Abstract:
A screen display program causes a mobile terminal to execute an initial screen display procedure that includes displaying a first screen including a first item displayed in a first display mode, an input screen display procedure that includes displaying a second screen configured to receive an input of a value of the first item when the first item is selected on the first screen, and an initial screen update procedure that includes displaying an updated first screen including the first item displayed in a second display mode along with the value of the first item when the value of the first item is input on the second screen.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application, filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a), of International Application PCT/JP2013/071145 filed on Aug. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The popularization of mobile terminals such as smartphones increases opportunities to use a variety of services, such as an Internet banking system from mobile terminals (e.g., JP 2012-247927 A). For example, a user can make a transfer to a transfer destination by logging in to an Internet banking system from a mobile terminal, selecting the transfer destination on a screen, and entering a transfer amount. 
         [0003]      FIGS. 7A  through  FIG. 7C  illustrate an example of screen transitions when a transfer is made in a general Internet banking system.  FIG. 7A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a transfer top screen. In  FIG. 7A , when a “Financial institution: Tap to select” area  700  is tapped, a transition to a screen in  FIG. 7B  is made.  FIG. 7B  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a financial institution of a transfer account. In  FIG. 7B , financial institutions selected as transfer destinations in the past are displayed. From among these financial institutions, when an area  710  with a financial institution (e.g., “ABC bank”) of this transfer account displayed therein is selected (tapped), the screen returns to the transfer top screen.  FIG. 7C  is a diagram illustrating an example of the transfer top screen after the selection of the financial institution. As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , the financial institution (e.g., “ABC bank”) selected on the screen of  FIG. 7B  is displayed in the “Financial Institution” field  700  of the transfer destination. 
         [0004]    Thus, a transfer can be made by selecting a transfer destination on a screen, entering a transfer amount, and the like. In the meantime, on the screen of  FIG. 7C  after the financial institution of the transfer account is selected, the display area  700  for selection of a transfer account is displayed in the upper part of the screen. Thus, in the screen control for mobile terminals, a display area related to information selected on the previous screen may be displayed in the upper part of the screen. This is to display the information efficiently in a limited screen size compared, for example, with personal computers. 
         [0005]    However, when such a screen transition is made, a user who is performing an operation may be confused about where the user has operated. Specifically, the display area  700  for the selection of a transfer account is displayed in the middle of the screen of  FIG. 7A , whereas the display area  700  for the selection of a transfer account is displayed in the upper part of the screen of  FIG. 7C  after the financial institution is selected in  FIG. 7B . Thus, since the position of the display area  700  for the selection of a transfer account is changed before and after the selection of a financial institution, the user may lose the place where the user has operated. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Various embodiments described herein have been made in view of the circumstances discussed above, and it is an object thereof to make it easy for a user to find a place where the user has operated. 
         [0007]    A screen display program according to various embodiments described herein causes a mobile terminal to execute an initial screen display procedure that includes displaying a first screen including a first item displayed in a first display mode, an input screen display procedure that includes displaying a second screen configured to receive an input of a value of the first item when the first item is selected on the first screen, and an initial screen update procedure that includes displaying an updated first screen including the first item displayed in a second display mode along with the value of the first item when the value of the first item is input on the second screen. 
         [0008]    A method according to various embodiments described herein is performed in a mobile terminal with a touch screen display and includes displaying a first screen including a first item displayed in a first display mode, displaying a second screen configured to receive an input of a value of the first item when the first item is selected on the first screen, and displaying an updated first screen including the first item displayed in a second display mode along with the value of the first item when the value of the first item is input on the second screen. 
         [0009]    According to various embodiments described herein, the term “block” does not merely relate to a physical device, but also includes a case where the function of the “block” is implemented by software. Further, the function of one “block” or device may be implemented by two or more physical devices, or the functions of two or more “blocks” or devices may be implemented by one physical device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the hardware configuration of a mobile terminal; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of functional blocks in the mobile terminal; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the hardware configuration of an Internet banking system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of functional blocks in the Internet banking system; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A  is a diagram of a screen for entering a transfer request on the mobile terminal; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a diagram of a screen for entering a financial institution of a transfer account; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6C  is a diagram of a screen after a financial institution is entered; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6D  is a diagram of a screen after the financial institution is entered; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a diagram of a known screen for entering a transfer request in a general Internet banking system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7B  is a diagram of a known screen for entering a financial institution of a transfer account; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 7C  is a diagram of a known screen after a financial institution is entered. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. The information processing system includes a mobile terminal  100  and an Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0024]    The mobile terminal  100  is, for example, a portable computer, such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. For example, the mobile terminal  100  can access the Internet through a radio communication network for cellular phones or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). In the embodiment, the mobile terminal  100  can access the Internet banking system  110 . Although only one mobile terminal  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there exist many mobile terminals  100  that use the Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0025]    The Internet banking system  110  is a system for providing various financial services via the Internet, such as balance inquiry and transfer. For example, the Internet banking system  110  includes one or more computers. The Internet banking system  110  can also provide services to the mobile terminal  100  in cooperation with other systems, such as a billing system and a database system. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the mobile terminal  100  includes a memory  200 , a processor  201 , a communication interface  202 , a display  203 , and an input interface  204 . 
         [0027]    The memory  200  is a storage area for storing data and programs. The data and programs may be stored in the memory  200  permanently or temporarily. For example, a web browser program as an application used to access the Internet banking system  110  is stored in the memory  200 . Further, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files, style sheets, and the like, used by a web browser to provide a screen display during accessing the Internet banking system  110  using the web browser, are stored in the memory  200 . The HTML files and the like used by application programs are also programs for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal  100 . 
         [0028]    The processor  201  executes programs stored in the memory  200  to implement various functions of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the processor  201  executes the web browser program stored in the memory  200  to implement various functions for using the Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0029]    The communication interface  202  is an interface for exchanging data with the outside of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the communication interface  202  includes an interface for accessing the radio communication network for cellular phones, an interface for accessing the wireless LAN, and the like. For example, the communication interface  202  may also include an interface for a wired network, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus). 
         [0030]    The display  203  is a device for displaying a variety of information, which is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display. 
         [0031]    The input interface  204  is a device for accepting input from a user. For example, the input interface  204  includes a touch panel provided on the display  203 , various input keys, and the like. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the mobile terminal  100 . The functions illustrated in  FIG. 3  are some functions used to use the Internet banking system  110 , and not all the functions of the mobile terminal  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the mobile terminal  100  includes a communication block  300 , an input acceptance block  301 , and a screen display block  302 . For example, each of these blocks is implemented by the processor  201  executing a program stored in the memory  200 . 
         [0033]    The communication block  300  exchanges data and programs with the Internet banking system  110 . For example, the communication block  300  transmits an acquisition request for data and programs to the Internet banking system  110  so that an HTML file, an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file, a style sheet, image data, and the like can be received from the Internet banking system  110  according to the acquisition request. The data and programs received from the Internet banking system  110  are stored in the memory  200 . 
         [0034]    The input acceptance block  301  accepts various pieces of user input when the user uses the Internet banking system  110 . For example, the input acceptance block  301  can accept input of a user ID and a password, and input for specifying a transfer account. 
         [0035]    The screen display block  302  displays, on the display  203 , various screens for using the Internet banking system  110  based on the HTML file and the like received from the Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the Internet banking system  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the Internet banking system  110  includes a storage device  400 , a processor  401 , and a communication interface  402 . 
         [0037]    The storage device  400  is a storage area such as a memory or a hard disk drive. Data and programs for implementing the Internet banking system  110  are stored in the storage device  400 . For example, programs for implementing various functions of the Internet banking system  110 , HTML files for displaying screens on the mobile terminal  100  to use the Internet banking system  110 , account data for user authentication, various types of data necessary to perform bank transactions, and the like are stored in the storage device  400 . 
         [0038]    There is no need to pre-store, in the storage device  400 , all pieces of data and programs used in the Internet banking system  110 . Some pieces of data and programs may be acquired from outside through the communication interface  402  as needed and stored in the storage device  400 . 
         [0039]    The processor  401  executes programs stored in the storage device  400  to implement various functions in the Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0040]    The communication interface  402  is an interface for exchanging data with the outside of the Internet banking system  110 . For example, the communication interface  402  can include an interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark). 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks in the Internet banking system  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the Internet banking system  110  includes an authentication database  500 , an account database  501 , a transaction database  502 , an authentication processing block  503 , a transaction acceptance block  504 , and a transaction processing block  505 . Each of these blocks is, for example, implemented by the processor  401  executing a program stored in the storage device  400 . 
         [0042]    The authentication database  500  stores account data, such as a user ID, a password, PIN, and the like used to use the Internet banking system  110 . 
         [0043]    The account database  501  stores account data indicative of information on each account, such as account number, account holder, and account balance. 
         [0044]    The transaction database  502  stores transaction data necessary to conduct a transaction requested from a user in the Internet banking system  110 . For example, in the case of a transfer, transaction data indicative of the settlement account, the transfer account, the transfer amount, and the like are stored in the transaction database  502 . 
         [0045]    The authentication processing block  503  performs authentication processing based on the account data stored in the authentication database  500 . The authentication processing is performed, for example, at the time of logging in to the Internet banking system  110 , at the time of executing a transfer process, and the like. 
         [0046]    The transaction acceptance block  504  accepts a transaction request from the user. Transactions accepted by the transaction acceptance block  504  include inquiry transactions without data updating and update transactions with data updating. For example, the inquiry transactions include a balance inquiry and an account activity inquiry. Further, for example, the update transactions include wire transfer and account transfer. When accepting a request for an update transaction, the transaction acceptance block  504  stores, in the transaction database  502 , transaction data necessary to conduct the transaction. 
         [0047]    Based on the transaction data stored in the transaction database  502 , the transaction processing block  505  conducts the transaction requested from the user. For example, based on the transaction data, the transaction processing block  505  updates the account database  501 , or generates data to be output to another system. The other system is, for example, a batch processing system in the same bank, a system of another bank connected through an interbank network, or the like. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A  through  FIG. 6D , an example of screen control in the Internet banking system  110  is described.  FIG. 6A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for entering a transfer request on the mobile terminal  100 . A screen  600  is displayed, for example, by selecting transfer from a transaction menu after logging in to the Internet banking system  110 . Specifically, when accepting the selection of transfer, the input acceptance block  301  of the mobile terminal  100  transmits, to the Internet banking system  110 , an output request for the screen  600 . The transaction acceptance block  504  of the Internet banking system  110  transmits, to the mobile terminal  100 , an HTML file and the like for displaying the screen  600  in response to the request. Based on the HTML file and the like received from the Internet banking system  110 , the screen display block  302  of the mobile terminal  100  displays the screen  600  (first screen) on the display  203  of the mobile terminal  100  (initial screen display procedure). For example, the screen display block  302  can scroll the screen  600  up and down in response to an operation on a touch panel or of input keys. 
         [0049]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the screen  600  contains a display area  610  for specifying a financial institution (first item) of a transfer account. In  FIG. 6A , the display area  610  is displayed in the same display mode (first display mode) as the other items. 
         [0050]    When the display area  610  is selected, the screen display block  302  transmits, to the Internet banking system  110 , an output request for a screen according to the display area  610 . In response to the request, the transaction acceptance block  504  of the Internet banking system  110  transmits, to the mobile terminal  100 , an HTML file and the like to display a screen for entering the financial institution of the transfer account. 
         [0051]    Based on the HTML file and the like received from the Internet banking system  110 , the screen display block  302  of the mobile terminal  100  displays a screen  620  (second screen) on the display  203  of the mobile terminal  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 6B  (input screen display procedure). 
         [0052]    On the screen  620 , the financial institution can be searched for or selected from recent transfer destinations to input the financial institution of the transfer account. For example, on the screen  620 , the user can select a display area  630  in which “ABC bank” is displayed as one of the recent transfer destinations to enter “ABC bank” as the financial institution of the transfer account. 
         [0053]    When the financial institution is input on the screen  620 , the screen display block  302  displays, on the display  203  of the mobile terminal  100 , the screen  600  (first screen) with the input financial institution displayed in the display area  610  as illustrated in  FIG. 6C  (initial screen update procedure). As illustrated in  FIG. 6C , when the financial institution is input, the screen display block  302  displays the display area  610  in a position further up than that before the financial institution is input (near the uppermost part in  FIG. 6C ). Thus, since the input item is displayed in the upper part of the screen, an item (e.g., branch) to be input next is displayed in the upper part of the screen, and this can make it easy for the user to perform input. 
         [0054]    However, if the display position of the item is changed before and after the input of the item on the screen  600 , the user may lose the place where the user has operated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the screen display block  302  displays the display area  610  in a display mode (second display mode) different from other items as illustrated in  FIG. 6C . For example, the screen display block  302  can display the display area  610  in a color or font different from the other items. After that, as illustrated in  FIG. 6D , the screen display block  302  can return the display mode of the display area  610  to the previous mode (first display mode) after the lapse of a predetermined time. Thus, the display mode can be changed to make it easy for the user to find the place where the user has operated. 
         [0055]    The screen display block  302  can make a change to the previous display mode (e.g., a change from  FIG. 6C  to  FIG. 6D ) in a step-by-step manner. For example, the screen display block  302  can change the color of the display area  610  in a step-by-step manner. 
         [0056]    According to this embodiment, when the financial institution (first item) of the transfer account is selected on the screen  600  ( FIG. 6A : first screen) for transfer input, the screen  620  ( FIG. 6B : second screen) for inputting a financial institution is displayed. Then, when a financial institution is input, the screen  600  ( FIG. 6C : first screen) is displayed in a state where the input financial institution is displayed. At this time, the display mode of the display area  610  for the financial institution is changed before and after the input of the financial institution. This can draw user&#39;s attention to the display area  610 , the display mode of which is changed, to make it easy for the user to find the place where the user has operated. 
         [0057]    Further, according to this embodiment, the display mode can be returned from the state ( FIG. 6C ), where the display mode of the display area  610  for the financial institution is changed, to the previous state ( FIG. 6D ). This can make the display area  610  more conspicuous to make it easy for the user to find the place where the user has operated. 
         [0058]    Further, according to this embodiment, when the display mode is returned to the previous state ( FIG. 6D ), the display mode can be changed in a step-by-step manner. This can make the display area  610  more conspicuous to make it easy for the user to find the place where the user has operated. 
         [0059]    In this embodiment, the display area  610  is displayed in different display positions before and after the input of the financial institution. In such a case, the user is more likely to lose the place where the user has operated. Therefore, the effect due to the change in the display mode of the display area  610  for the financial institution before and after the input of the financial institution like in this embodiment becomes large. 
         [0060]    Note that this embodiment is to facilitate the understanding of the disclosure, and is not to limit the interpretation of the various embodiments. The various embodiments can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, and equivalents thereof are included in the disclosure. 
         [0061]    For example, in this embodiment, the transfer screen  600  in the Internet banking system  110  has been described as an example, but the target screen is not limited thereto. For example, it may be any other screen in the Internet banking system  110 , or may be a screen in an entirely different system. 
         [0062]    In various embodiments according to the present disclosure, including those discussed above, functionalities of the data computation units and/or blocks may be implemented in the form of at least one hardware processor configured to carry out these functionalities. That is, the performance of any one or more of the functionalities may be accomplished by a single hardware processor, or be divided, in any manner known to those skilled in the art, among multiple hardware processors. 
         [0063]    The various embodiments have been described in detail with particular reference and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments covered by the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in  Superguide  v.  DIRECTV,  69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).