II||I|IIIIIIlIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`U8005249296A
`
`United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,249,296
`
`Tanaka
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`[54]
`
`INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
`FOR CONTROLLING WINDOW POSITIONS
`
`Assistant Examiner—A. Katbab
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Limbach & Limbach
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Hidekazu Tanaka, Tokyo, Japan
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 877,854
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`May 4, 1992
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`May 9, 1991 [JP]
`Japan .................................. 3-133442
`
`Int. Cl.5 ........................ G09G 1/100; 6096 5/32
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`............................. 395/700; 364/DIG. 2:
`364/927.2: 364/927.6; 364/927.63: 364/927.64
`[58] Field of Search ......................................... 395/700
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4.899.136
`2/1990 Beard et aI.
`......................... 340/706
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0457990A2 11/1991 European Pat. Off.
`WOW/11694 11/1989 PCT Int‘l Appl.
`.
`
`.
`
`Primary Examiner—Gareth D. Shaw
`
`An information processing apparatus for controlling
`window positions comprising a pen for inputting coor-
`dinate information, a tablet for generating coordinate
`data based on coordinate information input by the pen
`onto the tablet, a display placed under the tablet in such
`a manner that an image on the display is Visible through
`the tablet means, and first display control means for
`opening in a predetermined position a new window
`corresponding to the icon selected by a checking (pen
`down, pen up at a single icon location) operation of the
`pen. The apparatus also includes a second display con-
`trol means for opening a new window in a desired posi-
`tion outside the icon area selected by a dragging opera-
`tion of the pen, the dragging operation being executed
`by three actions. First. the pen is put down onto the
`icon in the icon area of the display means. the pen is
`dragged together with the icon to a desired position
`outside the icon area, and the pen is then lifted off the
`tablet.
`
`3 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
` PEN- DOWN PROCESSING
`
`
`TRACK PEN UP TO
`PEN-UP POSITION
`
`IOO
`
`IOI
`
` PEN—UP
`POSITION IN
`
`AREA '.>
`
`ICON
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`X= X COORDINATE IN
`EFFECT UPON
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN
`EFFECT UPON
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`X=X COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`
`
`
`
`OPEN WINDOW
`
`
`IN
`
`
`POSITION (X ,Y)
`
`I
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep.28,1993
`
`Sheetl of9
`
`5,249,296
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`5,249,296
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`IO
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`TABLET
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`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG?)
`
`
`
`TRACK PEN UP TO
`PEN-UP POSITION
`
` PEN - DOWN PROCESSING
`IOO
`
`
`
`IOI
`
`PEN-UP
`
`POSITION IN ICON
`AREA ?
`
`X=X COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`
`
`
`X= X COORDINATE IN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EFFECT UPON
`
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`
`EFFECT UPON
`
`
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`
` OPEN WINDOW IN
`
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`I04
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FlG.4
`
`tPalmTop
`
`
`
`
`
`
`© I990,l99! Sony Corporation
`All Rights Reserved
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.5
`
`INFO
`COPY
`SHREDDER
`
`
`
`am r5951]
`
`STORE WORLD CLOCK CALENDER
`
`MOVE
`
`REARRANGE
`
`
`
`
`
`mom-RETREVE-om
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`
`PRIVATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`
`
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`I: B
`SETTINGS
`SETTING
`235m TRANSFER
`CALCULATOR
`5:
`
`
`Looxwmg
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIGS
`
`
`
`© |990,1991 Sony Corporation
`All Rights Reserved
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`F ' G- 7
`
`PEN- UP POSITION
`
`IIO
`
`X=X COORDINATE OF
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`Y=Y COORDINATE OF
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`DRAW CONTOUR IN
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`YES
`
`II8
`
`ERASE CONTOUR FROM
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`RETURN
`
` XN=X COORDINATE OF
`
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`YN=Y COORDINATE OF
`
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`
`PEN LIFTED UP
`
`
`
`
`
`ERASE CONTOUR FROM
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`DRAW CONTOUR IN
`
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.8
`
`
`
`INFO
`
`COPY
`
`SHREDDER
`
`=9
`
`
`
`@531
`
`STORE WORLD CLOCK CALENDER
`
`MOVE
`
`REARRANGE
`
`
`
`Bra-EE @ [99g
`
`
`
`52 ma?
`
`3 B
`mung;
`335m TRANSFER
`smme
`SETTING
`- "v "1,311.51;
`
`PRIVATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`‘
`
`CALCULATOR
`9:... 21111331! '.'.:.'..‘.'.1.‘.‘.‘.‘.’.‘.'..‘.‘..‘1'.
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`T
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.9
`
`
`
`STORE WLD CLOCK CALENDER
`MOVE
`
`
`REARRANGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`@fl@
`
`PRWATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`
`5'9 5 TOUGHflux)
`
`
`CALCULATOR
`DAY
`TRANSFER
`SETTING
`SETTING
`COUNT
`'5
`" “1:42:25
`
`LOOKWRITERETREVEOTHER
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,249,296
`
`INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR
`CONTROLLING WINDOW POSITIONS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an information pro-
`cessing apparatus for controlling window positions. the
`apparatus allowing the window corresponding to a
`selected icon on a display screen to be opened in the
`position in which the icon is checked with a pointing
`device. or in the position to which the icon is dragged
`with the pointing device and from which the pointing
`device is lifted up.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Computers used to be given instructions only in com-
`puter language. Because those who were not versed in
`the arcane computer—oriented language had difficulty in
`operating computers. recent years have seen a growing
`number of computers that run under special window
`controlling apparatuses for user-friendly window con—
`trol. These apparatuses permit almost anyone easy con—
`trol of the computer through the use of displayed icons
`that represent necessary computer functions.
`In operation. the window controlling apparatus al-
`lows the user to pick one of the icons displayed on the
`screen. When a given icon is selected. the window cor-
`responding thereto appears on the screen. Window
`controlling apparatuses come in two types: one that
`permits the window corresponding to a selected icon to
`appear over the entire screen. and the other type having
`each icon-associated window displayed partially on the
`screen. The present invention proposes an information
`processing apparatus for controlling window positions
`which belongs to the latter type.
`Traditionally. there are two ways to select an icon by
`use ofa pointing device. illustratively a pen, One way is
`to “check" one ofthe displayed icons using the pointing
`pen. The checking action involves placing the pointing
`pen down to the icon position and then lifting up the
`pen therefrom. That is. the desired icon is apparently
`"pressed" for a short period of time. The other way to
`select the icon is to ”drag" it. That is. the pointing pen
`is placed on the desired icon position and is moved as
`held down up to a new position where a new window is
`to be Opened.
`Conventional information processing apparatuses for
`controlling window positions adopt exclusively one of
`the two icon-selecting methods, “check" or "drag." It is
`theoretically possible to design an apparatus that would
`be switched to one ofthe two methods as desired. How-
`ever, one disadvantage of that type of apparatus is that
`the switching must be accomplished before the appara-
`tus is activated For the majority of the prior art appara-
`tuses that rely on one of the two methods. operations
`carried out according to the other unadopted method
`are regarded as errors and all inputs intended thereby
`are thus rejected.
`In this connection. there are also proposed informa-
`tion processing systems that control entry of and
`changes to various kinds of personal information. such
`as electronic address books and electronic telephone
`directory and schedule table devices known as organiz-
`ers. Such systems are disclosed in US. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 621.898 having a common assignee and in
`the present assignee‘s Japanese Patent Application No.
`2 (1990)-84318.
`
`10
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`20
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`U-
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`40
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`50
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`11
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`2
`With such information processing systems. a display
`screen l-I shown in FIG. 1 is switched according to the
`user's selecting Operation. Referring to FIG. 1. icons
`1A, 1B. etc. are displayed in the upper and right hand
`margins of the screen H. In operationnthe user puts a
`pointing pen, not shown. down to one of the icons (1A.
`18, etc.) on the screen and drags the pen to a suitable
`position thereon. This causes a window W correspond-
`ing to the selected icon to appear in the position from
`which the pen is lifted up. Indications in the window let
`the user proceed to control such personal information as
`schedules.
`Given this kind of information processing system. the
`user may wish to change the display position of the
`window W as desired. The user may also wish to store
`the displayed window W.
`If the user wishes to store the displayed window W.
`the user puts the pointing pen down to a predetermined
`area ARM of the window W and drags the pen to a
`display area ARST (FIG. 1). When the pointing pen is
`lifted up from the corresponding icon in the display area
`ARST. the window W is stored.
`If the pointing pen is dragged inside an area ARDP
`(display area for page data) on the display screen H and
`is held away from the area ARST. the window W is not
`stored but is moved to the position from which the pen
`is lifted up.
`As described. the operations for controlling window
`positions on the screen of the above prior art systems
`are complicated. constrained and confusing.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide an information processing apparatus for con-
`trolling window positions. the apparatus allowing the
`user to employ any one of the two icon-selecting meth-
`ods. “check“ and “drag." to control window positions
`as desired on the screen.
`In carrying out the invention and according to one
`aspect thereof, there is provided an information pro-
`cessing apparatus for controlling window positions
`comprising: (a) pen means for inputting coordinate in-
`formation; (b) tablet means for generating coordinate
`data based on the coordinate information input by the
`pen means onto the tablet means:
`(C) display means
`placed under the tablet means in such a manner that an
`image displayed on the display means is visible through
`the tablet means: (d) first display control means for
`opening in a predetermined position a new window
`corresponding to the icon selected by a checking opera—
`tion of the pen means, the checking operation being
`executed by two actions. the first action involving put-
`ting the pen means down onto the icon in an icon area
`displayed on the display means. the second action in-
`volving lifting up the pen means from the icon within
`the icon area. the executing of the checking operation
`being detected based on the coordinate data generated
`by the tablet means: and (e) second display control
`means for opening in a desired position outside the icon
`area a new window corresponding to the icon selected
`by a dragging operation ofthe pen means. the dragging
`operation being executed by three actions, the first ac-
`tion involving putting the pen means down onto the
`icon in the icon area displayed on the display means. the
`second action involving dragging the pen means to-
`gether with the icon up to the desired position outside
`the icon area. the third action involving lifting up the
`pen means from the icon outside the icon area. the exe-
`
`11
`
`

`

`3
`cuting of the dragging operation being detected based
`on the coordinate data generated by the tablet means.
`In operation.
`the inventive information processing
`apparatus for controlling window positions opens a new
`window in one of two ways. When an icon is checked 5
`with the pointing pen attached to the apparatus, the
`apparatus opens a new window in a predetermined
`position (e.g.. the position where the old window was
`previously being opened). When an icon is dragged
`with the pointing pen, the apparatus opens a new win- 10
`dow in the position to which the icon is dragged and
`from which the pointing pen is lifted up.
`Further objects, features and advantages of this in-
`vention will become more apparent upon a reading of
`the following description and appended drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`15
`
`25
`
`20
`
`FIG. 1 is a view of a typical screen of a prior art
`information processing apparatus for controlling win-
`dow positions;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction
`of a computer-operated device embodying the inven-
`tlon;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing how the embodiment
`of FIG. 2 works;
`FIG. 4 is a view of a typical screen displayed when
`power is applied to the embodiment:
`FIG. 5 is a view ofa typical screen displayed when a
`37 TOOLBOX“ window is opened on the embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a view of a typical screen displayed when 30
`another window is opened on the embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing the steps carried out
`between pen~down operation and pen«up operation on
`the embodiment:
`FIG. 8 is a view of a screen state that contains a 35
`contour indicating the position in which to open a win-
`dow following a dragging operation on the embodi-
`ment: and
`FIG. 9 is a view of another screen state that includes
`a contour indicating the position in which to open a 40
`window following a dragging operation on the embodi-
`ment.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`
`45
`
`EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction
`of an electronic “organizer" notebook device to which
`the invention is illustratively applied.
`In FIG. 2, an
`input unit 1 incorporates various switches including a
`power switch. The signals corresponding to these 50
`switches are supplied to a CPU 4 via an interface 2. A
`DC voltage, obtained by rectifying an AC power
`source, is fed to a power supply circuit 3. The power
`supply circuit 3 contains a battery 30 inside. When the
`AC power source supplies the DC voltage through 55
`rectification, that voltage is used to power the compo-
`nents of the device; when the AC power source does
`not supply the DC voltage. the battery 30 takes over
`and powers the device components.
`The interface 2 has a tablet 8, a display unit 9 and a 60
`speaker 10 connected thereto. The interface 2 is also
`connected via a bus line with the CPU 4, a ROM 5, a
`RAM 6 and a backup memory 7.
`The tablet 8 is made ofa transparent touch electrode
`attached to the display surface of the display unit 9. The 65
`icons such as buttons displayed on the display unit 9 are
`used as input buttons of the tablet 8. When a user
`touches one of these icons visible through the transpar-
`
`5,249,296
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`4
`ent touch electrode. the coordinate signal defining the
`touched part is sent to the CPU 4 for necessary process-
`ing.
`Touching a part of the tablet 8 generates the coordi—
`nate signal corresponding to the touched part. The
`signal may be generated by one of two methods. One
`method is a pressure sensitive method whereby the
`pointing pen when operated senses a mechanical pres-
`sure change that triggers the signal. The other method
`is an electrostatic capacity method whereby the point-
`ing pen when operated senses a capacitance change that
`results in signal generation. Either method may be used.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting how the embodiment
`of FIG. 2 operates when the pointing pen is placed onto
`the screen. When the embodiment is powered, the dis-
`play screen of FIG. 4 appears on the display unit 9.
`When an icon “TOOLBOX" is selected in a suitable
`mode,
`the “TOOLBOX" window of FIG. 5 is dis-
`played. This window contains various icons. To input,
`say, characters, the user opens a character input win-
`dow by selecting an icon “CHARACTERS."
`The “CHARACTERS" icon is selected by first plac—
`ing the pointing pen down to that icon and then lifting
`up the pen therefrom. The pen-down action selects the
`icon, and the pen-up action determines the position in
`which the window corresponding to the selected icon is
`to be opened. The processing following the pen-up
`action takes place as follows.
`Step 100 of FIG. 3 performs necessary processing
`between pen-down action and pen-up action. Details of
`this processing will be described later with reference to
`the flowchart of FIG. 7. Suppose now that the pointing
`pen is lifted up from a particular position and that the
`coordinates ofthat position are detected. Then step 101
`is reached. In step 101, a check is made to see if the
`coordinates of the pen-up position represent an icon
`area. The icon area is a screen area in which various
`icons, such as those in FIG. 5. are displayed. In FIG. 5.
`the "CHARACTERS" icon is displayed in reverse
`video. The reverse video display is executed upon pen~
`down action.
`
`As described earlier. there are two ways to open a
`window: either to “check" the necessary icon with the
`pointing pen by putting the pen down to the icon and
`then lifting up the pen therefrom: or to "drag" the pen
`together with the selected icon as the pen is held down
`onto the tablet, the icon being released by lifting up the
`pen when a desired position is reached. When the icon
`is "checked," a new window is allowed to open in a
`predetermined position (with this embodiment, the posi-
`tion where the old window was previously being
`opened); when the icon is “dragged.“ a new window
`opens in the position where the pointing pen after drag-
`ging operation is lifted up.
`Suppose that the coordinates detected in the pen-up
`position are generated by a checking operation. In that
`case, the pen-down position is located in the same icon
`area as the pen-down position. Thus step 101 yields the
`affirmative decision, i.e., the decision that the coordi-
`nates of the pen-up position are within the icon area.
`The affirmative decision in step 101 is followed by step
`102. In step 102. the X and Y coordinate values of the
`position in which to open the new window are set re-
`spectively to the X and Y coordinate values in effect
`immediately before the old window was closed (func-
`tion of first display control means).
`In step 104, a character input window (character
`plate W) shown in FIG. 6 is opened. The display posi-
`
`12
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`5,249,296
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`tion of this window is set so as to conform to the X and
`Y coordinates established in step 102. That is. the char-
`acter plate W is again opened in the position where the
`preceding character plate W was being opened.
`Steps 102 and 104 constitute the first display control
`means for opening. when an icon is checked. the corre-
`sponding new window in the position in which the old
`window was being opened.
`When the coordinates of the pen-up position are de-
`tected following a dragging operation, the pen-up posi-
`tion is located outside the icon area. In that case. step
`101 finds that the coordinates of the pemup position are
`not included in the icon area. The negative decision of
`step 101 is followed by step 103. In step 103. the X and
`Y coordinate values of the position in which to open the
`new window are set respectively to the X and Y coordi-
`nate values of the pen-up position (function of second
`display control means).
`Then in the same manner as with the checking opera-
`tion, step 104 Opens the new window in the position
`defined by the X and Y coordinate values. The dragging
`operation opens a window in the position where the
`pointing pen is lifted up. That is. a window may be
`opened anywhere on the screen.
`Steps 103 and 104 constitute the second display con-
`trol means for opening a new window in the position to
`which an icon is dragged with the pointing pen and
`from which the pointing pen is lifted up.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting the processing in
`effect up to a pen-up operation. When the pointing pen
`is placed down to a given position on the screen, the X
`and Y coordinate values of that pen-down position are
`retained respectively as X and Y in step 110. In step 111.
`a contour defining a predetermined range (i.e.,
`icon
`contour) is drawn in the position designated by the X
`and Y coordinate values retained.
`Step 112 checks to see ifthe pointing pen is lifted up.
`Ifthe pen is found to be up. step 118 is reached. In step
`118. the contour drawn in step 111 is erased and control
`is returned to the routine of FIG. 3. This means that a
`checking operation has been executed. with the coordi-
`nats of the pen-down position detected and the pen
`lifted up immediately thereafter.
`Where a dragging operation is carried out. step 111 in
`which the contour was drawn is followed by step 112.
`Step 112 finds that the pointing pen is not lifted up. That
`is, the pen is moved as pressed against the tablet 8. Then
`step 112 is followed by step 113. In step 113. the X and
`Y coordinate values of the current pen position are
`stored respectively as new coordinate values XN and
`YN. Step 114 checks to see if the coordinates of the
`pointing pen are the same as the newly stored coordi-
`nates XN and YN. If they are the same, step 112 is
`reached again in which a check is made to see if the
`pointing pen is lifted up. The values XN and YN are not
`updated while the pen movement is being halted on the
`screen. As long as the pointing pen remains stationary,
`steps 112 through 114 are repeated.
`When the pointing pen is moved (i.e., dragged) over
`the screen, step 114 finds the coordinates thereof to be
`new and thus different from XN and YN. In that case,
`step 114 is followed by step 115 in which the contour
`defined by the X and Y coordinate values and drawn in
`step 111 is erased. In step 116. the values XN and YN
`are stored as the coordinate values X and Y for display-
`ing a new contour.
`In step 117.
`the new contour is
`drawn as per the stored coordinate values X and Y. Step
`117 is followed by step 112.
`
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`6
`As described, a dragging operation (i.e.. pointing pen
`movement) causes the contour K drawn in step 117 to
`move over the screen “dragged" by the pen, as shown
`in FIGS. 8 and 9. The contour drawn at this point indi-
`cates the position in which to open a new window. If
`the pointing pen is not moved far enough to go out of
`the icon area, the contour K is displayed in small size
`(the same in size as the “CHARACTERS" icon). as
`illustrated in FIG. 8. Ifthe pointing pen is moved out of
`the icon area, the contour K is displayed in large size
`(the same in size as the character plate W), as depicted
`in FIG. 9.
`If the pointing pen still remains put down on the
`screen surface when control is returned to step 112, step
`113 and subsequent steps are carried out. If there is no
`pointing pen movement, step 114 finds that the stored
`coordinate values remain the same. This returns control
`to step 112. Ifthe pointing pen is dragged, step 114 finds
`the coordinates thereof to be new. This leads to step 115
`in which the contour being displayed is erased. In step
`117. a new contour is drawn in the position to which the
`pointing pen is dragged.
`While the pointing pen remains stationary. the con-
`tour K also stays put. When the pointing pen is dragged
`over the screen surface. the contour K is moved along
`with the pen. At a later time, the pointing pen is lifted
`up. The pen-up operation is then detected in step 112.
`which is followed by step 118. Step 118 erases the cur-
`rently displayed contour K. and control is returned to
`step 101 in FIG. 3.
`Step 10] in FIG. 3. when reached from step 118. is
`followed by the subsequent steps that open the window
`W as shown in FIG. 6. As described earlier. the check-
`ing operation of the pointing pen establishes the previ—
`_ ous window position as the position in which this witt-
`dow is opened; the dragging operation of the pen sets
`up the pen-up position as the window opening position.
`While the pointing pen together with an icon is being
`dragged (in pen-down state).
`the corresponding win-
`dow is not displayed. Instead. the contour K of the
`window is displayed in the position in which the win-
`dow is to be opened. as illustrated in FIG. 9. This is
`because it takes some time to display the entire window
`and because it is temporally difficult to move the entire
`window along with the pen as the latter is being
`dragged at high speed. Alone. the window contour may
`be moved at high speed following the pointing pen
`being dragged.
`When a character is hand-written in a square 21 ofthe
`character plate W in FIG. 6, the strokes are recognized
`as a pattern, and the recognized character is displayed
`in that square. When a WRITE button 22 is touched
`with the pointing pen, the character in the square 21 is
`written into a suitable position.
`As described, the information processing apparatus
`for controlling window positions according to the in«
`vention opens a window in a predetermined position
`when an icon is checked with the pointing pen, or in the
`position to which the icon is dragged and from which
`the pointing pen is lifted up. This allows users to select
`icons by any pen-based input method. There is no need
`to switch between different pen-based input methods
`before or halfway through operation. This enhances the
`operability ofthe computer system in which the inven-
`tive apparatus is incorporated. When different users
`accustomed to different pen-based input methods oper-
`ate the computer system. prior art apparatuses would
`accept some pen operations. reject some pen operations
`
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`

`7
`as errors or system failure, and demand repeated opera-
`tions until the appropriate pen-based input method is
`complied with. Unlike its prior art counterparts,
`the
`inventive apparatus accepts all kinds of pen operations
`and saves the user a significant amount of operating
`chores.
`While a preferred embodiment of the invention has
`been described using specific terms. such description is
`for illustrative purposes only. and it is to be understood
`that changes and variations may be made without de-
`parting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An information processing apparatus for control-
`ling window positions comprising:
`(a) pen means for inputting coordinate information;
`(b) tablet means for generating coordinate data based
`on said coordinate information input by said pen
`means onto said tablet means;
`(c) display means placed under said tablet means in
`such a manner that an image displayed on said
`display means is visible through said tablet means;
`(d) first display control means for opening in a prede-
`termined position a new window corresponding to
`an icon selected by a checking operation of said
`pen means. said checking operation being executed
`by two actions. the first action involving putting
`said pen means down onto said icon in an icon area
`displayed on said display means. the second action
`involving lifting up said pen means from said icon
`within said icon area. the executing of said check-
`
`8
`ing operation being detected based on the coordi-
`nate data generated by said tablet means; and
`(e) second display control means for opening in a
`desired position outside said icon area a new win—
`dow corresponding to an icon selected by a drag
`ging operation of said pen means. said dragging
`operation being executed by three actions. the first
`action involving putting said pen means down onto
`said icon in said icon area displayed on said display
`means, the second action involving dragging said
`pen means together with said icon up to said de—
`sired position ou'tside said icon area, the third ac-
`tion involving lifting up said pen means from said
`icon outside said icon area, the executing of said
`dragging operation being detected based on the
`coordinate data generated by said tablet means.
`2. An information processing apparatus for control-
`ling window positions according to claim 1, wherein
`said checking operation involves putting down said pen
`means onto, said icon area and lifting up said pen means
`from said icon area without moving said pen means
`horizontally over said display means.
`3. An information processing apparatus for control-
`ling window positions according to claim 1. further
`comprising storage means for storing the coordinate
`data defining the position in which to open at least a
`previously opened window. wherein said checking op-
`eration opens a new window according to said coordi-
`nate data stored in said storage means. said new window
`being displayed in the position in which the previous
`window was opened.*
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