SETTING NEXT DESTINATION OF POINTER TO EACH OF MULTIPLE OBJECTS

• US 20060277502A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: AOYAMA, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A menu screen includes multiple buttons. Assigned to each button for each direction is another button to which an anchor is moved according to a directional user input of up, down, right or left. A button B and a button C both located downstream of a button A are candidates to which the anchor is moved when the down direction key is input with the anchor pointing to the button A. Scores of positional relationships of the position between points of the shortest distance from an anchor position of the button A within the range of the button B and the button C to the anchor position are calculated. According to the calculated scores, the next destination of the anchor when the down direction key is input with the anchor pointing to the button A is set to either button B or button C.

Claims

1. A next destination information setting method for setting next destination information indicating another object that is a predetermined next destination of a pointer that moves in a two dimensional space, defined by coordinates (x, y) of an x-y coordinate system, to a plurality of objects having display positions in the two dimensional space, the other object being selected by a user with the pointer in response to input in a positive x direction, a negative x direction, a positive y direction, or a negative y direction, the next destination information setting method comprising:

calculating scores of positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction between a predetermined object among the plurality of objects and each object other than the predetermined object, in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object; and

setting next destination information in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction for the predetermined object in accordance with a direction from the predetermined object to each object other than the predetermined object, and the calculated scores of the positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction,

wherein given that a difference between an x coordinate of the predetermined object and an x coordinate of a selected other object is dx, and a difference between a y coordinate of the predetermined object and a y coordinate of the selected other object is dy, the scores of the positional relationships are calculated from an equation 9;

α

×

f(dx)+β

×

f(dy) 

 

(9)

where f(k) is a function of k, α and

β

are constants, and a magnitude correlation between α and

β

is inverted when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated and when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated.

2. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein when there are no other objects than the predetermined object in each of the positive and negative x directions and the positive and negative y directions from the predetermined object in the two dimensional space, the next destination information in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction or the negative y direction is not set.

3. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein a score of a positional relationship is calculated in accordance with an equation 10:

α

×

|dx|^γ

+β

×

|dy |^γ

 

 

(10)

where α and

β

are constants greater than 0, α

>

β

when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated, α

<

β

when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated, and γ

is a positive integer, and

information indicating an object having a smallest one of the scores of the positional relationships calculated for each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction is set to the next destination information.

4. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein a score of a positional relationship is calculated in accordance with an equation 11:

α

/|dx|^γ

+β

/|dy|^γ

 

 

(11)

where α and

β

are constants greater than 0, α

<

β

when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated, α

>

β

when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated, and γ

is a positive integer, and

information indicating an object having a largest one of the scores of the positional relationships calculated for each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction is set to the next destination information.

5. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships in accordance with coordinates of a position where the pointer points to the predetermined object, and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object.

6. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, further including changing coordinates of a display position of an arbitrary object of the plurality of objects in the two dimensional space,

wherein calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships every time coordinates of at least one of said plurality of objects changes.

7. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of objects has a shape occupying a predetermined range in the two dimensional space, and

calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of a point which lies in the range of each object other than the predetermined object and lies a shortest distance from the predetermined object.

8. The next destination information setting method according to claim 7, further including changing a shape of an arbitrary object of the plurality of objects,

wherein calculating of the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships every time a shape of at least one object other than the predetermined object changes.

9. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of objects has a shape occupying a predetermined range in the two dimensional space, and

calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships in accordance with coordinates of a position where the pointer points to the predetermined object, and coordinates of a point which lies in a range of each object other than the predetermined object and lies a shortest distance from the predetermined object.

10. The next destination information setting method according to claim 9, further comprising changing a shape of an arbitrary object of the plurality of objects,

wherein calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the scores of the positional relationships every time a shape of at least one object other than the predetermined object changes.

11. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, wherein the next destination information in an arbitrary direction of the predetermined object is set in accordance with input information by the user before the scores of the positional relationships are calculated, and

calculating the scores of the positional relationships further comprises calculating the score of the positional relationship in each direction to which the next destination information is not set in accordance with the input information by the user.

12. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, further comprises changing the next destination information in an arbitrary direction of the predetermined object in accordance with information input by the user after the next destination information in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction is set for the predetermined object in accordance with the calculated scores of the positional relationship.

13. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, further comprises sequentially setting the plurality of objects to the predetermined object, calculating the scores of the positional relationships and setting next destination information.

14. The next destination information setting method according to claim 13, further including determining whether there is an object not set as next destination information in any of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction of any other object after the calculation of the scores of the positional relationships and the setting of next destination information are executed for each of the plurality of objects designated as the predetermined object, and

resetting the next destination information of an object other than the object having not been set as the next destination information in the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, or the negative y direction to the next destination information of the object having not been set as the next destination information when it is determined that there is an object not set as the next destination information.

15. The next destination information setting method according to claim 14, further including:

counting a number of next destinations indicating a number of times each of the plurality of objects is set as next destination information in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction of each of objects; and

extracting a combination of an object and a direction which sets an object having at least two next destinations as next destination information,

wherein determining whether there is an object not set as next destination information further comprises determining whether there is an object having zero next destinations, and

resetting the next destination information further comprises resetting an object having zero next destinations to next destination information in the direction of an extracted object combined with the direction.

16. The next destination information setting method according to claim 15, further comprises calculating scores of positional relationships in the extracted directions between coordinates of the object having zero next destinations and coordinates of said extracted objects in a same way as the score of the positional relationship between the predetermined object and an object other than the predetermined object, when a plurality of combinations of an object and a direction which sets the object having at least two next destinations as next destination information are extracted, and

resetting an object not set as next destination information as next destination information further comprises resetting the next destination information of the extracted object in the extracted direction to the object having zero next destinations, in accordance with the calculated scores of the positional relationships.

17. The next destination information setting method according to claim 1, further including:

displaying the two dimensional space including the plurality of objects on the display device; and

sequentially setting the plurality of objects for the predetermined object when the two dimensional space is displayed on the display device, calculating the score of the positional relationship and setting the next destination information.

18. The next destination information setting method according to claim 17, further comprises assigning each of the plurality of objects a process to be executed when the user enters a predetermined input with the pointer positioned at each of the plurality of objects, and

the next destination information setting method further includes setting each of the processes assigned to the plurality of objects as executable or non-executable.

19. The next destination information setting method according to claim 18, wherein displaying the two dimensional space further comprises displaying an object to which an executable process is assigned in a first manner, and an object to which a non-executable process is assigned in a second different manner.

20. The next destination information setting method according to claim 18, wherein displaying the two dimensional space further comprises displaying only objects assigned executable processes.

21. The next destination information setting method according to claim 18, further comprise sequentially setting, as the predetermined object, the plurality of objects assigned to executable processes, calculating the scores of the positional relationships and setting the next destination information, when the two dimensional space is displayed on the display device.

22. A next destination information setting device for setting next destination information indicating another object that is a predetermined next destination of a pointer that moves in a two dimensional space, defined by coordinates (x, y) of an x-y coordinate system, to a plurality of objects having display positions in the two dimensional space, the other object being selected by a user with the pointer in response to input in a positive x direction, a negative x direction, a positive y direction, or a negative y direction, the next destination information setting device comprising:

a score calculator which calculates scores of positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction between a predetermined object among the plurality of objects and each object other than the predetermined object, in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object; and

a positional information setter which sets next destination information in each of the positive x direction, negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction for the predetermined object in accordance with a direction from the predetermined object to each object other than the predetermined object, and the calculated scores of the positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction,

wherein given that a difference between an x coordinate of the predetermined object and an x coordinate of a selected other object is dx, and a difference between a y coordinate of the predetermined object and a y coordinate of the selected other object is dy, the scores of the positional relationships are calculated from an equation 12;

α

×

f(dx)+β

×

f(dy) 

 

(12)

where f(k) is a function of k, α and

β

are constants, and a magnitude correlation between α and

β

is inverted when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated and when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated.

23. A next destination information setting device of setting next destination information indicating another object that is a predetermined next destination of a pointer that moves in a two dimensional space, defined by coordinates (x, y) of an x-y coordinate system, to a plurality of objects having display positions in the two dimensional space, the other object being selected by a user with the pointer in response to input in a positive x direction, a negative x direction, a positive y direction, or a negative y direction, the next destination information setting device comprising:

a program memory which stores a program; and

a processor which runs the program,

the program comprising;

a calculating code section that calculates scores of positional relationships in cash of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction between a predetermined object among the plurality of objects and each object other than the predetermined object, in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object; and

a setting code section that sets next destination information in each of the positive x direction, negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction for the predetermined object in accordance with a direction from the predetermined object to each object other than the predetermined object, and the calculated scores of the positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction,

wherein given that a difference between an x coordinate of the predetermined object and an x coordinate of a selected other object is dx, and a difference between a y coordinate of the predetermined object and a y coordinate of the selected other object is dy, the code section of calculating the score of the positional relationship calculates the scores of the positional relationships from an equation 13;

α

×

f(dx)+β

×

f(dy) 

 

(13)

where f(k) is a function of k, α and

β

are constants, and a magnitude correlation between α and

β

is inverted when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated and when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated.

24. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for setting next destination information indicating another object that is a predetermined next destination of a pointer that moves in a two dimensional space, defined by coordinates (x, y) of an x-y coordinate system, to a plurality of objects having display positions in the two dimensional space, the other object being selected by a user with the pointer in response to input in a positive x direction, a negative x direction, a positive y direction, or a negative y direction,

the program comprising:

a calculating code section that calculates scores of positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction between a predetermined object among the plurality of objects and each object other than the predetermined object, in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object; and

a setting code section that sets next destination information in each of the positive x direction, negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction for the predetermined object in accordance with a direction from the predetermined object to each object other than the predetermined object, and the calculated scores of the positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction,

wherein given that a difference between an x coordinate of the predetermined object and an x coordinate of a selected other object is dx, and a difference between a y coordinate of the predetermined object and a y coordinate of the selected other object is dy, the code section of calculating the score of the positional relationship calculates the scores of the positional relationships from an equation 14;

α

×

f(dx)+β

×

f(dy) 

 

(14)

where f(k) is a Function of k, α and

β

are constants, and a magnitude correlation between α and

β

is inverted when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated and when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated.

25. A carrier wave superimposed with a data signal of a program for setting next destination information indicating another object that is a predetermined next destination of a pointer that moves in a two dimensional space, defined by coordinates (x, y) of an x-y coordinate system, to a plurality of objects having display positions in the two dimensional space, the other object being selected by a user with the pointer in response to input in a positive x direction, a negative x direction, a positive y direction, or a negative y direction,

the program comprising:

a calculating code section that calculates scores of positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction between a predetermined object among the plurality of objects and each object other than the predetermined object, in accordance with coordinates of the predetermined object and coordinates of each object other than the predetermined object; and

a setting code section that sets next destination information in each of the positive x direction, negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction for the predetermined object in accordance with a direction from the predetermined object to each object other than the predetermined object, and the calculated scores of the positional relationships in each of the positive x direction, the negative x direction, the positive y direction, and the negative y direction,

wherein given that a difference between an x coordinate of the predetermined object and an x coordinate of a selected other object is dx, and a difference between a y coordinate of the predetermined object and a y coordinate of the selected other object is dy, the code section of calculating the score of the positional relationship calculates the scores of the positional relationships from an equation 15;

α

×

f(dx)+β

×

f(dy) 

 

(15)

where f(k) is a function of k, α and

β

are constants, and a magnitude correlation between α and

β

is inverted when a score of a positional relationship in the positive x direction or the negative x direction is calculated and when a score of a positional relationship in the positive y direction or the negative y direction is calculated.