JP2001142598A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in the selection and establishment of choices. SOLUTION: When one divided area is designated by operating the tenkey button of a remote controller 7 from divided areas obtained by a lattice overlapped and displayed on the picture of a display device 9, a CPU 1 counts the number of items in the designated area. When a counted value is 1, the CPU 1 defines the selection of choices in the divided area and when the counted value is not smaller than 2, the CPU 1 automatically focuses a cursor to an item which is the nearest to the left upper corner of the designated divided area. When the cursor button of the remote controller 7 is operated, the CPU 1 focuses the cursor in accordance with the operation and when a defining button is operated, the CPU 1 settles the selection of a focused item.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an information processing apparatus capable of selecting one item from a plurality of selectable items (options) displayed on a screen. And a method using a button input device such as a keyboard and a remote controller. A pointing device is used in a personal computer or the like, but a button input device is often used in a home Internet terminal such as a television or a set-top box.

[0003]

For example, by using four types of arrow keys on a keyboard, an item ITE shown in FIG.
When M6 is selected, ITEM1, TEM2, ITEM
4, ITEM5 and ITEM6 must be followed in this order, and the arrow keys must be pressed four times in total.

Therefore, as the number of items increases, the number of times the arrow keys are operated until the target item is reached increases, and there is a problem in operability.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems and can improve the operability in confirming selection of an option.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control means for superimposing and displaying a grid on a display screen of options.
Designation means for designating one divided area from the divided areas obtained by the grid superimposed by the display control means, and counting means for counting the number of options in the divided area designated by the designation means An automatic selection deciding unit for deciding selection of an option in the divided area when the count value counted by the counting unit is 1, and a case where the count value counted by the counting unit is 2 or more. Automatic focus means for automatically focusing the cursor on the option closest to the upper left corner of the segmented area designated by the designating means, and manually focusing the cursor automatically focused by the automatic focus means. Manual focusing means, and manual selection determining means for determining selection of an option focused by the manual focusing means. And wherein the door.

[0007] In the first aspect, the designating means may have a key corresponding to the divided area obtained by the division by the grid displayed by the display control means on a one-to-one basis.

[0008] In claim 1, the display control means may further comprise a labeling means for labeling each of the divided areas obtained by the division by the grid, and each key is subjected to labeling by the labeling means. Label.

In the first aspect, the display control means may further include color-coding means for color-coding each of the divided areas divided by the grid with a different color, and each of the keys has a different color provided by the color-coding means. Can have.

[0010] In the first aspect, the display control means can turn off the display of the grid after the counting of the options by the counting means is completed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a designating means for designating one divided area from the divided areas obtained by the division by the grid superimposed on the display screen, and the designated area is designated by the designating means. Counting means for counting the number of options in the designated area each time, and when the number of options counted by the counting means is two or more, the category most recently designated by the designation means Display control means for superimposing and displaying a reduced grid over the entire area; and when the count value counted by the counting means is 1, the selection of an option in the section area most recently designated by the designation means is determined. And a selection deciding means for performing the selection.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, each time the number of options is counted by the counting means, the display control means turns off the display of a grid other than the most recently specified segmented area by the specifying means. it can.

The invention according to claim 8 is a designating means for designating a divided area obtained by division by a grid superimposed on a display screen, and is designated each time a designated area is designated by the designating means. Counting means for counting the number of options in the divided area, and when the number of options counted by the counting means is two or more, the image in the divided area most recently specified by the specifying means is displayed. Display control means for enlarging and displaying the entire display screen, and when the count value counted by the counting means is 1, the selection of the option in the segment area most recently designated by the designation means is determined. And a selection deciding means for performing the selection.

[0014] In claim 8, the display control means can return the screen display to default after the selection is confirmed by the selection deciding means.

In claim 1, when the number of options counted by said counting means is 0, a calculation is performed to calculate a distance from the designated section area to an option in a section area adjacent to the section area. Means, and selection determining means for determining the selection of the option having the shortest distance calculated by the calculating means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
An embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM in which a control program is stored. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that controls each unit of the apparatus according to a control program stored in the ROM 3. Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which is used as a work area of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a modem which converts a digital signal into an analog signal and sends it out, and conversely demodulates the analog signal into a digital signal and receives it. 5
Is an infrared controller for converting a signal from the remote controller 7 received by the infrared receiver 6 into a code of a pressed button on the remote controller 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display control device, which generates a display signal to a display device 9 such as a display based on information stored in the video memory 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power supply control device which generates a voltage required for each device from the commercial power supply 12.

FIG. 2 shows the button arrangement of the remote controller 7 of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a power button for turning on / off the power of the information processing apparatus. Reference numeral 22 denotes a grid display button for displaying a grid on the display device 9. Reference numeral 23 denotes a numeric keypad for performing channel switching and the like. Numeric keys 23
9 buttons and a two-dimensional array of buttons 1 to 9 [Nx, N
y] is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 24 denotes a decision key for deciding the selection of the item focused by the cursor. Reference numeral 25 denotes a cursor movement button for operating the cursor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the control program stored in the ROM 3 of FIG. The display device 9 is assumed to be displayed on the screen. The screen shown in FIG.
This is a general Web screen composed of selectable items, images, texts, and the like.
ITEM 7 is a selectable item. It is assumed that the cursor position immediately after the screen display is on the upper left item ITEM1.

In step S1, the display area of the grid is set to 640 dots × 480 dots, which is the same as the screen size.
Then, when the grid display button 22 of the remote controller 7 is pressed in step S2, a screen of a grid (a mutually parallel net-like parallel line) is superimposed on the screen of FIG. Number areas. 3 ×
FIG. 6 shows an example of dividing into three rectangular areas. Thereafter, in steps S3 and S4, the process waits until the ten key 23 on the remote controller 7 is pressed.

When the button of the numeric keypad 23 is pressed, a rectangular area corresponding to the pressed button is specified in step S5, and the range of the specified rectangular area is calculated in step S6. In S7, an item existing in the specified rectangular area is searched. Step S8
To erase the grid screen.

For example, when the ten key button 4 is pressed to select the ITEM 4 shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular area 4 corresponding to the ten key button is specified, and then a two-dimensional array [Nx , Ny] and the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area corresponding to the numeric keypad, as follows:

[0023]

(X / 3) Nx ≦ x <(X / 3) (Nx + 1) (1) (Y / 3) Ny ≦ y <(Y / 3) (Ny + 1) (2) The size is set to horizontal × vertical = X dots × Y dots.

Then, the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area 4 are obtained. Then, the number of items existing in the rectangular area 4 is counted from the obtained coordinates (x, y) and the coordinates of the upper left corner of each item.

Then, in step S9, it is determined whether the number of counted items is 0, 1 or 2 or more.

If it is determined that the number of counted items is 0, the process is terminated.

When it is determined that the number of counted items is one, the selection of the one item is determined in step S10.

If it is determined that the number of counted items is two or more, in step S11, the cursor is focused on the item located at the upper left corner in the specified rectangular area. When the cursor button 25 is operated, in steps S12 to S14, the cursor is focused in accordance with the operation, and when the confirm button 24 is pressed, the selection of the item focused by the cursor is confirmed. .

In the above example, since the number of items in the rectangular area 4 is two, the cursor is focused on the item ITEM2 located at the upper left corner in the rectangular area 4. Then, the operator presses the down arrow button of the cursor 25 to move the cursor from ITEM2 to ITEM4.
Then, the confirmation button 24 is pressed to confirm the selection of the ITEM 4.

In the above example, as the button operations until the selection of the ITEM 4 is confirmed, the ten-key buttons of the lattice buttons 22 and 4, the cursor button 25, and the confirmation button 24 are operated in this order, and the number of button operations is In contrast to the total of four times, in the conventional example, the number of operations of the arrow keys on the keyboard until the selection of ITEM 4 is determined is four times in total, and the number of operations does not differ.

However, if the item to be selected is, for example, ITEM6, in the conventional example, selection cannot be made unless the arrow keys on the keyboard are operated six times. , Operation of the grid display button 22 and operation of the eight numeric keypad buttons
It can be selected by pressing the button twice.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the numbers of the rectangular areas and the numerical values of the numeric keypads are in a one-to-one correspondence. Instead of the numeric keypads, nine buttons provided with predetermined symbols are used. In addition to using the symbols, the symbols may be assigned to the respective rectangular areas in one-to-one correspondence with the symbols assigned to the nine buttons.

Also, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the numbers of the rectangular areas correspond to the numerical values of the ten-key buttons on a one-to-one basis, but instead of the ten-key buttons, nine different colored predetermined colors are used. A button may be used, and each rectangular area may be colored in one-to-one correspondence with the colors of these nine buttons.

<Second Embodiment> This embodiment is a first embodiment.
In comparison with the embodiment, the button operation when a plurality of selectable items exist in the specified rectangular area is different.

That is, in the first embodiment, if it is determined in step S9 that the number of counted items is two or more in the flowchart of FIG. Focus the cursor on the item at the top left corner of the. When the cursor button 25 is operated, in steps S12 to S14, the cursor is focused according to the operation, and when the confirm button 24 is pressed, the selection of the item focused by the cursor is confirmed. I did it.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the flowchart of FIG.
In the flowchart showing an example of the control program stored in the ROM 3 of step S9, if it is determined in step S9 that the number of counted items is two or more, in step S75, 640 dots × 480 dots are set in step S1. The set grid display range is changed to the specified rectangular area. That is, the coordinate system is changed. Then, returning to step S2, in step S2,
Grid screens are superimposed, and a number is assigned to each rectangular area divided by the grid. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the rectangular area 4 is further divided into 3 × 3 rectangular areas.

Then, steps S3 and S4
In step S5, when the button of the numeric keypad 23 is pressed, a rectangular area corresponding to the pressed button is specified. In step S6, the range of the specified rectangular area is calculated. To search for an item in the specified rectangular area. In step S8, the grid screen is deleted.

For example, when the ten key button 7 is pressed to select the ITEM 4 shown in FIG. 8, a rectangular area 7 corresponding to the ten key button is specified, and then a two-dimensional array [Nx, Ny] and the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area 7 are obtained from the above equations (1) and (2) representing the relationship between the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area corresponding to the numeric keypad button. And the obtained coordinates (x, y)
Then, the number of items existing in the rectangular area 7 is counted from the coordinates of the upper left corner of each item.

Then, in step S9, it is determined whether the number of counted items is 0, 1 or 2 or more.

If it is determined that the counted number of items is 0, the display of the grid is turned off, and this processing is terminated.

If it is determined that the number of counted items is one, the selection of the one item is determined in step S10. After that, the display of the grid is turned off.

If it is determined that the number of counted items is two or more, the grid display range is changed to the specified rectangular area in step S75. That is, the coordinate system is changed. Then, the process returns to step S2.

When the item selection is confirmed, the display of the grid is turned off.

In the above example, since the number of items in the most recently specified rectangular area 7 is one, the cursor is focused on the item ITEM 4 located at the upper left corner in the rectangular area 7, and The selection will be confirmed.

<Third Embodiment> This embodiment is a second embodiment.
Speaking of a comparison with the embodiment of FIG.
If the number of items in the rectangular area corresponding to the third button is determined to be two or more, the subsequent procedure is different.

That is, in the second embodiment, if it is determined in the flowchart of FIG. 7 that the number of items in the rectangular area corresponding to the pressed numeric keypad 23 is two or more, the process proceeds to step S75. The grid display range is changed to the specified rectangular area, that is, the coordinate system is changed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the flowchart of FIG.
In the flowchart showing an example of the control program stored in the ROM 3 of the first embodiment, if it is determined that the number of items in the rectangular area corresponding to the pressed button of the numeric keypad 23 is two or more, it is specified in step S95. The image in the rectangular area is enlarged and displayed to fill the screen. That is, the coordinate system of the image in the specified rectangular area is changed.
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the image in the specified rectangular area is enlarged to fill the entire screen with a lattice. Thereafter, the process returns to step S3. Then, when the button of the numeric keypad 23 is pressed in steps S3 and S4, a rectangular area corresponding to the pressed button is specified in step S5, and the range of the specified rectangular area is specified in step S6. And calculate
In step S7, an item existing in the specified rectangular area is searched.

For example, when the ten key button 7 is pressed in order to select the ITEM 4 shown in FIG. 10, a rectangular area 7 corresponding to the ten key button is specified, and then the two-dimensional array [Nx, Ny] and the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area 7 are obtained from the above equations (1) and (2) representing the relationship between the coordinates (x, y) in the rectangular area corresponding to the numeric keypad button. And the obtained coordinates (x, y)
Then, the number of items existing in the rectangular area 7 is counted from the coordinates of the upper left corner of each item.

Then, in step S9, it is determined whether the number of counted items is 0, 1 or 2 or more.

When it is determined that the number of counted items is 0, the screen display is set to a default, and this processing is terminated.

If it is determined that the number of the counted items is one, the selection of the one item is determined in step S10. After that, the screen display is set to the default.

If it is determined that the number of counted items is two or more, in step S95, the image in the specified rectangular area is enlarged and displayed to fill the screen. Thereafter, the process returns to step S3.

When the item selection is confirmed, the screen display is set to the default.

In the above example, since the number of items in the rectangular area 7 is one, the cursor is focused on the ITEM 4 of the item located at the upper left corner in the rectangular area 7, and
The selection of ITEM4 will be determined.

<Fourth Embodiment> This embodiment is a first embodiment.
Speaking of a comparison with the embodiment of FIG.
When the number of items in the rectangular area corresponding to the button 3 is determined to be 0, the subsequent procedure is different.

That is, in the first embodiment, if it is determined in step S9 that the number of counted items is 0, this processing is terminated.

On the other hand, the flowchart of FIG.
That is, in the flowchart showing an example of the control program stored in the ROM of FIG. 1 in the present embodiment, when the number of items in the rectangular area corresponding to the pressed numeric key button is 0, the operator is prompted Assuming that the button operation has been performed incorrectly, in step S116, an item is further searched for in a rectangular area adjacent to the specified rectangular area in the upper, lower, left, and right directions. If it is determined in step S117 that no selectable item is found, the grid display is turned off, and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an item, in step S118, the selection of the item closest to the boundary of the specified rectangular area is determined, then the grid display is turned off, and this processing ends.

For example, from the screen shown in FIG.
When the button 6 of the numeric keypad 23 is pressed in order to select the item, there is no item in the corresponding rectangular area 6, and therefore, the rectangular area adjacent to the upper, lower, left and right, that is,
Items are further searched for in the rectangular area 3, the rectangular area 5, and the rectangular area 9. As a result of the search, it is determined that an item exists in the rectangular area 5 and the rectangular area 7.

Therefore, first, the distance from the boundary (X coordinate = 426) between the rectangular area 6 and the rectangular area 5 to the ITEM 3 existing in the rectangular area 3 is calculated, in this case, the difference between the X coordinates. Here, ITEM3 is, as shown in FIG.
Since it occupies the range of (280, 150)-(390, 180), the difference from the maximum X coordinate (= 390) of ITEM3 is calculated.

[0060]

## EQU00002 ## Difference of X coordinate = 426-390 = 36 Next, the boundary line between the rectangular area 6 and the rectangular area 9 (Y coordinate =
From 160), the distance to the ITEM 7 existing in the rectangular area 9, in this case, the difference of the Y coordinate is calculated. Where I
As shown in FIG. 13, the TEM 7 has (430, 400)
− (550,430), so ITE
The difference from the minimum Y coordinate (= 400) of M7 is calculated.

[0061]

## EQU00003 ## Difference of Y coordinate = 400-320 = 80 And the obtained distance of ITEM3 and the obtained ITE
By comparing the distance with M7, the selection of the item having the shorter distance to the rectangular area 6, that is, the item ITEM3 is determined. Therefore, even if the ten-key button is operated incorrectly, the selection of the ITEM 3 to be selected is determined.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the configuration described above, there is an effect that when selecting one from a plurality of selectable options, a desired option can be selected with fewer button operations.

Further, according to the present invention, since the above-described configuration is adopted, even when a rectangular area having no option is selected by mistake, the option to be selected can be selected. There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a button arrangement of the remote controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows buttons 1 to 9 of the numeric keypad 23 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the correspondence relationship with the two-dimensional arrangement | sequence of the button of 1-9 in a table.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control program stored in a ROM 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which an item is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a screen of a grid of orthogonal lines is superimposed on the screen of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in a ROM 3 of FIG. 1 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a screen of a grid of orthogonal lines is further superimposed on a specified rectangular area.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in a ROM 3 of FIG. 1 in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an image in a specified rectangular area is enlarged to fill a screen, together with a grid of orthogonal lines.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control program stored in a ROM 3 of FIG. 1 according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a rectangular area adjacent to a specified rectangular area.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining calculation of a distance between a specified rectangular area and an item in an adjacent rectangular area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 Modem 5 Infrared control device 6 Infrared light receiving part 7 Remote control 8 Display control device 9 Display device 10 Video memory 11 Power supply control device 12 Commercial power supply

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Display control means for superimposing and displaying a grid on a display screen of choices, and specifying means for specifying one partitioned area from the partitioned areas obtained by the grid superimposed and displayed by the display control means. And counting means for counting the number of options in the divided area specified by the specifying means; and when the count value counted by the counting means is 1,
An automatic selection deciding unit for deciding selection of an option in the divided area; and, when the count value counted by the counting means is 2 or more, a cursor is moved to the upper left corner of the divided area specified by the specifying means. Automatic focusing means for automatically focusing on a near option; manual focusing means for manually focusing a cursor automatically focused by the automatic focusing means; and selection of the option focused by the manual focusing means. An information processing apparatus comprising: 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit has a key that has a one-to-one correspondence with a division area obtained by division by a grid displayed by the display control unit. apparatus. 3. The display control means according to claim 1, further comprising: labeling means for labeling each of the divided areas obtained by the division by the grid, wherein the keys are respectively labeled by the labeling means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a label provided for the information processing apparatus. 4. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control device further includes a color coding device that colors each of the divided areas divided by the grid with a different color, and each of the keys is provided for color coding by the color coding device. An information processing apparatus having different colors. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit turns off the display of the grid after the counting of the options by the counting unit is completed. 6. A designating means for designating one divided area from the divided areas obtained by the division by the grid superimposed and displayed on the display screen, and designated every time the divided area is designated by the designating means. Counting means for counting the number of options in the divided area, and when the number of options counted by the counting means is two or more, the reduced grid is filled up to the most recently specified area by the specifying means. Display control means for superimposing and displaying, and when the count value counted by the counting means is 1, selection deciding means for deciding selection of an option in the segment area most recently designated by the designation means, and An information processing apparatus comprising: 7. The display control unit according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit includes:
An information processing apparatus, wherein the display of a grid other than the segment area most recently specified by the specifying means is turned off. 8. A designating means for designating a divided area obtained by division by a lattice superimposed and displayed on a display screen, and a designated area within the designated divided area each time the designated area is designated by the designating means. Counting means for counting the number of options; and when the number of options counted by the counting means is two or more, the image in the segment area most recently specified by the specifying means is filled on the display screen. Display control means for enlarging and displaying; and selection deciding means for deciding selection of an option in the section area most recently designated by the designation means when the count value counted by the counting means is one; An information processing apparatus comprising: 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit returns the screen display to a default after the selection is confirmed by the selection deciding unit. 10. The distance according to claim 1, wherein, when the number of options counted by the counting means is 0, a distance from the designated section area to an option in a section area adjacent to the section area is calculated. An information processing apparatus comprising: a calculating unit that performs selection; and a selection determining unit that determines selection of an option having the shortest distance calculated by the calculating unit.