Information processing method and apparatus and information processing program

• US 8,812,955 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Narioka, Hiroto, Kuwayama, Takashi, Inagaki, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Amy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muhebbullah, Sajeda
• Application Number:
  US11/899,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 715/712, 715/764, 715853-855
• US Class Current: 715/712
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A hierarchical hysteresis menu area is such an area in which the hysteresis information from the hysteresis of past operations up to the current hierarchical layer is displayed responsive to an operation on an operating unit and in which selection by a user is made using the operating unit. As the hierarchy progresses, new rows such as “Top Menu”, “ . . . Menu A”, “ . . . Menu A-1” are created progressively, until the current layer [ . . . menu A-1 “ . . . menu A-1”] is demonstrated as the lowermost layer. Indents and marks are used to denote a hierarchical structure. If a cursor is moved by an operating unit to decide on a certain selected layer, reversion may be made directly to the layer. The current menu area indicates the item of the current layer. A folder mark is displayed for a menu having a further lower item. The current hierarchical layer is indicated in this manner in the operating menu system of a hierarchical structure employing a user interface device.

Claims

1. A map display apparatus comprising:

a processor and a memory;

a map location name storage unit configured to store map location names in a hierarchical manner;

a display unit configured, in a single display window, (a) to display on a first display area, (1) a first map location name stored in the map location name storage unit and selected hysteresis information for each lower hierarchical layer selected for the first map location name and (2) a selected item of a navigation menu containing a menu of a plurality of selectable items for a user to select in order to search a map, the selectable items including at least address, pointing device, GPS guidance, near-by installation and pre-stored route, (b) to display;

on a second display area the map of a first map location associated with the first map location name, and (c) to display on a third display area a list including second map location names residing in a hierarchical layer lower than the first map location name, wherein said first and third display areas are displayed only when a destination is set and said first and third display area obstruct display of part of a right side of the map from a top to a bottom of the second display area;

a cursor operation input unit configured to position a movable cursor on the list displayed on the third display area; and

a selection/operation input unit configured to select the second map location name from the list on which the cursor is positioned.

2. The map display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to display on the second display area a map of a second map location associated with the second map location name selected by the selection/operation unit.

3. The map display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the map of the second map location selected by the selection/operation unit is a map with a larger scale than the map of the first map location.

4. The map display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the map display apparatus is connected to a server via a network and further comprises means for obtaining the map from the server.

5. A map display method for displaying a map on a map display apparatus including a map location name storage unit configured to store map location names in a hierarchical manner and a display unit, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a single display window having (a) a first display area displaying (1) a first map location name stored in the map location name storage unit and selected hysteresis information for each lower hierarchical layer selected for the first map location name and (2) a selected item of a navigation menu containing a menu of a plurality of selectable items for a user to select in order to search a map, the selectable items including at least address, pointing device, GPS guidance, near-by installation and pre-stored route, (b) a second display area displaying the map of a first map location associated with the first map location name, and (c) a third display area displaying a list including second map location names residing in a hierarchical layer lower than the first map location name, wherein said first and third display areas are displayed only when a destination is set and said first and third display areas obstruct display of part of a right side of the map from a top to a bottom of the second display area;

positioning a movable cursor on the list displayed on the third display area; and

selecting the second map location name from the list on which the cursor is positioned.

6. The map display method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying on the second display area a map of a second map location associated with the selected second map location name.

7. The map display method according to claim 6, wherein the map of the selected second map location is a map with a larger scale than the map of the first map location.

8. The map display method according to claim 5, wherein the nap is obtained from a server.