Portable data processing apparatus having a graphical interface

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, typically incorporated in a small-size, portable computerised electronic data storage device, has a display unit (1) combined with a tablet (2) which coacts with a stylus (3) to instruct a CPU (21) to process stored information in different modes. When desired pages of information are to be copied or deleted, a displayed icon for a copying or deleting process is touched by the stylus (3) to display a corresponding window on the display unit (1). The range of pages to be copied or deleted is specified in the displayed window using the stylus (3). While the desired pages are being copied or deleted, a moving image indicating a visual representation of a copier or a shredder is also displayed.

Description: This invention relates to information processing apparatus. WO89/01658 discloses an electronic personal organiser having a display means over which there is a touch-sensitive transducer. The display means display indicia identifying sections of information typically stored in a personal organiser. Use of the stylus selects one of the sections four command words; "contents", "page < < ","page > > " and "eraser" are displayed. The page command words merely turn over pages. Selecting "eraser" erases contents selected by the stylus. EP-A-0 331 329 discloses a photocopying machine having a graphical user interface for controlling photocopying operations and comprising a display menu making use of windows and selectable icons for pagewise information display and processing. A conventional word processor comprises a keyboard for inputting information, memory for storing the information as a plurality of pages and a display for displaying one page at a time. The word processor is able to display a field for selecting the first and last pages of a sequence of pages to be subject to a process such as printing. Data is entered into the field by means of the keyboard. Also, there is known an information processing apparatus for storing divided groups or units of data (hereinafter referred to as "segment data") as fixed-length pages in memories are known. When such an information processing apparatus is in operation, the user specifies and retrieves a desired page of the stored segment data, and displays the retrieved page on a display unit, or records the retrieved page on a recording medium. Generally, a page of the stored segment data is identified using a keyboard. To specify a succession of pages, the first page is identified with the keyboard, and then the number of pages following the first page is entered through the keyboard. However, pages which are desired to be retrieved from the stored segment data cannot be identified in the above manner with an information processing apparatus which employs a stylus as the input device. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: information processing means; memory means for storing information; display means for displaying information, and means including a pointing device for entering information, the apparatus being arranged such that: information is stored in the memory means as a plurality of pages; the display means displays one of said pages at a time; the display means displays keys responsive to the pointing device for selecting stored pages; the apparatus being characterized in that : an icon responsive to the pointing device is provided for selecting a process to be performed, a key responsive to the pointing device is provided to designate first and last ones of the selected pages to be processed according to the selected process; a start key responsive to the pointing device is provided to start executing the selected process: and in that the processing means performs the selected process in response to the designation of said start key on the selected pages from the designated first page to the designated last page, and the display means displays a visual representation of the manner in which the processing means processes the information from said first page to said last page. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for information processing using information processing apparatus, the apparatus comprising information processing means, memory means for storing information, display means for displaying information, and means including a pointing device for entering information, the apparatus being arranged such that: information is stored in the memory means as a plurality of pages; the display means displays one of said pages at a time; the display means displays keys responsive to the pointing device for selecting stored pages, the method being characterized by comprising the steps of displaying an icon on the display for selecting a process to be performed, designating said icon by the pointing device in order to select said process to be performed, designating a key by the pointing device in order to designate first and last ones of the selected pages to be processed according to the selected process; designating a start key responsive to the pointing device to start executing the selected process after designating said first and last pages; performing said selected process by the processing means in response to the designation of said start key on the selected pages from the designated first page to the designated last page, and during the performing, displaying on said display a visual representation of the manner in which the processing means processes the information from said first page to said last page. Preferably, the said visual representation of the selected process is a moving image thereof. The processing means may process the information in a selected one of a plurality of different selectable processing modes, and the display means may display a window indicating the selected processing mode. For example, the processing means may copy the information ranging from the first page to the last page as different pages in the memory means, and delete the information ranging from the first page to the last page from the memory means. The input means may comprise a tablet and a stylus which operate in coaction with each other to instruct the processing means to copy or delete the information ranging from the first page to the last page. The display means displays an image containing a visual representation of the manner in which the processing means processes the information from the first page to the last page. For example, when the information is to be deleted, a shredder is displayed by the display means, and when the information is to be copied, a copier is displayed by the display means. Embodiments of the present invention can thus provide an information processing apparatus which is capable of identifying successive pages of stored data with an instruction inputted using a stylus, and which also gives the user a clear visual confirmation as to how many pages have been specified, and also gives the user a clear visual indication of the selected process which is carried out on the pages. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts re referred to by like references, and in which: Figures 1A, 1B and 1C are a flowchart of an operation sequence of an embodiment of information processing apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2A, 2B and 2C are a flowchart of an operation sequence of an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a housing assembly of the information processing apparatus. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the information processing apparatus; and Figures 5A to 5I and 6A to 6R are plan views showing examples of data processing displayed while the information processing apparatus is in operation. Figures 3 and 4 show the hardware arrangement of an embodiment of information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The information processing apparatus is shown as being incorporated in a small-size, portable computerised electronic data storage device. As shown in Figure 3, the electronic data storage device includes a housing assembly comprising a pair of foldable and unfoldable housings 16 and 17. The housing 17 has a display unit 1 in the form of a liquid crystal display unit, for example, for displaying image data supplied from a CPU 21 (Figure 4) or the like. The display unit 1 has on its surface an input tablet 2 which may comprise a transparent touch-sensitive device or the like. A stylus or probe 3, which is usually stored in the other housing 16 when not in use, coacts with the input tablet 2 for inputting desired data into the electronic data storage device. The stylus 3 and the tablet 2 jointly have a detector for detecting a change in the electrostatic capacitance, for example, between the stylus 3 and the tablet 2. When a certain position on the tablet 2 is pointed to by the tip of the stylus 3, the coordinates of that position can be detected even without the stylus 3 being in contact with the tablet 2, and a cursor is displayed on the display unit 1 at the position pointed to by the tip of the stylus 3. When the stylus 3 is taken out of the housing 16 and its tip is brought into contact with the tablet 2, information relative to the condition in which the tip of the stylus 3 touches the tablet 2 and the position where the tip 3 of the stylus 3 contacts the tablet 2 is transmitted to the CPU 21, inputting desired data thereinto. The housing 17 supports keyswitches 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, whereas the housing 16 supports keyswitches 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. Signals therefrom are supplied to the CPU 21. The housing 16 also has a loudspeaker 7 for producing audible signals and a battery case 8 for storing a battery. The battery case 8 is normally closed by a lid which can be opened when it is released by a lock mechanism 9 associated therewith. Various electronic circuits and components in the housings 16 and 17 are energised when a power supply switch 10 on the housing 16 is turned on. The housing 17 has a microphone 11 on the outer edge thereof for picking up voice messages to be recorded in a solid-state recording medium. The housing 11 has on a side edge thereof a key pad 12 for recording desired voice messages. The key pad 12 includes a recording key 12a, a playback key 12b, a stop key 12c, and a volume key 12d for adjusting the level of sound to any one of high, medium and low levels. When the keys 12a to 12d are selectively pushed or shifted, a voice message picked up by the microphone 11 is recorded, or a recorded voice message can be reproduced by the loudspeaker 7. The housing 16 also has a socket 13 defined in an outer edge thereof for receiving an IC card such as of a ROM, a RAM, or the like therein, and an expansional socket 14 defined in the outer edge thereof for connection to an external device (not shown). The housings 16 and 17 are foldably interconnected by a hinge 15 which includes a flexible board for transmitting signals between the housings 16 and 17. Therefore, the housings 16 and 17 can be folded together for storage or spread out for use without electric disconnection between electronic circuits and components in the housings 16 and 17. For example, the electronic data storage device as it is unfolded has a longitudinal dimension of about 29 cm and a transverse dimension of about 20.5 cm, and has a thickness of about 4 cm when folded. The display unit 1 has a length of about 15 cm and a width of about 10 cm. The electronic data storage device has an electronic hardware arrangement as shown in Figure 4. The electronic data storage device includes the CPU 21 to which various components in the form of ICs, etc are connected through a bus 22. A ROM 23 which is connected to the bus 22 stores various programs including a system program for controlling operation of the electronic data storage device, a character conversion program for converting Japanese alphabetical characters into Chinese characters in a word processor system, dictionary data for use with the character conversion program, a character recognition program for recognising hand-written characters, dictionary data for use with the character recognition program, and other data. A working RAM 24 and a back-up RAM 25 coupled to a power supply 26 are also connected to the bus 22. A timer IC 27, which is also energised by the power supply 26, counts clock pulses generated by a quartz oscillator 28 and constantly produces present data relative to year, month, date and time. The display unit 1 shown in Figure 1 is controlled by a display controller 29 which is controlled by the CPU 21. Display data generated by the CPU 21 are supplied to the display controller 29 and written into a video RAM (V-RAM) 30 through the display controller 29. The display data stored in the V-RAM 30 are then supplied to the display unit 1 under the control of the display controller 29. The tablet 2 combined with the display unit 1 and the stylus 3 are connected to the bus 22 through a tablet interface 31. Therefore, data which are written on the input tablet 2 with the stylus 3 are supplied through the tablet interface 31 to the CPU 21. A voice signal picked up by the microphone 11 is converted by a solid-state recording processor 32 into a digital signal, which is stored in the back-up RAM 25 under the control of the CPU 21. When voice signal data stored in the back-up RAM 25 are retrieved, they are converted by the recording processor 32 into an analogue signal, which is supplied through a mixer 33 to the loudspeaker 7. A dialler 34 produces an audio signal, which corresponds to a dual tone signal of a push-button dialling system, in response to data indicative of a desired telephone number from the CPU 21. The audio signal is supplied from the dialler 34 through the mixer 33 to the loudspeaker 7. A key interface 35 is supplied with signals from the key switches 5a to 5d, and the key switch associated with the stop key 12c. The key interface 35 converts the supplied signals into signals which are supplied to the CPU 21. Signals from the key switch associated with the power supply switch 10, the key switches 6a to 6d, and the key switches associated with the keys 12a, 12b and 12d are supplied to the interface 35 through a power supply 36. When any one of these key switches is actuated, the power supply 36 is first turned on, and thereafter the signal from the key switch is supplied to the interface 35. Interfaces 37 and 38 for connection to an IC card and an external circuit, respectively, are connected in the sockets 13 and 14 respectively. Now, operation of the electronic data storage device will be described below. First, a process of retrieving and deleting or shredding segment data which have been stored in the V-RAM 30 by the CPU 21 will be described with reference to Figures 1A to 1C and 5A to 5I. When the power supply switch 10 on the housing 16 is pushed, an array 40 of icons, that is graphic symbols on a menu that are accompanied by corresponding characters, is displayed in a hatched area 50 of the screen of the display unit 1 as shown in Figure 5A. When the stylus 3 is brought into contact with a "WRITE" icon 51 representing a pencil on a right-hand portion of the hatched area 50, characters "ACTION" 51a, "CONNECTION" 51b, and "REPORT" 51c are displayed on an edge of the right-hand portion of the hatched area 50 in a step ST1 (Figure 1A). The characters "ACTION" 51a, "CONNECTION" 51b, and "REPORT" 51c are also displayed when a "PROCESS" icon 52 or "RESERVE" icon 53 is touched by the stylus 3. Then, the tip of the stylus 3 touches "REPORT" 51c to display a report image 70 on the display unit 1. The user can draw any desired images in the report image 70. At this time, however, it is assumed that the report image 70 contains a rabbit 71 which is stored in a first page of segment data stored in the V-RAM 30 that are to be shredded. Then, a "SHREDDER" icon 54 is touched by the tip of the stylus 3 in a step ST2. When the tip of the stylus 3 is moved from the "SHREDDER" icon 54 into a displayed active area beyond a line 72 in a step ST3 as shown in Figure 5A, an enlarged shredder image 74 is displayed in an image frame 73 (Figure 5B) in the report image 70, the shredder image 74 including the number of pages "0" to be shredded at a position where the tip of the stylus 3 has left off. At the same time, the "SHREDDER" icon 54 is erased. The shredder image 74 also includes a graphic representation 81 of a shredder. After the step ST3, the CPU 21 resets B (back) and F (forward) page counters to zero in a step ST4. These page counters represent data stored in back and forward areas of the V-RAM 30, and operate when respective B and F keys 75 and 76 for turning over pages in the report image 70 as shown in Figure 5B are touched by the tip of the stylus 3. In a next step ST5, only a "FIRST" key 77 in the window of the shredder image 74 is enabled, while other keys for indicating pages which are displayed in the window are disabled and covered with halftone dot meshing. Specifically, a "CANCEL" key 78, a "LAST" key 79, and a "START" key 80 are disabled. The tip of the stylus 3 touches the B key 75 or the F key 76 to select segment data to be shredded in a step ST6. If the B key 75 is touched by the stylus 3 four times, then first to fourth pages of segment data are successively "turned over" in the display unit 1. These pages are successively displayed in the display unit 1 until the fourth page which represents the segment data containing an image 82 of an automobile, for example, is displayed as shown in Figure 5C. The segment data themselves do not contain page numbers because it would be cumbersome to change, increment, or decrement page numbers in the displayed segment data each time they are deleted. While the pages are being turned over, the shredder image 74 remains unchanged except the page number. Then, the CPU 21 determines in a step ST7 whether the "FIRST" key 77 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If not, then control returns through another processing step ST8 to the step ST7 again. If the "FIRST" key 77 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST7, then control goes to a step ST9 in which the "LAST" key 79 and the "CANCEL" key 78 in the shredder image 74 are enabled. The number of pages to be shredded is set to "1" in a step ST10, and then the first address of the displayed page is stored in a memory X in a step ST11. Thereafter, the CPU 21 determines in a step ST12 whether the B key 75 or the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If the B key 75 is touched by the stylus 3, then the displayed segment or page number is decremented by one in a step ST13 (Figure 1B), and the B counter associated with the B key 75 is incremented by one in a step ST14. Then, the sum of one and the absolute value |B - F| representing the difference between the counts of the B and F counters is displayed as the page number in a step ST15. Control then goes from the step ST15 back to the step ST12. If the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST12, then the displayed segment or page number is incremented by one in a step ST16, and the F counter associated with the F key 76 is incremented by one in a step ST17. Then, the sum of one and the absolute value |B - F| representing the difference between the counts of the B and F counters is displayed as the page number in a step ST18. Control then goes from the step ST18 back to the step ST12. If neither the B key 75 nor the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST12, then the CPU 21 determines in a step ST19 (Figure 1A) whether the "LAST" key 79 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If not, then the CPU 21 determines in a step ST20 (Figure 1B) whether the "CANCEL" key 78 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If the "CANCEL" key 78 is touched by the stylus 3, then the process is cancelled in a step ST21. After the step ST21, control returns to the step ST4. If the "CANCEL" key 78 is not touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST20, then control goes through another processing step ST22 back to the step ST12. If the "LAST" key 79 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST19, then only the "START" key 80 and the "CANCEL" key 78 are enabled in a step ST23 (Figure 1A). Then, the CPU 21 stores the first address of the page whose page number is displayed in the shredder image 74 in a memory Y in a step ST24. The CPU 21 determines in a step ST25 (Figure 1C) whether the difference Y - X between the first addresses in the memories X and Y is positive (Y - X > 0) or not. If the difference Y - X is positive, then the page data between the value X in the X memory and the final address of the segment data starting with the value Y in the memory Y are established as the segment data to be cancelled or discarded in a step ST26. If the difference Y - X is negative, then the page data between the value Y in the memory Y and the final address of the segment data starting with the value X in the memory X are established as the segment data to be cancelled or discarded in a step ST27. The steps ST26 and ST27 are described in more detail below. If, for example, successive second, third, and fourth segment data or pages among first to fifth segment data or pages are to be cancelled or discarded, then the first address (that is, "9020") of the second page is stored in the memory X in the step ST11, and the first address of the fourth page (that is, "9080") is stored in the memory Y in the step ST24. The step 25 determines whether Y - X = 9080 - 9020 = 60 is positive or not. If the difference Y - X is positive in the step ST26, the segment data or page data between the value X, that is, the first address 9020 of the second page and the final address of the page starting with the value Y, that is, the first address 9080 of the fourth page are established as the pages to be cancelled or shredded. Therefore, the second, third and fourth pages are established as the page to be cancelled or shredded. If the difference Y - X is negative in the step ST27, then the fourth, third and second pages are set as the pages to be cancelled or shredded. After the successive segment data to be shredded are specified in the step ST26 or ST27, for example, after the second to fourth pages to be shredded are identified, the CPU 21 determines in a step ST28 whether the key touched by the stylus 3 is the "START" key 80 or the "CANCEL" key 78. If either the key 78 or the key 80 is not touched by the stylus 3, then the CPU 21 executes another processing step ST29 and executes the step ST28 again. If the "CANCEL" key 78 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST29, then the process is cancelled in a step ST30, after which control returns to the step ST4. If the "START" key 80 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step ST28, the "START" key 80 is displayed in a hatched mode, indicating that the "START" key 80 is activated, as shown in Figure 5D. The shredding process now starts to be executed. As shown in Figure 5E, the display unit 1 displays segment data 83, to be successively shredded, as they move from the "WRITE" icon 51 towards the displayed shredder 81 in the shredder image 74. The displayed segment data 82 are then put into a slot 84 of the displayed shredder 81 as shown in Figure 5F, and cut into small shredded pieces 85 as shown in Figure 5G. The displayed shredded pieces 85 are then placed in a container 86 as shown in Figure 5H. These images are successively displayed to allow the user to obtain a clear visual confirmation of the shredding of the segment data 83. The shredding process which is being executed is displayed as described above in a step ST31. Then, the corresponding segment data stored in the memory are erased in a step ST32, and a message 87 indicating that the shredding process is completed is displayed as shown in Figure 5I in a step ST33. When the user puts the stylus 3 into contact with a displayed "CONFIRM" key 88, the B and F counters are reset to zero in a step ST34. The program for the shredding process now comes to an end. A process of retrieving and copying a desired succession of segment data or pages from the stored segment data will be described below with reference to Figures 2A to 2C and 6A to 6R. When the power supply switch 10 on the housing 16 is pushed, the array 40 of icons is displayed in the hatched area 50 of the screen of the display unit 1 as shown in Figure 6A. When the stylus 3 is brought into contact with the "WRITE" icon 51 on the right-hand portion of the hatched area 50, the characters "ACTION" 51a, "CONNECTION" 51b, and "REPORT" 51c are displayed on the edge of the right-hand portion of the hatched area 50 in a step STE1 (Figure 6A). When the tip of the stylus 3 touches "REPORT" 51c to display a report image 70 on the display unit 1, the user can draw any desired images in the report image 70. At this time, however, it is assumed that the report image 70 contains a rabbit 71 which is stored in a first page of segment data stored in the V-RAM 30 that are to be copied. Then, a "COPY" icon 55 is touched by the tip of the stylus 3 in a step STE2, as shown in Figure 6A. As shown in Figure 6B, a copying window remains small in size in an area positioned above the line 72. When the tip of the stylus 3 is moved into an active area beyond the line 72 in a step STE3 as shown in Figure 6B, the copying window is enlarged and displayed as a copy image 91 in an image frame 90 (Figure 6C) in the report image 70, the copy image 91 including the number of pages "0" to be shredded at a position where the tip of the stylus 3 has left off. At the same time, the "COPY" icon 54 is erased. The copy image 91 also includes a graphic representation 96 of a copier. After the step STE3, the CPU 21 resets the B (back) and F (forward) page counters to zero in a step STE4. These page counters represent data stored in back and forward areas of the V-RAM 30, and operate when the respective B and F keys 75 and 76 for turning over pages in the report image 70 as shown in Figure 6D are touched by the tip of the stylus 3. In a next step STE5, only the "FIRST" key 77 in the window of the copy image 91 is enabled, while other keys for indicating pages which are displayed in the window are disabled and covered with halftone dot meshing. Specifically, a "CANCEL" key 93, "LAST" key 94 and a "START" key 95 are disabled. The tip of the stylus 3 touches the B key 75 or the F key 76 to the select segment data to be copied in a step STE6. If the B key 75 is touched by the stylus 3 three times, then first to third pages of segment data are successively "turned over" in the display unit 1. These pages are successively displayed in the display unit 1 until the third page which represents the segment data containing an image 97 of a lion, for example, is displayed as shown in Figure 6G. The segment data themselves to not contain page numbers because it would be cumbersome to change, increment or decrement page numbers in the displayed segment data each time they are discarded. While the pages are being turned over, the copy image 91 remains unchanged as shown in Figure 6E, which shows that no pages are turned over. Then, the CPU 21 determines in a step STE7 whether the "FIRST" key 92 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If not, then the control returns through another processing step STE8 to the step STE7 again. If the "FIRST" key 92 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE7, then control goes to a step STE9 in which the "LAST" key 94 and the "CANCEL" key 93 in the copy image 91 are enabled as shown in Figure 6F. Figure 6F shows a display condition in which the B key 75 or the F key 76 is about to be touched to turn over pages. The number of pages to be copied is set to "1" in a step STE10, and then the first address of the displayed page is stored in a memory X in a step STE11. Thereafter, the CPU 21 determines in a step STE12 whether the B key 75 or the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If the B key 75 is touched by the stylus 3, then the displayed segment or page number is decremented by one in a step STE13 (Figure 2B) and the B counter associated with the B key 75 is incremented by one in a step STE14. Then, the sum of one and the absolute value |B - F| representing the difference between the counts of the B and F counters is displayed as the page number in a step STE15. Figures 6F and 6G show that the displayed pages are turned over to the first and third pages, respectively. Control then goes from the step STE15 back to the step STE12. If the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE12, then the displayed segment or page number is incremented by one in a step STE16, and the F counter associated with the F key 76 is incremented by one in a step STE17. Then, the sum of one and the absolute value |B - F| representing the difference between the counts of the B and F counters is displayed as the page number in a step STE18. Control then goes from the step STE18 back to the step STE12. If neither the B key 75 nor the F key 76 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE12, then the CPU 21 determines in a step STE19 (Figure 2A) whether the "LAST" key 94 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If not, then the CPU 21 determines in a step STE20 (Figure 2B) whether the "CANCEL" key 93 is touched by the stylus 3 or not. If the "CANCEL" key 93 is touched by the stylus 3, then the process is cancelled in a step STE21. After the step STE21, control returns to the step STE4. If the "CANCEL" key 93 is not touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE20, then control goes through another processing step STE22 back to the step STE12. If the "LAST" key 94 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE19, as shown in Figure 6H, the only the "START" key 95 and the "CANCEL" key 93 are enabled in a step STE23 (Figure 2A). Then, the CPU 21 stores the first address of the page whose page number is displayed in the copy image 91 in a memory Y in a step STE24. The CPU 21 determines in a step STE25 (Figure 2C) whether the difference Y - X between the first addresses in the memories X, Y is positive (Y - X > 0) or not. If the difference Y - X is positive, then the page data between the value X in the X memory and the final address of the segment data starting with the value Y in the memory Y are established as the segment data to be copied in a step STE26. If the difference Y - X is negative, then the page data between the value Y in the memory Y and the final address of the segment data starting with the value X in the memory X are established as the segment data to be copied in a step STE27. The steps STE26 and STE27 are described in more detail below. If, for example, successive second and third segment data or pages among first to fourth segment data or pages are to be copied, then the first address (that is, "9020") of the second page is stored in the memory X in the step STE11, and the first address of the third page (that is, "9080") is stored in the memory Y in the step STE24. The step STE25 determines whether Y - X = 9080 - 9020 = 60 is positive or not. If the difference Y - X is positive in the step STE25, the segment data or page data between the value X, that is, the first address 9020 of the second page and the final address of the page starting with the value Y, that is, the first address 9080 of the third page are established as the pages to be copied. Therefore, the second and third pages are established as the pages to be copied. If the difference Y - X is negative in the step ST27, then the third and second pages are set as the pages to be copied. After the successive segment data to be copied are specified in the step ST26 or ST27 and sheets to be printed are set in position, the stylus 3 touches the "LAST" key 94, as shown in Figure 6H. Immediately thereafter, the display unit 1 displays segment data 98, to be successively copied, as they move from the "WRITE" icon 51 towards the displayed copier 96 in the copy image 74. With the "LAST" key 94 finally touched by the stylus 3, the displayed segment data 98 are displayed over the copier 96, as shown in Figure 6J. Then, a destination where the identified pages are to be copied is selected in a step STE28. For example, the stylus 3 is put in contact with a displayed "WRITE PAGE" 99 as shown in Figure 6K. Then, the number of copies to be produced is selected in a step STE29. For example, a displayed key 100 (Figure 6L) representing "2" is touched by the stylus 3, and the "START" key 95 is touched by the stylus 3. Then, the CPU 21 determines in a step STE30 whether the key touched by the stylus 3 is the "START" key 95 or the "CANCEL" key 93. If either the key 95 or the key 93 is not touched by the stylus 3, then the CPU 21 executes another processing step STE31 and executes the step STE30 again. If the "CANCEL" key 93 is touched by the stylus 3 in the step STE30, then the process is cancelled in a step STE32, after which control returns to the step STE4. If the "START" key 80 is touched by the stylus in the step ST30, the "START" key 95 is displayed in a hatched mode, indicating that the "START" key 95 is activated, as shown in Figure 6L. The copying process now starts to be executed. As shown in Figures 6L to 60, a sliding panel 101 of the displayed copier 96 is moved back and forth, indicating that the segment data are copied. After the movement of the sliding panel 101 has finished, the copied segment data 98 move towards the "WRITE" icon 51 and are absorbed by the "WRITE" icon 51, as shown in Figures 6P and 6Q, indicating the copying process, in a step STE33. In a step STE34, as many copies of the segment data as desired to be produced are duplicated in a final area of the memory at the destination. The completion of the copying process is then displayed in a step STE34 as shown in Figure 6R. The B and F counters are reset to zero in a step ST35. The program for the copying process is now finished. As described above, desired successive segment data or pages in storage can easily be retrieved and cancelled or copied using the stylus 3, while permitting the user to confirm visually the shredding or copying process.

Claims: An information processing apparatus comprising: information processing means (21, 22); memory means (23) for storing information; display means (1, 29, 30) for displaying information, and means (2, 3, 31) including a pointing device (3) for entering information, the apparatus being arranged such that: information is stored in the memory means (23) as a plurality of pages; the display means (1, 29, 30) displays one of said pages at a time; the display means displays keys (75, 76) responsive to the pointing device (3) for selecting stored pages; the apparatus being characterized in that : an icon (54, 55) responsive to the pointing device (3) is provided for selecting a process to be performed, a key (77, 79, 92, 94) responsive to the pointing device (3) is provided to designate first and last ones of the selected pages to be processed according to the selected process; a start key (80, 90) responsive to the pointing device (3) is provided to start executing the selected process: and in that the processing means (21, 22) performs the selected process in response to the designation of said start key on the selected pages from the designated first page to the designated last page, and the display means displays a visual representation (74, 81, and 83-86) of the manner in which the processing means (21) processes the information from said first page to said last page. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said means (2, 3, 31) for entering information comprises a tablet (2) combined with the said display means (1, 29, 30). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pointing means comprises a stylus (3) operable in conjunction with the tablet (2). Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is a portable electronic data storage device. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the processing means is operable to perform a plurality of different processes. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the display means displays a plurality of icons (54, 55) representing the respective processes. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the visual representation comprises a moving image of the selected process. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display means displays a window. (73) including the said visual representation (74) of the selected process. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the said keys (77, 79; 92, 94) responsive to the pointing device (3) to designate the first and last pages are displayed within the said window (73). Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the processing means is arranged to copy the selected pages. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein dependent on claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the visual representation of the copy process is a representation (96) of a copier. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the processing means is arranged delete the selected pages. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the visual representation of the delete process is a representation (81) of a shredder. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means displays the number of pages ranging from the designated first page to the designated last page. A method for information processing using information processing apparatus, the apparatus comprising information processing means (21, 22) memory means (23) for storing information display means (1, 29, 30) for displaying information, and means (2, 3, 31) including a pointing device (3) for entering information, the apparatus being arranged such that: information is stored in the memory means (23) as a plurality of pages; the display means (1, 29, 30) displays one of said pages at a time; the display means displays keys (75, 76) responsive to the pointing device (3) for selecting stored pages; the method being characterized by comprising the steps of : displaying an icon (54, 55) on the display for selecting a process to be performed, designating said icon by the pointing device (3) in order to select said process to be performed, designating a key (77, 79, 92, 94) by the pointing device (3) in order to designate first and last ones of the selected pages to be processed according to the selected process; designating a start key (80, 90) responsive to the pointing device (3) to start executing the selected process after designating said first and last pages; performing said selected process by the processing means (21, 22) in response to the designation of said start key on the selected pages from the designated first page to the designated last page, and during the performing, displaying on said display a visual representation (74, 81 and 83-86) of the manner in which the processing means (21) processes the information from said first page to said last page.

Inventors: HIRAYAMA TOMOSHI, HIRAYAMA, TOMOSHI, HIRAYAMA, TOMOSHI, C/O PATENTS DIVISION
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: G06F3, G06F15, G06F17