Patent Publication Number: US-2005122318-A1

Title: Data processing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-385340 filed on Nov. 14, 2003; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a data processing device, such as a computer, a personal digital assistant, or a word processor, having two or more input modes including a mode where a keyboard or a touch-pad is used while the device is in an open state (notebook mode) as is the case with a normal notebook PC, and a mode where a pen is used while the device is in a collapsed state (tablet mode).  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventional data processing devices having a plurality of input modes has two modes, e.g., a mode (a notebook mode) where input is effected by a keyboard and a mouse and a mode (a tablet mode) where input is effected by handwriting with a pen, or the like. In a data processing device having a plurality of input modes, the type of input means to be employed and direction thereof during use, and the like, change greatly from one mode to another. For instance, in the notebook mode, there are many situations where a keyboard and a touch-pad are used from the front as in the case of a normal notebook PC. In contrast, in the tablet mode, a device is supposed to be used on a device from desired directions thereof.  
      As described above, in consideration of the fact that the direction—in which the user uses the data processing device—differs in many cases between, e.g., the notebook mode and the tablet mode, the user switches the direction of a screen display or that of input means in accordance with directions assigned respectively to the notebook mode and the tablet mode, in a data processing device having a plurality of input modes (see, e.g., JP2003-296033 (kokai) ([ 0019 ],  FIG. 4 )).  
      A data processing device typified by a notebook PC assumes usage by use of a keyboard and a mouse. Accordingly, many data processing devices having a plurality of input modes adopt a user interface for a notebook mode, which users often find to be inconvenient, especially in a tablet mode.  
      For this reason, in many data processing devices having a plurality of input modes, input means as well as the direction of a screen display used by the user often change between, e.g., the notebook mode and the tablet mode. Accordingly, the user himself/herself switches the mode. Furthermore, in addition to the direction of the screen display, there also arises a problem of the user feeling inconvenience when a single input means is employed for both the notebook mode and the tablet mode.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances and provides a data processing device having a plurality of input modes which is capable of, for instance, automatically determining whether the device is in a notebook mode or a tablet mode, thereby enabling a user to use an interface suitable for the current mode.  
      According to first aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch a user interface on basis of a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to second aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, an input unit, an input controller to control input information input by the input unit, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch whether or not to accept the input information in accordance with a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to third aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, an input unit, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch an operation mode to be performed by way of the input unit in accordance with a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to fourth aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, an input unit, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch a mode of displaying information input by way of the input unit in accordance with a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to fifth aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch software to be operated on basis of a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to sixth aspect of the present invention, a data processing device includes a display integrally configured with a tablet, an authenticator to logon, a mode determination unit to determine whether or not a current mode is an input mode employing the tablet, and a mode controller to switch an authentication mode in accordance with a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to seventh aspect of the present invention, a portable device includes a display integrally configured with a input in a tablet mode, a input unit to input in a notebook mode, a mode determination unit to determine whether a current mode is the notebook mode or the tablet mode, and a mode controller to switch a user input interface on basis of a result of determination of the mode determination unit.  
      According to the present invention, in a data processing device having a plurality of input modes, an interface suitable for the current mode can be automatically provided to a user. Accordingly, operation efficiency of the user can be enhanced. Particularly, there is automatically performed switching to an appropriate interface in the tablet mode without causing the user to perform a special operation, and hence the user can operate the data processing device with comfort. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams showing a notebook mode and a tablet mode;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example mode determination;  
       FIGS. 4A  to  4 D are diagrams showing switching between modes;  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of processing pertaining to switching between a notebook mode and a tablet mode; and  
       FIGS. 6A  to  6 C are diagrams showing examples of trails displayed on screens. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a data processing device of the present invention. The data processing device shown in  FIG. 1  includes a screen display  101 , a screen controller  102 , a reclosable switch  103 , a rotation switch  104 , a mode determination section  105 , a keyboard  106 , a keyboard input controller  107 , a to touch-pad  108 , a tablet  109 , a mouse  110 , a coordinate input controller  111 , a password authenticator  112 , a mode controller  113 , and a signature authenticator  114 .  
       FIG. 2A  shows a notebook mode of a data processing device, such as a convertible notebook PC, and  FIG. 2B  shows a tablet mode thereof.  
      The reclosable switch  103  is a switch for detecting an open state and a collapsed state of, e.g., a convertible data processing device. The rotation switch  104  is a switch for detecting a rotation in a direction different from that opening/closing action of the display screen of the convertible data processing device. The screen controller  102  controls on-screen displayed components, such as a mouse cursor, a button, a menu, and a scroll bar. The keyboard input controller  107  accepts input from the keyboard  106 , however, when the mode controller  113  determines that the input from the keyboard  106  cannot be accepted, the keyboard input controller  107  does not output the input from the keyboard  106 . The coordinate input controller  111  accepts inputs from the mouse  110 , the tablet  109 , and the touch-pad  108 . However, when the mode controller  113  determines that input from an arbitrary one of the mouse  110 , the tablet  109 , and the touch-pad  108  is unacceptable, the coordinate input controller  111  does not output that input.  
      The signature authenticator  114  checks similarity between a signature input at the time of logon and a signature which has been registered in advance, by use of a signature collation processing technique (see, e.g., “Study on Identification of Signature by Tree-Matching,” Shingaku-Giho, D-II, Vol. J75-D-II, No. 1, pp. 31-38, 1992), and when the signature is authenticated, the signature authenticator  114  permits the logon. Meanwhile, the password authenticator checks whether a password (a character string) coincides with the password which has been registered in advance, when the passwords coincide, the password authenticator  114  permits the logon.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mode determination section  105  determines whether or not the device is in the tablet mode, on the basis of the states of the reclosable switch  103  and the rotation switch  104 . In the illustrated example, the device is determined to be in the tablet mode when the reclosable switch is open, and the rotation switch  104  is at 180°.  
       FIGS. 4A  to  4 D show mode switching from a power-off mode through the tablet mode.  FIG. 4A  shows a power-off state where the screen display  101  is folded so as to face the keyboard  106  and the touch-pad  108 . When the screen display  101  is opened, a view such as that shown in  FIG. 4B  is acquired, so that the device enters the notebook mode. When the display  101  is rotated about the reclosable section by 180° ( FIG. 4C ), and the display  101  is closed such that the surface opposite the screen faces the keyboard  106  and the touch-pad  108 , the device enters the tablet mode as shown in  FIG. 4D .  
       FIG. 5  shows an example of processing pertaining to switching between the notebook mode and the tablet mode. With regard to a cursor displayed on a screen, in the notebook mode a normal mouse cursor is displayed. In contrast, in the tablet mode, the cursor is not displayed, so that the user will not be distracted with parallax or time delay, or a dedicated cursor different from that of the normal cursor is displayed, for instance, as shown in  FIG. 6A . Displayed components, such as a mouse cursor, a button, a menu, and a scroll bar, in the tablet mode are displayed in a magnified manner as compared to those in the normal notebook mode. With regard to operation modes typified in click operation, in the notebook mode a double click is adopted. In contrast, in the tablet mode, a single click is chiefly adopted, because input is mainly performed by a pen on the tablet.  
      Furthermore, with regard to display of a pointer trail on the screen, in the notebook mode where input is mainly performed by the mouse  110 , cursor motion caused by dragging of the mouse  110  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 6B . In the tablet mode, a trail traced by pen input is displayed in a form of a stroke as shown in  FIG. 6C . In the notebook mode, input by the keyboard  106  and input by the touch-pad  108  are accepted. However, in the tablet mode, input by the keyboard  108  and input by the touch-pad  108  are not accepted. Meanwhile, in the notebook mode, input by a pen (tablet) is not accepted, whereas such input is accepted in the tablet mode.  
      Furthermore, at the time of switching from the notebook mode to the tablet mode, software pertaining to the tablet stays resident. In contrast, at the time of switching to the notebook mode, the software pertaining to the tablet is stopped. With regard to logon to the data processing device, in the notebook mode, authentication is processed with use of a password, in the tablet mode, authentication is processed by input of a signature.  
      As described above, in the notebook mode, input and operations are mainly performed by the keyboard  106 , the touch-pad  108 , and the mouse  110 . In the tablet mode, input and operations are mainly performed by a pen. Accordingly, upon acceptance of the result determined by the mode determination section  105 , the mode controller  113  switches a user interface to a suitable one for the mode so as to provide the user with a suitable interface for the operation method.  
      By virtue of the above configuration, operation efficiency of the user can be enhanced. Particularly, there is automatically performed switching to an appropriate interface in the tablet mode without causing the user to perform a special operation, and hence the user can operate the data processing device with comfort.