JP2002297283A - Button control method and button controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that operability is deteriorated due to the miniaturization or concentration of a plurality of buttons on a screen. SOLUTION: When a pointer approaches a button in a prescribed direction, a button controller 10 enlarges the button. An area holding part 16 stores the initial detection area of click for the button to be controlled, and a spot monitoring part 20 monitors the position of the pointer. A condition holding part 18 holds a condition for enlarging the button. When the moving direction of the pointer fulfills the condition, an area adjusting part 22 enlarges the button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a button control method and a button control device. The present invention particularly relates to a technique for controlling a user interface on a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers)
It is called "PC". The background of the operability improvement in) is G
There is a development of UI (Graphical User Interface). The user can specify a desired command by operating the mouse and clicking an icon or button on the screen. Recently, a method of operating a stylus pen on a portable terminal to give an instruction on a liquid crystal screen integrated with a touch panel has also become popular.

[0003] On the other hand, a PC is premised on the use of application software, and is used for a wide variety of purposes, such as creating documents, browsing web pages, and editing photographic images. Users increase the convenience of PCs by using their favorite software and building their own environment.

[0004]

Here, as the functions of the software are enhanced, the number of buttons to be displayed may increase as the number of commands increases. In this case, the buttons may be downsized or displayed in a dense state depending on the display space. However, various functions originally provided for the purpose of enhancing convenience may be one of the causes of impairing operability. Depending on the pointing device to be used, the operability may be further reduced due to its properties.

The present inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing erroneous operations on a computer screen.

[0006]

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a button control method. This method is a method of controlling a button displayed on the screen, stores an area initially set to detect pressing of a button by a pointing device, and as a condition for enlarging the area, Store a predetermined condition in relation to the moving direction of the spot indicated by the pointing device,
The position of the spot is detected and its movement is monitored, and the area is enlarged when the direction of the movement satisfies the condition.

Here, characters or icons may be drawn on the "button". The “pointing device” may include a device such as a mouse or a trackpad that indicates a direction, as well as a device such as a stylus pen that indicates a position on a touch panel. “Pressing” may include clicking with a mouse or pointing at a point with a stylus pen (hereinafter, referred to as “tap”). “Initially set area” indicates an area on the screen where the button is displayed. The “spot” may include a cursor displayed on the screen, such as a mouse pointer, and a position touched by a stylus pen.

[0008] Still another embodiment of the present invention relates to a button control device. This device is a device for controlling a button displayed on a screen, an area holding unit for storing an area initially set for detecting pressing of a button by a pointing device, and an area for enlarging an area. A condition holding unit that stores a predetermined condition in relation to the moving direction of the spot specified by the pointing device, a spot monitoring unit that detects the position of the spot and monitors the movement, And an area adjusting unit that enlarges the area when the direction satisfies the condition.

[0009] As a condition for enlarging the area, a moving direction of the spot toward the button may be determined. The area adjustment unit may enlarge the area in the direction of the spot, or may enlarge the button itself to the enlarged area. When another button overlaps at least a part of the button, the area may be substantially enlarged by displaying the hidden part.

[0010] Still another preferred embodiment according to the present invention relates to a computer program. This program stores a process of storing an area initially set to detect pressing of a button by a pointing device, and as a condition for enlarging the area, a relation between a spot moving direction indicated by the pointing device and a moving direction of the spot. And a step of detecting the position of the spot and monitoring its movement, and a step of enlarging the area when the direction of the movement satisfies the condition.

Any combination of the above components,
What replaced the components and expressions of the present invention among methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, and the like is also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A button control device according to the present embodiment controls the operation of buttons included in a command palette displayed on a computer screen. The command palette is, for example, a floating window in which a plurality of buttons associated with various commands of the Japanese input program are collected. When the pointer approaches the button from a predetermined direction, the button is enlarged in the pointer direction. Thereby, even if the button is small, it can be easily clicked.

On the command palette, a plurality of buttons are arranged in a horizontal row or a vertical row, and different moving directions are associated with adjacent buttons. This prevents the next button from being erroneously clicked even when the buttons are crowded.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the button control device. The button control device 10 includes a button processing unit 12 and a main processing unit 14. Button processing unit 1
2 processes display and operation of buttons on the command palette, and the main processing unit 14 executes a command associated with the button. The button control device 10 can be realized in hardware by elements such as a CPU of a computer, and can be realized in software by a program having a button control function or the like. Functional blocks. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

The button processing section 12 includes an area holding section 16, a condition holding section 18, a spot monitoring section 20, an area adjusting section 22,
And a press determination unit 24.

The area holding section 16 stores an area initially set for detecting a click on a button on the screen by a mouse. The area holding unit 16 includes a button setting unit 30 and a button monitoring unit 32. Button setting section 3
0 sets the size and arrangement of the buttons. The button monitoring unit 32 monitors the position of the button on the screen. The button moves as the window displaying the button moves. If the button is clicked when the pointer is located in the button area grasped by the button setting unit 30 and the button monitoring unit 32, it is detected as a click on the button. The position of the button, the position of the pointer, and the click are determined by API (Application Pr
gram Interface).

The condition holding section 18 stores, as a condition for enlarging the area, a condition predetermined in relation to the moving direction of the pointer. The condition holding unit 18 includes an enlargement condition holding unit 34 and a setting condition holding unit 36. Condition holding unit 1
Numeral 8 holds an area enlargement condition. In the enlargement condition in the present embodiment, a direction in which the pointer is directed to the button and a direction different from that of the adjacent button is determined.
For example, when a direction from a top to a button is determined for a certain button, a direction to the button from the bottom is determined for an adjacent button. In this case, the condition may be satisfied at least in the Y-axis direction on the screen. For example, when the condition is from the top to the bottom, the direction of moving from the upper right to the lower left may also be handled as satisfying the condition.

The setting condition holding unit 36 sets different enlargement conditions according to the environment for displaying the buttons. For example, the moving direction of the pointer defined as each condition is changed when the command palette in which a plurality of buttons are arranged is displayed horizontally and vertically.

The spot monitor 20 detects the position of the pointer and monitors its movement. The spot monitoring unit 20
It includes a position detector 38 and a direction detector 40. The position detecting section 38 detects the position of the pointer, and the direction detecting section 40 detects the moving direction of the pointer from a change in the position coordinates. These may be detected using an API. The detection may be performed at the timing when some kind of event occurs, or may always be detected at minute time intervals by polling.

The area adjusting section 22 enlarges the detection area when the moving direction of the pointer satisfies the condition. Area adjustment unit 2
2 includes an enlargement determination unit 42, an area enlargement unit 44, and a button enlargement unit 46. The enlargement determination unit 42 determines whether the moving direction of the pointer satisfies the enlargement condition. When the moving direction of the pointer satisfies the enlarging condition, the area enlarging unit 44 enlarges the detection area of the click on the button in the direction of the pointer. It may be expanded in a plurality of directions including the direction of the pointer. For example, when the enlargement condition is a moving direction from top to bottom, the detection area may be enlarged upward and left and right. The button enlargement unit 46 enlarges the button image to the enlarged detection area. The button enlargement unit 46 may hold the enlarged button image in advance, or may enlarge the initial button image and display it. The user can visually grasp the expansion of the detection area.

The press determining unit 24 determines whether or not a button has been pressed by detecting a click when the pointer is positioned in the detection area. The detection area referred to here includes an enlarged detection area. If it is determined that the button is pressed, an image in a state where the button is clicked may be displayed. The press determination unit 24 notifies the main processing unit 14 that the button has been pressed.

The main processing section 14 includes a main execution section 26 and a main program holding section 28. The main execution unit 26 executes a command corresponding to the clicked button based on the program stored in the main program holding unit 28.

FIG. 2 shows the direction of movement of the pointer associated with the button. The command palette 50 includes a plurality of buttons, each of which is associated with a predetermined command, and which is associated with a moving direction of the pointer. Pointer 5 associated with button 56
The second movement direction 54 is a direction toward the button 56 from above. The moving direction 62 of the pointer 60 associated with the adjacent button 64 is a direction from below to the button 64, and is opposite to the moving direction 54. On the button 56, a mark 58 is displayed on the upper part of the button to clearly indicate the associated moving direction 54. A mark 66 is displayed below the button 64 to clearly indicate the associated moving direction 62.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detection area. In the command palette 50, when the pointer moves in the moving direction 70 associated with the button, the initial detection area 72 is enlarged to the enlarged detection area 74.
The enlargement direction includes an upward direction and a left and right direction which are directions toward the pointer. Since the detection area is enlarged in this way, clicking inside the enlarged detection area 74 even outside the initial detection area 72 is detected as a click on a button.

FIG. 4 shows the button enlarged. When the pointer 52 moves in the command palette 50 according to the moving direction 54 associated with the button, an enlargement button 76 is displayed. Since the user can easily grasp the enlargement of the detection area visually, the operability of clicking the button can be further improved.

FIG. 5 shows a table of enlargement conditions. The condition table 80 includes a button name column 82, a horizontal position condition 84, and a vertical position condition 86. In the button name column 82, a name for specifying a button displayed on the command palette 50 is recorded. The moving direction of the pointer associated with the button is recorded in the horizontal condition 84 and the vertical condition 86. The horizontal condition 84 is a condition for displaying the command palette 50 horizontally, and the vertical condition 86 is a condition for displaying the command palette 50 vertically. The enlargement condition is changed according to the state of the command palette 50.

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment,
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the click detection area is enlarged without enlarging the button itself when the moving direction of the pointer satisfies the enlargement condition. In this case, an erroneous operation can be prevented without making the user almost conscious of the expansion of the detection area.

(Third Embodiment) In the present embodiment,
When a plurality of buttons are displayed in a plurality of rows and columns on the command palette, different moving directions of the pointer are associated with the respective buttons, and different button enlargement directions are set for the respective buttons.

FIG. 6 shows the direction of movement of the pointer associated with the button. On the command palette 90, at least 15 buttons are displayed in 3 rows and 5 columns. Other buttons are adjacent to each other. The direction of movement from a direction in which there is no adjacent button to the button is associated as a button enlargement condition. The number of adjacent buttons differs depending on the button. For example, button 9 displayed on the upper left
2 includes a moving direction 94, a moving direction 96, and a moving direction 9
8 is associated as an enlargement condition. The movement direction 102 is associated with the button 100 as an enlargement condition. The moving direction of the button 104 is not associated with the other buttons in all directions around the button 104. Unlike the first embodiment, adjacent buttons may be associated with the same movement direction.

FIG. 7 shows the direction in which the detection area of a click on a button is enlarged. Each button shown in this figure corresponds to each button shown in FIG. When the respective enlargement conditions are satisfied, the initial detection area 106 becomes the enlargement detection area 1
08, and the initial detection area 110 is expanded to the enlarged detection area 112. The initial detection area 114 is not enlarged. The operability is improved by not expanding the position to cover the adjacent button, but expanding the button to an empty space.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the present embodiment,
When a plurality of buttons overlap and are displayed on the screen, the overlapping state is controlled. When a plurality of buttons overlap, an enlargement condition is set for each of them. When the enlargement condition of the button located in the lower layer among the overlapping buttons is satisfied, the button is raised to the upper layer. Because part of the button that was not visible until then is exposed,
The effect is substantially the same as the enlargement of the button.

FIG. 8 shows the direction of movement of the pointer associated with the overlapping buttons. Command palette 12
Numeral 0 denotes a floating window, which is always located above the overlapping window 121. Button 12
2 overlies the button 128, at least a portion of the button 128 is hidden. Button 122 has pointer 12
The movement direction 126 of the pointer 130 is associated with the button 128 as the enlargement condition.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which a button located in a lower layer is raised to an upper layer. Pointer 130 moves in direction 132
When the button 128 is moved according to
The hidden part is displayed by floating on the upper layer 2. As a result, the detection area of the click on the hidden button is substantially enlarged, so that the operability is improved.

(Fifth Embodiment) The button control device in the present embodiment is realized as a part of a function on a portable terminal. No pointer is displayed on the screen of the portable terminal using the stylus pen. The user moves the spot so as to draw a line toward the button while touching the touch panel with the stylus pen, and finally taps at a desired position. When the moving direction of the spot satisfies the enlargement condition, the tap detection area for the button is enlarged. If the finally tapped position is included in the enlarged detection area, it is detected as a tap for that button. In a small screen of the portable terminal, the operability of the spot indication can be improved even when the tip of the stylus pen is round.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. . Hereinafter, modified examples will be described.

In the above embodiment, the buttons displayed in the window are controlled. In the modified example, an icon of a file or folder, a cell displayed on the screen of the spreadsheet program, a character or a symbol displayed on the screen, or the like may be the control target.

In the above embodiment, the buttons to be controlled are mainly displayed on the command palette. In a modification, a button displayed in a window other than a floating window controlled by various application software may be used.

In the fourth embodiment, only the hidden buttons are raised to the upper layer. In a variant, activate the entire window, including the hidden buttons,
It is displayed on the upper layer of the overlapping window.

[0039]

According to the present invention, the operability of spot designation on a screen using a pointing device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a button control device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a moving direction of a pointer associated with a button.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an enlarged detection area.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an enlarged button.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table of enlargement conditions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a moving direction of a pointer associated with a button.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a direction in which a detection area of a click on a button is enlarged.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a moving direction of a pointer associated with an overlapped button.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a button located in a lower layer is raised to an upper layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 button control device, 16 area holding unit, 18
Condition storage unit, 20 spot monitoring unit, 22 area adjustment unit.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B087 AA09 AB02 DD06 DD09 DD12 DE03 5E501 AA02 AC37 BA03 BA08 CA03 CB07 EA05 EA10 FA02 FA03 FA13 FA23 FB04 FB34 FB43

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling a button displayed on a screen, comprising: storing an area initially set for detecting pressing of a button by a pointing device; and a condition for enlarging the area. Storing a predetermined condition in relation to the moving direction of the spot indicated by the pointing device, detecting the position of the spot and monitoring the movement, and when the moving direction satisfies the condition. A button control method, wherein the area is enlarged. 2. An apparatus for controlling a button displayed on a screen, comprising: an area holding unit for storing an area initially set for detecting pressing of a button by a pointing device; A condition holding unit that stores a predetermined condition in relation to a moving direction of the spot indicated by the pointing device, and a spot monitoring unit that detects the position of the spot and monitors the movement. And a region adjusting unit that enlarges the region when the direction of the movement satisfies the condition. 3. The button control device according to claim 2, wherein the condition holding unit stores a moving direction of the spot toward the button as the condition. 4. The button control device according to claim 2, wherein the area adjustment section enlarges the area in the direction of the spot. 5. The button control device according to claim 2, wherein the area adjustment unit enlarges the button to the enlarged area. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when another button overlaps with at least a part of the button, the area adjusting unit enlarges the area by displaying a hidden part thereof. 6. The button control device according to any one of 2 to 5. 7. A computer program for controlling a button displayed on a screen, comprising: storing an area initially set to detect pressing of a button by a pointing device; and enlarging the area. Storing a predetermined condition in relation to the direction of movement of the spot indicated by the pointing device, and detecting the position of the spot to monitor the movement; and A step of enlarging the area when a direction satisfies the condition.