Information input device, operation method for information processing device, information processing device, recording medium and program

• US 7,007,246 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro, Inagaki, Takeo, Takahashi, Kazuaki, Noguchi, Shinsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US10/085,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 345/213, 345/214, 345/205, 345/3.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.1, 715/864, 715/810, 715514-516, 715/812, 715817-820, 715828-830, 715/833, 715/835, 715/841, 715/853, 715/843, 715/859, 715/156, 715/184
• US Class Current: 715/864
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

As a rotating member of an operating unit is operated, a graphical user interface works so that a band-shaped display area wound on a roll-shaped object looks like being extended upward in visually the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotating member, from the roll-shaped object. In this case, left and right ends of the roll-shaped object move to look like rotating. When the band-shaped display area is fully extended, the left and right ends stop rotating. Thus, a graphical user interface is provided which does not require a user to repeat troublesome operations until an information processing device executes processing desired by the user, and which enables improvement in user-friendliness.

Claims

1. An information input device for, while displaying an image, carrying out an input operation by a user using an input device for carrying out rotation and press operations near a plurality of click buttons, the information input device comprising:

a first display status for displaying what processing an information processing device can currently carry out in accordance with the operation using the input device; and

a second display status for displaying a list of items for execution on the information processing device in accordance with the operation using the input device;

wherein the input device is situated near the plurality of click buttons such that the plurality of click buttons and the input device are manipulated with one hand;

wherein rotation of the input device in a direction causes apparent movement in substantially the same direction of the first and/or second display status;

wherein the first display status and the second display status further comprise extending a wound band-shaped display area of a roll-shaped image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the input device; and

wherein the display area in an initial state is extended in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device as a user touches the input device.

2. The information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first display status is a guide status for guiding the operation of an application program, and the second display status is a list view status for displaying a list of application programs to be selected.

3. The information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second display status includes at least two stages of display status made up of a primary hierarchical display and a secondary hierarchical display.

4. The information input device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the primary hierarchical display and the second hierarchical display can be discriminated from each other.

5. The information input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first display status and the second display status are formed as areas which expand and contract in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device and are horizontally symmetrical.

6. An operation method for an information processing device for operating the information processing device while explaining, to a user through an image, the operation on the information processing device of an input device for carrying out rotation and press operations near a plurality of click buttons, the method comprising:

a first display step of displaying what processing the information processing device can currently carry out in accordance with the operation using the input device;

a second display step of displaying a list of items for execution on the information processing device in accordance with the operation using the input device; and

a function execution step of executing the processing or item selected at the first display step or the second display step;

wherein the plurality of click buttons and the input device can be manipulated with one hand;

wherein rotation of the input device causes apparent movement in substantially the same direction of displayed information in the first and/or second display step;

wherein the first display step and the second display step further comprise extending a wound band-shaped display area of a roll-shaped image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the input device; and

wherein the display area in an initial state is extended in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device as a user touches the input device.

7. An operation method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first display step and the second display step display areas which expand and contract in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device and are horizontally symmetrical.

8. An information processing device comprising:

an input device for carrying out rotation and press operations near a plurality of click buttons; and

a graphical user interface having a first display status for displaying what processing the information processing device can currently carry out in accordance with the operation using the input device, and a second display status for displaying a list of items which can be executed on the information processing device in accordance with the operation using the input device;

wherein the operation status in the input device is monitored and the graphical user interface corresponding to each operation is displayed onto a display unit, and information processing corresponding to said each operation is carried out;

wherein the input device is situated near the plurality of click buttons such that the plurality of click buttons and the input device are manipulated with one hand;

wherein rotation of the input device in a direction causes apparent movement in substantially the same direction of the first and/or second display status;

wherein the first display status and the second display status further comprise extending a wound band-shaped display area of a roll-shaped image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the input device; and

wherein the display area in an initial state is extended in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device as a user touches the input device.

9. The information processing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first display status of the graphical user interface is a guide status for guiding the operation of an application program, and the second display status is a list view status for displaying a list of application programs to be selected.

10. The information processing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second display status includes at least two stages of display status made up of a primary hierarchical display and a secondary hierarchical display.

11. The information processing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the primary hierarchical display and the second hierarchical display can be discriminated from each other.

12. The information processing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first display status and the second display status are formed as areas which expand and contract in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device and are horizontally symmetrical.

13. A recording medium having recorded thereon a graphical user interface processing program for explaining, to a user through an image, the operation on an information processing device of an input device for carrying out rotation and press operations near a plurality of click buttons, the graphical user interface processing program comprising:

a first display step of displaying what processing the information processing device can currently carry out in accordance with the operation using the input device; and

a second display step of displaying a list of items for execution on the information processing device in accordance with the operation using the input device;

wherein the plurality of click buttons and the input device are manipulated with one hand;

wherein rotation of the input device in a direction causes apparent movement in substantially the same direction of displayed information in the first and/or second display step;

wherein the first display step and the second display step further comprise extending a wound band-shaped display area of a roll-shaped image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the input device; and

wherein the display area in an initial state is extended in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device as a user touches the input device.

14. A program related to graphical user interface processing for explaining, to a user through an image, the operation on an information processing device of an input device for carrying out rotation and press operations near a plurality of click buttons, the program comprising:

a first display step of displaying what processing the information processing device can currently carry out in accordance with the operation using the input device; and

a second display step of displaying a list of items for execution on the information processing device in accordance with the operation using the input device;

wherein the plurality of click buttons and the input device are manipulated with one hand;

wherein rotation of the input device in a direction causes apparent movement in substantially the same direction of displayed information in the first and/or second display step;

wherein the first display step and the second display step further comprise extending a wound band-shaped display area of a roll-shaped image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the input device; and

wherein the display area in an initial state is extended in a direction parallel to the direction of rotation of the input device as a user touches the input device.