Input reception device, area control method, information recording medium, and program

• US 8,188,984 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Okuta, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/673,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-179, 178 1801- 1805, 178 1901- 1903
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• 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 display control unit (101) displays a key image, which serves as an operation target, etc. on a display unit. An area memory unit (103) stores a reception area (area information) corresponding to the displayed key image. A detecting unit (104) senses a user'"'"'s touching operation and detects its touch position. A determining unit (105) makes determinations whether the detected touch position is within the range of the reception area stored in the area memory unit (103), etc. A time measuring unit (106) measures a time period that has elapsed since the touching operation. When a touching operation is detected, an area control unit (107) expands a reception area that includes the touch position to a predetermined range. Thereafter, the area control unit (107) reduces the expanded reception area to its original size when the time measuring unit (106) measures a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. An input reception device that receives an input via a touch panel that is disposed on a display unit, comprising:

an area memory unit (103) that stores area information about an area on the touch panel, the area being a variable reception area corresponding to a predetermined target image displayed on the display unit;

a detecting unit (104) that, in response to a touching operation to the touch panel, detects a touch position;

a determining unit (105) that determines whether the detected touch position is within or outside a range of the stored reception area; and

an area control unit (107) that sets, in the area memory unit (103), a reception area that matches an area on which the target image is displayed, and when a touch position is detected and determined to be within the range, expands the reception area to a predetermined range, and when a touching operation is not given to the expanded reception area within a predetermined time period, reduces the expanded reception area back to the reception area before being expanded.

3. The input reception device according to claim 1

wherein the area control unit (107) expands the reception area by gradually changing at least one of its shape and its size based on a number of touching operations.

4. The input reception device according to claim 1

wherein the area control unit (107) expands the reception area toward a predetermined direction based on a change of touch positions.

5. The input reception device according to claim 1, further comprising a target image control unit (101) that expands or reduces the target image to a size of a corresponding reception area, which is expanded or reduced by the area control unit (107).

6. The input reception device according to claim 1

wherein the display unit displays thereon a predetermined number of the target image in an array, and

the input reception device further comprises a target image control unit (101) that, after a predetermined touching operation is given, changes display contents of a plurality of target images that are arrayed in vicinity of the target image that is given that touching operation.

7. The input reception device according to claim 6,

wherein each of the target images is in advance assigned a plurality of different letters, and

the target image control unit (101) changes the respective letters assigned to the target image that is given the touching operation, such that the letters become display contents of the target images arrayed in vicinity of the target image given the touching operation respectively.

2. An input reception device that receives an input via a touch panel that is disposed on a display unit, comprising:

a display control unit (101) that displays a target image, which serves as an operation target, on the display unit;

an area memory unit (103) that stores area information about an area on the touch panel, the area being a variable reception area corresponding to the displayed target image;

a detecting unit (104) that, in response to a touching operation to the touch panel, detects a touch position, the touching operation including a contact to the touch panel;

a determining unit (105) that determines whether the detected touch position is within or outside a range of the stored reception area;

a time measuring unit (106) that measures a time period that has elapsed since the touching operation; and

an area control unit (107) that sets, in the area memory unit (103), a first reception area that matches an area on which the target image is displayed;

when a touch position is detected and determined to be within the range, expands the first reception area to a second reception area that covers a larger range than the first reception area; and

when a touching operation is not given to the second reception area until the measured time period becomes equal to a predetermined time period, reduces the second reception area to the first reception area.

12. The input reception device according to claim 2,

wherein the area control unit (107) expands the reception area by gradually changing at least one of its shape and its size based on a number of touching operations.

13. The input reception device according to claim 2,

wherein the area control unit (107) expands the reception area toward a predetermined direction based on a change of touch positions.

14. The input reception device according to claim 2, further comprising a target image control unit (101) that expands or reduces the target image to a size of a corresponding reception area, which is expanded or reduced by the area control unit (107).

15. The input reception device according to claim 2,

wherein the display unit displays thereon a predetermined number of the target image in an array, and

the input reception device further comprises a target image control unit (101) that, after a predetermined touching operation is given, changes display contents of a plurality of target images that are arrayed in vicinity of the target image that is given that touching operation.

16. The input reception device according to claim 15,

wherein each of the target images is in advance assigned a plurality of different letters, and

the target image control unit (101) changes the respective letters assigned to the target image that is given the touching operation, such that the letters become display contents of the target images arrayed in vicinity of the target image given the touching operation respectively.

8. An input reception device that receives an input via a touch panel that is disposed on a display unit, comprising:

a display control unit (101) that displays, in an array, a predetermined number of target images, each of which is in advance assigned a plurality of different letters, on the display unit;

a determining unit (102) that detects a touching operation that is given to the touch panel, including a contact thereto, and determines which one of the target images is given the touching operation; and

a target image control unit (101) that, after a predetermined touching operation is given, changes display contents of the target images that are arrayed in vicinity of the target image that is given that touching operation, to the letters assigned to the target image given the touching operation respectively.

9. An area control method of an input reception device that includes a memory unit (103) and receives an input via a touch panel disposed on a display unit,

the memory unit (103) storing area information about an area on the touch panel, the area being a variable reception area corresponding to a predetermined target image displayed on the display unit,

the method comprising:

a detecting step (S201, S202) of, in response to a touching operation to the touch panel, detecting a touch position;

a determining step (S203) of determining whether the detected touch position is within or outside a range of the reception area stored in the memory unit (103); and

an area controlling step (S205, S209) of setting, in the memory unit (103), a reception area that matches an area on which the target image is displayed;

when a touch position is detected and determined to be within the range, expanding the reception area to a predetermined range; and

when a touching operation is not given to the expanded reception area within a predetermined time period, reducing the expanded reception area back to the reception area before being expanded.

10. An information recording medium storing a program that controls a computer, which receives an input via a touch panel disposed on a display unit, to function as:

an area memory unit (103) that stores area information about an area on the touch panel, the area being a variable reception area corresponding to a predetermined target image displayed on the display unit;

a detecting unit (104) that, in response to a touching operation to the touch panel, detects a touch position;

a determining unit (105) that determines whether the detected touch position is within or outside a range of the stored reception area; and

an area control unit (107) that sets, in the area memory unit (103), a reception area that matches an area on which the target image is displayed;

when a touch position is detected and determined to be within the range, expands the reception area to a predetermined range; and

when a touching operation is not given to the expanded reception area within a predetermined time period, reduces the expanded reception area back to the reception area before being expanded.

11. A program that controls a computer, which receives an input via a touch panel disposed on a display unit, to function as:

an area memory unit (103) that stores area information about an area on the touch panel, the area being a variable reception area corresponding to a predetermined target image displayed on the display unit;

a detecting unit (104) that, in response to a touching operation to the touch panel, detects a touch position;

a determining unit (105) that determines whether the detected touch position is within or outside a range of the stored reception area; and

an area control unit (107) that sets, in the area memory unit (103), a reception area that matches an area on which the target image is displayed;

when a touch position is detected and determined to be within the range, expands the reception area to a predetermined range; and

when a touching operation is not given to the expanded reception area within a predetermined time period, reduces the expanded reception area back to the reception area before being expanded.