INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100271400A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takaharu, Kabasawa, Hidetoshi, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/373 for modifying the size of the graphic pattern

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a designation unit which designates an object, a sensing unit which senses a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object, and a zoom unit which zooms in on the object at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and which zooms in on the object if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a designation unit which designates an object;

a sensing unit which senses a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object at a zoom rate designated by a user; and

a zoom unit which zooms in on the object at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and which zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the zoom rate is designated by a remote control signal generated when an input device is manipulated using gestures in a three-dimensional space.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change, which exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object, is blurring or mosaic patterning of the object.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the zoom rate, which is just less than that when the object is blurred or has been made into a mosaic pattern, is determined by recognizing a character, a figure, or a face that is displayed on the object.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a detection unit which detects the gesture manipulation of the input device; and

an operation unit which operates the zoom rate on the basis of the detected gesture manipulation.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the zoom unit zooms in on a predetermined range on the basis of a virtual point on a virtual plane to which the reference point corresponds if a reference point to be zoomed in on the object is designated.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein if end portions in the upward, downward, left, and right directions of an enlarged range are positioned out of the virtual plane when the predetermined range around the virtual point is enlarged, the position of the virtual point in the virtual plane is corrected so that an image in the virtual plane is enlarged.

8. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

providing a designation unit, a sensing unit, and a zoom unit;

designating an object by the designation unit;

sensing by the sensing unit of a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object at a zoom rate designated by a user; and

zooming in on the object using the zoom unit at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value occurs in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and zooming in on the object using the zoom unit at the designated zoom rate if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.

9. A program prompting a computer to function as:

designation means for designating an object;

sensing means for sensing a change which exceeds a threshold value in at least a part of the object when a user zooms in on the object at a zoom rate designated by a user; and

zoom means for zooming in on the object at the zoom rate which is just less than that when there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object if there is a change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate, and zooming in on the object at the designated zoom rate if there is no change that exceeds the threshold value in at least a part of the object even when the user zooms in on the object at the designated zoom rate.