U.S. patent application number 14/205619 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for information terminal, information presentation method for an information terminal, and information presentation program.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB. The applicant listed for this patent is SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB. Invention is credited to George ARRIOLA, Yoshimitsu FUNABASHI, Jorge FURUYA, Seigo IWASAKI, Brian JOHNSON, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI, Hiroyuki KAWAKAMI, Takashi KAWAKAMI, Akitaka KIMURA, Kichiro KUROZUMI, Kenta OHMORI, Xiaoyu RUAN.
Application Number | 20140289671 14/205619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41848959 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140289671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OHMORI; Kenta ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
INFORMATION TERMINAL, INFORMATION PRESENTATION METHOD FOR AN
INFORMATION TERMINAL, AND INFORMATION PRESENTATION PROGRAM
Abstract
Information storages store a plurality of different types of
information. An update information storage stores a part of
information updated in the information storages as update
information associated with the respective types. An update
information manager monitors an information update in the
information storages and stores, when an information update is made
in the information storages, the part of the updated information in
the update information storage as update information associated
with the respective types. Further, an information selector
extracts the update information stored in the update information
storage in time series and outputs them to display them on a
screen.
Inventors: |
OHMORI; Kenta; (Tokyo,
JP) ; KAWAKAMI; Takashi; (Tokyo, JP) ;
IWASAKI; Seigo; (Tokyo, JP) ; KAWAKAMI; Hiroyuki;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; KIMURA; Akitaka; (Tokyo, JP)
; RUAN; Xiaoyu; (Tokyo, JP) ; ARRIOLA; George;
(San Francisco, CA) ; FUNABASHI; Yoshimitsu;
(Tokyo, JP) ; KUROZUMI; Kichiro; (Lund, SE)
; JOHNSON; Brian; (Atlanta, GA) ; FURUYA;
Jorge; (Atlanta, GA) ; KAWAGUCHI; Takahiro;
(San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB |
Lund |
|
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
AB
Lund
SE
|
Family ID: |
41848959 |
Appl. No.: |
14/205619 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13265460 |
Oct 20, 2011 |
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PCT/JP09/05035 |
Sep 30, 2009 |
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14205619 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/784 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72586 20130101;
G06F 3/0486 20130101; G06F 3/04883 20130101; G06F 3/04817 20130101;
H04M 1/72597 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; H04M 1/2747 20200101;
H04M 1/72547 20130101; H04M 2250/60 20130101; G06F 3/0485 20130101;
G06F 3/0488 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/784 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0485 20060101
G06F003/0485; G06F 3/0481 20060101 G06F003/0481; G06F 3/0488
20060101 G06F003/0488 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2009 |
JP |
2009-114779 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method of displaying update information
on a mobile device, comprising: obtaining said update information,
by an application executed by said mobile device from an update
information controller of said mobile device, said update
information including common subject data or different subject
data, and including an earliest-in-time-series update information
and a latest-in-time-series update information; extracting said
update information; sending, to a display controller, said update
information arranged in reverse chronological order; displaying, on
a touch screen display by said display controller, said update
information in reverse, continuous, sequential chronological order
from an upper portion to a lower portion of said touch screen
display; detecting an input instruction provided by touching,
dragging, and releasing said touch screen display; determining, in
response to the detecting said input instruction, a direction of
said input instruction as being an upward direction or a downward
direction; and scrolling, in response to the detecting, said update
information on said touch screen display based on said direction of
said input instruction, wherein when said direction of said input
instruction is detected as being the upward direction, removing
newer update information from said upper portion of said touch
screen display and adding older update information from said lower
portion of said touch screen display, and when said direction of
said input instruction is detected as being the downward direction,
adding newer update information from said upper portion of said
touch screen display and removing older update information from
said lower portion bottom of said touch screen display.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: specifying
a top update information or a most recent update information using
one or more touch button icons on said touch screen display.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said update
information is formatted for displaying by said display controller
based on an update information formatting instruction.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
determining, in response to the detecting said input instruction,
the direction of said input instruction as being a sideward
direction; adding an extended update information from a side
portion of said touch screen display; removing said update
information from an opposite side of said side portion of said
touch screen display; requesting, by said application from said
update information controller, said extended update information
that is arranged chronologically; extracting said extended update
information from said update information controller, wherein said
update information controller accesses said extended update
information from an information storage, and sends said extended
update information to said display controller by said update
information controller.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said information
storage is an information accumulation device that is disposed in
the mobile device or is accessible through a network.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said input instruction
is provided by scrolling an icon on said touch screen display.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing
computer-readable instructions thereon which when executed by a
computer cause the computer to perform a method of displaying
update information on a mobile device, the method comprising:
obtaining said update information, by an application executed by
said mobile device from an update information controller of said
mobile device, said update information including common subject
data or different subject data, and including an
earliest-in-time-series update information and a
latest-in-time-series update information; extracting said update
information; sending, to a display controller, said update
information arranged in reverse chronological order; displaying, on
a touch screen display by said display controller, said update
information in reverse, continuous, sequential chronological order
from an upper portion to a lower portion of said touch screen
display; detecting an input instruction provided by touching,
dragging, and releasing said touch screen display; determining, in
response to the detecting said input instruction, a direction of
said input instruction as being an upward direction or a downward
direction; and scrolling, in response to the detecting, said update
information on said touch screen display based on said direction of
said input instruction, wherein when said direction of said input
instruction is detected as being the upward direction, removing
newer update information from said upper portion of said touch
screen display and adding older update information from said lower
portion of said touch screen display, and when said direction of
said input instruction is detected as being the downward direction,
adding newer update information from said upper portion of said
touch screen display and removing older update information from
said lower portion bottom of said touch screen display.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim
7, further comprising: specifying a top update information or a
most recent update information using one or more touch button icons
on said touch screen display.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim
7, wherein said update information is formatted for displaying by
said display controller based on an update information formatting
instruction.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim
7, further comprising: determining, in response to the detecting
said input instruction, the direction of said input instruction as
being a sideward direction; adding an extended update information
from a side portion of said touch screen display; removing said
update information from an opposite side of said side portion of
said touch screen display; requesting, by said application from
said update information controller, said extended update
information that is arranged chronologically; extracting said
extended update information from said update information
controller, wherein said update information controller accesses
said extended update information from an information storage, and
sends said extended update information to said display controller
by said update information controller.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim
7, wherein said information storage is an information accumulation
device that is disposed in the mobile device or is accessible
through a network.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim
7, wherein said input instruction is provided by scrolling an icon
on said touch screen display.
13. A mobile device for displaying update information, comprising:
circuitry configured to obtain said update information, by an
application executed by said mobile device from an update
information controller of said mobile device, said update
information including common subject data or different subject
data, and including an earliest-in-time-series update information
and a latest-in-time-series update information, extract said update
information, send, to a display controller, said update information
arranged in reverse chronological order, display, on a touch screen
display by said display controller, said update information in
reverse, continuous, sequential chronological order from an upper
portion to a lower portion of said touch screen display, detect an
input instruction provided by touching, dragging, and release said
touch screen display, determine, in response to the detecting said
input instruction, a direction of said input instruction as being
an upward direction or a downward direction, and scroll, in
response to the detecting, said update information on said touch
screen display based on said direction of said input instruction,
wherein when said direction of said input instruction is detected
as being the upward direction, the circuitry removes newer update
information from said upper portion of said touch screen display
and adding older update information from said lower portion of said
touch screen display, and when said direction of said input
instruction is detected as being the downward direction, the
circuitry adds newer update information from said upper portion of
said touch screen display and removing older update information
from said lower portion bottom of said touch screen display.
14. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein the circuitry
is further configured to specify a top update information or a most
recent update information using one or more touch button icons on
said touch screen display.
15. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein said update
information is formatted for displaying by said display controller
based on an update information formatting instruction.
16. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein the circuitry
is further configured to determine, in response to the detecting
said input instruction, the direction of said input instruction as
being a sideward direction, add an extended update information from
a side portion of said touch screen display, remove said update
information from an opposite side of said side portion of said
touch screen display, request, by said application from said update
information controller, said extended update information that is
arranged chronologically, extract said extended update information
from said update information controller, wherein said update
information controller accesses said extended update information
from an information storage, and sends said extended update
information to said display controller by said update information
controller.
17. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein said
information storage is an information accumulation device that is
disposed in the mobile device or is accessible through a
network.
18. The mobile device as recited in claim 13, wherein said input
instruction is provided by scrolling an icon on said touch screen
display.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of and is based upon and
claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 for U.S.
Ser. No. 13/265,460, filed Oct. 20, 2011, the entire content of
which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 13/265,460
is a National Stage of PCT/JP09/005,035, filed Sep. 30, 2009, and
claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 from
Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-114779, filed May 11,
2009.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an information terminal
such as a cellular phone, and an information presentation method
and information presentation program for presenting various types
of information handled in the information terminal to a user.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Conventionally, a cellular phone terminal as a typical
example of a mobile information terminal has a function of
displaying a list of incoming/outgoing call histories of calls,
transmission/reception histories of e-mails, reception histories of
other messages, and the like.
[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2001-186569 (Patent Literature 1) discloses a mobile wireless phone
that records, in a recording means, communication recordings such
as a transmission/reception date and time of a call or mail and a
destination phone number and e-mail address, presence/absence of
information attached at the time of transmission/reception, and a
location of that information. In addition, the mobile wireless
phone disclosed in Patent Literature 1 displays communication
recordings in time series when a predetermined button operation is
made, for example, acquires, when there is additional information,
the information from the recording means, and reproduces audio from
a loudspeaker if the information is audio information or displays
it if the information is letter or image information.
[0005] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2005-160052 (Patent Literature 2) discloses mobile terminal
equipment that includes a storage part for storing transmitted and
received e-mails, a control part for detecting, among the e-mails
stored in the storage part, e-mails of a designated person, and a
display part for displaying in time series a list of e-mails of
that person that have been detected by the control part. In other
words, the mobile terminal equipment disclosed in Patent Literature
2 is capable of mixedly displaying in time series a list of
transmitted e-mails and received e-mails of a designated person so
that it is possible to judge at a glance what kind of e-mails have
been exchanged with that person.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0006] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
No. 2001-186569 (FIG. 1) [0007] [Patent Literature 2] Japanese
Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-160052 (FIG. 2)
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] Incidentally, in recent years, a cellular phone terminal is
capable of executing not only an application program for calls or
an e-mail application program, but also a variety of application
programs that run individually or in cooperation with others such
as an application program for connecting to the Internet and
viewing a webpage, an application program for shooting photographic
images or moving images and reproducing those images, an
application program for managing and reproducing music, and a
schedule management application program.
[0009] Therefore, when confirming an update of data handled by a
desired application program out of those plurality of application
programs, for example, a user needs to operate the cellular phone
terminal to activate the desired application program and thereafter
make an operation to display, on a display, update information of
the data handled by that application program, and the like.
Specifically, when confirming update information on an e-mail
communication history, for example, a user needs to activate an
e-mail application program and make an operation to display a
communication history by executing the e-mail application program.
Similarly, when confirming a photographic image addition history,
for example, a user needs to activate a photograph application
program and make an operation to display an addition history by
executing that application program. Therefore, when wishing to
confirm an update of a plurality of pieces of data handled by
different application programs, for example, a user needs to
activate a certain application program first to display update
information of data handled by that program and the like, then
select a different application program to activate next and
activate the selected application program to display update
information of data handled by that program and the like, and
repeat the operation one after the other, thus requiring an
extremely-troublesome task. It should be noted that, practically,
the same holds true for a case where there is update information of
a plurality of types of data handled by the same application
program, for example. For confirming an update of those different
types of data and the like, a user needs to sequentially switch
update information of those various types of data and make
troublesome operations to display them.
[0010] The present invention has been proposed in view of the
circumstances as described above, and it is an object of the
invention to provide an information terminal, an information
presentation method for an information terminal, and an information
presentation program that enable a user to simply and easily
confirm an update of a plurality of pieces of data handled by
different types of application programs and the like, without any
troublesome operation.
Solution to Problem
[0011] An information terminal according to the present invention
includes an update information storage, an information controller,
and a display controller. The update information storage stores a
part of information updated in an information storage that stores a
plurality of types of information, as update information associated
with the respective types. The information controller monitors an
information update in the information storage, stores, when the
information update is made in the information storage, the part of
the updated information in the update information storage as the
update information associated with the respective types, and
supplies the update information stored in the update information
storage in an order according to a predetermined rule. The display
controller displays on a screen the update information arranged in
the order according to the predetermined rule, that have been
supplied from the information controller. Accordingly, the present
invention solves the problem described above.
[0012] In other words, according to the present invention, it is
possible to integrally manage a plurality of types of update
information and display them on a screen in a predetermined order
(e.g., time series).
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0013] In the present invention, since it is possible to integrally
manage a plurality of types of update information and display them
on a screen in, for example, time series, a plurality of pieces of
update information handled by a variety of application programs
executed individually can be simply and easily confirmed by a user
without any troublesome operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] [FIG. 1]
[0015] A block diagram showing a schematic structure of a cellular
phone terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] [FIG. 2]
[0017] A diagram showing an example of a display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, in
particular, a display example of a standby screen.
[0018] [FIG. 3]
[0019] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, in
particular, a display example of a state where each update
information display card displayed on the screen is being dragged
toward an upper portion of the screen in accordance with a slide
operation of a user.
[0020] [FIG. 4]
[0021] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, in
particular, a display example of a state where a plurality of
different types of update information display cards are arranged in
time series.
[0022] [FIG. 5]
[0023] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, the diagram
being used for explaining a state where a user is performing a
slide operation in a lateral direction on the screen shown in FIG.
4.
[0024] [FIG. 6]
[0025] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, the diagram
showing a display example of a state after the update information
display cards displayed in time series on the screen are switched
by the slide operation in the lateral direction on the screen shown
in FIG. 5.
[0026] [FIG. 7]
[0027] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, the diagram
showing another display example of a state where a plurality of
different types of update information display cards are arranged in
time series.
[0028] [FIG. 8]
[0029] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, the diagram
being used for explaining a state where a specific card is selected
by the user out of the plurality of update Information display
cards shown in FIG. 7.
[0030] [FIG. 9]
[0031] A diagram showing an example of the display screen of the
cellular phone terminal according to this embodiment, the diagram
showing a display example of a state where personal data is
designated by the card selection of FIG. 8 and a photographic image
of that person and, for example, an SMS message
transmission/reception history are displayed on the display
screen.
[0032] [FIG. 10]
[0033] A block diagram showing main constituent elements for
displaying the plurality of update information display cards
representing updates of the plurality of respective pieces of data
and the like in time series in the cellular phone terminal
according to this embodiment.
[0034] [FIG. 11]
[0035] A flowchart showing a flow of processing at a time of
displaying the update information display cards on the display
screen by the structure shown in FIG. 10.
[0036] [FIG. 12]
[0037] A block diagram showing a specific structural example of an
information manager shown in FIG. 10.
[0038] [FIG. 13]
[0039] A flowchart showing a flow of processing of the information
manager in a case where information is added/changed (information
update).
[0040] [FIG. 14]
[0041] A block diagram schematically showing a flow of processing
carried out among constituent elements of the information manager
in a case where an e-mail is newly received, as an example of the
information addition/change (information update).
[0042] [FIG. 15]
[0043] A diagram showing an example of an information table stored
in an update information storage.
[0044] [FIG. 16]
[0045] A flowchart showing a flow of processing of the information
manager in a case where information is extracted.
[0046] [FIG. 17]
[0047] A block diagram schematically showing a flow of processing
carried out among the constituent elements of the information
manager in a case where an SMS/MMS message history is extracted, as
an example of the information extraction.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0048] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0049] It should be noted that this embodiment exemplifies a
cellular phone terminal as an example to which an information
terminal, an information presentation method, and an information
presentation program of the present invention are applied, but
contents described hereinbelow are merely an example and the
present invention is of course not limited to this example.
(Schematic Structure of Cellular Phone Terminal)
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic inner structural example of a
cellular phone terminal of this embodiment.
[0051] In FIG. 1, a communication antenna 12 is, for example, a
built-in antenna, and transmits and receives signal waves for calls
and packet communication of e-mails and the like. A communication
circuit 11 performs a frequency conversion, modulation,
demodulation, and the like on transmitted and received signals.
[0052] A speaker 20 is a receiver speaker provided to the cellular
phone terminal or an output speaker for a ringer (ring tone), an
alarm, reproduced music, audio of reproduced moving images, and the
like, and converts an audio signal supplied from a controller 10
into an acoustic wave and outputs it into the air.
[0053] A microphone 21 is a transmitter microphone or outside audio
collection microphone and converts an acoustic wave into an audio
signal and transmits the audio signal to the controller 10.
[0054] A display section 13 includes a display device such as a
liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electroluminescent)
display and a display drive circuit for the display, and displays
various letters and messages of e-mails and the like or displays
still images, moving images, and the like on the display by image
signals supplied from the controller 10.
[0055] An operation section 14 is constituted of, for example,
operators such as a so-called touch panel, various button keys, and
a jog dial, and an operation signal generator that generates
operation signals when those operators are operated. It should be
noted that a touch panel used as the operation section 14 can be
provided almost over the entire surface of the display section 13,
for example. When the touch panel is provided almost over the
entire surface of the display section 13, by associating a display
position on the screen of the display section 13 and a touch
detection position on the touch panel with each other, a user can
input instructions by touching or sliding an icon, an update
information display card to be described later, or the like
displayed on the screen with a finger, for example.
[0056] A near field communication section 22 performs near field
communication via a near field communication antenna 23 using, for
example, a so-called Bluetooth (registered trademark) system, UWB
(Ultra Wide Band) system, or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).
Moreover, the near field communication section 22 performs overall
control in the near field communication and exchanges data with the
controller 10.
[0057] A GPS section 24 receives a GPS signal from a GPS geodesic
satellite via a GPS antenna 25 and obtains a latitude and longitude
of a current position of the own terminal using the GPS signal. GPS
data (information indicating latitude and longitude) obtained by
the GPS section 21 is transmitted to the controller 10. As a
result, the controller 10 can grasp the current position of the own
terminal.
[0058] A noncontact communication section 26 performs noncontact
communication used in, for example, so-called RFID (Radio
Frequency-Identification) or noncontact IC card via a noncontact
communication antenna 27. The noncontact communication section 26
is used for exchanging information on an electronic settlement by a
so-called e-wallet or information as an electronic ticket for
entering and exiting stations using noncontact communication.
[0059] A camera section 28 is a built-in camera for shooting still
images and moving images and constituted of an optical lens, an
image pickup device, a lens drive mechanism that drives the optical
lens for adjusting a focus and changing a zoom magnification, a
drive circuit thereof, an image processing circuit that performs
image processing on an image pickup signal from the image pickup
device, and the like.
[0060] An external I/F section 29 is constituted of a cable
connection connector section and an external data communication
interface circuit that are used when performing data communication
via a cable.
[0061] A memory section 15 includes a built-in memory 16 provided
inside the terminal and a detachable card-type memory 17 that
stores so-called SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) information and
the like. The built-in memory 16 is constituted of a ROM (Read Only
Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores an OS
(Operating System), a control program used for the controller 10 to
control respective sections, various initial setting values,
dictionary data, sound data such as a ring tone and a key operation
tone, various application programs for, for example, SNS (Social
Networking Service) and SMS (Short Message Service)/MMS (Multimedia
Messaging Service), e-mails, music, moving images, and photographs,
an information presentation program that enables update
information, that is obtained when a plurality of pieces of data
handled by the various application programs are updated, to be
managed integrally and presented to the user as will be described
later, and the like. Further, the ROM includes a rewritable ROM
such as a NAND-type flash memory and an EEPROM (Electrically
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The rewritable ROM is
capable of storing, for example, phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
individual names, SNS account data (so-called address book data),
schedule book data, calendar data, SMS/MMS/e-mail message data,
communication histories including transmission and reception of the
message data and incoming and outgoing calls, data on still images
and moving images taken by a camera or transferred from a personal
computer and the like, still images and moving images purchased
through the Internet and the like, a music buying history, data
files that a user has downloaded via a network, user dictionary
data, and various user setting values. It should be noted that in
the example shown in FIG. 1, out of a storage area for the various
types of data and programs in the built-in memory 16, a program
storage 16a that stores the control program, information
presentation program, and various application programs, a data
storage 16b that stores various types of data on an address book,
messages, and the like described above, and the like are shown in
the figure in particular. As a matter of course, though an
illustration is omitted, the RAM occasionally stores data as a work
area when the controller 10 carries out various types of data
processing.
[0062] The controller 10 is constituted of a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) and performs control of communication in the
communication circuit 11, audio processing and control thereof,
image processing and control thereof, various other types of image
processing, control of respective sections, and the like. Moreover,
the controller 10 executes various control programs and application
programs stored in the memory section 15, various types of data
processing associate therewith, and the like. In particular, as
will be described later in detail, in the case of this embodiment,
the controller 10 uses the information presentation program stored
in the program storage 16a of the memory section 15 to integrally
manage update information obtained when a plurality of pieces of
data handled by various application programs and the like are
updated, and executes processing for presenting them to the
user.
[0063] In addition, although illustrations are omitted in FIG. 1,
the cellular phone terminal of this embodiment also includes
constituent elements that are provided to a general cellular phone
terminal, such as a power management IC section that controls a
battery for supplying power to the respective sections and power
thereof, an external memory slot, a reception tuner section and an
AV codec section for digital broadcasts, and a timer (clock
section).
(Display Screen for Information Presentation)
[0064] FIGS. 2 to 9 each show a display example of a display screen
1 of the display section 13 according to the embodiment of the
present invention. It should be noted that in this embodiment, it
is assumed that a touch panel is provided almost over the entire
surface of the display screen.
[0065] FIG. 2 shows a display example at a time the display screen
1 is showing a standby screen. An example where card-type
(tile-like) objects representing update information (hereinafter,
referred to as update information display cards 2) in a case where
an update such as an addition and a change is made on a plurality
of types of data are displayed on the standby screen is shown. It
should be rioted that the update information represented by the
card-type objects in this embodiment includes not only update
information on data and the like handled by a plurality of
different application programs, but also update information on
different types of data handled by the same application program,
for example. Moreover, the display screen of FIG. 2 may be a
predetermined update information display screen that has been
additionally prepared instead of the standby screen.
[0066] A single update information display card 2 represents update
information on one piece of data handled by a certain application
program. Displayed on the single update information display card 2
is information corresponding to characteristics of a function
executed by the corresponding one of the various application
programs for SNS, SMS, e-mails, music, photographs, and the like,
such as information indicating which of the functions is being
supported, information that is unique for each function and related
to an update content thereof, such as a message transmission source
and a news headline, and information indicating an update date and
time.
[0067] In addition, on the display screen 1, from an upper portion
of the screen toward a lower portion of the screen as seen by the
user from the front, a plurality of update information display
cards 2 are displayed continuously in a reverse chronological order
(time series). It should be noted that FIG. 2 shows an example
where one update information display card indicating an SMS
reception, one update information display card indicating another
SMS reception, one update information display card indicating that
there has been a news update from RSS (RDF (Resource Description
Framework) Site Summary), one update information display card
indicating an SNS update, one update information display card
indicating an e-mail reception, and the like are displayed
continuously in the reverse chronological order (sequentially from
upper portion to lower portion on screen).
[0068] Moreover, in this embodiment, the update information display
cards 2 displayed on the display screen are only a part of all the
update information display cards handled by the information
presentation program of this embodiment, and other update
information display cards not displayed on the display screen are
also arranged in time series. Further, in the cellular phone
terminal of this embodiment, also the update information display
cards not displayed on the display screen can be successively
displayed in accordance with an instruction input from the
user.
[0069] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, in a case
where a finger 3 of a user is dragged upwardly on the screen as
indicated by an arrow 4 in the figure while the finger 3 is
touching the touch panel provided on the display screen 1, the
cellular phone terminal of this embodiment controls display so as
to slide the update information display cards 2 displayed on the
display screen 1 toward the upper portion of the screen.
Accordingly, the update information display cards 2 that have been
displayed on the display screen 1 before the drag operation is made
sequentially move out of the screen from the upper portion in the
reverse chronological order, whereas the update information display
cards 2 earlier in time series than the update information display
cards 2 that have been displayed before the drag operation is made
are sequentially displayed on the display screen 1 from the lower
portion of the screen. It should be noted that when an update
information display card 2 earliest in time series is displayed on
the display screen 1, slide display of the update information
display cards in the upward direction on the screen may be stopped
thereafter or a latest update information display card and update
information display cards after that can be displayed in slides
subsequent to the update information display card earliest in time
series.
[0070] On the other hand, in a case where there are update
information display cards that are later in time series than the
update information display cards 2 displayed on the display screen
1, at a time the finger 3 is dragged downwardly in the screen on
the touch panel, for example, the cellular phone terminal of this
embodiment controls display so as to slide the update information
display cards 2 displayed on the display screen 1 downwardly on the
screen. Accordingly, the update information display cards 2 that
have been displayed on the display screen 1 before the drag
operation is made sequentially move out of the screen from the
lower portion in a chronological order, and update information
display cards that are later in time series than the update
information display cards 2 that have been displayed before the
drag operation is made are sequentially displayed on the display
screen 1 from the upper portion of the screen. It should be noted
that when a latest update information display card 2 in time series
is displayed on the display screen 1, slide display of the update
information display cards in the downward direction on the screen
may be stopped thereafter or an update information display card
that is earliest in time series and update information display
cards after that can be displayed in slides subsequent to the
latest update information display card.
[0071] Further, in addition to the sequential display of the update
information display cards 2 in time series in a state where a
plurality of types are mixed as described above, the cellular phone
terminal of this embodiment is also capable of sequentially
displaying on the screen only the update information display cards
2 categorized for each type, that is, a plurality of update
information display cards included in the same category or group,
in time series. In other words, the cellular phone terminal of this
embodiment is also capable of sequentially displaying on the screen
a plurality of update information display cards each representing
an SMS reception in time series, sequentially displaying on the
screen a plurality of update information display cards each
representing an addition of music in time series, and sequentially
displaying on the screen a plurality of update information display
cards each representing an addition of a photograph in time
series.
[0072] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a specific example of a switch from a
state where the update information display cards 2 are displayed in
time series while the plurality of types are mixed as described
above to a state where only the plurality of update information
display cards 2 within the same category or group are displayed in
time series as described above. Specifically, in a case where the
finger 3 of the user is dragged in a lateral direction on the
screen as indicated by an arrow 5 in the figure while the finger 3
is selecting (touching) a desired card as shown in FIG. 5, for
example, among the plurality of different types of update
information display cards 2 displayed mixedly in time series as
shown in FIG. 4, for example, the cellular phone terminal
sequentially displays on the display screen only the update
information display cards 2 of the same type that corresponds to
the card selected by the user, in time series as shown in FIG. 6.
It should be noted that FIGS. 4 to 6 show an example where, by the
user selecting and dragging an update information display card
corresponding to an incoming call as shown in FIG. 5 out of The
update information display cards 2 shown in FIG. 4, only the update
information display cards 2 corresponding to the incoming calls are
sequentially displayed in time series as shown in FIG. 6. As a
method of specifying a card type, it is also possible to display
type buttons (e.g., SMS/MMS button and Phone button) on the screen
and specify a card type by selecting the button, instead of
selecting a card.
[0073] Moreover, the cellular phone terminal of this embodiment is
capable of narrowing down, while the plurality of update
information display cards 2 are sequentially displayed in time
series as described above, those update information display cards
to desired information and displaying them on the screen. In other
words, when a desired card is selected (touched) by the finger 3 of
the user as shown in FIG. 8 out of the plurality of update
information display cards 2 shown in FIG. 7 and the finger 3 is
dragged as indicated by an arrow 6 in the figure, for example, the
cellular phone terminal specifies an individual corresponding to
the selected update information display card and displays
information on that individual on the screen as shown in FIG. 9. It
should be noted that FIGS. 7 to 9 show an example where, by
selecting an SMS update information display card 2 as shown in FIG.
8 out of the update information display cards 2 shown in FIG. 7, a
photographic image 7, an SMS message transmission/reception
history, and the like of the individual specified from the card are
displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 9.
(Structure for Executing Update Information Display)
[0074] FIG. 10 shows a structural example for sequentially
displaying on the screen a plurality of card-type objects (update
information display cards 2) representing the plurality of pieces
of update information as described above in time series in the
cellular phone terminal of this embodiment. It should be noted that
the example of FIG. 10 shows only main constituent elements for
sequentially displaying the update information display cards 2 on
the screen in time series by the controller 10 shown in FIG. 1
executing various application programs and the information
presentation program of this embodiment.
[0075] An application section 40 shown in FIG. 10 represents a
constituent element formed by executing various application
programs for calls, SNS, SMS/MMS, e-mails, music, moving
images/photographs, an address book, and the like. Particularly as
a function related to the update information display according to
the embodiment of the present invention out of the plurality of
functions executed by those various application programs, a
function of receiving user input instruction information and
transmitting it to a display image generator 41, a function of
managing inputs and outputs of information exchanged with an
information manager 42, and a function of transmitting an
information update notification from the information manager 42 to
the display image generator 41 can be exemplified. Specifically, in
the case of this embodiment, when receiving instruction information
input to the terminal by an operation made by the user using the
touch panel and the like of the operation section 14, the
application section 40 transmits the input instruction information
to the display image generator 41. Also, when receiving information
that is to be required when the update information display cards 2
and the like are displayed on the display screen from the
information manager 42 to be described later, the application
section 40 transmits the information to the display image generator
41. In addition, when receiving a notification that notifies that
information displayed via the update information display card 2 has
been updated from the information manager 42, the application
section 40 transmits the notification information to the display
image generator 41.
[0076] The display image generator 41 is included in a display
controller according to the present invention, generates, based on
the user input instruction information or information for
displaying an image from the application section 40, display image
information to be displayed on the display screen, and transmits
the display image Information to an image display instruction
section 43. In other words, upon receiving information necessary
for screen display from the information manager 42 via the
application section 40, the display image generator 41 generates
display image information for displaying the update information
display cards 2 and the like on the display screen based on that
information and transmits the display image information to the
image display instruction section 43. Moreover, upon receiving the
user input instruction information via the application section 40,
the display image generator 41 analyzes what kind of an instruction
the input from the user is based on the input instruction
information, generates display image information on which the user
instruction is reflected appropriately, and transmits it to the
image display instruction section 43.
[0077] The image display instruction section 43 is included in the
display controller according to the present invention and causes
the display image information supplied from the display image
generator 41 to be displayed on the display screen of the display
section 13 shown in FIG. 1.
[0078] The information manager 42 corresponds to an update
information controller according to the present invention and
manages the following data that are successively updated in the
cellular phone terminal. Specifically, the information manager 42
manages data of, for example, an address book including an
individual name, an e-mail address, and an SNS account, incoming
calls, transmission histories, transmission/reception histories of
SMS/MMS and e-mail messages, an adding/buying history of
photographic images and moving images taken by the camera section
28, transferred from a personal computer, or purchased from an
online shop, an adding/buying history of music transferred from a
personal computer or purchased from an online shop, update
information of various types of data including an SNS diary and
message that are used by a user via a cellular phone terminal,
calendar data, and histories of files that a user has downloaded
via a network. Moreover, the information manager 42 transmits
information necessary for displaying the update information display
cards 2 and the like on the display screen to the application
section 40. In addition, when data managed as described above is
updated, the information manager 42 notifies the application
section 40 to that effect. It should be noted that details on
specific information management by the information manager 42 will
be described later.
(Overview of Operation During Update Information Display)
[0079] In the structure described above with reference to FIG. 10,
display of update information on the display screen is carried out
by a flow as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 11.
[0080] When displaying the update information display cards 2 on
the display screen, as a process of Step S1, the application
section 40 first requests the information manager 42 for
information for screen display.
[0081] Upon receiving the request from the application section 40,
as a process of Step S2, the information manager 42 extracts
several pieces of information satisfying the request from the
information managed by itself and transmits them to the application
section 40 after arranging them in time series.
[0082] As a process of Step S3, the application section 40 that has
received the information from the information manager 42 transmits
the information to the display image generator 41.
[0083] As a process of Step S4, the display image generator 41 that
has received the information from the application section 40
generates display image information based on the received
information and transmits the display image information to the
image display instruction section 43.
[0084] As a process of Step S5, the image display instruction
section 43 that has received the display image information
instructs the display section 13 to display an image on the display
screen based on the display image information.
[0085] Moreover, as a process of Step S6, the display image
generator 41 judges whether an update of screen display is
necessary. In other words, the display image generator 41 judges
whether an update of screen display is necessary for reflecting,
when an instruction input is made by a user or an information
update is made, the input or update on the display on the display
screen. Further, the display image generator 41 judges whether an
update of screen display is necessary for realizing animation
display such as slide display of the update information display
cards 2 on the display screen by a drag operation made by a user as
described above.
[0086] Then, when it is judged in Step S6 that an update of screen
display is necessary, the display image generator 41 requests the
application section 40 for information necessary for updating the
screen display as a process of Step S7. The process returns to Step
S1 after Step S7.
[0087] As described above, in the cellular phone terminal of this
embodiment, the processes of Steps S1 to Step S7 are repeated to
perform screen display.
(Structure of Information Manager)
[0088] FIG. 12 shows a specific structural example of the
information manager 42 shown in FIG. 10 above. It should be noted
that the application section 40 is also illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0089] For integrally managing all types of update information and
readily extracting the update information as necessary to transmit
them to the display image generator 41, the information manager 42
includes an information selector 50, an update information manager
51, and an update information storage 61 as shown in FIG. 12. It
should be noted that information storages 62 to 70 may be included
in the information manager 42 or may be an information accumulation
means additionally provided inside the cellular phone terminal. In
addition, the information storages 62 to 70 do not necessarily need
to be an information accumulation means provided inside the
cellular phone terminal and may instead be provided outside the
cellular phone terminal via a network 71 like the information
storage 70, for example.
[0090] Each of the information storages 62 to 70 exists for a
corresponding information type such as a message, address book,
SNS, SMS/MMS, e-mail, and calendar. Further, in addition to
accumulating information of the associated type, the information
storages 62 to 70 have, as common functions, a function of
returning information stored inside in a designated order in
response to a request from the information selector 50 or the
update information manager 51 and a function of extracting and
returning, when a limited number of pieces of information are
requested, that number of pieces of information in a designated
order. It should be noted that in FIG. 12, exemplified as the
information storages are information storages corresponding to the
respective associated types, such as an SNS information storage 62
that stores various types of information on SNS, an SMS/MMS
information storage 63 that stores various types of information on
SMS and MMS, an e-mail information storage 64 that stores various
types of information on e-mails, an address book information
storage 65 that stores various types of information on an address
book, an RSS/ATOM information storage 66 that stores various types
of information on RSS, a calendar information storage 67 that
stores various types of information on calendars, an IM information
storage 68 that stores various types of information on IM (Instant
Messaging), and media information storages 69 and 70 that store
various types of information on images and music. Furthermore, the
Information storages 62 to 70 can be commonly used by the
application programs (i.e., application section 40) of the cellular
phone terminal. In other words, an application program that handles
SMS, MMS, and e-mail messages, an application program that handles
an address book, an application program that handles images, an
application program that handles music, and the like can store
Information that they use in the corresponding information storages
for use.
[0091] The information selector 50 constitutes a part of the update
information controller according to the present invention and, upon
receiving a request from the application section 40, selects an
appropriate information storage out of the information storages 62
to 70 in response to the request, extracts appropriate information
out of the information stored in the selected information storage,
and returns the information to the application section 40.
[0092] The update information manager 51 constitutes a part of the
update information controller according to the present invention
and monitors information updates of the information storages 62 to
70, that is, information updates such as accumulation (addition) of
new information in the information storages 62 to 70 and a
change/deletion of information already stored therein. In the case
of this embodiment, the information storages 62 to 70 each have a
function of notifying the outside of an information update when
updated. Therefore, the update information manager 51 detects that
an information update has been made based on the update
notification from the information storages 62 to 70. Then, when an
information update is made in the Information storages 62 to 70,
the update information manager 51 acquires an update content from
the corresponding information storage and caches it in the update
information storage 61. It should be noted that instead of
detecting whether an information update has been made based on the
update notification from the information storages 62 to 70 as
described above, the update information manager 51 may monitor
whether an information update is made by periodically checking the
stored information of the information storages 62 to 70, for
example.
[0093] Further, the update information manager 51 also monitors an
information update of the update information storage 61, that is,
an information update such as accumulation (addition) of new
information in the update information storage 61 and a
change/deletion of information already stored therein. Then, when
an information update is made in the update information storage 61,
the update information manager 51 notifies the application section
40 of the information update via the information selector 50. It
should be noted that when the update information storage 61 has a
function of notifying the outside of the information update similar
to the information storages 62 to 70 described above, the update
information manager 51 detects that an information update has been
made based on the update notification from the update information
storage 61. It is also possible for the update information manager
51 to monitor whether an information update is made by periodically
checking the stored information of the update information storage
61, for example.
[0094] Being one of the various information storages, the update
information storage 61 corresponds to an update information storage
according to the present invention in particular and is prepared
for accumulating in advance information indicating update contents
in the various other information storages 62 to 70.
[0095] As described above, the information manager 42 of this
embodiment includes the update information manager 51 and the
update information storage 61, and the update information manager
51 constantly monitors information updates in the information
storages 62 to 70 to store an update content in the update
information storage 61 when an information update is made in the
information storages 62 to 70. Accordingly, for example, the
information manager 42 of this embodiment can save time as compared
to a case where an update content is acquired from the information
storages 62 to 70 every time a request is received from the
application section 40, and all the update contents can be returned
to the application section 40 to be transmitted to the display
image generator 41 at high speed.
(Information Update (Additional Information Accumulation, Change of
Information) in Various Information Storages)
[0096] When an update such as an addition of new information,
information change, and the like is made, the various information
storages 62 to 70 described above arrange and store the information
in time series based on the update dates and times. It should be
noted that when the pieces of information are not arranged and
stored in time series or not strictly arranged in time series and
stored, for enabling the information to be extracted at high speed
thereafter, each of the information storages 62 to 70 creates a
correspondence table regarding an order of the pieces of
information arranged in time series and an order in which the
pieces of information are actually stored, and also stores data of
the correspondence table.
[0097] When information is added or changed in the information
storages 62 to 70, the information manager 42 operates as follows.
FIG. 13 shows a processing flow of the information manager 42 in a
case where information is added or changed in the information
storages 62 to 70. Further, FIG. 14 schematically shows a flow of
processing carried out among the constituent elements in a case
where an e-mail is newly received, as an example of an addition of
information.
[0098] In FIG. 13, when information is newly added, as a process of
Step S11, the information selector 50 receives a content and type
of information to be updated from the application section 40. In a
case where an e-mail is newly received in FIG. 14, the information
selector 50 receives data notifying an e-mail reception and e-mail
data from the application program for e-mails. As the e-mail data,
a received date and time, a sender e-mail address, a title, a mail
text, a mail header, and data of appended data if there is any can
be exemplified.
[0099] As a process of Step S12, the information selector 50 that
has received the content and type of the information to be updated
selects an appropriate information storage corresponding to the
type of the received information and transmits the update content
to that information storage. In the example of FIG. 14, the
information selector 50 selects the e-mail information storage 64
and transmits the e-mail data to the e-mail information storage
64.
[0100] As a process of Step S13, the information storage that has
received the information from the information selector 50 newly
stores the received information or stores it by changing the
existing information. In the example of FIG. 14, the e-mail
information storage 64 stores the received e-mail data.
[0101] As a process of Step S14, the information storage that has
newly stored the received information or changed information
notifies (notifies update information manager 51 in this example)
that its own stored information has been changed. In the example of
FIG. 14, the e-mail information storage 64 notifies the update
information manager 51 that the received e-mail has been
stored.
[0102] As a process of Step S15, the update information manager 51
that has detected that an information update has been made by the
notification from the information storage acquires information on
an update content thereof from the information storage that has
made the notification and transmits the information to the update
information storage 61. In the example of FIG. 14, the update
information manager 51 that has detected the notification from the
e-mail information storage 64 acquires an update content from the
e-mail information storage 64 and transmits the information to the
update information storage 61.
[0103] Also at this time, as a process of Step S16, the update
information manager 51 acquires associated information linked with
the update content from the information storage as necessary and
transmits it to the update information storage 61 together with the
update content. In the example of FIG. 14, the update information
manager 51 acquires, based on an e-mail address of a sender of the
e-mail, information such as a registered name registered in an
address book in association with that e-mail address from the
address book information storage 65 as e-mail-associated
information, and transmits the information such as a registered
name to the update information storage 61.
[0104] The update information storage 61 stores the information
received from the update information manager 51 or stores it by
changing existing information. In the example of FIG. 14, the
update information storage 61 stores the update content or
registered name related to the e-mail. It should be noted that
similar to the case of the various information storages 62 to 70
described above, when the pieces of information are not stored in
time series or not strictly arranged in time series and stored, for
enabling the information to be extracted at high speed thereafter,
the update information storage 61 creates a correspondence table
regarding an order of the pieces of information arranged in time
series and an order in which the pieces of information are actually
stored, and also stores data of the correspondence table.
(Example of Update Content Acquired by Update Information Manager
from Information Storage)
[0105] FIG. 15 shows, as an example of information stored in the
update information storage 61, an update information table showing
update contents acquired from various other information storages 62
to 70. It should be noted that the update information table shown
in FIG. 15 shows only a main portion of the update information
table actually stored in the update information storage 61, and
many more items are actually prepared in addition thereto.
[0106] The update information table shown in FIG. 15 includes items
for registering additional information on an attribute of update
information, an information reference destination, a text, and the
like, such as a "category", "subcategory", "source ID", "image",
"text", "timestamp", "display time", and "preview text".
[0107] Here, the items in the update information table shown in
FIG. 15 can be roughly categorized into a "content type" and
"content type specifics". It should be noted that the "content
type" and "content type specifics" in FIG. 15 are not actually
stored as information in the update information table but described
to indicate a card type to help understand the descriptions. When
actually determining a card type in an application in this
embodiment, other types of information including the "category" and
"subcategory" to be described later are used. When taking a type of
a "received e-mail" (unregistered in address book) as an example,
the application of this embodiment determines that a card type is
the "received e-mail" (unregistered in address book) based on
information "e-mail" registered as the "category" to be described
later and the fact that no information is registered as the
"image".
[0108] The "content type" indicates a type of information
registered in the update information table. Examples of the content
type include content types such as a "media", "telephone",
"SMS/MMS", "e-mail", and "SNS".
[0109] The "content type specifics" are obtained by additionally
segmentalizing the content type. Examples of the content type
specifics belonging to the content type "media" include specific
content types such as a "latest downloaded song", "latest
downloaded moving image (video)", "latest captured moving image",
and "latest captured photograph". Similarly, examples of the
content type specifics belonging to the content type "telephone"
include specific content types such as a "missed call from phone
number registered in address book" and "missed call from phone
number unregistered in address book". Examples of the content type
specifics belonging to the content type "SMS/MMS" include specific
content types such as "SMS/MMS message reception registered in
address book" and "SMS/MMS message reception unregistered in
address book". Examples of the content type specifics belonging to
the content type "e-mail" include specific content types such as
"e-mail received from e-mail address registered in address book"
and "e-mail received from e-mail address unregistered in address
book". Examples of the content type specifics belonging to the
content type "SNS" include specific content types such as "SNS
update registered in address book" and "SNS update unregistered in
address book".
[0110] In addition, out of the update information table shown in
FIG. 15, information indicating a category to which a content
belongs is registered as the item "category". In the example of
FIG. 15, information indicating that a content belongs to the
category "media" is registered as the category item corresponding
to each of the content type specifics "latest downloaded song",
"latest downloaded moving image", "latest captured moving image",
and "latest captured photograph". Moreover, information indicating
that a content belongs to the category "telephone" is registered as
the category item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "missed call from phone number registered in address
book" and "missed call from phone number unregistered in address
bock". Similarly, information indicating that a content belongs to
the category "SMS/MMS" is registered as the category item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception registered in address book" and "SMS/MMS message
reception unregistered in address book". Information indicating
that a content belongs to the category "e-mail" is registered as
the category item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address registered in
address book" and "e-mail received from e-mail address unregistered
in address book". Information indicating that a content belongs to
the category "SNS" is registered as the category item corresponding
to each of the content type specifics "SNS update registered in
address book" and "SNS update unregistered in address book".
[0111] Information indicating a subcategory obtained by
additionally segmentalizing the category is registered as the item
"subcategory". In the example of FIG. 15, information indicating
that the content belongs to a subcategory "music" is registered as
the subcategory item corresponding to the content type specifics
"latest downloaded song", information indicating that the content
belongs to a subcategory "moving image (video)" is registered as
the subcategory item corresponding to the content type specifics
"latest downloaded moving image", information indicating that the
content belongs to a subcategory "moving image (video)" is
registered as the subcategory item corresponding to the content
type specifics "latest captured moving image", and information
indicating that the content belongs to a subcategory "photograph"
is registered as the subcategory item corresponding to the content
type specifics "latest captured photograph". Similarly, information
indicating that the content belongs to a subcategory "missed call"
is registered as the subcategory item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "missed call from phone number registered in
address book" and "missed call from phone number unregistered in
address book". Information indicating that the content belongs to a
subcategory "received SMS/MMS" is registered as the subcategory
item corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception registered in address book" and "SMS/MMS message
reception unregistered in address book". Information indicating
that the content belongs to a subcategory "received e-mail" is
registered as the subcategory item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
registered in address book" and "e-mail received from e-mail
address unregistered in address book". Information indicating that
the content belongs to a subcategory prepared for each "SNS service
provider" is registered as the subcategory item corresponding to
each of the content type specifics "SNS update registered in
address book" and "SNS update unregistered in address book".
[0112] Information indicating an information storage location in
the various information storages described above is registered as
the item "source ID". In the example of FIG. 15, information on a
"media ID" that specifies a storage location of data of music,
moving images, photographs, and the like in the media information
storages 69 and 70 described above is registered as the source ID
item corresponding to each of the content type specifics "latest
downloaded song", "latest downloaded moving image", "latest
captured moving image", and "latest captured photograph".
Information on a "call log ID" that specifies a storage location of
an incoming call history corresponding to a missed call in the
address book information storage 65 described above is registered
as the source ID item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "missed call from phone number registered in address
book" and "missed call from phone number unregistered in address
book". Similarly, information on a "message ID" that specifies an
SMS/MMS message storage location in the SMS/MMS information storage
63 is registered as the source ID item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "SMS/MMS message reception registered in
address book" and "SMS/MMS message reception unregistered in
address book". Information on an "e-mail ID" that specifies a
received e-mail storage location in the e-mail information storage
64 is registered as the source ID item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
registered in address book" and "e-mail received from e-mail
address unregistered in address book". Information on an "SNS
update message ID" that specifies an SNS update information storage
location in the SNS information storage 62 is registered as the
source ID item corresponding to each of the content type specifics
"SNS update registered in address book" and "SNS update
unregistered in address book". Specifically, information registered
as the item "source ID" is used for referencing, when a desired
update information display card 2 is selected by a user, specific
information on an individual specified by that update information
display card 2 or a photograph, a message, a phone number, an
e-mail address, and communication histories of that individual as
in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9 described above, for example.
[0113] Information indicating a reference location of an image to
be displayed in the update information display card described above
is registered as the item "image". It should be noted that the
image reference location may be inside the cellular phone terminal
or may be a location specified by a URI (Uniform Resource
Identifier) on the Internet, for example. In the example of FIG.
15, reference destination information of an album jacket image of a
song is registered as the image item corresponding to the content
type specifics "latest downloaded song", reference destination
information of a thumbnail image of a downloaded moving image is
registered as the image item corresponding to the content type
specifics "latest downloaded moving image", reference destination
information of a thumbnail moving image of a captured moving image
is registered as the image item corresponding to the content type
specifics "latest captured moving image", and reference destination
information of a thumbnail image of a photograph is registered as
the image item corresponding to the content type specifics "latest
captured photograph". Moreover, reference destination information
of a photographic image of a caller registered in an address book
is registered as the image item corresponding to the content type
specifics "missed call from phone number registered in address
book". Reference destination information of a photographic image of
an SNS update contactor registered in an address book is registered
as the image item corresponding to the content type specifics "SNS
update registered in address book". Reference destination
information of a photographic image and the like prepared for each
SNS service provider is registered as the image item corresponding
to the content type specifics "SNS update unregistered in address
book". It should be noted that although no reference destination
information is registered in particular as the image item
corresponding to the content type specifics "missed call from phone
number unregistered in address book", the image item corresponding
to the content type specifics "SMS/MMS message reception
unregistered in address book", and the image item corresponding to
the content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
unregistered in address book", when an image representing a
non-registrant of an address book is determined in advance,
reference destination information of that image may be registered.
Further, in the example of FIG. 15, although no reference
destination information is registered as the image item
corresponding to the content type specifics "e-mail received from
e-mail address registered in address book", reference destination
information of a photographic image of a sender of the received
e-mail registered in an address book may be registered.
[0114] Text information to be displayed in the update information
display card described above is registered as the item "text". In
the example of FIG. 15, text information on an "artist name" of a
song is registered as the text item corresponding to the content
type specifics "latest downloaded song", text information on a
"title name" of a downloaded moving image is registered as the text
item corresponding to the content type specifics "latest downloaded
moving image", and text information on a "title name" of a captured
moving image is registered as the text item corresponding to the
content type specifics "latest captured moving image". It should be
noted that although no text information is registered in particular
as the text item corresponding to the content type specifics
"latest captured photograph", when information on some kind of a
comment, shooting condition, and the like is attached to the
captured photograph, text information on that comment, shooting
condition, and the like may be registered. Similarly, text
information on a "name (registered name)" and the like of a caller
registered in an address book is registered as the text item
corresponding to the content type specifics "missed call from phone
number registered in address book". Text information on a "caller
ID" (e.g., when caller ID is blocked, "unknown") is registered as
the text item corresponding to the content type specifics "missed
call from phone number unregistered in address book". Text
information on a "name (registered name)" of a sender of a message
registered in an address book is registered as the text item
corresponding to the content type specifics "SMS/MMS message
reception registered in address book". Text information on a
"caller ID" (when caller ID is blocked, "unknown") is registered as
the text item corresponding to the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception unregistered in address book". Text information
on a "name (registered name)" of a sender of an e-mail registered
in an address book is registered as the text item corresponding to
the content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
registered in address book". Text information on a "sender e-mail
address" is registered as the text item corresponding to the
content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
unregistered in address book". Text information on a "name
(registered name)" of an SNS update contactor registered in an
address book is registered as the text item corresponding to the
content type specifics "SNS update registered in address book".
Text information on an "SNS service name", for example, is
registered as the text item corresponding to the content type
specifics "SNS update unregistered in address book".
[0115] Information on a date and time (year/month/day/sec etc.)
on/at which information is stored in the various information
storages described above is registered as the item "timestamp". In
the example of FIG. 15, date and time information on/at which data
of a song and a moving image are stored in an information storage
are registered as the timestamp items respectively corresponding to
the content type specifics "latest downloaded song" and "latest
downloaded moving image". Moreover, date and time information on/at
which data of a moving image and a photograph are stored in an
information storage are registered as the timestamp items
respectively corresponding to the content type specifics "latest
captured moving image" and "latest captured photograph". Similarly,
date and time information on/at which a fact that a call has been
received is stored in an information storage is registered as the
timestamp item corresponding to each of the content type specifics
"missed call from phone number registered in address book" and
"missed call from phone number unregistered in address book". Date
and time information on/at which a received message is stored in an
information storage is registered as the timestamp item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception registered in address book" and "SMS/MMS message
reception unregistered in address book". Date and time information
on/at which a received e-mail is stored in an information storage
is registered as the timestamp item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address
registered in address book" and "e-mail received from e-mail
address unregistered in address book". Date and time information
on/at which information on an SNS update is stored in an
information storage is registered as the timestamp item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SNS update
registered in address book" and "SNS update unregistered in address
book".
[0116] Date and time information (year/month/day/sec etc.) on/at
which information is displayed on the update information display
card described above is registered as the item "display time". In
the example of FIG. 15, date and time information on/at which a
moving image and a photograph are captured are registered as the
display time items respectively corresponding to the content type
specifics "latest captured moving image" and "latest captured
photograph". It should be noted that in the example of FIG. 15,
although no date and time information is registered in particular
as the display time item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "latest downloaded song" and "latest downloaded moving
image", date and time information on/at which a song and a moving
image are downloaded may be registered, for example. Similarly,
date and time information on/at which a call is missed is
registered as the display time item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "missed call from phone number registered in
address book" and "missed call from phone number unregistered in
address book". Date and time information on/at which a message is
received or sent is =registered as the display time item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception registered in address book" and "SMS/MMS message
reception unregistered in address book". Date and time information
on/at which an e-mail is received or sent is registered as the
display time item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "e-mail received from e-mail address registered in
address book" and "e-mail received from e-mail address unregistered
in address book". Date and time information of an SNS update is
registered as the display time item corresponding to each of the
content type specifics "SNS update registered in address book" and
"SNS update unregistered in address book".
[0117] Here, the date and time information registered as the item
"display time" differs in a level of detail of a display time
(e.g., hourly display, display by minutes, and display by seconds)
for each of the application programs corresponding to the
respective update information display cards. Further, in this
embodiment, the reason the two pieces of date and time information
of the "timestamp" and "display time" are handled in the update
information table is because it is difficult to collectively sort
date and time information of both the "timestamp" and "display
time" in time series. Specifically, for example, there are cases
where an error is caused between the date and time=formation of
those two as a matter of convenience of a system and the like, and
date and time information of a display time differs in handling
time for each application program and the level of detail of a
display time also differs as described above. It should be noted
that examples of the time that differs for each type of application
program include mail transmission/reception times, a called time,
and an SNS posting time. Moreover, an example of the case where an
error is caused between the pieces of date and time information as
a matter of convenience of a system and the like is a case where,
regarding an e-mail, for example, a delivery delay is caused due to
a condition of a server or a reception-side terminal and a mail
transmission time (date and time information of display time) and a
time at which the mail is stored in the terminal (date and time
information of timestamp) largely differ. In addition, in the case
of SNS, for example, in a case where a data update is not carried
out in real time and a user actively updates it or an update is
carried out at designated time intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes)
depending on an SNS service, a large difference is caused between a
time at which an SNS message is posted (date and time information
of display time) and a time at which the message is stored in the
terminal (date and time information of timestamp).
[0118] Text information used in preview-displaying detailed
information of an update information display card at a time when a
desired update information display card is selected by a user is
registered as the item "preview text". In the example of FIG. 15,
text information on a song title is registered as the preview text
item corresponding to the content type specifics "latest downloaded
song". It should be noted that in the example of FIG. 15, although
no information is registered in particular as the preview text item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "latest
downloaded moving image", "latest captured moving image", and
"latest captured photograph", when a comment or the like is added
to a moving image, for example, text information of that comment or
the like may be registered. Similarly, a phone number of a caller
of a missed call is registered as the preview text item
corresponding to the content type specifics "missed call from phone
number registered in address book". It should be noted that no
information is registered in particular as the preview text item
corresponding to the content type specifics "missed call from phone
number unregistered in address book". Out of an SMS/MMS message,
text information within a limited number of letters from a head
thereof, for example, is registered as the preview text item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "SMS/MMS
message reception registered in address book" and "SMS/MMS message
reception unregistered in address book". Out of a title or text of
an e-mail, text information within a limited number of letters from
a head thereof, for example, is registered as the preview text item
corresponding to each of the content type specifics "e-mail
received from e-mail address registered in address book" and
"e-mail received from e-mail address unregistered in address book".
Text information of an SNS-updated message is registered as the
preview text item corresponding to each of the content type
specifics "SNS update registered in address book" and "SNS update
unregistered in address book".
[0119] It should be noted that in addition to the items up to the
preview text item shown in the example of FIG. 15, information on a
flag or reference destination necessary for displaying, at a time a
desired update information display card is selected by a user,
details of that update information display card is also registered
in the update information table of this embodiment.
(Extraction of Information from Various Information Storages)
[0120] When extracting information from the various information
storages 62 to 70, the information manager 42 operates as follows.
FIG. 16 shows a processing flow of the information manager 42 that
is carried out when extracting information. In addition, FIG. 17
schematically shows an example of a processing flow among the
constituent elements of the information manager 42 carried out when
information on a message history is extracted from the SMS/MMS
information storage 63.
[0121] In FIG. 16, when information is extracted from the various
information storages 62 to 70, as a process of Step S21, the
information selector 50 receives a query that requests desired
information from the application section 40.
[0122] Specifically, when SMS/MMS message histories are extracted
in FIG. 17, the information selector 50 receives a query that
requests SMS/MMS message histories from an SMS/MMS application
program as an extraction condition. It should be noted that an
example of the query that requests SMS/MMS message histories is a
query that requests 10 latest message histories.
[0123] As a process of Step S22, the information selector 50 that
has received the extraction condition selects an appropriate
information storage based on the extraction condition and transmits
the extraction condition to that information storage. In the
example of FIG. 17, the Information selector 50 selects the SMS/MMS
information storage 63 and transmits the extraction condition that
requests SMS/MMS message histories to the SMS/MMS information
storage 63.
[0124] As a process of Step S23, the information storage that has
received the extraction condition from the information selector 50
interprets the received extraction condition and extracts
appropriate information that satisfies the extraction condition
from stored information. In the example of FIG. 17, the SMS/MMS
information storage 63 extracts SMS/MMS message histories as
information that satisfies the extraction condition.
[0125] As a process of Step S24, the information storage that has
extracted the information that satisfies the extraction condition
rearranges the extracted pieces of information based on the
extraction condition and transmits them to the information selector
50. In the example of FIG. 17, the SMS/MMS information storage 63
rearranges the SMS/MMS message histories based on the extraction
condition and Transmits them to the information selector 50.
[0126] The information selector 50 that has received the
information from the information storage transmits the information
to the application section 40 as the request source. In the example
of FIG. 17, the information selector 50 transmits the SMS/MMS
message histories to the SMS/MMS application program.
[0127] It should be noted that although FIGS. 16 and 17 show the
example in which the information selector 50 selects an information
storage corresponding to the extraction condition and extracts
information from that information storage, it is also possible to
transmit, in a case where information stored in the update
information storage 61 suffices information that satisfies the
extraction condition, for example, the extraction condition to the
update information storage 61. In this case, the update information
storage 61 interprets the extraction condition, extracts
appropriate information that satisfies the extraction condition
from stored information, and transmits the extracted information to
the information selector 50 after rearranging them based on the
extraction condition.
[0128] Further, when information is extracted as described above,
the information storages 62 to 70 or the update information storage
61 also update/updates information representing an information
extraction count and retain/retains it. Similarly, when information
on an e-mail or the like is extracted and a content thereof is
displayed on a display or is not displayed on the display, the
information storages 62 to 70 or the update information storage 61
also update/updates information indicating that the information is
"read" or "unread" and retain/retains it. As a result, it becomes
possible to reflect the information on the information extraction
count and information on read/unread on the update information
display card thereafter.
[0129] Further, as described above, in a case where data of a
correspondence table regarding the order of the pieces of
information arranged in time series and the order in which the
pieces of information are actually stored is stored in the
information storages 62 to 70, when extracting information from the
information storages 62 to 70, the pieces of information are
extracted in time series based on the correspondence table.
[0130] It should be noted that although the example in which
information is extracted from the information storages 62 to 70 has
been described, the same holds true for a case where the update
information storage 61 stores the data of the correspondence table.
When information is extracted from the update information storage
61, pieces of information are extracted in time series based on the
correspondence table.
SUMMARY
[0131] As described heretofore, the cellular phone terminal of this
embodiment enables outlines of a plurality of pieces of update
information handled by various application programs to be managed
integrally and presented to the user and also details of the update
information to be presented to the user without requiring the user
to perform troublesome operations.
[0132] It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an
example of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention
is not limited to the above embodiment and can of course be
variously modified depending on a design and the like without
departing from the technical idea of the present invention.
[0133] The above embodiment has exemplified the cellular phone
terminal, but the present invention is also applicable to various
information terminals that are capable of executing various
application programs.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0134] 1 display screen [0135] 2 update information display card
[0136] 3 finger of user [0137] 4, 5, 6 arrow [0138] 7 photographic
image of individual [0139] 10 controller [0140] 11 communication
circuit [0141] 12 communication antenna [0142] 13 display section
[0143] 14 operation section (touch sensor) [0144] 15 memory section
[0145] 16 built-in memory [0146] 17 card-type memory [0147] 16a
program storage [0148] 16b data storage [0149] 20 speaker [0150] 21
microphone [0151] 22 near field communication section [0152] 23
near field communication antenna [0153] 24 GPS section [0154] 25
GPS antenna [0155] 26 noncontact communication section [0156] 27
noncontact communication antenna [0157] 28 camera section [0158] 29
external I/F section [0159] 40 application section [0160] 41
display image generator [0161] 42 information manager [0162] 43
image display instruction section [0163] 50 information selector
[0164] 51 update information manager [0165] 61 update information
storage [0166] 62 SNS information storage [0167] 63 SMS/MMS
information storage [0168] 64 e-mail information storage [0169] 65
address book information storage [0170] 66 RSS/ATOM information
storage [0171] 67 calendar information storage [0172] 68 IM
information storage [0173] 69 media information (local media
information) storage [0174] 71 network [0175] 70 media information
(network media information) storage
* * * * *