System and/or method for displaying graphic to input information

• US 8,552,987 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kuroume, Tomoaki, Sasaki, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Sanghyuk
• Application Number:
  US11/225,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 345/467, 345/630, 345156-184, 345/780, 345/781, 705/34, 715/727, 715/741, 715/805, 715/816, 715/781, 715/773, 844/77, 700/18
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• 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

An information processing apparatus includes a display and a touch panel provided thereon. A CPU core causes the display to display an input screen (image) that has a keyboard image including a plurality of key patterns and an input area formed on each of the key patterns. By touching some of the key patterns, moving a stick or like to the input area while keeping it in a touch-on state and then performing a touch-off from the key pattern, a character graphic for the key pattern can be input (dragged) to a coordinate position in the input area just before the touch-off; however, by touching some of the key patterns and then performing a touch-off from the key pattern, a character graphic for the key pattern is input to a predetermined position in the input area.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

a touch panel provided in relation to said display;

a display module configured to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area in said display;

a touch detector that detects a touch-on to or a touch-off from said touch panel at predetermined time intervals;

a coordinate position detector that detects a coordinate position at a time when said touch detector detects said touch-on;

a key pattern designation determining unit that, when said touch detector detects a change of state from touch-off to touch-on, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

a first coordinate position determining unit that, after said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off by said touch detector, determines whether the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to touch-off is either a position corresponding to said key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

a first graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern; and

a second graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is an arbitrary position within said input area, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer that, when said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, counts a time during which said touch-on state continues;

a duration time determining unit that determines whether or not the duration time counted by said timer is equal to or more than a predetermined time;

a second coordinate position determining unit that, when said duration time determining unit determines that said duration time is equal to or more than said predetermined time, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector corresponds to said designated key pattern, wherein

said second graphic displaying module, when said second coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a valid key setter that, when said touch detector detects a change of touch-off to touch-on, sets the designated key pattern determined by said key pattern designation determining unit as a valid key, wherein

when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern set as said valid key, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, and when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is an arbitrary position within said input area, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern in said arbitrary position, and further comprising

a canceling unit that, when said touch detector detects a change of said touch-on to touch-off, cancels the setting of said valid key.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the touch-on state is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is an arbitrary position within said input area, previously input text characters are converted to image form.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of key patterns displayed by the firstaphic displaying module are character input key patterns, and

the input area is arranged to display characters input by the character input keys.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined position is set to a position adjacent to the displayed position as a result of displaying performed via the second graphic displaying module.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is set to a position adjacent to the displayed position as a result of displaying performed via the second graphic displaying module.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of key patterns displayed by the first graphic displaying module are text input key patterns, and

the input area is arranged to display text characters input by the character input keys when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is a position corresponding to said key pattern.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined position is set to a position adjacent to the displayed position as a result of displaying performed via the second graphic displaying module.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is an arbitrary position within said input area, previously input text characters are converted to image form.

12. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for information input in an information processing apparatus comprising a display, a touch panel provided in relation to said display, and a processor, wherein said program causes said processor to perform a method comprising:

causing said display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area;

detecting a touch-on to or a touch-off from said touch panel at predetermined time intervals;

detecting a coordinate position at a time when said touch-on is detected;

determining, when a change of state from touch-off to touch-on is detected, whether or not the coordinate position detected designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

determining, after it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off, whether the coordinate position detected immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to either the key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is a position corresponding to said key pattern, a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern; and

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is an arbitrary position within said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

13. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program further causes said processor to perform:

when it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, counting a time during which said touch-on state continues;

determining whether or not the duration time counted is equal to or more than a predetermined time;

when it is determined that that said duration time is equal to or more than said predetermined time, determining whether or not the coordinate position detected is a position corresponding to said designated key pattern; and

when it is determined that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displaying the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area.

14. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program further causes said processor to perform when a change of touch-off to touch-on is detected, setting the designated key pattern determined as a valid key, and

in the displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position corresponds to the key pattern set as said valid key, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at a predetermined position in said input area, and when it is determined in said determining that said coordinate position is an arbitrary position within said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at said arbitrary position, and

said program causes said processor to further perform canceling, when a change of said touch-on to touch-off is detected in said touch detecting step, the setting of said valid key.

15. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said program causes said processor to perform when the character graphic associated with said key pattern is displayed, setting the position related to the display position of the character graphic as said predetermined position.

16. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 12, wherein when the touch-on state is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

20. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a timer that, when said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, counts a time during which said state that an input is performed by said pointing device state continues;

a duration time determining unit that determines whether or not the duration time counted by said timer is equal to or more than a predetermined time;

a second coordinate position determining unit that, when said duration time determining unit determines that said duration time is equal to or more than said predetermined time, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector corresponds to said designated key pattern, wherein

said second graphic displaying module, when said second coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area.

17. An information input method for an information processing apparatus comprising a display, a touch panel provided in relation to said display, and a processor, the method comprising:

causing said display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area;

detecting a touch-on to or a touch-off from said touch panel at predetermined time intervals;

detecting a coordinate position at a time when said touch-on is detected;

determining, when a change of state from touch-off to touch-on is detected, whether or not the coordinate position detected designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

after it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off, determining whether the coordinate position detected immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to either the key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is a position corresponding to said key pattern, a graphic associated with the key pattern at the predetermined position of said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from touch-on to touch-off is an arbitrary position in said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein when the touch-on state is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

19. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

a pointing device configured to designate a position in said display;

a displaying module for displaying a plurality of key patterns and an input area in said display;

an operating state detector that repeatedly detects an operating state of said pointing device;

a coordinate position detector that detects a coordinate position at a time when an input being performed by said pointing device is detected by said operating state detector;

a key pattern designation determining unit that, when said operating state detector detects a change of state from a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

a first coordinate position determining unit that, after said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of the change of state from a state that an input is performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device by said operating state detector, determines whether the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is either a position corresponding to said key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

a first graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern; and

a second graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is an arbitrary position within said input area, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

21. An information processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a valid key setter that, when said operating state detector detects a change of a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device, sets the designated key pattern determined by said key pattern designation determining unit as a valid key, wherein

when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern set as said valid key, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, and when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is an arbitrary position within said input area, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern in said arbitrary position, and further comprising

a canceling unit that, when said operating state detector detects a change of said state that an input is performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device, cancels the setting of said valid key.

22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein when the state that an input is performed by said pointing device state is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

23. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for information input in an information processing apparatus comprising a display, a pointing device configured to designate a position in said display, and a processor, wherein said program causes said processor to perform steps comprising:

causing said display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area;

detecting a state that an input is performed by said pointing device or a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device;

detecting a coordinate position at a time when said state that an input is performed by said pointing device is detected;

determining, when a change of state from the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to the state that an input is performed by said pointing device is detected, whether or not the coordinate position detected designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

determining, after it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of a change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device, whether the coordinate position detected immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is either a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from the state that an input is performed by said pointing device to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is a position corresponding to said key pattern, a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern; and

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from the state that an input is performed by said pointing device to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is an arbitrary position within said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

24. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said program further causes said processor to perform:

when it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, counting a time during which said state that an input is performed by said pointing device continues;

determining whether or not the duration time counted is equal to or more than a predetermined time;

when it is determined that that said duration time is equal to or more than said predetermined time, determining whether or not the coordinate position detected is a position corresponding to said designated key pattern; and

when it is determined that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displaying the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area.

25. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said program further causes said processor to perform when a change of a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device is detected, setting the designated key pattern determined as a valid key, and

in the displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position corresponds to the key pattern set as said valid key, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at a predetermined position in said input area, and when it is determined in said determining that said coordinate position is an arbitrary position within said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at said arbitrary position, and

said program causes said processor to further perform canceling, when a change of said state that an input is performed by said pointing device to state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is detected, the setting of said valid key.

26. A non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said program causes said processor to perform when the character graphic associated with said key pattern is displayed, setting the position related to the display position of the character graphic as said predetermined position.

27. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 23, wherein when the state that an input is performed by said pointing device is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

28. An information input method for an information processing apparatus comprising a display, a pointing device configured to designate a position in said display, and a processor, the method comprising:

causing said display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area;

detecting a state that an input is performed by said pointing device or a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device;

detecting a coordinate position at a time when said state that an input is performed by said pointing device is detected;

determining, when a change of state from a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device is detected, whether or not the coordinate position detected designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

after it is determined that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of a change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device, determining whether the coordinate position detected immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is either a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from the state that an input is performed by said pointing device to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is a position corresponding to said key pattern, a graphic associated with the key pattern at the predetermined position of said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern;

displaying, when it is determined that said coordinate position that is detected immediately before the change from the state that an input is performed by said pointing device to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is an arbitrary position in said input area, the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein when the state that an input is performed by said pointing device is maintained for a predetermined amount of time on the key pattern, the display of the graphic associated with the key pattern is repeated.

30. A system comprising:

a display;

a pointing device configured to designate a position in said display;

a displaying module for displaying a plurality of key patterns and an input area in said display;

an operating state detector that repeatedly detects an operating state of said pointing device;

a coordinate position detector that detects a coordinate position at a time when an input being performed by said pointing device is detected by said operating state detector;

a key pattern designation determining unit that, when said operating state detector detects a change of state from a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector designates any of said plurality of key patterns;

a first coordinate position determining unit that, after said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, in response to the detection of the change of state from a state that an input is performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device by said operating state detector, determines whether the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is either a position corresponding to said key pattern or an arbitrary position within said input area;

a first graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position unit immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the predetermined position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern; and

a second graphic displaying module that, when said first coordinate position determining unit determines said coordinate position that is detected by said coordinate position detector immediately before the change to the state that an input is not performed by said pointing device is an arbitrary position within said input area, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at said arbitrary position, wherein the predetermined position is updated to a new position associated with the arbitrary position as a result of the displaying of the graphic associated with the key pattern.

31. A system according to claim 30, further comprising:

a timer that, when said key pattern designation determining unit determines that some of the key patterns are designated, counts a time during which said state that an input is performed by said pointing device state continues;

a duration time determining unit that determines whether or not the duration time counted by said timer is equal to or more than a predetermined time;

a second coordinate position determining unit that, when said duration time determining unit determines that said duration time is equal to or more than said predetermined time, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by said coordinate position detector corresponds to said designated key pattern, wherein

said second graphic displaying module, when said second coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to said key pattern, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area.

32. A system according to claim 30, further comprising a valid key setter that, when said operating state detector detects a change of a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is performed by said pointing device, sets the designated key pattern determined by said key pattern designation determining unit as a valid key, wherein

when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern set as said valid key, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in said input area, and when said first coordinate position determining unit determines that said coordinate position is an arbitrary position within said input area, the first graphic displaying module displays the graphic associated with the key pattern in said arbitrary position, and further comprising

a canceling unit that, when said operating state detector detects a change of said state that an input is performed by said pointing device to a state that an input is not performed by said pointing device, cancels the setting of said valid key.