JP2007317220A - Information display device, medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display device capable of efficiently browsing information items correlated by linkage. <P>SOLUTION: When displaying information obtained by accessing a network, a plurality of display areas are formed, and a plurality of pieces of information are displayed on these display areas. In this case, display history of displayed information can be stored and the pieces of information displayed now or in the past can be displayed in a predetermined order on the respective display areas. When first information displayed on a first display area is related to second information, and when an indication of displaying the second information is made, the second information can be displayed on the second display area while keeping the display of the first information on the first display area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device having a graphical user interface.

  In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, a technique for easily browsing information has been demanded. As a result, an information display device equipped with a program called a browser was developed. Conventional browsers have only a single display area, so updating the information in that display area by overwriting, starting another browser to display it, or an index called a tab By selecting and rewriting the contents of the same display area, the user switches the page to be displayed.

  In general, information browsed on the Internet has a structure in which a plurality of information called webs are combined. This mechanism for combining information and information is called a link. In the Internet, a user can browse information related to each other by following a link (usually, clicking information indicating the link with a pointing device such as a mouse).

However, since the conventional display device displays browsed information in a single display area, it may be very difficult to use in the following applications.
(1) When the user refers to the link destination from one piece of information on the Internet (hereinafter referred to as the original page) (clicks on the link), the original page is deleted and the link destination information is displayed. Therefore, when the user wants to refer to other information linked to the original page, the user has to perform an operation of “returning” to the original page. Further, in order to avoid such a trouble of returning, the user has to start another browser and perform an operation of displaying the original page there.
(2) In one conventional browser, the user cannot compare two contents. For example, when creating two homepage plans and comparing them, or when comparing products through online shopping, the user has to start two browsers.
(3) When the user wants to view a plurality of pieces of information with the same screen size, it takes time and effort to adjust the screen size of the browser opened separately.
(4) After following a plurality of links, when the user wants to return to a specific page, the user has to go back by executing the “return” function once. In that case, the function of displaying the history of following the link with the title of each page and specifying the page to return to has been provided. However, with the title characters, the user cannot fully grasp the page contents. For this reason, the user cannot find a desired page accurately on the history.
(5) In a general browser, a page frequently accessed by a user is registered using a bookmark function (hereinafter referred to as a registration page). However, the user could not see a plurality of registration pages at once.
(6) When a user wants to monitor a page image or video that is updated regularly, such as every few minutes, if the user sees another page during the time until the update, the image or video to be monitored is updated. There was a danger of missing.
(7) In the conventional browser, the user selects a page to be displayed by inputting an address in the address input field or selecting a desired page from a list of registered pages. Among these, in the selection of the registration page, an operation procedure in which a hierarchical list is displayed and the user clicks with the mouse has been adopted. For this reason, in order to select a desired page, the user needs to refer to a hierarchical list, and the operation is complicated.

  On the other hand, in today's information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, various programs are used depending on the type of information, such as a mailer for reading mail information in addition to the browser described above. A user operates these programs in a graphical user interface (GUI) environment. A display on a screen that is a target of this operation and represents a program or information is called an object.

In a GUI environment, as a technique for moving this object, an operation called dragging using a pointing device has been common. In dragging, a pointing device such as a mouse is operated so that the object to be moved is dragged on the screen while the object is instructed in order to bring the object to the position to be moved.

  Conventionally, when an object displayed on the screen is below another object and all or a part of the object is not displayed, the user moves the object covered on the upper side by this drag.

  In this operation method, a place for moving a pointing device such as a mouse is required. The user is also required to perform an operation of moving while pressing the mouse button. For this reason, this operation method has a problem that it is difficult to operate, particularly for elderly people, small children, or people with a little handicap.

On the other hand, if the user hides the object displayed on the upper side, the above problem does not occur. However, when the object covering the upper side indicates information necessary for the user, there has been a request to display both the upper and lower objects.
JP 09-259128 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides an information display device that can efficiently browse information associated with a link.

  Moreover, the objective of this invention is providing the information display apparatus which can compare several information easily.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a graphical user interface for easily switching and displaying a plurality of information.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an operation procedure for easily eliminating the overlap of objects when a plurality of objects are overlapped in a graphical user interface.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

That is, according to the present invention, in displaying information,
It has a plurality of display areas divided into predetermined areas,
Specify the information to be displayed in each display area,
Get the specified information,
The acquired information is displayed in the corresponding display area.

  In that case, the information may be acquired by accessing a network.

  Alternatively, the display history of the displayed information may be stored, and the information stored as the display history may be displayed in each display area in a predetermined order.

  In addition, when the first information displayed in the first display area is associated with the second information and the second information is displayed, the first information in the first display area is displayed. The second information may be displayed in the second display area while maintaining the display of the information.

  In this case, the first information is related to the second information by a specific keyword, and when the keyword is dragged and dropped onto the second display area, the second information is displayed. Also good.

  With such a configuration, a plurality of related information can be simultaneously displayed on the screen. Further, the trouble of returning the display history is omitted. In addition, a function for displaying and comparing a plurality of pieces of information side by side is provided.

Display the identification information that identifies the display area,
When the identification information corresponding to the display area is specified via the operation unit, the display area corresponding to the identification information may be enlarged to display only a single display area.

This identification information is displayed in the display area identified by the identification information,
When an instruction operation for the identification information is detected, a display area corresponding to the identification information may be enlarged.

In this case, when an instruction operation for the identification information is detected, the enlarged single display area may be changed to a plurality of display areas.

In addition, a rotating object having identification information arranged along a substantially circular shape and an instruction unit that rotates with respect to the circumferential central portion and instructs any one of the identification information is provided on the screen.
Detecting an operation on this rotating object,
In response to the operation, the indicator is rotated,
Information corresponding to the identification information indicated at the rotated position may be displayed in the display area.

This operation is an operation on a pointing device having at least two buttons,
The instruction unit may be rotated counterclockwise by pressing the first button and rotated clockwise by pressing the second button.

The above two buttons consist of left and right buttons,
It is preferable that the first button is a left button and the second button is a right button.

  Thereby, the information to be displayed can be switched by rotating the rotating object with a simple operation.

Further, the rotating object arranges information indicating the number of divisions for dividing the display area of the display unit into a plurality of parts along a substantially circular shape,
When the instruction unit is rotated to a position indicating information indicating the number of divisions, the display area may be divided by the number of divisions to display a plurality of information.

In the display of information, the present invention
Displaying an object having an instruction unit for instructing one of a plurality of pieces of identification information;
Detect the contents of the pointing operation to the object,
The identification information indicated by the instruction unit is changed according to the detected instruction operation content.

  The present invention detects an operation on an object displayed on the screen and is an operation target, and changes the display mode of the object according to the operation. That is, according to the present invention, an object is moved to the second display position and displayed by an instruction operation on the object displayed at the first display position. Accordingly, for example, when the first object is displayed over the second object, the first object can be moved by a simple operation to display the entire second object.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of display areas are formed and a plurality of pieces of information are displayed in the respective display areas, information associated by links can be efficiently displayed. This also makes it possible to easily compare the two contents.

  Further, according to the present invention, an operation on the rotating object is detected, the instruction unit is rotated in accordance with the operation, and information corresponding to the identification information indicated at the rotated position is displayed in the display area. Therefore, a plurality of pieces of information can be easily switched and displayed.

  Further, according to the present invention, when a predetermined operation at the first display position for the object displayed at the first display position is detected, the object is moved to the second display position and displayed. When a plurality of objects overlap, the overlap between the two objects can be easily eliminated.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an information display device 1 for a user to browse information existing on a host on a network or its own local disk will be described.
<< First Embodiment >>
1st Embodiment of this invention is described based on drawing of FIGS. 1-15.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network accessed by the information display device 1 according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information display device 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of a channel table to be used, FIG. 4 is a display example of a single screen in the information display device 1, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a 2-split screen, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a nine-divided screen, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the data structure of a history management table used by the information display device 1, and FIG. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts showing browser event processing, and FIG. 12 is browser history management; FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts showing browser processing executed by the CPU 1; FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing browser channel switching processing, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a modification of the history management processing, and FIG. 15 is used in this modification of the history management processing. It is a figure which shows the history management list.

<Network configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a network accessed by the information display apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 is connected to servers 2 to 2n (hereinafter referred to as server 2 etc.) via a network.

  In the information display device 1, the CPU 11 executes a browser that uses HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol). The browser establishes a connection with the server 2 or the like according to HTTP. In this state, the browser requests the server 2 or the like to transmit information 3a, 3b, 3c or 3d (hereinafter referred to as information 3a or the like) held by the server 2 or the like, and displays the transmitted information 3a or the like.

  The information display device 1 can also display information 3e and 3f that the information display device 1 has locally.

The server 2 or the like has information 3a, 3b, 3c or 3d in HTML (hypertext markup language) format. The information in the HTML format holds information called a link indicating a storage destination of related information. For this reason, when the user accesses the information 3a or the like via the browser of the information display device 1, it is possible to obtain related information one after another by following the link.
<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the information display device 1. The information display device 1 includes a CPU 11 that executes a program, a memory 12 that stores a program that is executed by the CPU 11, data that is processed by the CPU 11, a hard disk 13 that records the program and data, and displays information to the user. CRT 14, a keyboard 15 for the user to input data, a mouse 16 for the user to operate menus and icons on the CRT 14, and a communication interface 17.

  The CPU 11 executes a program stored in the memory 12 and provides a function as a browser in the information display device 1.

  The memory 12 stores a program executed by the CPU 11 and data processed by the CPU 11.

  The hard disk 13 records programs executed by the CPU 11 and data processed by the CPU 11.

  The CRT 14 displays data transmitted from the server 2 or the like or data processed by the CPU 11.

  The keyboard 15 is used for inputting character data.

  The mouse 16 is used to operate menus, icons, and links.

The communication interface 17 sends communication data to a communication path or receives communication data from the communication path in response to a command from the CPU 11.
<Channel>
The information display device 1 executes a browser in the CPU 11 and displays HTML format data stored in the server 2 on the Internet or in its own hard disk 13. This browser identifies the data to be displayed by a URL (Universal Resource Locator) as in the past.

Further, this browser stores a plurality of URLs in association with a plurality of channel numbers. The channel number is a number for indicating information to be displayed, like a television channel.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a channel table that associates channel numbers with URLs. The channel table is a one-dimensional table that holds URLs as character strings. In the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the channel table has 1 to 9 entries.

  The channel table is held on the memory 12, and entry numbers 1 to 9 correspond to addresses on the memory 12. That is, when the CPU 11 accesses a specific entry, the entry number is converted into an address in the memory 12 and an area of the memory 12 is accessed.

  At the end of this browser, this channel table is saved as a file and used at the next startup.

The entry number corresponds to the channel number as it is. That is, when the information display apparatus 1 is instructed to display information of channel numbers 1 to 9, information indicated by each URL held in the entries 1 to 9 is displayed.
<Screen configuration>
FIG. 4 is an example of a screen display of the information display apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.

  This screen includes a dial object 20 for switching display contents of the screen, a display area 22 for displaying information, a channel number display object 23 for identifying information displayed in the display area 22, and an operation button group 24. is doing.

  In FIG. 4, the dial object 20 is shown enlarged at the position indicated by the dotted arrow. The dial object 20 has a character string (hereinafter referred to as a dial character) that displays a channel number and the number of divisions arranged substantially along the circumference, and an instruction unit 21 that rotates about the center of the circumference. is doing.

  Numbers 1 to 9 are assigned as channel numbers. A character string indicating 2 divisions, 4 divisions, and 9 divisions is attached as the number of divisions.

  The instructing unit 21 stops at a position indicating any one of the above numbers 1 to 9, a character string indicating 2 division, 4 division, or 9 division. When the user clicks any of the character strings indicating the numbers 1 to 9, 2 divisions, 4 divisions, or 9 divisions with the mouse 16, the instruction unit 21 moves to point to the position.

  In FIG. 4, the instruction unit 21 is at a position indicating the channel number 2. At this time, the display area 22 displays information associated with channel number 2. Such an operation mode in which information corresponding to a single channel is displayed on a single screen is referred to as a single full screen display.

  The operation button group 24 includes operation buttons such as back, forward, stop, update, favorite (display of registered page), and print. The user instructs to change the screen display by clicking the number of the dial object 20 or a character string indicating the number of divisions, or clicking the operation button group 24. For example, when the user clicks the channel number 1, 3 to 9 of the dial object 20 in the state of FIG. 4, the instruction unit 21 moves to indicate the number, and the display area 22 corresponds to the channel number. Information is displayed.

On the other hand, when the user clicks a link included in the information displayed in the display area 22, the browser detects a URL corresponding to the link. Then, the browser stores the detected URL in the entry of the channel table designated by the channel number (channel 2 in FIG. 4) displayed in the display area 22. Further, the browser acquires information indicated by the URL and displays it in the display area 22.

  FIG. 5 shows a two-divided screen. When the user clicks on a character string indicating two divisions of the dial object 20, the instruction unit 21 points to a character string indicating two divisions, and the browser screen is equally divided into two display areas 22a and 22b. That is, in the present embodiment, the divided display areas have the same dimensions.

  The channel number displayed when the 2-division is designated is the lowest channel number displayed before the 2-division is designated and the next channel number. For example, in FIG. 4, 2 is shown as the channel number. In this state, when division into two is designated, information corresponding to channels with channel numbers 2 and 3 is displayed as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows a 4-split screen. When the user clicks on a character string indicating four divisions of the dial object 20, the instruction unit 21 points to the character string indicating four divisions, and the browser screen is equally divided into four display areas. The channel numbers displayed when the 4-division is designated are the smallest number among the channel numbers displayed before the 4-division is designated, and the subsequent three channel numbers.

  For example, in FIG. 5, 2 and 3 are shown as channel numbers. In this state, when division into four is designated, information corresponding to channels with channel numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 is displayed as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows a nine-divided screen. When the user clicks a character string indicating nine divisions of the dial object 20, the instruction unit 21 points to the character string indicating nine divisions, and the browser screen is equally divided into nine display areas. Since the number of channels is 9 in the information display device 1 of the present embodiment, when 9 division is designated, all channels 1 to 9 are displayed in each display area as shown in FIG. The operation mode in which the screen is divided into a plurality of display areas 22a and the like and the information corresponding to the plurality of channels is displayed as shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, when information corresponding to a plurality of channels is displayed in the plurality of display areas 22a and the like as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when the user clicks any one of the channel numbers 1 to 9 of the dial object 20, The instruction unit 21 rotates to a position indicating the number. The display area 22a and the like become a single display area 22, and information corresponding to the clicked channel number is displayed.

  Further, when information corresponding to a plurality of channels is displayed in the plurality of display areas 22a and the like as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the user double-clicks the channel number display object 23 in any of the display areas 22a and the like. Then, the display area 22a and the like become a single display area 22, and the information indicated by the channel number display object 23 is enlarged and displayed.

When the user clicks on a link included in the information displayed in the display area 22a or the like, the browser detects a URL corresponding to the clicked link. Then, the browser changes the URL of the channel number (channel 2 in FIG. 4) displayed in the display area 22a and the like to the detected URL. Then, the browser acquires information indicated by the URL and displays it in the display area 22a and the like.
<Drag and drop operation for link>
As described above, in the information display device 1, when a link is clicked in each display area 22 or the like, the information displayed in the display area 22 is changed to the clicked link destination information.

  On the other hand, when the user drags a link displayed on a display area 22a and drops it on another display area 22b or the like in a state where the display area 22 is divided as shown in FIGS. The link destination information is displayed in the dropped display area 22b. Here, “drag” refers to an operation for moving the operation target in a desired direction by positioning the pointer of the mouse 16 on the operation target and moving the mouse 16 with the button pressed. The term “drop” refers to an operation of releasing the operation target by dragging the operation target and then releasing the button of the mouse 16.

For example, in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the user drags a link 25 (character string of “ detailed view ”) displayed in the display area 22 a corresponding to channel number 2 and drops it on the display area 22 b corresponding to channel number 3. . At this time, the browser recognizes the URL corresponding to the dragged link 25 and the channel number 3 corresponding to the drop-destination display area 22b. The browser changes the URL of channel number 3 in the channel table to the dropped URL, and further displays information (detailed diagram) corresponding to the URL in the display area 22b corresponding to channel number 3.
<History management>
The browser of the information display device 1 holds a user operation history in a history management table. The operation history is a list of URLs indicating information displayed by the user.

  FIG. 8 shows the structure of the history management table. The history management table includes a record including a history number and a URL.

  The history number indicates a new or old degree of operation history of the record. The smaller the history number, the older the operation history, and the larger the history number, the newer the operation history.

  In the URL column, a URL indicating information displayed by the operation is recorded.

  Each record in the history management table is accessed by an entry number. The entry number is associated with the address in the memory 12 of each record.

  When the user clicks a desired link in the display area 22 corresponding to the channel number n, the browser displays information associated with the link. At this time, the browser records a URL indicating the information in the history management table.

  The history is recorded in the following procedure according to the relationship between the channel number n and the number of existing histories. That is, when the number of existing histories is larger than the channel number n-1, the new history of this time is recorded in the entry in which the oldest history is recorded.

  On the other hand, if the number of existing histories is less than or equal to channel number n-1, the history is recorded in the entry of channel number n.

The browser of the information display device 1 includes a history display button (not shown). When the user instructs history display using the history display button, the browser refers to the history management table, and sequentially displays information indicated by the URL in the number of display areas 22 or the like of the screen in order from the most recently displayed information (URL). indicate.
<Action>
9 to 13 show the processing procedure of the browser. The CPU 11 executes this browser and provides the function of the information display device 1.

  FIG. 9 shows an overview of browser processing. When the CPU 11 starts up the browser, it first determines whether screen division display is instructed (S1). When the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 instructs any one of 2 to 9 divisions, screen division display is instructed. On the other hand, when the instruction unit 21 indicates any one of channels 1 to 9, a single full screen display is instructed. The CPU 11 refers to the state of the instruction unit 21 held in the memory 12 and determines whether or not the screen is divided.

  In the case of screen division display (when the determination in S1 is Y), the CPU 11 divides the screen according to the number of divisions specified by the instruction unit 2 (S4). Next, the CPU 11 refers to the URL registered in the channel table by the number of screens divided from the entry number 1. Then, the information indicated by the URL is displayed by the number of screens (S5).

  On the other hand, if the screen is not divided by the determination in S1, the CPU 11 displays a single screen (S2, full screen display). Next, the CPU 11 refers to the URL registered in the entry number 1 of the channel table, and displays information indicated by the URL.

  Next, the CPU 11 waits for an event (S6). An event generally refers to an external factor (for example, detection of mouse 16 operation from a user) or an internal factor (for example, an interrupt from a timer) that fluctuates the browser processing state (or control state of the CPU 11). When an event occurs (Y in the determination of S6), the CPU 11 executes event processing (S7).

  10 and 11 show details of event processing. In the event process, the CPU 11 determines the type of event that has occurred and executes the corresponding process.

  First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a link is clicked (S71). When the link is clicked, the CPU 11 displays the information of the link destination in the same display area 22 (S72). Next, the CPU 11 stores the URL corresponding to the link in the history management table (S73, history management). Thereafter, the CPU 11 ends the event process.

  If the event is not a link click (N in S71), the CPU 11 determines whether the link has been dragged (S74). When the link is dragged, the CPU 11 displays the link destination information in the drop destination display area (S75). Next, the CPU 11 stores the URL corresponding to the link in the history management table (S76), and ends the event process.

  If the event is not a link drag, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the event is a split instruction (S77). The division instruction event occurs when the user clicks the character string of 2 to 9 divisions of the dial object 20 with the mouse 16. When the event is a division instruction, the CPU 11 divides the browser screen according to the number of divisions (S78). Then, the URL registered in the channel table is referred to by the number of divisions, and the corresponding information is displayed in each display area 22 or the like. Thereafter, the CPU 11 ends the event process.

  If the event is not a split instruction, the CPU 11 determines whether the event is a display instruction on a single screen (S79). A display instruction event for a single screen occurs when any channel number display object 23 is pressed.

  When the event is a display instruction on a single screen, the CPU 11 executes a display process on a single screen (S7a).

  When the event is not a display instruction on a single screen, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the event is channel switching by a single screen (S7b). The channel switching event occurs when a number indicating the channel number 1 to 9 of the dial object 20 is pressed.

  When the event is channel switching by a single screen, the CPU 11 executes channel switching processing (S7c).

  A common program module is executed in the display processing on a single screen and the channel switching by a single screen. Hereinafter, this is simply referred to as channel switching processing.

  When the event is not channel switching, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the event is a history display instruction (S7d). When the event is a history display instruction, the CPU 11 refers to the URL held in the history management table in order from the latest history by the number of screen divisions (number of display areas 22 and the like). Then, the URL is displayed by the number of screen divisions (S7e).

  If the event is not a history display instruction, the CPU 11 determines whether the event is a browser termination instruction (S7f). If the event is a browser termination instruction, the CPU 11 terminates the browser. On the other hand, when the event is not an instruction to end the browser, the CPU 11 ends the event process.

  FIG. 12 shows details of the history management process (S73 or S76 in FIG. 10). In the history management process, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not the number of saved histories is greater than the number of channels−1 (S100). When the number of stored histories is equal to or less than the number of channels−1, the CPU 11 newly stores a history (URL and history number) in an entry having the same number as the number of the display channel in the history management table. At this time, the maximum value +1 of the existing history number is set as the history number.

  On the other hand, when the number of stored histories is larger than the number of channels−1, the CPU 11 searches the history management table for the entry with the oldest history (history number is 1). Then, the CPU 11 stores the history (the maximum value of the URL and history number) in the entry. Next, the CPU 11 decrements the history numbers of other entries by 1 (decreases 1).

  FIG. 13 shows details of the channel switching process (S7a or S7c in FIG. 11). In the channel switching process, the CPU 11 first determines whether or not the browser screen is currently divided (S110). If the browser screen is divided into a plurality of display areas (Y in S110), the screen is displayed as a single full screen (S111).

  Next, the CPU 11 switches the screen to the URL of the designated channel (S112). At this time, the CPU 11 generates a channel switching sound effect. Thereafter, the CPU 11 ends the process.

  As described above, in the information display device 1 of the present embodiment, the browser screen is divided into a plurality of display areas, and information corresponding to different URLs (World Wide Web websites) can be displayed in each display area. it can. Therefore, the information display device 1 is convenient for comparing two pieces of information side by side, for example, information on products on the Internet.

Further, resource consumption can be suppressed as compared to starting a plurality of browsers, and an area (display area) used for displaying a menu can be reduced.

  Furthermore, it is possible to shorten the time required to start a new browser, specify information to be browsed, and save time and effort.

  In the information display device 1, the user drags and drops a link shown in one display area to another display area, so that the link destination information is dropped while maintaining the information in the original display area. Can be displayed in the displayed area. Therefore, when a user traces a link and searches for a plurality of related information, the user can display and browse related information collectively on the same screen.

In addition, the information display device 1 holds a user's operation history, and can display information displayed in the past in a plurality of display areas. For this reason, when the user searches for a plurality of related information by following a link, the time and effort for returning to the information displayed in the past is reduced. At this time, since the history is displayed as normal information in the display area 22 and the like, the user can easily retrieve necessary information from the past operation history and display it.
<Modification>
In the above embodiment, in history management, an entry in the history management table is determined based on the relationship between the number of saved histories and the number of channels, and the history is saved. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a history management procedure.

  FIG. 14 shows a modification of history management. In this example, the history management list shown in FIG. 15 is used instead of the history management table of FIG.

  The history management list in FIG. 15 has a list structure in which a plurality of elements are connected by a pointer 50. Each element includes the pointer 50 and an area 51 for storing a URL. The pointer connects elements holding URLs in the displayed order. For this reason, the history management list can hold the displayed order.

  On the other hand, the area 51 stores a URL indicating the displayed information. As a result, the history management list can hold the URLs of information displayed in the display order.

  The element that holds the oldest history in the history management list is pointed by the oldest history pointer 53. Further, the latest history pointer 54 indicates the element that holds the latest history in the history management list. For this reason, the element that holds the oldest and latest history on the history management list is specified.

  The elements from the element indicated by the oldest history pointer 53 to the element indicated by the latest history pointer 54 are elements having a storage history. On the other hand, the space from the element next to the element pointed to by the latest history pointer 54 to the element before the element pointed to by the oldest history pointer 53 is an empty area. In this way, in the history management list, the elements that hold the saved history and the free space are combined in a ring shape.

  FIG. 14 shows a history management procedure based on this history management list. First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a free area in the history management list (S120). The empty area corresponds to the element next to the element pointed to by the latest history pointer 54 to the element before the element pointed to by the oldest history pointer 53.

  If there is no free space, the CPU 11 searches the oldest history pointer 53 for an element holding the oldest history (S121).

  Next, the CPU 11 newly stores a history (URL indicating information displayed this time) in the oldest history element (S122).

  Next, the CPU 11 points the element that newly saved the history with the latest history pointer 54. Further, the element pointed to by the oldest history pointer 53 is advanced by one element (in a new direction) (S123). Thereafter, the history management is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is an empty entry in the determination of S120, the CPU 11 stores a history (URL indicating the displayed information) in the head element of the empty area (S124). Here, the head element of the empty area is the element next to the element pointed by the latest history pointer 54. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the leading element of the free area by tracing the element pointed to by the latest history pointer 54.

  Next, the CPU 11 updates the latest history pointer 54 so as to point to the element storing the history (S125). Thereafter, the history management is terminated.

  In the above modification, when there is no empty entry in the determination of S120, a new history is stored in the oldest history element. Alternatively, if there is no empty entry, a new element may be secured on the memory 12.

  In the embodiment described above, examples of the number of screen divisions are 1 division, 2 divisions, 4 divisions, and 9 divisions. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a number of screen divisions.

  In the above embodiment, the number of channels is nine. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to the number of channels.

In the above embodiment, the mouse 16 is used to drag and drop the operation target. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Instead of the mouse 16, another pointing device such as a touch panel may be used. <Computer-readable recording medium>
The program shown in this embodiment can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by causing the computer to read and execute the program of the recording medium, the computer can function as the information display device 1 described in the present embodiment.

  Here, the computer-readable recording medium refers to a recording medium in which information such as data and programs is accumulated by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action and can be read from a computer. Examples of such recording media that can be removed from the computer include a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R / W, a DVD, a DAT, an 8 mm tape, and a memory card.

Further, there are a hard disk, a ROM (read only memory), and the like as a recording medium fixed to the computer.
<Data communication signal embodied in carrier wave>
The program can be stored in a hard disk or memory of a computer and distributed to other computers through a communication medium. In this case, the program is transmitted through a communication medium as a data communication signal embodied by a carrier wave. And the computer which received the distribution can be functioned as the information display apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

  Here, the communication medium may be any of a wired communication medium (metal cables including a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable, or an optical communication cable) and a wireless communication medium (satellite communication, terrestrial wireless communication, etc.).

The carrier wave is an electromagnetic wave or light for modulating the data communication signal. However, the carrier wave may be a DC signal (in this case, the data communication signal has a baseband waveform without a carrier wave). Therefore, the data communication signal embodied in the carrier wave may be either a modulated broadband signal or an unmodulated baseband signal (corresponding to a case where a DC signal having a voltage of 0 is used as a carrier wave).
<< Second Embodiment >>
16 and 17 show processing of the information display apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the dial object 20 displayed on the CRT 14 of the information display device 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation detection process for the dial object 20. .

  In the first embodiment, the information display device 1 that holds a plurality of URLs in the channel table and switches information displayed in one or a plurality of display areas has been described. This channel was switched by clicking the number of the dial object 20 or a character string indicating 2 to 9 divisions.

In the present embodiment, an information display device 1 that switches the information to be displayed in the display area by rotating the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 by operating the left button and the right button of the mouse 16 will be described. The information display device 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the operation of the dial object 20. Therefore, about the same structure, the code | symbol same as 1st Embodiment is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the drawings in FIGS. 1 to 15 are referred to as necessary.
<Operation of dial object 20>
FIG. 16 shows the operation of the dial object 20 displayed on the CRT 14.

  In FIG. 16, the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 points to the channel number 1. The pointer 26 of the mouse 16 is positioned on the dial object 20 and is in a state where the dial object 20 can be operated (hereinafter referred to as a focused state). When the user presses the left button of the mouse 16 in this focused state (this is called left click), the instruction unit 21 rotates one step counterclockwise. Here, one step means a movement angle corresponding to one element of dial characters.

  In addition, when the user presses the right button of the mouse 16 with the dial object 20 in focus (this is called right click), the instruction unit 21 rotates one step clockwise.

When a dial character of the dial object 20 is clicked, the instruction unit 21 points to that character (number or character string). And when the instruction | indication part 21 of the dial object 20 rotates, the display of a browser screen changes similarly to 1st Embodiment.
<Action and effect>
FIG. 17 shows an operation detection process for the dial object 20. When an operation event for the dial object 20 occurs, the CPU 11 executes the processing shown in FIG.

  First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation is on the dial object 20 (S200). If it is not an operation on the dial object 20, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a dial character is clicked (S201).

When a dial character is clicked, the clicked dial character (number or 2)
The instruction unit 21 is moved to the position of the divided or 9-divided character string. Further, the CPU 11 changes the screen display of the browser to the designated channel or division number (S202).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S201 that the dial character is not clicked, the CPU 11 ends the detection process of the dial object 20 operation without doing anything.

  If it is determined in S200 that an operation on the dial object 20 is detected, the CPU 11 next determines whether or not the left button is clicked (S203). When the click is performed by the left button, the CPU 11 rotates the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 by one step counterclockwise.

  Next, the CPU 11 changes the display to the rotated channel or the number of screen divisions (S207), and ends the operation detection process for the dial object 20.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S203 that the click is not performed by the left button, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the click is performed by the right button (S205). When the click is performed by the right button, the CPU 11 rotates the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 by one step clockwise.

  Next, the CPU 11 changes the display to the channel after rotation or the number of screen divisions (S207), and ends the dial object operation detection process.

  If the right button is not clicked in the determination of S205, the CPU 11 does nothing and ends the operation detection process for the dial object 20.

  As described above, in the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the user can change the display of the browser by rotating the instruction unit 21 of the dial object 20 by operating the mouse 16. Therefore, the user can easily switch the browser display as if operating the TV channel.

Further, since the browser display can be switched by a simple operation of positioning the mouse cursor on the dial object 20 and left-clicking or right-clicking, a complicated operation is not necessary.
<Modification>
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the dial object 20 includes a character string (dial character) indicating the number and the number of divisions arranged along the circumference, and an instruction unit that rotates based on the center of the circumference. 21. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the shape of the dial object 20 itself. For example, the dial object 20 may not have the instruction unit 21 and may indicate a designated position by reversing a character string indicating a number or a division number in black and white. The instruction unit 21 may have an annular shape and have a protrusion indicating a specific position.
<< Third Embodiment >>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings in FIGS. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an object moving operation, FIG. 19 is a structural diagram of a program in the third embodiment, and FIG. 20 is a destination list used by the information display device 1 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the object moving process, and FIGS. 22 and 23 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the object moving process according to the first modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating object movement according to the second modification of the present embodiment, FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating object movement processing according to the second modification, and FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating the third modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing object movement processing according to the third modification.

In the first and second embodiments, the information display device 1 that divides the display area 22 to display a plurality of information and the dial object 20 that switches information in the information display device 1 have been described. In the present embodiment, a function of moving an object that obstructs display of other objects to an appropriate position in such an information display device 1 will be described. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and the drawings in FIGS. 1 to 17 are referred to as necessary.
<Object movement function>
FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an object moving operation. On the screen 30 and the screen 31 in FIG. 18, an object indicating a car and a circular object displaying a numeral 7 in a circle are displayed.

  This circular object is displayed, for example, to indicate the corresponding channel number in the display area described above.

On the screen 30, a circular object covers a part of the automobile. For this reason, the display of a part of the object of the automobile is hindered. In the present embodiment, a function for changing the state as shown on the screen 30 to the state shown on the screen 31 by a one-touch operation will be described. That is, when the circular object on the screen 30 is clicked with the mouse 16, the information display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment moves the circular object to a specific position and displays it as the screen 31.
<Program structure>
FIG. 19 shows the structure of a program executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing apparatus 1. In the information processing apparatus 1, the program includes a window system 40 and an application program 41. As the window system 40, Windows of Microsoft Corporation in the United States is known.

  The window system 40 displays an object on the CRT 14 in accordance with an instruction from the application program 41. The window system 40 also monitors user operations with the mouse 16.

  The application program 41 responds to the user operation according to the report 42 from the window system 40.

  When the user clicks on a specific object, a report 42 is issued from the window system 40 to the application program 41 displaying the object.

  Upon receiving this report 42, the application program 41 refers to the movement destination list 43 that defines the movement destination of the object, and determines the movement destination. Then, the application program 41 issues an instruction 44 indicating the object movement destination to the window system 40.

Based on this instruction 44, the window system 40 displays the object at the designated position.
<Structure of destination list 43>
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a movement destination list 43 in which the movement destinations of objects are defined in advance. This destination list 43 is prepared for each object to be moved. The movement destination list 43 includes records having columns of “current position”, “movement position”, and “movement order”.

  “Current position” holds a value of 1 in the record corresponding to the position of the current object. In a record that does not correspond to the current object position, “current position” is blank.

  “Movement position” indicates the destination of the object. In the information display apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, nine positions of the display area 22 are defined as the movement positions. For example, “upper left corner” indicates the position of the upper left corner of the display area 22. Similarly, the “upper right corner” indicates the position of the upper right corner of the display area 22. The same applies to “lower left end” to “middle lower end”.

“Movement order” indicates the order of movement when the object is clicked. For example, when the current position is “upper left corner”, the order of movement is 1. At this time, when the object is clicked, the object moves to “upper right end” (movement order is 2) in which “movement order” is defined next to the current position.
<Action>
FIG. 21 shows object movement processing in the application program 41. CPU11 provides the function as the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment by performing this process.

  In this object movement process, the CPU 11 monitors user operations via the window system 40 (S300).

  When a user operation is detected (in the case of Y in S300), the CPU 11 determines whether or not an object has been clicked. When the object is not clicked, the CPU 11 returns the control to S300 and monitors the user operation.

  On the other hand, when the object is clicked, the CPU 11 acquires the current position of the object (S302). The current position can be acquired by making an inquiry to the window system 40.

  Next, the CPU 11 refers to the movement destination list 43 and acquires the position of the movement destination (S303).

  Next, the CPU 11 instructs the window system 40 to move the object (S304). As a result, the object moves to the next destination defined in the destination list 43.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 returns the control to S300 and monitors the user operation.

  As described above, in the information display device 1 of this embodiment, when an object is clicked, the object is moved to a predetermined destination. Therefore, when one object covers another object, the user can move the object with a click operation of the mouse 16. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the trouble of performing a conventional drag operation. Further, unlike the conventional case, since the covered object is not deleted or iconified, an object that needs to be displayed can be displayed so as not to interfere with other objects.

Further, when the present embodiment is realized in the first embodiment, the double click on the circular object is used for changing the display area, so the click in the present embodiment does not overlap with the click in the first embodiment. Assign to the right button click.
<Modification Example 1 of Moving Process>
FIG. 22 shows a first modification of the object movement process. In the information display device 1 according to the third embodiment, the CPU 11 refers to the movement destination list 43 and determines the movement destination of the object. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a destination determination procedure. For example, in the procedure shown in FIG. 22, the object to be moved is moved to an empty area where no other object is displayed.

  In FIG. 22, the determinations in S300 and S301 are the same as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 22, when the click of the object is detected, the CPU 11 detects an empty area on the screen (S312).

  Next, the application program 41 instructs the window system 40 to move the object to the empty area (S313). As a result, the object moves to the free area. Thereafter, the CPU 11 returns the control to S300 and monitors the user operation.

  FIG. 23 shows details of the free space search process. The free area can be recognized by the application program 41 inquiring to the window system 40.

  First, the CPU 11 inquires of the window system 40 and acquires a list of objects managed by the window system 40 (S3121).

  Next, the CPU 11 inquires of the window system 40 and acquires the existence area on the screen of each object (S3122).

  Next, the CPU 11 obtains an area excluding the existence area on the screen of each object. For example, an array of pixels on the screen, for example, an array of 1024 × 1024 is used, a check mark is attached to a pixel corresponding to an existing area of each object on the screen, and pixels without a check mark are connected. Can be obtained. Such a connection can be expressed using, for example, a run length known as an image processing method.

  Next, the CPU 11 obtains the maximum empty area (area where the run length is the maximum in the X direction and the Y direction) from the area, and determines this as an empty area (S3124). Thereafter, the CPU 11 ends the free space search process.

In addition to the above method, for example, the CPU 11 may scan a VRAM (not shown) and obtain a free area from data on the VRAM.
<Modification Example 2 of Moving Process>
24 and 25 show a second modification of the object moving method. In the third embodiment, the movement destination list 43 holds the movement destination of the object and the movement order, and the movement target object is moved according to the order. Instead, the movement amount (X direction and Y direction) of the object may be held, and the object to be moved may be moved by the movement amount.

FIG. 24 shows the object moved in this way. When the user clicks on a circular object having the number 2 shown in the circle, the circular object moves on the screen by a predetermined distance. When the movement position exceeds the display area in the X direction or the Y direction, the movement position is returned by one screen. In this way, the movement trajectory of the moving circular object is indicated by a dotted arrow.

  FIG. 25 shows processing executed by the CPU 11 at this time. Since the determinations in S300 and S301 are the same as those in FIG. 21, the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 25, when the click of the object is detected, the CPU 11 reads the movement amount (Δx, Δy) from a movement amount table (not shown) held in the memory 12 (S322).

Next, the CPU 11 calculates a movement position (S323). The moving position can be obtained by the following equation.
X coordinate after movement = Mod (X coordinate before movement + Δx, X direction screen size)
Y coordinate after movement = Mod (Y coordinate before movement + Δy, Y direction screen size)
Here, Mod (A, B) is a remainder when A is divided by B. Therefore, the coordinates after movement always fall within the screen range.

  Next, the CPU 11 moves the object to be moved to X and Y after the movement (S324).

  The movement amount table may be prepared individually for each object, or may be shared by a plurality of objects. For example, one type of movement amount table may be prepared in the information display device 1 and shared by all objects.

Further, one type of movement amount table may be prepared in a program that displays a plurality of objects, and the movement amount table may be shared by the objects displayed by the program.
<Modification 3 of the moving process>
In the third embodiment, the movement of the object is moved based on the process of the application program 41 that displays the object. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the movement of an object according to an instruction from the application program 41.

  FIG. 26 shows a program configuration in the information display apparatus 1 (modified example 3) that moves an object by the processing of the window system 40 without interposing the processing of the application program 41.

  In this information display device 1, when the user's operation on a specific object with the mouse 16 is detected, the window system 40 refers to the movement destination list 43. Then, the window system 40 determines the movement destination of the object based on the definition of the movement destination list 43. The window system 40 writes the destination of the display position of the object in a window system database (this database is called a registry in Windows, which is a window system of Microsoft Corporation, USA, for example). Then, the window system 40 redisplays the object. As a result, the object is displayed at the destination.

  FIG. 27 shows processing of the window system 40 executed by the CPU 11 in this case. In FIG. 27, the determinations in S300 and S301 are the same as those in FIG.

In FIG. 27, when the click of the object is detected, the CPU 11 searches for the movement destination of the object (S332). In this case, the movement destination may be defined in the movement destination list 43 as in the third embodiment, or may be defined in the movement amount table as in the second modification.

  Next, the CPU 11 rewrites the contents of the registry indicating the display position of the object (S333). That is, the CPU 11 changes the coordinates of the display position to the coordinates of the movement destination.

  Next, the CPU 11 displays the object again (S334). As a result, the object is displayed at the destination.

In this modification, Windows of US Microsoft Corporation is assumed as the window system 40, and a registry is assumed as the database of the window system. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to Windows. For example, the present invention can be implemented in an X window or OSF / Motif which is common in a UNIX system.
<Modification of hardware>
In the above embodiment, a click by the mouse 16 is detected as an instruction to move the operation target. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Instead of the mouse 16, another pointing device such as a touch panel may be used to detect a one-touch operation on the object. Further, the object may be moved by a specific signal of a remote controller using electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays. That is, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a light receiving unit that receives electromagnetic waves from the remote controller, and moves a specific object when the light receiving unit detects a signal (electromagnetic wave) generated by pressing a specific push button of the remote controller. It may be.
<Other variations>
In the third embodiment, the destination list 43 is prepared for each object. Instead, the movement destination list 43 may be shared by a plurality of objects. For example, one type of destination list 43 may be prepared in the information display device 1 and shared by all objects.

Further, one type of destination list 43 may be prepared in a program that displays a plurality of objects, and the destination list 43 may be shared by the objects displayed by the program.
<Others>
The present embodiment discloses the following invention.
(Supplementary note 1) a display unit having a plurality of display areas obtained by dividing a predetermined area;
An operation unit for designating information to be displayed in each display area;
An acquisition unit for acquiring the specified information;
A control unit for displaying the acquired information in the corresponding display area;
An information display device comprising:
(Supplementary note 2) The information display device according to supplementary note 1, wherein the acquisition unit includes a communication unit and acquires information by accessing a network.
(Additional remark 3) It further has a history storage part which memorizes display history of displayed information,
The information display device according to appendix 1, wherein the information stored as the display history is displayed in each display area in a predetermined order.
(Supplementary note 4) When the first information displayed in the first display area is associated with the second information and the second information is displayed, the first information is displayed in the first display area. The information display device according to supplementary note 1, wherein the display of the first information is maintained and the second information is displayed in the second display area.
(Supplementary Note 5) The first information is related to the second information by a specific keyword, and the second information is displayed when the keyword is dragged and dropped to the second display area. The information display device according to attachment 4.
(Additional remark 6) The said display part displays the identification information which identifies the said display area,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the identification information corresponding to the display area is designated via the operation unit, the control unit expands the display area corresponding to the identification information and displays only the single display area. Information display device.
(Appendix 7) The identification information is displayed in a display area identified by the identification information,
The information display device according to appendix 6, wherein when an instruction operation for the identification information is detected by the operation unit, a display area corresponding to the identification information is enlarged.
(Supplementary note 8) The information display device according to supplementary note 6, wherein when an instruction operation on the identification information is detected by the operation unit, the enlarged single display region is changed to a plurality of display regions.
(Additional remark 9) Display part which displays the rotation object which has the instruction | indication part which rotates with respect to the identification information arrange | positioned along substantially circular shape, and the said circular center part, and instruct | indicates any one of the said identification information When,
A detection unit for detecting an operation on the rotating object by the operation unit;
An information display device comprising: a control unit that rotates the instruction unit according to the detected operation.
(Supplementary Note 10) The operation unit is a pointing device having at least two buttons,
The information display device according to appendix 9, wherein the instruction unit rotates counterclockwise when the first button is pressed and rotates clockwise when the second button is pressed.
(Appendix 11) The two buttons are left and right buttons,
The information display device according to appendix 10, wherein the first button is a left button and the second button is a right button.
(Supplementary Note 12) A communication unit that accesses a network and acquires information;
A display for displaying the acquired information;
A correspondence storage unit that associates the identification information with specific information;
A control unit that displays information acquired from the network via the communication unit in the display area,
The display unit rotates with respect to the display area for displaying information, the identification information of the display area arranged along a substantially circular shape, and the central part of the circumference, and indicates either of the identification information A rotating object having an instruction part to perform,
The control unit detects an operation on the rotating object by the operation unit, rotates the instruction unit according to the operation, and displays information corresponding to the identification information instructed at the rotated position. Information display device.
(Additional remark 13) The said rotation object arrange | positions the information which shows the division | segmentation number which divides | segments the display area of a display part into several along a substantially circular shape,
13. The information display device according to appendix 12, wherein when the instruction unit is rotated to a position indicating information indicating the number of divisions, the display area is divided by the number of divisions to display a plurality of pieces of information.
(Supplementary Note 14) A display unit for displaying an object having an instruction unit for instructing any of a plurality of pieces of identification information;
A detection unit for detecting the content of the instruction operation to the object by the operation unit;
An information display device comprising: a control unit that changes identification information instructed by the instruction unit according to the detected instruction operation content.
(Supplementary Note 15) A display unit that displays an object that is displayed on the screen and that is an operation target, and detects an instruction operation to the object by the operation unit, and changes a display mode of the object on the display unit according to the instruction operation And a control unit
An information display device that moves and displays an object to a second display position by an instruction operation on the object displayed at the first display position.
(Supplementary note 16) The information display device according to supplementary note 15, wherein the operation unit is a mouse, and the instruction operation is a click of an object.
(Supplementary note 17) The information display device according to supplementary note 15, wherein the operation unit is a touch panel, and the instruction operation is a one-touch operation on an object.
(Supplementary note 18) The information display device according to claim 15, wherein the operation unit is a remote controller having a push button, and the instruction operation is a push operation of the push button.
(Supplementary note 19)
Forming a plurality of display areas by dividing a predetermined area;
Designating information to be displayed in the display area;
Obtaining the specified information;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the step of displaying the acquired information in the corresponding display area. (11)
(Additional remark 20) The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Additional remark 19 which performs further the step which accesses a network and acquires information.
(Additional remark 21) The step which memorize | stores the display history of the displayed information is further performed,
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to appendix 19, which displays information stored as the display history in each display area in a predetermined order, is recorded.
(Supplementary Note 22) When the first information displayed in the first display area is associated with the second information and the second information is displayed, the first information is displayed in the first display area. The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Additional remark 19 which further performs the step which maintains the display of 1st information, and displays the 2nd information on a 2nd display area.
(Supplementary Note 23) The first information is related to the second information by a specific keyword, and displays the second information when the keyword is dragged and dropped to the second display area. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to 22 is recorded.
(Supplementary Note 24) Displaying identification information for identifying the display area;
And further detecting an operation on the identification information,
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to appendix 19 is recorded in which when a piece of identification information corresponding to a display area is specified, the display area corresponding to the identification information is enlarged to display only a single display area.
(Supplementary Note 25) The identification information is displayed in a display area identified by the identification information,
A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to appendix 24, wherein when a pointing operation on the identification information is detected, a step of expanding a display area corresponding to the identification information is further executed.
(Supplementary note 26) A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to supplementary note 24 is recorded that changes from the enlarged single display area to a plurality of display areas when an instruction operation on the identification information is detected.
(Supplementary note 27)
Displaying identification information arranged along a substantially circumferential shape and a rotating object having an instruction unit that rotates with respect to the central portion of the circumferential shape and indicates either of the identification information;
Detecting an operation on the rotating object;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the step of rotating the instruction unit according to the detected operation. (12)
(Supplementary note 28) The operation is an operation on a pointing device having at least two buttons.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to appendix 27 is recorded, wherein the instruction unit is rotated counterclockwise by pressing a first button and rotated clockwise by pressing a second button.
(Appendix 29) The two buttons consist of left and right buttons,
29. A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to appendix 28, wherein the first button is a left button and the second button is a right button.
(Supplementary note 30)
Accessing the network to obtain information;
Forming a display area for displaying information;
A step of displaying a rotation object having identification information of a display area arranged along a substantially circular shape and an instruction unit which rotates with respect to the central portion of the circular shape and indicates either of the identification information; ,
Associating the identification information with specific information;
Detecting an operation on the rotating object;
Rotating the instruction unit according to the operation;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the step of displaying in the display area information corresponding to the identification information indicated at the rotated position. (13)
(Additional remark 31) The said rotation object arrange | positions the information which shows the division | segmentation number which divides | segments the display screen displayed on a display part into a some display area along a substantially circumference,
The computer-readable program recording the program according to appendix 30, wherein the display unit divides the display screen by the number of divisions and displays a plurality of pieces of information when the pointing unit is rotated to a position for indicating information indicating the number of divisions. Recording medium.
(Additional remark 32) The step which displays the object which has the instruction | indication part which instruct | indicates any one of several identification information,
Detecting a content of an instruction operation to the object;
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program comprising a step of changing identification information instructed by the instruction unit according to the detected instruction operation content is recorded. (14)
(Supplementary note 33)
A step of displaying an object that is displayed on the screen and is an operation target, a step of detecting an instruction operation on the object, and a step of changing a display mode of the object according to the instruction operation,
A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for moving an object to a second display position when an instruction operation on the object displayed at the first display position is detected. (15)
(Supplementary Note 34) The computer includes a mouse,
34. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to appendix 33, in which the instruction operation is a click of an object, is recorded.
(Supplementary Note 35) The computer includes a touch panel,
The computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to attachment 33, wherein the instruction operation is one touch on an object.
(Supplementary Note 36) The computer includes a communication unit with a remote controller having a push button,
The computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to attachment 33, wherein the predetermined operation is a pressing operation of the push button.

Configuration diagram of a network in the first embodiment of the present invention 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information display device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing data structure of channel table Single screen display example Figure showing a two-split screen Figure showing a 4-split screen Figure showing a 9-split screen The figure which shows the data structure of the history management table Flow chart showing browser processing Flow chart showing browser event processing (1) Flow chart showing browser event processing (2) Flowchart showing browser history management processing Flow chart showing browser channel switching process The figure which shows the modification of log | history management processing Figure showing the history management list The figure explaining operation of the dial object 20 Flowchart showing detection processing of operation of dial object 20 Diagram explaining object move operation Structure diagram of the program in the third embodiment Data structure diagram of the destination list A flowchart showing the procedure for moving objects The flowchart which shows the procedure of the movement process of the object of the modification 1. Flow chart showing free space search processing The figure explaining the movement of the object which concerns on the modification 2. The flowchart which shows the movement process of the object which concerns on the modification 2. Structure diagram of program according to modification 3 The flowchart which shows the movement process of the object which concerns on the modification 3.

Explanation of symbols

1 Information display device 11 CPU
12 memory 13 hard disk 14 CRT
15 Keyboard 16 Mouse 20 Channel object 21 Instruction section 22 Display area 23 Channel number display object

Claims (6)

A display unit having a plurality of display areas obtained by dividing a predetermined area;
An operation unit for designating information to be displayed in each display area;
An acquisition unit for acquiring the specified information;
A control unit that displays the acquired information in the corresponding display area,
The display unit displays identification information for identifying the display area,
When the identification information corresponding to the display area is specified via the operation unit, the control unit expands the display area corresponding to the identification information and erases other display areas in the plurality of display areas. Information display device.   The control unit, when detecting an instruction operation with respect to the identification information by the operation unit, reduces the enlarged display region and displays the plurality of display regions including the other deleted display regions. 2. The information display device according to 2. Forming a plurality of display areas obtained by dividing a predetermined area in a computer;
Designating information to be displayed in the display area;
Obtaining the specified information;
Displaying the acquired information in the corresponding display area;
Displaying identification information for identifying the display area;
Detecting an operation on the identification information;
When the identification information corresponding to the display area is designated, the computer recording the program for executing the step of expanding the display area corresponding to the identification information and erasing other display areas in the plurality of display areas A readable recording medium.   4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of reducing the enlarged display area and displaying the plurality of display areas including the other deleted display areas when an instruction operation on the identification information is detected. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded. On the computer,
Forming a plurality of display areas by dividing a predetermined area on the screen;
Designating information to be displayed in the display area;
Obtaining the specified information;
Displaying the acquired information in the corresponding display area;
Displaying identification information for identifying the display area;
Detecting an operation on the identification information;
When identification information corresponding to a display area is designated, a program for executing a step of expanding a display area corresponding to the identification information and erasing other display areas in the plurality of display areas.   6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of reducing the enlarged display area and displaying the plurality of display areas including the other deleted display areas when an instruction operation on the identification information is detected. program.

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