JP2015057745A - Menu display device, menu display control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly enable a user to understand that a menu item on an end part is displayed on a screen.SOLUTION: A menu display device comprises: menu display means for displaying on a screen a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged; range moving means for moving the given range in response to a predetermined operation by a user; determination means for determining whether or not the menu item on an end part of the menu is displayed on a predetermined position in the screen; and interval changing means for, when the menu item on the end part is displayed on the predetermined position in the screen, enlarging an interval between the plurality of menu items displayed on the screen larger as the displayed menu items are farther from the menu item on the end part in response to the predetermined operation by the user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a menu display device, a menu display method, and a program, and more particularly to improvement of a user interface in menu display.

  When displaying a large number of menu items such as search results, titles of news articles, file names in storage devices, etc. on the screen, the menu is composed of a number of menu items arranged according to predetermined criteria related to attributes such as names and dates. In many cases, a user interface technique for displaying a partial area on the screen and moving the partial area in response to a scroll operation is employed. When the screen is a touch screen, the scroll operation is, for example, dragging or flicking. According to this user interface, the user can display an arbitrary area in the menu on the screen by a scroll operation.

  However, according to the user interface technology, when the menu is scrolled to display the end menu item on the screen, the user immediately knows whether the end menu item is currently displayed. I can't. For example, if the menu is scrolled downward and the menu item at the lower end is displayed on the screen, the user does not change the content on the current screen based on the fact that the screen contents will not change even if the scroll operation is further performed downward. There is no other way than to understand that some menu items are displayed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a menu display device, a menu display control method, and a program that allow a user to immediately understand that an end menu item is displayed on the screen. There is.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a menu display device according to the present invention includes a menu display unit that displays a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged on a screen, and a predetermined operation by a user. Range moving means for moving a given range, determination means for determining whether the menu item at the end of the menu is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, and the menu item at the end are the screen And an interval changing means for changing the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen in response to the predetermined operation by the user.

  The interval changing means may increase the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen. At this time, the interval changing means may widen at least the interval between the menu item at the end and the adjacent menu item. Further, the interval changing means may move the adjacent menu item while the menu item at the end of the array is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. The interval changing means may increase the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen and then return the interval to a predetermined distance.

  The menu display control method according to the present invention includes a step of displaying a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged on the screen, and moving the given range according to a predetermined operation by a user. Determining whether the menu item at the end of the menu is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen; and when the menu item at the end is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. And changing the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen in response to the predetermined operation by the user.

  Further, the program according to the present invention includes means for displaying a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged, a means for moving the given range in response to a predetermined operation by a user, the menu Means for determining whether the menu item at the end of the screen is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, and when the menu item at the end is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen, This is a program for causing a computer to function as means for changing the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen in accordance with a predetermined operation. This program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or memory card.

1 is an external perspective view of a portable information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the portable information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen during a menu scroll. It is a figure which shows the screen during a menu scroll. It is a figure which shows the screen in edge process. It is a figure which shows the screen during a menu scroll. It is a figure which shows the screen in edge process. It is a conceptual explanatory view of a menu scroll. It is a figure which shows the definition of each variable managed during a menu display. It is a figure which shows the table memorize | stored during a menu display. It is a flowchart which shows the information processing for a menu display. It is a flowchart which shows the information processing for a menu display.

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

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the portable information processing apparatus. The portable information processing device 10 shown in these drawings is an embodiment of a menu display device according to the present invention, and its control method is an embodiment of the menu display control method according to the present invention. The program executed by the portable information processing apparatus 10 is an embodiment of the program according to the present invention. The portable information processing apparatus 10 is a computer system having a thin box-shaped housing as shown in FIG. 1, and the touch surface of the touch panel 12 occupies most of the front surface. A memory card slot 15 is provided. The portable information processing apparatus 10 is driven by a rechargeable built-in battery (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the portable information processing apparatus 10 includes an MPU 16, a memory 18, an FPD interface 20, a touch pad interface 22, a communication unit 24, and a non-volatile memory that are connected to a bus 30 and can exchange data with each other. A memory 26 and a media reader 28 are included. As described above, the portable information processing apparatus 10 includes the touch panel 12, and the touch panel 12 includes an FPD (Flat Panel Display) 12a based on liquid crystal or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence), and a touch pad based on a capacitance type or the like. 12b. The FPD interface 20 is connected to the FPD 12a, and the touch pad interface 22 is connected to the touch pad 12b. The memory 18 is used as a work space for the MPU 16. The FPD interface 20 includes a memory that stores an image to be displayed on the FPD 12a. The image stored in the memory is periodically output to the FPD 12a, and the image displayed on the FPD 12a is updated. The touch pad interface 22 periodically calculates a touch position based on a signal output from the touch pad 12b, and provides the MPU 16 with the touch position. The communication unit 24 is connected to a data communication network such as the Internet, and has a function of transmitting and receiving data. The nonvolatile memory 26 is a storage means having a larger capacity than the memory 18 and stores an operating system and various application programs. The media reader 28 reads data from a computer readable information storage medium such as the memory card 32 or writes data to such a computer readable information storage medium.

  In this portable information processing apparatus 10, a program for displaying a menu that can be scrolled by a user operation is executed. This program may be a part of the operating system, or may be an application program such as an image viewer that displays a large number of images or a search program that displays a large number of search results. In addition, this program may be stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 26, or may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 26 after being downloaded by the communication unit 24. Further, it may be copied from the memory card 32 to the non-volatile memory 26, or a program stored in the memory card 32 may be directly executed by the MPU 16.

  3 to 7 show menus displayed on the touch panel 12 during menu scrolling. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the menu and the display range. As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the menu 50 displayed on the touch panel 12 includes strip-like menu item images 1 to 8 extending in the horizontal direction as an example. The menu item images 1 to 8 may be thumbnails of image data arranged in the shooting order, such as those representing the titles of e-mails arranged in order of reception date and those representing the titles of music data arranged in the order of acquisition. . These eight menu item images 1 to 8 are virtually arranged at the reference interval Δ vertically in this order. That is, the menu item image 1 is arranged at the upper end of the menu 50, and the menu item image 8 is arranged at the lower end. The menu 50 is arranged so as to penetrate the range displayed on the touch panel 12, that is, the display range 52, and the menu 50 virtually moves up and down with respect to the display range 52 according to a user operation. It is like that. Thereby, menu item images of arbitrary portions are located in the display range 52, and those menu item images are displayed on the touch panel 12. However, the range of movement of the menu 50 is limited, and the menu 50 can be moved in the downward direction until the upper end of the menu item image 1 reaches a position (position A) below the upper end of the display range 52 by a predetermined distance. In the direction, the menu item image 8 can be moved until the lower end of the menu item image 8 reaches a position (position B) above the lower end of the display range 52 by a predetermined distance. Further, the interval between the menu item images 1 to 8 can be wider than the reference interval Δ.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, with the menu item images 2 to 7 displayed on the touch panel 12, the user slides (drags) downward as indicated by the arrow 42D while touching the fingertip 40 with the touch surface. As a result, the menu 50 moves downward relative to the display range 52 in accordance with the slide amount, whereby menu item images 1 to 5 are displayed on the touch panel 12 as shown in FIG. . In this state, the menu 50 has moved downward to the limit, and the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A. In this state, when the user further slides the fingertip 40 in the downward direction indicated by the arrow 42D while keeping the fingertip 40 in contact with the area where the menu item image 3 is displayed on the touch surface, the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 1, as shown in FIG. The interval Δ1 between the menu item images 2 and the interval Δ2 between the menu item image 2 and the menu item image 3 are increased according to the slide amount. That is, with respect to the menu item image 3 displayed at the touch position of the fingertip 40 and the menu item images 1 and 2 arranged on the upper side, the intervals Δ1 and Δ2 are widened. On the other hand, other intervals do not widen. 4 and 5, the display position of the menu item image 1 arranged at the upper end of the menu 50 is unchanged. When the touch position is slid upward, the intervals Δ1 and Δ2 are narrowed according to the slide amount, and when the touch position is slid downward, the intervals Δ1 and Δ2 are further widened according to the slide amount. Further, when the fingertip 40 is moved away from the touch surface, the original reference interval Δ is gradually returned. In FIG. 5, the interval Δ1 between the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 2 and the interval Δ2 between the menu item image 2 and the menu item image 3 may be the same, or the interval Δ1 between the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 2. This may be smaller than the interval Δ2 between the menu item image 2 and the menu item image 3. Further, the distance Δ between the menu item images may be set stepwise according to the distance from the touch position. According to this, in FIG. 5, the interval Δ2 is set to be larger than the interval Δ1. As a result, an operation in which the user is more intuitively aware of the end of the menu item becomes possible.

  Similarly, when the menu item images 2 to 7 are displayed on the touch panel 12 as shown in FIG. 3, the user slides (drags) the fingertip 40 in the upward direction indicated by the arrow 42U while touching the touch surface. The menu 50 moves in the upward direction relative to the display range 52 in accordance with the slide amount, whereby menu item images 4 to 8 are displayed on the touch panel 12 as shown in FIG. In this state, the menu 50 has moved upward to the limit, and the menu item image 8 is at the screen position B. In this state, when the user further slides the fingertip 40 in the downward direction indicated by the arrow 42U while keeping the fingertip 40 in contact with the touch surface, the interval between the menu item image 8 and the menu item image 7 becomes the slide amount as shown in FIG. Expands accordingly. In other words, the interval between the menu item image 7 displayed at the touch position of the fingertip 40 and the menu item image 8 arranged below the menu item image 7 is widened. On the other hand, other intervals do not widen. 6 and 7, the display position of the menu item image 8 arranged at the lower end of the menu 50 is unchanged. When the touch position is slid downward, the interval increases according to the slide amount, and when the touch position is slid upward, the interval further increases according to the slide amount. Further, when the fingertip 40 is moved away from the touch surface, the original reference interval Δ is gradually returned.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is detected that the user flicks the touch panel 12 with the fingertip 40, and when it is detected that a downward flick is made, the menu 50 is displayed on the display range 52. Move down (automatic scrolling). The flick is an operation in which the fingertip 40 is slid at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined reference speed while being in contact with the touch surface, and the fingertip 40 is released from the touch surface as it is. After the flick, the user's fingertip 40 moves away from the touch surface of the touch panel 12, but the menu 50 continues to move downward. At this time, the faster the flicking slide speed, the faster the initial speed of movement. Further, as time passes, the moving speed of the menu 50 becomes slower and finally stops. Note that when a flick operation is performed, the interval between the menu item images 1 to 8 may be increased. At this time, the faster the flicking slide speed, the larger the interval between the menu item images 1-8. Further, during the automatic scrolling, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 comes to the position A, the interval between the menu item images 1 to 8 gradually increases, and then the interval gradually decreases and returns to the reference interval Δ. The screen change stops.

  Similarly, when it is detected that an upward flick has been made, the menu 50 is moved upward with respect to the display range 52. After the flick, the user's fingertip 40 moves away from the touch surface of the touch panel 12, but the menu 50 continues to move upward. In this case as well, the faster the flicking slide speed, the faster the initial speed of movement. Further, as time passes, the moving speed of the menu 50 becomes slower and finally stops. Further, during the automatic scrolling, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 comes to the position B, the interval between the menu item images 1 to 8 gradually increases, and then the interval gradually decreases and returns to the reference interval Δ. The screen change stops.

  As described above, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 reaches the position A by the operation (flick or drag) for moving the menu 50 downward, the menu item image 1 does not move further downward, instead. The interval between the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 2 is widened. Similarly, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 reaches position B by an operation (flick or drag) for moving the menu 50 upward, the menu item image 8 does not move further upward, and instead the menu item 8 The interval between the item image 8 and the menu item image 8 is widened. In this way, the user can easily be informed that the menu 50 has moved to the lower limit or the upper limit, that is, the menu item image 1 at the upper end or the menu item image 8 at the lower end is displayed on the touch panel 12 at a predetermined position. it can.

  Hereinafter, the process of displaying the menu 50 will be described in more detail. FIG. 9 shows the definition of each variable managed by the portable information processing apparatus 10 while the menu 50 is displayed. FIG. 10 shows the definition of each variable stored in the memory 18 of the portable information processing apparatus 10 while the menu 50 is displayed. The table to be performed is shown schematically. As shown in these figures, during the display of the menu 50, intervals Δ1 to Δ7 between the menu item images 2 to 8 positioned below the menu item images 1 to 7 are stored in the memory 18 in association with the menu item images 1 to 7, respectively. The Specifically, the interval Δn is a distance between the lower end of the menu item image n and the upper end of the menu item image n + 1 (n = 1 to 7). Further, the coordinates X1 to X8 of the display position are stored in the memory 18 in association with the menu item images 1 to 8, respectively. The coordinate Xn indicates the distance from the upper end of the screen of the touch panel 12 to the upper end of the menu item image n, as shown in FIGS. When the coordinate Xn is negative, the coordinate is outside the display range 52 (n = 1 to 8).

  11 and 12 show processing of a program for displaying the menu 50. FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, in this program, it is first determined whether or not end processing is necessary (S101). The edge process is a process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, and after the upper end of the menu item image 1 reaches the position A by the operation of moving the menu 50 downward, or the menu 50 is moved upward. This is a process executed after the lower end of the menu item image 8 reaches the position B by operation. Specifically, (1) when a downward drag operation is performed in a state where the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, (2) in a state where the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, When the upward drag operation is performed, (3) When the upper end of the menu item image 1 comes to the position A by automatic processing according to the downward flick operation, (4) Automatic according to the upward flick operation When the lower end of the menu item image 8 comes to the position B by processing, (5) the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, and the current interval Δ1 between the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 2 is a reference. When it is larger than the interval Δ, (6) When the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B and the current interval Δ7 between the menu item image 8 and the menu item image 7 is larger than the reference interval Δ, Edge treatment It deemed necessary.

  Here, whether or not the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A and whether or not the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B are determined from the coordinates X1 and X8 in the table of FIG. Can do. Further, whether or not a drag operation has been performed and the direction of the drag operation can be determined based on an output from the touchpad interface 22. Further, in this program, the speed of automatic processing corresponding to the flick operation is stored in the memory 18, and when the automatic processing speed is larger than 0, the automatic processing in the downward direction is being performed by the flick operation. (Automatic processing in progress) can be determined. If the automatic processing speed is smaller than 0, it can be determined that the upward automatic processing is being performed by the flick operation (during automatic processing). On the other hand, when the automatic processing speed is 0, it can be determined that automatic processing has not been performed.

  If the edge processing is not required, it is next determined whether or not the touch pad 12b is being touched based on the output from the touch pad interface 22 (S103). If the touch is being performed, the automatic processing speed is set to 0 (S104), and the vertical distance between the touch position detected immediately before and the touch position detected this time, that is, the drag distance, is acquired. 50 is moved (S105). Specifically, if the touch position has moved upward, each coordinate Xn included in the table shown in FIG. 10 is subtracted by the drag distance. If the touch position has moved downward, the drag distance is added to each coordinate Xn. Then, the menu item images 1 to 8 are displayed on the FPD 12a according to the updated table, and the process returns to S101.

  If it is determined in S103 that the user is not touching, it is then determined whether or not a flick has been made (S106). For example, the vertical distance between the touch position detected immediately before and the touch position detected before that, that is, the immediately previous drag distance (slide speed) is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, and the touch position is not detected this time. In this case, it is determined that a flick has been made. If it is determined that a flick has been made, the automatic processing speed is set according to the previous drag distance (S107). Specifically, the longer the drag distance is, the larger the automatic processing speed is set. Also, if the drag is downward, the automatic processing speed is a positive value, and if the drag is upward, the automatic processing speed is a negative value.

  Thereafter, the value of the automatic processing speed is added to the coordinates Xn included in the table of FIG. 10, and the menu item images 1 to 8 are displayed on the FPD 12a according to the updated table (S109). Further, the value of the automatic processing speed is brought close to 0 (S110). For example, the automatic processing speed may be close to 0 by a predetermined value. If the automatic processing speed becomes 0 by the processing of S110, the automatic processing ends. Thereafter, the process returns to S101.

  If it is determined in step S106 that no flick has been made, it is determined whether automatic processing is currently being performed (S108). Specifically, if the automatic processing speed is 0, it is determined that automatic processing is not being performed, and otherwise, it is determined that automatic processing is being performed. If automatic processing is not in progress, the process directly returns to S101. If automatic processing is in progress, the process proceeds to S109.

  If it is determined in S101 that end processing is necessary, the end processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed. In this process, it is first determined whether or not a touch is being made (S1021). If the touch is being performed, the difference between the previous touch position and the current touch position, that is, the drag distance is acquired (S1022). Further, the menu item image corresponding to the current touch position is specified (S1023). For example, the vertical distance from the current touch position to the center position of the menu item images 1 to 8 may be calculated, and the smallest distance may be used as the menu item image corresponding to the current touch position. Then, it is determined whether the specified menu item image is either the menu item image 1 or the menu item image 8 (S1024). If the identified menu item image is the menu item image 1 or the menu item image 8, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 included in the table of FIG. 10 are updated according to the drag distance acquired in S1022, and further the coordinates X1 ˜X8 are also updated (S1028). Specifically, if the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A and dragging downward, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are widened by an amount proportional to the drag distance. If dragging upward, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are narrowed by an amount proportional to the drag distance. The amount by which Δ1 to Δ7 are widened or narrowed may be equal. Thereafter, the value is maintained as it is for the coordinate X1, and the coordinate X2 to X8 is updated according to the coordinate X1 and the intervals Δ1 to Δ7. That is, the upper end of the menu item image 1 is the position A, and the other menu item images 2 to 8 are arranged at intervals Δ1 to Δ7.

  Similarly, if the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B and dragging upward, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are widened by an amount proportional to the drag distance. If dragging downward, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are narrowed by an amount proportional to the drag distance. Again, the amount by which Δ1 to Δ7 are widened or narrowed may be equal. Thereafter, the value is updated for the coordinate X8, and the coordinate X2 to X8 is updated according to the coordinate X8 and the intervals Δ1 to Δ7. That is, the lower end of the menu item image 8 is the position B, and the other menu item images 1 to 7 are arranged at intervals Δ1 to Δ7.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S1024 that the specified menu item image is neither the menu item image 1 nor the menu item image 8, then the specified menu item image is moved (S1025). That is, the coordinate Xn for the menu item image specified in S1023 is moved by the drag distance acquired in S1023. At this time, if dragging downward, the drag distance is added to the coordinate Xn, and if dragging upward, the drag distance is subtracted from the coordinate Xn.

  Further, the menu item images are arranged at equal intervals between the menu item image specified in S1023 and the menu item image 1 or the menu item image 8 (S1026). That is, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, the menu item image of the table shown in FIG. 10 is arranged at equal intervals between the menu item image specified in S1023 and the menu item image 1. The interval Δn and the coordinate Xn are updated. Further, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, the menu item image of the table shown in FIG. 10 is arranged so that the menu item images are equally spaced between the menu item image specified in S1023 and the menu item image 8. The interval Δn and the coordinate Xn are updated.

  In S1026, the interval between the menu item images may be gradually changed between the menu item image specified in S1023 and the menu item image 1 or the menu item image 8. For example, as already described with reference to FIG. 5, the distance between the menu item images may be reduced as the distance from the menu item image specified in S1023 increases.

  Further, according to the interval Δn and the coordinate Xn updated in S1026, the remaining coordinate Xn that has not been updated in S1026 is updated (S1027). That is, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, the menu item images below the menu item image specified in S1023 are arranged at the interval Δn recorded in the table of FIG. Similarly, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, the menu item images above the menu item image specified in S1023 are arranged at the interval Δn recorded in the table of FIG. Thereafter, according to the table updated as described above, the menu item images 1 to 8 are displayed by the FPD 12a (S1029).

  If it is determined in S1021 that the touch pad 12b is not touched, it is next determined whether or not automatic processing is being performed (S1036). If automatic processing is in progress, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are widened according to the current automatic processing speed (S1030). For example, a value proportional to the absolute value of the automatic processing speed may be added to the intervals Δ1 to Δ7. Note that the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 may be equally widened, or the degree of widening may be varied. For example, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, the interval close to the menu item image 1 (that is, Δ1) may be increased greatly. That is, Δ1> Δ2> Δ3... In addition, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, the interval closer to the menu item image 8 may be enlarged greatly. That is, Δ8> Δ7> Δ6... On the other hand, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, the distance from the menu item image 1 may be increased widely. That is, Δ8> Δ7> Δ6... When the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, the distance between the menu item image 8 and the menu item image 8 may be increased. That is, Δ1> Δ2> Δ3... Then, the coordinates X2 to X8 are updated according to the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 updated in S1030 (S1031). Thus, the menu item images 1 to 8 are arranged at the updated intervals Δ1 to Δ7 while keeping the menu item image 1 at the same position. Thereafter, according to the table updated as described above, the menu item images 1 to 8 are displayed by the FPD 12a (S1032). Furthermore, the automatic processing speed is brought close to 0 (S1033). For example, the automatic processing speed may be close to 0 by a predetermined value. If the automatic processing speed becomes 0 by the processing of S1033, the automatic processing ends.

  If it is determined in S1025 that automatic processing is not being performed, the intervals Δ1 to Δ7 are brought close to the original reference interval Δ. For example, it may be brought closer to the reference interval Δ by a predetermined value. Further, the coordinates X1 to X8 are updated so that the menu item images 1 to 8 are arranged at the updated intervals Δ1 to Δ7 (S1034). Specifically, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 is at the position A, the coordinates X1 are left unchanged, and the coordinates X2 to X8 are updated so that the menu item images 1 to 8 are arranged at the updated intervals Δ1 to Δ7. . When the lower end of the menu item image 8 is at the position B, the coordinates X1 to X7 are updated so that the menu item images 1 to 8 are arranged at the updated intervals Δ1 to Δ7 while the coordinate X8 is left as it is. Thereafter, according to the table updated as described above, the menu item images 1 to 8 are displayed by the FPD 12a (S1035).

  According to the portable information processing apparatus 10 described above, when the upper end of the menu item image 1 reaches the position A by flicking or dragging downward, the menu item image 1 does not move further downward, instead. The interval between the menu item image 1 and the menu item image 2 is increased. Further, when the lower end of the menu item image 8 reaches the position B by flicking or dragging upward, the menu item image 8 does not move any further upward, but instead, the interval between the menu item image 8 and the menu item image 8. Spread. In this way, the user can easily be informed that the menu 50 has moved to the lower limit or the upper limit, that is, the menu item image 1 at the upper end or the menu item image 8 at the lower end is displayed on the touch panel 12 at a predetermined position. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the processes shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 are merely examples, and it is needless to say that the user interface according to the present invention may be realized by other modified processes.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable information processing apparatus, 12 Touch panel, 12a FPD, 12b Touch pad, 14 Power button, 15 Memory card slot, 16 MPU, 18 Memory, 20 FPD interface, 22 Touch pad interface, 24 Communication part, 26 Non-volatile memory, 28 Media reader, 30 buses, 32 memory cards, 40 fingertips, 50 menus, 52 display ranges.

Claims (6)

Menu display means for displaying a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged on the screen;
Range moving means for moving the given range in accordance with a predetermined operation by the user;
Determining means for determining whether or not the menu item at the end of the menu is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen;
When the menu item at the end is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen, the interval between the plurality of menu items displayed on the screen is set according to the predetermined operation by the user. An interval changing means for widening the distance from the menu item,
A menu display device comprising: The menu display device according to claim 1,
The interval changing means widens at least the interval between the menu item at the end and the adjacent menu item,
A menu display device characterized by that. The menu display device according to claim 2,
The interval changing means moves the adjacent menu item while the menu item at the end of the array is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen.
A menu display device characterized by that. The menu display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The interval changing means increases the interval between the menu items displayed on the screen, and then returns the interval to a predetermined distance.
A menu display device characterized by that. Displaying on a screen a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged;
Moving the given range in response to a predetermined operation by the user;
Determining whether the menu item at the end of the menu is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen;
When the menu item at the end is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen, the interval between the plurality of menu items displayed on the screen is set according to the predetermined operation by the user. Steps that expand farther away from the menu items,
A menu display control method comprising: Means for displaying on a screen a given range in a menu in which a plurality of menu items are arranged;
Means for moving the given range in response to a predetermined operation by a user;
Means for determining whether or not the menu item at the end of the menu is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen; and when the menu item at the end is displayed at the predetermined position on the screen, the user A program for causing a computer to function as means for widening the interval between the plurality of menu items displayed on the screen in accordance with the predetermined operation by the distance from the menu item at the end.

Images