Input system, program, and recording medium

• US 20030080940A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Kawasome, Toshiki
• Granted Patent: US 7,148,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability

Abstract

An input system comprising a computer operably associated with a display screen, a first input device, and a second input device. The first input device has an operating region corresponding to an operation region displayed on the display screen. The operation region may be enlarged, reduced, or moved in response to an operation of the second input device.

Claims

1. An input system, comprising:

a first input device for performing operations in an operation region positioned on a display screen, the display screen operably associated with a computer for executing an application program and for displaying the operation region;

a second input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using said first input device; and

an input control device for modifying the positioning state of the operation region in response to an operation of said second input device.

2. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device moves the operation region horizontally relative to the display screen in response to an operation of said second input device.

3. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device moves the operation region vertically relative to the display screen in response to an operation of said second input device.

4. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device enlarges the operation region in response to an operation of said second input device.

5. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device reduces the operation region in response to an operation of said second input device.

6. The input system of claim 1, wherein said input control device changes the position of the operation region to one of a plurality of pre-set positions on the display screen in response to an operation of said second input device.

7. The input system of claim 1, wherein said first input device is a digitizer having an operating area corresponding to the operation region displayed on the display screen, said digitizer having an operably associated stylus for performing operations on said operating area.

8. The input system of claim 7, wherein said digitizer further comprises an auxiliary operating area for performing operations differing from operations performed on said operating area.

9. The input system of claim 8, wherein said input control device modifies the positioning state of the operation region in response to an operation on said auxiliary operating area.

10. The input system of claim 1, wherein said second input device comprises an input wheel portion.

11. The input system of claim 8, wherein said second input device further comprises an input ball portion.

12. The input system of claim 9, wherein said second input device further comprises a key input portion.

13. The input system of claim 1, wherein said second input device is a keyboard.

14. The input system of claim 1, further comprising a second display having a display screen operably associated with the computer, wherein the operation region may be displayed on one of said first referenced display screen and said second display screen.

15. The input system of claim 1, further comprising a third input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using said first and second input devices.

16. The input system of claim 15, wherein said third input device is a keyboard.

17. A program for causing a computer, to which a first input device for performing operations in an operation region positioned on a display screen and a second input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using the first input device are connected, for executing an application program in response to instructions received from the first and second input devices, and for displaying the operation region of the application program, to execute a modification of the positioning state of the operation region in response to an operation of the second input device.

18. The program of claim 17, further comprising a step of moving the operation region on the display screen in response to an operation of the second input device.

19. The program of claim 17, further comprising a step of enlarging the operation region on the display screen in response to an operation of the second input device.

20. The program of claim 17, further comprising a step of reducing the operation region on the display screen in response to an operation of the second input device.

21. The program of claim 17, further comprising a step of changing the position of the operation region to one of a plurality of pre-set positions on the display screen in response to an operation of the second input device.

22. A recording medium for storing the program as in any one of claims 17-21.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first state of the operation region is displayed according to pre-set input range information.

26. The method of claim 22, comprising the further step of moving the operation region in response to an operation of the second input device.

27. The method of claim 22, comprising the further step of enlarging the operation region in response to an operation of the second input device.

28. The method of claim 22, comprising the further step of reducing the operation region in response to an operation of the second input device.

23. A method of modifying an operation region displayed on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

providing a display screen operably associated with a computer, the computer for executing an application program and for displaying an operation region on the display screen, wherein a first input device for performing operations in the operation region and a second input device for performing operations differing from operations performed using the first input device are connected to the computer;

displaying the operation region in a first state;

operating the second input device;

displaying the operation region in a second state in response to an operation of the second input device.

25. The method of claim 23, comprising the further step of updating the pre-set input range information in response to an operation of the second input device.