WO2006098021A1

WO2006098021A1 - Information processing system

Info

Publication number: WO2006098021A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/004677
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroki Moue; Takashi Aoki
Original assignee: Fujitsu Limited
Priority date: 2005-03-16
Filing date: 2005-03-16
Publication date: 2006-09-21

Abstract

There is provided an information processing system enabling a user to effectively select a menu item from a pull down menu. The information processing system passes/receives information to/from the user via a graphical user interface and displays a cyclic pull down menu in which the menu item tail is connected to the menu item head. By shifting a display range of the menu item of the cyclic pull down menu, the menu item is scrolled. The cyclic scroll is executed by the operation using a scroll bar, a scroll box, a scroll arrow, and the like.

Description

Information processing system

Technical field

The present invention relates to an information processing system that exchanges information with a user through a graphical user interface, and more particularly to an information processing system that has an improved menu display method.

Background art

[0002] A method of enumerating a plurality of data items as a list on a graphical user interface (GUI) and allowing the user to make a selective input is generally employed. They are called differently depending on the display format and the function of the data item. That is, a drop-down list, a pull-down list, a pop-up menu, a list box, a combo box, etc.

[0003] These are functionally equivalent in that a plurality of data items are enumerated as a list or menu in the GUI as described above, and the user is allowed to make a selection input to the system. These are collectively referred to as a pull-down menu in this specification. An information processing system that realizes this pull-down menu is also common.

[0004] A pull-down menu is a menu in which menu items are displayed in a pull-down manner by a user operation or the like. When displaying a pull-down menu, the number of menu items actually displayed on the screen may be limited due to the size of the pull-down menu display area and the number of menu items displayed there. .

[0005] For example, when the size of the pull-down menu display area is an area of 10 lines, 30 menu items are to be displayed. If it works, display 10 items and display a scroll bar beside the menu item to indicate that the currently displayed menu item is part of the pull-down menu item. In addition, it is common to devise a way to display menu items that are pull-down displayed by user operations using a scroll bar or scroll arrow, etc., so that the user can select those items. Is. [0006] When the number of menu items exceeds a certain level and scrolling is required for data selection by the user, time is required for selection. For example, when a user selects and inputs a menu item having a large number of items, an attempt is made to display the top menu item again after searching from the top (first) to the end (last) of the menu item. Occasionally, a scrano reno will need to re-display the first menu item by scrolling through the menu items with a scrano rare. This is time consuming and inefficient for user data selection.

[0007] As a prior art document relating to menu display and menu selection by the user, the following Patent Document 1 indicates a plurality of menu items sequentially and cyclically with a cursor and a menu indicated with a cursor. Disclosed is a menu item selection method that allows a menu item to be selected simply by operating a selection button by selecting an item according to the operation of the selection button.

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-328758

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing system that enables a user to efficiently select a pull-down menu force menu item. There is.

Means for solving the problem

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system for exchanging information with a user through a graphical user interface. Information comprising: a circular display means for displaying a circular pull-down menu in a connected state; and a circular scroll means for circularly scrolling the menu item by moving the display range of the menu item of the circular pull-down menu. A processing system is provided.

[0011] In one preferred aspect, the circular scroll means displays a scroll bar that accepts an operation for moving the display range, and cyclically scrolls the menu item based on a click operation on the scroll bar. . [0012] In one preferable aspect, the circular scrolling means causes the entire scroll bar to correspond to the entire menu item, and corresponds to the display range of the menu item in the scroll bar. A scroll box for accepting an operation for moving the display range is further displayed, and the menu item is scrolled in a circular manner based on a drag operation on the scroll box.

[0013] In one preferred aspect, the circular scroll means further displays a scroll arrow for accepting an operation for moving the display range at both ends of the scroll bar, and the menu is based on a click operation on the scroll arrow. Cycle through items.

[0014] In one preferred embodiment, the scroll box is displayed at a fixed position in the scroll bar, and indicates the ratio of the display range of the menu item to the whole size menu item of the scroll box.

[0015] In one preferable aspect, the scroll box has a position mark in the scroll box corresponding to a position that separates the end and the head of the menu item, and a mark indicating the break.

[0016] In one preferred aspect, the cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means perform cyclic display and cyclic scroll when a data item designating circulation is included in the data indicating the dynamic user interface. Execute.

[0017] In one preferred aspect, the cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means are configured so that even if the data item designating the circular user interface does not include a data item designating circulation, a certain condition is satisfied. When is established, cycle display and cycle are executed.

[0018] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method implemented in the above-described system and a program for causing the above-described system to function are provided. The invention's effect

[0019] According to the present invention, in a graphical user interface, when many menu items are displayed by pull-down menus and the user makes a selection, the menu items are displayed in a cycle so that the user can Select the last menu item when is displayed, or first when the last menu item is displayed When performing operations such as selecting the head menu item, the menu item can be selected more efficiently.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circular pull-down menu.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional pull-down menu.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a circular pull-down menu.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a circular menu when the menu display area is larger than the total number of user items! /.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the circular pull-down menu.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of the circular pull-down menu.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command issued to an information processing unit force input / output processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an algorithm of processing for input / output by processing HTML

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of display processing of a circular pull-down menu.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first example of scroll bar display processing;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second example of scroll bar display processing.

Explanation of symbols

1 Display section

2 Input section

3 I / O processor

4 Information processing department

5 button

6 Pull-down menu

7 Skrono Leno

8 skrono box

9B Scrollaro

11 Separator line BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a display unit that presents a Blu-ray menu to the user, reference numeral 2 is an input unit that receives input such as selection by the user, and reference numeral 3 is an input / output processing unit that processes input and output with the user. Reference numeral 4 denotes an information processing unit that performs information processing related to user input and output to the user.

The information processing unit 4 presents data to the user via the input / output processing unit 3 when the user needs input for processing, and receives the selection by the user and proceeds with the processing. For example, the display unit 1 is a graphic display and the input unit 2 is a mouse. The input related to the present invention is an input based on a system in which some of the menu items determined in advance are displayed in a pull-down menu and the user selects one or more of them.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circular pull-down menu displayed on the display unit 1. If you operate button 5 to display the pull-down menu, pull-down menu 6 is displayed. In the example of Fig. 2, a pull-down menu with menu items from "1" to "31" is displayed because of the date. "1" to "17" are displayed as the current display range of the menu item, the last menu item "31" is displayed before "1", which is the first menu item, and the preceding menu item is displayed. Menu items "30" and "29" are also displayed.

[0025] Next to the menu item, there is displayed a scroll bar 7 for accepting an operation for moving the display range of the menu item of the pull-down menu. The entire scroll bar 7 corresponds to the entire menu item. When the scroll bar 7 is clicked by the input unit 2, the menu item is scrolled according to the clicked position.

In FIG. 2, a scroll box 8 is displayed corresponding to the entire menu item of the scroll bar 7 and corresponding to the display range of the menu item in the scroll bar 7. In other words, the scroll box 8 is displayed in a range corresponding to “1” to “17” and “29” to “31”, which are display ranges of the menu items. The scroll box 8 receives an operation for moving the display range of the menu item of the pull-down menu. The menu items are scrolled based on the drag operation of the scroll box 8 by the input unit 2.

[0027] Further, scroll arrows 9A and 9B are displayed at both ends of the scroll bar 7. Scroll arrows 9A and 9B also accept an operation to move the display range of the menu item in the pull-down menu. When the input unit 2 is clicked on the upper scroll arrow 9A, the menu item is scrolled upward. When the lower scroll arrow 9B is clicked by the input unit 2, the menu item is scrolled downward.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional pull-down menu corresponding to FIG. To select "31" with the mouse in this state, drag the scroll box 8 to scroll the menu to the end, and click the menu item "31" with the mouse. On the other hand, in the menu display of the present invention according to FIG. 2, “31” is displayed immediately above “1”, so it is only necessary to immediately click with the mouse without scrolling.

In this way, according to the present invention, when displaying the menu item of the pull-down menu, the first (first) item is displayed after the last (last) item. By displaying the last (last) item in front of you, you can operate quickly. Then, by scrolling, the menu item display range of the pull-down menu moves in a cyclic manner. In other words, even when operating with the scroll bar, the menu items circulate and the end and top of the menu items are displayed continuously.

[0030] Further, in the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide a scroll box that indicates which part of the menu item is actually displayed. It is also possible to provide a scroll arrow. The scroll arrow scrolls the display range up or down by a certain amount (right or left when the menu is scrolled horizontally). Even if you come to the end of the menu item, you can continue to display the top menu item.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the circular pull-down menu. The figure shows a menu for specifying the minute of the time. A scroll box 8 having a size corresponding to the ratio of the number of items (6) to the total number of items (60) is displayed in the center of the scroll bar 7. When dragging this scroll box 8 with the mouse, drag direction The menu is scrolled accordingly, and the scroll box 8 moves within the scroll bar 7, but returns to the center when the drag is finished. Since the menu item is still selected, there is no number on the left side of button 5 for displaying the pull-down menu. In this way, you can immediately see how many items of the entire menu item are displayed with the size of the scroll box 8.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a circular pull-down menu when the display area force menu item of the menu is larger than the total number of menu items. The figure shows the menu for specifying the month. In the example of FIG. 5, the entire scroll bar 7 is a scroll box 8. Scroll arrows 9A and 9B are used to scroll the menu.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of the circular pull-down menu. The figure shows a menu for specifying the day. Since “31” and “1” are the last menu item and the first menu item, respectively, a separator line 10 is inserted as a separator in the corresponding position in the scroll box 8. In this way, when the display range includes the last -you item and the first menu item, displaying the position together with the scroll box 8 makes it easy for the user to circulate the menu. To be able to grasp.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of the circular pull-down menu. Compared with the example in FIG. 6, in the example of FIG. 7, the menu item itself has a dividing line 11 in addition to the dividing line 10 of the scroll box.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of commands issued from the information processing unit 4 to the input / output processing unit 3. This directive is described in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), and instructs to select one pull-down menu item as shown in Fig. 6 or Fig. 7. This command differs from conventional HTML in that the “select” tag includes an option “TYPE = cyclic” that indicates the cycle according to the present invention. As described above, the cyclic display and the cyclic scroll are executed when data items specifying the circulation are included in the data indicating the graphical user interface.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of HTML processing by the input / output unit 3 that performs input / output by processing the HTML shown in FIG. If the "select" tag is entered (YES in step 102), the option "cyclic" is detected to process the option and specify a cycle. If yes (YES in step 104), the circulation pull-down menu of the present invention is prepared (step 106).

[0037] On the other hand, even if there is no "cyclic" option, if there are more than a certain number of "select" elements (10 in the example in the figure) (YES in step 108), "cyclic" Similar to the case where the option is specified, the processing for preparing the circular pull-down menu of the present invention (step 106) is performed. If NO in step 108, a normal pull-down menu is prepared (step 110). In this way, even if there is no data instructing to display graphically as a list or menu item! Can be processed.

[0038] Hereinafter, the procedure of pull-down menu and scroll bar display processing performed in cooperation with the input / output processing unit 3 and the information processing unit 4 will be described. The existing pull-down menu has several items from the top, and can display several items from the end, but cannot display them cyclically. This is because the data items to be displayed are considered as circular data. In the present invention, a mark at the beginning and end is provided for the data item to be displayed. However, the data item is regarded as a cyclic data item and a pull-down menu is cyclically displayed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of display processing of the circular pull-down menu. First, in step 202, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the input unit 2 for scrolling the menu item displayed on the display unit 1 before the beginning or after the end. If there is no such input, the process returns to step 202, while if there is an input, the process proceeds to step 204.

[0040] In step 204, it is determined whether the menu items in the pull-down menu are currently circularly displayed! If it is currently in a circular display, go to step 206 to scroll the cyclic display of menu items. On the other hand, if the cyclic display is not currently displayed, proceed to step 208 to perform a cyclic display where the top and bottom of the menu item are continuous, and scroll the cyclic display corresponding to the input from the input unit 1. I do. After executing step 206 or 208, return to step 202.

Next, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a first example of scroll bar display processing. This processing corresponds to FIG. 2 described above. First, in step 302, Display the beginning and end of the display item and determine if it is! /. If the head and tail are displayed, go to step 304 to divide the scroll box and display it at the top and bottom edges of the scroll bar.

On the other hand, if the head and the tail are not displayed, the process proceeds to step 306 and the scroll box is displayed without being divided. Next to step 304 or 306, in step 308, which is executed in step 308, processing for changing display items in accordance with operations on a scroll arrow, a scroll bar, a scroll box or the like is performed. After executing step 304 or 306, return to step 302.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a second example of the scroll bar display process. This processing corresponds to the above-described FIG. 6 and FIG. First, in step 402, the scroll box is placed at the center of the scroll bar. Next, in step 404, it is determined whether or not the head and tail of the display item are currently displayed. If the head and tail are displayed, the process proceeds to step 406, and a mark is displayed with a horizontal line in the scroll bar and scroll box corresponding to the part where the tail and head of the display item are connected.

[0044] On the other hand, if the head and tail are not displayed, the process proceeds to step 408, and the mark is not displayed on the scroll bar and the scroll box. In step 410, which is executed after step 406 or step 408, processing for changing display items in accordance with an operation on a scroll arrow, a scroll bar, a scroll box or the like is performed. After executing Step 4 06 or 408, return to Step 402.

As described above, the pull-down menu in the present invention is a concept including a drop-down list, a pull-down list, a pop-up menu, a list box, a combo box, and the like. . In addition, menu scroll operations may be performed using arrow keys on the keyboard or page operation keys, in addition to operations such as clicking on the scroll lever, clicking on the scroll rare wheel, and dragging the scroll box. In addition, assign a scroll operation to shortcut keys and function keys, and assign a scroll operation to functions such as a scroll mouse.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An information processing system for exchanging information with a user through a graphical user interface,

A circular display means for displaying a circular pull-down menu in which the end and the top of the menu item are connected, and

Cyclic scroll means for cyclically scrolling the menu item by moving the display range of the menu item of the cyclic pull-down menu;

An information processing system comprising:

[2] The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic scroll unit displays a scroll bar that accepts an operation for moving the display range, and cyclically scrolls the menu item based on a click operation on the scroll bar. .

[3] The circular scroll means accepts an operation for moving the display range in correspondence with the display range of the menu item in the scroll bar while making the entire scroll bar correspond to the entire menu item. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein a scroll box is further displayed, and the menu item is cyclically scrolled based on a drag operation on the scroll box.

[4] The cyclic scroll means further displays scroll arrows for accepting an operation for moving the display range at both ends of the scroll bar, and cyclically scrolls the menu items based on a click operation on the scroll arrow. The information processing system according to claim 2.

[5] The information processing according to claim 4, wherein the scroll box is displayed at a fixed position in the scroll bar, and indicates the ratio of the display range of the menu item to the whole menu item. system.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the scroll box has a mark indicating a delimiter at a position in the scroll box corresponding to a position delimiting the end and the top of the menu item.

[7] The cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means are configured to display a cyclic display when a data item designating a circulation is included in data indicating the graphical user interface. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the scrolling is performed.

[8] In the cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means, even if a data item designating circulation is not included in the data designating the graphical user interface,

The information processing system according to claim 7, wherein when a certain condition is satisfied, cyclic display and cyclic scrolling are executed.

[9] A menu display method in an information processing system for exchanging information with a user through a graphical user interface,

A cyclic display step for displaying a circular pull-down menu in which the end and the top of the menu item are connected,

A circular scroll step for circularly scrolling the menu item by moving the display range of the menu item of the circular pull-down menu;

A menu display method in an information processing system.

10. The cyclic scrolling step according to claim 9, wherein the scrolling scroll step displays a scroll bar that accepts an operation for moving the display range, and scrolls the menu item based on a click operation on the scroll bar. Menu display method in information processing system.

[11] The cyclic scroll step is a scroll for accepting an operation for moving the display range in the scroll bar in correspondence with the display range of the menu item, while making the entire scroll bar correspond to the entire menu item. 11. The menu display method in the information processing system according to claim 10, further comprising displaying a box and cyclically scrolling the menu item based on a drag operation on the scroll box.

[12] In the cyclic scroll step, scroll arrows for accepting an operation for moving the display range are further displayed at both ends of the scroll bar, and the menu items are cyclically scrolled based on a click operation on the scroll arrow. A method for displaying a menu in the information processing system according to claim 10.

[13] The information processing according to claim 12, wherein the scroll box is displayed at a fixed position in the scroll bar, and indicates the ratio of the display range of the menu item to the whole menu item. Menu display method in the system.

14. The menu display method in the information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the scroll box has a mark indicating a delimiter at a position in the scroll box corresponding to a position delimiting the end and the top of the menu item.

15. The cyclic display step and the cyclic scroll step execute cyclic display and cyclic scroll when a data item designating circulation is included in data designating a graphical user interface. Menu display method in the information processing system described in 1.

[16] In the cyclic display step and the cyclic scroll step, if the data specifying the graphical user interface does not include a data item designating circulation, even if a certain condition is satisfied, The menu display method in the information processing system according to claim 15, wherein display and cyclic scrolling are executed.

[17] An information processing system for exchanging information with a user through a graphical user interface, the information processing system comprising:

Program to function as.

18. The program according to claim 17, wherein the cyclic scroll means displays a scroll bar that accepts an operation for moving the display range, and cyclically scrolls the menu item based on a click operation on the scroll bar.

[19] The circular scroll means accepts an operation for moving the display range in correspondence with the display range of the menu item in the scroll bar while making the entire scroll bar correspond to the entire menu item. 19. The program according to claim 18, further displaying a scroll box and cyclically scrolling the menu item based on a drag operation on the scroll box.

[20] The circular scroll means further displays a scroll arrow for accepting an operation for moving the display range at both ends of the scroll bar, and a clip for the scroll arrow is displayed. The program according to claim 18, wherein the menu item is cyclically scrolled based on a clock operation.

21. The program according to claim 20, wherein the scroll box is displayed at a fixed position in the scroll bar, and indicates the ratio of the display range of the menu item to the whole menu item.

22. The program according to claim 21, wherein the scroll box has a mark indicating a delimiter at a position in the scroll box corresponding to a position delimiting the end and the top of the menu item.

23. The cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means execute cyclic display and cyclic scroll when a data item designating circulation is included in data designating a graphical user interface. The program described in.

[24] In the cyclic display means and the cyclic scroll means, the data specifying the graphical user interface does not include a data item designating the circulation, but even if a certain condition is satisfied, 24. The program according to claim 23, wherein cyclic display and cyclic scrolling are executed.