JP2008090860A - Information terminal device and display method in information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make operability excellent when various operation screens are controlled to display in an information terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: When a launcher screen is displayed on a liquid crystal panel, areas of title bar display area and task bar display area are changed by changing a boundary line 34 of window display area 31 and title bar display area 32 and a boundary line 35 of window display area 31 and task bar display area 33. When areas of the window display area 31 and the title bar display area 32 are changed responding to the operation screen, the function buttons are moved in parallel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a display method in an information terminal device.

  Generally, in an information terminal device or the like, various operation screens are displayed on a display unit according to an application. Generally, this operation screen is a display area (hereinafter referred to as a window display area) for displaying various data information or menu items. And a display area (hereinafter referred to as a function display area) for displaying a title bar or a tool bar. If a large number of functions are displayed in the function display area, the size of the function display area is inevitably enlarged, and the window display area is compressed.

  In order to deal with such problems, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-242976 (Patent Document 1), the ratio of the title bar, icon menu, program display area, etc. to the display screen is stored, and the size of the display screen is stored. Is changed, the display size of the title bar, icon menu, program display area, etc. is changed so that the above ratio is obtained. That is, in Patent Document 1, the title bar and the like are always displayed at the same ratio even when the size of the display screen is changed.

  In JP 2000-172395 A (Patent Document 2), when two different screens are opened in the same application, the same menu bar (and toolbar) corresponding to each screen is integrated into one. It is shown to be displayed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-126146 (Patent Document 3) displays a toolbar in which tool buttons are arranged on the surface of the belt as an image of the belt rotating on the screen in order to reduce the display exclusive area of the toolbar. And what shows all the tool buttons by rotating a belt right and left is shown. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-187669 (Patent Document 4), tool button arrangement states of application programs are displayed in descending order of selection execution count, thereby reducing the work of customizing the toolbar. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-91384 (Patent Document 5), a display change button is provided on a tool bar so that all buttons can be displayed by scrolling the button state of the tool bar.

JP 2001-242976 A JP 2000-172395 A JP-A-11-126146 JP-A-10-187669 JP 10-91384 A

  By the way, in any of the above-mentioned patent documents, the size of the menu bar or the toolbar is changed according to the screen size, or the toolbar display size is fixed, and the necessary toolbar buttons are displayed in the display size. And the like are disclosed. However, these are only those that determine the display size of the toolbar, regardless of the type of operation screen, the content, the transition state of the operation, etc., depending on the type of operation screen, the content, the transition state of the operation, etc. However, there were problems such as unnecessary toolbar buttons being displayed and necessary toolbar buttons not being displayed, so the display screen could not be used effectively. In particular, when the display screen itself is small, such as a portable information terminal device, a large proportion of the entire display area is required to display the menu bar and the toolbar itself. There is a demand for displaying the menu bar and the tool bar in as small an area as possible as compared with a personal computer provided.

  The objective of this invention is providing the information terminal device which can utilize a display screen more effectively, and the display control program used for this.

According to the present invention, in an information terminal device comprising a plurality of functions and capable of selectively activating the plurality of functions,
A display unit that displays an operation screen according to a selected function among the plurality of functions;
Comprising first display control means for displaying the operation screen by dividing it into a first display area and a second display area having a different area from the first display area;
The first display control means can change the area of the second display area according to the operation screen, and an information terminal device can be obtained.

  In the present invention, the first display control means changes the area by moving the boundary line in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the second display areas.

  In the present invention, second display control means for displaying a function button for executing a predetermined function in the second display area is provided.

  In the present invention, the first display control means translates the function button when changing the second display area according to the operation screen.

According to the present invention,
In a display method in an information terminal device comprising a plurality of functions and capable of selectively activating the plurality of functions,
A display step of displaying an operation screen according to a selected function among the plurality of functions;
Including a first display control step of displaying the operation screen by dividing it into a first display area and a second display area having an area different from the first display area,
In the first display control step, a display method is obtained in which the area of the second display area is changed according to the operation screen.

  According to the present invention, in the information terminal device, there is an effect that the display screen can be used more effectively in order to change the area of the operation screen according to the selected function among the plurality of functions. .

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components in the illustrated example are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

  First, referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated personal digital assistant (PDA) is sized so that a user can hold it in the palm of the hand, and a liquid crystal panel 12 having a touch panel 12a over the entire surface of the exterior case 11 is provided. (The touch panel 12a is arrange | positioned on the surface of the liquid crystal panel 12, for example). Further, as will be described later, the exterior case 11 includes a control switch (hereinafter referred to as a side controller) 13, an escape switch 14, a power on / off switch (hereinafter referred to as a power switch) 15, an external memory medium such as a memory card, , An insertion slot 16 into which an external device such as an external hard disk or the like is inserted, an external connection terminal 17 used when charging or transmitting / receiving various data to / from a personal computer, and a touch pen (stylus pen) A storage portion 19 for storing 18 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side controller 13, the escape switch 14, and the power switch 15 are arranged in a row on the side surface of the outer case 11. In the illustrated example, the side controller 13 and the escape switch 14 are sequentially arranged from the upper side in the drawing. And the power switch 15 are arranged in this order. Then, the side controller 13 is arranged in such a way that the side controller 13 is likely to have the thumb of the left hand when the liquid crystal display panel 12 comes to the front, for example, when the side controller 13 holds the case 11 with the left hand. .

  A protruding portion 11 a extending outward is formed on the upper side of the side controller 13, and a part of the side controller 13 is exposed on the side surface of the exterior case 11. The side controller 11 is a shaft (not shown) extending from the front surface (front surface) of the exterior case 11 to the back surface so as to be swingable (rotatable) within a predetermined range in a direction (vertical direction) indicated by a solid arrow A in the drawing. ) And can be pressed (solid arrow B) in a direction perpendicular to the shaft body (inward from the side surface in the drawing). This rotation (swing) range is limited to a range in which the rotation (swing) operation can be performed by approximately one push-up or push-down operation with the thumb of the left hand. For example, a corrugated protrusion 13 a is formed on the exposed surface of the side controller 13.

  As described above, the side controller 13 is rotated (swinged) or pressed with the left thumb, for example. At this time, the left thumb touches the protrusion 13a. When the side controller 13 is not operated, the side controller 13 is located at a predetermined position (hereinafter, referred to as a reference position). When the side controller 13 is pushed upward from the reference position with the left thumb, the side controller 13 is rotated by a predetermined rotation amount (swing amount). Rotates (oscillates) and does not rotate (oscillate) any further. When the left thumb is released from the side controller 13 (that is, when the force for rotating (swinging) the side controller 13 is removed), the side controller 13 automatically returns to the reference position.

  Similarly, when the left thumb moves down from the reference position, the side controller 13 rotates (swings) by a predetermined amount of rotation (swing amount) and does not turn (sway) any further. When the left thumb is released from the side controller 13, the side controller 13 automatically returns to the reference position. Note that the pressing operation can be performed only at the reference position. Further, as described above, since the side controller 13 is operated by the left thumb holding the PDA itself, the movement of the thumb is limited, and complicated operations are difficult. Therefore, since the swing operation is easier to operate than the rotation operation that requires a more complicated operation, the side controller 13 should preferably be a swing operation.

  The side controller 13 sends out an operation signal in response to the aforementioned rotation operation (swing operation) or pressing operation, and various processes are executed in response to this operation signal, as will be described later.

  As described above, the escape switch 14 is disposed below the side controller 13, the power switch 15 is disposed below the escape switch 14, and a plurality of dot-like protrusions are formed on the surface of the power switch 15. Has been. The side controller 13, escape switch 14, and power switch 15 are disposed at a position where it can be operated with the left thumb, for example. In the illustrated example, the escape switch 14 is pressed (solid arrow C), whereby an escape (ESC) signal is sent, and an escape operation is performed as described later. The power switch 15 is slid (solid arrow D) (the power is turned on when it is pushed upward in the figure, and the power switch 15 returns to its original position. When the power switch 15 is pushed upward when the power is on, the power is turned off and the power is turned off. The switch 15 returns to its original position).

  The illustrated PDA can transmit and receive data to and from a personal computer or the like by connecting to a dedicated charging device (so-called cradle device) having a communication function, for example, by the external connection terminal 17. Further, charging can be performed by the external connection terminal 17. The liquid crystal panel 12 is, for example, a color liquid crystal display, and a backlight is provided as necessary. The touch panel 12a includes, for example, a touch sensor that detects a contact position (touch position), a contact locus, and the like when the touch pen 18 is touched (tapped).

  Next, referring to FIG. 2, the illustrated PDA has a central processing unit (CPU) 21 and controls the entire PDA according to a control program stored in a storage unit 22 such as a ROM. Various processes described later are executed in accordance with an application program (also simply referred to as an application) stored in the storage unit 22. The application program may be taken in from an external memory medium inserted into the insertion slot 16 or from outside. Further, a writable / readable storage unit 22a such as a RAM is connected to the CPU 21 (the stored content is not erased even when the power is turned off).

  As illustrated, the side controller 13 is connected to the CPU 21 via the side controller operation detection unit 23, and the escape switch 14 is connected via the escape switch operation detection unit 24. Further, a power switch 15 is connected to the CPU 21 via a power switch operation detection unit 25. In addition, the touch panel 12 a is connected to the CPU 21 via the touch panel operation detection unit 26, and the liquid crystal panel 12 is connected via the liquid crystal panel drive unit 27.

  The illustrated PDA is provided with a mail transmission / reception unit (mail transmission / reception function) 28 (may be provided in a communication card or the like inserted into the aforementioned insertion slot 16). This mail transmission / reception unit 28 is connected to the CPU 21. Yes. The mail transmitting / receiving unit 28 is connected to, for example, a communication device (not shown) such as a mobile phone, the above-described communication card, and the like, and transmits and receives mail via the communication device. Then, each time the mail is transmitted and received, the CPU 21 records the transmitted mail and the received mail in the storage unit 22a. These outgoing mail and incoming mail can be read from the storage unit 22a and viewed.

  Now, when the power switch 15 is pushed up while the PDA is in a power-off state, the power switch operation detection unit 25 detects this push-up operation and gives a power switch 15 operation signal to the CPU 21. In response to the power switch operation signal, the CPU 21 turns on the PDA. When the power is turned on, the CPU 21 drives and controls the liquid crystal panel driving unit 27 to start an initial screen (menu screen, which is one of application programs (applications) on the liquid crystal panel 12, and this menu screen is hereinafter referred to as a launcher screen. ) Is displayed as an operation screen.

  When a tap operation or a side controller operation is performed on this launcher screen, the screen transitions to another operation screen corresponding to the menu item displayed on the launcher screen. That is, a plurality of different operation screens are selectively displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12. Most of these operation screens are divided into at least a first display area and a second display area which will be described later.

  The first and second display areas on the launcher screen will be described with reference to FIG. In the illustrated example, the launcher screen is divided into a window display area 31 that is a first display area and a title bar display area 32 and a task bar display area 33 that are second display areas by a boundary line 34 and a boundary line 35. Has been. As will be described later, in the launcher screen, the title bar display area 32 and the task bar display area 33 are partially expanded as compared with other operation screens. Here, a title bar 38 is displayed in the title bar display area 32. The As shown in FIG. 3, the title bar 38 includes a launcher display method switching icon 38a, an actual date and time display 38b, a wallpaper switching icon 38c, and an expanded extended title in the title bar display area 32. Specific function buttons to be described later are arranged in the bar display area 32a. A task bar 39 is displayed in the task bar display area 33. The task bar 39 displays icons and the like that define various task functions and the like, although not particularly shown. Examples of these icons include an icon for turning on / off the backlight, an icon for displaying a menu, an icon for displaying various setting screens related to communication, an icon for displaying a keyboard for tapping operation at a substantially lower portion of the liquid crystal panel 12, and the like. There is. In addition, a specific function button to be described later is arranged in the expanded extended taskbar display area 33a in the taskbar display area 33.

  In the window display area 31, menu items (selection items) include, for example, mail, browser, address book, schedule, memo pad, file viewer, accessory, system, and settings (only a part is shown in FIG. 3). Displayed with an icon. That is, the storage unit 22 stores application programs (application software) relating to these menu items.

  Now, when the upper scroll button 41 is tapped on the launcher screen shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 21 scrolls the launcher screen upward by the processing of the CPU 21, and the cursor 45 moves on the menu item. On the other hand, when the lower scroll button 43 is tapped, the launcher screen is similarly scrolled downward, and the cursor 45 moves on the menu item. When the cursor is positioned on the menu item located on the uppermost side among the menu items, the CPU 21 does not display the upper scroll button 41 on the extended portion of the extended title bar display area 32a (that is, erases the upper scroll button 41). To do). Similarly, when the cursor is positioned at the lowest menu item among the menu items, the CPU 21 does not display the lower scroll button 43 in the extended portion of the extended taskbar display area 33a (that is, the lower menu item). Delete the side scroll button 43). Furthermore, when the upper or lower screen color conversion button 42 or 44 is tapped, the screen color of the launcher screen changes each time the tapping operation is performed, and thereby the screen color of the liquid crystal panel 12 can be changed. For example, the CPU 21 selects a plurality of screen colors set in advance according to the tap operation, and changes the screen color of the liquid crystal panel 12 in a dragging manner.

  In the launcher screen shown in FIG. 3, when one of the menu items is touch-operated with the touch pen 18, the application program related to the menu item is activated, and the operation screen of the application program related to the menu item is changed. On the other hand, in the launcher screen shown in FIG. 3, when the side controller 13 is turned upward (swinged) from the reference position, the side controller operation detecting unit 23 shown in FIG. An operation signal is given to the CPU 21. As a result, the CPU 21 moves the cursor upward on the launcher screen. When the side controller 13 is operated downward from the reference position, the side controller operation detection unit 23 detects this lower operation and gives a lower operation signal to the CPU 21. As a result, the CPU 21 moves the cursor downward on the launcher screen. When the cursor is positioned at one of the menu items and the side controller 13 is pressed, the side controller operation detection unit 23 detects this pressing operation and gives a pressing operation signal to the CPU 21. As a result, the CPU 21 selects the menu item where the cursor is located, starts the application program related to the selected menu item, and transitions to the operation screen of the application program related to the menu item.

  Here, for example, when a schedule is selected and activated by a tap operation or a side controller operation on the launcher screen, a schedule screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12 as an operation screen, as shown in FIG. In the schedule screen, a title bar display area 32 that appears above the window display area 31 and a task bar display area 33 that is located below the title bar display area 32 are arranged. The window display area 31 and the title bar display area 32 are separated by a boundary line 34, and the window display area 31 and the task bar display area 33 are separated by a boundary line 35. In the title bar display area 32, a title bar 36 different from the title bar 38 in the above-described launcher screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. For example, the title bar 36 includes an application icon 36a, an application name 36b, The actual date time 36c and the end icon 36d are displayed. On the other hand, in the task bar display area 33, a task bar 37 different from the task bar 39 in the above-described launcher screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, and icons defining various task functions and the like are displayed on the task bar 37. (The details of the taskbar are not shown in FIG. 4). Examples of these icons include an icon for turning on / off the backlight, an icon for displaying a menu, an icon for displaying various setting screens related to communication, an icon for displaying a keyboard for tapping operation at a substantially lower portion of the liquid crystal panel 12, and the like. There is.

  Comparing the launcher screen of FIG. 3 and the schedule screen of FIG. 4, when displaying the launcher screen of FIG. 3, the CPU 21 partially expands (changes the area) the title bar display area 32 and the task bar display area 33. As shown, an extended title bar display area 32a and an extended task bar display area 33a are provided.

  When the extended title bar display area 32a is formed on this launcher screen, the boundary line 34 is curved in a downward convex shape at the left end portion in the drawing, and the extended portion is partially formed below the title bar 38. (In other words, the boundary line is moved downward (translated) in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction in the left end portion of the title bar display area in the arrangement direction). Similarly, when forming the extended task bar display area 33a, the boundary line 35 is curved in an upward convex shape at the left end portion in the drawing to partially form an extended portion above the task bar 39 (that is, In the left end portion of the task bar display area in the arrangement direction, the boundary line is moved upward in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction). The formation of these extended portions may be processed by the CPU 21 shown in FIG. 2, or stored in advance in the storage unit 22 as display screen data, and the display screen data is stored in the storage unit 22 as necessary. May be read and displayed.

  Further, a scroll button (upper scroll button) 41 and a screen color conversion button (upper screen color conversion button) 42 are displayed in the extended portion of the extended title bar display area 32a, and the extended portion of the extended task bar display area 33a is displayed in the extended portion. A scroll button (lower scroll button) 43 and a screen color conversion button (lower screen color conversion button) 44 are displayed. The scroll buttons 41 and 43 and the screen color conversion buttons 42 and 44 are specific function buttons and have different functions from the function icons provided in the title bar 38 or the task bar 39.

  Now, when the menu item “accessory” is selected by a tap operation or a side controller operation on the launcher screen shown in FIG. 3, a transition is made to the accessory screen shown in FIG. 5. When shifting to the accessory screen, the boundary line 34 displayed on the launcher screen is lowered to the lower side, and the upper scroll button 41 and the upper screen color conversion button 42 are moved downward by the lowered amount. . The selected menu item (accessory) is transferred from the launcher screen to the lower side of the title bar 38. Further, the boundary line 35 displayed on the launcher screen is transferred to the accessory screen as it is, and the lower scroll button 43 and the lower screen color conversion button 44 are displayed in the extended portion.

  In the accessory screen, the scroll buttons 41 and 43 and the screen color conversion buttons 42 and 44 function as described above. When the menu item “accessory” displayed in the extended title bar display area 32a is tapped, the screen returns to the launcher screen.

  In addition, when the menu item “setting” is selected on the launcher screen, a transition is made to the setting screen. Although not shown, in this case as well, the screen display state is the same as the accessory screen.

  In this way, when a menu item is selected on the launcher screen, if the selected menu item has a plurality of items (menu items), the screen is displayed in the same manner as the accessory screen described above. Become.

  As described above, when a launcher screen or the like is displayed, the title bar display area and the task bar display area are partially expanded (the area is changed), and a scroll button and a screen color conversion button are added to the expanded portion. Since the specific function buttons are displayed only on the menu selection screen such as the launcher screen, the window display area is limited by the title bar display area and the task bar display area on other operation screens. Therefore, the operability can be improved.

  In the above example, the example in which the title bar display area and the task bar display area are partially expanded has been described. However, at least one of the title bar display area and the task bar display area is expanded, and a specific function button is added to the expanded portion. You may make it display. In the above example, the window area and the title bar display area, and the window display area and the task bar display area are divided by the boundary line. However, the boundary for dividing these two display areas is shown. Is not represented by a line, but may be represented by, for example, a dotted line or a broken line, or a boundary may be widely represented by a display other than a line. Further, the boundary between the two display areas may be expressed by making the background colors of these two display areas different.

  As described above, when a predetermined operation screen among the plurality of operation screens is displayed on the display unit, the second display area is expanded to be an expanded display area. Since the specific function button that predetermines the predetermined operation function is displayed in the part), the specific function button can be displayed with less restriction on the first display area, There is an effect that operability can be improved.

  When a predetermined operation screen is displayed on the display unit, the boundary line between the first display area and the second display area is changed to partially expand the second display area to expand the display area. Therefore, the specific function button appears to be included in the second display area, and there is an effect that the feeling of strangeness is eliminated.

  When a predetermined operation screen is displayed on the display unit, a boundary line between the first display area and the second display area is orthogonal to the arrangement direction at one end of the arrangement direction of the second display area. Since the second display area is partially expanded to be an expanded display area by changing (translating) in the direction, there is an effect that the first display area is extremely limited.

  Since the predetermined operation function is different from the operation function defined by the function button arrangement section displayed in the second display area, various function buttons can be used without restricting the first display area. There is an effect that it can be displayed.

  In the information terminal device, the display screen can be used more effectively in order to change the area of the operation screen according to the selected function among the plurality of functions.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an example of the portable information terminal device by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control system used with the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the launcher screen which is one of the menu screens displayed on the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of operation screens (schedule screen) other than a menu screen in the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the accessory screen which is one of the menu screens displayed on the portable information terminal device shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Exterior case 12 Liquid crystal panel 13 Control switch (side controller)
14 Escape switch 15 Power ON / OFF switch (Power switch)
16 Insertion slot 17 External connection terminal 18 Touch pen (stylus pen)
19 Storage Unit 21 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Memory | storage part 23 Side controller operation detection part 24 Escape switch operation detection part 25 Power switch operation detection part 26 Touch panel operation detection part 27 Liquid crystal panel drive part

Claims (5)

In an information terminal device comprising a plurality of functions and capable of selectively activating the plurality of functions,
A display unit for displaying an operation screen according to a selected function among the plurality of functions;
Comprising first display control means for displaying the operation screen by dividing it into a first display area and a second display area having an area different from the first display area;
The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display control means changes an area of the second display area according to the operation screen.   2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the first display control unit changes the area by moving a boundary line in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the second display areas.   The information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a second display control unit that displays a function button for executing a predetermined function in the second display area.   The information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the first display control unit translates the function button when changing the second display area according to the operation screen. In a display method in an information terminal device comprising a plurality of functions and capable of selectively activating the plurality of functions,
A display step of displaying an operation screen according to a selected function among the plurality of functions;
Including a first display control step of displaying the operation screen by dividing it into a first display area and a second display area having an area different from the first display area,
The display method in an information terminal device, wherein the first display control step changes an area of a second display area according to the operation screen.

Images