Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2003-03-04
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C701S211000, C340S995190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06529218
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a display controller for use in an information processor or a mobile communications unit with a display screen of a relatively small size, like a navigation system or a portable electronic organizer. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and method for controlling the location of auxiliary information such as menu or help on the display screen relative to display information presented thereon. And this invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium, on which a display control program has been stored to implement the inventive method.
Hereinafter, a prior art information processor as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 5-150926 will be outlined. The information processor includes input device, display, editor and display controller. The display controller includes move-instructing section, determining section and allocating section. On the display, not only document information, which has been edited in accordance with a command or instruction input by the user with the input device, but also editing menu are presented. The editor edits the document following an option selected by the user from the editing menu. On determining that the input instruction is “Move Menu”, the determining section moves the editing menu to a destination instructed. On the other hand, where the input instruction has turned out to be “Change Menu Size”, then the determining section selects an appropriate combination of editing menu options that can be displayed within a menu of the changed size. The allocating section allocates the newly selected editing menu options to the menu display area that has changed its size.
The conventional display controller directly moves the menu or reduces its size following a command given by the user. Accordingly, when the user scrolls the display image on the display, information newly appearing on the screen along with that scrolling is partially hidden behind the menu and cannot be viewed. In such a situation, every time new information is hidden behind the menu, the user has to move the menu or reduce its size, thus interfering with his or her desired scrolling or making that sort of operation unnecessarily troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is automatically moving auxiliary information like menu displayed on a screen to such a location as not to hide an image newly appearing thereon when the image is scrolled without interfering with that scrolling.
To achieve this object, a first exemplary display controller according to the present invention includes: a display screen for presenting thereon at least part of display information as a display image. Part of the display screen is allocated for an auxiliary information display area. The first display controller further includes means for moving the auxiliary information display area on the display screen in a direction in which the display image is scrolled.
In the first display controller, when the display image is scrolled, the moving means moves the auxiliary information display area on the display screen in a direction in which the display image moves. Thus, even when a new image appears on the display screen as a result of scrolling, that new display image is not hidden behind the auxiliary information display area. Accordingly, the user can know his or her desired information more quickly and with more certainty without performing troublesome operations.
A second exemplary display controller according to the present invention includes: a display screen for presenting thereon at least part of display information as a display image; an external input device for receiving and outputting a scroll instruction signal, which is externally supplied to scroll the display image; information storage for storing thereon auxiliary information to be presented on the display screen and information about a location at which the auxiliary information is to be displayed; and means, responsive to the scroll instruction signal supplied from the external input device, for updating the display location information such that the location of the auxiliary information displayed moves on the display screen in a direction in which the display image moves. The display screen presents the auxiliary information as part of the display image based on the updated display location information.
In the second display controller, when the display image, or at least part of display information presented on the display screen, is scrolled responsive to the scroll instruction signal supplied from the external input device, the updating means updates the display location information such that the location of the auxiliary information displayed moves on the display screen in a direction in which the display image moves. And the display screen presents the auxiliary information as part of the display image based on the updated display location information. Accordingly, the auxiliary information displayed moves on the display screen in the same direction as the display image moving, or being scrolled. Thus, even when a new image appears on the display screen along with scrolling, that new display image is not hidden behind the auxiliary information displayed. As a result, the user can know his or her desired information more quickly and with more certainty without performing troublesome operations.
In the second display controller, the display information may be map information, and the scroll instruction signal is preferably generated by a key input device, a navigation controller or a GPS receiver.
In such an embodiment, the second display controller may be used as a navigation system.
A display controlling method according to the present invention includes the steps of: a) presenting at least part of display information as a display image on a display screen; b) defining an auxiliary information display area on part of the display screen; c) scrolling the display image in response to a scroll instruction signal externally supplied; and d) moving the auxiliary information display area on the display screen in a direction in which the display image is scrolled in response to the scroll instruction signal.
According to the display controlling method of the present invention, the auxiliary information display area is moved on the display screen in a direction in which the display image is scrolled in response to the scroll instruction signal. Thus, even when a new image appears on the display screen along with scrolling, that new display image is not hidden behind the auxiliary information display area.
In the display controlling method of the present invention, the display information may be map information, and the step c) preferably includes the step of generating the scroll instruction signal using a key input device, a navigation controller or a GPS receiver.
A computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention has stored thereon a display control program for presenting at least part of display information on a display screen. The display control program is executable in-a computer for performing the steps of: a) presenting at least part of display information as a display image on a display screen; b) defining an auxiliary information display area on part of the display screen; c) scrolling the display image in response to a scroll instruction signal externally supplied; and d) moving the auxiliary information display area on the display screen in a direction in which the display image is scrolled in response to the scroll instruction signal.
Using this storage medium, the display controlling method of the present invention is easily implementable.
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patent: 5-15
Ogawa Hideaki
Tanigawa Hidekazu
Bayerl Raymond J.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Studebaker Donald R.
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