JP2003280803A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the listing property of display contents in any operation other than an input operation, and to make performable a display for realizing the convenience of an input operation in the input operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a pen 11 serving as a pointing device is brought closer, an icon button for function selection or an icon button for transition to another application program are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 102a of a display means 102. Thus, the input operation with the pen 11 can be made more convenient by displaying the icon button. When the pen 11 is moved apart, no icon button is displayed so that listing property in displaying data or the like can be ensured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device capable of displaying a large amount of information, and more particularly to an information processing device such as a portable information processing device having a limited display screen size.

[0002]

[Prior Art] Conventionally, Personal Digital Assistant
, The portable electronic device of the portable information processing device, which is abbreviated as PDA, has the function of the system notebook and has more functions. The functions of the system notebook include a calendar, action schedule, address book, and the like. Further, as information processing terminals, many types of application programs that realize a FAX function, a mail function, a WWW browser function connected to the Internet, and the like are provided, and can be selected and operated. The functions that the information processing apparatus has individually and the functions that each application program has are increasing. Also, in each application program, in addition to reading and writing data,
The number of functions provided, such as search and linkage with communication functions, is increasing.

With the increase in types of application programs and individual functions, icons and tab-shaped buttons displayed on the screen are displayed in order to facilitate user's input for switching application programs and calling functions. The number will increase. When such icon buttons increase, it becomes necessary to narrow the display area of the original data to be processed and secure a display area for icons and buttons.

A prior art relating to providing such a portable electronic device with a communication function such as FAX is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-152995. In this prior art, a relatively small number of icon buttons are arranged around the display screen, and combined with icons for tabs prepared in the display screen to cope with many application programs.

For personal computers, etc.,
A typical OS for personal computers, which is provided as a registered trademark Windows by Microsoft.
When you operate a pointing device such as a mouse to point to a specific location in (Operation System) or many application programs provided by each company,
Toolbars hidden in that place are displayed,
Some have a function of displaying windows and dialog boxes.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned prior art,
As the individual functions of the operating application program increase, it becomes necessary to widen the display area of icons for calling the function of the application program displayed on the display screen. When the display area of the icons is widened, the data display area, which is the original target of information processing, is narrowed, and the listability of data is impaired. In a personal computer or the like, a function in which a hidden display is performed when an area is specified cannot be known to have such a function until the area is specified.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus capable of ensuring a list of display contents other than during an input operation and performing a display for the convenience of the input operation during the input operation.

[0008]

The present invention has a display means, an input means, and a control means, the control means performs information processing according to information input by an input operation to the input means, and the display means controls the information. In the information processing device for displaying the screen of the display contents accompanying the information processing of the means, the input means, together with the information input by the input operation, when the input operation is not performed,
The information corresponding to the possibility of performing the input operation is detected and the detection result is given to the control means, and the control means responds to the detection result of the input means, and in a predetermined state in which the input operation is likely to be performed, The information processing apparatus is characterized by changing the screen configuration so as to change the display content of the display means.

According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus has a display means, an input means and a control means, the control means performs information processing according to information input by an input operation to the input means, and the display means is The screen display of the display contents accompanying the information processing of the control means is performed. The input unit detects the information input by the input operation and the information corresponding to the possibility that the input operation is performed when the input operation is not performed. It can be considered that the possibility that the input operation is performed becomes high, for example, when the hand of the user of the information processing apparatus approaches from a state where the user is away from the input unit. The control means changes the screen configuration so as to change the display content of the display means in a predetermined state in which the input operation is likely to be performed in response to the detection result of the input means. If there is a high possibility that the contents will be displayed intelligently to change the displayed contents, the convenience of the user can be improved. When the possibility that the input operation is performed becomes low, the display content can be changed to improve the list.

Further, according to the present invention, the control means increases the display related to the input operation as a change of the display content of the display means.

According to the present invention, when the possibility of the input operation is increased, the number of displays related to the input operation is increased. Therefore, a lot of guidance information about the input operation is displayed to allow the user who is going to perform the input operation. It can be convenient.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the control means changes the display content of the display means so as to increase the number of objects to be selected by an input operation.

According to the present invention, when the possibility of the input operation becomes high, the number of objects to be selected by the input operation is changed so that the selection can be made from many objects and the input operation is attempted. It is possible to improve the convenience of users.

Further, in the present invention, the control means displays the display related to the input operation as icon buttons in the display area associated with the corresponding information processing and changes the display so as to increase. It is characterized in that a display area of information associated with the information processing is narrowed in the area to secure an area for displaying the icon buttons.

According to the present invention, the display related to the input operation is displayed as icon buttons in the display area associated with the corresponding information processing. Since the icon buttons are displayed in the display area accompanying the information processing, the information processing to be the target of the input operation can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. When changing so that the number of displays increases, the display area of information accompanying information processing in the area where icon buttons are to be displayed is narrowed and the area for displaying icon buttons is secured. Many buttons can be displayed to facilitate the input operation.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the control means secures a display area of information associated with the information processing by narrowing a display area having no scroll bar function.

According to the present invention, the area for displaying the icon buttons is secured by narrowing the display area having no scroll bar function. In an area having a scroll bar function, a scroll bar is displayed, and a part of information is scrolled and displayed according to an input operation that changes the display of the scroll bar. If icon buttons or the like are additionally displayed or deleted in a region having a scroll function, the process of changing the display when operating the scroll bar becomes complicated, and the screen configuration may be greatly destroyed. Since the icon buttons are displayed in a fixed-size display area that does not have a scrolling function, it is possible to solve the problem that the screen configuration of the display unit is largely collapsed before and after the icon buttons are displayed.

In the present invention, the control means can operate by selecting a plurality of application programs,
During operation of one application program, a change is made so that a display for selecting an application program different from the application program is displayed as a target to be selected by the input operation.

According to the present invention, when an attempt is made to select a plurality of application programs by an input operation, a display for selecting an application program different from the operating application program is displayed, which facilitates the user's selection operation. be able to.

Further, in the invention, it is characterized in that the control means, as the change of the display content of the display means, changes the content of the item displayed on the screen display of the display content accompanying the information processing.

According to the present invention, when there is a high possibility that an input operation will be performed, the item content displayed in the screen display of the display content associated with the information processing is changed. Therefore, the item content is changed to a convenient item operation. When the possibility that an input operation will be performed becomes low, it is possible to change the display so as to give priority to the list of information.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the input means is a pointing device for inputting a spatial position as information input by the input operation.

According to the present invention, a position on the screen can be designated by an input operation on the pointing device, and a function or application program associated with the icon button or the like at the designated position can be selected. When the possibility of an input operation is low, icon buttons and the like are not displayed, and a large display area can be allocated to display information associated with information processing, thereby ensuring listability.

Further, in the present invention, the pointing device includes a tablet and a pen. The position on the tablet pointed by the pen is input as the information, and the possibility that the input operation is performed is determined by the pen and the tablet. It is characterized in that it is detected based on the distance.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect that there is a high possibility that an input operation will be performed when the state in which the distance between the pen and the tablet is large changes to the state in which the distance is small.

Further, in the present invention, the control means reduces the number of information items displayed on the display means when the distance between the tablet and the pen is long, and expands the display area given to each information item, When the distance is short, the number of items of the information is increased and the display area given to each item of information is reduced.

According to the present invention, since it is unlikely that an input operation is performed when the pen is away from the tablet, only the important attribute of the information to be displayed is displayed, and the pen approaches the tablet. At times, since the number of displayed information items is increased and the display area given to each item is reduced, it is possible to perform a rough display for all attributes of the displayed information items.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus described in any of the above.

According to the present invention, the computer can be made to function as an information processing device that changes the display content according to the possibility of an input operation to the input means.

Furthermore, the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus described in any of the above is recorded.

According to the present invention, the program for causing any of the above-described information processing apparatuses to function is read by a computer, and the display content is changed according to the possibility of an input operation to the input means. It can be made to function as an information processing device.

[0032]

1 shows a schematic electrical configuration of a portable information terminal 10 as an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Mobile information terminal 10 of the present embodiment
Can perform an input operation using the pen 11, and includes a control unit 101 and a display unit 102. Pen 11
Combines with the input means 103 to function as a pointing device. That is, the mobile information terminal 10
Is a control means 101, a display means 102 and an input means 1
03 is included at least. The input unit 103 has a function of measuring the distance to the pen 11 in a non-contact manner, and the display unit 10
In No. 2, when the distance to the pen 11 measured by the input unit 103 becomes short, icons and buttons for operation related to the operation of the application program are displayed.
When such icon buttons are displayed, the area for displaying the icon buttons is secured by narrowing the display area of the display item before display. When the distance from the pen 11 becomes short, icon buttons are added, and the functions of the added icon buttons include a function call of an operating application program and a function of calling another application program.

The display means 102 is a part for displaying data to the user of the portable information terminal 10. Input means 10
3 acquires the input operation performed by the user through the pen 11 and outputs the position information as digital data. The control means 101 includes a display means 102 and an input means 103.
The execution of each function of the mobile information terminal 10 including Although the portable information terminal 10 includes communication means used by the communication application program for communication with the outside, input means other than the pen 11 such as a keyboard, output means such as a printer, and a power source, The illustration of the present invention is omitted because it is not important for the description of the present invention.

The control means 101 is, for example, a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as "CPU") 101a for controlling program execution and input / output control with peripheral devices.
A read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as "ROM") 1 that stores programs and data for operating the CPU 101a.
01b, a random access memory (hereinafter abbreviated as “ROM”) 101c capable of storing temporary data, and an interrupt controller 10 which detects that an input is made to the input means 103 and transmits the input to the CPU 101a.
Includes 1d. The CPU 101a has an architecture capable of interrupt processing, and the interrupt controller 101d
Gives an interrupt signal for activating the interrupt processing of the CPU 101a to the CPU 101a.

The display means 102 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel 102a for displaying a screen visible to the user and a liquid crystal (hereinafter, referred to as a liquid crystal panel 102a).
The LCD controller 102b controls a panel 102a.
The liquid crystal panel 102a is arranged on the surface of the housing of the mobile information terminal 10. Instead of the liquid crystal panel 102a, electroluminescence, which is abbreviated as EL, or a cathode ray tube, which is abbreviated as CRT, may be used in a non-portable information processing device such as a desktop.

The input means 103 is, for example, an AD converter for converting an analog value to be read into a digital value when a position is designated by a pointing device composed of the electromagnetic induction type tablet 103a and the tablet 103a and the pen 11. It is composed of 103b. In the mobile information terminal 10, the tablet 103a is the liquid crystal panel 102a.
It is possible to indicate the position of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 102a by being integrated with. The control program stored in the ROM 101b and operated by the CPU 101b allows the CPU 101a to obtain the pen coordinates as a digital value via the AD converter 103b. When the AD converter 103 detects a value exceeding a preset threshold value, the interrupt controller 101d causes the CPU 101 to
An interrupt signal is sent to a.

FIG. 2 shows the input means 103 for the tablet 1.
The position designated based on the positional relationship of the pen 11 with respect to the surface of 03a will be described. When the xy plane is set on the surface of the tablet 103a and the direction of the z axis is set in a direction perpendicular to the surface, the tablets 103a to 3 are set based on the electromagnetic interaction between the tip of the pen 11 and the surface of the tablet 103a. An analog output corresponding to the relative position (x, y, z) in the dimension can be obtained. This analog output is converted into a digital value representing each coordinate of x, y, and z by the AD converter 103b. The z-axis represents the distance between the tip of the pen 11 and the surface of the tablet 103a. Also, AD
A threshold z0 is set for the converter 103b with respect to the z coordinate, and when z <z0, the interrupt controller 10
1 is provided with a signal for generating an interrupt signal. The threshold value z0 is initialized to the unique value of the AD converter 101d at the time of resetting when the power supply of the portable information terminal 10 is turned on, but can be newly set by using the control unit 101.

FIG. 3 shows the transition of the display state by the operation of the application program operating on the portable information terminal 10. In the portable information terminal 10, the application program 30 that performs the operation A and the application program 31 that performs the operation B can be switched and operated by designating an icon in the display screen. The application program 30 of A can display a single data display screen 301 that handles a plurality of data and displays only one of them in detail, and a data list display screen 302 that displays a list of titles of a plurality of data. is there. The screen transition in the B application program 31 may be composed of a plurality of screens like the A application program 30 or may be composed of a single screen. It is not important, so I will omit it.

FIG. 4 shows an example of types of attributes included in one item of data 40 displayed on the one-item data display screen 301 by the application program 30 of FIG. 3A. One piece of data 40 is, for example, an email that has arrived, and includes sender data 401, title data 402, and body text data 403 as data representing attributes. The attribute values for these attributes are data and are represented by character strings of arbitrary length.

FIG. 5 shows a display example on the one-item data display screen 301 of the application program 30 of A. As shown as the case data display screen 51 of FIG.
A sender display area 511 and a title display area 512 that display attribute values for the sender data 401, the title data 402, and the body text data 403 that represent the attributes of FIG.
And a text display area 513 are provided respectively. Each attribute value is a character string of arbitrary length, and especially the body data 40
3 may not be displayed in the text display area 513 of a certain size. In such a case, as shown as the single data display screen 52 in FIG. 5B, a scroll bar 521 can be used to adopt a screen configuration in which a part of the body data 403 is displayed. Scroll bar 5
21 can be moved by instructing with a pointing device, and the data displayed along with the movement of the scroll bar 521 also scrolls and moves. With the function of the scroll bar 521, a pointer indicating an arbitrary position of data can be moved, and a certain range based on the pointer is displayed. Therefore, in a limited area, a character string that cannot be displayed entirely in the area can be partially displayed, and the display range can be freely changed to view the entire area.

FIG. 6 shows a display example on the data list display screen 302 of the application program 30 of A. In the data list display screen 61 shown in FIG. 6A, a display area 61 that displays the attribute values for the sender data 401 and the title data 402 of FIG. 4 for all the data.
1, 612 are displayed respectively. When the number of data items is large, as shown in FIG.
21 can be used to adopt a screen configuration for partially displaying data.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the operation icon button is displayed on the single data display screen 301 of the application program 30 of A. On the entire screen 71, as in FIG. 5B, the sender data 401, the title data 402, and the body text data 403 of FIG. 4 are displayed in the sender display area 711, the title display area 712, and the body display area 713, respectively. Display area 71
3 is provided with a scroll bar 714. However, compared with the sender display area 511, the title display area 512, and the body text display area 513 of FIG. 5A, the sender display area 711 and the title display area 71.
2 and the text display area 713 are narrowed. A scroll bar 714 is provided in the display area where the space for displaying the data is insufficient, such as the text display area 713.

Icon buttons 715, 716, 717, and
718 is displayed respectively. The icon button 715 displayed as “list” is a button for transitioning to the data list display screen 302. The icon button 716 displayed as “application B” is a button for transitioning to the B application program 31. The icon button 717 displayed as “Previous” is a button for displaying the previous data on the single-item data display screen 301. The icon button 718 displayed as “Next” is a button for displaying the next data on the one-item data display screen 301. In addition, icon buttons 715, 7
Although 16, 717 and 718 are displayed as a group of icon buttons at the top of the data, they can be arranged and displayed at any of the bottom, right side and left side of the data. Moreover, it is also possible to disperse the data around the data without forming the icon button group.

FIG. 8 shows a state where the operation icon button is displayed on the data list display screen 302 of the application program 30 of A. Similar to FIG. 6B, the sender screen 401 and the title data 402 of FIG. 4 are displayed on the sender display area 811 and the title display area 812, respectively, and the scroll bar 813 is also provided on the entire screen 81. These display areas are displayed with a narrower area as compared with FIG. 6B, and an icon button 814 is displayed in the resulting space at the top of the screen. The icon button 814, like the icon button 716 in FIG. 7, is a button for transitioning to the B application program 31. The number of icon buttons 814 is not limited to one, and a plurality of icon buttons can be collectively displayed as an icon button group. The display position is not limited to the upper part of the screen, but can be arranged at any of the lower part of the screen, the right side, the left side, etc., and the data contents can be displayed on the opposite side.

FIG. 9 shows a procedure of processing performed by the control means 101 for the application program 30 of A.
This processing procedure is stored in the ROM 101b of the control means 101 as a program. In step S10, the data list display screen 302 is processed. Step S11
Then, it is determined whether or not the state to be transited to next is the display state of the B application program 31. When it is determined that the application program is not the B application program, it is determined in step S12 whether or not the next state to be transitioned is the single data display. When it is determined that the transition to the single data display is performed, the process on the single data display screen 301 is performed in step S13, and when it is determined that the transition is not performed, the process returns to step S10. In step S13, the procedure from step S11 onward is repeated in the processing on the one-item data display screen 301. When it is determined in step S11 that the display state of the B application program 31 is to be entered, the B application program 31 is activated in step S14 and the screen state is changed to that of the B application program 31. , A application program 30 ends.
It is also possible to leave the application program A of A in a standby state without terminating it.

FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 on the one-item data display screen 301. In step S200, a data list screen is displayed on one of the single-item data display screens 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 5 according to the data content to be displayed. In step S201, the interrupt controller 101d waits for an interrupt from the input means 103. This interruption occurs when the pen 11 approaches the tablet 103a up to a distance of z <z0. In step S202, the data is displayed in a screen configuration such as the entire screen 71 shown in FIG. Step S20
In 3, the pen coordinates (x, y, z) are read from the input means 103. In step S204, it is confirmed whether z = 0 of the z coordinates of the pen coordinates. This condition is satisfied when the pen 11 contacts the tablet 103a, that is, when it is tapped. When z = 0 is not satisfied, step S2
At 05, it is confirmed whether z> z0. This condition is
The distance between the pen 11 and the tablet 103a is the AD converter 1
It is established when the value becomes farther than the threshold value z0 of 03b. When this condition is satisfied, the process returns to step S200, and when this condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S203.

When z = 0 is confirmed in step S204, it is determined in step S206 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 716. If it is not in the display area, it is determined in step S207 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is in the display area of the icon button 715. If it is not in the display area, it is determined in step S208 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is in the display area of the icon button 717. If it is determined that the data is within the display area, the data before the currently displayed data is displayed in step S209. If it is determined in step S208 that the pen coordinates (x, y) are not in the display area, the pen coordinate (x, y) is the icon button 7 in step 210.
It is determined whether or not it is within the display area of 18. If it is not within the display area, the process returns to step S203. When it is confirmed that the data is within the display area, the next data of the currently displayed data is displayed in step S211. Step S
When step 209 or step S211 ends, the process returns to step S203.

If it is confirmed in step S2067 that the pen coordinates (x, y) are within the display area of the icon button 715, the data list display screen 302 is displayed in step S212.
The display changes to. In step S206, the pen coordinates (x,
When it is confirmed that y) is in the display area of the icon button 716, the application program 31 of B is started in step S213. The processing of the application program 30 of A is terminated.

FIG. 11 shows a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 on the data list display screen 302. Step S300
Then, the data list screen is displayed on one of the data list display screens 61 and 62 shown in FIG. 6 according to the number of data items to be displayed. In step S301, the interrupt controller 101d waits for an interrupt from the input unit 103. This interruption occurs when the pen 11 approaches the tablet 103a up to a distance of z <z0. In step S302, the data is displayed in a screen configuration like the entire screen 81 shown in FIG. In step S303, the pen coordinates (x, y, z) are read from the input means 103. In step S304, it is confirmed whether z = 0 of the z coordinates of the pen coordinates. This condition is satisfied when the pen 11 contacts the tablet 103a, that is, when it is tapped. When z = 0 is not satisfied, z> at step S305.
Check whether it is z0. This condition is satisfied when the distance between the pen 11 and the tablet 103a becomes longer than the threshold value z0 of the AD converter 103b. If this condition is satisfied, the process returns to step S300, and if not, the process returns to step S303.

When z = 0 is confirmed in step S304, it is determined in step S306 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 814. If it is not in the display area, the pointer is set to the first data of all the data in step S307, and then the one-data display screen 301 is displayed. When it is determined that the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 814, the application program 31 of B is activated in step S308. The processing of the application program 30 of A is terminated.

FIG. 12 shows a screen structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the electric configuration of the portable information terminal 10 as the information processing device is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the AD converter 103
coordinates obtained from b, application program 3
In the screen transition between 0 and 31, the attribute of the data handled by the application program A of A, the screen configuration of the data list display screen 302 of the application program A of A, the control means 101 in the data list display screen 302
The processing performed by is the same as in the first embodiment,
Overlapping description may be omitted.

The mobile information terminal 10 of this embodiment has a display means 102, an input means 103, and a control means 101. The input unit 103 has a function of contactlessly measuring the distance to the pointing device. On the display means 102, when the distance to the pointing device measured by the input means 103 becomes short, icon buttons for operating the application programs 30 and 31 are displayed, and the icon buttons are displayed. The area portion in which the display item having no scroll bar function among the display items before the display is displayed is secured as the display area of the icon buttons. The icon buttons added when the distance between the pointing device and the mobile information terminal 10 becomes shorter include the application program 30,
In addition to the function call of 31, the function of calling another application program is included.

FIG. 12 shows a display example of the case data display screen 301 of the application program 30 of A.
The screen configuration of the one-item data display screen 12a shown in FIG. 12A shows a state in which the operation icon box is not displayed. In the display area 511, the attribute value for the sender data 401 is displayed. In the display area 512, the attribute value for the title data 402 is displayed. In the display area 513, the attribute value for the text data 403 is displayed. Display areas 511, 512, 5 for these attribute values
13 is provided with a scroll bar 521 similarly to the case data display screen 52 shown in FIG. The area that can be scrolled by the scroll bar 521 is an area of the display area 513, and the display areas 511 and 512 are areas that are not scrolled by the scroll bar 521.

Single data display screen 1 shown in FIG. 12 (b)
The screen configuration of 2b shows a state in which the operation icon box is displayed. The display area 513 and the scroll bar 521 have the same screen configuration as the case data display area 12a. Icon buttons 715, 716, 71
Reference numerals 7 and 718 have the same functions as those in the first embodiment, and are arranged in the areas where the display areas 511 and 512 were displayed in the screen configuration of FIG. These icon buttons 715, 716, 717, and 718 can be arranged not only on the upper part of the screen but also on the lower part of the screen, right side, or left side. In the present embodiment, the place where the operation icon buttons are displayed is an area where scrolling by the scroll bar 521 is impossible in the non-display state, so that it is displayed in the display area 513 which is a scrollable area by the scroll bar 521. Text data 403
Does not change when icon buttons are displayed. In addition,
When the entire body data 403 can be displayed in the display area 513, the scroll bar 521 is not newly displayed.

FIG. 13 shows a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 on the single data display screen 301. Step S400
Then, the data list screen is displayed in the screen configuration of the one-item data display screen 12a shown in FIG. 12A according to the data content to be displayed. In step S401, the interrupt controller 101d waits for an interrupt from the input unit 103. This interruption occurs when the pen 11 approaches the tablet 103a up to a distance of z <z0. In step S402, the data is displayed in the screen configuration of the single case data display screen 12b shown in FIG. That is, the text display area 513 having a scroll bar function
Rather, a sender display area 511 and a title display area 512 that do not have a scroll bar display function.
, Icon buttons 715, 716, 717, 718 are displayed. In step S403, the pen coordinates (x, y, z) are read from the input means 103. Step S404
Then, it is confirmed whether z = 0 regarding the z coordinate of the pen coordinates. This condition is that the pen 11 is the tablet 103.
It is established when a is touched, that is, tapped. z =
If not 0, it is checked in step S405 whether z> z0. This condition is pen 11 and tablet 10
It is established when the distance from 3a becomes longer than the threshold value z0 of the AD converter 103b. If this condition is met, the process returns to step S400, and if not, step S4.
Return to 03.

If z = 0 is confirmed in step S404, it is determined in step S406 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 716. If it is not in the display area, it is determined in step S407 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is in the display area of the icon button 715. If it is not in the display area, it is determined in step S408 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is in the display area of the icon button 717. If it is determined that it is within the display area, the pointer is advanced so as to display the data before the currently displayed data in step S409. In step S408, the pen coordinate (x,
If it is determined that y) is not within the display area of the icon button 717, the pen coordinate (x, y) is determined in step S410.
Is within the display area of the icon button 718. If it is determined that the data is in the display area, the pointer is advanced so as to display the data next to the currently displayed data in step S411. When step S409 or step S411 ends, step S400
Return to. When it is determined in step S410 that the pen coordinate (x, y) is not within the display area of the icon button 718, the process returns to step S403. If it is determined in step S407 that the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 715, the screen transitions to the list display screen in step S412. In step S406, the pen coordinates (x,
When it is determined that y) is within the display area of the icon button 716, the application program 31 of B is activated and the processing of the application program 30 of A is ended in step S413.

FIG. 14 shows a screen structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the electric configuration of the portable information terminal 10 as the information processing device is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the AD converter 103
coordinates obtained from b, application program 3
In the screen transition between 0 and 31, the attribute of the data handled by the application program A of A, the screen configuration of the data list display screen 302 of the application program A of A, the control means 101 in the data list display screen 302
The processing performed by is the same as in the first embodiment,
Overlapping description may be omitted.

The mobile information terminal 10 of this embodiment has a display means 102, an input means 103, and a control means 101. The input unit 103 has a function of contactlessly measuring the distance to the pointing device. When the distance to the pointing device measured by the input unit 103 becomes short, the display unit 102 changes the screen configuration so as to change the displayed item content. When the distance between the pointing device measured by the input unit 103 and the portable information terminal 10 is long, the number of data items displayed on the display unit 102 is reduced and the display area given to each data item is widened. Pointing device and personal digital assistant 10
When the distance is short, the number of data items displayed on the display unit 102 is increased and the display area given to each data item is narrowed. In this way, the portable information terminal 1 of the present embodiment
A value of 0 includes a function of changing the number of data items to be displayed and the size of the display area according to the distance.

FIG. 14 shows a display example of the case data display screen 301 of the application program 30 of A.
The screen configuration of the single-data display screen 14a shown in FIG. 12A shows a state in which the operation icon button is not displayed. In the display area 14a1, the attribute value for the text data 403 is displayed. Note that the attribute value is a character string of arbitrary length, as in the first embodiment. If the entire body data 403 cannot be displayed in the display area 14a1, the scroll bar can be used to display the entire body data 403.

Single data display screen 1 shown in FIG. 14 (b)
In the screen configuration of 4b, the body text display area 14b1 for displaying the body text data 403 as well as the title display area 14
b2 and icon button 14b3 are displayed. That is, as the data item to be displayed, the title display area 1
4b2 is increased, and the text data 403 is displayed in the text display area 14b1 narrower than the display area 14a1 displayed when the pen 11 is away. The icon button 14b3 has the same function as the icon button 715 for shifting to the list display shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 12B, and is a button for transiting to the data list display screen 302. Although the title display area 14b2 and the icon button 14b3 are displayed in the upper part of the screen in the present embodiment, these areas are displayed in the lower part of the screen,
It may be arranged on either the right side or the left side. The title display area 14b2 and the icon button 14b3 may be arranged at different ends on the screen.

FIG. 15 shows a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 on the single data display screen 301. Step S500
Then, the data is displayed in the screen configuration of the one-item data display screen 14a shown in FIG. 14A according to the content of the data to be displayed. In step S501, the interrupt controller 10
In 1d, it waits for an interrupt from the input means 103.
This interruption occurs when the pen 11 approaches the tablet 103a up to a distance of z <z0. Step S5
02, the case data display screen 14 shown in FIG.
Data is displayed in the screen configuration of b. In step S503, the pen coordinates (x, y, z) are read from the input means 103. In step S504, it is confirmed whether z = 0 for the z coordinate of the pen coordinates. This condition is pen 1
1 is satisfied when 1 touches the tablet 103a, that is, is tapped. When z = 0 is not satisfied, step S505
Check whether z> z0. This condition is that the distance between the pen 11 and the tablet 103a is the AD converter 103.
It is established when the value becomes farther than the threshold value z0 of b. When this condition is satisfied, the process returns to step S500, and when not satisfied, the process returns to step S503.

When z = 0 is confirmed in step S504, it is determined in step S506 whether the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 14b3. If it is not within the display area, the process returns to step S500. When it is determined in step S506 that the pen coordinate (x, y) is within the display area of the icon button 14b3, the screen transitions to the data list display screen 302 in step S507.

The function described in each embodiment is the same as the control means 1.
01 stored in the ROM 101b by the CPU
It is realized by reading and executing 101a.
Such a program is stored in the RAM 101c from the recording medium.
To read and execute, or via the communication network
It can also be downloaded to the AM 101c and executed.

In each of the embodiments described above, the pen 11 is used as the pointing device and the tablet 1 is used.
Although three-dimensional coordinates with respect to 03a are obtained, the distance is measured in the z-axis direction and compared with the threshold value z0, it is determined whether the coordinates are close enough to be detected or far away from each other. You can also It is also possible to use a glide point as a pointing device and determine the possibility of operation depending on whether or not the user's fingertip is touching. Further, it is possible to detect the rising of the operation with a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball and determine that the possibility of the operation is high.

The present invention can be applied not only to the mobile information terminal 10 such as a PDA but also to a mobile phone as an information processing device. Since it is portable, even if the screen of the display means is small, the display can be changed according to the presence or absence of an input operation and the screen can be used effectively. Also,
The present invention can be applied not only to portable information processing devices but also to desktop personal computers. For example, on a personal computer, DV
In an application program for viewing D (Digital Versatile Disk), if the icon buttons for operation are displayed only when the user intends to perform an operation, the video will be displayed on the entire screen when the operation is not performed. You will be able to see it. Further, it is also possible to display an object for which an operation for changing the position by a pointing device such as a cursor is not displayed when the operation is not performed but only when the operation is performed.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, the screen configuration is changed so as to change the display content of the display means in a predetermined state in which the input operation is likely to be performed. If the possibility of the operation of is increased, an intelligent display for changing the display content can be displayed to improve the convenience of the user. When the possibility that the input operation is performed becomes low, the display content can be changed to improve the list.

Further, according to the present invention, when the possibility of the input operation becomes high, a lot of guidance information about the input operation can be displayed for the convenience of the user.

Further, according to the present invention, when the possibility of the input operation is increased, it is possible to select from many objects, which is convenient for the user.

Further, according to the present invention, since the icon buttons are displayed in the display area associated with the information processing, the information processing to be the target of the input operation can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner.

Further, according to the present invention, since the icon buttons are displayed in a fixed size area which does not have a scroll function, the screen structure of the display means is largely destroyed before and after the icon buttons are displayed. Can solve the problem.

Further, according to the present invention, when there is a high possibility that an input operation for selecting an application program different from the operating application program is performed, a display for convenience of the user's selection operation can be displayed. it can.

Further, according to the present invention, when the possibility that an input operation is performed becomes high, the item content displayed on the screen of the display means is changed. Therefore, the item content is changed to the item content for the convenience of the input operation, and the input operation is performed. When the possibility of being performed is not so high, the display can be changed so as to give priority to the list of information.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to display the icon buttons and the like for the convenience of the user when the possibility of the input operation to the pointing device is high, and to secure the listability when the possibility of the input operation is low.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the possibility that an input operation is performed by the distance between the pen and the tablet.

Further, according to the present invention, when the pen is far from the tablet and the input operation is unlikely to be performed, a display focusing only on important attributes of information to be displayed is performed, and the pen approaches the tablet. If there is a high possibility that an input operation will be performed, a rough display can be performed for all attributes of the displayed information.

Further in accordance with the present invention, a computer
The display content can be changed according to the possibility of an input operation to the input unit, and the information processing apparatus can function as an input operation and a list of information displays can be secured.

Further, according to the present invention, the information displayed can be changed in accordance with the possibility of an input operation to the input means, thereby facilitating the input operation and ensuring a list of information displays. A computer can be made to read the program for making it function as.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a portable information terminal 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of 0. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a three-dimensional relative position designated by a pen 11 and a tablet 103a in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a transition in an application program 30 operating on the information processing terminal 10 in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of attributes included in one piece of data handled by the application program 30 of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of a case data display screen 301 by the application program 30 of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing an example of a data list display screen 302 by the application program 30 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the application program 30 of FIG. 3 displays an operation icon button on the one-case data display screen 301.

8 is a diagram showing an example in which the application program 30 of FIG. 3 displays operation icon buttons on a data list display screen 302. FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 in the application program 30 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a case data display screen 301 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7;
3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the control unit 101.

FIG. 11 is a data list display screen 302 shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.
3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the control unit 101.

FIG. 12 is a second case data display screen 3 that changes according to the distance of the pointing device in the second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the example of 01.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the control means 101 on the display of the one-case data display screen 301 in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a single case data display screen 3 that changes according to the distance of a pointing device in the third embodiment of the invention.
It is a figure which shows the example of 01.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the control unit 101 on the display of the single case data display screen 301 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Mobile Information Terminal 11 Pens 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, 51, 52, 301
Single data display screen 30, 31 Application program 40 Data 101 Control means 101a CPU 101b ROM 101c RAM 101d Interrupt controller 102 Display means 102a Liquid crystal panel 103 Input means 103a Tablet 103b AD converter 302 Data list display screen 401 Sender data 402 Title data 403 Body data 521, 621, 714, 814 Scroll bars 715, 716, 717, 718, 814, 14b3
Icon button

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A display unit, an input unit, and a control unit, wherein the control unit performs information processing in accordance with information input by an input operation to the input unit, and the display unit displays contents associated with the information processing of the control unit. In the information processing device that displays the screen of, the input unit detects the detection result by detecting the information input by the input operation and the information corresponding to the possibility that the input operation is performed when the input operation is not performed. In response to the detection result of the input means, the control means changes the screen configuration so as to change the display content of the display means in a predetermined state in which the input operation is likely to be performed. A characteristic information processing device. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the display related to the input operation as the change of the display content of the display unit. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit changes the display content of the display unit so as to increase the number of objects selected by an input operation. 4. The control means displays a display related to the input operation as icon buttons in a display area associated with information processing, and when the display is increased, the area is changed. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a display area of information associated with the information processing is narrowed to secure an area for displaying the icon buttons. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit secures a display area of information associated with the information processing by narrowing a display area having no scroll bar function. 6. The control means is operable by selecting a plurality of application programs, and an application program different from the application programs is selected as a target to be selected by the input operation during the operation of one application program. The display is changed so as to be selected, and the display is changed.
The information processing device according to any one of to 4. 7. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes, as the change of the display content of the display means, the content of the item displayed on the screen display of the display content accompanying the information processing. apparatus. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is a pointing device that inputs a spatial position as information input by the input operation. 9. The pointing device includes a tablet and a pen, and a position on the tablet pointed by the pen is input as the information, and a possibility that the input operation is performed is set as a distance between the pen and the tablet. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information processing apparatus detects the information based on the information processing apparatus. 10. The control means reduces the number of items of information displayed on the display means when the distance between the tablet and the pen is long, and enlarges the display area given to each information item, and the distance is increased. Increase the number of items of the information when it is near,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a display area given to each item of information is reduced. 11. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 12. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is recorded.