JP2003084885A - Information processing unit and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability. SOLUTION: When a content panel 141 and a sub-content panel 142 are displayed in a main window 101, they are so displayed as to become gradually clear from a pale state. Play lists 131 corresponding to contents displayed on the content panel 141 are so displayed as to gradually get together on the content panel 141 from random positions outside the content panel 141. As the play lists 131 get together, the display thereof is changed into a clear state. The play lists 131 are erased dispersedly to random positions in erasing them.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a program, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and method and a program with improved operability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, personal computers have become widespread, and it is possible to create sentences using personal computers and to access a server via the Internet to receive various information.

The personal computer is thus
Since it has many functions, it is possible to select a window and switch the function to be executed if necessary.

[0004]

By the way, when many functions are executed, the CPU (Central Processing Unit)
(nit) becomes heavy and it becomes difficult to process quickly. As a result, the user has to wait until the CPU completes a predetermined process, and there is a problem that operability deteriorates, such as feeling frustrated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is to improve operability.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus of the present invention comprises an acquisition control means for controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents, and a first display control means for controlling display of a selection window for selecting contents. A second display control means for controlling the display of the icon corresponding to the content on the selection window, wherein the second display control means displays the icon at a discrete position when the icon is displayed on the selection window. It is characterized in that it is displayed so as to be aggregated in the selection window.

The second display control means can display the icons so that when the icons are displayed on the selection window, the icons are gathered from outside the selection window into the selection window.

The second display control means can set discrete positions to random positions.

The second display control means can erase the icons displayed on the selection window so that the icons are dispersed.

The second display control means can define the time from the discrete position to the collection of the icons in the selection window.

The second display control means displays an icon,
The jacket corresponding to the content can be displayed.

The information processing method of the present invention comprises: an acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents; a first display control step for controlling display of a selection window for selecting contents; A second display control step of controlling display of an icon corresponding to the content, wherein the second display control step, when displaying the icon on the selection window, causes the icons to gather from the discrete positions in the selection window. Is displayed.

The program of the present invention includes an acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents, a first display control step for controlling display of a selection window for selecting contents, and a content display operation on the selection window. A second display control step of causing a computer to execute a second display control step of controlling display of a corresponding icon, wherein the second display control step is performed when the icon is displayed on the selection window from a discrete position. Display so as to gather in the selection window.

In the information processing apparatus and method and the program of the present invention, when the icons are displayed on the selection window, the icons are displayed so as to be gathered from the discrete positions in the selection window.

[0015]

1 shows the configuration of a personal computer to which the present invention is applied. The main body 1 is connected to a keyboard 3 and a mouse 4 operated by a user when performing various operations, and is also connected to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 2 for displaying various information. Speakers 5L and 5R that output stereo audio signals are further connected to the main body 1. In the main body 1,
In addition to the LCD 2, a smaller LCD 6 is incorporated as compared with the LCD 2. The LCD 6 displays characters such as the title and artist name of the content being reproduced.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal structure of the personal computer shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, CPU (Central
Processing Unit 21 is a ROM (Read Only Memor)
y) Programs stored in 22 or RAM (Random Access Memor) from the hard disk drive 28.
y) Perform various processes according to the program loaded in 23. The RAM 23 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes.

The CPU 21, ROM 22 and RAM 23 are connected to each other via a bus 24. An input / output interface 25 is also connected to the bus 24.

The input / output interface 25 includes a keyboard 3, an input unit 26 including a mouse 4, LCDs 2 and 6, an output unit 27 including speakers 5L and 5R, a hard disk drive 28, a communication including a modem and a terminal adapter. The part 29 is connected. The communication unit 29 is
Performs communication processing via networks including the Internet.

The input / output interface 25 also includes a DVD.
Drive 31, MD (mini disk) drive 32, memory card interface (I / F) 33, external device interface 34, FM tuner 35, TV tuner 3
6 and the external input interface 37 are connected.

The DVD drive 31 is equipped with a DVD (Digi
tal Versatile Disc) or CD, or if the loaded CD is a CD-R, in addition to playing it, MD drive 32, memory card interface 33, external device interface 34, FM tuner 35, TV tuner 3
6 or the audio data input from the external input interface 37 is recorded. Alternatively, a process of recording the audio data reproduced from the hard disk drive 28 is also executed.

The MD drive 32 executes processing for recording and reproducing audio data on the mounted MD (mini disk).

The memory card interface 33 executes a process of writing and reading data with respect to a memory card represented by Memory Stick (trademark), for example.

The external equipment interface 34 executes interface processing with the connected external equipment. FM
The tuner 35 receives the FM broadcast. TV tuner 3
6 receives a television broadcast. The external input interface 37 receives an external signal input.

As described above, this personal computer includes the DVD drive 31, the MD drive 32, the memory card interface 33, the external device interface 34, and the FM.
It has a function of outputting data from one of the tuner 35, the television tuner 36, the external input interface 37, or the hard disk drive 28, and transferring the output data to another device for recording.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The process of reproducing the data recorded on the recording medium will be described. Now, it is assumed that the data recorded in the MD mounted on the MD drive 32 is reproduced.

In step S1, the CPU 21 causes the LCD 2 to display a main window when the power of the main body 1 is turned on. FIG. 4 shows a display example of this main window. A control bar 102 is displayed on top of the main window 101. Source icons 111 to 117 are displayed on the control bar 102. These source icons 1
11 to 117 are hard disk drives 2 respectively
8, DVD drive 31, MD drive 32, memory card interface 33, external device interface 34, FM
It corresponds to the tuner 35 and the external input interface 37, respectively. Therefore, the user can select the source (in this case, the device that outputs the content) by selecting any of these source icons 111 to 117.

Therefore, in step S2, the CPU 21
Waits until any one of the source icons 111 to 117 is selected, and when any one is selected,
In step S3, the reproduction panel corresponding to the source icon is displayed on the main window 101.

For example, when the source icon 113 corresponding to the MD drive 32 is selected, the reproduction panel 121 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. This playback panel 12
In the lower left of 1, the buttons operated when playing in the reverse direction, the buttons operated when playing in the forward direction, the buttons operated when paused, the buttons operated when stopped, and the rewind An operation unit 122 having buttons to be operated at the time, buttons to be operated at the time of fast-forwarding, etc. is displayed.

A list display button 123 is displayed on the lower right of the reproduction panel 121. By operating the list display button 123, the user can display a playlist for selecting content to be reproduced. In this list display button 123, the characters “list display” are displayed when the playlist is not displayed, and when the list is already displayed,
The word "Hide list" is displayed. Therefore, in the present case, the characters "list display" are displayed.

In step S4, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the list display button 123 has been operated. If not, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S5 and determines whether or not an instruction to erase the reproduction panel 121 has been given. To do. That is, the user operates the button 124 at the upper right of the playback panel 121.
By operating, it is possible to instruct to erase the reproduction panel 121. When the CPU 21 determines in step S5 that there is no instruction to erase the reproduction panel, the CPU 21 returns to step S4 and repeats the processes of steps S4 and S5.

If it is determined in step S5 that deletion of the reproduction panel has been instructed, the CPU 21 deletes the display of the reproduction panel 121 in step S6, returns to step S2, and executes the subsequent processing.

When it is determined in step S4 that the list display button 123 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S7, and the CPU 21 executes the process of displaying the play list. Then, in step S8, the CPU 21 displays the content panel, and in step S9, the playlist displayed in step S7 is collected and displayed in the content panel displayed in step S8.

An example of the above display processing is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the play list 131 is displayed in step S7. In the present example, each of the playlists 131 corresponds to the contents of the MD mounted on the MD drive 32. The CPU 21 discretely generates play lists 131 corresponding to the number of contents from random positions.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 21
Is the content panel 141 and the sub-contents panel 1
42 is displayed. The content panel 141 and the sub-contents panel 142 in this state are dimmed like the playlist 131. The display status is
After that, as shown in FIG. 7, the playlist 131 is gradually darkened, and the playlist 131 is displayed so as to gradually move from the outside of the content panel 141 to the inside (to gather on the content panel 141). Then, the content panel 141, the sub-contents panel 142, and the playlist 131 are displayed so as to become gradually darker and clearer.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 8, the play list 131 is arranged above (inside) the content panel 141. In this state, the display of the content panel 141, the sub-contents panel 142, and the playlist 131 has been completed,
The color is the darkest, and the image is displayed clearly.

On the sub-contents panel 142, a selection button 151 for selecting a playlist item to be displayed on the contents panel 141 is displayed.

Each of the selection buttons 151 is, in this example, "all playlists", "favorites", "album name", "artist name", "genre name", "format B1", "source", Items such as "various searches", "keyword search results", and "all songs" are supported. On the content panel 141, a playlist corresponding to the item selected by the selection button 151 among these items is displayed.

Therefore, in step S10, the CPU 2
1 is a selection button 151 of the sub-contents panel 142
It is determined whether or not is selected, and if it is selected, the process proceeds to step S11, and the playlist corresponding to the item is displayed on the content panel 141. For example, when the selection button 151 of the item “all playlists” is operated, all the playlists 131 are displayed on the content panel 141.

After the processing of step S11, step S1
The process returns to 0 and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.

When it is determined in step S10 that the selection button 151 of the sub-contents panel 142 is not selected, the process proceeds to step S12, and the CPU 21
It is determined whether the play list 131 on the content panel 141 is selected. When the play list 131 is selected, the process proceeds to step S13, and the CPU 21 executes the reproduction process of the selected play list 131.

That is, 2 × is displayed on the content panel 141.
When a predetermined playlist 131 is selected from the 6 displayed playlists 131, the CPU is set to reproduce the content corresponding to the playlist 131.
Reference numeral 21 controls the MD drive 32 to reproduce the content.

The data reproduced by the MD drive 32 is reproduced and output from the speakers 5L and 5R.

After the processing of step S13, step S1
The process returns to 0 and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.

In step S12, play list 1
If it is determined that 31 is not selected, step S
Proceeding to 14, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the list display button 123 (in this case, the list non-display button) of the reproduction panel 121 is selected. List display button 123
If is not selected, the process returns to step S10,
The subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

If it is determined in step S14 that the list display button 123 has been selected, step S1
In step 5, the CPU 21 executes a process of randomly distributing the playlist 131, and further executes a process of deleting the content panel 141 and the sub-contents panel 142 in step S16.

9 and 10 show display examples in this case. As shown in FIG. 9, playlist 1
Reference numeral 31 is a random route, and the display is controlled so as to be gradually dispersed toward a random position. Also,
Similar to the content panel 141 and the sub-contents panel 142, the color is also changed to be gradually thin and vague. Then, the content panel 141 and the sub-contents panel 142 are finally completely erased as shown in FIG. And playlist 13
1 is also displayed in a lighter color, and is finally completely erased.

After the processing of step S16, step S4
Then, the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

As described above, in the present invention, since the playlists 131 are displayed so as to be aggregated from random positions and, conversely, are displayed so as to be randomly dispersed, the user can display the animation effect. By enjoying the animation image (image in the process of changing), it is possible to make the user feel frustrated even if the display cannot be switched quickly as a result of a heavy load on the CPU 21. Can be suppressed. That is, the operability can be improved accordingly.

The time required for the play list 131 to gather from a random discrete position to a predetermined position, which is executed in steps S7 to S9, and the random distribution performed in steps S15 and S16. The time until being erased can be set to an arbitrary value by the user setting a predetermined value for the parameter from the input unit 26. That is, the computer program that controls this series of display processing is
It is described in XML (Extensible Markup Language).
Therefore, the user can copy the program written in this XML
It can be set to a predetermined value by displaying it on the CD 2 and changing the numerical value as the parameter described therein by operating the keyboard 3.

This change can be performed not only by a general user but also by a designer who designs a program.

FIG. 11 shows the content panel 141 and the reproduction panel 121 in a larger scale. A button 161 is displayed above the list display button 123.
When the user operates this button 161, the CPU 21
Adds the playlist currently selected to the "favorite playlist".

On the left side of the reproduction panel 121, a jacket button 162 is displayed. When the user double-clicks this jacket button 162, the CPU 21
Causes the reproduction panel 121 to display jacket and lyrics information. When the button 163 below the jacket button 162 is operated by the user, the CPU 21 changes the playlist to the previous playlist or the next playlist.

A display unit 171 is provided at the upper left of the content panel 141, and at this time, the display unit 171 has selection items (sub-contents) of the playlist 131 displayed on the display unit 172 below the display unit 172. Panel 14
The item corresponding to the selection of the second selection button 151) is displayed.

A play list 131 is arranged on the display unit 172. Playlist 131 of the content being played
An anchor 181 is displayed so as to surround the. Further, the anchor 182 is the playlist 13 selected.
It is displayed above 1.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 12, in the playlist 131, the jacket 191 corresponding to the content is displayed on the left side, and the title, artist name, total number of songs and playing time of the content are displayed on the right side. Is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the jacket 191 includes a jacket of a predetermined genre such as a rock jacket and an enka jacket, and other common jackets, which are different jackets depending on the genre. Unless the user sets it by himself, the jacket 191 displayed by default is set by the genre name of the content. That is, if the genre of the content is rock, the “rock jacket” is, and if it is enka, “enka jacket” is the jacket 191.
Is set as the default. Depending on the genre name, the content that does not belong anywhere is set to "other common jacket" as its jacket 191.

The series of processes described above can be executed not only by hardware but also by software. When a series of processes is executed by software, a program that constitutes the software executes a variety of functions by installing a computer in which dedicated hardware is installed or various programs. It is installed from a network or a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer or the like capable of performing the above.

In the present specification, the steps for writing the program recorded on the recording medium are not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but are not necessarily performed in time series. It also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

[0060]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus and method and the program of the present invention, when icons are displayed on the selection window, the icons are displayed so as to be aggregated in the selection window from discrete positions. As a result, the operability can be improved. Therefore, the user is prevented from feeling frustrated due to time-consuming display.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a reproduction process of the personal computer in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a main window.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in display of a playlist.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing changes when a content panel and a sub-contents panel are displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes when a content panel and a sub-contents panel are displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing changes when a content panel and a sub-contents panel are displayed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change when a content panel and a sub content panel are deleted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a change when a content panel and a sub-contents panel are deleted.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing a content panel and a reproduction panel.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing a playlist.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a jacket.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 main unit, 2 LCD, 3 keyboard, 4 mouse, 6 LCD, 21 CPU, 31 DVD drive,
32 MD drive, 33 memory card interface, 34 external device interface, 35 FM tuner, 37 external input interface, 101 main window, 102 control bar, 111
To 117 source icon, 121 playback panel,
122 operation unit, 123 list display button, 1
31 playlists, 141 content panel, 1
42 Sub-contents panel

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Taku Sugawara             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation (72) Inventor Kumiko Sasaki             6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Inside the corporation F term (reference) 5C082 AA14 BA12 BB13 BB25 BB42                       BB53 BD02 CA11 CA55 CA62                       CB05 DA22 DA42 DA86 MM09                 5E501 AA02 AC37 BA05 CA03 CB02                       CB09 EA11 EA34 FA04 FA13                       FA15 FA23 FA46 FB22

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An acquisition control unit for controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents, a first display control unit for controlling display of a selection window for selecting the contents, and corresponding to the contents on the selection window. A second display control means for controlling the display of the icon, wherein the second display control means, when displaying the icon on the selection window, moves the icon from a discrete position to the selection window. An information processing device, characterized in that they are displayed so as to gather together. 2. The second display control means, when displaying the icons on the selection window, displays the icons so as to gather from outside the selection window into the selection window. The information processing device according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display control means sets the discrete positions to random positions. 4. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein when the display of the icon on the selection window is erased, the second display control unit erases the icon so that the icons are dispersed. apparatus. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display control means defines a time until the icons gather from the discrete positions to the selection window. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display control unit displays the icon including a jacket corresponding to the content. 7. An acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents, a first display control step of controlling display of a selection window for selecting the contents, and corresponding to the contents on the selection window. A second display control step of controlling the display of the icon to be displayed, the second display control step, when the icon is displayed on the selection window, the icon moves from a discrete position to the selection window. An information processing method characterized in that the information is displayed so as to gather. 8. An acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of a plurality of contents, a first display control step for controlling display of a selection window for selecting the contents, and corresponding to the contents on the selection window. And a second display control step for controlling the display of the icon, which causes the computer to execute the second display control step, wherein when the icon is displayed on the selection window, the icon is discrete. A program that causes the selection window to be displayed from different positions so as to gather.