Patent Publication Number: US-2013246964-A1

Title: Portable electronic apparatus, control method of portable electronic apparatus, and control program thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-060420, filed Mar. 16, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a portable electronic apparatus, a control method of a portable electronic apparatus, a control program thereof, and a medium storing that control program. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various portable electronic apparatuses have begun to prevail. In a portable electronic apparatus, a display normally serves as a touch operation input unit. A portable electronic apparatus can be used while being switched to various use applications. The use applications of the portable electronic apparatus include, for example, a mobile phone, a remote controller for a television receiver, that for a recorder/player, a terminal used to access the Internet, a digital camera, and so forth. For this purpose, the portable electronic apparatus is switched to various images, so that the screen of its display serves as an operation unit suited to a given use application. As the number of use applications increases, the number of tabs required to obtain desired operation panels increases. When the number of tabs is large, if all of a large number of tabs are displayed on the display, each tab has a small size. For this reason, it becomes difficult for the user to search for a desired tab, and to select the desired tab. A technique which automatically adjusts a scroll amount by arraying a plurality of tabs in a bar pattern so as to allow the user to confirm many tabs by a single operation has been developed. 
     As the number of tabs increases, a tab check period and desired tab search period are prolonged. As a result, a hiding period of a selected main operation panel is prolonged, and the user may often miss an important change on the selected main operation panel. Also, it takes much time to return to an image display state of the selected main operation panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various features of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate the embodiments and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary view showing the outer appearance of a portable electronic apparatus to which an embodiment is applied, and a part of the apparatus in an enlarged scale; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary view showing an example when a plurality of tabs are scrolled on the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary view showing another example when a plurality of tabs are scrolled on the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary view showing an example when a plurality of tabs are swiped on the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary view showing an example when a plurality of tabs are swiped and a selected screen is opened and set in a standby state on the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary view showing another example when a plurality of tabs are swiped and a selected screen is opened and set in a standby state on the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary view showing an example of the block arrangement of the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 8  is an exemplary view showing a flowchart required to explain an operation example of the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 9  is an exemplary view showing one use example of the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplary view showing another use example of the portable electronic apparatus to which the embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary view showing a tab display example according to another embodiment of the portable electronic apparatus; 
         FIG. 12  is an exemplary view showing a tab display example according to still another embodiment of the portable electronic apparatus; and 
         FIG. 13  is an exemplary view showing a tab display example according to yet another embodiment of the portable electronic apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompany drawings. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, there are provided an electronic apparatus, a control method of an electronic apparatus, a control program thereof, and a medium storing that control program. They allow the user to facilitate checking of a plurality of tabs and a tab search while maintaining a display state of a main panel. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic apparatus includes a display which also serves as a touch operation input unit, and a display controller which outputs images to be displayed on the display. The display controller includes a standby state output unit and a scroll controller. The standby state output unit displays, on the display, at least one of the images as a first image, and a second image as an array of a plurality of tabs on an area different from a display area of the first image. If the user swipes the display area of the second image, the scroll controller controls to scroll the plurality of tabs while maintaining the first image as a frontmost image. 
     An embodiment will further be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  shows the outer appearance of a portable electronic apparatus, as an example of a device, to which the embodiment is applied, and a part of the apparatus in an enlarged scale. The portable electronic apparatus includes a personal computer, tablet, mobile phone, cellular phone, iPhone, smartphone, digital book reader, Internet connection device, remote controller, player, satellite navigator, car-mount display, and the like. That is, the portable electronic apparatus is not limited to this term, and is widely applied. 
     Reference number  100  denotes an electronic apparatus. A display  111  can display an image, and is also used as a touch operation input unit. The display  111  can include a first display area  111 A and second display area  111 B to be described later. An upper view of  FIG. 1  shows a whole image of the portable electronic apparatus  100  when viewed from the front side. A lower view of  FIG. 1  shows a part of the upper view bounded by the broken line in an enlarged scale. 
       FIG. 1  shows a standby state in which an operation panel  211  of a television (TV) receiver is displayed as a frontmost image. This operation panel  211  displays a numeric keypad, broadcast (Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), terrestrial digital broadcast) selection keys, power-on/off key, audio adjustment key, input switching key, program guide display key, cursor keys, enter key, and the like, which are included in a remote controller. The user can control the TV receiver to a desired operation state by tapping these keys. The electronic apparatus at this time can function as a remote controller of the TV receiver. 
     The operation panel  211  is displayed on the first display area  111 A. An image displayed on this first display area  111 A will be referred to as a first image hereinafter. 
     Furthermore, on the display  111 , the second display area  111 B which displays a plurality of tabs (also called icons) as a second image is assured in addition to the display area of the first image (operation panel  211 ). The second image (tab array panel  212 ) of this second display area  111 B is displayed in an exposed state on a partially notched portion of the first image or a window of a first two-dimensional image. That is, on a display area of the display, the second image is displayed on an area different from the first image. The first and second images can be viewable as a relationship of a foreground image (bright image) and background image (dark image). 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , the horizontally elongated second display area  111 E is assured on an upper portion of the first display area  111 A on the display  111 . Also, a tab T 11  corresponding to the operation panel  211  of the first display area  111 A is displayed to be superposed on the second display area  111 B. 
     A state in which the first display area  111 A and second display area  111 B are stably displayed on the display  111 , as described above, will be referred to as a standby state hereinafter. However, this embodiment is not limited to this nominal designation, and various other designations may be used. 
     The second image displayed on the second display area  111 B displays a plurality of tabs selectable by the user. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 , there are displayed a tab T 12  related to an operation panel of a media player, a tab T 13  related to an operation panel of a Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, a tab T 14  related to operation panel of a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player, a tab T 15  related to an operation panel of a mobile phone, a tab T 16  related to a digital camera operation panel, a tab T 17  related to an operation panel required to send an e-mail message, a tab T 18  related to an operation panel required for Internet connection, a tab T 19  related to an operation panel required for a document input, a tab T 20  related to an operation panel of a Compact Disc (CD) player, a tab T 21  related to an operation panel required for satellite broadcast reception (for example, GPS), a tab T 22  related to an operation panel of a VCR, and so forth. This example introduces only some of a large number of tabs(not shown). Nominal designations or display modes of the tabs are not limited to those described herein, and various other nominal designations or display modes may be used. 
     When the user makes a tap operation, that is, he or she touches a desired tab, a panel related to that tab can be displayed on the first display area  111 A as the first image. 
     When the number of tabs increases, as described above, it is impossible to display all tabs within the second display area  111 B. When tabs are displayed as much as possible, each tab size is reduced, and a spacing between neighboring tabs is also reduced, resulting in inconvenience for operations to cause operation errors. 
     Hence, in this embodiment, each individual tab size is not changed, and a spacing between neighboring tabs is maintained to be a size that can be easily operated by the user. Then, when the user swipes the tab array panel  212  (second image), the plurality of tabs can be scrolled while maintaining the operation panel  211  (first image) as a frontmost image. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show scrolling states of the plurality of tabs.  FIG. 2  shows an example when a hand  30  shown in  FIG. 1  slidably moves (that is, to make so-called a swipe operation) from a position  3 - 1  in the left direction to a position  3 - 2  in  FIG. 2 . In this case, tabs T 21  and T 22  which are displayed on the left side of the second display area in  FIG. 1  disappear from the tab array panel  212 , and tabs T 16  and T 17  newly appear on the right side of the tab array panel  212 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an example when the hand  30  shown in  FIG. 2  slidably moves (to make so-called a swipe operation) from position  3 - 2  in the right direction to a position  3 - 3  in  FIG. 3 . In this case, tabs T 22  and T 21  appear on the left side of the tab array panel  212  and tabs T 16  and T 17  disappear from the right side of the tab array panel  212  in  FIG. 3 . 
     As described above, when the user wants to search for a tab of interest, he or she can conduct the search while maintaining to display the first image (in this case, the TV operation panel). As a matter of course, the tab image size and spacing between neighboring tabs can be set to be easily operable sizes. 
     As described above, the plurality of tabs of the tab array panel can be scrolled while maintaining to display the first image. For this reason, the user can be prevented from missing an important display of the first image at a high possibility. For example, the user can scroll tabs while he or she is walking in a display state of a navigation map as the first image. For example, the user can search for a tab of a guide screen that offers favorite restaurants while displaying the navigation map. 
     When the user wants to return to an original panel, he or she need not select a tab again. Thus, usability can be improved. 
     Also, this embodiment allows the user to make a setting operation to enlarge or reduce the second display area that displays the second image. Also, the user can adjust the spacing between neighboring tabs. 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  are views for explaining other operation examples of this embodiment. This embodiment allows the user to effectively utilize a state in which the plurality of tabs are displayed. For example, assume that the finger of the user touches tab T 11  of the first image displayed on the frontmost surface, swipes the second image area  111 B, and stops at the position of tab T 15 . That is, the finger of the hand  30  slides from a position  3 - 5  and stops at a position  3 - 6 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a mobile phone operation panel  410  is opened. The mobile phone operation panel  410  displays telephone number input keys. The user touches the telephone number input keys and can set a telephone number. The set telephone number is displayed on a number display field  412 . Also, a call origination button, call reception button, and the like are displayed. 
     Assume that from the state shown in  FIG. 4 , the user&#39;s finger touches tab T 11  of the first image displayed on the frontmost surface, swipes the second image area  111 B in this state, and stops at the position of tab T 16 . More specifically, the finger of the hand  30  slides from position  3 - 5  and stops at a position  3 - 7 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a digital camera operation panel  511  appears. In the digital camera operation panel  511 , a button used to set a view mode, a button used to set a shooting mode, a focus button, a shutter button, an image display area, and the like are assured. 
     As described above, with this apparatus, when the user touches a tab of a panel which is currently displayed on the frontmost surface with the finger, and swipes the tab array panel, panel screens corresponding to tabs can be opened in turn one by one at an appropriate moving speed of the finger. 
     That is, using a touch operation on a tab of the first image as a starting point, the touch state is sequentially moved on the plurality of tabs on a second two-dimensional screen, a screen which appears on the frontmost surface is sequentially switched to screens related to the touched tabs. For this reason, the user can confirm images related to the plurality of tabs in turn. 
       FIG. 7  shows the representative block arrangement in the aforementioned electronic apparatus  100 . An operation input, which is input from the display  111 , is acquired by an operation input acquisition unit  1000 , and is supplied to a controller  1100 . The controller  1100  controls an input analysis unit  1101  to analyze the contents (command) of the operation input. Data as an analysis result of the input analysis unit  1101  is input to a data processor  1102 . 
     The data processor  1102  supplies control signals to blocks of respective units in accordance with the operation input, so as to reflect the operation contents to the apparatus operation. The data processor  1102  can control a display controller  1103 , transmission/reception unit  1104 , camera function unit  1105 , mail/telephone function unit  1106 , and memories  1107  and  1108 . 
     The display controller  1103  includes a standby state output unit  1211  required to obtain the aforementioned standby state, scroll controller  1212 , and image switching controller  1213 . Upon detection of the aforementioned swipe operation input, the scroll controller  1212  controls to scroll the tab array panel  212  as the second image. Upon detection of a tap operation with respect to a given tab, the image switching controller  1213  can open a panel related to the selected tab as the first image. Also, upon detection of the sliding operation described using  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the image switching controller  1213  can open a panel related to the lastly selected tab as the first image. 
     The memory  1107  is used as a temporary expanding area of an application to be used and/or a temporary saving area of data upon execution of document input processing. The memory  1108  is used as, for example, an area for pre-storing a plurality of applications and an area for saving image data of various operation panels and the like. The memory  1108  may be exchangeable. Reference number  1109  denotes a rechargeable battery. 
     The aforementioned controller  1100  may also be called a computer, processor, or control device. The controller  1100  can execute desired operations in response to instructions, and can display desired images on the display. A program having the instructions is read from, for example, the memory  1108 , and is used in the controller  1100 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing operations from when an operation input is detected until an image to be displayed on the display  111  is decided. It is determined whether or not an operation input is detected (step SA 1 ). If an operation input is detected, it is fetched and analyzed (step SA 2 ). In accordance with the operation input, an image to be displayed on the display  111  is selected and decided (step SA 3 ). Next, display control of the selected image is executed (step SA 4 ). 
     This apparatus is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show an example when the mobile phone operation panel  410  is displayed as the first image.  FIG. 5  above shows the example in which the apparatus  100  is operated at a landscape position. However,  FIGS. 9 and 10  show the example in which the apparatus is operated at a portrait position. In this case, the tab array panel  212  is displayed on the right or left side of the display. Depending on the right- or left-handed user, the tab array panel  212  may be switched to be displayed on the right side ( FIG. 9 ) or the left side ( FIG. 10 ). A switching button  422  used to attain this switching operation may be displayed. 
     When the user selects a desired tab, an operation panel related to the selected tab is displayed as the first image. As the user uses desired operation panels, some operation panels have high frequencies of use, but some others have low frequencies of use. This apparatus has a function of changing an array order of tabs displayed on the tab array panel  212  in accordance with the frequencies of use. 
       FIG. 11  shows a use example of the apparatus at the landscape position. In the tab array, tabs having high frequencies of use are gathered in a left dotted line region  212 L, and right dotted line region  212 R. When the tab array is modified in this way, the user can easily select a desired tab with the finger of the left or right hand. 
       FIG. 12  shows a use example of the apparatus at the portrait position. In this case, tabs of panels with high frequencies of use are gathered in a central dotted line region  212 C between the top and bottom positions. 
     For example, the display controller  1103  organizes information of the panels with high frequencies of use, and modifies the tab array. 
     The functions of this apparatus are not limited to those of the above embodiment.  FIG. 13  shows a display example of two screens. In order to attain a two-screen display state, the following operations are made. For example, assume that the digital camera operation panel  511  is initially displayed. In this state, assume that the user touches the digital camera operation panel  511  with the finger of, for example, a right hand  30 R, and then taps another tab with the finger of, for example, a left hand  30 L. Then, an operation panel related to the other tab is also displayed. In this case, the display  111  is in the two-screen display state. The example of  FIG. 13  shows a state in which a document input operation panel is opened. 
     The scope of the present invention includes a control program of the portable electronic apparatus. That is, the control program is a computer program required to read image data from a memory which stores image data of a plurality of images, and to control an image to be displayed on a display unit which is also used as a touch operation input unit. 
     An instruction included in the program can display, on the display, an arbitrary image of the plurality of images as a first image, and a tab array panel in which a plurality of tabs are arrayed as a second image in a state in which the tab array panel appears from a partial area of the first image. Also, an instruction can scroll the plurality of tabs while maintaining the first image as a frontmost image when a display area of the second image is swiped. Furthermore, an instruction can switch and display, as the frontmost image, a third image corresponding to an arbitrary tab in the display area of the plurality of tabs, which tab is selected by a tap input. 
     The scope of the present invention also covers a storage medium storing the aforementioned computer program. 
     The technical terms used above in relation to the embodiments and the names or technical terms described in the drawings are in no way restrictive. For example, the processor may be replaced with processing means, a processing unit, a block or a processing module. Likewise, the controller may be replaced with control means, a control unit, a control block or a control module. The unit may be replaced with means, a block or a module. The storage unit may be replaced with storage means, a storage, a storage block or a storage module. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.