Information retrieval device

• US 20050183012A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Petro, Oliver, Michelitsch, Stefan, Kanakis, Evelyne
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An information retrieval device, comprising a jog-dial, a screen, a first level item processing unit to display at least a part of first level information items in a virtual ring segment on the screen, wherein said first level information items are rotated and thereby the displayed first level information items are changed by rotating the jog-dial, and a first level capturing unit to select a first level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position by pressing the jog-dial, additionally comprises at least one respective further level information item processing unit to display at least a part of respective further level information items corresponding to an information item selected in the next lower level information items in a virtual ring segment around the virtual ring segment defined by the next lower level information items on the screen, wherein only the outermost displayed further level information items are rotated and thereby the outermost displayed further level information items are changed by rotating the jog-dial and all displayed lower level information items are kept static, and at least one further level capturing unit to only select an outermost displayed further level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position by pressing the jog-dial and all displayed lower level information items are kept in their respective selected or not-selected state.

Claims

1. Information retrieval device, comprising

a jog-dial,

a screen, and

a first level item processing unit to display at least a part of first level information items in a virtual ring segment on the screen, wherein said first level information items are rotated and thereby the displayed first level information items are changed by rotating the jog-dial, and

a first level capturing unit to select a first level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position by pressing the jog-dial, characterized by

at least one respective further level information item processing unit to display at least a part of respective further level information items corresponding to an information item selected in the next lower level information items in a virtual ring segment around the virtual ring segment defined by the next lower level information items on the screen, wherein only the outermost displayed further level information items are rotated and thereby the outermost displayed further level information items are changed by rotating the jog-dial and all displayed lower level information items are kept static, and

at least one further level capturing unit to only select an outermost displayed further level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position by pressing the jog-dial and all displayed lower level information items are kept in their respective selected or not-selected state.

2. Information retrieval device according to claim 1, characterized in that several respective highest level information items are selectable by pressing the jog-dial for a not-selected respective highest level information item and de-selectable by pressing the jog-dial for a selected respective highest level information item, and comprising a storage unit for storing a selected and not-selected status of the respective highest level information items.

3. Information retrieval device according to claim 1, characterized by a level control unit that causes a disappearing of the outermost displayed further level information items by tilting or double-pressing of the jog-dial.

4. Information retrieval device according to claim 1, characterized in that said jog-dial is arranged partly visible so that said ring segment(s) appear on said screen as to constitute a not-visible part of said jog-dial.

5. Method for information retrieval, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least a part of first level information items in a virtual ring segment on a screen, wherein said first level information items are rotated and thereby the displayed first level information items are changed when a jog-dial is rotated, and

selecting a first level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position when the jog-dial gets pressed, characterized by the steps;

displaying at least a part of respective further level information items corresponding to an information item selected in the next lower level information items in a virtual ring segment around the virtual ring segment defined by the next lower level information items on the screen, wherein only the outermost displayed further level information items are rotated and thereby the outermost displayed further level information items are changed when the jog-dial is rotated and all displayed lower level information items are kept static, and

only select a outermost displayed further level information item that is displayed at a predetermined position when the jog-dial gets pressed and all displayed lower level information items are kept in their respective selected or not-selected state.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized by the steps:

allowing that several respective highest level information items are selectable when the jog-dial gets pressed for a not-selected respective highest level information item and de-selectable when the jog-dial gets pressed for a selected respective highest level information item, and

storing a selected and not-selected status of the respective highest level information items.

7. Method according to claim 5, characterized by the step of:

causing a disappearing of the outermost displayed further level information items when the jog-dial gets tilted or double-pressed.

8. Method according to claim 5, characterized by the step of:

arranging said jog-dial partly visible so that said ring segment(s) appear on said screen as to constitute a not-visible part of said jog-dial.

9. Computer program product, comprising computer program means adapted to perform the method steps as defined in claim 5 when being executed on a computer, digital signal processor or the like.

10. Computer readable storage means, storing thereon a computer program product according to claim 9.