JP2007094557A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor considerably improving difficulty when a user selects one out of options included in a menu screen in displaying the menu screen including all the options to be possibly selected. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor comprises a receiving means for receiving instructions for displaying the menu screen from the user; a menu screen display means for displaying the menu screen including all the options to be possibly selected at that time irrespective of whether the options are valid or invalid when the receiving means receives the instructions for displaying the menu screen from the user; an indicating means for indicating either one of the options displayed on the menu screen; and a notifying means for notifying the user of the effect that the option is invalid when the option indicated by the indicating means is invalid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus that may display a menu screen.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as portable storage, notebook personal computers, and desktop personal computers have been widely used. In such an information processing apparatus, since there are various processing options, a menu screen is displayed to allow the user to select a process from a plurality of options.

  That is, when the menu screen is displayed, the user selects his / her desired option from the options displayed on the menu screen, executes a necessary process, or selects a desired file.

  Since more options are displayed on the menu screen, the menu screen is often hierarchized to reduce the number of options displayed on one menu screen. However, if the menu screen is deepened and complicated, it becomes difficult for the user to know which option is in which hierarchy. For this reason, there is also an idea that it is easier for the user to make the hierarchical structure flat and display all options that may be selected at that time on one menu screen.

  When all the options are displayed on one menu screen, some of the displayed options cannot be selected depending on the situation. The choices that can be selected or cannot be selected are based on the assumption that the user makes a decision based on his / her own knowledge. However, entrusting this determination to the user is extremely burdensome and increases the difficulty of the user for menu screen operations.

In order to eliminate such difficulty, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-47782 (Patent Document 1), when the user moves the cursor to an option that cannot be selected among the options displayed on the menu screen Discloses a technique for displaying the reason why the option cannot be selected and improving user convenience. However, even with this technology, the user must remember what options are available in what state, and the user's difficulty cannot be fully resolved.
JP 2000-47782 A

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a menu screen including all options that can be selected is displayed, the user can select from the options included in the menu screen. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that greatly improves the difficulty in selecting an option.

In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
Receiving means for receiving an instruction for displaying a menu screen from a user;
When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a menu screen from the user, the menu screen includes all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid. A menu screen display means for displaying
An instruction means for pointing to one of the options displayed on the menu screen;
A notification means for notifying the user that the option is invalid if the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option;
It is characterized by providing.

  In this case, when the instruction unit indicates an invalid option, the notification unit may display the invalid option differently from the case where the instruction unit indicates an effective option.

  In this case, the display of the invalid option and the display of the effective option in the notification unit may be different in color.

  Alternatively, when the instruction unit indicates an invalid option, the notification unit may display a message notifying the user that the option is an invalid option.

  Alternatively, when the instruction unit indicates an invalid option, the notification unit may sound a warning sound notifying the user that the option is an invalid option.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Receiving means for receiving an instruction for displaying a menu screen from a user;
When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a menu screen from the user, the menu screen includes all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid. A menu screen display means for displaying
An instruction means for pointing to one of the options displayed on the menu screen;
When the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the valid option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is pointed out so that the invalid option cannot be pointed. Selection avoidance means;
It is characterized by providing.

  These information processing apparatuses may further include an instruction moving unit that moves the option indicated by the instruction unit in accordance with a user instruction.

Alternatively, the information processing device
An instruction moving means for moving the option indicated by the instruction means in accordance with a user instruction;
The selection avoiding means is invalidated by further moving the instruction means in the direction in which the instruction means is moved by the instruction moving means when the option to be indicated by the instruction means is an invalid option. It may not be possible to point out the various options.

The method for controlling the menu screen display in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
It is characterized by providing.

The method for controlling the menu screen display in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
It is characterized by providing.

The program according to the present invention is:
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
This is characterized in that the information processing apparatus is executed.

The program according to the present invention is:
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
This is characterized in that the information processing apparatus is executed.

The recording medium according to the present invention is
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
Is recorded on the information processing apparatus.

The recording medium according to the present invention is
Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
Is recorded on the information processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, a hard disk drive 24, a memory card interface 26, and a speaker output. A circuit 28 is provided, which are connected to each other via an internal bus 30. The speaker output circuit 28 is a circuit for outputting music and sound. In the present embodiment, BGM at the time of still image display and sound at the time of moving image reproduction are output.

  The CPU 20 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 40 and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 42. The DSP 42 performs processing for compressing data files such as still images, moving images, and music, and decompressing the compressed data files.

  Further, the CPU 20 is connected to a display controller 52 via a dedicated bus 50, and this display controller 52 is further connected to a display screen 54. That is, when the CPU 20 transmits image data to be displayed to the display controller 52 via the dedicated bus 50, the display controller 52 controls the display screen 54 based on the image data, and displays the display screen 54. indicate. In the present embodiment, the display screen 54 is configured by an LCD, and for example, displays a still image, plays a moving image, and displays various user interface screens to be described later.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a television output circuit 60 connected to the CPU 20. For this reason, if a user connects a television image output cable to a connector (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 10, the user can view still images, moving images, and sounds output by the CPU 20 on a home television.

  In addition, a memory card 70 is appropriately attached to the information processing apparatus 10. Various types of files stored in the memory card 70 attached to the information processing apparatus 10 can be captured by the information processing apparatus 10 via the memory card interface 26. Specifically, the file stored in the memory card 70 is captured by the CPU 20 via the memory card interface 26 and stored in the hard disk drive 24.

  In this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 10 is assumed to be a photo viewer that is a portable storage device. However, the information processing apparatus 10 is connected to a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like. It can also be configured.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the display screen 54 side. As shown in FIG. 2, on the right side of the display screen 54, there are provided a menu button B10, an enter button B12, and a cancel button B14 that the user operates with a finger. In addition, an upper movement button B20, a left movement button B22, a right movement button B24, and a lower movement button B26 that are operated by the user with a finger are also provided.

  The menu button B <b> 10 is an operation button for displaying various menu screens on the display screen 54. The decision button B12 is an operation button that is pressed when finalizing the change contents when various settings are performed on the menu screen or the user interface screen. In this embodiment, the determination button B12 is pressed particularly when the user moves the cursor and finally selects one option from a plurality of options displayed on the menu screen. Button.

  The cancel button B14 is an operation button that is pressed when various settings are performed on the menu screen or the user interface screen and the instruction content is not reflected in the end. The upper movement button B20, the left movement button B22, the right movement button B24, and the lower movement button B26 are operations for moving the cursor to the upper side, the left side, the right side, and the lower side on the menu screen and the user interface screen, respectively. Button.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of the menu screen display process executed by the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. This file operation execution process is a process realized by the CPU 40 reading and executing the menu screen display program stored in the ROM 40 in the CPU 40. Further, this menu screen display process is a process that is started when it is assumed that an instruction to display the menu screen is received when the user presses the menu button B10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the menu screen display process is started, the information processing apparatus 10 acquires a default cursor position (step S10). In the present embodiment, a default cursor position is set as an option displayed at the top of the menu screen. In the present embodiment, the default cursor position is stored in the ROM 40. For this reason, in this step S10, the information processing apparatus 10 reads and acquires the default cursor position from the ROM 40.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 displays a menu screen (step S12). In this embodiment, when this menu screen is displayed, all the options that may be selected at this time are displayed regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid. Here, an option that cannot be selected even though it is displayed on the menu screen is expressed as an invalid option, and an option that is displayed on the menu screen and can be selected is expressed as an effective option. In other words, a valid option is an option in which the selected process is properly executed when the option is selected, and an invalid option is nothing even if the option is selected. Or, it is an option that cannot be executed.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether the cursor position option is valid (step S14). If the cursor position option is valid (step S14: YES), the information processing apparatus 10 highlights the cursor position option (step S16). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the menu screen W10 displayed on the display screen 54 in step S16. As shown in FIG. 4, one or more options are displayed on the menu screen W10. On this menu screen W10, the user moves the cursor CR to his / her desired option and presses the enter button B10 to select that option.

  As described above, the cursor CR is moved by the movement buttons B20, B22, B24, and B26. In the example of FIG. 4, the user moves the cursor CR using the upper movement button B20 and the lower movement button B26. In the present embodiment, as described above, the default cursor position is set to the option displayed at the top of the menu screen W10. Therefore, the cursor CR is positioned on this “option A”. In this example, “Option A” is an effective option, and is therefore highlighted with the cursor CR. Here, “highlighted and displayed” refers to an aspect in which characters are highlighted and displayed in the cursor CR, or characters are highlighted. However, various modes for highlighting this option are conceivable and are not limited to this example.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the determination button B12 has been pressed (step S18). When the determination button B12 is pressed (step S18: YES), processing of the option at the cursor position is executed (step S20). For example, if the selected option is an option for an application that displays image data designated in advance, image data is displayed by this application. Thereby, the menu screen display process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S18 that the determination button B12 has not been pressed (step S18: NO), the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the movement button has been pressed (step S22). If it is determined that the move button has not been pressed (step S22: NO), the process returns to step S18 described above.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the move button is pressed (step S22: YES), the cursor CR is moved according to the pressed move button (step S24). In the present embodiment, when the upper movement button B20 is pressed, the cursor CR is moved upward by one, and when the lower movement button B26 is pressed, the cursor CR is moved downward by one. To do. And it returns to step S14 mentioned above.

  In step S24, if the user presses the lower movement button B26 in the state of FIG. 4 described above, the cursor CR moves to “option B”. Then, in the returned step S14, it is determined again whether the option at the cursor position is valid.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the cursor position option is invalid (step S14: NO), the information processing apparatus 10 changes the color of the cursor CR option (step S30). Here, assuming that “option B” is an invalid option, the color of “option B” changes as shown in FIG. This color change may be, for example, displaying “option B” in red, or displaying “option B” so that the entire cursor CR is light gray. However, various modes of changing the color of the options are conceivable and are not limited to this example.

  In addition, changing the color of the option is one mode for making the display of the invalid option different from the display of the valid option, and changing the elements other than the color makes the display of the two different. It may be.

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the movement button has been pressed (step S32). If the move button is not pressed (step S32: NO), this step S32 is repeated and the process waits.

  On the other hand, when the movement button is pressed (step S32: YES), the cursor CR is moved according to the pressed movement button (step S34). In the present embodiment, when the upper movement button B20 is pressed, the cursor CR is moved upward by one, and when the lower movement button B26 is pressed, the cursor CR is moved downward by one. To do. And it returns to step S14 mentioned above.

  Here, in the state shown in FIG. 5, if the user presses the lower movement button B26, the cursor CR moves to “option C”. If this “option C” is an effective option, a menu screen W10 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in step S16 described above.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the menu screen W10 is displayed, regardless of whether or not the option is valid, all the options that can be selected at that time are displayed. The option is displayed. In other words, the menu screen was made flat without hierarchizing. For this reason, the user can quickly find a target option. In addition, since all the options are displayed without determining whether the options are valid or invalid, the display processing speed when displaying the menu screen W10 can be extremely fast.

  In addition, when the user moves the cursor CR to an invalid option when the user selects an option from among many displayed options, the display of the invalid option is different from the display of the valid option. Therefore, the user can easily determine that the option is an invalid option. For this reason, the operability of the user on the menu screen W10 can be extremely facilitated.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the menu screen W10 according to the first embodiment described above is modified so that the cursor CR cannot be placed on an invalid option. Hereinafter, a different part from 1st Embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the menu screen display process according to this embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined in step S14 described in the first embodiment that the option at the cursor position is invalid (step S14: NO), the information processing apparatus 10 changes the cursor position. Further move (step S100). Specifically, in step S24, one more cursor is moved in the direction of the cursor CR moved according to the move button pressed by the user.

  For example, when the user presses the lower movement button B26 on the menu screen W10 shown in FIG. 8, the “option B” that is one level below the “option A” is an invalid option. The CR moves to “option C” as shown in FIG. 9 without stopping at “option B”.

  If there is an invalid option at the top of the menu screen W10, the cursor CR may be moved to the second option from the top to display the menu screen W10. Then, the cursor CR may be prevented from moving to the option at the top. Conversely, if there is an invalid option at the bottom of the menu screen W10, the cursor CR may not be moved to the option at the bottom.

  Other processes and configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the cursor CR cannot be moved to an invalid option when the user selects an option from many options displayed on the menu screen W10. As a result, the user can easily determine that an option that the cursor CR cannot move is an invalid option. For this reason, the operability of the user on the menu screen W10 can be extremely facilitated.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, the menu screen W10 according to the first embodiment described above is modified to display a message notifying the user that the option is invalid on an invalid option. . Hereinafter, a different part from 1st Embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart for explaining the contents of the menu screen display processing according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when it is determined in step S14 described in the first embodiment that the option at the cursor position is invalid (step S14: NO), the information processing apparatus 10 A message informing the user that the option is invalid is displayed in the vicinity (step S200).

  For example, when the user presses the lower movement button B26 on the menu screen W10 shown in FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 12, the cursor CR is moved to the “option B” one level below the “option A”. And a message “This option is invalid” is displayed in the vicinity of “Option B”. The text of this message is arbitrary and may be any content that allows the user to know that the option is invalid.

  Other processes and configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the user selects an option from many options displayed on the menu screen W10, the cursor CR is positioned at an invalid option. In such a case, since a message indicating that the option is invalid is displayed, the user can easily determine that the option is an invalid option. For this reason, the operability of the user on the menu screen W10 can be extremely facilitated.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the fourth embodiment, the menu screen W10 according to the first embodiment described above is modified, and when the cursor CR is positioned on an invalid option, a warning sound is generated and the option is invalid. To the user. Hereinafter, a different part from 1st Embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart for explaining the contents of the menu screen display processing according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when it is determined in step S14 described in the first embodiment that the option at the cursor position is invalid (step S14: NO), the information processing apparatus 10 determines that the option is A warning sound is sent to inform the user that it is invalid (step S300).

  For example, when the user presses the lower movement button B26 on the menu screen W10 shown in FIG. 14, as shown in FIG. 15, the cursor CR is moved to the “option B” one level below the “option A”. And a beep sound or alarm sound to notify the user that the option is not a valid option. What kind of warning sound is used is arbitrary, and the warning sound may be used so that the user can know that the option is invalid. In addition, the time during which the warning sound is sounded is arbitrary, and the warning sound may be sounded while the cursor CR is positioned at the invalid option, or after the cursor CR moves to the invalid option, A warning sound may be sounded only for a few seconds.

  Other processes and configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the user selects an option from many options displayed on the menu screen W10, the cursor CR is positioned at an invalid option. In this case, a warning sound is sounded to notify the user that the option is invalid, so that the user can easily determine that the option is an invalid option. For this reason, the operability of the user on the menu screen W10 can be extremely facilitated.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the cursor CR is used as the means for indicating the option displayed on the menu screen W10 has been described. However, the means for indicating the option is not limited to the cursor CR. For example, the user may indicate an option using a pointing device such as a mouse.

  In the case of using the pointing device, in the above-described second embodiment, when the option that the user is trying to point to using the pointing device is an invalid option, another valid item that is positioned in the vicinity of the invalid option is used. It is only necessary to indicate an invalid option so that an invalid option cannot be indicated.

  In addition, for the menu screen display process described in the above-described embodiment, a program for executing this process is recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM, or a memory card. Thus, it can be distributed in the form of a recording medium. In this case, the above-described embodiment can be realized by causing the information processing apparatus 10 to read and execute the program recorded on the recording medium.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 10 may include other programs such as an operating system and another application program. In this case, in order to utilize another program included in the information processing apparatus 10, a program including an instruction for calling a program that realizes processing equivalent to the above-described embodiment from among the programs included in the information processing apparatus 10 May be recorded on a recording medium.

  Furthermore, such a program can be distributed not as a recording medium but as a carrier wave through a network. The program transmitted in the form of a carrier wave on the network is taken into the information processing apparatus 10, and the above-described embodiment can be realized by executing this program.

  Also, when a program is recorded on a recording medium or transmitted as a carrier wave on a network, the program may be encrypted or compressed. In this case, the information processing apparatus 10 that has read the program from the recording medium or the carrier wave needs to execute the program after decoding or decompressing the program.

  Furthermore, the above-described menu screen display process can be realized not by software but by hardware such as ASIC. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 when the menu screen display process is realized by hardware. In FIG. 16, only the necessary blocks are shown, but in reality, the information processing apparatus 10 also includes the components shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 16, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a reception unit 100, a menu screen display unit 102, an instruction unit 104, and a notification unit 106. Further, the information processing apparatus 10 may include an instruction moving unit 108.

  The accepting unit 100 accepts an instruction for displaying the menu screen W10 from the user. In the embodiment described above, when it is detected that the menu button B10 has been pressed, the receiving unit 100 determines that an instruction for displaying the menu screen W10 has been received.

  When the reception unit 100 receives an instruction to display the menu screen W10 from the user, the menu screen display unit 102 determines whether the selection is valid or invalid for options that may be selected at that time. Regardless of, the menu screen W10 including all is displayed. The menu screen W10 is displayed on the display screen 54.

  The instruction unit 104 allows the user to point to any of the options displayed on the menu screen. In the above-described embodiment, the instruction unit 104 includes the cursor CR.

  When the option indicated by the instruction unit 106 is an invalid option, the notification unit 106 notifies the user that the option is invalid.

  There are various modes in which the notification unit 106 notifies the user that the option is invalid. For example, in the above-described first embodiment, when the instruction unit 104 indicates an invalid option, the notification unit 106 displays an invalid option and when the instruction unit 104 indicates an effective option. And display differently. More specifically, the display of invalid options and the display of valid options are made different in color.

  Alternatively, in the third embodiment described above, when the instruction unit 104 indicates an invalid option, the notification unit 106 displays a message notifying the user that the option is an invalid option.

  Alternatively, in the fourth embodiment described above, when the instruction unit 104 indicates an invalid option, the notification unit 106 sounds a warning sound that notifies the user that the option is an invalid option.

  The instruction moving unit 108 moves the option indicated by the instruction unit 104 in accordance with a user instruction. In the embodiment described above, the instruction unit 108 moves the cursor CR according to the operation of the user's movement buttons B20, B22, B24, and B26.

  Alternatively, in the second embodiment described above, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a selection avoidance unit 200 instead of the notification unit 106. When the option that the instruction unit 104 is pointing to is an invalid option, the selection avoiding unit 200 indicates an invalid option by pointing to a valid option located in the vicinity of the invalid option. I can't do that.

  More specifically, in the second embodiment described above, the selection avoiding unit 200 moves the instruction unit 104 by the instruction moving unit 108 when the option that the instruction unit 104 tries to indicate is an invalid option. By further moving the instruction unit 104 in the direction, an invalid option cannot be indicated.

  Other configurations and processes in the information processing apparatus 10 in FIGS. 16 and 17 are the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments described above.

The block diagram explaining an example of the internal structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment thru | or 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a plan layout view on the display screen side of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the menu screen display process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment (when a cursor is located in a valid choice). The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment (when a cursor is located in an invalid option). The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment (when a cursor is located in a valid choice). The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the menu screen display process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment (when a cursor is located in a valid choice). The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment (when a cursor moves to the next effective option, without stopping a cursor to an invalid option). The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the menu screen display process which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment (when a cursor is located in a valid choice). The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment (when a cursor is located in an invalid option). The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the menu screen display process which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment (when a cursor is located in a valid choice). The figure which shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the information processing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment (when a cursor is located in an invalid option). The block diagram explaining the principal part of the internal structure of the information processing apparatus at the time of implement | achieving the menu screen display process which concerns on 1st Embodiment, 3rd Embodiment, and 4th Embodiment with hardware. The block diagram explaining the principal part of the internal structure of the information processing apparatus at the time of implement | achieving the menu screen display process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment with hardware.

Explanation of symbols

10 Information processing device 20 CPU
22 RAM
24 Hard disk 26 Memory card interface 28 Speaker output circuit 30 Internal bus 40 ROM
42 DSP
50 Dedicated Bus 52 Display Controller 54 Display Screen 60 TV Output Circuit 70 Memory Card

Claims (14)

Receiving means for receiving an instruction for displaying a menu screen from a user;
When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a menu screen from the user, the menu screen includes all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid. A menu screen display means for displaying
An instruction means for pointing to one of the options displayed on the menu screen;
A notification means for notifying the user that the option is invalid if the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   In the case where the instructing unit indicates an invalid option, the notifying unit displays the invalid option differently from the case in which the instructing unit indicates an effective option. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display of the invalid option and the display of the effective option in the notification unit are different in color.   The said notification means displays the message which notifies a user that the choice is an invalid choice, when the said instruction | indication means points out the invalid choice, The said notification means is characterized by the above-mentioned. Information processing device.   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein when the instruction unit indicates an invalid option, the notification unit sounds a warning sound notifying the user that the option is an invalid option. Processing equipment. Receiving means for receiving an instruction for displaying a menu screen from a user;
When the accepting unit accepts an instruction to display a menu screen from the user, the menu screen includes all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid. A menu screen display means for displaying
An instruction means for pointing to one of the options displayed on the menu screen;
When the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the valid option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is pointed out so that the invalid option cannot be pointed. Selection avoidance means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an instruction moving unit that moves an option indicated by the instruction unit in accordance with a user instruction. An instruction moving means for moving the option indicated by the instruction means in accordance with a user instruction;
The selection avoiding means is invalidated by further moving the instruction means in the direction in which the instruction means is moved by the instruction moving means when the option to be indicated by the instruction means is an invalid option. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a specific option cannot be indicated. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
A method for controlling menu screen display in an information processing apparatus. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
A method for controlling menu screen display in an information processing apparatus. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
For causing the information processing apparatus to execute the program. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
For causing the information processing apparatus to execute the program. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Causing the user to point to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen using the instruction means;
If the option pointed to by the instruction means is an invalid option, notifying the user that the option is invalid;
A recording medium on which a program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute is recorded. Receiving instructions from the user to display the menu screen;
A step of displaying a menu screen including all options that may be selected at that time, regardless of whether the options are valid or invalid when an instruction to display a menu screen is received from the user; ,
Using a selection means to point the user to any of the choices displayed on the menu screen;
If the option that the instruction means is pointing to is an invalid option, the effective option located in the vicinity of the invalid option is indicated so that the invalid option cannot be indicated. When,
A recording medium on which a program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute is recorded.

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