Information processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium

• US 8,736,585 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Omata, Makoto, Nezuka, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US11/539,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,787 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus for receiving an input from a stylus pen and executing a predetermined process. The information processing apparatus includes: a housing unit detachably housing the stylus pen; detection means for detecting attachment and detachment of the stylus pen to and detachment from the housing unit; and execution means for executing a predetermined process in accordance with the detection result of the detection means.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for receiving an input from a stylus pen and executing a predetermined process, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a housing unit detachably housing the stylus pen;

a detection unit which detects attachment and detachment of the stylus pen to and detachment from the housing unit;

an execution unit which executes a first predetermined process in accordance with the detection result of the detection unit;

an input picture capturing unit which captures an input picture; and

a display unit that displays the input picture captured by the input picture capturing unit, wherein

upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned on and the detection unit detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit, the execution unit executes the first predetermined process in which a predetermined tool that permits input from the stylus pen is displayed on the display unit, the predetermined tool having at least an icon for receiving an input from the stylus pen,

upon determination that the icon is selected by the stylus pen, the execution unit executes a second predetermined process enabling a user to selectively input an alteration to the input picture in accordance with the selected icon using the stylus pen to input the alteration via the input picture, and

upon determination that the detection unit detects that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing unit, the execution unit terminates the first predetermined process in which the display of the predetermined tool is removed from the display unit, terminates input from the stylus pen, and the information processing apparatus remains turned on.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution unit turns on the information processing apparatus upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned off and the detection unit detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution unit controls brightness of the display unit upon determination that the detection unit detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as painting the input picture.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as one of a plurality of colors for painting the input picture.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as drawing a diagram on the input picture.

7. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus having a housing unit detachably housing a stylus pen and receiving an input from the stylus pen to execute a predetermined process, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting attachment and detachment of the stylus pen to and from the housing unit;

capturing an input picture using an input capture unit;

displaying the input picture on a display unit;

executing, upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned on and detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit is detected, a first predetermined process in which a predetermined tool that permits input from the stylus pen is displayed on the display unit, the predetermined tool having an icon for receiving an input from the stylus pen;

executing, upon determination that the icon is selected by the stylus pen, a second predetermined process enabling a user to selectively input an alteration to the input picture in accordance with the selected icon using the stylus pen to input the alternation via the input picture; and

terminating, upon determination that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing unit, the first predetermined process in which the display of the predetermined tool is removed from the display unit and input from the stylus pen, wherein

the processing apparatus remains turned on upon determination that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing unit.

8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the executing step turns on the information processing apparatus upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned off and the detecting step detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit.

9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the executing step controls brightness of the display unit upon determination that the detecting step detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit.

10. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as painting the displayed input picture.

11. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as one of a plurality of colors for painting the displayed input picture.

12. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the icon identifies the alternation as drawing a diagram on the input picture.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor in an information processing apparatus having a housing unit detachably housing a stylus pen and receiving an input from the stylus pen to execute a predetermined process causes the processor to execute a method comprising the steps of:

detecting attachment and detachment of the stylus pen to and from the housing unit;

capturing an input picture using an input capture unit;

displaying the input picture on a display unit;

executing, upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned on and detachment of the stylus pen from the housing unit is detected, a first predetermined process in which a predetermined tool that permits input from the stylus pen is displayed on the display unit, the predetermined tool having an icon for receiving an input from the stylus pen;

executing, upon determination that the icon is selected by the stylus pen, a second predetermined process enabling a user to selectively input an alteration to the input picture in accordance with the selected icon using the stylus pen to input the alternation via the input picture; and

terminating, upon determination that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing unit, the first predetermined process in which the display of the predetermined tool is removed from the display unit and input from the stylus pen, wherein

the processing apparatus remains turned on upon determination that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing unit.

14. An information processing apparatus for receiving an input from a stylus pen and executing a predetermined process, the information processing apparatus comprising:

housing means for detachably housing the stylus pen;

detection means for detecting attachment and detachment of the stylus pen to and detachment from the housing means;

execution means for executing a first predetermined process in accordance with the detection result of the detection means;

input picture capturing means for capturing an input picture; and

display means for displaying the input picture, wherein

upon determination that the information processing apparatus is turned on and the detection means detects the detachment of the stylus pen from the housing means, the execution means executes the first predetermined process in which a predetermined tool that permits input from the stylus pen is displayed on the display means, the predetermined tool having an icon for receiving an input from the stylus pen,

upon determination that the icon is selected by the stylus pen, the execution means executes a second predetermined process enabling a user to selectively input an alteration to the input picture in accordance with the selected icon using the stylus pen to input the alternation via the input picture, and

upon determination that the detection means detects that the stylus pen is reattached to the housing means, the execution means terminates the first predetermined process in which the display of the predetermined tool is removed from the display means, terminates input from the stylus pen, and the information processing apparatus remains turned on.