Information apparatus and method of selecting operation selecting element

• US 20050166162A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Susumu
• Granted Patent: US 7,439,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

An information apparatus includes a display unit which displays an icon, a pointer, and the like, and a pointing device. When the pointer executes predetermined movement and stop in an icon-selection effective region formed in a periphery of the icon, the information apparatus determines that the pointer has selected the above-described icon. It is possible to apply a menu item in place of the icon. It is possible to set plural conditions for determining that the icon has been selected. It is possible for an operator to easily select the icon and the like on a small display unit by using the pointing device.

Claims

1. An information apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that displays an operation selecting element;

a pointing device that controls a pointer on the display unit;

a pointer information storage unit that stores a movement and a stop of the pointer on the display unit;

an operation selecting element storage unit that stores data on a predetermined peripheral region of the operation selecting element;

a determination condition storage unit that stores a condition for determining that the pointer has selected the operation selecting element; and

a determination unit that determines whether or not the operation selecting element has been selected.

2. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the condition comprises a condition for determining that the pointer repeats the movement and the stop a predetermined number of times or more in the predetermined peripheral region.

3. An information apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the predetermined number of times is twice.

4. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the condition comprises a condition for determining that the pointer changes a moving direction thereof and stops in the predetermined peripheral region.

5. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation selecting element comprises at least one of an icon and a menu item.

6. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the determination condition storage unit stores a plurality of conditions, and

when any one of the conditions is satisfied, it is determined that the operation selecting element has been selected.

7. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the information apparatus comprises a cellular phone.

8. An information apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the information apparatus comprises a computer.

9. A method of selecting an operation selecting element in an information apparatus including a display unit, the method comprising:

detecting a movement and a stop of a pointer in a peripheral region of the operation selecting element on the display unit, and storing the detected movement and a stopped position;

comparing the stored movement and stopped position of the pointer with a predetermined condition; and

determining that the pointer has selected the operation selecting element when the movement and stopped position of the pointer meet the condition.

10. A method according to claim 9,

wherein the condition comprises a condition for determining that the pointer repeats the movement and a stop a predetermined number of times or more in the predetermined peripheral region.

11. A method according to claim 9,

wherein the condition comprises a condition for determining that the pointer changes a moving direction thereof and stops in the predetermined peripheral region.

12. A method according to claim 9,

wherein the operation selecting element comprises at least one of an icon and a menu item.

13. A method according to claim 10,

wherein the predetermined number of times is twice.