Data processing apparatus having simplified icon display

• US 5,406,307 A
• Filed: 12/04/1990
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirayama, Tomoshi, Yasuhara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/621,898
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/707, 340/709, 340/710, 340/712, 340/721, 340/723, 340/724, 178/18, 178/19, 345/119, 345/120, 345/163, 345/179, 345/182, 395/155, 395/157, 395/159
• US Class Current: 715/800
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories

Abstract

A data processing apparatus is provided, in which an information is inputted by using a pen from a display portion in which an input device (tablet) is stuck to a display device (display panel). If the user touches an icon displayed on this display portion for indicating various functions with a point of the pen and drags the pen along the surface of the display portion to a display position and releases the point of the pen from the panel surface of the display portion, an enlarged processing display form (i.e. window) is automatically displayed at a desired position of the display portion. Further, if the user touches the window with the point of the pen and drags the pen along the panel surface of the display portion up to the position of a desired icon, the enlarged window is automatically reduced and is stored in a vacant icon.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus with improved icon display, comprising:

a display portion with an input device arranged thereon;

a pen means for touching the display portion to input information;

means for detecting when and where said pen means touches said display portion;

means for displaying at least one icon on the display portion;

means for providing an icon processing display mode window corresponding to said icon displayed on said display portion; and

means for displaying the icon processing display mode window by first touching said icon on said display portion with said pen means, then dragging the pen means across the display portion to a location at which the icon processing display mode window is to be displayed, and then lifting the pen means away from the display portion at which time the window is then displayed.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means is provided such that when said pen means approaches within a certain distance of said display portion, it is considered that the pen means has touched the display portion so that it is not necessary that the pen means always actually touch the display portion when enabling the icon processing display mode window.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means is provided for moving the icon processing display mode window after it has been displayed on the display portion by touching the pen means onto the icon processing display mode window and then dragging the pen means across the display portion until a final position is reached for the icon processing display mode window and then lifting the pen means away from the display portion, said icon processing display window being repositioned in accordance with a new lift away position of the pen means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a portion of the icon processing display mode window is designated as a function operating portion and another predetermined area is designated for touching by the pen means when moving the icon processing display mode window.

5. A data processing apparatus with improved icon display, comprising:

a display portion with an input device arranged thereon;

a pen means for touching the display portion to input information;

means for detecting when and where said pen means touches said display portion;

means for displaying at least one icon on the display portion;

means for providing an icon processing display mode window corresponding to said icon displayed on said display portion; and

means for removing the icon processing display mode window displayed on the display portion by first touching said icon processing display mode window on said display portion with said pen means, then dragging the pen means across the display portion to a location at which the icon is being displayed on the display portion, and then lifting the pen means away from the display portion, at which time the icon processing display mode window is no longer displayed on said display portion and is converted into said icon.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means is provided such that when said pen means approaches within a certain distance of said display portion, it is considered that the pen means has touched the display portion so that it is not necessary that the pen means always actually touch the display portion when converting the icon processing display mode window into the icon.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a portion of the icon processing display mode window is designated as a function operating portion and another predetermined area is designated for touching by the pen means when converting the icon processing display mode window into the icon.