Information processing device and method, and information processing program

• US 20030078994A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Kensaku
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00429 using a navigation tree
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 : outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 : outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera

Abstract

A note-type personal computer according to the present invention has an LCD for displaying information stored in an internal storage provided therein, and an external storage or an external picture server connected thereto, via the internet. And, operation for the information stored in the respective storages is performed by the user in the same procedure using operation units such as a keyboard, a touch pad, with indication on the LCD confirmed. When the information stored in the picture server is displayed, the LCD displays auxiliary information indicative of this notice. The LCD displays the auxiliary information using a different folder name, or displays the auxiliary information on the background of a display area of the LCD. So, the user can confirm contents on the internet easily without the need of performing complicated operations.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus which can have an access to an internal storage provided therein and to an external storage connected thereto, comprising:

operation means; and

display means for displaying information stored in the internal storage and the external storage;

wherein operation for the information stored in the respective storages is performed in the same procedure using the operation means with indication on the display means confirmed.

2. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein, when the information stored in the external storage is displayed, the display means displays auxiliary information indicative of this notice.

3. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the display means displays the auxiliary information using a different folder name.

4. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the display means displays the auxiliary information on the background of a display area which displays the information.

5. An information processing method for displaying information stored in an internal storage provided in an information processing apparatus and in an external storage connected to the apparatus on display means, and processing the information using operation means comprising:

connection step of making a communication connection to the external storage;

selection step of selecting the information stored in the external storage, whose communication connection with the information processing apparatus is secured by way of the connection step, on displaying the information on the display means and using the operation means, similar to the operation for displaying the information stored in the internal storage; and

information acquisition step of acquiring information selected from the external storage in the selection step.

6. The information processing method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the selection step selects a directory of the information stored in the internal storage, or a directory of the information stored in the external storage, which directory for the external storage is distinguished from the directory for the internal storage, by using the operation means.

7. The information processing method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the selection step selects contents in the directory for the external storage on displaying the minimum information of the contents on the display means.

8. The information processing method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the information acquisition step acquires all the information of the contents which are selected on displaying the minimum information thereof in the selection step, similar to the operation for acquiring contents in the directory for the internal storage.

9. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein, when the information stored in the external storage is displayed, the display means displays auxiliary information indicative of this notice.

10. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the display means displays the auxiliary information using a different folder name.

11. The information processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the display means displays the auxiliary information on the background of a display area which displays the information.

12. An information processing program for displaying information stored in an internal storage provided in an information processing apparatus and in an external storage connected to the apparatus on display means, and processing the information using operation means comprising:

connection step of making a communication connection to the external storage;

selection step of selecting the information stored in the external storage, whose communication connection with the information processing apparatus is secured by way of the connection step, on displaying the information on the display means and using the operation means, similar to the operation for displaying the information stored in the internal storage; and

information acquisition step of acquiring information selected from the external storage in the selection step.