Patent Publication Number: US-2015089421-A1

Title: Information processing device, information processing device control method, and recording medium

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to, for example, an information processing apparatus which (i) has an input surface capable of detecting a position specified by a user&#39;s operation, and a display surface capable of displaying a plurality of icons and (ii) is capable of changing a display position of an icon on the display surface in accordance with a specified position. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An electronic device having a display screen provided with a touch panel has been in widespread use. An opportunity that a user carries out a touch operation on the electronic device has increased. A user can give an input to an electronic device, such as some home-use video game machines or an information terminal typified by a so-called smart phone, by selecting an “icon” which represents, by a graphic or symbol, for example, (i) a program (application) executed by the electronic device or (ii) data used in executing a process of the program. 
     This allows a user to intuitively and easily give an input as compared to a conventional method of giving an input by user&#39;s operating an input device such as a keyboard. The electronic device is designed so that a user can carry out many operations by selecting icons. 
     Under these circumstances, an attempt to improve how to display icons has been frequently made. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a display control technique which allows a user to recognize a specific partition which partitions items listed on a screen which is being scrolled and to confirm an item located at an end part. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1 
     Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2012-27797 (Publication Date: Feb. 9, 2012) 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The number of icons to be displayed on a display screen of an electronic device tends to increase as the number of applications etc. to be installed on the electronic device increases. Therefore, a technique for arranging and displaying a plurality of icons is required. It is, however, not preferable to arrange the icons by carrying out a complicated operation. This is because, for example, a mobile information terminal such as a smart phone has a display screen whose size is limited. 
     Patent Literature 1 does not disclose a technique which meets the requirement. That is, the display control technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is a mere technique which allows a user to recognize a specific partition which partitions listed items while the user is scrolling a screen, but does not focus on “arranging icons”. 
     The present invention was made in view of the problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide, for example, an information processing apparatus capable of classifying, through a simple operation, icons displayed on a display screen. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to attain the object, an information processing apparatus of an aspect of the present invention is configured to be an information processing apparatus including: an input surface capable of detecting a position specified by a user&#39;s operation; a display surface capable of displaying a plurality of icons; a determination section for determining whether or not a predetermined condition is met; and a classification section for, in a case where the determination section determines that the predetermined condition is met, classifying the plurality of icons, display positions of the plurality of icons on the display surface being changeable in accordance with the position specified by the user&#39;s operation, in a case where a first display position of an icon of the plurality of icons is changed, the determination section determining whether or not another icon other than the icon of the plurality of icons is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes a second display position of the icon to which second display position the first display position of the icon has been changed, and in a case where the determination section determines that the another icon is not being displayed within the predetermined region, the classification section causing a partition line to be displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons. 
     In order to attain the object, a method, of the aspect of the present invention, of controlling an information processing apparatus is configured to be a method of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of changing, in accordance with a position specified by a user&#39;s operation, display positions of a plurality of icons on a display surface capable of displaying the plurality of icons, the method including the steps of: (a) determining whether or not a predetermined condition is met; and (b), in a case where it is determined in the step (a) that the predetermined condition is met, classifying the plurality of icons, in a case where a first display position of an icon of the plurality of icons is changed, it being determined in the step (a) whether or not another icon other than the icon of the plurality of icons is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes a second display position of the icon to which second display position the first display position of the icon has been changed, and in a case where it is determined in the step (a) that the another icon is not being displayed within the predetermined region, in the step (b), a partition line being caused to be displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus of and the method of controlling the information processing apparatus of the present invention bring about an effect that it is possible to classify icons displayed on a display screen through a user&#39;s simple operation for changing a display position of an icon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a smart phone of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       (a) of  FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating an example appearance of the smart phone. (b) of  FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating an example operation of the smart phone carried out by a user. 
         FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating an example of a screen which the smart phone displays on a display surface. 
         FIG. 4  is a view schematically illustrating an example arrangement of icons in a case where the smart phone displays the icons on the display surface. 
         FIG. 5  is a view schematically illustrating a first example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon to a position in a third row of a first column. (a) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon is completed. 
         FIG. 6  is a view schematically illustrating a second example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon to a position in a third row of a second column. (a) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon is completed. 
         FIG. 7  is a view schematically illustrating a positional relation between a region α or a region β and a center of an icon whose display position is to be changed by a user (an icon which is being shifted). (a) of  FIG. 7  illustrates a case where the center of the icon which is being shifted is present in the region α. (b) of  FIG. 7  illustrates a case where the center of the icon whose display position is to be changed by the user is present in the region β. 
         FIG. 8  is a view schematically illustrating a third example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon to a position in a third row of a second column. (a) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon is completed. 
         FIG. 9  is a view schematically illustrating a fourth example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon to a position in a first row of a second column. (a) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon is completed. 
         FIG. 10  is a view schematically illustrating a fifth example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out a pinch-in operation with respect to a partition line. (a) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the pinch-in operation with respect to the partition line. (b) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen immediately after the partition line is undisplayed due to the pinch-in operation. (c) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen after an icon is advanced to a position at which an icon is more preferentially displayed because the position becomes vacant. 
         FIG. 11  is a view schematically illustrating a sixth example operation of the smart phone in a case where a user carries out a pinch-out operation within a predetermined region which does not include a partition line sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons. (a) of  FIG. 11  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the pinch-out operation within the predetermined region. (b) of  FIG. 11  illustrates an example screen immediately after a partition line is newly displayed due to the pinch-out operation. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of processes carried out by the smart phone. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an example of another processes carried out by the smart phone. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description will discuss in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 13 . 
     In order to clarify that a member includes a plurality of members, “a”, “b”, “c”, “d” or “e” will be further added to a reference numeral of the member which reference number is identical to those of the plurality of members. For example, a plurality of icons are shown as “icon  6   a ”, “icon  6   b ”, “icon  6   c ”, “icon  6   d ”, and “icon  6   e”.    
     The symbols a, b, c, d, and e which are further added to the reference numeral of member will be sometimes omitted, and the plurality of members will be generally called. For example, the icon  6   a , the icon  6   b , the icon  6   c , the icon  6   d , the icon  6   e , and a given combination thereof are generally called “icon  6 ”. 
     Note that the following description and the drawings will explain the embodiment of the present invention on an assumption of a case where a user holds a smart phone  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) with his/her right hand and touches an input surface with a thumb of the right hand (see, for example,  FIG. 2 ). Note, however, that the smart phone  100  may be held and operated by a right hand or a left hand, and the input surface may be touched by a finger other than a thumb. 
     A user can operate the smart phone  100  not with his/her finger but with a tool such as a stylus. That is, the term “user&#39;s finger” (later described) includes the meaning “the tool such as the stylus”. Note, however, that, for simplicity of description, “user&#39;s finger” and “the tool such as the stylus” are hereinafter referred to simply as “user&#39;s finger”. 
     The following description and the drawings will further explain the embodiment of the present invention on an assumption of a case where “a user touches the input surface with his/her finger” (touch operation). Note, however, that, in a case where an input surface  41  (see  FIG. 1 ) is, for example, a touch panel capable of detecting approach of a user&#39;s finger, the smart phone  100  is operable by detecting the approach of the user&#39;s finger to the input surface  41  in the same manner as by being touched. 
     [Outline of Smart Phone  100 ] 
     An outline of the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the smart phone  100 . 
     The smart phone  100  (information processing apparatus) has (i) the input surface  41  capable of detecting a position specified by a user&#39;s operation and (ii) a display surface  72  capable of displaying a plurality of icons  6 . The smart phone  100  can change a display position of an icon  6  on the display surface  72  in accordance with a specified position. 
     An example appearance of and an example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . (a) of  FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating the example appearance of the smart phone  100 . (b) of  FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating the example operation of the smart phone  100  carried out by a user. 
     As illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 2 , the smart phone  100  is provided with a power supply switch  43  in addition to the input surface  41  and the display surface  72 . In order to clarify a function of each of the input surface  41  and the display surface  72 ,  FIG. 1  illustrates the input surface  41  and the display surface  72  separately. 
     However, for example, in a case where the input surface  41  and the display surface  72  are realized by a touch panel and a liquid crystal display, respectively, the input surface  41  and the display surface  72  may be integrated with each other (see (a) of  FIG. 2 ). With this configuration, a touch position at which a finger of a user touches the input surface  41  is identical to a display position at which the display surface  72  displays a graphic etc. in accordance with the touch. This allows the user to gain a sense of naturally giving an input to the input surface  41 . 
     A user can give the smart phone  100  information on, for example, selection of an icon  6 , by touching the input surface  41  to specify a position on the input surface  41  to the smart phone  100  of (to give the smart phone  100  a coordinate on the input surface  41 ) (see (b) of  FIG. 2 ). 
     An example screen displayed by the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating an example of a screen which the smart phone  100  displays on the display surface  72 . Note that  FIG. 3  has a lattice pattern illustrated so as to clarify a relation between display positions of respective icons. Note, however, that the smart phone  100  does not necessarily display the lattice pattern on the display surface  72  (the same applies to drawings which will be referred to below). 
     The smart phone  100  displays an icon  6  in each of compartments arranged in a lattice manner of M rows and N columns (six rows and three columns in an example illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). The compartments virtually extend beyond a region displayable on the display surface  72  of the smart phone  100  (a part enclosed by a dotted line in  FIG. 3 ). A user can change a displayed region by carrying out a predetermined operation with respect to the smart phone  100 . 
     Note here that the predetermined operation may be an operation for quickly flipping the input surface  41  (a so-called flick operation) or an operation for pressing a predetermined operation key. In a case where the smart phone  100  is provided with an acceleration sensor, the predetermined operation may be an operation for giving the smart phone  100  a shake (a so-called shaking operation). In a case where the smart phone  100  is provided with means for recognizing audio, the predetermined operation may be an operation for giving the smart phone  100  audio indicative of a user&#39;s instruction. 
     The displayed region can be changed by a given amount to a given direction. For example, a user can change a partitioned display of an n column(s) (three columns in the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) by carrying out a rightward or leftward flick operation with respect to the input surface  41  (that is, the user can change an icon display of three columns by carrying out a single operation). Alternatively, a user can scroll an icon display on a same display screen by carrying out an upward or downward flick operation with respect to the input surface  41 . 
     An example arrangement of icons  6  on the screen will be described below with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a view schematically illustrating the example arrangement of the icons  6  in a case where the smart phone  100  displays the icons  6  on the display surface  72 . In  FIG. 4 , symbols A through D each represent a width of a compartment corresponding to the each of the symbols A through D. Note that a unit of the width is not limited to a specific one, and therefore may be, for example, dot, pixel, point, or centimeter. 
     According to the present embodiment, each icon  6  has a size of D in a longitudinal direction and B in a traverse direction (see  FIG. 4 ). In a case where the smart phone  100  detects a user&#39;s touch operation in a rectangular region of D+2×C in the longitudinal direction and B+2×A in the traverse direction which rectangular region includes a display position of an icon  6  in a center of the rectangular region, the smart phone  100  determines that the user has selected the icon  6  as a target icon to be operated. The rectangular region may be hereinafter referred to as a “determination region”. 
     The smart phone  100  displays an icon  6   a  so that an upper left corner of the icon  6   a  is present at a position (i) downward by C from an upper end of a display screen and (ii) rightward by A from a left end of the display screen. Similarly, the smart phone  100  arranges and displays an icon  6   b  so that an upper left corner of the icon  6   b  is present at a position (i) downward by C from the upper end of the display screen and (ii) rightward by B+3×A from the left end of the display screen. The smart phone  100  also displays an icon  6   d  so that an upper left corner of the icon  6   d  is present at a position (i) downward by D+3×C from the upper end of the display screen and (ii) rightward by A from the left end of the display screen. 
     A basic operation of the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a view schematically illustrating a first example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon  6   c  to a position in a third row of a first column. 
     (a) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. Note that (b) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an arrow so as to clarify a shift direction of the icon  6   c . Note, however, that the smart phone  100  does not necessarily display the arrow on the display surface  72  (the same applies to drawings which will be referred to below). (c) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 5  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon  6   c  is completed. 
     As illustrated in (a) through (d) of  FIG. 5 , a user can shift the icon  6   c  by carrying out an operation for touching a determination region of the icon  6   c  on the input surface  41  with a finger of the user and sliding the finger on the input surface  41  while the finger is in touch with the input surface  41  (a so-called drag operation). When the user leaves the finger from the input surface  41  (a so-called icon drop), a position where the finger is left is a display position of the icon  6   c . That is, (a) through (d) of  FIG. 5  illustrate a successive flow of a display screen on which the user carries out a so-called drag and drop operation to change the display position of the icon  6   c  from a position in the first row of the third column to a position in a second row of a first column. 
     Note that, during a user&#39;s operation for shifting an icon  6 , the smart phone  100  may display no icon other than the icon  6  or may transparently display an icon(s) other than the icon  6 . This allows the smart phone  100  to clearly display, for a user, an icon  6  which the user is shifting. 
     Further, during the user&#39;s operation, the smart phone  100  may display a dotted frame of the icon  6  at an original display position of the icon  6 . This allows the smart phone  100  to clearly display, for the user, a position from which the icon  6  is shifted. 
     As illustrated in (b) and (c) of  FIG. 5 , in a case where no icon other than the icon  6   c  is displayed within a predetermined region that includes the position of the icon  6   c  to which position the icon  6 C is shifted (e.g., a row or column to which the icon  6   c  is shifted; in a dotted rectangle in an example illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 5 ), the smart phone  100  displays a partition line  1  between display positions of icons other than the icon  6   c  and the position of the icon  6   c  to which position the icon  6 C is shifted. 
     As such, the smart phone  100  can classify icons  6  to be displayed on the display screen, in response to a user&#39;s simple operation for changing a display position of an icon  6 . 
     As illustrated in (b) and (c) of  FIG. 5 , in a case where a position where an icon is more preferentially displayed becomes vacant due to the user&#39;s operation for shifting the icon  6   c , the smart phone  100  advances, to the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed, the icon  6   d  displayed at a low-priority position so as to display the icon  6   d  at the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed. 
     It should be noted here that, according to the present embodiment, priority of display of icons in respective compartments is determined so that (i) a highest priority is given to a compartment of an upper left corner and (ii) the priority is lowered toward a compartment of a lower right corner. This allows the smart phone  100  to display icons  6  with an effective utilization of the display screen. 
     As illustrated in (c) and (d) of  FIG. 5 , in a case where there is a row (or a column) where no icon  6  is arranged, the smart phone  100  overall changes a display position of an icon so that the row (or the column) is eliminated. 
     [Configuration of Smart Phone  100 ] 
     The configuration of the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 1 . Note that, for simplicity of description, description of a configuration of a part that does not have a direct relation with the present embodiment is omitted, and the part is not illustrated in the block diagram of  FIG. 1 . Note, however, that the smart phone  100  may include such an omitted configuration according to a circumstance where the present invention is put into practice. 
     The following description will discuss functions borne by (i) an input section  40  (the input surface  41  and an input control section  42 ), (ii) a control section  10  (a condition determining section  11 , a partition line display section  12   a , and a partition line non-display section  12   b ), and (iii) a display section  70  (a display control section  71  and the display surface  72 ) in this order. 
     The input section  40  receives an operation from a user (a user&#39;s operation  3 ). The input section  40  includes the input surface  41  and the input control section  42 . 
     The input surface  41  supplies, to the input control section  42 , two-dimensional coordinate information  4  of a user&#39;s finger which is in touch with the input surface  41 . The input surface  41  of the present embodiment is desirably a multi-touch detectable touch panel. Note, however, that kinds of hardware are not limited to a touch panel provided that the input surface  41  is an input device capable of detecting a touch position through a user&#39;s operation. 
     The input control section  42  detects a trajectory  5  of the user&#39;s operation  3  on the input surface  41 . For example, the input control section  42  obtains the two-dimensional coordinate information  4  from the input surface  41  at predetermined time intervals, and supplies a series of pieces of coordinate data as the trajectory  5  to the condition determining section  11 . 
     The control section  10  controls various functions of the smart phone  100  in an integrated manner. Each function of the control section  10  may be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program stored in a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory. The control section  10  includes the condition determining section  11 , the partition line display section  12   a , and the partition line non-display section  12   b.    
     The control section  10  determines whether or not an icon  6  is being dragged. In a case where the control section  10  determines that an icon  6  is being dragged, the control section  10  temporarily shifts the icon  6  in accordance with the drag. The control section  10  further determines whether or not the icon  6  has been dropped. In a case where the control section  10  determines that the icon  6  has been dropped, the control section  10  changes a display position of the icon  6  to a position where the icon  6  has been dropped. 
     The control section  10  shifts an icon displayed below a partition line (e.g., an icon  6   e  on a screen illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 6 ) and the partition line, downward by one row from a display position of the icon. The control section  10  further arranges a display position of an icon. That is, in a case where a position where an icon is more preferentially displayed becomes vacant due to a user&#39;s operation for shifting an icon, the control section  10  advances, to the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed, an icon displayed at a low-priority position, so that the icon displayed at the low-priority position is displayed at the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed. 
     In a case where a first display position of an icon  6  is changed, the condition determining section  11  (determination section) determines whether or not an icon other than the icon  6  is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes a second display position of the icon  6  to which second display position the first display position of the icon  6  has been changed. 
     Specifically, by receiving a trajectory  5  from the input control section  42 , the condition determining section  11  obtains a display position of an icon  6  ( i ) to which display position the icon  6  has been shifted and (ii) which display position is indicated by the trajectory  5  (e.g., final coordinate information  4  which constitutes the trajectory  5 ). The condition determining section  11  then determines whether or not an icon other than the icon  6  is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes the display position of the icon  6  to which display position the icon  6  has been shifted (e.g., in a row or column to which the icon  6  has been shifted). The condition determining section  11  further supplies, to the partition line display section  12   a  and the partition line non-display section  12   b , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. 
     The condition determining section  11  further determines whether or not a first display position of an icon  6  has been changed so that the icon  6  overlaps with a partition line  1 . That is, when the condition determining section  11  obtains a second display position of an icon  6  to which second display position the icon  6  has been shifted in the same manner as described above, the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not the second display position of the icon  6  overlaps with a partition line  1  (whether or not an icon and a partition line are in a display state illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 6  (later described)). The condition determining section  11  then supplies, to the partition line display section  12   a , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. Note that a concrete determination process will be later described in detail with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In a case where a display position of an icon  6  is changed, the condition determining section  11  further determines whether or not a partition line  1  is being displayed between display positions of at least two icons. In other words, the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not the partition line  1  is sandwiched by the at least two icons (whether or not a partition line and icons are in a display state illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 9  (later described)). The condition determining section  11  then supplies, to the partition line non-display section  12   b , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. 
     In a case where a first display position of an icon  6  is changed, the condition determining section  11  further determines whether or not a plurality of partition lines  1  are being consecutively displayed between a display position of an icon other than the icon  6  and a second display position of the icon  6  to which second display position the first display position of the icon  6  has been changed. In other words, the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not at least one icon  6  is present between two partition lines  1  (whether or not icons and partition lines are in a display state illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 8  (later described)). The condition determining section  11  then supplies, to the partition line non-display section  12   b , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. 
     In a case where a display position of an icon  6  is not changed, the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a user has carried out, with respect to a partition line  1 , a pinch-in operation for moving a plurality of fingers toward a given point present between the plurality of fingers so as to join the plurality of fingers while the plurality of fingers are in touch with the input surface  41  (while a plurality of positions are being specified). The condition determining section  11  then supplies, to the partition line non-display section  12   b , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. 
     In a case where a display position of an icon is not changed, the condition determining section  11  further determines whether or not a user has carried out, within a predetermined region that does not include a partition line sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons, a pinch-out operation for moving a plurality of fingers from a given point present between the plurality of fingers so as to extend a space between the plurality of fingers while the plurality of fingers are in touch with the input surface  41  (while a plurality of positions are being specified). The condition determining section  11  then supplies, to the partition line non-display section  12   b , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result. 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that an icon other than an icon  6  is not being displayed, the partition line display section  12   a  (classification section) causes a partition line  1  to be displayed between a display position of the icon  6  and a display position of another icon other than the icon  6 . 
     Specifically, when the partition line display section  12   a  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result that the icon other than the icon  6  is not being displayed, the partition line display section  12   a  notifies the display control section  71  that the partition line  1  which partitions the another icon other than the icon  6  from the icon  6  whose display position has been changed is to be displayed. 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that a first display position of an icon  6  has been changed so that the icon  6  overlaps with a partition line  1 , the partition line display section  12   a  can cause partition lines  1  to be displayed on respective opposite sides of the icon  6 . Specifically, when the partition line display section  12   a  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result that a second display position of the icon  6  to which second display position the first display position of the icon  6  has been changed overlaps with the partition line  1 , the partition line display section  12   a  notifies the display control section  71  that the partition lines  1  is to be displayed on the respective of the icon  6  (see (c) of  FIG. 6  (later described)). 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that a pinch-out operation has been carried out, the partition line display section  12   a  can cause a partition line to be displayed within a predetermined region that does not include a partition line sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons. Specifically, when the partition line display section  12   a  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  showing that the pinch-out operation has been carried out, the partition line display section  12   a  notifies the display control section  71  that a partition line  1  is to be displayed (see (a) and (b) of  FIG. 11  (later described)). 
     In a case where a partition line  1  is displayed not to be sandwiched between display positions of at least two icons  6  due to a change in display position of an icon  6 , the partition line non-display section  12   b  (a first non-display section, second non-display section, or third non-display section) causes the partition line  1  to be undisplayed. 
     That is, when the partition line non-display section  12   b  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result that a partition line  1  is not sandwiched by at least two icons (a determination result that icons and a partition line are in a display state illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 9  (later described)), the partition line non-display section  12   b  supplies, to the display control section  71 , non-display information  2  for causing the partition line  1  which is unnecessary to be undisplayed. 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that a plurality of partition lines  1  are being consecutively displayed, the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes at least one of the plurality of partition lines  1  to be undisplayed so that only one of the plurality of partition lines  1  is displayed. In other words, in the case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the plurality of partition lines  1  are being consecutively displayed, the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes a partition line(s), other than the only one partition line  1 , of the plurality of partition lines  1  to be undisplayed so that the only one partition line  1  is displayed. 
     That is, when the partition line non-display section  12   b  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  indicative of a determination result that no icon  6  is present between two partition lines  1  (a determination result that icons and partition lines are in a display state illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 8  (later described)), the partition line non-display section  12   b  supplies, to the display control section  71 , non-display information  2  for causing an unnecessary partition line  1  of the two partition lines  1  to be undisplayed. 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that a pinch-in operation has been carried out with respect to a partition line, the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes the partition line to be undisplayed. Specifically, when the partition line non-display section  12   b  receives, from the condition determining section  11 , determination information  8  showing that the pinch-in operation has been carried out with respect to the partition line, the partition line non-display section  12   b  supplies, to the display control section  71 , non-display information  2  for causing the partition line to be undisplayed. 
     The display section  70  displays, for a user, a result of a process carried out in the control section  10  (a partition line  1  or non-display information  2 ). The display section  70  includes the display control section  71  and the display surface  72 . 
     The display control section  71  supplies display data  7  to the display surface  72  so that an icon  6  or a partition line  1  can be displayed on the display surface  72 . The display data  7  may be, for example, a bit-mapped image, an image based on another format, or an image based on a data format suitable for another display. Note that the display control section  71  is not limited to a specific one provided that the display control section  71  includes a format converter for converting content to be displayed into a format of display data  7 . An example of the display control section  71  is a typical display adapter. 
     The display surface  72  is a device for displaying the display data  7  supplied from the display control section  71 . The present embodiment mainly assumes a case where the display surface  72  is a liquid crystal display (LCD). However, kinds of hardware are not limited provided that the display surface  72  is a device having a display function (particularly, a flat panel display). The display surface  72  may be a device such as a device which includes (i) a display element such as a plasma display panel (PDP) or an EL (Electroluminescence) display and (ii) a driver circuit for driving the display element in accordance with display data  7  supplied from the display control section  71 . 
     As has been described, in a case where the input surface  41  and the display surface  72  are realized by a touch panel and a liquid crystal display, respectively, the input surface  41  and the display surface  72  may be integrated with each other. In this case, the input surface  41  may be constituted by a transparent member (such as glass) having a rectangular plate-like shape, and integrated with the display surface  72  so as to cover the display surface  72 . 
     [Details of Operation of Smart Phone  100  in Response to User&#39;s Operation for Shifting Icon] 
     A second example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a view schematically illustrating the second example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon  6   b  to a position in a third row of a second column. 
     (a) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 6  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon  6   b  is completed. That is, (a) through (d) of  FIG. 6  illustrate a successive flow of a display screen on which the user operates the icon  6   b  which is present at a position in a first row of the second column to change a display position of the icon  6   b  from the position in the first row of the second column to the position in the third row of the second column. 
     The condition determining section  11  finds that a user has changed the display position of the icon  6   b  so that the icon  6   b  overlaps with a partition line (see (b) of  FIG. 6 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  finds so, the partition line display section  12   a  causes partition lines to be displayed on respective opposite sides of the icon  6   b  (see (c) of  FIG. 6 ). 
     That is, the smart phone  100  shifts an icon  6   e  displayed below a partition line  1  and the partition line  1 , downward by one row from a display position of the icon  6   e . The partition line display section  12   a  then causes a partition line  1   a  to be additionally displayed. The display position of the icon  6   b  is changed to a position between the added partition line  1   a  and a partition line  1   b  (the partition line  1 ) which is shifted downward at which position the icon  6   b  has been dropped. As such, in a case where a user drops the icon  6   b  on the partition line  1 , the partition line  1   a  and the partition line  1   b  are displayed so as to sandwich the icon  6   b.    
     As has been described, in a case where a position where an icon is more preferentially displayed becomes vacant due to a user&#39;s operation for shifting a first icon  6 , the smart phone  100  advances, to the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed, a second icon  6  displayed at a low-priority position so as to display the second icon  6  at the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed. 
     Therefore, in a case where a position (see part A in (c) of  FIG. 6 ) higher in priority than display positions of respective icons  6   c  and  6   d  is vacant (see (c) of  FIG. 6 ), the smart phone  100  displays the icon  6   c  at the part A and displays the icon  6   d  at the display position of the icon  6   c  (see (d) of  FIG. 6 ). This causes a state where no icon is arranged in a second row. The smart phone  100  changes the display positions of the respective icons  6   b  and  6   e  so that the second row is eliminated. 
     Similarly, in a case where a position (see part B in (c) of  FIG. 6 ) higher in priority than the display position of the icon  6   b  is vacant (see (c) of  FIG. 6 ), the smart phone  100  advances the icon  6   b  to the part B so as to display the icon  6   b  at the part B (see (d) of  FIG. 6 ). 
     The following description will discuss, with reference to  FIG. 7 , a concrete process carried out by the smart phone  100  in a case where the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a display position of an icon  6  to which display position the icon  6  has been shifted overlaps with a partition line  1 .  FIG. 7  is a view schematically illustrating a positional relation between a region α or a region β and a center of an icon  6  whose display position is to be changed by a user (an icon which is being shifted). (a) of  FIG. 7  illustrates a case where the center of the icon  6  whose display position is to be changed by the user (the icon which is being shifted) is present in the region α. (b) of  FIG. 7  illustrates a case where the center of the icon  6  whose display position is to be changed by the user is present in the region β. 
     In the case where, as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 7 , the center of the icon  6  which is being shifted is included in the region α (in a predetermined region including a display position of an icon other than the icon  6  which is being shifted), the condition determining section  11  determines that the icon  6  does not overlap with a partition line  1 . In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines so, the smart phone  100  changes the display position of the icon  6  to the display position of the icon  6  to which display position the icon  6  has been shifted. 
     In the case where, as illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 7 , the center of the icon  6  which is being shifted is included in the region β (in a predetermined region sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons other than the icon  6  which is being shifted), the condition determining section  11  determines that the icon  6  overlaps with the partition line  1 . In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines so, the partition line display section  12   a  causes partition lines  1  to be displayed on respective opposite sides of the icon  6  (see (c) of  FIG. 6 ). 
     That is, the condition determining section  11  (determination section) determines whether or not the display position of the icon  6  has been changed so that the icon  6  overlaps with the partition line  1 , on the basis of a positional relation between (i) the center of the icon  6  whose display position has been changed and (ii) the predetermined region including the display position of the icon other than the icon  6  or the predetermined region sandwiched by the display positions of the at least two icons other than the icon  6 . 
     The above has described a case where the condition determining section  11  makes a determination on the basis of the positional relation between the center of the icon  6  which is being shifted and the region α or the region β. The determination may be made on the basis of a positional relation between the region α or the region β and a center of a finger which is in touch with the input surface  41 . 
     The region α may be a region of a display position of an icon (a region of D in a longitudinal direction and B in a traverse direction (see  FIG. 4 )) or an external region including the region (a rectangular region of D+2×C in the longitudinal direction and B+2×A in the traverse direction, i.e., the above-described determination region (see  FIG. 4 )). 
     A range of the region β is arbitrarily adjustable. That is, the region β may be separated by a predetermined distance (e.g., 10 pixels) from an end part of a display position of an icon (in (b) of  FIG. 7 , a lower side of an upper icon displayed or an upper side of a lower icon displayed). 
     A third example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a view schematically illustrating the third example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon  6   b  to a position in a third row of a second column. 
     (a) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 8  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon  6   b  is completed. That is, (a) through (d) of  FIG. 8  illustrate a successive flow of a display screen on which the user operates the icon  6   b  which is present at a position in a second row of a first column to change a display position of the icon  6   b  from the position in the second row of the first column to the position in the third row of the second column. 
     The condition determining section  11  finds that, as illustrated in (b) and (c) of  FIG. 8 , a plurality of partition lines (partition lines  1   a  and  1   b ) are being consecutively displayed between the display position of the icon  6   b  and display positions of another icons (icons  6   a ,  6   c , and  6   d ) (no icon is present between the partition lines  1   a  and  1   b ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  finds so, the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes at least one of the plurality of partition lines (either one of the partition lines  1   a  and  1   b ) to be undisplayed so that only one of the plurality of partition lines is displayed (see (d) of  FIG. 8 ). 
     As a result of the user&#39;s operation for shifting the icon  6   b , no icon is present in the second row. Therefore, as has been described, the smart phone  100  changes the display position of the icon  6   b  and a display position of an icon  6   e  so that the second row is eliminated. 
     A fourth example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a view schematically illustrating the fourth example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out an operation for shifting an icon  6   d  to a position in a first row of a second column. 
     (a) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen before the user carries out the operation. (b) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the operation. (c) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen immediately after the user carries out the operation. (d) of  FIG. 9  illustrates an example screen on which the shifting of the icon  6   d  is completed. That is, (a) through (d) of  FIG. 9  illustrate a successive flow of a display screen on which the user operates the icon  6   d  which is present at a position in a second row of a first column to change a display position of the icon  6   d  from the position in the second row of the first column to the position in the first row of the second column. 
     As illustrated in (b) and (c) of  FIG. 9 , a user can change the display position of the icon  6   d  so that the icon  6   d  cut in front of another icon displayed at a higher-priority position (an icon  6   b  displayed in the first row of the second column in an example of  FIG. 9 ). 
     The condition determining section  11  finds that, as illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 9 , no icon is present below a partition line  1  (in a third row and subsequent rows in  FIG. 9 ) (detects the presence of the partition line  1  which is not sandwiched by at least two icons). In a case where the condition determining section  11  finds so, the partition line  1  is caused to be undisplayed (see (d) of  FIG. 9 ). 
     A fifth example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a view schematically illustrating the fifth example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out a pinch-in operation with respect to a partition line  1 . 
     (a) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the pinch-in operation with respect to the partition line  1 . (b) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen immediately after the partition line  1  is undisplayed due to the pinch-in operation. (c) of  FIG. 10  illustrates an example screen after an icon  6   e  is advanced to a position at which an icon is more preferentially displayed because the position becomes vacant. 
     The condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a user has carried out, with respect to the partition line  1 , an operation for moving a plurality of fingers toward a given point present between the plurality of fingers so as to join the plurality of fingers while the plurality of fingers are in touch with the input surface  41  (a so-called pinch-in operation) (see (a) and (b) of  FIG. 10 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the pinch-in operation has been carried out with respect to the partition line  1 , the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes the partition line  1  to be undisplayed. 
     Since the partition line  1  which partitions the icon  6   e  from icons  6   a  through  6   d  (other icons) is caused to be undisplayed (see (b) of  FIG. 10 ), the smart phone  100  rearranges the icons  6   a  through  6   e  as icons which are classifiable by use of a partition line (see (c) of  FIG. 10 ). That is, the smart phone  100  advances the icon  6   e  to a position where an icon is more preferentially displayed so as to display the icon  6   e  at the position. 
     A sixth example operation of the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a view schematically illustrating the sixth example operation of the smart phone  100  in a case where a user carries out a pinch-out operation within a predetermined region (in the region β illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 7 ) which does not include a partition line  1  sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons. 
     (a) of  FIG. 11  illustrates an example screen on which the user is carrying out the pinch-out operation within the predetermined region. (b) of  FIG. 11  illustrates an example screen immediately after a partition line  1  is newly displayed due to the pinch-out operation. 
     The condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a user has carried out, within the predetermined region, an operation for moving a plurality of fingers from a given point present between the plurality of fingers so as to extend a space between the plurality of fingers while the plurality of fingers are in touch with the input surface  41  (a so-called pinch-out operation). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the pinch-out operation has been carried out within the predetermined region, the partition line display section  12   a  causes a partition line  1  to be displayed, the partition line  1  partitioning icons  6   a  through  6   c  from an icon  6   d.    
     [Processes Carried Out by Smart Phone  100 ] 
     A flow of processes carried out by the smart phone  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of processes carried out by the smart phone  100 . Note that “ . . . step” in parentheses which will be described below represents a step of a control method. 
     The control section  10  determines whether or not an icon  6  is being dragged (step  1 ; hereinafter abbreviated as S 1 ). In a case where the control section  10  determines that the icon  6  is being dragged (YES in S 1 ), the control section controls the icon  6  to be temporarily shifted in accordance with the drag (S 2 ). The control section  10  further determines whether or not the icon  6  has been dropped (S 3 ). In a case where the control section  10  determines that the icon  6  has been dropped (YES in S 3 ), the control section  10  controls a first display position of the icon  6  to be changed to a position where the icon  6  has been dropped (S 4 ). 
     The condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a second display position of the icon  6  to which second display position the first display position of the icon  6  has been changed overlaps with a partition line  1  (S 5 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the second display position does not overlap with the partition line  1  (NO in S 5 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not an icon other than the icon  6  is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes the second display position of the icon  6  (S 6 , determination step). Note that, in the flowchart of  FIG. 12 , the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not the icon other than the icon  6  whose first display position has been changed is being displayed in a row of the second display position. 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the icon other than the icon  6  is not being displayed (NO in S 6 ), the partition line display section  12   a  causes a partition line  1  to be displayed between the second display position of the icon  6  and a display position of another icon (S 7 , classification step). That is, the smart phone  100  displays a screen illustrated in (d) of  FIG. 5 . 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the second display position of the icon  6  overlaps with the partition line  1  (YES in S 5 ), the control section  10  shifts the partition line  1  and an icon displayed below the partition line  1  (an icon  6   e  on a screen illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 6 ) downward by one row from a display position of the icon displayed below the partition line  1  (S 8 ). Then, the partition line display section  12   a  causes another partition line  1  to be additionally displayed (S 9 ). The icon  6  is shifted to a position between the another partition line  1  and the partition line  1  shifted downward in S 8  at which position the icon  6  has been dropped (S 10 ). That is, the partition line display section  12   a  causes the partition line  1  and the another partition line  1  to be displayed on respective opposite sides of the icon  6 . 
     Then, the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a partition line  1  is being displayed between display positions of at least two icons (S 11 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that there is a partition line  1  which is not sandwiched by at least two icons (NO in S 11 ), the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes the partition line  1  to be undisplayed (S 12 ). 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that there is no partition line  1  which is not sandwiched by at least two icons (YES in S 11 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not any icon is being displayed below a partition line  1  (whether or not icons and a partition line are in a display state illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 9 ) (S 13 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that no icon is being displayed below the partition line  1  (NO in S 13 ), the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes the partition line  1  to be undisplayed (S 14 ). 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that an icon is being displayed below the partition line  1  (YES in S 13 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a plurality of partition lines  1  are being consecutively displayed between a display position of an icon  6  to which display position the icon  6  has been shifted and a display position of an icon other than the icon  6  (S 15 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the plurality of partition lines  1  are being consecutively displayed (YES in S 15 ), the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes at least one of the plurality of partition lines  1  to be undisplayed so that only one of the plurality of partition lines  1  is displayed (S 16 ). 
     Finally, the control section  10  arranges a display position(s) of an icon(s) (S 17 ). That is, in a case where a position where an icon is more preferentially displayed is vacant due to a user&#39;s operation for shifting an icon, the control section  10  advances, to the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed, an icon displayed at a low-priority position so that the icon displayed at the low-priority position is displayed at the position where the icon is more preferentially displayed. 
     A flow of another processes carried out by the smart phone  100  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the another processes carried out by the smart phone  100 . 
     The condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a user has carried out a pinch-in operation (S 20 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the user has carried out the pinch-in operation (YES in S 20 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not the pinch-in operation has been carried out with respect to a partition line  1  (S 21 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the pinch-in operation has been carried out with respect to the partition line  1  (YES in S 21 ), the partition line non-display section  12   b  causes the partition line  1  to be undisplayed (S 22 ). 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the user has not carried out the pinch-in operation (NO in S 20 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not a user has carried out a pinch-out operation (S 23 ). In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the user has carried out the pinch-out operation (YES in S 23 ), the condition determining section  11  determines whether or not the pinch-out operation has been carried out within a predetermined region that does not include a partition line  1  sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons (in a region β illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 7 ) (S 24 ). 
     In a case where the condition determining section  11  determines that the pinch-out operation has been carried out within the predetermined region (YES in S 24 ), the partition line display section  12   a  causes a partition line  1  to be displayed within the predetermined region (S 25 ). Finally, the control section  10  arranges a display position(s) of an icon(s) (S 26 , as with S 17 ). 
     [Effect Brought about by Smart Phone  100 ] 
     The smart phone  100  brings about an effect that it is possible to classify icons displayed on a display screen through a user&#39;s simple operation for changing a display position of an icon. 
     [Combination of Configurations (Technical Means) Included in Each Embodiment] 
     It should be noted that configurations included in the above-described embodiment are combined with each other as appropriate. That is, all of the configurations explained in the embodiment or a combination of some of the configurations can also be utilized in another embodiment. An embodiment derived from such a combination of the configurations is encompassed in the technical scope of the present invention. 
     [Software Implementation Example] 
     Each block of the smart phone  100  may be realized by a hardware such as a logic circuit on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or may be realized by software as executed by a CPU. 
     In a case where the each block of the smart phone  100  is realized by software as executed by a CPU, the smart phone  100  includes: a CPU that executes instructions of a program that realizes each function; a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing the program; and a RAM that develops the program; and a storage device (storage medium) such as a memory which stores the program and various kinds of data. The object of the present invention can be achieved by mounting to the smart phone  100  a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of a control program (executable program, intermediate code program, or source program) for the smart phone  100 , the control program being software for realizing the foregoing functions, so that the computer (or CPU or MPU) retrieves and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. 
     The storage medium can be, for example, a tape, such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape; a disk including (i) a magnetic disk such as a floppy (Registered Trademark) disk or a hard disk and (ii) an optical disk such as CD-ROM, MO, MD, DVD, or CD-R; a card such as an IC card (memory card) or an optical card; a semiconductor memory such as mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM (Registered Trademark), or flash ROM; or a logic circuit such as a PLD (Programmable logic device) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). 
     The smart phone  100  can be arranged to be connectable to a communications network so that the program code is made available to the smart phone  100  via the communications network. The communications network is not limited to a specific one provided that it can transfer the program code to the smart phone  100 , and therefore can be, for example, the Internet, Intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communications network, virtual dedicated network (virtual private network), telephone line network, mobile communications network, or satellite communications network. The transfer medium which constitutes the communications network is not limited to a transfer medium having a specific configuration or specific kinds of transfer medium provided that it can transfer the program code to the smart phone  100 , and therefore can be, for example, wired line such as IEEE 1394, USB, electric power line, cable TV line, telephone line, or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line); or wireless such as infrared radiation (IrDA or remote control), Bluetooth (Registered Trademark), IEEE 802.11 wireless, HDR (High Data Rate), NFC (Near Field Communication), DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), mobile telephone network, satellite line, or terrestrial digital network. Note that the present invention can also be implemented by the program code in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave which is embodied by electronic transmission. 
     As such, in the present specification, a “section” does not necessarily mean a physical section but includes a case where a function of each section is realized by software. A function of one section may be realized by two or more physical sections. Alternatively, functions of two or more sections may be realized by one physical section. 
     [Summary] 
     An information processing apparatus of Aspect 1 of the present invention is configured to be (1) an information processing apparatus (smart phone  100 ) including: an input surface capable of detecting a position (coordinate information  4 ) specified by a user&#39;s operation (user&#39;s operation  3 ); a display surface capable of displaying a plurality of icons; a determination section for determining whether or not a predetermined condition is met; and a classification section for, in a case where the determination section determines that the predetermined condition is met, classifying the plurality of icons, display positions of the plurality of icons on the display surface being changeable in accordance with the position specified by the user&#39;s operation, 
     (2) in a case where a first display position of an icon of the plurality of icons is changed, the determination section (condition determining section  11 ) determining whether or not another icon other than the icon of the plurality of icons is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes a second display position of the icon to which second display position the first display position of the icon has been changed, and 
     (3) in a case where the determination section determines that the another icon is not being displayed within the predetermined region, the classification section (partition line display section  12   a ) causing a partition line to be displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons. 
     In order to attain the object, a method, of Aspect 1 of the present invention, of controlling an information processing apparatus is configured to be (1) a method of controlling an information processing apparatus capable of changing, in accordance with a position specified by a user&#39;s operation, display positions of a plurality of icons on a display surface capable of displaying the plurality of icons, the method including the steps of: (a) determining whether or not a predetermined condition is met; and (b), in a case where it is determined in the step (a) that the predetermined condition is met, classifying the plurality of icons, 
     (2) in a case where a first display position of an icon of the plurality of icons is changed, it being determined in the step (a) (S 6 ) whether or not another icon other than the icon of the plurality of icons is being displayed within a predetermined region that includes a second display position of the icon to which second display position the first display position of the icon has been changed, and 
     (3) in a case where it is determined in the step (a) that the another icon is not being displayed within the predetermined region, in the step (b) (S 7 ), a partition line being caused to be displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons. 
     According to the above configurations (1) through (3), the information processing apparatus of and the method of controlling the information processing apparatus of Aspect 1 of the present invention are capable of changing display positions of a plurality of icons in accordance with a position specified by a user. Note here that the information processing apparatus etc. determines whether or not a predetermined condition is met, and in a case where the information processing apparatus etc. determines that the predetermined condition is met, the information processing apparatus etc. is capable of classifying a plurality of icons. 
     The information processing apparatus etc. determines whether or not the predetermined condition is met, in a case where a first display position of an icon is changed, the case acting as a trigger. It should be noted here that the predetermined condition means whether or not another icon other than the icon is being displayed within a predetermined region including a second display position of the icon to which second display position the first display position has been changed. 
     In a case where the information processing apparatus etc. determines that the another icon other than the icon is not being displayed within the predetermined region, the information processing apparatus etc. displays a partition line between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon so as to classify a plurality of icons. 
     As such, according to the information processing apparatus of and the method of controlling the information processing apparatus of Aspect 1 of the present invention, a user can classify icons displayed on a display screen by carrying out a simple operation for changing a display position of an icon. 
     The information processing apparatus of Aspect 1 of the present invention may further be configured to be an information processing apparatus of Aspect 2 of the present invention wherein 
     (1) the determination section further determines whether or not the first display position of the icon has been changed so that the icon overlaps with a partition line, 
     (2) in a case where the determination section determines that the first display position of the icon has been changed so that the icon overlaps with the partition line, the classification section causes partition lines to be displayed on respective opposite sides of the icon. 
     According to the above configurations (1) and (2), the information processing apparatus determines whether or not the first display position of the icon has been changed so that the icon overlaps with a partition line. In a case where the information processing apparatus determines that the first display position of the icon has been changed so that the icon overlaps with the partition line, the information processing apparatus displays partition lines on respective opposite sides of the icon. 
     Therefore, the information processing apparatus of Aspect 2 of the present invention can add a partition line which partitions only an icon from another icon in response to a user&#39;s simple operation for dropping the icon on a partition line. 
     The information processing apparatus of Aspect 1 or 2 of the present invention may further be configured to be an information processing apparatus of Aspect 3 of the present invention wherein 
     (1) in the case where the first display position of the icon is changed, the determination section further determines whether or not a partition line is being displayed between display positions of at least two icons of the plurality of icons, and 
     (2) the information processing apparatus further includes a first non-display section (partition line non-display section  12   b ) for, in a case where the determination section determines that the partition line is not being displayed between the display positions of the at least two icons, causing the partition line to be undisplayed. 
     According to the above configurations (1) and (2), in the case where the first display position of the icon is changed, the information processing apparatus determines whether or not a partition line is being displayed between display positions of at least two icons of the plurality of icons. In a case where the information processing apparatus determines that the partition line is not being displayed between the display positions of the at least two icons, the information processing apparatus is capable of undisplaying the partition line. 
     Therefore, the information processing apparatus of Aspect 3 of the present invention can cause an unnecessary partition line to be undisplayed in response to a user&#39;s simple operation for changing a display position of an icon, and can more effectively classify icons displayed on a display screen. 
     The information processing apparatus of any one of Aspects 1 through 3 of the present invention may further be configured to be an information processing apparatus of Aspect 4 of the present invention wherein 
     (1) in the case where the first display position of the icon is changed, the determination section further determines whether or not a plurality of partition lines are being consecutively displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons, and 
     (2) the information processing apparatus further includes a second non-display section (partition line non-display section  12   b ) for, in a case where the determination section determines that the plurality of partition lines are being consecutively displayed between the second display position of the icon and the display position of the another icon of the plurality of icons, causing at least one of the plurality of partition lines to be undisplayed so that only one of the plurality of partition lines is displayed. 
     According to the above configurations (1) and (2), in the case where the first display position of the icon is changed, the information processing apparatus determines whether or not a plurality of partition lines are being consecutively displayed between the second display position of the icon and a display position of another icon of the plurality of icons. In a case where the information processing apparatus determines that the plurality of partition lines are being consecutively displayed, the information processing apparatus undisplays at least one of the plurality of partition lines so that only one of the plurality of partition lines is displayed. 
     Therefore, the information processing apparatus of Aspect 4 of the present invention can cause an unnecessary partition line to be undisplayed in response to a user&#39;s simple operation for changing a display position of an icon, and can more effectively classify icons displayed on a display screen. 
     The information processing apparatus of any one of Aspects 1 through 4 of the present invention may further be configured to be an information processing apparatus of Aspect 5 of the present invention wherein 
     (1) in a case where the first display position of the icon is not changed, the determination section determines whether or not a user has carried out, with respect to a partition line, a pinch-in operation for shifting a plurality of positions toward a given point present between the plurality of positions so as to join the plurality of positions while the plurality of positions are being specified on the input surface, and 
     (2) the information processing apparatus further includes a third non-display section (partition line non-display section  12   b ) for, in a case where the determination section determines that the pinch-in operation has been carried out, causing the partition line to be undisplayed. 
     According to the above configurations (1) and (2), in a case where the information processing apparatus determines that a user has carried out the pinch-in operation with respect to a partition line, the information processing apparatus undisplays the partition line. 
     Therefore, the information processing apparatus of Aspect 5 of the present invention can cause an unnecessary partition line to be undisplayed and can more effectively classify icons displayed on a display screen, in response to a user&#39;s simple operation, i.e., the pinch-in operation. 
     The information processing apparatus of any one of Aspects 1 through 5 of the present invention may further be configured to be an information processing apparatus of Aspect 6 of the present invention wherein 
     (1) in a case where the first display position of the icon is not changed, the determination section determines whether or not a user has carried out, within a predetermined region that does not include a partition line sandwiched by display positions of at least two icons of the plurality of icons, a pinch-out operation for shifting a plurality of positions from a given point present between the plurality of positions so as to extend a space between the plurality of positions while the plurality of positions are being specified on the input surface, 
     (2) in a case where the determination section determines that the pinch-out operation has been carried out, the classification section causes a partition line to be displayed within the predetermined region. 
     According to the above configurations (1) and (2), in a case where the information processing apparatus determines that a user has carried out the pinch-out operation within the predetermined region, the information processing apparatus displays a partition line within the predetermined region. 
     Therefore, the information processing apparatus of Aspect 6 of the present invention can newly add a partition line and can more effectively classify icons displayed on a display screen, in response to a user&#39;s simple operation, i.e., the pinch-out operation. 
     Note that the information processing apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, the scope of the present invention encompasses (i) a control program for causing the computer to function as each of the sections of the information processing apparatus so that the information processing apparatus is realized by the computer, and (ii) a computer-readable storage medium in which the control program is stored. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to an electronic device which (i) has an input surface capable of detecting a position specified by a user&#39;s operation, and a display surface capable of displaying a plurality of icons and (ii) is capable of changing a display position of an icon on the display surface in accordance with the position specified by the user&#39;s operation. Specifically, the present invention is suitably applicable to, for example, a smart phone, a personal computer or a tablet-type information terminal. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1 : Partition line (partition line) 
           3 : User&#39;s operation (user&#39;s operation) 
           4 : coordinate information (specified position) 
           6   a : icon (icon) 
           6   b : icon (icon) 
           6   c : icon (icon) 
           6   d : icon (icon) 
           6   e : icon (icon) 
           11 : condition determining section (determination section) 
           12   a : partition line display section (classification section) 
           12   b : partition line non-display section (first non-display section, second non-display section, third non-display section) 
           41 : input surface (input surface) 
           72 : display surface (display surface) 
           100 : smart phone (information processing apparatus)