the like.

  The operation unit 1504 receives input from the keyboard, mouse, remote controller, etc. by the user and outputs the signal to the CPU 1501.

  The display control unit 1505 changes the display on the monitor 20 based on the signal input from the CPU 1501.

  A bus 1506 is a system bus that connects the CPU 1501, the ROM 1502, the RAM 1503, the operation unit 1504, and the display control unit 1505 so that they can communicate with each other. Here, the above-described display control unit 1505 can function as a selection unit display control unit and a non-selection unit display control unit under the control of the CPU 1501.

  Next, the schedule table display procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a schedule table displayed by the display process of the schedule table display apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 17, the schedule table to be displayed is configured in units of months, the horizontal axis indicates the day of the week, and the vertical axis indicates the week (first week, second week,...) In the month. Examples of the character string displayed in the cell include the start time and end time of the schedule and the contents of the schedule, but may include an icon or the like as a mark of the schedule.

  The process of the flowchart in FIG. 16 is executed under the overall control of the CPU 1501 and is started when the user gives an instruction to switch to the schedule display mode.

  First, in step S1601, the selected date is acquired as a selection target date, and all dates of the month including the selected date are acquired as display target dates. Here, when the date is selected in the mode before switching, the date may be set as the selected date, and when the date is not particularly selected, the date may be determined based on the date and time when the process is executed.

  In step S1602, a cell layout calculation is performed. In this layout process, the ratio is set so that the day of the selection target date is wider than the other days of the week, and the week including the selection date is wider than the other weeks. The layout processing is performed with the ratio set as described above. Here, as an example, the ratio of the cell width of the day of the week containing the selection target cell to the cell width of the other day of the week is set to 2: 1, and the height of the week including the selection target cell and the other The description will be made assuming that the cell height ratio in the week is 2: 1.

  Next, a table drawing process is performed based on the layout result calculated in step S1602 (S1603).

  In step S1604, characters are displayed in the drawn table cell. Here, it is assumed that the characters to be displayed are the same size in all cells and are large enough to be recognized by the user. As a result, a large number of characters can be displayed for a cell having an enlarged area. That is, the amount of information (number of characters) can be increased as the display area is expanded. On the other hand, the number of characters that can be displayed is more limited for a cell with a reduced area. In some cases, in the process of step S1604, it is possible to configure to enlarge the character as the selection target cell is enlarged under the control of the display control unit 1505.

  The schedule display shown in FIG. 17 illustrates a schedule table when the layout process is actually performed. Here, the date to be selected is May 10th. In FIG. 17, the date to be selected is indicated by a cell composed of a thick line.

  After completing the process in step S1604, the apparatus waits for a signal input from the user. If a signal is input, it is determined whether or not it is a schedule table display end signal (S1605). If it is an end signal, the process ends. If it is any other signal, it is determined whether the signal is a signal for changing the cell to be selected (S1606). If it is not a signal for changing the cell to be selected, the processing of the instruction of that signal is executed, and the state of waiting for input again is set.

  If it is determined in step S1606 that the CPU 1501 is a signal for changing the cell to be selected, the process proceeds to step S1607, and the selection target date is changed.

  It is determined whether or not the display target date needs to be changed due to the change of the selection target date, for example, when the month of the selection target date is changed (S1608). If it is necessary to change the display target date, the process advances to step S1609. Under the control of the display control unit 1505, the display target date is changed, the drawing process is performed, and the process returns to step S1601 again. If it is not necessary to change the display target date, the process returns to step S1601 without performing the process of step S1609. With the above processing, the schedule table display processing is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when it is difficult to see the data displayed in the table format on the screen, the data in the table format can be easily read by enlarging the cell itself selected by the user.

  Also, unselected cells are displayed in an enlarged or reduced state according to the enlargement of the selected cell, so that the contents of the selected cell and the contents of the unselected cell can be compared and displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Is possible.

<Third Embodiment>
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the first and second embodiments described above to a system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of a program code, and the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic program guide display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of display processing of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of table layout calculation processing in display processing of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a channel axis direction dividing method in the layout calculation process of the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another division method in the channel axis direction in the layout calculation process of the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a display screen of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a division method in the time zone axis direction in the layout calculation process of the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a cell layout calculation process of each program in the display calculation layout process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state after completion of a table drawing process in the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a character display process in the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of a character display process in the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a process when a user operation is input in the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a process when a user operation is input in the display process of the electronic program guide display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the schedule table display apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the display process of the schedule table display apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state after completion of drawing process of a schedule table in the display process of the schedule table display apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the program schedule by the conventional program schedule display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the schedule table by the conventional schedule table display apparatus.

Claims (12)

An information display method in an information display device that divides a display area in a vertical axis direction and a horizontal axis direction and displays information in each of a plurality of partial display areas configured in a tabular format,
A selection unit display control step of expanding one partial display area selected from a plurality of partial display areas to be displayed in a predetermined ratio in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction and displaying the same in a table format;
A non-selected portion display that enlarges or reduces another partial display area that is not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement, and displays the other partial display area in the tabular format. A control process,
In the non-selection part display control step, the partial display area closer to the selected partial display area is made wider in the width of the partial display area in the horizontal axis direction. In the selection part display control step, when the one partial display area to be selected is not included in the partial display area to be displayed, the display target is within a range including the selection target. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein the partial display area is switched. In the selection portion display control step, when the selected one partial display area is enlarged, the displayed character or figure is enlarged at the predetermined ratio and displayed in the one partial display area. The information display method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that In the non-selection portion display control step, the character or figure displayed in the other partial display area is enlarged or reduced according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed in a partial display area. 2. The information of an electronic program guide in a television system is displayed in the partial display area in the tabular format with the vertical axis direction as a time axis and the horizontal axis direction as a channel axis. The information display device described in 1. In the tabular partial display area, information of an electronic schedule table is displayed with the vertical axis direction as an axis indicating week display and the horizontal axis direction as an axis indicating day of week display. The information display device according to claim 1. An information display device that divides a display area in a vertical axis direction and a horizontal axis direction and displays information in each of a plurality of partial display areas configured in a tabular format,
A selection unit display control means for enlarging a partial display area selected from a plurality of partial display areas to be displayed in a predetermined ratio in the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction, and displaying it in a tabular format;
A non-selected portion display that enlarges or reduces another partial display area that is not selected according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement, and displays the other partial display area in the tabular format. Control means,
The non-selection part display control means widens the width of the partial display area in the horizontal axis direction as the partial display area is closer to the selected partial display area. When the one partial display area to be selected is no longer included in the partial display area to be displayed, the selection unit display control means sets the display target to a range including the selection target. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein the partial display area is switched. In the case where the selected one partial display area is enlarged, the selection unit display control means enlarges the displayed character or figure by the predetermined ratio and displays the enlarged character or figure in the one partial display area. The information display device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein The non-selection portion display control means enlarges or reduces a character or a graphic displayed in the other partial display area according to the relationship between the vertical axis direction and the horizontal axis direction changed by the enlargement. The information display device according to claim 7, wherein the information display device is displayed in a partial display area. A program for causing a computer to execute the information display method according to claim 1. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

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