COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING OBJECT DISPLAY ORDER CHANGING PROGRAM STORED THEREIN AND APPARATUS

• US 20100017732A1
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawase, Tomohiro, Matsushima, Yoshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

An icon line is displayed on a screen. A display order for the icon line can be changed by using switch input means enabling a direction input. When an input in a first direction is made, objects are scrolled so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position or the objects are scrolled across the specific position. When an input in the second direction is made, an object positioned at the specific position is saved at a saving position or an object positioned at the saving position is positioned at the specific position. Thus, a user is allowed to easily change the display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an object display order changing program for enabling a user to change, by using switch input means enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen,

the object display order changing program causing a computer to execute:

an object display step of displaying a subset (m;

m>

1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction;

a first scrolling step of scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input means;

a saving step of saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input means;

a second scrolling step of scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input means while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction; and

an object insertion step of inserting, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made for the saving step, is made by using the switch input means while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.

2. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the switch input means is a cross key.

3. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute starting step of staring a program corresponding to an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, in accordance with a predetermined button operation being performed.

4. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the starting step starts the program corresponding to the object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, in accordance with the predetermined button operation being performed, only when no object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

5. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 4, wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute information display step of displaying information of the program corresponding to the object displayed at the specific position.

6. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute control step of performing control so as to prevent the input in the second direction made for the saving step by using the switch input means from being accepted while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

7. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute associated process execution step of performing, in accordance with the predetermined button operation being performed, a process associated with the object displayed at the specific position, and performing control so as to prevent the predetermined button operation from being accepted while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

8. An object display order changing apparatus for enabling a user to change, by using switch input means enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen, the object display order changing apparatus comprising:

display means having the screen;

the switch input means;

object display means for displaying a subset (m;

m>

1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction;

first scrolling means for scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input means;

saving means for saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input means;

second scrolling means for scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input means while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction; and

object insertion means for inserting, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made for the saving means, is made by using the switch input means while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.