JPH09198221A - Menu display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce selection mistakes even for a beginner who is inexperienced in a menue selection operation. SOLUTION: A high order menu having plural selection items and the low order menu corresponding to each selection item of the high order menu are stored as data. When the high order menu and the low order menu corresponding to the one selection item of the high order menu selected by operating a key input part 3 are displayed based on each data, the graphic image corresponding to the low order menu and a guidance message are simultaneously displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu display device for hierarchically displaying menus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in menu display devices applied to electronic devices such as word processors, menus for selecting various processes are hierarchically constructed. By selecting an item in the menu, the processing corresponding to that item is executed.

Normally, each item is displayed in a character string in any hierarchical menu, and the user can select the desired item by reading the displayed character string.

[0004]

However, since the menu display device according to the conventional example described above displays the items of only the characters for the menus of each hierarchy, the menus of any hierarchy are processed from the characters. There is a problem that it is necessary to judge the contents, and when a user such as a beginner who has not performed menu selection operation selects a menu, a selection error is likely to occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a menu display device capable of reducing selection mistakes even for a beginner unfamiliar with menu selection operations.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu display device, comprising: first storage means for storing a higher-level menu having a plurality of selection items; and the first storage means. Second storage means for storing a plurality of lower menus corresponding to each selection item of the upper menu, and a plurality of graphic image data corresponding to each selection item of the higher menu stored in the first storage means. When displaying the third storage means for storing and the lower menu corresponding to one selected item in the upper menu and the upper menu, a plurality of the plurality of storages stored in the third storage means are displayed. Display means for simultaneously displaying a graphic image image based on the graphic image data corresponding to the one selection item in the graphic image data. And it features.

According to the above configuration, the first storage means
A higher-level menu having a plurality of selection items is stored, the second storage unit stores a plurality of lower-level menus corresponding to the respective selection items of the higher-level menu stored in the first storage unit, and a third storage unit. The means stores a plurality of graphic image data corresponding to each selection item of the upper menu stored in the first storage means, and the display means displays one of the upper menu and one of the upper menus in a designated state. When displaying the subordinate menu corresponding to the selection item, the graphic image image is simultaneously displayed based on the graphic image data corresponding to one selection item in the plurality of graphic image data stored in the third storage means.

Therefore, when a selection item is selected in a lower menu of a hierarchical menu having upper and lower levels, a graphic image image showing the classification of the lower menu in the upper menu is displayed. Whether a lower-order menu item is in a selectable state can be visually grasped through a graphic image, and even a beginner who has not performed a menu selection operation can reduce selection mistakes when selecting a menu.

A menu display device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the menu display device according to the first aspect, wherein the graphic image image includes a graphic image corresponding to each of the selection items included in the lower menu.
The display means identifies and displays a graphic image corresponding to one selection item in the designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu.

According to the above arrangement, the graphic image corresponding to the lower menu in the specified state is displayed on the graphic image so that the menu item that can be immediately selected is visually grasped. It is possible to make a menu selection without any mistake.

A menu display device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the menu display device according to the first aspect, wherein the display means is
It is characterized in that a guidance message corresponding to one selection item in the designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu is displayed.

According to the above configuration, a detailed guidance message corresponding to one selection item in the designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu is displayed. Therefore, the guidance message is displayed together with the graphic image. By checking, it becomes possible to select items in the lower menu without mistakes.

A menu display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the menu display device according to the first aspect, wherein the display means is
The upper menu is displayed in one direction and the lower menu is displayed in a direction orthogonal to the upper menu.

According to the above construction, the upper menus are arranged in one direction and the lower menus are arranged in the direction orthogonal to the upper menus, so that the menu can be selected only by operating the cursor up / down / left / right keys. Becomes

[0015]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a menu display device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic device to which the menu display device is applied. The electronic device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a CPU 2, a key input unit 3, and a RAM.
4, document memory 5, dictionary memory 6, graphic image memory 7, graphic component memory 8, program memory 9, display unit 10, printing unit 11, upper menu memory 1
2, lower menu memory 13, guidance memory 14,
And a bus line 15.

The CPU 2 is connected to the bus line 15,
Via the bus line 15, the key input unit 3, the RAM
4, document memory 5, dictionary memory 6, graphic image memory 7, graphic component memory 8, program memory 9, display unit 10, printing unit 11, upper menu memory 1
2, lower menu memory 13, and guidance memory 1
4. The CPU 2 controls the overall operation of the electronic device 1 and each unit connected via the bus line 15 in accordance with various control programs stored in the program memory 9.

In this embodiment, since the electronic device 1 operates, the menus are set in a hierarchical form, and the CPU 2 displays and controls the hierarchical menu so that desired processing can be determined. The hierarchical menu has a structure including an upper menu having a plurality of selection items and a plurality of lower menus corresponding to the respective selection items of the upper menu.

The upper menu includes, for example, "edit document / table", "postcard / letter", "print various", "learn / lesson", "dictionary", "communication / fax", and "other functions". Each selection item of “” is set. Corresponding to the selected item "Edit document / table" of the upper menu, the selected items "Word processor", "Automatic editing", "Table processing", "DTP (sheet plan)" and "DOS" of the lower menu
(Disk Operating System) conversion is set, and in correspondence with the selection item "Postcard / Letter" in the upper menu, the selection items "Address", "Postcard creation" in the lower menu,
"Substitution" and "basic sentence management" are set. Similarly, corresponding to the selection item "various print" in the upper menu, the selection items "business card print", "label print", "sticker print", "draft print", and "pen printer" in the lower menu are set. The selection items "English spell checker", "key touch", "key lesson course", and "word processing examination course" are set corresponding to the selection item "learning / lesson" of the upper menu. Furthermore, corresponding to the selection item "dictionary" of the upper menu, the selection items "Japanese dictionary", "English-Japanese dictionary", and "Japanese-English dictionary" of the lower menu are set, and the selection items "communication / FAX" of the upper menu are set. Correspondingly, the selection items "communication", "FAX transmission", and "FAX reception" of the lower menu are set, and the selection item "image processing" of the lower menu is made corresponding to the selection item "other functions" of the upper menu. , “Document conversion”, and “Expansion” are set.

The key input unit 3 is a cursor key for operating a moving direction (up, down, left and right) and a moving amount of a cursor on the display screen formed on the display unit 10, and a selection for selecting a moving destination position by the cursor key. It has keys and keys for operating various functions such as data creation of documents and communication. Since the cursor keys select the selection items of the above-described upper menu and lower menu with the selection keys, the cursor display position on the display unit 2 can be moved vertically and horizontally. The RAM 4 is a memory used as a work area when the CPU 2 operates according to various control programs.

The document memory 5 is a memory for storing document data when a selected item such as "edit document / table" and "postcard / letter" is selected from the upper menu and operated. The dictionary memory 6 is a memory for storing a term (character string data) and a content of the term (character string data) in association with each other in a Japanese dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, and a Japanese-English dictionary.

The graphic image memory 7 is a memory for storing graphic image data corresponding to each selection item of the upper menu. A graphic image image (including a graphic image) based on the graphic image data is displayed on the display unit 10 as an initial screen of each selection item of the upper menu. Graphic component memory 8
Is a memory for storing graphic component image data corresponding to each selection item of the lower menu. When changing the parts of the graphic image on the initial screen of each selection item of the upper menu, the graphic image based on the graphic part image data replaces the graphic image of the selection item for forming the initial screen and the display unit 1
It is composited and displayed on the graphic image of 0. The graphic image image and the graphic image described above are respectively used as images that allow the user to easily and visually associate the processing of the selected item. The program memory 9 is a memory that stores various programs such as a control program for operating the CPU 2 according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The display unit 10 is a unit for displaying characters and graphics (including graphic image images and graphic images) under the control of the CPU 2, and the printing unit 11
Is a unit that executes print processing under the control of the CPU 2 in response to selection of the selection item “various printing” in the upper menu, for example.

The upper menu memory 12 is a memory for storing each selection item of the above-mentioned upper menu as data, and a plurality of lower menu memories 13 are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned upper menu, and each of the upper menus is provided. It is a memory that stores each selection item of the lower menu corresponding to the selection item as data. Guidance memory 14
Is a memory for storing guidance message data for displaying a guidance message by a character string corresponding to each selection item of the lower menu.

The bus line 15 is a line for connecting the CPU 2 and each unit to transmit data, address signals and control signals.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the menu selection processing in this embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing display examples of the menu selection screen in this embodiment.

First, when the electronic device 1 is powered on and pre-processing such as initialization processing is completed, steps S1 to S7 are performed.
At, an initial screen is formed on the display unit 2. This initial screen is, as shown in FIG. 3, mainly an upper menu display area 10a for displaying selection items of the upper menu.
A lower menu display area 10b for displaying the lower menu selection items, a graphic image,
Image and message display area 10c for displaying a graphic image and guidance message
And formed from

In the upper menu display area 10a, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, each item of the upper menu is, for example, vertically from top to bottom, "edit document / table", "postcard / letter", "print various", "learn / lesson", "dictionary". , "Communication / FAX", "Other functions"
Displayed in the order of. The array display of the upper menu is fixed during the menu selection process. And
The selected item in the specified state is the character string "Edit document / table".
Is displayed in reverse (as indicated by diagonal lines in the figure).

In the lower menu display area 10b, the selection items of the lower menu are arranged and displayed from left to right in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the upper menu, for example. In FIG. 3, since the selection item of the upper menu is “edit document / table”, “word processor” is selected as the selection item of the lower menu corresponding to the selection item.
They are arranged and displayed in the order of “automatic editing”, “table processing”, “DTP”, and “DOS conversion”. A rectangular icon is displayed above the character string of each selection item in the arrayed lower menu, and the selection item in the designated state is shown in FIG.
It is highlighted (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure) like the icon on the character string "Word Processor" shown in.

Image and message display area 10c
An image in which each graphic image corresponding to the selection item selected from the lower menu and each guidance message are arranged on the graphic image image corresponding to the selection item selected from the upper menu is displayed and displayed. In FIG. 3, since the selection item of the upper menu is “Edit document / table” and the selection item of the lower menu is “Word processor”, the graphic image image 50 corresponding to each selection item of the upper menu and the lower menu is displayed.
a, the graphic image 60a, and the guidance message 70a are simultaneously displayed on the same screen.

The graphic image 50a is an image showing the selection item "edit document / table" of the upper menu, in which the selection items "word processor", "automatic edit" and "table processing" of the lower menu are included. , "DTP", "D
It includes parts (graphic images) each having a shape visually associated with "OS conversion". Each graphic image of the lower menu is formed on the basis of the base graphic image data stored in the graphic image memory 7, and the selection item “selected” among the selection items of the lower menu is selected. Since the graphic image 60a of "word processor" is a changed part, it is formed by overwriting the graphic image of the same part as the base based on the graphic part image data stored in the graphic part memory 8. When the selection item selected in the upper menu is "edit document / table", the graphic image 60a having the shape of the pencil is adopted as the change component, and as shown in FIG. Is displayed so as to point to the graphic image 61b of the original image that is associated with the first item "word processor" of the lower menu.

If a selection item "table processing" other than the first item is selected in the lower menu,
In the graphic image 60a, the display location (overwrite position) is "table processed" from the graphic image of the original image.
Is moved to the graphic image 61a of the front image, and the graphic image 61a of the front image is displayed. Further, the guidance message 70a corresponding to the selection item "word processor" selected from the selection items of the lower menu (for example, "It is possible to create, edit and print a word processing document in Japanese.") Is a graphic image image 50a. In accordance with the guidance message data stored in the guidance memory 14, the balloon image is overwritten and formed so as to blow out from the graphic image 61b of the document image.

Returning to the explanation of the processing of FIG. 2, first, in step S1, the upper menu display area 10a is formed and displayed, and the character strings 30a, 30b, 3 of the respective selection items are formed therein.
A process of vertically arranging and displaying 0c, 30d, 30e, 30f, and 30g is executed. Subsequent steps S2 and S3
In FIG. 3, the character string 30a of the selection item "Edit document / table", which is the top item of the upper menu, is displayed in reverse video (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure). The designated state is displayed so that the selected item can be discriminated from the selected item or other selected items. Thus, in the setting of the initial screen, the top item of the upper menu is forcibly selected.

Then, in step S4, the graphic image data corresponding to the selected item selected in step S2 is read from the graphic image memory 7, and the process of displaying and forming the graphic image image 50a is executed based on the graphic image data. To be done. In this way, by displaying the graphic image image 50a, the graphic image corresponding to each selection item of the lower menu is displayed.

Next, in step S5, the lower menu display area 10b is formed so that the icons 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d and 40e of the selection items are orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the character strings 30a to 3030g. The process of displaying the images in the horizontal direction is executed. Subsequent step S
6 and S7, as shown in FIG. 3, the icon 40a of the selection item "word processor" which is the first item of the lower menu.
Is displayed in reverse video (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure).
The specified state is displayed and formed so that it can be discriminated from the other selection items which selection item of the lower menu has been selected. Thus, in the setting of the initial screen, the first item of the lower menu is forcibly selected.

Then, in step S8, the graphic component image data corresponding to the selection item selected in step S6 (in the case of the selection item "edit document / table", data for forming the shape of the pencil) is added to the graphic component. A graphic image 60a having a pencil shape is read from the memory 8 and a graphic image 61b of a document image is created based on the graphic component image data.
A process of performing composite display by overwriting is performed so as to indicate. In this manner, by displaying the graphic image 60a by overwriting and combining, the graphic image memory 7 is selected in the lower menu, which is stored in the graphic component memory 8 instead of the base graphic image stored in the graphic image memory 7. Selection item "Word Processor"
The graphic image corresponding to is changed and displayed.

In the change display in this case, since the selection item of the upper menu is "edit document / table", the graphic image 60a having the shape of a pencil indicates the original image reminiscent of the selection item "word processor". It is assumed that there is no change in the shape of the graphic image 61b of the original image displayed when the base graphic image image 50a is formed.
As a result, the change display of the part corresponding to the one selection item of the lower menu is completed. In the following step S9, guidance message data corresponding to the first item "word processor" of the lower menu is read from the guidance memory 14, and based on the read guidance message data so as to blow out from the graphic image 61b of the document image. , A guidance message 70a that guides the processing content of the selection item "word processor" is displayed in a composite manner.

As described above, since the guidance message 70a is synthesized and displayed at the position corresponding to the graphic image 61b of the selection item "word processor" selected in the lower menu, which selection item is selected from the lower menu and You can easily understand from the message (in text) what kind of function the item realizes.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 3 mainly displays each selection item of the upper menu (upper menu display area 10a) and the lower menu corresponding to the selection item selected in the upper menu. Each selection item (lower menu display area 10b), the graphic image image 50a selected in the higher menu, the selected graphic image 60a on the graphic image image 50a, and the guidance message 70a (image and message display area 10c) are displayed. At the same time, the display is formed.

In this display state, in step S10, the pressing of the up and down keys of the cursor keys is sensed, in step S12, the pressing of the left and right keys of the cursor keys is sensed, and in step S14, the selection key is pressed. If the pressing is not detected from any of the keys, the process proceeds to steps S10, S12, S.
14 is repeatedly executed.

If it is detected in step S10 that the up and down keys have been pressed, the process proceeds to step S11, and in the character strings 30a to 30g of each selection item displayed in the upper menu display area 10a, A process of moving one cursor display position in one of the upper and lower directions (upward or downward) (movement of reverse display) and changing the item to be selected to another selected item is executed.
In this case, the object to be selected (cursor display position) is the upper menu because it is moved in accordance with the operation of the up and down keys. The initial position of the cursor display position is the selection item "Document /
Since the position of the character string 30a corresponding to "Edit table", when the cursor movement is operated in the upward direction by the up and down keys, the character string corresponding to the selection item "other function" at the lowest position from the character string 30a. When the cursor display position is moved to 30g and the cursor is moved downward, the cursor display position is changed to the character string 30b corresponding to the selection item "postcard / letter" that is one lower than the character string 30a. Moving.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the upper menu display area 10a, the cursor display position is changed from the character string 30a corresponding to the selection item "edit document / table" to the character string 30e corresponding to the selection item "dictionary". In the case of moving to, the operation of the up and down keys is required, for example, four times continuously in the downward direction. Specifically, when the pressing of the up / down key (downward) is detected (step S10), the selection item of the upper menu is moved down by one (character string 30b) (step S1).
1) The process is returned to step S3, and control is performed from there to execute the same process as in the initial screen display. That is, in steps S4 to S9, the selection item "postcard / letter" (character string 30b) of the upper menu is highlighted and the corresponding graphic image is displayed to correspond to the selection item "postcard / letter". The icon of the "address", which is the first item of the lower menu, is highlighted, the graphic image is displayed as a component change, and the guidance message corresponding to the "address" of the first item is displayed.

Steps S10, S11, S3 to S9
By repeating the above process three more times, the cursor display position associated with the operation of the up and down keys (down) reaches the selection item "dictionary" of the upper menu. A display screen corresponding to “” is formed (see FIG. 4). That is, when the cursor display position is moved to the character string 30e corresponding to the selection item "dictionary" in the upper menu display area 10a, a plurality of lower ranks corresponding to the selection item "dictionary" of the higher menu is displayed in the lower menu display area 10b. Menus (selection items "Japanese dictionary", "English-Japanese dictionary", "Japanese-English dictionary") are arranged and displayed by icons 41a, 41b, 41c, respectively. At this time, since the first item is "Japanese dictionary", the icon 41a is displayed in reverse video (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure).

In the image and message display area 10c, a base graphic image image 50b is displayed and formed, and the selection items "Japanese dictionary", "English-Japanese dictionary", and "Japanese-English dictionary" of the subordinate menus are respectively formed therein. Graphic image 80a of a dictionary image reminiscent of
81b and 81c are displayed.

The graphic images 81b and 81c of the selection items "English-Japanese dictionary" and "Japanese-English dictionary" are graphic image images based on the graphic image data. However, since the selection item "Japanese dictionary" is the first item, The graphic image 80a is an image overwritten on the graphic image image 50b based on the graphic component image data read from the graphic component memory 8. In the case of the selection item "dictionary" of this upper menu, as shown in FIG. 4, the dictionary (graphic image 80a) corresponding to the selection item "Japanese dictionary" selected in the lower menu is replaced with another English-Japanese dictionary.
By identifying the state drawn before the Japanese-English dictionary (graphic images 81b, 81c) by overwriting it, the designated state can be displayed.

In the case of the above-mentioned selection item "edit document / table", the change of parts is displayed by identifying the designated state at the position indicated by the graphic image 60a having the shape of a pencil. In the case of the item “dictionary”, the identification display of the designated state can be performed by changing the component (graphic image) itself that associates the selected item.

Further, on the display screen shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the cursor display position is changed from the icon 30a corresponding to the selection item "table processing" to the selection item "table processing".
When moving to the icon 40c corresponding to, it is necessary to operate the left and right keys to the right twice. In particular,
When the pressing of the left / right key (to the right) is detected (step S12), the selection item of the lower menu is shifted to the right (icon 40b) by one (step S13), the process is returned to step S7, and the initial screen is displayed from there. Control is performed to execute the same processing as in the above case. That is, step S
8 and S9, the display of the icon 40b of the automatically edited image is highlighted and the graphic image of the automatically edited image is overwritten so as to be pointed by the graphic image having the shape of the pencil, and the change display of the component is performed. A process of displaying a guidance message corresponding to the selection item "automatic edit" indicated by 40b so as to be blown out from the graphic image of the automatic edit image is executed.

Steps S12, S13, S7 to S9
By repeatedly executing the processing up to, the selection item of the lower menu reaches "table processing" by the operation of the left and right keys (right direction), and the selection item "table processing" is corresponded in the graphic image 50a. A graphic image 60b having a pencil shape is overwritten on the graphic image 61a so that it is overwritten. For example, a guidance message 70b having a message "table, graph can be created, edited, and printed." Is blown out from the graphic image 61a. As described above, the display screen is formed as shown in FIG. As described above, in the case of "Edit document / table" in the upper menu, the graphic images (60a, 60b) and the balloon shape having a pencil shape corresponding to the graphic image of the selection item selected in the lower menu are displayed. The guidance message (70a, 70b) is displayed.

Further, from the display screen obtained by selecting the selection item "edit document / table" in the upper menu and the selection item "word processor" in the lower menu, the selection is made in the upper menu as shown in FIG. When forming the display screen obtained by selecting the item "Dictionary" and selecting the selection item "English-Japanese dictionary" in the lower menu, first change the above-mentioned upper menu (selection item "Edit document / table"). 4) by selecting the selection item "dictionary" from the higher-level menu by operating the up and down keys four times, for example, in accordance with the procedure for changing from "to dictionary" (see Fig. 4)). Can be formed.

At this stage, the first item "Japanese dictionary" of the lower menu is selected, and the cursor display position is placed there. Therefore, the change of the lower menu described above (selection item "word processor" to "table processing") is performed. Change to "(Fig. 5
(See)), press the left / right key to
The display screen shown in FIG. 6 can be formed by operating the operation once and selecting the selection item “English-Japanese dictionary” from the subordinate menu. And image and message display area 1
0c is the base graphic image 50
b is displayed and formed therein, and graphic images 81a and 8a of dictionary images are associated with the selection items "Japanese dictionary", "English-Japanese dictionary", and "Japanese-English dictionary" of the subordinate menu, respectively.
0b and 81c are displayed.

Although the graphic images 81a and 81c of the selection items "Japanese dictionary" and "Japanese-English dictionary" are graphic image images based on the graphic image data, since the selection item "English-Japanese dictionary" is the selected item. The graphic image 80b is an image overwritten on the graphic image image 50b based on the graphic component image data read from the graphic component memory 8. Thus, in the case of the selection item "dictionary" of the upper menu, as shown in FIG.
Selection item "English-Japanese dictionary" selected in the lower menu
The dictionary (graphic image 80b) corresponding to other Japanese language dictionary, Japanese-English dictionary (graphic image 81a, 8
It is possible to perform the identification display of the designated state by converting the state pulled out before 1c) into an image by overwriting.

As described above, when the desired lower menu is selected in steps S3 to S13 and the depression of the selection key is detected in step S14, the process proceeds to step S1.
Moving to step 5, the function (process) corresponding to the selection item currently selected in the lower menu starts to be executed, and this process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a selection item is selected in a lower menu of a hierarchical menu having upper and lower levels, a graphic image image showing the classification of the lower menu in the upper menu is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to visually understand through the graphic image what lower-level menu items are currently selectable by the upper-level menu. It is possible to reduce the selection mistake of.

Further, since the graphic image corresponding to the lower-order menu in the designated state is identified and displayed on the graphic image image, it is possible to visually grasp what the menu item that can be immediately selected is, and there is no mistake. Menu selection is possible.

Further, since a detailed guidance message corresponding to one selection item in the designated state (reverse display state) among the selection items included in the lower menu is displayed, the guidance message is displayed together with the graphic image. By checking, it becomes possible to select items in the lower menu without mistakes.

Since the upper menus are arranged and displayed in one direction and the lower menus are arranged and displayed in a direction orthogonal to the upper menus, the menu selection can be performed only by operating the up / down / left / right keys of the cursor.

In the above-described embodiment, the hierarchical menu is divided into the upper and lower layers, but one or more intermediate layers may be provided between them.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the display unit 10 may be a monochrome display or a color display, but when the color display function is adopted, the graphic corresponding to the selection item selected in the lower menu is displayed. The image may be changed to a color different from that of the graphic images of other selection items and displayed for identification. in this case,
There is an identification display method such as displaying a graphic image in a base graphic image image in blue and changing and displaying a graphic image of a selection item whose component has been changed. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the graphic image 60a having the shape of a pencil and the graphic image 61b of the original image corresponding thereto may be changed to the same color, and in the example of FIG. The color of the graphic image 80a itself may be changed. As another example, when the color display function is adopted, the graphic image image corresponding to the selection item selected in the upper menu is displayed in black and white, and the graphic image corresponding to the selection item selected in the lower menu ( (Part change display) may be displayed in color. In this case, it is possible to visually emphasize which item in the lower menu is currently selected. At that time, the graphic component image data stored in the graphic component memory 8 is used as color data.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when a selection item is selected in a lower menu of a hierarchical menu having upper and lower levels, a graphic image image showing the classification of the lower menu in the upper menu is displayed. So
It is possible to visually understand through the graphic image what lower-level menu items are currently selectable by the higher-level menu, and even beginners who are not familiar with menu selection operations can make mistakes when selecting menus. An effect is obtained that a menu display device that can reduce the above can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the graphic image corresponding to the lower-order menu in the designated state on the graphic image image is displayed so that it can be selected immediately. You can visually understand what the menu item is,
It is possible to obtain a menu display device that enables menu selection without mistake.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, a detailed guidance message corresponding to one selection item in the designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu. Is displayed, and by confirming the guidance message together with the graphic image, it is possible to obtain a menu display device capable of selecting an item in a subordinate menu without error.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, since the upper menu is arranged and displayed in one direction and the lower menu is arranged and displayed in a direction orthogonal to the upper menu, For example, it is possible to obtain a menu display device that enables menu selection by only operating the cursor up / down / left / right keys.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a menu display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating menu selection processing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a menu selection screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a menu selection screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of a menu selection screen in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a menu selection screen in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic device 2 CPU 3 key input unit 4 RAM 5 document memory 6 dictionary memory 7 graphic image memory 8 graphic component memory 9 program memory 10 display unit 11 printing unit 12 upper menu memory 13 lower menu memory 14 guidance memory 15 bus line

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first storage means for storing an upper menu having a plurality of selection items, and a plurality of lower menus corresponding to the respective selection items of the upper menu stored in the first storage means. A second storage means; a third storage means for storing a plurality of graphic image data corresponding to each selection item of the upper menu stored in the first storage means; In the case of displaying a lower menu corresponding to one selection item in the designated state, based on the graphic image data corresponding to the one selection item in the plurality of graphic image data stored in the third storage means. And a display means for simultaneously displaying a graphic image image, and a menu display device. 2. The graphic image image includes a graphic image corresponding to each of the selection items included in the lower menu, and the display means is in a designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu. 2. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein a graphic image corresponding to a certain selection item is identified and displayed. 3. The menu display according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a guidance message corresponding to one selection item in a designated state among the selection items included in the lower menu. apparatus. 4. The menu display device according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the upper menus in an array in one direction and displays the lower menus in a direction orthogonal to the upper menu. .