JP2006244155A - Information processor and display method of menu item in information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor equipped with a user interface capable of easily calling a function and an item frequently used by a user by the small number of reduced operations. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor is provided with a storage part for storing the usage history information of menu items, a usage history management part for managing the usage history information in accordance with usage circumstances of the menu functions, and a user peculiar menu display processing part for displaying a user peculiar menu wherein the menu items are arranged in the order of the large number of times of uses based on the usage history information. The storage part stores the usage history information including at least the number of times of uses about the menu items prepared for setting the respective functions or starting the information processor for each of the menu items. The usage history management part updates the number of times of uses of the menu items when the menu items are used. The user peculiar menu display processing part is started by predetermined operation (pushing down of a predetermined button), and displays the user peculiar menu. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a menu item display method and a program in the information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus capable of promptly calling a function setting screen, a processing screen, and the like, and a menu item display method and program thereof. .

  In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a user interface is known in which menu items are classified and hierarchized by category in order to easily select a desired menu item from a myriad of menu items related to various functions. . These user interfaces are devised such as using easy-to-understand categories and using icons.

  In particular, recent mobile terminal devices are remarkably multi-functional, and additionally there are restrictions on the size of the display screen, input means, power supply capacity, etc., and therefore further improvement in usability is required. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-101179 introduces a portable information terminal device that stores a selected or executed function as a history function and can select a function from the stored history function.

JP 2002-101179 A

  However, in the conventional information processing apparatus using the above-mentioned menu items divided or hierarchized or using icons, it is necessary to follow the menu hierarchies with reference to icons and categories, and to select a desired function. There is a problem that it takes a long time to call a function used in the system.

  Apart from the items arranged at the beginning of the menu screen, it is often difficult to search for menu items that are not displayed unless the menu screen is switched or scrolled unless a manual is drawn. In this regard, if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used, the above problem can be solved to some extent, but the order of items displayed changes every time it is used, and the operability is not necessarily high. it is conceivable that.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus having a user interface that can be used frequently by a user or that can easily call a function that the user wants to use with few operations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a menu item display method in an information processing apparatus and a program to be implemented in the information processing apparatus for that purpose.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a storage unit that stores usage history information of each item included in a menu, a usage history management unit that manages the usage history information according to a usage status of a menu function, and the usage history There is provided an information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a user-specific menu display processing unit that displays a user-specific menu in which menu items are arranged in the order of increasing use frequency (usage frequency) based on information. More specifically, the storage unit stores use history information including at least the number of times of use for each menu item for menu items prepared for setting or starting each function of the information processing apparatus. . Further, each time a menu item is used, the usage history management unit updates the usage history information related to the menu item. The user-specific menu display processing unit is activated by a predetermined operation (pressing a specific button or the like), and displays the user-specific menu having the above-described mode.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying the menu item group in the information processing apparatus, wherein the usage history information relating to the menu item is updated each time the menu item is used. And, when a predetermined operation is performed, displaying a user-specific menu in which menu items are arranged in descending order of use based on the updated use history information. An item display method and a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute the above steps are provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the user interface which can select the menu item used frequently with few operations is provided. The reason is that a user-specific menu in which frequently used menu items are arranged in order of use can be activated by a predetermined operation.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile terminal device to which the present invention is applied. Referring to FIG. 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 that operates under program control, a usage history processing unit 2 that manages usage history of menu items, and a user-specific menu (shortcut menu) based on the usage history information are generated. The user-specific menu display processing unit 3 to be displayed, the storage unit 4 that stores the usage history information 41 such as the number of times of use and the latest usage date as usage history information, and the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 are activated to display the user-specific menu. The input unit 5 changes settings of various functions and activates the functions, and the display unit 6 includes a liquid crystal display device. The usage history processing unit 2 and the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 can be configured by a computer program that uses hardware resources of a computer.

  In addition to the user-specific menu (shortcut menu) described later, this portable terminal device includes a menu (hereinafter referred to as a common menu) for changing the ring volume and ring tone pattern similar to the above-described conventional technology. ing.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile terminal device having the above configuration. Referring to FIG. 2, first, when a specific input operation is performed on the input unit 5 of the mobile terminal device (Yes in step S <b> 1), the common menu is displayed, and the user selects a menu item ( Step S2). Subsequently, the usage history management unit 2 checks the menu item registered in the usage history information 41 stored in the storage unit 4 and updates the usage history of the menu item selected / confirmed from the common menu (step). S5).

  On the other hand, when an input operation for activating a user-specific menu (shortcut menu) is performed on the input unit 5 of the mobile terminal device (Yes in step S3), the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 is activated. Next, the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 generates and displays a user-specific menu using the usage history information 41, and a menu item is selected by the user (step S4). Subsequently, the usage history management unit 2 collates with the menu items registered in the usage history information 41 stored in the storage unit 4, and the usage history of the menu items selected / confirmed from the user-specific menu (shortcut menu). Is updated (step S5).

  Then, the update process of the usage history information 41 in step S5 mentioned above is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the used menu item exists in the usage history information and the order is switched. In the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, when the menu item “ring volume” (number of uses 2) in the third position of the user-specific menu (shortcut menu) is selected, the usage history management unit 2 uses the usage history information. 41 is searched, and the process of adding the number of times of use of the menu item “ring volume” of the same rank is executed. As a result of the above addition processing, the number of times of use of the menu item “ring volume” is 3, which exceeds the number of times of use of the menu item “ring tone selection”. As a result, the order of the usage history information 41 is changed as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, and the user-specific menu (shortcut menu) displayed on the display unit 6 next time is also as shown in the lower right part of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the used menu item does not exist in the usage history information. In the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 4, when the menu item “F16. Charging confirmation sound” of the common menu is selected, the usage history management unit 2 searches the usage history information 41 but registers it in the usage history information 41. It is not possible to find the same item. In this case, the use history management unit 2 selects the menu item “vibrator” having the oldest latest use date and time and performs a process of replacing the menu item “charge confirmation sound”. The user-specific menu (shortcut menu) displayed next time on the display unit 6 is as shown in the lower right diagram of FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the user-specific menu (shortcut menu) can be activated by a predetermined key operation, only frequently used menu items are displayed, and a plurality of menus are displayed. You can select without following the hierarchy. Further, as shown by the fact that the order of “Manner mode selection” does not change, frequently used menu items can be arranged substantially fixed above the menu screen.

  In the present embodiment, the number of menu items managed as the usage history information 41 is limited to five, but this is the number of items that can be displayed on the display unit 6 of the mobile terminal device without scrolling or switching. Of course, it is intended to suppress, and may be increased or decreased according to the amount of information that can be displayed on the display unit 6 of the mobile terminal device or the convenience of the user.

  Subsequently, the present invention is modified such that the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 does not replace the menu items based on the number of times of use, but the usage history management unit 2 does not replace the menu items based on the number of times of use. The second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the usage history information 41 and the display unit 6 on which a user-specific menu (shortcut menu) corresponding thereto is displayed.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, there is no particular limitation on the number of menu items managed as the usage history information 41, and the usage history management unit 2 uses the selected / confirmed menu items. The number of times and use date / time shall be updated. In response to such usage history information, the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 generates a user-specific menu (shortcut menu) by performing rearrangement based on the value in the number-of-uses column in step S4.

  In addition, the user-specific menu display processing unit 3 determines whether the date / time in the latest use date / time column is older than a predetermined period (for example, 6 months) in conjunction with the rearrangement process. Here, when the date / time in the latest use date / time column is older than a predetermined period (for example, 6 months), it is excluded from being displayed on the user-specific menu (shortcut menu). The right side of FIG. 5 shows the user-specific menu generated and displayed on the display unit 6 by the above-described rearrangement and exclusion. The menus are in the order of “Manner mode selection”, “Ring tone selection”, and “Ring volume”. Items are arranged. In addition, the menu item “vibrator” has been used, but as described above, since the latest use date is old, it is not displayed in the user-specific menu (shortcut menu).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the display of menu items that have not been used for a long time while adopting the principle of displaying menu items in order of frequency of use. In this way, it is possible to clear the operation history that has been repeatedly performed immediately after the purchase of the mobile terminal device or after a new service contract with a communication carrier is made after a predetermined time has elapsed from the date and time.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that one use number column is provided. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the use number is recorded for each month, week, and day, and the old use history is recorded. You may make it delete sequentially. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the number of uses is recorded every 4 weeks, and after 4 weeks, the new use count history (past 0-4 weeks) is moved to the old use count history (past 5-8 weeks) column. It is possible. In this way, it is possible to generate an optimal user-specific menu (shortcut menu) according to the transition of the usage status of the mobile terminal device.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, as is clear from the principle thereof, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and each menu in a so-called menu type interface. Various modifications and replacements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention in which user-specific menus (shortcut menus) that can be rearranged according to the frequency of use of the items are provided upon user request. Needless to say.

  Further, as is apparent from the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the present invention can be preferably applied to devices having many restrictions on the size of the display screen, power supply, etc., such as mobile phone terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and wearable terminals. . Further, the present invention is equally applicable to item selection screens of various applications installed in various other information processing terminals, launcher program selection screens, and menu selection screens of various home appliances.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the portable terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the portable terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the update process of the usage history information in the portable terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the update process of the usage history information in the portable terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 Usage history management unit 3 User-specific menu display processing unit 4 Storage unit 5 Input unit 6 Display unit 41 Usage history information

Claims (9)

For a menu item prepared for setting or starting each function of the information processing apparatus, a storage unit that stores use history information including at least the number of uses for each menu item;
A usage history management unit that updates the usage history information related to the menu item each time the menu item is used;
A user-specific menu display processing unit that is activated by a predetermined operation and displays a user-specific menu in which menu items are arranged in the order of increasing number of uses based on the use history information;
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. The usage history information can record the number of times each past menu item is used for each predetermined time unit,
The usage history management unit adds the number of times of use when the menu item is used, and updates the number of times of use data every time the time unit elapses.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The use history management unit records the latest use date and time of the menu item as the use history information when the menu item is used,
The user-specific menu display processing unit suppresses display of menu items that have not been used for a predetermined period regardless of the number of uses.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The menu item in the information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores use history information including at least the number of times of use for each menu item for menu items prepared for setting or starting each function of the information processing apparatus A group display method,
Each time the menu item is used, the information processing apparatus updates the use history information related to the menu item;
When a predetermined operation is performed, the information processing apparatus includes a step of displaying a user-specific menu in which menu items are arranged at least in the order of use based on the use history information.
Menu item display method characterized by When the menu item is used, the information processing apparatus records the number of times of use divided into predetermined time units, and
The information processing apparatus includes a step of updating the usage count data each time the time unit elapses;
The method for displaying menu items according to claim 4. Further, the information processing apparatus includes a step of recording the latest use date and time of the menu item as the use history information,
The information processing apparatus generates the user-specific menu by excluding menu items that have not been used for a predetermined period regardless of the number of uses.
6. A method for displaying menu items according to claim 4 or 5. For each menu item prepared for setting or starting the function of the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus having a storage unit storing use history information including at least the number of times of use is executed for each menu item. A menu item display program,
A process of updating the usage history information related to the menu item each time the menu item is used;
A program that causes the information processing apparatus to execute a process of displaying a user-specific menu in which menu items are arranged in order of descending use frequency based on the use history information when a predetermined operation is performed. In the process of updating the number of times of use of the menu item, the information processing device is used to record the number of times of use divided into predetermined unit times,
A program that causes the information processing apparatus to execute a process of updating the use count data every time the time unit elapses. Regardless of the number of uses, generating a user-specific menu excluding the display of items that have not been used for a predetermined period of time;
The program according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the above.

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