JP2010055441A - Menu display device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide "a menu display device and a menu display method" for selecting the menu items of respective hierarchies displayed on a screen with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The menu display device includes: an operation means; a display means for displaying the menu items of a hierarchical structure on the screen; and a control means for constituting a new menu for obtaining a state where the respective menu items of the whole hierarchies (27-29) displayed on the screen 21 are made to be a selectable state with the same operation by the operation means, displaying the menu on the screen 21 of the display means, and moving a mark 30, which indicates that the menu items are in a selectable state, among the menu items in response to a manipulated variable of the operation means. When an indication to change over the menu into the menu of a simple selection mode being the new menu is received in a state where the menu of a normal mode to allow the menu items of one hierarchy to be selectable is displayed, the control means performs changeover into the menu displaying of the simple selection mode, so as to display the menu on the screen 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a menu display device and a menu display method, and more particularly to a menu display device and a menu display method for displaying a hierarchical menu.

  In recent years, devices that integrate a plurality of functions such as a navigation function, a radio broadcast or television broadcast reception function, and a content reproduction function such as music and video have been used as in-vehicle electronic devices. Further, with the increase in capacity of storage media, it is possible to store a large amount of information such as music data. Therefore, a menu screen is generally displayed so that the user can easily select a function or data from these functions and data.

  Usually, in such a menu screen, if there are many menu items and it is difficult to display all the menu items at the same time on the same menu display screen, group the menu items and create a hierarchical structure. Displayed on the menu display screen.

As a device that performs such hierarchical display processing, it manages the flag for displaying or hiding folders, and displays only a list of folders with the flag turned on hierarchically to efficiently access documents. There are document processing devices that make it possible.
JP 11-249938 A

  In the hierarchical display as described above, as the screen of the electronic device becomes wider and the display area becomes wider, a plurality of hierarchical levels can be displayed. In such a hierarchical menu, a hierarchy in which the menu item can be selected and a hierarchy in which the menu item is not displayed are displayed simultaneously. The menu items in the hierarchy in which the menu items can be selected can be selected by operating, for example, a rotary operator.

  However, when selecting a menu item in a different level, the focus indicating that the menu item can be selected can be moved hierarchically by operating a control such as a slide key different from the rotary control. Necessary. Further, when the rotary operator has a function of moving the focus to another layer, it is necessary to perform an operation different from the selection of the menu item.

  As described above, when selecting a menu item in a layer different from the current layer, a plurality of operators must be used or a plurality of operations must be repeated. Sometimes it takes a long time to select, or the wrong item is selected. In addition, when such a display device is used in a vehicle, not only is it troublesome for the driver, but there is a risk that the driving operation may be hindered and safe driving may be hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and provides a menu display device and a menu display method capable of selecting menu items of each layer displayed on the screen by a simple operation. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, according to one aspect of the present invention, an operation unit, a display unit that displays a menu item of a hierarchical structure on a screen, and each of all layers displayed on the screen A new menu in which the menu item becomes selectable by the same operation by the operation means is configured and displayed on the screen of the display means, and a mark indicating that the menu item is selectable is displayed on the operation means. There is provided a menu display device comprising control means for moving between the menu items in accordance with an operation amount.

  In the menu display device according to this aspect, the control means displays the menu in the simple selection mode, which is the new menu, in a state where the menu in the normal mode in which the menu item in one layer can be selected is displayed. When the instruction to do so is received, the menu display in the normal mode is switched to the menu display in the simple selection mode and displayed on the screen, and any menu item is displayed while the menu in the simple selection mode is displayed. When the is selected, the simple selection mode may be canceled and the display screen may be switched according to the menu item. The menu of the simple selection mode is the same as the original normal mode of the menu of the simple selection mode. The menu is composed of menu items in the hierarchy excluding the hierarchy with the selected menu item. It may be.

  According to the menu display device of the present invention, in the hierarchical menu display, a new menu is configured in which each of the menu items of all the levels displayed on the screen can be selected by the same operation by the operator. Is displayed. The focus is moved by the same operation of one operator for menu items of different levels. This eliminates the need to perform a special operation for moving the focus between the hierarchies when selecting menu items of different hierarchies, and makes it easy to select menu items of different hierarchies displayed on the menu display screen. . If this menu display device is installed in the vehicle, the driver can easily operate the menu, which can contribute to improvement in driving safety.

  Moreover, according to the other form of this invention, the menu display method implemented in the menu display apparatus which concerns on said form is provided. The menu display method according to the embodiment is a menu display method for displaying a menu having a hierarchical structure on a screen, the step of extracting the menu items of each hierarchy displayed on the screen, and the extraction of all the extracted hierarchy levels. A step of configuring a new menu in which each menu item is selectable by the same operation by the operating means, and a step of displaying the menu items of the new menu in the same display arrangement as the original menu of the new menu And a step of moving a mark indicating that the menu item is selectable in accordance with the operation amount of the operation means between the menu items.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a menu display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The menu display device 100 basically includes an operation input unit 1, a control unit 2, a display unit 3, a storage unit 4, and an audio output unit 5.

  The operation input unit 1 is composed of, for example, a rotary operator, and inputs a user instruction or the like to the menu display device 100. The rotary operator includes a dial part and a button part, and a signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the dial part is transmitted to the control part 2. Also, the dial unit sets different functions in two states, a pressed state and a non-pressed state. As a function according to the present embodiment, the dial part of the rotary operator functions as a switch for switching the menu display from the menu display in the normal mode to the menu display in the simple selection mode described later.

  The display unit 3 is composed of, for example, an organic EL or a liquid crystal panel, and displays menu items or information corresponding to the menu items when the menu item is selected.

  The storage unit 4 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and stores an information processing program executed by the control unit 2 and stores a plurality of hierarchically structured menu items. Each menu item defines information indicating a link relationship between menu items, information indicating a link relationship with a processing program corresponding to the menu item, and the like. In addition, music data and music information data such as artist names and jacket images related to the music data are stored and associated with menu items.

  The audio output unit 5 generates a predetermined audio signal such as a reproduced music under the control of the control unit 2 and outputs the audio signal amplified to an appropriate level to a speaker (not shown) or the like.

  The control part 2 is comprised, for example with a microcomputer, and controls the process of each said part based on the program prepared beforehand. In particular, as a function according to the present embodiment, for the menu display in the normal mode in which one of the menu items in a plurality of layers can be selected, the menu items in all the displayed layers are selected by the same operation. The menu of the simple selection mode that can be made is configured and displayed.

  In the menu display device 100 configured as described above, the control unit 2 displays a menu in a simple selection mode that allows a menu item in a different hierarchy to be easily selected in a state where a hierarchically structured menu is displayed. When the instruction is received, all displayed menu items can be selected by the same operation regardless of the hierarchy, while maintaining the display positional relationship of the hierarchically structured menu items displayed on the screen. Configure and display a new menu that can be

  The control unit 2 of the menu display device 100 detects the amount of rotation of the rotary operator, and a mark (hereinafter referred to as focus) indicating that the menu item is selectable according to the amount of rotation between the menu items. Move. This movement of the focus is executed by the same operation as the movement in the same hierarchy even when moving to a different hierarchy. When the focused menu item is selected, processing corresponding to the menu item is executed.

  Next, the menu display device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of the transition of the menu screen display of the menu display device according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of the menu display process.

  The menu display device 100 shown in FIG. 2A shows an example of a menu screen that has a rotary operation element 22 as an operation element and displays a menu in the normal mode on the display screen 21. In the menu display of the normal mode displayed in FIG. 2A, menu items in four layers (23, 24, 25, 26) are displayed. The first layer 23 displays icons of source selection menu items 23a to 23c (DTV, iPod <registered trademark>, AM), and the second layer 24 displays the menu item 23b (iPod) of the first layer 23. Icons of menu items 24a to 24c (AR, AL, SO) when selected are displayed. The third layer 25 displays icons of menu items 25a to 25e (AL1: album 1 to AL5: album 5) when the menu item 24b (AL: album) of the second layer 24 is selected. . Further, on the fourth layer 26, icons of menu items (T4 to T10) indicating the music title when the menu item 25c (AL3) of the third layer 25 is selected are displayed.

  In the fourth hierarchy 26 in FIG. 2A, one icon (T7) of the icons indicating the song title is surrounded by a frame (hereinafter referred to as a focus frame 30) so that it can be distinguished from other icons. Is displayed. This icon state is referred to as an icon being focused, and the layer where the focused icon exists (the fourth layer 26 in FIG. 2A) is referred to as the current layer.

  The rotary operator 22 includes a button 22a and a dial 22b, and a menu item that is focused can be selected by pressing the button 22a. The dial 22b can also be pressed, and can be rotated in a pressed state or rotated in a non-pressed state. Different functions are set for each operation.

  In the menu display of the normal mode in FIG. 2A, the focus can be moved between the icons of the current layer (fourth layer 26) by rotating the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 without being pressed. By pressing the button 22a, the focused menu item is processed. From this state, if an attempt is made to select a menu item in the third hierarchy 25 that is one level higher in the normal mode, it is necessary to move the focus to a hierarchy by operating a slide key (not shown), for example.

  When the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is pressed while the normal mode menu is displayed, a simple selection mode menu as shown in FIG. 2B is displayed.

  The menu items (27a to 27c, 28a to 28c, 29a to 29e) of the menu display in the simple selection mode in FIG. 2B are not displayed except that the menu item of the current layer (fourth layer 26) is not displayed. This is the same as the normal mode menu items (23a to 23c, 24a to 24c, 25a to 25e) displayed on the display screen 21. However, menu items in the simple selection mode are different from the menu items in the normal mode, and all the displayed menu items rotate the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 regardless of the hierarchy (27, 28, 29). It is possible to move the focus. That is, an operation for moving the current hierarchy to a different hierarchy, which is necessary in the menu display in the normal mode, is not necessary.

  At the first stage when the dial 22b is rotated from the menu display in the normal mode to the menu display in the simple selection mode, a predetermined position (for example, the third hierarchy 29 above the current hierarchy (fourth hierarchy 26) (for example, In FIG. 2B, the menu item of the bottom menu item 29e (AL5) is focused. By rotating the dial with the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 pressed, the focus position moves between menu items in all layers (27, 28, 29). For example, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is pressed and rotated to the left from the state shown in FIG. 2B, the focus moves to the menu item 29d (AL4). In this way, the focus moves to the menu item one level higher every time the dial 22b of the rotary operation element 22 rotates. When the menu item 29a (AL1) at the top of the third hierarchy 29 in FIG. 2 (b) is focused, if the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is further rotated to the left, one of the second hierarchy 28 will be displayed. The focus moves to the bottom menu item 28c.

  When the focus is moved to a desired menu item, when the dial 22b of the rotary operation element 22 is pressed back to the original state where the dial 22b is not pressed, processing corresponding to the menu item is executed. For example, when the menu item 28 a (AR: artist) in the second hierarchy 28 is selected, a menu display in the normal mode as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display screen 21. As shown in FIG. 3, menus of three layers (31, 32, 33) are displayed, and menu items (AR) of the second layer 32 selected on the menu display screen (see FIG. 2B) in the simple selection mode. : Artist) is focused, and a menu display screen in the normal mode in which artist names (AR1 to AR5) are displayed in the third hierarchy is displayed.

  In this way, a menu is configured and displayed in which all menu items on different levels displayed on the display screen can be selected by the same operation (rotation operation) using the rotary operator between the levels. By moving the focus to menu items between different layers using a single rotary operation element, it is possible to easily select a desired menu item without having to change the operation element. In addition, when such a menu display device is mounted on a vehicle, the burden on the menu operation of the driver is reduced, and the menu operation can be completed in a short time. Can be avoided and contribute to safe driving.

  Next, menu display processing performed in the menu display device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows an example of the menu display process in the simple selection mode, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the simple selection enabling process for easily selecting the displayed menu item in the process flow of FIG. Is shown.

  In the menu display process shown in FIG. 4, first, in the first step S11, the designated menu is displayed in the normal mode. In the normal mode, the menu hierarchy is displayed so that the menu structure can be understood. Of the displayed menu items, the selectable menu items are the menu items in the first level (current level), and the rotation operator rotates. In the focus movement operation by, for example, the focus can be moved only between menu items in the current hierarchy.

  FIG. 6A shows an example in which a menu composed of four layers (61 to 64) is displayed in the normal mode. A part of menu items of each layer is displayed from the first layer 61 to the fourth layer 64. FIG. 6B shows a data structure that is the basis of the menu item displayed in FIG. 6A, and this menu data is stored in the storage unit 4. For example, the data of the first layer exists from D1 to Dm, but D2 to D4 are displayed on the display screen 21. Similarly, some items are displayed on the display screen 21 in the second to fourth layers.

  Each menu item has an image display flag indicating whether or not the menu item is displayed on the display screen 21, a focus flag indicating whether or not the menu item is in focus, and a processing program corresponding to the menu item. It has an execution flag indicating whether or not to execute, and a selection waiting flag indicating whether or not the menu item is focused. For example, when a menu item selection waiting flag, a focus flag, and an execution flag are set, when the menu item is selected, a processing program corresponding to the menu item is executed.

  In the next step S12, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to switch to the simple selection mode. The process waits until there is a switching instruction, and when it is determined that there is a switching instruction, the process proceeds to step S13. For example, when it is determined that the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 has been pressed, it is determined that there has been an instruction to switch to the simple selection mode.

  In the next step S13, a simple selection enabling process is performed so that each of the menu items of all the levels displayed on the display screen 21 can be selected by the same operation by the operator between the levels. .

  Here, the process of enabling the simple selection of the displayed menu item will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S21 of FIG. 5, the menu items displayed on the display screen 21 are extracted except for the current hierarchy. For example, in the menu display of FIG. 2A, data corresponding to the menu items 23a to 23c, 24a to 24c, and 25a to 25e are extracted from the menu data stored in the storage unit 4. With reference to the screen display flag of each menu item of the menu data stored in the storage unit 4, if the flag is set, it is determined that it is displayed on the display screen 21.

  In the next step S22, each menu item extracted in step S21 is associated with a processing program to make the menu item executable. This association is performed by setting an execution flag of each menu item so that when a focused menu item is selected, processing corresponding to the menu item can be performed.

  In the next step S23, each menu item is put in a selection waiting state. The selection waiting state is a state in which the icon of the menu item can be focused. In other words, all layers have the same state as the current layer in the normal mode. Specifically, by setting a menu item selection waiting flag, all the extracted menu items are put in a selection waiting state. By setting in this state, it is possible to move between all menu items on which the focus is displayed by the operation of the operator.

  In the next step S24, a simple selection menu by each menu item in which the selection waiting flag and the execution flag are set is displayed so that the display position relationship of the menu is not changed from the display position relationship of the original normal mode menu. FIG. 2B shows an example of a simple selection menu display for the original hierarchical menu display shown in FIG. As shown in the menu display of FIG. 2 (b), menu items of other layers displayed on the screen are displayed while maintaining their arrangement order except for the current layer in the menu display of FIG. 2 (a). ing. In this display, the background color of each layer may be the same in order to distinguish it from the original normal mode layer menu screen.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step S14, the focus is moved in accordance with the rotation amount of the rotary operator. By rotating the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22, when the focus movement exceeds the menu item for one layer, the focus moves to the menu item one level higher or lower.

  FIG. 2B is a menu display screen at the first stage when the mode is switched to the simple selection mode and the dial 22b is rotated, and the focus is on the menu item 29e. From this state, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is pressed and rotated to the left, the focus moves to the upper menu item 29d in the hierarchy 29 according to the amount of rotation. After the focus moves to the top menu item 29a in the hierarchy 29, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is further turned counterclockwise, the focus moves to the menu item 28c in the hierarchy 28 one level higher. Similarly, after the focus moves to the top menu item 28a in this hierarchy, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is further turned counterclockwise, the focus moves to the menu item 27c of the hierarchy 27 one level above. To do.

  When the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is turned to the right, the focus moves between the menu items in the opposite direction to that when the dial 22b is turned to the left.

  When the dial 22b is pressed to switch the menu display to the simple selection mode shown in FIG. 2B and the dial 22b is returned to the original state without rotating the tire 22b, the original normal mode menu display is displayed. You may make it return.

  In the next step S15, when a focused menu item is selected, processing corresponding to the menu item is executed. The menu item is selected, for example, by returning the pressed state of the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 to the original pressed state. In addition, for example, when a menu item in an upper layer is selected, a normal mode menu in which menu items in a lower layer are displayed according to the menu item is displayed. Thus, the process according to the menu item is executed, and the menu display process in the simple selection mode is completed.

  As described above, in the menu display method according to the present embodiment, in the hierarchical menu display, the menu items of each layer displayed on the display screen are extracted, and the selection waiting flag for those menu items is set. Thus, a new menu is displayed in such a manner that it can be selected by the same operation by the rotary operator between the layers. Thereby, as long as it is a menu item displayed on the menu display screen, it is possible to easily select a menu item having a different hierarchy. If this menu display device is installed in the vehicle, the driver can easily operate the menu, which can contribute to improvement in driving safety.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an example is shown in which hierarchical menu items are displayed as icons, but the mode of menu display is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a menu item display by a tree-type list display as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows a list display in the normal mode. In this list display, the first hierarchy 71 to the third hierarchy 73 are displayed. The first layer iPod and the second layer Songs are selected, the menu item (Title 3) of the third layer 73 is focused, and the menu item of the third layer 73 is in a selection waiting state. When the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is pressed from this state, menu items in the simple selection mode as shown in FIG. 7B are displayed. In the menu of the simple selection mode, the same menu items as the first hierarchy 71 and the second hierarchy 72 of the original normal mode are displayed on the first hierarchy 74 and the second hierarchy 75, and the rotation amount of the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is displayed. Accordingly, the focus moves between the menu items in the two layers.

  In this embodiment, the menu item in the simple selection mode is a menu item in a layer different from the current layer. However, the menu item in the current layer may be included.

  In the present embodiment, the example is described in which the menu is switched to the simple selection mode when the current hierarchy is the lowermost layer. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the mode is switched to the simple selection mode when the upper hierarchy is the current hierarchy. Of course, lower menu items may be selected. In this case, for example, when a music menu is selected as a menu item, the music is played and output through a speaker (not shown), and the menu display is terminated, and detailed information (title, artist name, etc.) on the music is displayed on the screen. Is displayed.

  Further, in the menu display of the simple selection mode in FIG. 2B, it has been described that the focus moves to the lowest menu item displayed when the menu item is moved to the upper layer. The focus position at the stage of each movement may be the top or bottom, and the focus may be moved downward or upward by the rotation of the rotary operator in the hierarchy.

  In this embodiment, the case where the rotary operation element 22 is used as the operation element has been described as an example, but the operation element to be used is not limited to this. For example, a button for switching to the simple selection mode may be prepared, the normal rotation operator may be rotated to move the focus between menu items, and the menu item may be selected using the button portion of the rotation operator. .

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the menu display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is FIG. (1) which shows an example of the menu display of normal mode and simple selection mode. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu display after selecting the menu item of simple selection mode. 4 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of menu display processing in the menu display device according to FIG. 1; 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a menu display process in the menu display device according to FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the menu item hierarchized. It is FIG. (2) which shows an example of a menu display of normal mode and simple selection mode.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... operation input part (operation means),
2 ... control unit (control means),
3. Display unit (display means),
4. Storage unit (storage means)
21 ... Display screen,
22: Rotating operator (operating means),
23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 ... hierarchy,
30: Focus frame.

Claims (5)

Operation means;
Display means for displaying hierarchical menu items on the screen;
Each menu item of all the levels displayed on the screen is configured to be selectable by the same operation by the operation means, and is displayed on the screen of the display means so that the menu item can be selected. And a control means for moving a mark indicating a state between the menu items in accordance with an operation amount of the operation means.   When the control means receives an instruction to change to a menu in the simple selection mode, which is the new menu, in a state where a menu in the normal mode in which a menu item in one layer is selectable is displayed, When the menu display in the normal mode is switched to the menu display in the simple selection mode and displayed on the screen, and any menu item is selected while the menu in the simple selection mode is displayed, the simple selection is performed. 2. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein the mode is switched and the display screen is switched according to the menu item.   The menu in the simple selection mode is configured by menu items in a hierarchy excluding a hierarchy in which the selected menu item is present from the original normal mode menu of the menu in the simple selection mode. Item 3. A menu display device according to Item 2. A menu display method for displaying a hierarchical menu on a screen,
Extracting menu items for each layer displayed on the screen;
Configuring a new menu in which each extracted menu item of all layers is selectable by the same operation by the operation means;
Displaying the menu items of the new menu in the same display arrangement as the original menu of the new menu;
And a step of moving a mark indicating that the menu item is in a selectable state in accordance with an operation amount of the operation means between the menu items.   The menu display method according to claim 4, wherein the new menu includes menu items in a hierarchy excluding a hierarchy in which the selected menu item is included in the original menu of the new menu. .

Images