JP2011232913A - Information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display categorized information clearly and simply on a screen of an information terminal device by using visual effects.SOLUTION: An information terminal device lays out a screen such that an information icon related to a piece of information and an attribute icon related to an attribute information associated with the piece of information are superimposed or adjacent to each other. In addition, icons related to a piece of information or an attribute that is regarded as important based on a use frequency and time of use of the piece of information are highlighted by modifying size, form, color, transparency, etc. of the icons to make the icons easier to find. In addition, a user can perform an operation to modify size, form, color, transparency or the like of icons to find information easily.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying classified information on a screen clearly and concisely using visual effects.

  In recent years, a portable terminal such as a cellular phone is improved in display screen resolution while being small, and a large amount of data can be displayed on one screen. In addition, these portable terminals have increased memory capacity for storing data, and can store a large amount of data in the terminal. When these data are displayed in a list format, there are some devices equipped with an interface that allows the data to be scrolled comfortably using a smooth graphic effect for data retrieval.

  Patent Document 1 also proposes a method that makes it easy to access frequently used data by focusing on frequently used data and devising the display position of the data.

JP2007-129609

  However, in these conventional portable terminals, for example, many of the current phone books are displayed in a list format, and when searching for desired data, scroll through all the data, or classify them. In such a case, it is necessary to search the target data by scrolling from the top of each classification.

  In the case of classification, if a classification is selected once and it is desired to select another classification again, the hierarchy of transitions may increase, such as returning to the list of classifications. In particular, the incoming call history, outgoing call history, and the like have complicated aspects such as the need to switch to another function even though the same type of data as the phone book is handled.

  Furthermore, since the list format display basically displays one data per line, a blank space is generated on the screen, and it is difficult to say that the screen is effectively used.

  In Patent Document 1, the conventional list format display is stopped and access to data frequently used by the user is improved. However, the display size of one data is large, access to data that is not often used, etc. cannot be performed. There has been no improvement in the complexity of function switching for effective use of screens and data use. Further, although the display of each data is differentiated according to the usage frequency, no contrivance has been made to make it possible to simultaneously recognize the attributes of each data.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, an information acquisition unit that acquires information, an attribute information storage unit that stores attribute information associated with the information, and an information icon output unit that outputs an information icon assigned to the information And an attribute icon output unit for outputting an attribute icon assigned to the attribute information, and an information icon and the attribute icon superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information. The present invention relates to an information terminal device that includes a layout unit that lays out and displays information, and a display unit that displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first rule holding unit that holds the first rule for determining the display priority of the information icon output from the information icon output unit on the screen, and the first The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an information icon output control unit that controls output of the information icon according to the display priority determined by the rule.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a second rule holding unit that holds a second rule for determining the display priority of the attribute icon output from the attribute icon output unit on the screen, and the second The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an attribute icon output control unit that controls output of the attribute icon according to the display priority determined by the rule.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a first detection unit that detects a user input to an information icon, a second detection unit that detects a user input to an attribute icon, and a first detection unit and / or a second detection unit. The information terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a layout control unit that controls the layout unit in response to the detection at.

According to the first invention, an information terminal device is provided in which information can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner by visual effects in association with the attribute information, and the user can easily find the target information.
According to the second invention, there is provided the information terminal device according to the first invention, which highlights the information according to the importance of the information and is more easily understood by the visual effect.
According to the third invention, the information terminal device according to the first invention or the second invention, which can highlight the attribute information according to the importance of the attribute information and display the information and its attributes more easily by the visual effect. Is provided.
According to the fourth invention, there is provided the information terminal device according to the first invention to the third invention, which further enhances the operability by enlarging and displaying information and its attribute information according to the user's operation.

The figure showing the concept of the information terminal device of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of an information terminal device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment. The figure showing the concept of the information terminal device of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is another diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. The function block diagram of the information terminal device of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. The figure showing the concept of the information terminal device of Example 3. FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of an information terminal device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the third embodiment. The figure showing the concept of the information terminal device of Example 4. FIG. FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of an information terminal device according to a fourth embodiment. The figure at the time of displaying information additionally to the attribute information expanded by the information terminal device of Example 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of an information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment.

  Example 1 relates to the first invention. Example 2 relates to the second invention. Example 3 relates to an invention subordinate to the second invention among the third inventions. The invention according to the first invention among the third inventions can be understood by excluding the part newly added to the configuration of the first embodiment in the second embodiment from the third embodiment. Example 4 relates to an invention subordinate to the third invention of the fourth invention. Other inventions included in the fourth invention can also be understood by appropriately excluding the configuration newly added in the second and third embodiments.

<Concept of Example 1>
The most familiar information terminal is a mobile phone, and the phone book is most frequently used as information registered in the mobile phone. Thus, the concept of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment will be described by taking a cellular phone phone book as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment, and illustrates a state in which a telephone directory is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 0190 of the information terminal device 0100. In the telephone directory, a telephone number is usually registered together with the name or name of the owner of the telephone number. There is a method to find the target number from the registered numbers, from the ones arranged in the order of reading kana. Another method that is often used is to find the registration number according to the attribute information of the owner. It is a method of classifying by group such as family, friend, company, business partner and finding out from the group.

  In the screen of the figure, icons represented by rectangles represent such groups. And the round icon arrange | positioned around the rectangular icon represents the owner of the telephone number contained in the group. Inside the rectangular icon, a display representing a group is made by text, a photographic image, an illustration image, or the like. For example, the icon 0101 at the upper left of the screen represents the “family” group by a family photo image. An icon 0102 in the upper right of the screen represents the “company” group in text. Further, an icon 0103 at the center on the right side of the screen represents the “tennis” group with a simple picture of a tennis racket and a tennis ball. On the other hand, in the inside of the round icon, a display indicating the owner of the telephone number is made by an abbreviation, a photographic image or the like. The abbreviation may be a name or name such as “Niko” of the icon 0104, or a relationship with the user such as “mother” of the icon 0105, or the person ’s status such as the “manager” of the icon 0106. There may be. The icon 0107 displays the person's face photo.

  The phone book display method as shown in FIG. 1 makes it easier to find a target number by visual effects such as a photographic image, graphic image, figure, etc., compared to a list display using only text. Yes.

<Configuration of Example 1>
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment. The information terminal device 0200 according to the first embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 0210, an attribute information holding unit 0211, an information icon output unit 0212, an attribute icon output unit 0213, a layout unit 0214, and a display unit 0215. These will be described in detail below.

  “Information terminal device” refers to a device or machine for accessing information. The present invention is mainly intended for mobile phones, PHS, and PDAs because it is a matter of how much information is displayed on a small screen in an easy-to-understand manner. However, the present invention can also be used for personal computers. . Recently, not only communication functions of mobile phones and the like, but also mobile terminals called smartphones that have multiple functions such as full-fledged network functions, schedules that PDAs are good at, and management of personal information have become widespread. Also, many recent game machines have communication and network functions, which can also be included in information terminal devices.

  The “information acquisition unit” acquires information. “Information” is a telephone number in the example of the telephone directory of FIG. 1, but there is no restriction on the type of information. Information includes text information entered by the user using the keyboard, various data obtained by connecting to the Internet, mail information obtained by receiving an e-mail, photo information taken by a camera installed in the information terminal device, and from a microphone. Contains collected audio information. Therefore, means for the information acquisition unit to acquire information include keyboard input means, mouse input means, Internet communication means, e-mail transmission / reception means, imaging means, and sound collection means. Some keyboards are mechanically attached to a mobile phone or the like, and others allow the user to touch and input a keyboard image displayed on the screen. Since these information acquisition means are all implemented in recent mobile phones and the like, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The “attribute information holding unit” holds attribute information associated with information. “Attribute information” refers to information related to the nature, affiliation, classification, characteristics, social status, relationship, etc. of “information”. In the example of the phone book in FIG. 1, family, company, customer, tennis companion “Attributes” correspond to “groups” in which owners of telephone numbers such as friends and restaurants are classified. A plurality of pieces of attribute information may be associated with one piece of information. In addition to the information and the attribute information, the attribute information holding unit may hold other useful information in association with these. For example, in the case of the telephone directory of FIG. 1, the name, address, face photograph, abbreviation, mail address, etc. of the owner of the telephone number.

  As a method for associating information with attribute information, there is first a method of accepting a user's selection. In the example of the telephone directory of FIG. 1, grouping of telephone numbers is performed by the user. In other words, after the user decides the group classification, such as family, company, customer, tennis companion, friend, restaurant, etc., it will be a “family” group if it is a family member, and “company” if it is a colleague of the company Sort into groups and so on. The acquisition of the attribute information and the association with the information can be realized by providing the information acquisition unit with attribute information editing means for accepting such editing of the attribute information by the user.

  On the other hand, the association between information and attribute information is automatically determined by the information acquisition method. For example, incoming call history attribute information is associated with incoming call records, and outgoing call history attribute information is associated with outgoing call records. In addition, information about the shutter speed and shooting date and time at the time of shooting is automatically associated as attribute information with the image shot by the camera. Such automatic association between information and attribute information is attribute information associating means for determining attribute information from the information acquisition method and history and associating it with the information when the attribute acquisition unit acquires the information. Can be realized by providing the information acquisition unit.

  When attribute information associating means tries to automatically associate attribute information with specific information, the attribute information included in the information may be new that does not apply to any of the existing attribute information. In such a case, the attribute information association unit may be configured to associate the attribute information with the information as new attribute information.

  The “information icon output unit” outputs an information icon assigned to the information. An “information icon” is associated with information, and is displayed on the screen by abstracting the information with simple symbols (including characters). By performing a predetermined operation on the information, the information is displayed. A function for starting such a program or the like is given. In FIG. 1, round icons such as icons 0104, 0105, 0106, and 0107 are included.

  The information icon output unit determines the shape, size, color, transparency, internal design, etc. of the information icon. For these decisions, an information icon display method accepting means for accepting designation of the shape, size, etc. of the information icon from the user is prepared in the information icon output unit, and the information icon displayed in this way is displayed. A configuration may be considered in which information icon display method holding means for holding a list of methods is provided, and when the information is displayed, the held display method is appropriately read and output. For example, regarding the design inside the information icon, either “abbreviation” or “face photo” held in the attribute information holding unit in association with the telephone number is displayed, and the user is allowed to select and select either It is good to display what was done inside the information icon. If there is no such selection, the name “Mr” may be displayed as a default.

  The “attribute icon output unit” outputs an attribute icon assigned to the attribute information. An “attribute icon” is associated with attribute information, and is displayed on the screen by abstracting the attribute information with a simple pattern (including characters). A function for starting a program or the like related to attribute information is given. In FIG. 1, the icons include square icons such as icons 0101, 0102, and 0103. The attribute icon output unit determines the shape, size, color, transparency, internal design, etc. of the attribute icon. For these determinations, for example, an attribute icon display method receiving means for receiving designation of the shape, size, etc. of the attribute icon from the user is prepared in the attribute icon output unit, and the received attribute icon It is conceivable to provide an attribute icon display method holding means for holding a list of display methods, and to appropriately read and output the held display method when displaying.

  The information icon and the attribute icon may be provided with a difference in shape, color, and the like so that they can be easily distinguished from each other. In the example of the telephone book of FIG. 1, the information icon is a circle and the attribute icon is a square to distinguish them.

  In the example of the telephone directory of FIG. 1, each icon is drawn in a two-dimensional manner. However, these icons may be expressed three-dimensionally.

  The “layout unit” lays out the information icon and the attribute icon so that the information icon is superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information. “Superposed” “layout” means that all or part of the information icon is placed on the screen so as to overlap the attribute icon so that the relationship between the information and the attribute information becomes clear. A “close” “layout” means that the information icon touches the attribute icon and its outer edge or closes the distance between the outer edges so that the relationship between the information and the attribute information becomes clear. It means that it is arranged.

  As described above, after the information icon is superimposed on the attribute icon or placed close to it, how to arrange the group of the information icon and the attribute icon that are combined in that way on the screen. Various schemes are possible. For example, in FIG. 1, it is decided to display a total of six attribute information (and information belonging to it) in two horizontal rows and three vertical rows on the screen, and the entire display screen is divided into six parts so as to fit on the divided screens. A method of laying out a group of attribute information after adjusting the size of attribute icons or the like if necessary is conceivable. On the other hand, the second method is to determine the size for displaying each group of attribute information first and arrange them in order from one corner of the screen until the space is filled. Various algorithms for such layout are used by Internet browsers and software applications, and these can be used as appropriate in the present invention.

  Another problem with the layout is a processing problem when the display screen is not wide enough for the amount of information to be displayed. One solution is to scroll the screen. In addition to this, there is a method in which one information icon or attribute icon representing information that cannot be displayed or attribute information is automatically created and represented by the one icon. Thus, what is represented by one icon is good to be the structure by which the content is expand | deployed when a user performs some operation with respect to the icon. The layout unit solves the problem of layout by these methods when the display screen is not wide enough for the amount of information to be displayed.

  The “display unit” displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit. The display unit displays video signal output means for converting the image information output from the information icon output unit and the attribute icon output unit and laid out by the layout unit into a video signal and outputs the video signal so that the user can see the video signal. Display means such as a liquid crystal panel and a cathode ray tube. Since these are generally used for information terminals, description thereof is omitted.

  Some information terminal devices display a screen on a display device remote from the information terminal device body. For example, there are models in which a screen display portion and a main body portion can be separated even in a mobile phone, and it is rather common that a personal computer main body and a monitor are separated in a desk-type personal computer. In these cases, it can be understood that the entire body including the main body and the display device is an information terminal device.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment. The user terminal device temporarily stores a “CPU” 0380 for performing various arithmetic processes and search processes, a “hard disk drive device for holding programs and data, an“ external storage device ”0381 such as a ROM, and programs and data. “Memory” 0382 to be stored and held, “Communication interface” 0383 for performing communication via a communication line, and “Input device” 0384 such as a keyboard, mouse, camera, and microphone for receiving information input And a “display device” 0385 such as a liquid crystal panel. These are connected to each other by a “data communication path” 0386 such as a system bus, and perform transmission / reception and processing of information.

  The external storage device holds “information”, “attribute information” and data associated therewith, as well as “information acquisition unit”, “information icon output unit”, “attribute icon output unit”, “layout unit” And an execution program for causing the “display unit” to function. These stored programs and data are read into the memory as necessary, and the CPU executes various arithmetic processes by referring to the programs and data in the memory. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each memory, and in the arithmetic processing of the CPU, it is possible to perform arithmetic processing using data by specifying the address and accessing the stored data. It has become.

<Process of Example 1>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the first embodiment. First, the information acquisition unit acquires information (step 0401). Next, the attribute information holding unit holds attribute information associated with the information (step 0402). Next, the information icon output unit outputs the information icon assigned to the information (step 0403), and the attribute icon output unit outputs the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information (step 0404). Next, the layout unit lays out the information icon and the attribute icon so that the information icon is superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information (step 0405). Finally, the display unit displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit (step 0406). More specific processing methods in each step have already been described in the description of these configurations.

<Effect of Example 1>
The information terminal device according to the first embodiment can display information in an easy-to-understand manner by visual effects in association with the attribute information. Thus, the user can easily find the target information.

<Concept of Example 2>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. Some of the information is extremely important to the user, and some is completely worthless. Since important information is frequently used or it is desired that it is not frequently used but can be used immediately when necessary, highlight it on the information terminal device, etc. It is useful to make it easy to find. In the case of a phone number, a person who frequently communicates frequently or a person who talks frequently recently is a person who is likely to make a call frequently in the near future. Good.

  In FIG. 5, the size of the information icon 0504 related to Noriko who makes frequent calls is large, the size of the information icon 0506 related to the director who makes calls only occasionally is small, and the information icon 0505 related to the mother who makes calls at an average frequency. The size of is displayed in the middle size.

  FIG. 6 is another diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. Here, instead of changing the size of the information icon according to the importance of the information, the shade of the color of the information icon is changed. The information icon of a partner who frequently calls is a light color, and the information icon of a partner who frequently calls is a dark color. For example, the information icon 0604 related to Noriko who makes frequent calls is bright, the information icon 0606 related to the director who makes calls only occasionally is dark, and the information icon 0605 related to the mother who makes calls at an average frequency is intermediate brightness Is displayed. Alternatively, the information icon of the other party who frequently calls may be a warm color, and the information icon of the other party who calls only occasionally may be a cool color.

<Configuration of Example 2>
FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. The information terminal device 0700 according to the second embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 0710, an attribute information holding unit 0711, an information icon output unit 0712, an attribute icon output unit 0713, a layout unit 0714, a display unit 0715, and a first rule. A holding unit 0716 and an information icon output control unit 0717 are included. The information acquisition unit, attribute information holding unit, information icon output unit, attribute icon output unit, layout unit, and display unit are the same as those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the first rule holding unit and the information icon output control unit will be described in detail.

  The “first rule holding unit” holds a first rule for determining the display priority of the information icon output from the information icon output unit on the screen. The “first rule” is a rule for determining the display priority of information icons on the screen. In short, how to determine the importance of information and how the screen is displayed according to the determined importance. It is an agreement on whether to display on top. For example, an arrangement such as “the information icon related to the phone number of the other party who calls frequently is large, and the information icon related to the phone number of the other party who does not appear small” is displayed, or “ It's an arrangement that says, “It ’s bright and the information icon for the other party ’s phone number is dark.” Information that is frequently used is considered to be highly important information for users, and information that is close to the last use date is also a matter related to interests or recent events at that time. Are considered high information, so they are highlighted.

  Or you may utilize the rating and important flag which the user gave to information. For example, when the user adds an important flag to the data of “Company C” in which an important business negotiation is in progress, the information of Company C is highlighted.

  As examples of factors that determine the display priority in the first rule, the usage frequency, the last usage date and time, the rating by the user, and the like have been mentioned, but these may be used alone or in combination. In the case of using them in combination, each factor may be weighted according to the importance of the factor.

  The first rule may be configured to be unchangeable by default, may be configured to be editable by the user, or may be configured to be selected by the user from a number of rules prepared in advance. In the case of a configuration that can be edited by the user, a first rule editing accepting unit for accepting such editing is provided in the first rule holding unit.

  In order to determine the display priority in accordance with the first rule, it is necessary to acquire and retain information that is the basis for the determination. For example, in order to make a determination according to the frequency of use of information, in order to add the number of times of use every time the information is used, with the configuration in which the number of times of use is stored in the attribute information holding unit. The adding means is provided in the information acquisition unit. Similarly, in order to make a determination according to the last use date and time, the acquisition date and time are set in the attribute information holding unit together with the information, and the time acquisition means for acquiring the time when the information was acquired Is provided in the information acquisition unit.

  The “information icon output control unit” controls output of the information icon according to the display priority determined by the first rule. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the size of the information icon is changed according to the display priority, or the density or color of the information icon is changed according to the display priority as shown in FIG. An instruction is given to the information icon output unit so as to be changed. The “information icon output unit” outputs an information icon by changing the size, color, etc. in accordance with such an instruction given by the information icon output control unit.

  The “layout section” may be configured to change the arrangement of the information icons on the attribute icons according to the display priority. For example, in FIG. 5, when information icons are arranged on the attribute icon in a superimposed manner, if the information icons are arranged from the upper left in the order of the highest display priority, the importance level can be determined at a glance depending on the arrangement order of the information icons. Will be able to judge.

  As described in the first embodiment, there is a method for representing a plurality of pieces of information as a single information icon automatically created as “other information” as a countermeasure when the screen size is not sufficient compared with the amount of information to be displayed. . In the information terminal device according to the second embodiment, information having a low display priority can be selected as information to be included in “other information”. Alternatively, a configuration in which display on the screen of a display with a low display priority is omitted is also possible.

  The hardware configuration of the information terminal device of the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The external storage device further holds the data of the first rule and the execution program of the information icon output control unit.

<Process of Example 2>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the second embodiment. First, the information acquisition unit acquires information (step 0801). Next, the attribute information holding unit holds attribute information associated with the information (step 0802). On the other hand, the first rule holding unit holds the first rule for determining the display priority of the information icon output from the information icon output unit on the screen (step 0803). Next, while the information icon output control unit controls the output of the information icon according to the display priority determined by the first rule (step 0804), the information icon output unit outputs the information icon assigned to the information. (Step 0805). Next, the attribute icon output unit outputs the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information (step 0806). Next, the layout unit lays out the information icon and the attribute icon so that the information icon is superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information (step 0807). Finally, the display unit displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit (step 0808). More specific processing methods in each step have already been described in the description of these configurations.

<Effect of Example 2>
The information terminal device according to the second embodiment can display information in an easy-to-understand manner through visual effects by associating information with the attribute information and highlighting the information according to the importance of the information. Thus, the user can easily find out the target information.

<Concept of Example 3>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the third embodiment. The information terminal device according to the second embodiment highlights important information, but the information terminal device according to the third embodiment assigns priorities to the attributes associated with the information, and attribute information according to the priorities. By displaying the above, the efficiency of information retrieval is improved. FIG. 9 shows the phone book as in FIG. 1, but the arrangement order of groups and the display size thereof are different from those in FIG. The attribute icon 0908 related to the friend is arranged at the upper left and is displayed larger than the attribute icons related to other groups. The friend group contains information icons 0907 and 0909 for two people who frequently make calls, and because there are many people included in the group, it is determined that it is the most important group and such a display is displayed. Is going. On the other hand, the attribute icon 0930 relating to a restaurant does not include an important information icon and the number of associated information is small, so that the attribute icon 0930 is considered to be the least important and is displayed small in the lower right.

<Configuration of Example 3>
FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the information terminal device according to the third embodiment. The information terminal device 1000 according to the third embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 1010, an attribute information holding unit 1011, an information icon output unit 1012, an attribute icon output unit 1013, a layout unit 1014, a display unit 1015, and a first rule. A holding unit 1016, an information icon output control unit 1017, a second rule holding unit 1018, and an attribute icon output control unit 1019 are included. The information acquisition unit, attribute information holding unit, information icon output unit, attribute icon output unit, layout unit, display unit, first rule holding unit, and information icon output control unit are the same as those in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the second rule holding unit and the attribute icon output control unit will be described in detail.

  The “second rule holding unit” holds a second rule for determining the display priority of the attribute icon output from the attribute icon output unit on the screen. The “second rule” is a rule for determining the display priority of the attribute icon on the screen. In short, how to determine the importance of the attribute information and how it is determined according to the determined importance. It is an agreement on whether to display on the screen. For example, an agreement such as “The more attribute information contains the phone number of the other party who calls frequently, the larger the attribute icon, the smaller the icon is displayed.” The attribute icon is brighter as it is associated, and darker in other cases. That is, attribute information associated with important information is considered as important attribute information, and attribute information associated with a lot of information is also considered as important attribute information, and these are highlighted.

  Or you may utilize the rating and important flag which the user gave to attribute information. For example, when the user decides to enjoy tennis during the summer vacation and adds an important flag to the “tennis” group, the attribute icon of the tennis companion is highlighted.

  As an example of the factors that determine the display priority in the second rule, the importance, number and rating by the user of the information associated with the attribute information are given, but these may be used alone or in combination. Good. In the case of using them in combination, each factor may be weighted according to the importance of the factor.

  Such a rule may be configured to be unchangeable by default, may be configured to be editable by the user, or may be configured to be selected by the user from among several rules prepared in advance. In the case of a configuration that can be edited by the user, a second rule edit accepting unit for accepting such editing is provided in the second rule holding unit.

  The “attribute icon output control unit” controls the output of the attribute icon according to the display priority determined by the second rule. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the size of the attribute icon is changed according to the display priority, or the shape, color shade, color, etc. of the attribute icon are changed according to the display priority. In this way, an instruction is given to the attribute icon output unit. In addition, when the attribute icon output control unit determines that the amount of information of the attribute icons that can be displayed is too large, the attribute icon output control unit may not display the one with a low display priority, or may alternatively be represented by one attribute icon. You may comprise. The “attribute icon output unit” outputs the attribute icon by changing the size, shape, color shade, color, and the like in accordance with such an instruction given by the attribute icon output control unit.

  The “layout unit” may be configured to change the arrangement of the attribute icons according to the display priority as shown in FIG. By doing so, the importance of the attribute can be determined at a glance by the size of the attribute icon and the order in which the icon is arranged.

  As a countermeasure when the screen size is not sufficient compared with the amount of information to be displayed, there is a method in which a plurality of attribute information is represented by one information icon automatically created as “other attribute information” in the first embodiment. Stated. In the information terminal device according to the third embodiment, information having a low display priority can be selected as information included in the “other attribute information”. Alternatively, a configuration in which display on the screen of a display with a low display priority is omitted is also possible.

<Process of Example 3>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the third embodiment. First, the information acquisition unit acquires information (step 1101). Next, the attribute information holding unit holds the attribute information associated with the information (step 1102). On the other hand, the first rule holding unit holds the first rule for determining the display priority of the information icon output from the information icon output unit on the screen (step 1103), and the second rule holding unit has the attribute The second rule for determining the display priority of the attribute icon output from the icon output unit on the screen is held (step 1104). Next, while the information icon output control unit controls the output of the information icon according to the display priority determined by the first rule (step 1105), the information icon output unit outputs the information icon assigned to the information. (Step 1106). Next, the attribute icon output control unit controls the output of the attribute icon according to the display priority determined by the second rule (step 1107), and the attribute icon output unit displays the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information. Output (step 1108). Next, the layout unit lays out the information icon and the attribute icon so that the information icon is superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information (step 1109). Finally, the display unit displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit (step 1110). More specific processing methods in each step have already been described in the description of these configurations.

<Effect of Example 3>
The information terminal device according to the third embodiment can display information in an easy-to-understand manner in association with the attribute information. Then, by highlighting the information according to the importance of the information and highlighting the attribute information according to the importance of the attribute information, these can be displayed more easily by the visual effect. Thus, the user can find out the target information more easily.

<Concept of Example 4>
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment. In the information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment, the liquid crystal panel is a touch panel, and the user can perform various operations by directly touching the screen. The screen of the terminal device according to the fourth embodiment has a screen configuration as shown in FIG. 5 in a state where the touch panel is not touched (in this case, highlighting by attributes is not performed for the sake of simplicity and clarification). However, when the user touches and touches the attribute icon 1201 representing the family group, the attribute icon representing the family group is enlarged as shown in FIG. At this time, the other attribute icons are reduced and displayed in order to give the screen space to the family group attribute icons. Since the screen of the information terminal device is not large and is not suitable for a fine operation, the operability of the touch panel is greatly improved by enlarging the icon to be operated in this way. The information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment is characterized in that the operation by the user is thus detected and the screen layout is changed accordingly.

  The selected attribute icon is reduced and displayed as necessary, but an operation for the selected icon can be accepted even when the attribute icon is displayed in a reduced size. In the conventional information terminal device, information other than the selected information disappears from the screen, and it is necessary to move to another information while moving up and down the information hierarchy. It can be omitted.

<Configuration of Example 4>
FIG. 13 is a functional configuration diagram of the information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment. The information terminal device 1300 according to the fourth embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 1310, an attribute information holding unit 1311, an information icon output unit 1312, an attribute icon output unit 1313, a layout unit 1314, a display unit 1315, and a first rule. A holding unit 1316, an information icon output control unit 1317, a second rule holding unit 1318, an attribute icon output control unit 1319, a first detection unit 1320, a second detection unit 1321, and a layout control unit 1322 are included. . Information acquisition unit, attribute information holding unit, information icon output unit, attribute icon output unit, layout unit, display unit, first rule holding unit, information icon output control unit, second rule holding unit and attribute icon output control unit, It is the same as that of Example 3. Hereinafter, the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the layout control unit will be described in detail.

  The “first detection unit” detects a user input to the information icon. Further, the “second detection unit” detects a user input to the attribute icon. In the example of FIG. 13, touching the attribute icon on the touch panel corresponds to “user input to the information icon”. Specifically, the coordinates touched by the user on the touch panel are specified, and when the coordinates are included in the area of the information icon, it is determined that there is an input to the icon. In addition, the touch panel input includes various inputs such as tapping and rubbing as well as a simple touch operation, and these different types of inputs may be identified and detected.

  As a method of detecting user input, in addition to the touch panel, a method of detecting a button operation performed by moving a pointer displayed on the screen using a mouse or a keyboard and pointing the pointer to an icon is common. It is. A game machine or the like also uses a method of detecting a button operation performed while the pointer is pointing to an icon by moving the pointer in accordance with the direction of infrared rays emitted toward the screen from a wireless remote controller.

  The “layout control unit” controls the layout unit in accordance with detection by the first detection unit and / or the second detection unit. For various inputs as described above, you can enlarge the icon that is the target of the operation, change its shape, color, and transparency, reduce other icons accordingly, and change its shape, color, and transparency. Various processing methods are conceivable, such as changing the arrangement of all these icons. And it can also be made to make a user perform operation on a screen happily by performing these processes so that it may flow continuously. The layout control unit performs these processes according to a predetermined rule. Specifically, the predetermined rule can be realized by providing such a rule holding means or such a rule editing means in the layout control unit.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram in a case where information is additionally displayed on the attribute information expanded by the information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment. That is, in the example of FIG. 12, only the attribute icon of the selected “family” group and the information icon of the owner of the telephone number belonging to it are enlarged and displayed, but in FIG. On the attribute icon 1401, an information icon 1431 related to “Father” that was not displayed before the enlargement is additionally displayed. Thus, it is good also as a structure which displays additional information using the space created by expanding.

  Also, as a process when the display screen is not sufficient compared to the information to be displayed, there is a method of representing information that cannot be displayed with one “other” information icon, but the attribute icon has been expanded. When displayed, the “other” information icon may disappear, and instead, the content information represented by the “other” information icon may be expanded and displayed on the attribute icon.

  The above example is processing when an operation is performed on an attribute icon, that is, when a user input is detected by the second detection unit. On the other hand, as an example of processing when an operation is performed on an information icon, that is, when a user input is detected by the first detection unit, there is the following. When the user touches the “Niko” information icon on the screen, the icon is enlarged, and Noriko's telephone number and mail address are displayed inside the icon. At this time, if necessary, the attribute icons of the “family” group are enlarged and the attribute icons of the other groups are reduced. Alternatively, when the user touches the “other” information icon, the “other” information icon disappears, and instead, the content information that it represents is expanded and displayed on the attribute icon. Also in this case, if necessary, the attribute icon to which the “other” information icon belongs is enlarged, and the attribute icon of the other group is reduced.

<Process of Example 4>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment. The processing from the start is the same as that of the third embodiment in steps 1101 to 1108 in FIG. When the first detection unit detects a user input to the information icon (step 1509) or the second detection unit detects a user input to the attribute icon (step 1510), the layout control unit performs the first detection unit and / or the first detection unit. While controlling the layout unit in response to detection by the two detection units (step 1511), the layout unit converts the information icon and attribute icon to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information. A layout is displayed so as to be superimposed or displayed close to each other (step 1512). Finally, the display unit displays information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit (step 1513). More specific processing methods in each step have already been described in the description of these configurations.

<Effect of Example 4>
The information terminal device according to the fourth embodiment can display information in an easy-to-understand manner in association with the attribute information. Then, by highlighting the information according to the importance of the information and highlighting the attribute information according to the importance of the attribute information, these can be displayed more easily by the visual effect. Furthermore, the operability is enhanced by enlarging the display according to the user's operation. Thus, the user can find out the target information more easily.

0100 Information terminal device 0101 Attribute icon related to family group 0102 Attribute icon related to company group 0103 Attribute icon related to tennis companion group 0104 Information icon related to Noriko 0105 Information icon related to mother 0106 Information icon related to general manager 0190 Display screen

Claims (4)

An information acquisition unit for acquiring information;
An attribute information holding unit for holding attribute information associated with the information;
An information icon output unit for outputting an information icon assigned to the information;
An attribute icon output unit for outputting an attribute icon assigned to the attribute information;
A layout unit that lays out the information icon and the attribute icon so that the information icon is superimposed on or close to the attribute icon assigned to the attribute information associated with the information;
A display unit for displaying information icons and attribute icons laid out by the layout unit;
An information terminal device. A first rule holding unit for holding a first rule for determining the display priority of the information icon output from the information icon output unit;
An information icon output control unit for controlling the output of the information icon according to the display priority determined by the first rule;
The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A second rule holding unit for holding a second rule for determining the display priority of the attribute icon output from the attribute icon output unit;
An attribute icon output control unit for controlling the output of the attribute icon according to the display priority determined by the second rule;
The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A first detector for detecting user input to the information icon;
A second detector for detecting user input to the attribute icon;
The information terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a layout control unit that controls the layout unit in response to detection by the first detection unit or / and the second detection unit.