Patent Publication Number: US-2023137170-A1

Title: Icon display controlling device and icon display controlling program

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-178169, filed on Oct. 29, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosure relates to an icon display controlling device and icon display controlling program. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are known icon display controlling devices for controlling the display of icons. A specific structure for this type of icon display controlling device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-522666 (“Patent Document 1”). 
     In the icon display controlling device according to Patent Document 1, the user can move, through a drag-and-drop operation, an icon that is displayed on the screen. 
     SUMMARY 
     With the icon display controlling device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the user is moving the icon, it is difficult for the user to visualize the screen after the icon has been moved. 
     In consideration of the situation described above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an icon display controlling device and icon display controlling program with which the user can visualize easily the screen after the icon has been moved. 
     An icon display controlling device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is structured comprising: an area displaying unit for displaying a display area at which a first icon can be placed; an operation receiving unit for receiving a selecting operation for the first icon and a moving operation for moving, into the display area, the first icon that was selected by the selecting operation; and an image displaying unit for displaying an image that shows the first icon at a predetermined placement position for the first icon, determined in advance, in the display area, upon elapsing of a first time that is included in a first interval from reception of the selecting operation by the operation receiving unit until immediately prior to movement of the first icon into the display area through the moving operation. 
     The icon display controlling device and icon display controlling program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure enables the user to visualize easily the screen after the icon has been moved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram showing the structure of an icon display controlling device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a diagram showing an example of an image that is displayed on the screen of a touch panel display in one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a diagram showing an example of an image that is displayed on the screen of a touch panel display in one embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart showing the process of the icon display controlling program that is executed by a CPU in one embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram showing an example of processes in Step S 105  of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram showing an example of processes in Step S 106  of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram showing the subroutine of Step S 107  in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram showing an example of an image that is displayed on the screen of a touch display panel in one embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing an example of processes in Step S 111  of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram for explaining the display interval of a temporary icon image. 
         FIG.  10    shows an example of an icon that is displayed on the screen of the icon display controlling device according to a modified example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An icon display controlling device and icon display controlling program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained below. 
     The icon display controlling device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle-mounted device for car audio, a navigation device, or the like. Note that the icon display controlling device is not limited to a vehicle-mounted device, but instead may be a device of another form, such as a smart phone, a feature phone, a tablet terminal, a Personal Computer (PC), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Navigation Device (PND), a portable game machine, or the like. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram showing the structure of an icon display controlling device  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the icon display controlling device  1  comprises a controlling unit  100 , a communication interface unit  110 , an operating unit  120 , a displaying unit  130  (e.g., a display), a sound outputting unit  140 , and a vibrating unit  150 . Note that the main structural elements required for explaining the present embodiment are illustrated in  FIG.  1   . However, part of structural elements are omitted from the figure arbitrarily. 
     The controlling unit  100  is that which controls the icon display controlling device  1  as a whole, and is a microcomputer structured from a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  100 A, a Random Access Memory (RAM)  100 B, a Read Only Memory (ROM)  100 C, an input/output port  100 D, and bus lines for connecting these ports, and the like. 
     The CPU  100 A reads in a program that is stored in the ROM  100 C, to control the icon display controlling device  1  in accordance with the program that has been read in. The CPU  100 A comprises, as functional blocks, an area displaying unit  100   a , an operation receiving unit  100   b , a position determination unit  100   c , a thumbnail displaying unit  100   d , and icon placing unit  100   e , and an image displaying unit  100   f . 
     The CPU  100 A, which is an example of a processor, may be, for example, a single processor or multiple processors, and includes at least one processor. When structured including a plurality of processors, the processor  10  may be packaged as a single device, or may be structured as a plurality of physically separated devices within a single icon display controlling device  1 . 
     The RAM  100 B is a storing unit for storing programs and data temporarily, providing a work area. The RAM  100 B may be, for example, a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). 
     Icon information  104  and icon placement information  106  are stored in the RAM  100 B. 
     The icon information  104  includes images, sizes, and shapes of icons, launch information for corresponding content (for example, music player applications, radio player applications, map applications, and the like), and so forth. 
     The ROM  100 C is a non-volatile memory for storing various types of programs and data, including an icon display controlling program  102 . The ROM  100 C may be, for example, a flash memory. The music player application, radio player application, and map application, listed above by way of illustration, are stored in the ROM  100 C. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  that is stored in the ROM  100 C causes the CPU  100 A, which is a computer, to execute: an area displaying step for displaying a display area wherein a first icon can be placed; an operation receiving step for receiving a selecting operation for the first icon and a moving operation for moving, into a display area, a first icon that has been selected by the selecting operation; and an image displaying step for displaying an image that shows the first icon at a predetermined placement position for the first icon, determined in advance, in the display area when a first time, which is included in a first interval from reception of the selecting operation by the operation receiving step up to immediately prior to the first icon being moved into the display area by the moving operation, elapsing. The execution of the icon display controlling program  102  enables the user to visualize easily the screen after the first icon has been moved. The details of the icon display controlling program  102  will be described below. 
     In the present embodiment, each functional block of the CPU  100 A is achieved by the icon display controlling program  102 , which is software. Note that each functional block of the CPU  100 A may be achieved, in whole or in part, by hardware, such as a dedicated logic circuit, instead. 
     The input/output port  100 D connects the controlling unit  100  to other structural elements (specifically, a communication interface unit  110 , an operating unit  120 , a displaying unit  130 , a sound outputting unit  140 , and a vibrating unit  150 ). 
     The communication interface unit  110  is an interface that handles the process of communicating with another terminal device. The icon display controlling device  1  is connected communicatively to another terminal device through a public circuit or a communication circuit that is a closed network such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), through the communication interface unit  110 . 
     The operating unit  120  is operating members for the user to operate the icon display controlling device  1 , such as buttons, switches, or the like. 
     The displaying unit  130  has a touch panel display  132  and a display driver  134  for driving the touch panel display  132 . The touch panel display  132  is structured so as to enable touch operations on the entire screen area. Note that “touch panel display” may refer simply to a “touch panel,” or may refer to a “touch screen.” 
     The touch panel display  132  is structured using, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or organic Electro Luminescence (EL). A resistance film system, electrostatic capacitance system, ultrasonic surface acoustic wave system, infrared radiation optical imaging system, electromagnetic induction system, or the like, may be used in the touch panel display  132 . A pressure sensor  136  for detecting the pressure of a touch on the screen (in other words, a region wherein a touch operation can be performed) is built into the touch panel display  132 . 
     The sound outputting unit  140  has a speaker  142  and a speaker driver  144  for driving the speaker  142 . Music or voice that is stored in, for example, the ROM  100 C or a storage medium that is not shown (a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a removable memory card, or the like) is outputted from the speaker  142  through driving of the speaker  142  by the speaker driver  144 . 
     The vibrating unit  150  has a vibrator  152  and a vibrator driver  154  for driving the vibrator  152 . The vibrator  152  may be structured using, for example, an Eccentric Rotating Mass (ERM), a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA), a piezo element, or the like. The screen of the touch panel display  132  is vibrated by driving of the vibrator  152  by the vibrator driver  154 . 
       FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  are diagrams showing examples of images that are displayed on the screen  138  of the touch panel display  132 . Note that in  FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  an icon of a hand that indicates the state where the user has touched the screen  138  is shown. The position of the fingertip of this icon is the user touch position TP on the screen  138 . The user touch position TP on the screen  138  is acquired as X and Y two-dimensional coordinate information. The crosswise direction of the screen  138  corresponds to the X direction, and the vertical direction of the screen  138  corresponds to the Y direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2 A , a Graphical User Interface (GUI) screen that includes the icon display area  220  and a fixed icon display area at  230  is displayed on the screen  138 . 
     Icons corresponding to various content are displayed in the icon display area  220  and the fixed icon display area  230 . The user can cause the CPU  100 A to execute the content that corresponds to an icon by touching that icon in the icon display area  220  or the fixed icon display area  230 . For convenience, reference symbol  222  will be assigned to an icon that is placed in the icon display area  220 , and reference symbol  232  will be assigned to an icon that is placed in the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     When the user touches an icon  222  or  232 , execution of the content corresponding to the touched icon is started, and also, as shown in  FIG.  2 B , a window  210  is displayed superimposed in front of the icon display area  220 . An image for the content corresponding to the icon that was touched (for example, a music player application, a radio player application, a map application, or the like) is displayed in the window  210 . By way of illustration, the jacket image, track name, artist name, playback position, and the like, for the music that is being played is displayed in the window  210  of a music player application. The broadcasting station, program name, broadcast frequency, and the like, is displayed in a radio player application. 
     A button  212  is displayed to the side of the window  210 . When the button  212  is touched by a user, the window  210  is closed, and the screen  138  returns to the screen shown in  FIG.  2 A . 
     The user may instead return the screen  138  to the screen shown in  FIG.  2 A  through performing a swiping operation on the window  210 . 
     The icons  222  and  232  are of a display size that is smaller than the window  210 . Because of this, the amount of information that can be displayed by the icons  222  and  232  is more limited than that of the window  210 . For example, with the icon  222  or  232  for the music player application, only an icon image that indicates that it is the application is displayed. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  controls the display size and shape of each individual icon  222  and  232  within the icon display area  220  and the fixed icon display area  230  depending on the display size and shape information included in the icon information  104 . The icon display controlling program  102  controls the placement of each icon  222  and  232  in the icon display area  220  and fixed icon display area  230  through icon placement information  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2 B , when the window  210  is displayed, icons  222  that are placed in the icon display area  220  will no longer be visible. That is, the icons  222  cannot always be seen. 
     In contrast, an icon  232  that is displayed in the fixed icon display area  230  can always be seen. Because of this, typically the user places, in the fixed icon display area  230 , icons  232  that correspond to content that is used frequently. 
     By way of illustration, a maximum of six icons  232  can be placed in the fixed icon display area  230 . Note that the number of icons  232  that can be placed in the fixed icon display area  230  is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the number of icons  232  that can be placed in the fixed icon display area  230  may instead be 5 or less, or may instead be 7 or more. 
       FIG.  3    is a flowchart showing the processes of the icon display controlling program  102  that is executed by the CPU  100 A in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Execution of the processes in the flowcharts shown in  FIG.  3    commences upon startup of the system of the icon display controlling device  1 , for example. The processes in the flowchart shown in  FIG.  3    are terminated when the system of the icon display controlling device  1  is shut down. 
     When the system of the icon display controlling device  1  is started, the icon display controlling program  102  displays a GUI screen, of which an example is given in  FIG.  2 A , on the screen  138  (Step S 101 ). 
     In this way, in Step S 101  the icon display controlling program  102  operates as an area displaying unit  100   a  for displaying a fixed icon display area  230  wherein an icon can be placed (a first display area wherein an icon can be placed). 
     The icon display controlling program  102  determinates whether or not a selecting operation for selecting a first icon (that is, an icon that does not currently exist in the fixed icon display area  230 , hereinafter termed an “unplaced icon”) has been performed (Step S 102 ). 
     For example, when the pressure sensor  136  that an unplaced icon that is one of the icons  222  placed in the icon display area  220  has been touched with a pressure of no less than a predetermined threshold value, the icon display controlling program  102  receives this touch operation as a selecting operation for the unplaced icon. When the icon display controlling program  102  receives a selecting operation for an unplaced icon, the mode is switched to an icon moving mode wherein a drag-and-drop operation on the unplaced icon is possible. 
     When in the icon moving mode, the icon display controlling program  102  receives a drag operation on the unplaced icon as a moving operation for the unplaced icon. The user is able to move the unplaced icon into the fixed icon display area  230  through, for example, the drag operation. 
     In this way, the icon display controlling program  102  operates as an operation receiving unit  100   b  for receiving a selecting operation for the unplaced icon (the first icon) and a moving operation for moving, into the fixed icon this display area  230  (the display area), the unplaced icon that was selected by the selecting operation. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  may cause a sound that indicates switching to the icon moving mode to be outputted from the speaker  142 . Additionally, the icon display controlling program  102  may drive the vibrator  152  to vibrate the screen  138  in a predetermined pattern to notify the user that the mode has been switched to the icon moving mode. 
     Moreover, when switching to the icon moving mode, the icon display controlling program  102  may display on the screen  138 , or cause outputting from the speaker  142  as voice guidance, a message stating, for example, “Please move the icon.” 
     When a selecting operation for an unplaced icon has been performed (Step S 102 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  determines whether or not there is space wherein the selected unplaced icon can be placed (that is, a position at which the selected unplaced icon can be placed) in the fixed icon display area  230  (Step S 103 ). 
     In this way, in Step S 103  the icon display controlling program  102  operates as a position determination unit  100   c  for determination whether or not there is a position in the fixed icon display area  230  (the display area) at which the unplaced icon (the first icon) can be placed. 
     If the fixed icon display area  230  has space for placement of the unplaced icon (Step S 103 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  determines whether or not a position for the unplaced icon in the fixed icon display area  230  has been designated (Step S 104 ). 
     If the position for the unplaced icon in the fixed icon display area  230  has been designated (Step S 104 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  displays a temporary icon image at the designated position (Step S 105 ). 
     The temporary icon image that is displayed in the fixed icon display area  230  is an image that shows the unplaced icon, for example, an image that resembles the unplaced icon. 
     The “designated position,” referenced above, is a position, designated in advance by the user, for example, within the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     If the position for the unplaced icon in the fixed icon display area  230  has not been designated (Step S 104 : NO), the icon display controlling program  102  displays the temporary icon image at a predetermined position within the fixed icon display area  230  (Step S 106 ). 
     The “predetermined position” referenced above may be, for example, the position of the vacant space that is nearest to the first position. Taking  FIG.  2 A  as an example, position in the top row, furthest to the negative side in the X-direction in the fixed icon display area  230  would be the first position. The further a position in the top row of the fixed icon display area  230  is toward the positive side in the X-direction from the first position, the further the position is from the first position. Moreover, a position in the bottom row of the fixed icon display area  230  that is furthest toward the negative side in the X-direction (the bottom row first position) is a position that is further from the first position than any position on the top row. For a position in the bottom row of the fixed icon display area  230 , the further that position is toward the positive side in the X-direction from the bottom row first position, the further the position is from the bottom row first position, and also from the first position. 
     Information for the display size and shape of the unplaced icon (that is, the icon  222  that was selected by the selecting operation) is included in the icon information  104  that is stored in the RAM  100 B, which is an information storing unit. In Step S 105  and S 106 , the icon display controlling program  102  displays a temporary icon image of the same display size and shape as the display size and shape of the unplaced icon, which is stored in the RAM  100 B. 
       FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5    are, respectively, diagrams showing an examples of the processes of Step S 105  and S 106 . 
     Additionally, in the example in  FIG.  4   , it is assumed that the first position in the bottom row has been designated in advance as the position for the unplaced icon. The unplaced icon will be assigned reference symbol  262 , below. Additionally, the temporary icon image will be assigned reference symbol  282 . 
     In the example in  FIG.  4   , the icon display controlling program  102 , in Step S 105 , displays the temporary icon image  282  on the screen in  FIG.  2 A  at the bottom row first position, which is the designated position, and also moves the icon  232  that had been displayed at the bottom row first position to the bottom row center position, which is adjacent to the bottom row first position on the side in the positive X direction. 
     In the example in  FIG.  5   , in Step S 105  the icon display controlling program  102  displays the temporary icon image  282  in the bottom row center position that is the position of the vacant space that is nearest to the first position in the screen of  FIG.  2 A . 
     In Step S 105  and S 106 , the temporary icon image  282  is displayed with the same display size and shape as that of the icon  222  that was selected by the selecting operation. 
     The bottom row first position that is the designated position and the bottom row center position that is the predetermined position are predetermined placement positions for the unplaced icon  262  that were determined in advance in the fixed icon display area  230 . The user is able to view the fixed icon display area  230  wherein the temporary icon image  282  is displayed, to visualize easily what the screen will be after the unplaced icon  262  has been moved into the fixed icon display area  230  (that is, after the unplaced icon  262  has been placed in the fixed icon display area  230 ). 
     If there is no space for placement of the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230  (Step S 103 : NO), the icon display controlling program  102  switches to a deleting mode that enables deletion of an icon  232 , and executes the deleting mode (Step S 107 ). 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram showing a subroutine in Step S 107  of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  7    is a diagram showing an example of an image that is displayed on the screen  138  when in deleting mode. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the icon display controlling program  102  displays a temporary placement area  260  at a position that is adjacent to the fixed icon display area  230 , and places, into the displayed temporary placement area  260 , the unplaced icon  262  that is to be placed (Step S 201 ). 
     In the present embodiment, in the deleting mode not just icons  232 , but the unplaced icon  262  is also set as subject to deletion. The temporary placement area  260  is displayed in a position adjacent to the fixed icon display area  230 , and the unplaced icon  262  is placed in the temporary placement area  260 , to enable all of the icons that are subject to deletion to be visible to the user. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  displays, at a brightness that is lower than that of the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260 , the area in the screen  138  that is other than that of the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260  (Step S 202 ). 
     By way of illustration, the icon display controlling program  102  displays the fixed icon display area  230  at the same brightness, without changing, from before switching to the deleting mode, and displays the temporary placement area  260  with the same brightness as that of the fixed icon display area  230 , but reduces the brightness of the areas other than those of the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260  when compared with the brightness thereof prior to switching to the deleting mode. Through this, the brightness of the areas other than those of the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260  will be less than that of the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260 . 
     Because, in the screen  138 , the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260  are displayed brightly, the user can identify easily the icons  232  in the fixed icon display area  230  and the unplaced icon  262  in the temporary placement area  260 . 
     The icon display controlling program  102  displays the fixed icon display area  230  enlarged when compared to prior to switching to the deleting mode (Step S 203 ). 
     Enlarging the display of the fixed icon display area  230  will cause the display size of the icons  232  to be larger, and the spacing between the icons  232  to be wider. This reduces the likelihood of an erroneous operation of touching an icon  232  that is not the icon  232  that the user wishes to delete the deleting mode. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  displays delete buttons  270  superimposed on the icons  232  within the fixed icon display area  230  and on the unplaced icon  262  in the temporary placement area  260  (Step S 204 ). An image such as illustrated in  FIG.  7    will be displayed on the screen  138  thereby. Delete buttons  270  that are displayed superimposed on each of the icons  232  and the unplaced icon  262  correspond to those icons. By touching a delete button  270  the user is able to delete the icon  232  or unplaced icon  262  that corresponds to the delete button  270  that is touched. 
     A determination is performed as to whether or not the user has touched a delete button  270  (Step S 205 ). 
     If no delete button  270  has been touched (Step S 205 : NO), the icon display controlling program  102  determines whether or not an operation to terminate the deleting mode has been performed (Step S 206 ). This terminating operation may be an operation that is a long push on a low-brightness area other than the fixed icon display area  230  and the temporary placement area  260 , or a heavy touch operation on a low-brightness area. 
     When the operation for terminating the deleting mode has been performed (Step S 206 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  returns the screen  138  to the display from immediately prior to switching to the deleting mode (Step S 207 ), terminating the deleting mode. The icon display controlling program  102  returns to the process of Step S 102 , and awaits a selecting operation. In this case, the deleting mode is terminated without having deleted any icon  232 . This can be stated differently as the deleting mode being terminated after having deleted the unplaced icon  262  of the temporary placement area  260 . 
     When a delete button  270  is touched (Step S 205 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  deletes the icon  232  or the unplaced icon  262  that corresponds to the delete button  270  that has been touched (Step S 208 ). 
     When an icon  232  has been deleted (Step S 209 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  places the unplaced icon  262  into the space within the fixed icon display area  230  that has been vacated by the deletion of the icon  232  (Step S 210 ). The icon display controlling program  102  returns the screen  138  to the display from immediately prior switching to the deleting mode (albeit a display after the unplaced icon  262  has been placed into the fixed icon display area  230 ) (Step S 211 ), and terminates the deleting mode. The icon display controlling program  102  returns to the process of Step S 102 , and awaits a selecting operation. 
     If the unplaced icon  262  has been deleted (Step S 209 : NO), the icon display controlling program  102  returns the screen  138  to the display from immediately prior to switching into the deleting mode (Step S 207 ), terminating the deleting mode, and returns to the process of Step S 102 , to await a selecting operation. 
     When the temporary icon image  282  is displayed in Step S 105  or S 106 , the icon display controlling program  102  determines whether or not the moving operation for moving the unplaced icon  262  that was selected by the selecting operation has been completed (Step S 108 ). 
     The icon display controlling program  102  may, for example, detect a drop operation with respect to the unplaced icon  262  on which a drag operation had been performed (that is, may detect the position wherein the user has removed the finger from the screen  138 ) as the completion of the moving operation. 
     When the moving operation is completed (Step S 108 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  removes the display of the temporary icon image  282  and also places the unplaced icon  262  at the position at which the temporary icon image  282  had been displayed (Step S 109 ). The icon display controlling program  102  terminates the icon moving mode and returns to Step S 102 , to await a selecting operation. 
     In this way, in Step S 109  the icon display controlling program  102  operates as an icon placing unit  100   e  that places the unplaced icon  262  at the predetermined placement position for the unplaced icon  262  (that is, at the position at which the temporary icon image  282  was displayed), upon detection, by the operation receiving unit  100   b , that the moving operation for the unplaced icon  262  (the first icon) has been completed. 
     In the example in  FIG.  4   , the unplaced icon  262  is placed at the bottom row first position in the fixed icon display area  230 . In the example in  FIG.  5   , the unplaced icon  262  is placed at the bottom row center position in the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     In this way, the user is able to use a simple operation to place the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230  after visualizing, in advance, the screen after the placement of the unplaced icon  262 . 
     If the moving operation is continuing (Step S 108 : NO), the icon display controlling program  102  determines whether or not the unplaced icon  262  has moved into the fixed icon display area  230  (Step S 110 ). For example, when the unplaced icon  262  has been dragged into the fixed icon display area  230 , the unplaced icon  262  is determined as having been moved into the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     When the unplaced icon  262  has been moved into the fixed icon display area  230  (Step S 110 : YES), the icon display controlling unit  102  controls the display position of the temporary icon image  282  depending on the position to which the unplaced icon  262  was moved (Step S 111 ). 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram showing an example of processes in Step S 111 . For example, if, in  FIG.  4   , the unplaced icon  262  is dragged to the first position within the fixed icon display area  230 , then, as shown in  FIG.  8   , the temporary icon image  282  that has been displayed at the bottom row first position will be moved to the first position, and the three icons  232  that had been displayed at each of the positions in the top row will be shifted away from the first position. 
     If the unplaced icon  262  is further dragged to be moved to, for example, the bottom row first position, the temporary icon image  282  that was displayed at the first position will be moved to the bottom row first position, and the three icons  232  that are nearer to the first position than the temporary icon image  282  will be shifted to positions that are nearer to the first position. That is, the arrangement of the icons  232  and the temporary icon image  282  within the fixed icon display area  230  will be returned to the arrangement shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     After the process in Step S 111 , if a drop operation is performed (Step S 108 : YES), the icon display controlling program  102  removes the display of the temporary icon image  282  and places the unplaced icon  262  at the position at which the temporary icon image  282  was displayed at the moment of the drop operation (Step S 109 ). 
     In this way, the user is able to use a simple operation to place the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230  after visualizing, in advance, the screen after the placement of the unplaced icon  262 . 
       FIG.  9    is a diagram for explaining the display interval of a temporary icon image  282 . In  FIG.  9   , time T 1  indicates the time at which the icon display controlling program  102  received the selecting operation for the unplaced icon  262 . Time T 2  indicates the time at which the unplaced icon  262  was moved into the fixed icon display area  230  through a drag operation, or the like. Time T 3  indicates the time at which the moving operation for the unplaced icon  262  is completed through a drop operation, or the like. Time T A  indicates the time at which the display of the temporary icon image  282  begins. That is, when time T A  elapses, the temporary icon image  282  will be displayed at a predetermined placement position for the unplaced icon  262  within the fixed icon display area  230 . Time T B  indicates the time at which the display of the temporary icon image  282  is removed. Time T B  is the same time as time T 3 . Note that time T B  (and time T 3 ) is a time prior to time T 2 . 
     In the present embodiment, the display of the temporary icon image  282  begins at time Ti, when the selecting operation for the unplaced icon  262  is received. Because of this, the user is able to visualize the screen after placement of the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230  through viewing the fixed icon display area  230  immediately after selection of the unplaced icon  262 . 
     Note that the time T A  that is the start of the display of the temporary icon image  282  (the first time) is not limited to being the time T 1  at which the selecting operation is received. For example, the time T A  may be any other type included in the period P1 (the first interval) from time T 1  until immediately prior to time T 2 . 
     In this way, the icon display controlling program  102  operates as an image displaying unit  100   f  for displaying the temporary icon image  282 , which shows the unplaced icon  262  at a predetermined placement position for the unplaced icon  262  that is determined in advance in the fixed icon display area  230 , when time T A  (the first time) that is included in the period P1 (the first interval) from the reception of the selecting operation for the unplaced icon  262  (the first icon) is received by the operation receiving unit  100   b  up until immediately prior to the unplaced icon  262  being moved, through a moving operation thereof, into the fixed icon display area  230  (into the display area) has elapsed. 
     Additionally, the icon display controlling program  102  that operates as the image displaying unit  100   f  displays the temporary icon image  282  at the predetermined position until the moving operation for the unplaced icon  262  (the first icon) has been completed by the operation receiving unit  100   b . 
     The above is an explanation of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to that which was explained above, and a variety of modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept and idea of the present disclosure. For example, details of arbitrary combinations of embodiments that are explicitly illustrated in the Specification, and embodiments that are obvious, and the like, are included in embodiments of the present application. 
     Although in the embodiment set forth above, a touch operation on an icon  222  that was placed in the icon display area  220  was used as an example of a selecting operation for an unplaced icon  262 , a touch operation on a bookmark button  210   a  of the window  210  may be included as an example of a selecting operation for the unplaced icon  262 . 
     When the bookmark button  210   a  of the window  210  is touched, the temporary icon image  282  that shows the unplaced icon  262  that corresponds to the content that is displayed in the window  210  is displayed at a designated position or predetermined position within the fixed icon display area  230 . This enables the user to visualize easily the screen after placement of the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     When, after the touch operation on the bookmark button  210   a , there is an operation such as heavily pressing on the bookmark button  210   a , the temporary icon image  282  is removed, and the unplaced icon  262  is placed at the position at which the temporary icon image  282  had been displayed. 
     In this case as well, the user is able to use a simple operation to place the unplaced icon  262  in the fixed icon display area  230  after visualizing, in advance, the screen after the placement of the unplaced icon  262 . 
       FIG.  10    shows an example of an image that is displayed on the screen  138  of the icon display controlling device  1  according to a modified example. As shown in  FIG.  10   , when in the icon moving mode (that is, during the second interval from the operation receiving unit  100   b  receiving the selecting operation for the unplaced icon  262  until the detection of the completion of the moving operation), the icon display controlling program  102  according to the modified example displays, with a brightness that is less than that of the unplaced icon  262  and the fixed icon display area  230 , the area of the screen  138  that is other than the unplaced icon  262  and the fixed icon display area  230 . 
     Because in the screen  138  the unplaced icon  262  and the fixed icon display area  230  are displayed brightly, the user is able to recognize the unplaced icon  262  and the fixed icon display area  230  easily. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG.  10   , when in the icon moving mode the icon display controlling program  102  of the modified example displays the fixed icon display area  230  enlarged compared to before switching into the icon moving mode. 
     Enlarging the display of the fixed icon display area  230  causes the display sizes of the icon  232  and the temporary icon image  282  to be larger, and also widens the spacing between the icons  232  and the spacing between the icons  232  and the temporary icon image  282 . This makes it easier for the user to move the unplaced icon  262  to the intended position in the fixed icon display area  230  when in the icon moving mode. 
     The icon display controlling program  102  may switch into an editing mode when there is a long push on an arbitrary position of the screen  138  while awaiting a selecting operation in Step S 102 . When in the editing mode, the user can select an icon  232  in the fixed icon display area  230  and, through a drag operation, or the like, move the selected icon  232  to another position in the fixed icon display area  230 . When in the editing mode, the temporary icon image  282  is displayed at the position at which the user appears to be moving. 
     For example, when the user selects an icon  232  that has been placed at the first position in the fixed icon display area  230  and starts to drag it toward the positive side in the X direction, the temporary icon image  282  will be displayed at the position that is adjacent to the first position on the positive side in the X direction. Depending on the position at which the temporary icon image  282  is displayed in the fixed icon display area  230 , the other icons  232  will be shifted in the direction away from the first position or toward the first position. The icon  232  that has been dragged will be placed at the position at which it is dropped. The arrangement of the icons  232  in the fixed icon display area  230  will be modified thereby. When in the editing mode, the user can easily visualize the arrangement after the arrangement change, through viewing the fixed icon display area  230  in which the temporary icon image  282  is displayed. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1 : Icon Display Controlling Device 
           100 : Controlling Unit 
           100 A: CPU 
           100 B: RAM 
           100 C: ROM 
           100 D: Input/Output Port 
           100   a : Area Displaying Unit 
           100   b : Operation Receiving Unit 
           100   c : Position Determination Unit 
           100   d : Thumbnail Displaying Unit 
           100   e : Icon Placing Unit 
           100   f : Image Displaying Unit 
           102 : Icon Display Controlling Program 
           110 : Communication Interface Unit 
           120 : Operating Unit 
           130 : Displaying Unit 
           132 : Touch Panel Display 
           134 : Display Driver 
           136 : Pressure Sensor 
           140 : Sound Outputting Unit 
           142 : Speaker 
           144 : Speaker Driver 
           150 : Vibrating Unit 
           152 : Vibrator 
           154 : Vibrator Driver