Image display device, image display control method and program

• US 9,342,593 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Araki, Tetsuhisa, Goda, Taisuke, Okudaira, Koushin
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Ke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imperial, Jed-Justin
• Application Number:
  US13/358,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20120120106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/581, 345/629, 715243-245, 382/165, 382/170, 382224-225, 382/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/39 Control of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

An image display device includes: a storage means for storing a plurality of items of image data; a first classifying means for classifying the plurality of the items of image data in a first predetermined unit; a second classifying means for breaking the plurality of the items of image data classified by the first classifying means into smaller groups in a second predetermined unit; a display control means for controlling display in such a way that images are displayed in the second predetermined unit based on the image data broken into smaller groups by the second classifying means; and a display means for performing a predetermined display based on the control performed by the display control means.

Claims

1. An image display control device comprising:

a classifying unit configured to classify a plurality of image data into a data unit; and

a display control unit configured to control display of the plurality of image data according to at least two modes including a first mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed non-linearly on a first screen on a display unit such that each image data appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to a horizontal axis of the first screen, and a second mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed linearly on a second screen on the display unit,

the display control unit is operable to switch between the first mode and the second mode, and between a third mode and the second mode,

wherein, in the first mode when there are two or more than two image data in a group classified into the data unit, the display control unit controls display on the first screen of

(i) the two or more than two image data in the group in an overlapped manner such that every image data of the two or more than two image data is partially displayed on the first screen and appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to the horizontal axis of the first screen, and

(ii) text data indicating a title of an event representative of the two or more than two image data in the group on the first screen, in which such that the text data includes date information and title information, in which the date information is displayed in a first alignment relative to the title information and in which each of the date information and title information is displayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the first screen, such that the title information appears to be representative of the two or more than two image data in the group while at least a first image of the two or more than two image data in the group is displayed non-linearly so as to be non-parallel to the horizontal axis,

wherein the display control unit is further configured to control display in the second mode on the second screen of

(i) the first image linearly so as to be parallel with a second horizontal axis and displayed with another image of the plurality of image data, in which the another image of the plurality of image data is displayed linearly so as to be parallel with the first image and the second horizontal axis, and

(ii) the text data with the date information displayed in a second alignment relative to the title information, in which the first alignment is different from the second alignment,

in which in the third mode the image data of the group is displayed on a third screen of the display unit differently from the display of the image data of the group on the first and second screens, respectively, in the first and second modes,

in which the display control unit controls switching to switch to the second mode displayed on the second screen for each of (i) a selection to the display of the first mode on the first screen and (ii) a selection to the display of the third mode on the third screen.

2. The image display control device according to claim 1, wherein in the first mode the control unit controls the date information of the group to be displayed proximal the displayed image data.

3. An image display control method comprising:

classifying a plurality of image data into a data unit;

controlling display of the plurality of image data according to at least two modes including a first mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed non-linearly on a first screen on a display unit such that each image data appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to a horizontal axis of the first screen, and a second mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed linearly on a second screen on the display unit; and

enabling switching, by use of a display control unit, between the first mode and the second mode, and between a third mode and the second mode,

wherein, in the first mode when there are two or more than two image data in a group classified into the data unit, the controlling the display comprises controlling display on the first screen of

(i) the two or more than two image data in the group in an overlapped manner such that every image data of the two or more than two image data is partially displayed on the first screen and appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to the horizontal axis of the first screen, and

(ii) text data indicating a title of an event representative of the two or more than two image data in the group on the first screen, in which the text data includes date information and title information, in which the date information is displayed in a first alignment relative to the title information and in which each of the date information and title information is displayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the first screen, such that the title information appears to be representative of the two or more than two image data in the group while at least a first image of the two or more than two image data in the group is displayed non-linearly so as to be non-parallel to the horizontal axis, and

controlling display in the second mode on the second screen of

(i) the first image displayed linearly so as to be parallel with a second horizontal axis and displayed with another image of the plurality of image data, in which the another image of the plurality of image data is displayed linearly so as to be parallel with the first image and the second horizontal axis, and

(ii) the text data with the date information displayed in a second alignment relative to the title information, in which the first alignment is different from the second alignment,

in which in the third mode the image data of the group is displayed on a third screen of the display unit differently from the display of the image data of the group on the first and second screens, respectively, in the first and second modes,

in which the switching is controlled to switch to the second mode displayed on the second screen for each of (i) a selection to the display of the first mode and (ii) a selection to the display of the third mode on the third screen.

4. The image display control method according to claim 3, wherein in the first mode the date information of the group is displayed proximal the displayed image data.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer-readable program for implementing an image display control method, the method comprising:

classifying a plurality of image data into a data unit;

controlling display of the plurality of image data according to at least two modes including a first mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed non-linearly on a first screen on a display unit such that each image data appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to a horizontal axis of the first screen, and a second mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed linearly on a second screen on the display unit; and

enabling switching, by use of a display control unit, between the first mode and the second mode, and between a third mode and the second mode,

wherein, in the first mode when there are two or more than two image data in a group classified into the data unit, the controlling the display comprises controlling display on the first screen of

(i) the two or more than two image data in the group in an overlapped manner such that every image data of the two or more than two image data is partially displayed on the first screen and appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to the horizontal axis of the first screen,

(ii) text data indicating a title of an event representative of the two or more than two image data in the group on the first screen, in which the text data includes date information and title information, in which the date information is displayed in a first alignment relative to the title information and in which each of the date information and title information is displayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the first screen, such that the title information appears to be representative of the two or more than two image data in the group while at least a first image of the two or more than two image data in the group is displayed non-linearly so as to be non-parallel to the horizontal axis, and

controlling display in the second mode on the second screen of

(i) the first image linearly so as to be parallel with a second horizontal axis and displayed with another image of the plurality of image data, in which the another image of the plurality of image data is displayed linearly so as to be parallel with the first image and the second horizontal axis, and

(ii) the text data with the date information displayed in a second alignment relative to the title information, in which the first alignment is different from the second alignment,

in which in the third mode the image data of the group is displayed on a third screen of the display unit differently from the display of the image data of the group on the first and second screens, respectively, in the first and second modes,

in which the switching is controlled to switch to the second mode displayed on the second screen for each of (i) a selection to the display of the first mode and (ii) a selection to the display of the third mode on the third screen.

6. The computer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein in the first mode the date information of the group is displayed proximal the displayed image data.

7. An image display control method comprising:

classifying a plurality of image data according to information related to one or more times at which the plurality of image data is taken;

controlling display of the plurality of image data according to at least three modes including

a first mode in which the plurality of image data are displayed on a first screen on a display unit such that each image data appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to a horizontal axis of the first screen,

a second mode in which image data in the group is displayed on a second screen on the display unit, wherein when there are two or more image data in the group, the two or more image data are displayed linearly on the second screen , and

a third mode in which a single image data of the group is displayed on a third screen on the display unit;

switching between the first mode and the second mode, and between the second mode and the third mode;

controlling display in the first mode, when there are two or more image data classified in a group, of

(i) the group on the first screen in an overlapped manner such that every image data of the two or more image data is partially displayed on the first screen and appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to the horizontal axis of the first screen and an observer can determine, solely by viewing the first screen, that there are the two or more image data in the group, and

(ii) text indicating a title of an event representative of the two or more image data in the group on the first screen, in which the text data includes date information and title information, in which the date information is displayed in a first alignment relative to the title information and in which each of the date information and title information is displayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the first screen, such that title information appears to be representative of the two or more image data in the group while at least a first image of the two or more image data in the group is displayed non-linearly so as to be non-parallel to the horizontal axis; and

controlling display in the second mode on the second screen of

(i) the first image linearly so as to be parallel with a second horizontal axis and displayed with another image of the plurality of image data, in which the another image of the plurality of image data is displayed linearly so as to be parallel with the first image and the second horizontal axis, and

(ii) the text data with the date information displayed in a second alignment relative to the title information, in which the first alignment is different from the second alignment,

in which the switching is controlled to switch to the second mode displayed on the second screen for each of (i) a selection to the display of the first mode and (ii) a selection to a display of the third mode on the third screen.

8. The image display control method according to claim 7, wherein in the first mode the date information of the group is displayed proximal the displayed image data.

9. An image display control device comprising:

circuitry configured to control;

classifying a plurality of image data into a data unit;

displaying the plurality of image data according to at least two modes including a first mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed non-linearly on a first screen on a display unit such that each image data appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to a horizontal axis of the first screen, and a second mode in which the plurality of image data is displayed linearly on a second screen on the display unit;

switching between the first mode and the second mode, and between a third mode and the second mode;

wherein, in the first mode when there are two or more than two image data in a group classified into the data unit, the circuitry is configured to control displaying on the first screen

(i) the two or more than two image data in the group in an overlapped manner such that every image data of the two or more than two image data is partially displayed on the first screen and appears to be positioned at a random angle relative to the horizontal axis of the first screen, and

(ii) text data indicating a title of an event representative of the two or more than two image data in the group on the first screen, in which the text data includes date information and title information, in which the date information is displayed in a first alignment relative to the title information and in which each of the date information and title information is displayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the first screen, such that the title information appears to be representative of the two or more than two image data in the group while at least a first image of the two or more than two image data in the group is displayed non-linearly so as to be non-parallel to the horizontal axis;

wherein the circuitry is configured to control displaying in the second mode on the second screen

(i) the first image linearly so as to be parallel with a second horizontal axis and displayed with another image of the plurality of image data, in which the another image of the plurality of image data is displayed linearly so as to be parallel with the first image and the second horizontal axis, and p2 (ii) the text data with the date information displayed in a second alignment relative to the title information, in which the first alignment is different from the second alignment,

in which in the third mode the image data of the group is displayed on a third screen of the display unit differently from the display of the image data of the group on the first and second screens, respectively, in the first and second modes; and

wherein the circuitry is configured to control switching to the second mode displayed on the second screen for each of (i) a selection to the display of the first mode on the first screen and (ii) a selection to the display of the third mode on the third screen.