Display control apparatus and method for controlling display control apparatus

• US 9,485,411 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2012
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Okada, Koichi, Nakagawa, Koichi, Shigeeda, Soichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapanese, William
• Application Number:
  US13/658,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces

Abstract

Processing for pressing a shortcut key to close a menu and processing for pressing the same shortcut key to enter a specific menu are made compatible. A specific menu among hierarchical menus including a plurality of menus for making a setting or an operation instruction about a display control apparatus is assigned to a specific operation unit. If the specific operation unit is operated when the specific menu is displayed, display of the menu is cleared. If the specific operation unit is operated when a menu different from the specific menu and a menu one level above the specific menu is displayed, the specific menu is displayed.

Claims

1. A display control apparatus comprising:

a specific operation unit configured to display a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

a memory and at least one processor which function as;

a display control unit configured to perform control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that none of the plurality of menus is displayed on a display unit, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the specific menu is displayed on the display unit, the display control unit is configured to perform control to clear display of the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a different menu that is different from the specific menu is displayed and an above menu, positioned one hierarchical level above the specific menu, is not displayed, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display the specific menu, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated to display the specific menu on the display unit and it is determined that the specific menu is disabled, the display control unit is configured to display the above menu and recognizably display that a menu item for entering the specific menu is disabled.

2. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the above menu is displayed on the display unit and a menu item in the above menu for entering the specific menu is selected, the display control unit is configured to perform control to clear the display of the above menu.

3. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the above menu is displayed on the display unit and the menu item for entering the specific menu is not selected, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display the specific menu.

4. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

an image capturing unit; and

a setting unit configured to set anyone of a plurality of operation modes including a shooting mode in which the image capturing unit captures an image,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated and the shooting mode is set by the setting unit, the display control unit is configured to display the specific menu, even when it is determined that the above menu is displayed on the display unit and the menu item for entering the specific menu is selected.

5. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the different menu is displayed, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display the specific menu.

6. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where it is determined that the specific menu is cleared, the display control unit is configured to perform control to restore a display state of the display unit to that before the plurality of menus are opened.

7. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an assignment unit configured to assign any one of the plurality of menus to the specific operation unit as the specific menu based on a user'"'"'s operation.

8. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of specific operation units, wherein different menus are assigned to the respective plurality of the specific operation units.

9. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a menu operation unit configured to display the different menu.

10. The display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in a case where the menu operation unit is operated, the display control unit is configured to display a first level menu from the plurality of menus.

11. The display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in a case where the menu operation unit is operated, the display control unit is configured to display a menu previously displayed when it is determined that the display of the specific menu is cleared last time from the plurality of menus.

12. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control apparatus is configured to function as an image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal.

13. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the different menu and the above menu is displayed, the display control unit performs control to display the specific menu regardless of which menu, other than the specific menu and the above menu, is currently displayed.

14. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated, whether a currently displayed menu is the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the determination unit determines that the currently displayed menu is the specific menu, the display control unit performs control to clear display of the currently displayed menu, and

wherein, in a case where the determination unit determines that the currently displayed menu is not the specific menu, the display control unit performs control to display the specific menu.

15. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated, whether a currently displayed menu is either the specific menu or the above menu,

wherein, in a case where the determination unit determines that the currently displayed menu is either the specific menu or the above menu, the display control unit performs control to clear display of the currently displayed menu, and

wherein, in a case where the determination unit determines that the currently displayed menu is neither the specific menu nor the above menu, the display control unit performs control to display the specific menu.

16. A method for controlling a display control apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying, by an operation of a specific operation unit, a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

performing display control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that none of the plurality of menus is displayed on a display unit, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the specific menu is displayed on the display unit, performing display control includes performing control to clear display of the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a different menu that is different from the specific menu is displayed and an above menu, positioned one hierarchical level above the specific menu, is not displayed, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated to display the specific menu on the display unit and it is determined that the specific menu is disabled, the display control unit is configured to display the above menu and recognizably display that a menu item for entering the specific menu is disabled.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method for controlling a display control apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying, by an operation of a specific operation unit, a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

performing display control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that none of the plurality of menus is displayed on a display unit, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that the specific menu is displayed on the display unit, performing display control includes performing control to clear display of the specific menu,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a different menu that is different from the specific menu is displayed and an above menu, positioned one hierarchical level above the specific menu, is not displayed, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated to display the specific menu on the display unit and it is determined that the specific menu is disabled, the display control unit is configured to display the above menu and recognizably display that a menu item for entering the specific menu is disabled.

18. A display control apparatus comprising:

a specific operation unit configured to display a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

a memory and at least one processor which function as;

a display control unit configured to perform control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a setting or an operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display the specific menu on a display unit, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display, on the display unit, a menu at a level in the hierarchy that is higher than the specific menu in such a manner that a menu item for entering the specific menu is recognizably displayed as disabled and the menu item for entering the specific menu is not settable.

19. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an assignment unit configured to assign any one of the plurality of menus to the specific operation unit as the specific menu based on a user'"'"'s operation.

20. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of specific operation units, wherein different menus are assigned to the respective plurality of specific operation units.

21. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the display control unit is configured to display the menu item in grayout to recognizably display that the menu item for entering the specific menu is disabled.

22. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to perform control to display, on the display unit, an above menu, positioned one hierarchical level above the specific menu, in such a manner that a menu item of the above menu, whose setting or operation instruction is not able to be made, is recognizably displayed as disabled.

23. The display control apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made and when the above menu includes no menu item whose setting or operation instruction is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to display a menu two hierarchical levels above the specific menu in such a manner that a menu item, of the menu two hierarchical levels above the specific menu and whose setting or operation instruction is not able to be made, is recognizably displayed to be disabled.

24. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to display a menu of a lowest hierarchy, which includes a menu item whose setting or operation instruction is able to be made from menus of higher hierarchy that are higher than the specific menu, in such a manner that a menu item, of the displayed menu of the lowest hierarchy and whose setting or operation instruction is not able to be made, is recognizably displayed to be disabled.

25. The display control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, in a case where it is determined that a menu of a highest hierarchy from the menus of higher hierarchy that are higher than the specific menu includes no menu item whose setting or operation instruction is able to be made, the display control unit is configured to display a warning on the display unit that there is no menu including a menu item whose setting or operation instruction is able to be made.

26. The display control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated, the display control unit is configured to clear display of the warning.

27. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a menu operation unit configured to display, from the plurality of menus, a menu that is different from the specific menu.

28. The display control apparatus according to claim 27, wherein, in a case where the menu operation unit is operated, the display control unit is configured to display a menu of the highest hierarchy.

29. The display control apparatus according to claim 27, wherein, in a case where the menu operation unit is operated, the display control unit is configured to display a menu previously displayed when display of the menu is cleared last time.

30. The display control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the display control apparatus is configured to function as an image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal.

31. A method for controlling a display control apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying, by an operation of a specific operation unit, a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

performing display control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a setting or an operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu on a display unit, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, performing display control includes performing control to display, on the display unit, a menu at a level in the hierarchy that is higher than the specific menu in such a manner that a menu item for entering the specific menu is recognizably displayed as disabled and the menu item for entering the specific menu is not settable.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method for controlling a display control apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying, by an operation of a specific operation unit, a specific menu from a plurality of menus that are hierarchically structured and configured to make a setting or an operation instruction about the display control apparatus, wherein the specific menu is a menu other than a first level menu; and

performing display control,

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that a setting or an operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, performing display control includes performing control to display the specific menu on a display unit, and

wherein, in a case where the specific operation unit is operated when it is determined that no setting or operation instruction by the specific menu is able to be made, performing display control includes performing control to display, on the display unit, a menu at a level in the hierarchy that is higher than the specific menu in such a manner that a menu item for entering the specific menu is recognizably displayed as disabled and the menu item for entering the specific menu is not settable.