Patent Publication Number: US-2013241802-A1

Title: Information processing terminal and control method thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an information processing terminal provided with a plurality of touch panels. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Some information processing terminals such as portable telephones, smartphones, portable information terminals, and personal computers are provided with two displays. Many information processing terminals are provided with a browser that allows the users to browse web pages over a network such as the Internet. 
     In addition, to compensate for shortcomings of portable information processing terminals having a small screen, browsers that function and operate and that correspond to the portable information processing terminals have been proposed (refer to Patent Literature 1). The technology disclosed in Patent Literature 1 features improvement of convenience for users who open a new web page and return to the link source web page. The portable information terminal described in Patent Literature 1 obtains page information of the link destination web page, develops the obtained page information on a virtual screen, and causes a part thereof to appear on a temporary screen that is open in the neighborhood of a link object so as to easily move to the link destination web page. 
     RELATED ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP2010-237776A, Publication 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, since the technology described in Patent Literature 1 does not consider information processing terminals that are provided with a plurality of displays, it cannot be said that this technology effectively uses a plurality of displays. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that realizes a browser that is highly convenient for information processing terminals provided with a plurality of displays. 
     Means that Solve the Problem 
     To realize the foregoing object, an information processing terminal according to the present invention includes a display section that has a plurality of displays; and a control section that causes a first browser screen to appear on a first display of said display section and, if the first browser screen is locked and an operation is performed on the first browser screen, causes a second browser screen to appear on a second display of said display section. 
     In addition, a control method according to the present invention is a control method of an information processing terminal having a plurality of displays, including causing a first browser screen to appear on a first display; and if the first browser screen is locked and an operation is performed on the first browser screen, causing a second browser screen to appear on a second display. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, a browser that is highly convenient for information processing terminals that are provided with a plurality of displays can be ralized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       [ FIG. 1 ] is a front view showing an information processing terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       [ FIG. 2 ] is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment. 
       [ FIG. 3 ] is a schematic diagram showing an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in a one-screen display mode. 
       [ FIG. 4 ] is a schematic diagram showing an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in a two-screen display mode. 
       [ FIG. 5 ] is a schematic diagram showing another example of a browser screen that appears on a display in the two-screen display mode. 
       [ FIG. 6 ] is a schematic diagram showing an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in a full-screen display mode. 
       [ FIG. 7 ] is a schematic diagram describing an example of an operation of an information processing device. 
       [ FIG. 8 ] is a schematic diagram describing an example of an operation of an information processing device. 
       [ FIG. 9 ] is a schematic diagram describing an example of an operation of an information processing device. 
       [ FIG. 10 ] is a schematic diagram describing an example of an operation of an information processing device. 
       [ FIG. 11A ] is a schematic diagram showing a screen lock switch that appears when a browser screen has been locked. 
       [ FIG. 11B ] is a schematic diagram showing a screen lock switch that appears when a browser screen has not been locked. 
       [ FIG. 12 ] is a schematic diagram describing a structure and an operation of an information processing terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES THAT CARRY OUT THE INVENTION 
     Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, similar structures having similar functions are denoted by similar reference numerals and their description will be omitted. 
     With reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing an information processing terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Information processing terminal  10  according to this embodiment is, for example, a portable information terminal provided with a communication function. Information processing terminal  10  is composed of two enclosures  13  and  14  that are openably and closably connected. Enclosures  13  and  14  are respectively provided with displays  11  and  12 . When enclosures  13  and  14  are opened, display surfaces of displays  11  and  12  are located in the same direction such that they simultaneously enter the user&#39;s field of vision. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the information processing terminal according to the first embodiment, Referring to  FIG. 2 , information processing terminal  10  has display section  15  and control section  16 . Display section  15  has displays  11  and  12 . 
     Displays  11  and  12  are touch-panel type display and input units each having a screen display function and a touch operation detection function that detects a touch operation that the user performs with his or her finger or a pen. Control section  16  causes screens to appear on displays  11  and  12 . Displays  11  and  12  notify control section  16  of touch input information that represents the positions that the user is touching under the control of control section  16 . 
     Control section  16  executes a process as the user operates displays  11  and  12  and causes screens corresponding to the process to appear on displays  11  and  12 . Control section  16  has a browser function that causes browser screens such as web pages to appear on displays  11  and  12  as the user operate them. 
     Displays  11  and  12  have a plurality of display modes for browser screens including a one-screen display mode, a full-screen display mode, and a two-screen display mode. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in the one-screen display mode;  FIG. 4  shows an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in the two-screen display mode;  FIG. 5  shows another example of a browser screen that appears on a display in the two-screen display mode; and  FIG. 6  shows an example of a browser screen that appears on a display in the full-screen display mode. In  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6 , display  11  is shown on the left, whereas display  12  is shown on the right. 
     The one-screen display mode is a display mode in which a browser screen appears on one of the two displays. In the example of the one-screen display mode shown in  FIG. 3 , search screen  22  appears on right-hand display  12 , whereas background screen  21  as an example of a non-browser screen appears on left-hand display  11 . Search screen  22  is one of the browser screens. A tool bar that appears on search screen  22  shown in  FIG. 3  contains screen lock switch  25 . Screen lock switch  25  is a switch that serves to lock and unlock a browser screen. If search screen  22  that appears on display  12  is locked, another browser screen is prevented from appearing on display  22  where search screen  22  appears. A new browser screen appears on the other display. In the one-screen display mode, the locked browser screen always appears and the user can operate the locked browser screen. Thus, the user can quickly see and operate the locked browser screen. In this context, locking of the browser screen does not mean that the browser screen cannot be moved on the display. Instead, the browser screen may be scrolled and the browser screen that appears at part of the display may be moved thereon. 
     The two-screen display mode is a display mode in which browser screens appear on displays  11  and  12 , respectively. The two-screen display mode also includes two display modes. 
     In the first two-screen display mode, a web page or a search screen appears on one display, whereas favorite web page icons appear on the other display. In the example of the first two-screen display mode shown in  FIG. 4 , favorite web page screen  23  that contains favorite web page icons  24  that specify favorite web pages appears on display  11 , whereas search screen  22  appears on display  12 . Favorite web page screen  23  is one of the browser screens. 
     The second two-screen display mode is a display mode in which web page screens or search screens appear on both the displays. In the example of the second two-screen display mode shown in  FIG. 5 , search screens  22  appear on displays  11  and  12 , respectively. 
     A tool bar that appears on each of favorite web page screen  23  shown in  FIG. 4  and search screen  22  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  contains screen lock switch  25 . 
     The full-screen display mode is a display mode in which one browser screen appears wholly on displays  11  and  12 . In the example of the full-screen display mode shown in  FIG. 6 , one search screen  22  appears wholly on displays  11  and  12 . The tool bar that appears on search screen  22  shown in  FIG. 6  does not contain screen lock switch  25 . This means that a browser screen cannot be locked in the full-screen display mode. 
     Display modes may be switched one after the other by a tap operation on a screen. Alternatively, display modes may be switched by a menu operation. 
     If a browser screen that appears on one display (for example, display  11 ) has been locked and an operation is performed on the browser screen, control section  16  causes another browser screen to appear on the other display (for example, display  12 ). 
     While a browser screen that appears, for example, on display  11  has been locked and a browser screen does not appear on display  12 , if an operation is performed on the browser screen that appears on display  11 , control section  16  causes a new browser screen to appear on display  12 . On the other hand, while a browser screen that appears on one display  11  has been locked and a browser screen that appears on display  12  has not been locked, if an operation is performed on the browser screen that appears on display  12 , control section  16  causes the browser screen that appears on display  12  to be switched to a new browser screen. Thus, in the one-screen display mode or two-screen display mode, a browser screen can be locked. 
     On the other hand, while one browser screen that appears wholly on both displays  11  and  12 , namely in the full-screen display mode, control section  16  does not cause the browser screen to be locked. 
     In addition, control section  16  does not cause browser screens that appear on two displays  11  and  12  to be simultaneously locked. In other words, in the two-screen display mode, control section  16  does not cause browser screens that appear on both displays  11  and  12  to be simultaneously locked. For example, while a browser screen that appears on one display (in this example, display  11 ) has been locked, if a browser screen that appears on the other display (in this example, display  12 ) is caused to be locked, control section  16  causes the browser screen that appears on display  11  to be unlocked and the browser screen that appears on display  12  to be locked. 
     Next, an example of an operation of the information processing terminal according to this embodiment will be described. 
     For example, in  FIG. 3 , while background screen  21  appears on display  11  and search screen  22  that appears on display  12  has been locked, if the user inputs any word such as a keyword in input area  26  and makes a search with it, search result screen  27  appears on display  11  as shown in  FIG. 7 . At this point, the display mode has been changed from the one-screen display mode to the second two-screen display mode. If the user further makes a search with another word in input area  26 , new search result screen  27  appears on display  11 . 
     On the other hand, while favorite web page screen  23  that appears on display  11  has not been locked and search screen  22  that appears on display  12  has been locked, if the user inputs any word in input area  26  and makes a search with it, search result screen  27  appears on display  11  as shown in  FIG. 7 . If the user further makes a search with another word in input area  26 , new search result screen  27  appears on display  11 . 
     On the other hand, while search screen  22  that appears on display  12  has been locked and search screen  22  that appears on display  11  has not been locked as shown in  FIG. 5 , if the user inputs any word in input area  26  on search screen  22  and makes a search with it, search result screen  27  appears on display  11  as shown in  FIG. 7 . If the user further inputs another word in input area  26  of search screen  22  on display  12  and makes a search with it, new search result screen  27  appears on display  11 . 
     As described above,  FIG. 7  shows that search screen  22  that appears on display  12  has been locked and search result screen  27  that appears on display  11  has not been locked. If search result screen  27  that has not been locked is locked, search screen  22  that has been locked is unlocked. If the user touches any link  29  that appears on search result screen  27 , web page screen  28  that corresponds to link  29  that the user has touched appears on display  12 . 
     On the other hand, while favorite web page screen  23  that appears on display  11  has been locked and search screen  22  that appears on display  12  has not been locked, as shown in  FIG. 4 , if the user touches any favorite web page icon  24 , web page screen  28  that corresponds to favorite web page icon  24  that the user has touched appears on display  12  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     On the other hand, while one search screen  22  appears wholly on displays  11  and  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 , if the user inputs any word in input area  26  on search screen  22  and makes a search with it, a search result screen appears wholly on displays  11  and  12 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic diagrams showing examples of images of a screen lock switch.  FIG. 11A  shows screen lock switch  25 A that appears when a browser screen has been locked.  FIG. 11B  shows screen lock switch  25 B that appears when a browser screen has not been locked. In these examples, the images show that the user can visually recognize whether or not a browser screen has been locked. 
     As described above, according to this embodiment, a browser that effectively uses two displays  11  and  12  and that is highly convenient can be realized. 
     For example, if the user repeatedly makes searches with search conditions he or she can change, he or she can make a search on search screen  22  that appears on one display and that has been locked and while seeing search result screen  27  that appears on the other display, he or she can further make searches with search conditions he or she changes. Thus, if the user repeatedly make searches with changed search conditions, he or she does not need to perform an operation that returns to search screen  22 . 
     On the other hand, if the user browses web page screen  28  corresponding to a plurality of links  29  that appear on search result screen  27 , he or she can successively select links  29  that appear on one display and that has been locked while changing web pages that he or she browse corresponding to the links on the other display. Thus, if the user successively browses web pages corresponding to a plurality of links, he or she does not need to perform an operation that returns to search result screen  27 . 
     On the other hand, if the user tracks links and browses web pages corresponding to the tracked links, he or she can lock a web page that appears on display  12 , successively browse web pages corresponding to a plurality of links of the web page on display  12 , lock one web page that he or she has browsed on display  12 , and successively browse web pages corresponding to a plurality of links of the web page on display  11 . Thus, if the user tracks links and browses a plurality of web pages corresponding to the links, he or she does not need to perform an operation that returns to the link source web page. 
     Information processing terminal  10  according to the foregoing embodiment is provided with two displays  11  and  12 . If a browser screen that appears on one display is locked and an operation is performed on the browser screen, a new browser screen appears on the other display. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such a structure. 
     Information processing terminal  10  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is provided with three or more displays. Before a browser screen that appears on a display is locked and an operation is performed on the browser screen, control section  16  causes the user to preset one of other displays on which a new browser screen appears. Thus, if the user touches a browser screen that has been locked, control section  16  causes a new browser screen to appear on a display that he or she has preset. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram describing a structure and an operation of the information processing terminal according to the second embodiment. Although the information processing terminal according to the second embodiment is provided with three displays  11 ,  12 A, and  12 B, the other structure of the information processing terminal is basically the same as that of information processing terminal  10  according to the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Before a browser screen that appears on display  11  is locked and an operation is performed on the browser screen, control section  16  presets one of displays  12 A or  12 B for a display on which a new browser screen appears. At this point, control section  16  may change the color of screen lock switch  25 A shown in  FIG. 11A  depending on the setting. For example, if search screen  22  that appears on display  11  has been locked and an operation is performed on search screen  22 , a new browser screen appears on display  12 A. In this case, screen lock switch  25 A may appear in “red.” If search screen  22  that appears on display  11  has been locked and an operation is performed on search screen  22 , a new browser screen appears on display  12 B. In this case, screen lock switch  25 A may appear in “blue.” 
     According to the second embodiment, a browser that is highly convenient compared with the first embodiment can be realized. For example, the user can browse and compare two web page screens  28  that appear on displays  12 A and  12 B corresponding to links  29  that appears on search result screen  27  that has been locked on display  11 . 
     According to the foregoing first embodiment, when enclosures  13  and  14  are opened, the display surfaces of two displays  11  and  12  are located in the same direction such that they simultaneously enter the user&#39;s field of vision. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such a structure. As another example of the structure, the information processing terminal may be composed of a single planar enclosure. Two displays may be located on the front and rear surfaces of the enclosure. As another example of the structure, the information processing terminal may be composed of two enclosures closably and openably connected and displays are located on the front and rear surfaces of each of the enclosures. Thus, the information processing terminal may be provided with a total of four displays. The basic functional structure and operation of the present invention do not depend on the locations and number of displays. 
     With reference to the embodiments, the present invention has been described. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the structure and details of the present invention may be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application JP 2011-000829 filed on Jan. 5, 2011, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10  Information processing terminal 
       11 ,  12 ,  12 A,  12 B Display 
       13 ,  14  Enclosure 
       15  Display section 
       16  Control section 
       21  Background screen 
       22  Search screen 
       23  Favorite web page screen 
       24  Favorite web page icon 
       25 ,  25 A,  25 B Screen lock switch 
       26  Input area 
       27  Search result screen 
       28  Web page screen 
       29  Link