Data processing device and data processing method

Abstract

Data processing device and data processing method The application relates to a data processing device (10) which, among a first split region, a second split region and a third split region which are sequentially aligned on the split screen, enlarges the size of the first split region and reduces the size of the third split region in response to a sliding operation in the direction of the second split region and the third split region on a first usable region which is disposed on the boundary line between the first split region and the second split region.It further increases the size of the first split region and reduces the size of the second split region in response to a sliding operation in the direction of the second split region and the third split region onto a second usable region that is different from the first usable region and that is located on the boundary line between the first split region and the second split region. Figure for the abstract: FIG. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Data processing device and data processing method

[0001] The present invention relates to a data processing device and a data processing method.

[0002] With regard to the method of partitioning a display screen into a plurality of divided regions and displaying different information in each divided region, patent document 1, for example, discloses a "display control device comprising: a divided region setting unit for dynamically changing, in response to an operation by a user, the size of a divided region which is arranged on a screen; a display control unit for arranging, in the divided region, a location region for locating at least one displayed element, and for changing a relative positioning relationship between the location regions arranged in the same divided region, in response to a change in the size of the divided region;and a priority level setting unit for setting a relative priority level between location regions arranged in the same split region, wherein: the display control unit controls, through the location region unit, the display of the displayed items, based on the priority level set for the location region, when some of the location regions overlap due to a change in the relative position relationships between the location regions that are arranged in the same split region.

[0003] [Patent document 1] US20220050592 Al Summary of the invention

[0004] [Problem solved by the present invention]

[0005] In the technology disclosed in patent document 1, a screen is divided into three regions by two boundary lines that intersect in a T-shape on the screen. The user can dynamically change the sizes of the three divided regions by moving the point of intersection between the two boundary lines using a drag operation.

[0006] However, in the prior art, such as the technology disclosed in patent document 1, it is not possible to separate a screen into three or more divided regions that are aligned in one direction or to dynamically change, by user operations, the sizes of the individual divided regions that are separated.

[0007] The present invention was created with such a situation in mind, and its object is to allow a screen to be split into three or more divided regions that are aligned in one direction, and to allow the sizes of the divided regions to be dynamically changed in response to user operations.

[0008] MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM]

[0009] Although the present application includes a plurality of means for solving, at least in part, the problem set forth above, an example of these includes the following:

[0010] To solve the problems described above, a first aspect of the present invention is a data processing device comprising: a display unit for displaying various contents on a screen; an operation receiving unit, superimposed on the display unit, for receiving operation inputs from a user on the screen; an operation evaluation unit for evaluating an operation based on the operation inputs on the operation receiving unit; and a screen generation unit for generating a split screen that includes split regions separated by boundary lines, and for modifying the size of the split regions on the split screen in response to the evaluated operation. The split screen comprises a first split region, a second split region, and a third split region, aligned sequentially.The screen generation unit enlarges the size of the first split region and reduces the size of the third split region in response to a drag operation, in the direction of the second split region and the third split region, on a first usable region which is located on a boundary line between the first split region and the second split region, and enlarges the size of the first split region and reduces the size of the second split region in response to a drag operation, in the direction of the second split region and the third split region, on a second usable region which is different from the first usable region and which is located on the boundary line between the first split region and the second split region.

[0011] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the system comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations: - The screen generation unit reduces the size of the first split region and enlarges the size of the second split region in response to a drag operation, in the direction of the first split region, on the first usable region or the second usable region. - The screen generation unit reduces the size of the first split region and enlarges the size of the third split region in response to a drag operation, in the direction of the first split region, on the first usable region; and

[0012] reduces the size of the first divided region and enlarges the size of the second divided region in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the first divided region, on the second usable region. The screen generation unit:

[0013] reduces the size of the second divided region and enlarges the size of the third divided region in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the first divided region and the second divided region, on a third usable region that is located on a boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region; and

[0014] reduces a size of the first divided region and enlarges a size of the third divided region in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the first divided region and the second divided region, on a fourth usable region which is different from the third usable region and which is located on the boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region. The first usable region is located on the side of the first divided region of the boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region;

[0015] the second usable region is located on the side of the second divided region of the boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region;

[0016] the third usable region is located on the side of the second divided region of the boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region; and

[0017] the fourth usable region is located on the side of the third divided region of the boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region. The first usable region is located on one end side of the boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region;

[0018] the second usable region is located on the other end side of the boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region;

[0019] the third usable region is located on one end side of the boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region; and

[0020] the fourth usable region is located on the other end side of the boundary line between the second divided region and the third divided region. The screen generation unit displays the split regions with appearances indicating which of the split regions will be reduced in response to the swipe operation on each of the usable regions in the direction towards the inside of the split screen, which can be distinguished from the other split regions which will not be reduced.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method which is carried out by an information processing device having a display showing various contents on a screen and an operation input device that detects an operation performed by a user on the display, including the steps of:

[0022] generate a screen divided into a plurality of divided regions, including, a first divided region, a second divided region and a third divided region aligned sequentially, the divided regions being separated by parallel boundary lines on the screen;

[0023] detect a first sliding operation by the user, towards the second divided region and the third divided region, on a first usable region which is located on the boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region;

[0024] increase the size of the first split region and decrease the size of the third split region if the first sliding operation is detected;

[0025] detect a second drag operation by the user, towards the second split region and the third split region, on a second usable region which is located on the boundary line between the first split region and the second split region; and

[0026] to increase the size of the first split region and decrease the size of the second split region if a second sliding operation is detected, wherein:

[0027] the first usable region and the second usable region are located at different positions on the same boundary line between the first divided region and the second divided region.

[0028] [Effects of the invention]

[0029] Thanks to the present invention, it is made possible to separate a screen into three or more divided regions which are aligned in one direction, and to change the sizes of the divided regions dynamically in response to user operations.

[0030] Other objects, structures and effects will become apparent through explanations of the embodiments below.

[0031] [Brief descriptions of the drawings]

[0032] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a functional diagram representing an example of the configuration of functional blocks of a data processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a diagram representing an example of a gold configuration diner.

[0034] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a diagram representing an example of a first display of a Split screen.

[0035] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a diagram explaining an example of an operation of swipe to the first example of displaying a split screen.

[0036] [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram explaining an example of an operation of swipe to the first example of displaying a split screen.

[0037] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a diagram explaining an example of a swipe operation on the first example of displaying a split screen.

[0038] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is a diagram explaining an example of a swipe operation on the first example of displaying a split screen.

[0039] [Fig.8] The [Fig.8] is a flowchart explaining an example of a display control process.

[0040] [Fig.9] The [Fig.9] is a flowchart explaining a modified example of a display control process.

[0041] [Fig. 10] The [Fig. 10] is a diagram explaining a modified example of a swipe operation on the first example of displaying a split screen.

[0042] [Fig. 11] The [Fig. 11] is a diagram representing an example of a second display of a split screen.

[0043] [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] is a diagram representing an example of a third display of a split screen.

[0044] [Embodyments of the present invention]

[0045] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in all the drawings explaining the embodiment, in principle, identical reference symbols will be assigned to identical elements, and redundant explanations thereof will be omitted, where applicable. Furthermore, in the embodiments below, structural elements (including elementary steps, and the like), unless explicitly stated or clearly required in principle, are not absolutely necessary. Moreover, the terms "comprising A," "consisting of A," "having A," and "including A" do not imply that other elements are necessarily absent, except in cases where it is explicitly stated that there is only that element.Similarly, in the embodiment below, references to forms, positional relations, or the like, structural elements, or the like, also include elements that approximate or are substantially similar to the forms, unless explicitly stated or, in principle, if the contrary is thought.

[0046] <Example of a vehicle-mounted device structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention>

[0047] A vehicle-mounted device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained below.

[0048] Figure 1 shows an example of a functional block configuration of a vehicle-mounted device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle-mounted device 10 is an electronic device in which a touchscreen is superimposed on a display, allowing operation by a finger during the operation. The vehicle-mounted device 10 has, for example, a navigation function, a voice communication function, a music playback function, an air conditioning function, and functions for adjusting a variety of parameters, etc. The vehicle-mounted device 10 corresponds to the "information processing device" of the present invention.

[0049] The vehicle-mounted device 10 can be implemented using an ordinary computer. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a computer configuration 100 to represent the vehicle-mounted device 10. The computer 100 is equipped with: a processor 101 such as a CPU (central processing unit), or similar; random access memory 102 for temporarily storing programs and data; a storage device 104, such as a ROM (read-only memory), a hard disk drive or SSD, a non-volatile memory card, or similar, for storing a startup program, or similar, to be executed by the processor 101; a communication module 105 for performing communication by connecting to a network such as the Internet; a display 106 which is wide in the horizontal direction, consisting, for example, of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electroluminescent) screen, or similar; and a 107 touch screen which is superimposed on the 106 display.

[0050] As shown in [Fig.1], the vehicle-mounted device 10 is provided with a processing unit 11, an operation receiving unit 12 and a display unit 13. The processing unit 11 comprises various functional blocks of an operation evaluation unit 111, a function execution unit 112 and a screen generation unit 113.

[0051] The processing unit 11 consists of the processor 101 of the computer 100, where the operation evaluation unit 111, the function execution unit 112 and the screen generation unit 113 are carried out by the execution of a program prescribed by the processor 101.

[0052] The operation evaluation unit 111 assesses the details of a user's operation based on an operation signal from the operation reception unit 12. The function execution unit 112 executes processes in various types of functions, such as navigation, voice communication, music playback, air conditioning, and the adjustment of various parameters, and similar functions, in response to the specifics of a user's operation. The screen generation unit 113 generates and displays on the display unit 13 various types of screens based on the processing performed by the function execution unit 112 and on the results of user operation evaluations by the operation evaluation unit 111.

[0053] The operation receiving unit 12 consists of the touch screen 107 of the computer 100, and delivers, to the operation evaluation unit 111 of the processing unit 11, a The operation signal corresponds to an operation performed by a user (a swipe, a touch, or similar operation). The display unit 13 consists of the display 106 of the computer 100 and displays various types of screens under the control of the screen generation unit 113.

[0054] Note that each of the structural elements shown in [Fig. 1] is separated according to its principal processing detail, to facilitate understanding of the functions of the vehicle-mounted device 10 implemented in the present embodiment. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the ways in which the individual structural elements are separated or to the names applied to them. Furthermore, each of the individual functional blocks of the vehicle-mounted device 10 can be separated into a greater number of functional blocks according to the processing details. Moreover, the separation can be such that several processes are performed by a single functional block.

[0055] All or part of each functional block can be structured by hardware mounted in a computer (i.e., by an integrated circuit called an ASIC). The processes in each individual functional block can be executed by a single hardware element, or executed by a plurality of hardware elements.

[0056] <Swiping operations on a split screen>

[0057] The management of swiping operations on a shared screen 300 ([Fig.3]) which is displayed on the display unit 13 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 will then be explained.

[0058] < First example of split screen display 300 >

[0059] Fig. 3 represents a first example of displaying a split screen 300. Figures 4 to 7 are diagrams explaining a sliding operation on the first example of displaying a split screen 300.

[0060] The split screen 300 is displayed on a display area of ​​the display unit 13. The split screen 300 is divided into at least three subdivided areas, aligned in one direction, by a plurality of parallel boundary lines. Each subdivided area displays information corresponding to a different function (a navigation function, a voice communication function, a music playback function, an air conditioning function, functions for adjusting various types of parameters, and the like). Note that the plurality of boundary lines for dividing the display area of ​​the display unit 13 into subdivided areas need not necessarily be strictly parallel.

[0061] In [Fig. 3], the split screen 300 is divided into three divided regions 301A, 301B, and 301C, aligned sequentially in one direction, by two parallel boundary lines 311AB and 311BC. Note that, although in this example the divided regions 301A, 301B, and 301C are aligned sequentially from left to right on In split screen 300, they can instead be aligned in the opposite direction, from right to right of split screen 300.

[0062] In the first display example, two usable regions 312ABA and 312ABC, indicating user-accessible positions, are arranged on the boundary line 311AB between the split region 301A and the split region 301B. The usable region 312ABA is located at a position that is directed towards the side of the split region 301A on the boundary line 311AB. The usable region 312ABB is located at a position that is directed towards the side of the split region 301B on the boundary line 311AB.

[0063] Similarly, two usable regions 312BCB and 312BCC, indicating positions that are usable by the user, are arranged on the boundary line 311BC between the divided region 301B and the divided region 301C. The usable region 312BCB is arranged at a position that is directed towards the side of the divided region 301B on the boundary line 311BC. The usable region 312BCC is arranged at a position that is directed towards the side of the divided region 301C on the boundary line 311BC.

[0064] The divided regions 301A, 301B, and 301C correspond to the first divided region, the second divided region, and the third divided region in the present invention. The usable regions 312ABA, 312ABB, 312BCB, and 312BCC correspond to the first usable region, the second usable region, the third usable region, and the fourth usable region in the present invention.

[0065] In what follows, the divided regions 301A, 301B, and 301C may be referred to as divided regions A, B, and C, respectively. The divided regions 301A, 301B, and 301IC may be referred to together simply as divided regions 301 when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually. The boundary lines 311AB and 311BC may be referred to as boundary lines AB and BC, respectively. The boundary lines 311AB and 311BC may be referred to together simply as boundary lines 311 when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually. The usable regions 312ABA, 312ABB, 312BCB, and 312BCC may be referred to as usable regions AB, ABB, BCB, and BCC. The usable regions 312ABA, 312ABB, 312BCB and 312BCC can be referred to together simply as 312 usable regions when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually.

[0066] The user can dynamically change the size of a divided region 301 by moving a boundary line 311 in the horizontal direction by performing a drag operation in the horizontal direction on a usable region 312 on the boundary line 311.

[0067] The dynamic size modification of a divided region 301 in response to a The sliding operation on the usable region 312 will be explained in detail below.

[0068] As illustrated at the top of [Fig. 4], when the user performs an operation of Swiping left on the usable region AB, which is located on the boundary line AB, slightly pushes the boundary line AB towards the side of the split region A, shifting it to the left. As a result, the size of split region A is reduced, the size of split region B is enlarged, and the size of split region C remains unchanged. Furthermore, split region A will be deleted if the user's swipe reaches the left edge of the split screen.

[0069] As illustrated at the bottom of [Fig. 4], when the user performs a rightward drag on the usable region AB A, which is located on the boundary line AB, slightly dragging it towards the side of the split region A, the boundary lines AB and BC are moved to the left. Consequently, the size of the split region A is enlarged, the split region B is moved to the right while maintaining its size, and the size of the split region C is reduced. Furthermore, the split region C will be deleted if the user's drag operation reaches the original position of the boundary line BC.

[0070] As illustrated at the top of [Fig. 5], when the user performs a leftward swipe on the usable region ABB, which is located on the boundary line AB, and is slightly dragged towards the side of the split region B, the boundary line AB is moved to the left. Consequently, the size of the split region A is reduced, the size of the split region B is enlarged, and the size of the split region C is maintained. Furthermore, the split region A will be deleted if the user's swipe reaches the left edge of the split screen 300.

[0071] As illustrated at the bottom of [Fig. 5], when the user performs a rightward drag operation on the usable region ABB, which is located on the boundary line AB, slightly dragging it towards the side of the split region B, the boundary line AB is moved to the right. Consequently, the size of the split region A is enlarged, the size of the split region B is reduced, and the size of the split region C is maintained. Furthermore, the split region B will be deleted if the user's drag operation reaches the original position of the boundary line BC.

[0072] As illustrated at the top of [Fig. 6], when the user performs a leftward drag on the usable region BCB, which is located on the boundary line BC, and slightly drags it towards the side of the split region B, the boundary line BC is moved to the left. Consequently, the size of the split region A is maintained, the size of the split region B is reduced, and the size of the split region C is enlarged. Furthermore, the split region B will be deleted if the user's drag operation reaches the original position of the boundary line AB.

[0073] As illustrated at the bottom of [Fig. 6], when the user performs an operation of Swipe right on the usable region BCB, which lies on the boundary line BC, and slightly drag it towards the side of the split region B, the boundary line BC is shifted to the right. As a result, the size of split region A remains constant, the size of split region B increases, and the size of split region C decreases. Furthermore, split region C will be deleted if the user's swipe reaches the right edge of the split screen.

[0074] As illustrated at the top of [Fig. 7], when the user performs a leftward drag operation on the usable region BCC, which is located on the boundary line BC, and slightly drags it towards the side of the split region C, the boundary lines AB and BC are displaced to the left. Consequently, the size of the split region A is reduced, the split region B is moved to the left while maintaining its size, and the size of the split region C is enlarged. Furthermore, the split region A will be deleted if the user's drag operation reaches the original position of the boundary line AB.

[0075] As illustrated at the bottom of [Fig. 7], when the user performs a rightward swipe on the usable region BCC, which is located on the boundary line BC, and is slightly moved towards the side of the split region C, the boundary line BC is displaced to the right, in the same manner as at the top of [Fig. 7]. Consequently, the size of the split region A is maintained, the size of the split region B is enlarged, and the size of the split region C is reduced. Furthermore, the split region C will be deleted if the user's swipe reaches the right edge of the split screen 300.

[0076] Note that the usable region ABA does not necessarily have to be displayed. The configuration can be such that the same operation will be performed when a drag operation is carried out on the usable region ABA, described above, with a usable region ABA in which the left side of the boundary line AB (the right end of the divided region A) is not displayed. The usable region ABB does not necessarily have to be displayed. The configuration can be such that the same operation will be carried out when a drag operation is carried out on the usable region ABB, described above, with a usable region ABB in which the right side of the boundary line AB (the left end of the divided region B) is not displayed. The same applies to the usable regions BCB and BCC.

[0077] < Display the command process on the first example of the split screen display 300 >

[0078] Fig. 8 is a flowchart explaining an example of a display control process for the first example of a split screen display 300.

[0079] This display command process is executed each time the user performs a swipe operation on the usable region 312 of the split screen 300 which is displayed on display unit 13.

[0080] First, the operation evaluation unit 111 assesses whether the usable region 312 that has been moved by sliding by the user is located on the boundary line AB or the boundary line BC (step SI). In step SI, if the evaluation indicates that the usable region 312 that has been moved by sliding is assessed as being on the boundary line AB, the operation evaluation unit 111 then assesses whether the usable region 312 is the usable region AB A which is stressed towards the side of the divided region A, or the usable region ABB which is stressed towards the side of the divided region B (step S2).

[0081] If the evaluation at step S2 is that the usable region 312 is the usable region AB A, the operation evaluation unit 111 then evaluates whether the sliding operation is to the left or to the right (step S3).

[0082] If the evaluation at step S3 indicates that the slide operation is to the left (corresponding to the top of [Fig.4]), the screen generation unit 113 then reduces the size of the split region A, enlarges the size of the split region B and maintains the size of the split region C by moving the boundary line AB to the left proportionally to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step S4).

[0083] On the other hand, if the evaluation at step S3 indicated that the slide operation was to the right (corresponding to the bottom of [Fig.4]), the screen generation unit 113 then enlarges the size of the split region A, maintains the size of the split region B and reduces the size of the split region C by moving the boundary lines AB and BC synchronously to the right in proportion to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step S5).

[0084] If the evaluation at step S2 indicates that the usable region 312 is the usable region ABB, the operation evaluation unit 111 then evaluates whether the sliding operation is to the left or to the right (step S6).

[0085] If the evaluation at step S6 indicates that the sliding operation is to the left (corresponding to the top of [Fig.5]), the procedure at step S4 is executed in the same way as if the evaluation at step S3 indicates that the sliding operation is to the left.

[0086] On the other hand, if the evaluation at step S6 indicated that the slide operation was to the right (corresponding to the bottom of [Fig.5]), the screen generation unit 113 then enlarges the size of the split region A, reduces the size of the split region B and maintains the size of the split region C by moving the boundary line AB to the right proportionally to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step S7).

[0087] At the SI step, if the evaluation indicates that the usable region 312 which has been moved to slip is evaluated as being on the boundary line BC, the operation evaluation unit 111 then evaluates whether the usable region 312 is the usable region BCB which is stressed towards the side of the split region B, or the usable region BCC which is stressed towards the side of the split region C (step S8).

[0088] If the evaluation at step S8 indicates that the usable region 312 is the usable region BCB, the operation evaluation unit 111 then evaluates whether the sliding operation is to the left or to the right (step S9).

[0089] If the evaluation at step S9 indicates that the slide operation is to the left (corresponding to the top of [Fig.6]), the screen generation unit 113 then maintains the size of the split region A, reduces the size of the split region B and enlarges the size of the split region C by moving the boundary line BC to the left proportionally to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step S10).

[0090] On the other hand, if the evaluation at step S9 indicated that the slide operation was to the right (corresponding to the bottom of [Fig.6]), the screen generation unit 113 then maintains the size of the split region A, enlarges the size of the split region B and reduces the size of the split region C by moving the boundary line BC to the right proportionally to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step SU).

[0091] If the evaluation at step S8 indicates that the usable region 312 is the usable region BCC, the operation evaluation unit 111 then evaluates whether the sliding operation is to the left or to the right (step S12).

[0092] If the evaluation at step S12 indicates that the slide operation is to the left (corresponding to the top of [Fig.7]), the screen generation unit 113 then reduces the size of the split region A, maintains the size of the split region B and enlarges the size of the split region C by moving the boundary lines AB and BC to the left proportionally to the amount of displacement of the slide operation (step S13).

[0093] On the other hand, if the evaluation at step S12 indicates that the sliding operation is to the right (corresponding to the bottom of [Fig.7]), the procedure at step SI 1 is executed in the same way as if the evaluation at step S9 indicates that the sliding operation is to the right.

[0094] The display command process for the first example of displaying the split screen 300, explained above, allows the user to dynamically change the sizes of the split regions 301, to their own convenience, by dragging a usable region 312 along a boundary line 311. Furthermore, a separate display command related to changing the sizes of the split regions 301 is executed, depending on which of the two usable regions 312, which are arranged on the same boundary line 311, is moved. by user swiping.

[0095] Note that in addition to the above, in the display command process described above, the same process (step S4) is executed when it is "left" in step S3 and when it is "left" in step S6. Furthermore, the same process (step S1) is executed when it is "right" in step S9 and when it is "right" in step S12.

[0096] Note that instead, different processes can be executed when they are "left" in step S3 and "left" in step S6. Similarly, different processes can be executed when they are "right" in step S9 and "right" in step S12.

[0097] < Modified example of display command process on the first example of split screen display >

[0098] Fig. 9 is a flowchart explaining a modified example of a display control process for the first example of displaying the split screen 300. Fig. 10 is a diagram explaining the modified example.

[0099] In the modified example, one difference from the display control process shown in [Fig. 8] is that the process in step S21 is executed during the evaluation, in step S3, that the slide operation on the usable region ABA is to the left. Another difference from the display control process shown in [Fig. 8] is that the process in step S22 is executed during the evaluation, in step S9, that the slide operation on the usable region BCB is to the right. The processes in the other steps, steps S1 to S13, are the same as for the display control process shown in [Fig. 8], and their explanations will be omitted.

[0100] When, in this modified example, the evaluation at step S3 indicates that the drag operation on the usable region ABA is to the left, the operation will then be as shown at the top in [Fig. 10] (step S21). More specifically, the screen generation unit 113 moves the boundary lines AB and BC to the left proportionally to the amount of drag operation performed by the user. The result is that the size of the split region A will be reduced (or eventually removed), the size of the split region B will be maintained, and the size of the split region C will be enlarged.

[0101] Furthermore, if the evaluation at step S9 indicates that the drag operation on the usable region BCB is to the right, the operation will then be as shown at the bottom of [Fig. 10] (step S22). More specifically, the screen generation unit 113 moves the boundary lines AB and BC simultaneously to the left proportionally to the amount of drag operation performed by the user. The result is that the size of the divided region A will be enlarged, the size of the region divided region B will be maintained and the size of the divided region C will be reduced (or eventually removed).

[0102] In the modified example described above, without exception, a different display command in relation to the modification of the sizes of the divided regions 301 is executed according to the region, among the two usable regions 312 arranged on the same boundary line 311, which is moved by sliding.

[0103] < Second example of split screen display 300 >

[0104] Fig. 11 represents a second example of displaying a split screen 300.

[0105] In the second display example, two usable regions 312ABU and 312ABL, indicating user-usable positions, are arranged on the boundary line AB between divided region A and divided region B. The usable region 312ABU is arranged in a position that is stressed towards the upper side of the boundary line AB between divided regions A and B. The usable region 312ABL is arranged in a position that is stressed towards the lower side of the boundary line 311AB between divided regions A and B.

[0106] Similarly, two usable regions 312BCU and 312BCL, indicating user-accessible positions, are arranged on the boundary line BC between the divided region B and the divided region C. The usable region 312BCU is arranged at a position that is stressed towards the upper side of the boundary line BC between the divided regions B and C. The usable region 312BCL is arranged at a position that is stressed towards the lower side of the boundary line BC between the divided regions B and C.

[0107] In what follows below, the usable regions 312ABU, 312ABL, 312BCU, ​​and 312BCL may be referred to as usable regions ABU, ABL, BCU, and BCL. The usable regions 312ABU, 312ABL, 312BCU, ​​and 312BCL may be referred to together simply as usable regions 312 when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually.

[0108] As in the case of the first display example ([Fig.3]), in the second display example, the boundary line 311 can be moved to the left or right by performing a left or right drag operation on the usable region 312 which is on the boundary line 311. This allows the user to dynamically change the sizes of the divided regions 301.

[0109] More specifically, the usable regions ABB, AB A, BCC, and BCB in the flowchart ([Fig. 8]) explaining an example of the display control process in relation to the first display example for the 300 split screen, and in the flowchart ([Fig. 9]) explaining the modified example, can instead be read as the usable regions ABU, ABL, BCU, and BCL in the second display example. The usable regions ABB, AB A, BCC, and BCB can be also read as the usable regions ABL, ABU, BCL and BCU in the second display example.

[0110] Note that the usable region ABU does not necessarily have to be displayed. The configuration can be such that the same operation will be performed when a drag operation is carried out on the usable region ABU, described above, with a usable region ABA in which one side of the boundary line AB (the upper side, in the case of the figure) is not displayed. The usable region ABL does not necessarily have to be displayed. The configuration can be such that the same operation will be carried out when a drag operation is carried out on the usable region ABL, described above, with a usable region ABB in which one side of the boundary line AB (the lower side, in the case of the figure) is not displayed. The same applies to the usable regions BCU and BCL.

[0111] < Third example of split screen display 300 >

[0112] Fig. 12 represents a third example of displaying a split screen 300.

[0113] In the third display example, the halftone lines for a usable region 312 and the halftone lines for its corresponding split region 301 are displayed with the same line type (which may be the same color) to clarify the correspondence relationships between the usable regions 312 in the second display example ([Fig. 11]) and the split regions 301 that will be reduced by the drag operation on the usable regions 312 towards the inside of the split screen 300 (the direction in which the two split regions 301 exist, relative to the usable region 312). The colors or brightness of the corresponding usable regions 312 and the split regions 301 may be adjusted, or shadows may be displayed instead.The display that shows the correspondence relationships between usable regions 312 and split regions 301 can be displayed continuously, or can also be displayed when the user starts an operation (which can be done by a touch operation) on a usable region 312. When started when the user is using the usable region 312, an accented display can be executed by changing the raster color of the corresponding split region 301 without changing the display of the usable region 312, or by changing the brightness of the region as a whole, or similar.

[0114] In [Fig. 3], the split region B is reduced if the user drags the usable region ABU to the right, or drags the usable region BCL to the left. Thus, the frame lines for the usable regions ABU and BCL and the frame lines for the split region B are displayed with identical line types (dashed and dotted lines). In addition, the size of the split region C is reduced when the user drags the usable region ABL to the right. Thus, the frame lines The frame lines of the usable region ABL and the frame lines of the split region C are displayed with the same line type (dashed lines). The split region A is reduced in size when the user drags the usable region BCU to the left. Thus, the frame lines of the usable region BCU and the frame lines of the split region A are displayed with the same line type (dotted lines).

[0115] In the case of the third display example, the relationship between the sliding operation on the usable region 312 towards the inside of the screen and the split region 301 which will thus be reduced is clarified, allowing an improvement in the ease of operation for the user.

[0116] Note that even with regard to the first display example ([Fig.3]), the same type of line (which may be the same line color) can be displayed for the frame lines of the usable region 312 and the corresponding frame lines of the split regions 301, so as to make clear the relationship between the sliding operation on the usable region 312 towards the inside of the screen and the split region 301 which will be reduced, in the same way as in the third display example.

[0117] In each of the displayed examples described above, the explanations assume that the display unit 13 for the vehicle-mounted device 10 is installed in landscape orientation, but the display unit 13 can also be installed in portrait orientation, and the split regions 301 A, 301 B and 30 IC can be aligned into a group in the vertical direction of the split screen 300. In this case, the descriptions of "left", "right" and "horizontal direction" would rather be read as "up", "down" and "vertical direction", respectively.

[0118] Each structure, function, processing unit, processing means, or similar element described above may have some or all of it implemented in hardware, for example, by design as an integrated circuit. Each structure, function, and similar element described above may be implemented in software by means of a processor interpreting and executing a program to perform those functions. Information such as programs, evaluation tables, files, or similar elements for performing the individual functions may be placed in memory, a storage device such as a hard disk drive or SSD, or a recording medium such as an IC card, SD card, DVD, or similar. Command lines or data lines are noted where deemed necessary for explanation, but not all command lines or data lines of the product are necessarily shown.In practice, virtually all structures can be considered as being mutually interconnected.

[0119] The present invention is not only a data processing device, but can rather take various forms, such as a processing method of data by a data processing device, a program that can be read by a computer or similar.

[0120] [Explanation of reference symbols]

[0121] 10: Vehicle-mounted device

[0122] 11: Processing Unit

[0123] 111: Operation evaluation unit

[0124] 112: Function execution unit

[0125] 113: Screen generation unit

[0126] 12: Operation receiving unit

[0127] 13: Display unit

Claims

Demands

1. Data processing device comprising: a display unit (13) displaying various contents on a screen; an operation receiving unit (12), superimposed on the display unit (13), receiving operation inputs from a user on the screen; an operation evaluation unit (111) evaluating an operation from the operation inputs on the operation receiving unit (12); and a screen generation unit (113) generating a split screen (300) comprising split regions (301A, 301B, 301C) separated by boundary lines (311AB, 311BC), and modifying the size of the split regions (301A, 301B, 301C) on the split screen (300) in response to the evaluated operation, wherein: The split screen (300) comprises a first split region (301A), a second split region (30IB), and a third split region (30IC), aligned sequentially; and in which the screen generation unit (113): enlarges the size of the first split region (301A) and reduces the size of the third split region (30IC) in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the second split region (301B) and the third split region (301C), on a first usable region (312ABA) which is located on a boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B); and enlarges the size of the first split region (301A) and reduces the size of the second split region (301B) in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the second split region (301B) and the third split region (30IC), on a second region usable (312ABB) which is different from the first usable region (312ABA) and which is located on the boundary line (311AB) between the first divided region (301A) and the second divided region (301B).

2. Data processing device according to claim 1, wherein The screen generation unit (113) reduces the size of the first split region (301A) and enlarges the size of the second split region (30IB) in response to a slide operation, in the direction of the first split region (301A), on the first usable region (312ABA) or the second usable region (312ABB).

3. Data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the screen generation unit (113): reduces the size of the first split region (301 A) and enlarges the size of the third split region (30IC) in response to a slide operation, in the direction of the first split region (301A), on the first usable region (312ABA); and reduces the size of the first split region (301 A) and enlarges the size of the second split region (30IB) in response to a slide operation, in the direction of the first split region (301A), on the second usable region (312ABB).

4. Data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the screen generation unit (113): reduces a size of the second split region (30IB) and enlarges a size of the third split region (30IC) in response to a slide operation, in the direction of the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B), on a third usable region (312BCB) which is located on a boundary line between the second split region (30IB) and the third split region (30IC);and reduces a size of the first split region (301 A) and enlarges a size of the third split region (30IC) in response to a sliding operation, in the direction of the first split region (301 A) and the second split region (301B), on a fourth usable region (312BCC) which is different from the third usable region (312BCB) and which is located on the boundary line between the second split region (301B) and the third split region (301C).

5. Data processing device according to claim 4, wherein the first usable region (312ABA) is located on the side of the first split region (301A) of the boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B); the second usable region (312ABB) is located on the side of the second split region (30IB) of the boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B); the third usable region (312BCB) is located on the side of the second split region (30IB) of the boundary line between the second divided region (30IB) and third divided region (30IC); and fourth usable region (312BCC) is located on the side of the third divided region (30IC) of the boundary line between second divided region (301B) and third divided region (301C).

6. Data processing device according to claim 4, wherein the first usable region (312ABA, 312BL) is located on one end side of the boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B); the second usable region (312ABB, 312ABU) is located on the other end side of the boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (301A) and the second split region (301B); the third usable region (312BCB, 312BCL) is located on one end side of the boundary line between the second split region (301B) and the third split region (301C); and the fourth usable region (312BCC, 312BCU) is located on the other end side of the boundary line between the second split region (301B) and the third split region (301C).

7. Data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the screen generation unit (113) displays the split regions (310A, 301B, 301C) with appearances indicating which of the split regions (310A, 301B, 301C) will be reduced in response to the swipe operation on each of the usable regions (312ABU, 312ABL, 312BCU, ​​312BCL) in the direction towards the inside of the split screen (300), being distinguishable from the other split regions (310A, 301B, 301C) which will not be reduced.

8. A method that is performed by an information processing device having a display (13) displaying various contents on a screen and an operation input device (12) detecting an operation by a user on the display, including the steps of: generating a split screen (300) into a plurality of split regions (301 A, 301 B, 301 C), including a first split region (310 A), a second split region (30 IB) and a third split region (30 IC) aligned sequentially, the split regions (301 A, 301 B, 301 C) being separated by parallel boundary lines (311 AB, 311 BC) on the screen; detect a first sliding operation by the user, towards the second divided region (310B) and the third divided region (310C), on a first usable region (312ABA) which is located on the boundary line (311AB) between the first divided region (310A) and the second divided region (30IB); increase the size of the first split region (31 OA) and decrease the size of the third split region (310B) if the first slip operation is detected; detect a second user drag operation, towards the second split region (310B) and the third split region (310C), on a second usable region (312ABB) which is located on the boundary line (311AB) between the first split region (310A) and the second split region (30IB); and increase the size of the first split region (31 OA) and decrease the size of the second split region (310B) if a second slip operation is detected, where: the first usable region (312ABA) and the second usable region (312ABB) are located at different positions on the same boundary line (311AB) between the first divided region (301 A) and the second divided region (301B).

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