Information processing apparatus, controlling method and program medium

• US 6,560,612 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Shigemi, Amemiya, Ryoji, Isoda, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/461,925
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 708/100, 708/112, 708/114, 707/1-104, 364/900-927, 463/2-4, 463/23, 345/173, 345/702, 711/100, 711/101, 710/1-2, 710/8, 710/30, 712/200, 712/248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The invention provides an information processing apparatus which can input various kinds of information simply with reliability without increasing the scale thereof. An LCD is disposed on the back of a touch pad, and when a function button is operated, a menu for allowing selection of a function is displayed on the LCD. When a user operates the touch pad to select, for example, ten keys from within the menu, ten keys are displayed on the LCD. Desired operation can be performed by operating the ten keys.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

first inputting means for inputting at least alphanumeric data;

first processing means for processing the data from said first inputting means;

first displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information;

storage means coupled to said first processing means for storing data;

second displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information according to the data stored in said storage means; and

second inputting means for detecting coordinates data and controlling a pointer on said first displaying means, said second inputting means being disposed on a front side of said second displaying means in such a manner as to allow the information displayed on said second displaying means to be visually observed through said second inputting means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first processing means controls, in an extended mode, said second displaying means to display a menu of functions and executes the function corresponding to coordinates inputted from said second inputting means.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first processing means executes the function selected from the menu and controls said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to the function selected from the menu.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image includes numerical keys and said first processing means processes coordinates data as a number corresponding to a numerical key inputted from said second inputting means.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image includes an image regarding time.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image includes a calendar.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image includes a schedule book.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image includes an electronic calculator.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first displaying means displays an image corresponding to the function selected from the menu.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a physical key for displaying a menu of functions on said second displaying means,

wherein said first processing means executes the function corresponding to coordinates inputted from said second inputting means and controls said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to the function selected from the menu.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a physical function key, wherein said first processing means executes, when said physical function key is operated, the function and controls said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to the function.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second inputting means outputs coordinates data to said first processing means corresponding to an operation even when said second displaying means is substantially in inoperative condition.

12. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

first inputting means for inputting at least alphanumeric data;

first processing means for processing the data from said first inputting means;

first displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information;

first storage means coupled to said first processing means for storing data;

second processing means coupled to said first processing means;

second storage means coupled to said second processing means for storing data;

second displaying means coupled to said second processing means for displaying information according to the data stored in said second storage means; and

second inputting means for detecting coordinates data and controlling a pointer on said first displaying means, said second inputting means being disposed on a front side of said second displaying means in such a manner as to allow the information displayed on said second displaying means to be visually observed through said second inputting means.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second processing means supplies the coordinates data inputted from said second inputting means to said first processing means, and said first processing means processes the coordinates data inputted from said second inputting means and controls said first displaying means to display the processed information.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second processing means controls said second displaying means to display a menu of functions based on data stored in said second storage means and executes the function corresponding to coordinates inputted from said second inputting means.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second processing means controls said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to a function selected from the menu.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising first power supply means for supplying power to said first processing means, said first displaying means, said first storage means, said second processing means, said second displaying means and said second storage means;

and

second power supply means for supplying power to said second processing means, said second displaying means and said second storage means, wherein said second processing means processes data stored in said second storage means or coordinates data inputted from said second inputting means and controls said second displaying means to display an information even when said first processing means is substantially in inoperative condition.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second inputting means outputs coordinates data to said first processing means corresponding to an operation even when said second displaying means and said second processing means are substantially in inoperative condition.

19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second displaying means, said second inputting means, said second processing means and said second storage means are removably mounted as a portable information apparatus on said information processing apparatus.

20. A controlling method for controlling an information processing apparatus which includes first inputting means for inputting alphanumeric data, first processing means for processing the data from said first inputting means, first displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information, storage means coupled to said first processing means for storing data, second displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information according to the data stored in said storage means, second inputting means for detecting coordinates data and controlling a pointer on said first displaying means, said second inputting means being disposed on a front side of said second displaying means in such a manner as to allow the information displayed on said second displaying means to be visually observed through said second inputting means, the controlling method comprising:

a detection step of detecting a mode; and

a displaying step of causing, in an ordinary operation mode, said first displaying means to display the information inputted from said first inputting means based on coordinate data inputted from said second inputted means.

21. A controlling method according to claim 20, further comprising a menu displaying step of controlling, in an extended mode, said second displaying means to display a menu for allowing selection of a function inputted from said second inputting means.

22. A controlling method according to claim 21, further comprising a second detection step of detecting that a function is detected from the menu, and an image displaying step of controlling said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to the selected function.

23. A program medium for causing an information processing apparatus, which includes first inputting means for inputting alphanumeric data, first processing means for processing the data from said first inputting means, first displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information, storage means coupled to said first processing means for storing data, second displaying means coupled to said first processing means for displaying information according to the data stored in said storage means, second inputting means for detecting coordinates data and controlling a pointer on said first displaying means, said second inputting means being disposed on a front side of said second displaying means in such a manner as to allow the information displayed on said second displaying means to be visually observed through said second inputting means, to execute a program which comprise:

a detection step of detecting a mode; and

a displaying step of causing, in an ordinary operation mode, said first displaying means to display the information inputted from said first inputting means based on coordinate data inputted from said second inputted means.

24. A program medium according to claim 23, wherein the program further comprises a menu displaying step of controlling, in an extended mode, said second displaying means to display a menu for allowing selection of a function inputted from said second inputting means.

25. A program medium according to claim 24, wherein the program further comprises a second detection step of detecting that a function is detected from the menu, and an image displaying step of controlling said second displaying means to display an image corresponding to the selected function.