JP4006778B2 - Cursor movement control device and cursor movement control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cursor movement control device and a cursor movement control method for moving a cursor on a display screen using, for example, a graphical user interface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in addition to personal computer devices, various consumer devices that are configured to perform operations using a graphical user interface have become widespread.
[0003]
For example, in a digital satellite broadcasting system that has recently started broadcasting, in order to be able to accurately select a desired program from an enormous number of channels, data on an electronic program guide that includes information related to a scheduled program is broadcast. Transmission is performed by superimposing on a wave. The digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus is configured so that a program guide table can be created and displayed based on the data of the electronic program guide, and the user can select a desired program using the program guide table. Can be done.
[0004]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the display form of the program guide table.
When the program guide table B is viewed along the vertical axis direction, the date area Y1 indicating the date from the top, the time area Y2 indicating the broadcast time, and the program display area Y3 where the broadcast program for each channel is displayed. It is divided.
When the program guide table B is viewed along the horizontal axis direction, a station logo area X1 indicating a broadcasting station by a symbol logo indicating a broadcasting station from the left, a channel area X2 indicating a broadcasting channel by alphanumeric characters, and Each channel is divided for each program title area X3 in which the program title is indicated by the title bar TB divided according to the broadcast time zone. That is, in the program guide table B shown in this figure, the horizontal axis direction is mainly along the time axis, and in the vertical axis direction, the programs are mainly divided for each broadcast channel.
[0005]
Using such a program guide table B, for example, in order for the user to select and view a desired program, for example, the cursor arranged for each title bar TB is arbitrarily moved in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the desired program is selected. The channel selection operation is performed with the cursor placed on the title bar TB indicating the program. In order to move the cursor in the up / down / left / right direction, keys such as an up button, a down button, a right button, and a left button for moving the cursor are operated.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, for example, when the designated area designated by the cursor regularly forms a matrix in the horizontal and vertical directions like a grid, the cursor moves in the operating direction of the up / down / left / right cursors. Since the designated area to be determined is uniquely determined, there is no particular problem. However, in the title bar TB of the program guide table B as shown in FIG. 9, the length in the horizontal axis direction differs for each broadcast time of the program. Yes. For this reason, for example, when the cursor is moved in the vertical direction on the program guide table B, there may be a plurality of cursor movement destination candidates. If the movement rule is set, the following inconvenience occurs.
[0007]
10A, 10B, and 10C, the program display area Y3 is extracted from the area portion of the program display area Y3.
Here, as shown in FIG. 10A as an initial state, it is assumed that the cursor CR is placed on the title bar TB1 of the uppermost 102 channels. Further, as a rule for moving the cursor in the vertical direction, “select a title bar (program) including the program start time of the source title bar as the destination program”, that is, “the left side of the source title bar It is assumed that a rule of “selecting a title bar including a vertical coordinate axis along the line as a movement destination” is set.
[0008]
For example, it is assumed that the user operates the down button in order to move the cursor CR to the area of 103 channels in the downward direction from the state shown in FIG. In this case, since the title bar of 103 channels including the start time of the title bar TB1 is the title bar TB2, the cursor CR is moved so as to be arranged on the title bar TB2 as shown in FIG. Will do.
[0009]
Here, it is assumed that the up button has been operated in order to return the cursor CR to the area of the channel 102 in the uppermost row again. In this case, there are three title bars TB102, TB1 and TB4 according to the broadcast time for the 102-channel title bar in contact with the upper side of the title bar TB2, and among these, the title bar TB3 indicates the program start time of the title bar TB2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10C, the cursor CR is arranged so as to move to the title bar TB3.
[0010]
For example, when an operation for moving the cursor up and down is performed as described above, the movement of the cursor is changed to title bar TB1 → TB2 → TB1 and finally returns to title bar TB1. However, it generally follows the user's operational feeling. On the other hand, with the cursor movement rule shown in FIG. 10, there is a high possibility that the cursor will not return to the title bar TB1 as described above. This gives an unnatural impression that does not match the user's sense as the actual cursor movement state according to the cursor movement operation.
For example, when the user actually tries to move the cursor to the title bar TB1 from the state shown in FIG. 10B, the user moves the cursor to the right from the state shown in FIG. Although it is necessary to perform button operations, the number of button operations increases and the usability is hindered.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Accordingly, in consideration of the above-described problems, the present invention can obtain a cursor movement operation that is as suitable as possible for the user's operation even in a cursor movement area formed by combining a plurality of designated areas in a relatively complicated manner. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to improve the usability during the cursor movement operation. In addition, at this time, the object is to perform cursor movement control by a simple algorithm as much as possible so that the processing load related to the cursor movement control is not increased, and the versatility is given as much as possible.
[0012]
  For this reason,Display control means for controlling a cursor movement area formed from a plurality of designated areas and a cursor indicating the current position to be displayed on the screen;
  the aboveFrom multiple designated areasPredetermined position within the specified area where the cursor is locatedThePredeterminedPass along the specified directionThe axis position,StandardAxis positionStandard to set asAxis positionSetting means;
  Input means for instructing movement of the cursor along a predetermined direction;
  By the above input meansStandard aboveaxisCorresponding toWhoAlong the directionWhen the movement of the cursor is instructed, for the designated area next to the designated area where the current cursor is located, including a part of the reference axisCursor movement control means for executing control to move the cursor,
  The reference axis setting position means maintains the setting of the reference axis position without updating when the cursor is moved along the direction corresponding to the reference axis, and other than the direction corresponding to the reference axis. When the cursor is moved in another direction, the reference axis position is updated and set based on the designated area where the moved cursor is placed.It was decided to.
[0013]
  Also,The display control means controls to display on the screen a cursor that indicates the designated area that is currently designated.And
  The movement control means is adjacent to the designated area where the current cursor including a part of the reference axis is arranged when the movement of the cursor is instructed along the direction corresponding to the reference axis by the input means. Control to move the cursor to the specified areaAnd
  The reference axis position setting means sets, as a reference axis position, the position of the axis passing through the side of the specified area where the cursor is arranged when the specified area has a rectangular shape.
[0014]
  The designated area is a program display area for displaying information on a plurality of programs, and the side of the designated area defines time information of the program..
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the cursor movement control device according to the present embodiment is provided in a digital satellite broadcast receiving device corresponding to digital satellite broadcast. Further, the following description will be made in the following order.
<1. Configuration of Digital Satellite Broadcasting Receiver>
<2. Configuration of remote controller>
<3. Example of cursor movement control as first embodiment>
<4. Example of cursor movement control as second embodiment>
<5. Example of cursor movement control as third embodiment>
[0016]
<1. Configuration of Digital Satellite Broadcasting Receiver>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus including a cursor movement control apparatus as an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
In the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus 1 shown in this figure, for example, a broadcast wave received by an antenna or the like is supplied to the tuner 2. On this broadcast wave, data of program guide information (hereinafter referred to as EPG (Electronic Program Gide) data) is superimposed according to a prescribed format.
The broadcast wave may be any of a cable broadcast wave and a ground wave in addition to the digital satellite broadcast wave. Further, the internal configuration of the tuner 2 and each functional circuit unit described below is appropriately changed depending on whether the received broadcast wave is an analog signal or a digital signal.
[0017]
The tuner 2 is configured to perform channel selection processing corresponding to control of an internal control microcomputer 3 (hereinafter referred to as internal control microcomputer 3) that controls the entire configuration of the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus. The output of the tuner 2 is supplied to the program information extraction circuit 5. The output of the tuner 2 includes program information in addition to video / audio information.
[0018]
The internal control microcomputer 3 includes a ROM and a RAM in addition to the microcomputer, and is configured by an operation unit 4 (an operation switch provided in the apparatus main body or a remote controller 4A shown in FIG. 2) operated by a user. The tuner 2, the program information extraction circuit 5, the tube display signal generation circuit 6 and the like are controlled in response to the operation commands from the above.
[0019]
The program information extraction circuit 5 extracts EPG data included in the output of the tuner 2 in response to the control of the internal control microcomputer 3 and supplies it to the internal control microcomputer 3.
In the internal control microcomputer 3, for example, data for displaying a screen of a program guide table can be created based on the EPG data. The specific display form of the program guide table in the present embodiment is not particularly limited, but here, the display form of the program guide table B described above with reference to FIG. 9 is adopted. The following explanation will be given. Then, the movement display control of the cursor on the program guide table B is executed, for example, as a process for creating data for displaying the screen of the program guide table B by the internal control microcomputer 3. The tube surface display data created by the internal control microcomputer 3 is supplied to the tube surface display signal creating circuit 6.
The tube display signal generating circuit 6 generates an image signal of the program guide table based on the image data of the tube display data supplied from the internal control microcomputer 3 and supplies it to the video mix circuit 9. ing.
[0020]
Of the output of the tuner 2 input to the program information extraction circuit 5, video data and audio data are supplied to the video signal reproduction circuit 7 and the audio signal reproduction circuit 8, respectively.
The video signal reproduction circuit 7 reproduces the video data supplied from the program information extraction circuit 5 into a video signal, and supplies the video signal to the video mix circuit 9.
The video mix circuit 9 synthesizes the video signal supplied from the video signal reproduction circuit 7 and the image signal of the program guide table supplied from the tube display signal creation circuit 6, and uses the synthesized signal as a video output as a monitor device. (TV receiver) 10 is configured to output.
Similarly, the audio signal reproduction circuit 8 reproduces the audio data supplied from the program information extraction circuit 5 into an audio signal and outputs the audio signal (audio output) to the speaker 11.
[0021]
  <2. Configuration of remote controller>
  Next, a configuration example of the operation unit 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described. Figure2These are the top views which show the structural example of the remote controller used when operating the digital satellite broadcast receiver of this Embodiment remotely (that is, this remote controller 4A is equivalent to the operation part 4 shown in FIG. 1). .
[0022]
The power button 111 and the television power button 112 are operated when the monitor device 10 or the digital satellite broadcast receiving device 1 is turned on or off, respectively.
When the mute button 113 is operated, the sound is muted, and when it is operated again, the mute is released.
The television switching button 114A and the IRD switching button 114B switch whether the function of each switch of the remote controller 4A is a function corresponding to the monitor device 10 or a function corresponding to the digital satellite broadcast receiving device 1. When operated.
The input switching button 115 is operated when switching the input to the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus 1. The screen display button 116 is operated when a channel number or the like (including a station logo and title name) is displayed on the monitor device 10, and the display disappears when operated again. The dual audio button 117 switches the audio output from the speaker 11 to main audio, sub audio, main + sub audio (foreign language, or Japanese and foreign language) in a bilingual broadcast or multiplex broadcast program. To be operated on.
[0023]
Number buttons 118 on which numbers 0 to 9 are displayed are operated when inputting numbers displayed on the respective buttons. The channel selection button 118A is operated in succession in the sense that when the operation of the number button 118 is completed, the input of the number ends and that the input number represents a channel.
[0024]
The menu button 119 is operated when displaying an electronic program guide or a menu screen (not shown) for various settings of the digital satellite broadcast receiver on the monitor device 10, and the info button 120 is an info screen (not shown). It is operated when displaying.
[0025]
The current program button 121 and the program preview button 122 are used to select a promotion channel and are operated to display a preview of a program currently being broadcast or a program scheduled to be broadcast in the future. Is operated when displaying the program guide table B as shown in FIG.
[0026]
The select button 128 can be pressed (selected) in the vertical direction with respect to the upper surface of the remote controller 4A. The up button 124, the down button 125, the left button 126, and the right button 127 are operated in order to move the cursor displayed on the screen up and down, left and right as described later (to operate the direction). .
The volume button 129 and the channel up / down button 130 are operated when increasing or decreasing the volume or channel number.
[0027]
<3. Example of cursor movement control as first embodiment>
As cursor movement control according to the first embodiment of the present invention, cursor movement control in the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus 1 having the above configuration and display state transitions associated therewith will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 shows the program display area Y3 extracted from the program guide table B shown in FIG. 9, and each area portion in the program display area Y3 is assigned the same reference numeral as in FIGS. It is.
In order to output the program guide table B shown in FIG. 3 to the monitor device 10, the user first operates the IRD switching button 114B of the remote controller 4A, and the button function of the remote controller 4A is digital. Corresponding to the satellite broadcast receiver 1. Then, the program guide table B is called by operating the menu button 119 and various required keys.
[0028]
Here, the rules for cursor movement control as the first embodiment are defined as follows.
(1) First, a vertical coordinate axis that passes through a predetermined position of a title bar (designated area) that serves as a reference on which a cursor is first placed is set as a “vertical reference coordinate axis”.
In this case, the left side of the title bar TB, that is, the program start time indicated by the title bar TB is defined as the predetermined position.
(2) When moving the cursor up and down, the cursor is moved with respect to the title bar TB including the vertical reference coordinate axis.
(3) The vertical reference coordinate axis once set is not updated when the cursor is moved up and down.
(4) When the cursor is moved left and right, the left side of the destination title bar TB is set as a new vertical reference coordinate axis.
[0029]
And the transition of the movement state of the cursor accompanying a user's operation when the above-mentioned cursor movement rule is followed is as follows. In this case, in response to the user pressing one of the up button 124, the down button 125, the left button 126, and the right button 127 once, the cursor CR is moved in any one of the up, down, left, and right directions. Thus, it moves sequentially with respect to the adjacent title bar TB.
[0030]
First, it is assumed that the program guide table B is first displayed in the state shown in FIG. In FIG. 3A, the cursor CR is placed on the title bar TB1 of the 102 channel in the top row. It is assumed that the left side of the title bar TB1 (that is, the program start time indicated by the title bar TB1) is set to the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD. In the figure, the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is indicated by a broken line.
[0031]
Assume that the down button 125 is operated from this state, for example. Here, in accordance with the cursor movement rule, the title bar including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD (that is, the start time of the title bar TB1) is the title bar TB2 in the 103th channel, which is one row below the 102th channel. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cursor CR moves to the title bar TB2. At this time, the original reference position of the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is maintained and is not updated.
[0032]
If the down button 125 is further operated from the state shown in FIG. 3B, the cursor moves to the title bar TB5 of 105 channels including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD as shown in FIG. 3C. Will be.
From this point, when the down button 125 is further operated, as shown in FIG. 3D, the cursor is moved and arranged on the title bar TB6 of 110 channels including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD as the program start time. It will be. Also at this time, the initial set position of the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is maintained.
[0033]
Here, from the state shown in FIG. 3D, when the up button 124 is operated this time to move the cursor CR to the channel in the upper row one by one, the vertical movement is performed according to the cursor movement rule. Since the title bar TB including the reference coordinate axis VCD is sequentially moved, the cursor CR is moved by the state transition shown in FIG. 3 (d) → FIG. 3 (c) → FIG. 3 (b) → FIG. You will get a state of going.
[0034]
Further, when the light button 127 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 3D, for example, as shown in FIG. 3E, the title located on the right side of the title bar TB6 in the same 110 channel. It will move to the bar TB7. At this time, the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is updated to a position corresponding to the left side (program start time) of the title bar TB7 as shown in the figure.
If, for example, the select button 128 is operated with the cursor CR placed on the title bar TB indicating the desired program as described above, if the selected program is currently being broadcast, the program is broadcast. When a channel is selected and viewing is possible, and the broadcast time has not yet been reached, a required interface screen such as a guide display for this program or a program recording reservation screen is displayed.
[0035]
Here, when FIG. 10 is compared with FIG. 3, if the cursor movement rule shown in FIG. 10 is followed, the program start time of the destination title bar TB is used as a reference, so that the vertical movement is performed. Each time the reference is shifted to the left side easily, for example, as described above, there is a high possibility that the cursor CR will not return to the original desired title bar even though the cursor movement operation is simply performed in the vertical direction. .
On the other hand, when the cursor movement rule shown in FIG. 3 is followed, as long as only the cursor movement operation in the vertical direction is performed, the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD as shown in FIGS. Is set unchanged, and the cursor CR is moved so as to return to the position of the original title bar TB because the position moves between the title bars TB including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD. . As a result, the cursor movement state in accordance with the user's operation is more suitable for the user's sense of operation in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and the usability from the viewpoint of operability is improved accordingly. .
[0036]
Next, a processing operation for realizing cursor movement display control according to the cursor movement rule will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed when the internal control microcomputer 3 creates data for displaying the screen of the program guide table B and displays and outputs it as video information.
In the routine shown in this figure, first, in step S101, the position along the left end of the title bar TB where the cursor is initially placed, that is, the left side is set as the vertical reference coordinate axis.
In the following step S102, it is determined whether or not there is an operation on the light button 127. If it is determined that there is no operation, the process proceeds to step S105, but if there is an operation, the process proceeds to step S103.
[0037]
In step S103, after executing the process of moving the cursor CR to the title bar TB positioned right next to the title bar that has been arranged so far, the process proceeds to step S104 to the left of the title bar where the moved cursor is positioned ( The vertical coordinate axis along the side) is updated as the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD, and the process returns to step S102.
[0038]
In step S105, it is determined whether or not the left button 126 has been operated. If there is no button operation, the process proceeds to step S108. If it is determined that the button operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S106. The cursor CR is moved with respect to the title bar TB adjacent to the left of the current position. In step S107, the vertical coordinate axis along the left side of the title bar TB where the moved cursor CR is located is set as a new vertical reference coordinate axis VCD, and the process returns to step S102.
[0039]
In step S108, it is determined whether or not the down button 125 has been operated. If it is determined that there is no button operation, the process proceeds to step S110, but if it is determined that the button operation has been performed, The process proceeds to step S109. In step S109, after executing the process of moving the cursor CR from the title bar TB where the cursor CR is currently located to the title bar TB positioned one level below the vertical reference coordinate axis, the vertical reference coordinate axis is updated. It returns to step S102 without performing.
[0040]
In step S110, it is determined whether or not the up button 124 has been operated. If it is determined that the button operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S102 as it is. On the other hand, if it is determined that the button operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S111, and the cursor CR is moved from the title bar TB where the cursor CR is currently positioned to the title bar TB positioned one level above the vertical reference coordinate axis. After moving, the vertical reference coordinate axis is not updated and the process returns to step S102.
[0041]
<4. Example of cursor movement control as second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, as the arrangement state of the title bars TB which are designated areas, the vertical direction has randomness corresponding to the variation of the broadcast time zone, whereas the horizontal direction is the channel. For example, it is only necessary to set the reference coordinate axis only in the vertical direction and apply the cursor movement rule according to the present invention as the cursor movement rule. When the designated area with a shape that has randomness in both the vertical direction and the vertical direction is combined to form the entire cursor movement area, the reference coordinate axes must be set for both the horizontal and vertical directions. Is required. The cursor movement control of the second embodiment described below corresponds to the above case.
[0042]
In FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, as an example of the cursor movement region that the second embodiment should correspond to, a designated region AR having an arbitrary quadrangular shape is formed in a two-dimensional combination. The state is shown. On the premise of such a cursor movement region, for example, in the second embodiment, a cursor movement rule is defined as follows.
[0043]
(1) First, a predetermined position of the designated area AR serving as a reference on which the cursor is first placed is set as a reference coordinate, and a horizontal coordinate axis and a vertical coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate are set as a “horizontal reference coordinate axis” and a “vertical reference coordinate axis”, respectively. ".
In this case, the upper left vertex of the designated area AR is defined as the reference coordinate PREF as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD is along the upper side of the designated area AR serving as a reference, and the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is along the left side of the designated area AR serving as a reference.
(2) When the cursor is moved up and down, the cursor is sequentially moved with respect to the designated area AR in the designated direction including the vertical reference coordinate axis. At this time, the vertical reference coordinate axis is not updated. As for the horizontal reference coordinate axis, a horizontal coordinate axis that passes through the reference coordinate of the designated area AR to be moved (along the upper side) is set as a new horizontal reference coordinate axis.
(3) When moving the cursor left and right, the cursor is sequentially moved with respect to the designated area AR in the designated direction including the horizontal reference coordinate axis. At this time, the horizontal reference coordinate axis is not updated. As for the vertical reference coordinate axis, a vertical coordinate axis that passes through the reference coordinate of the designated area AR to be moved (along the left side) is set as a new vertical reference coordinate axis.
[0044]
When the cursor movement rule of the second embodiment is followed, the cursor moves as follows according to the user's operation.
Here, in FIG. 5A, the cursor CR is currently arranged with respect to the designated area AR1, and the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD and the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD are set with reference to the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area AR1. It shall be.
Assume that the light button 127 is operated from this state, for example. In this case, two of the designated areas AR2 and AR3 are adjacent to the right side of the designated area AR1, but since the designated area AR2 includes the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD, the cursor CR Moves relative to the designated area AR2 as shown in FIG. At this time, the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is newly set for the position along the left side of the designated area AR2.
[0045]
In this case, if the left button 126 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 5B, the cursor CR returns to the designated area AR1. As long as the cursor is moved in the left-right direction only by operating the left button 126 and the right button 127, the cursor moves between the designated areas AR1, AR2, AR6 including the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD whose position is not changed. Therefore, it is always possible to return to the original designated area AR.
[0046]
Similarly, when the down button 125 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 5A, the designated area including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD among the designated areas AR4 and AR5 adjacent to the lower side of the designated area AR1. The cursor CR is moved with respect to the area AR4. Then, the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD after the movement is newly set for a position along the upper side of the designated area AR2.
Also in this case, as long as only the up button 124 and the down button 125 are operated, the region is moved between the designated areas AR1, AR7, AR4, AR8, AR9 including the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD. It is possible to return to the designated area AR.
[0047]
In the second embodiment, the upper left vertex of the designated area AR is defined as the reference coordinate PREF as shown in FIG. 5D, and the horizontal coordinate axis and the vertical coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF are defined. Are set as the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD and the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD, respectively, and in the first embodiment, the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD is set according to the rule shown in FIG. The method for setting the reference coordinate axis VCD or the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD is not limited to this. For example, an arbitrary vertex in the figure forming the designated area AR may be selected as the reference coordinate PREF.
[0048]
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the center position of the figure of the designated area AR is defined as the reference coordinate PREF, the horizontal coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF is set as the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD, and similarly the reference coordinate PREF It is also conceivable to set the vertical coordinate axis passing through as the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD.
Note that it is arbitrary for which position in the designated area AR the reference coordinate PREF is set. For example, the cursor can be moved in response to the cursor movement operation as much as possible depending on the use condition such as the operation purpose for the interface image. A position suitable for the user's operation feeling may be defined as appropriate. For example, in the first embodiment, as a result of considering that the interface image is a program guide table, the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD is set on the basis of the left side of the title bar TB corresponding to the program start time. It is adapted to the sense of operation.
[0049]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing the cursor movement control as the second embodiment described in FIG. If the cursor movement control as the second embodiment is performed by the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the processing shown in FIG. Will be executed.
[0050]
In the routine shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S201, the upper left vertex (upper left corner) of the designated area AR where the cursor CR is arranged is set as the reference coordinate PREF. As a result, the vertical coordinate axis and the horizontal coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF are set as the initial vertical reference coordinate axis VCD and the horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD, respectively.
[0051]
In the following step S202, it is determined whether or not the light button 127 has been operated. If it is determined that there is no button operation, the process proceeds to step S205. If there is a button operation, the process proceeds to step S203.
In step S203, a process of moving the cursor CR to the designated area AR located to the right of the designated area AR that has been arranged so far is executed, and then the process proceeds to step S204 to designate the designated position where the moved cursor is located. The vertical coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF of the area AR is updated as the vertical reference coordinate axis VCD, and the process returns to step S202.
[0052]
In step S205, it is determined whether or not the left button 126 has been operated. If there is no button operation, the process proceeds to step S208. If it is determined that the button operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S206. The cursor CR is moved to the designated area AR adjacent to the left of the current position. Then, in the subsequent step S207, the vertical coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area AR where the moved cursor CR is located is set as a new vertical reference coordinate axis VCD, and the process returns to step S202.
[0053]
In step S208, it is determined whether or not the down button 125 has been operated. If it is determined that the button operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S211. If it is determined that the button operation has been performed, Proceed to step S209.
In step S209, a process of moving the cursor CR from the designated area AR where the cursor CR is currently located to the designated area AR positioned one level below the vertical reference coordinate axis is executed, and then step S210 is performed. The horizontal coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area AR where the moved cursor CR is located is set as a new horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD, and after these processes are completed, the process returns to step S202.
[0054]
In step S211, it is determined whether or not the up button 124 has been operated. If it is determined that there is no button operation, the process returns to step S202 as it is, but if it is determined that the button operation has been performed, step S211 is performed. The process proceeds to S212.
In step S212, the cursor CR is moved from the designated area AR where the cursor CR is currently located to the designated area AR located one level above the vertical reference coordinate axis. Subsequently, in step S213, the horizontal coordinate axis passing through the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area AR where the cursor CR after movement is located is set as a new horizontal reference coordinate axis HCD, and thereafter, the process returns to step S202.
[0055]
<5. Example of cursor movement control as third embodiment>
As can be seen from the above description, in the cursor movement control of the present invention, a coordinate axis in a predetermined direction passing through a predetermined point (reference coordinate) in a figure as a designated area is set as a reference coordinate axis, and the reference coordinate axis is As long as the cursor is moved in the direction along, the position of the reference coordinate axis is fixed, and the cursor is moved to the designated area including the reference coordinate axis.
[0056]
Therefore, the cursor movement control according to the present invention is not limited to the two-dimensional direction of the horizontal (x-axis) direction and the vertical (y-axis) direction so far, for example, the movement direction of the cursor is the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. The present invention can also be applied to the case of extending in a three-dimensional direction.
[0057]
For example, as the cursor movement area, as shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that each designated area is formed such that a designated area AR of a rectangular parallelepiped (including a cube) shape gathers in contact with each other.
In such a case, the cursor movement rule can be defined as follows.
(1) First, a predetermined position of the designated area AR serving as a reference on which the cursor is initially set is set as a reference coordinate PREF, and the x coordinate axis, the y coordinate axis, and the z coordinate axis that pass through the reference coordinate so as to be orthogonal to each other are respectively set. Set as “reference x coordinate axis”, “reference y coordinate axis”, and “reference z coordinate axis”.
In this case, as shown in the designated area AR11 in FIG. 8, the center position of the upper surface portion of the designated area AR selected as the reference is defined as the reference coordinates PREF.
Accordingly, the reference x coordinate axis xCD is a straight line passing through the center position (reference coordinate PREF) of the upper surface portion of the designated area AR11 in the x axis (horizontal) direction, and the reference y coordinate axis yCD is the upper surface portion of the designated area AR11. A straight line that passes through the center position and passes through the block-shaped designated area AR11 in the y-axis (vertical) direction. The reference z coordinate axis zCD is a straight line passing through the center position of the upper surface portion of the designated area AR11 in the z-axis (depth) direction.
(2) When the cursor is moved in the y-axis direction, the cursor is sequentially moved with respect to the designated area AR in the designated direction including the reference y coordinate axis. At this time, the reference y coordinate axis is not updated. For the reference x coordinate axis and the reference z coordinate axis, the x coordinate axis and the z coordinate axis that pass through the reference coordinate of the designated area AR to be moved are set as the new reference x coordinate axis and reference z coordinate axis, respectively.
(3) When the cursor is moved in the x-axis direction, the cursor is sequentially moved with respect to the designated area AR in the designated direction including the reference x-coordinate axis. At this time, the reference x coordinate axis is not updated. For the reference y coordinate axis and the reference z coordinate axis, the y coordinate axis and the z coordinate axis that pass through the reference coordinate of the designated area AR to be moved are set as the new reference y coordinate axis and reference z coordinate axis, respectively.
(4) When the cursor is moved in the z-axis direction, the cursor is sequentially moved with respect to the designated area AR in the designated direction including the reference z-coordinate axis. At this time, the reference z coordinate axis is not updated. For the reference x coordinate axis and the reference y coordinate axis, the x coordinate axis and the y coordinate axis that pass through the reference coordinate of the designated area AR to be moved are set as the new reference x coordinate axis and reference y coordinate axis, respectively.
[0058]
When the cursor movement operation in accordance with the cursor movement rule is applied to the cursor movement area shown in FIG.
For example, in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the cursor CR is currently positioned with respect to the designated area AR11, and based on the reference coordinates PREF in the designated area AR11, the reference x coordinate axis xCD, the reference y coordinate axis yCD, and the reference z coordinate axis zCD. Is set.
Here, when an operation for moving the cursor CR along the x-axis direction is performed, the cursor CR is designated by the designated areas AR11, AR12, AR13, through which the reference x-coordinate axis xCD whose position is not updated passes. In this case, the reference y coordinate axis yCD and the reference z coordinate axis zCD are appropriately updated based on the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area to be moved.
Similarly, when an operation for moving the cursor CR along the z-axis direction is performed, a reference z-coordinate axis zCD whose position is not updated penetrates (including a case where the cursor CR passes along the upper surface). The cursor CR is arranged so as to move between the areas AR11, AR15, AR16, and AR17. At this time, the reference x coordinate axis x and the CD reference y coordinate axis yCD are updated based on the reference coordinates PREF of the designated area to be moved. It will be done.
Furthermore, even when an operation for moving the cursor CR along the y-axis direction is performed, the cursor CR is moved so as to move vertically between designated areas through which the reference y-coordinate axis yCD whose position is not updated passes. The reference x coordinate axis x and the CD reference z coordinate axis zCD are updated based on the reference coordinate PREF of the designated area to be moved.
[0059]
Also in the third embodiment, as in the cursor movement control as the previous embodiments, only along one specified direction of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions. As long as the cursor is moved, control is executed so that the cursor moves to the specified area that includes the reference coordinate axis corresponding to the moving direction. It is possible to return to the area.
[0060]
The processing operation for realizing the third embodiment is that the processing according to FIG. 6 described above may be executed except that the cursor movement direction changes from the two-dimensional direction to the three-dimensional direction. Then, explanation is omitted.
Further, as the operation means for moving the cursor in the three-dimensional direction as in the third embodiment, for example, a joystick can be used.
Also in the third embodiment, the setting position of the reference coordinate PREF with respect to the designated area AR is not limited to the position shown in FIG. It is conceivable that the center of gravity of the block-shaped designated area AR and an arbitrary spatial position in the designated area AR are set as the reference coordinates PREF.
Then, a predetermined position in the designated area AR may be set as the reference coordinate PREF so as to best suit the user's operation feeling according to the actual use environment or the like.
[0061]
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described so far, and various changes can be made according to the operation purpose on the actual user interface image. For example, in each of the above embodiments, two directions of the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction are two-dimensionally defined as the cursor movement direction, and three-dimensionally, the x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, and the z-axis are orthogonal to each other. Although the three directions are defined as the cursor movement direction, the cursor movement rule based on the present invention is applied even if the cursor movement direction is further subdivided and the reference coordinate axis corresponding to this is set appropriately. Is possible.
Further, as can be seen from the above description, the present invention is not limited to the cursor movement on the program guide table in the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus, but as cursor movement control when the cursor is moved on another menu screen or the like. Applicable. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to application to a digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus, but is useful when applied to a user interface on various software used in a computer apparatus, for example.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a coordinate axis in a predetermined direction passing through a reference position (reference coordinate) in a reference designated area is set as a reference coordinate axis, and the reference coordinate axis is set from the designated area where the cursor is currently arranged. When the cursor is moved to the designated area located in the specified direction along the line, the control is executed so that the cursor is moved with respect to the designated area including the reference coordinate axis. .
As a result, as long as the cursor is moved along the direction of the reference coordinate axis, even if the cursor is moved in the reverse direction after moving the cursor, the cursor will always be placed in the original designated area. This is suitable for the user's sense of operation, and the usability as a user interface is improved.
[0063]
In addition, since the algorithm for realizing the cursor movement control according to the present invention, that is, the cursor movement rule is relatively simple, the processing load relating to the cursor movement control can be easily and lightly implemented and is versatile. For example, it can be easily applied not only when the designated area is arranged two-dimensionally but also when it is arranged three-dimensionally. A simple user interface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a digital satellite broadcast receiving device including a cursor movement control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a remote controller of the digital satellite broadcast receiving apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing cursor movement control on a program guide table as the first embodiment.
4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation for realizing the cursor movement operation shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of cursor movement control as a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation for realizing cursor movement control according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting example of a reference coordinate axis.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of cursor movement control as a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a specific display form example of a program guide table;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a general cursor movement control example on the program guide table;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital Satellite Broadcasting Receiver, 2 Tuner, 3 Internal Control Microcomputer, 4 Operation Unit, 4A Remote Controller, 5 Program Information Extraction Circuit, 6 Tube Display Signal Creation Circuit, 7 Video Signal Reproduction Circuit, 8 Audio Signal Reproduction Circuit, 9 Video mix circuit, 10 monitor device, 11 speaker, 124 up button, 125 down button, 126 left button, 127 right button, 128 select button, B program guide table, Y1 date area, Y2 time area, Y3 program schedule time area, X1 station logo area, X2 channel area, X3 program title area, TB title bar, CR cursor, AR designated area, VCD vertical reference coordinate axis, HCD horizontal reference coordinate axis, PREF reference coordinate, xCD reference x coordinate axis, yCD reference y coordinate axis, zCD reference z coordinate axis

Claims (9)

Display control means for controlling a cursor movement area formed from a plurality of designated areas and a cursor indicating the current position to be displayed on the screen;
The position of the axis passing along the predetermined position of the specified area where the cursor is positioned from the plurality of the designated area in a predetermined prescribed direction, and the reference-axis position setting means for setting a reference axis position,
Input means for instructing movement of the cursor along a predetermined direction;
When the movement of the cursor is indicated along in the direction that corresponds to the reference axis by said input means, following the specified area of the specified area where the current cursor comprising a portion of said reference axis is located and a cursor movement control means for executing control to move the cursor for,
The reference axis setting position means maintains the setting of the reference axis position without updating when the cursor is moved along the direction corresponding to the reference axis, and other than the direction corresponding to the reference axis. Cursor movement control, wherein when the cursor is moved in another direction, the reference axis position is updated based on a designated area in which the cursor after movement is arranged apparatus. 2. The cursor movement control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means controls to display a cursor indicating the currently designated area to be designated on a screen . The movement control means is adjacent to the designated area where the current cursor including a part of the reference axis is arranged when the movement of the cursor is instructed along the direction corresponding to the reference axis by the input means. 2. The cursor movement control device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to move the cursor with respect to the designated area to be specified. The reference axis position setting means sets, as a reference axis position, a position of an axis passing through a side of the specified area where the cursor is arranged when the specified area has a rectangular shape. The cursor movement control device according to claim 1. The said designated area | region is a program display area which displays the information regarding a some program, The side of the said designated area | region has defined the time information of the said program, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Cursor movement control device. A display control step for controlling a cursor movement area formed from a plurality of designated areas and a cursor indicating the current position to be displayed on the screen;
The position of the axis passing along the predetermined position of the specified area where the cursor is positioned from the plurality of the designated area in a predetermined prescribed direction, and the reference axis position setting step of setting as a reference-axis position,
An input step for instructing movement of the cursor along a predetermined direction;
When the movement of the cursor is indicated along in the direction that corresponds to the reference axis by the input step, following the specified area of the specified area where the current cursor comprising a portion of said reference axis is located and a cursor movement control step of performing control to move the cursor for,
In the reference axis setting position step, when the cursor is moved along the direction corresponding to the reference axis, the setting of the reference axis position is maintained without being updated, and the direction other than the direction corresponding to the reference axis is maintained. When the cursor is moved in another direction, the reference axis position is updated and set based on the designated area where the moved cursor is arranged.
A cursor movement control method characterized by the above. The reference axis position setting step sets, as a reference axis position, a position of an axis passing through a side of the designated area where the cursor is arranged when the designated area has an irregular shape. The cursor movement control method according to claim 6. The cursor according to claim 7, wherein the cursor designation area is a program display area for displaying information on a plurality of programs, and the side of the designated area defines time information of the program. Movement control method. A display control device for controlling a cursor movement area formed from a plurality of designated areas and a cursor indicating the current position to be displayed on the screen;
An input device for instructing movement of the cursor along a predetermined direction;
A reference axis position setting means for setting, as a reference axis position, a position of an axis passing through a predetermined position in the specified area where the cursor is placed from the plurality of specified areas along a predetermined direction; and the input When the cursor is instructed to move along the direction corresponding to the reference axis by the means, the cursor is directed to the designated area next to the designated area where the current cursor including a part of the reference axis is arranged. Cursor movement control device comprising cursor movement control means for executing control so as to move
Consisting of
The reference axis setting position means of the cursor movement control device maintains the setting of the reference axis position without updating when the cursor is moved along a direction corresponding to the reference axis. When the cursor is moved in a direction other than the direction corresponding to, the reference axis position is updated and set based on the designated area where the cursor after the movement is arranged.
A broadcast receiving system characterized by the above.

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