Information displaying apparatus, information displaying program and storage medium

An information displaying apparatus includes a mark displaying unit which displays on a display a file mark to identify each of files stored in a file memory and a folder mark to identify a folder by which the files are grouped, a viewer generating unit which generates on the display a viewer to display one of information about the files included in the folder and information included in the files, a viewer moving unit which moves the viewer on the display in accordance with an operation of an operating member, and a preview displaying unit which displays a file mark included in the folder when the viewer overlaps the folder mark displayed on the display and displays information included in the file as an image when the viewer overlaps the file mark.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-010764, filed Jan. 19, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technology to display information stored in a storage unit of a computer or the like and, more particularly, to an information displaying technology to retrieve desired information including dynamic information as well as static information with efficiency.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, the following operation has been performed in order to retrieve a desired file from the files stored in a storage unit of a computer or the like.

First, a user points a folder that appears to include a desired file in view of a folder tree with a pointing device such as a mouse. Then, the user selects and opens the folder pointed with the click of the button of the mouse to display a list of files included in the folder in the form of icons or the like. If one of the files is considered to be a target one, the user points it with the pointing device. Then, the user clicks the button of the mouse to display a preview of the file on a preview window and starts software by which the file is created to display the file or play it back.

The user repeats the above procedure until he or she can find a desired file. If the desired file is not included in the selected folder, the user selects another folder and repeats the above procedure. In order to retrieve a file, an operation of selecting and opening a point had to be repeated over and over again.

There is proposed a technology to allow a user to understand various items of information about files selected by operating a pointing device such as a mouse only by seeing a cursor on a monitor screen (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-15923).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information displaying apparatus including a file memory which stores files hierarchically, an information reading unit which reads information of the files from the file memory, and a display which displays the information of the files read by the information reading unit, comprising a mark displaying unit which displays on the display a file mark to identify each of the files stored in the file memory and a folder mark to identify a folder by which the files are grouped, a viewer generating unit which generates on the display a viewer to display one of information about the files included in the folder and information included in the files, a viewer moving unit which moves the viewer on the display in accordance with an operation of an operating member, and a preview displaying unit which displays a file mark included in the folder when the viewer overlaps the folder mark displayed on the display and displays information included in the file as an image when the viewer overlaps the file mark.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information displaying program of an information displaying apparatus including a file memory which stores files hierarchically and a display which displays information of the files stored in the file memory, the program causing a computer to perform a mark displaying process of displaying on the display a file mark to identify each of the files stored in the file memory and a folder mark to identify a folder by which the files are grouped, a viewer generating process of generating on the display a viewer to display one of information about the files included in the folder and information included in the files, a viewer moving process of moving the viewer on the display, and a preview displaying process of displaying a file mark included in the folder when the viewer moves and overlaps the folder mark displayed on the display and displays information included in the file within the viewer as an image when the viewer moves and overlaps the file mark displayed on the display.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium that records an information displaying program of an information displaying apparatus including a file memory which stores files hierarchically and a display which displays information of the files stored in the file memory, the information displaying program of the recording medium causing a computer to perform a mark displaying process of displaying on the display a file mark to identify each of the files stored in the file memory and a folder mark to identify a folder by which the files are grouped, a viewer generating process of generating on the display a viewer to display one of information about the files included in the folder and information included in the files, a viewer moving process of moving the viewer on the display, and a preview displaying process of displaying a file mark included in the folder when the viewer moves and overlaps the folder mark displayed on the display and displays information included in the file within the viewer as an image when the viewer moves and overlaps the file mark displayed on the display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an information displaying method according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user operates an information processing apparatus to display information on an information displaying screen displayed on a display unit of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 1is a diagram showing a configuration of the information displaying screen formed by the information displaying method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The information displaying screen1includes a tool bar area2for performing an operation to display information, a folder area3for displaying a tree structure of folders that store files, a file area4for displaying the files stored in a selected folder and a viewer5for displaying information about the files and the like.

The tool bar area2has a viewer generating button6, a viewer deleting button7, a viewer setting button8and an exit button9. The viewer5can be set and operated by these operation buttons6to9.FIG. 1shows a plurality of viewers5. The viewers5display a preview of information included in a file and file information about the file.

Referring next toFIG. 1, the general outline of the information displaying method will be described.

When a user displays the information displaying screen1, the folders stored in the information displaying apparatus are displayed in the folder area3as a tree structure of folder icons11.

When the user specifies a folder icon11with a click, the file icons12of files included in the folder are displayed in the file area4. A plurality of folder icons11can be selected in order to specify their folders, and the file icons12of all files included in the folders are displayed in the file area4. If a folder includes a sub-folder when it is specified, the file icons12of files stored in the sub-folder can be displayed in the file area4. The icons are not limited to graphics but can be formed of characters such as file names if they can specify a range on the screen.

When the user depresses the viewer generating button6, the viewer5is displayed within the information displaying screen1. If the user drags the viewer5while depressing the button, the viewer5can be moved to any position within the information displaying screen1.

The viewer5has a detection point in advance as shown inFIG. 2. When the detection point of the viewer5is located on a file icon12on the screen, data of a file corresponding to the icon is displayed. On the other hand, when the detection point of the viewer5is not located on the file icon12on the screen, the viewer5becomes translucent and concurrently a mark indicating the detection point is displayed.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating a type of each of the viewers5in the file area4. The viewer5shown on the left-hand side ofFIG. 3displays a preview image indicating (part of) the contents of a file and file information concerning the file. The viewer5shown on the right-hand side ofFIG. 3displays only the preview image. The user can determine which of the viewers5is displayed using the viewer setting button8.

When the detection point of the viewer5is located on a folder icon11on the screen, a reduced icon of a file included in a folder corresponding to the icon is displayed within the viewer5.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating a type of each of the viewers5in the folder area. The viewer5shown on the left-hand side ofFIG. 4displays reduced icons of files. This display allows the user to confirm the types of files included in the folder. The viewer5shown on the right-hand side ofFIG. 4displays reduced icons of files and their file names. The user can determine which of the viewers5is displayed using the viewer setting button8.

InFIG. 1, two viewers5overlap with each other in the folder area3. The lower viewer5displays reduced icons of files stored in the folder and their file names, while the upper viewer5displays data of the files corresponding to the reduced icons. Thus, the viewers5can serve to display information belonging to a one level lower in the hierarchy.

FIG. 5is a diagram showing a configuration of the information displaying screen1formed when dynamic information is displayed. Since the basic configuration of the information displaying screen1is the same as the configuration described with reference toFIG. 1, its detailed descriptions are omitted. The dynamic information represents information that varies with time and includes moving images, sound and musical performance data.

When the user specifies a folder icon11with a click, the file icons12of files included in the folder are displayed in the file area4. If the files include dynamic information, time line icons14are displayed together with file names. The time line icons14are band-shaped icons that are lengthened in a lateral direction, and the length of each of the icons14represents playback time.

When the user moves the detection point of the viewer5into the range of a time line icon14, the viewer5displays information of time position that is determined by the position of the detection point on the icon. When the user depresses a playback button of the viewer5, moving images, sound and musical performance data are played back in accordance with the property of the files, and the viewer5moves on the time line icon14as playback time elapses.

FIG. 6is a diagram of the viewer5for playing back a moving image. The viewer5displays a reduced image of one frame of the moving image together with time corresponding to a playback position and a frame number indicating the playback position. The time of the playback position and the frame number thereof are updated in accordance with a lapse of playback time of the moving image.

FIG. 7is a diagram of the viewer5for playing back sound. The viewer5displays a reduced image representing a sound waveform together with time corresponding to a playback position and a time width of display of the waveform. The time corresponding to a playback position is updated in accordance with a lapse of playback time of the sound.

FIG. 8is a diagram of the viewer5for playing back musical performance data. The viewer5displays part of music corresponding to a playback (performance) position and time corresponding to the playback position together with a bar number and a beat number both corresponding to the playback position. The time, bar and beat corresponding to the playback position are updated in accordance with a lapse of playback time of the musical performance data.

The moving image and sound can be played back at the same time in association with each other.FIG. 9is a diagram of the viewer5for playing back a moving image and sound at the same time. The viewer5displays a reduced image of one frame of the moving image and a reduced image representing a waveform of the sound and moves on the time line icon14as playback time elapses.

The configuration of an information displaying apparatus for achieving the above-described information displaying method and the principal procedure thereof will be described.

FIG. 10is a diagram showing a configuration of an information displaying apparatus20. The information displaying apparatus20includes a communication interface21, a display unit22, an operation input unit23, a processing unit24, a program memory25, an information memory26and an information management DB27.

The communication interface21is an interface for transmitting/receiving information to/from an external device (not shown) by communications. The display unit22displays the information displaying screen1. The operation input unit23is a man-machine interface for receiving an operation instruction from a user.

The processing unit24controls the operations of the information displaying apparatus20as a whole. The program memory25stores programs for controlling the respective functions of the information displaying apparatus20. The information memory26stores information such as files that can be operated by the information displaying unit20, structures about folders and file information. The information management DB27stores management information used for processing of the information displaying unit20. Not only the information in the information displaying unit20but also the information stored in an external information processing apparatus (not shown) connected through the communication interface21can be stored in the information management DB27.

FIG. 11is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for executing information displaying programs for displaying information. The following is a process of performing the principal ones of information displaying programs according to the present invention. The functions that have been described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 9are included in the information displaying programs according to the present invention even though they are not described below.

When a user gives an instruction to display the information displaying screen1from the operation input unit23, an information displaying program starts. In step S01, the program checks whether the information management DB27has been created in the information displaying apparatus20. If not yet, a process of constructing an information management DB is performed in step S02.

FIG. 12is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for performing a process of constructing the information management DB.

In step T01, the information displaying program analyzes the folder structure stored in the information memory26. The program extracts information about all folders and a folder tree structure and registers the information in the information management DB.

In step T02, preview information is created for each of files included in each of the folders. In other words, a thumbnail image is formed if the information displayed on the viewer5is an image file. There are files for which no preview information is created.

In step T03, the created preview information and its corresponding file information are registered in the information management DB. And the process returns.

Returning toFIG. 11, when the information management DB has been created in step S01, a process of updating information of the information management DB27is performed in step S03.FIG. 13is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for performing a process of updating information of the information management DB27.

In step T05, the information displaying program reads information about the last-updated date and time of the information management DB27. In step T06, the program analyzes the folder structure stored in the information memory26and updates the folder information registered in the information management DB27.

In step T07, preview information of one of files stored in the information memory26, which is newly created after the last-updated date and time, is prepared. In step T08, the preview information of the newly created file and its corresponding file information are registered in the information management DB.

In step T09, the information registered in the information management DB27is updated and deleted with respect to one of files stored in the information memory26, which is updated and deleted after the last-updated date and time. In step T10, the last-updated date and time is updated to the current date and time.

FIG. 14is a table showing object information of the files registered in the information management DB. When a file is newly created, only management information27athat describes preview information and file information of the newly created file is created. After that, management information27b, . . .27nwhose preview information and file information are updated is created each time the contents of the file are updated. The updated management information27b, . . .27nis also stored in the information management DB27as history information.

Returning toFIG. 11, in step S04, the information displaying program displays the information displaying screen1. In the folder area3of the information displaying screen1, the folder icons11are displayed in accordance with the folder tree structure.

The user operates the viewer generating button6, viewer deleting button7, viewer setting button8and exit button9provided in the tool bar area2of the information displaying screen1or selects a folder to retrieve a desired file.

When the user operates the viewer setting button8, the information displaying program performs a process of setting the viewer in step S10.FIG. 15is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure of the viewer setting process.

In steps T11to T13, if the information displaying program detects that the viewer setting button8is depressed, it reads the current setting information from the information management DB27and displays a viewer setting window.

FIG. 16is a diagram showing a viewer setting window16. In the viewer setting window16, a method of displaying the viewers5for folders and a method of displaying the viewers5for files can be set.

For example, when the viewers5are displayed for files, the user can select one of the display of icons only, that of file information only and that of icons and file information in the viewer5.

In the viewer setting window16, the user can determine whether to display a plurality of previews within each of the viewers5. Thus, the moving image and sound shown inFIG. 9can be played back at the same time.

Returning toFIG. 15, the user depresses a “setting” button of the viewer setting window16. In steps T14to T17, the information displaying program detects that the “setting” button is depressed and stores the setting on the viewer setting window16in the information management DB2. Then, the user deletes the viewer setting window16from the information displaying screen1and updates the display of each of the viewers5displayed on the screen. And the process returns.

If the user clicks and selects a folder displayed in the folder area3, the information displaying program performs a process of selecting the folder in step S11.FIG. 17is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure of the folder selecting process.

In steps T20and T21, if the information displaying program detects that the folder is selected, it stores viewer information such as the position, size and mode of each of the viewers5currently displayed in the file area in the information management DB27. In steps T22and T23, the information displaying program specifies the selected folder and displays the file icons12of files included in the selected folder in the file area4.

In steps T24to T26, the information displaying program reads the viewer information in the file area4from the information management DB27and selects one of the viewers5in the file area5.

In steps T27and T28, when the detection point of the selected viewer5is included in any of the file icons12, the information displaying program performs a process of displaying the preview information on the viewer5. The process in step T28will be described in detail later.

If the preview display has not yet been confirmed for all the viewers5in step T29, one of the remaining viewers5in the file area4is selected in step T30, and the above processes in steps T27to T29are repeated.

If the preview display has been confirmed for all the viewers5in step T29, the folder selecting process ends. And the process returns.

When the information displaying program determines in step T27that the detection point of the selected viewer is not included in the display area of any file icon12, step T28is skipped and nothing is displayed on the viewers. When the information displaying program determines in step T25that the file area4has no viewers, steps T26to T30are skipped.

When the user operates the viewer generating button6, the information displaying program performs a process of generating a viewer in step S12inFIG. 11.FIG. 18is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for the viewer generating process.

In steps T33and T34, when the information displaying program detects that the viewer generating button6is depressed, it displays a viewer5in such a position in the file area4that the viewer5does not overlap another viewer. In steps T35and T36, when the detection point of the viewer5is included in any of the file icons12, the program performs a process of displaying preview information on the viewer5. If the detection point of the viewer5is not included in any of the file icons, step T36is skipped. The process in step T36will be described in detail later.

When the user performs any one of operations to move the display position of the viewer5, change the size thereof, operate the playback button and operate the stop button, the information displaying program performs a process of operating the viewer in step S13inFIG. 11.FIG. 19is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for the viewer operating process.

The user moves the viewer5. Thus, in steps T40to T42, the information displaying program detects that the viewer5is moved and checks whether the detection point of the viewer5is included in any of the file icons12. If the detection point of the viewer5is included in any of the file icons12, the program performs a process of displaying preview information on the viewer5. If the detection point of the viewer5is not included in any of the file icons, step T42is skipped. The process in step T42will be described in detail later.

When the user changes the size of the viewer5, the information displaying program detects that the viewer5is resized, specifies the size of the viewer and calculates the position of the detection point of the viewer5in steps T45to T47. In steps T48and T49, the program checks whether the detection point of the viewer5is included in any of the file icons12. If the detection of the viewer5is included in any of the file icons12, the program performs a process of displaying preview information on the viewer5. If the detection point of the viewer5is not included in any of the file icons, step T49is skipped. The process in step T49will be described in detail later.

When the user depresses the playback button of the viewer5, the information displaying program detects that the playback button is depressed and performs a process of playing back a preview in steps T50and T51.

FIG. 20is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for the preview playing-back process. In step P01, the information displaying program specifies the type of a file.

When the file is a moving image file, the program generates a preview moving image and play backs and displays it on the viewer5in step P02. And the process returns.

When the file is a sound file, the program plays back original sound data and generates and displays a waveform corresponding to the original sound data on the viewer5in steps P03and P04. And the process returns.

When the file is musical performance data, the program converts the musical performance data into sound and plays back the sound, and generates and displays music data corresponding to the playback position on the viewer5in steps P05and P06. And the process returns.

Returning toFIG. 19, when the user depresses the stop button of the viewer5, the information displaying program detects that the stop button is depressed and stops the playback of the file in steps T52and T53.

When the user selects the viewer5and operates the viewer deleting button7, the information displaying program performs the viewer deleting process of step S14inFIG. 11.FIG. 21is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for the viewer deleting process.

In steps T60and T61, when the information displaying program detects that the viewer deleting button7is depressed, it checks whether any viewer5is selected.

If no viewer5is selected, the program displays an alarm indicating that no viewer5is selected in step T62. And the process returns.

If a viewer5is selected, the viewer5in selective state is specified and deleted from the screen in steps T63and T64. And the process returns.

InFIG. 11, when the user operates the exit button9, the information displaying program detects that the exit button9is depressed and ends its execution in step S15.

Next, a process of displaying preview information on the viewer5, which is performed by the information displaying program, will be described in detail.FIG. 22is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for performing the process of displaying preview information on the viewer5.

In step P10, the information displaying program checks whether the detection point of the viewer5is located in the folder area3.

When the detection point is not located in the folder area3, or when it is located in the file area4, the program reads setting information of files of the viewer setting window16from the information management DB27and also reads preview information and file information of a file selected at the detection point from the information management DB27in steps P11and P12.

In step P13, the program checks whether the detection point is included in the file icon12of a file that stores a moving image, sound and musical performance data.

When the detection point is not included in the file icon12of a file that stores a moving image, sound and musical performance data, or when the detection point is included in the file icon12of a file that stores static information, the preview information or file information is displayed on the viewer5in accordance with the setting information about the files of the viewer setting window16in step P14.

When the detection point is included in the time line icon14of a file that stores a moving image, sound and musical performance data, the program determines a notable time position corresponding to a position on the time line icon14of the detection point of the viewer5and performs a process of creating preview data before and after the time position in steps P15and P16.

FIG. 23is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for the preview data creating process. In step Q01, the information displaying program sets a given time range including the notable time position as a time range for creating a preview. In step Q02, the information displaying program specifies the type of the file.

If the file is a moving image file, in step Q03, the program creates a preview image corresponding to the original image whose frames are reduced in the time range set in step Q01. And the process returns.

If the file is musical performance data, in step Q04, the program creates preview music data corresponding to a musical performance code in the time range set in step Q01. And the process returns.

If the file is a sound file, in step Q05, the program creates waveform data corresponding to the original sound data and sets it to the preview sound data. And the process returns.

Returning toFIG. 22, the preview data corresponding to the notable time position is displayed on the viewer5together with the time of the playback position in step P17.

When the detection point is located in the folder area3in step P10shown inFIG. 22, the information displaying program checks whether the detection point is located on the file icon12displayed on another viewer5in step P20.

When the detection point is located on the file icon12displayed on another viewer5, the program displays preview information of a file specified by the file icon21on the viewer in step P21.

In steps P20and P21, if the detection point is located not on the file icon but on the file name, the preview of the file specified by the file name can be displayed.

When the detection point is not located on the file icon12displayed on the viewer5, the information displaying program reads the setting information of a folder in the viewer setting window from the information management DB27and specifies the file type and file name included in a selected folder in steps P22and P23. In step P24, the specified file icon or file name is displayed on the viewer5in accordance with the setting information of the folder.

The process of displaying preview information on the viewer5is performed by the foregoing procedure.

The detection point of the viewer5will be described. The size of the viewer5can be varied, and so can be the number of detection points in accordance with the length and width of the viewer5.

FIG. 24is an illustration of a method of calculating a plurality of detection points.

The detection points are arranged at the intersections of meshes such that a horizontal interval between the intersections is H and a vertical interval therebetween is V. Each of the detection points is located at not less than at least a given distance a away from either side of the viewer and a given distance b away from either end thereof. As the viewer increases in size by V in the vertical direction and H in the horizontal direction, the detection points increase in number. The file icons12displayed in the file area are arranged at the intersections of a given grid. The horizontal interval between the intersections of the grid is equal to H and the vertical interval therebetween is equal to V. The smallest horizontal distance of the viewer is2aand the smallest vertical distance thereof is2b.

InFIG. 24, two rectangles each having a width of H and a length of V can be set in the internal area that is located a distance a away from either side and a distance b away from either end. Accordingly, six detection points are set inFIG. 24.

A plurality of detection points enable a plurality of previews to be displayed on a single viewer5.

In the information displaying method according to the embodiment described above, a movable viewer can be displayed on a screen to preview a folder as well as a file. The user can thus retrieve a desired file with a simple operation.

Further, the viewer can preview a file with a lapse of time such as a moving image and sound as well as a still image. Such a file can thus be retrieved with efficiency.

The respective functions of the above embodiment can be configured using hardware, or the programs in which the functions are described by software can be read in and executed by a computer. The functions can also be configured appropriately by selecting one of software and hardware.

Furthermore, the functions can be executed by reading the programs stored in a recording medium (not shown) into a computer. A recording medium according to the embodiment of the present invention can record programs and can be used whatever its recording mode if its programs can be read by a computer.