INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100300771A1
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MIYAZAKI, Reiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,346,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.03
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is provided which includes an operation tool detection unit for detecting at least a contact operation by an operation tool on the information processing apparatus, a state detection unit for detecting a static/non-static state or an orientation of the information processing apparatus, and a mode control unit for controlling a mode for detecting an operation by the operation tool on the information processing apparatus according to the detected static/non-static state or orientation of the information processing apparatus. This enables the mode for detecting the operation by the operation tool on the information processing apparatus to be controlled according to the static/non-static state or orientation of the information processing apparatus, so that the detection mode can be appropriately controlled according to an operating state of a user.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an operation tool detection unit for detecting at least a contact operation by an operation tool on the information processing apparatus;

a state detection unit for detecting a static/non-static state or an orientation of the information processing apparatus; and

a mode control unit for controlling a mode for detecting the operation by the operation tool on the information processing apparatus according to the detected static/non-static state or orientation of the information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation tool detection unit detects the contact operation and a proximity operation by the operation tool on a display panel of the information processing apparatus,

wherein the state detection unit detects the static/non-static state of the information processing apparatus, and

wherein the mode control unit enables a proximity detection mode for detecting the proximity operation in the case where the static state of the information processing apparatus is detected and disables the proximity detection mode in the case where the static state of the information processing apparatus is not detected.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation tool detection unit detects a remote operation by the operation tool on the information processing apparatus as well as the contact operation and a proximity operation by the operation tool on a display panel of the information processing apparatus,

wherein the state detection unit detects the static/non-static state of the information processing apparatus, and

wherein the mode control unit enables a remote detection mode for detecting the remote operation and disables a proximity detection mode for detecting the proximity operation in the case where the static state of the information processing apparatus is detected, and disables the remote detection mode for detecting the remote operation and enables the proximity detection mode for detecting the proximity operation in the case where the static state of the information processing apparatus is not detected.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation tool detection unit detects the contact operation by the operation tool on two or more contact detection units provided for the information processing apparatus;

wherein the state detection unit detects the orientation of the information processing apparatus, and

wherein the mode control unit enables a first contact detection mode for detecting the contact operation on one of the two nor more contact detection units or a second contact detection mode for detecting the contact operation on another one of the two or more contact detection units, according to the orientation of the information processing apparatus.

5. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting a static/non-static state or an orientation of an information processing apparatus; and

controlling a mode for detecting an operation by an operation tool on the information processing apparatus according to the detected static/non-static state or orientation of the information processing apparatus.

6. A program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a static/non-static state or an orientation of an information processing apparatus; and

controlling a mode for detecting an operation by an operation tool on the information processing apparatus according to the detected static/non-static state or orientation of the information processing apparatus.