Electronic device and recording medium

• US 20080319662A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kagota, Yuichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A controller determines whether or not the map data that includes the position information of the user device and the position information of the other party can be displayed on the screen of the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties cannot be displayed at the predetermined reduced scale, the controller 11 splits the display panel into two screens, and displays the map data that include the user device position information and the map data that include the other party position information on separate screens. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties can be displayed, the central control device displays the single map data that include the position information of both parties on the single screen of the display panel.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to have a display panel that is splittable into a plurality of screens, and control whether the display panel is used as a plurality of split screens, or used as an integrated screen of the combined individual split screens, the electronic device comprising:

a position obtaining unit that obtains a first position information and a second position information;

a first control unit that performs splitting controls to split the display panel for use as a plurality of screens, and display controls to display a map data that includes the first position information and a map data that includes the second position information on each separate split screen;

a second control unit that performs integrating controls to use the display panel as an integrated screen, and display controls to display a map data that includes the first and the second position information on the integrated screen;

a determining unit that determines whether or not a map data that includes the first and the second position information can be displayed on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale; and

a first switching unit that switches between the control by the first control unit and the control by the second control unit based on the result of the determination by the determining unit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

while the first control unit is performing the splitting control and display control, the first switching unit accomplishes switching so that the integrating control and display control are performed by the second control unit when the determining unit has determined that a map data that includes the first and the second position information can be displayed on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

while the second control unit is performing the integrating control and display control, the first switching unit accomplishes switching so that the splitting control and display control are performed by the first control unit when the determining unit has determined that a map data that includes the first and the second position information cannot be displayed on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the predetermined reduced scale is a reduced scale that is set in accordance with a user operation;

and

the determining unit determines whether or not a map data that includes the first and the second position information can be displayed on the integrated screen at the predetermined reduced scale when the display panel is used as the integrated screen.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second switching unit that switches between the control by the first control unit and the control by the second control unit regardless of the result of the determination by the determining unit.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the second switching unit executes the switching of the control at predetermined times.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the second switching unit executes switching of the control in accordance with a user operation.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a notifying unit that provides a summary of the switching between the control by the first control unit and the control by the second control unit performed by the first switching unit.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a style detecting unit that detects the style of the device body;

wherein

the electronic device is modifiable in a plurality of styles by changing a layout of a plurality of casings that configure the device body; and

the control is switched by the first switching unit when the style detected by the style detecting unit is a specific style, whereas switching of the control is inhibited when another style is detected.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the position obtaining unit obtains at least either one of position information of the first position information and second position information at predetermined times.

11. A recording medium storing a program that allows a computer to execute:

a function that obtains a first position information and a second position information;

a function that performs splitting controls to split a display panel for use as a plurality of screens, and display controls to display a map data that includes the first position information and a map data that includes the second position information on each separate split screen;

a function that performs integrating controls to use the display panel as an integrated screen, and display controls to display a map data that includes the first and the second position information on the integrated screen;

a function that determines whether or not a map data that includes the first and the second position information can be displayed on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale; and

a function that switches between the splitting control and the display control that displays a map data on the split screens, and the integrating control and display control that displays a map data on the integrated screen based on the result of the determination.