JP2003345493A - Portable terminal apparatus and status display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable status display more than a predetermined number of displays, even if a display area on a screen is narrow. <P>SOLUTION: When displaying icons in a navigation bar arranged on the screen (S11, S12), it is determined whether the number displayable in a specific display area is exceeded (S13). If not exceeded, the icons are displayed on the navigation bar as it is, and one of respective icons to be displayed in the navigation bar is selected, when exceeded (S15). The navigation bar is distinctively displayed by means of display configurations (color, etc.), set in the selected icon (S16), and also the icons are additionally displayed in the navigation bar (S17). In this manner, the contents of the icon are clearly expressed by identifying and displaying the navigation bar itself, instead of the exceeding icons that are not displayed in the navigation bar. Consequently, the status displays more than the predetermined number of displays is enabled, even if the display area is narrow. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, PDA (Pe
rsonal Digital Assistant), cellular and PHS
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device including a mobile phone device such as a personal handy phone (Personal Handy Phone), and more particularly to a mobile terminal device having a function of displaying an icon representing a change in state of a remaining battery level or electric field strength in a specific area on a screen. And a status display method used in the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in portable terminal devices such as PDAs,
For example, it has a function of displaying a change in state of the remaining battery level or electric field strength in a specific area provided on the screen. The specific area is generally called a "navigation bar", and various icons are displayed there. There are various types of icons, such as those representing the remaining battery capacity and electric field strength, as well as those representing the remaining memory capacity, the clock, and the voice input level. These icons are necessary when the application software is started. Is displayed in the navigation bar.

[0003]

However, unlike a desktop PC (personal computer), a portable terminal device has a very small screen size, so that the display area as the navigation bar cannot be made large. However, there is a problem that the number of icons displayed there is limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a portable terminal device and a state display method capable of displaying a predetermined number or more of states even when a display area on a screen is small. And

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, more than a predetermined number of icons are displayed in the specific area. At this time, the specific area is identified and displayed in place of the icon that cannot be displayed to clearly indicate the content of the icon.

As described above, when an icon cannot be completely displayed in a specific area on the screen, the specific area itself is identified and displayed in a manner distinguishable from normal, so that the contents of the icon can be visually recognized by the user. Make them aware. In this case, as the identification display means, for example, the specific area is displayed in a color different from a normal display color. By such identification display, even if the display area is narrow, more than a predetermined number of state displays can be performed.

If the icon indicates a state change such as electric field strength, the specific area is displayed stepwise according to the state change at that time, so that the current state change is displayed. The user can be visually notified. In this case, as the identification display means, for example, the specific area is displayed using a plurality of different colors stepwise according to a state change.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a schematic configuration when a PDA is assumed as the portable terminal device is shown.

[0010] The PDA is used as a small and lightweight portable information terminal, and is a PI for managing personal information.
In addition to the M (Personal Information Manager) function, it has an e-mail function and a wireless communication function. This PDA
LCD (Liquid Crystal)
A display 11 and an operation unit 13 including various button groups are provided. Note that a transparent touch panel 12 is placed on the screen of the LCD 11 and has a structure that allows an input operation on the screen using the stylus pen 14.

Here, on the display screen of the LCD 12, besides a normal display area 15 for displaying, for example, menus and file data, a specific display area (hereinafter referred to as a display area) for displaying an icon indicating a state change or the like. This specific display area is referred to as a navigation bar) 16 is provided at the top of the screen, for example.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the icons displayed on the navigation bar 16. The icon I1 shown in FIG. 2A is an icon for “clock display” display, and indicates the current time. An icon I2 shown in FIG. 3B is an icon for displaying “remaining battery level”, and indicates the current remaining battery level. An icon I3 shown in FIG. 3C is an icon for displaying "electric field intensity", and indicates the electric field intensity which is the current radio wave reception level. An icon I4 shown in FIG. 11D is an icon for displaying “remaining memory”, and indicates the current remaining memory. Such various icons I1 to I4 are displayed on the navigation bar 16 as needed.

In addition to the icons I1 to I4,
For example, there are various types of icons such as those representing voice input levels, which are displayed on the navigation bar 16 as necessary. The shape of the icon shown here is an example, and the display form is not particularly limited.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the present apparatus.

This apparatus includes the above-described LCD 11, touch panel 12, and operation unit 13, and includes a CPU 21, R
It includes an OM 22, a RAM 23, an RTC (real-time controller) 24, an external storage device 25, a wireless communication device 26, a speaker 27, a microphone 28, and the like.

The LCD 11 is a display device for displaying data, and has a function capable of color display. The touch panel 12 is placed on the screen of the LCD 11 as shown in FIG. 1, detects the coordinate position of a portion touched by the stylus pen 14, and inputs data indicating the coordinate position. The operation unit 13 includes a group of various buttons, such as a screen scroll operation and a selection operation of each function.
It is used when performing data input operation or the like.

The CPU 21 controls the entire apparatus, reads a program stored in the ROM 22, the RAM 23, or the like, and executes a predetermined process according to a procedure described in the program. The ROM 22 contains O
Various kinds of information including programs such as S (Operating System) are stored in advance. A program such as application software is installed in the RAM 23, and a priority setting table T is stored in a predetermined area here.
1 and a display mode setting table T2. The priority setting table T1 and the display mode setting table T2 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

The RTC 24 manages the current date and time, and is used when a clock is displayed. The external storage device 25 is formed of a medium such as a memory stick, for example, and is used as an extended memory when data is stored or application software is provided. The wireless communication device 26 is used when performing wireless communication with an external terminal according to a predetermined communication protocol. The speaker 27 and the microphone 28 are used for performing voice communication, and are installed as a receiver and a transmitter at predetermined locations of the apparatus main body 10 shown in FIG.

Although not particularly shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus has a built-in battery of a predetermined capacity. When the apparatus is carried, the apparatus is driven by using the battery as a drive source.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show priority setting tables T.
1 and the configuration of the display mode setting table T2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the priority order setting table T1. This priority setting table T1 stores the priority of icons to be excluded from the navigation bar 16. In the example of FIG. 4, an icon I3 for displaying "electric field strength", an icon I2 for displaying "remaining battery level",
It is shown that icons to be excluded are displayed in the order of the icons I4 for displaying “remaining memory”. That is, when the number of icons on the navigation bar 16 exceeds a predetermined number, if the icon I3 for displaying "electric field strength" is included in the icon, the icon is preferentially excluded from the navigation bar 16, and as described later, The content of I3 (electric field intensity) is represented by the identification display on the navigation bar 16. The priority may be fixedly determined in advance, or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the display mode setting table T2. The display mode setting table T2 stores the type of display mode set for each icon. In the example of FIG. 5, the icon I3 representing "electric field strength" is set to indicate the strength level by changing the display color of the navigation bar 16. For example, when the state is 1 (the strength level is large), Blue, yellow when in state 2 (medium intensity), state 3 (small intensity)
In this case, the navigation bar 16 is identified and displayed in red. Note that this display mode may be fixedly determined in advance for each icon, or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the status display processing in the present apparatus.
The processing procedure executed by U21 by reading the program is shown.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, for example, when the power of the apparatus is turned on or when a certain application is started, the CPU 21 monitors a state designated as a management target. Is displayed on the navigation bar 16 provided as a specific display area on the screen of the LCD 11 (step S11). That is, for example, an icon I1 for displaying "clock", an icon I2 for displaying "remaining battery level", an icon I3 for displaying "electric field strength" as shown in FIG.
An icon I4 or the like for displaying “remaining memory” is displayed in the navigation bar 16 as necessary.

Here, when an icon is additionally displayed in the navigation bar 16 (Yes in step S12)
s), the CPU 21 determines that the number of icons on the navigation bar 16 is a predetermined number (displayable number) by the additional display.
Is determined (step S13). As a result, when the number of icons does not exceed the predetermined number (No in step S13), the CPU 21 additionally displays the icon in the currently displayed empty area of the navigation bar 16 (step S14).

On the other hand, if the number of icons on the navigation bar 16 exceeds a predetermined number due to the additional display (Yes in step S13), the CPU 21 sets the icons to be displayed on the navigation bar 16 including the icons to be additionally displayed. Then, an icon to be excluded is selected from among them (step S15). In this case, an icon having the highest priority is selected as an exclusion target with reference to a priority setting table T1 as shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 21 determines the display mode (for example, display color) set for the icon selected as the exclusion target from the display mode setting table T2 shown in FIG. 5, and displays the navigation bar 16 based on the display mode. Identification and display are performed in distinction from the normal case (step S16). In this case, if the icon indicates a state change such as electric field strength, the navigation bar 16 is identified and displayed stepwise according to the state change at that time. Also, CP
U21 additionally displays an icon in the empty area formed on the navigation bar 16 (step S17).

As described above, when the number of icons that can be displayed on the navigation bar 16 is exceeded, the icons that cannot be displayed at that time are replaced with the navigation bar 16.
Is identified and displayed in a specific display form, thereby clearly indicating the contents of the icon to the user. Which icon content is to be replaced and displayed is determined by the priority setting table T1.
Depending on the priority stored in

FIG. 7 shows a specific example.

Now, description will be made on the assumption that the number of icons that can be displayed in the navigation bar 16 is three. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3C, an icon I1 for displaying "clock", an icon I2 for displaying "remaining battery level", and an icon I3 for displaying "electric field intensity" are sequentially displayed in the navigation bar 16. Shall be. This navigation bar 1
In FIG. 6, an icon I1 for “clock” display indicates the current time. Also, an icon I2 for displaying "remaining battery power" is displayed.
Is the current battery level and the icon I for displaying the "electric field strength"
Reference numeral 3 denotes the current electric field strength (reception level of a radio wave required for wireless communication).

Here, when an icon I4 for displaying "remaining memory" is displayed as an icon indicating another state change, for example, a predetermined number (three) of icons are already displayed on the navigation bar 16. Therefore, an icon to be excluded is selected from the icons to be displayed on the navigation bar 16 including the icon I4 for displaying the “remaining memory amount” to be newly added. The selection of this icon refers to the priority order setting table T1 shown in FIG. FIG.
In the example of FIG. 7, since the priority of the icon 13 for displaying the “electric field strength” is the highest, the icon 13 for displaying the “electric field strength” is excluded from the navigation bar 16 and FIG.
As shown in (d), the navigation bar 16 is identified and displayed using the display mode set for the icon I3.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, in the display mode setting table T2, the icon I3 for displaying "electric field strength" is displayed.
Since the display colors (blue, yellow, and red) are set for, the navigation bar 16 is displayed in a color corresponding to the state of the electric field strength at that time. FIG. 7D
P1 indicates a display pattern, for example, blue. This means that the level of the electric field strength (radio wave reception level) is “large”. In addition, "Electric field strength"
Since the display icon I3 has been excluded from the navigation bar 16, an icon I4 for "remaining memory" display is additionally displayed in the navigation bar 16.

Also, such a navigation bar 16
After the identification display is performed, when the state of the electric field intensity changes, the display pattern of the navigation bar 16 is changed according to the state change, as shown in FIGS. P2 in FIG. 7E is, for example, yellow, which means that the level of the electric field strength is “medium”. FIG.
P3 in (f) is, for example, red, which means that the level of the electric field strength is “small”.

When one of the icons I1, I2, I4 currently displayed on the navigation bar 16 disappears, the icon is replaced by the identification of the navigation bar 16, as shown in FIG. 7 (g). The icon I3 for "electric field strength" display is restored.

As described above, when an icon cannot be displayed on the navigation bar 16, the navigation bar itself is distinguished from the normal one and identified and displayed, so that the user can visually know the contents of the icon. I do. Thereby, even if the display area of the navigation bar 16 is narrow, more than a predetermined number of status displays can be performed. Further, when the state changes, the user can be notified of the current state by changing the display pattern of the navigation bar 16 according to the state change.

In the above embodiment, the color of the navigation bar 16 is changed to change the color of the navigation bar 16.
The content of the icon that could not be displayed was displayed, but the present invention is not limited to the color. For example, the brightness may be changed or a pattern may be applied, and the user can arbitrarily select these display modes. You may do it. When the brightness of the navigation bar 16 is changed, the brightness (brightness) of the navigation bar 16 is changed stepwise according to the state change, and when the pattern is applied to the navigation bar 16, the state is changed. Thus, the pattern of the pattern applied to the navigation bar 16 is changed stepwise.

The types of icons displayed on the navigation bar 16 are not necessarily limited to those indicating a status change. For example, the types of currently running applications (“document creation software”, “spreadsheet software”, etc.) The icon as shown may be sufficient. In this case, since the state change is not related, the display pattern of the navigation bar 16 is not changed when the content of the icon is replaced by the identification display of the navigation bar 16.

The description has been made on the assumption that the number of icons that cannot be displayed on the navigation bar 16 is one. However, even if the number of icons is two or more, the display form set for these icons is not changed. It can be handled by combining them.

The present invention is not limited to a PDA, but can be applied to any terminal device having a small screen size, such as a portable telephone device.

In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified in an implementation stage without departing from the gist thereof. Furthermore, the method described in the above-described embodiment includes, as programs that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (a flexible disk, a hard disk, or the like),
It is also possible to write the program on a recording medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.) or a semiconductor memory and apply the program to various devices, or to transmit the program itself by a transmission medium such as a network and apply it to various devices. A computer that implements the present apparatus reads the program recorded on a recording medium or a program provided via a transmission medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, a specific area (navigation bar) provided on the screen is provided.
When displaying an icon in excess of a predetermined number, the content of the icon is clearly displayed by identifying and displaying the specific area in place of the icon that cannot be displayed, so even if the display area is narrow, More than a predetermined number of status displays can be performed.

When the icon indicates a state change such as electric field strength, the specific area is displayed stepwise according to the state change at that time.
It is possible to visually inform the user of the current state change.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing an external configuration of a portable terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an icon displayed on a navigation bar provided on a screen of the mobile terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the portable terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a priority setting table provided in a RAM of the portable terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display mode setting table provided in a RAM of the portable terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a status display process in the portable terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a specific example for explaining display processing for a navigation bar provided on the screen of the portable terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Main unit 11 ... LCD 12 ... Touch panel 13 ... operation unit 14. Stylus pen 15: Normal display area 16 ... Navigation bar 21 ... CPU 23 ... RAM T1 ... Priority setting table T2: Display form setting table I1 ... Icon for displaying "clock" I2: Icon for displaying "remaining battery level" I3: Icon for displaying "electric field strength" I4: Icon for displaying "remaining memory"

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, wherein when a predetermined number of icons are displayed in the specific area, the icons cannot be completely displayed. A portable terminal device, comprising: an identification display unit that identifies the content of the icon by identifying and displaying the specific area in place of the icon. 2. A portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, wherein when displaying the icon in the specific area, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number is exceeded. Determining means; selecting means for selecting one of the icons to be displayed in the specific area when the determining means determines that the number exceeds a predetermined number; and selecting the icon selected by the selecting means. A portable terminal device comprising: identification display means for identifying the content of the icon by identifying and displaying the specific area in place of the specific area. 3. A portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, a first table means storing priority of icons to be excluded from the specific area, Second table means for storing the display mode set for each icon; determining means for determining whether or not the number exceeds a predetermined number when displaying the icon in the specific area; Selecting means for selecting the icon having the highest priority stored in the first table means among the icons to be displayed in the specific area when it is determined that the number exceeds the number; The display mode set to the icon selected by the above is determined from the second table means, and the specific area is identified and displayed in the display mode to thereby determine the display mode. Mobile terminal apparatus characterized by comprising a manifest identification means the contents of the icon. 4. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the identification display unit displays the specific area in a color different from a normal display color. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icon indicates a state change, and the identification display means displays the specific area stepwise according to the state change at that time. 3. The mobile terminal device according to any one of 3. 6. The icon indicates a state change, and the identification display means displays the specific area using a plurality of display colors different from a normal display color according to the state change at that time. The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal device is displayed in a stepwise manner. 7. A status display method used in a portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, wherein when displaying the icon in the specific area, a number of icons exceeds a predetermined number. And if it is determined that the number exceeds a predetermined number, one of the icons to be displayed in the specific area is selected, and the specific area is replaced in place of the selected icon. Characterized in that the content of the icon is clearly indicated by identifying and displaying the icon. 8. A status display method used in a portable terminal device having a function of displaying an icon in a specific area provided on a screen, wherein a priority order of icons to be excluded from the specific area is stored. 1 table means, and a second table means in which a display form set for each icon is stored. When displaying the icons in the specific area, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number is exceeded. If it is determined that the number exceeds a predetermined number, the icon having the highest priority stored in the first table means among the icons to be displayed in the specific area is selected, and the selected icon is selected. Is determined from the second table means, and the specific area is identified and displayed in the display form to clearly indicate the contents of the icon. State display method characterized by the.