U.S. patent application number 11/380890 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-07 for screen display program, computer readable recording medium recorded with screen display program, screen display apparatus, portable terminal apparatus, and screen display method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.. Invention is credited to Yasushi Okumura, Yasuhiro Yamanaka, Fumitake Yodo.
Application Number | 20060277472 11/380890 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37495546 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060277472 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yodo; Fumitake ; et
al. |
December 7, 2006 |
SCREEN DISPLAY PROGRAM, COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDED
WITH SCREEN DISPLAY PROGRAM, SCREEN DISPLAY APPARATUS, PORTABLE
TERMINAL APPARATUS, AND SCREEN DISPLAY METHOD
Abstract
The present invention provides screen displaying technology
allowing improvement in operability and convenience for the user. A
screen display apparatus receives a content, displays a plurality
of tabs in a display screen, corresponds content information to any
one of the plurality of tabs, and displays the content information
corresponding to a displaying tab. In the case of corresponding
content information to a non-displaying tab other than the
displaying tab, it is determined whether or not a there is a
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which other content
information is not corresponded, and when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does not exist, the non-displaying tab selected
based on a predetermined selection condition and the content
information are corresponded. Furthermore, the screen display
apparatus calculates a progress status of at least one or more of
receiving a content, generating a content image by drawing the
content, and storing the content image in an image storage means,
and then outputs the calculated progress status associated it with
a tab corresponded to the content.
Inventors: |
Yodo; Fumitake; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yamanaka; Yasuhiro; (Chiba, JP) ;
Okumura; Yasushi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITCH EVEN TABIN AND FLANNERY
120 SOUTH LA SALLE STREET
SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60603-3406
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc.
Minato-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
37495546 |
Appl. No.: |
11/380890 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/738 ;
715/777; 715/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04847 20130101;
G06F 3/0483 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/738 ;
715/777; 715/810 |
International
Class: |
G06F 9/00 20060101
G06F009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2005 |
JP |
2005-167568 |
Claims
1. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
screen display program to be executed on a computer, said screen
display program comprising: a receiving step to receive content
information; a tab display control step to display a plurality of
tabs in a display screen; a correspondence setting step to
correspond the content information received in the receiving step
to one of the plurality of tabs; and a content display control step
to display content information corresponding to a displaying tab
selected from the plurality of tabs in another area than display
areas for the plurality of tabs; wherein in the correspondence
setting step, when corresponding the content information to a
non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab from among the
plurality of tabs, it is determined whether or not there is a
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which other content
information is not corresponded, and when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying
tab and the content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
2. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein in the correspondence setting step, a non-displaying tab to
which encrypted content information is not corresponded is selected
and is corresponded to the content information when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist.
3. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein in the correspondence setting step, a non-displaying tab to
which the content information already displayed in the content
display control step is corresponded is selected and is then
corresponded to the content information when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does not exist.
4. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein in the correspondence setting step, a non-displaying tab
pre-approved by a user as selectable is selected and is
corresponded to the content information when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does not exist.
5. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein the selection condition for the non-displaying tab is set
by a user.
6. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein in the correspondence setting step, a mode from a plurality
of preset modes is set; the plurality of modes includes a first
mode and a second mode; in a correspondence setting step where the
first mode is set, a non-displaying tab selected based on a
predetermined selection condition is corresponded to the content
information when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not
exist; and in a correspondence setting step where the second mode
is set, a non-displaying tab specified by the user is corresponded
to the content information when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does not exist.
7. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 6,
wherein the plurality of modes include a third mode; and in a
correspondence setting step where the third mode is set, a
non-displaying tab specified by the user is corresponded to the
content information when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does not exist and a selectable, non-displaying tab also does not
exist.
8. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 1,
wherein in the correspondence setting step, the selected
non-displaying tab and the content information are corresponded and
then the non-displaying tab is changed to a displaying tab.
9. A computer for executing a screen display program, said screen
display program comprising: a receiving step to receive content
information; a tab display control step to display a plurality of
tabs in a display screen; a correspondence setting step to
correspond the content information received in the receiving step
to one of the plurality of tabs; and a content display control step
to display content information corresponding to a displaying tab
selected from the plurality of tabs in another area than display
areas for the plurality of tabs; wherein in the correspondence
setting step, when corresponding the content information to a
non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab from among the
plurality of tabs, it is determined whether or not there is a
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which other content
information is not corresponded, and when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying
tab and the content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
10. A screen display apparatus comprising: receiving means for
receiving content information; tab display control means for
displaying a plurality of tabs in a display screen; correspondence
setting means for corresponding the content received by the
receiving means to any one of the plurality of tabs; and content
image display control means for displaying content information
corresponding to a displaying tab selected from the plurality of
tabs, in an area of the display screen other than display areas for
the plurality of tabs; wherein when corresponding the content
information to a non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab
from among the plurality of tabs, the correspondence setting means
determines whether or not there is a non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab to which the content information is not
corresponded, and when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab and the
content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
11. A screen display method comprising: receiving content
information; displaying a plurality of tabs in a display screen;
corresponding the received content information to any one of the
plurality of tabs; and displaying content information corresponding
to a displaying tab selected from the plurality of tabs, in an area
of the display screen other than display areas for the plurality of
tabs; wherein when corresponding the content information to a
non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab from among the
plurality of tabs, it is determined whether or not there is a
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which the content
information is not corresponded, and when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying
tab and the content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2005-167568, filed on Jun. 7, 2005, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to technologies preferred to
be used for a screen display program, a computer readable recording
medium recorded with the screen display program, a screen display
apparatus, a portable terminal apparatus, and a screen display
method.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Conventionally, a tab browser has been used in the screen
display apparatus. Multiple tabs are provided in a window on the
screen by the tab browser, and digital contents (hereafter referred
to as contents) downloaded via the Internet are corresponded to
these tabs. Changing display of the contents corresponded to the
respective tabs allows a user to access multiple contents in a
single window (Patent Document 1).
[0006] More specifically, consider a tab browser provided with four
tabs T1 through T4, for example, displayed on the screen. In this
case, when the tab T1 is selected as a displaying tab (hereafter
referred to as an active tab) by the user, a content corresponded
to the tab T1 becomes visible. The contents corresponded to the
respective tabs T2 through T4 that are non-displaying tabs
(hereafter referred to as inactive tabs) are maintained invisible.
In other words, changing selection of the tabs T1 through T4, each
being a displaying tab, causes the respective tabs T1 through T4 to
change over to active or inactive. [Patent Document 1] Japanese
Patent Application Laid-open 2000-172398.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention advantageously addresses the needs
above as well as other needs by providing a computer-readable
recording medium having recorded thereon a screen display program
to be executed on a computer. The screen display program comprises:
a receiving step to receive content information; a tab display
control step to display a plurality of tabs in a display screen; a
correspondence setting step to correspond the content information
received in the receiving step to one of the plurality of tabs; and
a content display control step to display content information
corresponding to a displaying tab selected from the plurality of
tabs in another area than display areas for the plurality of tabs;
wherein in the correspondence setting step, when corresponding the
content information to a non-displaying tab other than the
displaying tab from among the plurality of tabs, it is determined
whether or not there is a non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to
which other content information is not corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does exist, the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab and the content information
are corresponded, and when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does not exist, a non-displaying tab selected based on a
predetermined selection condition and the content information are
corresponded.
[0008] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
computer for executing a screen display program. The screen display
program comprises: a receiving step to receive content information;
a tab display control step to display a plurality of tabs in a
display screen; a correspondence setting step to correspond the
content information received in the receiving step to one of the
plurality of tabs; and a content display control step to display
content information corresponding to a displaying tab selected from
the plurality of tabs in another area than display areas for the
plurality of tabs; wherein in the correspondence setting step, when
corresponding the content information to a non-displaying tab other
than the displaying tab from among the plurality of tabs, it is
determined whether or not there is a non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab to which other content information is not
corresponded, and when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab and the
content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
screen display apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving
content information; tab display control means for displaying a
plurality of tabs in a display screen; correspondence setting means
for corresponding the content received by the receiving means to
any one of the plurality of tabs; and content image display control
means for displaying content information corresponding to a
displaying tab selected from the plurality of tabs, in an area of
the display screen other than display areas for the plurality of
tabs; wherein when corresponding the content information to a
non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab from among the
plurality of tabs, the correspondence setting means determines
whether or not there is a non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to
which the content information is not corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does exist, the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab and the content information
are corresponded, and when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does not exist, a non-displaying tab selected based on a
predetermined selection condition and the content information are
corresponded.
[0010] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
screen display method comprising: receiving content information;
displaying a plurality of tabs in a display screen; corresponding
the received content information to any one of the plurality of
tabs; and displaying content information corresponding to a
displaying tab selected from the plurality of tabs, in an area of
the display screen other than display areas for the plurality of
tabs; wherein when corresponding the content information to a
non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab from among the
plurality of tabs, it is determined whether or not there is a
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which the content
information is not corresponded, and when the non-corresponded,
non-displaying tab does exist, the non-corresponded, non-displaying
tab and the content information are corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does not exist, a
non-displaying tab selected based on a predetermined selection
condition and the content information are corresponded.
[0011] A better understanding of the features and advantages of the
present invention will be obtained by reference to the following
detailed description of the invention and accompanying drawings
which set forth an illustrative embodiment in which the principles
of the invention are utilized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure where a
portable game apparatus and a server apparatus of a first
embodiment of the present invention carry out communication;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the front of the main body of
the portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the top of the main body of the
portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the back of the main body of the
portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the left side of the main body
of the portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the right side of the main body
of the portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing an exemplary
electrical structure of the main parts of the portable game
apparatus of this embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an exemplary tab status table of
this embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exemplary tab-switching
setting table of this embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a block diagram describing a functional structure
of the portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary screen displayed on a display of
this embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing an
exemplary electrical structure of the main parts of the server
apparatus of this embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 13 shows an exemplary screen displayed on the display
of this embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of a tab selection
operation according to this embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of the tab selection
operation according to this embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 16 shows an exemplary screen displayed on the display
of this embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 17 shows an exemplary screen displayed on the display
of this embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 18 shows an exemplary screen displayed on the display
of this embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an exemplary tab status table
of a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a block diagram describing a functional structure
of the portable game apparatus of this embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 21 shows an exemplary screen displayed on a display of
this embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 22 shows an exemplary read-in display bar displayed on
the display of this embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of
this embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of
this embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 25 shows an exemplary screen displayed on a display of
this embodiment; and
[0037] FIG. 26 shows an exemplary screen displayed on the display
of this embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Problem to Be Solved By the Invention
[0039] With such a tab browser, for example, a content for a
currently active tab may be displayed, and contents other than the
displayed content may be associated thereto. More specifically, the
currently displayed content includes an item which is associated
with a uniform resource locator (URL) indicating the stored
location of another content using a hyperlink, and when this item
is selected through the user's operation, a content may be
downloaded based on the URL corresponded to this item and become
visible on the screen.
[0040] In such a case, for example, assume that the user wants to
access this content using another tab. The user must then carry out
an operation to select another tab (tab T2, for example), enter the
URL for a desired content at the tab T2, and carry out an operation
to display the content. Such operations are tedious for the
user.
[0041] Furthermore, after having carried out the operation to
display the desired content at the selected tab T2, the user may
activate the tab T1, for example, and view a content corresponded
to the tab T1 while waiting for the desired content to become
displayable on the screen. In such a case, the tab T2 becomes
inactive, and the user becomes uncertain of when the content
corresponded to the tab T2 will be displayable. This is
inconvenient for the user.
[0042] Therefore, the present invention is created with
consideration for the above-described problems and aims to provide
screen displaying technology allowing improvement in operability
for the user and user-friendliness.
Means of Solving the Problem
[0043] According to a first aspect of the present invention,
content information is received, a plurality of tabs are displayed
in a display screen, the received content information is
corresponded to any one of the plurality of tabs, and the content
information corresponding to a displaying tab selected from the
plurality of tabs is displayed in an area other than display areas
for the plurality of tabs. When corresponding the content
information to a non-displaying tab other than the displaying tab
from among the plurality of tabs, it is determined whether or not
there is a non-corresponded, non-displaying tab to which the
content information is not corresponded, and when the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab does exist, the
non-corresponded, non-displaying tab and the content information
are corresponded, and when the non-corresponded, non-displaying tab
does not exist, a non-displaying tab selected based on a
predetermined selection condition and the content information are
corresponded.
[0044] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, reception of content information is instructed, the
content information is received in conformity with the instruction,
a plurality of tabs are displayed in a display screen, and the
received content information is corresponded to one of the
plurality of tabs. A content image is generated by drawing the
received content information, the content image is stored in an
image storage means, and a content image of content information
corresponding to a displaying tab selected from the plurality of
tabs is then displayed in an area of the display screen other than
display areas for the plurality of tabs. Furthermore, a progress
status for processing of at least one or more of receiving and
drawing and storing is calculated for predetermined content
information for which reception is instructed, and the calculated
progress status is associated with a tab corresponded to the
predetermined content information and is output.
Effects of Invention
[0045] According to the present invention, screen displaying
technology allowing improvement in operability for the user and
user-friendliness may be provided.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0046] Embodiments according to the present invention are described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that like
parts are designated by like symbols in the drawings. In addition,
the embodiments merely show aspects of the present invention, and
may be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the present
invention.
First Embodiment
(1) Structure
<Structure of Wireless Communication System>
[0047] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure where a
portable game apparatus 1 and a server apparatus 400 according to
this embodiment carry out communication.
[0048] A wireless communication system 200 is a communication
system providing packet communication service to the portable game
apparatus 1 connected to the wireless communication system 200. The
wireless communication system 200 has a LAN access point 201 and a
modem 202. The portable game apparatus 1 is capable of wireless
communication with the LAN access point 201 via a wireless LAN such
as IEEE802.11b when in a wireless area covered by the LAN access
point 201. The modem 202 intermediates transfer and reception of
data between the wireless communication system 200 and the Internet
300.
[0049] The portable game apparatus 1 and the server apparatus 400
respectively carry out communication in accordance with
transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP)
communication via the Internet and the wireless communication
system 200.
<Structure of Portable Game Apparatus>
[0050] Next, a hardware structure of the portable game apparatus 1
is described while referencing FIGS. 2 through 6. FIGS. 2 through 6
show the outside of the portable game apparatus 1 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 2
shows the front of the main body of the portable game apparatus 1,
FIG. 3 shows the upper part thereof, FIG. 4 shows the back thereof,
FIG. 5 shows the left side thereof, and FIG. 6 shows the right side
thereof.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the portable game apparatus 1 includes
an operation input unit 2, which is enclosed by a dotted line, a
display unit 3, and speakers 11.
[0052] The operation input unit 2 has the following operating
parts: direction keys 20L, 20R, 20U, and 20D, an L button 21L, an R
button 21R, a circle marked button 22A, a triangle marked button
22B, a square marked button 22C, a cross marked button 22D, a home
button 23A, volume buttons 23B and 23C, a display button 23D, a
sound button 23E, a select button 23F, a start button 23G, and an
analog pad 24 through which performing analog operation is
possible.
[0053] Note that the respective L button 21L and the R button 21R
are provided on the left and right ends of the front to the top of
the main body, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0054] The portable game apparatus 1 further includes a disk
operating switch 4 for loading an optical disk, an infrared port 5
for carrying out wireless communication, and a USB terminal 6.
[0055] The portable game apparatus 1 even further includes on the
central part of the back of the main body a disk loader 7 on which
an optical disk is mounted, as shown in FIG. 4. An optical disk
recorded with an application program such as a video game or the
like is mounted on this disk loader 7.
[0056] The portable game apparatus 1 includes a memory card slot 8
in which a memory card is inserted and a wireless LAN switch 9, as
shown in FIG. 5, and also includes a power switch 10 on the right
side of the main body, as shown in FIG. 6. The portable game
apparatus 1 further includes a headphone/microphone terminal and a
charging terminal not shown in the drawings.
[0057] Next, an electrical structure of the portable game apparatus
1 is described while referencing FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram
schematically showing an exemplary electrical structure of the main
part of the portable game apparatus 1.
[0058] The portable game apparatus 1 is constituted by a control
system 40 made up of a central processing unit (CPU) 41 and its
peripheral devices, a graphics system 50 made up of a graphic
processing unit (GPU) 52 for drawing images onto a frame buffer 53
or the like, a sound system 60 made up of a sound processing unit
(SPU) 61 for generating musical sounds, sound effects and the like,
an optical disk control unit 70 for controlling an optical disk
recorded with an application program, a wireless communication unit
80, an interface unit 90, the operation input unit 2, and buses
connecting the above-given respective units.
[0059] The sound system 60, which is controlled by the control
system 40, includes the SPU 61 configured to generate musical
sounds, sound effects and the like, a sound buffer 62 recorded with
waveform data and the like by this SPU 61, and the speakers 11
configured to output the musical sounds, sound effects and the like
generated by the SPU 61.
[0060] The SPU 61 includes an adaptive differential PCM (ADPCM)
decoding function to reproduce voice data resulting from being
subjected to ADPCM using, for example, 16-bit voice data as 4-bit
differential signals, a regenerating function to reproduce sound
effects and the like by regenerating the waveform data stored in
the sound buffer 62, a modulating function to modulate and
reproduce the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 62, and the
like.
[0061] The optical disk control unit 70 includes an optical disk
device 71 configured to reproduce a program or data recorded on an
optical disk, a decoder 72 configured to decode a recorded program
or data plus an error correction code (ECC), for example, and a
buffer 73 configured to temporarily store data from the optical
disk device 71 so as to speed up reading data from the optical
disk. A sub-CPU 74 is connected to the decoder 72.
[0062] The interface unit 90 includes a parallel I/O interface
(PIO) 91 and a serial I/O interface (SIO) 92. These are interfaces
for connecting a memory card M to the portable game apparatus
1.
[0063] The operation input unit 2 supplies to the CPU 41 with an
operation signal generated through manipulation of the operating
parts.
[0064] The wireless communication unit 80 carries out wireless
communication with the wireless communication system 200 via the
infrared port 5. This wireless communication unit 80 transmits data
to the wireless communication system 200 and receives data
transmitted from the wireless communication system 200 under the
control of the control system 40.
[0065] The graphics system 50 includes a geometry transfer engine
(GTE) 51, the GPU 52, the frame buffer 53, an image decoder 54, and
the display unit 3.
[0066] The GTE 51 is operable to execute multiple parallel
calculations, for example, and carry out coordinate transformation,
light source-based calculation, and calculations of matrices,
vectors, and the like at high speed. The control system 40 defines
a three-dimensional model as a combination of basic polygons such
as triangles or quadrangles based on calculation results from the
GTE 51, and then sends the GPU 52 a draw instruction corresponding
to each polygon for drawing a three-dimensional image.
[0067] The GPU 52 draws polygons or the like in the frame buffer 53
in conformity with the draw instruction from the control system 40.
Furthermore, the GPU 52 may carry out flat shading, Gouraud shading
for determining the color within a polygon by complementing the
colors of respective polygon apexes, and texture mapping for
attaching to a polygon a texture stored in a texture area of the
frame buffer described later.
[0068] The frame buffer 53 is stored with the images drawn by the
GPU 52. This frame buffer 53 is constituted by so-called dual port
RAM allowing simultaneous processing: drawing from the GPU 52,
transferring from the main memory 43, and reading out for
displaying. Furthermore, aside from a display area for video
output, a color look-up table (CLUT) area stored with a CLUT
referenced when the GPU 52 draws a polygon or the like, and the
texture area stored with material (texture) inserted (mapped) in
the polygon or the like, which has been transformed into
coordinates and drawn by the GPU 52, are provided in the frame
buffer 53. The CLUT area and the texture area are dynamically
modified in response to modification of the display area.
[0069] Content drawing areas corresponding to respective tabs are
further provided in the frame buffer 53.
[0070] Note that with this embodiment, the number of tabs is preset
to 4, where each tab is corresponded to a tab ID having a value 1
through 4. In the following description, the tab with a tab ID `1`
is called tab 1, the tab with a tab ID `2` is called tab 2, the tab
with a tab ID `3` is called tab 3, and the tab with a tab ID `4` is
called tab 4.
[0071] In the frame buffer 53, textures for the respective contents
corresponded to the respective tabs are mapped by the GPU 52 onto
the respective content drawing areas provided to the respective
tabs. As a result, images represented by the respective contents
(hereafter referred to as content images) are drawn in the frame
buffer 53.
[0072] The display unit 3 displays the images stored in the frame
buffer 53 under the control of the control system 40.
[0073] The image decoder 54 decodes static image or animated image
data, which is stored in the main memory 43 and compressed and
encoded through orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine
transformation, and then stores it in the main memory 43 under the
control of the CPU 41.
[0074] The control system 40 includes the CPU 41, a peripheral
device control unit 42, which controls interrupts and direct memory
access (DMA) transfer, the main memory 43, which is random access
memory (RAM), and read only memory (ROM) 44.
[0075] The ROM 44 is stored with a program such as an operating
system or the like for controlling each part of the portable game
apparatus 1. The CPU 41 controls the entire portable game apparatus
1 by reading out the operating system from the ROM 44 to the main
memory 43 and executing the read-out operating system.
[0076] Furthermore, the ROM 44 is stored with a program for causing
the CPU 41 to select a tab to be corresponded to a desired content
by accessing a tab status table 43A and a tab-switching setting
table 43B, which are described later, a program for causing the CPU
41 to allow the user to decide settings related to the tab
selection, a program for causing the CPU 41 to carry out display
control for tabs, and programs such as a tab browser.
[0077] The tab status table 43A and the tab-switching setting table
43B are stored in the main memory 43.
[0078] The tab status table 43A shows statuses of the respective
tabs, and as shown in FIG. 8, is stored with a content flag, an
not-yet-display/displayed flag, a locking flag, a secure socket
layer (SSL)/non-SSL flag, a final read-in compilation time, and a
content URL for each tab.
[0079] The content flag is a flag indicating whether or not there
is a content corresponded to that tab, where a value of `1`
indicates there is a content, and a value of `0` indicates there is
no content. Note that `0` is the initial value of the content flag
and can be rewritten as `1` when the CPU 41 is corresponding a
content to the tab.
[0080] The not-yet-displayed/displayed flag is a flag indicating
whether or not a content image representing the content
corresponded to that tab has been displayed on the display unit 3,
where a value of `1` indicates that it has been displayed on the
display unit 3, and a value of `0` indicates that it has not been
displayed thereon. Note that `0` is the initial value of the
not-yet-displayed/displayed flag and can be rewritten as `1` when
the CPU 41 first displays on the display unit 3 a content image
representing the content corresponded to the tab, and in the case
of an instruction to display another new content image for this
tab, the value of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag for this tab
is initialized as `0`.
[0081] The SSL/non-SSL flag is a flag indicating whether or not the
content corresponded to the tab is an SSL-based content, where a
value of `1` indicates it is based on the SSL, and a value of `0`
indicates it is not based on the SSL. Note that the SSL is a
protocol to encode and then transmit/receive data, and with this
embodiment, contents transmitted/received in accordance to this SSL
are called SSL-based contents.
[0082] Note that the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag and the
SSL/non-SSL flag are respectively `0` for a tab without a
corresponded content, namely a tab with a content flag `0`.
[0083] The locking flag is a flag indicating whether or not a tab
for displaying a content image may be automatically selected when
there is an instruction to display the content image at an inactive
tab, where a value of `1` indicates selection is possible, and a
value of `0` indicates selection is not possible.
[0084] Note that in the descriptions hereafter, displaying a
content image at a currently inactive tab is expressed as
displaying the content image at another tab. In addition, a tab
that cannot be automatically selected as a tab to display a content
image is expressed as locked or being locked.
[0085] The value of this locking flag is set by the user entering a
setting for whether or not respective tabs are to be locked via the
operation input unit 2. The initial value is `0`.
[0086] The final read-in completion time is a time when reception
of a content corresponded to a tab is completed.
[0087] When there is a content corresponded to the tab, a URL
indicating the stored location of the content is written in the
content URL. When there is no content corresponded to the tab, the
content URL is null.
[0088] The tab-switching setting table 43B shows conditions for tab
selection, and as shown in FIG. 9, stores an automatic/manual flag,
an SSL flag, an not-yet-displayed flag, and a lock flag.
[0089] The automatic/manual flag is a flag indicating the select
mode when there is an instruction to display the content image at
another tab. More specifically, a mode where the value of the
automatic/manual flag is `1` indicates automatic selection of a tab
to display the content image. A mode where the value of the
automatic/manual flag is `2` indicates to instruct the user to
select a tab to display the content image. A mode where the value
of the automatic/manual flag is `3` indicates to instruct the user
to select a tab to display the content image when it could not be
automatically selected.
[0090] The SSL flag is a flag indicating whether or not a tab
corresponded with an SSL-based content is selectable when there is
an instruction to display the content image at another tab. An SSL
flag value of `0` indicates that selection is possible, and a value
of `1` indicates that selection is not possible.
[0091] The not-yet-displayed flag is a flag indicating whether or
not a tab corresponded with an not-yet-displayed content is
selectable when there is an instruction to display the content
image at another tab. An not-yet-displayed flag value of `0`
indicates that selection is possible, and a value of `1` indicates
that selection is not possible.
[0092] The lock flag is a flag indicating whether or not a locked
tab is selectable when there is an instruction to display a content
image at another tab, where a value of `0` indicates selection is
possible, and a value of `1` indicates selection is not
possible.
[0093] Note that the initial value of the respective flags is `1`
and may be set and changed by the user on the setup screen as shown
in FIG. 13. The operation of setting and changing is described in
detail later in the operation section.
<Functional Structure>
[0094] Next, functions according to this embodiment implemented in
the portable game apparatus 1 by the CPU 41 executing various
programs are described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram describing a
functional structure of the portable game apparatus 1. The portable
game apparatus 1 has a content generating engine E1 and a user
interface engine E2. The entities of these engines are programs
executed by the CPU 41 or the like. Various kinds of processing are
carried out by respective parts of the portable game apparatus 1,
such as the GPU 52, in response to control commands for the CPU 41
during the execution processes of these programs, thereby
implementing the functions of these engines.
[0095] Note that the CPU 41 reads out a program from the ROM 44 to
the main memory 43 and executes it, thereby displaying a tab
browser screen TG as shown in FIG. 11 on the display unit 3. In
this tab browser screen TG, a tab bar display area TBA is provided
on the right end of the screen, where four tab bars TAB 1 through 4
corresponding to the tabs 1 through 4 are displayed in this tab bar
display area TBA. Furthermore, a title bar TTB is displayed on the
upper portion of the screen, where a content title name is
displayed in the display area of this title bar TTB.
[0096] When one of the tab bars TAB1 through 4 is selected by the
user via the operation input unit 2, the CPU 41 detects a signal
for that operation, reads out the content image of a content
correspond to the selected tab bar from a content image area for
that tab in the frame buffer 53, and then displaying it on the
display unit 3.
[0097] In the case where the circle marked button 22A is pressed
for a predetermined duration or longer during a user's operation
for instructing to display a desired content image, the interface
engine E2 detects this operation and judges that an instruction to
display the content image at another tab has been given. More
specifically, for example, in the case where a screen with the
active tab 1 as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display unit
3, an item K2 in this screen is associated to the URL of a content
via a hyperlink. In the case, when the user positions a pointer P1
at the item K2 via the operation input unit 2 and presses the
circle marked button 22A for a predetermined duration or longer,
the interface engine E2 detects this operation and judges that an
instruction to display the content image at a tab other than the
tab 1 has been given. The user moving the position of the pointer
P1 and control involved therein are described later.
[0098] The user interface engine E2 then carries out an instruction
to download from the server apparatus 400 the contents associated
to the URL for the content generating engine E1. Note that in the
case where the user interface engine E2 has detected that the
circle marked button 22A is pressed for less than or equal to a
predetermined duration during an operation where the user instructs
to display a desired content image, it detects that an instruction
to display the content image at an active tab (tab 1 in FIG. 11)
has been given.
[0099] The content generating engine E1 then requests the server
apparatus 400 for transmission of the content via the wireless
transmission unit 80 in response to an instruction from the user
interface engine E2. The content generating engine E1 receives the
content from the server apparatus 400 via the wireless
communication unit 80, analyzes the content, generates a texture
for the content based on the analysis results, and then sends the
texture to the user interface engine E2.
[0100] The user interface engine E2 selects a tab to be
corresponded to the content related to the texture sent from the
content generating engine E1 by accessing the tab status table 43A
and the tab-switching setting table 43B, and then corresponds the
selected tab and the content. Then, the user interface engine E2
carries out an instruction for the GPU 52 to draw the texture in a
content drawing area for the tab in the frame buffer 53. As a
result, the texture for the content corresponded to the selected
tab is mapped onto the frame buffer 53.
[0101] Furthermore, once the selected tab and the content are
corresponded, the user interface engine E2 updates the respective
values of the content flag, the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag,
the SSL/non-SSL flag, the final read-in compilation time, and the
content URL for the tab in the tab status table 43A.
[0102] The CPU 41 reads from the frame buffer 53 the content image
of the content corresponded to the tab with an active flag `1`,
which is one of the content images of the contents corresponded to
respective tabs by the content generating engine E1 and the user
interface engine E2 and then displays it on the display unit 3,
thereby displaying the content image of the content corresponded to
that tab on the display unit 3. Note that only the tab bar of the
tab is displayed at the tab with an active flag "0".
<Display Control for Tabs>
[0103] In this embodiment, basic colors displayed on the tab bars
for the respective tabs are preset. In addition, the CPU 41
determines the colors displayed on the tab bars for the respective
tabs in accordance to statuses of the respective tabs in the tab
status table. More specifically, the basic colors preset for the
respective tabs are red for the tab 1, blue for the tab 2, yellow
for the tab 3, and green for the tab 4. The CPU 41 determines the
tint of each color according to the active flag for every tab, and
then determines whether or not to add a fog effect (color effect as
if misty) to the respective colors of the respective tabs. More
specifically, the CPU 41 sets a dark red (crimson) to be displayed
on the tab bar for the tab 1 in the case where the active flag
corresponding to the tab 1 is `1` and the content flag
corresponding to the tab 1 is `1`, and sets a misty crimson in the
case where the active flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `1` and
the content flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `0`. Otherwise, the
CPU 41 sets a light red (pink) to be displayed in the case where
the active flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `0` and the content
flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `1`, and sets a misty pink in
the case where the active flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `0`
and the content flag corresponding to the tab 1 is `0`.
[0104] The same holds for the tabs 2 through 4, where the CPU 41
sets a dark color as the basic color to be displayed on the tab bar
of the tab when the active flag is `1` and the content flag is `1`,
and adds the fog effect to that dark color when the active flag is
`1` and the content flag is `0`. It sets a light color as the basic
color to be displayed on the tab bar of the tab when the active
flag is `0` and the content flag is `1`, and adds the fog effect to
that light color when the active flag is `0` and the content flag
is `0`.
[0105] Note that instead of changing the tint of a color using the
fog effect, the tint of each color may be changed by differing
alpha values of the respective colors corresponding to the
respective tabs in conformity with the active flags thereof.
[0106] Furthermore, the CPU 41 determines lengths of the tab bars
in conformity with the values of the active flags in the tab status
table 44A. More specifically, for the tab with an active flag `1`,
the length of that tab bar is made to be half the length of the
entire tab bar display area TBA, and for the tab with an active
flag `0`, the length of that tab bar is made to be a sixth of the
length of the entire tab bar display area TBA.
[0107] The CPU 41 then gives the GPU 52 a draw command based on the
colors and the lengths of the tab bars for the respective tabs
determined in the above manner. The GPU 52 draws in the frame
buffer 53 in response to the draw command from the CPU 41, and then
the CPU 41 displays on the display unit 3 the image drawn in the
frame buffer 53, and the tab bars for the respective tabs are thus
displayed on the display unit 3 with the colors and the lengths
determined by the CPU 41.
[0108] Such display control for the tabs allows the user to easily
visually identify which tab is active or not, whether a content is
corresponded to the tab, and the like.
<Control for Manipulations by User>
[0109] With this embodiment, the user controls switching to an
active tab by pressing the L button 21L or the R button 21R. More
specifically, when the user presses the L button 21L once, the CPU
detects a signal for that manipulation, activates the tab having a
tab ID which is greater than that of the currently active tab by
one, and activates the tab with a tab ID 1 (tab 1) when the tab ID
of the currently active tab is 4. Furthermore, when the user
presses the R button 21R once, the CPU detects a signal for that
manipulation, activates the tab having a tab ID which is smaller
than that of the currently active tab by one, and activates the tab
with a tab ID 4 (tab 4) when the tab ID of the currently active tab
is 1. Note that the CPU 41 writes a `1` in the active flag of the
tab status table for each tab activated through the control
described above, and also writes a `0` in the active flags for all
the remaining tabs.
[0110] In addition, in response to the user's manipulation of the
direction keys 20L, 20R, 20U, or 20D in the portable game apparatus
1, the CPU 41 controls so that the pointer (P1 in FIG. 11) can be
moved and displayed up, down, right and left in the screen
displayed on the display unit 3. Furthermore, this manipulation
also causes to scroll the screen. Moreover, in response to the
user's manipulation of the analog pad 24, the CPU 41 controls so
that the pointer can be moved and displayed up, down, right and
left in the screen displayed on the display unit 3. Note that the
CPU 41 does not scroll the screen in response to the user's
manipulation of the analog pad 24, but it controls so that the
screen can be scrolled in response to the user's simultaneous
manipulation of the square marked button 22C and the direction key
20L, 20R, 20U or 20D.
<Structure of Server Apparatus>
[0111] Next, a structure of the server apparatus 400 is described
while referencing FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically
showing an exemplary electrical structure of the main parts of the
server apparatus 400.
[0112] The server apparatus 400 includes a control unit 401, a
display unit 402, a transmitter/receiver 403, and a storage unit
404. The control unit 401 is made up of a central processing unit
(CPU), RAM, ROM (not shown in the drawing) and the like, and
controls each part constituting the server apparatus 400.
[0113] The storage unit 404 is constituted by a hard disk or the
like and is stored with various programs and contents. The
transmitter/receiver 403 receives data transmitted via the Internet
and supplies it to the control unit 401, and transmits the data
supplied from the control unit 401 via the Internet.
[0114] Upon reception of a request message requesting a content
from the portable game apparatus 1 via the transmitter/receiver
403, the control unit 401 reads out the content from the storage
unit 404, generates a response message including the content, and
transmits it to the portable game apparatus 1 via the
transmitter/receiver 403.
(2) Operations
[0115] Next, operations according to this embodiment are
described.
[0116] Note that a power supply not shown in the drawing of the
server apparatus 400 is turned on, programs such as an operation
system stored in the ROM of the control unit 401 are executed by
the CPU of the control unit 401, and instructions are entered by
the user, thereby executing various programs stored in the storage
unit 404 and implementing the functions described in the above
structure section. Similarly, a power supply not shown in the
drawing of the portable game apparatus 1 is turned on, programs
such as an operation system stored in the ROM 44 are read out to
the main memory 43 and executed by the CPU 41, and the respective
instructions are entered by the user, thereby executing the various
programs read out from the ROM 44 to the main memory 43 and the
functions described in the above structure section are
implemented.
<User Setting Operation>
[0117] In response to the user's instruction to display the setting
screen of the tab browser by manipulating the operation input unit
2 of the portable game apparatus 1, the CPU 41 displays the setting
screen SG on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 13. In this
screen, the user may set a tab selection mode, a tab selection
condition, and a tab he/she wants to lock when displaying a content
image at another tab. `Automatic selection`, `manual selection` or
`automatic selection priority` may be set for the tab selection
mode. In response to the user's selection of a mode by manipulating
the operation input unit 2 to enter a check in a check box
displayed to the left of the desired mode, the CPU 41 detects a
signal for this manipulation and rewrites the value of the
automatic/manual flag in the tab-switching setting table 43B to the
value corresponding to the mode to which the check is entered. More
specifically, the value of the automatic/manual flag in the
tab-switching setting table 43B is set to `1` in the case where
`automatic selection` has been selected by the user, it is set to
`2` in the case where ` manual selection` has been selected by the
user, and it is set to `3` in the case where ` automatic selection
priority` has been selected by the user.
[0118] Note that the initial setting for the selection mode is
`automatic selection`, and the initial value of the
automatic/manual flag in the tab-switching setting table 43B is
`1`. Therefore, the user does not have to carry out setting in the
setting screen SG when `automatic selection` is desired as the
selection mode.
[0119] Furthermore, in the case of canceling the selection
instruction, in response to the user's manipulation of the
operation input unit 2 to cancel a check in a check box displayed
to the left of the selection mode desired to be cancel, the CPU 41
detects a signal for this manipulation, displays a check in the
checkbox displayed to the left of `automatic selection`, and
rewrites the value of the automatic/manual flag in the
tab-switching setting table 43B to the initial value `1`.
[0120] At least one of selection conditions: `do not select a tab
to which an SSL-based content is corresponded`, `do not select a
tab to which an not-yet-displayed content is corresponded` and `do
not select a locked tab` may be set. In response to the user's
manipulation of the operation input unit 2 to enter a check in a
check box displayed to the left of the desired selection condition,
the CPU 41 detects a signal for this manipulation and rewrites the
value of the automatic/manual flag in the tab-switching setting
table 43B to `1`. In the case where the condition `do not select a
tab to which an SSL-based content is corresponded` is selected, the
value of the SSL flag is rewritten as `1`. In the case where the
condition `do not select a tab to which an not-yet-displayed
content is corresponded` is selected, the value of the
not-yet-displayed flag is rewritten as `1`. In the case where the
condition `do not select a locked tab` is selected, the value of
the lock flag is rewritten as `1`. Note that the initial setting
for the selection condition targets tabs to which respective
SSL-based contents are corresponded, tabs to which respective
not-yet-displayed contents are corresponded, and locked tabs, and
the initial values for the SSL flag, the non-display flag, and the
lock flag in the tab-switching setting table 43B are all `0`.
Therefore, the user does not have to carry out setting in the
setting screen SG when the above selection conditions are not
desired.
[0121] Otherwise, in response to the user's manipulation of the
operation input unit 2 to cancel the check in the check box
displayed to the left of the selection condition desired to be
canceled, the CPU 41 detects a signal for this manipulation and
rewrites the value of the flag in the tab-switching setting table
43B corresponding to the selected item to `0`.
[0122] In addition, when there is a tab desired to be locked, the
user may lock at least one of the tabs 1 through 4. In response to
the user's manipulation of the operation input unit 2 to enter a
check in a check box displayed to the left of the tab to be locked,
the CPU 41 detects a signal for this manipulation and rewrites the
value of the locking flag in the tab status table 43A corresponding
to the selected tab to `1`. Note that all the tabs are unlocked in
the initial setting state, and locking flags corresponding to all
of the tabs in the tab status table 43A are `0`. Therefore, the
user does not have to carry out setting in this setting screen SG
when locking a tab is not desired.
[0123] The user may set selection conditions for the tabs in this
manner.
<Tab Selection Operation>
[0124] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of the tab selection
operation according to this embodiment.
[0125] In response to the user's manipulation of the operation
input unit 2 of the portable game apparatus 1 to activate the tab
browser, the CPU 41 reads out the tab browser and various programs
from the ROM 44 to the main memory 43. Execution of the tab browser
and various programs read out from the main memory 43 is started,
processing as follows. First, when the user enters the URL for the
contents stored in the server apparatus 400 to instruct access to
the server apparatus 400, the CPU 41 accordingly starts
communication with the server apparatus 400 via the wireless
communication unit 80, the wireless communication system 200 and
the Internet 300. The CPU 41 generates request data indicating a
request for a content and then transmits it to the server apparatus
400 via the wireless communication unit 80, the wireless
communication system 200 and the Internet 300.
[0126] Upon reception of the request data from the portable game
apparatus 1 via the transmitter/receiver 403, the control unit 401
of the server apparatus 400 reads out a requested content from the
storage unit 404, generates response data including the content,
and transmits the response data to the portable game apparatus 1
via the transmitter/receiver 403, the Internet 300 and the wireless
communication system 200 in response to the request data.
[0127] Upon reception of the response data from the server
apparatus 400, the CPU 41 of the portable game apparatus 1
corresponds the content included in the response data to the tab 1.
The CPU 41 then writes the URL for the content to the content URL
of the tab 1 in the tab status table 43A. The CPU 41 then
temporarily stores the content in the main memory 43. Afterwards,
the CPU 41 generates a texture for the content and commands the
graphics system 50 to draw a content image using that texture. The
graphics system 50 draws the content image by mapping the texture
onto the content drawing area for the tab in the frame buffer 53 in
response to the drawing command from the CPU 41. Furthermore, the
CPU 41 rewrites the value of the active flag for the tab 1 in the
tab status table 43A to `1`, thereby changing the tab 1 into an
active state, and rewrites the value of the active flag for the
tabs 2 through 4 to `0` and the value of the content flag for the
tab 1 to `1`. As described in <Display Control for Tabs>of
the structure section, the CPU 41 determines the colors to be
displayed on the tab bars for the respective tabs and the lengths
thereof, and commands the GPU 52 to draw based on the determined
colors and lengths. As a result, by displaying on the display unit
3 the content image drawn in the frame buffer 53, the content image
of the content corresponded to the tab 1 is displayed on the
display unit 3, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0128] Next, in response to the user's manipulation of the
operation input unit 2 of the portable game apparatus 1 to position
the pointer P1 at the item K2 for a desired content (in this case,
`BBB News`) in the tab browser screen TG as shown in FIG. 11 and
press the circle marked button 22A for a predetermined duration or
longer, the CPU 41 detects this manipulation and determines that an
instruction to display the content image at a tab other than the
tab 1 has been given (step S1 shown in FIG. 14). The CPU 41
generates request data indicating to request the content and then
transmits to the server apparatus 400.
[0129] Upon reception of the request data from the portable game
apparatus 1, the control unit 401 of the server apparatus 400 reads
out the requested content from the storage unit 404, generates
response data including this content, and transmits the data to the
portable game apparatus 1 in response to the request data.
[0130] Upon reception of the response data from the server
apparatus 400, the CPU 41 of the portable game apparatus 1
temporarily stores in the main memory 43 the content included in
the response data. The CPU 41 also temporarily stores in the main
memory 43 the time when reception of the content has completed.
[0131] Note that in the case where the content requested in the
step S1 is an SSL-based content, the server apparatus 400 transmits
the response data based on the SSL. The CPU 41 of the portable game
apparatus 1 then temporarily stores it transmitted from the server
apparatus 400 in the main memory 43. Furthermore, in the case where
the response data is transmitted based on the SSL, the CPU 41
temporarily stores the value `1` of the SSL/non-SSL flag in the
main memory 43.
[0132] Afterwards, the CPU 41 searches the tab status table 43A for
a tab to which a content is not corresponded (step S2). In other
words, it searches the content flags in the tab status table 43A
for a tab with a content flag `0`.
[0133] In the case where it is determined that there is no tab with
a content flag `0` (YES in step S2) as a result of the search, it
is then determined whether or not automatic selection of a tab for
displaying the content image is possible (step S3). In other words,
it is determined whether or not the automatic/manual flag is `1` or
`3`. In the case where the automatic/manual flag is determined to
be `1` or `3` (YES in step S3), processing proceeds to a
determination step S4 in which it is determined whether or not
there is a selectable tab among the tabs 1 through 4.
[0134] Details of the processing in the determination step S4 are
shown in FIG. 15. In step S41 of FIG. 15, it is determined whether
or not a tab to which an SSL-based content image is corresponded is
selectable, namely whether or not the SSL flag in the tab-switching
setting table 43B is `0`. In the case where the result of this
determination is positive (YES in step S41), processing proceeds to
step S43. In the case where the result of this determination is
negative in step S41 (NO in step S41), the tab where the
SSL/non-SSL flag in the tab status table 43A is `1` is regarded as
non-selectable (step S42), and processing proceeds to step S43.
[0135] In step S43, it is determined whether or not a tab to which
an non-displayed content is corresponded is selectable, namely
whether or not the not-yet-displayed flag in the tab-switching
setting table 43B is `0`. In the case where the result of this
determination is positive (YES in step S43), processing proceeds to
step S45. In the case where the result of this determination is
negative in step S43 (NO in step S43), the tab where the
not-yet-displayed/displayed flag in the tab status table 43A is `1`
is regarded as non-selectable (step S44), and processing proceeds
to step S45.
[0136] In step S45, it is determined whether or not a tab to which
a locked content is corresponded is selectable, namely whether or
not the lock flag in the tab-switching setting table 43B is `0`. In
the case where the result of this determination is positive (YES in
step S45), processing proceeds to step S47. In the case where the
result of this determination is negative in step S45 (NO in step
S45), the tab where the locking flag in the tab status table 43A is
`1` is regarded as non-selectable (step S46), and processing
proceeds to step S47.
[0137] In step S47, it is determined whether or not there are one
or more non-selectable tabs from the tabs 1 through 4. In other
words, it is determined whether or not one or more tabs from the
tabs 1 through 4 are selectable. In the case where the result of
this determination is positive (YES in step S47), processing
proceeds to step S5 of FIG. 14. In the case where the result of
this determination is negative in step S47 (NO in step S47),
processing proceeds to step S6 of FIG. 14.
[0138] Returning to FIG. 14, in step S5, the CPU 41 searches the
tab status table 43A for the final read-in compilation time and
then selects the tab corresponding to the oldest time from the
selectable tabs (step S5). Then, the CPU 41 corresponds a content
stored in the main to the selected tab. Afterwards, the CPU 41
generates a texture for the content and commands the graphics
system 50 to draw a content image using that texture. The graphics
system 50 maps the texture generated by the CPU 41 onto the content
drawing area for the tab in the frame buffer 53 in response to the
drawing command from the CPU 41, thereby drawing the content image
in the frame buffer 53. Meanwhile, the CPU 41 also causes it to
draw for the respective tab bars in the same manner as display
control at the tabs. As a result, the CPU 41 controls so that the
image drawn in the frame buffer 53 can be displayed on the display
unit 3. Accordingly, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, with the tab
2 in an active state, the content image instructed by the user in
step S1 is displayed on the display unit 3.
[0139] Furthermore, in the case where the content is an SSL-based
content, the CPU 41 rewrites the value of the SSL/non-SSL flag
corresponding to said tab in the tab status table 43A to `1` using
the value `1` of the SSL/non-SSL flag stored in the main memory 43.
Moreover, the CPU 41 writes in the tab status table 43A the final
read-in completion time stored in the main memory 43.
[0140] The CPU 41 then writes the URL for the content to the
content URL of the selected tab in the tab status table 43A.
[0141] Furthermore, the CPU 41 rewrites to `1` the value of the
not-yet-displayed/displayed flag in the tab status table 43A
corresponding to said tab, rewrites the values of the active flags
for the tabs in the tab status table 43A to `1`, and rewrites the
values of the active flags for the other tabs 1 through 4 to
`0`.
[0142] Note that in the case where the CPU 41 determines there is
no selectable tab in the determination step S4, namely the case
where the CPU 41 determines there is not a single selectable tab in
step S47, then the CPU 41 determines whether the selection mode is
either automatic selection or automatic selection priority by
accessing the tab-switching setting table 43B (step S6). In other
words, the CPU 41 determines whether the automatic/manual flag is
either `1` or `3`. In the case where the automatic/manual flag is
`1` (YES in step S6), the CPU 41 controls so that a message such as
`cannot be displayed` can be displayed on the display unit 3 (step
S8).
[0143] In the case where the CPU 41 determines in step S6 that the
automatic/manual flag is `3` (NO in step S43), or in the case where
the CPU 41 determines in step S3 that the automatic/manual flag is
`2` (NO in step S3), the CPU 41 controls so that a user selection
screen YG as shown in FIG. 17 can be displayed on the display unit
3. A message "There is no available tab. Please select a tab to
display a content", title names TL1 through TL4 for the contents
corresponded to the respective tabs, and colors CL1 through CL4
corresponded to the respective tabs are displayed in this screen.
Note that the title name TL1 for the content corresponded to the
tab (tab 1 in this case) for which an instruction to display the
content image is carried out in step S1 and the color CL1
corresponded to this tab need not be displayed in this screen. In
other words, a tab for which an instruction to display a content
image at another tab is given may be a non-selective tab.
[0144] In response to the user's manipulation of the operation
input unit 2 in this screen to select the title name of the content
corresponded to a desired tab, the CPU 41 corresponds the content
stored in the main memory 43 to the selected tab (step S11), and
then writes in the tab status table 43A the final read-in
completion time stored in the main memory 43.
[0145] Furthermore, in the case where the CPU 41 determines in step
S2 that there are tabs with a content flag `0` (NO in step S2), the
CPU 41 selects the tab having the smallest ID therefrom (step S12).
The CPU 41 corresponds the content stored in the main memory 43 to
the selected tab (step S13), and then writes the final read-in
completion time stored in the main memory 43 in the tab status
table 43A.
[0146] In this manner, when there is an instruction to display the
content image at another tab, the portable game apparatus 1 selects
from the tabs 1 through 4 a tab to which the content is
corresponded. This allows the user to conveniently use contents
even with a limited number of tabs.
[0147] Furthermore, a tab selection condition such that a tab
considered to be unbeneficial for the user is determined as a
non-selectable tab may be set. This allows improvement in
user-friendliness. More specifically, for example, in the case
where an SSL-based content related to a product purchasing
procedure or an SSL-based content related to a finance-related
procedure is corresponded to the tab, making this tab
non-selectable allows elimination of inconveniences such as a
procedure for SSL-based contents being interrupted. Making the tab
to which an not-yet-displayed content is corresponded be
non-selectable also allows elimination of inconveniences such as
interfering with use of contents.
[0148] Note that when the user manipulates the operation input unit
2 of the portable game apparatus 1 to press the triangle marked
button 22B when selecting a desired content in the screen as shown
in FIG. 11, the CPU 41 may detect a signal for that manipulation
and display a menu image M1 as shown in FIG. 18 on the display unit
3.
[0149] In response to the user's manipulation of the operation
input unit 2 to press the circle marked button 22A in this menu
image M1 with the pointer P1 at a position of an item reading
`display content at another tab`, the CPU 41 detects a signal for
that manipulation and carries out the processing after step S2.
Since the remaining operations are the same as in the above
descriptions, descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0150] Furthermore, for example, in the screen as shown in FIG. 11,
when the user presses, for example, the triangle marked button 22B
and the cross marked button 22D simultaneously, title names of the
contents corresponded to the tabs 1 through 4 may be displayed in a
list.
Second Embodiment
[0151] Next, an embodiment for displaying content read-in statuses
(processing progress statuses) for respective tabs is described. A
description of the same parts as those in the above first
embodiment is omitted or the same parts are described forthwith
using the same reference numerals as those in the above first
embodiment.
[0152] Note that with this embodiment, content includes main data
and component data associated to the main data. More specifically,
the main data denotes data such as an HTML file, and relates to the
layout of a content image representing the content. The component
data denotes data such as image data associated to the HTML file.
More specifically, it denotes data to which is corresponded a URL
indicating the stored location of the data in the HTML file. The
CPU 41 receives the HTML file, accesses the URL indicated in the
HTML file, and then downloads data corresponded to the URL, when
receiving the content.
[0153] The main data further includes component number data
indicating the number of pieces of component data associated to the
main data.
(1) Structure
<Structure of Portable Game Apparatus>
[0154] The main memory 43 is stored with a tab status table
43A'.
[0155] The tab status table 43A' shows the statuses of respective
tabs, and as shown in FIG. 19, is stored with an active flag, a
content flag, a component number, a read component number, a
read-in status, a reading flag, and a content URL for each tab.
[0156] The active flag denotes a flag indicating whether or not the
tab is active, where a value of `1` indicates that it is active,
and a value of `0` indicates that it is inactive. Note that in the
case where a tab to be activated is selected by the user via the
operation input unit 2, the CPU 41 detects a signal for that
operation, rewrites the value of the active flag corresponding to
that tab to `1`, and rewrite all values of the active flags
corresponding to the other tabs to `0`.
[0157] Since the content flag and content URL are the same as in
the above first embodiment, descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0158] A read-in status indicates the progress status of processing
from reception of a content downloaded from the server apparatus
400 to drawing, and has a main data read-in completion flag, an
analysis completion flag, and a layout completion flag.
[0159] The main data read-in completion flag denotes a flag showing
whether or not read-in of the main data included in the content is
completed, where `1` is written in by the CPU 41 upon completion of
the reception of the main data. The analysis completion flag
denotes a flag showing whether or not analysis of the main data is
completed, where `1` is written in by the CPU 41 upon completion of
the analysis by a content generating engine.
[0160] The layout completion flag denotes a flag showing whether or
not layout processing of the main data is completed, where `1` is
written in by the CPU 41 upon completion of the layout
processing.
[0161] The component number indicates the number of pieces of
component data included in the main data. When the content
generating engine E1' analyzes the main data, the value indicated
by the component number data included in the main data is written
to the component number by the CPU 41.
[0162] The read component number indicates the number of pieces of
component data for which reception has been completed, the
component data included in a content and stored in the main memory
43. This number is written by the CPU 41 at a timing described
later.
[0163] The reading flag indicates whether or not a content
corresponded to that tab is being read, namely whether or not a
processing sequence from reception of the content to drawing is in
progress. A value of `1` indicates that it is being read, and a
value of `0` indicates that it is not. The reading flag is accessed
by the CPU 41 when determining whether or not calculation of
read-in statuses for the respective tabs is necessary. The CPU 41
determines that calculation of a read-in status is necessary when
the value of the reading flag is `1`.
[0164] Note that `0` is set as the initial value to the values of
the above-given respective flags in the initial state.
[0165] Furthermore, the ROM 44 is stored with a program which is
executed by the CPU 41 for implementing function to display read-in
statuses of contents in the respective tabs. This function is
described here. FIG. 20 is a block diagram describing a functional
structure of the portable game apparatus 1. The portable game
apparatus 1 has a content generating engine E1' and a user
interface engine E2'. The entities of these engines are programs
executed by the CPU 41. Various kinds of processing are carried out
by each part of the portable game apparatus 1, such as the GPU 52,
in response to control commands by the CPU 41 during the execution
processes of this program, thereby implementing the functions of
these engines.
[0166] When the user gives an instruction to download a desired
content via the operation input unit 2, the user interface engine
E2' detects a signal for this operation and gives an instruction to
the content generating engine E1' to download the content from the
server apparatus 400.
[0167] The content generating engine E1' then requests the server
apparatus 400 for transmission of the content via the wireless
transmission unit 80 in response to an instruction to download the
content from the server apparatus 400. The content generating
engine E1' sequentially receives response data from the server
apparatus 400 via the wireless communication unit 80. At this time,
the content generating engine E1' receives the main data and the
component data of the content included in the response data in this
order and temporarily stores them in the main memory 43.
[0168] The content generating engine E1' carries out analysis and
layout processing of the main data, generates a texture for the
main data, and then sends this to the user interface engine
E2'.
[0169] The content generating engine E1' sends to the user
interface engine E2' pieces of information to indicate the effect
that reception of the main data has been completed, analysis of the
main data has been completed, and layout processing of the main
data has been completed. Furthermore, the content generating engine
E1' sends the number of pieces of component data included in the
content and the number of pieces of component data having been
received to the user interface engine E2'.
[0170] The user interface engine E2' calculates a read-in status of
the content based on the information received from the content
generating engine E1'. With this embodiment, rate of the progress
status of processing until drawing the content is completed is
calculated as the read-in status. Length of a read-in display bar
(described later) for the tab corresponded to the content is then
determined based on this calculation. Drawing for tab bars
including read-in display bars for the respective tabs as well as
drawing the content are carried out into the frame buffer 53.
<Display Control for Tabs>
[0171] Display control for tabs according to this embodiment is
described forthwith. Note that only parts differing from display
control for the tabs described in the above first embodiment are
described in order to avoid duplicate descriptions.
[0172] With the above-given first embodiment, in the case where the
values of the content flags for the respective tabs are `1`, the
colors of the tab bars are the basic colors made darker.
[0173] With this embodiment, in the case where the values of the
content flags for the respective tabs are `1`, the read-in display
bar representing the read-in statuses of the contents corresponded
to the tabs is displayed on the tab bars for the tabs. In the
example of FIG. 21, a read-in display bar YB1 is displayed on the
tab bar TAB 1 for the tab 1, and a read-in display bar YB2 is
displayed on the tab bar TAB2 for the tab 2.
[0174] The CPU 41 changes the length of the read-in display bar in
accordance with the calculated read-in status, and controls so that
the length of the read-in display bar can be almost equal to the
longitudinal length of the tab bar for the tab when the read-in
status corresponds to 100%, and that the length of the read-in
display bar can be `0` when the read-in status corresponds to 0%.
Furthermore, the colors of those read-in display bars are the basic
colors of the tab bars made darker, and the colors of the remaining
tab bars of the read-in display bar are the basic colors made
lighter.
[0175] Details are described while referencing FIGS. 22(a) through
(c). For example, since the length of the read-in display bar is
`0` when the read-in status corresponds to 0% calculated by the CPU
41, the read-in display bar is not displayed, and as shown in FIG.
22(a), the entire tab bar for the tab becomes the basic color of
the display area made lighter.
[0176] Furthermore, when the read-in status corresponds to 10%, the
length of the read-in display bar is 10% the length of the tab bar
for that tab, the color thereof is the basic color of the tab bar
for that tab made darker, and the remaining 90% of the tab bar for
the tab is the basic color of the tab bar made lighter, as shown in
FIG. 22(b).
[0177] When the read-in status corresponds to 100%, the length of
the read-in display bar is almost the same as that of the tab bar
for the tab, and nearly the entire tab bar for the tab is the basic
color of the display area made darker, as shown in FIG. 22(c).
[0178] The rest of the structure of the portable game apparatus 1
is nearly the same as that given in the first embodiment.
<Structure of Server Apparatus>
[0179] The storage unit 404 of the server apparatus 400 is stored
with the above-mentioned contents.
[0180] The rest of the structure is nearly the same as that of the
first embodiment.
(2) Operations
[0181] Next, operations according to this embodiment are
described.
[0182] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a flow of the operations
according to this embodiment.
[0183] Note that with this embodiment, for example, as with the
above-given first embodiment, the user manipulates the operation
input unit 2 of the portable game apparatus 1 to position the
pointer P1 at an item K2 for a desired content (in this case, `BBB
News`) in the tab browser screen TG as shown in FIG. 25 and press
the circle marked button 22A for a predetermined duration or
longer. As with the first embodiment, the CPU selects the tab to
which the content is corresponded, for example, the tab 2.
[0184] The CPU 41 generates request data indicating to request the
instructed content and then transmits it to the server apparatus
400. Upon reception of the request data from the portable game
apparatus 1, the control unit 401 of the server apparatus 400 reads
out the content indicated in the transmitted request data from the
storage unit 404 and generates response data including the content.
The control unit 401 then transmits the generated response data to
the portable game apparatus 1.
[0185] The CPU 41 of the portable game apparatus 1 sequentially
receives the response data from the server apparatus 400. At this
time, the CPU 41 receives the main data and the component data of
the content included in the response data in this order. The CPU 41
corresponds the received data to the tab 2 and then temporarily
stores it in the main memory 43.
[0186] The CPU 41 starts reception of the main data (step S60),
completes it (step S61), and then rewrites the value of the main
data read-in completion flag in the tab status table 43A' to `1`
(step S62). The CPU 41 then calculates a read-in status R
(0.ltoreq.R.ltoreq.1) of the content according to the following
equation 1 (step S63). R={flag 1.times.W1+flag 2.times.W2+flag
3.times.W3+(read component number/component
number).times.W4}/(W1+W2+W3+W4) Equation 1
[0187] Note that with the equation 1, the flag 1 indicates the
value of the main data read-in completion flag, the flag 2
indicates the value of the analysis completion flag, and the flag 3
indicates the value of the layout completion flag. In addition, W1,
W2, W3, and W4 are preset positive constants. Furthermore, the
value of `read component number/component number` is rewritten as
`0` when the value of the read component number is `0` and the
component number is `0`.
[0188] Note that at this time, the value of the flag 1 is `1`, the
value of the flag 2 is `0`, the value of the flag 3 is `0`, the
read component number is `0`, and the component number is `0`, and
the read-in status corresponding to these values is calculated. The
CPU 41 then accesses the tab status table 43A' and determines
colors and lengths of the tab bars for the respective tabs. In this
case, since the value of the active flag for the tab 2 is `0`, the
CPU 41 sets the length of the tab bar TBA2 for the tab 2 to a sixth
of the entire tab bar display area TBA, and determines the length
of the read-in display bar YB2 displayed in the tab bar TAB2 using
the length of the tab bar TAB2 and the calculated read-in status.
More specifically, the length of the read-in display bar YB2 is set
to be equal to length of the tab bar TAB2 for the tab 2 multiplied
by R. Afterwards, the CPU 41 commands the graphics system 50 to
draw a content image at the tab bar TAB2 including the read-in
display bar YB2. The graphics system 50 draws in the frame buffer
53 in response to the draw command from the CPU 41, and then the
CPU 41 controls so that the image drawn in the frame buffer 53 can
be displayed on the display unit 3, thereby displaying the tab bar
TAB2 and the read-in display bar YB2 on the display unit 3 as shown
in FIG. 21.
[0189] Note that since the tab 1 is active in this case, the
content image of the content corresponded to the tab 1 is displayed
on the display unit 3. However, in this case, for example, when the
user operates the operation input unit 2 to activate the tab 2, the
GPU 52 carries out the drawing for the content corresponded to the
tab 2 and at the same time the CPU 41 controls so that every
scanning unit of a drawn image can be displayed on the display unit
3. In addition, at this time, the CPU 41 changes the length of the
tab bar TAB2 to that of when the active flag is `1`, and further
changes the length of the read-in display bar YB2 in accordance to
the length of the tab bar TAB2, as described in the structure
section of the first embodiment. The active flags for the other
tabs are set to `0`, and the lengths of the respective tab bars are
changed according to that value and the length of the read-in
display bar is changed in accordance to those lengths. The CPU 41
displays the respective tab bars and read-in display bar changed in
this manner on the display unit 3.
[0190] Furthermore, the CPU 41 carries out analysis of the main
data once reception of the main data is completed (step S64). The
CPU 41 reads out the component number data from the main data, and
writes the value of the component number indicated in this data to
the component number in the tab status table 43A' (step S65). The
CPU 41 completes analysis of the main data (step S66) and then
rewrites the value of the analysis completion flag in the tab
status table 43A' to `1` (step S67). As described above, the CPU 41
calculates the read-in status using the above-given equation 1
(step S68) and then controls so that the read-in display bar YB2
for the tab 2 can be displayed on the display unit 3.
[0191] Furthermore, the CPU 41 starts layout processing for the
main data in accordance with the analysis results of the main data
(step S69). Afterwards, it generates a texture for the main data
and commands the graphics system 50 to draw a content image using
that texture. The graphics system 50 maps the texture generated by
the CPU 41 onto the frame buffer 53 in response to the drawing
command from the CPU 41, thereby drawing an image (layout image)
for the main data.
[0192] The CPU 41 completes layout processing for the main data
(step S70) and then rewrites the value of the layout completion
flag in the tab status table 43A' to `1` (step S71). As described
above, the CPU 41 calculates the read-in status using the
above-given equation 1 (step S72), and based on this, then controls
so that the read-in display bar YB2 for the tab 2 on the display
unit 3.
[0193] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 24, the CPU 41 receives
component data (step S80) in parallel to the processing of steps
S62 to S72, and then combines the component data and the above
layout image every time reception of the component data included in
a content is concluded. More specifically, in the case where the
image data is component data, the CPU 41 commands the graphics
system 50 to draw the image for the component data. The graphics
system 50 maps the image for the component data onto the frame
buffer 53.
[0194] Furthermore, upon reception of each piece of component data
(step S83), the CPU 41 increments the read component number stored
in the main memory 43 by 1 (step S83). The CPU 41 writes the read
component number stored in the main memory 43 to the value of the
read component number in the tab status table 43A'. The CPU 41
calculates the read-in status using the above-given equation 1
(step S84), and based on this, then displays the read-in display
bar YB2 for the tab 2 on the display unit 3.
[0195] The CPU 41 repeats the steps S82 through S84 until reception
of all the pieces of component data included in the above content
is completed.
[0196] When reception of all the pieces of component data and
processing of the steps S83 through S84 are completed, all of the
content images for the content are then displayed on the display
unit 3, as shown in FIG. 26. Furthermore, the value of the read-in
status R of the tab 2 becomes `1`, the length of the read-in
display bar YB2 is almost the same as that of the tab bar TAB2, and
nearly the entire tab bar TAB2 is the basic color of the display
area made darker.
[0197] Note that with the above description, only one tab (tab 2)
has been described; however, the same holds true for the tabs 1, 3,
and 4, where the CPU 41 determines the lengths and colors of the
tab bars in conformity with the active flags and the content flags,
displaying them according to the determined lengths and colors.
[0198] Furthermore, when downloading contents and drawing the
contents for the other tabs 1, 3, and 4 concurrently to that for
the tab 2, the lengths and colors of the tab bars are determined in
conformity with the active flags and the content flags, and the tab
bars are displayed according to the determined lengths and colors,
as with the above-described tab 2.
[0199] Note that the CPU 41 may determine the length and color of
the read-in display bar after determining whether or not
calculation of the read-in status is necessary by accessing the
reading flags in the tab status table 43A'.
[0200] Furthermore, when there is no content corresponded to a tab,
namely when the content flag is `0`, or when the value of the
read-in status R is `0` even if the content flag is `1`, the
read-in display bar is not displayed since the length thereof is
`0`.
[0201] According to such structure, regardless of the tab being
active or inactive, the read-in status of the content corresponded
to that tab is displayed. Accordingly, the user may easily confirm
the read-in status of the content corresponded to the tab and may
more smoothly carry out operations regardless of the tab being
active or inactive.
MODIFIED EXAMPLES
Modified Example 1
[0202] With the above-given embodiments, the content generating
engines E1 and E1' and the user interface engines E2 and E2' are
functions implemented through execution of programs stored in the
ROM 44 by the CPU 41. However, the present invention is not limited
to this, and the content generating engines E1 and E1 and the user
interface engines E2 and E2' may be constituted by hardware such as
a microcomputer.
Modified Example 2
[0203] The portable game apparatus 1 of the above-given embodiments
may include the structure and functions of both the first
embodiment and the second embodiment.
Modified Example 3
[0204] With the above-given embodiments, the number of tabs is
fixed at 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this
number, and the number of tabs may be changed by adding or deleting
tabs without fixing the number thereof.
[0205] Alternatively, a structure with which the upper limit of the
number of tabs is set and tabs are arbitrarily added until that
limit may be used. With this structure, for example, in the case
where there is an instruction to display a new content image when
the number of tabs has reached that limit, as with the first
embodiment, a tab to be corresponded to the content may be selected
from multiple tabs.
[0206] Furthermore, tab displaying aspects are not limited to that
of the above embodiments, where various colors, shapes and visual
effects may be added.
Modified Example 4
[0207] With the above-given first embodiment, whether content
images for contents corresponding to the respective tabs are
not-yet-displayed or already displayed may be displayed in the user
selection screen YG shown in FIG. 17. For example, in the case
where the value of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag in the tab
status table is `0` when displaying the colors corresponding to the
respective tabs on CL1 through CL4, the colors of those tabs are
displayed lighter, and in the case where the value of the
not-yet-displayed/displayed flag is `1`, the colors of those tabs
are displayed darker.
[0208] Furthermore, whether or not the contents corresponding to
the respective tabs are being read may be displayed. More
specifically, as with the read-in display bars according to the
second embodiment, bars having lengths according to read-in
statuses may be displayed.
Modified Example 5
[0209] With the above-given first embodiment, the user sets a tab
selection condition in the setting screen SG. However, the present
invention is not limited to this, and a certain selection condition
may be pre-stored in the ROM 44 or the main memory 43 instead of
the user setting the selection condition, and the CPU 41 may select
a tab in accordance to that selection condition.
[0210] Furthermore, the selection condition is not limited to those
given in the first embodiment and may be one of a variety of other
selection conditions.
Modified Example 6
[0211] In step S5 of the first embodiment, the tab with the oldest
final read-in completion time is selected from the selectable tabs.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tab
in the longest already displayed state may be selected. More
specifically, the times (already displayed times) when rewriting
the value of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag in the tab status
table 43A for each tab from `0` to `1` may be respectively stored,
and the already displayed times may then be cleared when rewriting
the values of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flags from `1` to
`0`. In step S5, the CPU 41 then selects the tab stored with the
oldest time from the already displayed times of the selectable
tabs.
[0212] Alternatively, in step S5, the tab in the longest inactive
state may be selected. More specifically, the times (active times)
when rewriting the value of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flag in
the tab status table 43A for each tab from `1` to `0` may be
respectively stored, and the active times may then be cleared when
rewriting the values of the not-yet-displayed/displayed flags from
`0` to `1`. In step S5, the CPU 41 then selects the tab stored with
the oldest time from the active times of the selectable tabs.
[0213] Furthermore, in step S5, a tab other than tabs to which are
corresponded either SSL-based contents, already displayed contents,
or locked contents may be selected with priority from the
selectable tabs. More specifically, a selecting order for the
selectable tabs is preset according to, for example, respective
values of the SSL/non-SSL flags, the not-yet-displayed/displayed
flags and the locking flags in the tab status table 43A. A tab with
`0` for all values of the SSL/non-SSL flag, the
not-yet-displayed/displayed flag and the locking flag is selected
first, a tab with `0` for any two of the above flags is selected
second, and a tab with `0` for any one of the above flags is
selected third. In step S5, the CPU 41 accesses the respective
values of the SSL/non-SSL flags, the not-yet-displayed/displayed
flags, and the locking flags in the tab status table 43A,
determines selecting orders for the respective selectable tabs, and
then selects the tab with the highest selecting order.
[0214] Further in step S5, the CPU 41 may analyze the details of
the contents corresponded to the selectable tabs and select a tab
based on the analysis results. For example, in the case where the
contents are HTML files, the CPU 41 analyzes the lengths of texts
written in the HTML files and selects the tab corresponded to the
shortest content. Alternatively, a tab may be selected according to
content data type corresponded to the selectable tabs. More
specifically, the selecting order is preset according to data type
of the contents: for example, a content data type of image data
such as JPG is to be selected first, motion picture data such as
MPEG is to be selected second, and text data is to be selected
third. In this case, in step S5, the CPU 41 analyzes the content
data types, determines selecting orders for the respective tabs
according to the results of this analysis, and selects the tab to
be selected last.
Modified Example 7
[0215] With the above-given embodiments, a URL for a content is
corresponded to a tab so as to correspond the content to the tab.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a
content image stored in the frame buffer 53 may be corresponded to
the tab. More specifically, the address of the frame buffer 53 in
which the content image of the content is stored is corresponded to
the tab. When an operation to activate the tab is carried out via
the operation input unit 2, the CPU 41 may access the address of
the frame buffer 53 corresponded to that tab, read out the content
image of the content corresponded to the tab, and display that
image on the display unit 3.
[0216] Furthermore, for example, the address for the content stored
in the frame buffer 43 may be corresponded to the tab.
Modified Example 8
[0217] Content drawing areas corresponding to the respective tabs
are further provided in the frame buffer 53 with the above-given
embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this,
and, for example, each time an operation to activate a tab is
carried out via the operation input unit 2, the content image of
the content corresponded to that tab may be drawn in the frame
buffer 53 without providing content drawing areas corresponded to
the respective tabs in the frame buffer 53, and the CPU 41 may
control for displaying an image on the display unit 3 each time
that image is drawn in the frame buffer 53. Alternatively, each
time an operation to activate a tab is carried out via the
operation input unit 2, the URL for the content corresponded to
that tab may be accessed to download the content and draw the
content image of the downloaded content in the frame buffer 53.
Modified Example 9
[0218] With the above-given embodiments, when an operation to
display a content image at another tab is carried out, the CPU 41
activates the selected tab as one to display the content image.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tab
may be inactive as long as the user does not carry out the
activating operation.
Modified Example 10
[0219] With the above-given embodiments, the tab bars TAB 1 through
4 are displayed on the right end of the tab browser screen TG.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and they may
be displayed any place in the tab browser screen TG.
Modified Example 11
[0220] Furthermore, with the above-given second embodiment, the
read-in status is expressed according to the length of a read-in
status display bar. However, the present invention is not limited
to this, and, for example, a read-in completion degree may be
displayed by letters on the tab bar, or the read-in status may be
expressed using an hourglass icon or the like.
[0221] Furthermore, a completion degree of content processing is
calculated as the read-in status. However, the present invention is
not limited to this, and a calculated remaining time until drawing
the content is completed may be used as the read-in status.
[0222] Alternatively, the read-in status may be expressed by sound
instead of as an image. For example, different sounds for
respective tabs are output and the CPU 41 then outputs the
calculated read-in statuses for the respective tabs via the sound
system 60 by the sounds corresponding to the respective tabs. For
example, a message such as `read-in status for the tab 1 is 00%` is
output as the sounds each time the read-in status for each tab is
updated.
[0223] Furthermore, rate of the progress status of all processing
for the content is calculated and then output. However, each rate
of the progress status of each processing for the content may be
output.
Modified Example 12
[0224] Further with the above-given second embodiment, calculation
of the read-in statuses is carried out based on reception of the
main data, analysis of the main data, layout processing of the main
data, and reception of the component data. However, the present
invention is not limited to this, and the read-in statuses may be
calculated based on processing such as the portable game apparatus
1 communicating with the server apparatus 400 before receiving the
content from the server apparatus 400, for example, transmitting
request data to the server apparatus 400.
Modified Example 13
[0225] With the above-given second embodiment, contents include
main data constituted by HTML files and component data associated
to the HTML files. However, the present invention is not limited to
this, and the contents may be data such as text data, video linear
streaming data such as MPEG or MPEG2 type motion picture data,
linear audio streaming data such as MP3 type music data, binary
program data, or sound data, or a combination thereof.
[0226] Furthermore, the component data is data such as image data
associated to the HTML files. However, the present invention is not
limited to this and may be data representing sound, for example. In
the case where the component data is sound data, the CPU 41, for
example, commands the sound system 60 to generate waveform data of
sound represented by the component data, and the sound system 60
generates and stores the waveform data for the component data in
the sound buffer 62. The waveform data and a layout image of the
main data associated to the component data may be associated, and
when the layout image is displayed on the display unit 3, the
waveform data stored in the sound buffer 62 may then be output via
the SPU 61 and the speakers 11.
Modified Example 14
[0227] With the above-given embodiments, the portable game
apparatus 1 having a function of carrying out wireless
communication via infrared rays is described as a screen display
apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this,
and it may be a portable telephone or personal handyphone system
(PHS) (registered trademark) terminal, a handheld electronic device
having a home radio frequency (HomeRF), Bluetooth (registered
trademark) or the like as a close range wireless communication
function, or a car navigation device. Alternatively, it may be a
communication device such as a stationary personal computer having
a wireless communication function. Furthermore, the wireless
communication system applicable to the present invention may be a
personal digital cellular (PDC) network or a PHS (registered
trademark) network, for example.
[0228] Furthermore, the portable game apparatus 1 and the server
apparatus 400 may carry out communication via wires.
Industrial Applicability
[0229] The present invention is preferred to be used for a screen
display program, a computer readable recording medium recorded with
the screen display program, a screen display apparatus, a portable
terminal apparatus, and a screen display method.
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