Touch panel input device and processing execution method

• US 8,134,538 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van
• Application Number:
  US12/356,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A touch panel input device and a processing execution method eliminates wasteful operations of a user and increases user convenience. If a state determination unit (multiple key press detection unit) detects that multiple operation keys displayed on a touch panel screen were multiply pressed, an operation control unit (first processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to any one of the plural operation keys. A waiting unit sets a state, which causes processing to wait for a user to make a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to the other operation key. If the selection instruction is accepted, the operation control unit (second processing execution control unit) controls execution of processing corresponding to the selection instruction so as to select and execute the processing corresponding to the other operation key, following the multiple key press.

Claims

1. A touch panel input device for controlling processing corresponding to a touching or pressing of an operation key displayed on a touch panel screen, the touch panel input device comprising:

a multiple key press detection unit for detecting that a plurality of operation keys are multiply pressed, wherein each operation key has a corresponding pre-assigned fixed priority value;

a first processing execution control unit for controlling, if the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, execution of processing corresponding to the operation key having a highest priority value of operation keys multiply pressed;

a waiting unit configured to set a standby state that waits until a user makes a selection instruction corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

a selection instruction accepting unit for accepting the selection instruction during the standby state; and

a second processing execution control unit for controlling, if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, execution of processing based on the selection instruction; and

wherein if the user fails to make a selection during the standby state, the second processing execution control unit controls execution of processing corresponding to the operation key of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed having the highest priority value.

2. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing execution control unit controls execution of processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed, and

the waiting unit sets a standby state that causes the first processing execution control unit to wait until a user selects processing corresponding to at least one operation key, other than an operation key corresponding to the processing executed with the first processing execution control unit among the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

3. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting unit maintains the standby state for a predetermined period of time from when the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed.

4. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting unit displays an icon to facilitate selection by the user, processing corresponding to at least one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed, and

if, during the predetermined period of time, the icon displaced on the touch panel screen is pressed, the selection instruction accepting unit accepts a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to the pressed icon.

5. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if a voice command that prompts the user to make a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to at least one operation key from among the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed, the selection instruction accepting unit accepts a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to the received voice command.

6. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if a predetermined position in a preset acceptance area on the touch panel screen is pressed, the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction.

7. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if the multiple key press detection unit detects that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, the first processing execution control unit controls execution of video playback processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

the waiting unit sets a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute video playback processing corresponding to at least one operation key, other than an operation key corresponding to the video playback processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit; and

if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, video playback processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit is stopped, and the second processing execution control unit controls execution of video playback processing selected based on the selection instruction from among video playback processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

8. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if the multiple key press detection unit detects that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, the first processing execution control unit controls execution of each of video playback processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

the waiting unit sets a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute one of the video playback processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed; and

if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, video playback processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit is stopped, and the second processing execution control unit controls execution of video playback processing selected based on the selection instruction from among the video playback processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

9. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if the multiple key press detection unit detects that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, the first processing execution control unit controls execution of character input processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

the waiting unit sets a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute character input processing corresponding to at least one operation key, other than the operation key corresponding to the character input processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit, from among the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed; and

if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, a character input operation executed under control of the first processing execution control unit is cancelled, and the second processing execution control unit controls execution of character input processing based on the selection instruction from among character input processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

10. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if the multiple key press detection unit detects that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, the first processing execution control unit controls execution of music playback processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

the waiting unit sets a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute music playback processing corresponding to at least one operation key, other than the operation key corresponding to the music playback processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit, from among the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed; and

if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, the music playback processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit is cancelled, and the second processing execution control unit controls execution of music playback processing selected based on the selection instruction from among music playback processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

11. The touch panel input device according to claim 1, wherein if the multiple key press detection unit detects that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, the first processing execution control unit controls execution of menu startup processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

the waiting unit sets a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute menu startup processing corresponding to at least one operation key, other than the operation key corresponding to the menu startup processing executed under control of the first processing execution control unit, from among the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed; and

if the selection instruction accepting unit accepts the selection instruction, a menu started under control of the first processing execution control unit is closed, and the second processing execution control unit controls execution of menu startup processing selected based on the selection instruction from among menu startup processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed.

12. A processing execution method for controlling execution of processing corresponding to a touch or press of an operation key displayed on a touch panel screen, the method comprising:

detecting that a plurality of operation keys displayed on the touch panel screen are multiply pressed, wherein each operation key has a corresponding pre-assigned fixed priority value;

controlling, if it is detected that the plurality of operation keys were multiply pressed, execution of processing corresponding to the operation key having a highest priority value of operation keys multiply pressed;

setting a standby state to wait until a user makes a selection instruction to select an operation key corresponding to at least one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

accepting the selection instruction if the standby state is set; and

controlling, if the selection instruction is accepted, execution of processing selected based on the selection instruction from among processings corresponding to the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed; and

wherein if the user fails to make a selection during the standby state, then controlling execution of processing corresponding to the operation key of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed having the highest priority value.

13. The processing execution method according to claim 12, further including controlling execution of processing corresponding to one of the plurality of operation keys multiply pressed;

and

setting a standby state for waiting until a user makes a selection instruction to select and execute processing corresponding to at least one operation key other than the operation key corresponding to the processing executed.