U.S. patent application number 14/477006 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for chronology providing method, chronology providing apparatus, and recording medium containing chronology providing program.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Yuichi Abe, Itaru Kawakami, Takatoshi Nakamura, Yoichiro Sako, Mitsuru Takehara.
Application Number | 20140379701 14/477006 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39642232 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140379701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakamura; Takatoshi ; et
al. |
December 25, 2014 |
CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING METHOD, CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING APPARATUS, AND
RECORDING MEDIUM CONTAINING CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING PROGRAM
Abstract
A method for providing chronologic information that is generated
by placing one or more pieces of related information according to
information about elapsed time is provided. The method includes the
steps of obtaining, by an obtaining unit, (i) basic information
associating pieces of the related information with the information
about time indicating positions on the chronologic information and
(ii) information indicating a display form of the chronologic
information; and providing, by a control unit, the chronologic
information to a user by displaying the chronologic information in
a display unit based on the information indicating a display form
of the chronologic information by using the basic information.
Inventors: |
Nakamura; Takatoshi;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Sako; Yoichiro; (Tokyo, JP)
; Kawakami; Itaru; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Takehara;
Mitsuru; (Tokyo, JP) ; Abe; Yuichi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39642232 |
Appl. No.: |
14/477006 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12009112 |
Jan 16, 2008 |
|
|
|
14477006 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/722 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/10 20130101;
G06Q 10/06 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101;
G06F 16/447 20190101; G06F 3/048 20130101; G06Q 10/109 20130101;
G06F 3/0481 20130101; Y10S 715/963 20130101; G06F 16/2477 20190101;
G06F 16/489 20190101; G06F 16/284 20190101; G06T 11/206
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/722 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06F 3/0481 20060101 G06F003/0481 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 19, 2007 |
JP |
JP2007-009708 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: at least one processor programmed to;
analyze a plurality of entries, each associated with a particular
time, to identify one or more first time periods during which a
relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were created
and one or more second time periods during which a relatively
lesser number of the plurality of entries were created; and in
response to a request from a first user, provide information
defining a graphical user interface displaying the one or more
first time periods and not displaying the one or more second time
periods.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface
displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more
first time periods.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digest represents at least
one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by
the first user.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or
more first time periods is a year.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface
displays the one or more first time periods in chronological
order.
6. A method, performed by at least one computer processor, the
method comprising: in response to a request from a first user,
providing, by the at least one computer processor, information
defining a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface
displaying one or more first time periods and not displaying one or
more second time periods; wherein: the one or more first time
periods and the one or more second time periods are identified by
analyzing a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries
being associated with a particular time; and the analyzing
comprises identifying the one or more first time periods as being
one or more time periods during which a relatively greater number
of the plurality of entries were created, and identifying the one
or more second time periods as being one or more time periods
during which a relatively lesser number of the plurality of entries
were created.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface
displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more
first time periods.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the digest represents at least
one of the one or more first time periods previously identified by
the first user.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more
first time periods is a year.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface
displays the one or more first time periods in chronological
order.
11. At least one computer-readable storage medium having
instructions encoded thereon which, when executed in a computer
system, cause the computer system to perform a method comprising:
in response to a request from a first user, providing information
defining a graphical user interface displaying one or more first
time periods and not displaying one or more second time periods;
wherein: the one or more first time periods and the one or more
second time periods are identified by analyzing a plurality of
entries, each of the plurality of entries being associated with a
particular time; and the analyzing comprises identifying the one or
more first time periods as being one or more time periods during
which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were
created, and identifying the one or more second time periods as
being one or more time periods during which a relatively lesser
number of the plurality of entries were created.
12. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,
wherein the graphical user interface displays a digest representing
at least one of the one or more first time periods.
13. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 12,
wherein the digest represents at least one of the one or more first
time periods previously identified by the first user.
14. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,
wherein at least one of the one or more first time periods is a
year.
15. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 11,
wherein the graphical user interface displays the one or more first
time periods in chronological order.
16. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor programmed to;
present a graphical user interface displaying one or more first
time periods and not displaying one or more second time periods;
wherein: the one or more first time periods and the one or more
second time periods are identified by analyzing a plurality of
entries, each of the plurality of entries being associated with a
particular time; and the analyzing comprises identifying the one or
more first time periods as being one or more time periods during
which a relatively greater number of the plurality of entries were
created, and identifying the one or more second time periods as
being one or more time periods during which a relatively lesser
number of the plurality of entries were created.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface
displays a digest representing at least one of the one or more
first time periods.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the digest represents at
least one of the one or more first time periods previously
identified by the first user.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or
more first time periods is a year.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface
displays the one or more first time periods in chronological order.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/009,112, titled "CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING
METHOD, CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM
CONTAINING CHRONOLOGY PROVIDING PROGRAM," filed on Jan. 16, 2008,
which priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Japanese Patent
Application JP 2007-009708, filed on Jan. 19, 2007. Each of the
documents listed above is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and
a recording medium containing a program which are used to provide
chronologic information provided via various networks to a
user.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, attempts have been made to organize various
information in various forms so that the information can be
efficiently used, in accordance with the spread of information
processing apparatuses for personal use, such as personal
computers. For example, attempts have been made to use various
information in a chronology form.
[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2004-328265) discloses a technique for
efficiently displaying many images on one screen at the same time.
In this technique, a plurality of images are stored while adding
times related to the respective images thereto, a time axis is set
on the screen, and the respective images are placed near the
positions on the time axis corresponding to the times added to the
images, so that the images can be displayed in the order and space
corresponding to the times.
[0007] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 11-066049) discloses a technique
about a chronology display system enabling a personal user to
easily create a personal history with low cost. Furthermore, Patent
Document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-249640) discloses a technique about a document display apparatus
capable of displaying one or more pieces of document data along a
time axis and adjusting a display start number of an event
constituting each document (serial number) in accordance with a
condition given from the outside.
[0008] The techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 enable
organization and use of various information based on a time axis
(enable organization of various information in a chronology form
and use thereof). In those techniques, various information can be
efficiently managed and used by using a time axis, compared to a
case where respective pieces of information are dealt with
independently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A chronology (a series of chronologic information) created
in a personal computer of a user by using the techniques described
in Patent Documents 1 to 3 is managed by being stored in a storage
device of the personal computer. Also, the chronology may be stored
in a server apparatus on the Internet so that various personal
users can use it. Of course, the chronology may be shared by a
specific user accumulated in a storage device on a local
network.
[0010] The created chronology is used by being displayed on a
display of a personal computer of a user, for example. FIG. 9
illustrates a display example of a chronology. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 9, a year bar 11 indicating years of the
displayed chronology, a life chronology 12 about a personal history
of a user, and a toy chronology 13 are displayed on a display
screen 10.
[0011] In the life chronology 12, a title 12T of the life
chronology 12 and a close icon 12C selected to close the life
chronology 12 are displayed. Also, an age bar 12A indicating the
ages of the user in the life chronology 12 and item information
(hereinafter referred to as entry) EN1(1) and EN1(2), such as
thumbnail images corresponding to the respective ages, are
displayed. In the toy chronology 13, a title 13T of the toy
chronology 13, a close icon 13C selected to close the toy
chronology 13, and entries EN2(1), EN2(2), and EN2(3) corresponding
to the respective years are displayed.
[0012] In the displayed life chronology 12 and the toy chronology
13, the chronology can be scrolled in an earlier-date direction by
operating a scroll button 10a, which is a part of a slide bar unit
provided at the left edge of the display screen 10. The chronology
can be scrolled in a later-date direction by operating a scroll
button 10c. By operating a scroll bar 10b in the slide bar unit,
the chronology can be scrolled in a moving direction of the scroll
bar 10b.
[0013] When such a chronology is displayed, it is typical that the
chronology is displayed from its head. Then, a user scrolls the
displayed chronology to see various information arranged along the
time axis and recognizes the content of the chronology in time
series. However, a creator of the chronology may want the user to
read the chronology from a midpoint or the end of the chronology by
retracing the years, depending on the type and content of the
chronology.
[0014] For example, in the life chronology 12 illustrated in FIG.
9, it may be better for understanding the person to read the
chronology from university days or days after being got employed,
when he/she acts with individuality and has many topics, and then
return to earlier days as necessary, than to read the chronology
from the birth, when only a small amount of information is
provided. On the other hand, in the toy chronology 13 illustrated
in FIG. 9, since the user of this chronology knows present
circumstances of toys, it may be better for easily understanding
transition of toys to read the chronology from present days toward
earlier days.
[0015] Furthermore, in a chronology of a historical character, for
example, the user may want to overview a digest of the chronology,
mainly the year when an event as a so-called turning point
occurred. Also, the user may want to review the content of a
chronology after reading the chronology by scrolling it.
[0016] As described above, there has been a demand for enabling a
user to use a created chronology by displaying it in various forms
without troubling the user.
[0017] In view of the above-described circumstances, the present
invention is directed to enabling use of a created chronology (a
series of chronologic information) by displaying it in a manner
desired by a creator or a user of the chronology.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a method for providing chronologic information that is
generated by placing one or more pieces of related information
according to information about elapsed time. The method includes
the steps of obtaining, by obtaining means, (i) basic information
associating pieces of the related information with the information
about time indicating positions on the chronologic information and
(ii) information indicating a display form of the chronologic
information; and providing, by control means, the chronologic
information to a user by displaying the chronologic information in
display means based on the information indicating a display form of
the chronologic information by using the basic information.
[0019] According to this method, a series of chronologic
information includes basic information including thumbnail images
constituting the content of a chronology, related information such
as text data, and information about time indicating positions on
the chronology of the related information. In addition to the basic
information of the chronology, information indicating a display
form of the chronology (a series of chronologic information) is
obtained by the obtaining means.
[0020] The chronology including the obtained basic information is
displayed in predetermined display means under control of the
control means. In that case, the information indicating a display
form is used by the control means, and the chronology including the
basic information is displayed in a form (pattern) according to the
information indicating a display form.
[0021] The information indicating a display form is generated by a
creator of the chronology so that the chronology is displayed
(presented) according to the intention of the creator, or is
generated by a user of the chronology so that the chronology is
displayed according to the intention of the user, or is generated
in an apparatus (system) displaying the chronology based on basic
information and so on.
[0022] Accordingly, the chronology can be displayed from its head
or from a midpoint, or the chronology can be displayed from its end
so that the user can trace the past years. Also, pieces of
information of arbitrary points in the chronology can be
sequentially displayed along a time axis. In this way, the
chronology can be provided in various forms.
[0023] According to the above-described configuration, a chronology
created by arranging various pieces of related information on a
time axis can be displayed from its head. Also, the chronology can
be displayed (presented) in various forms according to the
intention of a creator, a user, or a system and can be used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a chronology
providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of a
chronology table;
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a configuration of an entry
table;
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration of initial
display form information (initial display form table);
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a configuration of
operation state history information (operation state history
table);
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a display example of a chronology when
data of the year to be displayed first in the chronology exists as
display form information;
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates a display example when chronologies to be
displayed at the same time are specified as the display form
information;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a chronology display
process performed in the chronology providing apparatus according
to the embodiment; and
[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates a display example (display form)
according to a related art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Hereinafter, a method, an apparatus, and a recording medium
containing a program according to an embodiment of the present
invention are described with reference to the drawings.
Configuration of Chronology Providing Apparatus
[0034] First, a chronology providing apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 1 is a block
diagram illustrating the chronology providing apparatus according
to this embodiment. The chronology providing apparatus according to
this embodiment is realized by a personal computer or the like and
is installed in a house and is used there.
[0035] The chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment realizes a function of obtaining an already-created
chronology (a series of chronologic information) and displaying the
chronology to provide it to a user. Also, the chronology providing
apparatus is capable of creating a new chronology by accepting
input of thumbnail images, related information including text
information, and information about time to create the chronology,
and is also capable of generating information indicating a display
form of an existing chronology (a series of chronologic
information) and adding the information to the existing chronology
in accordance with instructions from a user or a system.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the chronology providing apparatus
according to this embodiment includes a control unit 100, an
operation unit 111, a local storage 121, an external interface
(hereinafter referred to as an external I/F) 122, an external
input/output terminal 123, a communication interface (hereinafter
referred to as a communication I/F) 124, a display form information
generating and adding unit 125, a display processing unit 126, a
display unit 127, and a LAN (local area network) interface
(hereinafter referred to as a LAN I/F) 128.
[0037] The control unit 100 controls each unit of the chronology
providing apparatus according to this embodiment. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 101, a ROM (read only
memory) 102, a RAM (random access memory) 103, and a nonvolatile
memory 104 such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (electrically
erasable and programmable ROM) are mutually connected via a CPU bus
105 so as to constitute a microcomputer.
[0038] As described below, the CPU 101 plays a predominant roll in
control: executes a program stored in the ROM 102, generates
control signals and supplies them to the respective units, and
receives and processes signals from the respective units. The ROM
102 stores various programs executed in the CPU 101 and various
data used in processes.
[0039] The RAM 103 is mainly used as a work area and temporarily
stores an intermediate result of a process. The nonvolatile memory
104 stores data that should be stored even after the power of the
chronology providing apparatus of this embodiment is turned off,
for example, various setting parameters, newly provided programs
for expanding a function, other various data, and processing
results.
[0040] The operation unit 111 includes a keyboard provided with
alphabet keys, numeric keys, and various function keys, and a
pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball. The operation unit
111 receives input of various operations from a user, converts the
input to an electric signal, and supplies the signal to the control
unit 100. Accordingly, the control unit 100 controls the respective
units in accordance with input of operations from the user so as to
perform a process desired by the user.
[0041] The chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment obtains various chronologies released on a wide area
network such as the Internet, various chronologies released on a
predetermined local area network, chronologies accumulated in the
local storage 121 of the apparatus, and chronologies stored in an
external apparatus connected via the external I/F 122 and the
external input/output terminal 123, and displays the chronologies
on a display screen of the display unit 127 so that a user can use
(view) them.
[0042] That is, in the chronology providing apparatus according to
this embodiment, the control unit 100 controls the communication
I/F 124 and obtains various pieces of content including a
chronology from a predetermined server on a wide area network such
as the Internet, in accordance with input of instructions accepted
from the user via the operation unit 111. The content is
temporarily stored in the RAM 103 or stored in the local storage
121 via the control unit 100, so that the user can use the content
in the chronology providing apparatus.
[0043] Also, in the chronology providing apparatus according to
this embodiment, the control unit 100 controls the LAN I/F 128 and
obtains various pieces of content including a chronology from
various information apparatuses connected to a predetermined local
area network, in accordance with input of instructions accepted
from the user via the operation unit 111. The content is
temporarily stored in the RAM 103 or stored in the local storage
121 via the control unit 100, so that the user can use the content
in the chronology providing apparatus.
[0044] Furthermore, in the chronology providing apparatus according
to this embodiment, the control unit 100 obtains various pieces of
content including a chronology from an external apparatus connected
via the external I/F 122 and the input/output terminal 123, in
accordance with input of instructions accepted from the user via
the operation unit 111. The content is temporarily stored in the
RAM 103 or stored in the local storage 121 via the control unit
100, so that the user can use the content in the chronology
providing apparatus.
[0045] In the chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment, the external I/F 122 and the external input/output
terminal 123 correspond to a so-called digital interface, such as a
USB (universal serial bus) or a digital bus of the IEEE (Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard.
[0046] As described above, the chronology providing apparatus
according to this embodiment can create a chronology.
[0047] Specifically, in accordance with input of instructions
accepted from the user via the operation unit 111, the chronology
providing apparatus can obtain necessary information from a server
on the wide area network via the communication I/F 124, from an
information apparatus on the local area network via the LAN I/F
128, or from an external apparatus connected via the external I/F
122 and the input/output terminal 123, create a chronology by
adding information about time to the obtained information, and
store the chronology in the local storage 121, so that the
chronology can be used.
[0048] Of course, the chronology stored in the local storage 121
can be transferred to a server apparatus on the Internet via the
communication I/F 124 and released in the server apparatus. Also,
the chronology stored in the local storage 121 can be transferred
to an information apparatus on a predetermined local area network
via the LAN I/F 128 so that the chronology can be shared by users
capable of accessing the local area network.
[0049] The local storage 121 can be configured by using various
types of storage, e.g., a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, an
optical disc such as a DVD (digital versatile disc), an MO
(magneto-optical) disk, and a semiconductor memory. Note that, in
this embodiment, a hard disk capable of realizing large capacity at
relatively low cost and high access speed is used as the local
storage 121.
[0050] As described above, in the chronology providing apparatus
according to this embodiment, the chronology obtained from the
server apparatus on the wide area network via the communication I/F
124, the chronology obtained from the information apparatus on the
local area network via the LAN I/F 128, the chronology obtained
from the external apparatus via the external I/F 122 and the
input/output terminal 123, or the chronology read from the local
storage 121 is supplied to the display processing unit 126 via the
control unit 100.
[0051] The display processing unit 126 generates video signals for
displaying images on the display screen of the display unit 127
based on the chronology (a series of chronologic information)
supplied thereto in accordance with the control of the control unit
100, and supplies the video signals to the display unit 127.
Accordingly, the images corresponding to the chronologic
information read from the local storage 121 by the control unit 100
and the chronologic information temporarily stored in the RAM 103
are displayed on the display screen of the display unit 127.
[0052] The display unit 127 includes a display device, such as an
LCD (liquid crystal display), an organic EL (electroluminescence)
panel, a PDP (plasma display panel), or a CRT (cathode ray tube),
and a control circuit therefor. The display unit 127 is capable of
receiving video signals from the display processing unit 126 and
displaying images corresponding to the video signals on the display
screen of the display device.
[0053] According to the related art, a chronology is typically
displayed from its head. On the other hand, in the chronology
providing apparatus according to this embodiment, a chronology can
be displayed from a position other than the head, or so-called
digest display can be performed by displaying only a specific part
of the chronology, or a unit period (hereinafter referred to as a
zoom level) of the chronology displayed on a screen can be changed,
in accordance with information indicating a display form of the
chronology.
[0054] Here, the information indicating a display form of a
chronology (display form information) may be provided while being
originally attached to the chronology when the chronology is
obtained from the outside, e.g., from a server apparatus on the
Internet. In that case, the control unit 100 can control the
display processing unit 126 in accordance with the attached display
form information and can display the chronology on the display
screen of the display unit 127 in a form (pattern) according to the
display form information.
[0055] Also, the chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment includes the display form information generating and
adding unit 125, as illustrated in FIG. 1. With this configuration,
the display form information generating and adding unit 125 can
generate display form information and add the information to a
target chronology in accordance with input of an operation accepted
from the user via the operation unit 111. Alternatively, the
control unit 100 can analyze a series of chronologic information,
automatically generate display form information based on the
analysis result, and add the information to the chronology.
[0056] As described below, the display form information includes
initial display form information, which is generated by a creator
of the chronology in advance, and operation state history
information, which is generated in accordance with an operation of
a viewer of the chronology in the chronology providing apparatus
and which is stored in the local storage 121 of the chronology
providing apparatus. The former is obtained together with
chronologic information (basic information to create the
chronology) or is generated and added by the function of the
display form information generating and adding unit 125 in the
chronology providing apparatus, as described above.
[0057] The display form information generating and adding unit 125
is capable of generating operation state history information based
on input of an operation to the chronology accepted from the user
via the operation unit 111 and storing the generated information in
the local storage 121.
[0058] As described above, in the display form information
automatically generated by the display form information generating
and adding unit 125 under control of the control unit 100, the
initial display form information is generated by analyzing a series
of chronologic information forming the chronology and determining
the years where many entries, such as thumbnail images, exist (the
years of high information density) and the years where a few
entries exist (the years of low information density). Accordingly,
display of the chronology can be started from the years of high
information density. Alternatively, the years of low information
density can be skipped and only the years of high information
density can be displayed. On the other hand, the operation state
history information is generated by the display form information
generating and adding unit 125 in accordance with input of an
operation accepted via the operation unit 111, as described
above.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 1, the functions of the display form
information generating and adding unit 125 and the display
processing unit 126 surrounded by double lines can be realized by
software executed in the control unit 100. In other words, the
control unit 100 may have the functions of the display form
information generating and adding unit 125 and the display
processing unit 126.
Example of Configuration of Basic Information of Chronology
[0060] Next, an example of a configuration of basic information of
a chronology (a series of chronologic information) used in the
chronology providing apparatus according to this embodiment is
described. In this embodiment, basic information of a chronology
includes two tables: a chronology table and an entry table. FIG. 2
illustrates an example of a configuration of the chronology table,
and FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a configuration of the entry
table.
[0061] The chronology table illustrated in FIG. 2 is a table to
manage information of an entire chronology and includes chronology
IDs as identification information of respective chronologies,
titles of the respective chronologies, and entry IDs identifying
entries, such as thumbnail images and text information, forming the
respective chronologies.
[0062] In this embodiment, the chronology ID is a unique four-digit
number assigned to each chronology, and the title is a name
(character information) given to each chronology, e.g., "life
chronology", "toy chronology", or "development chronology". The
entry ID is a unique four-digit number given to each entry. With
those pieces of information, the titles and entries of the
chronologies each being specified by a chronology ID can be
identified.
[0063] The information of the chronology table, including the
chronology IDs, the titles, and the entry IDs, can be provided in
units of chronologies.
[0064] The entry table illustrated in FIG. 3 is a table to manage
specific information about respective entries forming each
chronology and includes, as illustrated in FIG. 3, entry IDs, date
information, titles, file names of entries, file names of content,
and tag information.
[0065] The entry ID is a unique four-digit number assigned to each
entry, as described above. The date information is information
indicating the position in the chronology of the entry (information
about time indicating the position in the chronology), and is
represented by eight digits: four digits of Christian year (upper
two digits are omitted in FIG. 3); two digits of month; and two
digits of date.
[0066] The date information can be set roughly or in detail, for
example, only the Christian year or the month and the Christian
year may be set, or hour, minute, and second can be added. In this
way, the date information can be set with appropriate accuracy in
accordance with the span of the chronology to be created.
[0067] The title is a name (character information) given to each
entry, e.g., "birth" and "tokiwa apartment". The file name of entry
is information to specify the file storing the entry. The file name
of content is information to specify the file storing content, such
as image information or music information, related to the entry
(the related content does not necessarily exist). The tag is
character information given to each entry.
[0068] The entry table including the entry IDs, the date
information, the titles, the file names of entries, the file names
of content, and the tags can be provided in units of chronologies,
each including entries forming the chronology.
[0069] As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the entries
included in a chronology can be determined by specifying the
chronology. In order to create and display a chronology, a creator
refers to the entry table illustrated in FIG. 3 in accordance with
the entry IDs in the chronology table illustrated in FIG. 2,
specifies the file names of desired entries, reads the entries from
the files, and arranges the entries in accordance with the date
information of the entry table illustrated in FIG. 3. Accordingly,
the creator can create a desired chronology, e.g., the life
chronology 12 or the toy chronology 13 illustrated in FIG. 9, and
display the chronology from its head.
Display Form Information
[0070] By using the chronology table and the entry table
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 serving as basic information of
chronologies, a chronology can be displayed from its head and can
be used by scrolling the chronology in accordance with input of an
operation by a user.
[0071] However, the user may want to display the chronology in a
new form different from that of the related art in order to use the
chronology more effectively. For example, the user may want to
display the chronology from a position other than its head in
accordance with the intention of the creator of the chronology,
display a digest so as to overview the chronology, or redisplay the
chronology once-displayed and used by scrolling it in the same
form.
[0072] For those demands, this embodiment enables the user to
display and use a chronology in a new form by providing display
form information in addition to information of the chronology table
and the entry table serving as minimum required basic information
to create a chronology. In this embodiment, the display form
information includes (1) initial display form information (data
indicating an initial display form) and (2) operation state history
information (data indicating an operation state of user).
[0073] (1) Initial display form information includes (1-1) data
indicating the year to be displayed first, (1-2) data indicating
the zoom level of the years to be displayed first, (1-3) data
indicating a related chronology to be displayed at the same time,
and (1-4) data for displaying a digest showing an overview of the
chronology.
[0074] (1-4) Data for displaying a digest showing an overview of
the chronology includes (1-4-1) data indicating the starting year
of the digest, (1-4-2) data indicating the ending year of the
digest, (1-4-3) data indicating the starting zoom level of the
digest, (1-4-4) data indicating the ending zoom level of the
digest, and (1-4-5) history data about a series of operations
performed on the chronology, such as scrolling and zooming.
[0075] (2) Operation state history information includes (2-1) data
indicating the year of the chronology that is presently displayed,
(2-2) data indicating the zoom level of the chronology that is
presently displayed, and (2-3) data indicating a group of
chronologies that are presently displayed (data indicating the
chronologies to be displayed at the same time).
Example of Configuration of (1) Initial Display Form
Information
[0076] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration of the
initial display form information (initial display form table). As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the initial display form table in this
example includes fields for the following items: chronology ID,
head year, zoom level, and related chronology. Also, as the data
for displaying a digest, the table includes fields for the
following items: starting year, ending year, starting zoom level,
ending zoom level, and control instruction information.
[0077] A record of information is given to each chronology. The
record of information includes the following items: chronology ID,
head year, zoom level, and related chronology. Also, as the data
for displaying a digest, the record of information includes the
following items: starting year, ending year, starting zoom level,
ending zoom level, and control instruction information.
[0078] The chronology ID is information to specify the chronology
to be added with information from the head year to the data for
displaying a digest. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the
initial display form information is added to the chronology having
a chronology ID "0001".
[0079] The head year corresponds to (1-1) data indicating the year
to be displayed first, the zoom level corresponds to (1-2) data
indicating the zoom level of the years to be displayed first, and
the related chronology corresponds to (1-3) data indicating a
related chronology to be displayed at the same time. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 4, the head year is "1983", the zoom level is
"three years", and the related chronology is "none".
[0080] In the information constituting the data for displaying a
digest, the starting year corresponds to (1-4-1) data indicating
the starting year of the digest, and the ending year corresponds to
(1-4-2) data indicating the ending year of the digest. The starting
zoom level corresponds to (1-4-3) data indicating the starting zoom
level of the digest, and the ending zoom level corresponds to
(1-4-4) data indicating the ending zoom level of the digest. The
control instruction information corresponds to (1-4-5) history data
about a series of operations performed on the chronology, such as
scrolling and zooming.
[0081] In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, in the information
constituting the data for displaying a digest, the starting year is
"1983", the ending year is "1993", the starting zoom level is
"three years", and the ending zoom level is "two years". Also, the
control instruction information exists.
[0082] Although the details are described below, a chronology can
be displayed in the following manner based on the information of
the initial display form table illustrated in FIG. 4. For example,
chronologic information of the years specified by the zoom level
from the year specified by the head year can be displayed on a
display screen 127G. Also, a chronology specified by the related
chronology (related chronology) can be automatically displayed in
addition to the chronology to be displayed. Also, a digest of the
chronology can be displayed in accordance with the data for
displaying the digest.
[0083] The initial display form table is usually generated by a
creator of the chronology. Thus, the chronology can be displayed
from a position other than its head or a digest of the chronology
can be displayed to overview the chronology, in accordance with the
intention of the creator. For this reason, as the information of
the initial display form table, chronology ID, head year, zoom
level, related chronology, and data for displaying a digest are
provided as a set of information together with the basic data of
the chronology to be displayed.
[0084] When the chronology has a large amount of information, the
control unit 100 of the chronology providing apparatus according to
this embodiment can analyze the basic information of the
chronology, and the year having the largest number of entries can
be set as the head year to be displayed first. Alternatively, the
zoom level can be set in accordance with the entire period of the
chronology or the period from the starting year to the ending year.
Also, a plurality of years having many entries can be specified in
the chronology, data for displaying a digest can be automatically
generated so that only the specified years are sequentially
displayed, and the digest can be displayed.
Example of Configuration of (2) Operation State History
Information
[0085] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a configuration of the
operation state history information (operation state history
table). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the operation state history table
of this example includes the following items: chronology ID,
related chronology, operated chronology, displayed year, zoom
level, selected entry, and other input information.
[0086] For the table illustrated in FIG. 5, information according
to input of operations to a chronology accepted via the operation
unit 111 is accumulated in the local storage 121, for example, of
the chronology providing apparatus after the chronology has been
displayed until the display thereof ends. That is, in the operation
state history table illustrated in FIG. 5, the entire information
in the table is information about the displayed chronology, unlike
in the initial display form table illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0087] In this table, the chronology ID is information to specify
the displayed table, and the related chronology is information to
specify a chronology displayed together with the displayed
chronology. The chronology ID and the related chronology correspond
to the above-described (2-3) data indicating a group of
chronologies that are presently displayed (data indicating the
chronologies to be displayed at the same time). In this example,
one or two chronologies can be specified as related chronologies to
be displayed together with the displayed chronology.
[0088] The operated chronology is information to specify a
chronology operated by the user in a case where a plurality of
chronologies are displayed and each of the chronologies can be
independently operated. The displayed year corresponds to (2-1)
data indicating the year of the chronology that is presently
displayed, and the zoom level corresponds to (2-2) data indicating
the zoom level of the chronology that is presently displayed.
[0089] The selected entry is information to specify an entry
selected to display specific information. The other input
information includes various input information (operation
information) of the chronology accepted via the operation unit 111,
e.g., a scrolling speed and information of a drag operation of the
mouse.
[0090] In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the displayed
chronology is the chronology having the chronology ID "0001", and
the chronology displayed together as a related chronology is the
chronology having the chronology ID "0053". In the example
illustrated in FIG. 5, the operated chronology is the chronology
having the chronology ID "0001" as indicated by the operated
chronology. Also, as indicated by the displayed year, three years
"1983", "1986", and "1990" are specified as chronologic positions,
and the zoom levels are "three years", "three years", and "five
years", respectively. Furthermore, in the example illustrated in
FIG. 5, the selected entry indicates that the entry having the
entry ID "1109" is selected for the year "1990".
[0091] That is, according to the information contained in the
operation state history table illustrated in FIG. 5, the two
chronologies having the chronology IDs "0001" and "0053" are
displayed. In the chronology having the chronology ID "0001", the
chronologic information about 1983 to 1985 is displayed first, then
the chronologic information about 1986 to 1988 is displayed, and
then the chronologic information about 1990 to 1994 is displayed.
Also, the entry having the entry ID "1109" is selected while the
information about 1990 to 1994 is displayed.
[0092] In this example, the user performs an operation on the
chronology having the chronology ID "0001". The display of the
chronology having the chronology ID "0053", which is displayed
together with the chronology having the chronology ID "0001", may
be changed in synchronization with the chronology having the
chronology ID "0001". Alternatively, the chronology having the
chronology ID "0001" and that having the chronology ID "0053" can
be independently operated.
[0093] In this embodiment, information of the operated chronology
is provided in view of the case where a plurality of chronologies
are displayed at the same time and the respective chronologies can
be independently operated. However, in a case where only one
chronology is displayed or a case where a plurality of chronologies
are displayed, one of which being able to be operated and the
display of the others (related chronologies) being able to be
changed in synchronization with an operated chronology, the
operated chronology, which is the information to distinguish the
operated chronology, does not need to be recognized. In a
chronology where an entry is not selected, the item of the selected
entry does not need to be used.
[0094] Although the details are described below, the user of the
chronology providing apparatus according to this embodiment can
display and use a once-used chronology in the chronology providing
apparatus repeatedly in a previously-used form, based on the
information in the operation state history table illustrated in
FIG. 5. Display example of chronology using display form
information
[0095] Next, a display example in a case where a chronology is
displayed by using the display form information described above
with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 is described in detail.
[0096] FIG. 6 illustrates a display example of a chronology in a
case where data of the year that should be displayed first in the
displayed chronology is provided as display form information.
Hereinafter, descriptions are made based on the assumption that a
chronology formed by basic information including the chronology
table illustrated in FIG. 2 and the entry table illustrated in FIG.
3 is provided, and that this chronology has the chronology ID
"0001" and is the life chronology illustrated as the chronology 12
in FIG. 9.
[0097] Also, it is assumed that, in the life chronology having the
chronology ID "0001", initial display form data registered in the
initial display form table exists, as described above with
reference to FIG. 4. If the initial display form data does not
exist, the life chronology is displayed in the manner illustrated
in the chronology 12 in FIG. 9. That is, the chronology is
displayed from its head, in other words, from the birth of the
person whose history is described in the life chronology.
[0098] However, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, if the
chronology has data registered in the initial display form table,
the chronology can be displayed in accordance with the data
registered in the initial display form table. More specifically, as
illustrated in FIG. 4, the life chronology having the chronology ID
"0001" has the information "1983" as the head year, has the
information "three years" as the zoom level, and does not has
information of a related chronology. Thus, the chronology is
displayed from "1983" with a zoom level of three years, as
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 6, when a chronology is displayed on
the display screen 127G of the display unit 127 in the chronology
providing apparatus according to this embodiment, a first area
(window) 71 to input and display information about a chronology or
an entry of the chronology and a second area (window) 72 to display
a chronology are provided.
[0100] The first area 71 is provided with tabs to provide
instructions about the usage form of the first area 71: a search
tab 71a, a detail tab 71b, and an edit tab 71c. These tabs can be
selected by using the mouse of the operation unit 111, and a
selected tab is highlighted so that the user can recognize the tab
has been selected. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the search
tab 71a is selected.
[0101] Also, a chronology tab to provide instructions to perform a
process on a chronology and an entry tab to provide instructions to
perform a process on an entry are provided in the first area 71. In
the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the entry tab is selected.
[0102] When the search tab 71a is selected, the first area 71 can
be used to search for a chronology or an entry. When the detail tab
71b is selected, the first area 71 can be used to display specific
information about a chronology or an entry. When the edit tab 71c
is selected, the first area 71 can be used to edit information
about a chronology or an entry.
[0103] On the other hand, a chronology selected through a search in
the first area 71 is displayed in the second area 72. For this
purpose, the second area 72 is larger than the first area 71. In
this embodiment, the second area 72 is twice as large as the first
area 71, and at least two chronologies can be displayed there at
the same time.
[0104] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, a year bar 73
indicating the displayed years is provided at the left edge of the
second area 72. The specified part of the life chronology is
displayed on the right side of the year bar 73. In the life
chronology 74, an age bar 74A indicating the ages of the person of
the life chronology is displayed, and entries EN1, EN2, EN3, . . .
corresponding to the ages are also displayed, as illustrated in
FIG. 6.
[0105] Also, a title display field 74T to indicate the title of the
displayed chronology is provided at the upper edge of the life
chronology 74, and a close icon 74C to close the chronology is
displayed at the right edge of the title display field 74T.
[0106] A slide bar unit is provided at the right edge of the second
area 72. By operating a scroll button 72a as a part of the slide
bar unit, the chronology can be scrolled in an earlier-day
direction. By operating a scroll button 72c, the chronology can be
scrolled in a later-day direction. By operating a scroll bar 72b of
the slide bar unit, the chronology can be scrolled in accordance
with a movement direction of the scroll bar 72b.
[0107] As described above, in this example, the head year is "1983"
and the zoom level is "three years" in accordance with the
information in the initial display form table illustrated in FIG.
4. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 100 of the
chronology providing apparatus sets the head to "1983" and the zoom
level to "three years". That is, the life chronology having the
chronology ID "0001" as a display target is displayed on the
display screen 127G of the display unit 127 via the display
processing unit 126, with a unit period of the chronology displayed
on one screen being set to three years.
[0108] In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the head year is
positioned at substantially the center in the vertical direction of
the second area 72. With this display form, information about the
years around the head year can also be viewed. Of course, the head
year can be positioned at the top of the second area 72 and the
three years from the head year (e.g., three years from 1983 to 1985
if the head year is 1983) can be displayed.
[0109] As described above, with the configuration enabling setting
of the head year and zoom level in accordance with the intention of
the creator of the chronology, the chronology can be displayed from
the year that should be displayed first.
[0110] As described above with reference to FIG. 6, if the creator
of the life chronology having the chronology ID "0001" wants a user
to mainly view the life after he/she has become a member of
society, the creator can make setting so that the chronology is
displayed from the year when he/she entered Y company. That is, in
the example illustrated in FIG. 6, a read starting point of the
chronology is the year 1983, and the chronology is displayed such
that the user can clearly understand the life as a member of
society began from this year.
[0111] In this case, the viewer of the life chronology can read the
history of the person of the life chronology from the year when the
person became a member of society. That is, the viewer can read the
life chronology in both past and future directions.
[0112] In the initial display form table described above with
reference to FIG. 4, the data for displaying a digest is set for
the life chronology having the chronology ID "0001". Based on the
data for displaying a digest, the chronologic information of the
eleven years from 1983 to 1993 can be displayed as a digest with a
starting zoom level of three years and an ending zoom level of two
years.
[0113] More specifically, the digest is displayed in the following
manner. The chronologic information of the three years from 1983 to
1985 is displayed for predetermined time, then the chronologic
information of the three years from 1986 to 1988 is displayed for
predetermined time, then the chronologic information of the three
years from 1989 to 1991 is displayed for predetermined time, and
finally the chronologic information of the two years from 1992 to
1993 is displayed for predetermined time. In this case, the display
time of each period and the timing to change the zoom level are
provided as the control instruction information in the data for
displaying the digest.
[0114] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the chronology having the data
for displaying a digest, the digest of the chronology is displayed
first based on the data and then the chronology is displayed based
on the information in the initial display form table, including the
head year, the zoom level, and the related chronology.
[0115] In this way, if the creator generates the initial display
form table illustrated in FIG. 4 at creation of a chronology, a
digest of the chronology can be displayed or the chronology can be
displayed from a desired year as the head year. That is, the
chronology can be displayed in a form according to the intention of
the creator so as to provide the chronology to a viewer (user).
[0116] FIG. 7 illustrates a display example in a case where
chronologies to be displayed at the same time are specified as
display form information. Hereinafter, descriptions are given based
on the assumption that chronologies formed by basic information
including the chronology table described above with reference to
FIG. 2 and the entry table described above with reference to FIG. 3
are provided, and that a life chronology having the chronology ID
"0001" and a development chronology having the chronology ID "0053"
are displayed.
[0117] As described above, initial display form data registered in
the initial display form table exists in the life chronology having
the chronology ID "0001", as described above with reference to FIG.
4. Although no related chronology is registered in the example
illustrated in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the development
chronology having the chronology ID "0053" is registered as a
related chronology in this example.
[0118] That is, in this example, the creator of the life chronology
having the chronology ID "0001" and the development chronology
having the chronology ID "0053" wants a user to display the both
chronologies at the same time and view the chronologies by
comparing them. Also, the development chronology having the
chronology ID "0053" is registered in the field of the related
chronology in the initial display form table of the life chronology
having the chronology ID "0001".
[0119] In such a case, the control unit 100 of the chronology
providing apparatus according to this embodiment displays the
development chronology having the chronology ID "0053" together
with the life chronology having the chronology ID "0001", which is
an original display target, based on the information of the related
chronology in the initial display form table, as illustrated in
FIG. 7.
[0120] In FIG. 7, too, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the
first area (window) 71 to input and display information about a
chronology or an entry of the chronology and the second area
(window) 72 to display a chronology are provided when a chronology
is displayed on the display screen 127G of the display unit
127.
[0121] The first area 71 is provided with the tabs to provide
instructions about the usage form of the first area 71: the search
tab 71a, the detail tab 71b, and the edit tab 71c. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 7, the search tab 71a is selected and a
chronology can be searched for.
[0122] In the second area 72, the life chronology 74 is displayed
and also the development chronology 75 having the chronology ID
"0053" is displayed at the same time based on the information of
the related chronology in the initial display form table about the
life chronology. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, too, the
year bar 73 indicating the years of the displayed chronology is
provided at the left edge of the second area 72.
[0123] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the life chronology 74, the age
bar 74A indicating the ages of the person of the life chronology is
displayed and entries corresponding to the ages are also displayed.
Likewise, in the development chronology 75, an age bar 75A
indicating the ages of the person of the development chronology is
displayed and entries corresponding to the ages are also
displayed.
[0124] Also, the title display field 74T to indicate the title of
the displayed chronology is provided at the upper edge of the life
chronology 74, and the close icon 74C to close the chronology is
displayed at the right edge of the title display field 74T.
[0125] Likewise, a title display field 75T to indicate the title of
the displayed chronology is provided at the upper edge of the
development chronology 75, and the close icon 75C to close the
chronology is displayed at the right edge of the title display
field 75T.
[0126] Furthermore, as in the example described above with
reference to FIG. 6, the slide bar unit is provided at the right
edge of the second area 72. By operating the scroll button 72a of
the slide bar unit, the chronology can be scrolled in an
earlier-day direction. By operating the scroll button 72c, the
chronology can be scrolled in a later-day direction. By operating
the scroll bar 72b of the slide bar unit, the chronology can be
scrolled in accordance with a movement direction of the scroll bar
72b.
[0127] In the display example illustrated in FIG. 7, both the life
chronology 74 and the development chronology 75 are displayed with
the age 20 as a reference (head). Specifically, the life chronology
74 illustrates that the person experienced impressive big events:
got a driver's license and purchased a car; and traveled in
Chichijima in Ogasawara. On the other hand, the development
chronology 75 illustrates that the person started development of a
self-created microcomputer and produced a good result. That is, the
user can view these two chronologies at the same time while
comparing them and can easily understand the content of the
chronologies.
[0128] In this way, a creator of a chronology can make setting so
that, when the chronology is opened (viewed), another chronology
related to the chronology is automatically opened and displayed
such that a user can view the both chronologies while comparing
them.
[0129] In the above-described example, the chronologies are
displayed in a form (pattern) according to the intention of the
creator of the chronologies, but the present invention is not
limited to this example. As described above, a chronology once
displayed and used by scrolling it by a viewer of the chronology (a
user viewed the chronology via the chronology providing apparatus
according to this embodiment) can be displayed in the same form
(pattern) again.
[0130] In that case, the information in the operation state history
table illustrated in FIG. 5 is used. Based on the information in
the operation state history table, a chronology as a display target
is displayed, and the chronology can be repeatedly displayed in a
manner used previously while scrolling the chronology, changing the
zoom level, and selecting an entry in accordance with the
information in the table: the operated chronology, the displayed
year, the zoom level, the selected entry, and the other input
information.
[0131] If an operation is performed on the displayed chronology
while the chronology is displayed in the previously used form,
information about the newly performed operation is added to the
operation state history table having the configuration illustrated
in FIG. 5, and the chronology can be displayed in the form on which
the newly performed operation is reflected.
[0132] Also, by inputting a displayed year and a zoom level, the
initial display form of a target chronology can be specified.
[0133] As described above, the operation state history table
enables a viewer of a chronology to repeatedly display the
chronology satisfying his/her purpose in a desired form (pattern)
and use it.
[0134] In the chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment, if the operation state history table exists for a
displayed chronology, the chronology is displayed in the form
according to the operation state history table. Then, if the data
corresponding to the initial display form table exists, the
chronology is displayed from the head year based on the data.
[0135] On the other hand, if the operation state history table does
not exist and if the data corresponding to the initial display form
table and the data for displaying a digest exist, a digest is
displayed in the form according to the data for displaying a
digest. Then, the chronology is displayed from the head year based
on the data corresponding to the initial display form table.
[0136] If the data corresponding to the initial display form table
does not exist, the chronology is displayed from its real head (the
earliest year), as in the related art. Chronology display process
in chronology providing apparatus
[0137] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a chronology display
process performed in the chronology providing apparatus according
to this embodiment. Upon receiving instructions to display a
chronology input by a user via the operation unit 111 of the
chronology providing apparatus according to this embodiment, the
control unit 100 performs the process illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0138] The control unit 100 controls the display processing unit
126 to display a screen, including the first area 71 and the second
area 72 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, for displaying a chronology
on the display screen 127G of the display unit 127, and accepts
input of necessary information to the first area 71 via the
operation unit 111, thereby accepting selection of a chronology to
be displayed in accordance with the place where the chronology is
stored (step S101). In step S101, a chronology has not been
selected. Even if a chronology has been selected, the basic
information and the display form information of the chronology have
not been obtained. Thus, no chronology is displayed in the second
area 72.
[0139] Then, the control unit 100 determines whether a user has
selected a chronology (step S102). If the control unit 100
determines in step S102 that the user has not selected a
chronology, the process returns to step S101 in order to accept
selection of a chronology.
[0140] If the control unit 100 determines in step S102 that the
user has selected a chronology, the control unit 100 obtains the
basic information and the display form information of the selected
chronology to be displayed (step S103).
[0141] For example, if the selected chronology is in a server
apparatus on the Internet, the control unit 100 controls the
communication I/F 124 to download the basic information and the
display form information of the target chronology from the server
apparatus and to store the information in the local storage 121 so
that the chronology can be immediately used. If the selected
chronology is in an information apparatus on a local area network,
the control unit 100 controls the LAN I/F 128 to obtain the basic
information and the display form information of the target
chronology from the information apparatus and to store the
information in the local storage 121 so that the chronology can be
immediately used.
[0142] Also, if the selected chronology is in an external apparatus
connected to the input/output terminal 123, the control unit 100
accesses the external apparatus via the external I/F 122 and the
input/output terminal 123, obtains the basic information and the
display form information of the target chronology from the external
apparatus, and stores the information in the local storage 121 so
that the chronology can be immediately used. If the selected
chronology is stored in the local storage 121, the control unit 100
specifies the chronology so that the chronology can be immediately
used.
[0143] As described above, the initial display form information in
the display form information is generated mainly by a creator of
the chronology and is obtainable together with the basic
information. On the other hand, the operation state history
information is generated in the chronology providing apparatus in
accordance with operations of a user of the apparatus and is
accumulated in the local storage 121, for example.
[0144] Then, the control unit 100 determines whether the chronology
to be displayed has the operation state history information
(operation state history table), included in the display form
information (step S104). If the control unit 100 determines in step
S104 that the operation state history information exists, the
chronology is displayed in the previously operated form based on
the operation state history information (step S105).
[0145] If the control unit 100 determines in step S104 that the
operation state history information does not exist, the control
unit 100 determines whether data for displaying a digest exists in
the initial display form information (step S106). If the control
unit 100 determines in step S106 that the data for displaying a
digest exists, the control unit 100 displays a digest of the
chronology by using the data (step S107).
[0146] After step S105 or S107, or if it is determined in step S106
that the data for displaying a digest does not exist, the control
unit 100 displays the chronology from a position desired by the
creator of the chronology based on the head year, zoom level, and
related chronology in the initial display form information (step
S108).
[0147] Then, the control unit 100 accepts input of an operation to
the chronology from the user via the operation unit 111 (step
S109). Then, the control unit 100 determines whether the accepted
operation is end instructions (step S110). If the control unit 100
determines in step S110 that the operation is not end instructions,
the control unit 100 performs a process in accordance with the
input instructions (step S111), and then the process returns to
step S109.
[0148] By repeating steps S109 to S111, the user can view and use
the chronology while scrolling the chronology and reading specific
information by selecting an entry. Also, at this time, the
operation state history information (operation state history table)
is created and can be used later.
[0149] If the control unit 100 determines in step S110 that end
instructions have been accepted, the process illustrated in FIG. 8
ends, that is, the chronology display process ends. If any
chronology display form information does not exist, the chronology
is displayed from its head in step S108 as in the related art.
[0150] As described above, in the chronology providing apparatus
according to this embodiment, not only a display form according to
the related art in which a chronology is displayed from its head,
but also the following new display forms can be realized. That is,
a digest of a chronology can be displayed in a form desired by the
creator of the chronology, a chronology can be displayed from a
midpoint, or a chronology can be viewed by automatically displaying
(reproducing) the chronology in the same display form repeatedly in
accordance with an operation performed by a user of the chronology
providing apparatus. In this way, a chronology can be provided in a
new form (pattern) different from that of the related art.
[0151] That is, when a user of the chronology providing apparatus
reads and displays a desired chronology, the chronology can be
displayed from an appropriate year and with a desired zoom level,
or can be displayed from the year desired by the creator of the
chronology to be displayed first. Also, a related chronology to be
displayed at the same time can be displayed.
[0152] Also, a user can display a digest of a large-volume
chronology to recognize the overview thereof, and then view the
details of the respective years of the chronology.
[0153] After performing an operation on a displayed chronology
(e.g., after scrolling the chronology to view another year), the
user can hold the present display state and redisplay the
chronology in the same state later. That is, after redisplaying a
once-viewed chronology in a previously-used display form and
viewing the chronology, the user can view another part of the
chronology by operating the chronology.
[0154] In the chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment, if the operation state history information exists, the
chronology as a display target is redisplayed in a previously-used
form in accordance with the operation state history information. If
the operation state history information does not exist and if data
for displaying a digest is included in the initial display form
information, a digest of the chronology is displayed in accordance
with the data. However, the present invention is not limited to
this method.
[0155] For example, a chronology can be displayed from a position
desired by the creator of the chronology based on the initial
display form information. Then, in accordance with selection by a
user of the chronology providing apparatus, the chronology can be
redisplayed in a previously-used form in accordance with the
operation state history information, or a digest of the chronology
can be displayed in accordance with the data for displaying the
digest.
[0156] The above-described configuration of the chronology table
and the entry table as basic information, the initial display form
information (initial display form table) and the operation state
history information (operation state history table) as display form
information is only an example, and another configuration can also
be adopted. That is, another configuration can be adopted as long
as the following conditions are satisfied: a chronology can be
displayed from a desired position in accordance with the intention
of the creator of the chronology; information for displaying a
digest of a chronology can be provided as initial display form
information together with basic information; and a usage history of
a chronology viewed by a viewer is accumulated in the chronology
providing apparatus.
[0157] In the above-described embodiment, the chronology table, the
entry table, the initial display form table, and the operation
state history table are individually provided. However, the present
invention is not limited to this configuration. Information about
each chronology registered in the chronology table, the entry table
including entries forming the chronology, and information of the
initial display form table of the chronology can be managed by
being registered in the same file as a unit of information. If the
operation state history information is generated, the information
can be added to the unit of information.
[0158] In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is
applied to a personal computer, but the present invention is not
limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied
to personal information processing apparatuses, such as a mobile
phone terminal and a PDA (personal digital assistance), or various
electronic apparatuses, such as a game machine.
Realization of Software (Program)
[0159] The apparatus and method according to the embodiment of the
present invention can be realized by creating a chronology
providing program and installing it to various electronic
apparatuses. The chronology providing program allows a computer of
the chronology providing apparatus that includes basic information
obtaining means, display form obtaining means, and control means
and that provides chronologic information generated by placing one
or more pieces of related information according to information
about elapsed time to execute the steps of: obtaining, by the basic
information obtaining means, basic information associating pieces
of the related information with the information about time
indicating positions on the chronologic information; obtaining, by
the display form obtaining means, information indicating a display
form of the chronologic information; and performing control, by the
control means, to provide the chronologic information to a user by
displaying the chronologic information in predetermined display
means based on the information indicating a display form obtained
in the display form obtaining step by using the basic information
obtained in the basic information obtaining step.
[0160] In this case, the information indicating a display form
obtained in the display form obtaining step includes at least one
of information about time to specify a piece of the related
information to be displayed first in the chronologic information;
information about a unit period of the chronologic information; and
information for displaying a digest of the chronologic
information.
[0161] The information for displaying a digest of the chronologic
information obtained in the display form obtaining step is a series
of chronology operation information indicating a part of the
chronologic information to be displayed, a display order, and how
the part is displayed.
[0162] The chronology providing apparatus includes accepting means
for accepting input of an operation from a user and storage means
for storing information. The chronology can be repeatedly used in a
form according to an operation performed by the user by creating
the chronology providing program allowing the computer of the
chronology providing apparatus to execute the steps of: accepting,
by the accepting means, an operation to the chronologic information
provided by being displayed in the display means; storing history
information of the operation to the chronologic information
accepted in the accepting step in the storage means; and performing
control, by the control means, to display the chronologic
information in the display means based on the history information
stored in the storage means.
[0163] If the history information exists, the control step performs
display of the chronologic information according to the history
information with higher priority than display of the chronologic
information according to other information. Accordingly, the
chronology can be used in a form according to an operation history
of the user and then the chronology can be displayed in a display
form according to the related art.
[0164] In this way, a program according to an embodiment of the
present invention to realize the apparatus and method according to
the embodiment of the present invention can be created. This
program can be originally installed in various electronic
apparatuses. Alternatively, the program can be provided by using
various recording media, such as an optical disc, a magneto-optical
disc, and a semiconductor memory, or via a wide area network
including the Internet or digital broadcast, and then a user can
install the program in a desired electronic apparatus.
Others
[0165] In the chronology providing apparatus according to this
embodiment, if the operation state history information exists, the
chronology as a display target is redisplayed in a previously-used
form in accordance with the operation state history information. If
the operation state history information does not exist and if data
for displaying a digest is included in the initial display form
information, a digest of the chronology is displayed in accordance
with the data. However, the present invention is not limited to
this method.
[0166] For example, a chronology can be displayed from a position
desired by the creator of the chronology based on the initial
display form information. Then, in accordance with selection by a
user of the chronology providing apparatus, the chronology can be
redisplayed in a previously-used form in accordance with the
operation state history information, or a digest of the chronology
can be displayed in accordance with the data for displaying the
digest.
[0167] The above-described configuration of the chronology table
and the entry table as basic information, the initial display form
information (initial display form table) and the operation state
history information (operation state history table) as display form
information is only an example, and another configuration can also
be adopted. That is, another configuration can be adopted as long
as the following conditions are satisfied: a chronology can be
displayed from a desired position in accordance with the intention
of the creator of the chronology; information for displaying a
digest of a chronology can be provided as initial display form
information together with basic information; and a usage history of
a chronology viewed by a viewer is accumulated in the chronology
providing apparatus.
[0168] In the above-described embodiment, the chronology table, the
entry table, the initial display form table, and the operation
state history table are individually provided. However, the present
invention is not limited to this configuration. Information about
each chronology registered in the chronology table, the entry table
including entries forming the chronology, and information of the
initial display form table of the chronology can be managed by
being registered in the same file as a unit of information. If the
operation state history information is generated, the information
can be added to the unit of information.
[0169] In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is
applied to a personal computer, but the present invention is not
limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied
to personal information processing apparatuses, such as a mobile
phone terminal and a PDA (personal digital assistance), or various
electronic apparatuses, such as a game machine.
[0170] In the above-described embodiment, the chronology providing
apparatus obtains basic information and display form information of
a chronology as a series of chronologic information to display the
chronology and then displays the chronology. However, the present
invention is not limited to this.
[0171] For example, if information for displaying a part of a
chronology specified by a user is provided from a server apparatus
on a network, a part to be viewed by many viewers can be
preferentially displayed. Also, the server apparatus can be
notified of the age of a viewer, and a position to be displayed
first in a chronology can be determined in accordance with the age
of the viewer.
[0172] Alternatively, a plurality of positions to be displayed
first can be set, and a user can select one of the positions to be
displayed first.
[0173] A chronology may be updated as necessary by the creator of
the chronology. In that case, the chronology can be displayed from
the updated year. If a chronology is provided via a network and if
write to the chronology is accepted, the year requested by the
write can be displayed first. Alternatively, a request from a user
who often writes can be preferentially accepted, and the year
requested by the user can be displayed first.
[0174] The zoom level of a chronology can be changed by the
apparatus in accordance with the size of the screen of the display
unit 127 of the chronology providing apparatus. Alternatively, the
zoom level can be automatically determined by a server apparatus
that provides information for displaying the chronology in
accordance with a request for the information for displaying the
chronology or a function of the apparatus.
[0175] If the initial display form information and the operation
state history information do not exist, the chronology can be
displayed in the form of the related art, that is, displayed from
its head based on the basic information.
[0176] In the above-described embodiment, the zoom level is set in
units of years. However, the present invention is not limited to
this. For example, the zoom level can be set in units of months in
accordance with the period included in the chronology. Depending on
the period included in the chronology, the zoom level can be set in
units of weeks, dates, or hours.
[0177] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *