Information processing device and method, and information processing program

• US 7,823,084 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Kensaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitaro; Ryan F
• Application Number:
  US10/148,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,308 Days
• Field of Search: 715/830, 715/838
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00429 using a navigation tree
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 : outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 : outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera

Abstract

A note-type personal computer according to the present invention has an LCD for displaying information stored in an internal storage provided therein, and an external storage or an external picture server connected thereto, via the internet. And, operation for the information stored in the respective storages is performed by the user in the same procedure using operation units such as a keyboard, a touch pad, with indication on the LCD confirmed. When the information stored in the picture server is displayed, the LCD displays auxiliary information indicative of this notice. The LCD displays the auxiliary information using a different folder name, or displays the auxiliary information on the background of a display area of the LCD. So, the user can confirm contents on the internet easily without the need of performing complicated operations.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an internal storage unit having internal contents stored therein, said internal storage unit having an input/output interface;

an external input/output interface unit configured to connect to an external storage unit separated from said information processing apparatus by a public network, said external storage unit having external contents stored therein;

a retrieving unit configured to retrieve said internal contents and said external contents; and

a display unit having a directory display area and a contents display area in a single window, configured to display (i) in the directory display area, both internal directory information for said internal contents and external directory information for said external contents and (ii) in the contents display area, either internal contents information or external contents information as a list form in accordance with user selection of said internal or external directory information in said directory display area, wherein

said both internal directory information and external directory information continues to be displayed while said list form is displayed in said contents display area,

said external contents information is a minimal amount of information regarding each external content, and

wherein said external contents information is displayed in said contents display area, at least one graphic information is displayed around said external contents information and within said contents display area, and the graphic information notifies the user that they are currently viewing external contents information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said minimal amount of information regarding the each external content contains a thumbnail picture when at least one of said external contents is a picture.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, the display unit configured to further display (iii) an operating icon near the contents display area, wherein visual size of the internal or external contents information can be decreased or increased by moving the icon.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, the display unit configured to further display (iii) in an additional contents display area near the contents display area, either internal contents information or external contents information as a list form in accordance with user selection of said internal or external directory information in said directory display area, wherein

the additional contents display area is placed near the contents display area, and

visual size of the internal or external contents information in the additional contents display area can be highly reduced compared with that in the contents display area.

5. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

internal storage means for storing internal contents therein, said internal storage means having an input/output interface;

external input/output interface means for connecting to an external means for storing separated from said information processing apparatus by a public network, said external storage means having external contents stored therein;

means for retrieving said internal contents and said external contents; and

means for displaying having a directory display area and a contents display area in a single window, which displays (i) in the directory display area, both internal directory information for said internal contents and external directory information for said external contents and (ii) in the contents display area, either internal contents information or external contents information as a list form in accordance with user selection of said internal or external directory information in said directory display area, wherein

said both internal directory information and external directory information continues to be displayed while said list form is displayed in said contents display area,

said external contents information is a minimal amount of information regarding each external content, and

wherein said external contents information is displayed in said contents display area, at least one graphic information is displayed around said external contents information and within said contents display area, and the graphic information notifies the user that they are currently viewing external contents information.