Method and apparatus for arranging and displaying files or folders in a three-dimensional body

• US 6,880,132 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uemura, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US09/947,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 345/848, 345/854, 345/716, 345/853, 345/841, 345/849, 345/850, 345/851, 345/836, 345/839, 345/976, 345/830, 345/829, 345/828, 345/837, 345/419
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Files and folders in the form of hierarchy can be confirmed visually easily to enhance the operability of search or content confirmation. An artist reading group 101, an album reading group 102, and a content (each music within an album) reading group 103 are displayed on a display screen. The groups 101 to 103 are displayed so as to form a three-dimensional body, for example, a side (polygonal side) of a polygonal column by a panel 101a or the like having images representative of contents of corresponding files or folders attached thereto.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

means for displaying an image including a screen;

means for forming at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels having attached thereto images, corresponding to a plurality of files or folders, on the screen of the image displaying means, and displaying at least a panel by rendering the panel closest to and parallel with the screen; and

means for preparing a playlist, which lists the order in which said plurality of files or folders are executed, said means for preparing a playlist configured to record, store, and play back the playlist,

wherein said playlist is arranged to be displayed on said means for forming at least a part of a three-dimensional body.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of panels are arranged so as to form a side of a polygonal column, and displayed rotatably around a centre axis of said polygonal column.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said polygonal column rotates around said centre axis according to an automatic selecting operation to select one panel at random.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of files or folders are in the form of hierarchy, and said plurality of panels are grouped every hierarchy and displayed.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the panels within the group in each hierarchy are respectively arranged so as to form the side of the polygonal column, the polygonal columns formed every hierarchy are arranged adjacent to each other so that centre axes are made in common, and each polygonal column is displayed rotatably around the common centre axis.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a panel of one hierarchy of panels within the group in each hierarchy is selected whereby a panel showing an element within a lower hierarchy corresponding to the selected panel is displayed at a display position of a hierarchy on the lower side of said hierarchy.

7. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

means for displaying an image;

means for forming at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels having attached thereto images corresponding to a plurality of files or folders on a screen of the image displaying means, and displaying at least a panel by rendering the panel closest to and parallel with the screen,

wherein the panel forming at least the part of said three-dimensional body is displayed to be changed according to a copy restriction frequency.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said panel is displayed so that thin elements according to the copy restriction frequency are superposed.

9. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

forming at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels having attached thereto images corresponding to a plurality of files or folders attached on a screen of an image display means;

preparing a playlist, which lists the order in which said plurality of files or folders are executed, said means for preparing a playlist configured to record, store, and play back the playlist, wherein said playlist is arranged to be displayed on said three-dimensional body; and

displaying at least a panel by rendering the panel closest to and parallel with the screen.

10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of panels are arranged so as to form a side of a polygonal column, and displayed rotatably around a centre axis of said polygonal column.

11. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of files or folders are in the form of hierarchy, and said plurality of panels are grouped in each hierarchy and displayed.

12. The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein the panels within the group in each hierarchy are respectively arranged so as to form a side of a polygonal column, the polygonal columns formed in each hierarchy are arranged adjacent to each other so that centre axes are made in common, and each polygonal column is displayed rotatably around the common centre axis.

13. The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein a panel of one hierarchy of panels within the group in each hierarchy is selected whereby a panel showing an element within a lower hierarchy corresponding to the selected panel is displayed at a display position of a hierarchy on the lower side of said hierarchy.

14. A computer program, stored in a tangible storage medium, for arranging and displaying a three-dimensional representation of a plurality of files or folders, the program comprising executable instruction that cause a computer to:

form at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels having attached thereto images corresponding to said plurality of files or folders on a screen of an image display means;

prepare a playlist, which lists the order in which said plurality of files or folders are executed, said means for preparing a playlist configured to record, store, and play back the playlist, wherein said playlist is arranged to be displayed on said three-dimensional body; and

display at least a panel by rendering the panel closest to and parallel with the screen.

15. The computer program according to claim 14, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to form at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels further includes executable instructions that cause a computer to

arrange said plurality of panels so as to form a side of a polygonal column, and displayed rotatably around a centre axis of said polygonal column.

16. The computer program according to claim 14, wherein executable instructions that cause a computer to form at least a part of a three-dimensional body by a plurality of panels further includes executable instruction that cause a computer to

configure said plurality of files or folders are in the form of hierarchy, and said plurality of panels are grouped every hierarchy and displayed.