Information processing device, display method, and program

• US 9,542,087 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkoulova, Olga
• Application Number:
  US13/511,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 178/18.01, 200/512, 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An information processing device is provided that includes a display portion, a user recognition portion, a button selection portion, and a display control portion. The display portion displays at least one function button that is related to a function that the information processing device is capable of performing. The user recognition portion recognizes a user who is operating the information processing device. The button selection portion selects, from among the at least one function button that is displayed on the display portion, at least one function button that corresponds to the user who has been recognized by the user recognition portion. The display control portion moves the function button that has been selected by the button selection portion from an initial position on a display screen of the display portion such that the function button is close to a specified position on the display screen.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display screen configured to display a plurality of function buttons in initial positions;

a processor configured to sense an operator contacting a specific point on the display screen to select one or more of the plurality of function buttons for repositioning, the specific point on the display screen not being in a vicinity of the initial positions of the plurality of function buttons; and

the processor further configured to automatically reposition at least one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position to a position in a vicinity of the specific point,

wherein the selection of the one or more of the plurality of function buttons to be repositioned is based on a time at which the processor sensed the contacting at the specific point on the display screen.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the operator; and

select the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on an identification of the operator.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine frequency of use information of the displayed plurality of function buttons, and the processor is further configured to select the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined frequency of use information.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine frequency of use information of the displayed plurality of function buttons, and the processor is further configured to select the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined frequency of use information.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating, and the processor is further configured to select the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating, and the processor is further configured to select the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera and the display screen is a touch screen on a back of the digital camera.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a personal computer.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a car navigation system and the display screen is a touch screen.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone and the display screen is a touch screen.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an electronic music player and the display screen is a touch screen.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of function buttons are part of a menu screen, and

the processor is configured to automatically reposition only one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position in the menu screen to the position in the vicinity of the specific point.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display screen configured to display a plurality of function buttons in initial positions;

means for sensing an operator contacting a specific point on the display screen to select one or more of the plurality of function buttons for repositioning, the specific point on the display screen not being in a vicinity of the initial positions of the plurality of function buttons; and

means for automatically repositioning at least one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position to a position in a vicinity of the specific point,

wherein the selection of the one or more of the plurality of function buttons to be repositioned is based on a time at which the means for sensing sensed the contacting at the specific point on the display screen.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for identifying the operator; and

means for selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on an identification of the operator.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining frequency of use information of the displayed plurality of function buttons, and

for selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined frequency of use information.

16. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating, and

for selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating, and

for selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

18. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera and the display screen is a touch screen on a back of the digital camera.

19. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a personal computer.

20. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a car navigation system and the display screen is a touch screen.

21. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone and the display screen is a touch screen.

22. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is an electronic music player and the display screen is a touch screen.

23. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein

the plurality of function buttons are part of a menu screen, and

the means for automatically repositioning only one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position in the menu screen to the position in the vicinity of the specific point.

24. A method for controlling an electronic device, including a display screen configured to display a plurality of function buttons in initial positions, the method comprising:

sensing an operator contacting a specific point on the display screen to select one or more of the plurality of function buttons for repositioning, the specific point on the display screen not being in a vicinity of the initial positions of the plurality of function buttons; and

automatically repositioning at least one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position to a position in a vicinity of the specific point,

wherein the selection of the one or more of the plurality of function buttons to be repositioned is based on a time at which the contacting at the specific point on the display screen is sensed.

25. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, further comprising:

identifying the operator; and

selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on an identification of the operator.

26. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, further comprising:

determining frequency of use information of the displayed plurality of function buttons; and

selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined frequency of use information.

27. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

determining frequency of use information of the displayed plurality of function buttons; and

selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined frequency of use information.

28. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, further comprising:

determining an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating; and

selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

29. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 25, further comprising:

determining an operating environment in which the electronic device is operating; and

selecting the at least one of the function buttons to be repositioned based on the determined operating environment.

30. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a digital camera and the display screen is a touch screen on a back of the digital camera.

31. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a personal computer.

32. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a car navigation system and the display screen is a touch screen.

33. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone and the display screen is a touch screen.

34. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein the electronic device is an electronic music player and the display screen is a touch screen.

35. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, wherein:

the plurality of function buttons are part of a menu screen, and

the automatically repositioning repositions only one of the selected one or more of the plurality of function buttons from its initial position in the menu screen to the position in the vicinity of the specific point.

36. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 24, further comprising:

selecting one or more of the function buttons for repositioning based on one of touching pressure and touching time of an operating object associated with the operator.