JP2010055442A - 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, which are not displayed on a screen, with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The menu display device 100 includes: an operation means 22; a storage means for storing the menu items of a hierarchical structure; a display means for displaying the menu items on the screen; and a control means for extracting the menu items which are not displayed on the screen 21 among the menu items of the respective hierarchies (31, 32) from the storage means, constituting a new menu for obtaining a state where the respective menu items are made to be a selectable state in the whole hierarchies with the same operation by the operation means 22, and displaying the menu on the screen 21 of the display means. The control means may move a mark, which indicates that the menu items (31a-31f, 32a-32d) are in a selectable state, among the menu items (31a-31f, 32a-32d) in response to a manipulated variable of the operation means 22. <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 desired 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 hierarchically displayed 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 on a different level, the focus indicating that the menu item is selectable is moved hierarchically by operating a control such as a slide key different from the rotary control. It will be 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.

  Further, when the use frequency of the menu displayed in a hierarchy is increased, the user can grasp what menu item is present in which area even if the menu is not displayed on the menu screen. Even in this case, it is necessary to select the desired menu item after moving to the hierarchy where the desired menu item exists as described above and further operating the operation element to display 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. It may take time to make a selection, or an incorrect item may be 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 that are not 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 an aspect of the present invention, an operation unit, a storage unit that stores a menu item having a hierarchical structure, a display unit that displays the menu item on a screen, and the storage The menu items that are not displayed on the screen are extracted from the menu items of each level from the means, and a new menu is configured in which each menu item becomes selectable by the same operation by the operating means in all levels. And a control means for displaying on the screen of the display means.

  In the menu display device according to this aspect, the control means may move a mark indicating that the menu item is selectable between the menu items according to an operation amount of the operation means.

  Further, in the menu display device according to this aspect, the control means displays the normal mode menu in which the menu item of one layer is selectable and displays the simple selection mode which is the new menu. When receiving an instruction to make a menu, 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 of the menus in the simple selection mode is displayed. When a menu item 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 original normal of the menu of the simple selection mode. Consists of the menu items in the mode menu, excluding the layer with the selected menu item. Unishi may be.

  According to the menu display device of the present invention, in the hierarchical menu display, the menu items of each hierarchy not displayed on the screen are configured so that each menu item can be selected by the same operation by the operator. Is displayed. The movement of the focus to the menu item having a different hierarchy is also performed by the operation of the operator similar to the movement of the focus in the same hierarchy. This eliminates the need for a special operation for moving the focus between hierarchies when selecting menu items of different hierarchies, and facilitates selection of menu items that are not displayed on the menu display screen of different hierarchies. . For this reason, even for menu items that are not displayed on a normal menu display screen for a user whose menu configuration is known, it is possible to select a desired menu item in a short time. 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 from the storage means, and each not displayed on the screen of the display means Extracting a menu item of the hierarchy, configuring a new menu in which each extracted menu item of the hierarchy can be selected by the same operation by the operation means, and menu items of the new menu A step of displaying on the screen; and a step of moving a mark indicating that the menu item is selectable between the menu items in accordance with an operation amount of the operation means.

  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, all menu items that are not displayed in each layer are all displayed in a normal mode menu display in which a menu item in one layer among a plurality of menu items can be selected. The menu of the simple selection mode that can be selected by the same operation in the hierarchy is configured and displayed.

  In the menu display device 100 configured as described above, the control unit 2 can easily select menu items that are not displayed on the menu display screen among the menu items of different layers in a state where the hierarchically structured menu is displayed. Upon receiving an instruction to display the menu in the simple selection mode that enables selection, the menu items of each layer are extracted from the storage unit 4, the menu items not displayed on the display screen are extracted, and the same regardless of the layer Configure and display a new menu that can be selected by operation.

  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 shows an example of the menu display screen in the normal mode, and FIG. 3 shows an example of the menu display screen in the simple selection mode. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of menu display processing.

  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.

  On the display screen 21 in FIG. 2A, a part of the menu items having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 2B is displayed. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), there are nine menu items 27a (DTV) to 27i (DISC) in the first hierarchy H1, of which menu items 27a to 27c are displayed. Menu items 27d to 27i are not displayed. In the second hierarchy H2, the menu items 28d to 28g among the menu items 28a to 28g are not displayed.

  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. 3 is displayed. The menu items displayed on the menu in the simple selection mode are menu items that are not displayed on the menu display screen in the normal mode menu.

  The menu items (31a to 31f) displayed on the menu display screen in the simple selection mode in FIG. 3 are displayed on the menu display screen in the normal mode among the menu items (27a to 27i) in the first layer in FIG. Menu item not displayed. Similarly, the menu items (32a to 32d) are menu items not displayed on the normal mode menu display screen among the menu items (28a to 28g) in the second hierarchy in FIG. For the third layer, since all menu items (29a to 29e) are displayed in the normal mode, the menu item in the third layer is not displayed in the menu in the simple selection mode.

  These menu items in the simple selection mode are different from the menu items in the normal mode, and all the displayed menu items are rotated regardless of the hierarchy (31, 32) by rotating the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22. The focus can be moved. That is, a specific operation for moving the current level to a different level, which is necessary in the menu display in the normal mode, becomes unnecessary.

  In the first stage when the dial 22b is rotated from the normal mode menu display to the simple selection mode menu display, a predetermined position (in a new menu item in the hierarchy closest to the current hierarchy (fourth hierarchy 26)) ( For example, in FIG. 3, the menu item of the bottom menu item 32d (AB) in the rightmost column of the second hierarchy is focused. By rotating the dial with the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 pressed, the focus position moves between the menu items of all layers (31, 32). For example, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is pressed and rotated to the left from the state of FIG. 3, the focus moves to the menu item 32c (Pod). 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 32a (PL) at the top position of the second hierarchy 32 in FIG. 3 is focused, if the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is further rotated counterclockwise, the bottommost menu item 32a (PL) of the first hierarchy 31 is displayed. The focus moves to the menu item 31f.

  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 32c (Pod: podcast) of the second hierarchy 32 is selected, a screen corresponding to “podcast” displaying the program name and the like is displayed.

  In this way, each menu item that is not displayed on the display screen is configured and displayed as a menu in which each menu item can be selected by the same operation (rotation operation) by the rotation operator between the layers, and one rotation operation is performed. By using the child to move the focus to the menu item between different layers, it is possible to easily select a desired menu item without the trouble of changing 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.

  If there are many menu items that are not displayed on the normal mode menu display screen and cannot be displayed on the screen at the same time, prepare icons to display other menu items (other menu display icons). In addition, when the other menu display icon is focused, the other menu item may be displayed by returning the dial 22b of the operation element 22 to the original non-pressed state.

  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 a menu item that is not displayed 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 can be focused. For example, when a menu item selection waiting flag, a focus flag, and an execution flag are set, the menu item can be selected. When the menu item is selected, a processing program corresponding to the menu item is executed. 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 not displayed on the display screen 21 can be selected by the same operation by the operator between the levels. .

  Here, the simple selection enabling process for menu items not displayed on the display screen 21 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 21 of FIG. 5, menu items that are not displayed on the display screen 21 except for the current hierarchy are extracted from the storage unit 4. For example, for the menu displayed as shown in FIG. 2A, data corresponding to the menu items 27d to 27i and 28d to 28g in FIG. 2B is extracted from the menu data stored in the storage unit 4. To do. 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 not set, it is determined that it is not 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. In this state, the focus can be moved among all menu items regardless of the hierarchy by the same operation of one 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. FIG. 3 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. 3, menu items of other layers not displayed on the screen are displayed except for the current layer and the third layer in the menu display of FIG. In order to distinguish this display from the original normal mode hierarchical menu screen, for example, the background colors of all the hierarchical levels may be the same.

  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. 3 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 32d. 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 32c in the hierarchy 32 according to the amount of rotation. After the focus moves to the top menu item 32a in the hierarchy 32, when the dial 22b of the rotary operator 22 is further turned counterclockwise, the focus moves to the menu item 31f of the hierarchy 31 one level higher.

  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.

  Further, when the dial 22b is pressed to switch the menu display to the simple selection mode shown in FIG. 3 and the dial 22b is returned to the original state without rotating the tire 22b, the menu display is returned to the original normal mode. May be.

  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 of the present embodiment, in the hierarchical menu display, the menu items of each layer not displayed on the display screen are extracted from the storage unit, and the selection waiting flag of those menu items is set. By setting, the focus movement between all the menu items can be performed by the same operation by the rotary operator regardless of the hierarchy. This makes it possible to easily select menu items of different levels that are not displayed on the normal mode 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.

  In the present embodiment, the menu item in the simple selection mode is a menu item in a layer different from the current layer, but 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. 3, it has been described that the focus moves to the lowest menu item displayed when moving to an upper layer, but this is not limiting, and movement is performed for each layer. The focus position at this stage 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 a figure which shows an example of the menu display of a normal mode. It is a figure which shows an example of the menu display of the simple selection mode with respect to the menu display of the normal mode of FIG. 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.

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, 31, 32 ... hierarchy,
30: Focus frame.

Claims (6)

Operation means;
Storage means for storing hierarchical menu items;
Display means for displaying the menu items on a screen;
A menu item that is not displayed on the screen is extracted from the menu item of each layer from the storage unit, and a new menu in which each menu item becomes selectable by the same operation by the operation unit in all layers is displayed. A menu display device comprising control means configured to display on the screen of the display means.   The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves a mark indicating that the menu item is selectable between the menu items according to an operation amount of the operation unit.   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. 3. The menu display device according to claim 2, wherein the mode is canceled 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 4. The menu display device according to Item 3. A menu display method for displaying a hierarchical menu on a screen,
Extracting the menu items of each hierarchy from the storage means;
Extracting a menu item of each hierarchy not displayed on the screen of the display means;
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 on the screen;
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.   6. The menu display method according to claim 5, wherein the new menu includes menu items in a hierarchy excluding a hierarchy in which a selectable menu item is included in an original menu of the new menu.

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