United States Patent
`Tanaka
`
`115)
`
`AUTTAA
`
`US005249296A
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,249,296
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`[54]
`
`INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
`FOR CONTROLLING WINDOWPOSITIONS
`
`Assistant Examiner—A. Katbab
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Limbach & Limbach
`
`(75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Hidekazu Tanaka, Tokyo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`
`(21] Appl. No.: 877,854
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`May4, 1992
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An information processing apparatus for controlling
`windowpositions 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
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`a mannerthat an image onthe displayis visible through
`May9, 1991 [JP]9Japan oe 3-133442
`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 upat a single icon location) operation of the
`pen. The apparatus also includes a second display con-
`trol means for opening a new. windowin 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 penis then lifted off the
`tablet.
`
`Int. Cho wo G09G 1/100; GO9G 5/32
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Ch. ne eeeeeees 395/700; 364/DIG. 2;
`364/927.2: 364/927.6, 364/927.63: 364/927.64
`[58] Field of Search oo... ccs eeeeeseeesenes 395/700
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,899,136
`2/1990 Beard et al. oes 340/706
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0457990A2 11/1991 European Pat. Off.
`WO89/11694 11/1989 PCT Intl Appl.
`.
`
`.
`
`Primary Examiner—Gareth D. Shaw
`
`3 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
` PEN-DOWN PROCESSING
`
`
`
`TRACK PEN UP TO
`PEN-UP POSITION
`
`100
`
`10]
`
` 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)
`
`i04
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`LSHVONPOIY
`
`yang||-
`
`juawaounouuy
`
`juawaounouUy
`
`40}UO1}DIDdaIgWAoqs
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.2
`
`uppnpn
`
`CPU
`
`TABLET
`C1
`|
`BACKUP™“|MEMORY
`DISPLAYUNIT
`INTERFACE
`SPEAKER
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`
`CIRCUIT rT
`
`INPUTUNIT
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG. 3
`
`PEN- DOWN PROCESSING
`
`
`TRACK PEN UP TO
`PEN-UP POSITION
`
`i0O
`
`lOl
`
`
`
`POSITION IN ICON
`AREA ?
`
`
`
`
` PEN-UP
`
`
`X= X COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`X= X COORDINATE IN
`EFFECT UPON
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN EFFECT
`IMMEDIATELY BEFORE
`
`CLOSING OF OLD WINDOW
`
`
`
`
`Y= Y COORDINATE IN
`EFFECT UPON
`
`PEN-UP ACTION
`
`
`
`
`
`OPEN WINDOW IN
`
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`lOo4
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PalmiTop
`
`© 1990,1991 Sony Corporation
`All Rights Reserved
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.5
`
`
`
`
`
` o%
`
`.
`
`SHREDDER
`
`,
`
`FIGURE
`
`INFO
`
`COPY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nr eae &.
`
`
`
`
`
`EI
`ee Var ee [Hge
`TAILED:
`2
`A
`
`#! CALCULATOR SETTING—SETTING.Day TRANSFER
`
`
`
`ONHOLORETRIEVE]OTHER|
`
`
`if
`
`
`
`
`
`STORE WORLD CLOCK CALENDER MOVE©REARRANGE |
`
`
`
`
`PRIVATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`NT
`
`Sea
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Palnilop
`
`© 1990,199! Sony Corporation
`All Rights Reserved
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`F | G. C
`
`TRACK PEN UP TO
`PEN-UP POSITION
`
`110
`
`
`
`
`X=X COORDINATE OF
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`Y= Y COORDINATE OF
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`
`
`
`
`DRAW CONTOUR IN
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`
` XN=X COORDINATE OF
`
`
`
`
`
`<inoBS
`
`18
`
`ERASE CONTOUR FROM
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`RETURN
`
`Y
`
`ES
`
`PEN LIFTED UP
`
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`YN=Y COORDINATE OF
`CURRENT PEN POSITION
`
`
`
`
`ERASE CONTOUR FROM
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`DRAW CONTOUR IN
`POSITION (X,Y)
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG. 8
`
`
`
`INFO.
`
`COPY.-—«—
`
`SHREDDER
`
`STORE WORLD CLOCK CALENDER
`
`MOVE
`
`REARRANGE
`
`PRIVATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`
`
`DAY
`| CALCULATOR
`COUNT
`i
`telomare: eee ccaeeeecceecceceeennee LOU od eeneneeeeEenDUNTDUTEND
`
`TRANSFER
`
`SETTING :
`SETTING
`
`
`: hitiumenesd)
`
`aGLtes
`72S
`
`FIGURE
`
`
`
`or ae
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 28, 1993
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`5,249,296
`
`FIG.9
`
`
`
`STORE WORLD CLOCK CALENDER
`
`MOVE
`
`
`REARRANGE i
`
`
`OF 8
`
`
`
`oS [th RR.
`
`
`
`
`PRIVATE
`
`ANIMATION DRAWERS WEEKLY
`
`CATALOG
`
`| CALCULATOR
`a
`
`DAY
`COUNT
`
`TRANSFER
`
`SETTING
`
`SETTING
`ae:
`
`SSSST
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,249,296
`
`0
`
`w0
`
`mn
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`INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR
`CONTROLLING WINDOWPOSITIONS
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an information pro-
`cessing apparatus for controlling windowpositions, 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 haddifficultyin
`operating computers, recent years have seen a growing
`number of computers that run under special window
`controlling apparatuses for user-friendly windowcon-
`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 windowcontrolling apparatus al-
`lows the user to pick one of the icons displayed on the
`screen. When a given icon is selected. the windowcor-
`responding thereto appears on the screen. Window
`controlling apparatuses come in two types: one that
`permits the windowcorresponding to a selected icon to
`appear over the entire screen. and the other type having
`each icon-associated windowdisplayed partially on the
`screen. The present invention proposes an information
`processing apparatus for controlling windowpositions
`which belongs to the latter type.
`Traditionally. there are two waysto select an icon by
`use of a pointing device, illustratively a pen. One way is
`to “check” one of the displayed iconsusing 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 newposition where a new windowis
`to be opened.
`Conventional] information processing apparatuses for
`controlling windowpositions 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 of the 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 U.S. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 621.898 having a commonassignee and in
`the present assignee’s Japanese Patent Application No.
`2 (1990)-84318.
`
`11
`
`2
`With such information processing systems, a display
`screen H 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 operation, the user puts a
`pointing pen, not shown, downto one ofthe icons (1A,
`1B, etc.) on the screen and drags the pen to a suitable
`position thereon. This causes a window Wcorrespond-
`ing to the selected icon to appear in the position from
`whichthe penis lifted up. Indications in the window let
`the user proceed to control such personal information as
`schedules.
`Giventhis kind of information processing system, the
`user may wish to change the display position of the
`window W as desired. The user mayalso wish to store
`the displayed window W.
`If the user wishes to store the displayed windowW,
`the user puts the pointing pen downto a predetermined
`area ARM of the window W and drags the pen to a
`display area ARST (FIG. 1). Whenthe pointing pen is
`lifted up from the correspondingicon in the display area
`ARST.the window Wis 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 windowW 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.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide an information processing apparatus for con-
`trolling windowpositions. the apparatus allowing the
`user to employ anyone of the two icon-selecting meth-
`ods, “check” and “drag.” to control windowpositions
`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 bythe
`pen means onto the tablet means;
`(c) display means
`placed under the tablet means in such a mannerthat an
`image displayed on the display meansis 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 twoactions,the first action involving put-
`ting the pen means downonto theicon 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 windowcorrespondingto the icon selected
`bya dragging operation of the pen means, the dragging
`operation being executed bythree 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 meansfrom the icon outside the icon area. the exe-
`
`11
`
`

`

`FIG. 1 is a viewof 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-
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing howthe 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 viewof a typical screen displayed when a
`37 TOOLBOX" windowis opened on the embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a viewof a typical screen displayed when
`another windowis 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 3
`contour indicating the position in which to open a win-
`dowfollowing 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
`windowfollowing a dragging operation on the embodi-
`ment.
`
`3
`4
`cuting of the dragging operation being detected based
`ent touch electrode, the coordinate signal defining the
`on the coordinate data generated bythe tablet means.
`touchedpart is sent to the CPU4for necessary process-
`ing.
`In operation.
`the inventive information processing
`apparatus for controlling windowpositions opens a new
`Touching a part of the tablet 8 generates the coordi-
`windowin one of two ways. When an icon is checked
`nate signal corresponding to the touched part. The
`with the pointing pen attached to the apparatus, the
`signal may be generated by one of two methods. One
`apparatus opens a new windowin a predetermined
`method is a pressure sensitive method whereby the
`position (e.g.. the position where the old window was
`pointing pen when operated senses a mechanical pres-
`previously being opened). When an icon is dragged
`sure change that triggers the signal. The other method
`with the pointing pen, the apparatus opens a new win-
`is an electrostatic capacity method whereby the point-
`dow in the position to which the icon is dragged and
`ing pen when operated senses a capacitance changethat
`from which the pointing pen is lifted up.
`results in signal generation. Either method may be used.
`Further objects, features and advantages ofthis in-
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting how the embodiment
`vention will become more apparent upon a reading of
`of FIG. 2 operates when the pointing pen is placed onto
`the following description and appended drawings.
`the screen. When the embodiment is powered, the dis-
`play screen of FIG. 4 appears on the display unit 9.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Whenan icon “TOOLBOX”is selected in a suitable
`mode,
`the “TOOLBOX” windowof FIG. 5 is dis-
`played. This window contains various icons. To input,
`say, characters, the user opens a character input win-
`dowby selecting an icon “CHARACTERS.”
`The “CHARACTERS*iconis selected by first plac-
`ing the pointing pen down to that icon and thenlifting
`up the pen therefrom. The pen-downaction selects the
`icon, and the pen-up action determines the position in
`which the window correspondingto the selected iconis
`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
`coordinatesof that 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-
`downaction.
`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 downto 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 bylifting up the
`pen whena desired position is reached. When the icon
`is “checked,” a new windowis allowed to open in a
`predeterminedposition (with this embodiment, the posi-
`tion where the old window was previously being
`opened), when the icon is “dragged,” a new window
`opensin the position where the pointing pen after drag-
`ging operationis lifted up.
`Suppose that the coordinates detected in the pen-up
`position are generated by a checking operation. In that
`case, the pen-downposition is located in the same icon
`area as the pen-downposition. 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 bystep
`102. In step 102, the X and Y coordinate values of the
`position in which to open the new windowareset re-
`spectively to the X and Y coordinate values in effect
`immediately before the old windowwas closed (func-
`tion offirst display control means).
`In step 104, a character input window(character
`plate W) shown in FIG. 6 is opened. The display posi-
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`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
`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
`supplycircuit 3 contains a battery 3a@ inside. When the
`AC power source supplies the DC voltage through
`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 3@ takes over
`and powers the device components.
`The interface 2 has a tablet 8, a display unit 9 and a
`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 memory7.
`Thetablet 8 is made ofa transparent touch electrode
`attached to the displaysurface of the display unit 9. The
`icons such as buttons displayed on the display unit 9 are
`used as input buttons of the tablet 8. When a user
`touches one ofthese icons visible through the transpar-
`
`5,249,296
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`tion of this windowis set so as to conform to the X and
`Ycoordinates established in step 102. Thatis, 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 windowin the position in which the old
`windowwas 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
`101finds that the coordinates of the pen-up 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
`Ycoordinate values of the position in which to open the
`new window areset respectively to the X and Y coordi-
`nate values of the pen-up position (function of second
`display contro} means).
`Then in the same manneras with the checking opera-
`tion, step 104 opens the new windowin the position
`defined by the X and Y coordinate values. The dragging
`operation opens a windowin the position where the
`pointing pen is lifted up. That is. a window maybe
`opened anywhere on the screen.
`Steps 103 and 104 constitute the second display con-
`trol means for opening a new windowin 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 3
`is placed down to a given position on the screen, the X
`and Y coordinate values of that pen-downposition are
`retained respectively as X and Yin step 110.In step 111.
`a contour defining a predetermined range (ie.,
`ican
`contour) is drawn in the position designated by the X
`and Y coordinate values retained.
`Step 112 checksto see if the pointing pen is lifted up.
`If the pen is found to be up, step 118 ts 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-
`nat-s 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 bystep 112.
`Step 112 finds that the pointing penis not lifted up. That
`is, the pen is movedas pressed against the tablet 8. Then
`step 112 is followed bystep 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 madeto 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
`newand thus different from XN and YN. In that case,
`step 114 is followed bystep 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 Yfor display-
`ing a new contour.
`In step 117.
`the new contouris
`drawnasper the stored coordinate values X and Y. Step
`117 is followed by step 112.
`
`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 newwindow.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. If the pointing pen is moved out of
`the icon area, the contour K is displayed in large size
`(the samein size as the character plate W), as depicted
`in FIG. 9.
`If the pointing pen still remains put down on the
`screen surface when controlis 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. If the 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 newcontouris 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,
`whichis followed by step 118. Step 118 erases the cur-
`rently displayed contour K, and control is returned to
`step 101 in FIG. 3.
`Step 101 in FIG. 3, when reached from step 118, is
`followed bythe subsequentsteps that open the window
`W as shownin FIG. 6. As described earlier, the check-
`ing operation of the pointing pen establishes the previ-
`Nad a
`5 ous windowposition as the position in which this win-
`dowis opened: the dragging operation of the pen sets
`up the pen-up position as the windowopeningposition.
`While the pointing pen together with an iconis being
`dragged (in pen-downstate). the corresponding win-
`dowis not displayed. Instead, the contour K of the
`windowis displayed in the position in which the win-
`dowis to be opened. asillustrated in FIG. 9. This is
`because it takes some time to display the entire window
`and becauseit is temporallydifficult to move the entire
`window along with the pen as the latter is being
`dragged at high speed. Alone, the windowcontour may
`be moved at high speed following the pointing pen
`being dragged.
`Whena characteris hand-written in a square 21 of the
`character plate W in FIG. 6, the strokes are recognized
`as a pattern, and the recognized characteris displayed
`in that square. When a WRITEbutton 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 windowpositions according to the in-
`vention opens a windowin a predetermined position
`whenan 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. Thereis no need
`to switch between different pen-based input methods
`before or halfwaythrough operation. This enhances the
`operability of the 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
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`65
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`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.
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. An information processing apparatus for control-
`ling windowpositions comprising:
`(a) pen meansfor 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 windowcorresponding 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 bysaid tablet means: and
`(e) second display control means for opening in a
`desired position outside said icon area a new win-
`dowcorresponding 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 outside 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 windowpositions 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 windowpositions according to claim 1, further
`comprising storage means for storing the coordinate
`data defining the position in which to open atleast a
`previously opened window. wherein said checking op-
`eration opens a new windowaccording to said coordi-
`nate data stored in said storage means, said new window
`being displayed in the position in which the previous
`windowwas opened.*
`*
`*
`x
`*
`
`5,249,296
`
`nn
`
`20
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`14
`
`14
`
`