JP2014032328A - Display device, control method of display device, control program, and computer-readable recording medium having the control program recorded therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption without largely impairing convenience and visibility of a user.SOLUTION: A smartphone 100 includes: an image area specification unit 24 that detects at least either one of a position and a size of an image area in which a plurality of images are switched and displayed; a frequency adjustment unit 25 that adjusts a frequency to switch the images according to at least either one of the detected position and size; and a display control unit 26 that switches the images at the adjusted frequency to be displayed in the image area.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device having a function of switching and displaying a plurality of images at a predetermined frequency on a screen of a display unit.

  In recent years, portable information processing terminals such as smartphones have become thinner and it has become difficult to ensure sufficient battery capacity. On the other hand, there is a strong demand for continuous use by users for a long time, and power saving of portable information processing terminals is a major issue.

  However, the complexity of processing of applications running on portable information processing terminals is increasing, and the importance of visual effects in displaying images such as user interfaces, icons, pictograms, and advertisements has been increasing in recent years. Both of these are complicated software and hardware processing, that is, increase power consumption of the portable information processing terminal.

  Here, attention is paid to the visual effect in the image display among the above two factors. As the above-mentioned visual effect, an image that is regularly updated with an image displayed on a part of the screen by blinking, marquee, or the like is generally used for design and user attention.

  Further, in recent websites, a display mode in which a part of the display image of a screen is repeatedly updated by an advertisement animated by JavaScript (registered trademark) or a Gif (Graphic Interchange Format) animation is also common.

  In many cases, such regular and repeated updating of the display content is not always valuable to the user. For example, when reading a newspaper article on a web page, even if the advertisement repeatedly displays and updates images in the corners of the screen, the user is concentrated on the article, so such an image update display is important for the user. Is low.

  It is useless and undesirable to generate power consumption by such a screen update that is not meaningful to the user. Furthermore, depending on the screen update mechanism, even if there is a change in only a part of the information on the screen as described above, the update process for the entire screen is executed, and it may appear to the user a slight screen change. Regardless, situations can occur where power consumption is high.

  As a technique for reducing / suppressing screen update, Patent Document 1 stops operation of a signal line driver circuit when a pixel to be a non-display area is selected during partial display in which only a part of the screen is displayed. However, a configuration for outputting a non-display signal from the signal line driver circuit is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in response to an update inquiry from the monitoring control terminal, update data is distributed to the monitoring control terminal via the intranet only when there is a change from the previously distributed data. A configuration is disclosed in which the inquiry frame is updated only when there is update data received from the screen generation application of the web server, and the screen update without change is suppressed by updating the display by the drawing frame.

JP 2007-58202 A (published March 8, 2007) JP 2004-213418 A (published July 29, 2004)

  However, in order to apply the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to modify the hardware level, and since the technique is an improvement technique for partial display, for example, browsing a web page with a browser Not suitable for the scene.

  In addition, since the technique described in Patent Document 2 is a technique for suppressing unnecessary screen updates when there is no data update, the data update is periodically performed as described above, such as an advertisement with low importance for the user. Even if the image is updated, the screen is not updated.

  That is, neither of Patent Documents 1 and 2 discloses a solution to the problem of increased power consumption caused by repeatedly updating information that is less important to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce power consumption without significantly impairing the convenience and visibility of the user by suppressing update processing of an image that is less important to the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device or the like that can be reduced.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a display device according to the present invention is a display device that switches a plurality of images in the same image region and displays them on the display region of the display unit. Detecting means for detecting at least one of position and size, frequency adjusting means for adjusting the frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size, and the image at the adjusted frequency And a display control means for switching to display in the image area.

  The display device control method according to the present invention is a display device control method for switching a plurality of images in the same image region and displaying them on the display region of the display unit, the position of the image region in the display region. And a detection step for detecting at least one of the size, a frequency adjustment step for adjusting the frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size, and the image at the adjusted frequency. And a display control step of switching and displaying in the image area.

  According to the above configuration, the frequency adjusting means adjusts the frequency of switching images in the image area according to at least one of the position and size of the image area in which a plurality of images are switched and displayed. The control means switches and displays the image in the image area at the adjusted frequency.

  Accordingly, the display device can adjust the frequency of executing the image switching process in the image area according to at least one of the position and the size of the image area.

  Therefore, the display device can reduce the frequency of image switching in the image region when the image region is not included in the region considered to be watched by the user, for example, near the center of the display unit. it can. Alternatively, the display device can reduce the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 when, for example, the display size of the image region is small and the visibility to the user is low.

  Thereby, the display apparatus can suppress the update process of an image with low importance for a user.

  Therefore, the display device can reduce power consumption without significantly impairing user convenience and visibility.

  In the display device according to the aspect of the invention, the frequency adjusting unit may be configured such that the image region is a predetermined number of a plurality of sections obtained by dividing the display region based on the position and size detected by the detecting unit. The frequency may be decreased when it is determined whether the image area is not included in the effective section.

  According to the above configuration, when the image area is not included in the effective section, the frequency adjustment unit decreases the frequency of switching the image in the image region, and the display control unit performs the image in the image region with the decreased frequency. Switch to display.

  As a result, the display device can reduce the frequency of image switching in an image area not included in the effective section.

  Therefore, the display device, for example, determines the frequency of image switching in an image area that is not included in the effective section and is considered not to be watched by the user by determining the effective section as an area that the user is expected to watch. It can also be reduced.

  In addition, the user can easily suppress the image switching in the image area by moving the image area where the image switching is not desired to the outside of the effective section by a simple operation such as scrolling.

  In the display device according to the aspect of the invention, the frequency adjusting unit may be configured such that the image region is a predetermined number of a plurality of sections obtained by dividing the display region based on the position and size detected by the detecting unit. The frequency may be decreased when it is determined whether or not the image area is included in the invalid section.

  According to the above configuration, when the image area is included in the invalid section, the frequency adjusting unit decreases the frequency of switching the image in the image region, and the display control unit displays the image in the image region with the decreased frequency. Switch to display.

  Thereby, the display apparatus can reduce the frequency of the image switching in the image area included in the invalid section.

  Therefore, for example, the display device determines the frequency of image switching in an image area that is included in the invalid section and is considered not to be watched by the user by determining the invalid section as an area that the user is not likely to watch. It can also be reduced.

  In addition, the user can easily suppress the image switching in the image area by moving the image area where the image switching is not desired to the invalid area by a simple operation such as scrolling.

  In the display device according to the present invention, the frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the entire image area is included in the display area from the position and size detected by the detecting means, and the image When it is determined that the entire area is not included in the display area, the frequency may be decreased.

  According to the above configuration, when the entire image area is not included in the display area of the display unit, the frequency adjusting unit decreases the frequency of switching the image in the image area, and the display control unit The image is switched and displayed in the image area.

  Thereby, the display apparatus can reduce the processing load concerning the switching of the image in the image region that protrudes from the display region of the display unit.

  Therefore, for example, the user suppresses switching of images in the image area by a simple operation of causing a part of the image area to be displayed by switching an image having a low importance to the user to be displayed outside the display area of the display unit. The power consumption of the display device can be suppressed.

  In the display device according to the present invention, the frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the image area is included in a predetermined effective area in the application for displaying the image, based on the position and size detected by the detecting means. When it is determined that the image area is not included in the effective area, the frequency may be decreased.

  According to the above configuration, the frequency adjusting unit reduces the frequency of switching the image in the image area when the image area is not included in the predetermined effective area in the application for displaying the image in the image area. The display control means switches and displays the image in the image area at the reduced frequency.

  Thereby, the display apparatus can suppress the process which switches a some image in the image area | region outside the effective area | region of the said application. For example, when the image area is not included in an area that is considered to be highly important to the user in each application executed by the display device, it is possible to suppress a process of switching a plurality of images in the image area.

  Therefore, the display device can reduce power consumption according to the function of the application to be executed without significantly impairing user convenience and visibility.

  In the display device according to the present invention, the frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the image area is included in a predetermined invalid area in an application for displaying the image, based on the position and size detected by the detecting means. The frequency may be decreased when it is determined that the image area is included in the invalid area.

  According to the above configuration, when the image area is included in the predetermined invalid area in the application for displaying an image in the image area, the frequency adjusting unit decreases the frequency of switching the image in the image area, The display control means switches and displays the image in the image area at the reduced frequency.

  Thereby, the display apparatus can suppress the process which switches a several image in the image area | region in the invalid area | region of the said application. For example, when the image area is included in an area that is considered to be less important to the user in each application executed by the display device, it is possible to suppress a process of switching a plurality of images in the image area.

  Therefore, the display device can reduce power consumption according to the function of the application to be executed without significantly impairing user convenience and visibility.

  The display device according to the present invention further includes an operation unit that receives a user's operation, and the frequency adjustment unit does not receive the operation at the operation unit for a predetermined period after the image is displayed in the image area. The frequency may be reduced.

  According to the above configuration, the frequency adjusting unit reduces the frequency of switching the image in the image region when the user's operation is not accepted for a predetermined period after the image is displayed in the image region, and the display control unit The images are switched and displayed in the image area at the reduced frequency.

  Accordingly, the display device can suppress a process of switching a plurality of images in the image area when a predetermined period has passed without any user operation after the image is displayed in the image area.

  Therefore, the display device can suppress unnecessary power consumption by suppressing the process of switching a plurality of images in a situation where the user is not viewing the display unit.

  In the display device according to the present invention, the frequency adjusting means may reduce the frequency when a predetermined time has elapsed since the image was displayed in the application for displaying the image.

  According to the above configuration, the frequency adjusting unit reduces the frequency of switching the image in the image area when a predetermined time has elapsed since the image was displayed in the application for displaying the image in the image area. The display control means switches and displays the image in the image area at the reduced frequency.

  Accordingly, the display device can switch and display a plurality of images in the image area at the same frequency as usual until the predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed in the image area in the application. Can do.

  Therefore, the user can browse a plurality of images displayed by switching at the same frequency as usual in the image area within a predetermined time after the image display in the application.

  Therefore, for example, in a situation where the importance of the image area with respect to the user is expected to decrease with the passage of time, the display device performs processing for switching a plurality of images with a decreased importance for the user. By suppressing, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

  The display device may be realized by a computer. In this case, the display device control program for causing the display device to be realized by the computer by operating the computer as each of the means, and recording the program. Such computer-readable recording media also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the display device according to the present invention is a display device that switches a plurality of images in the same image region and displays them on the display region of the display unit, and at least the position and size of the image region in the display region. Detecting means for detecting any one of them; frequency adjusting means for adjusting the frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size; and switching the image at the adjusted frequency to switch the image Display control means for displaying in the area.

  The display device control method according to the present invention is a display device control method for switching a plurality of images in the same image region and displaying them on the display region of the display unit, the position of the image region in the display region. And a detection step for detecting at least one of the size, a frequency adjustment step for adjusting the frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size, and the image at the adjusted frequency. Display control step of switching and displaying in the image area.

  According to said structure, the display apparatus can suppress the process which switches a several image with low importance for a user.

  Therefore, the display device can reduce power consumption without significantly impairing user convenience and visibility.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the smart phone which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the smart phone which concerns on 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. (A) is a display example of a web page including an image region whose display is updated at a predetermined cycle in a general smartphone, and (b) is in the smartphone according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a display example of a web page similar to that in FIG. 5A together with an image area and a gaze area, and FIG. 5C is a view of flicking the touch panel from the state shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the state where operation was performed and the web page scrolled in the direction of the white arrow in a figure. The figure which shows the 1st boundary line and 2nd boundary line which demarcate a gaze area | region and the gaze area | region on the screen of the display part with which the smart phone which concerns on 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with an image area | region. is there. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the email in which the smart phone which concerns on 1st Embodiment shown in FIG. 1 contains the image area | region which displays the pictograph by Gif animation in the subject and the text. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the smart phone which concerns on 2nd Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the smart phone which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the smart phone shown in FIG.

  In each embodiment described below, a case where the display device according to the present invention is applied to a smartphone will be described as an example. However, the display device according to the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of images are displayed at a predetermined frequency on the screen of a display unit such as a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an electronic book reader, and a game device. The present invention can be applied to any display device having a function of switching and displaying.

  In this specification, an area (hereinafter referred to as an image area 300 (see FIG. 3)) in which an image is switched and displayed at a predetermined frequency on the screen of the display unit is typically JavaScript (registered). (Trademark) is an area for displaying a display object such as an advertisement animated by Gif animation or a pictograph or an icon, and is an area for switching a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of frames.

  Further, in the present specification, when simply expressed as “smart phone (display device) 100”, it is used as a general term for smartphones 100A, 100B, and 100C described later.

[First Embodiment]
Example 1
An example of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The smartphone 100 according to the present embodiment is referred to as a smartphone (display device) 100A. The image area 300 is an area where a plurality of images are switched and displayed in at least a part of the screen of the display unit 12 (see FIG. 3).

  In the configuration of a general smartphone, the image switching process in the image region 300 is executed according to the following procedure.

  As a premise of this processing, it is assumed that an image of the entire screen including the image area 300 is already displayed on the display unit 12. The “image” includes any display object including a character string image.

  When the image displayed in the image area 300 is switched, the control unit that controls an application for switching and displaying a plurality of images in the image area 300 displays the screen of the display unit 12 on the drawing system included in the smartphone. A drawing request which is a signal for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 is output. The frequency at which the drawing request is output may be determined by a JavaScript (registered trademark) timer (for example, an instruction such as setTimeout).

  In the present specification, “redrawing” refers to updating the display content of the image region 300 that is at least a part of the image already displayed on the screen of the display unit 12, that is, switching the display image. It is processing. The drawing request for requesting redrawing includes information for specifying the position and size of the image region 300. Information specifying the position and size of the image area 300 is notified by an API (Application Programming Interface) such as invalidate, for example. Specifically, the drawing request is sent to the drawing system with information specifying the area to request redrawing, that is, the position and size of the image area 300, for example, invalidate (x, y, h, w). Is output. Note that x and y are the x-coordinate and y-coordinate of the origin of the image area 300 (for example, the top left corner of the rectangle) when the screen of the display unit 12 is expressed as an xy plane, and h is the image area 300. Height and w indicate the width of the image area 300. The drawing system redraws the image area 300 in response to the drawing request.

  More specifically, the drawing system uses a drawing request as a trigger to call a drawing method (for example, onDraw in Android (registered trademark)) of the application that has output the drawing request. Then, an image generated by the called drawing method (for example, an image drawn on a Canvas in Android (registered trademark) or the like) is displayed in the image area 300.

  Note that the drawing system does not draw the image on the screen of the display unit 12 other than the image area 300 specified by the drawing request (for example, an image drawn on the Canvas in Android (registered trademark) or the like). ) To get.

(Functional overview of smartphone 100A)
The function of the smartphone 100A will be outlined. The smartphone 100 </ b> A has a function of switching and displaying a plurality of images at a predetermined frequency in the image area 300 on the screen of the display unit 12, similarly to a general smartphone. The smartphone 100 </ b> A further defines a gaze area (effective section) 301 (see FIG. 3B) that is an area on the screen of the display unit 12 that is expected to be watched by the user, and the defined gaze area 301. It is determined whether or not the image area 300 is included. If it is determined that the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301, the drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 is invalidated, and redrawing is not executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the image region 300 is included in the gaze region 301, a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image region 300 is accepted, and redrawing processing is executed. As a result, the display update process in the image area 300 that is not expected to be watched by the user is suppressed, and the power consumption is reduced.

  Here, in this specification, the gaze area 301 that is the area on the screen of the display unit 12 that is expected to be watched by the user is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C. Alternatively, it may be one area in the center of the screen of the display unit 12 divided vertically. As another example, of the nine areas obtained by dividing the screen of the display unit 12 into 3 × 3, one section including the center of the screen may be used as the gaze area 301, and how many sections the screen is divided into. May be appropriately changed according to the screen size of the display unit 12 and the visibility of the display target. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined area allocated on an application such as e-mail (in this figure, a text display area (effective area) 301a) may be used as the gaze area 301. The gaze area 301 may be set in advance as described above at the manufacturing stage of the smartphone 100 </ b> A, or may be configured such that a user can set a desired area on the screen as the gaze area 301.

  In the following drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated. In addition, dimensional relationships such as length, size, and width, and shapes in the drawings are appropriately changed for clarity and simplification of the drawings, and do not represent actual dimensions and shapes.

(Display example on smartphone 100A)
With reference to FIG. 3, the difference in the aspect of the switching display of the several image in the image area 300 in a general smart phone and the smart phone 100A which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a display example together with the image region 300 when a web page is displayed by a web browser in a general smartphone. In the figure, the web page is, for example, content described in HTML (HyperText Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and the like, and includes an animation advertisement that switches and displays a plurality of images in the image area 300.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, all drawing requests for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 are accepted by the smartphone (with a default frequency processed by the smartphone), and redrawing of the image area 300 is executed. The That is, a plurality of images are displayed as animations in the image area 300. In this configuration, for example, when the user's consciousness is concentrated on the text in the web page displayed near the center of the screen and the user is not gazing at the image area 300, the image is switched and displayed in the image area 300. That is, power consumption due to processing that is less important to the user may occur.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a display example of the same web page as that in FIG. 3A on the smartphone 100 </ b> A together with the image area 300 and the gaze area 301. In the same figure, the gaze area 301 is defined by a first boundary line 303 and a second boundary line 304 that are parallel to the x axis when the horizontal axis of the screen of the display unit 12 is the x axis and the vertical axis is the y axis. This is a central section in the screen of the display unit 12 divided into three sections. Note that the first boundary line 303 and the second boundary line 304 do not have to divide the screen equally in the y-axis direction, and the positions of the boundary lines 303 and 304 are the size of the screen of the display unit 12. However, it may be appropriately changed in consideration of the ease of viewing for the user and the like. Further, the screen may be divided into two upper and lower sections by one boundary line, and the upper half may be used as the gaze area 301, and the number of sections into which the screen is divided can be changed as appropriate. Further, the direction of the boundary line that defines the gaze region 301 is not limited to only one direction as shown in the x-axis direction as shown in the figure, and a boundary line parallel to the y-axis may be defined, or A plurality of boundary lines parallel to the x-axis and the y-axis may be defined. Alternatively, a boundary line that is not parallel to either the x-axis or the y-axis may be defined. Further, the gaze region 301 does not have to be rectangular, and may be, for example, a rhombus. Furthermore, the boundary line that defines the gaze area 301 may be a curved line. For example, the gaze area 301 may be circular, elliptical, or the like.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301. Then, the smartphone 100A invalidates a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 that is not included in the gaze area 301, and does not perform redrawing. In other words, in the example shown in the figure, in the image area 300, one image that has already been displayed among a plurality of images is displayed as a still image. As another example, the smartphone 100A validates a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 that is not included in the gaze area 301 at a lower frequency than the example illustrated in FIG. Redrawing may be performed. In this case, in the image region 300, a plurality of images are displayed as an animation having a reduced number of frames compared to the example shown in FIG.

  As described above, with respect to the image area 300 that is considered not to be watched by the user, the drawing request for redrawing is invalidated, or the drawing request is validated to reduce the frequency of screen redrawing. In browsing a user's web page, power consumption can be reduced without significantly impairing convenience and visibility.

  On the other hand, there may be a situation where the user is interested in an advertisement displayed as a still image in the image area 300 outside the gaze area 301 and desires to view the advertisement as an animation with a default number of frames.

  In the above situation, the user moves the at least part of the image area 300 into the gaze area 301 by a flick operation or the like on the touch panel 1 so that the advertisement displayed in the image area 300 is displayed in the default frame. It can be displayed on the smartphone 100A as a number of animations. An example of display by the smartphone 100A when the above operation is performed is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3C shows a display example in which the touch panel 1 is flicked from the state of FIG. 3B in the direction of the black arrow in the drawing and the web page is scrolled in the direction of the white arrow in the drawing. FIG. In the figure, an image area 300 is included in the gaze area 301 as the web page is scrolled. Since the image area 300 is included in the gaze area 301, all drawing requests for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 are valid, and redrawing of the screen is executed. That is, the advertisement displayed in the image area 300 is displayed as an animation with a default number of frames, as in the example shown in FIG.

(Configuration of smartphone 100A)
Next, the configuration of the smartphone 100A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the smartphone 100A.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the smartphone 100 </ b> A includes at least a touch panel 1, a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, and a communication unit 4. Furthermore, the smartphone 100 </ b> A has functions that the smartphone normally includes, for example, an operation unit (button, switch, etc.) different from the touch panel, a short-range wireless communication unit, a voice output unit, a voice input unit, an external interface, and a call processing unit. , And other parts that are standard on smartphones, such as imaging units (lenses, imaging devices, etc.), broadcast receiving units (tuners, demodulation units, etc.), GPS, and sensors (acceleration sensors, tilt sensors, etc.) Also good.

  The touch panel 1 is an input / output interface for receiving user operations and displaying images. For this purpose, the touch panel 1 includes an operation unit 11 and a display unit 12.

  The operation unit 11 outputs an instruction signal indicating that a user operation has been accepted by detecting contact (or approach) of an indicator such as a user's finger. The operation unit 11 is realized including, for example, a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, and the like. In the present embodiment, in particular, a flick operation or the like for scrolling the web page and moving the image region 300 is detected.

  The display unit 12 displays information handled by the smartphone 100A as an image. In particular, the display unit 12 displays a web page as an image, and switches and displays a plurality of images in the image region 300. The display unit 12 is realized by a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The storage unit 3 includes (1) a control program executed by the control unit 2, (2) an OS program, (3) an application program for the control unit 2 to execute various functions of the smartphone 100A, and (4) Various data to be read when the application program is executed is stored. Alternatively, (5) the control unit 2 stores data used for calculation and calculation results in the course of executing various functions. For example, the above data (1) to (4) include ROM (read only memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically EPROM) (registered trademark), HDD (Hard Disc Drive), etc. It is stored in a non-volatile storage device. For example, the data (5) is stored in a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). Which storage device is used to store which data may be determined as appropriate from the purpose of use, convenience, cost, physical restrictions, and the like of the smartphone 100A.

  The communication unit 4 acquires data necessary for each process executed by the smartphone 100A from an external device or server via a communication network. In the present embodiment, in particular, data necessary for each process executed by the application controlled by the application control unit 22 is acquired. As an example, in an example in which the application is a web browser, the communication unit 4 acquires a web page. As another example, in an example in which the application is an email application, the communication unit 4 receives an email.

  The control unit 2 controls the functions of the units included in the smartphone 100A and controls the operation of the smartphone 100A. The control unit 2 is realized by, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) or the like, and functions of the smartphone 100A are executed by the CPU as the control unit 2 reading out a program stored in a ROM or the like to a RAM or the like. This is realized. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 2 includes at least an operation acquisition unit 21, an application control unit 22, a drawing request unit 23, an image region specification unit (detection unit) 24, a switching frequency adjustment unit (frequency adjustment unit). ) 25 and a display control unit (display control means) 26.

  The operation acquisition unit 21 receives an instruction signal output from the operation unit 11 and specifies coordinates of a position where an indicator such as a user's finger contacts (or approaches) the display surface of the display unit 12. Also, by accepting the instruction signal in time series and specifying the coordinates of the locus of the contact position in time series, the duration of the user operation and the movement of the contact position are detected, and the type of user operation (tap, long) It is desirable to have a configuration for identifying push, flick, drag, and the like. In the present embodiment, in particular, a flick operation for scrolling the web page and moving the image region 300 is accepted. Note that the coordinate information of the contact position specified by the operation acquisition unit 21 and the type of user operation are supplied to the application control unit 22 as operation information.

  The application control unit 22 controls the operation of various applications installed in the smartphone 100 </ b> A, and generates output information for switching a plurality of images in the image region 300 to display on the display unit 12. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the application is a web browser, and the application control unit 22 displays the web page to be displayed based on the operation information acquired from the operation acquisition unit 21 as the communication unit 4. Request and get to the server via And the application control part 22 produces | generates the information for a display displayed on the screen of the display part 12 from the said web page. The display information is once supplied to the display control unit 26 after the web page is acquired via the communication unit 4, and the display control unit 26 displays the web page on the display unit 12 based on the display information. Is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the display information includes a drawing command for causing the display unit 12 to display a web page as an image. The display information includes information indicating the range of a web page to be displayed by the display unit 12, and the application control unit 22 updates the display information based on the operation information acquired from the operation acquisition unit 21. To do. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the web page is scrolled in the direction of the white arrow in the drawing by the flick operation in the direction of the black arrow in the drawing on the touch panel 1, Information indicating the range to be displayed on the web page is updated. The application control unit 22 includes a drawing request unit 23.

  The drawing request unit 23 outputs a drawing request to the image area specifying unit 24. Specifically, the drawing request unit 23 draws a request for redrawing an area of the web page that has a change in display content based on the display information generated and updated by the application control unit 22. Is output to the image area specifying unit 24.

  In particular, for an area where the displayed image is switched at a predetermined frequency in a part of the web page, the drawing request unit 23 specifies the drawing request according to the frequency indicated in the display information. To the unit 24.

  The drawing request is, for example, invalidate (x, y, h, w), the coordinates (x, y) of the origin of the area (for example, the upper left vertex of the rectangular area), the width w, and the height h Are output together with information for specifying. The x and y are updated as the display information is updated by the application control unit 22.

  Of the display information, a plurality of images displayed by switching in the area and information indicating the frequency of the switching may not necessarily be acquired via the communication unit 4. For example, in the area, when pictographs by Gif animation included in the text of the email are displayed, the plurality of images and the frequency of switching the images may be acquired from the storage unit 3. In this example, the display information only needs to include information specifying which type of pictograph is displayed in the area.

  The image area specifying unit 24 specifies the image area 300. Specifically, the image area specifying unit 24, when a drawing request for requesting redrawing is output a plurality of times, for example, twice or more, for an area having the same position and size from the drawing requesting unit 23, An area related to the drawing request is specified as an image area 300. The position and size of the specified image area 300 are notified to the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 together with the drawing request related to the image area 300.

  For the image area 300, only by a drawing request for requesting the first redrawing, the image area specifying unit 24 cannot know whether a plurality of images are switched and displayed in the area, and the above determination is made. I can't do it. Therefore, when the first drawing request is acquired for a predetermined area, the image area specifying unit 24 outputs the first drawing request as it is to the display control unit 26 without specifying the image area 300. Alternatively, the display control unit 26 may perform redrawing of the image region 300 in response to the first drawing request.

  As another example, the image area specifying unit 24 provides an allowable period from the first drawing request until the next drawing request is acquired and determined, and the allowable period has elapsed without acquiring the drawing request for the same area. In this case, the first drawing request may be output to the display control unit 26 as it is. As a result, the smartphone 100A can execute the processing after specifying the image region 300 while suppressing the processing load related to the first redrawing for the image region 300 in which the image is switched in a period shorter than the permissible period. it can.

  The switching frequency adjustment unit 25 adjusts the frequency of image switching in the image region 300. Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not the image region 300 is included in the gaze region 301 based on the position and size of the image region 300 notified from the image region specifying unit 24. If it is determined that the image area 300 is included in the gaze area 301, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs the drawing request acquired from the image area specifying unit 24 to the display control unit 26. If it is determined that the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 does not output a drawing request.

  Alternatively, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs the most recently obtained drawing request to the display control unit 26 when it is determined that the image region 300 is not included in the gaze region 301 for a predetermined number of times. May be. When the predetermined number of times is expressed as n times (n is an arbitrary integer equal to or larger than 2), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request to the display control unit 26 at a frequency of once every n times. In this configuration, the plurality of images that are switched and displayed in the image area 300 include an animation in which the number of frames is reduced to 1 / n compared to a case where all the drawing requests acquired from the image area specifying unit 24 are valid. Become.

  An example of the determination process performed by the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the gaze area 301 and the first boundary line 303 and the second boundary line 304 that define the gaze area 301 on the screen of the display unit 12 together with the image area 300. In the same figure, when the coordinates of the upper left vertex of the image area 300 having the width w and the height h are (xA, yA), the straight line defining the upper side E1 of the image area 300 is y = yA, and the lower side The equation of the straight line defining E2 is y = yA−h. In addition, a straight line expression that defines the first boundary line 303 is y = y303, and a straight line expression that defines the second boundary line is y = y304.

  When each straight line is defined as described above, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether either yA <y304 or y303 <yA-h is satisfied. If either of the above two expressions is established, the image area specifying unit 24 determines that the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, since yA <y304 is satisfied, the image area specifying unit 24 determines that the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301 and displays a drawing request related to the image area 300 in the display control unit 26. Or the frequency at which the drawing request is output to the display control unit 26 is reduced.

  The above is an example of the determination process performed by the switching frequency adjustment unit 25, and the boundary line defining the gaze region 301 is not limited to a straight line parallel to the x axis, and may be a straight line parallel to the y axis. , A plurality of straight lines parallel to the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively. Moreover, said y303 and y304 may be preset at the manufacturing stage of smart phone 100A, and the structure which a user can change as desired may be sufficient.

  Note that the boundary line that defines the gaze region 301 may be a straight line that is not parallel to either the x-axis or the y-axis. Further, the gaze region 301 does not have to be rectangular, and may be, for example, a rhombus. Furthermore, the boundary line that defines the gaze area 301 may be a curved line. For example, the gaze area 301 may be circular, elliptical, or the like.

  Further, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 further subdivides the gaze area 301, and determines the frequency at which the rendering request for the image area 300 is validated based on which area in the gaze area 301 includes the image area 300. You may adjust. Specifically, for example, when the screen is divided into five sections in the y-axis direction, the three sections in the vicinity of the center are set as the gaze area 301, and further, among the three sections, two sections that do not include the screen center , The frequency at which the drawing request related to the image area 300 included in the two sections is valid may be set to an intermediate frequency between one section including the center of the screen and two sections at the upper and lower ends of the screen. According to this configuration, the image area 300 farther from the center of the screen has a lower frequency of switching and displaying the image, so the frequency is more seamless for the user than the configuration in which the frequency is set in two stages inside and outside the gaze area 301. Browsing is realized. In this configuration as well, the number of sections into which the screen is divided is not limited to 5, and the dividing direction is not limited to one direction, as described above.

  With reference to FIG. 1 again, the configuration of the smartphone 100A will be described.

  The display control unit 26 outputs signals for displaying various information as images to the display unit 12. In the present embodiment, in particular, a signal for switching and displaying an image in the image area 300 is output to the display unit 12 based on the drawing request output from the switching frequency adjustment unit 25. In addition, after acquiring the drawing request, the display control unit 26 acquires an already drawn image (for example, Canvas in Android (registered trademark) or the like) from the application control unit 22 and is specified in the drawing request. Redraw only the area. As a result, even when the entire screen update process is performed, the processing load is reduced because the display contents of the area other than the image area 300 are reused when an image to be displayed on the display unit 12 is created.

(Processing flow in smartphone 100A)
With reference to FIG. 2, an example of the flow of processing in the smartphone 100A will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow for determining the redrawing frequency of the image area 300 in the smartphone 100A.

  Note that this flowchart is preferably configured to start when a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 is output from the drawing request unit 23 and at least the second and subsequent drawing requests are output.

  First, the image area specifying unit 24 acquires a drawing request (S101). Specifically, the image area specifying unit 24 acquires the drawing request output from the drawing request unit 23.

  Next, the image area specifying unit 24 specifies the image area 300 (S102: detection step). Specifically, the image area specifying unit 24 recognizes that the area requested for redrawing specified in the drawing request acquired in step S101 is the same as the area specified in the already acquired drawing request. The area is specified as the image area 300. The position and size (origin coordinates, width, and height) of the specified image area 300 are notified to the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 together with a drawing request related to the image area 300.

  Next, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether the image region 300 is (A) a part of the screen of the display unit 12 and (B) outside the gaze region 301 (S103: frequency adjustment). Step).

  For (A), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 first determines whether or not the image region 300 specified by the image region specifying unit 24 in step S102 is displayed on the entire display unit 12. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 4, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 is configured to determine the positional relationship between the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the image area 300 and the upper, lower, left, and right sides that define the screen of the display unit 12. , It is determined whether or not the image area 300 includes the entire screen of the display unit 12. When the image area 300 includes the entire screen of the display unit 12, that is, when (A) is not established for the image area 300 (NO in S 103), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request to the display control unit 26. Then, the processing according to this flowchart proceeds to step S104 (display control step).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the image region 300 does not include the entire screen of the display unit 12, that is, the image region 300 is a part of the screen of the display unit 12, it is determined that (A) is established for the image region 300. The When (A) is established for the image area 300, next, for (B), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not the image area 300 is included in the gaze area 301. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 4, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether either yA <y304 or y303 <yA−h is satisfied. If neither of the above two expressions is satisfied, that is, if (B) is not satisfied for the image region 300 (NO in S103), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request to the display control unit 26, and this flowchart The processing related to moves to step S104.

  When (A) or (B) is not established for the image area 300 (NO in S103), the display control unit 26 redraws the image area 300 in response to the drawing request (S104). Specifically, the display control unit 26 outputs a signal for switching and displaying an image in the image region 300 to the display unit 12 based on the drawing request output by the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 in step S103. To do.

  On the other hand, if either yA <y304 or y303 <yA-h (see FIG. 4) holds for (B), the image area specifying unit 24 determines that (B) holds for the image area 300 (S103). YES) In the example shown in FIG. 4, since yA <y304 is established, the image area specifying unit 24 determines that (B) is established for the image area 300. If it is determined that (A) and (B) are simultaneously established for the image region 300 (YES in S103), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 requests the display control unit 26 to redraw the image region 300. Is not performed, and the processing according to this flowchart ends. Alternatively, when it is determined that (A) and (B) are simultaneously established for the image region 300 for a predetermined number of times, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 sends the most recently acquired drawing request to the display control unit 26. It may be output.

(effect)
As described above, the smartphone 100 </ b> A defines the gaze area 301 that is an area on the screen of the display unit 12 that is expected to be watched by the user, and a plurality of images are predetermined in the defined gaze area 301. It is determined whether or not an image region 300 for switching and displaying at a frequency is included. When the smartphone 100 </ b> A determines that the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301, the smartphone 100 </ b> A reduces the frequency of switching the image displayed in the image area 300.

  As a result, the smartphone 100A can reduce power consumption without significantly impairing the convenience and visibility of the user by reducing the frequency of switching images that are less important to the user in the image region 300.

  In the above description, the example in which the gaze area 301 is defined and the frequency of switching the image displayed in the image area 300 when the image area 300 is not included in the gaze area 301 is described has been described. However, for example, the smartphone 100A switches an image displayed in the image area 300 when an area other than the gaze area 301 on the screen of the display unit 12 is set as an invalid area and the image area 300 is included in the invalid area. The structure which reduces a frequency may be sufficient. The invalid section is set to an area on the screen of the display unit 12 that is expected not to be watched by the user. The above-described effect of reducing the power consumption without significantly degrading the convenience and visibility of the user by reducing the frequency of switching the image that is less important to the user in the image area 300 is the same in this configuration. To be played.

(Example 2)
As another example of the present embodiment, the smartphone 100 </ b> A has a case where the entire image region 300 is not included in the screen of the display unit 12, that is, when the image region 300 protrudes outside the screen of the display unit 12. The frequency of switching images in the image region 300 may be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the gaze area 301 is the entire screen of the display unit 12. Then, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not the entire image area 300 is included in the gaze area 301. Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether all the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the image region 300 specified by the image region specifying unit 24 are included in the screen of the display unit 12. When it is determined that any side of the image area 300 exists outside the screen of the display unit 12, the frequency of outputting a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 to the display control unit 26 is reduced.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the lower side E2 of the image region 300 exists below the lower side of the screen of the display unit 12 in the y-axis direction, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 requests redrawing of the image region 300. The frequency at which the drawing request to be output to the display control unit 26 is reduced. Therefore, the frequency with which images are switched and displayed in the image region 300 decreases.

  According to this configuration, when the user determines that the importance of the display content in the image area 300 is low, a simple operation of causing a part of the image area 300 to protrude outside the screen of the display unit 12 by a flick operation or the like. By the operation, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a processing load due to image switching in the image region 300. Thereby, smart phone 100A can reduce power consumption, without impairing a user's convenience and visibility largely.

(Example 3)
As yet another example of the present embodiment, the smartphone 100 </ b> A is configured in the image area 300 when the image area 300 is not included in a predetermined effective area in an application for displaying an image in the image area 300. You may reduce the frequency which switches an image.

  The present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of an e-mail 500 that includes image areas 300a1 and 300a2 for displaying pictographs by Gif animation in the subject and text in the smartphone 100A.

  In the present embodiment, the gaze area is not a fixed area on the screen of the display unit 12, but a text display area 301a defined by the e-mail application. In the configuration in which the gaze area 301 is the text display area, the content that is most important for the user when viewing the e-mail is the display content in the text display area 301a. For example, the display area of the subject (invalid The display content in (region) 501 is based on the assumption that the importance for the user is low. Thus, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the gaze area 301 is appropriately changed for each application in consideration of convenience for the user and the like.

  The switching frequency adjustment unit 25 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 are included in the text display area 301a. Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not the image regions 300a1 and 300a2 specified by the image region specifying unit 24 are included in the text display region 301a. When it is determined that the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 are not included in the text display area 301a, the frequency of outputting a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 to the display control unit 26 is decreased. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image area 300a1 is included in the body display area 301a, and the image area 300a2 is included in the subject display area 501. Therefore, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs all drawing requests for requesting redrawing of the image region 300a1 to the display control unit 26, while outputting a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image region 300a2 to the display control unit 26. To reduce the frequency. As a result, the frequency with which images are switched and displayed in the image region 300a2 decreases.

  According to this configuration, the smartphone 100 </ b> A does not include the processing load due to the switching of images in the image area 300 a 2 in the subject display area 501, for example, which is not included in the text display area 301 a having high importance for the user. Can be deterred. Thereby, the smartphone 100A can reduce power consumption without greatly impairing convenience and visibility when the user browses the email 500.

  In the above description, when the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 are not included in the text display area 301a, an example of reducing the frequency of switching the images displayed in the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 has been described. However, the smartphone 100A may be configured to reduce the frequency of switching the images displayed in the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 when the image areas 300a1 and 300a2 are included in the subject display area 501. The above-described effect of reducing power consumption without greatly impairing convenience and visibility when viewing the e-mail 500 by the user is also exhibited in this configuration.

  In the present embodiment, when the subject display area 501 is focused by the user's key operation or the like, the reduction of the frequency of image switching in the image area 300a2 is canceled, and the image switching is performed in the same manner as the image area 300a1. You may make it perform.

  Further, it is considered that the user pays attention to the subject display area 501 immediately after opening the email 500 in order to confirm the subject. At this time, it is not preferable that the frequency of image switching in the image region 300a2 is reduced. Therefore, when a predetermined period (for example, 5 seconds) that will be required for confirming the subject is set, and the predetermined period elapses after the e-mail 500 is displayed, the frequency of image switching in the image area 300a2 is set. The structure to reduce may be sufficient. As a result, immediately after opening the e-mail 500, the user can confirm the subject with the image area 300a2 in which images are switched and displayed at the same frequency as the default.

Example 4
In each embodiment described above, the smartphone 100A adjusts the frequency of switching images in the image area 300 based on the position and size of the image area 300, that is, the origin coordinates, width, and height of the image area 300. I explained.

  However, the smartphone 100 </ b> A may perform the frequency adjustment based only on the position information of the image region 300.

  As yet another example of the present embodiment, the smartphone 100 </ b> A may reduce the frequency of switching images in the image area 300 when the center coordinates of the image area 300 are not included in the gaze area 301.

  In the present embodiment, the image area specifying unit 24 calculates the center coordinates of the image area 300 from the origin coordinates, the width, and the height of the image area 300 included in the drawing request acquired from the drawing requesting section 23, The calculated center coordinates may be notified to the switching frequency adjustment unit 25. Then, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 issues a drawing request to the display control unit 26 when the notified center coordinates of the image region 300 are not included in the gaze regions 301 and 301a in any of the above-described embodiments. The frequency of output may be reduced.

  According to this, since the smartphone 100A only has to adjust the frequency of switching images in the image region 300 based on only the position information of the image region 300, it is possible to further suppress the processing load related to the frequency adjustment.

[Second Embodiment]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The smartphone (display device) 100B according to the present embodiment reduces the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 when the size of the image region 300 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the smartphone 100B has the same block configuration as the smartphone 100A according to the first embodiment.

  However, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 included in the smartphone 100B determines whether or not the size of the image region 300 is a predetermined value (for example, 20 dots * 20 dots) or less. When it is determined that the size of the image area 300 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 reduces the frequency of outputting a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 to the display control unit 26. . Therefore, the frequency with which images are switched and displayed in the image region 300 having a size equal to or smaller than the predetermined value is reduced.

  With reference to FIG. 6, an example of the flow of processing in the smartphone 100B will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow for determining the redrawing frequency of the image region 300 in the smartphone 100B.

  This flowchart is a drawing request for requesting redrawing of the image area 300 from the drawing requesting unit 23, as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and at least the second and subsequent drawing requests are output. A configuration that starts at the time it is done is preferred.

  The processes in steps S201 to S202 and S204 in this flowchart are the same as steps S101 to S102 and S104 in the first embodiment.

  In this flowchart, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not the size of the image region 300 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (S203: frequency adjustment step). Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether at least one of the width and height values of the image region 300 specified by the image region specifying unit 24 in step S202 (detection step) is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not. When at least one of the width and the height exceeds the thresholds determined for each (NO in S203), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request to the display control unit 26, and the processing according to this flowchart Shifts to step S204 (display control step), and the image region 300 is redrawn.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the size of the image area 300 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (YES in S203), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request for requesting the display control unit 26 to redraw the image area 300. The process according to this flowchart is terminated. Alternatively, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs the most recently acquired drawing request to the display control unit 26 when it is continuously determined a predetermined number of times that the size of the image region 300 is a predetermined value or less. Also good.

(effect)
As described above, the smartphone 100B is configured to reduce the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 when the size of the image region 300 for switching and displaying a plurality of images is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

  According to this configuration, the smartphone 100B can suppress the generation of processing load due to switching of images in the image region 300 having a small display size and low visibility for the user. Thereby, the smart phone 100B can reduce power consumption, without impairing a user's convenience and visibility significantly.

  Each predetermined value related to the determination performed by the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 may be set in advance at the manufacturing stage of the smartphone 100B, or may be arbitrarily set by the user. Further, the predetermined value may be different for each application. For example, a pictograph included in an e-mail is considered to be highly important for a user even if the display size is small, but an animation image included in a web page is considered to be less important for a user if the display size is small. . Therefore, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 may perform the above determination based on the predetermined value lower than that of the web browser application when the email application is operating.

  In combination with Example 1 of the first embodiment, if the size of the image area 300 is equal to or smaller than the size of one section when the screen of the display unit 12 is divided (for example, divided into nine sections), The frequency of switching images in the image area 300 may be reduced.

[Third Embodiment]
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In addition to the functions of the smartphone 100A or 100B according to the first or second embodiment described above, the smartphone (display device) 100C according to the present embodiment is further operated by the user after an image is displayed in the image region 300. When a predetermined period elapses without being detected, the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 is reduced.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the smartphone 100C. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the smartphone 100B includes the same functional blocks as the smartphone 100A or 100B according to the first or second embodiment.

  However, the operation acquisition unit 21 included in the smartphone 100 </ b> C supplies operation information to the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 in addition to the application control unit 22. Then, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 draws the image acquired from the image region specifying unit 24 when a predetermined period has passed without the operation information being supplied from the operation acquisition unit 21 after the image is displayed in the image region 300. The frequency at which the request is output to the display control unit 26 is reduced.

  With reference to FIG. 8, an example of the flow of processing in the smartphone 100C will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow for determining the redrawing frequency of the image area 300 in the smartphone 100C.

  The process according to this flowchart may be executed in place of step S104 or step S204 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 or 6 in the first embodiment.

  In this flowchart, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether a predetermined period has elapsed since the most recent user operation (S301: frequency adjustment step). Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 determines whether or not Q <t is satisfied, where t is an elapsed period from the last operation information acquisition from the operation acquisition unit 21. Note that Q is a predetermined period in the present embodiment, and may be, for example, 60 seconds. When t ≦ Q (NO in S301), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 outputs a drawing request to the display control unit 26, and the processing according to this flowchart proceeds to step S302 (display control step), and the image is displayed. The area 300 is redrawn.

  On the other hand, when Q <t is satisfied (YES in S301), the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 does not output a drawing request for requesting the display control unit 26 to redraw the image area 300, and the processing according to this flowchart. Ends. Alternatively, the switching frequency adjusting unit 25 may output the most recently acquired drawing request to the display control unit 26 when it is determined that Q <t is continuously established a predetermined number of times.

(effect)
As described above, the smartphone 100 </ b> C displays an image in the image region 300 in which a plurality of images are switched and displayed when a predetermined period has passed without detecting an operation by the user after the image is displayed in the image region 300. This is a configuration that reduces the frequency of switching.

  According to this configuration, the smartphone 100 </ b> C can suppress the occurrence of a processing load due to image switching in the image region 300 in a situation where the user is not viewing the screen. Then, when the user resumes the operation, the reduction in the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 is cancelled.

  Thereby, smart phone 100C can reduce power consumption, without impairing a user's convenience and visibility greatly. Specifically, for example, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed in a situation where the user leaves the smartphone 100 </ b> C with the email opened.

  Note that the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 gives a plurality of stages to the determination result with respect to the elapsed time from the latest user operation, and changes the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 according to the stage of the elapsed time. Good. Specifically, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 may decrease the frequency of switching images in the image region 300 as the elapsed time from the most recent user operation becomes longer.

  In the above description, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 has been described as a configuration for determining the elapsed time after acquiring the operation information based on the operation on the touch panel 1. However, the switching frequency adjustment unit 25 acquires a signal input from an operation unit different from the touch panel 1 such as a hardware key (not shown), and performs the step together with the operation information obtained based on the operation on the touch panel 1. It is preferable to perform the determination in S301.

(Return method from reduced image switching frequency)
In each of the above-described embodiments, it is preferable that the reduction in the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 is appropriately canceled according to the user's request, and the cancellation may be performed as follows.

  For example, when the frequency of image switching in the image area 300 is decreasing, when the user touches an arbitrary position on the touch panel 1 or when an operation unit such as a hardware key outside the touch panel 1 is operated. The reduction in the frequency of image switching in the image area 300 may be cancelled. This is because some display content is often updated on the screen of the display unit 12 by scrolling or the like while the user operates the touch panel 1. In other words, even when the reduction in the frequency of image switching in the image area 300 occupying a part of the screen is canceled when a user operation is detected, it is unlikely that the power consumption will increase significantly due to the cancellation. Conceivable. If a predetermined period has elapsed since the user's operation was last detected, the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 may be reduced again based on the determination criteria described in the above embodiments.

  Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the reduction in the frequency of image switching in the image region 300 included in the region touched by the user or focused by the user's key operation or the like is cancelled. This is because the image area 300 corresponding to the above is considered to be of great interest to the user.

  If the above-described image switching frequency reduction processing function is realized by the drawing system included in the smartphone 100, the above reduction processing can be executed for an arbitrary application. In other words, system level modification is required. On the other hand, when the reduction process is executed at the application level, the reduction process for other applications is not executed, but the repair is easy.

  If the application is a web browser, the output of the drawing request by the drawing request unit 23 itself can be suppressed at the application level. In order to realize this configuration, the functions of the image area specifying unit 24 and the switching frequency adjusting unit 25 may be incorporated in the process executed by the application. Specifically, for example, a timer for driving JavaScript (registered trademark) or Gif animation related to the image region 300 may be stopped / restarted. In this case, it is possible to obtain a higher power saving effect by suppressing the generation of the drawing request. In Java (registered trademark), create a unique view that inherits the view used in the application layer, and override the invalidate (x, y, h, w) method and hook the process in the unique view. May be.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[Example of software implementation]
Finally, each block of the smartphone 100, in particular, the control unit 2 may be realized in hardware by a logic circuit formed on an integrated circuit (IC chip), or software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). May be realized.

  In the latter case, the smartphone 100 includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program that realizes each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program, the program, and various data. A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the smartphone 100 that is software that realizes the above-described functions is recorded in a computer-readable manner. This can also be achieved by supplying to the smartphone 100 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include non-transitory tangible medium, such as magnetic tape and cassette tape, magnetic disk such as floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and CD-ROM / MO. Discs including optical discs such as / MD / DVD / CD-R, cards such as IC cards (including memory cards) / optical cards, semiconductor memories such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM (registered trademark) / flash ROM Alternatively, logic circuits such as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be used.

  Further, the smartphone 100 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited as long as it can transmit the program code. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, and the like can be used. The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, even with wired lines such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE 802.11 wireless, HDR ( It can also be used by radio such as High Data Rate (NFC), Near Field Communication (NFC), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), mobile phone network, satellite line, and digital terrestrial network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is an information processing having a function of switching and displaying a plurality of images at a predetermined frequency on a screen of a display unit such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an electronic book reader, and a game device. It can utilize suitably for an apparatus.

11 Operation unit 12 Display unit 24 Image area specifying unit (detection means)
25 Switching frequency adjustment unit (frequency adjustment means)
26 Display control unit (display control means)
100, 100A, 100B, 100C Smartphone (display device)
300, 300a1, 300a2 Image area 301 Gaze area (effective section)
301a Text display area (effective area)
501 Subject display area (invalid area)
S102, S202 Detection step S103, S203, S301 Frequency adjustment step S104, S204, S302 Display control step

Claims (11)

A display device that switches a plurality of images in the same image area and displays them in the display area of the display unit,
Detection means for detecting at least one of the position and size of the image area in the display area;
A frequency adjusting means for adjusting a frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size;
A display device comprising: display control means for switching the image at the adjusted frequency and displaying the image in the image area. From the position and size detected by the detection means, the frequency adjustment means,
It is determined whether or not the image area is included in at least one predetermined effective section among a plurality of sections obtained by dividing the display area, and it is determined that the image area is not included in the effective section The display device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is reduced when the display is performed. From the position and size detected by the detection means, the frequency adjustment means,
It is determined whether the image area is included in at least one predetermined invalid section among a plurality of sections obtained by dividing the display area, and it is determined that the image area is included in the invalid section. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is reduced.   The frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the entire image area is included in the display area from the position and size detected by the detecting means, and the entire image area is included in the display area. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the state is not included, the frequency is decreased.   The frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the image area is included in a predetermined effective area in an application for displaying the image from the position and size detected by the detecting means, and the image area is included in the effective area. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is decreased when it is determined that the signal is not included.   The frequency adjusting means determines whether or not the image area is included in a predetermined invalid area in an application for displaying the image from the position and size detected by the detecting means, and the image area is included in the invalid area. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is decreased when it is determined that the image is included. It further includes an operation unit that receives a user operation,
The frequency adjusting means reduces the frequency when the operation unit does not accept the operation for a predetermined period after the image is displayed in the image area. The display device according to item.   8. The frequency adjustment unit according to claim 1, wherein, in an application for displaying the image, the frequency is decreased when a predetermined time has elapsed since the image was displayed. Display device. A control method of a display device that switches a plurality of images in the same image area and displays them in a display area of a display unit,
A detection step of detecting at least one of a position and a size of the image area in the display area;
A frequency adjustment step of adjusting a frequency of switching the image according to at least one of the detected position and size;
A display control step of switching the image at the adjusted frequency and displaying the image in the image area.   The control program for functioning a computer as said each means of the display apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 8.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the control program of Claim 10.

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