Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program

• US 8,197,343 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Tahara, Akira, Nishimura, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/289,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/31, 463/34
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface

Abstract

A game apparatus includes two LCDs, a touch panel is provided in association with the one LCD. On the touch panel, an operation button corresponding to each player character is set. A setting of the operation button is changed according to an operation state (frequency of usage, operation coordinates position) by a player during playing the game. For example, a size of an operation effective area and a display position of the operation button are changed according to the frequency of usage. Furthermore, at least any one of the operation effective areas and the display position of the operation button is changed according to the operation coordinates position.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry which sets, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry which sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

position determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry which executes a game process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining programmed logic circuitry that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

2. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising button figure selecting programmed logic circuitry which selects an operating button figure to be displayed on said display portion out of a plurality of kinds of operating button figures, wherein said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets the operating button figure selected by said button figure selecting programmed logic circuitry to an arbitrary position of said display portion.

3. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising button size changing programmed logic circuitry which changes a size of the operating button being displayed on said display portion, and makes said storage store size data indicative of the size of said operating button, wherein said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the displaying region of the operating button that is changed in its size by said button size changing programmed logic circuitry as said operation effective area.

4. A game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said button size changing programmed logic circuitry changes the size of said operating button in accordance with an operating time period of said touch panel by said player.

5. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

operating times detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects at least the number of operating times of said operating button; and

displaying region changing programmed logic circuitry which changes a size of a displaying region of said operating button based on the number of operating times detected by said operation times detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the displaying region of the operating button that is changed by said displaying area changing programmed logic circuitry.

6. A game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

game progress state detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects a game progress state; and

display state changing programmed logic circuitry which changes a display state of the operating button being displayed on said display portion when a detection is made that said game progress state becomes a predetermined state by said game progress detecting programmed logic circuitry, wherein

said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of the operating button changed by said display state changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

7. A game apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising

function setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a function of said operating button, and makes said storage store the function;

function displaying programmed logic circuitry which displays in association with said operating button a text indicative of a content of the function set by said function setting programmed logic circuitry; and

function changing programmed logic circuitry which changes the function set by said figure function setting programmed logic circuitry when a detection is made by said game progress state detecting programmed logic circuitry that said game progress state becomes a predetermined state;

wherein

said button figure display state changing programmed logic circuitry changes the content of the function displayed by said button function displaying programmed logic circuitry to a content of the function changed by said button function changing programmed logic circuitry.

8. A game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said button display state changing programmed logic circuitry displays a new operating button on said display portion when a determination is made by said game progress state detecting programmed logic circuitry said game progress state becomes a predetermined state, and said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of the new operating button as an operation effective area.

9. A game apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising character selecting programmed logic circuitry which selects an arbitrary character out of a plurality of kinds of characters;

wherein

said button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets said button at an arbitrary position of said display portion for the character selected by said character selecting programmed logic circuitry,

said game progress state detecting programmed logic circuitry detects whether or not the character selected by said character selecting programmed logic circuitry is changed,

said button display state detecting programmed logic circuitry, when the character is changed by said game progress state detecting programmed logic circuitry, changes the position of said button to the button position set to the changed character, and

said operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry sets the displaying region of the button changed by said button display state changing programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area.

10. A game apparatus, comprising:

a first display portion for displaying a game image;

a second display portion provided in the vicinity of said first display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said second display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry which sets, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said second display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry which sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operating coordinates position in said second display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

position determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry which executes a game process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining programmed logic circuitry that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said second display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

11. A game apparatus, comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided in connection to said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry which sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

position determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

game processing programmed logic circuitry which executes a game process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining programmed logic circuitry that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a game apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a game processing system having one or more game processors of said game apparatus execute:

setting, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and making said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

executing a game process according to an operation that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting the display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program makes said game processing system further execute selecting an operating button figure to be displayed on said display portion out of a plurality of kinds of operating button figures, wherein said setting the display position of said operating button includes setting the selected operating button figure to an arbitrary position of said display portion.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program makes said game processing system further execute changing a size of the operating button being displayed on said display portion, and making said storage store size data indicative of the size of said operating button, wherein said setting the area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button includes setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the displaying region of the operating button that is changed in its size by said changing the size of the operating button as said operation effective area.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program makes said game processing system further execute:

detecting at least the number of operating times of said operating button; and

a changing a size of a displaying region of said operating button based on the detected number of operating times, wherein

said setting the area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button includes setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the displaying region of the operating button that is changed.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a game program to be executed by a game apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a game processing system including one or more processors of said game apparatus execute:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and making said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

executing a game process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting the display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said displaying portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting programmed logic circuitry which sets an area of said touch panel corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry which detects an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

position determining programmed logic circuitry which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting programmed logic circuitry is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

processing programmed logic circuitry which executes a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining programmed logic circuitry that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting programmed logic circuitry sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a processing system including one or more processors of said apparatus execute:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and making said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

executing a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting the display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

19. A method executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and storing the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

20. A method executed by a game apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a game process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

21. A method executed by a game apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a player, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a game process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

22. A system comprising:

a display portion configured to display at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute a process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

23. A game system comprising:

a display portion configured to display at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute a game process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

24. A game system comprising:

a first display portion for displaying a game image;

a second display portion provided in the vicinity of said first display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said second display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set, prior to a starting of a game, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said second display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said second display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute a game process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said second display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

25. A game system comprising:

a display portion configured to display at least one operating button;

a touch panel which is provided on said display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said touch panel corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said touch panel;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute a game process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said touch panel as said display position of said operating button.

26. A method executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and storing the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

27. A method executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing the process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

28. A method executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said method comprising:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a process, using a processing system having one or more processors, according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a processing system including one or more processors of said apparatus execute:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and storing the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a processing system including one or more processors of said apparatus execute:

setting, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing the process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by an apparatus provided with a display portion for displaying at least one operating button, and a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position, said program making a processing system including one or more processors of said apparatus execute:

setting a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and making a storage store the display position;

setting an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and storing positional information of said operation effective area;

detecting an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determining whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

executing a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said determining that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said setting a display position of said operating button includes setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

32. An apparatus comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting unit which sets, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting unit which sets an area of said pointing device corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting unit as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting unit which detects an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

position determining unit which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting unit is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

a processing unit which executes a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made it by said position determining unit that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting unit sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a first display portion for displaying an image;

a second display portion provided in the vicinity of said first display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting unit which sets, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said second display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting unit which sets an area of said pointing device corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting unit as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting unit which detects an operating coordinates position in said second display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

position determining unit which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting unit is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

a processing unit which executes the process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining unit that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting unit sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said second display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a pointing device which detects operation information including at least an operated position;

operating button position setting unit which sets a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and makes a storage store the display position;

operation effective area setting unit which sets an area of said pointing device corresponding to the display position of said operating button set by said operating button position setting unit as an operation effective area, and makes said storage store positional information of said operation effective area;

operating coordinates position detecting unit which detects an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

position determining unit which determines whether or not the operating coordinates position detected by said operating coordinates position detecting unit is within said operation effective area indicated by the positional information stored in said storage; and

a processing unit which executes a process according to an operation of said operating button when a determination is made by said position determining unit that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

said operating button position setting unit sets a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

35. A system comprising:

a display portion configured to display at least one operating button;

a pointing device which is provided on said display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute a process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

36. A system comprising:

a display portion configured to display at least one operating button;

a pointing device which is provided on said display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute the process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.

37. A system comprising:

a first display portion for displaying an image;

a second display portion provided in the vicinity of said first display portion for displaying at least one operating button;

a pointing device which is provided on said second display portion and configured to detect operation information including at least an operated position;

a processing system, including one or more processors, the processing system configured to;

set, prior to a starting of a process, a display position of said operating button at an arbitrary position in said second display portion on the basis of an instruction by a user, and to store the display position;

set an area of said pointing device corresponding to the set display position of said operating button as an operation effective area, and to store positional information of said operation effective area;

detect an operating coordinates position in said second display portion based on the operation information detected through an operation of said pointing device;

determine whether or not the detected operating coordinates position is within said operation effective area indicated by the stored positional information; and

execute the process according to an operation of said operating button based upon a determination that said operation coordinates position is within said operation effective area, wherein

the display position of said operating button is set by setting a displaying region of a figure depicted on said second display portion by operating said pointing device as said display position of said operating button.