Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium

• US 7,280,851 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Rekimoto, Junichi, Sugawara, Taku, Ayatsuka, Yuji, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Inagaki, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US10/487,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/418, 455/566, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program which allow for correct recognition of a connected electronic device. A reader/writer 33-1 is placed near a left vertical side 2-1 of four sides of an input display unit 2. A mobile phone 11 includes an RF tag. When the mobile phone 11 is placed adjacent to the reader/writer 33-1, the reader/writer 33-1 detects the RF tag to detect that the mobile phone 11 is adjacent thereto. An icon 111 of the mobile phone 11 is displayed on the input display unit 2 in a moving manner so that portions of the icon 111 appear step-by-step from the side 2-1 and finally the entirety appears. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a PDA, or a mobile phone.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic device on a display unit and for performing a predetermined process with respect to the electronic device using the icon, said information processing apparatus comprising:

a detection means for detecting that the electronic device is adjacent thereto;

vector determination means for, when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto, determining a vector directed towards the center of the display unit from the position corresponding to the detection means which detects the electronic device; and

display means for displaying the icon in a moving manner along the vector determined by the vector determination means,

wherein the display means displays the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of the display unit that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to the detection means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the icon so as to shift the position of the icon along a line towards the inside of the display unit from a side of the display unit.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for setting up communication with the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto,

wherein the display means modifies display of the icon when the communication means sets up communication with the electronic device.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection means includes a reader/writer which communicates with an RF tag of the electronic device via electromagnetic induction, and

the communication means performs short-range wireless communication with the electronic device.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection means detects the electronic device using Bluetooth communication in a power-saving mode in which a device is searched for to specify a partner.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising identification means for identifying the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the identification means obtains identification information from the electronic device to determine the device type or category of the electronic device based on the identification information.

8. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic device on a display unit and for performing a predetermined process with respect to the electronic device using the icon, said information processing method comprising:

detecting that the electronic device is adjacent using a detection unit;

determining, when the adjacent electronic device is detected, a vector directed towards the center of the display unit from the position corresponding to the detection unit which detects the electronic device; and

displaying the icon in a moving manner along the vector, the moving manner including displaying the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of the display unit that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to the detection unit which detects the electronic device.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting an electronic device adjacent thereto;

display means for displaying an icon corresponding to the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto;

communication means for setting up communication with the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto; and

modification means for modifying the icon when the communication means sets up communication with the electronic device,

wherein the display means displays the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of the display means that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to the detection means.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising identification means for identifying the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the identification means obtains identification information from the electronic device to determine the device type or category of the electronic device based on the identification information.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection means includes a reader/writer which communicates with an RF tag of the electronic device via electromagnetic induction, and

the communication means performs short-range wireless communication with the electronic device.

13. An information processing method comprising:

detecting an adjacent electronic device;

displaying an icon corresponding to the electronic device when the adjacent electronic device is detected;

setting up communication with the electronic device when the adjacent electronic device is detected; and

modifying the icon when communication with the electronic device is set up,

wherein displaying comprises displaying the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of a display unit that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to a detection unit which detects the electronic device.

14. An information processing apparatus for displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic device on a display unit and for performing a predetermined process with respect to the electronic device using the icon, said information processing apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting that the electronic device is adjacent thereto; and

display means for displaying the icon corresponding to the electronic device in a moving manner when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto, the moving manner comprising displaying the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of the display unit that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to the detection means.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display means displays the icon so as to shift the position of the icon along a line from a side of the display unit.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display means displays a portion of the icon and then displays the entirety of the icon.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising communication means for setting up communication with the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto,

wherein the display means modifies display of the icon when the communication means sets up communication with the electronic device.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the detection means includes a reader/writer which communicates with an RF tag of the electronic device via electromagnetic induction.

19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the detection means detects the electronic device using Bluetooth communication in a power-saving mode in which a device is searched for to specify a partner.

20. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising identification means for identifying the electronic device when the detection means detects the electronic device adjacent thereto.

21. An information processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the identification means obtains identification information from the electronic device to determine the device type or category of the electronic device based on the identification information.

22. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for displaying an icon corresponding to an electronic device on a display unit and for performing a predetermined process with respect to the electronic device using the icon, said information processing method comprising:

detecting that the electronic device is adjacent; and

displaying the icon corresponding to the electronic device in a moving manner when the adjacent electronic device is detected, the moving manner comprising displaying the icon so as to move along a line across the electronic device and vertical to one of the four sides of the display unit that is substantially rectangular, said side being the closest to a detection unit which detects the electronic device.