JPH06110637A - Information processor with menu display function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily select any item with a little key operation by dividing a menu into a main menu and a sub menu, selecting the former by inputting characters, and selecting the latter by inputting figures. CONSTITUTION:An input means 102 inputs characters and figures for selecting the displayed menu. A menu information storage means 103 previously stores the main menu used for roughly selecting the item with characters (alphabets) as indexes and the sub menu used for precisely selecting the item with figures as indexes. Based on the characters and figures inputted from the input means 102, a selecting means 105 selects the item of one main menu and the item of the sub menu from out of the main menus and sub menus displayed on the display screen of a display means 101, and a display control means 107 emphasizes and displays the item parts of the main and sub menus stored in a selection information storage means 106.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus with a menu display function for selecting items of an electronic notebook and an electronic desk calculator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a menu display of this type of information processing apparatus, items are assigned to function keys,
A method is known in which items are displayed in order by key operation, and when a desired item comes out, a function key is used to select it.

[0003]

However, as the number of items increases, many key operations are required to select a desired item. There is also a menu that allows you to select the desired item with the cursor keys and select that item with the select key. However, in this case too, the more key operations you have, the more time it takes to make the selection. It was The conventional menu display requires many key operations, so it takes time to select, and even when selecting the same item, the same key operation had to be repeated many times. .

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in an information processing apparatus for selecting an item in a menu display, the menu is divided into a main menu (main item) and a sub menu (sub item). And main
By providing an alphabetical (character input) menu and a numeric key (numeric input) sub menu, an information processing apparatus with a menu display function that can quickly select items with few key operations is provided. Is.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. In this figure, the present invention comprises a display means 101 having a display screen capable of displaying a menu, and an input means 102 capable of inputting characters and numbers for selecting the displayed menu. In an information processing apparatus with a menu display function, a main menu that is used to select rough items, a main menu that uses characters as indexes, and a submenu that uses numbers as indexes are used in advance. Input from the input means 102, the stored menu information storage means 103, the calling means 104 for calling the main menu and the submenu stored in the menu information storage means 103 and displaying them on the display screen of the display means 101. The main menu displayed on the display screen of the display means 101 based on letters and numbers. And selecting means 105 for selecting an item of items and submenus of one main menu and from the sub-menu, selector 1
Selection information storage means 106 for storing main menu items and submenu items selected by 05, and display control means 107 for highlighting the main menu and submenu item portions stored in the selection information storage means 106. An information processing apparatus having a menu display function, comprising:

It is preferable that the display of the main menu and the submenu by the calling means 104 is simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the display means 101.

In the present invention, the display means 101
As the display device, a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or an EL display display device is used. As the input unit 102, an input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch sensor or an OCR is used. Menu information storage means 103, calling means 104, selection means 105, selection information storage means 106, display control means 107
It is convenient to use a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and I / O port as the menu information storage means 103.
OM is used. Further, the RAM therein is used as the selection information storage means 106.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the display means 1 shown in FIG.
01 has a display screen capable of displaying a menu. The input means 102 can input characters and numbers for selecting the displayed menu. The menu information storage means 103 is used to select a rough item, stores a main menu with a character as an index and a submenu with a number as an index, and stores the submenu in advance. There is. The calling means 104 calls the main menu and the submenu stored in the menu information storage means 103 and displays them on the display screen of the display means 101. Selection means 1
Reference numeral 05 selects one main menu item and one submenu item from the main menu and submenu displayed on the display screen of the display means 101 based on the characters and numbers input from the input means 102. The selection information storage means 106 stores the items of the main menu and the items of the sub menu selected by the selection means 105. The display control means 107 highlights the main menu and sub-menu item portions stored in the selection information storage means 106.

Therefore, by distinguishing the menu into two items, that is, the main menu item and the sub-menu item, the main menu can be selected by the character input key and the sub-menu item can be selected by the numeric key, so that a small number of key operations can be performed. You can quickly select items.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an information processing device with a menu display function. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (central processing unit), which performs key reading, storage / recall control of selection information (main menu / submenu selection items, etc.), and display control. 2 is a ROM (Read Only Memory)
And stores data such as programs and selection items. Reference numeral 3 is a RAM (random access memory) for storing current selection information and the like.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a KEY (key matrix), which is a key for a cursor, alphabets (characters), numbers and the like. 5 is LC
It is a driver for displaying data on D. 6 is L
It is a CD (liquid crystal display), and characters and numbers are actually displayed.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an information processing apparatus having a menu display function. In this figure, 31 indicates a display unit of the information processing apparatus.
The display unit 31 is a dot matrix type LCD (liquid crystal display device) that displays a menu screen, numbers, characters and the like. Reference numeral 32 indicates a key input unit. 32a is [▲],
These are cursor keys typified by the [▼], [→], and [←] keys, and are also used for selecting items in each menu. 32
b is an [alphabet] key for selecting an item on the main menu, and keys [0] to [9] represented by 32c are numeric keys for inputting numbers and are also used for selecting an item on a submenu. Reference numeral 32d denotes an [ENTER] key, which is used for confirming the selected main menu item / submenu item and executing the four arithmetic operations. The [+], [-], [x], and [÷] keys typified by 32e are keys for designating the four arithmetic operations, and 32f is ON when the information processing device (computer) is OFF. [O to do
N / C] key.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the menu display according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, ma
8 in menus (main menu items) and each mai
The sub menu (sub menu item, item) corresponding to the n menu is an example of seven menu displays. Here, an example of selecting the item 5-3 of main5 will be described.

FIG. 4A is an initial state of the menu screen. "A" in the main menu is selected and is highlighted (highlighted). FIG. 4 (2): First, the main menu is selected. m
To select ain5, press the [E] key or press the [▼ (down cursor)] key four times. When main5 is selected, it is highlighted. FIG. 4C: Next, the sub menu is selected. ite
The selection of m5-3 can be made directly by pressing the [3] key, and the selection is confirmed. In addition, use the [ENTER] key or the [→ (right cursor)] key to highlight the item in the sub menu, and then
It can also be selected with the [Cursor] key.

When the process moves from FIG. 4 (2) to FIG. 4 (3) with the [ENTER] key or the [→ (right cursor)] key, the item 5-1 is first selected and highlighted. Fig. 4 (4): In this state, if the [3] key is pressed, i
The selection of tem5-3 is confirmed. When the [ENTER] key is pressed, the currently highlighted item 5-1 is confirmed. Also, the item 5-3 can be selected by using the [▼ (down cursor)] key. After this, [E
The selection of item 5-3 is confirmed by the [NTER] key. It should be noted that, from any of the states of FIG. 4 (1) to FIG. 4 (4), it is possible to shift to the main menu selection state by the [A] to [H] keys (the same state as FIG. 4 (2)). Moreover, the selection of the item can be confirmed by the numeric keys from any state.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the menu display in FIG. As shown in this figure, when the number of sub menus is large, one digit of the number is not enough, and the menu is displayed with two digits. Here, the main5 item
An example of selecting 5-53 will be described. FIG. 5 (1): A state in which main5 is selected in the same manner as the main menu selection in FIG. FIG. 5 (2): In this state, if the [5] key is pressed, 50 to 59 of the sub menu (item) can be selected, and the tens digit of the selection number of the sub menu is non-inverted display. Pressing the [ENTER] key in the state of FIG.
The selection of m50 is confirmed.

FIG. 5 (3): When it is desired to confirm the selection of the item 53, it can be directly done by pressing the [3] key. Also, press the [▼ (down cursor)] key
It is also possible to highlight em53 and confirm the selection with the [ENTER] key. The state shown in FIG. 5 (1) can be selected with the numbers and cursor keys after the state is changed to the state similar to that shown in FIG. 4 (3) with the [→ (right cursor)] key. [A] to [H]
The key is valid in all states, and the state shown in FIG. 5A can be entered. Further, from any state other than that shown in FIG. 5B, the state can be changed to the state (2) by using the numeric keys.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the main menu selection processing routine in FIG. In this figure, SELmain and SELsub are ma respectively.
Items selected (highlighted) in the in menu and sub menu are shown. In addition, this figure shows the processing when a key is pressed while the main menu is being selected (see (1) and (2) in FIG. 4).

Step 601: Judgment of the [ENTER] key or the [→] key is performed. If either key is input, the process proceeds to step 606. Step 602: The [▼] key is judged, and if it is the key input, the process proceeds to step 608. Step 603: The [▲] key is judged, and if it is the key input, the process proceeds to step 610. Step 604: Judge the [A] to [H] keys,
If so, the process proceeds to step 612. Step 605: The number [0] to [9] keys are judged, and if the key is input, the process proceeds to step 616. If it is judged in step 601 to step 605 that none of the key inputs have been made, the key waiting state is entered without performing any processing.

Steps 606 and 607 are [ENTE
This is the processing of the [R] and [→] keys. Step 606: Set SELsub to 1. Step 607: The item of the SELsub-th submenu is highlighted and the process is shifted to the submenu selection routine. (See FIG. 4C) Steps 608 to 615 are processing when the selection of the main menu is changed. Steps 608 and 609 are processing when the [▼] key is pressed. Step 608: max of the current SELmain menu
Judge whether or not, and if so, NOP (no o
peration) and move to the key wait. For example, when the main menu has only "A" to "F" and "F" is selected, the [▼] key is a NOP process.

Step 609: Increment SELmain by +1. Steps 610 and 611 are processing when the [▲] key is pressed. Step 610: Judge whether the current SELmain is “A” in the main menu, and if it is “A”, N
Set as OP and wait for the key. Step 611: Decrement SELmain by -1. Steps 612 and 613 are processing when the [A] to [H] keys are pressed. Step 612: Judge whether there is a main menu of the pressed key, and if there is not, set NOP and wait for the key. For example, if the main menu has only [A] to [F] and [H] is pressed, "H" of the main menu is displayed.
Since it is not present, NOP processing is performed. Step 613: The selection information of the main menu is set to SELmain from the pressed key.

Steps 614 and 615 are steps 609 and 611,
The main and sub menus are displayed based on the SELmain information set in 613, the selected item of main is highlighted, and key waiting is performed. Steps 616 and 617 are processing when the numeric key is pressed. In step 616, if it is not judged whether there is a sub menu from the pressed key, NOP is set and the key waiting is performed. Step 617: Pressed key to SELsub to sub
The selection information of the menu is set, and information such as the item number and the item name is returned to the routine that called the menu on the assumption that the selection of the item indicated by SELsub is confirmed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sub-menu selection processing routine in FIG. Figure 7 shows su
The process when a key is pressed during selection of the b menu (see (3) and (4) in FIG. 4) is shown.

Step 701: The [A] to [H] keys are judged, and if the key is input, the process proceeds to step 707. Step 702: The [←] key is judged, and if it is the key, the process proceeds to step 709. Step 703: The [▼] key is judged, and if it is the key, the process proceeds to step 711. Step 704: The [▲] key is judged, and if it is the key, the process proceeds to step 713. Step 705: The number [0] to [9] key is judged, and if it is the key, the process proceeds to step 717. Step 706: The [ENTER] key is judged, and if the key is judged, information such as the item number and the item name is returned to the routine that called the menu assuming that the selection of the item indicated by SELsub is confirmed.

If it is judged in step 701 to 706 that none of the keys is present, no processing is performed and the key waiting state is entered. Steps 707 and 708 are processing when the [A] to [H] keys are pressed. Step 707: Judge whether the main menu of the pressed key is present or not, and if not, set NOP and wait for the key. For example, when the main menu has only "A" to "F" and [H] is pressed, there is no "H" in the main menu, so the NOP processing is performed. Step 708: The selection information of the main menu is set to SELmain from the pressed key. In steps 709 and 710, the main and sub menus are displayed based on the information of SELmain, the item selected in main is highlighted, and the process proceeds to the main menu selection routine.

Steps 711 to 716 are the processing when the selection of the sub menu is changed. Steps 711 and 712 are processing when the [▼] key is pressed. Step 711: Judge whether the current SELsub is max of the sub menu, and if not, NOP
And shift to the key waiting state. For example, when the sub menu has only "1" to "5" and "5" is selected, the [▼] key is a NOP process Step 712: SELsub is incremented by 1. Steps 713 and 714 are [ This is the processing when the ▲] key is pressed Step 713: Judge whether the current SELsub is the first one in the sub menu, and if not, NOP
And move to the key waiting.

Step 714: SELsub is decremented by one. Step 715, step 716 are step 712, step 714
The sub menu is displayed based on the SELsub information set in step 1, the selected item of sub is highlighted, and the key waiting is performed. (Here, since the display of the main menu does not change, there is no need to redisplay it.) Step 717,
Step 718 is a process when the numeric key is pressed. Step 717: Judge whether or not there is a sub menu of the pressed key, and if not, set NOP and wait for the key. Step 718: Sub to SELsub from the pressed key
The selection information of the menu is set, and information such as the item number and the item name is returned to the routine that called the menu on the assumption that the selection of the item indicated by SELsub is confirmed.

Therefore, all items are in [alphabet].
It can be selected with one key and one numeric key. In addition, when there are many sub menus, two number keys are used for selection. As a result, all items can be selected by operating two (three) keys, and the time required for selection can be significantly reduced.

[0029]

According to the present invention, when selecting an item from the menu display, all items can be selected with a small number of key operations and the same number of key operations regardless of the number of items. You can reduce the time for.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an information processing device with a menu display function.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an information processing device with a menu display function.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a menu display according to the present invention.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the menu display in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main menu selection processing routine in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sub-menu selection processing routine in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 ROM (Read Only Memory) 3 RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 KEY (Key Matrix) 5 LCD Driver 6 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Information with a menu display function, comprising display means having a display screen capable of displaying a menu and input means capable of inputting characters and numbers for selecting the displayed menu. A menu that is used to select a rough item in the processing device, is used to select a main menu that uses letters as indexes, and a submenu that is used to select detailed items and uses numbers as indexes. Information storage means, calling means for calling the main menu and submenu stored in the menu information storage means and displaying them on the display screen of the display means, and display of the display means based on the characters and numbers input from the input means From the main menu and submenus displayed on the screen, one main menu item and submenu And selection means for selecting an item,
A selection information storage means for storing main menu items and submenu items selected by the selection means, and a display control means for highlighting the main menu and submenu item portions stored in the selection information storage means are provided. Information processing device with menu display function. 2. The information processing apparatus with a menu display function according to claim 1, wherein the display of the main menu and the submenu by the calling means is simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the display means.