JP2013097448A - Display control unit, method for controlling display control unit and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it recognized that a setting or an operation instruction by a menu allocated to a shortcut key is invalid and to prevent false recognition that a defect occurs in the shortcut key.SOLUTION: A display control unit comprises: specific operation means for displaying a specific menu from a hierarchical menu composed of a plurality of menus for performing a setting or an operation instruction regarding a display control unit; and display control means for controlling: to display a specific menu in display means if the specific operation means is operated in a state where a setting or an operation instruction by the specific menu is possible; to display a menu higher in a hierarchy than the specific menu in the display means if the specific operation means is operated in a state where a setting or an operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible; and to display that a menu item to shift to the specific menu is invalid, in a recognizable manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control device, a control method for a display control device, a program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, devices such as a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a mobile phone have become highly functional and multifunctional, and functions have been enlarged. The user interface for the user to use according to the enlargement of functions is also enlarged. For example, in a hierarchical menu generally known as a user interface, the hierarchy is deepened and the number of menu items is increased. As a result, it is necessary to go down several levels or scroll through many screens before reaching the target menu item. Accordingly, there is a problem that many operations are required until the target menu item is reached, which takes time.

  To deal with such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses an information recording / reproducing apparatus including an exterior key that can be freely assigned a function according to a user's preference. By assigning a shortcut function that directly opens a specific menu screen to an exterior key, it becomes possible to display a menu that is repeatedly used with a single key operation, thereby improving usability.

JP 2008-203910 A

  On the other hand, when a user selects a menu item and performs device setting or operation instruction, the setting or operation instruction may be valid or invalid depending on the operation state of the device. When the selected setting or operation instruction is invalid, the menu is not displayed even if the menu item is selected. Therefore, even if the shortcut key to which the shortcut function is assigned is operated, the assigned menu is not displayed. In other words, since the shortcut function does not operate even when the shortcut key is operated, the user cannot determine whether the selected setting or operation instruction is invalid or whether the shortcut key is defective. There is. In addition, even when the user wants to check the setting state of the device by operating the exterior key, the setting state using the shortcut key cannot be checked if the setting or operation instruction is invalid. is there.

  Note that the information recording / reproducing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 discloses an operation when the menu screen is opened, but how to perform processing when the menu setting or operation instruction to be displayed is invalid. Is not disclosed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and allows the user to recognize that the setting or operation instruction by the menu assigned to the shortcut key is invalid, causing a problem with the shortcut key. The purpose is to prevent misrecognition.

  The display control device according to the present invention includes a specific operation unit that displays a specific menu among hierarchical menus configured by a plurality of menus for performing settings or operation instructions related to the display control device, and the specific menu. When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction can be performed, the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and the specification is performed in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible When the operating means is operated, a higher-level menu than the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and the menu item for shifting to the specific menu is displayed in an identifiable manner. Display control means for controlling as described above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to cause the user to recognize that the setting or operation instruction by the menu assigned to the specific operation means is invalid, and to prevent erroneous recognition that the specific operation means is defective.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the external appearance of a display control apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a display control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a menu screen. It is a flowchart which shows the menu display process of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a menu screen. It is a flowchart which shows the menu display process of 2nd Embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a digital video camera will be described as an example of the display control device.
<First Embodiment>
The digital video camera according to the first embodiment performs an operation of displaying a menu assigned to a shortcut key in response to pressing of the shortcut key.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the digital video camera 100.
The digital video camera 100 includes a display unit 101, a shooting button 102, a mode switch 103, an operation unit 104, a controller wheel 104a, a power switch 105, a recording medium 106, a recording medium slot 107, a lid 108, a connector 109, and the like.

  The display unit 101 displays images and various information. The shooting button 102 is a button for the user to give a shooting instruction. The mode changeover switch 103 is a switch for the user to change the operation mode of the digital video camera 100, and details thereof will be described later. The operation unit 104 includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel that receive various operations by the user. The operation unit 104 includes a controller wheel 104a that can be rotated. The power switch 105 is used for switching the power of the digital video camera 100 on and off. The recording medium 106 is a semiconductor memory, a memory card, a magnetic disk, a hard disk, or the like. The recording medium slot 107 is a slot for storing the recording medium 106. The recording medium 106 stored in the recording medium slot 107 is capable of communicating with the digital video camera 100 and records video shot by the digital video camera 100. The lid 108 is for closing the recording medium slot 107. The connector 109 connects the connection cable 110 and the digital video camera 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital video camera 100. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.
The digital video camera 100 includes a photographing lens 201, an imaging unit 202, an A / D converter 203, a barrier 204, an image processing unit 205, a memory control unit 206, a system control unit 207, a memory 208, and a D / A converter 209. doing. The digital video camera 100 also includes a nonvolatile memory 210, a backup memory 211, a system memory 212, a system timer 213, a power control unit 214, a power supply unit 215, and a recording medium I / F 216.

  The photographing lens 201 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The imaging unit 202 is an imaging device configured by a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The A / D converter 203 converts the analog signal output from the imaging unit 202 into a digital signal. The barrier 204 covers the imaging system including the imaging lens 201 of the digital video camera 100, thereby preventing the imaging system including the imaging lens 201 and the imaging unit 202 from becoming dirty or damaged.

  The image processing unit 205 performs resizing processing and color conversion processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction on the image data from the A / D converter 203 or the image data from the memory control unit 206. The image processing unit 205 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 207 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Further, the image processing unit 205 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  Image data from the A / D converter 203 is directly written into the memory 208 via the image processing unit 205 and the memory control unit 206 or via the memory control unit 206. The memory 208 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 202 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 203 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 101. The memory 208 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time. The memory 208 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). The D / A converter 209 converts the display image data stored in the memory 208 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 101. Display image data written in the memory 208 is displayed on the display unit 101 via the D / A converter 209.

  The display unit 101 performs display according to an analog signal from the D / A converter 209 on a display such as an LCD. A digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 203 and stored in the memory 208 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 209, and sequentially transferred to the display unit 101 for display as an electronic viewfinder. It functions and can display through images.

  The non-volatile memory 210 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, for example, an EEPROM. In the nonvolatile memory 210, constants and programs for operating the system control unit 207 are recorded. This program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment. The backup memory 211 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or an SRAM is used. User setting information and the like are recorded in the backup memory 211.

  A system control unit 207 controls the entire digital video camera 100. The system control unit 207 executes the program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 210 described above, thereby realizing each process of the present embodiment described later. For example, a RAM is used as the system memory 212. In the system memory 212, constants and variables for operating the system control unit 207, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 210, and the like are expanded. The system control unit 207 also performs display control by controlling the memory 208, the D / A converter 209, the display unit 101, and the like.

The system timer 213 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock. The shooting button 102, the mode changeover switch 103, and the operation unit 104 are for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 207. Note that the shooting button 102 and the mode switch 103 can be configured as a part of the operation unit 104.
The mode switch 103 is a switch for switching the operation mode of the system control unit 207 to any one of a shooting mode (still image shooting mode, moving image shooting mode), a playback mode, and the like. Modes included in the still image shooting mode include an auto shooting mode, an auto scene discrimination mode, a manual mode, various scene modes for shooting settings for each shooting scene, a program AE mode, and a custom mode. The mode switch 103 can directly switch to any of the above modes included in the still image shooting mode. Note that after switching to the still image shooting mode once by the mode switching switch 103, it may be configured to switch to any of these modes included in the still image shooting mode using another operation member. Similarly, the moving image shooting mode may include a plurality of modes.

  The system control unit 207 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 202 to writing image data in the recording medium 106 by the shooting button 102. Each operation member of the operation unit 104 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 101, and functions as various function keys. Examples of the function keys include an end key, a return key, an image advance key, a jump key, a narrow key, an attribute change key, a shortcut key, and a menu key. For example, when a menu key is pressed, various setting menus are displayed on the display unit 101. The user can make various settings intuitively using the menu displayed on the display unit 101 and the up / down / left / right cross keys and set keys.

The shortcut key is an operation member for opening a specific menu among the menus having a hierarchical structure in the present embodiment. A plurality of shortcut keys may be provided, and different menus can be assigned to the plurality of shortcut keys.
The menu key is an operation member for opening the same menu as when the top menu of the menu having a hierarchical structure (the menu of the highest hierarchy) or the previous menu was closed.
Here, various keys are described as operation members provided on the exterior of the digital video camera 100, but the same effect can be obtained by operating soft keys using a touch panel.

  The controller wheel 104a is an operation member included in the operation unit 104, and is used when a selection item is designated together with a direction button. When the controller wheel 104a is rotated, an electrical pulse signal is generated according to the operation amount, and the system control unit 207 controls each unit of the digital video camera 100 based on the pulse signal. Based on this pulse signal, it is possible to determine the angle at which the controller wheel 104a is rotated, how many rotations, and the like. The controller wheel 104a may be any operation member that can detect a rotation operation. For example, it may be a dial operation member that generates a pulse signal by rotating the controller wheel 104a itself in accordance with a user's rotation operation. Further, it may be an operation member such as a touch sensor, which may be a so-called touch wheel that does not rotate the controller wheel 104a itself and detects a rotation operation of the user's finger on the controller wheel 104a.

  The power control unit 214 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power control unit 214 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 207, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 106 for a necessary period. The power supply unit 215 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. The recording medium I / F 216 is an interface with the recording medium 106.

Next, a menu for performing various settings and operation instructions regarding the digital video camera 100 used in the present embodiment will be described.
The menu used in this embodiment is a hierarchical menu (hierarchical menu), and items that can be set are classified according to the type of function. The hierarchical menu is composed of a grouped lower hierarchy menu and an upper hierarchy menu including menu items that serve as an entrance for shifting to the lower hierarchy menu. The top-level (first-level) menu, that is, the top menu, includes menu items such as “Camera Setup”, “Audio Setup”, “Video Setup”, “Other Functions”, and “Custom Menu”.

  Here, when the “Other Functions” menu item is selected in the top menu, the “Other Functions” menu (second-level menu) that is one layer below the top menu is displayed. The menu of “Other Functions” includes menu items of “Reset”, “Time Zone”, “Clock Set”, “WFM”, “Language”, and “Wireless Controller”, for example. Furthermore, the “Other Functions” menu includes menu items such as “Tally Lamp”, “Media Access LED”, “NTSC / PAL”, “Bit Rate / Resolution”, and “Frame Rate”.

Next, when “Reset” included in the second-level menu is selected, a “Reset” menu (third-level menu) one level lower is displayed. The “Reset” menu includes menu items such as “CF-A”, “CF-B”, and “SD-CARD”. That is, the “Reset” menu is a menu for selecting the CF card A, CF card B, or SD card as the recording medium to be initialized.
Next, when “SD-CARD” included in the third layer menu is selected, a menu “SD-CARD” (fourth layer menu) that is one layer lower is displayed. The “SD-CARD” menu includes menu items such as “execute” and “cancel” as setting value candidates, for example. By selecting and determining one of these, the operation or setting indicated by the set value candidate is executed. For example, when “execution” of “SD-CARD” is instructed, the SD card is initialized (formatted) among the plurality of recording media 106 attached to the digital video camera 100. Here, there is no lower layer than the “SD-CARD” menu, and the “SD-CARD” menu is the lowest-level menu.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a menu screen displayed on the display unit 101.
FIG. 3A shows a display example in which menu items in the upper layer up to the menu in the lower layer are displayed when the menu in the lower layer is displayed. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 301 denotes a menu item in each layer, and reference numeral 302 denotes a set value candidate that can be set in the third layer menu D. In FIG. 3 (A), a partly hatched line indicates that setting values constituting the third layer menu D are selected in order from the first layer menu D, the second layer menu C, and the third layer menu D. The setting value candidate 3 is selected from the candidates 1 to 3. This menu screen is a menu for selecting any one of the setting value candidates 1 to 3, and is a menu D in the third hierarchy of the lowest hierarchy.

  FIG. 3B is another display example of the menu screen, which is a display example that displays the menu name of the lowest hierarchy and a list of setting value candidates as menu items. In FIG. 3B, reference numeral 303 denotes a setting value candidate that can be set in the menu D in the third hierarchy, and reference numeral 304 denotes a cursor for indicating the selected setting value candidate. The menu name is a menu one level above and matches the name of the menu item for opening the menu at the lowest level. As described above, FIG. 3B is a display example in which the menu items in the upper hierarchy up to the menu in the lower hierarchy as shown in FIG. 3A are not displayed.

  FIG. 3C is another display example of the menu screen, which is a display example that displays the menu items of the second-level menu C that is one level higher than the third-level menu D. In FIG. 3C, reference numeral 305 denotes a menu item of the second hierarchy menu C, which is an option for selecting the third hierarchy menus A to D in the same hierarchy as the third hierarchy menu D. Here, when the processing in the third layer menu D shown in FIG. 3A is executed or canceled and the menu is shifted to the menu on the first layer, the menu item of the third layer menu D that has been operated until then is selected. In this state, the second layer menu C on the first layer is displayed.

In the digital video camera 100 of this embodiment, an arbitrary menu among the menus at the lowest hierarchy can be assigned to each of the plurality of shortcut keys. When the user presses the shortcut key to which the lowest-level menu is assigned, the assigned menu can be opened immediately.
For example, when a shortcut key to which the third-level menu D is assigned is pressed, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B is displayed. As a result, it is possible to omit an operation from the top menu or the like to lower the hierarchy to open the menu of the third hierarchy menu D, and a desired menu can be quickly opened.

Next, a method (registration method) for assigning menus to shortcut keys will be described.
First, the user selects a menu item “assign (assignment)” included in any of the menus via the operation unit 104. The system control unit 207 displays options as setting value candidates for selecting which shortcut key to assign the menu to. Here, for example, “shortcut key A”, “shortcut key B”, “shortcut key C”, and the like are displayed as options.
Next, the user uses the cross key to select a shortcut key to which a menu is to be assigned and presses the set key. The system control unit 207 displays a menu for selecting which menu is assigned to the selected shortcut key. This is almost the same menu as the top menu described above.

  The user shifts from the displayed menu to a lower-level menu via the operation unit 104, and presses the set key while selecting a desired lowest-level menu. The system control unit 207 assigns the selected menu to the shortcut key, associates the menu with the shortcut key, and records them in the backup memory 211 as shortcut function information. Note that the shortcut function information recorded in the backup memory 211 is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 210 before the system control unit 207 turns off the power of the digital video camera 100. Therefore, even when the power is turned on again next time, the same assignment is reproduced.

  Next, an operation of the digital video camera 100 that can prevent erroneous recognition that the shortcut key is defective when the menu setting or operation instruction assigned to the shortcut key is invalid will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating menu display processing according to the first embodiment. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the system control unit 207 developing and executing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 210 in the system memory 212.

  First, in step S401, the system control unit 207 detects whether or not a shortcut key of the operation unit 104 is pressed by the user. When the system control unit 207 detects that any one of the plurality of shortcut keys is pressed, the process proceeds to step S402. On the other hand, if the system control unit 207 does not detect that the shortcut key is pressed and detects an operation other than the shortcut key, the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S402, the system control unit 207 acquires information on the menu assigned to the shortcut key pressed in step S401 from the shortcut function information recorded in the backup memory 211. In addition, the system control unit 207 acquires a condition (hereinafter, referred to as a setting impossible condition) that disables setting or operation instruction in the assigned menu, and proceeds to step S403.
In step S403, the system control unit 207 determines whether the setting disable condition acquired in step S402 is satisfied, that is, whether the setting or operation instruction can be performed on the menu assigned to the sheet cut key acquired in step S402. Determine whether or not. If setting or operation instruction is possible, the process proceeds to step S404, and if impossible, the process proceeds to step S405.
In step S404, the system control unit 207 displays a menu corresponding to the menu information acquired in step S402 on the display unit 101. For example, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B is displayed on the display portion 101.

  On the other hand, in step S405, the system control unit 207 displays on the display unit 101 a menu one level higher than the menu corresponding to the menu information acquired in step S402. At this time, the system control unit 207 displays a menu item for shifting to the menu assigned to the shortcut key acquired in step S402 among the menu items displayed on the menu one level above. Further, the system control unit 207 displays the menu item in a different display form so that the user can identify that the menu item in the selected state is currently not settable, for example, by graying out the menu item.

  FIG. 5 shows a display example when it is determined that the menu assigned to the shortcut key is “third level menu D” and setting or operation instruction on the menu of “third level menu D” is impossible. It is. In FIG. 5, a menu of “second layer menu C” that is one layer higher than the menu of “third layer menu D” is displayed. Further, among the menu items of the third layer menus A to D, the menu item “third layer menu D” for shifting to the “third layer menu D” is grayed out to identify the disabled state. It is displayed as possible. Even if the user presses the set key in this state, the system control unit 207 does not shift to the “third layer menu D” menu.

  For example, if the above-mentioned “SD-CARD” is assigned to the shortcut key and no SD card is inserted, the setting relating to “SD-CARD” cannot be performed. Therefore, the system control unit 207 opens a “Reset” menu that is one level higher than the “SD-CARD” menu. Next, the system control unit 207 selects “SD-CARD” after graying out “SD-CARD” from the displayed “CF-A”, “CF-B”, and “SD-CARD” menu items. Display in the state. Accordingly, the user can recognize that the menu assigned to the shortcut key is “SD-CARD” and can recognize that the menu of “SD-CARD” cannot be opened because it cannot be used at present.

On the other hand, in step S406, the system control unit 207 detects whether or not the menu key of the operation unit 104 is pressed by the user. If the menu key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S407. If the menu key is not pressed, the process returns to step S401.
In step S407, the system control unit 207 displays the top menu or the menu that was displayed immediately before the menu was closed last time. Specifically, the system control unit 207 opens the top menu when the menu key is pressed for the first time after the digital video camera 100 is turned on, and if not, immediately before the last time the menu was closed. Open the menu that was displayed in. Therefore, in order to perform such processing, the system control unit 207 records, in the system memory 212, information on the menu displayed immediately before the menu is closed.

  In step S <b> 408, the system control unit 207 performs processing according to an operation (menu operation) performed by the user via the operation unit 104. That is, when the user selects a menu item by operating with the up and down keys of the cross key and presses the set key, the system control unit 207 executes the selected menu item. Specifically, if the selected menu item is the lowest-level menu, the system control unit 207 reflects the setting value or executes an operation instruction indicated by the menu item. If the selected menu item is not the lowest-level menu, the system control unit 207 opens the lower-level menu that is the selected menu item. Further, the system control unit 207 opens a higher-level menu when the selected menu item is a return button.

In step S409, the system control unit 207 detects whether or not the menu key of the operation unit 104 is pressed by the user. If the menu key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S410, and if not, the process returns to step S408.
In step S410, the system control unit 207 closes the displayed menu, hides it (cancels the display), returns to the display state before the menu is displayed, and ends the process.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the menu is displayed by pressing the shortcut key regardless of whether the setting of the menu assigned to the shortcut key and the operation instruction are possible or not. That is, the menu can be opened even when setting of the menu assigned to the shortcut key and operation instruction are impossible. At this time, it is displayed so that it is possible to identify that the setting or operation instruction on the menu assigned to the shortcut key is impossible, and the user can recognize it. Therefore, the user can prevent misrecognition that the shortcut key has a problem such as the menu is not normally registered in the shortcut key or the shortcut key is broken.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the menu assigned to the shortcut key cannot be set and the operation instruction cannot be performed. If the menu or the operation instruction one level above the menu cannot be set, further Displays the higher-level menu. Note that the digital video camera of the present embodiment is the same as the description of FIGS. 1 to 3 described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating menu display processing according to the second embodiment. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the system control unit 207 developing and executing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 210 in the system memory 212.

Steps S601 to S604, S606, and S607 illustrated in FIG. 6 are the same processes as steps S401 to S404, S406, and S407 illustrated in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
In step S608, the system control unit 207 acquires information on the menu on the N (initial value N = 1) layer of the menu acquired in step S602 and the setting impossible condition.
In step S609, the system control unit 207 determines whether or not the setting disable condition acquired in step S608 is satisfied, that is, whether or not the menu acquired in step S602 can be set or instructed in the menu on the N hierarchy. Determine whether. If setting or operation instruction is possible, the process proceeds to step S610, and if impossible, the process proceeds to step S614.

In step S610, the system control unit 207 displays the menu on the N layer of the menu acquired in step S602 on the display unit 101, and proceeds to step SS611. Steps S611 to S613 are the same processes as steps S411 to S413 illustrated in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
In step S614, the system control unit 207 determines whether the menu acquired in step S608 is a top-level menu, that is, a top menu. If it is the menu of the highest hierarchy, the process proceeds to step S616, and if it is not the menu of the highest hierarchy, the process proceeds to step S615.

In step S615, the system control unit 207 adds 1 to N in order to raise another hierarchy, and proceeds to step S608.
On the other hand, in step S616, the system control unit 207 displays a warning display on the display unit 101 indicating that there is no menu having a menu item that can be set or instructed such as “shortcut function cannot be executed”.
In step S617, the system control unit 207 counts the display time of the warning display displayed in step S616, and determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S619. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S618.

In step S618, the system control unit 207 detects whether or not the user has pressed a shortcut key in the operation unit 104. If it is detected that the shortcut key has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S619. If it is not detected that the shortcut key has been pressed, the process returns to step S617. Note that the shortcut key detected in step S618 may be a determination as to whether or not the same shortcut key as the shortcut key pressed in step S601 has been pressed.
In step S619, the system control unit 207 hides the warning display displayed on the display unit 101 (releases the display), and ends the menu display process.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, menu settings and operation instructions assigned to shortcut keys are invalid, and when displaying a higher-level menu, up to a higher-level menu for which settings and operation instructions are valid. Raise and display. In other words, if the menu setting or operation instruction assigned to the shortcut key is invalid, the lowermost hierarchy having menu items that can be set or operated among the menus higher than the menu assigned to the shortcut key. Display the menu. Therefore, the user can omit an operation until a menu having a menu item that can be set and an operation instruction is opened, and can quickly move to that menu. This can further improve user convenience.

  Moreover, although each embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the case where a shortcut function was allocated and used for the shortcut key which is a specific key, it is not restricted to this case. That is, even if a shortcut key that cannot change the menu assignment is applied to the present embodiment, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

The control of the system control unit 207 described above may be performed by one hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of hardware sharing the processing.
Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. It is. Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is used in a digital video camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and a specific menu is specified among hierarchical menus composed of a plurality of menus. The present invention can be applied to a display control device that displays an operation by operating means. That is, the present invention can be applied to a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a printer device including a display, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, and the like.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, a process for supplying a program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code It is. In this case, the program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program constitute the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Digital video camera 101: Display part 102: Shooting button 103: Mode change switch 104: Operation part 105: Power switch 106: Recording medium 107: Recording medium slot 108: Cover 109: Connector 201: Shooting lens 202: Imaging part 203 : A / D converter 204: Barrier 205: Image processing unit 206: Memory control unit 207: System control unit 208: Memory 209: D / A converter 210: Non-volatile memory 211: Backup memory 212: System memory 213: System Timer 214: Power supply control unit 215: Power supply unit 216: Recording medium I / F

Claims (15)

A specific operation means for displaying a specific menu among hierarchical menus composed of a plurality of menus for performing settings or operation instructions related to the display control device;
When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is possible, the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible. When the specific operation means is operated in a state, a menu higher than the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and the menu item for moving to the specific menu is identified as invalid. Display control means for controlling the display to be possible;
A display control device comprising:   The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that assigns one of the plurality of menus as the specific menu to the specific operation unit based on an operation by a user. A plurality of the specific operation means;
The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different menus are respectively assigned to the plurality of specific operation means. The display control means includes
4. The menu item according to claim 1, wherein the menu item is displayed in gray out so that it can be identified that the menu item for shifting to the specific menu is invalid. Display controller. The display control means includes
When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible, a menu one level higher than the specific menu is displayed, and setting or operation instruction is not possible. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein possible menu items are displayed in gray out. The display control means includes
When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible, a menu item in which setting or operation instruction is possible among the menus higher than the specific menu 5. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a menu item at the lowest level having a menu is displayed, and menu items that cannot be set or directed to operation are displayed in gray out. 6. The display control means includes
Menu item that can be set or instructed to be displayed on the display means when a menu having a menu item that can be set or instructed of operation is not included in the menu of the uppermost layer among the menus of the upper layer than the specific menu The display control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a warning display indicating that there is no menu having a message is displayed. The display control means includes
The display control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the warning display is canceled when the specific operation unit is operated.   9. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a menu operation unit that displays a menu different from the specific menu among the hierarchical menu including the plurality of menus. 10. . The display control means includes
10. The display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the menu operation unit is operated, a menu of the highest hierarchy is displayed. The display control means includes
10. The display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the menu operation means is operated, the menu that was displayed immediately before the last time the menu display was canceled is displayed.   The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control apparatus functions as an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. A step of displaying a specific menu among a plurality of menus for performing setting or operation instruction related to the display control device by an operation by a specific operation means;
When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is possible, the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible. When the specific operation means is operated in a state, a menu higher than the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and the menu item for moving to the specific menu is identified as invalid. A display control step for controlling the display to be possible;
A display control apparatus control method comprising: A step of displaying a specific menu by operation by a specific operation means among hierarchical menus configured by a plurality of menus for setting or operating instructions relating to the display control device;
When the specific operation means is operated in a state where setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is possible, the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is impossible. When the specific operation means is operated in a state, a menu higher than the specific menu is displayed on the display means, and the menu item for moving to the specific menu is identified as invalid. A display control step for controlling the display to be possible;
A program that causes a computer to execute.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 14.

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