Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and control program

• US 20020085047A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aritomi, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

It is one objective of the present invention to provide a practical user interface that can considerably simplify the operations required for the display of a specific object desired by a user, and that can accurately display the specific device at an optimal order location for the user. To achieve this objective, a specific object is detected in directory information read from an external memory, and is displayed, using a tree structure, on a display device based on the steps along a directory path originating at a local object.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device, for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information;

detection means, for detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

display means, for displaying, in accordance with a tree list, said specific object detected by said detection means; and

control means, for, based on the number of steps along a directory path leading from a local object to said specific object, permitting said display means to display, in accordance with said tree list, said specific object detected by said detection means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means omits an intermediate directory path leading to said specific object.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, before said specific object detected by said detection means is displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, said control means omits a directory path along which said specific object is not present.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means performs the sorting for an object display, so that said specific object is displayed at a higher location on a list.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when said specific object detected by said detection means is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, and when said specific object can not be referred to directly due to access right limitations, said control means displays a higher object for which there are no access right problems.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object is an object for a printer device.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object is an object for a compound device including a printer function.

8. An information processing method, for an information processing apparatus including a storage device for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information, comprising:

a detection step of detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

a display step of, in accordance with a tree list, displaying on display means said specific object detected at said detection step; and

a control step of, based on the number of steps along a directory path leading from a local object to said specific object, permitting said display means to display, in accordance with said tree list, said specific object detected at said detection step.

9. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein an intermediate directory path leading to said specific object is omitted at said control step.

10. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein, before said specific object detected at said detection step is displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, at said control step, a directory path along which said specific object is not present is omitted.

11. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the sorting for an object display is performed at said control step, so that said specific object is displayed at a higher location on a list.

12. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein, when said specific object detected at said detection step is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, and when said specific object can not be referred to directly due to access right limitations, at said control step a higher object for which there are no access right problems is displayed.

13. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein said specific object is an object for a printer device.

14. An information processing method according to claim 8, wherein said specific object is an object for a compound device including a printer function.

16. A control program according to claim 15, which permits said information processing apparatus to perform said control step, so that an intermediate directory path leading to said specific object is omitted.

17. A control program according to claim 15, which permits said information processing apparatus to perform said control step, so that, before said specific object detected at said detection step is displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, a directory path along which said specific object is not present is omitted.

18. A control program according to claim 15, which permits said information processing apparatus to perform said control step, so that the sorting for an object display is performed, and said specific object is displayed at a higher location on a list.

19. A control program according to claim 15, which permits said information processing apparatus to perform said control step, so that, when said specific object detected at said detection step is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with said tree list, and when said specific object can not be referred to directly due to access right limitations, a higher object for which there are no access right problems is displayed.

20. A control program according to claim 15, wherein said specific object is an object for a printer device.

21. A control program according to claim 15, wherein said specific object is an object for a compound device including a printer function.

22. A computer-readable storage medium for storing the control program according to claim 15.

15. A control program, which is executed by an information processing apparatus including a storage device for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information, and which permits said information processing apparatus to perform:

a detection step of detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

a display step of, in accordance with a tree list, displaying on display means said specific object detected at said detection step; and

a control step of, based on the number of steps along a directory path leading from a local object to said specific object, permitting said display means to display, in accordance with said tree list, said specific object detected at said detection step.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a storage device, for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information;

detection means, for detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

display means, for displaying, in accordance with a tree list, said specific object detected by said detection means; and

control means, for, when said object detected by said detection means is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with a tree list, omitting an intermediate directory path to said specific object.

24. An information processing method, for an information processing apparatus including a storage device, for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information, comprising:

a detection step of detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

a display step of, in accordance with a tree list, displaying on display means said specific object detected at said detection step; and

a control step of, when said object detected at said detection step is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with a tree list, omitting an intermediate directory path to said specific object.

25. A control program, which is executed by an information processing apparatus including a storage device, for storing predetermined objects for predetermined devices based on directory information, and which permits said information processing apparatus to perform:

a detection step of detecting a specific object in said directory information read from said storage device;

a display step of, in accordance with a tree list, displaying on display means said specific object detected at said detection step; and

a control step of, when said object detected at said detection step is to be displayed on said display means in accordance with a tree list, omitting an intermediate directory path to said specific object.

26. A computer-readable storage medium for storing the control program according to claim 25.