Task display switching method, portable apparatus and portable communications apparatus

• US 7,123,945 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kokubo, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US10/301,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20030119562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 455/566, 455/556.1, 715/790
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

There are provided a task display switching method, a portable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus which, when a plurality of application software are activated and processed in parallel, make it possible to switch a display between each of the application software with ease. According to the task display switching method, the portable apparatus and the portable communications apparatus of the present invention, in a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, an icon associated with a task displayed on a first display region is generated automatically or manually, and the generated icon is displayed in a second display region. When any icon thus generated is selected from a plurality of icons displayed on the second display region, the task associated with the selected icon is restored and displayed in the first display region.

Claims

1. A task display switching method in a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, comprising:

generating a first icon associated with a first task when a second icon associated with a second task is selected from icons displayed in a second display region, said first task being displayed in a first display region that displays a selected task;

removing the display of the first task from the first display region without ending the first task;

displaying said first icon in said second display region that displays icons, said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of said first task associated with said first icon; and

restoring said first task associated with said first icon to the first display region when said first icon is selected from icons displayed in said second display region.

2. The task display switching method according to claim 1, wherein said first icon graphically depicts a most recent processing state of said first task.

3. The task display switching method according to claim 1, wherein said first icon graphically depicts a processing state at which said first task is suspended or stopped.

4. The task display switching method according to claim 1, wherein said first icon graphically depicts an initial processing state of said first task.

5. The task display switching method according to claim 1, wherein said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of said first task is generated by reducing an image displayed on said first display region.

6. The task display switching method according to claim 1, wherein said first icon associated with said first task is erased from said second display region when said restoring is carried out.

7. A portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, comprising:

icon generation means for generating an icon associated with one of said tasks;

a first display region that displays a selected task; and

a second display region that displays icons;

wherein

said icon generating means generates a first icon associated with the a first task displayed on said first display region when a second icon associated with a second task is selected from icons displayed in said second display region, said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of said first task associated with said first icon,

the first display region removes display of the first task from the first display region without ending the first task,

said first icon associated with said first task is displayed in said second display region, and

when said first icon associated with said task is selected from icons displayed in said second display region, said first task associated with said first icon is restored and displayed in said first display region.

8. The portable apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first icon graphically depicts a most recent processing state of said first task.

9. The portable apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first icon graphically depicts a processing state at which said first task is suspended or stopped.

10. The portable apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first icon graphically depicts an initial processing state of said first task.

11. The portable apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of said first task is generated by reducing an image displayed in said first display region.

12. The portable apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first icon associated with said first task is erased from said second display region when said first task is restored.

13. A portable communications apparatus, capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel, comprising:

a display unit;

a first display region for displaying a selected task provided in said display unit;

a hinge unit;

a second display region for displaying icons provided in said hinge unit;

an operation unit having operating means; and

icon generating means for generating an icon associated with one of said tasks, wherein

said display unit and said operation unit are joined via said hinge unit,

said display unit and said operation unit are rotatable so as to be opened/closed with said hinge unit as a shaft,

said first display region and said second display region become viewable when said display unit and said operation unit are rotated to an opened position,

a first icon associated with a first task displayed in said first display region is generated with said icon generating means when a second icon associated with a second task is selected from icons displayed in said second display region, said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of said first task associated with said first icon,

the first task is removed from the first display region without ending the first task;

said first icon associated with said first task is displayed in said second display region, and

when said first icon associated with said first task is selected from a plurality of icons displayed in said second display region, said first task associated with said first icon is restored and displayed in said first display region.

14. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first icon graphically depicts a most recent processing state of said first task.

15. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said icon graphically depicts a processing state at which said first task is suspended or stopped.

16. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first icon graphically depicts an initial processing state of said first task.

17. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first icon graphically depicting one of a plurality of processing states of-said first task is generated by reducing an image displayed in said first display region.

18. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first icon associated with said first task is erased from said second display region when said first task is restored.

19. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second display region is provided so as to be viewable when said display unit and said operation unit are rotated to a closed position.

20. The portable communications apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second display region displays data indicating a status of said portable communications apparatus.

21. A portable communications apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said data indicating said status of said portable communications apparatus is one of a communication condition, remaining battery capacity, the time and presence of stored data.