Electronic device and recording medium

• US 8,386,162 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kagota, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUSTAFA, IMRAN K
• Application Number:
  US12/214,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 701/408, 701/468
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers

Abstract

A controller determines whether or not the map data that includes the position information of the user device and the position information of the other party can be displayed on the screen of the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties cannot be displayed at the predetermined reduced scale, the controller 11 splits the display panel into two screens, and displays the map data that include the user device position information and the map data that include the other party position information on separate screens. When the result of the determination specifies that the map that includes the position information of both parties can be displayed, the central control device displays the single map data that include the position information of both parties on the single screen of the display panel.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device body comprising a display panel which is splittable into a plurality of screens, the electronic device being configured to control whether the display panel is used as one of a plurality of split screens and an integrated screen of combined individual split screens;

a position obtainer that obtains a first position information and a second position information;

a first controller that performs splitting control to split the display panel for use as the plurality of screens, and display control to display map data including the first position information and map data including the second position information on each separate split screen;

a second controller that performs integration control to use the display panel as an integrated screen, and display control to display the map data including the first and the second position information on the integrated screen;

a determiner that determines whether the map data that includes the first and the second position information is displayable on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale;

a first switcher that switches between the splitting control by the first controller and the integration control by the second controller based on a determination result of the determiner;

a second switcher that switches by operation of an operator comprising a key for the second switcher between the control by the first controller and the control by the second controller when the function by the first switcher is restrained regardless of the determination result of the determiner; and

a style detector that detects a style of the device body of the electronic device;

wherein the first switcher accomplishes switching so that the integration control and the display control are performed by the second controller when the determiner determines that the map data including the first and the second position information is displayable on the display panel at the predetermined reduced scale, while the first controller is performing the splitting control and the display control; and

wherein the first switcher switches between the splitting control and the integration control when the style detected by the style detector is a style in which an area at which the operator is disposed is enclosed by a portion of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein while the second controller is performing the integration control and display control, the first switcher accomplishes switching so that the splitting control and display control are performed by the first controller when the determiner has determined that the map data including the first and the second position information cannot be displayed on the display panel at the predetermined reduced scale.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reduced scale is a reduced scale that is set in accordance with a user operation;

and the determiner determines whether the map data including the first and the second position information is displayable on the integrated screen at the predetermined reduced scale when the display panel is used as the integrated screen.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second switcher executes the switching of the control at predetermined times.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second switcher executes switching of the control in accordance with a user operation.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a notifier that provides a summary of the switching between the control by the first controller and the control by the second controller performed by the first switcher.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein switching of the control by the first switcher is inhibited when another style is detected.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the position obtainer obtains at least one of position information of the first position information and second position information at predetermined times.

9. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program which is implemented in an electronic device that allows a computer provided in the electronic device to execute:

a first step in which a first position information and a second position information are obtained;

a second step in which splitting control to split a display panel for use as a plurality of screens, and display control to display map data that includes the first position information and map data that includes the second position information on each separate split screen are performed;

a third step in which integration control to use the display panel as an integrated screen, and display control to display the map data that includes the first and the second position information on the integrated screen are performed;

a fourth step in which whether the map data that includes the first and the second position information is displayable on the display panel at a predetermined reduced scale is determined;

a fifth step in which switching between the splitting control and the display control that displays map data on the split screens, and the integrating control and display control that displays the map data on the integrated screen is performed based on a determination result; and

a sixth step in which switching by operation of an operator comprising a key between control by a first controller and control by a second controller when the fifth step suspends its function, regardless of the determination result of a determiner;

wherein the fifth step accomplishes switching so that the integration control and the display control are performed by the sixth step when the map data including the first and the second position information is displayable on the display panel at the predetermined reduced scale is determined, while the splitting control and the display control is performed;

wherein the electronic device comprises a style detector that detects a style of a device body of the electronic device;

wherein the electronic device is modifiable in a plurality of styles by changing a layout of a plurality of casings that configure the device body; and

wherein the fifth step is performed when the style detected by the style detector is a style in which the operator is covered by a part of the electronic device, performance of the fifth step being inhibited when another style is detected.