Item selection device

Abstract

To allow for easily setting one or more check boxes to on / off states in a user interface in which a plurality of check boxes corresponding to a plurality of items are displayed in an array.SOLUTION: In a user interface in which a plurality of check boxes corresponding to a plurality of items are displayed in an array, states of one or more check boxes included in an area 23 designated by an area designating operation are collectively controlled to eliminate the need of individually setting the states of the one or more check boxes, so that on / off states of one or more check boxes can be easily set.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an item selection device, and is particularly suitable for use in an item selection device that allows a user to select a desired item by operating a user interface that displays check boxes for selecting two states, such as on / off, arranged side by side for each of multiple items on the operation screen of an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in information processing devices, a user interface is known in which check boxes for selecting by switching between two states, such as on / off, are displayed for each of a plurality of items, and the desired items can be selected by turning on (checking) one or more of the check boxes by clicking the mouse or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The information processing device described in Patent Document 1 displays a pass data input screen consisting of multiple different character strings with check boxes added, and when the user selects one or more character strings by clicking the mouse or operating the keyboard and checking the corresponding check boxes, the character string selected by checking is entered as pass data.The device then determines whether the entered pass data matches preset pass data, and only allows access to the data if they match.

[0004] However, this method of selecting items is cumbersome because one or more desired items must be selected one by one by clicking the checkboxes with a mouse. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-81934 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to make it possible to easily set one or more check boxes to on / off in a user interface in which multiple check boxes corresponding to multiple items are displayed side by side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a user interface in which multiple check boxes corresponding to multiple items are displayed side by side, and in which the states of one or more check boxes contained within an area specified by an area specification operation are controlled collectively. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention configured as described above, in a user interface where multiple checkboxes are displayed side by side, when a desired area is specified so that it contains one or more checkboxes, the states of the one or more checkboxes in the area are controlled collectively, eliminating the need to set the state of each one of the checkboxes individually. This makes it easy to set the on / off status of one or more checkboxes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device that implements an item selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of control of check boxes by a control unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 2B] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of control of check boxes by a control unit of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing device 1 that implements an item selection device according to this embodiment. The information processing device 1 may be a stationary information processing device such as a desktop PC, or a portable information processing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or notebook PC. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 1 of this embodiment includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, and a display unit 14.

[0011] Control unit 11 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and operates in accordance with an operating system and application programs (hereinafter collectively referred to as programs) stored in storage unit 12, and executes information processing using various data stored in storage unit 12. In addition to the microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like may also be included. Details of the information processing executed by control unit 11 will be described later.

[0012] The storage unit 12 is configured with a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the storage unit 12 is configured to include a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 12 stores various programs executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also stores various data including data used in the processing of the control unit 11 and data generated during the processing. The control unit 11 and the storage unit 12 configure the item selection device of this embodiment.

[0013] The input unit 13 is configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, and supplies data according to user operation input to the control unit 11. When the information processing device 1 is a desktop PC or a notebook PC, the input unit 13 includes a keyboard and a mouse, or an operation pad. A touch panel may be provided instead of or in addition to a mouse. When the information processing device 1 is a smartphone or a tablet, the input unit 13 includes a touch panel. In addition to the touch panel, a connected keyboard and mouse may be provided.

[0014] The display unit 14 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays information (including text and images) according to instructions input from the control unit 11. In particular, in this embodiment, the display unit 14 displays a predetermined information input screen generated by an application program. The information input screen includes a user interface in which check boxes for setting either an on state or an off state are displayed side by side for each of a plurality of items, and each check box is displayed in a manner that makes it possible to distinguish whether it is in an on state or an off state.

[0015] An example of control of check boxes by control unit 11 will be described below. In a user interface in which a plurality of check boxes corresponding to a plurality of items are displayed side by side, control unit 11 collectively controls the states of one or more check boxes included in an area specified by an area specification operation. Specifically, control unit 11 detects that a first operation has been performed to specify an area including one or more check boxes, and collectively controls the states of one or more check boxes included in the area specified by the first operation.

[0016] The first operation is, for example, a drag operation in which, while holding down the left click button of a mouse or an operation pad, the cursor is moved from a desired start point to a desired end point, and the left click button is released at the end point. This drag operation specifies a rectangular area with the start point and end point as diagonal corners. If the input unit 13 is configured as a touch panel, the first operation is a tracing operation in which, while touching the screen with a finger, the cursor is moved from the desired start point to the desired end point, and the finger is released at the end point. Alternatively, the first operation may be a tracing operation in which the finger draws a rectangle on the screen.

[0017] By detecting the first operation, control unit 11 collectively controls the states of one or more check boxes and controls display unit 14 to reflect the results of the control. That is, check boxes that have been turned on by the collective control are displayed as checked, and check boxes that have been turned off are displayed as unchecked.

[0018] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing an example of the control of check boxes by control unit 11 described above. 2A and 2B show an example in which the states of one or more check boxes are collectively controlled in response to a first operation of designating a desired range including one or more check boxes on a predetermined information input screen generated by an application program.

[0019] 2A shows a state in which, among a plurality of checkboxes arranged side by side, some checkboxes are already checked and some are unchecked, and then the cursor is moved to a desired start point 21, and then, while still holding down the left click button, the cursor is moved to a desired end point 22, thereby specifying a desired range. In this example, a region 23 containing seven checkboxes is specified. The specified region 23 contains one checkbox that is checked and six checkboxes that are unchecked.

[0020] 2B shows the result of collectively controlling the states of seven checkboxes enclosed by a dotted frame in response to releasing the left click button at the end point 22 of the cursor movement while area 23 is specified. In this example, control unit 11 controls all seven checkboxes included in specified area 23 to switch between the on and off states. That is, one checkbox that was on in FIG. 2A is switched to the off state, and six checkboxes that were off are switched to the on state.

[0021] 2A, when only checkbox region 23 is specified, control unit 11 may execute collective control of the states of one or more checkboxes included in specified region 23, but when a region including other regions other than the checkbox region is specified, control unit 11 may not execute collective control of the states of one or more checkboxes included in the specified region. In this way, it is possible to prevent the state of one or more checkboxes included in the region from being collectively controlled against the user's intention when the user accidentally specifies a region through an unintentional operation on input unit 13.

[0022] Even in this case, if only the area of ​​a check box is accidentally specified, all check boxes included in that area will be collectively controlled. Therefore, after detecting that a first operation has been performed to specify an area including one or more check boxes, control unit 11 may collectively control the states of one or more check boxes included in the area specified by the first operation when it detects that a second operation different from the first operation has been performed.

[0023] The second operation can be, for example, a left click operation after releasing the left click button at the desired end point, or a touch operation after releasing the finger. Instead of a left click operation, a double click operation can be performed by pressing and holding the click button. Alternatively, the second operation can be a keyboard key operation after releasing the left click button or finger at the desired end point. Any key on the keyboard can be used, but it can be, for example, the Tab key or the Enter key.

[0024] As another example, when the control unit 11 detects that a third operation instructing collective control of checkboxes has been performed, and then detects that a first operation instructing area designation including one or more checkboxes has been performed as in Fig. 2A, the control unit 11 may collectively control the states of one or more checkboxes included in the area designated by the first operation. The third operation can be, for example, pressing a button instructing collective control of checkboxes in an operation menu included in the information input screen.

[0025] As explained in detail above, in this embodiment, in a user interface in which multiple check boxes corresponding to multiple items are displayed side by side, the states of one or more check boxes contained within an area specified by an area specification operation are controlled collectively.

[0026] According to this embodiment, when a desired area is specified in a user interface in which multiple check boxes are displayed side by side so that it contains one or more check boxes, the states of the one or more check boxes in the area are controlled collectively, eliminating the need to set the state of each check box individually. This makes it easy to set the on / off status of one or more check boxes.

[0027] Note that the collective state control of checkboxes by the control unit 11 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 2. For example, the control unit 11 may target one or more checkboxes included in a specified area, compare the number of checkboxes that are in an on state with the number of checkboxes that are in an off state, and invert the state of the checkbox with the greater number. When the area 23 is specified as in the example shown in Fig. 2A, the number of checkboxes that are in an off state (6) is greater than the number of checkboxes that are in an on state (1), so the states of the six checkboxes are inverted. As a result, all seven checkboxes included in the specified area 23 become on.

[0028] Here, there may be cases where the number of check boxes in the checked state and the number of check boxes in the unchecked state are the same for one or more check boxes included in the specified area. In this case, the control unit 11 may, for example, set all of the check boxes included in the specified area to the checked state (reverse the unchecked check boxes to the checked state). Alternatively, it may set all of the check boxes to the unchecked state (reverse the checked check boxes to the unchecked state). Alternatively, a pop-up menu may be displayed to allow the user to select either option.

[0029] As another example, the control unit 11 may set all of one or more check boxes to the on state regardless of the state of one or more check boxes included in the specified area. In this case, the user can specify an area that includes one or more check boxes that the user wants to switch from the off state to the on state (this may include check boxes that are in the on state).

[0030] In addition, the user may be able to specify which pattern to execute: a first pattern of control that inverts the on / off state of all one or more check boxes contained within the specified area; a second pattern of control that inverts the state of some check boxes using majority logic; or a third pattern of control that sets all one or more check boxes contained within the specified area to the on state.

[0031] For example, when performing the third operation described above, it is possible to also specify a pattern. Alternatively, the pattern may be specified by selecting and executing one of three types of operations as the operation to be performed after releasing the left click button or finger at the desired end point. The three types of operations may be, for example, any three of a left click operation, a double click operation, a right click operation, a long press of the click button, a keyboard key operation, etc.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the check boxes are arranged vertically as shown in Fig. 2, but this is not limiting. For example, the check boxes may be arranged horizontally, or vertically and horizontally. In other words, it is sufficient that the check boxes are arranged so that they can be designated collectively using a rectangular designation area.

[0033] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereby. In other words, the present invention can be carried out in various forms without departing from its spirit or main characteristics. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Information processing equipment 11 Control section 12 Storage section 13 Input section 14 Display section

Claims

1. An item selection device characterized by having a control unit that collectively controls the state of one or more check boxes contained within an area specified by an area specification operation in a user interface in which multiple check boxes corresponding to multiple items are displayed in an array.

2. The item selection device described in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit detects that a first operation has been performed to designate an area that includes one or more check boxes, and collectively controls the states of one or more check boxes included within the area designated by the first operation.

3. The item selection device described in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit, after detecting that a first operation has been performed to designate an area including one or more check boxes, detects that a second operation different from the first operation has been performed, and then controls the states of one or more check boxes included in the area designated by the first operation.

4. The item selection device described in claim 1, characterized in that after detecting that a third operation has been performed to instruct collective control of check boxes, the control unit detects that a first operation has been performed to specify an area that includes one or more check boxes, and then collectively controls the states of one or more check boxes included within the area specified by the first operation.

5. The item selection device described in claim 2, characterized in that the control unit performs collective control of the states of one or more check boxes contained within the specified area when only the check box area is specified, but does not perform collective control of the states of one or more check boxes contained within the specified area when an area including other areas other than the check box area is specified.

6. The item selection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit inverts the on and off states of all of one or more check boxes contained within the specified area.

7. The item selection device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit compares the number of checkboxes that are turned on with the number of checkboxes that are turned off for one or more checkboxes contained within the specified area, and inverts the state of the checkbox with the larger number.

8. The item selection device described in claim 7, characterized in that the control unit sets all of one or more check boxes contained in the specified area to an on or off state when the number of check boxes that are in the on state and the number of check boxes that are in the off state are the same.

9. 6. The item selection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets one or more check boxes included in the specified area to an on state.

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