Portable radio information terminal apparatus, display screen operating method, recording medium, and microcomputer apparatus

• US 6,389,301 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Furuya, Mami
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/219,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/566, 455/560, 455/154, 455/155.1, 455/156.1, 455/158.1, 455/158.2, 455/158.3, 455/158.4, 455/158.5, 455/159.1, 455/159.2, 345/123, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A portable radio information terminal apparatus capable of promptly moving a screen display to a desired layer in a multilayer screen display structure and a screen operating method for use in the apparatus. The terminal apparatus includes a command inputting discriminating circuit for determining whether an input signal supplied from an inputting circuit is generated by a predetermined command inputting operation, a movement control circuit for determining, based on a decision made by the command inputting discriminating circuit, whether the generated input signal continues and, if the generated input signal is found continuing, activating a layer-to-layer moving circuit and, if the generated input signal is stopped, stopping the layer-to-layer moving circuit. The layer-to-layer moving circuit causes for a layer-to-layer moving operation based on a command issued by the movement control circuit and executing a screen displaying operation on a destination layer, wherein, while the generated input signal continues, the layer-to-layer moving operation and the screen display operation on the destination layer are repeated.

Claims

1. A screen operating method for a portable radio information terminal apparatus for executing information control of a multilayer structure having a plurality of layers including a top layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer on which a plurality of messages terminated at said portable radio information terminal apparatus are placed, said top layer thereof being one of a main menu screen displaying layer and a standby screen displaying layer, said portable radio information terminal apparatus executing operations including screen displaying on each of said plurality of layers and including inputting means for executing a command inputting operation and an image display device for screen displaying, comprising the step of:

moving said screen displaying from said lower layer to said top layer of said multilayer structure when an activation time of said command inputting operation exceeds a predetermined time; and

moving said screen displaying from said lower layer to said middle layer of said multilayer structure when said activation time of said command inputting operation is less than said predetermined time.

2. A portable radio information terminal apparatus for executing information control of a multilayer structure having a plurality of layers including a top layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer on which a plurality of messages terminated at said portable radio information terminal apparatus are placed, said top layer thereof being one of a main menu screen displaying layer and a standby screen displaying layer, for executing operations including screen displaying on each of said plurality of layers and including inputting means for executing a command inputting operation and an image display device for screen displaying, said portable radio information terminal apparatus comprising:

command input processing means for determining whether an input signal supplied from said inputting means is generated by said command inputting operation;

movement control means for measuring, based on a decision by said command input processing means, an activation time of said input signal; and

upper-layer moving means for executing, based on a command issued by said movement control means, movement among said plurality of layers, wherein

when said activation time exceeds a predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said top layer, and

when said activation time is less than said predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said middle layer.

3. A recording medium for recording a plurality of programs readable and executable by a computer, comprising:

command input processing means for determining whether an input signal is generated in response to a command inputting operation while a portable radio information terminal apparatus having an image display device and an inputting device and executing information control on a multilayer structure having a plurality of layers including a top layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer, said top layer being one of a main menu displaying layer and a standby screen displaying layer;

movement control means for measuring, based on a decision by said command input processing means, an activation time of said input signal; and

upper-layer moving means for executing, based on a command issued by said movement control means, movement among said plurality of layers, wherein

when said activation time exceeds a predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said top layer, and

when said activation time is less than said predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said middle layer.

4. A microcomputer apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit;

recording means for recording a procedure readable and executable by said central processing unit as a program; and

communication means connected at least to said central processing unit and said recording means, including data transmitting means connectable from an outside of said microcomputer apparatus, and for providing a capability of transmitting a signal generated from a processing operation of said central processing unit with an external device through one of a cable and a radio wave,

wherein said recording means records said procedure including at least

command input processing means for determining whether an input signal is generated in response to a command inputting operation while a portable radio information terminal apparatus having an image display device and an inputting device and executing information control on a multilayer structure having a plurality of layers including a top layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer, said top layer being one of a main menu displaying layer and a standby screen displaying layer;

movement control means for measuring, based on a decision by said command input processing means, an activation time of said input signal, and

upper-layer moving means for executing, based on a command issued by said movement control means, movement among said plurality of layers, wherein

when said activation time exceeds a predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said top layer, and

when said activation time is within said predetermined time said movement control means instructs said upper-layer moving means to move said screen displaying from said lower layer to said middle layer.