(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0165380 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jul. 27, 2006
`Tanaka et al.
`
`US 2006O165380A1
`
`(54) TI E:IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE
`AND IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD
`
`(75) Inventors: Sho Tanaka, Chiba (JP): Osamu Date,
`Saitama (JP); Katsumi Matsuno,
`Kanagawa (JP)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`RADERFISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
`LION BUILDING
`1233 20TH STREET N.W., SUITE 501
`WASHINGTON, DC 20036 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/563,160
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`Jun. 22, 2005
`(86). PCT No.:
`PCT/POS/11.884
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jun. 23, 2004 (JP)...................................... 2004-184852
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/91
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................. 386/95; 386/11
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed herein is a picture display controlling apparatus
`capable of improving the user's ease of operation upon
`selecting picture data on a small-size screen of digital
`cameras or the like. Picture data items held in a data holding
`unit (310) are sorted into picture groups. The location of the
`picture data item most recently displayed from any of the
`picture groups is held as a picture resume pointer in a resume
`pointer holding unit (320). With an operation input accepted
`from the user by an operation inputting device (340), a
`display controlling unit (390) causes a displaying unit (350)
`to display the picture designated by the operation input
`while effecting transition from the current display status
`retained in a status holding unit (330). If the operation input
`designates transition from a first picture group to a second
`picture group, the location of the picture data item currently
`displayed from the first picture group is placed into the
`resume pointer holding unit (320), and the location of the
`picture data item to be displayed anew from the second
`picture group is retrieved from the resume pointer holding
`unit (320).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`310
`
`DATA
`HOLDING
`UNIT
`
`DISPLAY
`CONTROLLING
`UNIT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RESUME
`POINTER
`HOLDING
`UNIT
`
`330
`
`STATUS
`HOLDING
`UNIT
`
`OPERATION
`INPUTTING
`UNIT
`
`DISPLAYING
`UNIT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 1 of 22
`FIG ... 1
`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
`
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`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 2 of 22
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`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`FI G. 2 A
`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 3 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 4 of 22
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 5 of 22
`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 6 of 22
`FIG. 6
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`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 7 of 22
`FI G. 7
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`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`-r
`iil PICTURES
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 8 of 22
`FIG .. 8
`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
`
`FISINA 12:
`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 9 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`FIG. 9
`
`iISIFTES
`
`2
`
`froSix
`
`Sil:IA
`
`150
`
`FUKUSHIMA 12124 6:00PM
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 10 of 22
`FI G. 1 O
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`N
`M
`21242O PICTURES
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`es
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 11 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`LINn068
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 12 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`FIG . 12
`
`580
`
`590
`
`PICTURE DATA
`
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`INFORMATION
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`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 13 of 22
`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
`
`30\?+|\|31|NI0
`W[1103 W| -----------|------------------|------------------|-----------
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 14 of 22
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`US 2006/O165380 A1
`
`FI G. 14
`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 15 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`N f
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 16 of 22
`FI G. 16
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`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 17 of 22
`
`US 2006/016538.0 A1
`
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 18 of 22
`
`US 2006/O165380 A1
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`FI G. 18 A
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 19 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
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`FI G. 19
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 20 of 22
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`US 2006/0165380 A1
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`FIG - 2 O
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 21 of 22
`
`US 2006/0165380 A1
`
`FI G. 21.
`
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`Patent Application Publication Jul. 27, 2006 Sheet 22 of 22
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`US 2006/O165380 A1
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`
`
`FI G. 22
`
`UPIDOWN
`BUTTON?
`
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`US 2006/016538.0 A1
`
`Jul. 27, 2006
`
`TEIMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE AND
`IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`0001. The present invention relates to a picture display
`controlling apparatus. More particularly, the invention
`relates to a picture display controlling apparatus and a
`picture display controlling method for consecutively dis
`playing accumulated picture data, and to a program for
`causing a computer to carrying out the method.
`BACKGROUND ART
`0002. In recent years, with the advent of flash memories
`of large capacities and DVDs (digital versatile discs), the
`storage Volume of recording media has increased even in
`relatively small-sized electronic devices such as digital
`Video camera, digital still cameras and mobile phones. That
`trend is making it possible for these Small electronic devices
`to store a large number of pictures inside. Generally, there
`are two ways for a user to browse the recorded pictures: a
`full-screen display involving the display of one recorded
`picture after another over the entire screen through selective
`manipulations of operation keys; and a catalog-like display
`with a plurality of thumbnails arrayed on a single screen.
`The two ways to look up the recorded pictures may be
`Switched as needed.
`0003. On a typical digital camera, immediately after
`picture-taking mode is stopped and replaced by reproduction
`mode, the picture taken with the highest frame number
`appears on the screen. Thereafter, either the full-screen
`display function or the catalog-like display function is
`selected by operation of a particular key or keys (e.g., see
`Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-278563 (FIG. 24)).
`0004. Where the typical technique cited above is in use,
`the full-screen display function and the catalog-like display
`function are switched as needed for picture display. How
`ever, the full-screen display function generally involves the
`users having to manipulate specific keys to display con
`secutively the pictures taken which have been sorted chro
`nologically, i.e., by picture-taking date. As a result, if there
`are numerous pictures taken, the user is required to perform
`an interminable single-frame advance operation until the
`desired picture is reached.
`0005. On the other hand, the catalog-like display function
`involves displaying a plurality of thumbnails representing
`the corresponding pictures on the single screen, the thumb
`nails being displayed typically in ZigZag fashion by picture
`taking date starting from the top left corner of the screen. On
`that screen, the user may operate keys to point a cursor at a
`desired picture for browsing. However, digital still cameras
`and similar electronic devices are typically equipped with a
`Small screen which, when showing all taken pictures Sorted
`by picture-taking date, makes it troublesome for the user to
`pinpoint a particular picture.
`0006.
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`overcome the above-described drawbacks and disadvan
`tages and to provide an apparatus and a method for dividing
`picture data into picture groups and storing the location of
`the picture data displayed most recently in each picture
`group, whereby the user's ease of operation is improved.
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`0007. In achieving the foregoing and other objects of the
`present invention and as claimed in claim 1 thereof, there is
`
`provided a picture display controlling apparatus including:
`data holding means for holding a plurality of picture data
`items; resume pointer holding means for holding as a picture
`resume pointer the location of the picture data item most
`recently displayed from any of picture groups obtained by
`sorting the picture data items; operation inputting means for
`accepting an operation input for designating any of the
`picture groups or any of the picture data items in the
`designated picture group; and display controlling means for
`exercising control Such as to display the designated picture
`group or the designated picture data item in the designated
`picture group; wherein, if the operation input accepted by
`the operation inputting means designates transition from a
`first picture group to a second picture group, then the display
`controlling means causes the resume pointer holding means
`to hold the location of the picture data item most recently
`displayed from the first picture group as the picture resume
`pointer for the first picture group, while retrieving the
`picture resume pointer for the second picture group from the
`resume pointer holding means in order to display anew the
`picture data item pointed to by the retrieved picture resume
`pointer. That is, when the operation input designates tran
`sition from one picture group to another, the inventive
`picture display controlling apparatus retains the locations of
`the picture data items in the picture groups involved, thus
`improving the user's ease of operation in selecting the
`desired picture data to be displayed.
`0008. In one preferred structure of the picture display
`controlling apparatus according to claim 1 of the present
`invention, as claimed in claim 2 thereof, the operation
`inputting means may include picture data Switching opera
`tion inputting means for accepting an operation input for
`Switching the picture data items on an item by item basis;
`and if the operation input accepted by the picture data
`Switching operation inputting means designates transition
`beyond the picture data item at one end of a picture data item
`array constituting a given picture group, then the display
`controlling means may display anew the picture data item at
`the other end of the array forming the picture group in
`question. Illustratively, if the operation input designates a
`forward transition from the picture data item at the trail end
`of the picture data item array in one picture group to a
`picture data item beyond, then the picture display control
`ling apparatus of this preferred structure may display anew
`the picture data item at the beginning of the picture data item
`array within the group. If the operation input designates a
`backward transition from the picture data item at the begin
`ning of the picture data item array in the picture group to a
`picture data item beyond, then the preferred picture display
`controlling apparatus may display anew the picture data item
`at the trail end of the picture data item array within the
`group.
`0009. In another preferred structure of the picture display
`controlling apparatus according to claim 1 of the present
`invention, as claimed in claim 3 thereof, the operation
`inputting means may include picture data Switching opera
`tion inputting means for accepting an operation input for
`Switching the picture data items on an item by item basis;
`and if the operation input accepted by the picture data
`Switching operation inputting means designates transition
`from the picture data item at one end of a picture data item
`array in the first picture group to the second picture group,
`then the display controlling means may cause the resume
`pointer holding means to hold the location of the picture data
`
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`US 2006/016538.0 A1
`
`Jul. 27, 2006
`
`item most recently displayed from the first picture group as
`the picture resume pointer for the first picture group, while
`displaying anew the picture data item at one end of a picture
`data item array constituting the second picture group. Illus
`tratively, if the operation input designates a forward transi
`tion from the picture data item at the trail end of the picture
`data item array in one picture group to a picture data item
`beyond, then the picture display controlling apparatus of this
`preferred structure may display anew the picture data item at
`the beginning of the picture data item array in the next
`picture group. If the operation input designates a backward
`transition from the picture data item at the beginning of the
`picture data item array in the picture group to a picture data
`item beyond, then the preferred picture display controlling
`apparatus may display anew the picture data item at the trail
`end of the picture data item array in the preceding picture
`group.
`0010. In a further preferred structure of the picture dis
`play controlling apparatus according to claim 1 of the
`present invention, as claimed in claim 4 thereof, the picture
`groups may be sorted by picture-taking information about
`the picture data items. Illustratively, the picture groups may
`be sorted by Such picture data attributes as picture-taking
`dates and location information. This allows pictures to be
`displayed in increments of particular picture groups.
`0.011) Another picture display controlling apparatus
`according to the present invention, as claimed in claim 5
`thereof, includes: data holding means for holding a plurality
`of picture data items; picture resume pointer holding means
`for holding as a picture resume pointer the location of the
`picture data item most recently displayed from any of
`picture groups obtained by Sorting the picture data items;
`picture group resume pointer holding means for holding as
`a picture group resume pointer the location of the picture
`group most recently displayed from any of picture group
`arrays derived from the picture groups; operation inputting
`means for accepting an operation input for designating any
`of the picture group arrays, any of the picture groups in the
`designated picture group array, or any of the picture data
`items in the designated picture group; and display control
`ling means for exercising control Such as to display the
`designated picture group array, the designated picture group
`in the designated picture group array, or the designated
`picture data item in the designated picture group; wherein,
`if the operation input accepted by the operation inputting
`means designates transition from a first picture group array
`to a second picture group array, then the display controlling
`means causes the picture group resume pointer holding
`means to hold the location of the picture group most recently
`displayed from the first picture group array as the picture
`group resume pointer for the first picture group array, while
`retrieving the picture group resume pointer for the second
`picture group array from the picture group resume pointer
`holding means in order to display anew the picture group
`pointed to by the retrieved picture group resume pointer, and
`if the operation input accepted by the operation inputting
`means designates transition from a first picture group to a
`second picture group, then the display controlling means
`causes the picture resume pointer holding means to hold the
`location of the picture data item most recently displayed
`from the first picture group as the picture resume pointer for
`the first picture group, while retrieving the picture resume
`pointer for the second picture group from the picture resume
`pointer holding means in order to display anew the picture
`
`data item pointed to by the retrieved picture resume pointer.
`That is, if the operation input designates transition from one
`picture group to another, then the inventive picture display
`controlling apparatus of this structure retains the locations of
`the picture data items in the picture groups involved; if the
`operation input designates transition from one picture group
`array to another, then the inventive apparatus retains the
`locations of the picture groups in the picture group arrays
`involved. This improves the user's ease of operation in
`selecting the desired picture data to be displayed.
`0012. In one preferred structure of the picture display
`controlling apparatus according to claim 5 of the present
`invention, as claimed in claim 6 thereof, the operation
`inputting means may include picture data Switching opera
`tion inputting means for accepting an operation input for
`Switching the picture data items on an item by item basis;
`and if the operation input accepted by the picture data
`Switching operation inputting means designates transition
`beyond the picture data item at one end of a picture data item
`array constituting a given picture group, then the display
`controlling means may display anew the picture data item at
`the other end of the array forming the picture group in
`question. Illustratively, if the operation input designates a
`forward transition from the picture data item at the trail end
`of the picture data item array in one picture group to a
`picture data item beyond, then the picture display control
`ling apparatus of this preferred structure may display anew
`the picture data item at the beginning of the picture data item
`array within the group. If the operation input designates a
`backward transition from the picture data item at the begin
`ning of the picture data item array in the picture group to a
`picture data item beyond, then the preferred picture display
`controlling apparatus may display anew the picture data item
`at the trail end of the picture data item array within the
`group.
`0013 In another preferred structure of the picture display
`controlling apparatus according to claim 5 of the present
`invention, as claimed in claim 7 thereof, the operation
`inputting means may include picture data Switching opera
`tion inputting means for accepting an operation input for
`Switching the picture data items on an item by item basis;
`and if the operation input accepted by the picture data
`Switching operation inputting means designates transition
`from the picture data item at one end of a picture data item
`array in the first picture group to the second picture group,
`then the display controlling means may cause the resume
`pointer holding means to hold the location of the picture data
`item most recently displayed from the first picture group as
`the picture resume pointer for the first picture group, while
`displaying anew the picture data item at one end of a picture
`data item array constituting the second picture group. Illus
`tratively, if the operation input designates a forward transi
`tion from the picture data item at the trail end of the picture
`data item array in one picture group to a picture data item
`beyond, then the picture display controlling apparatus of this
`preferred structure may display anew the picture data item at
`the beginning of the picture data item array in the next
`picture group. If the operation input designates a backward
`transition from the picture data item at the beginning of the
`picture data item array in the picture group to a picture data
`item beyond, then the preferred picture display controlling
`apparatus may display anew the picture data item at the trail
`end of the picture data item array in the preceding picture
`group.
`
`MemoryWeb Ex. 2026
`Unified Patents v. MemoryWeb – IPR2021-01413
`
`

`

`US 2006/016538.0 A1
`
`Jul. 27, 2006
`
`0014. In a further preferred structure of the picture dis
`play controlling apparatus according to claim 5 of the
`present invention, as claimed in claim 8 thereof, the opera
`tion inputting means may include picture data Switching
`operation inputting means for accepting an operation input
`for Switching the picture data items on an item by item basis;
`and if the operation input accepted by the picture data
`Switching operation inputting means designates transition
`from the picture data item at one end of a picture data item
`array in the first picture group to the second picture group,
`then the display controlling means may cause the resume
`pointer holding means to hold the location of the picture data
`item most recently displayed from the first picture group as
`the picture resume pointer for the first picture group, while
`displaying anew the second picture group. Illustratively, if
`the operation input designates a forward transition from the
`picture data item at the trail end of the picture data item array
`in one picture group to a picture data item beyond, then the
`picture display controlling apparatus of this preferred struc
`ture may display anew the next picture group. If the opera
`tion input designates a backward transition from the picture
`data item at the beginning of the picture data item array in
`the picture group to a picture data item beyond, then the
`preferred picture display controlling apparatus may display
`anew the preceding picture group.
`0015. In an even further preferred structure of the picture
`display controlling apparatus according to claim 5 of the
`present invention, as claimed in claim 9 thereof, the picture
`groups may be sorted by picture-taking information about
`the picture data items; and the picture group arrays may be
`formed on the basis of the picture-taking information about
`the picture data items included in the picture groups. Illus
`tratively, particular picture groups and picture group arrays
`may be created on the basis of such picture data attributes as
`picture-taking dates and location information. This allows
`pictures to be displayed in increments of specific picture
`groups and picture group arrays.
`0016 A picture displaying apparatus according to the
`present invention, as claimed in claim 10 thereof, includes:
`data holding means for holding a plurality of picture data
`items; resume pointer holding means for holding as a picture
`resume pointer the location of the picture data item most
`recently displayed from any of picture groups obtained by
`sorting the picture data items; operation inputting means for
`accepting an operation input for designating any of the
`picture groups or any of the picture data items in the
`designated picture group; displaying means for displaying
`the picture groups or the picture data items in the picture
`groups; and display controlling means for causing the dis
`playing means to display the designated picture group or the
`designated picture data item from the designated picture
`group in accordance with the operation input accepted by the
`operation inputting means; wherein, if the operation input
`accepted by the operation inputting means designates tran
`sition from a first picture group to a second picture group,
`then the display controlling means causes the resume pointer
`holding means to hold the location of the picture data item
`most recently displayed from the first picture group as the
`picture resume pointer for the first picture group, while
`retrieving the picture resume pointer for the second picture
`group from the resume pointer holding means in order to
`display anew the picture data item pointed to by the retrieved
`picture resume pointer. That is, when the operation input
`designates transition from one picture group to another, the
`
`inventive picture displaying apparatus of this structure
`retains the locations of the picture data items in the picture
`groups involved, thus improving the user's ease of operation
`in selecting the desired picture data to be displayed.
`0017 Another picture displaying apparatus according to
`the present invention, as claimed in claim 11 thereof,
`includes: data holding means for holding a plurality of
`picture data items; picture resume pointer holding means for
`holding as a picture resume pointer the location of the
`picture data item most recently displayed from any of
`picture groups obtained by sorting the picture data items;
`picture group resume pointer holding means for holding as
`a picture group resume pointer the location of the picture
`group most recently displayed from any of picture group
`arrays derived from the picture groups; operation inputting
`means for accepting an operation input for designating any
`of the picture group arrays, any of the picture groups in the
`designated picture group array, or any of the picture data
`items in the designated picture group; displaying means for
`displaying the picture group arrays, the picture groups in the
`picture group arrays, or the picture data items in the picture
`groups; and display controlling means for causing the dis
`playing means to display the designated picture group array,
`the designated picture group from the designated picture
`group array, or the designated picture data item from the
`designated picture group in accordance with the operation
`input accepted by the operation inputting means; wherein, if
`the operation input accepted by the operation inputting
`means designates transition from a first picture group array
`to a second picture group array, then the display controlling
`means causes the picture group resume pointer holding
`means to hold the location of the picture group most recently
`displayed from the first picture group array as the picture
`group resume pointer for the first picture group array, while
`retrieving the picture group resume pointer for the second
`picture group array from the picture group resume pointer
`holding means in order to display anew the picture group
`pointed to by the retrieved picture group resume pointer; and
`if the operation input accepted by the operation inputting
`means designates transition from a first picture group to a
`second picture group, then the display controlling means
`causes the picture resume pointer holding means to hold the
`location of the picture data item most recently displayed
`from the first picture group as the picture resume pointer for
`the first picture group, while retrieving the picture resume
`pointer for the second picture group from the picture resume
`pointer holding means in order to display anew the picture
`data item pointed to by the retrieved picture resume pointer.
`That is, if the operation input designates transition from one
`picture group to another, then the inventive picture display
`ing apparatus of this structure retains the locations of the
`picture data items in the picture groups involved; if the
`operation input designates transition from one picture group
`array to another, then the inventive apparatus retains the
`locations of the picture groups in the picture group arrays
`involved. This improves the user's ease of operation in
`selecting the desired picture data to be displayed.
`0018. According to the present invention, as claimed in
`claim 12 thereof, there is provided a picture display con
`trolling method for use with a picture display controlling
`apparatus including data holding means for holding a plu
`rality of picture data items and resume pointer holding
`means for holding as a picture resume pointer the location of
`the picture data item most recently displayed from any of
`
`MemoryWeb Ex. 2026
`Unified Patents v. MemoryWeb – IPR2021-01413
`
`

`

`US 2006/016538.0 A1
`
`Jul. 27, 2006
`
`picture groups obtained by sorting the picture data items, the
`picture display controlling method including the steps of
`accepting an operation input for designating any of the
`picture groups or any of the picture data items in the
`designated picture group; and if the operation input desig
`nates transition from a first picture group to a second