Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1996-11-08
2001-01-30
Huynh, Ba (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S182000, C345S522000, C345S473000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a display control system which is constituted in a data processing apparatus, such as a portable remote computer terminal or a general purpose computer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display control system and method which causes an image on a display screen to disappear and reappear in a friendly manner to a user.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, persons who are not specialists in computer technology have started using computers (data processing apparatuses). It is desirable that not only functions and performance of the computers be improved, but also that users who are not specialists in the computer technology can enjoy using the computers.
In conventional computers, a high importance is placed on improving functions and performance. For example, in the case of a process for making data (e.g., character images and/or graphical images) on a display screen disappear, attention is mainly paid to how the data can disappear from the display screen at a high speed and by use of a small amount of software. In the case of a process for selecting a menu item from a menu shown on a display screen, attention is mainly paid to how the menu item can be selected at a high speed and by use of a small amount of software.
However, according to the conventional developing concept for the computers as described above, although the functions and performance of the computers can be improved, the computers are not necessarily friendly machines to users.
Thus, the applicant has proposed a data processing apparatus in which data disappears from and reappears on a display screen in a friendly manner. In this data processing apparatus, data (character images and/or graphical images) convergently disappear from the display screen like water being sucked by an aspirator and radially or spirally appear on the display screen like water welling up.
It is desirable that an appearance and disappearance manner of the data on the display screen be more friendly to users.
In addition, it is desirable that menu items can be displayed on a limited area of the display screen so as to be easily selected by a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful display control system in which the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art are eliminated.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide a display control system which can cause data (e.g., character images and/or graphical images) on a display screen to gradually disappear and reappear in more friendly manners to users.
The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a display control system for controlling data which is displayed on a screen of a display unit, the system comprising: pointing means for pointing to a position on the screen of the display unit; deleting means for gradually deleting elements of data from the screen of the display unit as if the elements were gradually being sucked at the position pointed to by the pointing means; and density control means for controlling the density of elements remaining on the screen of the display unit so that the density is gradually decreased in accordance with suction of the elements.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a display control system for controlling data which is displayed on a screen of a display unit, the system comprising: pointing means for pointing to a position on the screen of the display unit; deleting means for gradually deleting elements of data from the screen of the display unit as if the elements were gradually being sucked at the position pointed to by the pointing means; and speed control means for controlling a speed at which the elements are gradually deleted so that the speed is gradually increased in accordance with suction of the elements.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a display control system for controlling data which is displayed on a screen of a display unit, the system comprising: pointing means for pointing to a position on the screen of the display unit; restoring means for gradually restoring elements of data on the screen of the display unit as if the elements were welling up from the position pointed to by the pointing means; and density control means for controlling the density of elements restored on the screen of the display unit so that the density is gradually increased in accordance with appearance of the elements.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a display control system for controlling data which is displayed on a screen of a display unit, the system comprising: pointing means for pointing to a position on the screen of the display unit; restoring means for gradually restoring elements of data on the screen of the display unit as if the elements were welling up from the position pointed to by the pointing means; and speed control means for controlling a speed at which the elements are gradually restored so that the speed is gradually decreased in accordance with appearance of the elements.
According to the present invention, while the elements of the data are being gradually deleted and restored, the density of the elements or the speed at which the elements are deleted are controlled. As a result, the elements of the data can be gradually deleted from the screen of the display unit as if the elements were being sucked at the position pointed to (pointed position) more realistically, and the elements of the data can be gradually restored on the screen of the display unit as if the elements were welling up from the pointed position more realistically. Thus, data can disappear from and reappear on the screen on the display unit in a manner more friendly to a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus in which menu items can be displayed on a limited area of the display screen so as to be easily selected by a user.
This object of the present invention is achieved by a data processing apparatus in which a process corresponding to a menu item selected from menu items displayed on a screen of a display unit is executed, comprising: pointing means for pointing to a menu on the screen of the display unit; control means for, in response to a pointing operation of the pointing means, causing menu items included in the menu pointed to by the pointing means to be display at a position on the screen of the display unit one by one in turns at predetermined intervals; detecting means for detecting a predetermined operation; and selecting means for selecting, as a menu item to be activated, a menu item displayed on the screen of the display unit when the detecting means detects the predetermined operation.
According to the present invention, menu items included in a pointed menu are displayed one by one in turns at predetermined interval on the screen of the display unit. That is, all the menu items which can be selected are not simultaneously displayed on the screen of the display unit. A menu item which is displayed when the predetermined operation is performed is then selected. Thus, menu items can be displayed on a limited area of the display screen so as to be easy to be selected by a user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5636336 (1997-06-01), Adachi
patent: 5781122 (1998-07-01), Katagari
patent: 57-164228 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 3-269679 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 6-131436 (1994-05-01), None
Matsukura Ryuichi
Okawa Toru
Sato Yasuo
Fujitsu Limited
Huynh Ba
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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