U.S. patent application number 10/960113 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable memory.
This patent application is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Nagasaki, Katsuhiko.
Application Number | 20050052471 10/960113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26516596 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050052471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagasaki, Katsuhiko |
March 10, 2005 |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and
computer-readable memory
Abstract
A RAM stores a management table for making the indication state
of an indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling the operation an information processing
apparatus for the indication state. A CPU detects the indication
state of the indicator, and controls the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to the detection
result.
Inventors: |
Nagasaki, Katsuhiko;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
26516596 |
Appl. No.: |
10/960113 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10960113 |
Oct 8, 2004 |
|
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09619540 |
Jul 19, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/649 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0485 20130101;
G06F 3/0362 20130101; G06F 3/038 20130101; G06F 2200/1614 20130101;
G06F 1/1626 20130101; Y10S 715/973 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/649 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 22, 1999 |
JP |
11-208017 |
May 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000-160610 |
Claims
1-19. (Cancelled)
20. An information processing apparatus having a display screen
comprising: designation means for designating a display orientation
of information displayed in the display screen; input means for
inputting directional information, wherein said input means is
affixed to the information processing apparatus; storage means for
storing a control signal which controls a direction of scroll of
the information displayed in the display screen, wherein said
control signal corresponds to the display orientation designated by
said designation means and the directional information input by
said input means; and control means for obtaining the control
signal from said storage means, and for controlling the scrolling
of the information displayed in the display screen based on the
obtained control signal.
21. An information processing apparatus having a display screen
comprising: designation means for designating a display orientation
of information displayed in the display screen; input means for
inputting directional information, wherein said input means is
affixed to the information processing apparatus; storage means for
storing a control signal which controls a focusing operation to a
plurality of focusing targets displayed in the display screen,
wherein said control signal corresponds to corresponds to the
display orientation designated by said designation means and the
directional information input by said input means; and control
means for obtaining the control signal from said storage means, and
for controlling the focusing operation to the plurality of focusing
targets displayed in the display screen based on the obtained
control signal.
22. An information processing apparatus having a display screen
comprising: designation means for designating a display orientation
of information displayed in the display screen, wherein said
display orientation is in either a first direction which is
parallel to one side of the display screen, or a second direction
which is perpendicular to the first direction; input means for
inputting directional information which indicates a direction of
scrolling of the information; and control means for controlling the
scrolling of the information displayed in the display screen in the
same direction as the direction input by said input means in spite
of designation by said designation means.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said information
includes character information, and said control means controls the
scrolling of the character information in a vertical direction if
the first direction is input, and controls the scrolling of the
character information in a horizontal direction if the second
direction is input.
24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said display
screen and said input means are affixed to a same housing.
25. An information processing apparatus having a display screen
comprising: designation means for designating a display orientation
of information displayed in the display screen, wherein said
display orientation is in either a first direction which is
parallel to one side of the display screen, or a second direction
which is perpendicular to the first direction; input means for
inputting directional information which indicates a direction of a
focusing operation to a focusing target in the information
displayed in the display screen; and control means for controlling
the focusing operation to the focusing targets in the information
displayed in the display screen in the same direction as the
direction input by said input means in spite of designation by said
designation means.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said display
screen and said input means are affixed to a same housing.
27. A control method for an information processing apparatus having
a display screen comprising: a designation step of designating a
display orientation of information displayed in the display screen;
a receiving step of receiving directional information from
directional information input means affixed to the information
processing apparatus; and a control step of obtaining a control
signal from a storage means, and controlling the scrolling of the
information displayed in the display screen based on the obtained
control signal, wherein said control signal corresponds to the
display orientation designated in said designation step and the
directional information received in said receiving step.
28. A program for executing a method according to claim 27, by an
information processing apparatus.
29. A computer readable memory for storing a program according to
claim 28.
30. A control method for an information processing apparatus having
a display screen comprising: a designation step of designation g a
display orientation of information displayed in the display screen;
a receiving step of receiving directional information from
directional information input means affixed to the information
processing apparatus; and a control step of obtaining a control
signal from storage means, and controlling a focusing operation to
a plurality of focusing targets displayed in the display screen
based on the obtained control signal, wherein said control signal
corresponds to the display orientation designated in said
designation step and the directional information received in said
received step.
31. A program for executing a method according to claim 30, by an
information processing apparatus.
32. A computer readable memory for storing a program according to
claim 31.
33. A control method for an information processing apparatus having
a display screen comprising: a designation step of designating
display orientation of information displayed in the display screen,
wherein said display orientation is in either a first direction
which is parallel to one side of the display screen, or a second
direction which is perpendicular to the first direction; a
receiving step of receiving direction information which indicates a
direction of scrolling of the information form directional
information input means; and a control step of controlling the
scrolling of the information displayed in the display screen in the
same direction as the direction received in said receiving step in
spite of designation in said designation step.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said information
includes character information, and said control step controls the
scrolling of the character information in a vertical direction if
the first direction is input, and controls the scrolling of the
character information in a horizontal direction if the second
direction is input.
35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said display screen
and said directional information input means are affixed to a same
housing.
36. The program for executing a method according to claim 33, by an
information processing apparatus.
37. A computer readable memory for storing a program according to
claim 36.
38. A control method for an information processing apparatus having
a display screen comprising: a designation step of designating
display orientation of information displayed in the display screen,
wherein said display orientation is in either a first direction
which is parallel to one side of the display screen, or a second
direction which is perpendicular to the first direction; a
receiving step of receiving directional information from a
directional information input means, wherein said directional
information indicates a direction of a focusing operation to a
focusing target in the information displayed in the display screen;
and a control step of controlling the focusing operation to the
focusing target in the information displayed in the display screen
in the same direction as the direction received in the receiving
step in spite of the designation in the designation step.
39. The method according to claim 38, wherein said display screen
and said directional information input means are affixed to a same
housing.
40. The program for executing a method according to claim 39, by an
information processing apparatus.
41. A computer readable memory for storing a program according to
claim 40.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus having an indicator, a control method therefor, and a
computer readable memory.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In many cases, a portable terminal device having a jog dial
switch or shuttle switch is operated by a different method from
that of a so-called desktop terminal device. The desktop terminal
device mainly uses a keyboard or mouse as an input device, whereas
the portable terminal device is operated by a pen input or button
input. In recent years, input devices such as a shuttle switch and
jog dial switch for enabling rotation operation and push operation
with one device are becoming available.
[0003] The input devices such as a shuttle switch and jog dial
switch are used for operations such as switching of the menu and
scroll of the display window. This provides the user with high
operability because rotation operation or slide operation directly
and readily links with an operation on the display window.
[0004] The portable terminal device is generally used in the user's
hand. Because of a small size, a terminal device whose screen is
generally vertically directed can be used with a horizontally
elongated screen, and vice versa. In this case, the display
direction of the display window is also switched.
[0005] In this case, however, the rotational direction of the
shuttle switch or jog dial does not coincide with the operating
direction on the display window, which has not been considered.
This will be exemplified with reference to FIG. 3.
[0006] In FIG. 3, when the portable terminal device is used with a
vertically elongated screen 4000, rotation operation of a jog dial
406 is vertical rotation operation for the user. When the portable
terminal device is used with a horizontally elongated screen 4100,
rotation operation of the jog dial 406 is horizontal rotation
operation for the user. For example, rotation operation of the jog
dial 406 is assigned to vertical scroll of the vertically elongated
screen 4000. In this case, even if the user horizontally rotates
the jog dial 406 in use with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, the screen is vertically scrolled. The conventional
user-friendly device makes the user feel the operation
difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has been made to overcome the
conventional drawbacks, and has as its object to provide an
information processing apparatus capable of easily operating the
apparatus, a control method therefor, and a computer-readable
memory.
[0008] To achieve the above object, an information processing
apparatus according to the present invention comprises the
following arrangement.
[0009] That is, an information processing apparatus having an
indicator comprises
[0010] designation means for designating a display direction of a
display,
[0011] storage means for storing a management table for making an
indication state of the indicator in the display direction
correspond to control information for controlling an operation of
the information processing apparatus for the indication state,
[0012] detection means for detecting the indication state of the
indicator, and
[0013] control means for controlling the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to a detection
result of the detection means.
[0014] The management table preferably makes the indication state
of the indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling scroll operation of a display window of
the display.
[0015] The management table preferably makes the indication state
of the indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling focusing operation to a plurality of
focusing targets in a display window of the display.
[0016] The designation means preferably includes a predetermined
icon in the display.
[0017] The control means preferably comprises change means for
changing contents of the management table on the basis of the
indication state of the indicator.
[0018] The indicator preferably includes at least either one of a
jog dial switch and a shuttle switch.
[0019] The detection means preferably detects an indication
direction and an indication amount of the indicator.
[0020] To achieve the above object, a control method for an
information processing apparatus according to the present invention
comprises the following steps.
[0021] That is, a control method for an information processing
apparatus having an indicator comprises
[0022] the designation step of designating a display direction of a
display,
[0023] the storage step of storing a management table for making an
indication state of the indicator in the display direction
correspond to control information for controlling an operation of
the information processing apparatus for the indication state,
[0024] the detection step of detecting the indication state of the
indicator, and
[0025] the control step of controlling the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to a detection
result in the detection step.
[0026] To achieve the above object, a computer-readable memory
according to the present invention comprises the following program
codes.
[0027] That is, a computer-readable memory which stores program
codes for controlling an information processing apparatus having an
indicator comprises program codes of
[0028] the designation step of designating a display direction of a
display,
[0029] the storage step of storing a management table for making an
indication state of the indicator in the display direction
correspond to control information for controlling an operation of
the information processing apparatus for the indication state,
[0030] the detection step of detecting the indication state of the
indicator, and
[0031] the control step of controlling the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to a detection
result in the detection step.
[0032] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware arrangement
of a portable terminal device according to the first
embodiment;.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a view showing memory maps in a RAM and ROM
according to the first embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a view showing the schematic appearance of the
portable terminal device according to the first embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the
first embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the
first embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a
portable terminal device according to the second embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the
third embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a
portable terminal device according to the fourth embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the memory contents
of the RAM in the first embodiment; and
[0042] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing details of step S108 in the
first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware arrangement
of a portable terminal device according to the first
embodiment.
[0045] Reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU for controlling various
building elements of the portable terminal device; 202, a jog dial
switch used to operate the display window of a display 207; 203, a
jog dial controller for controlling the operation of the jog dial
switch; and 204, a RAM functioning as the work areas of various
processes and a temporary data save area. The RAM 204 (FIG. 2) has
a operation table memory area for storing a jog dial operation
table for managing the operation of the jog dial switch 202 of the
portable terminal device and an operation of the display window
corresponding to this operation, and a VRAM data creation area for
creating data for the display window.
[0046] Reference numeral 205 denotes a display memory (VRAM) for
storing display data to be displayed on the display 207; and 206, a
display controller for controlling display of display data stored
in the VRAM 205. The display 207 is made up of an LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) and the like, and displays various data, windows,
and the like. The display 207 has a rectangular shape, and allows
executing an operation on a vertically elongated screen for
displaying a display window with the long side directed vertically,
or on a horizontally elongated screen for displaying a display
window with the long side directed horizontally.
[0047] Reference numeral 208 denotes a digitizer for detecting an
input from an input pen 211 and outputting a signal corresponding
to the detected input; 209, a digitizer controller; and 210, a ROM
storing programs and the like. The ROM 210 stores an operating
system (OS) for realizing processing on the portable terminal
device, and application programs for executing various processes.
The ROM 210 has a display direction setting memory area for storing
display direction setting representing the display direction of the
portable terminal device, and a font data memory area for storing
various font data. The input pen 211 enables an input for executing
various operations of the portable terminal device using the
digitizer 208.
[0048] The schematic appearance of the portable terminal device
will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a view showing the schematic appearance of the
portable terminal device according to the first embodiment.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal device can be
operated with a vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally
elongated screen 4100.
[0051] On the vertically elongated screen 4000, reference numeral
401 denotes a display window for displaying a window, menu, and the
like; 402, a menu display window for executing a predetermined
desired operation by tapping icons aligned on the window; 403, a
vertical scroll bar for vertically scrolling the display window;
404, a horizontal scroll bar for horizontally scrolling the display
window; 405, a display direction change icon () indicating a change
in the display direction of the display window; and 406, a jog dial
switch for executing various operations such as scroll of the
display window.
[0052] A jog dial operation table in the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 3. The jog dial operation table in
the first embodiment is a table for managing control information
for the operation of the display window with respect to the
operation of the jog dial switch 406 on each of the vertically
elongated screen 4000 and horizontally elongated screen 4100 in
FIG. 3. More specifically, this table manages control information
for realizing the following operations.
[0053] <Vertically Elongated Screen>
[0054] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction A
[0055] The scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled up in
accordance with the rotation amount.
[0056] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction B
[0057] The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled
down in accordance with the rotation amount.
[0058] <Horizontally Elongated Screen>
[0059] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction A
[0060] The scroll bar 404 moves to the right in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled to
the right in accordance with the rotation amount.
[0061] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction B
[0062] The scroll bar 404 moves to the left in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled to
the left in accordance with the rotation amount.
[0063] When the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000, control
information of the jog dial operation table for the vertically
elongated screen is set. When the display direction of the portable
terminal device coincides with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, control information of the jog dial operation table for the
horizontally elongated screen is set.
[0064] Processing executed in the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0065] FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing processing executed in
the first embodiment.
[0066] Whether the device is turned on is checked (step S101). If
the device is not turned on (NO in step S101), the flow waits until
the device is turned on. If the device is turned on (YES in step
S101), the flow shifts to step S102. Display direction setting set
in the ROM 210 in advance is read (step S102). A window is
displayed in accordance with the read display direction setting
(step S103). In the first embodiment, the vertically elongated
screen 4000 in FIG. 3 is set as the display direction setting.
[0067] If window display ends in accordance with the display
direction setting, and control information of the jog dial
operation table for this display direction (in this case, the
vertically elongated screen) is set, whether an input has been
received from the user is checked (step S104). If no input has been
received (No in step S104), the flow waits until an input is
received. If an input has been received (YES in step S104), the
flow advances to step S105.
[0068] If YES in step S104, whether the input is a power-off
request is checked (step S105). If the input is a power-off request
(YES in step S105), the flow shifts to step S106 to turn off the
device. If the input is not a power-off request (NO in step S105),
the flow shifts to step S107.
[0069] Whether the input is a tap on the display direction change
icon 405 with the input pen 211 is checked (step S107). If the
input is not a tap (NO in step S107), the flow shifts to step S110
in FIG. 5. If the input is a tap (YES in step S107), the flow
shifts to step S108 in FIG. 5.
[0070] The display controller 206 changes the display direction
(step S108). Control information of the jog dial operation table is
changed to one for the changed display direction (in this case, the
horizontally elongated screen) (step S109). Then, the flow returns
to step S104 to wait for an input.
[0071] If NO in step S107, whether the input is rotation operation
of the jog dial switch 406 is checked (step S110). If the input is
not rotation operation (NO in step S110), the flow shifts to step
S111 to analyze the input. Processing corresponding to the input is
executed based on the analysis result (step S112).
[0072] If the input is rotation operation (YES in step S110), the
jog dial controller 203 detects the rotational direction and
rotation amount of rotation operation, and transmits the
information to the CPU 201 (step S113). The CPU 201, looks up the
jog dial operation table based on the received information (step
S114). Then, the display window is controlled based on the
looked-up jog dial operation table (step S115). After the display
window is controlled, the flow returns to step S104 to wait for an
input.
[0073] Detailed display direction change operation in step S108
will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0074] As described above, data of the display 207 is stored in the
VRAM 205. As is apparent from the display window of FIG. 3, not the
entire text but only part of the text is displayed depending on the
window. At this time, data of the entire text is stored in the VARM
data creation area of the RAM 204, and only data of an area to be
displayed is transferred to the VRAM 205 upon completion of data
creation. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the memory contents
of the RAM 204 and data of an area transferred to the VRAM 205.
[0075] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the memory contents
of the RAM in the first embodiment.
[0076] In FIG. 9, reference numeral 903 denotes a VRAM data
creation area of the RAM 204; 901, an area displayed on the
vertically elongated screen 4000, i.e., a data area transferred to
the VRAM 205 for the vertically elongated screen 4000; and 902, an
area displayed on the horizontally elongated screen 4100, i.e., a
data area transferred to the VRAM 205 for the horizontally
elongated screen 4100.
[0077] Detailed display direction change operation in step S108 in
this case will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.
[0078] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing details of step S108 in the
first embodiment.
[0079] Whether the display direction change icon 405 shown in FIG.
3 has been tapped is checked (step S1001). If the icon 405 has not
been tapped (NO in step S1001), the flow waits until the icon 405
is tapped. If the icon 405 has been tapped (YES in step S1001), the
flow advances to step S1002, and the CPU 201 instructs the display
controller 206 to clear the display window. In accordance with this
instruction, the display controller 206 clears data stored in the
VRAM 205 except for a data portion corresponding to the menu
display window (step S1002). This is because only the menu display
window is irrelevant to the display direction.
[0080] Both vertical and horizontal scroll bar areas are drawn
(step S1003). Since the position and size of each scroll bar are
not known, not the scroll bar itself but only its area is drawn. An
area to be displayed in the window is calculated from all the
display data stored in the VRAM data creation area of the RAM 204
(step S1004).
[0081] Data of the calculated area is transferred to the VRAM 205.
At this time, which of vertically elongated screen display and
horizontally elongated screen display is designated is checked
(step S1005). If vertically elongated screen display is designated,
the flow shifts to step S1006 to directly transfer the data to the
VRAM 205. If horizontally elongated screen display is designated,
the flow shifts to step S1007 to execute data rotation calculation
for rotating the data through 90 .degree.. After data rotation
calculation, the data is transferred to the VRAM 205 (step
S1008).
[0082] After the data is transferred, the position and ratio of the
displayed area with respect to all the data stored in the VRAM data
creation area of the RAM 204 are calculated, and vertical and
horizontal scroll bars are drawn in accordance with the results
(step S1009).
[0083] A display control method such as scroll of window contents
is well known, and a detailed description thereof will be
omitted.
[0084] According to the first embodiment, rotation operation of the
jog dial switch 406 is vertical scroll when the display direction
of the portable terminal device coincides with the vertically
elongated screen 4000, and horizontal scroll when the display
direction coincides with the horizontally elongated screen 4100.
Thus, the user-friendly device can be enhanced.
[0085] In this embodiment, the display direction upon power-on
operation is based on the display direction setting in the ROM 210,
but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a
writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM can be employed to
store a previous display direction as display direction setting in
power-off operation, and the display direction of the display
direction setting can be set in the next power-on operation.
[0086] The display direction is switched by tapping the display
direction change icon 405 with the input pen 211, but the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, the display
direction may be switched by another means such as a mechanical
switch. The display direction is switched between two directions,
but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, four
directions can be prepared in accordance with the specifications of
the portable terminal device.
[0087] The menu display window including the display direction
change icon 405 is not limited to a liquid crystal display. For
example, a seal having a printed image for implementing the
function of the display direction change icon 40.5 can be put on
the surface of the digitizer 208, and the user can touch the seal
to change the display direction.
Second Embodiment
[0088] Although rotation operation of the jog dial switch scrolls
the display window in the first embodiment, rotation operation
maybe associated with another operation. In the second embodiment,
rotation operation of the jog dial switch is made to correspond to
operation of moving the focus when a plurality of focusing targets
are displayed.
[0089] A repetitive description to the first embodiment will be
omitted.
[0090] FIG. 6 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a
portable terminal device according to the second embodiment.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 6, a vertically elongated screen 4000
displays the push buttons of a telephone set.
[0092] On the vertically elongated screen 4000, a button "1" is
focused. The focus on the button can be sequentially switched by
rotating a jog dial switch 406.
[0093] A jog dial operation switch in the second embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0094] The jog dial operation switch in the second embodiment is a
table for managing control information for the operation of the
display window with respect to the operation of the jog dial switch
406 on each of the vertically elongated screen 4000 and a
horizontally elongated screen 4100 in FIG. 6. More specifically,
this table manages control information for realizing the following
operations.
[0095] <Vertically Elongated screen>
[0096] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction A
[0097] The focus is switched in the following order:
[0098]
"1".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."-
8".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."7".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."1".fwdar-
w.
[0099] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction B
[0100] The focus is switched in the following order:
[0101]
"1".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."7".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."-
8".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."1".fwdar-
w.
[0102] <Horizontally Elongated Screen>
[0103] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction A
[0104] The focus is switched in the following order:
[0105]
"1".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."-
7".fwdarw."8".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."1".fwdar-
w.
[0106] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction B
[0107] The focus is switched in the following order:
[0108]
"1".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."8".fwdarw."-
7".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."1".fwdar-
w.
[0109] When the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000, control
information of the jog dial operation table for the vertically
elongated screen is set. When the display direction of the portable
terminal device coincides with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, control information of the jog dial operation table for the
horizontally elongated screen is set.
[0110] Since the second embodiment can make the moving direction of
the focus on the button coincide with the rotational direction of
the jog dial switch 406, the user can attain high operability.
[0111] The first and second embodiments can be simultaneously
practiced by switching them in accordance with the application when
the portable terminal device includes a plurality of applications.
In this case, a jog dial operation table is prepared for each
application.
Third Embodiment
[0112] In the first and second embodiments, if the display
direction is changed, the operating direction of the jog dial
switch is automatically changed. Alternatively, the user may
arbitrarily designate this operating direction. The operating
direction is designated by, e.g., pushing the jog dial switch.
Processing in this case will be explained with reference to FIG.
7.
[0113] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the
third embodiment.
[0114] The same step numbers as in the first embodiment denote the
same steps, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0115] If a display direction change icon 405 is determined in step
S107 to be tapped, whether a jog dial switch 406 has been pushed is
checked (step S601). If the jog dial switch 406 has not been pushed
(NO in step S601), the flow shifts to step S108. If the jog dial
switch 406 has been pushed (YES in step S601), the flow shifts to
step S602 to change the display window without changing control
information of the jog dial operation table for the currently set
display direction, and returns to step S104 to wait for an
input.
[0116] As described above, the third embodiment can arbitrarily
change the operating direction of the jog dial switch in accordance
with the intended use of the user.
[0117] Since the user can decide whether an operation corresponding
to the operation of the jog dial switch is changed in accordance
with the display direction of the portable terminal device, the
user can operate the device in a preferable environment.
[0118] In the third embodiment, the operating direction of the jog
dial switch is changed based on whether the jog dial switch has
been pushed. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the operating direction can be changed by another
method, e.g., tapping or double-tapping the display direction
change icon.
Fourth Embodiment
[0119] In the first embodiment, the operation of the jog dial
switch 406 is associated with vertical scroll on the vertically
elongated screen 4000, and horizontal scroll on the horizontally
elongated screen 4100. In the second embodiment, the focus moving
direction is the vertical direction on the vertically elongated
screen 4000, and the horizontal direction on the horizontally
elongated screen 4100. In this manner, different jog dial operation
tables are adopted for the jog dial switch 406. Alternatively, a
different change method can be employed.
[0120] In the first embodiment, for example, the operation of the
jog dial switch 406 can be kept associated with vertical scroll on
both the vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally
elongated screen 4100, and control information set in the jog dial
operation table can be exchanged in accordance with the directions
A and B of the jog dial switch 406.
[0121] A jog dial operation table in the fourth embodiment will be
explained with reference to FIG. 8.
[0122] FIG. 8 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a
portable terminal device according to the fourth embodiment.
[0123] The jog dial operation table in the fourth embodiment is a
table for managing control information for the operation of the
display window with respect to the operation of a jog dial switch
406 on each of a vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally
elongated screen 4100 in FIG. 8. More specifically, this table
manages control information for realizing the following
operations.
[0124] <Vertically Elongated screen>
[0125] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction A
[0126] A scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled up in
accordance with the rotation amount.
[0127] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated
screen 4000 in Direction B
[0128] The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled
down in accordance with the rotation amount.
[0129] <Horizontally Elongated screen>
[0130] (1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction A
[0131] The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled
down in accordance with the rotation amount.
[0132] (2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally
Elongated screen 4100 in Direction B
[0133] The scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled up in
accordance with the rotation amount.
[0134] Processing executed in the fourth embodiment is the same as
that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a description thereof will be
omitted.
[0135] According to the fourth embodiment, rotation operation of
the jog dial switch 406 corresponds to vertical scroll regardless
of whether the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000 or horizontally
elongated screen 4100. In general, the user holds a portable
terminal device in his/her left hand and operates the jog dial
switch 406 with his/her left thumb. Considering this, the display
window on the vertically elongated screen 4000 is scrolled up when
the user's finger moves upward, and scrolled down when the user's
finger moves downward. The display window on the horizontally
elongated screen 4100 is scrolled down, i.e., in a direction in
which the text is read forward when the user's finger stretches in
a rising direction, and scrolled up, i.e., in a direction in which
the text is read backward when the user's finger bends in a retreat
direction. This structure can implement an ergonomic user-friendly
device.
[0136] The first to fourth embodiments have exemplified processing
for the operating direction of the jog dial switch. This also
applies to the shuttle switch.
[0137] The present invention may be applied to a system constituted
by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface device,
reader, and printer) or an apparatus comprising a single device
(e.g., a copying machine or facsimile apparatus).
[0138] The object of the present invention is realized even by
supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for
realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a
system or apparatus, and causing the computer (or a CPU or MPU) of
the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program codes
stored in the storage medium.
[0139] In this case, the program codes read out from the storage
medium realize the functions of the above-described embodiments by
themselves, and the storage medium storing the program codes
constitutes the present invention.
[0140] As a storage medium for supplying the program codes, a
floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magnetooptical disk, CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can
be used.
[0141] The functions of the above-described embodiments are
realized not only when the readout program codes are executed by
the computer but also when the OS (Operating System) running on the
computer performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of
the instructions of the program codes.
[0142] The functions of the above-described embodiments are also
realized when the program codes read out from the storage medium
are written in the memory of a function expansion board inserted
into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the
computer, and the CPU of the function expansion board or function
expansion unit performs part or all of actual processing on the
basis of the instructions of the program codes.
[0143] When the present invention is applied to the above storage
medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to
the flow charts shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.
[0144] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the
present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *