Information input and output system, method, storage medium, and carrier wave

• US 20030071858A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Morohoshi, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,015,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A coordinate input device detects coordinates of a position by indicating a screen of a display device with fingers of one hand, and transfers information of the detected coordinates to a computer through a controller. The computer receives an operation that complies with the detected coordinates, and executes the corresponding processing. For example, when it is detected that two points on the screen have been simultaneously indicated, an icon registered in advance is displayed close to the indicated position.

Claims

1. An information input and output system comprising:

a display device that display an image;

a coordinate input device that detects coordinates of a plurality of positions indicated on a screen of said display device;

a storage unit that prestores one or a plurality of operation images using as images for an operation; and

an operation image control unit, when said coordinate input device detects the coordinates of the plurality of positions indicated on said screen, that displays an operation image stored in said storage unit at a predetermined position on said screen of said display device based on said coordinates.

2. The information input and output system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that measures time between points where said plurality of positions are respectively indicated and determines whether or not said measured time is a predetermined time or less,

wherein said operation image control unit displays said operation image when said measured time is determined as a predetermined time or less.

3. The information input and output system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that calculates a distance between said plurality of positions indicated and determines whether or not said calculated distance is a predetermined distance or less,

wherein said operation image control unit displays said operation image when said calculated distance is determined as a predetermined distance or less.

4. The information input and output system according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit registers display condition information relating to display conditions in connection with said one or a plurality of kinds of operation images, and said operation image control unit displays said operation image in accordance with the registration content of said storage unit.

5. The information input and output system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a control unit that receives an input of said display condition information and updates the registration content of the corresponding display condition information in said storage unit based on the received content.

6. The information input and output system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects a moved distance between positions indicated on said screen and a moving direction thereof; and

a control unit, when movement of said indicated positions is detected in a state in which said operation image is displayed, that receives a predetermined operation in accordance with at least one of said detected moved distance and moving direction, and executes the corresponding processing.

7. The information input and output system according to claim 6, wherein said control unit changes the display position of said operation image in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected in a state that said operation image is displayed.

8. The information input and output system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects moved distance and moving direction of the positions indicated on said screen; and

a control unit that enlarges or reduces the size of said operation image on the screen in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected.

9. The information input and output system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects moved distance and moving direction of the position indicated on said screen,

wherein said operation image control unit displays a door image at a predetermined position on said screen when a plurality of positions is detected on said screen, and

said operation image control unit moves the display position of said door image on the screen and displays said control image to appear gradually from the lower portion of door in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected in a state that said door image is displayed.

10. The information input and output system according to claim 1, wherein said operation image includes at least one of an icon, a dial, a slider bar, and a pallet.

11. The information input and output system according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit registers a plurality of kinds of operation images, and said operation image control unit selects an image to be displayed from said plurality of operation images to display said selected image based on said number of indicated positions and whether positions are simultaneously indicated or positions are sequentially indicated.

12. An information input and output method comprising the steps of:

detecting coordinates of a plurality of positions indicated on a screen of a display device by a user; and

displaying an operation image, using as an image for an operation, at a predetermined position on said screen based on said detected coordinates of the plurality of positions.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon, said computer-program causing a computer, which is connected to a display device and a coordinate input device that detects coordinates of a plurality of positions indicated on a screen of said display device, to execute steps of:

obtaining coordinates detected by said coordinate input device; and

displaying an operation image, using as an image for an operation, at a predetermined position on the screen of said display device based on said obtained coordinates.

14. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

measuring time between points where said plurality of positions are respectively indicated to determine whether or not said measured time is a predetermined time or less; and

displaying said operation image when said measured time is determined as a predetermined time or less.

15. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

calculating a distance between said plurality of positions indicated;

determining whether or not said calculated distance is a predetermined distance or less; and

displaying said operation image when said calculated distance is determined as a predetermined distance or less.

16. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further step of:

displaying said operation image in accordance with the registration content of a storage unit of said computer that registers display condition information relating to display conditions in connection with one or a plurality of kinds of operation images.

17. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 16, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

receiving an input of said display condition information; and

updating the registration content of the corresponding display condition information in said storage unit based on said received content.

18. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

detecting a moved distance between positions indicated on said screen and a moving direction thereof;

receiving a predetermined operation in accordance with at least one of said detected moved distance and moving direction when movement of said indicated positions is detected in a state in which said operation image is displayed; and

executing a processing corresponding to the predetermined operation.

19. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 18, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further step of:

changing the display position of said operation image in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected in a state that said operation image is displayed.

20. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

detecting moved distance and moving direction of the positions indicated on said screen; and

enlarging or reducing the size of said operation image on the screen in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected.

21. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further steps of:

detecting moved distance and moving direction of the position indicated on said screen;

displaying a door image at a predetermined position on said screen when a plurality of positions is detected on said screen, and

moving the display position of said door image on the screen to display said control image to appear gradually from the lower portion of door in accordance with at least one of the detected moved distance and moving direction when said movement of the indicated positions is detected in a state that said door image is displayed.

22. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, wherein said operation image displaying step displays at least of an icon, a dial, a slider bar, and a pallet.

23. The computer-readable storage medium having a computer-program recorded thereon according to claim 13, said computer-program causing the computer to execute further step of:

selecting an image to be displayed from said plurality of operation images registered in a storage unit of said computer to display said selected image based on said number of indicated positions and whether positions are simultaneously indicated or positions are sequentially indicated.

24. A computer data signal embedded on a carrier wave that represents a program causing a computer, which is connected to a display device and a coordinate input device that detects coordinates of a plurality of positions indicated on a screen of said display device, to function as a control circuit that displays an operation images, using as an image for an operation, at a predetermined position on a screen page of said display device based on the coordinates detected by said coordinate input device.