Method and apparatus for executing a function within a composite icon and operating an object thereby

• US 6,469,722 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Okamoto, Kohsuke, Uchiyama, Norimasa, Muranaka, Naofumi, Matsuda, Minako, Takemura, Tsukasa, Kinoe, Yohsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/240,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/339, 345/145, 345/354, 345/352, 345/347, 345/977, 345/357, 345/837, 345/764, 345/856, 345/810, 345/840, 345/808, 345/854
• US Class Current: 715/837
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to explaining functions with a rich graphical expression even when the number of kinds of functions required for a software increases.

More particularly, a plurality of function areas 201-223 are defined in a composite icon area of the present invention. An appearance image is associated to each function area and, when a mouse pointer comes across a function area, appearance images associated to that function area are displayed as appearance images of a composite icon. A function is also associated to each function area and, when a mouse is clicked on a function area, a function which is associated to that function area is executed. The set of the function area may be changed by changing the size of a composite icon, an operation to switch the group of functions, or selection of an object to be operated upon.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator,

(f) executing said second function when the operation to select said second fiction area has been performed by the operator, and

(g) enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

2. A method for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to change the size of said icon area has been performed by an operator,

(f) changing the size of said first function area, said second function area and said icon area in response to the operation to change the size,

(g) determining whether or not an operation to select the second function area the size of which has been changed has been performed by an operator,

(h) executing said second function when the operation to select said second function area the size of which has been changed has been performed by the operator, and

(i) enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

3. A method for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to change the size of said icon area has been performed by an operator,

(f) determining whether or not the change of the size meets a predetermined condition,

(g) having a third function area which was not included in said icon area before the size was changed and is correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has been changed when the change of the size meets the predetermined condition,

(h) determining whether or not an operation to select the third function area has been performed by an operator, and

(i) executing said third function when the operation to select said third function area has been performed by the operator.

4. A method for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to indicate the change a function group has been performed by an operator,

(f) having a third function area which was not included in said icon area before the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed and is correlated to a third function and a third appearance image and a fourth function area which was not included in said icon area before the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed and is correlated to a fourth function and a fourth appearance image included in the icon changed area when the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed by the operator,

(g) determining whether or not said pointer is on said third function area,

(h) displaying said third appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said third function area and said fourth function area when said pointer is on said third function area,

(i) determining whether or not said pointer is on said fourth function area,

(j) displaying said fourth appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said third function area and said fourth function area when said pointer is on said fourth function area,

(k) determining whether or not an operation to select said fourth function area has been performed by the operator, and

(l) executing said fourth function when the operation to select said fourth function area has been performed by the operator.

5. A method for operating on an object using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said first function converting an object displayed on the display by a first logical function and displaying the converted object, said second function converting an object displayed on the display by a second logical function and displaying the converted object, said first appearance image suggesting said first logical function, said second appearance image suggesting said second logical function, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator,

(f) converting said object by said second logical function and displaying the converted object by executing said second function when the operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator, and

(g) enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

6. A method for operating on an object using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device, said first function changing a property of an object displayed on the display to a first value and displaying the changed property, said second function changing said property to a second value and displaying the changed property, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) displaying said fist appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) checking whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) displaying said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) determining whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator,

(f) changing said property to said second value and displaying the changed property by executing said second function when the operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator, and

(g) enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

7. An information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device and allows a function to be selected using a pointer of said pointing device on said display in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an input part for checking on which of said first and said second function areas said pointer is,

(b) a function storage part for storing said first and said second functions,

(c) an appearance image data storage part for storing said first and said second appearance images,

(d) a function decision table for correlating said first function area to said first function and said second function area to said second function,

(e) an appearance image decision table for correlating said first function area to said first appearance image and said second function area to said second appearance image,

(f) an event detection part for detecting that an operation to select said first or said second function area has been performed, and

(g) a function execution part for executing said first or said second function, wherein selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator is enabled, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

8. An information processing apparatus which is provided with a display and a pointing device and allows a function to be selected using a pointer of said pointing device on said display in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a determination part;

(a1) for searching an appearance image decision table which correlates said first fiction area to said first appearance image and said second function area to said second appearance image in response to a determination of on which of said first and said second function areas said pointer is, accessing to an appearance image data storage part storing said first and said second appearance images to specify appearance image data to be displayed in said icon area, and

(a2) for searching a function decision table which correlates said first function area to said first function and said second function area to said second function in response to a determination of on which of said first and said second function areas an operation indicating to select has been performed, accessing to a function storage part storing said first and said second functions to specify a function to be executed, and

(b) a function execution part for executing said specified function, wherein selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator is enabled, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

9. A recording medium storing a control program for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator,

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to execute said second function when the operation to select said second function area has been performed by the operator, and

(g) a program code for enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

10. A recording medium storing a control program for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to change the size of said icon area has been performed by an operator,

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to change the size of said first function area, said second function area and said icon area in response to the operation to change the size,

(g) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select the second function area the size of which has been changed has been performed by an operator,

(h) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to execute said second function when the operation to select said second function area the size of which has been changed has been performed by the operator, and

(i) a program code for enabling selection of a third fiction area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

11. A recording medium storing a control program for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to change the size of said icon area has been performed by an operator,

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not the change of the size meets a predetermined condition,

(g) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to have a third function area which was not included in said icon area before the size was changed and is correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has been changed when the change of the size meets the predetermined condition,

(h) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select the third function area has been performed by an operator, and

(i) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to execute said third function when the operation to select said third function area has been performed by the operator.

12. A recording medium storing a control program for selecting a function using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area including said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to indicate the change a function group has been performed by an operator,

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to have a third function area which was not included in said icon area before the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed and is correlated to a third function and a third appearance image and a fourth function area which was not included in said icon area before the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed and is correlated to a fourth function and a fourth appearance image included in the changed icon area when the operation to indicate the change of the function group was performed by the operator,

(g) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not said pointer is on said third function area,

(h) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said third appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said third function area and said fourth function area when said pointer is on said third function area,

(i) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not said pointer is on said fourth function area,

(j) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said fourth appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said third function area and said fourth function area when said pointer is on said fourth function area,

(k) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select said fourth function area has been performed by the operator, and

(l) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to execute said fourth function when the operation to select said fourth function area has been performed by the operator.

13. A recording medium storing a control program for operating on an object using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said first function converting an object displayed on the display by a first logical function and displaying the converted object, said second function converting an object displayed on the display by a second logical function and displaying the converted object, said first appearance image suggesting said first logical function, said second appearance image suggesting said second logical function, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area,

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator, and

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to convert said object by said second logical function and display the converted object by executing said second function when the operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator, and

(g) a program code for enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

14. A recording medium storing a control program for operating on an object using a pointer of a pointing device in an icon area of a composite icon, the icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appearance image on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with a display, said first function changing the property of an object displayed on the display to a first value and displaying the changed property, said second function changing said property to a second value and displaying the changed property, said control program comprising:

(a) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said first function area,

(b) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said first appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said first function area,

(c) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to check whether or not said pointer is on said second function area,

(d) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to display said second appearance image in an area which is at least a part of said icon area and includes said first function area and said second function area when said pointer is on said second function area;

(e) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to determine whether or not an operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator,

(f) a program code for instructing said information processing apparatus to change said property to said second value and display the changed property by executing said second function when the operation to select said second function area has been performed by an operator, and

(g) a program code for enabling selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

15. A recording medium storing data which allows a composite icon to select a function using a pointer of a pointing device on a display of an information processing apparatus which is provided with said display and a pointing device, said composite icon being formed by an icon area comprising a first function area which is correlated to a first function and a first appearance image and a second function area which is correlated to a second function and a second appear image said recording medium, said medium comprising:

(a) a first function execution module which is an execution module of said first function,

(b) a second function execution module which is an execution module of said second function,

(c) first appearance image data for displaying said first appearance image,

(d) second appearance image data for displaying said second appearance image,

(e) a function decision table for correlating said first function area to said first function and said second function area to said second function, and

(f) an appearance image decision table for correlating said first function area to said first appearance image and said second function area to said second appearance image, wherein selection of a third function area which was not included in said icon area before size of said icon area was changed by an operator is enabled, said third function area being correlated to a third function and a third appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

16. A method for executing a function within an icon area comprising a plurality of function areas forming a function group in a composite icon, each of the plurality of function areas being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image, the method comprising;

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined that the pointing device is positioned over the function area;

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area; and

enabling selection of a new function area which was not included in the icon area before size of the icon area was changed by an operator, the new function area correlated to a function and being represented by an associated appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

17. The method for executing a function within an icon area according to claim 16, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user has changed a size of the icon area;

changing the size of the icon area and the plurality of function areas within the icon area in response to the determination that the use has changed the size of the icon area; and

enabling the user to select a function area of the plurality of function areas the size of which has changed for execution.

18. The method for executing a function within an icon area according to claim 17, the method further comprising the steps of

determining whether the change of the size of the icon area meets a predetermined condition;

displaying the new function area not displayed in the icon area before the size of the icon area was changed if the predetermined condition is met; and

enabling the user to select the new function area displayed and executing the function correlated to the new function area.

19. The method for executing function within an icon area according to claim 16, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user has changed the function group comprising the plurality of function areas in the icon area to a new function group comprising a plurality of function areas, each of the plurality of function areas in the new function group being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image;

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the new function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined tat the pointing device is positioned over the function area of the new group; and

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area.

20. A method for operating an object by executing a function within an icon area comprising a plurality of function areas forming a function group in a composite icon, each of the plurality of function areas being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image, the method comprising:

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined that the pointing device is positioned over the function area;

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area;

converting the object and displaying the converted object in response to the execution of the function correlated to the function area; and

enabling selection of a new function area which was not included in the icon area before size of the icon area was changed by an operator, the new function area correlated to a function and being represented by an associated appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

21. A method for changing a property value associated with an object by executing a function within an icon area comprising a plurality of function areas forming a function group in a composite icon, each of the plurality of function areas being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image, the method comprising:

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined that the pointing device is positioned over the function area;

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area;

changing the property value associated with the object to a new value and displaying the changed property value for the object in response to the execution of the function correlated to the function area; and

enabling selection of a new function area which was not included in the icon area before size of the icon area was changed by an operator, the new function area correlated to a function and being represented by an associated appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

22. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for executing a function within an icon area comprising a plurality of function areas forming a function group in a composite icon, each of the plurality of function areas being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image, the method steps comprising:

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined that the pointing device is positioned over the function area;

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area; and

enabling selection of a new function area which was not included in the icon area before size of the icon area was changed by an operator, the new function area correlated to a function and being represented by an associated appearance image included in the icon area the size of which has changed.

23. The program storage device according to claim 22, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user has changed a size of the icon area;

changing the size of the icon area and the plurality of function areas within the icon area in response to the determination that the use has changed the size of the icon area; and

enabling the user to select a function area of the plurality of function areas the size of which has changed for execution.

24. The program storage device according to claim 23, the method further comprising the steps of

determining whether the change of the size of the icon area meets a predetermined condition;

displaying the new function area not displayed in the icon area before the size of the icon area was changed if the predetermined condition is met; and

enabling the user to select the new function area displayed and executing the function correlated to the new function area.

25. The program storage device according to claim 22, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user has changed the function group comprising the plurality of function areas in the icon area to a new function group comprising a plurality of function areas, each of the plurality of function areas in the new function group being correlated to a function and being represented by an associated image;

detecting whether the pointing device is positioned over a function area in the new function group;

displaying an associated image representing the function area in at least a part of the icon including the plurality of function areas if it is determined that the pointing device is positioned over the function area of the new group; and

determining whether a user has selected the function area and executing a function correlated to the function area.