JP4395919B2 - Information recording apparatus and method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and Record In particular, an information processing apparatus and method capable of executing a predetermined process by a simple operation using a jog dial, for example, and Record It relates to the medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as an operating system of a computer including peripheral devices such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a video display, and a central processing unit (CPU), there are things such as Windows95 (trademark) and Windows98 (trademark) manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. is there. In this operating system, a system that provides a task bar for each application having an active window and provides a user with visual cues such as buttons has become widely used. A technique relating to the use of this task bar is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-255066.
[0003]
The following is cited from the above publication. The task bar is a visual clue that gives the user information about the currently active window and can also be used to display the active window. The task bar has a start menu button that allows the user access to menus for launching programs, opening documents and controlling system settings.
[0004]
An example of operating the start menu button on the task bar in the computer system will be described. The start menu button functions as a means for opening a start menu that acts as a central location for the user to access programs, documents, system settings, help information, and the like. Point to the start menu button with the mouse cursor and click the left mouse button to display the start menu.
[0005]
The start menu includes menu items such as “program”, “search”, “setting”, and “help”. Among these, the “program” menu item enables access to the program menu displayed hierarchically from the start menu. The program menu displays a plurality of application programs and program groups that can be selected by the user.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a complicated operation is repeated until the user selects a desired application program on the task bar having the start menu button and starts it.
[0007]
That is, first, the start menu button on the task bar is pointed with the mouse cursor, and the left mouse button is clicked to display the start menu. Next, from the start menu, point to the “Program” menu item with the mouse cursor and click the left mouse button to display the program menu. Then, point the desired application program on the program menu with the mouse cursor and click the left mouse button. When it is an application program group, it is necessary to repeat point and click. Thereafter, the CPU activates a desired application program.
[0008]
As described above, until the application program desired by the user is activated, the user is required to repeat complicated operations, which is difficult to use as a user interface. The same applies to the case where a menu item such as “Help” is clicked from the start menu program to perform a desired process.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, for example, an information processing apparatus and method capable of executing a desired process by a simple operation using a jog dial, and Record The purpose is to provide a medium.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation unit corresponding to a rotation operation and a pressing operation, a monitoring unit that monitors an activation state of an application program, Program execution means for starting the first program and / or application program for executing the launcher process and executing the program; If there is no application program in the active startup state, depending on the operation on the operation unit, Corresponding to the first program When there is a first execution means for executing launcher processing and an application program in an active startup state, second execution means for executing processing corresponding to the application in response to an operation on the operation unit, Setting means for setting a process according to an operation on the operation unit.
[0011]
In order to solve the above problems, an information processing method according to the present invention provides: An information processing method for starting a first program and / or application program for executing a launcher process and executing the program, When there is no monitoring step for monitoring the activation state of the application program and no application program in the active activation state, depending on the operation on the operation unit corresponding to the rotation operation and the pressing operation, Corresponding to the first program A first execution step for executing a launcher process; a second execution step for executing a process corresponding to the application in response to an operation on the operation unit when there is an application program in an active startup state; A setting step for setting a process according to an operation on the operation unit.
[0012]
In order to solve the above problems, a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention is provided. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to start and execute a first program and / or an application program for executing launcher processing, On the computer, the above When there is no monitoring step for monitoring the activation state of the application program and no application program in the active activation state, depending on the operation on the operation unit corresponding to the rotation operation and the pressing operation, Corresponding to the first program A first execution step for executing a launcher process; a second execution step for executing a process corresponding to the application in response to an operation on the operation unit when there is an application program in an active startup state; For executing a setting step for setting processing according to an operation on the operation unit of It is a recording of the program.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show the appearance of an information processing apparatus and method according to the present invention and a notebook personal computer as an example to which a medium is applied. The notebook personal computer 1 basically includes a main body 2 and a display unit 3 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 2. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the display unit 3 is opened with respect to the main body 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main body 2, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a jog dial 4 which will be described later. FIG. 4 is a side view of the main body 2 on the jog dial 4 side.
[0014]
The main body 2 is provided with a keyboard 5 that is operated when inputting various characters and symbols, a touch pad 6 as a pointing device that is operated when moving a mouse cursor, and a power switch 8 on the upper surface. It has been.
[0015]
In addition, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 7 for displaying an image is provided on the front surface of the display unit 3. Furthermore, a lamp made up of a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML as required, and other LEDs is provided in the upper right part of the display unit 3.
[0016]
Next, the detailed setting position of the jog dial 4 will be described. The jog dial 4 is incorporated between the key A and key B (rightmost key) of the keyboard 5 on the main body 2 and is almost the same as the key A and key B. It is attached so that it is at the height.
[0017]
The jog dial 4 executes a predetermined process corresponding to the rotation operation indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 3 and executes a predetermined process corresponding to the movement operation indicated by the arrow b in FIG. The predetermined process performed by the jog dial 4 will be described later.
[0018]
First, the configuration of the jog dial 4 will be described. This jog dial 4 is a specific example of a rotary operation type electronic component with a push switch disclosed in JP-A-8-203387, which was filed by the applicant and a joint applicant.
[0019]
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the jog dial 4 includes a rotary encoder portion 12 and a push switch portion 13 arranged on a contact mounting board 11. The rotary encoder unit 12 can move in a horizontal direction within a certain range, but the push switch unit 13 is fixed so as not to move.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 6, the contact mounting board 11 has a depression 15 having a guide rail part 14 for moving the rotary encoder part 12 and a push switch part 13 for fixing the push switch part 13 to a flat molded resin body. A recess 17 having a stop wall 16 and a contact plate 19 having a terminal 18 for transmitting an electrical signal of the rotary encoder 12 to the outside are provided.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotary encoder unit 12 is fitted in the recess 15 of the contact mounting board 11 and horizontally in a certain range by the guide rail 14 (the direction of the arrow H1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 8). A box-shaped case 20 made of a molded resin held so as to be movable, and elastic contact legs 21 and 22 protruding upward and downward from an elastic contact body 45 attached to the bottom surface of the box-shaped case 20 by insert molding. And a rotating body 25 made of a molded resin having a radial contact plate 24 that is rotatably held by a cylindrical shaft 23 integrated in the center of the box-shaped case 20 and has a disk shape and elastic contact legs 21 elastically contacting the lower surface thereof. The rotary body 25 is constituted by a disk-like operation knob 27 of an outer peripheral operation type attached by screws 26 so that the rotary body 25 can be rotationally operated. The side surface of the box-shaped case 20 is pushed in the horizontal direction by the torsion coil spring 29 positioned at the start 28 (see FIGS. 6 and 10), and is biased so as to be at a position away from the push switch portion 13 in the normal state. The elastic contact legs 22 projecting downward from the bottom surface of the box-shaped case 20 are in elastic contact with the contact plate 19 of the contact mounting board 11.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the push switch portion 13 is formed in the recess 17 of the contact mounting substrate 11 so that the operation button 30 faces the rotary encoder portion 12 and the rear end portion abuts against the holding wall 16. It is fixed in place.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 8, the driving protrusion 31 provided integrally with the box-shaped case 20 of the rotary encoder unit 12 is in contact with the tip of the operation button 30 of the push switch unit 13. The jog dial is configured as described above. However, when the jog dial is mounted on an electronic device, as shown in FIG. 9, the connection between the legs 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B on the lower surface of the contact mounting board 11 and the rotary encoder unit 12 is performed. The terminal 18 for connection and the connection terminal 32 of the push switch part 13 are inserted and soldered into the mounting holes 34A, 34B, 35, 36 of the printed wiring board 33 of the device, and are connected to the rotary encoder part 12 in a disc shape. The knob 27 is attached so as to protrude to the outside from the gap of the outer case 37 of the end device opposite to the push switch portion 13 side.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the jog dial will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, by applying a tangential force to the projecting portion 27A from the outer case 37 of the disk-like operation knob 27 attached to the upper end of the rotary encoder unit 12 and rotating it, The rotating body 25 rotates about the central cylindrical shaft 23 of the box-shaped case 20, and the upper elastic contact leg 21 slides on the radial contact plate 24 on the lower surface thereof in an elastic contact. A pulse signal linked to the rotation operation of the operation knob 27 is generated.
[0025]
Then, this pulse signal is transmitted from the upper elastic contact leg 21 to the lower elastic contact leg 22, and further transmitted to the contact plate 19 on the contact mounting board 11 on which the elastic contact leg 22 is elastically contacted, and then the terminal for external connection. 18 is transmitted to the circuit of the printed circuit board 33 of the electronic device.
[0026]
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 29 on the contact mounting substrate 11, the horizontal direction connecting the center of the knob and the push switch portion 13 to the protruding portion 27 </ b> A of the disk-like operation knob 27. By applying a pressing force (in the direction of arrow H2), the entire rotary encoder unit 12 is moved in the horizontal direction along the guide rail portion 14 of the contact mounting board 11, and the operation button is operated by the protrusion 31 provided on the box-shaped case 20. The push switch 13 is operated by pressing 30 and the signal is transmitted to the circuit of the printed circuit board 33 of the electronic device via the connection terminal 32 shown in FIG.
[0027]
When the pressing force applied to the disk-shaped operation knob 27 is removed, the rotary encoder unit 12 is pushed back by the elastic restoring force of the torsion coil spring 29 of the contact mounting board 11 to return to the state shown in FIG.
[0028]
As a means for transmitting the electrical signal of the rotary encoder 12 to the connection terminal 18 of the contact mounting board 11, an elastic contact leg 22 protruding downward from the bottom surface of the box-shaped case 20 of the rotary encoder 12 is attached to the contact. Although it is configured to elastically contact the contact plate 19 of the substrate 11, this may be configured to protrude the elastic contact leg from the contact mounting substrate 11 and elastically contact the contact plate on the bottom surface of the box-shaped case 20. The above is the description of the configuration operation of the jog dial 4 disposed on the right side surface of the main body 2.
[0029]
Of course, the jog dial 4 may be arranged on the left side surface of the main body 2. Further, the jog dial may be arranged at the center of the front surface so that the touch pad 6 can be operated with the thumb while operating with the index finger. Moreover, you may arrange | position to the left side or right side of the display part 3 in which LCD7 was provided. Further, the touch pad 6 may be arranged in the vertical direction along the left edge or the right edge. Further, the touch pad 6 may be arranged in the horizontal direction along the upper edge or the lower edge. Moreover, you may arrange | position in the vertical direction between the right button of the touchpad 6, and the left button. Moreover, you may arrange | position in the vertical direction between G key and H key of the keyboard part 5. FIG. Moreover, you may arrange | position with a predetermined angle in the diagonal direction which is not limited to a vertical direction or a horizontal direction and is easy to operate with each finger | toe. Furthermore, you may arrange | position in the position which can be operated with the thumb of the side of the mouse | mouth which is a pointing device.
[0030]
Next, an example of the electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The central processing unit (CPU) 51 is composed of, for example, a Pentium (trademark) processor manufactured by Intel, and is connected to the host bus 52. A north bridge 53 is further connected to the host bus 52, and the north bridge 53 is also connected to a PCI bus 56. The north bridge 53 is composed of, for example, 400BX manufactured by intel, and controls the periphery of the CPU 51 and the main memory 54. The north bridge 53 and the south bridge 58 described later constitute a so-called chip set.
[0031]
The north bridge 53 is further connected to a main memory 54 and a cache memory 55. The cache memory 55 is configured to cache data used by the CPU 51. Although not shown, the CPU 51 also includes a primary cache memory.
[0032]
The main memory 54 is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Read Only Memory), and stores a program executed by the CPU 51 and data necessary for the operation of the CPU 51. Specifically, the main memory 54 stores, for example, an e-mail program 54A, an autopilot program 54B, a jog dial state monitoring program 54C, a jog dial driver 54D, an operating program (OS) 54E, and other application programs 54F1 when the activation is completed. -54Fn are transferred from the HDD 70 and stored.
[0033]
The e-mail program 54A is a program for sending and receiving communication text via a network from a communication line such as a telephone line 76 via a modem 75 described later. The electronic mail program 54A has an incoming mail acquisition function as a specific function. This incoming mail acquisition function checks whether a mail addressed to itself (user) is received in the mail box 79 with respect to the mail server 78 provided in the provider 77, and if there is a mail addressed to itself. Execute the acquisition process.
[0034]
The autopilot program 54B is a program for sequentially starting and processing a plurality of preset processes (or programs) in a preset order.
[0035]
The OS (basic program software) 54E controls basic operations of a computer, such as so-called Windows 95 and 98 (both are trademarks) of Microsoft Corporation, so-called Mac OS (trademark) of Apple Computer Corporation, and the like. .
[0036]
The jog dial status monitoring program 54C receives notification from each of the applications as to whether or not it is compatible with the jog dial, and operates to display what can be done by operating the jog dial 4 if it is compatible. Normally, it is waiting for an event of the jog dial 4 and has a list for receiving notifications from the application. The jog dial driver 54D executes various functions in response to the operation of the jog dial 4.
[0037]
The video controller 57 is connected to the PCI bus 56, and controls the display on the LCD 7 on the display unit 3 based on data supplied via the PCI bus 56.
[0038]
A sound controller 64 is connected to the PCI bus 56 and takes in an input from the microphone 66 or supplies an audio signal to the speaker 65. A modem 75 is also connected to the PCI bus 56. The modem 75 can be connected to a communication network 80 such as the Internet, a mail server 78 and the like via a public telephone line 76 and an Internet service provider 77.
[0039]
A south bridge 58 is also connected to the PCI bus 56. The south bridge 58 is configured by, for example, PIIX4E manufactured by intel, and controls various I / Os (Input / Output). That is, the south bridge 58 includes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller / configuration register 59, a timer circuit 60, an IDE interface 61, and the like, and is connected to the IDE bus 62 or an ISA / EIO (Industry Standard Architecture). / Extended Input Output) The device connected via the bus 63 and the embedded controller 68 is controlled.
[0040]
The IDE controller / configuration register 59 includes two IDE controllers, a so-called primary IDE controller and a secondary IDE controller, a configuration register, and the like (both not shown).
[0041]
The primary IDE controller is connected to a connector (not shown) via the IDE bus 62, and the HDD 67 is connected to the connector. The secondary IDE controller is mounted when a bay device, which is a so-called IDE device, such as a CD-ROM drive, a second HDD, or an FDD (not shown) is mounted via another IDE bus. The connector of the bay device is designed to be electrically connected.
[0042]
The HDD 67 stores an electronic mail program 67A, an autopilot program 67B, a jog dial state monitoring program 67C, a jog dial driver 67D, an OS (basic program software) 67E, and a plurality of application programs 67F1 to 67Fn. The above-mentioned programs 67A, 67B, 67C, 67D, 67E, 67F1 to 67Fn and the like in the HDD 67 are sequentially transferred and stored in the RAM 54 in the process of startup (boot-up) processing.
[0043]
An embedded controller 68 is further connected to the ISA / EIO bus 63. The embedded controller 68 comprises a microcontroller and is used as an I / O controller. That is, the embedded controller 68 is configured by connecting an I / O interface 69, a ROM 70, a RAM 71, and a CPU 72 to each other.
[0044]
In the ROM 70, an LED control program 70A, a touch pad input monitoring program 70B, a key input monitoring program 70C, a wake-up program 70D, and a jog dial state monitoring program 70E are stored in advance.
[0045]
The LED control program 70A is a program for controlling lighting of a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML as necessary, and other lamps including LEDs. The touch pad input monitoring program 70 </ b> B is a program for monitoring user input from the touch pad 6. The key input monitoring program 70C is a program for monitoring input from the keyboard 5 and other key switches. The wake-up program 70D checks whether or not a preset time has been reached based on the current time data supplied from the timer circuit 60 in the south bridge 58. When the preset time is reached, a predetermined process ( Or a program for managing each chip power source in order to activate the program).
[0046]
The jog dial state monitoring program 70E is a program for constantly monitoring whether the rotary encoder unit 12 of the jog dial 4 has been rotated or pressed. Details of the jog dial state monitoring program 70E will be described later.
[0047]
In the ROM 70, a BIOS 70F is further written. BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) refers to a basic input / output system, and software that controls the transfer (input / output) of data between the OS and application software and peripheral devices (display, keyboard, HDD, etc.). It is a program.
[0048]
The RAM 71 has registers for LED control, touch pad input status, key input status, set time, I / O register for jog dial state monitoring, and the like as registers 71A to 71F. For example, the LED control register 71A controls lighting of the message lamp ML that displays an instantaneous start-up state of an e-mail described later when the jog dial 4 is pressed. The key input status register 71C stores an operation key flag when the jog dial 4 is pressed for a one-touch operation described later. The set time register 71D can arbitrarily set a certain time.
[0049]
The embedded controller 68 is connected to the jog dial 4, the touch pad 6, and the keyboard 5 through connectors (not shown), and signals corresponding to the operations of the jog dial 4, touch pad 6, and keyboard 5. Are output to the ISA / EIO bus 63. The embedded controller 68 is connected to a power lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML, and other lamps including LEDs.
[0050]
A power supply control circuit 73 is further connected to the embedded controller 68. The power control circuit 73 is connected to a built-in battery 74 or an AC power supply, and supplies necessary power to each block and performs control for charging the built-in battery 74 and a second battery of a peripheral device. Has been made. The embedded controller 68 monitors the power switch 8 that is operated when the power is turned on or off.
[0051]
The embedded controller 68 can always execute the programs 70A, 70B, 70C, 70D, and 70E by the internal power supply even when the power supply 8 is off. That is, the above programs always work even if no windows are opened on the LCD 7 of the display unit 3. In other words, the embedded controller 68 always executes the jog dial state monitoring program 70E even if the power switch 8 is off and the OS 54E is not activated by the CPU 51. Even if the key is not provided, a programmable power key (PPK) function is provided so that, for example, in a power saving state or when the power is turned off, the user can activate favorite software or a script file simply by pressing the jog dial 4.
[0052]
The operation of the embedded controller 68 when the jog dial state monitoring program 70E is executed will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration in which the embedded controller 68 monitors the state of the rotary encoder unit 12 of the jog dial 4 via the rotation detection unit 85. FIG. 14 is a flowchart when the embedded controller 68 executes the jog dial state monitoring program 70E. FIG. 15 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the rotation detector 85 in FIG.
[0053]
First, when the rotary encoder unit 12 of the jog dial 4 is rotated to the left or right, the rotation detection unit 85 performs a right rotation or a left rotation based on the timing of the signals A and B shown in FIG. To detect. When it is detected that the rotation is clockwise, a clockwise rotation pulse is supplied to the counter (1) 86 of the embedded controller 68. If the left rotation is detected, the left rotation pulse is supplied to the counter (2) 87 of the embedded controller 68.
[0054]
The embedded controller 68 executes a jog dial state monitoring program 70E, and monitors changes in the counter (1) 86 and counter (2) 87, their difference, and whether the jog dial 4 is pressed by polling for 5 ms. .
[0055]
First, in step S1 of FIG. 14, the count value Counter1 (T-1) at time T-1 is subtracted from the count value Counter1 (T-1) at the current time T of the right rotation pulse, and the amount of change in the count value of the counter 78 is subtracted. Find Counter1.
[0056]
Next, in step S2, the count value Counter1 (T-1) at time T-1 is subtracted from the count value Counter1 (T) at the current time T of the left rotation pulse, and the change amount Counter2 of the count value of the counter 87 is obtained. Ask.
[0057]
In step S3, a difference in the change amount of the count value is obtained. That is, the difference between the change amount Counter1 and the change amount Counter2 is obtained. If the difference between the changes is a negative value, the rotation is counterclockwise.
[0058]
In step S4, the pressed state of the jog dial 4 is acquired. In step S5, the amount of change obtained in step S3 is determined. In step S6, it is determined whether the pressing state of the jog dial 4 has changed. If the amount of change is detected in step S5, or if it is determined that the pressed state has changed in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7, and the jog dial driver 54D activated by the CPU 51 is connected via the host bus 52 to the current jog dial 4. The pressed state and change amount are notified via the I / O register 71F by interruption.
[0059]
If there is no change in the pressed state of the jog dial 4 in step S6, the process proceeds to step S8, polling is terminated, and the process from step S1 is repeated after 5 ms again.
[0060]
Further, after the power switch 8 is turned on, the CPU 51 executes the jog dial state monitoring program 54C according to the procedure shown in FIG.
[0061]
That is, in step S31, it is constantly monitored whether or not the jog dial 4 has been operated. It also monitors whether the e-mail program 54A and other applications 54F1-54Fn have been activated. The jog dial status monitoring here is for monitoring the processing from the jog dial status monitoring program 70E on the CPU 51 side via the jog dial driver 54D, and is substantially the same as the operation described with reference to FIG. It is.
[0062]
When an operation notification of the jog dial 4 is received from the jog dial driver 54D in step S32, the process proceeds to step S33. In step S33, it is determined whether or not there is an active application. If there is no active application, the operation proceeds to the launcher operation. If there is an active application, the operation proceeds to the event operation. Here, the launcher operation is an operation for selecting a registered application.
[0063]
The launcher operation will be briefly described. As described above, this launcher operation functions under the condition that there is no currently active application. Applications registered in advance in the launcher list are displayed in the jog dial menu. Applications corresponding to the jog dial are registered in the launcher list.
[0064]
When the launcher operation is executed, a jog dial menu indicating the launcher state is displayed on the LCD 7. In the jog dial menu, a list of applications corresponding to the jog dial that launches when the jog dial is rotated (scrolled) or pressed (pushed) up and down is displayed and activated.
[0065]
For example, it is assumed that there is no activated application and the user presses the jog dial 4 only once in the direction of arrow b in FIG. Then, as described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15, the jog driver 54D receives the push state of the jog dial 4 by sending the flag state from the I / O register by interrupt (interruption) in step S7 of FIG. As a result, the jog dial driver 54D sends an operation notification to the jog dial monitoring program 54C that is also executed by the CPU 51.
[0066]
Then, an application program registered in advance in the launcher list and corresponding to the jog dial, for example, adjusting the volume of the speaker 65, adjusting the brightness of the LCD 7, adjusting the contrast thereof, and selecting an application is started by the CPU 51. A jog dial menu as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the LCD 7 of the display unit 3 shown in FIG. This jog dial menu has menu items ("Volume", "Brightness", "Contrast", "Application") corresponding to the above-mentioned volume adjustment, display brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, and application selection. Select ") is displayed. In this example, the selector A is displayed on the menu item “volume” as an initial state.
[0067]
Next, when the user rotates (scrolls) the jog dial 4 in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 3 for the purpose of moving the selector A, the embedded controller 68 performs the calculation described in FIG. 14 according to the jog dial state monitoring program 70E. The change amount is notified to the jog dial driver 54D executed by the CPU 51.
[0068]
Then, since the jog dial driver 54D sends an operation notification to the jog dial state monitoring program 54C, the CPU 51 moves the selector A onto the menu item corresponding to the process that the user wants to execute. For example, in a state where the jog dial menu of FIG. 16 is displayed on the LCD 7 (in a state where the selector A is displayed on the “volume”), the user places the jog dial 4 below the arrow a in FIG. When the distance (angle) is rotated (scrolled), the selector A moves to the menu item “luminance”. Further, when the user further rotates the jog dial 4 downward, the selector A moves to the menu item “select application” as shown in FIG.
[0069]
When the selector A moves to a menu item corresponding to a process to be executed by the user's rotation operation on the jog dial 4, the user presses the jog dial 4 in the direction of the arrow b shown in FIG. Accordingly, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, when the selector A is displayed on the menu item “luminance”, a submenu corresponding to the menu item “luminance” as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. In the case of this example, six submenu items “5” to “5” selected from the submenu item “5” selected when the luminance is the brightest to the submenu item “0” selected when the luminance is the brightest. “0” is displayed. Then, the amount of change of the jog dial 4 corresponding to the rotation operation of the jog dial 4 by the user is obtained by the processing of the embedded controller 68 shown in FIG. 14, sent to the jog dial driver 54D, and further monitored by the jog dial state monitoring program 54C. , Selector B moves.
[0070]
Further, for example, when the selector A is displayed on the menu item “select application” as shown in FIG. 19, it corresponds to the menu item “select application” as shown in FIG. 21 by the user's selection operation. The submenu to be displayed is displayed. In this example, the sub-menu item “word processor” selected when the word processor application is started, the sub-menu item “e-mail” selected when the e-mail program is started, and the sub menu item selected when the spreadsheet program is started. A menu item “Spreadsheet”, a submenu item “Internet” selected when starting the Internet program, and a submenu item “Calculator” selected when starting the calculator program are displayed. In this example, the selector B on the submenu is displayed in the uppermost submenu item in the initial state.
[0071]
Next, the user performs a rotation operation on the jog dial 4, moves the selector B onto the submenu item to be selected, and presses the jog dial 4 to perform the selection operation. As a result, the submenu item on which the selector B is displayed is selected, and the corresponding process is executed. For example, in the example of FIG. 20, when the sub menu item “3” is selected, the brightness corresponding to the sub menu item “3” is set in the LCD 7. In the example of FIG. 21, when the submenu item “Internet” is selected, the Internet program is activated.
[0072]
Next, a case where the CPU 51 executes the jog dial monitoring state program 54C after the power switch 8 is turned on and there is an active application in step S33 of FIG. 16 will be described. This is the event operation described above. The application is required to be compatible with the jog dial. Specifically, it is a predetermined application program having an image display function. In this example, it is assumed that the Japan map shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the LCD 7 by the application program. At this time, when the user performs a rotation operation on the jog dial 4, the image is enlarged around the point indicated by the pointer as shown in FIG.
[0073]
When the jog dial 4 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction when the image is enlarged, the image is reduced (returned to the original). As described above, in a predetermined application program having an image display function adapted to the jog dial, the image displayed on the LCD 7 can be reduced or enlarged in accordance with the rotation operation of the jog dial 4.
[0074]
Next, an operation of the jog dial 4 when an application having a moving image editing function corresponding to the jog dial is started will be described. In this example, it is assumed that an editing screen as shown in FIG. 24 is displayed on the LCD 7 by the application program.
[0075]
This editing screen is composed of a display unit 88 (left side of the screen) and a display unit 89 (right side of the screen). The display unit 88 includes four image frames S-1 to S-4 (hereinafter referred to as image frames S-1 to S-4) which are temporally continuous among the still images constituting the moving image, so-called image frames. If it is not necessary to distinguish between them, the image frame S is simply displayed. On the display unit 89 on the right side, one image frame S of the image frames S displayed on the display unit 88 selected by the selection operation (pressing) on the jog dial 4 is displayed. In this example, when the image frame S is displayed on the display unit 89 in this way, a predetermined editing process for the image frame S can be performed.
[0076]
In a state where such an edited image is displayed on the LCD 7, the user performs a rotation operation on the jog dial 4 to advance or rewind the image frame S, and display the desired image frame S on the display unit 88. Let When a desired image frame S is displayed on the display unit 88 (in this example, displayed on the top of the display unit 88), the user performs a selection operation on the jog dial 4. As a result, the image frame S displayed at the top of the display unit 88 is selected and displayed on the display unit 89. Thereafter, the user executes an editing process on the image frame S displayed on the display unit 89.
[0077]
Both of the applications as the above specific examples are software compatible with the jog dial. However, all the applications stored in the HDD 67 and stored in the RAM 54 after the startup processing of the OS 54E is completed are not all jog dial compatible types, for example, there are non-compatible applications such as the application 54F3. The processing for the jog dial assigned by the CPU to the compatible application and the non-compatible application is different. Therefore, the jog dial compatible application performs notification processing on the jog dial state monitoring program 54C executed by the CPU 51 in the procedure as shown in FIG.
[0078]
First, in step S61, the jog dial monitoring program 54C is declared that the user (application) is compatible with the jog dial. In step S62, the jog dial monitoring program 54C adds the application software to the list of jog dial compatible software.
[0079]
After that, although the explanation is omitted in the above example, the display of the jog dial menu may be made a display unique to the application so as to notify the user in the form of a jog dial guide.
[0080]
That is, in step S63, the application corresponding to the jog dial notifies the jog dial state monitoring program 54C of the description of the jog dial operation in the current state as a character string. Then, in step S64, a jog dial window 90 as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed, and character strings such as a jog dial guide, zoom, in, fit, and out are displayed.
[0081]
As shown in step S65, the application corresponding to the jog dial rewrites the list of the jog dial monitoring program 54C by changing the character string in accordance with the activated window state.
[0082]
For this reason, when the jog dial-compatible application is active, the display of the jog dial window 90 indicates a character string describing what operation the application performs by operating the jog dial.
[0083]
Specific examples of application software that supports jog dial are given below.
[0084]
First, as a first specific example, there is PictureGear (trademark) which is an image viewer & image shaping tool. The details of this picture gear (PictureGear) are described on the Internet homepage whose URL is http://vaio.sony.co.jp/software/PictureGear/index.html. In the following, this picture gear is software that can centrally manage still images and moving images in various removable media such as hard disks, floppy disks, MOs, PC cards, and other card-type memory media. Each image can be displayed as a list by a predetermined operation, and the user can view the target image at a glance. For image shaping, you can create 360-degree panoramas and labels with photos. Furthermore, it is possible to cope with creation of an HTML album that allows images to be viewed with a WWW browser. FIG. 27 shows the picture gear window 101. The image display unit 104 displays a large number of images in an arbitrary zoom state (sheet view display). In addition, in order to view all of a large number of images, another image display unit 105 with a high degree of reduction may be used. Further, only one image selected from the sheet view display can be displayed on the image display unit 104. The image display units 104 and 105 are enlarged / reduced by slide-in units with gauges 102 and 103 for zooming in / out. The list image displayed on the sheet view or one sheet by the slide operation unit with gauge 102 can be zoomed in / out at a high speed, for example, from 12.5 to 800%. Then, by applying the present invention, this zoom-in / out is performed by rotating (scrolling) and pressing (pushing) the jog dial 4. As a procedure, the jog dial window 90 is displayed at a predetermined location of the window 101, for example, at the lower right when the picture gear is activated. At this time, what happens when the user operates the jog dial is displayed through the processing of steps S63 and S64 in FIG. When the sheet view is displayed, the jog dial window 90 displays that a zoom-in / out operation can be performed by scrolling, and that a list display image can be aligned according to the window by pushing. Further, when displaying a single image, the jog dial window 90 displays that a zoom-in / out operation can be performed by scrolling and an operation to fit the window size can be performed by pushing.
[0085]
Next, as a second specific example, there is Navin'You (trademark) which is a map display tool of the current position by GPS. The details of Navin Yu are also described on the Internet home page at the URL http://vaio.sony.co.jp/software/NavinYou/top.html. In the following excerpt, this Navin Yu can operate the map with a realistic visual with a sense of perspective, as the intersection and display approach as it progresses as seen from the sky, in addition to the conventional planar map display It is soft. The height of the flight can be freely adjusted by a predetermined operation, and furthermore, the user can scroll at a high speed only by advancing the pointer in the desired direction. It can be operated as if you were flying an airplane. FIG. 28 shows the Navin You window 110. A three-dimensional display unit 111 and a two-dimensional display unit 112 are displayed in the window. The jog dial window 90 is also displayed at the lower right in the window 110, for example. In the jog dial window 90, as described above, what happens when the user operates the jog dial is displayed through the processing of steps S63 and S64 in FIG. In this case, the zoom in / out operation of the map can be performed by scrolling the jog dial 4, the setting screen that affects the operation can be displayed by the push, and the processing of step S65 is performed when the setting screen is displayed. Display that it is hidden by re-pushing through.
[0086]
Next, as a third specific example, there is GigaPocket (trademark), which is software that can record, play back, and manage TV programs and video images with high image quality and comfortable operations. The details of Giga Pocket are also described on the Internet homepage with the URL http://vaio.sony.co.jp/Gigapocket/recorder.html. The following is an excerpt from the Giga Pocket's “Giga Video Recorder” that is input from a TV program or an external input terminal received by a TV tuner mounted on a personal computer, for example, a “vaio” (trademark) MPEG2 real-time encoder board. The recorded video can be recorded / reproduced with high image quality of MPEG2. Since the video is recorded on the hard disk of the personal computer and can be played back by random access, the recorded scene can be played back while continuing the recording, or another file that has already been recorded can be played back. Also, “Giga Video Recorder” automatically detects large screen changes during recording and saves thumbnail screens. Equipped with a “film roll function” that scrolls the thumbnail screen horizontally during playback. If the film part is postponed and an arbitrary point is specified, playback can be started from that point. Therefore, you can quickly jump to the scene you want to see and enjoy the video efficiently. This giga pocket is a specific example of the technology relating to AV content recording / playback processing disclosed by the applicant of the present application in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-117267. FIG. 29 shows a giga pocket window 115 as a specific example thereof. The Giga-Pocket is activated, AV content is reproduced, and still images stored in a plurality of still image data files are displayed. The still image display window 171 displays still images (still images at scene changes) stored in a plurality of still image data files as thumbnail images of a predetermined size. The horizontal position of the still image display window 171 in the figure corresponds to the time axis of the image to be reproduced. The position indicated by the current position indication gauge 172 corresponds to the current time, that is, the time point of the image being reproduced. The left side in the figure shows a predetermined past time point (an image has already been reproduced) after a predetermined time corresponding to the distance from the position of the current position indicating gauge 172. The right side in the figure shows a future time point (image will be reproduced from now on) of a predetermined time corresponding to the distance from the position of the current position indicating gauge 172. The thumbnail image is arranged at a position corresponding to the change point of the scene and is displayed in the still image display window 171. When a scene change occurs in a short time, the thumbnail images are displayed in a superimposed manner. As display of the reproduced image progresses (as time elapses), the display position of the thumbnail image moves from the right side to the left side in the figure.
[0087]
Only the thumbnail image displayed in the still image display window 171 is scrolled separately from the image being reproduced by dragging the thumbnail image. The distance between thumbnail images always reflects the time between scene changes and does not change. The user can quickly know the scene change in a predetermined range from the thumbnail image displayed in the still image display window 171 and can immediately see the desired scene. Therefore, the above-mentioned “film roll function” is made to correspond to the scroll and push of the jog dial 4, and the film portion is advanced or returned by scroll and determined by push. For this reason, it is possible to quickly move the film part forward or backward to determine an arbitrary point, start playback from that point, jump quickly to the scene you want to see, and enjoy the video efficiently.
[0088]
Next, as a fourth specific example, on the desktop disclosed in the specification and drawings relating to Japanese Patent Application No. 11-108535 (domestic priority application of Japanese Patent Application No. 10-321772) previously proposed by the present applicant. You may apply to the technique regarding the application software which displays a sticky note on and implement | achieves the desktop environment which can be moved to time. FIG. 30 shows an example of a display screen when time-based cooperation is performed between an application that realizes a desktop environment that can be moved in time and an image browser application. In FIG. 30, it is assumed that, for example, a search is performed on the desktop by an application that realizes the above-described desktop environment that can be moved in time, and the time is moved until a certain character string or icon appears on the desktop. In this example, for example, a character string “wearable” is input to the search character input space 125, and the character string “wearable” is searched by an application that realizes a desktop environment that can be moved in time. Assume that an icon, a character string, or the like used at the time of the conference related to is displayed on the time-movable desktop window 200. In this example, as can be seen from the display contents of the date and time display unit 127, the desktop environment at the time of the meeting held at 15:00 on Friday, November 20, 1998 (Fri) is displayed on the window 200. .
[0089]
When the “application time” is determined by the application that realizes the desktop environment that can be moved in time as described above, the time information is notified to the image browser.
[0090]
Upon receiving the time information, the image browser displays on the window 201 a photographic image taken in the vicinity of the time (in the middle of the meeting). In this example, as can be seen from the display content of the image file creation time display section 203, a photographic image taken at 16:00 on November 20, 1998 is displayed in the window 201.
[0091]
Conversely, when the image browser is operated, the state of the desktop at the time when the photographic image is taken is reproduced. Therefore, even if no special caption (explanation) is attached to the photographic image, it is possible to understand under what circumstances the photograph was taken.
[0092]
By applying the present invention to this technique, the time movement operation of the time movable desktop 200 can be operated with the jog dial 4. The jog dial window 90 is displayed at the lower right of the time-movable desktop 200, and a time movement operation to the past and the future is performed corresponding to the scroll.
[0093]
Specific examples (fifth to eleventh specific examples) of other jog dial-compatible applications and their operations will be briefly described below. As a fifth specific example, there is SmartWrite (trademark) which is a simple word processor. In the smart light, scrolling up / down by scrolling (rotating) the jog dial 4 or jumping to the head of the document by pushing is displayed on the jog dial window.
[0094]
As a sixth specific example, there is a smart script editor (trademark) which is an application automatic execution tool by script. In this smart script editor, step execution is advanced by scrolling the jog dial 4, and a pause is displayed in the jog dial window when pushed during recording during playback.
[0095]
A seventh specific example is DV gate motion (trademark), which is a digital video playback / editing tool. In this DV gate motion, the jog dial 4 is scrolled to display a paused frame advance, frame return, and push to mark in the jog dial window.
[0096]
As an eighth specific example, there is Smart Capture (trademark) which is a still image / moving image capturing tool of a digital video camera. In this smart capture, the functions at the time of scrolling and pushing on the viewfinder screen, the still viewer, and the movie player are made different. This is because the character string can be changed and displayed in accordance with the state of the window that has been activated through the processing in step S65 shown in FIG. Each effect level can be set by scrolling on the viewfinder screen. For example, it is a level setting for effects such as adding white noise. On the still viewer, a still image displayed by scrolling is selected, and mail software (mailer) is activated by pushing. The mailer here is effective when a still image is used as an attached file. On the movie player, a moving image frame displayed by scrolling is selected, and the same mailer as described above is activated by pushing.
[0097]
A ninth specific example is MediaBar (trademark), which is a music-related playback tool. In this media bar, the playback of the next song / previous song is selected by scrolling the jog dial, and paused by pushing.
[0098]
As a tenth specific example, there is a jog dial browser which is a tool for browsing folders using a jog dial. The list is moved up and down by scrolling the jog dial, and by push, the file list under the folder is displayed when the selected item is a folder, and executed when it is a data / program. If it is cancelled, it is terminated. If it is a return, the file list of the folder one level above is displayed.
[0099]
As an eleventh specific example, a hot key function is assigned for brightness adjustment, volume adjustment, mute adjustment, LCD / VGA output setting, LCD / TV output setting level change and determination.
[0100]
In each of the specific examples described above, it is possible to execute predetermined processing corresponding to scroll (rotation) and push (press) of the jog dial.
[0101]
By the way, the embedded controller 68 already executes the jog dial state monitoring program 70E even if the power switch 8 is off and the OS 54E is not activated by the CPU 51, and the notebook personal computer 1 is not provided with a dedicated key. In the power saving state or when the power is turned off, for example, when the user simply presses the jog dial 4 to activate the favorite software or script file, the following is described in detail. To do.
[0102]
This is a technique for automatically activating a function of an electronic device such as a notebook personal computer by a one-touch operation of a user. For example, this is effective for meeting the desire that the user wants to immediately view an electronic mail on a notebook personal computer and the desire to immediately activate a desired application.
[0103]
Conventionally, a programmable power key (PPK) is provided on a side surface of a main body of a notebook personal computer, and a user operates the PPK to start a desired application suddenly, for example, from a power saving state or when the power is turned off. It was.
[0104]
In the present invention, even when the personal computer is in a power saving state or in a power off state by the processing procedure as shown in FIG. 31, a desired application can be immediately started by pushing the jog dial.
[0105]
First, in step S21, the jog dial state monitoring program 70E in FIG. 12 constantly monitors whether or not the jog dial 4 has been pressed. The processing here is the same as the processing shown in FIGS. If it is determined in step S22 that the jog dial has been pressed, a jog dial pressing flag is set in a predetermined register in the RAM 71, and an instruction to execute wake-up or resume processing is issued to the wake-up program 70D, which is a power management program. . Then, the power is turned on, and the OS 54E is activated or resumed in step S23.
[0106]
Next, the jog dial driver 54D checks the wake-up factor in step S24, and if the wake-up factor is caused by pressing the jog dial 4 in step S25, it is determined that the jog dial wake-up has occurred for the jog dial monitoring program 54C. Instruct.
[0107]
Thereby, in step S26, the jog dial state monitoring program 54C activates the autopilot program 54B, and for example, the e-mail is automatically taken in by the e-mail program 54A.
[0108]
Then, in step S27, the process proceeds to the process after step S94 of the process shown in FIG. Steps S91 to S94 in the flowchart in FIG. 32 are a summary of the processes from steps S21 to S26 in FIG.
[0109]
Then, in step S95, the CPU 51 shown in FIG. 12 confirms whether there is an incoming mail addressed to the mail server 78. If there is an incoming mail, the process proceeds to step S96 to set a flag indicating that there is an incoming mail, and the electronic mail program is terminated in step S97. When there is an incoming mail, the LED control program 70A writes a lighting flag for lighting the message lamp ML in the LED control register, and thereby the message lamp ML is turned on in step S98. Next, in step S99, the OS 54E is terminated. On the other hand, if there is no incoming mail in step S95, the process proceeds to step S97, the e-mail program 54A is terminated, the process proceeds to step S99, and the OS 54E is terminated.
[0110]
Next, the processing by the embedded controller 68 and the processing by the CPU 51 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0111]
In FIG. 33, step S100 is executed by the wake-up program 70D, and steps S101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 are executed by the jog dial state monitoring program 70E. Steps S112 and S113 are executed by the LED control program 70A, and steps S107 to S116 are executed by the autopilot program 54B.
[0112]
Steps S100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 112, and 113 are processes according to instructions from the embedded controller 68, and steps S106 to S116 are processes according to instructions from the CPU 51.
[0113]
First, in step S100, the embedded controller 68 determines whether or not the set time set in the set time register is reached based on the wakeup program 70D. If the set time is reached, the process proceeds to step S102. Otherwise, if the set time is not reached and the user presses the jog dial 4 in step S101, the process proceeds to step S102. If the jog dial 4 is not pressed in step S101, the process proceeds to step S105.
[0114]
In step S102, the operation flag is written as “1” in the jog dial input status register. Next, in step S103, the embedded controller 68 determines whether or not it is in a power saving state. That is, when the CPU 51 or the like is held in the power saving state, the process proceeds to step S103-1, and resume processing is executed. Otherwise, when not in the power saving state, in step S104, the CPU 51 is instructed to boot up (start up) the OS 54E.
[0115]
If the user presses the jog dial 4 in step S101 described above and the power switch 8 is pressed in step S105, the same instruction is also given in step S104.
[0116]
When the process moves from step S104 or step S103-1 to step S106, the processing by the CPU 51 starts. Here, in the state where the jog dial operation flag is set to “1” as described above, in step S106, boot up or resume processing of the OS 54E and boot up of the auto pilot program 54B are performed as necessary. This boot-up refers to startup or startup processing.
[0117]
In step S107, the CPU 51 instructs auto-dial processing to the access point of the Internet service provider 77 preset by the user, and auto-dial is performed to the access point of the provider 77 via the modem 75 and the telephone line 76 of FIG. And connect to the line.
[0118]
In step S108, an account such as a user name (user ID) and a password is transmitted at a timing requested from the provider 77 side. When the CPU 51 performs dial-up connection confirmation by PPP in step S109, the e-mail program 54A shown in FIG. 12 is activated in step S110, and e-mail acquisition processing is performed from the mail server 78 to the personal computer 1 on the client side. Execute. If there is an incoming mail addressed to itself, the process proceeds to step S112, where the LED control program 70A writes the lighting flag to the LED control register of the RAM 71, and the message lamp ML is displayed.
[0119]
On the other hand, if there is no incoming mail addressed to itself in step S111, the e-mail program 54A is terminated in step S114, the PPP connection with the provider 77 is disconnected in step S115, and the OS 54E termination process is executed in step S116. To do.
[0120]
Thus, the embedded controller 68 provided with the jog dial state monitoring program 70E constantly monitors whether or not the jog dial 4 is pressed by the user, and the user automatically presses the jog dial 4 to automatically acquire the e-mail. Can be operated. That is, when the user presses the jog dial 4, the incoming mail acquisition function for electronic mail can be automatically activated.
[0121]
By the way, the following specific functions are also conceivable as functions that immediately start in response to a one-touch operation by pressing the jog dial.
[0122]
First, as a first specific function, there is a BGM activation function. By pressing the jog dial, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started up. Then, the audio player application is started immediately, and MIDI files of several to thousands of songs stored in advance in the HDD are sequentially played back at random. Is a function to automatically play back.
[0123]
The second specific function is a handwritten memo activation function. A function to turn on the touch pad 6 as a pointing device in the absolute coordinate detection mode immediately after the OS 54E is started up by pressing the jog dial, and then set the drawing application to be ready to input a handwritten memo. It is.
[0124]
A third specific function is a scheduler function. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started up. Then, the schedule software is activated and, for example, this week's weekly list page is opened.
[0125]
As a fourth specific function, there is a digital still camera (DSC) interlocking function. Turn on the DSC power and enable IrDA (infrared data) communication. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started. Then, the communication software is activated, connected to the DSC, and the image data stored in the DSC is taken into the HDD.
[0126]
As a fifth specific function, there is a function of starting up two or more computers synchronously. The purpose is to exchange data with other computers. Connect two computers to each other with parallel cables, etc., and press both jog dials to turn on the power. After OS54E starts up, connect with the cable connection function and check the time stamp for files in the specified folder. This is a function to synchronize files from newer to older.
[0127]
As a sixth specific function, there is an IrDA synchronization function. The purpose is to exchange data with other computers. Arrange the two computers so that the IrDA transmission / reception units face each other, press both jog dials to turn on the power, and after OS54E starts up, connect them using the cable connection function, and save the files in the specified folder to the time This is a function that looks at the stamp and synchronizes the file from newer to older.
[0128]
As a seventh specific function, there is a panic response function. This is a function for displaying a screen different from the currently displayed screen by pressing the jog dial. The different images are images such as “screen shots when performing cost calculation with spreadsheet software”.
[0129]
An eighth specific function is a security function. This is a function to protect the terminal from being tampered with by others by pressing the jog dial and locking the password. Authorized users can unlock by entering a pre-registered password.
[0130]
As a ninth specific function, there is an Internet compatible function. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started. Then, the dial-up connection is made by PPP, the WWW browser is started, and the designated URL page is displayed.
[0131]
A tenth specific function is a storefront demonstration function. This is an example of application when used for a store display. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started, and then the store demonstration software is started to explain the features of the product.
[0132]
The eleventh specific function is an ink word processor compatible function. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started up. After that, the ink word processor software is activated, the touch pad is switched to the absolute value mode, and the pen input is immediately enabled.
[0133]
A twelfth specific function is a handwritten character recognition function. Normally, it is effective when placed on a device that uses a keyboard for input. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started up. Then, the character recognition software is activated, and the touch pad is switched to the absolute value mode so that handwritten characters can be input.
[0134]
The thirteenth specific function is a FAX memo support function. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on and the OS 54E is started up. Then, the facsimile software is activated, and a character / illustration input by a keyboard or handwriting input is transmitted by FAX.
[0135]
As a fourteenth specific function, there is a silent support function. When the jog dial is pressed, the power is turned on, the sound function is turned off, and the OS 54E is started. Use in situations where sound is annoying, such as during a meeting.
[0136]
In this way, by providing the jog dial with a one-touch operation function, in the present invention, even if no PPK or the like is provided in particular, it is possible to start a preset application from the state of the main unit power off or the power saving mode, It was possible to instruct the start of a series of operations leading to the operation.
[0137]
By the way, as described above with reference to FIG. 16, it has already been briefly described that the launcher operation state is entered when there is no currently active application, and the event operation state is entered when there is a currently activated application. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0138]
In step S33 of FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not there is an active application. If there is no active application, the operation proceeds to the launcher operation, and if there is an active application, the operation proceeds to the event operation. A flowchart of this launcher operation is shown in FIG. FIG. 35B shows a specific example of a window (user interface UI) during jog dial launcher operation. In step S41 of FIG. 34, the launcher state UI is displayed on the window. In step S42, a list of applications to be launched is displayed in response to a jog dial operation (scrolling up and down, pressing), and activation is performed. FIG. 36 shows a state where the jog dial window 90 when the launcher operation is started is displayed on the window 100 immediately after the OS is started.
[0139]
Here, when an e-mail is selected in the display shown in FIG. 35B, the processing after step S94 in FIG. 32 is performed in step S43.
[0140]
If there is an active application in step S33 of FIG. 16, the event operation shown in FIG. 37 is performed. There are already applications that are compatible with jog dial and those that are not compatible. Correspondence / non-correspondence is discriminated in steps S52 and S53. First, in step S51, a UI for performing an event operation is displayed on the window.
[0141]
In step S52, it is checked whether or not the active application is registered in advance as a jog dial compatible application, and a determination is made in step S53. If it is determined in step S53 that the application is compatible with the jog dial, the process proceeds to step S54, and the jog dial-specific message notification is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 14, and the jog dial window 90 as shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. Is displayed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the application is incompatible with the jog dial, the process proceeds to step S55, where a standard message notification is made, and a jog dial window 90 as shown in FIG.
[0142]
FIG. 38 shows the standard message notification in step S55, that is, the event notification procedure of the application not compatible with the jog dial.
[0143]
In step S71, it is determined whether or not the jog dial has been rotated. If it has been rotated, the process proceeds to step S72 to determine whether or not the setting is a scroll function. If it is a scroll function, it will progress to step S73 and will send a scroll event. That is, as shown in FIG. 30C, a scroll function is displayed on the jog dial window 90 to guide the scroll upward direction and scroll downward direction. Rotating the jog dial performs the same operation as scrolling the scroll bar of the active window up and down. If it is determined in step S72 that the setting is not scrolling, the process proceeds to step S74, and the jog dial is rotated to emulate that the ← → key is pressed. In step S73 and step S74, it is possible to assign an arrow key function or a scroll function on a jog dial setting screen described later.
[0144]
If it is determined in step S74 that the jog dial has not been rotated but pressed, the process proceeds to step S75, and it is determined whether or not a control key (Ctrl Key) has also been pressed. If it is determined that the control key is also pressed, the process proceeds to step S76, the active window is canceled, and the already-described launcher state is entered. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S75 that the control key has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S78, where it is determined whether or not the Alt key has been pressed together with the jog dial being pressed. Here, if the alt key has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S77 to minimize the window.
[0145]
If it is determined in step S78 that the ortho key is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S79 to determine whether the shift key (Shift Key) is pressed together with the jog dial. If it is determined that the shift key has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S80, and the active window is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S79 that the shift key has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S81 to maximize the window.
[0146]
The above is the jog dial event notification processing when the jog dial incompatible application is activated.
[0147]
Next, the setting of the jog dial will be described. The operation of the “set up” button in the jog dial window 90 can shift to the jog dial setting screen 300 shown in FIG. In this case, the CPU 51 that has executed the jog dial state monitoring program 54C shown in FIG. 12 starts a setup process and accepts a setting operation.
[0148]
For example, an application can be registered in an application list activated from the launcher function. Setting registration is performed by selecting a software registration area 301 and attaching a jog dial mark to a desired application. After that, if the OK button is clicked, the setting registration is completed. In the software registration area 301, a startup application in the PPK function using the jog dial can be registered by adding P to the jog dial mark. Similarly, an activation application in automatic timer activation can be registered by adding a clock mark. At that time, the following items can be set. Starts up the start time setting only once, starts weekly, transitions to the suspend / hibernation state after startup.
[0149]
Further, the function assignment corresponding to the operation of the jog dial can be freely customized by the setting operation on the jog dial setting screen 300. This will be described with reference to FIG.
[0150]
First, an event type for the rotation direction of the jog dial is set. The jog dial detail setting area 303 on the jog dial setting screen 300 is selected, and the jog dial rotation direction setting unit 304 sets whether to operate upward or downward when the jog dial rotates.
[0151]
Next, a scroll function and an arrow key function are set for an application that does not support the jog dial. The jog dial detailed setting area 303 on the jog dial setting screen 300 is selected, and the operation of the jog dial when software not corresponding to the jog dial becomes active is set in the corresponding part 305 for the software not corresponding to the jog dial. Here, “Switch to scroll function” and “Switch to arrow key function” can be selected.
[0152]
Next, set the sound file when the jog dial is operated and the wave file of the jog dial sound. The jog dial detailed setting area 303 on the jog dial setting screen 300 is selected, and the sound effect setting unit 306 selects whether or not to use the sound effect when the jog dial is rotated. When the jog dial is used, the wave file is set. Click the browse button for the name of each registered file. Similarly, select whether or not to use sound effects when the jog dial is pressed, and if so, set Wave file. Again, you can refer to the names of each registered file by clicking the browse button.
[0153]
As a providing medium for providing the user with a program for performing the above-described processing on the jog dial, in addition to a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, and a solid memory, a communication medium such as a network and a satellite, and these It may be realized by various interfaces such as routers and modems that transfer or receive programs provided via other communication media, and the medium in this specification means a broad concept including all these media It is.
[0154]
【The invention's effect】
According to the information processing apparatus, method, and medium according to the present invention, it is possible to execute a desired process from a plurality of menus by a simple operation such as a jog dial, and by operating the current jog dial to the user. You can tell what you can do and improve the user interface. Furthermore, it is possible to set an event corresponding to the operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a notebook personal computer to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main body of the notebook personal computer shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a jog dial which is a main part of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the main body on the jog dial side.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the jog dial.
6 is a perspective view of a contact mounting board that is a main part of the jog dial shown in FIG. 5; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of the jog dial.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the jog dial.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the used device showing a state where the jog dial is attached to the used device.
FIG. 10 is a partially broken top view for explaining a rotary encoder portion constituting the jog dial.
FIG. 11 is a top view for explaining a push switch portion of the jog dial.
12 is an electrical circuit diagram of the notebook personal computer whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration in which the embedded controller monitors the state of the rotary encoder unit of the jog dial via the rotation detection unit.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart when the embedded controller executes a jog dial state monitoring program;
15 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the rotation detector in FIG.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a jog dial state monitoring program executed by the CPU of the notebook computer after the power switch is turned on.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a jog dial menu.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another display example of the jog dial menu.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another display example of the jog dial menu.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a submenu.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another display example of the sub menu.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a display example by an application program for displaying a map.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another display example by the application program for displaying the map.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display example by an application program for displaying an editing screen.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining a notification process performed by a jog dial-compatible application to a jog dial state monitoring program executed by a CPU.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a specific example in which the display of the jog dial menu is an application-specific display.
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a window display example of a first specific example of a jog dial-compatible application.
FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a window display example of a second specific example of the jog dial-compatible application.
FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a window display example of a third specific example of the jog dial-compatible application.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a window display example of a fourth specific example of the jog dial-compatible application.
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for immediately starting a desired application by pushing a jog dial even when a notebook personal computer is in a power saving state or in a power off state.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for immediately starting an e-mail application when a jog dial is pushed even when a notebook personal computer is in a power saving state or in a power-off state.
FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 32 in more detail.
FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining a launcher operation.
FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a guide state and a launcher state of a jog dial window.
FIG. 36 is a diagram of a specific example of a jog dial window showing a launcher state on a window immediately after the OS is started.
FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining an event operation;
FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing an event notification procedure of a jog dial non-compatible application.
FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an application is registered in the application list that is activated from the launcher function, particularly regarding the setting of the jog dial.
FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a state in which the function assignment corresponding to the operation of the jog dial can be freely customized with respect to the setting of the jog dial.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 notebook personal computer, 2 main body, 3 display section, 4 jog dial, 5 keyboard, 6 touch pad, 7 LCD

Claims (9)

An operation unit corresponding to a rotation operation and a pressing operation;
Monitoring means for monitoring the activation state of the application program;
A program execution means for starting the first program and / or application program for executing the launcher process and executing the program;
A first execution means for executing a launcher process corresponding to the first program in response to an operation on the operation unit when there is no application program in the active startup state;
When there is an application program in an active startup state, in response to an operation on the operation unit, a second execution means for executing processing corresponding to the application;
An information processing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting processing according to an operation on the operation unit.   The information according to claim 1, further comprising third execution means for executing a predetermined process set in advance when an application program for which a process to be executed in response to an operation on the operation unit is not set is in an active activation state. Processing equipment.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the launcher process includes a process of starting the application program. A display means for displaying an operation window corresponding to the launcher process or the process corresponding to the application;
The display means displays a setting button for setting the operation means on the operation window,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the setting button is operated, the setting unit includes a process of starting a setup process to display a setting screen and accepting a new setting or a change.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets a predetermined process according to an application program for which a process to be executed according to an operation on the operation unit is not set.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit accepts registration of a new application program in an application list that is activated from a launcher function that launches a selected application program when there is no active application program.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit customizes function assignment corresponding to the operation of the operation unit. An information processing method for starting a first program and / or an application program for executing a launcher process and executing the program,
A monitoring step of monitoring the activation state of the application program,
A first execution step of executing a launcher process corresponding to the first program in response to an operation on an operation unit corresponding to a rotation operation and a pressing operation when there is no application program in an active activation state;
When there is an application program in an active startup state, a second execution step of executing processing corresponding to the application in response to an operation on the operation unit;
An information processing method comprising: a setting step for setting processing according to an operation on the operation unit. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to start and execute a first program and / or an application program for executing launcher processing,
On the computer,
A monitoring step of monitoring the activation state of the application program,
A first execution step of executing a launcher process corresponding to the first program in response to an operation on an operation unit corresponding to a rotation operation and a pressing operation when there is no application program in an active activation state;
When there is an application program in an active startup state, a second execution step of executing processing corresponding to the application in response to an operation on the operation unit;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing a setting step for setting processing according to an operation on the operation unit.

Images