Display control system causing image on display screen to disappear and reappear in a friendly manner to user

• US 20010000667A1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Published: 05/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ryuichi Matsukura, Toru Okawa, Yasuo Sato
• Original Assignee: Ryuichi Matsukura, Toru Okawa, Yasuo Sato
• Inventors: Okawa, Toru, Sato, Yasuo, Matsukura, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/39 Control of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

The present invention provides a display control system for controlling data which is displayed on a screen of a display unit. The system includes a pointing device for pointing to a position on the screen of the display unit, a deleting unit for gradually deleting elements of data from the screen of the display unit as if the elements were gradually being sucked at the position pointed to by the pointing device, and a density controller for controlling the density of elements remaining on the screen of the display unit so that the density is gradually decreased in accordance with suction of the elements. The present invention also provides a data processing apparatus which includes a pointing device for pointing to a menu on the screen of the display unit, a controller for causing menu items included in the menu pointed to by the pointing device to be display at a position on the screen of the display unit one by one in turns at predetermined intervals, a detecting unit for detecting a predetermined operation, and a selecting unit for selecting, as a menu item, to be activated, a menu item displayed on the screen of the display unit when the detecting unit detects the predetermined operation.

Claims

1. A display control system for data control during screen display operations, the system comprising:

a pointing device that indicates a position on a screen of a display unit; and

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a specified area of the screen and rearranges second elements of data remaining in the specified area to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position,

said deleting unit including a first density control unit that, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, reduces a density of a second element of data remaining in the specified area by decreasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

2. The display control system as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a completion indicating unit that displays a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

3. A display control system for data control during screen display operations, said system comprising:

a pointing device that indicates a position on a screen of a display unit; and

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a specified area of the screen and rearranges second elements of data remaining in the specified area to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position,

said deleting unit including a first speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the first elements are successively deleted.

4. The display control system as claimed in

claim 3

, further comprising:

a completion indicating unit that displays a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

5. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

reducing, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, the density of a second element of data remaining in the specified area by decreasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

6. The computer-readable medium as claimed in

claim 5

, wherein said program further comprises the function of displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

7. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the first elements of data are successively deleted.

8. The computer-readable medium as claimed in

claim 7

, wherein said program further comprises the function of displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

9. A data processing apparatus using a computer specifically configured by execution of a program encoded on a computer-readable medium, the program controlling data display operations and including the functions of:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

reducing, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, the density of a second element of data remaining in the specified area by decreasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

10. The data processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 9

, wherein the program further comprises the function of displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

11. A data processing apparatus using a computer specifically configured by execution of a program encoded on a computer-readable medium, the program controlling data display operations and including the functions of:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the first elements of data are successively deleted.

12. The data processing apparatus as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein the program further comprises the function of displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

13. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, the controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a specified area of a display screen and rearranges second elements of data remaining in the specified area to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at a position indicated by a pointing device,

said deleting unit including a first density control unit that, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, reduces a density of a second element of data remaining in the specified area by decreasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

14. The display controller as claimed in

claim 13

, further comprising:

a completion indicating unit that displays a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

15. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, the controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a specified area of a display screen and rearranges second elements of data remaining in the specified area to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at a position indicated by a pointing device,

said deleting unit including a first speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the first elements are successively deleted.

16. The display controller as claimed in

claim 15

, further comprising:

a completion indicating unit that displays a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

17. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

a density control unit that, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, reduces a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by decreasing a component of the second element of data.

18. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

a speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

19. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a restoring unit that successively restores first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

a density control unit that, In accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, increases a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by increasing a component of the second element of data.

20. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a restoring unit that successively restores elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

a speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively longer during which the elements of data successively restored to the screen.

21. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively deleting first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

reducing, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by decreasing a component of the second element of data.

22. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively deleting elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

23. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively restoring first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

increasing, in accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by increasing a component of the second element of data.

24. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively restoring elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively longer during which the elements of data are successively restored to the screen.

25. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

a density control unit that, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, varies a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by decreasing a component of the second element of data.

26. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a deleting unit that successively deletes elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

a speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

27. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a restoring unit that successively restores first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

a density control unit that, in accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, varies a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by increasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

28. A display controller for data control during screen display operations, said controller comprising:

a restoring unit that successively restores elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

a speed control unit that controls respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively restored to the screen.

29. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively deleting first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

varying, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by varying a component of the second element of data.

30. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively deleting elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

31. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively restoring first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

varying, in accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by varying a component of the second element of data.

32. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for controlling data display operations, said program comprising the functions of:

successively restoring elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively restored to the screen.

33. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

reducing, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data the density of a second element of data remaining in the specified area by decreasing a component of the second element of data, while said second elements of data are being rearranged.

34. The method as claimed in

claim 33

, further comprising displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

35. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

detecting a position on a screen of a display unit, the position being indicated by a pointing operation;

successively deleting first elements of data from a specified area of the screen, and rearranging second elements of data remaining in the specified area, to provide an appearance that the second elements of data are gradually withdrawn from the specified area at the indicated position; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the first elements of data are successively deleted.

36. The method as claimed in

claim 35

, further comprising displaying a predetermined image at a specified position on the screen when all the second elements of data have been deleted as first elements of data.

37. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively deleting first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

reducing, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by decreasing a component of the second element of data.

38. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively deleting elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively shorter during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

39. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively restoring first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

increasing, in accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by increasing a component of the second element of data.

40. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively restoring elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively longer during which the elements of data are successively restored to the screen.

41. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively deleting first elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

varying, in accordance with successively deleting the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data remaining on the screen by varying a component of the second element of data.

42. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively deleting elements of data from a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively deleted.

43. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively restoring first elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

varying, in accordance with successively restoring the first elements of data, a density of a second element of data previously restored to the screen by increasing a component of the second element of data.

44. A method for controlling data display operations, the method comprising:

successively restoring elements of data to a screen of a display unit; and

controlling respective time intervals to be successively varied during which the elements of data are successively restored to the screen.