JP2002014854A - Thumbnail icon creation method and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A method of creating a thumbnail icon so as to obtain information for grasping the content sufficient to specify an intended file without increasing the size of the icon, and a display method and display method of the thumbnail icon Provide equipment. A display device, a storage device, and an input device are provided.
, A memory 8 and a processing device CUP2 connected to these and processing file data 11 composed of various files
A method for displaying a thumbnail icon by an icon display device provided with an icon display device, wherein an arbitrary portion of a file displayed on a display screen of the display device is designated as a range to be thumbnailed, and the designated thumbnail range is displayed as an icon pattern as an icon pattern It is characterized in that it is constituted as data and the constituted icon pattern is displayed on a display screen of a display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the display of a thumbnail icon, and more particularly to a thumbnail icon creation method and a thumbnail icon display device using an arbitrary part of a display image of a file to which the icon is associated as an icon pattern. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method for creating a thumbnail icon is to display an entire image of a file associated with the icon, an entire image of a page having a document file, or an image of one frame having a moving image file. A thumbnail image using the entirety of the icon is used as the icon pattern. Also, since the icon size is generally smaller than the file display image, the thumbnail image that is considerably larger than the icon size is reduced to the icon size, making it difficult to distinguish the contents of the file by the icon pattern In some cases, a solution to this problem has been to increase the size of the icon.

[0003]

Generally, a thumbnail icon is used for the purpose of grasping the approximate contents and specifying an intended file from among a large number of icons displayed without actually displaying the file. .

[0004] In the above-mentioned prior art, the size of an icon is increased when it is difficult to grasp the content of the image because the thumbnail image is reduced and used as a design of the icon. In this conventional technique, since the number of icons that can be displayed at one time on the screen as a result of enlarging the icons decreases, there arises a problem that the number of operations for displaying icons that are out of the display, such as a scroll operation, increases. I was

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to provide a thumbnail capable of obtaining information sufficient to identify an intended file without increasing the size of an icon. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for creating an icon, a method for displaying the icon, and a display device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein a user is distinguished from a display image of a file to which the icon is associated with the file. This is achieved by extracting only an arbitrary part of the image to create a thumbnail image and using the thumbnail image as a design of the icon.

Further, the above object is achieved by changing a size ratio between a thumbnail image used as a design of the icon and a display size of the icon.

[0008] Further, the object is to specify a plurality of the arbitrary portions of the display image of the file,
This is achieved by displaying the thumbnail image of each part as a symbol of an animation type icon, or by switching and displaying the thumbnail image by a user operation.

The methods and apparatuses provided by the present invention are as follows. A method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein an arbitrary part of a file can be designated as a thumbnail conversion range as an icon pattern. In the above, a method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein a plurality of arbitrary portions of a file can be designated as a range to be thumbnailed as a symbol of the icon. When a file having a plurality of pages is indicated by a thumbnail icon, a thumbnail icon creating method and apparatus can switch a page and arbitrarily designate a range to be thumbnailed. When a file having a plurality of pages is indicated by a thumbnail icon, a plurality of thumbnail conversion ranges can be designated over several pages, and a method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon. A thumbnail icon display method and apparatus, wherein in displaying thumbnail icons created by designating a plurality of ranges to be converted into thumbnails, a user can arbitrarily switch and display each range. A thumbnail icon display method and apparatus, wherein in displaying thumbnail icons created by specifying a plurality of ranges to be converted into thumbnails, the CPU can switch the display of each range in a predetermined time and display an animation. A method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein when a range to be thumbnailed is specified, a display image of a file to be thumbnailed is displayed, and an arbitrary portion thereof can be specified as a range to be thumbnailed. In the above, a method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein the ratio to the display size of the icon can be adjusted by expanding / reducing the range, and the scale of the thumbnail image can be changed. In the above, a method and apparatus for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein an arbitrary portion of a file to be thumbnailed can be designated as a range to be thumbnailed while previewing a thumbnail image actually displayed as an icon.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Explanation of Configuration) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

A display device 3, a storage device 4, an input device 5, and a memory 8 are connected to the processing device CPU 2 of the system 1, and a keyboard 6, a mouse 7, and the like are connected via the input device 5. Others may be connected via the input device.

It is also possible to connect a communication device 9 to the CPU 2 and to connect to a server 10 on a network via the communication device 9. The storage device 4 stores file data 11 and icon display data 1 of various files used in this system.
2 and thumbnail information 13 are stored. These are read out to the memory 8 by the CPU 2 as needed, and further changed and stored in the storage device 4 as needed.

In this system, the file data 1 is displayed on the display device 3 in order to operate the file data 11 as shown in FIG.
The icon 19 associated with 1 is displayed.

The icon display data 12 is display data for displaying the icon 19, and each icon is associated with icon display data for displaying itself.

The icons 19 which are thumbnail icons are also associated with the icon ID 14 shown in FIG. The thumbnail information 13 is an icon ID 14
And the set of thumbnailing range information 15.

If necessary, the set may include icon size information 16 and other information 17. Since the icon IDs 14 have a unique relationship with each other, and a certain set can be specified using the icon ID 14, the thumbnailing range information 15 and the icon size information 16 and the other information 17 in the same set as the icon ID are stored. Can be taken out.

FIG. 4 shows icons 24, 25, and 2 for files 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the display screen 23 of the display device 3.
The example which displays 6,27 is shown.

In this system, in addition to the normal icons, the entire thumbnail image of the file display image 28 as shown in FIG. 5 can be used as the icon display data 29.

In addition, in the present system, as shown in FIG. 6, a thumbnail image of a specific thumbnailization range 30 of the file 28 can be used as the icon display data 29.

The shape of the thumbnailing range 30 is preferably similar to the shape of the icon to be displayed. However, the shape of the thumbnailing range 30 need not be similar, and the shape of the thumbnailing range 30 is not a specific shape. It may be possible to change the shape.

Further, the thumbnailing range 30 can be moved to an arbitrary position of the file display image 28 as shown in FIG. 7, or can be changed in size as shown in FIG. 8, or both.

If the file is composed of a plurality of pages, a specific page is designated as shown in FIG. 9 and the entire display image 28 or a specific thumbnailing range 30 is used as the icon display data 29. Can be used.

Further, a plurality of thumbnailing ranges can be provided. FIG. 10 shows an example in which two thumbnailization ranges 30 and 80 are provided.

Each of the thumbnailing range 30 and the thumbnailing range 80 can be moved to an arbitrary position of the display image, and / or the size can be changed.

When the file is composed of a plurality of pages, as shown in FIG.
And the thumbnailing range 80 can be moved to arbitrary positions of the display image 28 and the display image 32 of different pages.

When a file is composed of a plurality of pages as described above, a plurality of thumbnailing ranges can be designated across pages.

Further, the ranges of the thumbnailing range 30 and the thumbnailing range 80 may overlap in the display image of the same page.

When there are a plurality of thumbnailing ranges, the present system can use the thumbnail images in each of the thumbnailing ranges as icon display data that can be displayed in animation or that can be switched and displayed by a user operation.

In the case of FIG. 10, the icon display data 29 and the icon display data 81 can be displayed by switching between the thumbnailing range 30 and the thumbnailing range 80 in units of time, or can be switched and displayed according to the operation of the user. Used.

As described above, the thumbnail icon display device includes a display device, a storage device, an input device, a memory,
A thumbnail information storage unit that is connected to these and includes a processing device that processes file data composed of various files, and that specifies an arbitrary portion of the file displayed on the display screen of the display device as a range to be thumbnailed; Icon display data configuration means for configuring the thumbnail range as icon display data as a symbol of the icon,
Display means for displaying the configured icon design on the display screen of the display device.

In addition, a plurality of arbitrary portions of the file are designated as a range to be thumbnailed, and a plurality of icons are displayed.

The icon design can be arbitrarily switched and displayed.

A plurality of icon designs are created by specifying a plurality of ranges to be thumbnailed, and these icon designs can be switched at a predetermined time and displayed as an animation.

Next, the operation will be described.

Since the present system has the above configuration, by changing the thumbnailing range, a thumbnail image of an arbitrary part of the display image of the file associated with the icon can be used as the icon.

Further, by changing the size of the thumbnailing range, the ratio between the size of the thumbnailing range and the display size of the icon can be changed, so that the rate of enlargement or reduction of the image displayed as the icon can be changed. .

If the shape of the thumbnailing range can be specified to be not similar to the shape of the icon, the enlargement or reduction rate can be individually changed in each direction.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which four icons 24, 25, 26 and 27 are displayed on the display screen 23 of the display device 3. This is an example of the icon display, and the arrangement and the number of the icons need not be limited thereto.

When the right mouse button is operated while the icon 24 is selected, a pop-up menu 33 is displayed.
Is displayed.

When the user issues a thumbnail change instruction using the pop-up menu 33, the CPU 2 displays a thumbnail change screen 34 for performing a thumbnail change operation as shown in FIG.

The CPU 2 determines the icon ID 14 of the icon 24 from the thumbnail information 13 stored in the storage device 4.
Is read into the memory 8 and the thumbnailing range information 15 and the icon size information 16 corresponding to.

The CPU 2 reads the file data 11 corresponding to the icon 24 into the memory 8.

At this time, if the icon 24 is not a thumbnail icon, the CPU 2 assumes that the part specified as the specified value in such a case is specified as the thumbnailing range, and the thumbnail corresponding to the icon ID 14 is set. Information 15 and icon size information 16
Then, if necessary, other information 17 is created in the memory 8.

The CPU 2 reads the file data 11 corresponding to the icon 24 into the memory 8.

From the file data read into the memory 8, the CPU 2 displays a display image of a page in which the thumbnailing range of the thumbnail image currently displayed as the icon 24 is specified in the thumbnailing range information also read into the memory 8. 35, and is displayed on the thumbnail change screen 34 together with a thumbnailing frame 36 surrounding the portion designated as the thumbnailing range.

On the thumbnail change screen 34, information on the thumbnailing range changed on this screen is reflected in the system or is used for an operation for not reflecting the information.
K button 37, apply button 38, cancel button 39
There is. The apply button 36 may be omitted. If the file associated with the icon 24 is composed of a plurality of pages, there are a next page move button 40 and a previous page move button 41.

After displaying each of the above-mentioned displays on the thumbnail change screen 34, the CPU 2 enters a standby state.

The shape of the thumbnailing frame 36 is similar to the icon shape, and the size and the position can be changed while maintaining the similar shape as shown in FIGS. If the shape of the thumbnailing frame 36 is not limited to a shape similar to the icon shape, the shape may be changed.

When there is a change in the position, size, or shape of the thumbnailing frame 36, the CPU 2 converts the thumbnailing range information read into the memory 8 into information on the position, size, or shape of the thumbnailing frame 36. Update.

When the previous page move button 40 is operated,
The display image 35 of the file is updated to the display image of the current previous page, and a standby state is set.

When the next page move button 41 is operated,
The display image 35 of the file is updated to the display image of the current next page, and a standby state is set.

When the page display is updated, the thumbnailing frame 36 is displayed again by inheriting the relative position and size with respect to the page before update for the new page.

When the page display is updated, the CPU 2 replaces the thumbnailing range information read into the memory 8 with information indicating a new page, the position of the thumbnailing frame 36,
Update with size or shape information.

When the OK button 37 or the apply button 38 is operated, the CPU 2 stores the thumbnailization range information read into the memory 8 and the icon I of the icon 24 in the thumbnail information 15 stored in the storage device 4.
The thumbnailing range information 15 belonging to the set D is updated.

If the icon 24 was not a thumbnail icon before, the CPU 2 generates an icon ID 14 corresponding to the icon 24 and a set including the icon ID in the thumbnail information 15 stored in the storage device 4, and sets the set as the set. The thumbnailing range information and the icon size information existing in the memory 8 and, if necessary, other information are registered.

Further, the CPU 2 updates the icon display data 12 corresponding to the icon 24 with an image in the range indicated by the thumbnailing frame 36 of the file display image, and updates the icon 24 with the updated icon display data 12. indicate.

If the OK button 37 has been operated, the CPU 2 closes the thumbnail change screen 34, as shown in FIG.

If the apply button 38 has been operated, the CPU 2 enters a standby state without closing the thumbnail change screen 34.

When the cancel button 39 is operated, C
PU2 is the thumbnail information 1 stored in the storage device 4.
The thumbnail change screen 34 is closed without changing the information included in the set of the icon IDs 14 corresponding to the icons 24 in 5, the icon display data corresponding to the icons 24, and the display of the icons 24.

FIG. 21 shows a flow of thumbnail change using the thumbnail change screen 34.

Immediately after the thumbnail change screen 34 is displayed, the display image 3 of the file associated with the icon 24
Step 102 for Displaying No. 5 and Thumbnail Frame 36
FIG. 22 is a detailed flow chart of FIG.

The detailed flow of the parts 110 and 111 for updating the thumbnail information 13 and displaying icons as new thumbnails based on the updated information is shown in FIG.
It is.

When a plurality of thumbnailing ranges can be designated, the thumbnail change screen 34 is as shown in FIG.

In addition to the display contents shown in FIG. 12, an add button 83 for adding a thumbnail conversion range, a delete button 84 for deleting a thumbnail conversion range, and a button for selecting a specific one from a plurality of thumbnail conversion ranges. Is displayed. The selection buttons are displayed so as to correspond to the number of thumbnailing ranges.

When the add button 83 is operated in a state where there is one thumbnail frame 36, the CPU 2 additionally displays the thumbnail frame 82, and the CPU 2 adds a new thumbnail region information read in the memory 8 to the thumbnail region information. Information indicating the page including the thumbnailing range and information on the position, size or shape of the thumbnailing frame 36 are added and updated. Then, the CPU 2 displays a selection button 86 for selecting the thumbnailing frame 82.

Immediately after the thumbnail display frame 82 is additionally displayed, the thumbnail display frame 82 is in a selected state.

The CPU 2 displays the selected thumbnail frame and the unselected thumbnail frame in different expressions.

When the next page move button 41 is operated while the thumbnailing frame 82 is selected, the display image 35 of the file is updated to the display image of the current next page. When the page display is updated, the selected thumbnailing frame 82 is displayed again by inheriting the relative position and size with respect to the page before update with respect to the new page. As a result, the thumbnailing frame 82 has been moved to the next page, and the CPU 2 replaces the thumbnailing range information read into the memory 8 with information indicating a new page and the position, size, or shape of the thumbnailing frame 82. Update with information. The same applies when the previous page move button 40 is operated.

When the selection button 85 is operated, the display image 35 of the file is updated to the display image of the page having the thumbnail frame 36, and the thumbnail frame 35 is displayed.

When the delete button 84 is operated in a state where the thumbnail frame 82 is selected, the CPU 2 deletes the thumbnail frame 82 and, based on the thumbnailing range information read into the memory 8, the page including the thumbnail frame 82. And the position, size, or shape information of the thumbnailing frame 82 are deleted and updated.

When a part other than the thumbnail frame and the various buttons is clicked, the CPU 2 sets all the thumbnail frames to a non-selected state. When the previous page move button 40 or the next page move button 41 is operated in a state where all the thumbnailing frames are not selected, the CPU 2 only updates the display image 35 to the display image of the next page or the previous page. Therefore, the thumbnail frame is not moved.

When the OK button 37 or the apply button 38 is operated, the CPU 2 uses the thumbnailing range information read in the memory 8 and the icon I of the icon 24 in the thumbnail information 15 stored in the storage device 4.
The thumbnailing range information 15 belonging to the set D is updated.

If the icon 24 is not a thumbnail icon before, the CPU 2 generates an icon ID 14 corresponding to the icon 24 and a set including the icon ID in the thumbnail information 15 stored in the storage device 4. The thumbnailing range information and the icon size information existing in the memory 8 and, if necessary, other information are registered in the set.

The thumbnailing frame 82 and the information of the page in which each of the thumbnailing frames 82 are placed, and the thumbnailing range information is generated from the thumbnailing frame 82 and the position and size information of each of the thumbnailing frames 82, and the thumbnail information 13 is generated. Icon I of icon 24 within
The thumbnailing range information 15 belonging to the set D is updated.

If the icon 24 was not a thumbnail icon before this, the icon 24 is defined as a thumbnail icon, a corresponding icon ID and a set including the icon ID are generated, and the thumbnail information 13 is added to the thumbnail information 13 together with the thumbnailing range information 15. register.

Further, the CPU 2 stores the icon display data 12 corresponding to the icon 24 in the thumbnail display frame 36 and the thumbnail display frame 82 of the file display image.
The image in the two ranges is updated with the animation data used as the animation frame, and the icon 24 is displayed again with the updated icon display data 12. In this case, the CPU 2 normally displays the icon 24 as a still image icon using one of the frames of the icon display data 12, but when the mouse cursor is over the icon 24, displays the icon 24 as an animation.

Alternatively, the CPU 2 uses the icon display data 12 corresponding to the icon 24 as an image in two ranges indicated by the thumbnailing frame 36 and the thumbnailing frame 82 of the file display image as the slide image of the slide show. Update with slide show format data,
The icon 24 is redisplayed with the updated icon display data 12. The CPU 2 normally displays the icon 24 as a still image icon using one of the slide images of the icon display data 12.
Is selected, the slide image is switched and displayed each time the user operates a designated key on the keyboard.

Next, another embodiment will be described.

In the above embodiment, when a thumbnail change instruction for the icon 24 is issued to the present system, the present system displays a thumbnail change screen 34 for performing a thumbnail change operation as shown in FIG. 16
A display for performing a thumbnail change operation may be displayed around the icon as shown in FIG.

The display for performing the thumbnail change operation includes an enlarge button 43, a reduce button 44, an up button 4
5, a down button 46, a right button 48, and a left button 49. When the file associated with the icon 24 is composed of a plurality of pages, there are a previous page move button 50 and a next page move button 51. Further, a display for other operations, such as an icon size change operator 47, may be included. The background 42 may be placed on these backgrounds.

For example, it is assumed that the thumbnailization range 53 is in a state as shown in FIG. 17 for the display image 52 of the file associated with the icon 24. When the enlargement button 43 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53 is reduced and the size ratio with the icon 24 is changed, so that the icon size does not change but the thumbnail display contents appear to be enlarged. Conversely, when the reduce button 44 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53 is enlarged, and the size ratio with the icon 24 changes in the opposite direction, so that the icon size does not change but the thumbnail display content appears to be reduced. . When the up button 45 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53 is moved upward by a predetermined distance. When the downward movement button 46 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53 is moved downward 55 by a predetermined distance. When the right moving button 48 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53 is moved to the right 56 by a predetermined distance.
When the left moving button 49 is operated, the thumbnailing range 53
Is moved to the left 57 by a predetermined distance. When the previous page move button 50 is operated, the display image 52 of the file is updated to the display image of the current previous page. When the next page move button 51 is operated,
The display image 52 of the file is updated to the display image of the current next page. At this time, the position and size of the thumbnailing range 53 with respect to the page image do not change. If there is a change in the thumbnailization range 53 or the display image 52 of the file, the change is made in the thumbnail information 13.
And the icon data corresponding to the icon 24 and the display of the icon 24 are immediately reflected. When a part other than the display for performing the thumbnail change operation is operated,
Delete the display for performing the thumbnail change operation.

FIG. 24 shows a flow of a thumbnail change using the thumbnail change screen 34.

FIG. 18 shows an example in which a plurality of thumbnailing ranges can be specified. An add button 91 for adding a thumbnailization range and a delete button 92 for deleting a thumbnailization range are displayed. Further, a switching display 87 for switching the thumbnailing range is displayed.

When the add button 91 is operated in a state where there is one thumbnailing range, the thumbnailing range is added. At the same time, a newly added thumbnailization range is selected in the switching display 87.

For the selected thumbnailization range, it is possible to move the page, change the size of the thumbnailization range, and move the thumbnailization range up, down, left, and right.

When the switching display 87 is operated, the selected thumbnailization range is changed to the specified one,
The icon display 24 is switched to the display of the range indicated by the newly selected thumbnailization range.

When the delete button 92 is operated, the currently selected thumbnailization range is deleted, and the display is switched to the range indicated by any of the remaining thumbnailization ranges.

When there is a change in the content of the thumbnail information 13, thumbnailing range information is generated from information on each page where the entire thumbnailing range is placed and information on each position and size. The thumbnailing range information 15 belonging to the set of icon IDs of the icons 24 is updated. If the icon 24 is not a thumbnail icon before this, the icon 24 is defined as a thumbnail icon, a corresponding icon ID and a set including the icon ID are generated, and registered in the thumbnail information 13 together with the thumbnailization range information 15.

When a part other than the display for performing the thumbnail change operation is operated, the display for performing the thumbnail change operation is deleted. In addition, the icon data corresponding to the icon 24 is updated with animation data that switches a plurality of images specified to be newly set as thumbnails at a specified time, and the icon 24 is displayed again with the updated icon data. .

As yet another embodiment, when a thumbnail change instruction for the icon 24 is issued to the present system as shown in FIG. 19, the present system displays a thumbnail change screen 60 for performing a thumbnail change operation. The enlargement button 43, reduction button 44,
Up button 45, Down button 46, Right button 4
8, a left button 49, a previous page button 50 and a next page button 51 may be provided. The thumbnail change screen 60 has an OK button 37, an apply button 38, and a cancel button 39 for operations for reflecting or not reflecting the thumbnailing range information changed on this screen in the system. The apply button 38 may be omitted. The operation of changing the thumbnailing range 53 or the display image 52 of the file on the thumbnail change screen 60 is immediately reflected on the thumbnail display 61, but the change on the thumbnail information 13 and the icon data corresponding to the icon 24 and the display of the icon 24 are performed. Is not performed until the OK button 37 or the apply button 38 is operated.

FIG. 20 shows a case where a plurality of thumbnailing ranges can be designated. An add button 91 for adding a thumbnailization range and a delete button 92 for deleting a thumbnailization range are displayed. Further, a switching display 87 for switching the thumbnailing range is displayed.

When the add button 91 is operated in a state where there is one thumbnailing range, the thumbnailing range is added. At the same time, the newly added thumbnailization range is selected in the switching display 87.

For the selected thumbnailization range, it is possible to move the page, change the size of the thumbnailization range, and move the thumbnailization range up, down, left and right.

When the switching display 87 is operated, the selected thumbnailing range is changed to the specified thumbnailing range,
The icon display 24 is switched to the display of the range indicated by the newly selected thumbnailization range.

When the delete button 92 is operated, the thumbnail area selected at that time is deleted, and the display 61 of the icon is switched to the display of the area indicated by any of the remaining thumbnail areas.

When the OK button 37 or the apply button 38 is operated, thumbnailing range information is generated from information on each page where the entire thumbnailing range is placed and information on each position and size, and the thumbnail information 13 is displayed. The thumbnailing range information 15 belonging to the set of icon IDs of the icons 24 is updated. If the icon 24 is not a thumbnail icon before this, the icon 24 is defined as a thumbnail icon, a corresponding icon ID and a set including the icon ID are generated, and registered in the thumbnail information 13 together with the thumbnailization range information 15. In addition, the icon data corresponding to the icon 24 is updated with animation data that switches a plurality of images designated to be newly set as thumbnails at a specified time, and the icon 24 is displayed again with the updated icon data. . If the OK button 37 has been operated, the thumbnail change screen 60 is closed. If the apply button 38 is operated, the thumbnail change screen 60
It will be in a standby state without closing.

[0097]

According to the present invention, since an arbitrary part of a file is designated as a thumbnail area as a symbol of an icon, it is easy to specify contents intended for specifying an intended file without increasing the size of the icon. Information for grasping is obtained, and the target file can be quickly displayed on the display screen.

Further, according to the present invention, the contents of a file can be displayed as a symbol of an animation type icon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an icon display screen diagram.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of thumbnail information.

FIG. 4 is an icon display screen diagram.

FIG. 5 is an overall thumbnail image configuration diagram of a display image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a thumbnail image configuration in a specific thumbnailization range.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a thumbnail image configuration of an arbitrary part.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a thumbnail image configuration of an arbitrary part.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a thumbnail image configuration of an arbitrary portion of a specific page.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of thumbnail images for a plurality of thumbnailing ranges.

FIG. 11 is a thumbnail change instruction diagram.

FIG. 12 is a thumbnail change operation diagram.

FIG. 13 is a thumbnail change operation diagram.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a thumbnail change screen.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a thumbnail change screen.

FIG. 16 is a thumbnail change operation diagram.

FIG. 17 is an icon size change instruction diagram.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a plurality of thumbnailing range designations.

FIG. 19 is a thumbnail change operation diagram.

FIG. 20 is a thumbnail change operation diagram.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a thumbnail change.

FIG. 22 is a detailed flowchart of step 102.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of updating icon display.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for changing a thumbnail.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... System, 2 ... Processing device CPU, 3 ... Display device, 4
... storage device, 5 ... input device, 6 ... keyboard, 7 ... mouse, 8 ... memory, 9 ... communication device, 10 ... server, 11 ...
File data, 12 ... icon display data, 13 ... thumbnail information.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyotaka Izawa 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Design Research Laboratory (72) Koji Ogura 6-81 Onoe-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Yokohama, Hitachi Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house F-term (reference) 5B082 GC06 5E501 AA02 AC34 BA03 CA02 CB02 CB09 EA03 EA11 EB05 FA04 FB04 FB43

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An icon display device comprising a display device, a storage device, an input device, a memory, and a processing device connected to these for processing file data composed of various files, a display screen of the display device. A thumbnail information storage means for designating an arbitrary portion of the file displayed in the area as a thumbnail, an icon display data composing means for composing the designated thumbnail area as icon design data as icon display data, and a constructed icon A display means for displaying a symbol on a display screen of the display device. 2. The thumbnail icon display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of arbitrary portions of the file are designated as a range to be thumbnailed, and a plurality of icons are displayed. 3. The thumbnail icon display device according to claim 1, wherein the icon pattern is arbitrarily switched and displayed. 4. The thumbnail icon display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of icon designs are created by designating a plurality of ranges to be converted into thumbnails, and these icon designs are switched at a predetermined time to display an animation. 5. A thumbnail icon display method using an icon display device including a display device, a storage device, an input device, a memory, and a processing device connected to these for processing file data composed of various files, Designate an arbitrary part of the file displayed on the display screen of the display device as a range to be thumbnailed, configure the specified thumbnail range as icon design as icon display data, and display the configured icon design on the display device A method for displaying thumbnail icons, comprising displaying on a screen. 6. A method for processing file data composed of various files to create icon display data, wherein an arbitrary portion of a file displayed on a display screen is designated as a range to be thumbnailed, and the designated thumbnail range Is used as icon design data as icon designs. 7. A thumbnail icon creating method according to claim 6, wherein a file having a plurality of pages is designated by switching a page or arbitrarily specifying a range to be thumbnailed across the pages. 8. A display image of a file to be thumbnailed according to claim 6 or 7,
A method for creating a thumbnail icon, wherein an arbitrary part is designated as a range to be thumbnailed. 9. The thumbnail icon creating method according to claim 6, wherein a thumbnail image is formed by enlarging or reducing a range to be converted into a thumbnail, and a scale of the thumbnail image is adjusted. 10. A thumbnail icon creating method according to claim 6, wherein a thumbnail image area actually displayed as an icon is previewed and a range to be thumbnailed is designated.