JP6221293B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

  Various information processing apparatuses that can be carried (also called portable) have been proposed. Such information processing apparatuses include, for example, a tablet computer and a smart phone.

  Such an information processing apparatus includes a display device, displays a plurality of controls on the display surface of the display device, and operates a user's finger on the displayed controls and an operation of a pointing object (also referred to as a pointing device). To detect. The information processing apparatus executes processing corresponding to the operated operator. An example of such an operator is an icon.

  In addition, another device that detects a user operation on the display surface and scrolls the screen according to the content of the operation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, another device that detects a user's operation on the operation panel and executes various processes according to the content of the operation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2012-141978 Special table 2009-532770

  The shape of such an information processing apparatus is, for example, a plate shape, and the size can be held by a user with one hand. Here, it is assumed that the user holds the information processing apparatus with one hand. In this case, the user holds the display surface of the information processing apparatus so that the user can hold the lower corner of the information processing apparatus between the thumb and index finger of the dominant hand.

  When the user is right-handed, the user holds the lower right corner of the information processing apparatus so as to be sandwiched between the thumb and index finger of the right hand. Then, the user operates the information processing apparatus by touching the thumb displayed on the display surface with the thumb of the right hand. The middle finger and ring finger in the right hand support the bottom surface of the information processing device in cooperation with the index finger. This bottom surface is the opposite surface to the display surface.

  As described above, when the user holds and operates the information processing apparatus with one hand, a situation may occur in which the information processing apparatus cannot be operated with another hand. For example, when a user is using a congested transportation system (for example, a bus or train), he / she supports his / her body with a strap or handrail with one hand, or with another hand. Etc., the user cannot operate the information processing apparatus with another hand.

  As described above, when the user has to operate the information processing apparatus with only one hand, it may not be possible to operate all the operators displayed on the display surface with the thumb of only one hand. For example, the user cannot operate the operation element displayed in a place where the thumb of one hand cannot reach with the thumb of this one hand.

  In particular, in recent years, the display area of the display surface tends to increase. Therefore, the range that cannot be operated with the thumb of one hand is expanding.

  In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to easily operate a displayed operator with one hand.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect displays a display device and a plurality of operators on the display device, and in response to an operation on the first region on the display surface of the display device, the second region on the display surface And displaying a predetermined number of controls among the plurality of controls and executing a process corresponding to the operated controls in response to an operation on the controls displayed in the second area. A control unit.

  According to one aspect, the displayed operator can be easily operated with one hand.

FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which a user holds an information processing apparatus with one hand. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which an initial operation screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of the information processing apparatus 100. FIG. 3 is an example of a hardware block diagram of the information processing apparatus 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon management table T1. FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the flow of display processing of the thumb operation icon screen. FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart for explaining in detail the process of step S4 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. As shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display change operation of the thumb operation icon screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the top screen described in FIG. 2 is scroll-displayed and the second top screen is displayed on the display surface 101. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon management table T1a. FIG. 12 is another example of a flowchart for explaining the process of step S4 of FIG. 5 in detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 when the user traces the thumb operation icon screen GD1 five times in the state of FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a square thumb operation icon screen. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining column-unit and matrix-unit icons displayed on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a state in which the thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of FIG.

[First embodiment]
(Information processing device)
FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which a user holds an information processing apparatus with one hand. The shape of the information processing apparatus 100 is a rectangular plate shape. The information processing apparatus 100 displays various images on the display surface 101. The housing 102 accommodates the display device of the information processing apparatus 100, various electronic components (not shown), and the like, and has a shape that exposes the display surface 101. In the description of the following drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals as appropriate, and the description once made is omitted.

  The size of the display surface 101 is, for example, 3 to 10 inches. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 100 can be held by the user with one hand. Assume that a user of the information processing apparatus 100 holds and operates the information processing apparatus 100 with one hand. In the following description, the right hand of the user is illustrated unless otherwise specified. The user holds the lower right corner of the information processing apparatus 100 indicated by the arrow AR1 so as to be sandwiched between the thumb TH of the right hand RH and the index finger IF. Further, the user supports the bottom surface of the information processing apparatus 100 with the middle finger and the ring finger of the right hand together with the index finger IF.

  Thus, even if the user can hold the information processing apparatus 100 with one hand, the range in which the user cannot operate with the thumb of one hand increases as the area of the information processing apparatus 100, in other words, the display surface 101 increases.

(the top screen)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which an initial operation screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 displays an initial operation screen on the display surface 101 in response to, for example, a user turning on a power switch. This initial operation screen is a screen that displays an icon of an application (also referred to as an application) frequently used by a user or an icon of a data file, and is also referred to as a desktop screen or a top screen. Hereinafter, the initial operation screen is referred to as a top screen as appropriate.

  The information processing apparatus 100 displays M × N icons on the display surface 101, for example, in a matrix of M columns and N rows (M and N are integers of 1 or more). In the example of FIG. 2, M and N are both 4, and 16 (4 × 4) icons arranged in a matrix of 4 rows and 4 columns are displayed on the display surface 101. Note that the information processing apparatus 100 may display less than M × N icons.

  In FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 100 displays an icon I_1_1, an icon I_1_2, an icon I_1_3, and an icon I_1_4 on the first line, counted from the drawing, and an icon I_2_1, an icon I_2_2, an icon I_2_3, Display icon I_2_4. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 100 displays the icon I_3_1, the icon I_3_2, the icon I_3_3, and the icon I_3_4 on the third line, and displays the icon I_4_1, the icon I_4_2, the icon I_4_3, and the icon I_4_4 on the fourth line.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 displays a character string for explaining the icon below the icon. In FIG. 2, the portions indicated by reference symbols A_1_1 to A_1_4 displayed below the icons I_1_1 to I_1_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_1_1 to I_1_4, respectively. The portions indicated by reference symbols A_2_1 to A_2_4 displayed below the icons I_2_1 to I_2_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_2_1 to I_2_4, respectively. The portions indicated by reference symbols A_3_1 to A_3_4 displayed below the icons I_3_1 to I_3_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_3_1 to I_3_4, respectively. The portions indicated by the symbols A_4_1 to A_4_4 displayed below the icons I_4_1 to I_4_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_4_1 to I_4_4, respectively.

  The icon I_1_1 displayed on the display surface 101 is, for example, a browser activation icon. The icon I_1_1 is associated with browser activation processing (also called assigned). The name of this browser is displayed in the part indicated by the symbol A_1_1.

  When the user touches and selects an icon displayed on the display surface 101 with a finger, the information processing apparatus 100 executes processing corresponding to the selected icon. As a process corresponding to the icon, for example, there is a process of starting an application corresponding to the icon.

  If the user holds the information processing apparatus 100 displaying the top screen described in FIG. 2 with the right hand as described in FIG. 1, the range within which the thumb TH can reach is indicated by the dotted line R1. It shows with. Hereinafter, this range is referred to as a thumb operable region R1 as appropriate. As described above, when the user holds the information processing apparatus 100 with the right hand, the user cannot touch the icon displayed outside the thumb operable area R1 with the thumb TH. For example, the user cannot touch the icons I_1_1 to I_1_4, the icons I_2_1 to the icons I_2_4, the icons I_3_1, and the icons I_4_1 with the thumb TH.

  Therefore, even when the user holds and operates the information processing apparatus 100 with one hand, the user interface screen on which all the operators displayed on the display surface 101 can be operated with the finger of one hand is displayed. It is displayed on the processing device 100. This operator is, for example, an icon. 2 indicates the origin coordinate of the display surface 101, and Pt indicates the contact position coordinate of the user's thumb. A broken line indicated by a reference R1 ′ in FIG. 2 indicates a range in which the thumb TH reaches when the user holds the information processing apparatus 100 displaying the top screen described in FIG. 2 with the left hand. The symbols P0, Pt, R1 ′ will be described later.

(Hardware block diagram)
FIG. 3 is an example of a hardware block diagram of the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13, a communication device 14, a voice input / output device 15, and a touch detection device that are connected to each other via a bus B. 16, a pressure sensitive detection device 17, a recording medium reading device 18, and a display device 19.

  The CPU 11 is a computer that controls the entire information processing apparatus 100. A computer is an example of a control unit. The memory 12 stores various control information, data calculated in various information processing executed by the CPU 11, and the like. The CPU 11 reads the control program 121, the GUI program 122, the application group 123, and the icon management table T1 from the storage device 13 and expands them in the memory 12.

  The control program 121 is a program that controls the information processing apparatus 100, and is, for example, an operating system (OS) or a device driver. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) program 122 displays an icon on the display surface 101, and when this icon is operated, activates an application corresponding to the icon. The application group 123 is a plurality of applications, such as a browser application, an e-mail application, an application that accesses a server that provides various services, an accounting application, a document creation application, and a spreadsheet application. Servers that provide various services are servers that provide social networking services (SNS), and servers that distribute video and music. The icon management table T1 and the icon storage area T2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The storage device 13 is a variety of storage devices, for example, a magnetic storage device such as a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage device 13 stores a control program 121, a GUI program 122, an application group 123, and an icon management table T1. Further, the storage device 13 stores four coordinates that specify the four corners of the thumb operable region R1. In addition, the image data of the icon is stored together with a code for identifying the icon. Note that the storage device 13 may store four coordinates that specify the four corners of the thumb operable region R1 ′.

  The communication device 14 has a wireless communication function, for example, and transmits and receives signals via the antenna AT. The voice input / output device 15 includes a speaker that outputs voice and a microphone that inputs voice.

  The touch detection device 16 is provided, for example, on the display surface 101 side of the display device 19, and when the user touches a desired position on the display surface 101 (also referred to as touch), the position where the user touches the display surface 101. The coordinates indicating are output. The touch detection device 16 is an example of a detection device that detects a user operation on the display surface 101 of the display device 19. Note that the operation method of the touch detection device 16 includes, for example, a capacitance method and a resistance film method.

  The pressure-sensitive detection device 17 is provided on the display surface 101 side, for example, and outputs a value of pressure applied when the user touches the display surface 101 when the user touches a desired position on the display surface 101. To do.

  The recording medium reading device 18 is a device that reads data recorded on the recording medium M1. The recording medium M1 is a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. The control program 121, the GUI program 122, and the application group 123 may be recorded in advance on the recording medium M1.

  The display device 19 includes a display panel that displays various images and a drive element that drives the display elements of the display panel. This display panel is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel.

(Icon management table)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon management table T1. The icon management table T1 is a table for managing information related to icons in the top screen. The GUI program 122 displays a top screen on the display surface 101 based on this icon management table.

  The icon management table T1 has an arrangement column column for storing codes indicating icon arrangement columns in the uppermost row, and an arrangement row column for storing codes indicating icon arrangement rows in the leftmost column. In a portion (also referred to as a cell) where the row in the arrangement row column and the column in the arrangement column column intersect, a code indicating an icon arranged at the intersection between this row and this column is stored. The code | symbol which shows the icon arrange | positioned at this intersection is also an identifier which identifies this icon.

  The arrangement column column of the icon management table T1 stores codes CL1 to CL4 indicating the arrangement sequence of icons displayed on the top screen. Arrangement columns CL1 to CL4 indicate icon arrangement columns 1 to 4 in FIG. The arrangement line column of the icon management table T1 stores codes RW1 to RW4 indicating the arrangement lines of icons displayed on the top screen. Arrangement lines RW1 to RW4 indicate icon arrangement lines 1 to 4 in FIG.

  Each cell stores a code for identifying each icon shown in FIG. For example, a code I_1_1 for identifying the icon I_1_1 in the first row and the first column in FIG. 2 is stored in the cell where the arrangement column CL1 and the arrangement row RW1 intersect. In other words, the intersection between the arrangement row column and the arrangement column column indicates the display position on the top screen of the icon identified by the code stored in the intersection. For example, the display position of the top screen in FIG. 2 of the icon I_1_1 identified by the symbol I_1_1 is the location of the first row and the first column.

  The GUI program 122 creates an icon management table T1 in response to an instruction to register an icon on the top screen by the user. Specifically, the user instructs the information processing apparatus 100 to display an icon registration screen (not shown) for displaying icons on the top screen. The icon to be displayed on the top screen is displayed on the icon registration screen.

  The GUI program 122 of the information processing apparatus 100 displays an icon registration screen on the display surface 101 in response to this instruction. Then, the user selects an icon to be displayed on the top screen on the icon registration screen, further specifies the display position of this icon on the top screen, and instructs the GUI program 122 to register the icon on the top screen.

  The GUI program 122 stores a code (also referred to as an identifier) for identifying the icon selected by the user in the icon management table T1 in association with the display position of this icon. For example, the user selects the icon I_1_1 (see FIG. 2) on the icon registration screen and designates the display position of the icon I_1_1 on the top screen in the upper left corner of the top screen. The top left corner of the top screen is assumed to be the position of the first row and the first column in FIG.

  Then, the GUI program 122 may store the identification code I_1_1 of the icon I_1_1 in a cell of 1 row and 1 column in the icon management table T1 corresponding to the upper left corner of the top screen.

  Although not shown in FIG. 4, the icon management table T1 stores the coordinates for displaying the icon on the display surface 101 in FIG.

  When displaying the top screen, the GUI program 122 reads the image data of the icon stored in the storage device 13 in correspondence with the code for identifying the icon in the icon management table T1, and expands it in the memory 12. Then, the GUI program 122 displays this icon at the display coordinates of this icon based on the image data of this icon.

(Thumb operation icon screen display process)
The display process of the thumb operation icon screen in the present embodiment will be described in detail. Here, the thumb operation icon screen is, for example, the thumb operation icon screen D1 of FIG. The thumb operation icon screen is also called a thumb operation launcher.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the flow of display processing of the thumb operation icon screen. Here, the user performs a touch operation with the thumb on the display surface 101 in FIG. The specific contents of each step will be described later.

  Step S1: The GUI program 122 determines whether an operation for starting the thumb operation icon screen has been executed. If the GUI program 122 determines that the above operation has been executed (step S1 / YES), the process proceeds to step S2.

  Step S2: The GUI program 122 displays a thumb operation icon screen in the thumb operable area R1. The thumb operation icon screen will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Step S3: The GUI program 122 determines whether a display change operation of the thumb operation icon screen has been detected. When the GUI program 122 detects the above-described display change operation (step S3 / YES), the process proceeds to step S4. The display change operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Step S4: The GUI program 122 executes a thumb change icon screen display change process corresponding to the display change operation in step S3. The display change processing of the thumb operation icon screen will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Step S5: The GUI program 122 determines whether an operation for selecting an icon displayed on the thumb operation icon screen has been detected. When the GUI program 122 detects the above-described selection operation (step S5 / YES), the process proceeds to step S6.

  Step S6: The GUI program 122 starts an application corresponding to the selected icon.

  In step S1, if the GUI program 122 does not determine that the above-described operation has been performed (step S1 / NO), the GUI program 122 executes a process according to the contact position of the thumb. In step S3, when the GUI program 122 does not detect the display change operation described above (step S3 / NO), the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, when the GUI program 122 does not detect the selection operation described above (step S5 / NO), the process returns to step S3.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart for explaining in detail the process of step S4 of FIG.

  Step S41: The GUI program 122 detects the contents of the display change operation in step S3 in FIG.

  Step S42: The GUI program 122 identifies an icon to be displayed on the thumb operation icon screen based on the contents of the display change operation detected in step S41 and the contents of the icon management table, and uses the identified icon for the thumb operation icon. Display on the screen.

(Specific example of display processing of icon screen for thumb operation)
When the user performs a touch operation on the display surface 101 in FIG. 2 with the thumb, the touch detection device 16 detects the touch position coordinate Pt of the thumb and outputs it to the GUI program 122. In FIG. 2, the contact position coordinate Pt of the thumb is a coordinate having the origin at the coordinate P0 in the lower left corner of the display surface 101, for example.

  The GUI program 122 executes an operation for starting the thumb operation icon screen when the contact position coordinate Pt of the thumb is in the thumb operable region R1 in FIG. 2 and the region in which no icon is displayed. (Step S1 / YES). The GUI program 122 reads from the storage device 13 four coordinates that specify the four corners of the thumb operable region R1 stored in the storage device 13. The GUI program 122 executes the determination in step S1 described above based on these four coordinates and the coordinates at which the icon of the thumb operable region R1 is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the above-described region where icons are not displayed is a region where icons I_3_2 to icons I_3_4 and icons I_4_2 to icons I_4_4 are not displayed in the thumb operable region R1. In the case of the thumb contact position coordinate Pt in FIG. 2, the thumb contact position coordinate Pt is in the thumb operable region R1 in FIG. 2 and in the region where no icon is displayed. In this case, the GUI program 122 determines that an operation for starting the thumb operation icon screen has been executed (step S1 / YES).

  If no icon is displayed in the thumb operable area R1 in FIG. 2, the GUI program 122 is used for thumb operation when the thumb contact position coordinate Pt is in the thumb operable area R1 in FIG. It is determined that an operation for starting the icon screen has been executed.

  The GUI program 122 displays the thumb operation icon screen in the thumb operable area R1 (step S2). Specifically, the GUI program 122 duplicates the uppermost row, the leftmost column, and the row indicated by the reference numeral RW1 in FIG. 4 and stores them in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. In this case, the GUI program 122 stores the symbols I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, and I_1_4, which are the contents of the first row indicated by the symbol RW1, together with the uppermost row and the leftmost column in the icon storage area T2.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the memory 12 stores the contents of the first row indicated by the symbol RW1 together with the uppermost row and the leftmost column of FIG.

  Next, the GUI program 122 displays the thumb operation icon screen in the thumb operable area R1 based on the thumb operation icon storage area T2 of the memory 12.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of FIG. The thumb operation icon screen GD1 is a donut-shaped portion between the inner periphery of the circle CR1 and the outer periphery of the circle CR2. As shown in FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays positions at which the icons identified by the symbols I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, and I_1_4 stored in the icon storage area T2 are displayed at regular intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. Is determined and stored in the memory 12. Then, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, and I_1_4 at equal intervals based on the determined coordinates. In FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, and I_1_4 in the 0 o'clock direction, 3 o'clock direction, 6 o'clock direction, and 9 o'clock direction on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. The 0 o'clock direction is the upper side of FIG. 8, the 3 o'clock direction is the right side of FIG. 8, the 6 o'clock direction is the lower side of FIG. 8, and the 9 o'clock direction is the left side of FIG.

  When an icon corresponding to a process that the user wants to execute is displayed on the thumb operation icon screen GD1, the user performs an operation of selecting the icon with the thumb. This selection operation is, for example, an operation of touching the icon continuously with a thumb for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) (also referred to as a long press) or the icon within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second). In addition, it is an operation of touching twice (also called a double touch).

  When the GUI program 122 detects this selection operation based on the contact coordinates output by the touch detection device 16 and the determined coordinates stored in the memory 12 (step S3 / NO, step S5 / YES), the selected icon The application corresponding to is started (step S6).

  For example, in the state of FIG. 8, the user performs an operation of selecting the icon I_1_1 from the icons I_1_1 to I_1_4 displayed on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. Then, the GUI program 122 detects the selection operation of the icon I_1_1. Then, the GUI program 122 erases the top screen, starts an application (for example, a browser) corresponding to the icon I_1_1, and displays it on the display surface 101 (not shown).

  When the user touches the display surface 101 with a finger, the pressure-sensitive detection device 17 outputs a pressure value applied when the display surface 101 is touched to the GUI program 122. Therefore, when the user performs an operation of selecting the icon with the thumb, the GUI program 122 executes the selection operation when the pressure value at the time of the operation output from the pressure-sensitive detection device 17 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. It may be determined that

  When the icon to be selected by the user is not displayed on the thumb operation icon screen GD1, the user executes a display change operation on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display change operation of the thumb operation icon screen. In FIG. 9, the display of the icons I_1_1 to I_1_4 on the thumb operation icon screen GD1 of FIG.

  For example, as shown by the arrow AR2, the user can change the thumb operation icon screen GD1 while touching the circular thumb operation icon screen GD1 with the thumb (not shown). It is an operation to trace more than one lap clockwise. In this tracing operation, the user continues in the display area of one icon for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) or more so that the GUI program 122 does not erroneously detect a long press in the icon selection operation. Do not touch.

  When the GUI program 122 detects a display change operation on the thumb operation icon screen GD1 (step S3 / YES), the GUI program 122 executes display change processing on the thumb operation icon screen GD1 corresponding to the display change operation (step S4). Specifically, the GUI program 122 executes the processes of steps S41 and S42. As a method for detecting the display change operation described above, for example, a plurality of coordinates output by the touch detection device 16 is a circular shape with reference to the center of the circle CR2 within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). There is a technique performed by detecting that a locus has been formed.

  Now, the GUI program 122 detects the contents of the display change operation when executing the display change process of the thumb operation icon screen GD1 (step S41). In the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, the GUI program 122 detects how many times the user has traced the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise with a finger. Here, the GUI program 122 detects that the user has traced Nc (Nc is an integer equal to or greater than 1) around the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise with a finger. The GUI program 122 stores the detected Nc in the memory 12.

  Next, the GUI program 122 identifies an icon to be displayed on the thumb operation icon screen, and displays the identified icon on the thumb operation icon screen (step S42).

  Specifically, when Nc is less than N, the GUI program 122 copies the contents of the Nc + 1st line in the icon management table T1 of FIG. 4 and stores them in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. On the other hand, when Nc is greater than or equal to N, the GUI program 122 calculates a value obtained by dividing Nc by N and adding 1 to the remainder (hereinafter, this added value is referred to as MODi). Then, the GUI program 122 duplicates the contents of the MODi line in the icon management table T1 of FIG. 4 and stores them in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. When counting the lines described above, only the lines that store the codes identifying the icons are considered. That is, the top row of the icon management table T1 in FIG. 4 is not considered when counting the rows. In other words, the number of rows is counted from the top of the row storing the code for identifying the icon.

  In the example of FIGS. 2 and 4, N is 4. For example, when Nc is 2 (Nc is less than N), the GUI program 122 has the contents of the 3rd (2 + 1) th line indicated by the reference numeral RW3 in the icon management table T1 in FIG. 4, the reference signs I_3_1, I_3_2, I_3_3, Duplicate I_3_4 and store it in icon storage area T2. On the other hand, for example, when Nc is 5 (Nc is N or more), MODi is 2. Therefore, the GUI program 122 duplicates the symbols I_2_1, I_2_2, I_2_3, and I_2_4, which are the contents of the second row indicated by the symbol RW2, in the icon management table T1 of FIG. 4 and stores them in the icon storage area T2.

  As described with reference to FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays icons identified by symbols (for example, I_2_1, I_2_2, I_2_3, I_2_4) stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. indicate.

  In FIG. 9, for example, the user changes the thumb operation icon screen GD1 counterclockwise while touching the circular thumb operation icon screen GD1 with the thumb (not shown). It may be an operation of tracing around one or more laps.

  In this case, if the user goes counterclockwise for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, etc., the GUI program 122 displays 4, 3, 2, 1 in the icon management table T1 of FIG. , 4... Is copied and stored in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. Then, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays the icons identified by the codes stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  As described above, the GUI program 122 displays a plurality of icons on the display device 109 (see FIG. 2). The plurality of icons are, for example, 16 icons in FIG. The GUI program 122 displays a predetermined number of icons among the plurality of icons in the second area in response to a user operation on the first area on the display surface 101 of the display device 109.

  This first area is an area in which no icon is displayed in the thumb operable area R1 of FIG. The second area is, for example, an area including any one of the thumb operable areas R1, and is preferably the same area as the thumb operable area R1 or an area within the thumb operable area R1. The second area is, for example, an area where the thumb operation icon screen GD1 of FIG. 8 is displayed.

  The predetermined number is 4 in the example of FIG. 8, and the predetermined number of icons is icon I_1_1 to icon I_1_4.

  When displaying the predetermined number of icons in the second area, for example, the GUI program 122 displays a circular icon display area in the second area. The circular icon display area is, for example, an area indicated by reference numeral GD1 in FIG. Then, the GUI program 122 displays a predetermined number of icons along the inner periphery of the circular icon display area indicated by reference numeral GD1. In the example of FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_1 to I_1_4 that are a predetermined number of icons along the inner periphery. This inner peripheral part is also the inner peripheral part of the circle CR1, for example.

  In response to the icon display change operation performed on the second area, the GUI program 122 uses a predetermined number of icons displayed in the second area as icons in the plurality of icons. Therefore, the icon is changed to an icon other than the predetermined number of icons. Here, the GUI program 122 determines that the contact operation on the display surface 101 along the inner periphery is an icon display change operation. In the example of FIG. 9, for example, when the GUI program 122 detects the display change operation of the icon screen for thumb operation described in FIG.

  Note that the icons other than the predetermined number of icons are icons I_2_1, I_2_2, I_2_3, I_2_4 when the GUI program 122 detects that the user has traced the thumb operation icon screen GD1 one turn clockwise with a finger. It is.

  Since the information processing apparatus 100 displays the predetermined number of icons in the second area, a table that stores identifiers for identifying icons to be displayed on the display device 109 in a matrix corresponding to the display positions of the icons. Is provided. This table is, for example, an icon management table shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 11 described later.

  The GUI program 122 displays a plurality of icons in a matrix based on this table identifier. The GUI program 122 specifies a predetermined number of identifiers adjacent to each other in this table in response to an operation on the first area. Then, the GUI program 122 displays a predetermined number of icons identified by the identified identifier in the second area on the display surface 101. For example, the GUI program 122 identifies, for example, four identifiers I_1_1 to I_1_4 on the first line indicated by reference numeral RW1 in FIG. In the icon management table T1 of FIG. 4, the identifier I_1_1 and the identifier I_1_2 are adjacent to each other, the identifier I_1_2 and the identifier I_1_3 are adjacent to each other, and the identifier I_1_3 and the identifier I_1_4 are adjacent to each other.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays a predetermined number of icons I_1_1 to I_1_4 identified by the specified identifier in the second area on the display surface 101.

  In response to the icon display change operation performed on the second area, the GUI program 122 specifies a predetermined number of identifiers different from the identifier specified immediately before in the table. In the above example, the identifiers identified immediately before are four identifiers I_1_1 to I_1_4. In this case, for example, the GUI program 122 specifies the four identifiers I_2_1 to I_2_4 on the second line indicated by the symbol RW2 in FIG. 4 as a predetermined number of identifiers different from the identifier specified immediately before. Then, the GUI program 122 displays a predetermined number of icons identified by the identified identifier in the second area on the display surface 101.

  Finally, the GUI program 122 executes a process corresponding to the operated icon in response to a user operation on the icon displayed in the second area.

  When the user's dominant hand is the left hand, the user holds the lower left corner of the information processing apparatus 100 so as to be sandwiched between the thumb and index finger of the left hand. Further, the user supports the bottom surface of the information processing apparatus 100 with the middle finger and the ring finger of the left hand together with the index finger of the left hand. In this case, the thumb operable area is a broken line area indicated by reference symbol R1 ′ in FIG. The user inputs in advance to the information processing apparatus 100 whether his / her dominant hand is the right hand or the left hand. When it is input that the dominant hand is the right hand, the GUI program 122 regards the thumb operable area as a dotted line area indicated by reference numeral R1 in FIG. On the other hand, when it is input that the dominant hand is the left hand, the GUI program 122 regards the thumb operable area as a broken line area indicated by reference numeral R1 ′ in FIG.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the user holds the information processing apparatus with one hand, the icon displayed on the top screen in the thumb operable area where the thumb of one hand reaches The icon screen for thumb operation which displays the icon registered as is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily operate the icon on the thumb operation icon screen with the thumb of one hand while holding the information processing apparatus with one hand. By this operation, processing corresponding to the operated icon is executed. As a result, user convenience is improved.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, all the icons registered as icons displayed on the top screen are displayed on the thumb operation icon screen by the display change operation of the thumb operation icon screen by the user. Can be displayed sequentially. Therefore, selection operation can be performed on all icons displayed on the top screen. As a result, user convenience is improved.

[Switching the top screen]
The number of icons registered as icons displayed on the top screen may exceed the maximum number of icons that can be displayed on one top screen. In this case, a plurality of top screens are scrolled and icons are displayed on each top screen. For example, assume that the number of icons registered as icons displayed on the top screen is 32, and the maximum number of icons that can be displayed on one top screen is 16. In this case, the information processing apparatus scrolls the two top screens and displays 16 icons on each top screen. Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus that displays a thumb operation icon screen display when icons are displayed on a plurality of top screens will be described.

(the top screen)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the top screen described in FIG. 2 is scroll-displayed and the second top screen is displayed on the display surface 101. When 32 icons are displayed under the above-described conditions, 16 icons are further displayed on the second top screen.

  In FIG. 10, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_5_1, icons I_5_2, icons I_5_3, and icons I_5_4 on the first line and icons I_6_1, icons I_6_2, icons I_6_3, and icons on the second line. I_6_4 is displayed. Further, the GUI program 122 displays the icon I_7_1, the icon I_7_2, the icon I_7_3, and the icon I_7_4 on the third line, and displays the icon I_8_1, the icon I_8_2, the icon I_8_3, and the icon I_8_4 on the fourth line.

  In FIG. 10, the portions indicated by reference signs A_5_1 to A_5_4 displayed below the icons I_5_1 to I_5_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_5_1 to I_5_4, respectively. The portions indicated by the symbols A_6_1 to A_6_4 displayed below the icons I_6_1 to I_6_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_6_1 to I_6_4, respectively. The portions indicated by reference symbols A_7_1 to A_7_4 displayed below the icons I_7_1 to I_7_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_7_1 to I_7_4, respectively. The portions indicated by the symbols A_8_1 to A_8_4 displayed below the icons I_8_1 to I_8_4 schematically show character strings for explanation of the icons I_8_1 to I_8_4, respectively.

(Icon management table)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon management table T1a. The icon management table T1a stores the lines indicated by reference numerals RW5 to RW8 in addition to the icon management table T1 of FIG. The arrangement line column of the icon management table T1a includes, in addition to the symbols RW1 to RW4 indicating the icon arrangement lines displayed on the first top screen, the second top that is the next top screen of the first top screen. Reference numerals RW5 to RW8 indicating the arrangement lines of icons displayed on the screen are stored. The first top screen is, for example, a screen displayed on the display surface 101 in FIG. 2, and the second top screen is, for example, a screen displayed on the display surface 101 in FIG.

  Arrangement lines RW5 to RW8 indicate icon arrangement lines 1 to 4 in FIG. Each cell stores a code for identifying each icon shown in FIG. A portion where the arrangement column CL1 to the arrangement column CL4 and the arrangement row RW5 to the arrangement row RW8 intersect stores a code for identifying each icon shown in FIG. For example, a code I_5_1 for identifying the icon I_5_1 in the first row and the first column in FIG. 10 is stored in the cell where the arrangement column CL1 and the arrangement row RW5 intersect.

(Thumb operation icon screen display process)
The display process of the thumb operation icon screen in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  Assume that the memory 12 of the information processing apparatus 100 stores the icon management table T1a of FIG. 11 and further displays the top screen shown in FIG. Then, the processes in steps S1 to S3 described in FIG. 5 are sequentially executed, and the process in step S4, that is, the process in FIG. 12 is executed.

  FIG. 12 is another example of a flowchart for explaining the process of step S4 of FIG. 5 in detail. The flowchart of FIG. 12 is obtained by inserting steps S41a and S41b between steps S41 and S42 in the flowchart of FIG. In other words, step S41a, step S41b, and step S42 are sequentially executed after step S41. Note that the processing of step S41 and step S42 has been described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Step S41a: The GUI program 122 determines whether to switch the currently displayed top screen to another top screen based on the contents of the display change operation detected in step S41 and the icon management table T1a of FIG. If it is determined to switch (step S41a / YES), the process proceeds to step S41b.

  Step S41b: The GUI program 122 identifies an icon to be displayed on another top screen based on the contents of the display change operation detected in Step S41 and the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11, and displays the identified icon on the top screen. To do. When it is determined that the currently displayed top screen is not switched to another top screen (step S41 / NO), the process proceeds to step S42.

(Specific example of display processing of icon screen for thumb operation)
In describing a specific example of the display operation of the thumb operation icon screen, it is assumed that the processes in steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 5 are performed. As a result, the GUI program 122 of the information processing apparatus 100 displays the thumb operation icon screen GD1 described with reference to FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S41 in FIG.

  The GUI program 122 executes display change processing of the thumb operation icon screen corresponding to the display change operation detected in step S3 (step S4). The GUI program 122 detects the content of the display change operation when executing the display change process of the thumb operation icon screen (step S41 in FIG. 12). In the example of FIGS. 8 and 9, the GUI program 122 detects how many times the user has traced the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise with the thumb. Here, the GUI program 122 detects that the user has traced the thumb operation icon screen GD1 with the thumb Nc times clockwise.

  Next, the GUI program 122 determines whether to switch the currently displayed top screen to another top screen based on the contents of the display change operation detected in step S41 and the icon management table T1a in FIG. Specifically, first, the GUI program 122 specifies the maximum number of icon lines that can be displayed on one top screen. This maximum number of rows is N in the present embodiment.

  Then, the GUI program 122 specifies the maximum number of icon rows stored in the icon management table stored in the memory 12 (for example, the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11). Hereinafter, the maximum number of icon rows stored in the icon management table is Nt.

  In the first case described later, the GUI program 122 determines not to switch the currently displayed top screen to another top screen (step S41a / NO). On the other hand, in the second case described later, the GUI program 122 determines to switch the currently displayed top screen to another top screen (step S41a / YES).

  Here, the first case is when Nc (the number of times the user traces the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise) is less than N, or when Nc is N or more and Nc is Nt. This is a case where the value obtained by dividing and adding 1 to the remainder (hereinafter, this added value is referred to as MODb) is less than N. The second case is a case where Nc is N or more or MODb is N or more.

  In the example of FIGS. 2, 10, and 11, the GUI program 122 identifies the maximum number of icon lines that can be displayed on one top screen as 4 (N is 4), and the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11 stores it. Specify the maximum number of icon lines to be 8 (Nt is 8).

  In the first case (for example, when Nc is 2 or Nc is 10), the GUI program 122 determines that the currently displayed top screen is not switched to another top screen (step S41a / NO), keep the top screen described in Figure 2 displayed. On the other hand, in the second case (for example, when Nc is 6 or Nc is 13), the GUI program 122 determines to switch the currently displayed top screen to another top screen (step S41a / YES ).

  Then, the GUI program 122 identifies an icon to be displayed on another top screen based on the contents of the display change operation detected in step S41 and the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11, and displays the identified icon on the top screen. (Step S41b). Specifically, in the second case, the GUI program 122 is stored in a portion where the arrangement columns CL1 to CL4 and the arrangement rows RW5 to RW8 intersect in the icon management table T1a of FIG. The icon identified by the identification code is displayed on another top screen. In other words, the GUI program 122 displays the above-described icons on the display surface 101 so as to correspond to the arrangement columns CL1 to CL4 and the arrangement rows RW5 to RW8. This display state is the display state of the icon shown in FIG.

  Next, the GUI program 122 identifies an icon to be displayed on the thumb operation icon screen, and displays the identified icon on the thumb operation icon screen GD1 (step S42).

  Specifically, when Nc is less than Nt (the maximum number of icons stored in the icon management table T1a), the GUI program 122 copies the contents of the Nc + 1 line in the icon management table T1a of FIG. This is stored in the icon storage area T2 for twelve thumb operations. On the other hand, when Nc is greater than or equal to Nt, the GUI program 122 calculates MODb (a value obtained by dividing Nc by Nt and adding 1 to the remainder). The GUI program 122 duplicates the contents of the MODb line in the icon management table T1a of FIG. 11 and stores them in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12.

  In the example of FIGS. 2 and 11, Nt is 8. For example, when Nc is 2 (Nc is less than Nt), the GUI program 122 is the contents of the 3 (2 + 1) line indicated by the reference numeral RW3 in the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11, and the reference signs I_3_1, I_3_2, I_3_3, Duplicate I_3_4 and store it in icon storage area T2. Further, when Nc is 5 (Nc is less than Nt), the GUI program 122 has the contents of the 6th (5 + 1) line indicated by the reference numeral RW6 in the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11, the reference signs I_6_1, I_6_2, I_6_3, Duplicate I_6_4 and store it in the icon storage area T2. For example, when Nc is 9 (Nc is Nt or more), MODb is 2. Accordingly, the GUI program 122 duplicates the symbols I_2_1, I_2_2, I_2_3, and I_2_4, which are the contents of the second row indicated by the symbol RW2, in the icon management table T1a of FIG. 11, and stores them in the icon storage area T2.

  Note that when counting the lines described above, only the lines that store the codes that identify the icons are considered. That is, the uppermost row of the icon management table T1a in FIG. 11 is not considered when counting the rows. In other words, the number of rows is counted from the top of the row storing the code for identifying the icon.

  As described with reference to FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays icons identified by symbols (for example, I_6_1, I_6_2, I_6_3, I_6_4) stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. indicate.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 when the user traces the thumb operation icon screen GD1 five times in the state of FIG. In this case, the GUI program 122 detects that the user has traced the thumb operation icon screen GD1 five times (Nc is 5). Then, as described above, the GUI program 122 duplicates the symbols I_6_1, I_6_2, I_6_3, and I_6_4, which are the contents of the sixth (5 + 1) line indicated by the symbol RW6, in the icon management table T1a in FIG. Store in area T2. As shown in FIG. 13, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_6_1, I_6_2, I_6_3, and I_6_4 identified by the symbols stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  As described above, the GUI program 122 detects the number of contact operations that make one round of the inner circumference, and is displayed on the display device 109 when the number of times exceeds a predetermined number (for example, four times). The plurality of icons described above are changed to other icons, that is, the top screen is changed.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the number of icons registered as icons displayed on the top screen exceeds the maximum number of icons that can be displayed on one top screen, the icon screen display for thumb operation is executed. can do. Even in this case, according to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the icon registered as the icon displayed on the top screen is changed to the thumb by the display change operation of the icon screen for thumb operation by the user. Can be displayed on the operation icon screen.

  In FIG. 9, for example, the user changes the thumb operation icon screen GD1 counterclockwise while touching the circular thumb operation icon screen GD1 with the thumb (not shown). It may be an operation of tracing around one or more laps.

  In this case, if the user goes counterclockwise for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, etc., the GUI program 122 displays 8, 7, 6, 5 in the icon management table T1a of FIG. , 4... Is copied and stored in the icon storage area T2 for thumb operation in the memory 12. Then, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the GUI program 122 displays the icons identified by the codes stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  When the user traces counterclockwise for one week, the GUI program 122 displays the icons identified by the identifiers in the fifth to eighth lines on the top screen in the icon management table T1a in FIG. When the user traces counterclockwise for 5 weeks, the GUI program 122 displays the icons identified by the identifiers of the first to fourth lines on the top screen in the icon management table T1a of FIG.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the thumb operation icon screen GD1 is a donut-shaped screen as described with reference to FIGS. In addition, various shapes can be adopted as the icon screen for thumb operation. For example, there is a quadrilateral shape for the icon screen for thumb operation.

  The GUI program 122 displays a square icon display area in the second area (see the first embodiment), and displays a predetermined number of icons along the inner side of the square icon display area. Then, the GUI program 122 determines that the contact operation on the display surface 101 along any one side of the rectangle is an icon display change operation. Further, the GUI program 122 detects the number of contact operations along one side, and when the number exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 4 times), the GUI program 122 displays a plurality of screens displayed on the display device 109 as a top screen switch. Change the icon to other icons.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a square thumb operation icon screen. As shown in FIG. 14, the GUI program 122 equips the square thumb operation icon screen GD2 with the icons identified by the symbols (eg, I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, I_1_4) stored in the icon storage area T2 at equal intervals. Is displayed. In FIG. 14, the GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_1, I_1_2, I_1_3, and I_1_4 along the side of the thumb operation icon screen GD2. The GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_1 and I_1_4 on the upper side of the thumb operation icon screen GD2 and icons I_1_1 and I_1_2 on the right side. The GUI program 122 displays icons I_1_2 and I_1_3 on the lower side of the thumb operation icon screen GD2, and icons I_1_4 and I_1_3 on the left side.

  In the case of the square thumb operation icon screen GD2 shown in FIG. 14, the user touches the thumb with the square thumb operation icon screen GD2, and the thumb moves in the horizontal direction of the square thumb operation icon screen GD2 ( The operation to move to (see arrow AR3) is executed. An operation of moving the thumb in the vertical direction of the square thumb operation icon screen GD2 may be executed. Then, the GUI program 122 determines that the finger movement operation Nx times is an operation in which the thumb operation icon screen GD1 described in the first embodiment is traced Nx clockwise (step S2, step S2). Step S4 and subsequent steps are executed.

  In this way, by changing the shape of the thumb operation icon screen, it is possible to provide the user with a thumb operation icon screen that matches the user's preference.

[Other embodiments]
In the first and second implementations, the information processing apparatus 100 selects the icon displayed on the display surface 101, in other words, the icon identified by the identification code stored in the icon management table T1, T1a. The icon displayed on the thumb operation icon screen was selected in units of lines. In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 may select icons to be displayed on the thumb operation icon screen from the icons displayed on the display surface 101 in column units or matrix units. Then, the information processing apparatus 100 displays the selected row unit icon and matrix unit icon on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining column-unit and matrix-unit icons displayed on the thumb operation icon screen GD1.

  In the first and second embodiments, the information processing apparatus 100 displays the line unit icon indicated by the symbol R2 on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 may display a column-unit icon indicated by the symbol R3 on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may display a matrix unit icon (also referred to as a block unit) indicated by a symbol R4 on the thumb operation icon screen GD1. The matrix unit is, for example, four icons I_1_1, icon I_2_1, icon I_1_2, and icon I_2_2 indicated by a 2 × 2 matrix.

  In this way, by changing the unit for selecting an icon to be displayed on the thumb operation icon screen, the contents of the thumb operation icon screen can be changed according to the user's preference.

  As described in the first embodiment, when the top screen described in FIG. 2 is scroll-displayed and the second top screen is displayed on the display surface 101, from the state of FIG. It is necessary to perform an operation for tracing the operation icon screen GD1 clockwise for four or more laps. However, this operation is complicated for the user. Therefore, a process for displaying the second top screen on the display surface 101 without requiring a complicated operation by the user will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a state in which the thumb operation icon screen is displayed on the display surface 101 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the GUI program 122 displays a switching button BT1 on the top screen inside the circle CR2. When the user operates the switching button BT1, the GUI program 122 determines that the user has performed an operation of tracing the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise four times. Then, the GUI program 122 executes processing based on an operation in which the user traces the thumb operation icon screen GD1 clockwise four times. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the GUI program 122 displays a top screen on the display surface 101 and also displays a thumb operation icon screen GD1 on which icons I_5_1 to I_5_4 are displayed at equal intervals (not shown). (Omitted).

  Note that, for example, when the icon on the top screen is operated while the thumb operation icon screen GD1 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, the GUI program 122 starts the application corresponding to the operated icon. Good.

  Further, the GUI program 122 may delete the thumb operation icon screen GD1 and display only the top screen when a portion where the icon of the thumb operation icon screen GD1 is not displayed is double-touched.

  The above embodiment is summarized as follows.

(Appendix 1)
A display device;
A plurality of operators are displayed on the display device, and in response to an operation on the first region on the display surface of the display device, a second region on the display surface has a predetermined one of the plurality of operators. A control unit that displays a number of controls and performs processing corresponding to the operated controls in response to an operation on the controls displayed in the second area. Information processing device.

(Appendix 2)
In Appendix 1,
In response to an operation display change operation performed on the second area, the control unit converts the predetermined number of operators displayed in the second area to the plurality of operation elements. An information processing apparatus that is changed to an operation element other than the predetermined number of operation elements.

(Appendix 3)
In Appendix 1,
And a table for storing an identifier for identifying an operator displayed on the display device in a matrix corresponding to a display position of the operator,
The control unit displays the plurality of operators in a matrix based on the identifier of the table, and in response to an operation on the first area, the predetermined number of identifiers adjacent to each other in the table The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the predetermined number of operators identified by the identified identifier is displayed in the second area on the display surface.

(Appendix 4)
In Appendix 3,
The control unit identifies the predetermined number of identifiers different from the identifier identified immediately before in the table in response to the display change operation of the operator performed on the second area. The information processing apparatus, wherein the predetermined number of operators identified by the identified identifier is displayed in the second area on the display surface.

(Appendix 5)
In Appendix 2,
The control unit displays a circular operation element display area in the second area, displays the predetermined number of operation elements along an inner periphery of the circular operation element display area, and An information processing apparatus, wherein a contact operation on the display surface along a peripheral portion is determined as a display change operation of the operator.

(Appendix 6)
In Appendix 2,
The control unit displays a rectangular operation element display area in the second area, displays the predetermined number of operation elements along an inner side of the rectangular operation element display area, and displays the rectangular operation element display area. An information processing apparatus, wherein a contact operation on the display surface along any one side is determined as a display change operation of the operator.

(Appendix 7)
In Appendix 5,
The control unit detects the number of times of the contact operation that makes one round of the inner periphery, and when the number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times, the control unit displays the plurality of operators displayed on the display device. An information processing apparatus characterized by changing to an operator.

(Appendix 8)
In Appendix 6,
The control unit detects the number of times of the contact operation along the one side, and when the number of times exceeds a predetermined number, the plurality of operators displayed on the display device are changed to other operators. An information processing apparatus characterized by changing.

(Appendix 9)
An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Display multiple controls on the display device,
In response to an operation on the first area on the display surface of the display device, a predetermined number of operators among the plurality of operators are displayed on the second area on the display surface;
An information processing method comprising: executing a process corresponding to the operated operator in response to an operation on the operator displayed in the second area.

(Appendix 10)
Display multiple controls on the display device,
In response to an operation on the first area on the display surface of the display device, a predetermined number of operators among the plurality of operators are displayed on the second area on the display surface;
A program for causing a computer to execute a process for executing a process corresponding to the operated operator in response to an operation on the operator displayed in the second area.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information processing apparatus, 101 ... Display surface, 102 ... Housing, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Memory, 121 ... GUI program, 121 ... Control program, 123 ... Application group, 13 ... Storage device, 14 ... Communication device, 15 ... voice input / output device, 16 ... touch detection device, 17 ... pressure sensitive detection device, 18 ... recording medium reading device, 19 ... display device.

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus that can be held with one hand and can be operated with the one hand,
A display device;
A plurality of operating elements are displayed on a display surface of the display device, and the plurality of operating elements are displayed in a second area on the display surface that overlaps at least a part of the plurality of operating elements in response to a predetermined operation. And a control unit that displays a predetermined number of controls in the screen and executes processing corresponding to the operated controls in response to an operation on the controls displayed in the second area. An information processing apparatus characterized by that. In claim 1,
In response to an operation display change operation performed on the second area, the control unit converts the predetermined number of operators displayed in the second area to the plurality of operation elements. An information processing apparatus that is changed to an operation element other than the predetermined number of operation elements. In claim 1,
The control unit displays the plurality of operators in a matrix, and in response to the predetermined operation, the predetermined number of operators adjacent to each other among the plurality of operators displayed in the matrix Is displayed in the second area. In claim 3,
In response to the display change operation of the operation unit performed on the second area, the control unit sets the predetermined number of operation units different from the predetermined number of operation units displayed immediately before the control unit. An information processing apparatus characterized by displaying in a second area.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second area is an area within a range where a finger of the one hand holding the information processing apparatus can reach.   The information processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second area is an area in which a part of the plurality of operators is displayed in a part of the area smaller than the display surface. apparatus. The second region, the information processing apparatus according to any one of 6 claim 1 which is circular region in the display surface. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus that can be held with one hand and can be operated with one hand,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Display multiple controls on the display surface of the display device,
In response to a predetermined operation, a predetermined number of operators among the plurality of operators are displayed in a second area overlapping at least a part of the plurality of operators on the display surface,
An information processing method comprising: executing a process corresponding to the operated operator in response to an operation on the operator displayed in the second area. Display multiple controls on the display surface of the display device,
In response to a predetermined operation, a predetermined number of operators among the plurality of operators are displayed in a second area overlapping at least a part of the plurality of operators on the display surface,
In response to an operation on the operation element displayed in the second area, the process corresponding to the operated operation element is executed. The information processing apparatus capable of holding the operation with one hand and operating with the one hand is executed. A program characterized by that.

Images