Apparatus, method, and program for display control

A display control apparatus includes the following elements. An accepting unit accepts selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, one of the modes being selected by a user. When an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, a display control unit erases the pointer and displays the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2007-012899 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jan. 23, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods and programs for display control and, more particularly, to a display control apparatus, method, and program which ensure a high degree of ease of operation after switching between modes for selecting an object displayed on a screen (or window).

2. Description of the Related Art

Personal computers having an audio visual (AV) function have been popular. Some of those personal computers are each provided with a remote control, as an accessory, similar to those of AV apparatuses, such as a television receiver and a hard disk recorder.

With the use of the remote control, a user can change a channel to select a television program displayed on the personal computer or control the volume of a piece of music played on the personal computer. In addition, the user can start a browser and view a web page using the remote control.

During viewing a web page, the user operates an arrow key on the remote control to move a pointer in order to select a linked image or character (or character string). Disadvantageously, the ease of use of the remote control operated in the above-described manner is lower than that of a mouse. To solve the disadvantage, some of the personal computers have a pointer mode and a cursor mode as modes for selection of an object, such as a character or an image. The pointer mode is used to select any object using a pointer. The cursor mode is used to select any object using a cursor.

In the cursor mode, the cursor is displayed such that the cursor selects any one of objects displayed in a window. Each time the arrow key is operated, the cursor is moved such that the selected object is changed to another one. Accordingly, the user repetitively presses up, down, left, and right arrow buttons included in the arrow key until a target object is selected. When the target object is selected, the user operates the remote control to determine the selected object, so that a web page linked to the selected object can be displayed in the window.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-268201 discloses a technique of obtaining the degree of association between RSS articles and managing the articles in accordance with the degrees of association.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When an object selection mode is switched to another mode, for example, when the pointer mode is switched to the cursor mode, or vice versa, the ease of operation may be significantly reduced depending on a default position of the cursor or that of the pointer just after switching.

For example, it is assumed that the user scrolls a web page while selecting the pointer mode and then switches the pointer mode to the cursor mode at some point in time. If the cursor is displayed in such a default position that the cursor selects the first object in the web page in response to the switching operation, a viewable portion of the web page is different from that the user has viewed just before switching between the modes. Disadvantageously, the portion of the web page displayed before scrolling is again displayed in response to the switching operation, thus reducing the ease of operation.

The present invention is made in consideration of the above-described disadvantages. It is desirable to improve the ease of operation after switching between modes for selecting an object displayed in a window.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display control apparatus includes the following elements. An accepting unit accepts selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, one of the modes being selected by a user. When an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, a display control unit erases the pointer and displays the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

The display control unit may move the cursor or the pointer in response to an operation on an arrow key disposed on a remote control.

The objects displayed in the window may be characters or images linked to other data sets. In this case, when a predetermined object is selected by the cursor or the pointer and an operation of determining the selected object is performed, the display control unit displays a window related to a data set linked to the object selected by the cursor or the pointer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for display control includes the steps of accepting selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, selected by a user, and when an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, erasing the pointer and displaying the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program that allows a computer to execute a process including the steps of accepting selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, selected by a user, and when an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, erasing the pointer and displaying the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

According to the above-described embodiments, selection of one of objects displayed in a window is accepted in either the cursor mode, in which the cursor is moved to select an object, or the pointer mode, in which the pointer is moved to select an object, selected by the user. When an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, the pointer is erased and the cursor is displayed such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the ease of operation after switching between the modes for selecting an object displayed in a window can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, the correspondence between the features of the present invention and the specific elements disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention in the specification and the drawings is discussed below. This description is intended to assure that embodiments supporting the claimed invention are described in this specification and the drawings. Thus, even if an element in the following embodiments or the drawings is not described as relating to a certain feature of the present invention, that does not necessarily mean that the element does not relate to that feature of the claims. Conversely, even if an element is described herein as relating to a certain feature of the claims, that does not necessarily mean that the element does not relate to other features of the claims.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display control apparatus (for example, an information processing apparatus1inFIG. 1) includes the following elements. An accepting unit (e.g., a user operation determining unit51inFIG. 11) accepts selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, one of the modes being selected by a user. When an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, a display control unit (e.g., a display control unit52inFIG. 11) erases the pointer and displays the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for display control includes the steps of accepting selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, selected by a user, and when an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, erasing the pointer and displaying the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased (for example, step S7inFIG. 12).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program that allows a computer to execute a process including the steps of accepting selection of one of objects displayed in a window in either a cursor mode, in which a cursor is moved to select an object, or a pointer mode, in which a pointer is moved to select an object, selected by a user, and when an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, erasing the pointer and displaying the cursor such that the cursor selects an object closest to a position where the pointer was displayed just before being erased (for example, step S7inFIG. 12).

FIG. 1illustrates an information processing apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the information processing apparatus1is a television receiver. The information processing apparatus1has an operating system, such as Windows® XP, and also functions as a personal computer.

The information processing apparatus1is equipped with a remote control2. A user can change a channel of a television (TV) program displayed on a display of the information processing apparatus1or control the volume of sound output from a speaker by operating the remote control2.

In addition, the user can start a browser and view a web page using the remote control2.

The information processing apparatus1has two selection modes for selecting an object, such as a character (or character string) or an image, linked to another web page. The two modes include a cursor mode in which selection can be made using a cursor and a pointer mode in which selection can be carried out using a pointer.

When the cursor mode is selected, the cursor is displayed such that the cursor selects one object in a browser window. The user operates an arrow key disposed on the remote control2to change an object to be selected by the cursor and presses an ENTER button while a target object is selected, so that a web page linked to this selected object can be displayed.

When the pointer mode is selected, the pointer is displayed in the browser window. The pointer can be moved not only to an object, such as a character string or an image, linked to a web page but also to any position in the window. The user operates the arrow key on the remote control2to move the pointer and presses the ENTER button while the pointer indicates (selects) a target object, so that a web page linked to this selected object can be displayed.

FIG. 2is an external view of the remote control2.

The remote control2includes a POWER button which is operated to turn on or off the information processing apparatus1, numeric keys which are operated to change a receiving channel, a BLUE button11, a RED button12, a GREEN button13, and a YELLOW button14.

Various functions are assigned to the BLUE button11, the RED button12, the GREEN button13, and the YELLOW button14in accordance with an application running at that time.

For example, assuming that the browser is started and the user allows the apparatus to display a browser window, the BLUE button11is assigned with a function of scrolling up a web page and the RED button12is assigned with a function of scrolling down the web page.

The GREEN button13is assigned with a function of zooming in or out the web page and the YELLOW button14is assigned with a function of switching between the above-described cursor and pointer modes. Pressing the YELLOW button14alternately selects the cursor mode and the pointer mode.

The remote control2also has the arrow key, indicated at15, including a circular member. In the arrow key15, part marked with an up arrow serves as an up arrow button15A, part marked with a down arrow serves as a down arrow button15B, part marked with a left arrow serves as a left arrow button15C, and part marked with a right arrow serves as a right arrow button15D. The ENTER button, indicated at16, for determination is disposed at the center of the arrow key15.

Display of a browser window will now be described.

FIG. 3illustrates a browser window displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus1.

Referring toFIG. 3, the browser window includes a region A1and a region A2. The region A1covers large part of the entire browser window and displays a web page. A portion of the web page displayed in the region A1is indicated by a scroll bar arranged in the right end of the region A1. Specifically, a hatched area in the scroll bar indicates a viewable portion of the entire web page.

InFIG. 3, character strings “LINK A” to “LINK J” linked to other web pages are displayed with underlines, respectively. In addition to the above-described character strings “LINK A” to “LINK J”, unlinked character strings and images may actually be displayed in the region A1on the basis of a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) file acquired from a web server.

Referring toFIG. 3, the cursor, indicated at C, is displayed in the browser window such that the cursor C selects the character string “LINK A”. In this case, the cursor mode is set as a default selection mode so that the cursor mode is automatically selected when a browser window is displayed.

The user can move the cursor C to another linked character string (object) by operating the arrow key15on the remote control2. When radio buttons, check boxes, and a text box are displayed, the user can move the cursor C to highlight any of those objects.

The region A2arranged in the bottom of the browser window displays captions explaining functions assigned to the buttons on the remote control2.

Referring toFIG. 3, as will be obviously understood from the displayed captions, a CLEAR button is assigned with a function of closing the browser window and a BACK button is assigned with a function of returning to display of the preceding web page.

Furthermore, as will be obviously understood from the captions, the BLUE button11, the RED button12, the GREEN button13, and the YELLOW button14are assigned with the foregoing functions, respectively. In addition, a MENU button is assigned with a function of displaying a menu.

FIG. 4shows another browser window displayed when the user presses the right arrow button15D in the arrow key15two times while the browser window ofFIG. 3is displayed.

Each time the right arrow button15D is pressed once, the position of the cursor C is shifted. First pressing on the right arrow button15D selects the object “LINK B” which is to the right of the object “LINK A” and is the closest thereto. Second pressing thereon selects the “LINK C” which is to the right of the object “LINK B” and is the closest thereto, as shown inFIG. 4. In this state, when the ENTER button16is pressed once, a web page linked to the object “LINK C” is displayed in the region A1.

When another button in the arrow key15is pressed, similarly, the cursor C is moved so as to select an object, which is located in the same direction as that indicated by the pressed button and is the closest to the position of the cursor C before pressing the relevant arrow button.

FIG. 5shows another browser window obtained when the selection mode is switched from the cursor mode to the pointer mode.

When the cursor mode is switched to the pointer mode, the cursor C is erased and the pointer, indicated at P, is displayed in a predetermined position, as shown inFIG. 5. The user can move the pointer P not only to any of selectable objects but also to any position in the browser window by operating the arrow key15on the remote control2. For example, when the pointer P is moved onto the object “LINK C” and the ENTER button16is pressed once while the pointer P indicates the object “LINK C”, a web page linked to the object “LINK C” is displayed in the region A1.

In the pointer mode, when the BLUE button11is pressed, the web page can be scrolled up. As shown inFIG. 6, moving the pointer P to the upper end of the browser window can also scroll the web page up.

Instead of pressing the RED button12, as shown inFIG. 7, moving the pointer P to the lower end of the browser window can scroll the web page down.

FIG. 8illustrates a browser window obtained by scrolling the web page ofFIG. 7down in the pointer mode to change the viewable portion of the web page to another lower portion.

Referring toFIG. 8, character string objects “LINK V” to “LINK Z” linked to other web pages are displayed with underlines, respectively. The pointer P is displayed near the object “LINK V”.

It is assumed that while the browser window ofFIG. 8is displayed, the YELLOW button14is pressed once to give an instruction to switch the selection mode from the pointer mode to the cursor mode. As shown inFIG. 9, the viewable portion of the web page is the same as that before switching the selection mode, the pointer P is erased, and the cursor C is displayed such that the cursor C selects the object “LINK V” which is the closest to the position where the pointer P was displayed.

Similarly, when an instruction to switch the selection mode from the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given while the pointer P is located near the object “LINK Z”, the cursor C is displayed such that the cursor C selects the object “LINK Z” which is the closest to the position where the pointer P was displayed just before being erased.

As for the closest character string (object), for example, the distance between the barycentric position of the pointer P and that of each of the objects is obtained and the object related to the shortest distance is selected as the closest one. Alternatively, the distance between the tip of the pointer P and the position of each of the objects may be obtained and the object related to the shortest distance may be selected as the closets one.

Consequently, when the selection mode is switched to another mode, the viewable portion of the web page is not changed in response to the switching operation. The cursor C is displayed such that the cursor C selects an object near a position where the pointer P was displayed. Advantageously, the ease of operation is not reduced.

For example, assuming that an instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given while the browser window as shown inFIG. 8is displayed, if the cursor C is displayed in such a default position that the cursor C selects the first object “LINK A” as shown inFIG. 3in response to the switching operation, the viewable portion of the web page is changed. Disadvantageously, the ease of operation is significantly lowered. According to the present embodiment, since the cursor C is displayed such that the cursor C selects an object closest to the position where the pointer P was displayed, the above-described disadvantage can be prevented. The ease of operation can be improved.

A process, performed by the information processing apparatus1, for controlling display of a browser window as described above will be described later with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 10is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus1.

A central processing unit (CPU)31executes various processes in accordance with a program stored in a read only memory (ROM)32and a program loaded from a hard disk38to a random access memory (RAM)33. The RAM33appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU31to execute the various processes.

The CPU31, the ROM32, and the RAM33are connected to a bus34such that those units are connected to each other. The bus34is further connected to an input/output interface35.

The input/output interface35is connected to a display36including a liquid crystal display (LCD), a speaker37, a hard disk38, and a communication unit39for communication via a network. An HTML file used for displaying a browser window is acquired from a web server by communication through the communication unit39.

The input/output interface35is further connected to a USB host controller40, a television (TV) broadcasting receiving unit42, and a drive43. The USB host controller40receives a signal transmitted from the remote control2through a remote control receiving unit41connected as a USB device.

The TV broadcasting receiving unit42receives a signal sent from an antenna (not shown) for receiving a television broadcasting wave to acquire data related to television (TV) programs to be broadcast on a predetermined channel. The TV program data acquired by the TV broadcasting receiving unit42is supplied to the display36and/or the hard disk38through the input/output interface35and is used for program display and/or program recording.

The drive43is loaded with a removable medium44including an optical disk, such as a Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark) or a digital versatile disc (DVD). A computer program read from the removable medium44through the drive43is installed into the hard disk38as necessary.

FIG. 11is a block diagram of the functional structure of the information processing apparatus1. At least one part of the functional units shown inFIG. 11is realized by executing a predetermined program through the CPU31inFIG. 10.

Referring toFIG. 11, a user operation determining unit51and a display control unit52are realized in the information processing apparatus1. A signal, transmitted from the remote control2and accepted by the USB host controller40, is supplied to the user operation determining unit51.

The user operation determining unit51determines the details of an operation, which the user has performed using the remote control2, on the basis of a signal supplied from the USB host controller40and outputs information indicating the determined details of the user operation to the display control unit52. For example, the user operation determining unit51determines the fact that the user has given an instruction to start a browser in the menu, the fact that the user has pressed the YELLOW button14to give an instruction to change the selection mode, or the fact that the user has operated the arrow key15to give an instruction to move the cursor or the pointer.

The display control unit52controls display by the display36. The display control unit52changes display of a browser window in accordance with a user instruction indicated by information supplied from the user operation determining unit51.

A process, performed by the information processing apparatus1, for controlling display of a browser window will now be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 12. This process is started when the display control unit52displays a browser window.

In step S1, the display control unit52controls display of the browser window in the cursor mode in accordance with a user instruction indicated by information supplied from the user operation determining unit51.

Specifically, the display control unit52moves the cursor C each time the user operates the arrow key15and changes a viewable portion of a web page in response to operations on the BLUE button11and the RED button12. In addition, when the ENTER button16is pressed while a linked object is being selected by the cursor C, the display control unit52controls the communication unit39to acquire an HTML file of a web page linked to the selected object and changes display in the region A1on the basis of the acquired HTML file.

In step S2, the display control unit52determines whether an instruction to switch the selection mode from the cursor mode to the pointer mode is given.

When it is determined in step S2that the instruction to switch the cursor mode to the pointer mode is not given, the display control unit52determines whether an instruction to close the browser window is given.

When it is determined in step S3that the instruction to close the browser window is not given, the processing routine is returned to step S1and the display in the cursor mode is continued.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S2that the instruction to switch the selection mode from the cursor mode to the pointer mode is given, the display control unit52erases the cursor C and displays the pointer P in the browser window to control the display of the browser window in the pointer mode in step S4.

The display control unit52moves the pointer P in response to a user operation on the arrow key15and changes a viewable portion of the web page in response to operations on the BLUE button11and the RED button12. Furthermore, when the ENTER button16is pressed while a linked object is pointed by the pointer P, the display control unit52controls the communication unit39to acquire an HTML file of a web page linked to the pointed object and changes the display of the region A1on the basis of the acquired HTML file.

In step S5, the display control unit52determines whether an instruction to switch the selection mode from the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given.

When it is determined in step S5that the instruction to switch the pointer mode to the cursor mode is not given, the processing routine is returned to step S4and the display in the pointer mode is continued.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5that the instruction to switch the selection mode from the pointer mode to the cursor mode is given, the display control unit52selects one object, which is closest to a position where the pointer P was displayed, in step S6.

In step S7, the display control unit52erases the pointer P and displays the cursor C such that the cursor C selects the object selected in step S6. After that, the processing routine is returned to step S1and the display control unit52controls the display of the browser window in the cursor mode.

When the CLEAR button on the remote control2is pressed and it is determined in step S3that an instruction to close the browser window is given, the display control unit52closes the browser window and terminates the process.

According to the above-described process, when the selection mode is switched from the pointer mode to the cursor mode, the cursor C is displayed such that the cursor C selects an object closest to a position where the pointer P was displayed in the window after the switching operation. Advantageously, the ease of operation after switching between the selection modes can be increased.

The display of the browser window has been described. The above-described display switching operation can be performed on any window so long as the window includes objects selectable using the cursor or the pointer.

In the above description, the cursor C is indicated by a rectangular frame. How to highlight a target object is not limited to the above-described example using the cursor C. So long as operating the arrow key15moves a highlighting portion to change an object to be selected, any highlighting method can be used. For example, a selected object may be highlighted with a color different from that for unselected objects. Each time the arrow key15is operated, the highlighted object may be switched to another object.

In the above description, the pointer P is shown as an open arrow. Instead of the pointer P, any specifying tool may be used so long as the position thereof is shifted each time the arrow key15is operated.

As described above, the objects selectable using the cursor C include character strings, images, radio buttons, check boxes, and a text box which are linked to other web pages. Any object displayed in another form may be selected using the cursor C provided that performing a predetermined operation, for example, pressing the ENTER button while an object is selected by the cursor C allows the information processing apparatus1to perform a process.

The display resulted from the operation using the remote control2has been described. The above-described display may be obtained in response to an operation using another input device, e.g., a mouse.

The information processing apparatus1having the same form as that of a typical television receiver has been described. The information processing apparatus1may be realized as a device separated from a television receiver, as shown inFIG. 13.

Referring toFIG. 13, the information processing apparatus1is connected to the display36via a cable. The information processing apparatus1controls display of the display36in the above-described manner.

The above-described series of processing steps can be executed by hardware or software. When the above-described series of processing steps is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed from a program recording medium into a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or into a multi-purpose personal computer which is capable of executing various functions by installing various programs and has a structure as shown inFIG. 10.

As for the program executed by the computer (the CPU31), the program recorded on the removable medium44including an optical disk may be provided. Alternatively, the program may be transferred through a wired or wireless transmission medium, such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

After the removable medium44is loaded into the drive43, the program may be installed to the hard disk38through the input/output interface35. Alternatively, the program may be received by the communication unit39through the wired or wireless transmission medium and be then installed to the hard disk38. Alternatively, the program may be previously installed in the ROM32or the hard disk38.

The program executed by the computer may be a program including processing steps which are carried out in time series in the described order in this specification or a program including processing steps which are carried out in parallel or individually at necessary timing, for example, in response to a call request.