JP2025060900A - CONTENT DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE, CONTENT DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a content display control device capable of smoothly achieving display which meets users' need and has high visibility at low power consumption and low cost by changing the size of a display area according to operation, when displaying a content image in the display area of a display screen.SOLUTION: The content display control device includes a display control part for displaying a plurality of content images in the display area on the display screen and a reception part for receiving size change input for changing the size on the display screen of the display area and performs display change processing for changing a display form on the basis of the size change input to the content image being in a display state displayed on the display screen, but does not perform the display change processing to the content image being in a non-display state not displayed on the display screen, among the plurality of content images, while receiving the size change input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a content display control device, a content display control method, and a program, and in particular to a content display control device, a content display control method, and a program for controlling the display of content on a display device used, for example, in a mobile object.

Devices that simultaneously display multiple different types of screens are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an information terminal that divides the screen into two, displaying a real screen on one side that displays a photograph of a building or the like with the building name or the like superimposed on it, and a map screen on the other side that displays information about facilities with location information (e.g. buildings and utility poles) superimposed on map information.

JP 2014-181954 A

For example, when displaying multiple content images generated by multiple gadgets (small applications, widgets) in a display area that occupies a portion of a display screen, the size of the display area on the display screen can be changed in response to user operations to provide a display that is easier for the user to view. When changing the size of the display area in response to an operation, changing the display area even during the operation can provide a display that is easier to understand, but one example of a problem is that it places a heavy load on the device that controls the display.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and one of its objectives is to provide a content display control device that can change the size of a display area in response to an operation when displaying a content image in the display area of a display screen, and can smoothly realize a highly visible display that meets the needs of the user with low power consumption and low cost.

The invention described in claim 1 has a control unit that controls the operation of each of the multiple contents, a display control unit that selectively displays first content images corresponding to the multiple contents in a display area on a display screen, a reception unit that receives a resize input for changing the size of the display area on the display screen, and a display change processing unit that performs a display change process for the first content image to change the display form of the first content image based on the resize input, and is characterized in that while the resize input is being received, the display change processing unit performs the display change process on first content images that are in a display state displayed on the display screen among the first content images corresponding to each of the multiple contents, and does not perform the display change process on first content images that are in a non-display state not displayed on the display screen.

The invention described in claim 7 is a content display control method for displaying a plurality of content images by a content display control device, comprising: a control step in which a control unit controls the operation of each of the plurality of contents; a display control step in which a display control unit selectively displays first content images corresponding to the plurality of contents in a display area on a display screen; a reception step in which a reception unit receives a size change input for changing the size of the display area on the display screen; and a display change step in which a display change processing unit performs a display change process for the first content image to change the display form of the first content image based on the size change input, wherein, in the display change step, the display change processing unit performs the display change process for a first content image that is in a display state displayed on the display screen among the first content images corresponding to each of the plurality of contents while the size change input is being received, and does not perform the display change process for a first content image that is in a non-display state not displayed on the display screen.

The invention described in claim 8 is a content display control program executed by a content display control device having a computer, comprising: a control step in which a control unit controls the operation of each of a plurality of contents; a display control step in which a display control unit selectively displays first content images corresponding to the plurality of contents in a display area on a display screen; a reception step in which a reception unit receives a size change input for changing the size of the display area on the display screen; and a display change step in which a display change processing unit performs a display change process for changing the display form of the first content image based on the size change input, and in the display change step, the display change processing unit performs the display change process for a first content image that is in a display state displayed on the display screen among the first content images corresponding to each of the plurality of contents while the size change input is being received, and does not perform the display change process for a first content image that is in a non-display state not displayed on the display screen.

1 is a perspective view of a front seat portion of a vehicle equipped with a content display control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a content display control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of content according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of display control according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a change in size of content according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a change in size of content according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an outline of an operation executed in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation routine executed in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation routine executed in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of an operation routine executed in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a change in size of content according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation routine executed in a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the size of content according to a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a change in size of content according to a second modified example. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation routine executed in a second modified example.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description and accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to substantially the same or equivalent parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of a content display control device 10 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the content display control device 10 is mounted on a vehicle M, which is an example of a moving body. FIG. 1 shows a case where the content display control device 10 is installed in a dashboard DB in the front seat of the vehicle M.

The touch panel 11 is, for example, a touch panel monitor that combines a display 11A, which is a display device such as a liquid crystal display capable of displaying images, and a touch pad 11B, which is an input device capable of detecting touch operations. The touch panel 11 is disposed, for example, in the center console CC of the dashboard DB. The touch panel 11 may be disposed in a location that is visible to and within reach of the driver or other passengers. For example, the touch panel 11 may be attached to the dashboard DB.

The display 11A as a display screen is capable of displaying a content screen under the control of the content display control device 10. In addition, the touch pad 11B is capable of transmitting a signal representing an input operation to the touch pad 11B to the content display control device 10.

The following describes an example in which the content display control device 10 is configured as part of a navigation device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle M. Note that the content display control device 10 may be configured to be connected to the navigation device, or may be configured to include the navigation device.

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the content display control device 10. For example, the content display control device 10 is configured by connecting each unit via a system bus 13. The storage unit 15 is a storage device configured, for example, by a hard disk device, an SSD (solid state drive), a flash memory, etc. The storage unit 15 stores various programs and data for display control in the content display control device 10.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the storage unit 15 stores an application group 15A, which is a plurality of contents (hereinafter also referred to as applications) that generate content images whose display is controlled by the content display control device 10.

Here, an application is a program created on a computer in response to a user's work, etc. An application is also capable of generating some kind of image information that can be displayed on a display screen, and each application is a concept that includes programs that can run on a computer either independently or in conjunction with each other.

For example, each of the applications included in application group 15A may be a small application such as a gadget or widget.

In this embodiment, each of the multiple applications included in the application group 15A is capable of generating image information for displaying information such as text, audio, and video as a content image. The storage unit 15 also stores a map database 15B in which map information used to generate the content image is stored. The content display control device 10 may obtain the map information from a navigation device (not shown). The various programs used in the content display control device 10 may be obtained, for example, from an external server device or the like via a network.

The control unit 17 is a computer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and controls the operation of the content display control device 10. The control unit 17 realizes various functions by the CPU reading and executing various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 15.

The control unit 17 includes an application control unit 17A. The application control unit 17A is a functional unit that controls the operation of each of the multiple applications included in the application group 15A. The application control unit 17A reads out and executes each of the multiple applications to generate multiple content images.

The control unit 17 includes a display control unit 17B. The display control unit 17B is a functional unit that controls the display of content images on the display 11A provided in the vehicle M. The display control unit 17B controls the selective display of content images as multiple first content images generated by each of multiple applications on the display 11A as a display screen.

For example, the display control unit 17B selectively displays a predetermined number of the multiple content images on the display 11A by displaying the multiple content images in a scrollable manner. Also, for example, the display control unit 17B selectively displays a predetermined number of content images selected from a list of the multiple content images on the display 11A.

The display control unit 17B also accepts an input operation via the touch pad 11B to change the display size of the displayed content image on the display 11A. The display control unit 17B also accepts a selection input to select a predetermined number of content images to be displayed from a list of multiple content images.

Note that size in this embodiment refers to the apparent size of the content image.

The communication unit 19 is a network adapter such as a network interface card (NIC) connected to a wireless device (not shown). The control unit 17 communicates data with the outside via the communication unit 19. For example, the control unit 17 receives data required for generating a content image distributed from an external server device via the communication unit 19.

For example, the content display control device 10 and an external server device may be configured to be able to transmit and receive data to and from each other via a network. The network may be constructed by Internet communication via wireless communication such as a mobile communication network, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or LTE (long term evolution). The data is transmitted and received using a communication protocol such as TCP/IP.

In addition to communicating with an external server device, the control unit 17 may also perform communication such as data collection or vehicle-to-vehicle communication using VICS (registered trademark) via the communication unit 19.

The input unit 21 is connected to the touch pad 11B of the touch panel 11 provided in the vehicle M. The input unit 21 is an interface that detects input operations on the touch pad 11B and supplies a signal indicating the input operation to the control unit 17. For example, the input unit 21 detects input operations related to selection and search on a content image displayed on the display 11A of the touch panel 11.

For example, the display control unit 17B detects a scroll operation, which is an input operation to the touch pad 11B to instruct scrolling of multiple content images displayed on the display 11A, via the input unit 21.

For example, the display control unit 17B accepts an input operation on the touch pad 11B via the input unit 21 to change the display size of the displayed content image.

For example, the display control unit 17B accepts a selection input, which is an input operation to the touch pad 11B, via the input unit 21 to select a predetermined number of content images from a list of multiple content images to be displayed.

The input unit 21 is also connected to a GPS receiver 25 provided in the vehicle M. The input unit 21 also functions as an interface that acquires current position information of the vehicle M from the GPS receiver 25 and supplies the information to the control unit 17.

The output unit 23 is connected to the display 11A of the touch panel 11. The output unit 23 is an interface that supplies information to be displayed on the display 11A to the display 11A in accordance with instructions from the control unit 17. The application control unit 17A and the output unit 23 supply image data to the display 11A for displaying content images generated by the execution of each application in the application group 15A.

The output unit 23 may be connected to a speaker (not shown) provided in the vehicle M, and may supply audio data to the speaker to be output together with the display of the content image on the display 11A.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display mode of a content image displayed on display 11A serving as the display screen of touch panel 11. As shown in Figure 3, display 11A has a map display area NV and a content image display area AR serving as a display area. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the map display area NV displays a navigation screen on which information relating to the travel of vehicle M, such as the distance to the destination, is superimposed on a map.

As shown in FIG. 3, two frames FR are displayed in the content image display area AR on the display 11A. A content image generated by an application is displayed in each of the two frames FR.

As shown in FIG. 3, the frames FR are formed so as to be continuous with the outer area of the display 11A that is not being displayed, and are arranged in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Content images are also generated for the frames FR located outside the display 11A.

For example, in FIG. 3, a content image for playing a video is displayed in a frame FR located at the top of the content image display area AR. Also, in FIG. 3, a content image that can accept keyword input and can search for videos is displayed in a frame FR located at the bottom of the content image display area AR.

Also, in FIG. 3, a content image displaying word-of-mouth information about the area around the current location is shown as an example of a content image generated for a frame FR located in an area outside the content image display area AR and below the content image display area AR. Also, in FIG. 3, a content image showing a ranking of popular stores near the current location of vehicle M is shown as an example of a content image generated corresponding to a frame FR located below the content image displaying the word-of-mouth information.

With reference to Figures 4 to 6, we will explain how the size of the content image changes when the size of the content image display area AR on the display 11A is changed.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an overview of the control in the content display control device 10. In Figure 4, the display 11A has a map display area NV and a content image display area AR as a display area.

In FIG. 4, six frames FR are arranged consecutively in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4. Six content images A to F (Cont. A to F in FIG. 4) are generated corresponding to the six frames FR. In other words, one frame FR defines an area in which one content image is generated.

Of the six content images A to F, content images C and D are in a display state in which they are displayed within the content image display area AR on display 11A. Content images A, B, E, and F are in a non-display state in which they are not displayed on display 11A.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, the frame FR can be slid in the arrangement direction in response to, for example, a user operation. When the frame FR slides in the arrangement direction, the frame FR that was located outside the content image display area AR is brought into the content image display area AR, and the content image generated for the frame FR brought into the content image display area AR is displayed.

In this way, each of the content images generated for each frame FR is scrolled in response to the user's operation. This scroll display allows the content image desired by the user to be selectively displayed on the display 11A in sequence from among the multiple content images.

In FIG. 4, the content image display area AR has a width W1. Also in FIG. 4, each of the frames FR and the content images A to F generated correspondingly thereto also have the same width W1 as the width of the display area AR. The size of the content image having width W1 is referred to as the first size.

Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 4, content images C and D, which are two of the six content images having a first size and arranged consecutively, are displayed within a content image display area AR having a width W1.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the change in size of the content image while the size of the content image display area AR displayed on the display 11A is being changed from the state shown in Figure 4. In the state shown in Figure 5, a touch operation is being performed on the content image display area AR by the user's finger FG.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, the user's finger FG is performing a horizontal sliding operation on the boundary BD between the map display area NV and the content image display area AR, which is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the frame FR. This sliding operation is an input operation via the touch pad 11B. In response to this input operation, the position of the boundary BD is changed on the display 11A.

The size of the content image display area AR is changed by moving the border BD and changing the width of the content image display area AR. In this embodiment, the input operation via the touch pad 11B to change the position of the border BD and change the size of the content image display area AR in this manner is referred to as a size change input.

The touch position of the user's finger FG for size change input may be on the boundary BD or any position within the display area AR.

In FIG. 5, as the size of the content image display area AR is changed by the size change input, the width of the content images C and D is also changed in accordance with the size change input.

Therefore, the sizes of content images C and D are changed in accordance with the change in size of the content image display area AR due to the size change input. For example, the sizes of content images C and D change stepwise in accordance with the size change input. For example, during the size change input, content images C and D are displayed smoothly like an animation.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the width of content images A, B, E, and F in the non-display state remains at W1, and has not changed from the state in FIG. 4. Thus, in this embodiment, the size of content images in the displayed state changes in response to resizing input, and the size of content images in the non-display state does not change in response to resizing input.

For example, when the display state changes as described above, the display control unit 17B accepts a resize input for changing the size of the content image display area AR when the user's finger FG moves laterally while touching the boundary BD between the map display area NV and the content image display area AR on the touch panel 11. That is, the display control unit 17B accepts a touch operation that satisfies certain conditions as a resize input via the touch pad 11B.

For example, when a size change input is received, the display control unit 17B detects the position, movement direction, and amount of movement (e.g., number of pixels or movement distance) of the user's finger touching the touch panel 11 via the touch pad 11B, and controls the display so that the position of the boundary BD moves horizontally according to the movement direction and amount of movement. This changes the width of the content image display area AR.

For example, when a size change input is received, the application control unit 17A controls each of the applications that generate content images C and D, and changes the size in accordance with the size change input to generate content images C and D.

For example, the application control unit 17A generates content images according to the amount of movement in the touch operation, i.e., content images C and D that match the size of the content image display area AR after the movement, and transmits them to the display control unit 17B. The display control unit 17B displays the generated content images C and D in the content image display area AR.

For example, the display control unit 17B replaces (redraws) the image before resizing with the image after resizing by erasing the displayed content image (first content image) and displaying a newly generated content image (second content image).

Here, image redrawing may be a process of replacing all images, including the first content image, displayed on display 11A with images including the second content image.

In this way, a content image is generated according to the size change input, and the displayed content image is replaced, and a display change process is applied to the displayed content image to change the display form of the content image.

For example, the timing for generating the new content image is set to, for example, every predetermined amount of movement, and the process of replacing the content image as described above is repeated, so that the image is displayed so as to expand or shrink in accordance with touch operations such as the movement of a finger.

For example, by setting the predetermined amount of movement in smaller units (e.g., one pixel each), it is possible to display a smoother movement that follows the touch operation.

In addition, each content image may be displayed with its contents, such as the size of the characters, amount of information, and layout, changed in conjunction with the size change described above.

For example, when a content image is resized to a larger size, text information may be added within the content image, and the position or spacing at which text or illustrations are displayed may be changed. For example, a new content image (second content image) with added text information is generated, and the original content image (first content image) is replaced with the new content image.

Also, for example, a content image may be configured by overlapping or combining multiple images. In this case, for example, when the size of a content image is changed, some of the components contained in the content image may be changed, while other parts may not be changed. For example, for a content image that includes text and illustrations as components, the display may be changed in such a way that only the layout of the text is changed, while the layout of the illustrations is not changed.

Figure 6 shows the state of content images C and D displayed on display 11A after their sizes have been changed.

In the state shown in FIG. 6, the user's finger FG is removed from the touch panel 11. In other words, the size change input operation has ended. In FIG. 6, the width of the content image display area AR has been expanded to a width W2 that is larger than width W1. For example, the position where the user's finger FG has been removed becomes the boundary BD, and the width of the content image display area AR has changed.

In FIG. 6, the width of the content image display area AR has been changed, and the width of the content images C and D has also become width W2. The size of the content image having width W2 is referred to as the second size.

In FIG. 6, the widths of content images A, B, E, and F are also the same width W2 as the width of content images C and D. In other words, content images A, B, E, and F in the non-display state are generated in the same second size as content images C and D in the displayed state.

In other words, the size of the content image in a hidden state does not change during the resize input operation that changes the size of the content image display area AR, but after the resize input is completed, the size is changed to match the width of the content image display area AR, i.e., to match the size of the content image in a displayed state.

From the state shown in FIG. 5, where size change input is being accepted, to the state shown in FIG. 6, where size change input is complete, the control unit 17 performs the following control, for example.

The display control unit 17B accepts the end of the size change input, for example, when the user's finger FG is removed from the touch panel 11. When the display control unit 17B accepts the end of the size change input, it determines the position that the user's finger FG was touching immediately before it was removed as the position of the boundary BD between the content image display area AR and the map display area NV.

After determining the position of the boundary BD, the display control unit 17B determines the width of the display area AR to be width W2 and notifies the application control unit 17A. Upon receiving this notification, the application control unit 17A generates content images C and D to match width W2.

In addition, when the application control unit 17A receives a notification indicating the determined width of the display area AR, it changes the size of the content images A, B, E, and F from a first size having a width W1 to a second size having a width W2 in a single transition.

As described above with reference to Figures 4 to 6, in this embodiment, when a resize input is received to change the size of the content image display area AR, the size of the content image in the displayed state is changed in accordance with the resize input. That is, a display change process is applied to the first content image in the displayed state to change the display form of the first content image. On the other hand, the size of the content image in the hidden state is not changed in accordance with the resize input. That is, the display change process is not applied to the first content image in the hidden state. The size of the content image in the hidden state is changed in a single transition after the resize input is completed.

For example, when a scroll operation is subsequently performed in response to an operation on the content image display area AR, whichever of content images A, B, E, or F is in the displayed state, it is displayed in the same second size as content images C and D. Therefore, a content image with a constant size is displayed smoothly and with good visibility.

When a resize input is received, the application control unit 17A, which controls each piece of content, changes the size of the content image in the displayed state in accordance with the resize input. Specifically, when a resize input is received, the content corresponding to the content image in the displayed state is generated with the content image at a size changed in accordance with the resize input.

In addition, even if a resize input is received, the application control unit 17A will not change the size of a content image in a hidden state in response to the resize input.

By controlling the operation of each of the multiple applications as described above, the application control unit 17A can minimize the load on the content display control device 10 when a size change input is received. For example, an increase in CPU usage in the control unit 17 can be suppressed.

For example, when the size of a content image in a non-display state is changed in response to a resize input, the CPU usage rate increases compared to the above embodiment. According to this embodiment, the increase in the CPU usage rate can be suppressed. Therefore, a smooth scroll display can be achieved while reducing the load on the content display control device 10 when a resize input is input.

As described above, each content image may be displayed with the size of characters, amount of information, layout, and other content contained in the content image changed by the display change process described above.

Note that, although an example has been described in which a resize input causes the width of the content image display area AR to be enlarged from W1 to W2 and the content images A to F to be enlarged from a first size to a second size, this is not limiting. A resize input may also cause the width of the content image display area AR to become smaller than W1. Also, the content image display area AR may not appear on the display 11A, resulting in a closed state in which no content images are displayed.

The size of the display area AR that is determined when the size change input is completed may be any size or a specified size.

Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an outline of the operation executed by the control unit 17 in this embodiment. For example, when the content display control device 10 is started, the application control unit 17A reads out each application included in the application group 15A from the storage unit 15 and starts them (step S101).

When the application control unit 17A starts each application, it starts controlling each application to generate a content image (step S102). The application control unit 17A starts supplying image data for displaying the content image generated by each application to the display control unit 17B (step S103).

When image data of the content image is supplied, the display control unit 17B starts control to display the content image in the content image display area AR on the display 11A (step S104). When the display control unit 17B starts control to display the content image, it notifies the application control unit 17A whether each content image is in a displayed or hidden state (step S105).

When the user performs an input operation to change the size of the display area AR, the display control unit 17B accepts the start of the resize input (step S106). In step S106, the display control unit 17B accepts the resize input by detecting that a touch operation to specify a change in the size of the display area AR has been started via the touch pad 11B. In step S106, the display control unit 17B functions as a reception unit that accepts the resize input.

When the display control unit 17B receives the start of the resize input, it transmits resize input information indicating the content of the resize input to the application control unit 17A (step S107). In step S107, information is transmitted that includes, for example, information indicating the direction and amount of movement of the finger of the user performing the touch operation, the position on the display 11A, etc.

When the application control unit 17A receives the resize input information, it supplies image data of the displayed content image to the display control unit 17B (S108). In step S108, the application control unit 17A controls the application corresponding to the displayed content image so as to generate a content image whose size has been changed in accordance with the resize based on the resize input information, and supplies image data of the generated content image.

For example, the application control unit 17A changes the size of the content image in accordance with the size change by generating a content image to match the width of the content image display area AR included in the size change input information.

When the user finishes the input operation, the display control unit 17B accepts the end of the size change input (step S109). In step S109, the display control unit 17B accepts the end of the size change input, for example, when it detects that the finger of the user performing the touch operation has been removed from the touch pad 11B.

For example, when the display control unit 17B receives the end of the size change input, it determines the size of the content image display area AR. In step S109, the size of the content image display area AR may be determined based on the position of the boundary BD, for example, as described in Figures 4 to 6.

Then, the display control unit 17B transmits size change end information indicating that the size change input has ended to the application control unit 17A (step S110). In step S110, for example, information such as the width of the content image display area AR indicating the size of the content image display area AR may be transmitted together with the information indicating the end of the size change.

When the application control unit 17A receives the size change completion information, it supplies image data for displaying each content image at the size after the size change to the display control unit 17B (step S111).

In step S111, the application control unit 17A controls each application corresponding to each of the content images so that the size of the displayed content image on the display 11A becomes the size changed by the resize input. In step S111, for example, the displayed content image is generated to match the width of the content image display area AR notified by the resize end information.

In addition, in step S111, the application control unit 17A controls each application corresponding to each of the hidden content images so that the hidden content images are generated to match the size of the displayed content images.

Figures 8 and 9 are flow diagrams showing a control routine RT1, which is an example of an operation routine executed by the display control unit 17B between steps S106 and S111 in Figure 7 in the embodiment.

When the display control unit 17B starts the control routine RT1, it determines whether or not a touch input has started (step S201). In step S201, it is determined whether or not a touch operation corresponding to a size change input, which is an input operation for changing the size of the content image display area AR, has started. For example, in step S201, it may be determined that a touch input has started when the user's finger touches the boundary BD between the map display area NV and the content image display area AR.

If the display control unit 17B determines in step S201 that touch input has not started, it executes step S201 again to determine whether touch input has started.

When the display control unit 17B determines in step S201 that touch input has started, it sends touch input start information to the application control unit 17A (step S202).

After executing step S202, the display control unit 17B determines a reference position that serves as a reference for detecting the amount of movement of the touch input (step S203). The reference position is, for example, the position in the content image display area that is first touched by the user's finger.

After executing step S203, the display control unit 17B determines whether the amount of movement from the reference position in the touch input is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S204). In step S204, for example, it is determined whether the user's finger has moved an amount equivalent to the predetermined amount of movement.

If the display control unit 17B determines in step S204 that the amount of movement from the reference position is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it changes the size of the content image display area AR according to the amount of movement (step S205).

After executing step S205, the display control unit 17B transmits information indicating the size of the content image display area AR to the application control unit 17A (step S206). Note that in step S206, for example, information indicating the reference position, the amount of movement, and the touch position may be transmitted instead of the information indicating the size. In this case, the application control unit 17A may calculate the size of the content image display area AR, i.e., the size of the image to be generated, from the information indicating the reference position, the amount of movement, and the touch position.

After executing step S206, the display control unit 17B determines whether or not a content image corresponding to the size of the content image display area AR has been received (step S207). For example, in step S207, it is determined whether or not a content image generated according to the size of the content image display area AR has been received from the application control unit 17A for the content corresponding to the content image in the displayed state.

If the display control unit 17B determines in step S207 that a content image corresponding to the size of the content image display area AR has not been received, it repeats step S207 and determines again whether or not the content image has been received.

When the display control unit 17B determines in step S207 that a content image corresponding to the size of the content image display area AR has been received, it replaces the displayed content image (first content image) with the received content image (second content image) (step S208).

After execution of step S208, or if it is determined in step S204 that the count is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the display control unit 17B determines whether or not the touch input is complete (step S209). For example, in step S209, it is determined whether or not the touch input is complete when the user's finger is removed from the touch panel 11.

If the display control unit 17B determines in step S209 that the touch input has not been completed, the process returns to step S203, and the reference position is determined again. For example, when the reference position is determined again, the position after the movement when the amount of movement is determined in step S204 is determined as the next reference position. Note that when step S203 is executed after it is determined in step S204 that the amount of movement is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the same position as the original reference position may be determined as the reference position.

When the display control unit 17B determines in step S209 that the touch input is complete, the process proceeds to step S210 shown in FIG. 9, where the display control unit 17B transmits touch input completion information to the application control unit 17A. In step S210, information indicating that the touch input is complete, i.e., that the size change input is complete, is transmitted. In addition, in step S210, the result of the touch input is transmitted together with the touch input completion information. As the result of the touch input, for example, information indicating the size of the content image display area AR at the time of completion of the touch input or information indicating the touch position at the time of completion of the touch input is transmitted.

After executing step S210, the display control unit 17B determines whether or not a non-display content image corresponding to the result of the touch input has been received from the application control unit 17A (step S211). In step S211, it is determined whether or not a content image generated to fit the size of the content image display area AR, for example, has been received for the content corresponding to the non-display content image.

If the display control unit 17B determines in step S211 that a non-display content image corresponding to the result of the touch input has not been received, it repeats step S211 and determines again whether or not the non-display content image has been received.

When the display control unit 17B determines in step S211 that a non-display content image corresponding to the result of the touch input has been received, it replaces the corresponding non-display content image with the received non-display content image (step S212).

In step S212, the size of the content image in a hidden state is changed in a single transition from the size before the touch input (before the resize input) to a size that matches the size of the display area after the resize input is completed, i.e., to the size of the content image in a displayed state.

After step S212 is completed, the display control unit 17B returns to the beginning of control routine RT1 and repeats control routine RT1.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a control routine RT2, which is an example of an operation routine executed by the application control unit 17A between steps S106 and S111 in FIG. 7 in the embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a case where the application control unit 17A controls one of the applications included in the application group 15A. Below, as an example, a case where the application control unit 17A controls application A (content A), which is an application that generates content image A, will be described.

For example, the application control unit 17A starts application A to start generating content image A, and supplies image data of content image A to the display control unit 17B, and then starts control routine RT2.

When the application control unit 17A starts the control routine RT2, it determines whether or not it has received touch input start information, i.e., size change input information, from the display control unit 17B (step S301).

For example, in step S301, it is determined whether or not information indicating that touch input has started has been received.

When the application control unit 17A determines in step S301 that touch input start information has not been received (step S301: NO), it returns to the beginning of control routine RT2 and again determines whether touch input start information has been received.

In step S301, the application control unit 17A determines that touch input start information has been received (step S301: YES), and then determines whether the size of the content image display area AR after the movement has been received from the display control unit 17B (step S302).

When the application control unit 17A determines in step S302 that it has received the size of the content image display area AR after the movement, it determines whether or not the content image A is in a displayed state (step S303).

For example, in step S303, the application control unit 17A determines whether or not content image A is in a display state based on the display state notification (FIG. 7, step S105) previously notified by the display control unit 17B as described above.

When the application control unit 17A determines in step S303 that content image A is in a display state (step S303: YES), it controls application A to generate and transmit (supply) content image A in a size corresponding to the size of the display area after the movement (step S304). For example, in step S304, a content image whose layout or amount of information is changed as the size is changed according to the size of the display area after the movement may be generated.

After executing step S204, the application control unit 17A determines whether touch input completion information, i.e., size change end information indicating that the size change input has ended, has been received from the display control unit 17B (step S305).

If, in step S305, the application control unit 17A determines that touch input completion information has not been received (step S305: NO), the process returns to step S302 and determines again whether the size of the display area after the movement has been received.

When the application control unit 17A determines in step S303 that the content image A is not in a display state (step S303: NO), it determines whether touch input completion information has been received (step S306). For example, in step S306, together with the touch input completion information, information indicating the size of the display area at the time of touch input completion is received as a result of the touch input.

If, in step S306, the application control unit 17A determines that touch input completion information has not been received, the process returns to step S306 and determines again whether touch input completion information has been received.

In step S306, when the application control unit 17A determines that touch input completion information has been received, it controls application A to generate a non-displayed content image according to the result of the touch input and transmit the non-displayed content image to the display control unit 17B (step S307). In step S307, for example, application A generates a new content image A to replace the non-displayed content image A according to the size of the display area at the time of completion of the touch input received as a result of the touch input.

If the application control unit 17A determines in step S305 that touch input completion information has been received (step S305: YES), or after executing step S307, it ends control routine RT1 and repeatedly executes control routine RT1.

As described with reference to Figures 8 to 10, a display change process is executed to change the display form including the size and layout of the content image based on the size change input (for example, step S209 in Figure 8, step S212 in Figure 9, and steps S305 and S308 in Figure 10). During the display change process, the application control unit 17A and display control unit 17B as control units function as a display change processing unit to change the display form including the size of the content image based on the size change input.

Specifically, for example, the display change process is a process of replacing a newly generated second content image in a display form corresponding to the size change input with a first content image that has already been generated and is in a displayed or hidden state.

As described above in detail, according to the content display control device 10 of this embodiment, when a content image is displayed in the content image display area AR on the display 11A, the size of the content image display area AR can be changed in response to a resize input from the user. While the resize input is being accepted, a display change process is applied to the content image in the displayed state displayed in the content image display area AR, and the display form including the size is changed. The display form of the content image in the displayed state is changed in accordance with the resize input, and a display that is easy for the user to understand can be provided during resize.

Meanwhile, while the resize input is being accepted, the display change process is not applied to the content images in a hidden state that are not displayed on the display 11A. Therefore, the display form including the size of the content images in a hidden state is not changed in response to the resize input. Then, after the resize input is completed, the display form of the content images in a displayed state is changed in one transition, that is, to a display form according to the result of the resize input. This reduces the load on the content image generation and display control when the resize input is entered. Therefore, it is possible to provide a content display control device that can smoothly realize a highly visible display that meets the needs of the user with low power consumption and low cost.

In other words, while the size change input is being accepted, the display change processing unit performs display change processing on the first content images that are in a displayed state among the first content images corresponding to each of the multiple contents (applications), and does not perform display change processing on the first content images that are in a hidden state.

In addition, after the size change input is completed, the display change processing unit performs a display change process for the first content image that is in a hidden state.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the change in size of the content image after the size change input of the content image display area AR is completed in the first modified example of the embodiment. Figure 11 differs from Figure 6 in that the size of the content images A and F is a first size having a width W1, and is otherwise shown in the same way as Figure 6.

In the state shown in FIG. 11, the size of content images C and D in the displayed state is a second size having a width W2. The size of content images B and E in the non-displayed state is the same second size as content images C and D in the displayed state. In contrast, the size of content images A and F is a first size having a width W1, and has not changed from the size before the size change input.

In other words, in the state shown in FIG. 11, of the four content images that are not displayed, display change processing has been performed on content images B and E, changing their size to match the size of the content images in the displayed state. Display change processing has not been performed on content images A and F, and their sizes have not been changed.

In this manner, in this modified example, after the size change input for the content image display area AR is completed, the size of the content image in the hidden state is basically changed to match the size of the content image in the displayed state, as in content images B and E, but there are cases, such as content images A and F, where the size does not change even after the size change input is completed.

For example, whether or not the size of a content image in a hidden state is changed after the end of a resize input may be controlled based on the display order, which is the order in which the content images are displayed. An example of controlling the size of a content image based on the display order is described below.

As described above, each of the content images A to F generated for each frame FR is scrolled and displayed in the content image display area AR. In FIG. 11, the six frames FR in which the content images A to F are generated are scrolled in the arrangement direction while maintaining a continuous arrangement. Therefore, as the frame FR is scrolled, the content images A to F are also scrolled and displayed in a predetermined order. In other words, the content images A to F are scrolled and displayed in a predetermined scroll order.

For example, in FIG. 11, when content images A-F are scrolled upward, the content images are displayed in the order "A-B-C-D-E-F." Conversely, when content images A-F are scrolled downward, the content images are displayed in the order "F-E-D-C-B-A."

For example, the display order, which is the order in which the content images in a hidden state are scrolled in units of frames FR until they are displayed in the content image display area AR, can be specified as follows:

First, for content images that are in a displayed state, the display order is set to "0" since they are already displayed. Next, the display order of a content image that is in a hidden state and will be displayed when the content image is scrolled one frame FR in either the vertical or vertical direction is set to "1." In other words, the display order of a content image that corresponds to a frame FR that is located one frame FR outside the content image display area AR is set to "1."

Furthermore, the display order of a content image that is in a hidden state and is displayed when the content image is scrolled two frames FR in either the vertical or vertical direction is set to "2." In other words, the display order of a content image that corresponds to a frame FR that is located two frames FR outside the content image display area AR is set to "2."

This display order can also be thought of as a value that indicates how many frames FR need to be slid before a non-displayed content image is displayed.

For example, in FIG. 11, the display order of content images C and D is "0", the display order of content images B and E is "1", and the display order of content images A and F is "2". Therefore, in FIG. 11, content image A and content image F, which have a display order of "2", are displayed later on display 11A than content image B and content image E, which have a display order of "1".

For example, a content image that is displayed later than the specified order may not be changed even after the size change input is completed. When the content image is displayed, it only needs to be resized to match the size of the content image in the displayed state.

For example, if the predetermined display order is 1, then content images A and F in FIG. 11 have a display order of "2", which is later than the predetermined display order, and so the size does not need to be changed even after the size change input is completed. In this case, content images B and E have a display order of "1", so they are changed in one transition to the size of content images C and D in their displayed state after the size change input is completed.

Figure 12 is a flow diagram showing a control routine RT3, which is an example of an operation routine executed in the first modified example shown in Figure 11. In Figure 12, steps that are substantially the same as or equivalent to those in the control routine RT2 shown in Figure 10 are given the same reference numerals.

As in the case of control routine RT1, when size change input is received, the application control unit 17A determines whether content image A is in a displayed state (step S303), and if it determines that content image A is not in a displayed state (step S303: NO), i.e., if content image A is in a hidden state, it waits for touch input completion information (step S306).

When the application control unit 17A determines that touch input completion information has been received (step S306: YES), it determines whether the display order of content image A is 2 or more (step S401). In step S401, for example, it determines whether the order until content image A becomes in a display state is 2 or is later than 2, for example, whether it is 2 frames FR or more.

In step S401, if the application control unit 17A determines that the display order is two or more (step S401: YES), it ends this routine without generating a new content image A and executes this routine repeatedly.

In step S401, if the application control unit 17A determines that the display order is not two or more (step S401: NO), as described above, it generates a new non-displayed content image A (second content image) to replace the non-displayed content image A (first content image) and transmits it to the display control unit 17B (step S307).

The display control unit 17B replaces the generated non-display content image A with the non-display content image A (first content image). Therefore, the non-display content image A is changed in one transition from the size before the resize input to the size of the content image in the displayed state after the resize input is completed.

In this way, according to the first modified example described above, the size of each content image after the end of the resize input is changed to match the size of the content image display area AR at the end of the resize input (the content image in the displayed state after the resize input is completed), depending on the display order until the content image in the hidden state becomes visible.

More specifically, it is possible to prevent the size of a content image whose display order is later than a predetermined order from being changed. In other words, in this modified example, the display change processing unit does not perform display change processing on a first content image that is in a hidden state and whose display order is later than a predetermined order, even after the size change input is completed.

This makes it possible to reduce the load on the content display control device 10 associated with size change input, while maintaining smooth scrolling and a smooth display that follows size change input.

The content image display control by the content display control device 10 according to the second modified example of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 15.

Figure 13 is a diagram showing the size of the content image after size change input is completed in the second modified example. Figure 13 differs from Figure 11 in that the size of content images B and E is a first size having a width W1, but the rest of the points are shown in the same way as Figure 11.

In the state shown in FIG. 13, the sizes of content images B and E, which are not displayed, are generated at the first size, even after the size change input is completed, without being changed to the second size to match the sizes of content images C and D, which are displayed.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing the change in size of the content images during a scroll operation in which frame FR and the content image corresponding to frame FR are slid in the array direction in response to an input operation by the user's finger FG in the state of Figure 13. In Figure 14, content images C and D are slid in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow. Accordingly, content image E is brought into the content image display area AR.

In other words, in the state shown in FIG. 14, a scroll operation is performed in response to the input operation, and thus a selection input is made to select content image E for display.

As shown in FIG. 13, when no scrolling operation is being performed, the size of content image E in a hidden state is a first size. In the state shown in FIG. 14, when a scrolling operation is being performed, the size of content image E is changed to a second size, which is the same size as content images C and D.

In this way, the size of content image E, which was not displayed, is changed to match the size of content images C and D, which are displayed, when it is brought into the display area AR.

As described above, in the second modified example, when a selection input is received to make each of the hidden content images visible, the application control unit 17A generates a new content image (second content image) for the content image (first content image) selected by the selection input in accordance with the result of the resizing input. The display control unit 17B replaces the selected first content image with the second content image.

In other words, in the second modified example, when a size change input is received, the display change processing unit performs a display change process on the first content images that are hidden and selected among the first content images corresponding to each of the multiple contents (applications). On the other hand, the display change processing is not performed on the first content images that are hidden and not selected.

Since the size of each content image in a hidden state is not changed until it is selected, the load imposed when the size of a content image is changed in response to a resize input for changing the size of the content image display area AR on the display screen can be further reduced.

Figure 15 is a flow diagram showing a control routine RT4, which is an example of an operation routine executed in the second modified example shown in Figures 13 and 14. In Figure 15, steps that are substantially the same as or equivalent to those in the control routine RT2 shown in Figure 10 are given the same reference numerals.

In addition, in the control routine RT2, an example was described in which the application control unit 17A controls application A that generates content image A, but in the following explanation, an example will be described in which application E that generates content image E is controlled.

As in the case of control routine RT1, when the size change input is received, the application control unit 17A determines whether or not the content image E is in a displayed state (step S303), and if it determines that the content image E is not in a displayed state (step S303: NO), i.e., if the content image E is in a hidden state, it determines whether or not touch input completion information has been received (step S306).

When the application control unit 17A receives and determines that touch input is complete (step S306: YES), it waits for selection of a content image E (step S501). In step S501, the application control unit 17A waits for reception of a selection input for selecting content image E, which is in a hidden state, to be in a displayed state. The selection input may be, for example, an input operation on the touch pad 11B, such as a swipe in the array direction.

After executing step S501, the application control unit 17A determines whether or not content image E has been selected (step S502). In step S502, the application control unit 17A determines whether or not the display control unit 17B has received a selection input for making content image E visible. In step S502, the display control unit 17B functions as a reception unit that receives a selection input for selecting a content image that is not visible in order to make it visible.

If the application control unit 17A determines in step S502 that content image E has not been selected (step S502: NO), it ends this routine without generating a new content image E and executes this routine repeatedly.

When the application control unit 17A determines in step S502 that content image E has been selected (step S502: YES), it generates and transmits content image E according to the result of the touch input (step S307).

In step S403, the application control unit 17A generates a content image E, for example, to match the width of the content image display area AR notified by the touch input completion information from the display control unit 17B. In step S307, for example as shown in FIG. 14, a new content image E (second content image) corresponding to the content image E (first content image) in the non-display state is generated to match the size of the content images C and D in the displayed state. When the display control unit 17B receives the non-display content image E according to the result of the touch input, it replaces the corresponding non-display content image E with the received non-display content image E (FIG. 9, step S212).

As described above, according to the content display control device 10 of the present invention, the size of the content image can be changed and displayed in accordance with a user's size change input for changing the size of the content image display area AR on the display 11A.
At this time, the application that generates the content image can be controlled so that the size of the content image in a non-display state that is not displayed on the display 11A is not changed in response to the size change input.

For the content image in the hidden state, the load associated with the resizing input can be reduced by changing the size in one transition after the resizing input is completed.

In addition, it is possible to perform control so that the size of the content image in the non-display state is not changed even after the end of the size change input, depending on the display order until the content image is in the display state.
By using such control, the load associated with size change input can be further reduced.

In addition, the size of the content image in the non-display state is not changed even after the resize input is completed, and when the content image is selected to be displayed, it can be changed to match the size of the content image in the displayed state. This type of control can reduce the load associated with the resize input.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a content display control device, a content display control method, and a program that can smoothly realize a highly visible display that meets the needs of the user, with low power consumption and low cost.

In the above embodiment and modified example, the size of the content image display area AR has width W1 or width W2, but this is not limited to this. The size of the content image display area AR may be any size specified by an input operation on the touch panel 11, for example, or may be a specified size. In addition, although an example has been described in which only the width of the content image display area AR is changed, this is not limited to this, and the length in the vertical direction, for example, may be changed.

Note that, although an example in which the content display control device 10 displays two content images simultaneously has been described, this is not limiting. Display control may be performed so that one or three or more content images are displayed simultaneously.

The direction of scrolling controlled by the content display control device 10 is not limited to the up-down direction, and the display may be controlled to be scrollable in the left-right direction.

In addition, in the above embodiment and modified example, the position of the content image display area AR on the display 11A is on the left side as viewed from the front of the display 11A, but this is not limited to the above. The display area AR may be located anywhere on the display 11A.

For example, the position of the display area AR on the display 11A may be on the right side as one faces the display 11A. Alternatively, the display area AR may be provided at the top or bottom of the display 11A, and multiple content images displayed within the display area AR may be scrolled left and right.

In addition, in the higher-level embodiments and variants, the configuration may be such that input for scrolling the content image is not accepted while input for resizing the content image is being accepted. Similarly, the configuration may be such that input for resizing the content image is not accepted while input for scrolling the content image is being accepted.

The configurations in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples and can be selected and modified as appropriate depending on the application, etc.

10 Content display control device 11 Touch panel 11A Display 11B Touch pad 13 System bus 15 Storage unit 15A Application group 15B Map database 17 Control unit 19 Communication unit 21 Input unit 23 Output unit 25 GPS receiver FR Frame M Vehicle

Claims (1)

a display control unit that displays a plurality of content images in a display area on a display screen;
a reception unit that receives a size change input for changing a size of the display area on the display screen,
A content display control device characterized in that, while the size change input is being accepted, a display change process is performed to change the display form of a content image among a plurality of content images that is in a displayed state on the display screen based on the size change input, and the display change process is not performed on a content image that is in a hidden state and not displayed on the display screen.

Images