JP2002244787A - Portable information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information apparatus enabling a button operation even if an application to be operated is inactive. SOLUTION: This portable information apparatus is provided with an operation button 13 for operating an application, a jog device 15 for selecting multiple application programs, a type determination means 52 determining a type of the application program selected by the jog device, and a control means 52-54 displaying a window in the front face and set it to be operated by the operation button, when it is required to display a window for operating the application program whose type is selected on the front face, and holding the display state of the window of the application program and set it to be operated by the operation button, when it is determined not to necessarily display the window on the front face.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device, and more particularly, to a notebook personal computer that operates a plurality of application programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, notebook personal computers having dedicated operation buttons for activating the Internet without using a keyboard or mouse have been developed.

In such a notebook personal computer, dedicated operation buttons are arranged at positions where they can be operated even when the panel is closed, so that a specific application can be started up with one touch.

In a conventional notebook personal computer, a plurality of application programs can be allocated to each window, and a plurality of application programs can be started simultaneously.

[0005]

However, in a conventional notebook personal computer, only one operation can be defined for one operation button, and an application program to be operated is active ( If the display is not in the foreground), the operation cannot be performed.

That is, when it is desired to activate a predetermined application program in a state in which a plurality of application programs are running, a conventional notebook personal computer is provided with an operation button capable of starting the application program with one touch. Despite the operation, there is a problem that an extra operation of the user is required to operate the keyboard or mouse at another position for selecting an application program.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a portable information device capable of operating buttons even when an application to be operated is not active.

Further, according to the present invention, a function for starting an application program is assigned to a dedicated operation button,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable information device in which a user can switch an application program without performing unnecessary operations by assigning a function for selecting an application program to a jog device different from a normal keyboard. I do.

[0009]

Accordingly, in order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the present invention provides an operation button for operating an application program and a jog device for selecting a plurality of application programs. And a type determining means for determining the type of the application program selected by the jog device; and a window in which the application program whose type of the application program determined by the type determining means is selected needs to be displayed on the front. If it is, it is determined that the window is displayed in the foreground and the operation button is operated, and the window in which the selected application program operates does not need to be displayed in the foreground. If so, the application Maintaining a display state of the window of the program, and a portable information device, characterized by comprising a control means to be operated in the operation button.

[0010] The first invention also includes the following inventions.

(1) Each application program further comprises a table for storing information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the front, and the control means refers to the table and detects the detected application program. To determine if it is necessary to bring the window on which it runs to the front.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is necessary to display a detecting means for detecting that an application program has been started and a window on which the application program detected by the detecting means operates on the front. Determining means for determining whether or not there is, and when it is determined by the determining means that a window on which the detected application program operates needs to be displayed on the front, the window is displayed on the front, and When it is determined that it is not necessary to display the window on which the selected application program operates as a target to be operated by the operation button, the display state of the application program window is maintained, and Control means for operating the operation button. Is a mobile information device according to claim.

The second invention also includes the following inventions. (1) Each application program further includes a table for storing information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the foreground, and the determination means Is to determine whether it is necessary to display a window in which the detected application program operates on the front by referring to the table.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is necessary to select one application program from a plurality of application programs and display a window in which the selected application program operates on the foreground. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to display the window in the foreground, and the window is displayed in the foreground, and the selected application program is set as an operation target of the operation button and displayed in the foreground. A method of selecting an application program in a portable information device, characterized in that when it is determined that it is unnecessary, the display state of the window is maintained and the operation button is targeted.

[0015] The third invention also includes the following inventions.

(1) Each application program further includes a table for storing information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed in the foreground, and a window in which the selected application program operates needs to be displayed in the foreground. The determination as to whether or not there is a determination is made with reference to the table.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the application program has been started, and when it is determined that the application program has been started, a window in which the started application program operates is set. It is determined whether or not it needs to be displayed on top, and if it is determined that it is necessary to display on top, the window is displayed on top and the started application program is operated by operating buttons. Selecting an application program in a portable information device, wherein when it is determined that it is not necessary to display the window in the foreground, the display state of the window is maintained and the operation button is targeted. Is the way.

The fourth invention also includes the following.

(1) Each application program further comprises a table for storing information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the foreground, and a window for operating the activated application program is displayed on the foreground. The determination as to whether it is necessary is made with reference to the table.

Further, a fifth invention of the present invention is directed to a main display, and an operation button provided at a position operable even when the main display is closed, and for performing predetermined processing on an application program. An application program selecting means provided at a position operable even when the main display is closed, for selecting a plurality of application programs, and a type for determining a type of the application program selected by the application program selecting means When the type of the application program determined by the determination unit and the type of the application program determined by the type determination unit needs to display a window on which the selected application program operates in the foreground, the window is moved to the front. Display, and if it is determined that there is no need to display the window on which the selected application program operates in the foreground as the operation target of the operation button, the display state of the window of the application program is changed. A portable information device, comprising: a control unit that maintains and operates the operation button.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the basic structure of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the computer with the display unit opened, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the computer with the display unit closed.

This computer has a computer body 11
And a display unit 12.

The display unit 12 incorporates a display screen 12a composed of an LCD. The display unit 12 includes the computer body 1
1 is rotatably mounted between a release position and a closed position.

The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped housing, on which a keyboard, a pointing stick and the like are arranged.

An operation button 13, a sub-display (sub-LCD) 14, a jog device 15, and a volume control device 16 are provided on the upper surface of the computer main body 11.

The jog device 15 is arranged near the operation button 13 so that the user can easily perform an operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation buttons 13, the sub display (sub LCD) 14, the jog device 15, and the volume control device 16 are arranged so as to be exposed to the outside even when the display panel 12 is closed. Have been.

In this embodiment, a notch is provided between the left and right hinges at the lower part of the display panel 12 so that the back (rear part) on the upper surface of the computer main body 11 even when the display panel 12 is closed.
The side region is configured to be exposed to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the sub-display 14, the jog device 15 and the volume control device 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sub-display 14 includes an AC power supply state, a system on / off state,
Information such as the access state of the hard disk, the state of the battery of the notebook personal computer, and the mute state is indicated, and a text display section 14a is provided. The text display section 14a displays various information to be notified to the user as described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the operation of the jog device 15 and the event. Here, the lower event when the projection 31 of the jog switch 15 is tilted downward will be described. However, when the projection 15a is tilted upward, an upper event occurs.

As shown in the figure, when the jog switch 15 is moved down (up), a down (up) event occurs. When the state in which the jog switch 15 is tilted downward (upward) continues for a predetermined time, for example, 1 second,
A lower (upper) continuation event occurs.

On the other hand, when the jog switch 15 returns to the neutral state immediately after the lower (up) event occurs, a return event occurs. Similarly, a return event also occurs when returning to a neutral state after a lower (upper) continuation event has occurred.

Also, the jog device 15 can be pressed, and in this case, a pressing event occurs.
Various events from these jog devices 15 are transmitted to the BIO
It is detected by the S program and passed to the application program.

The volume control device 16 controls the volume of audio output from the notebook personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the details of the operation button 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation button 13 has a rewind button 13a, a play / pause button 13b, a stop button 13c, and a fast forward button 13d.

The rewind button 13a is for rewinding the music being reproduced to the previous music, and the play / pause button 13b is for reproducing the music and when the button is pressed during the reproduction, the music is reproduced. The pause button 13c is used to temporarily stop the playback, and the stop button 13c is used to stop the song when it is pressed during the playback of the song. It is for fast forward.

The operation button 13 is used to operate an operation target, and the operation target is switched by a program. For example, the operation target may be a CD / DVD medium or a digital audio medium.

The operation buttons 13 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 4, but may be, for example, WEB update buttons. That is, the operation button 13 is used to operate an operation target (application program).

In this embodiment, the operation button 13
Can be performed not only on the active window but also on an application program operating in the background.

A disk drive (not shown) is provided on the right side of the computer main body 11. This disc drive has a CD-R on which audio data is recorded.
A disk medium such as an OM, a DVD-ROM, a CD-ROM in which audio and video data are recorded, and a DVD-ROM are mounted as reproduction targets.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG.
21, BIOS ROM 22, main memory 23, display controller 24, keyboard controller 2
7, CD / DVD player, HDD 29, battery 3
0 and the power supply unit 31 are connected.

In FIG. 3, a CPU 21 controls the entire system and executes a program stored in a main memory 23.

BIOS (Basic Input / Ou)
(put system) The ROM 22 has a role of detecting an event generated from the jog device 15 or the like.
Stores an IOS program.

The main memory 23 stores a program for realizing the processing of the flowchart described in this embodiment. The main memory 42 stores the OS
(Operating System), and a control program and an application program for controlling display of the sub-display 14 are stored.

The display controller 24 controls display of the main display 25 and the sub-display 26.

The main display 25 is a main display of the notebook personal computer, and corresponds to the display screen 12a shown in FIG.

The sub-display 26 is provided separately from the main display 25 and corresponds to the sub-display 14 shown in FIG.

The keyboard controller (27) controls the operation buttons 13, the keyboard 27a and the jog device 15.

The CD / DVD player 28 reproduces CD / DVD media.

The HDD 29 is for storing application programs developed in the main memory 23 and the like.

The battery 30 supplies power to the components of the notebook personal computer when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 31. The power from the battery 30 and the power supply 31 is supplied to the element that controls the display of the sub-display 26 even when the power of the notebook personal computer is in the off state or the sleep state. Display control is maintained.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment includes an application program selection detecting section 51, an application program type determining section 52, an operation button target setting section 53, and a window control section 54. I have.

Application program selection detecting section 5
1 detects that the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 has been selected by the jog procedure 15.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing titles of application programs displayed on the sub-display 14. As shown in the figure, the title names of the applications displayed on the sub-display 14 may be registered in advance or registered by the user.

Here, as the title name, 1. CD /
DVD 2. Digital audio3. TV 4. 4. Application name specified by user 5. Application name specified by user Email
7. It is assumed that the Internet is registered. The applications corresponding to these title names are activated by the jog device 15.

More specifically, the application program selection detecting section 51 detects a press event generated from the jog device 15 and corresponds to the title of the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 when the press event is detected. Application program to be detected.

Application program type determination unit 5
2 determines the type of the application program detected by the application program selection detection unit 51, and determines whether it is necessary to activate (display in the foreground) a window in which the determined application program operates.

For example, when the selected application program is an Internet browser, an active window of the Internet browser is displayed, and the MP
In the case of a three player or CD / DVD player, it is determined that the window is not activated.

Application program type determination unit 5
The application that requires active display of a window based on the type of application program according to 2 may be set in advance as a default or may be customized by the user.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table in which whether or not to carry out the active display is set in advance. In the table shown in the figure, it is set that the CD / DVD playback application program and the digital audio playback application program do not need to be activated, and the television application program, the mail application program and the Internet browser are displayed active. It is set as necessary.

Application program type determination unit 5
2 judges whether it is necessary to activate the selected application program with reference to the table shown in FIG. 10, for example.

The operation button target setting section 53 sets an operation target from the operation button 13. That is, the application program detected by the application program selection detection unit 51 is set as an operation target of the operation button 13.

When the application program type determining section 52 determines that the application program needs to be activated, the window control section 54 activates the window of the corresponding application program.

Next, the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the application program selection detecting section 51 determines whether or not the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 has been selected by the jog device 15 (S1).

If it is determined in S1 that the application program has been selected, it is determined whether it is necessary to activate the window of the selected application program (S2).

If it is determined in S2 that the selected application program does not need to be activated, the selected application program is set as the target of the operation button while keeping the display state of the window (S3). ).

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the active state of the window and the target of the operation button.

Now, it is assumed that the Internet browser A, the Internet browser B, and the CD / DVD playback application program are running on a notebook personal computer.

In this case, when the user enters a CD / DVD
When the application program for playback is selected, the CD
/ DVD playback application program is shown in FIG.
Since the table is not an active target, the window of the application program for CD / DVD playback is not activated (not displayed on the front) and becomes an operation target of the operation button 13.

That is, from the viewpoint of the user, it is possible to enjoy music such as a background CD without disturbing the browsing of the Internet by the Internet browser. In addition, the operation buttons 13
The operation becomes possible.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S2 that the selected application program needs to be activated, the window of the selected application program is activated (S4), and the selected application program is operated by operating buttons. Thirteen operation targets (S5). FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the active state of the window and the target of the operation button.

Now, it is assumed that the Internet browser, the mail application program, and the CD / DVD playback application program are running on the notebook personal computer.

In this case, when the user selects the Internet, the Internet browser becomes the active target from the table shown in FIG. 10, so that the Internet browser is displayed on top and is the target of the operation button.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of an event generated from the operation button.

As shown in the figure, according to the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment, an event generated from an operation button is provided by a program for realizing the flowchart shown in FIG. Accordingly, the event from the operation button can be output to the application program of the inactive window, and as a result, the operation button 13 can be output to the application program of the inactive window.
The operation becomes possible.

Next, a modification of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to a modification of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer according to this modification includes an application program activation detection section 61, an application program type determination section 62, an operation button target setting section 63, and a window control section 64. I have.

Application program start detecting section 6
1 detects activation of an application program.
Here, the activation of the application program includes a case where the application is activated from an operation button and a case where the application is activated from a start menu of Windows which is an OS manufactured by Microsoft.

Application program type determining section 6
2 determines the type of the activated application program detected by the application program activation detection unit 61, and determines whether it is necessary to activate (display on the foreground) a window in which the determined application program operates. to decide.

For example, when the selected application program is an Internet browser, an active window of the Internet browser is displayed, and the MP
In the case of a three player or CD / DVD player, it is determined that the window is not activated.

Application program type determination section 5
The application that requires active display of a window based on the type of application program according to 2 may be set in advance as a default or may be customized by the user.

As described above, the determination as to whether or not to perform the active display is made, for example, with reference to the table shown in FIG. 10 as to whether or not the selected application program needs to be activated. I do.

The operation button target setting section 63 sets an operation target from the operation button 13. That is, the application program detected by the application program selection detection unit 61 is set as an operation target of the operation button 13.

When the application program type determining section 62 determines that the application program needs to be activated, the window control section 64 activates the window of the corresponding application program.

Next, the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, whether the application program has been started is determined by the application program start detecting unit 61 (S11).

If it is determined in S11 that the application program has been started, it is determined whether it is necessary to activate the window of the started application program (S12).

If it is determined in S12 that the activated application program does not need to be activated, the activated application program is set as a target of the operation button while keeping the display state of the window (S13). ).

On the other hand, when it is determined in S12 that the activated application program needs to be activated, the window of the activated application program is activated (S14), and the activated application program is operated by the operation button. 13 (S15).

Therefore, according to the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment, when the application program is started, whether or not to activate the window of the application program is determined based on the type of the started application program. Is determined, for example, an MP3 playback program or the like that does not need to activate the window can be operated by the operation buttons without activating the window.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, when an invention is extracted by omitting some constituent elements from all constituent elements described in the embodiment, when implementing the extracted invention, the omitted part is appropriately supplemented by well-known conventional techniques. It is something to be done.

[0099]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
Button operation becomes possible even when the application to be operated is not active.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary front view of a computer with a display unit opened;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of the computer with a display unit closed;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sub-display 14, a jog device 15, and a volume control device 16.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of an operation button 13;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an operation of the jog device 15 and an event.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the notebook personal computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing titles of application programs displayed on a sub-display 14.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table in which whether or not to perform active display is set in advance;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an active state of a window and a target of an operation button.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an active state of a window and a target of an operation button.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of an event generated from an operation button.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... computer body, 12 ... display unit, 12a ... display screen, 13 ... operation buttons, 13a ... rewind button, 13b ... play / pause button, 13c ... stop button, 13d ... fast forward button, 14 ... sub display (sub LCD), 14a text display unit, 15 jog device, 15a projection, 16 volume control device, 20 bus, 21 CPU, 22 BIOS ROM, 23 main memory, 23a OS, 23b control program 23c: Application program, 24: Display controller, 25: Main display, 26: Sub display, 27: Keyboard controller, 27a: Keyboard, 28: CD / DVD player, 29: HDD, 30 ... Battery, 31 ... Power supply unit, 51 ... Application program selection detection unit, 52 ... Application program type determination unit, 53 ... Operation button target setting unit, 54 ... Window control unit, 61 ... Application program activation detection unit, 62 ... Application program Type determination unit, 63: operation button target setting unit, 64: window control unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] An operation button for operating an application program; a jog device for selecting a plurality of application programs; type determining means for determining a type of the application program selected by the jog device; When the type of the application program determined by the determination unit needs to display a window in which the selected application program operates on the front, the window is displayed on the front,
And as the operation target of the operation button, if it is determined that it is not necessary to display the window on which the selected application program operates on the front, the display state of the application program window is maintained, And a control means for operating the operation button. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a table for storing information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the front for each application program; 2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether an operating window needs to be displayed on the front. 3. A detecting means for detecting that the application program has been started, and a judging means for judging whether or not it is necessary to display a window on which the application program detected by the detecting means operates on the front. And when it is determined by the determination unit that the window on which the detected application program operates needs to be displayed on the front, the window is displayed on the front, and the operation button is set as an operation target, and If it is determined that the window on which the selected application program operates does not need to be displayed in the foreground, the display state of the window of the application program is maintained and the operation button is set as an operation target of the operation button. Portable information characterized by comprising Equipment. 4. A table for storing, for each application program, information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the foreground, wherein the determination unit refers to the table to determine whether the detected application program is 4. The portable information device according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether an operating window needs to be displayed on the front. 5. One of the plurality of application programs is selected, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to display a window in which the selected application program operates on the top, and display the window on the top. When it is determined that it is necessary, the window is displayed on the foreground, and the selected application program is set as an operation target of the operation button, and when it is determined that it is not necessary to display the window on the foreground, A method of selecting an application program in a portable information device, wherein a display state of a window is maintained and the operation button is targeted. 6. A table for storing, for each application program, information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the foreground, wherein a window in which the selected application program operates needs to be displayed on the foreground. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the determination as to whether or not there is an application program is performed with reference to the table. 7. It is determined whether or not the application program has been started, and if it is determined that the application program has been started, whether or not it is necessary to display a window on which the started application program operates on the foreground If it is determined that it is necessary to display the window in the foreground, the window is displayed in the foreground, and the started application program is set as an operation target of the operation button, and it is necessary to display the window in the foreground. A method for selecting an application program in a portable information device, wherein, when it is determined that there is no display, the display state of the window is maintained and the operation button is targeted. 8. A table for storing, for each application program, information indicating whether or not the application program needs to be displayed on the foreground, wherein a window in which the activated application program operates is displayed on the foreground. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the determination as to whether or not there is an application is performed with reference to the table. 9. A main display, an operation button provided at a position that can be operated even when the main display is closed, and an operation button for performing a predetermined process on an application program; Also provided at an operable position, an application program selecting means for selecting a plurality of application programs, a type determining means for determining a type of the application program selected by the application program selecting means, and When the type of the determined application program needs to display the window on which the selected application program operates in the foreground, the window is displayed in the foreground,
And as the operation target of the operation button, if it is determined that it is not necessary to display the window on which the selected application program operates on the front, the display state of the application program window is maintained, And a control means for operating the operation button.