JP4958828B2 - Cursor operating device and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cursor operating device and method for moving a cursor to a hyperlink or tag on a web page displayed on a web browser on a display screen of a TV (television) receiver or the like.

  In a personal computer or the like, when a desired web page is acquired via the Internet, this is displayed on a web browser. Also, TV receivers can download and display such web pages.

  A web page is also linked to other web pages, and a hyperlink that allows you to specify and obtain the linked web page is displayed, for example, by the title of the linked web page In addition, a command or the like is embedded in the displayed web page, and a tag is also displayed so that the embedded command or the like can be read and displayed. In order to obtain other desired web pages linked to it from the displayed web page, it is only necessary to click on the corresponding hyperlink with the cursor so that the requested web page can be retrieved from the Internet. Will be displayed via a web browser. In addition, when a tag is clicked with a cursor, a corresponding command or the like is read and displayed.

  To specify a hyperlink or tag (hereinafter referred to as a clickable object), a mouse or tab key is usually used. The mouse or tab key is used to move the cursor to the desired clickable object area. Click operation.

By the way, according to the conventional method of operating a cursor using a mouse or a tab key, the cursor moves continuously in an arbitrary direction according to the operation. For example, use a remote controller with a cross key to control the direction of cursor movement, and move the cursor between clickable objects each time this cross key is operated. Have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-209495 A

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a cursor operation method described in Patent Document 1.

  In the figure, on the displayed web page 100, a clickable object 102b is displayed on the upper right side of the displayed web page 100, a clickable object 102a is displayed on the left side thereof, and a clickable object 102c is displayed below the clickable object 102b. Further, two clickable objects 102d and 102e are displayed side by side on the upper left side of the clickable object 102c, and two clickable objects 102f and 102g are displayed side by side on the lower left side of the clickable object 102c. It is assumed that

  Assuming that the cursor 101 is displayed at the initial position between the clickable object 102b and the clickable object 102c on such a web page, when the desired clickable object 102a is to be selected, the up arrow key on the cross key of the remote control Is operated once, the cursor 101 moves to the first clickable object 102b in the upward direction. When the left key is further operated once, the cursor 101 is moved to the first clickable object 102a in the left direction. Moving. In this way, when the cross key on the remote controller is operated, the cursor 101 moves to the position of the clickable object in the corresponding direction for each operation, and accordingly, the cursor 101 jumps along the path 103a shown in the figure. The cursor 101 reaches the clickable object 102a.

  In addition, when the cursor 101 is displayed at the initial position and the desired clickable object 102f is to be selected, if the down key of the remote controller is operated once, the cursor 101 is in the downward direction. When the cursor 101 is moved to the first clickable object 102c and the left key is further operated once, the cursor 101 is moved to the first clickable object 102g in the lower left direction. When the left direction key is operated, the clickable object 102g moves to the desired clickable object 102f in the left direction. In this way, each time the cross key on the remote controller is operated, the clickable object moves from the clickable object to another clickable object along the path 103b.

  By the way, in this case, when the cursor 101 is in the clickable object 102c and the left direction key is operated, the cursor 101 moves to the next clickable object 102 located on the left side of the clickable object 102c. When two clickable objects 102g and 102e are displayed close to the left side of the clickable object 102c, when the left direction key is operated, the cursor moves to one of them.

  In such a case, in order to move the cursor 101 to the other clickable object 102e, it is only necessary to operate the up arrow key with the cross key while the cursor 101 is moved to the clickable object 102g. Since the user travels around the moving path 103b, the operation is troublesome as compared with the case where the clickable object 102c is moved directly to the clickable object 102e.

  As described above, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cursor moves so as to follow the clickable object in the corresponding direction by the movement direction designation operation of the cross key. When arranged, for example, as described above, when a plurality of clickable objects exist in the same direction with respect to one clickable object, it corresponds to the direction of a desired clickable object among them. Even if you operate the cross key, the cursor does not always move to this desired clickable object, and whether or not the cursor moves to this desired clickable object can only be determined by operating the cross key in the appropriate direction. do not know. In particular, since the number of clickable objects, the display position, and the like are different for each downloaded web page, it is impossible to determine which clickable object the cursor moves to when the cross key is operated. The same applies to a case where a plurality of clickable objects exist side by side in the same direction with respect to one clickable object and the cross key in the corresponding direction is operated.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, easily and surely recognize the direction of movement of the cursor with respect to an operation for specifying the direction of movement of the cursor, and even if clickable objects are irregularly arranged and displayed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cursor operating device and method which can easily perform a cursor moving operation.

  To achieve the above object, a cursor operating device according to the present invention includes a plurality of selectable clickable objects, and a movable first cursor for selecting any one of the plurality of clickable objects. , A display screen on which a second cursor that is added to the clickable object selected by the first cursor and indicates that the clickable object is in a selected state is displayed, and the moving direction of the first cursor is displayed on the display screen in the horizontal direction. Control for moving the first cursor in the designated direction based on the input means for inputting a movement direction designation signal designated by either the direction or the vertical direction, and the movement direction designation signal inputted from the input means And a control means on the display screen and a vertical vertical movement path passing through the clickable object. A horizontal movement path in the horizontal direction is set, and a predetermined intersection point between the intersections of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path is set as a cursor stop position at which the first cursor can be stopped, and the movement direction input from the input means is designated. According to the direction specified by the signal, the first cursor is moved to the next cursor stop position along the movement path in the designated direction of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and the first cursor moves. When the cursor stop position is the position of the clickable object, the second cursor is displayed on the clickable object.

  In addition, the control means has an intersection point on the movement path from the current position of the first cursor in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means, which is greater than the current position of the first cursor. The first cursor follows the intersection point for the clickable object on the specified direction side and intersecting the clickable object passing through the clickable object closest to the current position of the first cursor. This is the cursor stop position at which to stop.

Also, the clickable object closest to the current position of the first cursor has a distance d ₁ from the current position of the first cursor to the intersection with the clickable object, and the distance from the intersection with the clickable object to the clickable object. The distance is d ₂ and the sum of distances d is
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
Suppose that the clickable object has the smallest sum d of distances.

  Further, the side of the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal inputted from the input means is designated by the movement direction designation signal inputted from the input means rather than the current position of the first cursor. The intersection point with the clickable object in the direction opposite to the direction is excluded from candidates for the stop position of the cursor.

  In addition, the control means sets the movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and reaches the next cursor stop position on the movement path in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means. When the distance exceeds the movement limit distance, the position of the movement limit distance is set as the cursor stop position.

  In order to achieve the above object, the cursor operation method according to the present invention can be selected by the control of the control means based on the movement direction designation signal generated by the operation of the operation means and input from the input unit. A cursor operation method for moving a cursor displayed with multiple clickable objects on a simple display screen, and a horizontal horizontal movement path and a vertical vertical movement path passing through the clickable object are set as the movement paths of the cursor The clickable object and the intersection of the horizontal movement path and the vertical movement path are set as a cursor stop position where the cursor can be stopped, and the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal generated by the operation means is generated every time the operation means is operated. It is moved from the cursor stop position to the next cursor stop position in the movement path.

  Also, among the intersections on the movement path from the current position of the cursor in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal, the intersection is on the direction side specified from the current position of the cursor and is the most from the current position of the cursor. The intersection point for the clickable object where the movement path orthogonal to the specified direction passing through the clickable object at the close position intersects is set as the cursor stop position at which the cursor stops next.

Further, the clickable object closest to the current position of the cursor has a distance from the current position of the cursor to the intersection with the clickable object as d _1, and a distance from the intersection with the clickable object to the clickable object as d ₂ , Sum of distances d
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
The clickable object has the smallest distance sum d.

  In addition, the intersection of the clickable object whose direction in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal is in the direction opposite to the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal from the current position of the cursor is a candidate for the cursor stop position. Are excluded.

  Also, the control means sets the movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and the distance to the next cursor stop position on the movement path moves in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal by the operation means. When the limit distance is exceeded, the position of the movement limit distance is set as the cursor stop position.

  According to the present invention, the movement path for moving the cursor from the current position to the target clickable object can be easily recognized, and the operation for that purpose can be reliably performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a cursor operating device and method according to the present invention, where 1 is a TV receiver, 2 is a display screen, 3 is a remote control, 4 is a cross key, and 4U is upward. 4D is a down key, 4R is a right key, 4L is a left key, and 5 is an enter key.

  In the first embodiment, the terminal device is a TV receiver, but another terminal device such as a personal computer may be used.

  In the figure, a TV receiver 1 receives contents of a broadcast program, download of contents such as a web page from the Internet, received programs on a removable media such as a DVD in response to an operation of a remote controller 3 as an operation means. Can be recorded and reproduced, and the acquired contents such as broadcast programs and web pages are displayed on the display screen.

  The remote controller 3 is provided with a cross key 4 and an enter key 5 along with various operation keys in its operation unit. When a web page is displayed on the display screen 2, the cross key 4 is displayed together with this web page. A function to specify the direction of cursor movement is added. The decision key 5 has a function for determining a clickable object designated by the cursor. Operation signals associated with operations of the cross key 4, the determination key 5, and various operation keys are transmitted to the TV receiver 1.

  Here, the up direction key 4U of the cross key 4 is for moving the cursor upward, the down direction key 4D is also in the down direction, the right direction key 4R is in the right direction, and the left direction key is also in the same way. 4L is for moving the cursor in the left direction.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the circuit configuration of the TV receiver 1 in FIG. 1, wherein 6 is a CPU (central processing unit), 7 is a remote control receiving unit, 8 is an information display unit, and 9 is a storage device. Reference numeral 10 denotes a network I / F (interface), 11 denotes a removable media I / F, 12 denotes a power source, and 13 denotes a bus.

  In the figure, a remote control receiving unit 7 for receiving an operation signal from the remote control 3 (FIG. 1), a network I / F 10 for receiving contents such as a broadcast program and a web page from the Internet, and a removable medium are detachable. A removable media I / F 11 for recording the received content and reproducing the recorded content, a storage device 9 for storing the content received from the network I / F 10 and reproducing it, and a network I / F Operation of the information display unit 8 for displaying the content received in F10, the content reproduced from the storage device 9 and the removable media I / F 11 on the display screen 2 (FIG. 1), and the remote control 3 received by the remote control receiving unit 7 CPU 6 for processing various contents in accordance with signals and controlling each unit It is connected by a bus 13. Further, the CPU 6 turns the power source 12 of the TV receiver 1 on and off in response to the power ON / OFF operation signal received from the remote controller 3 received by the remote control receiver 7.

  Next, the cursor operation associated with the cursor operation in the first embodiment will be described. The cursor operation is performed by operating the cross key 4 and the enter key 5 (FIG. 1) of the remote controller 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic movement path of the cursor on the web page in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4, wherein 14 is a web page, 15a to 15h are clickable objects, and 16H _{1 to} 16H ₆ are horizontal movements. Paths, 16V _{1 to} 16V ₃ are vertical movement paths, and 17a to 17j are cursor stop positions.

In the figure, if clickable objects 15a to 15h are displayed on the web page 14 displayed on the display screen 2 (FIG. 1) of the TV receiver 1, as shown in the figure, these clickable objects 15a to 15h are respectively shown. Each time, a cursor movement path 16 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction (generic name of the horizontal movement paths 16H _{1 to} 16H ₆ and the vertical movement paths 16V _{1 to} 16V ₃ ) is set as indicated by a broken line. Each of the clickable objects 15a to 15h becomes a position where the cursor stops, that is, a cursor stop position, and an intersection of the movement paths 16 in the horizontal and vertical directions of the cursor also becomes a cursor stop position. The intersections 17a to 17j are particularly referred to as cursor stop positions, but the clickable objects 15a to 15h are also cursor stop positions.

Specifically, the vertical movement path 16V ₁ is set through the clickable objects 15a, 15b, and 15c arranged in the vertical direction, and the vertical movement path 16V ₂ through the clickable objects 15d, 15e, and 15f arranged in the vertical direction is set. Then, a vertical movement path 16V ₃ passing through the clickable objects 15g and 15h arranged in the vertical direction is set. Further, a horizontal movement path 16H ₁ passing through the clickable object 15a is set, a horizontal movement path 16H ₂ passing through the clickable object 15d is set, a horizontal movement path 16H ₃ passing through the clickable objects 15b and 15g is set, and the clickable object 15b is moved through the clickable object 15b. A horizontal movement path 16H ₄ is set, a horizontal movement path 16H ₅ passing through the clickable object 15h is set, and a horizontal movement path 16H ₆ passing through the clickable objects 15c and 15f is set.

Here, the end of the horizontal movement path 16H (generic name of the horizontal movement paths 16H _{1 to} 16H ₆ ) is basically the position of the clickable object 15 (hereinafter, the generic name of the clickable objects 15a to 15h) that is the left and right ends (for example, For example, when the horizontal movement path 16H ₃ is taken as an example, the clickable object 15 does not exist on the left side of the column of the clickable objects 15a to 15c arranged in the vertical direction. The left end of ₃ is the position of the clickable object 15b. The same applies to the horizontal movement paths 16H ₁ and 16H ₆ . Similarly, since there is no clickable object 15 to the right of the column of clickable objects 15g~15h arranged in the vertical direction, the right end of the horizontal travel path 16H ₃ is a position of the clickable object 15 g. The same applies to the horizontal movement path 16H ₅ .

In addition, the end of the vertical movement path 16V (generic name for the vertical movement paths 16V _{1 to} 16V ₃ ) is also in principle the position (for example, the center position) of the clickable object 15 that is the upper and lower ends. For example, the vertical movement path taking 16V ₁ as an example, since there is no clickable object 15 above the clickable object 15a, the upper end of the vertical movement path 16V ₁ is a position of the clickable object 15a. Similarly, since there is no clickable object 15 below the row of clickable objects 15c~15f arranged in the horizontal direction, the lower end of the vertical movement path 16V ₁ is a position of the clickable object 15c. This also applies to the vertical movement path 16V _1.

Furthermore, in addition to this basic, the left end of the horizontal movement path H is an intersection with the leftmost vertical movement path 16V. For example, taking the horizontal movement path 16H ₂ as an example, the intersection 17a of the leftmost vertical movement path 16V ₁ is the left end. The same applies to the horizontal movement paths 16H ₄ and 16H ₅ . Similarly, the right end of the horizontal movement path 16H ₂ is an intersection 17h with the rightmost vertical movement path 16V ₃ . The same applies to the horizontal movement paths 16H ₄ and 16H ₆ .

  Then, all the intersections of the horizontal movement path 16H and the vertical movement path 16V are the cursor stop positions 17 (cursor stop positions 17a) to be stopped next when the cursor is moved in accordance with the movement operation of the cross key 4 (FIG. 1) of the remote controller 3. ˜17j). When the cursor reaches the cursor stop position at the end of the movement path 16, even if an operation for moving the cursor in the same direction is further performed with the remote controller 3, the cursor does not move in that direction.

Here, regarding the cursor stop position 17 where the horizontal movement path 16H and the vertical movement path 16V intersect, the cursor stop position 17 on the horizontal movement path 16H is at least one clickable object in at least one of the vertical directions. 15 and a cursor stop position 17 on the vertical movement path 16V is a position where at least one clickable object 15 exists in at least one of the horizontal directions. For example, the cursor stop position 17e of the on horizontal movement path 16H _3, to exist clickable object 15d to the upper, there are clickable object 15e on the lower side. Further, the cursor stop position 17c of the on vertical movement path 16V _1, to exist clickable object 15h on the right, the cursor stop position 17j in on the vertical movement path 16V _3, clickable object 15f is present on the left side.

  In FIG. 2, when a web page is acquired from the network I / F 10, the CPU 6 acquires it, stores it in the storage device 9, processes it while reading it, and supplies it to the information display unit 8. Is displayed on the display screen 2 (FIG. 1). At the same time, the position of the clickable object on this web page is detected, and the horizontal movement path 16H, the vertical movement path 16V, and the cursor stop position 17 as shown in FIG. Set. Then, the position of the cursor is set to either the position of the clickable object 15 or the cursor stop position 17, and the cursor is displayed at the corresponding position on the displayed web page. When receiving the operation signal of the cross key 4 from 3 (FIG. 1), the CPU 6 moves the cursor along the movement path in accordance with the operation signal.

Specifically, in FIG. 3, when a cursor (not shown) is positioned at the position of the clickable object 15a as an initial position, when the right direction key 4R of the remote controller 3 is operated, the operation signal is based on the operation signal. Under the control of the CPU 6, the cursor moves from the clickable object 15a to the first cursor stop position 17d in the right direction. As a method of movement, it may be moved instantaneously or may be moved continuously on the horizontal movement path 16H ₁ . It moves to the cursor stop position 17 and stops at that position.

  Next, when the down direction key 4L of the remote controller 3 is operated, the cursor moves from the cursor stop position 17d to the clickable object 15d as the cursor stop position, so that the clickable object 15d is selected.

  Further, when the clickable object 15h is selected when the cursor is in the clickable object 15d, the target clickable object 15h is located at the lower right of the clickable object 15d. By operating the down key 4D three times, the cursor is moved to the cursor stop position 17f, so that the clickable object 15h is positioned on the right side. Therefore, the right key 4R of the remote controller 3 is operated once. As a result, the cursor reaches the target clickable object 15h.

  Further, when the cursor is in the clickable object 15h, it is assumed that there are two clickable objects 15e and 15f in the vicinity of the left side, and when one clickable object 15e is selected with the cursor, the target clickable object is selected. Since 15e is located at the upper left of the clickable object 15h, when the up key 4U of the remote controller 3 is operated once, the cursor moves to the cursor stop position 17i one level higher. As a result, the target clickable object 15e is located on the left side. Therefore, when the left direction key 4L of the remote controller 3 is operated once, the cursor reaches the target clickable object 15e. When the cursor is in the clickable object 15h and the other clickable object 15f is selected with the cursor, the target clickable object 15f is located at the lower left of the clickable object 15h. When the direction key 4D is operated once, the cursor moves to the cursor stop position 17j one level higher. As a result, the target clickable object 15f is positioned on the left side, so that the cursor reaches the target clickable object 15f when the left direction key 4L of the remote controller 3 is operated once.

  In this manner, by recognizing the direction of the target clickable object 15 from the current cursor position, the procedure for operating the cross key 4 on the remote controller 3 for moving the cursor to the target clickable object 15 is determined. In addition, the next operation of the cross key 4 on the remote controller 3 can be determined by always recognizing the direction to the target clickable object 15 with respect to the current cursor position even in the process of moving the cursor. it can. Therefore, the operation of moving the cursor to the target clickable object 15 is facilitated, and the cursor can be reliably moved to the target clickable object 15.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a movement form of a cursor on a web page based on the above basic method, wherein 14 is a web page, 15a to 15g are clickable objects, 18 is a pointer cursor, 19 is a block cursor, 20 Is content.

  When a web page desired by the user is downloaded by the network I / F 10 (FIG. 2) as described above by a predetermined operation of the remote controller 3 (FIG. 1), the display screen 2 (FIG. 1) of the TV receiver 1 is downloaded. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4A, the web page 14 is displayed. Here, in this web page 14, a clickable object 15a as an advertising / promotional banner introducing another website is displayed on the upper side thereof, and on the left side of the web page 14, "clickable" is displayed below the clickable object 15a. Three clickable objects 15 a to 15 d of “topic 1”, “topic 2”, and “topic 3” are arranged in the vertical direction and displayed on the right side of the lower side of the web page 14 to return to the top page. The clickable object 15e and the “next” clickable object 15f for moving to the next page are displayed in a horizontal arrangement, and further, the clickable objects 15a to 15f are displayed in the central area of the adjacent web page 14. It is assumed that content 20 such as .

  When the web page 14 is displayed, the pointer-like cursor, that is, the pointer cursor 18 is positioned in one of the clickable objects 15a to 15f, here, the clickable object 15a near the upper left corner of the web page 14. Accordingly, assuming that the clickable object 15a is in a selected (focused) state, a frame-shaped block cursor 19 surrounds the clickable object 15a (this state is indicated by the block cursor on the clickable object 15). 19). At this time, the area of the block cursor 19, that is, the area of the selected clickable object 15 a is highlighted.

  When the down key 4D (FIG. 1) is operated with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 in such a state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the pointer cursor 18 is moved from the clickable object 15a that has been selected so far. It moves in the direction indicated by the downward arrow (downward) and stops at the first clickable object 15b on the lower side. At the same time, the clickable object 15a is released from the selected state by the block cursor 19 and the highlight display is also released.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, a frame-like block cursor 19 is attached to the clickable object 15b of “topic 1” to which the pointer cursor 18 has moved, and the area is highlighted. When the enter key 5 (FIG. 1) of the remote controller 3 is operated in such a state, the content of the corresponding topic is downloaded and displayed. Alternatively, a topic 1 menu may be displayed and desired content may be requested from there. The same applies to the clickable objects 15c and 15d of “topic 2” and “topic 3”.

  When the right direction key 4R (FIG. 1) on the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated in the state shown in FIG. 4 (c), the pointer cursor 18 is selected as shown in FIG. 4 (d). It moves in the right direction indicated by the arrow from the clickable object 15b, and stops at a position directly above the clickable object 15e in the area of the content 20. This position corresponds to the cursor stop position in FIG.

  Next, when the down direction key 4D (FIG. 1) is operated with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 moves further downward from the cursor stop position as indicated by the arrow, and the “topic 2” clickable object is moved. 15c stops at a position on the left side. This position also corresponds to the cursor stop position in FIG. When the down key 4D (FIG. 1) with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated again, the pointer cursor 18 moves further downward as indicated by the arrow, and the clickable object 15c of “Topic 3” is located on the left side. To stop. This position also corresponds to the cursor stop position in FIG. When the down key 4D (FIG. 1) is operated again with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 moves further downward as indicated by the arrow and stops in the area of the “top” clickable object 15e. . As a result, although the clickable object 15e is not shown, the block cursor 19 is attached and the area is highlighted.

  In this state, when the left direction key 4L (FIG. 1) on the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated, the pointer cursor 18 further moves leftward as indicated by the arrow, and the clickable object 15c of “topic 3” is displayed. Stop at the upper position. This position also corresponds to the cursor stop position in FIG. Further, when the up direction key 4U (FIG. 1) is operated with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 further moves in the upward direction indicated by the arrow, and enters the area of the clickable object 15d of “topic 3”. Stop. As a result, although the clickable object 15d is not shown, the block cursor 19 is attached and the area is highlighted.

  In this way, by operating the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions on the web page 14, and the position where the clickable object 15 is viewed either vertically or horizontally is also pointed. Since the cursor 18 is stopped, the movement path of the pointer cursor 18 to the target clickable object 15 can be easily recognized, and the pointer cursor 18 is reliably moved along the recognized movement path. This makes it easy to operate the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 for selecting a desired clickable object.

In FIG. 3, for example, when the cursor is in the area of the clickable object 15a, the down key 4D (FIG. 1) is operated with the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 to move the cursor downward. When the cursor is moved to the clickable object 15c, if the cursor is stopped at all the cursor stop positions 17a to 17c, the number of operations of the downward key 4D is increased, which is very troublesome. For this reason, in the first embodiment, the cursor is not stopped at the cursor stop position 17 with respect to the clickable object 15 separated to some extent. For example, when the clickable object 15h in the horizontal right direction to cursor stop position 17c is away enough from the cursor stop position 17c when the cursor is moved vertically moving path 16V _1, this so as not to stop To do. Of course, when the clickable objects 15d and 15e are located sufficiently away from the cursor stop positions 17a and 17b, the cursor is prevented from stopping at the cursor stop positions 17a and 17b.

According to this, when moving the cursor from the clickable object 15a along the vertical moving path 16V ₁ to clickable object 15c, by operating the down key 4D of the remote controller 3, to move from the clickable object 15a clickable object 15b, then, Since the clickable object 15b moves from the clickable object 15c to the clickable object 15c, it is only necessary to perform two operations compared to the five operations of the down key 4D when the cursor is stopped at the cursor stop position 17. .

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a method for selecting a cursor stop position at which the cursor stops. 15, 15 ₁ to 15 ₆ are clickable objects, 17 is a cursor stop position, and 17 _{1 to} 17 ₆ are branch points. Yes, parts corresponding to those in the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

In the figure, here, a case where the pointer cursor 18 is moved along the vertical movement path 16V by the operation of the down key 4D (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 will be described. Further, with respect to the vertical movement path 16V, a branch point is sequentially formed in the direction of movement of the pointer cursor 18 (downward here) from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 (cursor stop position or clickable object 15). 17 a horizontal movement path 16H ₁ to clickable objects 15 _{1 1,} horizontal movement path 16H ₃ with horizontal movement path 16H ₂ to clickable object ₁₅₂ at a branch point 17 _2, the clickable object 15 ₃ at the branch point 17 ₃ When the horizontal and horizontal movement path 16H ₄ to clickable objects 15 ₄ at a branch point 17 _4, a horizontal movement path 16H ₅ to clickable objects 15 ₅ at the branch point 17 _5, the clickable object 15 ₆ at a branch point 17 ₆ It is assumed that the movement route 16H ₆ is branched. However, branch point 17 ₆ in the horizontal travel path 16H ₆ is a terminal point of the vertical movement path 16V.

  Note that the direction of travel (downward in this case) from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 is traveled more than a straight line (in this case, a horizontal line) passing through the pointer cursor 18 and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the pointer cursor 18. The direction (in this case, the downward direction).

Now, when the down key 4D (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated while the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at the cursor stop position 17 of a clickable object or the like, the CPU 6 (FIG. 2) For each clickable object 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ ,..., 15 ₆ , the distance dy _i from the cursor stop position 17 to the branch point 17 _i (where i = 1, 2,..., 6) along the vertical movement path 16V. When obtains the distance dx _i along a horizontal movement path 16H _i to clutter maskable object 15 _i from the branch point 17 _i, the sum of these d _n, i.e.,
d _i = dx _i + dy _i
Ask for. For example, the clickable object 15 _1,
dy ₁ = distance from the pointer cursor 18 to the branch point 17 ₁ dx ₁ = distance from the branch point 17 ₁ to the clickable object 15 ₁ , and the sum d _{1 of} these distances is
d ₁ = dx ₁ + dy ₁
It becomes.

Each horizontal movement path 16H _i is a horizontal path from the branch point 17 _i to the center point of the side on the vertical movement path V side of the clickable object 15 _i , and the distance dx _i is the distance from the horizontal movement path 16H _i . The length, that is, the distance from the center point of the side of the clickable object 15 _{i on} the vertical movement path V side to the branch point 17 _i on the vertical movement path 16V.

In this way, the clickable object 15 _1, 15 _2, ..., 15 when the sum d _i of the distance of each ₆ is obtained, then, CPU 6, the sum d of the minimum distance of the sum d _i of the distance _k (min) is obtained, and the branch point 17 _k (min) corresponding thereto is set as the cursor stop position next to the cursor stop position 17 (here, the sum d _k (min) of the minimum distances is the kth clickable object). indicates that 15 _k sum d _k of the distance to is the minimum value, the branch point 17 _k (min) represents the sum of the distances is a branch point for the minimum k-th clickable object 15 _k). For example, the clickable object 15 _1, 15 _2, ..., the sum d ₁ of the distance to 15 _6, d _2, ..., of d _6, when the sum d ₂ distance is the minimum value d ₂ (min), the cursor The cursor stop position next to the stop position 17 is the branch point 17 ₂ , and the pointer cursor 18 moves directly from the cursor stop position 17 to the branch point 17 ₂ by the operation of the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. become.

Further, in a state in which the pointer cursor 18 is stopped in the branch point 17 _2, clickable object 15 ₃ from the branch point 17 _2, 15 _4, 15 _5, 15 every _six distance sums d ₃ of, d _4, d _5, d ₆ , if the sum of distances d ₅ is the minimum value d ₅ (min), the cursor stop position next to the cursor stop position 17 ₂ is a branch point 17 ₅ , and the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote control 3 is pressed. By the operation again, the pointer cursor 18 moves directly from the branch point 17 ₂ to the branch point 17 ₅ .

And, since the lower branch point of the branch point 17 ₅ only branch point 17 _6, again by the operation of the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 is branched from the branch point 17 ₅ It will move to the point 17 _6. At the branch point at the end of the vertical movement path 16V, the pointer cursor 18 always stops and can move.

As described above, with respect to the clickable object 15 (in this example, the clickable objects 15 ₁ , 15 ₃ , and 15 ₄ ) in the horizontal direction from the branch point where the pointer cursor 18 on the vertical movement path 16V cannot be stopped. Can move the pointer cursor 18 by using another vertical movement path.

On the vertical movement path 16V, for example, when the clickable object 15 exists as shown by a broken line frame between the branch points 17 ₄ and 17 ₅ , the pointer cursor 18 always stops at the clickable object 15. Therefore, it is not a target for determining the cursor stop position.

Furthermore, the sum of distances d _i = dx _i + dy _i is used to determine the branch point 17 that is the target of the cursor stop position, but different weights are used for the distances dx _i and dy _i .
d _i = A · dx _i + B · dy _i
However, A and B may be weighting factors. In this case, for example, when A> B, the branch point shorter horizontal movement path 16H _i will be prone to the cursor stop position. Such setting of the weighting factor may be set in advance or may be set as appropriate by the user. In the case of A = B, it is the same as described above. Also,
Distance d _i ′ = √ (dx _i ² + dy _i ² )
Or
Distance d _i ′ = √ {(A · dx _i ) ² + (B · dy _i ) ² }
May be used.

  Although the above description relates to the vertical movement path 16V, the same applies to the horizontal movement path 16H.

  In this way, the pointer cursor 18 is moved along the moving path at that time without being affected by the clickable object that is sufficiently away from the vertical or horizontal moving path along which the pointer cursor 18 moves. And the number of operations of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 for moving the pointer cursor to the target clickable object can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another specific example of a method for selecting a cursor stop position at which the cursor stops. Reference numerals 21 ₁ and 21 ₂ denote sides to be determined as clickable objects, and are portions corresponding to the above-described drawings. Are given the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at the cursor stop position opposed horizontally clickable cursor 15 _1, also other clickable objects 15 ₂ downward the clickable cursor 15 ₁ Is present.

In this state, when the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated, the pointer cursor 18 moves downward along the vertical movement path 16V extending downward from the current stop position. but this vertical movement path 16V, horizontal movement of the downward direction from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, the horizontal movement path 16H ₁ and the branch point 17 ₁ crossing clickable object ₁₅₂ from clickable objects 15 ₁ there is a branch point 17 ₂ intersecting the path 16H _2.

However, in this specific example, the CPU 6 (FIG. 2) determines the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 and the positional relationship between the clickable objects 15 ₁ and 15 _{2 in} the advancing direction (downward in this case). Then, it is determined whether or not each of the branch points 17 ₁ and 17 ₂ is set as a cursor stop position.

Specifically, when the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated in the state shown in FIG. 6A, the direction along the direction of movement of the pointer cursor 18 in the clickable objects 15 ₁ and 15 ₂ Of the two sides (in this case, since the direction of movement of the pointer cursor 18 is the downward direction, the upper side and the lower side) of the side opposite to the direction of travel (upper side) (in this case, In the case of the clickable object 15 ₁ , the upper side 21 ₁ , and in the clickable object 15 ₂ , the upper side 21 ₂ ) is on the side of the pointer cursor 18 in the traveling direction with respect to the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. If the point is the cursor stop position and the pointer cursor 18 is on the opposite side of the traveling direction, the above branch point is not set as the cursor stop position.

Therefore, the upper side 21 ₁ of the clickable object _151, relative to the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, the upper, i.e., since the traveling direction of the pointer cursor 18 (downward direction) in the opposite direction, the clickable object branch point 17 ₁ in the vertical movement path 16V horizontal movement path 16H ₁ for 15 ₁ is not a cursor stop position. Further, the upper side 21 ₂ of the clickable object _152, relative to the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, the lower, i.e., because the traveling direction of the pointer cursor 18 (downward direction), with respect to the clickable object 15 ₂ branching point 17 ₂ in the vertical movement path 16V horizontal movement path 16H ₂ becomes cursor stop position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), together with the operation of the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18, as the next branch point 17 ₂ cursor stop position in the vertical movement path 16V This moves to the branch point 17 ₂ .

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the pointer cursor 18 current stop position, vertical movement path 16V side edges (in this case, right-hand side) of the clickable object ₁₅₁ located on the left side in the left direction when you are opposed, that is, the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, set parallel to the extension line of the upper side 21 ₁ and the lower side of the clickable object ₁₅₁ in the horizontal movement path 16H _1, these extension when present between two intersections of the vertical movement path 16V, by operating the right key 4R of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 is moved to the clickable object 15 _1. Thus, even without the pointer cursor 18 to branch point 17 _first horizontal movement path 16H ₁ to clickable object _151, if within the above range, by operating the right key 4R of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 can be moved to a clickable object 15 _1. Therefore, when the pointer cursor is stopped by another clickable object as shown in FIG. 6A, it is not necessary to set the branch point 17 ₁ as the cursor stop position.

  In addition, here, the case where the clickable object 15 is present on the left side of the vertical movement path 16V has been described, but it is the same whether the clickable object 15 is present on the right side or both sides, and the horizontal movement path 16H is also the same. It is the same.

  Thus, also in this specific example, the branch point that is the cursor stop position on the vertical movement path 16V and the horizontal movement path 16H can be limited to the necessary branch point, and the number of operations of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 can be limited. Can be made easy to operate.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the CPU 6 for moving the point cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 based on the determination condition of the cursor stop position shown in FIGS.

  In this processing, the clickable object 15 whose branch point 17 on the designated movement path of the pointer cursor 18 can be the cursor stop position next to the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 is determined according to the determination conditions shown in FIGS. Is determined based on the above. The clickable object 15 to be determined is the cross key 4 (FIG. 1) of the remote control 3 rather than the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 (that is, the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 and the clickable object 15 on the movement path). The clickable object 15 is located in the traveling direction specified by the operation (that is, the traveling direction of the pointer cursor 18). Here, the clickable object 15 positioned in the moving direction of the pointer cursor 18 is a clickable object existing in the moving direction of the pointer cursor 18 rather than a straight line perpendicular to the designated movement path passing through the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. 15.

  The processing procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The horizontal coordinate of the displayed web page 14 (FIG. 4) is the X coordinate, and the vertical coordinate is the Y coordinate. Accordingly, the coordinates along the vertical movement path 16V in FIGS. 5 and 6 are the Y coordinates, and the coordinates along the horizontal movement path 16H are the X coordinates. When the web page is downloaded, the CPU 6 (FIG. 2) detects the position of the main part (the center, the center of the side, etc.) of the clickable object 15, the position of the branch point for each movement route, etc. , Y coordinate and held. The position of the pointer cursor 18 is also represented by X and Y coordinates.

  Here, since FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are referred to, the traveling direction of the pointer cursor 18 is assumed to be downward.

  In FIG. 7, when the cross key 4 (FIG. 1) of the remote controller 3 is operated and the operation signal is supplied (step 100), the variable i for determining the order of the clickable objects to be determined is set to i = 1 ( Step 101). Then, it is determined which direction key of the cross key 4 has been operated (step 102).

  When the up direction key 4U or the down direction key 4D is operated, i = 1, that is, the first clickable object 15 (1) to be determined is determined. Here, the clickable objects 15 to be determined are all the clickable objects 15 existing in the moving direction side of the pointer cursor 18 and are closest to the pointer cursor 18 in the moving direction (that is, this pointer cursor). The clickable object 15 that is closest to the straight line that passes through the line 18 in the direction of travel (the horizontal line that passes through the pointer cursor 18 in FIGS. 5 and 6)) is the first (i = 1) determination object. 15 (1). Hereinafter, the second clickable object 15 is the second (i = 2) determination object 15 (2), and the third clickable object 15 is the third (i = 3) determination object. The clickable object 15 (3) becomes, and the last nth clickable object 15 is the nth (i = n) determination target clickable object 15 (n).

The clickable object 15 subject to determination in the first (1), as clickable object ₁₅₁ shown in FIG. 6 (a), in which the pointer cursor 18 is opposed to the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction Sometimes, this is deleted from the determination target (step 103), and the next clickable object 15 (2) to be the second determination target is determined (step 111). In Figure 5, the clickable object ₁₅₂ is the second-th judgment target clickable object 15 (2).

Hereinafter, when the clickable object 15 (2) is determined to be the determination target clickable object by performing the above-described processing in step 103, the Y coordinate value of the determination target clickable object 15 (2) The difference from the Y coordinate value at the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 is obtained as a distance dy ₂ (corresponding to a distance along the vertical movement path in FIG. 5) in the Y coordinate axis direction (step 104). X coordinate value and pointer cursor of the side of the determination-target clickable object 15 (2) on the side facing the vertical movement path 16V designated by the operation of the up key 4U or the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 18 current difference between the X coordinate value at the stop position of the distance X coordinate axis direction dx ₂ (the distance along the horizontal path of movement of the in Figure 5 As those), determined (step 105).

Then, the sum d ₂ of these distances dy _2, dx _2, for example, as shown in FIG. 5,
d ₂ = A · dx ₂ + B · dy ₂
(It may be A = B)
(Step 106). Since the sum d _{2 of the} distances is the value obtained first (step 107), the sum d ₂ of the distances is set as the sum d ₂ (min) of the minimum distances (step 108). .

Thus, the determination process for one determination-target clickable object 15 (2) has been performed. If there is no other determination-target clickable object 15 ("Yes" in step 109), this determination is performed. The branch point on the vertical movement path 16V of the horizontal movement path 16H from the target clickable object 15 (2) becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to this cursor stop position 17. When the determination-target clickable object 15 exists (“No” in step 109), i = i + 1 is set (step 111), and the processes of steps 103 to 106 are performed for the next determination-target clickable object 15 (3). And the sum of the obtained distances d ₃ , ie
d ₃ = A · dx ₃ + B · dy ₃
And the minimum distance sum d ₂ (min).

When d ₂ (min) ≦ d ₃ (“No” in step 107), the minimum distance sum d ₂ (min) is held as it is, and there is no other clickable object 15 to be determined. (“Yes” in Step 109), the branch point on the vertical movement path 16V with respect to the clickable object 15 (2) to be determined that is the sum d ₂ (min) of the minimum distance is the next cursor stop position 17. Then, the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to the cursor stop position 17, but if there is another clickable object 15 to be determined (“No” in step 109), the sum of the minimum distances d _2. (min) is held as it is, i = i + 1 is set (step 111), and the next clickable clickable object 15 (4) is determined from step 103. Perform the following process.

When d ₂ (min)> d ₃ (“Yes” in step 107), the sum of distances d _{3 is set} to the sum of minimum distances d ₃ (min) (step 108). When the object 15 does not exist (“Yes” in step 109), the branch point on the vertical movement path 16V with respect to the clickable object 15 (3) to be determined that is the sum of the minimum distances d ₃ (min). Becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to this cursor stop position 17. If there is another clickable object 15 to be determined ("No" in step 109), minimum distance sum d ₃ a (min) it holds in, for i = i + 1 and then (step 111), clickable object 15 of the next determination target (4) It performs the processing from step 103.

In this way, the processing from step 103 is performed for each clickable object 15 to be determined, and the sum of distances d _i obtained by this processing is changed to the minimum distance sum d _j (min) that has been held so far. On the other hand, when d _j (min) ≦ d _i (“No” in step 107), the sum d _j (min) of this minimum distance is held as it is, and when d _j (min)> d _i (step 107). "Yes"), the sum d _i of the distances becomes the sum d _i (min) of the minimum distances (step 108).

When all the processes of the clickable object 15 to be determined are completed (“Yes” in step 109), the clickable object 15 (i) to be determined that is the sum of the minimum distances d _i (min) at this time is determined. The branch point on the vertical movement path 16V becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the pointer cursor 18 moves there.

  FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure of the CPU 6 for moving the point cursor 18 when the right key 4R or the left key 4L (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated in step 100 in FIG. It is a flowchart.

  In this processing, the branch point 17 on the horizontal movement path 16H of the pointer cursor 18 designated by the operation of the right direction key 4R or the left direction key 4L of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is next to the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. The clickable object 15 that can be the cursor stop position is determined based on the determination conditions similar to the determination conditions shown in FIGS. The clickable object 15 to be determined is the clickable object 15 located in the advancing direction (that is, the horizontal direction) designated by the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. Here, the clickable object 15 positioned in the moving direction of the pointer cursor 18 is the clickable object 15 existing in the moving direction of the pointer cursor 18 rather than a straight line perpendicular to the designated horizontal movement path passing through the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. Object 15.

  The processing procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, the traveling direction of the pointer cursor 18 is the right or left direction.

  In FIG. 7, when the right key 4R or the left key 4L of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated (step 102), the CPU 6 performs the process shown in FIG.

  That is, in FIG. 8, when the up direction key 4U or the down direction key 4D is operated, i = 1, that is, the first clickable object 15 (1) to be determined is determined. The clickable object 15 (1) that is the first determination target advances to the pointer cursor 18 among all the clickable objects 15 that are present in the moving direction (right direction or left direction) side of the pointer cursor 18. The clickable object 15 that is closest in direction (ie, closest to the straight line passing through the pointer cursor 18 in the direction of travel (in this case, the vertical line passing through the pointer cursor 18)) is set to the first (i = 1) clickable object 15. It is assumed that the clickable object 15 (1) to be determined. Hereinafter, the second clickable object 15 is the second (i = 2) determination object 15 (2), and the third clickable object 15 is the third (i = 3) determination object. The clickable object 15 (3) that becomes..., The last nth clickable object 15 is the mth (i = m) determination target clickable object 15 (m).

The clickable object 15 subject to determination in the first (1), as clickable objects 15 ₁ when the vertical movement path 16V viewed as a horizontal movement path 16H in FIG. 6 (a), the pointer cursor 18 that If it is opposite to the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction, it is deleted from the determination target (step 112), and i = i + 1 is set, and the next second clickable object 15 (2) to be determined is determined. (Step 120).

Hereinafter, when the clickable object 15 (2) is determined to be the determination target clickable object by performing the above-described processing in step 112, the X coordinate value of the determination target clickable object 15 (2) The difference from the X coordinate value at the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 is the distance dx ₂ in the X coordinate axis direction (corresponding to the distance along this movement path when the vertical movement path 16V is the horizontal movement path in FIG. 5). Then, the determination is made (step 113). Next, the clickable object 15 (to be determined) on the side facing the horizontal movement path 16H designated by the operation of the right direction key 4R or the left direction key 4L of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 ( The difference between the Y coordinate value of the side 2) and the Y coordinate value at the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 is the distance in the Y coordinate axis direction. dy as ₂ (corresponding to the distance along the movement path when the horizontal movement path 16H in FIG. 5 and the vertical moving path), obtaining (step 114).

Then, the sum d ₂ of these distances dx _2, dy _2, for example, as in step 106 in FIG. 7,
d ₂ = C · dx ₂ + D · dy ₂
(C and D are weighting factors, and C = D may be used)
Since the sum d _{2 of the} distances is a value obtained first (step 116), the sum of the distances d ₂ is set as the minimum distance sum d ₂ (min) (step 117). .

As a result, the determination process for one determination target clickable object 15 (2) has been performed. If there is no other determination target clickable object 15 ("Yes" in step 118), this determination is performed. The branch point on the horizontal movement path 16H of the vertical movement path 16V from the target clickable object 15 (2) becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to this cursor stop position 17. When the determination-target clickable object 15 exists (“No” in step 118), i = i + 1 (step 120), and the process of steps 112 to 115 is performed for the next determination-target clickable object 15 (3). And the sum of the obtained distances d ₃ , ie
d ₃ = C · dx ₃ + D · dy ₃
And the minimum distance sum d ₂ (min).

When d ₂ (min) ≦ d ₃ (“No” in step 116), the minimum distance sum d ₂ (min) is held as it is, and there is no other clickable object 15 to be determined. (“Yes” in step 118), the branch point on the horizontal movement path 16H with respect to the clickable object 15 (2) to be determined that is the sum d ₂ (min) of the minimum distance is the next cursor stop position 17. Then, the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to the cursor stop position 17, but if there is another clickable object 15 to be determined (“No” in step 118), the sum of the minimum distances d _2. (min) is held as it is, i = i + 1 is set (step 120), and the clickable object 15 (4) to be determined next is determined from step 103. Perform the following process.

When d ₂ (min)> d ₃ (“Yes” in step 116), the sum of distances d _{3 is set} to the sum of minimum distances d ₃ (min) (step 117), and other than this, the clickable to be determined. When the object 15 does not exist (“Yes” in step 118), the branch point on the horizontal movement path 16H with respect to the clickable object 15 (3) to be determined that is the sum of the minimum distances d ₃ (min). Becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 to this cursor stop position 17. If there is another clickable object 15 to be determined (“No” in step 118), minimum distance sum d ₃ a (min) it holds in, for i = i + 1 and then (step 120), clickable object 15 of the next determination target (4) It performs the processing from step 112.

In this way, the processing from step 112 is performed for each clickable object 15 to be determined, and the sum of distances d _i obtained by this processing is changed to the minimum distance sum d _j (min) that has been held so far. On the other hand, when d _j (min) ≦ d _i (“No” in step 116), the sum d _j (min) of this minimum distance is maintained as it is, and when d _j (min)> d _i (step 116). "Yes"), the sum d _i of the distances becomes the sum d _i (min) of the minimum distances (step 117).

When all processing of the clickable object 15 to be determined is completed (“Yes” in step 118), the determination is performed on the clickable object 15 (i) to be determined that is the sum of the minimum distances d _i (min) at this time. The branch point on the horizontal movement path 16V becomes the next cursor stop position 17, and the pointer cursor 18 moves there.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another specific example of the moving condition of the pointer cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. Parts corresponding to those in the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted. To do.

As described above, in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 (FIG. 1) of the remote controller 3, the pointer cursor 18 moves with respect to the clickable object 15 having the minimum distance sum d _i (min) as described above. Although the movement is performed at each cursor stop position on the route, in the specific example shown in FIG. 9, the movement condition of the pointer cursor 18 is further restricted. Although FIG. 9 illustrates the vertical movement path 16V as an example, the same applies to the horizontal movement path 16H.

  In FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at the cursor stop position 17a on the vertical movement path 16V, and the next cursor stop position 17b on the vertical movement path 16V is the horizontal position of the clickable object 15. Let it be a branch point where the movement route 16H branches.

Further, in this specific example, the maximum distance that can be moved in the moving direction in which the pointer cursor 18 is designated is limited by one operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, and this limit value is set as the movement limit distance Cv. _Set to ₁ .

Here, the sum d _i of the distance from the cursor stop position 17a where the current pointer cursor 18 of the clickable object 15 is stopped is the sum of the initial distances relative to the cursor stop position 17a as described above. d _i (min). Therefore, the branch point on the vertical movement path 16V with respect to the clickable object 15 is the next cursor stop position 17b.

By the way, if the distance between the cursor stop position 17a where the pointer cursor 18 is currently stopped and the cursor stop position 17b is dminy, the distance dminy is obtained in step 104 in FIG. When the distance dminy exceeds the movement limit distance Cv ₁ and Cv ₁ <dminy, the pointer cursor 18 can move only to the position of the movement limit distance Cv ₁ , as shown in FIG. 9B. Furthermore, it stops before the cursor stop position 17b.

This movement limit distance Cv ₁ corresponds to, for example, the vertical width of one screen displayed on the display screen 2 (FIG. 1) on the web page 14 (FIG. 4). In this case, the distance dminy is larger than the vertical width of one screen, and in fact, the clickable object 15 and the cursor stop position 17b are not displayed. When the key 4D (FIG. 1) is operated, since Cv ₁ <dminy, the web page 14 scrolls upward and moves by the movement limit distance Cv ₁ as shown in FIG. 9B. The stopped pointer object 18, clickable object 15, and cursor stop position 17b are displayed. In this state, when the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated again, the pointer cursor 18 moves to the cursor stop position 17b.

9A (the clickable object 15 and the cursor stop position 17b are not displayed), the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated, and the web page 14 is moved to the movement limit distance Cv. _{If the} clickable object 15 or the cursor stop position 17b is not displayed even after scrolling upward by _1, it is necessary to operate the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote control 3 again.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, in the state where the pointer cursor 18 is moved by the movement limit distance Cv ₁ and stopped, the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at the branch point to another clickable object. In some cases, the branch point acts as a cursor stop position by operating the right key R or the left key L (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3, and the pointer cursor 18 is moved right or left. Otherwise, the pointer cursor 18 cannot be moved rightward or leftward.

  The same applies to the case where the pointer cursor 18 is moved upward along the vertical movement path 16V and the case where the pointer cursor 18 is moved rightward or leftward along the horizontal movement path 16H.

Thus, when the next cursor stop position in the moving direction is away from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 beyond the movement limit distance Cv ₁ , the pointer cursor 18 operates the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. Since the movement limit distance Cv _{1 is} moved every time, the contents of the web page 14 and the clickable object can be confirmed up to the next cursor stop position sufficiently far away, and the desired content and clickable object can be searched. Can be performed.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing still another specific example of the movement condition of the pointer cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. Reference numeral 21 denotes a movement limit line of the pointer cursor 18, which corresponds to the previous drawing. The same reference numerals are given to the portions, and overlapping description is omitted.

  In FIG. 10 (a), the web page 14 can basically move along horizontal and vertical movement paths as described in FIG. It is possible to move from the edge part to the vicinity of the side of the web page on the extension line of the movement path. In addition, a movement limit line 21 is set along the entire peripheral portion of the web page 14, and the pointer cursor 18 cannot be moved outside the movement limit line 21.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 10A, the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at, for example, the clickable object 15 located near the lower side of the web page 14, and in this state, the down key of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is used. When 4D (FIG. 1) is operated, the clickable object 15 becomes an end portion of the vertical movement path 16V passing through the clickable object 15, but the pointer cursor 18 can be moved further downward from the clickable object 15.

  By this movement, as shown in FIG. 10B, the web page 14 is scrolled upward so that the lower side thereof coincides with the lower side of the display screen 2, and the pointer cursor 18 is moved to the web page 14 at that time. Stops at the lower position of the clickable object 15 on the movement limit line 21.

Further, as in the specific example shown in FIG. 9, when the movement limit distance Cv ₁ is set, the downward movement distance of the pointer cursor 18 in this case is a distance pointer equal to or greater than the movement limit distance Cv _1. Although the cursor 18 does not move, but the distance from the clickable object 15 to the downward movement limit line 21 does not exceed the movement limit distance Cv ₁ , as shown in FIG. It moves to this movement limit line 21 and stops. Also at this time, when the lower side of the web page 14 is below the lower side of the display screen 2 as shown in FIG. 10A, as shown in FIG. The web page 14 scrolls upward so that the lower side of the screen matches the lower side of the display screen 2.

This is the same when the cursor cursor 14 is moved upward or when it is moved rightward or leftward. In this case, the movement limit distance Cv ₁ for the vertical movement path 16V and the movement limit distance Ch ₁ for the horizontal movement path 16H may be equal or different.

  In this way, the pointer cursor 18 moves to the movement limit line 21 of the web page 14, and at the same time, the web page 14 is moved upward so that the lower side of the web page 14 coincides with the lower side of the display screen 2. Since the scrolling operation is performed, it is possible to display even the side portion of the web page 14 by the movement operation of the pointer cursor 18, and the portion is not overlooked.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing still another specific example of the moving condition of the pointer cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. The parts corresponding to those in the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals and overlapped. Omitted.

  In this specific example, for the clickable object 15 close to the cursor stop position, the pointer cursor 18 moved to the cursor stop position automatically operates the clickable object 15 without operating the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. It can be moved to.

In FIG. 11A, when the branch point 17 ₁ on the vertical movement path 16V in the downward direction is the next cursor stop position with respect to the position where the pointer cursor 18 is currently stopped, the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is by operating the down key 4D (Fig. 1), as shown in FIG. 11 (b), Boyne data cursor 18 moves to the cursor stop position 17 _1.

Here, an automatic feedable distance Cv ₂ is set for the vertical movement path 16V. Automatic feeding distance Cv _2, the horizontal direction from the cursor stop position 17 (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the vertical movement path 16V pointer cursor 18 is moved) clickable object 15 in the automatic feeding distance Cv ₂ within a distance of This is the distance by which the pointer cursor 18 moved to this cursor stop position is automatically moved to this clickable object 15 when it is close.

Therefore, when the distance dx between the cursor stop position 17 ₁ pointer cursor 18 has been moved and the clickable object ₁₅₁ of the horizontal direction is dx ≦ Cv _2, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), the pointer the cursor 18 is at the same time to move to the cursor stop position 17 _1, further automatically moves to the clickable object _151, a state in which this is selected.

However, this way, the pointer cursor 18 is also moved to the clickable object _151, the position of the pointer cursor 18 at this time is represented by target became cursor stop position 17 ₁ of the coordinates of the mobile (x, y) When obtaining the next cursor stop position from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this current stop position is the coordinates (x, y) of the cursor stop position 17 _1. And

Here, although described vertical movement path 16V as an example, are the same for the horizontal movement path 16H, as the distance Ch ₂ feed automatically in this case, can feed automatically when the vertical movement path 16V distance Cv _It may be equal to ₂ or different.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing still another specific example of the moving condition of the pointer cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. Reference numeral 22 denotes a thick line cursor, and 23 denotes a block cursor, which correspond to the previous drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the portions, and overlapping description is omitted.

  In this specific example, when the pointer cursor 18 moves to the next cursor stop position, the clickable object 15 present at the position closest to the direction orthogonal to the movement direction is selected.

  FIG. 12A shows a state where the cursor stop position 17 is below the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18 and the clickable object 15 exists on the left side of the cursor stop position 17. Here, although not shown, there are a plurality of clickable objects on the left and right sides of the cursor stop position 17, and the clickable object 15 among them is the closest clickable object to the cursor stop position 17.

  When the down key 4D (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated in this state, the pointer cursor 18 moves to the next clickable object 17 on the vertical movement path 16V as shown in FIG. 12 (b). Although the pointer cursor 18 moves to the clickable object 17, the horizontal movement path 16H between the cursor stop position 17 and the clickable object 15 on the left side is displayed by the thick cursor 22, and the clickable object is moved. 15 areas are surrounded by a frame-shaped block cursor 23.

  In such a state shown in FIG. 12B, it is displayed that the clickable object 15 is selected by the pointer cursor 18 at the cursor stop position 17 by being surrounded by the block cursor 23. The thick line cursor 22 on the horizontal movement path 16H indicates that the block cursor 23 is in the same state as when it is moved from the cursor stop position 17 to the clickable object 15.

  Therefore, when the enter key 5 of the remote controller 3 is operated in this state, the click operation is performed on the clickable object 15 surrounded by the block cursor 23.

  In order to move the pointer cursor 18 to the next cursor stop position on the vertical movement path 16V, it is only necessary to operate the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 as described above.

  Here, the clickable object 15 closest to the cursor stop position 17 can be selected by the pointer cursor 18, but the closest clickable object 15 within a predetermined distance can be selected. Also good. In this case, even the clickable object 15 closest to the cursor stop position 17 is not selected when the distance to the clickable object 15 exceeds the predetermined distance.

  Further, although the pointer cursor 18 moves downward along the vertical movement path 16V, the same applies to the case where the pointer cursor 18 moves leftward and rightward along the horizontal movement path 16H.

  In this way, by moving the pointer cursor 18 to the cursor stop position 17 on the vertical movement path 16V, the clickable object 15 closest to the cursor stop position 17 in the horizontal direction is selected by the pointer cursor 18. Therefore, the operation of the cross key 4 on the remote controller 3 that moves in the horizontal direction from the cursor stop position 17 becomes unnecessary, and the operation can be simplified.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing still another specific example of the moving condition of the pointer cursor 18 in accordance with the operation of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3. Reference numeral 24 denotes a branch point, and parts corresponding to those in the previous drawings have the same reference numerals. A duplicate description is omitted.

  In this specific example, when another clickable object exists between the pointer cursor 18 and the clickable object 15, the branch point for the clickable object 15 on the movement path is not set as the object of the cursor stop position (that is, In step 103 in FIG. 7 and step 112 in FIG. 8, the above-described determination-target clickable object is not used).

Now, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), and the center position of the clickable object ₁₅₁ exists, the pointer cursor 18 and clickable object ₁₅₂ between the pointer cursor 18 and clickable object ₁₅₂ located on the cursor stop position connecting the straight line is assumed across the clickable object 15 _1. Further, the clickable object 15 ₃ are arranged side by side substantially in the downward direction and clickable object _151, a straight line connecting the center position of the pointer cursor 18 and clickable object 15 ₃ shall not cross the clickable object ₁₅₁ .

In this state, the branch point 24 of the horizontal movement path on the vertical movement path 16V with respect to the clickable object 15 ₂ cannot be the cursor stop position, and this clickable object 15 ₂ is not a determination target for the cursor stop position (see FIG. 7 is “No” in step 103). That is, the clickable object that cannot move directly in the horizontal direction from the vertical movement path 16V with the direction of travel of the pointer cursor 18 as the downward direction is not subject to determination. Such a clickable object is not related to the vertical movement path 16V at this time, and is considered to be related to another vertical movement path 16V.

Therefore, when the down key 4D (FIG. 1) of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3 is operated in such a state, as shown in FIG. 13B, the vertical movement path 16V of the horizontal movement path 16H with respect to the clickable object 15 ₃ . The branch point at is the cursor stop position 17, and the pointer cursor 18 moves to this cursor stop position 17.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), for the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, a plurality of, for example, other clickable object ₁₅₁ is present between the two clickable object 15 _2, 15 ₃ In some cases, a straight line connecting the pointer cursor 18 and the center point of each of the clickable objects 15 ₂ and 15 ₃ crosses the clickable object 15 ₁ . In this case, the one, for example, when the horizontal movement path 16H in the vertical movement path 16V for this clickable object 15 ₃ are separated by a predetermined distance or more from the clickable object _151, the clickable object 15 ₃ Is determined as a determination target as to whether or not the intersection (branch point) between the horizontal movement path 16H and the vertical movement path 16V in the future is set as the next cursor stop position. This is because a horizontal movement path for moving the pointer cursor 18 directly from the vertical movement path 16V to the clickable object 15 ₃ can be set.

Thus, when the current cursor stop position of the pointer cursor 18 can be set to the next cursor stop position 17 for the clickable object 15 ₃ on the vertical movement path 16V, as shown in FIG. The pointer cursor 18 moves to the cursor stop position 17 by operating the down key 4D of the cross key 4 of the remote controller 3.

Note that when viewed imaginary horizontal movement path shown by the broken line in clickable object 15 _2, for the horizontal movement path which crosses the clickable object _151, whether the clickable object ₁₅₂ is a cursor stop position It is not subject to judgment.

  Here, the case where the pointer cursor 18 is moved downward along the vertical movement path 16V is taken as an example. However, the same applies to the case where the pointer cursor 18 is moved upward along the vertical movement path 16V. The same applies when moving the moving path 16H in the left-right direction.

  Thus, in this specific example, the movement path is blocked by the other clickable object 15 for the clickable object whose pointer cursor 18 is behind the other clickable object 15, and therefore, the other movement path. As for the clickable object 15 related to, the pointer cursor 18 is not stopped and the clickable object to be determined is limited to the necessary one, and the number of operations of the cross key 4 of the remote control 3 is reduced.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of a cursor operation method on a web page according to the present invention, in which 25 is a touch pad, 26 is a fingertip, and parts corresponding to the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals. A duplicate description will be omitted.

  The second embodiment uses an analog operation device such as a track pole, a touch pad, or an optical pointing device, and the cursor operation similar to that of the first embodiment is performed by operating the analog operation device. It is made to be able to. However, in the second embodiment, a touch pad is used as the analog operation device. In this case, the TV receiver 1 (FIG. 1) uses an operation signal input unit from the analog operation device instead of the remote control reception unit 7 in FIG.

  Now, as shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (3), there is a vertical movement path 16V downward from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18, and further downward from the current stop position of the pointer cursor 18. It is assumed that the clickable object 15 exists and the branch point on the vertical movement path 16V of the horizontal movement path 16H is the next cursor stop position 17.

In this state, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14A, when the surface of the touch pad 25 is touched with the fingertip 26 and moved in the downward direction, the operation signal from the touch pad 25 associated with the operation is described above. is input at the input of, CPU 6 is supplied to the (Figure 2), the moving distance of the fingertip in the X coordinate direction (measuring horizontal movement distance) dx ₁ and Y-coordinate direction movement distance (measured vertically moving distance) dy ₁ and is The larger measurement moving distance is selected by comparing these magnitudes. In this case, since the fingertip 26 on the touch pad 25 is moving downward, dy ₁ > dx ₁ and the measurement vertical movement distance dy ₁ is selected.

On the other hand, a threshold value C is set for each of the measured horizontal movement distance dx and the measured vertical movement distance dy (in this case, the threshold value C for the measured horizontal movement distance dx is equal to the threshold value C for the measured vertical movement distance dy). The threshold C and the measured vertical movement distance dy ₁ are compared as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. The comparison with the threshold value C is for determining whether or not the pointer cursor 18 is actually moved on the touch pad 25. In this case, a C> dy _1, the pointer cursor 18 is the state shown in FIG. 14 (a) (3) is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 14 (b) (1), further, the downward moving operation of the fingertip 26 on Tatsuchipaddo 25 is continued, the measurement horizontal movement distance dx ₂ at that time and measure the vertical movement distance dy ₂ is The larger moving distance is selected by comparing these magnitudes. Also in this case, since the fingertip 26 on the touch pad 25 moves downward, dy ₂ > dx ₂ and the measurement vertical movement distance dy ₂ is selected. Since the selected measurement vertical movement distance dy ₂ is the same movement direction as the previous measurement vertical movement distance dy ₁ , these are added to make the measurement vertical movement distance dy ₁ + dy ₂ . When the measured vertical movement distance dy ₁ + dy ₂ is dy ₁ + dy ₂ ≧ C as shown in FIGS. 14B and 14B, a vertical movement operation is performed on the touch pad 25. As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, as in the first embodiment, the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 from the previous cursor stop position to the next cursor stop position. Move to 17.

When the pointer cursor 18 is moved from the previous cursor stop position to the next cursor stop position 17 in this way, the CPU 6 sets the used measurement vertical movement distance to 0 and waits for the next operation signal from the touch pad 25. . Alternatively, the threshold value C may be subtracted from the measured vertical movement distance dy ₁ + dy ₂ and held, and added to the measured vertical movement distance obtained from the next operation signal from the touch pad 25. However, in the state shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, when the touch pad 25 is next touched sideways, the measured horizontal moving distance dx is selected. In such a case, The result of subtracting the threshold value C from the measured vertical movement distance dy ₁ + dy ₂ is canceled.

  The same applies to the case where the fingertip 26 is operated to move sideways with the touch pad 25, and the pointer cursor 18 can be moved along the horizontal movement path 16H. Note that the threshold value C for the vertical movement path 16V and the threshold value for the horizontal movement path 16H may be equal or different.

  In this way, in the second embodiment, the operation on the touch pad 25 is analog, but by comparing the measured moving distance with the threshold C, the cross key in the first embodiment is used. The same movement operation of the pointer cursor 18 as when 4 is operated can be performed.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of a cursor operation method on a web page according to the present invention, in which 27 is a cursor movement threshold frame, 28 is an area within the cursor movement threshold, and corresponds to the previous drawing. The same reference numerals are given to the portions, and overlapping description is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the pointer cursor 18 is moved using an analog operation device. However, the third embodiment measures the analog operation device measured by the second embodiment. The CPU 6 (FIG. 2) compares the moving operation amount with the threshold value C and moves the pointer cursor 18 to the next cursor stop position, whereas the user can recognize the operation amount for moving to the next cursor stop position. It is a thing.

  In FIG. 15A, when the pointer cursor 18 is stopped at the cursor stop position, the pointer cursor 18 is set at the center point in the cursor movement threshold value inside area 28 defined by the square or rectangular cursor movement threshold value frame 27. ing. Here, the cursor movement threshold frame 27 is set so that two opposing sides are parallel to the vertical movement path 16V, and the other two opposite sides are parallel to the horizontal movement path 16H. The distance from the center point in the cursor movement threshold value area 28 to the cursor movement threshold frame 27 in the vertical direction is set to a distance corresponding to the threshold value C used in the second embodiment.

  Here, as described with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14A, when a downward movement operation is performed with the analog operation device, as described with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the downward operation is performed. When the amount is detected and the operation signal is supplied to the CPU 6, the CPU 6 moves the pointer cursor 18 downward along the vertical movement path 16 </ b> V within the cursor movement threshold value area 28 according to the measured vertical movement distance dy. Move to. At this time, the cursor movement threshold frame 27 remains stopped.

  When the pointer cursor 18 moves by the above threshold C together with the operation with the analog operation device, the pointer cursor 18 reaches the cursor movement threshold frame 27 as shown in FIG. When the same operation is performed with the analog operation device, the measured vertical movement distance dy is equivalent to the value exceeding the threshold C as in the second embodiment, and the pointer cursor 18 is shown in FIG. 15C. However, it moves to the next cursor stop position 17 together with the cursor movement threshold frame 27. Then, the cursor movement threshold frame 27 is positioned so that the pointer cursor 18 stops at the next cursor stop position 17 and the pointer cursor 18 is again positioned at the center point of the cursor movement threshold value inside area 28.

  The same applies when an upward operation is performed with an analog operation device, and the same applies when the operation is performed in the left-right direction.

  In this way, when the pointer cursor 18 is moved by the analog operation device so that the pointer cursor 18 exceeds the cursor movement threshold frame 27, the pointer cursor 18 moves to the next cursor stop position 17. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the amount of operation necessary for the pointer cursor 18 to move to the next cursor stop position 17, and the operability is improved.

If the operation is stopped by moving the fingertip away from the analog operation device before the pointer cursor 18 exceeds the cursor movement threshold frame 27, the pointer cursor 18 returns to the center point of the cursor movement threshold value area 28.
As described above, in order to achieve the above object, the cursor operating device according to the present invention is movable to select a plurality of selectable clickable objects and one of the plurality of clickable objects. A display screen on which a first cursor, a second cursor added to the clickable object selected by the first cursor and indicating that the clickable object is in a selected state, and a moving direction of the first cursor The first cursor is designated on the basis of an input means for inputting a movement direction designation signal for designating either a horizontal direction or a vertical direction on the display screen, and a movement direction designation signal input from the input means. Control means for moving in a direction that moves in the vertical direction passing through the clickable object on the display screen. The vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path in the horizontal direction are set, and a predetermined intersection of the intersections of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path is set as a cursor stop position at which the first cursor can be stopped and input from the input means. The first cursor is moved to the next cursor stop position along the movement path in the designated direction out of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path in accordance with the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal. When the cursor stop position to which the first cursor has moved is the position of the clickable object, the second cursor is displayed on the clickable object.
In addition, the control means has an intersection point on the movement path from the current position of the first cursor in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means, which is greater than the current position of the first cursor. The first cursor follows the intersection point for the clickable object on the specified direction side and intersecting the clickable object passing through the clickable object closest to the current position of the first cursor. This is the cursor stop position at which to stop.
Also, the clickable object closest to the current position of the first cursor has a distance d ₁ from the current position of the first cursor to the intersection with the clickable object, and the distance from the intersection with the clickable object to the clickable object. The distance is d ₂ and the sum of distances d is
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
Suppose that the clickable object has the smallest sum d of distances.
Further, the side of the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal inputted from the input means is designated by the movement direction designation signal inputted from the input means rather than the current position of the first cursor. The intersection point with the clickable object in the direction opposite to the direction is excluded from candidates for the stop position of the cursor.
In addition, the control means sets the movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and reaches the next cursor stop position on the movement path in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means. When the distance exceeds the movement limit distance, the position of the movement limit distance is set as the cursor stop position.
When the clickable object does not exist in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means, rather than the clickable object currently selected by the first cursor, the control means In the reverse direction, the entire image displayed on the display screen is scrolled to the displayable limit, and the first cursor is moved to a position that can be displayed on the display screen in the designated direction.
When the first cursor moves from the current position to the next cursor stop position specified by the movement direction designation signal, the control means moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction specified from the next cursor stop position. When the distance to the existing clickable object is set and is equal to or less than the threshold value, the clickable object is moved from the next cursor stop position to bring the clickable object into a selected state.
When the first cursor moves from the current position to the next cursor stop position specified by the movement direction designation signal, the control means moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction specified from the next cursor stop position. A second cursor is added to the clickable object that is closest to the next cursor stop position among the existing clickable objects, and this clickable object is selected.
In addition, the control means has a second clickable position between the current position of the first cursor and the first clickable object existing on the direction side specified by the movement direction designation signal with respect to the current position of the first cursor. When an object exists, the intersection of the first cursor for the first clickable object on the movement path in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal from the current position is excluded from the cursor stop position candidates. .
In addition, the movement path between the first clickable object and the intersection with respect to the first clickable object in the movement path in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal from the current position of the first cursor is the second clickable object. When it is a predetermined distance away from the clickable object, this intersection is taken as a candidate for the cursor stop position.
Further, the movement direction designation signal is generated by the operation of the cross key including the up direction key, the down direction key, the right direction key, and the left direction key by the operation means.
The movement direction designation signal is generated by an operation of the analog operation device.
Further, when the operation amount in the movement direction designated by the analog operation device exceeds a preset threshold value, the control means moves the first cursor from the current position to the next movement path in the movement direction designated. It is moved to the cursor stop position.
In addition, the control means displays a square or rectangular cursor movement threshold frame centered on the stop position of the first cursor for the currently stopped first cursor, and is designated by an analog operation device. When the first cursor is moved in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal accompanying the operation within the frame of the cursor movement threshold frame together with the start of the operation in the movement direction, and when the first cursor reaches the cursor movement threshold frame, It is moved to the next cursor stop position in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal.
In order to achieve the above object, the cursor operation method according to the present invention can be selected by the control of the control means based on the movement direction designation signal generated by the operation of the operation means and input from the input unit. A cursor operation method for moving a cursor displayed with multiple clickable objects on a simple display screen, and a horizontal horizontal movement path and a vertical vertical movement path passing through the clickable object are set as the movement paths of the cursor The clickable object and the intersection of the horizontal movement path and the vertical movement path are set as a cursor stop position where the cursor can be stopped, and the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal generated by the operation means is generated every time the operation means is operated. It is moved from the cursor stop position to the next cursor stop position in the movement path.
Also, among the intersections on the movement path from the current position of the cursor in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal, the intersection is on the direction side specified from the current position of the cursor and is the most from the current position of the cursor. The intersection point for the clickable object where the movement path orthogonal to the specified direction passing through the clickable object at the close position intersects is set as the cursor stop position at which the cursor stops next.
Further, the clickable object closest to the current position of the cursor has a distance from the current position of the cursor to the intersection with the clickable object as d _1, and a distance from the intersection with the clickable object to the clickable object as d ₂ , Sum of distances d
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
The clickable object has the smallest distance sum d.
In addition, the intersection of the clickable object whose direction in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal is in the direction opposite to the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal from the current position of the cursor is a candidate for the cursor stop position. Are excluded.
Also, the control means sets the movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and the distance to the next cursor stop position on the movement path moves in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal by the operation means. When the limit distance is exceeded, the position of the movement limit distance is set as the cursor stop position.
In addition, when there is no clickable object in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal, the control means displays it on the display screen in the direction opposite to the specified direction from the clickable object currently selected by the cursor. The entire image is scrolled to the displayable limit and the cursor is moved to a position where it can be displayed on the display screen in the designated direction.
Also, when the cursor is moved from the current position to the next cursor stop position specified by the movement direction specification signal by the operation of the operating means, it exists in the direction perpendicular to the direction specified from the next cursor stop position. When the distance to the clickable object to be set is less than or equal to the threshold value, the clickable object is moved from the next cursor stop position to make the clickable object selected.
Also, when the cursor moves from the current position to the next cursor stop position specified by the movement direction designation signal under the control of the control means, it exists in a direction perpendicular to the direction specified from the next cursor stop position. A second cursor is added to the clickable object closest to the next cursor stop position among the clickable objects to be placed, and this clickable object is selected.
Further, the second clickable object exists between the current position of the cursor and the first clickable object existing on the direction side specified by the movement direction designation signal with respect to the current position of the cursor under the control of the control means. At this time, the intersection point on the movement path in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal from the current position of the cursor with respect to the first clickable object is excluded from the cursor stop position candidates.
Further, the movement path between the first clickable object and the intersection with the first clickable object in the movement path in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal from the current position of the cursor is the second clickable object. When a predetermined distance is left, the intersection is set as a candidate for the cursor stop position.
The operation means is a cross key of an up direction key, a down direction key, a right direction key, and a left direction key.
The operation means is an analog operation device.
Also, when the operation amount in the movement direction specified by the analog operation device exceeds a preset threshold, the cursor is moved from the current position to the next cursor stop position on the movement path in the movement direction specified. It is.
In addition, the control means displays a square or rectangular cursor movement threshold frame centered on the stop position of the cursor for the currently stopped cursor, and displays the movement direction specified by the operation of the analog operation device. When the operation starts, the cursor is moved in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal accompanying the operation within the cursor movement threshold frame, and when the cursor reaches the cursor movement threshold frame, the cursor is moved in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal. The cursor is moved to the next cursor stop position.
As described above, according to the present invention, the movement path for moving the cursor from the current position to the target clickable object can be easily recognized, and the operation for that can be performed reliably.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one specific example of the terminal device using the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration in the TV receiver in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the basic movement path | route of the cursor on the web page accompanying operation of the cross key in FIG. 1 in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the movement form of the cursor in the web page based on the basic method shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows one specific example of the selection method of the cursor stop position which the cursor stops in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the selection method of the cursor stop position which the cursor stops in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of CPU for moving a point cursor according to operation of the cross key of a remote control based on the determination conditions of the cursor stop position shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of CPU for moving a point cursor when the right direction key or left direction key of the cross key of a remote control is operated by step 100 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the movement conditions of the pointer cursor accompanying operation of the cross key of the remote control in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the movement conditions of the pointer cursor accompanying operation of the cross key of the remote control in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the movement conditions of the pointer cursor accompanying operation of the cross key of the remote control in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the movement conditions of the pointer cursor accompanying operation of the cross key of the remote control in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of the movement conditions of the pointer cursor accompanying operation of the cross key of the remote control in 1st Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment of the operation method of the cursor by the web page by this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation method of the cursor in the conventional web page.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 TV receiver 2 Display screen 3 Remote control 4 Cross key 4U Up direction key 4D Down direction key 4R Right direction key 4L Left direction key 5 Enter key 6 CPU (central processing unit)
7 Remote control receiver 8 Information display 9 Storage device 10 Network I / F (interface)
11 Removable media I / F
12 power supply 13 bus 14 web page 15, 15a to 15h, 15 ₁ to 15 ₆ clickable object 16H _{1 to} 16H ₆ horizontal movement path 16V _{1 to} 16V ₃ vertical movement path 17, 17a to 17j cursor stop position 17 _{1 to} 17 ₆ branch Point 18 Pointer cursor 19 Block cursor 20 Contents 21 Pointer cursor movement limit line 22 Thick line cursor 23 Block cursor 24 Branch point 25 Touch pad 26 Fingertip 27 Cursor movement threshold frame 28 Cursor movement threshold area

Claims (10)

A plurality of selectable clickable objects, a movable first cursor for selecting any one of the plurality of clickable objects, and the clickable object selected by the first cursor. A display screen on which a second cursor indicating that the clickable object is in a selected state is displayed;
An input means for inputting a movement direction designation signal for designating the movement direction of the first cursor by either a horizontal direction or a vertical direction on the display screen;
Control means for moving the first cursor in a designated direction based on the movement direction designation signal input from the input means;
The control means includes
On the display screen, a vertical vertical movement path and a horizontal horizontal movement path passing through the clickable object are set, and a predetermined intersection among the intersections of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path is set as the first intersection. Set the cursor to the cursor stop position where the cursor can be stopped.
In accordance with the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means, the first cursor is moved along the movement path in the designated direction of the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path. To the cursor stop position of
An apparatus for operating a cursor, characterized in that, when the cursor stop position to which the first cursor has moved is the position of the clickable object, the second cursor is displayed on the clickable object. In claim 1,
The control means includes the first cursor out of the intersection points on the movement path from the current position of the first cursor in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means. The clickable object that is closer to the specified direction than the current position and intersects the movement path orthogonal to the specified direction passing through the clickable object that is closest to the current position of the first cursor. intersection of the first cursor next operating system features and to Luke cursor that said cursor stop position to stop against. In claim 2,
The clickable object that is closest to the current position of the first cursor has a distance from the current position of the first cursor to the intersection point with respect to the clickable object as d _1, and the intersection point with respect to the clickable object. And the distance from the clickable object to d ₂ is d ₂
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
The cursor operating device is characterized in that the clickable object has a minimum sum d of the distances. In claim 2 or 3,
The control means includes the movement direction designation signal that is input from the input means such that the side in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means is greater than the current position of the first cursor. The cursor operating device is characterized in that the intersection point with respect to the clickable object in a direction opposite to the direction specified in (1) is excluded from candidates for the stop position of the cursor. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The control means includes
Set a movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path,
When the distance to the next cursor stop position on the movement path in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal input from the input means exceeds the movement restriction distance, the position of the movement restriction distance is determined. The cursor operating device, wherein the cursor is at the stop position. Based on the movement direction designation signal generated by the operation of the operation means and input from the input unit, the control of the control means controls the cursor that moves the cursor displayed together with the plurality of clickable objects on the selectable display screen. In operation method,
A horizontal movement path in the horizontal direction passing through the clickable object and a vertical movement path in the vertical direction are set as the movement paths of the cursor, and the intersection of the clickable object and the horizontal movement path and the vertical movement path is set to the cursor. Is the cursor stop position where can be stopped,
Each time the operation means is operated, the cursor is moved from the cursor stop position to the next cursor stop position along the movement path in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal generated thereby.
A method of operating a cursor characterized by the above. In claim 6,
Of the intersections in the movement path from the current position of the cursor in the direction specified by the movement direction specification signal, the current position of the cursor is closer to the direction specified than the current position of the cursor. The intersection point with respect to the clickable object where the movement path orthogonal to the specified direction passing through the clickable object closest to the position of the position intersects is set as the cursor stop position at which the cursor stops next. How to operate the cursor. In claim 7,
The clickable object closest to the current position of the cursor has a distance d from the current position of the cursor to the intersection point with respect to the clickable object. ₁ And the distance from the intersection point to the clickable object to the clickable object is d ₂ And the distance sum d
d = A · d ₁ + B · d ₂
Or
d = √ {(A · d ₁ ) ² + (B · d ₂ ) ² }
(However, A and B are weighting factors of A = B or A ≠ B)
A method of operating a cursor, characterized in that the clickable object has a minimum sum d of the distances. In claim 7 or 8,
The intersection of the cursor with the clickable object whose side in the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal is in a direction opposite to the direction designated by the movement direction designation signal is smaller than the current position of the cursor. A method of operating a cursor, characterized in that it is excluded from candidates for stop positions. In any one of Claims 6-9,
The control means sets a movement limit distance for the vertical movement path and the horizontal movement path, and the next cursor stop position on the movement path in the direction specified by the movement direction designation signal by the operation means. When the distance up to exceeds the movement limit distance, a position of the movement limit distance is set as the cursor stop position.

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