Abstract:
There is provided an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program realizing natural scroll display and high-speed scroll. The image processing apparatus includes: a detector detecting a scroll request; and a processor, when the detector detects a high-speed scroll request, employing a blurred picture created through a blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region, thereby generating an image to be displayed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-066384 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 23, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program for processing an image in scroll display. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     At the time of displaying all or a part of contents stored in a recording medium as a list on a screen, there is a case that all of the contents is not fit in the screen. In this case, the user generally displays the contents which are out of the screen by scrolling them on the screen. The user sends a scroll request to a display device by using a touch panel, a keyboard, a controller, or the like. When the request is detected by the display device, the contents out of the screen are displayed only by predetermined number of lines (for example, one line) on the screen. In the case where the user continuously sends the scroll request, for example, the contents displayed on the screen are scrolled up or down, and the scroll speed increases. 
     The scroll speed depends mainly on computation processing capability of the display device. In the case where the user displays contents on a screen via a network, the scroll speed depends not only on the computation processing capability of the display device but also largely on the communication speed. In the case where volume of contents desired to be displayed is extremely large, one of methods for the user to quickly reach contents to be retrieved is high-speed scroll. The high-speed scroll refers to scroll of contents to be displayed on the screen at high speed to the degree that the user cannot make out characters and images in a scroll region on the screen. In the case where the user desires to quickly reach contents to be retrieved, when a display device operated by the user does not have the high-speed scroll function or, although it has the function, provides only low-speed scroll, the commercial value of the display device may drop considerably. Consequently, various methods for realizing the high-speed scroll have been being proposed (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2005-223632, No. Hei 11-258977, No. Hei 6-318206, and No. Hei 4-365097). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the methods disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2005-223632, No. Hei 11-258977, No. Hei 6-318206, and No. Hei 4-365097, however, the scroll display may be unnatural, and the scroll speed may depend largely on the computation processing capability and the like. Consequently, the methods disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2005-223632, No. Hei 11-258977, No. Hei 6-318206, and No. Hei 4-365097 do not fully satisfy the demand of the user at present for the scroll display and the high-speed scroll. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program realizing natural scroll display and high-speed scroll. 
     An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a detector detecting a scroll request, and a processor performing a process according to the scroll request detected by the detector. In the case where the detector detects a high-speed scroll request, the processor employs a blurred picture created through a blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region, thereby generating an image to be displayed. 
     An image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes detecting a scroll request; and employing, when a high-speed scroll request is detected, a blurred picture created through a blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region, thereby generating an image to be displayed. 
     An image processing program as an embodiment of the invention allows a computer to perform procedures of: detecting a scroll request; and employing, when a high-speed scroll request is detected, a blurred picture created through a blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region, thereby generating an image to be displayed. 
     In the image processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the image processing program as embodiments of the invention, in high-speed scroll mode, a blurred picture created through blurring process is employed as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region. Consequently, as compared with the case where all of display images are made by images which are not subjected to the blurring process, a scroll speed (visual scroll speed) felt (confused) by the user becomes faster. In the high-speed scroll mode, the user cannot visually clearly make out the image which is not subjected to the blurring process and sees an image which is not subjected to the blurring process as a blurred picture. Therefore, for example, when the display image which is not subjected to the blurring process changes to the display image including the image subjected to the blurring process and, further, changes to the display image made only by the image subjected to the blurring process, the display image does not look unnatural. For example, on the contrary, also when the display image made only by the image subjected to the blurring process changes to the display image including the image which is subjected to the blurring process and, further, changes to the display image which is not subjected to the blurring process, the display image does not look unnatural. Rather, the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll look more natural. In addition, the realistic sensation (particularly, feeling) for a change in the scroll speed is also increased. 
     In the present invention, preferably, the blurred picture is an image subjected to the blurring process in a scroll direction. In such a case, a transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and a transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll are seen more natural. In addition, the realistic sensation (particularly, feeling) for a change in the scroll speed is also increased. 
     In the present invention, the processor adjusts speed of updating a part corresponding to a scroll region in a display image so that a first visual scroll speed becomes equal to or higher than a second visudal scroll speed. The first visual scroll speed is a scroll speed felt (confused) by the user at the time of high-speed scroll-displaying a display image made of a plurality of blurred pictures created through the blurring process, and is different from an actual scroll speed. The second visual scroll speed is a scroll speed felt (confused) by the user at the time of high-speed scroll-displaying a display image which is not subjected to the blurring process, and coincides with the actual scroll speed. 
     In such a case, the high-speed scroll can be performed with a small computation processing amount. It reduces the possibility that the high-speed scroll is disturbed due to the computation processing capability or the like. Consequently, the possibility that the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll become unnatural (unsmooth) is reduced. 
     In the present invention, preferably, in the case where a scroll request detected by the detector is a low-speed scroll request, the processor performs a process different from that in the high-speed scroll mode. For example, preferably, the processor employs a display image which is not subjected to the blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region in a display image, thereby generating an image to be displayed. In such a case, the low-speed scroll is looked natural. 
     In the image processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the image processing program as embodiments of the present invention, the scroll speed (visual scroll speed) felt (confused) by the user is made higher than that in the case where all of display images are constructed by images which are not subjected to the blurring process. Further, the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll are made look more natural. Thus, natural scroll display and high-speed scroll are realized. 
     Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display during rest in the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display in low-speed scroll mode in the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display in high-speed scroll mode in the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of the relation between visual scroll speed and an arithmetic processing amount. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating another example of a screen display during rest in the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating another example of a screen display in high-speed scroll mode in the image processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Description will be given in the following order. 
     1. Embodiment
         Schematic Configuration   Scrolling process   Effect       

     2. Modification 
     Embodiment 
     Configuration 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus  1  has, for example, a control unit  10 , a storage unit  11 , a communication unit  12 , a display unit  13 , and an input unit  14 . The control unit  10  is connected to, for example, the storage unit  11 , the communication unit  12 , the display unit  13 , and the input unit  14 . 
     The communication unit  12  and the display unit  13  may not be provided as necessary. For example, in the case where the communication unit  12  is provided, the display unit  13  may not be provided. In the case where the display unit  13  is provided, the communication unit  12  may not be provided. The display unit  13  may be provided separately from the image processing apparatus  1 . In this case, the control unit  10  in the image processing apparatus  1  controls the display unit  13 . 
     The input unit  14  is provided to enter information (for example, a scroll request) on execution of a program in the control unit  10  and includes, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a sound microphone, and the like. The display unit  13  is provided to, for example, display an execution result (for example, scroll) of the program in the control unit  10  and support entry of information at the time of executing a program in the control unit  10 . For example, the display unit  13  is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. 
     The control unit  10  is provided to interpret and execute a command of a program and includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In the storage unit  11 , for example, a scroll program  11 A and a contents database  11 B are stored. The scroll program  11 A may be constructed as hardware in the image processing apparatus  1 . The control unit  10  displays, for example, all or a part of contents (not shown) stored in the contents database  11 B in the storage unit  11  in a predetermined region on the screen (not shown) of the display unit  13 . The “predetermined region” refers to a portion corresponding to a scroll region (for example, a region as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) which will be described later in the screen of the display unit  13 . 
     The communication unit  12  can mutually communicate with another information processing apparatus (not shown) via a communication network (not shown). In the case where the communication unit  12  is provided in the image processing apparatus  1 , the control unit  10  displays all or a part of the contents (not shown) stored in the contents database  11 B in a predetermined region on the display screen (not shown) of an apparatus A via, for example, the communication unit  12  and the communication network according to an access from the information processing apparatus (apparatus A) on the communication network. The “predetermined region” refers to a portion corresponding to a scroll region (for example, a region as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) which will be described later in the display screen of the apparatus A. 
     The scroll program  11 A is provided to perform a predetermined process (scrolling process) which will be described later, for example, in the case where all of the contents are not fit in the screen at the time of displaying a list of all or a part of the contents stored in the contents database  11 B in the storage unit  11  onto the screen (not shown) of the display unit  13 . The control unit  10  may start the scroll program  11 A, for example, on power-on of the image processing apparatus  1  or at the stage when it is found that all of the contents are not fit in the screen as described above. 
     In the case where the communication unit  12  is provided in the image processing apparatus  1 , the scroll program  11 A is for performing, for example, a predetermined process (scrolling process) which will be described later in the case where all of the contents are not fit in the screen at the time of displaying a list of all or a part of the contents stored in the contents database  11 B in the storage unit  11  onto the display screen (not shown) of the apparatus A on the communication network, which made an access via the communication unit  12  and the communication network. In this case as well, the control unit  10  may start the scroll program  11 A, for example, on power-on of the image processing apparatus  1  or at the stage when it is found that all of the contents are not fit in the screen as described above. 
     When a scroll request from the user is made, the control unit  10  executes a scrolling process which will be described later in accordance with a code of the scroll program  11 A. The scroll request from the user is supplied to, for example, the control unit  10  via the input unit  14 . In the case where the communication unit  12  is provided in the image processing apparatus  1 , the scroll request from the user is supplied, for example, from the apparatus A on the communication network to the control unit  10  via the communication unit  12  and the communication network. 
     Scrolling Process 
     Next, the scrolling process will be described in detail. In the following, the case where a part of the contents stored in the contents database  11 B is displayed in a scroll region  13 A in the screen of the display unit  13  will be described. However, the following description is also applied to the case where a part of the contents stored in the contents database  11 B is displayed in a region (not shown) corresponding to the scroll region  13 A in the screen of the apparatus A on the communication network. In this case, the input unit  14  mentioned as means for detecting a scroll request is changed to the control unit  10 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a state where an image is displayed in a stationary state in the scroll region  13 A in the screen of the display unit  13 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the case where all or a part of contents read from the contents database  11 B is displayed in a stationary state.  FIG. 2  schematically shows a state where the user holds his/her finger F over the display screen in order to make the scroll request. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a state where an image is displayed in a low-speed scroll state in the scroll region  13 A in the screen of the display unit  13 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the case where all or a part of contents read from the contents database  11 B is displayed in a stationary state.  FIG. 3  schematically shows a state where the user slowly scrolls down on the display screen with his/her finger F. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a state where an image is displayed in a high-speed scroll state in the scroll region  13 A in the screen of the display unit  13 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the case where, not the contents read from the contents database  11 B, a plurality of blurred pictures which will be described later are displayed in the high-speed scroll state.  FIG. 4  shows a state where the user scrolls down quickly on the display screen with his/her finger F, and the finger F is already away from the display screen (so that the finger F is not shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The stationary state refers to a state where no image is scrolled and the image in the scroll region  13 A is not updated (not changed). The low-speed scroll state denotes a state where the image is scrolled slowly enough for the user to make out characters and an image in the scroll region  13 A on the screen, and the image is updated (changed) in the scroll region  13 A in a slow cycle. The high-speed scroll state usually denotes a state where the image is scrolled too fast for the user to make out characters and an image in the scroll region  13 A on the screen, and the image is updated (changed) in the scroll region  13 A in a fast cycle. However, in the embodiment, the high-speed scroll state refers to a state where an image is visually scrolled at high speed. In other words, the high-speed scroll state in the embodiment is similar to the normal high-speed scroll state with respect to the point that the user cannot make out characters and an image in the scroll region  13 A on the screen. However, the high-speed scroll state of the embodiment differs from the normal high-speed scroll state with respect to the point that the image is updated in the scroll region  13 A in a cycle equal to or slightly higher than that in the low-speed scroll state. 
     When no scroll request is sent from the user or the low-speed scroll request is sent as the scroll request from the user, preferably, the control unit  10  performs a process different from that in the high-speed scroll state, which is described in detail below. In such a case, the low-speed scroll is seemed natural. 
     Stationary State 
     Concretely, when no scroll request is made by the user, the control unit  10  outputs a video signal to the display unit  13  in predetermined cycles without updating the image in the scroll region  13 A to display the image in the display unit  13 . At this time, at least the image in the scroll region  13 A remains stationary (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The control unit  10  displays all or a part of the contents read from the contents database  11 B as the image in the scroll region  13 A. 
     Low-Speed Scroll 
     When a low-speed scroll request is made as a scroll request by the user, the control unit  10  updates the image in the scroll region  13 A in a slow cycle, and outputs the video signal to the display unit  13  in a predetermined cycle to display the image in the display unit  13 . At this time, at least the image in the scroll region  13 A is updated in the slow cycle (refer to  FIG. 3 ). The control unit  10  employs a display image which is not subjected to blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in the scroll region  13 A in the display image in low-speed scroll mode, thereby generating an image to be displayed. Although  FIG. 3  illustrates a state where the image displayed in the scroll region  13 A is blurred, the blur in the image occurs due to the display performance of the display unit  13  or the like, and the blurring process is not performed on the image. In low-speed scroll mode, an image which is slightly blurred may be used as necessary. A method of displaying a blurred picture conforms to a display method in high-speed scroll mode which will be described later. 
     A display image which is not subjected to the blurring process is, for example, an image of contents (for example, the title of a music piece and the name of a singer) read from the contents database  11 B. The blurring process is a process of blurring a portion where the contrast difference is large in an image to make a change in contrast smaller. In the embodiment, as the blurring process, for example, a process of largely blurring an image in one direction and performing no blurring or slightly blurring an image in a direction orthogonal to the largely blurring direction is employed (refer to  FIG. 4 ). The largely blurring direction is preferably parallel to the scroll direction. Therefore, in the case where the largely blurring direction is parallel to the scroll direction, the image subjected to the blurring process (blurred picture) is an image subjected to the blurring process in the scroll direction. In high-speed scroll mode, it is preferable to use the image subjected to the blurring process in the scroll direction as a blurred picture. The reason why such a blurred picture is preferable will be described in detail later. 
     High-Speed Scroll 
     When a high-speed scroll request is made as a scroll request by the user, the control unit  10  updates the image in the scroll region  13 A in a fast cycle, and outputs the video signal to the display unit  13  in a predetermined cycle to display the image in the display unit  13 . At this time, at least the image in the scroll region  13 A is updated in the fast cycle. The control unit  10  employs a blurred picture which is created through blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in the scroll region  13 A in the display image in high-speed scroll mode, thereby generating an image to be displayed. 
     The blurred picture which is created through the blurring process is, for example, an image of contents (for example, the title of a music piece and the name of a singer) read from the contents database  11 B, which is subjected to the blurring process. The blurred picture is created by, for example, using a part of the image displayed in the scroll region  13 A in the stationary state or in low-speed scroll mode. Preferably, the blurred picture is a display image in the stationary state or in low-speed scroll mode and created by using a part of the image displayed in the scroll region  13 A just before the high-speed scroll. In such a case, more natural scroll display is realized. 
     For example, in the case where the blurring process is performed mainly in the direction parallel to the scroll direction as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and a transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll are seen more natural. It is more understandable when a state of transition of the scroll region  13 A from the screen illustrated in  FIG. 3  to the screen illustrated in  FIG. 4  is assumed. The blurring process produces not only an effect of natural scrolling but also an effect of enhancing realistic sensation (particularly, feeling) for a change in the scroll speed. Actually, the realistic sensation is one of important factors for increasing the commercial value, and the blurring process is important also from the viewpoint of enhancing the realistic sensation. 
     Preferably, for example, the control unit  10  adjusts the speed of updating a part corresponding to the scroll region  13  in the display image so that a first visual scroll speed becomes equal to or higher than a second visual scroll speed. 
     The first visual scroll speed is a scroll speed felt (confused) by the user when a display image made by a plurality of blurred pictures created through the blurring process is displayed in the high-speed scroll mode. Therefore, the first visual scroll speed is different from the actual scroll speed. The second visual scroll speed is a scroll speed felt by the user when a display image which is not subjected to the blurring process is displayed in the high-speed scroll mode. Therefore, the second visual scroll speed coincides with the actual scroll speed. 
     In the embodiment, in the case where the speed of updating the part corresponding to the scroll region  13  in the display image is set as described above, the high-speed scroll can be performed with a small computation process amount. It reduces the possibility that the high-speed scroll is disturbed due to the computation processing capability or the like. Consequently, the possibility that the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll become unnatural (become unsmooth) is reduced. 
     After recognizing that the scroll request detected by the input unit  14  is the high-speed scroll request, the control unit  10  may create a blurred picture. In this case, the control unit  10  employs the generated blurred picture as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in the scroll region  13 A in the display image, thereby generating an image to be displayed. In such a case, the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll are seen more natural. 
     The control unit  10  may preliminarily store the blurred picture in the storage unit  11 . In this case, when the scroll request detected by the input unit  14  is the high-speed scroll request, first, the control unit  10  reads the blurred picture from the storage unit  11 . Subsequently, the control unit  10  employs the read blurred picture as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in the scroll region in the display image, thereby generating an image to be displayed. In such a case, the computation process amount at the start of the high-speed scroll is suppressed, so that quick transition to the high-speed scroll is realized. As a result, the possibility that the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll become unnatural (become unsmooth) is reduced. 
     Effect 
     In the embodiment, in high-speed scroll mode, the blurred picture created through the blurring process is employed as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in the scroll region  13 A in the display image. It makes the scroll speed (visual scroll speed) felt (confused) by the user higher than that in the case where all of display images are images which are not subjected to the blurring process. In high-speed scroll mode, the user cannot clearly visually make out the image which is not subjected to the blurring process, and sees the image which is not subjected to the blurring process as a blurred picture. Consequently, for example, when the display image which is not subjected to the blurring process changes to the display image including the image subjected to the blurring process and, further, changes to the display image made only by the image subjected to the blurring process, the display image does not look unnatural. For example, on the contrary, also when the display image made only by the image subjected to the blurring process changes to the display image including the image which is subjected to the blurring process and, further, changes to the display image which is not subjected to the blurring process, the display image does not look unnatural. Rather, the transition from the low-speed scroll to the high-speed scroll and the transition from the high-speed scroll to the low-speed scroll look more natural. In addition, the realistic sensation (particularly, feeling) for a change in the scroll speed is also increased. Therefore, the image processing apparatus  1  of the embodiment realizes the natural scroll display and the high-speed scroll. 
     In the embodiment, in the case where the speed of updating the part corresponding to the scroll region  13 A in the display image is adjusted so that the first visual scroll speed becomes equal to or higher than the second visual scroll speed, the high-speed scroll is performed with the small computation processing amount. For example, as shown by the solid line in  FIG. 5 , the visual scroll speed can be increased without reaching the process limit amount of the image processing apparatus  1 . On the other hand, in a comparative example of performing a scroll without using the blurring technique, it is understood that the process amount reaches the process limit amount of the image processing apparatus  1  and the limit exists in the scroll speed. Therefore, in the embodiment, the scroll speed does not depend on the computation processing capability and the like, so that demands of the user at present for the scroll display and the high-speed scroll are sufficiently satisfied. 
     Modifications 
     In the foregoing embodiment, the control unit  10  may display, for example, an indicator I in a display image as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this case, preferably, the control unit  10  changes the display area of the indicator in accordance with the scroll speed. Preferably, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the control unit  10  makes the indicator I extend in the direction orthogonal to the scroll direction so as to cover a part of the scroll region  13 A in accordance with the scroll speed. In such a case, the user pays attention to the indicator I in high-speed scroll mode and does not watch a blurred picture displayed in the scroll region  13 A so much. As a result, the high-speed scroll is looked more natural. 
     The extension of the indicator I is realized by, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , changing the degree of gradation of the indicator I. 
     In the foregoing embodiment, the control unit  10  may output a scroll sound from a speaker (not shown) while a display image is scrolled and change the volume or tone of the scroll sound in accordance with the scroll speed. For example, preferably, the control unit  10  decreases the scroll sound as the scroll speed increases. In such a case, the scroll sound does not become noise to the user, and comfortable scroll is realized. 
     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.