Patent ID: 7934164

Claim:
An information processing apparatus which performs display control of a plurality of folders using a hierarchical structure, comprising: a folder opening unit for opening one of the plurality of folders included in the hierarchical structure displayed on a display screen; a determining unit for determining the number of folders to be displayed on a lower hierarchy of the folder opened by said folder opening unit, based on the number of the currently displayed folders on the display screen, the number of folders included in the lower hierarchy of the folder opened by said folder opening unit, and a height of a window on which the plurality of folders are displayed; and a hierarchical display unit for displaying the folders on the lower hierarchy in accordance with the number of folders to be displayed determined by said determining unit; and a transition instruction unit for transitioning some of the folders on the lower hierarchy to a display state of currently non-displayed folders on the lower hierarchy, the transition instruction unit also being for displaying, within the displayed lower hierarchy, a previous list display button, a next list display button, or both, wherein, in response to the previous display button or the next list display button being activated, the transition instruction unit is for transitioning at least some of the currently non- displayed folders in the lower hierarchy to a displayed state, and at least some of the displayed folders in the lower hierarchy to the non-displayed state, wherein the previous list display button, if displayed, is displayed in a manner preceding all of the displayed folders in the lower hierarchy, wherein the next list display button, if displayed, is displayed in a manner succeeding all of the displayed folders in the lower hierarchy, and wherein said units are implemented at least in part by a processor of the information processing apparatus.