Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

• US 9,594,459 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Narita, Tomoya, Kasahara, Shunichi, Kano, Ritsuko
• Primary Examiner(s): ZALALEE, SULTANA MARCIA
• Application Number:
  US15/066,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20160188117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide logic for processing information. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a first portion of content to a user. The display unit includes a display surface. A detection unit is configured to detect a distance between an interface surface and a reference point disposed along an operational tool of the user. A control unit configured to determine whether the distance falls within a threshold range, and generate a signal to display a second portion of content to the user, when the detected distance falls within the threshold range. The display unit is further configured to display the second content portion, based on the generated signal.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to

detect proximity of an operational tool, and

carry out control in a manner that a display surface displays a cursor as feedback to the proximity detected by the circuitry,

wherein the circuitry carries out control of the display of the cursor in a manner based on whether an item selectable by the operational tool has been identified among items displayed on the display surface, and display is carried out in a pre-determined way between a position on the display surface which corresponds to a proximity coordinate detected by the circuitry and a position of the identified item,

wherein the circuitry is further configured to advance a process of an execution target while the operational tool remains in a proximity state, and

wherein the circuitry carries out control in a manner that the display surface displays the cursor for a period of time after the proximity is detected by the circuitry until completion of the process advanced by the circuitry is detected.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the circuitry detects degree of proximity of the operational tool; and

the circuitry carries out control in a manner that the display surface displays the cursor to be smaller as the degree of proximity detected by the circuitry is higher.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the circuitry further detects a position to which the operational tool has gotten close as a proximity coordinate; and

the circuitry carries out control in a manner that the cursor is displayed in response to a position on the display surface which corresponds to the proximity coordinate detected by the circuitry.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the circuitry carries out control in a manner that the proximity coordinate detected by the circuitry is corrected and the cursor is displayed in response to a position on the display surface which corresponds to the corrected coordinate.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry carries out control in a manner based on whether an item selectable by the operational tool has been identified among items displayed on the display surface, and display is carried out in a pre-determined way at a position of the identified item.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry carries out control in a manner based on whether an item nearest to the proximity coordinate has been identified among items selectable by the operational tool, and display is carried out in a pre-determined way at a position on the display surface which corresponds to the proximity coordinate.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the circuitry detects contact of the operational tool; and

the circuitry is further configured to execute a pre-determined process when the circuitry detects the contact.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the circuitry detects a position contacted by the operational tool as a contact coordinate; and

the circuitry executes a process corresponding to the contact coordinate detected by the circuitry as the pre-determined process.

9. An information processing method, comprising:

detecting proximity of an operational tool; and

carrying out control in a manner that a display surface displays a cursor as feedback to the proximity,

wherein control of the display of the cursor is carried out in a manner based on whether an item selectable by the operational tool has been identified among items displayed on the display surface, and display is carried out in a pre-determined way between a position on the display surface which corresponds to a detected proximity coordinate and a position of the identified item,

wherein a process of an execution target is advanced while the operational tool remains in a proximity state, and

wherein the control is carried out in a manner that the display surface displays the cursor for a period of time after the proximity is detected until detection of completion of the process which is advanced.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

detecting proximity of an operational tool, and

carrying out control in a manner that a display surface displays a cursor as feedback to the proximity,

wherein control of the display of the cursor is carried out in a manner based on whether an item selectable by the operational tool has been identified among items displayed on the display surface, and display is carried out in a pre-determined way between a position on the display surface which corresponds to a proximity coordinate and a position of the identified item,

wherein a process of an execution target is advanced while the operational tool remains in a proximity state, and

wherein the control is carried out in a manner that the display surface displays the cursor for a period of time after the proximity is detected until detection of completion of the process which is advanced.