Information processing apparatus, display method, and display program

• US 8,539,376 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Utsuki, Shingo, Hara, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUERTAS TORRES, AYESHA E
• Application Number:
  US12/859,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target

Abstract

This application discloses systems and methods for receiving information associated with a first set of processing instructions and presenting a second icon indicating a change in status of data associated with the first set of processing instructions. A user selection of one of a first icon or the second icon may then be received. The selection of the first icon may cause execution of the first set of processing instructions, whereas selection of the second icon may cause execution of a second set of processing instructions.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an input unit configured to receive information associated with a first computer application;

a controller comprising a computer processor configured to;

generate a first signal to cause a first icon to be presented on a first display screen, the first icon representing the first computer application;

generate a second signal, based on the received information, to cause a second icon to be presented on the first display screen, the second icon being attached to the first icon and partially overlapping the first icon when the second icon is not selected, the second icon displaying an indicator to indicate a change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application; and

receive a user selection of one of the first or second icons, selection of the first icon causing execution of the first computer application, and selection of the second icon causing display of an overview of the change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application,

wherein when the user selects the second icon on the first display screen, the controller generates a third signal to cause the display of the overview of the change in status on a second display screen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the received information comprises an electronic message, and

the second icon displays the indicator to indicate a number of unread electronic messages.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the received information comprises a data feed, and

the second icon displays the indicator to indicate a new arrival for the data feed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the data feed comprises at least one of an RSS feed, a blog, a social media feed, or a news feed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the received information comprises position information, and

the second icon displays the indicator to indicate that at least one of an object or a service is available within a predetermined distance from the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the position of the second icon indicates a relationship between the first and second icons.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, when a selection of the second icon is received, present the received information on the second display screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the change in status is a change to a state of having new data associated with the first computer application.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to enlarge the second icon in response to the user selection of the second icon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to return the second icon to an original size in response to a user release.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to change a color of the second icon in response to the user selection of the second icon.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second icon includes a graphical emotion indicator that indicates an emotional feeling of a person other than the user regarding the received information.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the received information comprises new information associated with the first computer application; and

the controller is further configured to determine a size of the second icon based on the amount of new information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the received information comprises new information associated with the first computer application; and

the controller is further configured to present the new information in response to dragging the second icon to the first icon.

15. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving information associated with a first computer application;

generating a first signal to cause a first icon to be presented on a first display screen, the first icon representing the first computer application;

generating a second signal, based on the received information, to cause a second icon to be presented on the first display screen, the second icon being attached to the first icon and partially overlapping the first icon when the second icon is not selected, the second icon displaying an indicator to indicate a change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application; and

receiving a user selection of one of the first or second icons, selection of the first icon causing execution of the first computer application, and selection of the second icon causing display of an overview of the change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application,

wherein when a user selects the second icon on the first display screen, the method further comprises generating a third signal to cause the display of the overview of the change in status on a second display screen.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second icon displays the indicator to indicate a number of new pieces of data associated with the first computer application.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform an information processing method, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with a first computer application;

generating a first signal to cause a first icon to be presented on a first display screen, the first icon representing the first computer application;

generating a second signal, based on the received information, to cause a second icon to be presented on the first display screen, the second icon being attached to the first icon and partially overlapping the first icon when the second icon is not selected, the second icon displaying an indicator to indicate a change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application; and

receiving a user selection of one of the first or second icons, selection of the first icon causing execution of the first computer application, and selection of the second icon causing display of an overview of the change in status of the received information associated with the first computer application,

wherein when a user selects the second icon on the first display screen, the method further comprises generating a third signal to cause the display of the overview of the change in status on a second display screen.