Display controlling apparatus, display controlling method, and recording medium

• US 20050210410A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohwa, Tsunayuki, Hatta, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A display controlling apparatus is disclosed which displays icons representative of data in layers on a screen, the display controlling apparatus including: an operating section which, based on operations performed by a user, obtains at least instructions for how to display the icons on the screen; a storing section for storing at least data constituting the icons in the layers; a controlling section for generating picture data for displaying the icons in the layers on icon array axes; and a display outputting section for outputting the picture data generated by the controlling section onto a display device; wherein, when the operating section obtains an instruction from the user, the controlling section acting on the instruction generates the picture data in such a manner as to move each of the icon array axes into a different direction together with the icons displayed in an array on each of the axes.

Claims

1. A display controlling apparatus for displaying icons representative of data in layers on a screen, comprising:

an operating section which, based on operations performed by a user, obtains at least instructions for how to display said icons on said screen;

a storing section for storing at least data constituting said icons in said layers;

a controlling section for generating picture data for displaying said icons in said layers on icon array axes; and

a display outputting section for outputting said picture data generated by said controlling section onto a display device;

wherein, when said operating section obtains an instruction from said user, said controlling section acting on said instruction generates said picture data in such a manner as to move each of said icon array axes into a different direction together with the icons displayed in an array on each of the axes.

2. A display controlling apparatus for displaying icons representative of data in layers on a screen, comprising:

an operating section which, based on operations performed by a user, obtains at least instructions for how to display said icons on said screen;

a storing section for storing at least data constituting said icons in said layers;

a controlling section for generating picture data for displaying said icons in said layers in such a manner that the icons in one layer are arrayed on an icon array axis in a first direction on said screen, that the icons under the icon located at an intersection of said first direction and a second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in said second direction, and that the icons under any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in a third direction intersecting a plane formed by said first direction and said second direction; and

a display outputting section for outputting said picture data generated by said controlling section onto a display device;

wherein, when said operating section obtains an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said controlling section acting on said instruction generates said picture data in such a manner that said icon array axis in said second direction is moved from there into said first direction, that said icon array axis in said third direction is moved from there into said second direction, and that the selected icon is moved to said intersection of said first direction and said second direction.

3. The display controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said picture data has a first direction area formed in said first direction, a second direction area formed in said second direction, and a divided space bounded by said first and second direction areas;

and

wherein, when said operating section obtains an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said controlling section acting on said instruction moves said icon array axis positioned in said first direction into said divided space.

4. The display controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said icon array axis in said first direction is a horizontal axis, said icon array axis in said second direction is a vertical axis, and said icon array axis in said third direction is a depth axis.

5. The display controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when said operating section obtains an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said controlling section acting on said instruction moves said icon array axis positioned in said third direction into said second direction in such a manner that a plurality of icons arrayed in imbricate fashion on said icon array axis in said third direction are arrayed in nonoverlapping fashion on said icon array axis in said second direction.

6. The display controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the icon displayed at said intersection is highlighted.

7. The display controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selected icon is highlighted.

8. A display controlling method for displaying icons representative of data in layers on a screen, comprising the steps of:

based on operations performed by a user, obtaining at least instructions for how to display said icons on said screen;

generating picture data for displaying said icons in said layers on icon array axes; and

outputting the generated picture data;

wherein, given an instruction from said user, said picture data generating step acting on said instruction generates said picture data in such a manner as to move each of said icon array axes into a different direction together with the icons displayed in an array on each of the axes.

9. A display controlling method for displaying icons representative of data in layers on a screen, comprising the steps of:

based on operations performed by a user, obtaining at least instructions for how to display said icons on said screen;

generating picture data for displaying said icons in said layers in such a manner that the icons in one layer are arrayed on an icon array axis in a first direction on said screen, that the icons under the icon located at an intersection of said first direction and a second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in said second direction, and that the icons under any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in a third direction intersecting a plane formed by said first direction and said second direction; and

outputting the generated picture data;

wherein, given an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said picture data generating step acting on said instruction generates said picture data in such a manner that said icon array axis in said second direction is moved from there into said first direction, that said icon array axis in said third direction is moved from there into said second direction, and that the selected icon is moved to said intersection of said first direction and said second direction.

10. The display controlling method according to claim 9, wherein said picture data has a first direction area formed in said first direction, a second direction area formed in said second direction, and a divided space bounded by said first and second direction areas;

and

wherein, given an instruction for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction at said step of obtaining user instruction, said picture data generating step acting on said instruction moves said icon array axis positioned in said first direction into said divided space.

11. The display controlling method according to claim 9, wherein said icon array axis in said first direction is a horizontal axis, said icon array axis in said second direction is a vertical axis, and said icon array axis in said third direction is a depth axis.

12. The display controlling method according to claim 9, wherein, given an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said picture data generating step acting on said instruction moves said icon array axis positioned in said third direction into said second direction in such a manner that a plurality of icons arrayed in imbricate fashion on said icon array axis in said third direction are arrayed in nonoverlapping fashion on said icon array axis in said second direction.

13. The display controlling method according to claim 9, wherein the icon displayed at said intersection is highlighted.

14. The display controlling method according to claim 9, wherein the selected icon is highlighted.

15. A recording medium which records in computer-readable fashion a computer program for causing a computer to carry out a display controlling method for displaying icons representative of data in layers on a screen, said display controlling method comprising the steps of:

based on operations performed by a user, obtaining at least instructions for how to display said icons on said screen;

generating picture data for displaying said icons in said layers in such a manner that the icons in one layer are arrayed on an icon array axis in a first direction on said screen, that the icons under the icon located at an intersection of said first direction and a second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in said second direction, and that the icons under any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction are arrayed on an icon array axis in a third direction intersecting a plane formed by said first direction and said second direction; and

outputting the generated picture data;

wherein, given an instruction from said user for selecting any one of the icons arrayed on said icon array axis in said second direction, said picture data generating step acting on said instruction generates said picture data in such a manner that said icon array axis in said second direction is moved from there into said first direction, that said icon array axis in said third direction is moved from there into said second direction, and that the selected icon is moved to said intersection of said first direction and said second direction.