Patent Abstract:
A portable information equipment of this invention has a jog switch for generating different events in correspondence with flip directions and times, and means for executing a process corresponding to a type of event generated by the jog switch.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-007994, filed Jan. 16, 2001, 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 portable information equipment and, more particularly, to a personal computer for reproducing CD/DVD data recorded on CD/DVD media and MP3 data recorded on a memory card and HDD etc. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Upon reproducing digital audio/video data stored in a computer, switching data to be reproduced, and fastforwarding/rewinding data, a method of making an instruction using a mouse or inputting via a keyboard is used. 
   However, a portable notebook type computer does not always have high operability, since such conventional input interface requires delicate operations. For this reason, some personal computers simplify operations by making a choice from those displayed on a menu using a jog dial. 
   However, since the jog dial generates an event by dial operation, it can generate only two different events, i.e., an event indicating dialing in one direction, and an event indicating dialing in the other direction. Hence, if there are many choices, jog dial operations are complicated. 
   More specifically, if there are 20 choices, when the user wants to select the 20th choice while the cursor used to select an item is located at the first choice, he or she must turn the jog dial 20 times to move the cursor, resulting in troublesome operations. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a portable information equipment which can easily select a plurality of processes by operating a jog switch. 
   Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present invention is a computer system comprising: a switch for generating different events in correspondence with flip direction and flip times; and means for executing a process corresponding to a type of event generated by the switch. 
   According to this computer system, since different processes are executed in correspondence with the types of events generated by the jog switch, a plurality of processes can be selected by simple operations using the switch. 
   Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a computer with its display unit being opened; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the computer with its display unit being closed; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view from the direction of an arrow (S) in  FIG. 1  with the display unit being closed; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of operation buttons  14  and jog switch  15 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the jog switch  15 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view for explaining the relationship between the operations of the jog switch  15  and events; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram showing the arrangement of a notebook type personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when the system is OFF; 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when the system is OFF; 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when the system is active; 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when the system is active; 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when a player is running; 
       FIG. 13  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the notebook type personal computer of the embodiment when the player is running; 
       FIG. 14  shows a tray icon in a CD/DVD mode; 
       FIG. 15  shows a tray icon in a digital audio mode; 
       FIG. 16  shows a display example upon switching a play list; 
       FIG. 17  shows a display screen used to select an object to be started by the system; 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram for explaining an informing method of the operation button and jog switch; and 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram for explaining switching of play lists. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A notebook type personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, data to be reproduced is limited to sound (audio) data, and a description of digital video data will be omitted. 
   The basic structure of the notebook type personal computer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described first with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     FIG. 1  is a front view of the computer with its display unit being opened,  FIG. 2  is a front view of the computer with its display unit being closed, and  FIG. 3  is a side view from the direction of an arrow (S) in  FIG. 1  with the display unit being closed. 
   This computer comprises a computer main body  11  and display unit (panel)  12 . 
   The display unit  12  has a built-in display screen  12  comprising an LCD. The display unit  12  is attached to the computer main body  11  to be pivotal between the open and close positions. 
   The computer main body  11  has a low-profile box-shaped housing, and a keyboard, pointing stick, and the like are arranged on its upper surface. 
   A system indicator  13 , operation buttons  14 , and jog switch  15  are provided to the upper surface of the computer main body  11 . The system indicator  13 , operation buttons  14 , and jog switch  15  are externally exposed even when the display panel  12  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, a notch is formed between the right and left hinges of the lower portion of the display panel  12 , so that a back (rear) side region of the upper surface of the computer main body is externally exposed even when the display panel  12  is closed. 
   The system indicator  13  includes a plurality of LED lamps, which indicate various kinds of status such as ON/OFF of a power supply, access to an HDD, connection/disconnection of an AC adapter, and the like by their ON/OFF states. 
     FIG. 4  is a top view of the operation buttons  14  and jog switch  15 , and  FIG. 5  is a side view of the jog switch  15 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the jog switch  15  has a knob  31 , which can be flipped to the right or left. When the user flips the knob  31  of the jog switch  15  to the right or left and then releases it, the knob  31  automatically returns to a neutral (central) state. 
   The operation buttons  14  are used to operate an object to be operated, which is switched by a program. For example, the object to be operated may be a CD/DVD medium or a digital audio medium. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the operation buttons  14  include a rewind button  14   a , play/pause button  14   b , stop button  14   c , and fastforward button  14   d.    
   The rewind button  14   a  is used to rewind a tune to reproduce to the immediately preceding tune. The play/pause button  14   b  is used to reproduce a tune, and to pause reproduce of a tune if it is pressed during reproduce. The stop button  14   c  is used to stop reproduce of a tune when it is pressed during reproduce. The fastforward button  14   d  is used to fastforward a tune to be reproduce to the next tune. 
     FIG. 6  is a view for explaining the relationship between the operations of the jog switch  15  and events. Note that a right event generated when the knob  31  of the jog switch  15  is flipped to the right will be explained below. Also, when the knob  31  is flipped to the left, a left event is generated. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the jog switch  15  is flipped to the right (left) side, a right (left) event is generated. When the jog switch  15  is kept flipped to the right (left) for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 1 sec), a right (left) continue event is generated. 
   On the other hand, when the user releases the jog switch  15  immediately after a right (left) event was generated, and the jog switch  15  returns to a neutral state, a return event is generated. Likewise, when the jog switch  15  returns to a neutral state after a right (left) continue event was generated, a return event is generated. 
   A disk drive  21  is provided to the right side surface of the computer main body  11 . The disk drive  21  receives a disk medium  20  such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM that records audio data, a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM that records audio and video data, or the like as an object to be reproduced. 
     FIG. 7  shows a schematic arrangement of the notebook type personal computer according to this embodiment. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a CPU  41  controls the overall system, and executes programs stored in a main memory  42 . 
   The main memory  42  stores a program for implementing processes of the flow charts to be explained later in this embodiment, a CD/DVD reproduce application program used to reproduce CD/DVD media, a digital audio application program used to reproduce digital audio data such as MP3 data, and the like. 
   A CD/DVD player  43  is used to reproduce CD/DVD media. 
   A ROM (Read Only Memory)  44  stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System), and has a program for detecting events from a jog witch  45  and console  48 . 
   The jog switch  45  generates different events depending on its flip direction and time, and also a return event when it returns to a neutral state, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   A storage device  46  is a memory card that stores digital audio data (for example, MP3 data). A display unit  47  is a display device such as a TFT, CRT, or the like. 
   The console  48  has the operation buttons  14  shown in  FIG. 4 , which include the buttons  14   a  to  14   d.    
   The operation of the notebook type personal computer according to this embodiment will be described below. Note that the operation to be described below is implemented by the BIOS program stored in the ROM  44  and the program stored in the main memory  42 . The relationship between the BIOS program stored in the ROM  44  and the program stored in the memory  42  will be described later. 
   1) When system is OFF 
   The operation of the notebook type personal computer of this embodiment while the system is OFF will be explained below with reference to the flow charts of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   While the system is OFF (hibernation or standby state), when the user flips the jog switch  15  to the CD/DVD side (A side in  FIG. 4 ) or audio data side (B side in  FIG. 4 ), the system is started (resumed) (S 1 ), and it is checked if the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the CD/DVD side or audio data side (S 2 ). 
   If it is determined in step S 2  that the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the CD/DVD side, the object to be operated by the operation buttons  14  is switched to a CD/DVD medium (S 3 ). And then, a tray icon is switched to that which can identify a CD/DVD mode, e.g., an icon  47  shown in  FIG. 14  (S 4 ), and it is then checked if a medium loaded in the CD/DVD player  43  is a CD (S 5 ). 
   If it is determined in step S 5  that the medium loaded in the CD/DVD player  43  is a CD, a CD reproduce application program is started (S 6 ) to reproduce the CD (S 7 ). If it is determined in step S 5  that the medium loaded is not a CD, a DVD reproduce application program is started (S 8 ) to reproduce a DVD (S 9 ). 
   On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 2  that the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the audio data side, the object to be operated by the operation buttons  14  is switched to a digital audio media (S 10 ). And then, a tray icon is switched to that which can identify a digital audio mode, e.g., an icon  50  shown in  FIG. 15  (S 11 ), and the digital audio application program is started (S 12 ) to reproduce digital audio data (S 13 ). 
   In this manner, even when the system is OFF, CD/DVD media and digital audio data can be reproduced by flipping the jog switch. 
   2) When system is active 
   The operation of the notebook type personal computer of this embodiment while the system is active will be explained below with reference to the flow charts of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
   When the user flips the jog switch  15  while the system is active, it is checked if the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the CD/DVD side or audio data side (S 21 ). 
   If it is determined in step S 21  that the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the CD/DVD side, the object to be operated by the operation buttons  14  is switched to a CD/DVD medium (S 22 ). The tray icon is then switched to that which can identify the CD/DVD mode, e.g., the icon shown in  FIG. 14  (S 23 ), and it is then checked if a medium loaded in the CD/DVD player  43  is a CD (S 24 ). 
   If it is determined in step S 24  that the medium loaded in the CD/DVD player  43  is a CD, the CD reproduce application program is started (S 25 ) to reproduce the CD (S 26 ). If it is determined in step S 24  that the medium loaded is not a CD, the DVD reproduce application program is started (S 27 ) to reproduce a DVD (S 28 ). 
   On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 21  that the jog switch  15  has been flipped to the audio data side, the object to be operated by the operation buttons  14  is switched to a digital audio media (S 30 ). And then, the tray icon is switched to that which can identify the digital audio mode, e.g., the icon shown in  FIG. 15  (S 31 ), and the digital audio application program is started (S 32 ) to reproduce digital audio data (S 33 ). 
   In this way, by only flipping the jog switch  15  while the system is active, CD/DVD media and digital audio data can be reproduced. 
   3) When player is running 
   The operation of the notebook type personal computer of this embodiment while the MP3 audio player or digital audio player reproduces the digital audio data will be explained below with reference to the flow charts of  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
   In this case, a case will be explained below wherein the digital audio player reproduces digital audio data. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , it is checked if the jog switch  15  has generated a return event of a right event (S 41 ). Note that the return event of the right event generated by the jog switch  15  is an event generated when the jog switch  15  is flipped to the right to generate a right event and then returns to a neutral state. On the other hand, a return event of a right continue event is an event generated when the jog switch  15  is kept flipped to the right for a predetermined period of time to generate a right event and right continue event, and then returns to a neutral state. 
   Likewise, a return event of a left event is an event generated when the jog switch  15  is flipped to the left to generate a left event and then returns to a neutral state. On the other hand, a return event of a left continue event is an event generated when the jog switch  15  is kept flipped to the left for a predetermined period of time to generate a left event and left continue event, and then returns to a neutral state. 
   If it is determined in step S 41  that a return event of a right event has been generated, a next play list is selected (S 42 ), and the flow advances to step S 43 . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 41  that a return event of a right event has not been generated, the flow advances to step S 43 . Note that the play list means a list of a group of some tunes, and contains information of a reproducing order of tunes included in the play list. In this embodiment, assume that there are a plurality of play lists as groups of tunes. 
   It is then checked in step S 43  if a return event of a left event has been generated. If it is determined in step S 43  that a return event of a left event has been generated, a previous play list is selected (S 44 ), and the flow advances to step S 45 . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 43  that a return event of a left event has not been generated, the flow also advances to step S 45 . 
     FIG. 19  is a diagram for explaining switching of play lists. 
   As shown in  FIG. 19 , a plurality of play lists are assigned to reproduce order. Pointer  51  indicates an activated list. In this case, the pointer  51  indicates a play list C assigned to reproduce order  3 , thus the lay list C is activated. 
   If the return event of the right event is generated, the pointer  51  moves to a position indicating a play list B assigned to reproduce order  2 . And then, the play list B is activated. Namely, if the return event of the right event is generated, the activated play list is switched to a previous play list. 
   If the return event of the left event is generated, the pointer  51  moves to a position indicating a play list D assigned to reproduce order  4 . And then, the play list D is activated. Namely, if the return event of the left event is generated, the activated play list is switched to a next play list. 
   The plurality of play lists are stored a memory of the personal computer and the play lists can be inserted/added by a user. 
   It is checked in step S 45  if a return event of a right continue event has been generated. If it is determined in step S 45  that a return event of a right continue event has been generated, a tune which is reproducing is fastforwarded (S 46 ), and the flow advances to step S 47 . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 45  that a return event of a right continue event has not been generated, the flow also advances to step S 47 . 
   It is checked in step S 47  if a return event of a left continue event has been generated. If it is determined in step S 47  that a return event of a left continue event has been generated, a tune which is reproducing is rewound (S 48 ), and the flow returns to step S 41 . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 47  that a return event of a left continue event has not been generated, the flow also returns to step S 41 . 
   Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by assigning various functions to events generated by the jog switch  15 , the play list can be switched and tunes can be selected without any complicated operations. 
   Note that the operations of the notebook type personal computer of this embodiment are not limited to those described above. For example, in the above description, when the jog switch  15  is instantaneously flipped while the player is running (to generate a return event of a right or left event), the play list is switched, or when the jog switch  15  is kept flipped for a predetermined period of time (to generate a return event of a right or left continue event), a tune which is reproducing is fastforwarded or rewound. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific operations. 
   For example, when the jog switch  15  is instantaneously flipped while the player is running (to generate a return event of a right or left event), a tune which is reproducing is underway may be fastforwarded or rewound, or when the jog switch  15  is kept flipped for a predetermined period of time (to generate a return event of a right or left continue event), the previous or next play list may be selected. 
   In the above description, reproduce of digital audio data has been exemplified. Also, various functions can be assigned to the jog switch  15  even in the CD/DVD mode. 
   For example, when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right event while a tune recorded on a CD medium is being reproduced, the tune which is reproducing may be switched to the next tune; when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a left event, the tune which is reproducing may be switched to the previous tune; when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right continue event, the tune which is reproducing may be fastforwarded; and when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a left continue event, the tune which is reproducing may be rewound. 
   That is, a characteristic feature of the present invention is to execute processes corresponding to various events generated by the jog switch  15 , and various processes may be assigned as those corresponding to various events. 
   For example, upon switching the play list, a pointer  51  may be displayed on the display unit  47 , and may move in cooperation with the operation of the jog switch, as shown in  FIG. 16 . In this case, when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right or left event, the pointer  51  is shifted downward or upward; when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right or left continue event, the pointer  51  is scrolled downward or upward. 
   Upon starting up the system, a screen shown in  FIG. 17  and the pointer  51  may be displayed on the display unit  47 , and the pointer  51  may be moved in accordance with the operation of the jog switch  15  to select an arbitrary process. In this case as well, when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right or left event, the pointer  51  is shifted downward or upward; when the jog switch  15  generates a return event of a right or left continue event, the pointer  51  is scrolled downward or upward. 
   An informing method of depression of the operation buttons  14  and events from the jog switch  15  will be explained below with reference to  FIG. 18 . 
   When the user has pressed one of the operation buttons  14  or has flipped the jog switch  15 , an operation button/jog switch  61  informs a BIOS  62  of a corresponding event. 
   The BIOS  62  informs an application program  63  of the event generated upon pressing one of the operation buttons  14  or flipping the jog switch  15 . Upon receiving an event generation message from the BIOS  62 , the application program  63  inquires the type of event of the BIOS  62 . 
   Upon receiving the event type inquiry from the application program  63 , the BIOS  62  informs the application program  63  of the type of event. Upon receiving an event type message from the BIOS  62 , the application program  63  generates an application command message corresponding to the received event, and executes a predetermined process such as operation of an objective player  64  by the generated application command message. 
   That is, an event generated by one of the operation buttons  14  or jog switch  15  is recognized by the BIOS  62 , and the application program  63  executes various processes on the basis of the type of recognized event. 
   Therefore, according to the notebook type personal computer of this embodiment, by operating the jog switch, various processes such as reproduce of CD/DVD data recorded on CD/DVD media, switching of the play list in digital audio data, switching of tunes, and the like can be easily executed. 
   &lt;Another Embodiment&gt; 
   A portable information device according to another embodiment will be described. 
   In the above embodiment, a change of audio data, fastforward, rewind, and change of play lists are performed according to the types of events generated from the jog switch, but it is not limited to this. 
   Namely, according to present invention, it is possible that various processes are performed in accordance with the types of the events. 
   In addition, the events generated from the jog switch is not limited to the events described in the above embodiment. For example, it may occur different events depending on hour during the jog switch is flipped. 
   In the above embodiment, when the jog switch is flipped during the predetermined time, the continuous event is generated. However, it may occur same event periodically. 
   With this structure that, when the jog switch is flipped during the predetermined time, the same event is generated periodically, for example, it can be applied to turn over a page of word processor, a movement of screen displayed on a browser, etc. 
   Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6