Information processing device and method for displaying a window based on a priority of the window

• US 9,134,876 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kano, Izua, Yamada, Kazuhiro, Kamiya, Dai, Onda, Yasushi, Murakami, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burwell, Joseph R
• Application Number:
  US12/811,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,464 Days
• Field of Search: 715/794, 715/796
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

An information processing device stores a window of an application and designation information for designating an external device associated with the window. The information processing device detects an external device located near the information processing device, and when multiple windows are displayed having an overlapping portion the information processing device identifies an external device associated with the multiple windows. Next, the information processing device determines whether there is a window associated with the detected external device, and if the window(s) exists the information processing device displays the window or any one of the windows in the foremost position.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

a memory in which an association between a window and an external device is defined;

a detecting section that detects at least one external device;

an obtaining section that obtains identification information for identifying the external device, wherein the identification information includes information on a functionality implemented by an application program installed in the external device, the functionality including an application for settling payments and groupware;

a designating section that designates the identification information of a window displayed in a display;

an identification section that identifies a first window overlapping with a second window being displayed in the display;

a determination section that determines, upon detection of an overlapping of displayed windows, user pre-defined priority levels of a plurality of windows identified by the identification section referring to the memory, such that a priority level of a window associated with the external device is determined to be higher than a priority level of a window not associated with the external device;

a display controller that displays windows with a higher priority level determined by the determination section in front of windows with a lower priority level, determined by the determination section; and

a window designation section that designates at least one window, wherein when a window designated by the window designation section is included in the plurality of windows, the display controller displays the designated window in a foremost position,

wherein

when a number of external devices detected by the detecting section is greater than a predetermined number and the detected external device has the same functionality as the information processing device, the determination section accords a priority level to a first window for which the identification information includes the functionality, the priority level accorded to the first window is higher than priority levels accorded to others of the designated windows.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time determining section that determines a time; and

a time specifying section that specifies a time period for a window displayed in the display,

wherein when the time period specifying section specifies a time period including a time determined by the time determining section for a window, for which the identification information of the external device detected by the detecting section is designated by the designating section, the determination section accords the window a priority level higher than a priority level accorded to the window in case the time period is not included in the time period.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication section that communicates with the external device; and

a notification section that notifies the external device via the communication section, wherein;

the communication section obtains identification information from the external device; and

when identification information is designated by the designation section for a window having the highest priority level among the priority levels determined by the determination section, the notification section notifies an external device from which the identification is obtained.

4. A method for displaying a window based on a priority of the window, the method comprising:

defining, in a memory, an association between a window and an external device;

detecting, with a detecting section of an information processing device, at least one external device;

obtaining identification information for identifying the external device;

designating the identification information of a window displayed in a display of the information processing device, wherein the identification information includes information on a functionality implemented by an application program installed in the external device, the functionality including an application for settling payments and groupware;

identifying, with an identification section of the information processing device, a first window overlapping with a second window being displayed in the display;

determining, upon detection of an overlapping of displayed windows, user pre-defined priority levels of a plurality of windows identified by the identification section referring to the memory, such that a priority level of a window associated with the external device is determined to be higher than a priority level of a window not associated with the external device;

displaying windows with a higher priority level determined by a determination section of the information processing device, in front of windows with a lower priority level determined by the determination section; and

designating at least one window, wherein when a designated window is included in the plurality of windows, the designated window is displayed in a foremost position,

wherein

when a number of external devices detected by the detecting section is greater than a predetermined number and the detected external device has the same functionality as the information processing device, a first window for which the identification information includes the functionality, a priority level accorded to the first window is higher than priority levels accorded to others of the designated windows.