Patent Application
20130268100
The present invention relates to a manipulation control apparatus, a manipulation control program, and a manipulation control method, which perform control according to a manipulation.
Electronic devices having a function of recording a manipulation history are widely known. For example, Patent Reference 1 discloses a vehicle-mounted information terminal that starts storing a manipulation history when a manipulation storage start switch is pressed down, and finishes storing the manipulation history when a manipulation storage finish switch is pressed down. When any one of stored manipulations is selected, the vehicle-mounted information terminal performs an operation according to the selected manipulations.
In the technology disclosed in Patent Reference 1, a user has to press down the manipulation storage start switch and the manipulation storage finish switch in order to start and finish registration of the manipulation history, respectively, and thus manipulation is complicated.
Also, the vehicle-mounted information terminal records all manipulations so performed from the time when the manipulation storage start switch is pressed down to the time when the manipulation storage finish switch is pressed down. Thus, the number of recorded manipulations is increased high.
Here, due to the high number of recorded manipulations, it is difficult to select and designate a manipulation according to a desired operation from among the numerous recorded manipulations. As such, a conventional apparatus that has a manipulation recording function has a low user convenience (manipulability).
Considering such problems, the present invention provides a manipulation control apparatus, a manipulation control program, and a manipulation control method, which have high convenience or manipulability.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manipulation control apparatus including: a first obtaining unit which obtains manipulation information for indicating combined manipulations that are combinations of user manipulations; a first control unit which performs control according to the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit; a storage unit which stores condition information for indicating a condition that is valid when the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit are highly likely to be performed again by the user; a preserve unit which preserves the manipulation information in the storage unit when the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit satisfy the condition indicated by the condition information stored in the storage unit; a second obtaining unit which obtains reattempt designation information designating a combined manipulation corresponding to control of performing again by the user from among the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information preserved by the preserve unit; and a second control unit which performs the control according to the combined manipulation designated using the reattempt designation information obtained by the second obtaining unit.
The storage unit may match and store information for indicating types of the combined manipulations with a plurality of pieces of condition information respectively indicating a plurality of conditions that are valid when the types of combined manipulations are highly likely to be performed by the user again, the second obtaining unit may additionally obtain designation condition information for indicating the condition so information designated by the user from among the plurality of pieces of condition information stored in the storage unit, and the preserve unit may preserve the manipulation information in the storage unit when a condition indicated by the designation condition information obtained by the second obtaining unit is valid from among the plurality of pieces of condition information matching the information for indicating the types of combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit.
The manipulation control apparatus may further include a delete unit which deletes at least one piece of the plurality of manipulation information from the storage unit when the number of pieces of manipulation information stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined number, wherein the preserve unit may preserve the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit in the storage unit storing the number of pieces of manipulation information that is less than the predetermined number; the second obtaining unit may additionally obtain deletion-restricted designation information for designating manipulation information of which deletion is restricted from among the plurality of pieces of manipulation information preserved in the storage unit, and the delete unit may delete at least one piece of the plurality of manipulation information, which is different from the manipulation information designated as the deletion-restricted designation information obtained by the second obtaining unit.
The combined manipulation highly likely to be performed again may include a tuning manipulation of changing a frequency set in a tuner used to receive a radio broadcast or television broadcast, and the condition indicated by the condition information may include a condition that a following tuning manipulation is not performed over a first period of time or above after the tuning operation has been performed.
The combined manipulation highly likely to be performed again may include a combined manipulation of reproducing audio or an image, and the condition indicated by the condition information may include a condition that the combined manipulation reproducing the audio or image is a combination of a manipulation of searching audio or an image and a manipulation of reproducing found audio or image.
The combined manipulation highly likely to be performed again may include a manipulation of setting an audio output apparatus for outputting audio, or a manipulation of setting a display apparatus for displaying an image, and the condition indicated by the condition information may include a condition that the manipulation of setting the audio output apparatus is a manipulation of setting quality of the audio output by the audio output apparatus, or a condition that the manipulation of setting the display apparatus is a manipulation of setting brightness of the image displayed by the display apparatus.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manipulation control program, which operates a computer as: a first obtaining unit which obtains manipulation information for indicating combined manipulations that are combinations of user manipulations; a first control unit which performs control according to the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit; a preserve unit which preserves the manipulation information in the storage unit when the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining unit satisfy a condition that is valid when the combined manipulations are highly likely to be performed again by the user; a second obtaining unit which obtains reattempt designation information designating a combined manipulation corresponding to control of performing again by the user from among the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information preserved by the preserve unit; and a second control unit which performs the control according to the combined manipulation designated using the reattempt designation information obtained by the second obtaining unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manipulation control method including: a first obtaining operation for obtaining manipulation information for indicating combined manipulations that are combinations of user manipulations; a first control operation for performing control according to the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining operation; a preserve operation for preserving the manipulation information in the storage unit when the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information obtained by the first obtaining operation satisfy a condition that is valid when the combined manipulations are highly likely to be performed again by the user; a second obtaining operation for obtaining reattempt designation information designating a combined manipulation corresponding to control of performing again by the user from among the combined manipulations indicated by the manipulation information preserved by the preserve operation; and a second control operation for performing the control according to the combined manipulation designated using the reattempt designation information obtained by the second obtaining operation.
According to the present invention, a manipulation control apparatus, a manipulation control program, and a manipulation control method, which have high convenience or manipulability, are provided,
Hereinafter, a manipulation control apparatus 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 controlled by the manipulation control apparatus 110 are described with reference to accompanying drawings.
The vehicle-mounted apparatus 100, including the manipulation control apparatus 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes a case 11 having a box shape, and a manipulation panel 12 disposed on a front surface of the case 11, as shown in
As shown in
The LCD 120 is controlled by the manipulation control apparatus 110, and displays various images. The LCD 120 is provided in the manipulation panel 12 such that a user can see a display screen of the LCD 120 from the outside of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 through an opening of the manipulation panel 12.
The command knob 131, the history display key 132, and the keys 133 through 135 supply a signal according to user manipulation to the manipulation control apparatus 110. In detail, the command knob 131 has a rod shape and one end of the command knob 131 protrudes from an opening of the manipulation panel 12. The end of the command knob 131 protruding from the manipulation panel 12 is pressed down in a longitudinal direction and is rotated around a central axis by the user. The history display key 132 and the keys 133 through 135 protrude from the opening of the manipulation panel 12 and are pressed down by the user.
The microphone 140 converts audio around the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 into an analog audio signal, converts the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal by using an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, and supplies the digital audio signal to the manipulation control apparatus 110.
The tuner 190 receives electric waves at a frequency set by the manipulation control apparatus 110, demodulates an audio signal, and supplies the demodulated audio signal to the manipulation control apparatus 110. The manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs the audio signal demodulated by the tuner 190 to a front speaker 310 and a rear speaker 320. A received frequency and a modulating method of the tuner 190 are arbitrary, and for example, either of electric waves used for a radio broadcast and electric waves used for a television broadcast may be used.
The hard disk apparatus 195 stores a plurality of pieces of arbitrary data, for example, content information for indicating audio, such as an MP3 file and a WAV file, and content information for indicating an image, such as a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file and an audio video interleave (AVI) file. The manipulation control apparatus 110 reads content information stored in the hard disk apparatus 195, generates an audio signal based on the read content information, and outputs the generated audio signal to the front and rear speakers 310 and 320. Also, the manipulation control apparatus 110 generates an image signal indicating an image to be displayed based on the read content information and outputs the image signal to the LCD 120.
The manipulation control apparatus 110 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a program memory 112, a random access memory (RAM) 113, a history memory 114, a basic function memory 115, an input interface 119i, an output interface 119o, an input and output interface 119io, and a bus connecting them with each other.
The CPU 111 executes a program preserved in the program memory 112 to control the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 in general.
The program memory 112 stores a program executed by the CPU 111, for example, an operating system (OS) or application program.
The RAM 113 functions as a work area of the CPU 111 and stores a program to be executed or various types of data.
The history memory 114 and the basic function memory 115 include a nonvolatile memory capable of overwriting, such as a flash memory or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory backed up by a battery or the like. The history memory 114 stores history information for indicating a history of user manipulations. The basic function memory 115 stores various pieces of data used to execute programs for realizing basic functions of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 from the factory shipment.
The input interface 119i supplies signals supplied from the command knob 131, the history display key 132, the keys 133 through 135, and the microphone 140 to the CPU 111. The output interface 1190 outputs a signal output from the CPU 111 to the LCD 120 and the front and rear speakers 310 and 320 connected to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100. The input and output interface 119io relays signals transmitted and received among the tuner 190 and hard disk apparatus 195 included in the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100; a media controller 210, a portable music player 220, and a wireless communication apparatus 230 which are connected to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100; and the CPU 111.
The media controller 210, for example, reads data, such as content information, from a recording medium, such as a flash memory like an SD card, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a Blu-ray disc (registered trademark), and supplies the data to the CPU 111 via the input and output interface 119io. The media controller 210 also receives data output from the CPU 111 via the input and output interface 119io and records the data on the recording medium.
An iPod (registered trademark), for example, is used as the portable music player 220. The portable music player 220 stores a plurality of pieces of content information including musical piece data and description information about a musical piece, such as an artists name or a music title. The portable music player 220 searches for desired content information from among the plurality of pieces of content information according to control of the manipulation control apparatus 110. For example, the portable music player 220 searches for musical piece data of a musical piece played by an artist who has the name that includes a keyword output from the manipulation control apparatus 110, on the basis of description information. Also, the portable music player 220 reproduces the found musical piece data, and outputs an audio signal of the reproduced musical piece to the manipulation control apparatus 110. The manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs the input audio signal to the front and rear speakers 310 and 320 via the output interface 119o.
The wireless communication apparatus 230 wirelessly connects a portable terminal 235 of the user, according to Bluetooth standards (registered trademark) or the like. The portable terminal 235 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a PDA. The manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs a signal for indicating a phone number and a command signal for calling the phone number to the wireless communication apparatus 230, in accordance with user manipulation. The wireless communication apparatus 230 wirelessly transmits the command signal output from the manipulation control apparatus 110 to the portable terminal 235. The portable terminal 235 calls the phone number indicated by the received signal, in response to the command signal.
While the user is making a call over the portable terminal 235, the manipulation control apparatus 110 supplies the audio signal output from the microphone 140 to the wireless communication apparatus 230. The wireless communication apparatus 230 transmits the audio signal supplied from the manipulation control apparatus 110 to the portable terminal 235. The portable terminal 235 wirelessly transmits the received audio signal to a base station. Also, upon receiving a wireless signal including an audio signal from the base station, the portable terminal 235 demodulates the audio signal and transmits the demodulated audio signal to the wireless communication apparatus 230. The wireless communication apparatus 230 supplies the received audio signal to the manipulation control apparatus 110. The manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs the supplied audio signal to the front and rear speakers 310 and 320.
Then, when the user performs a manipulation of ending the call, the manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs a command signal for transmitting a hang-up signal (i.e., a command to end the call) to the wireless communication apparatus 230, in response to the manipulation. The wireless communication apparatus 230 transmits the command signal from the manipulation control apparatus 110 to the portable terminal 235. Upon receiving the command signal, the portable terminal 235 transmits the hang-up signal to the base station according to the received command signal.
Also, when there is an incoming call (i.e., when a call signal is received from the base station), the portable terminal 235 transmits information about the incoming call to the manipulation control apparatus 110 via the wireless communication apparatus 230. The manipulation control apparatus 110 outputs a command signal for reception (i.e., a command to transmit a response signal) to the wireless communication apparatus 230, in response to user manipulation allowing reception. The wireless communication apparatus 230 transmits the command signal to the portable terminal 235. The portable terminal 235 transmits a response signal to the base station in response to the received command signal.
The vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 performs an operation according to a manipulation or a combination of manipulations performed by the user on the command knob 131, the history display key 132, and the various keys 133 through 135. For an example, when the user manipulates (rotates) the command knob 131, the so vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 selects an option displayed on the LCD 120. Alternatively, when the user manipulates (presses down) the command knob 131, the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 performs an operation of displaying a selected option.
In order to perform such operations, the manipulation control apparatus 110 performs a control process according to a combination of manipulations (hereinafter, referred to as a combined manipulation) indicated by signals output from the command knob 131, the history display key 132, and the various keys 133 through 135.
The CPU 111 of the manipulation control apparatus 110 performs a preservation condition setting process shown in
The storage unit 110a stores a preservation condition table shown in
The manipulation categories are classified according to apparatuses controlled according to the combined manipulations. In detail, the types of the combined manipulations include: i) a manipulation of changing a frequency set by the tuner 190 (hereinafter, referred to as a tuning manipulation), ii) a manipulation of making a call over the portable terminal 235 (hereinafter, referred to as a calling manipulation), iii) a manipulation of receiving an incoming call on the portable terminal 235 when there is an incoming call (hereinafter, referred to as a call receiving manipulation), iv) a manipulation of selecting a musical piece to be reproduced from among a plurality of musical pieces indicated by a plurality of pieces of content information stored in the hard disk apparatus 195, the media controller 210, or the portable music player 220, respectively (hereinafter, referred to as a song selecting manipulation), and v) a manipulation of changing settings of the front or rear speaker 310 or 320 and a manipulation of changing settings of the LCD 120 (hereinafter, referred to as a setting manipulation).
Entries in the first through fourth lines of the preservation condition table of
If the user wants to listen to a certain broadcast, the user adjusts a received frequency of a tuner via a tuning manipulation so as to listen to audio output from the front speaker 310 or the like. If the user determines that the broadcasted contents are not what the user wants to listen, the user changes a frequency set in the tuner 190 via a tuning manipulation. Here, if the user determines that the broadcasted contents are not what the user wants to listen, a time from the tuning manipulation to the following tuning manipulation is generally shorter than the first period of time. Also, a broadcast program is generally broadcasted according to a predetermined period, for example, every week or at a certain time of a certain day of the week. Accordingly, if the user likes the broadcast program, it is highly likely that the user manipulates the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 according to the predetermined period so as to receive the broadcast program. Thus, in the present embodiment, the user may arbitrarily designate a first period of time from among 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, and 1 minute.
A suitable value for the first period of time may be, for example, determined by one of ordinary skill in the art via experiments.
Entries in the fifth through ninth lines of the preservation condition table of
Similarly, the tenth through fourteenth lines of the preservation condition table of
Also, the preservation condition table of
Also, the preservation condition table of
Next, the preservation condition setting process shown in
When the key 133 of
Next, the first control unit 110d determines whether a category for designating a preservation condition is determined based on manipulation information (i.e., a combination of signals indicating manipulations) indicating a combined manipulation obtained by the first obtaining unit 110b from the command knob 131 of
If the category is determined (designated) in operation S03 (operation S03; Yes), the first control unit 110d searches for condition information matching the type information for indicating the determined category in the preservation condition table of
Next, the first control unit 110d determines whether a preservation condition is designated, based on whether the first obtaining unit 110b obtained designation condition information for indicating a designation condition designated by the user from among condition information for indicating preservation condition displayed on the preservation condition select screen (operation S06). Also, like operation S03, the user designates a designation condition.
If it is determined that the preservation condition is designated in operation S06 (operation S06: Yes), the first control unit 110d sets all designation condition flags to be OFF, wherein all designation condition flags are designation condition flags which are preserved in the preservation condition table of
Otherwise, if the category is not determined in operation S03 (operation S03; No), if it is determined that the preservation condition is not designated in operation 506 (operation S06; No), or after operation S08, the first control unit 110d obtains information for indicating an initial screen from the storage unit 110a, controls the LCD 120 to display a screen indicated by the obtained information (operation S09), and then ends the preservation condition setting process.
Here, the storage unit 110a stores a manipulation history table shown in
In detail, history information stored in the manipulation history table of
Here, when the manipulation control apparatus 110 controlling the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 is activated, a history preserving process shown in
Then, the first control unit 110d performs a control process according to the combined manipulation indicated by the manipulation information obtained in operation S11 (operation S14). In detail, when the combined manipulation indicated by the manipulation information obtained in operation S11 is a tuning manipulation, the first control unit 110d performs a control process of setting a frequency of the tuner 190 of
After operation S14 of
Otherwise, if it is determined that the designation condition is valid in operation S15 (operation S15; Yes), the preserve unit 110c generates history information based on the manipulation information obtained in operation S11, for example, a system time managed by an operating system (OS) (operation S16). Then, the delete unit 110g of
Here, if it is determined that the stored history number and the maximum storage number are equal (operation S17; Yes), the delete unit 110g searches for a plurality of pieces of history information including a deletion-restricted flag that is turned to be OFF and the type information for indicating the manipulation category specified in operation S12, in the manipulation history table of
Otherwise, if it is determined that the stored history number is not equal to the maximum storage number in operation S17 (operation S17; No), or after operation S19, the preserve unit 110c preserves the history information generated in operation S16 in the manipulation history table of
Here, when the history display key 132 of
Next, the first control unit 110d displays manipulation information included in the plurality of pieces of history information read in operation S31 on the manipulation history display screen, as shown in
Then, the second control unit 110f determines whether the second obtaining unit 110e obtained a signal indicating designation information for designating a process performed by the second control unit 110f, from the command knob 131, the history display key 132, and the various keys 133 through 135 of
In this regard, it is determined whether the designation information obtained by the second obtaining unit 110e is reattempt designation information where the manipulation indicated by the selected manipulation information that inverted display is performed like
If it is determined that the obtained designation information is the reattempt designation information in operation S37 (operation S37; Yes), the second control unit 110f performs a control process according to a manipulation indicated by the selected manipulation information (operation S38). Then, the processes from operation 531 are repeated.
Otherwise, if it is determined that the obtained designation information is not the reattempt designation information in operation S37 (operation S37; No), the second control unit 110f determines whether the obtained designation information designates the selected manipulation information (operation S39). In detail, the user rotates the command knob 131 of
If it is determined that the obtained designation information is information designating the selected manipulation information in operation S39 (operation S39; Yes), the second control unit 110f ends inverted display of the selected manipulation information, and then sets the manipulation information designated as the designation information to new selected manipulation information, and then performs inverted display of the new selected manipulation information (operation S40). Then, the processes from operation S31 are repeated.
Otherwise, if it is determined that the obtained designation information is not the designation information for designating the selected manipulation information in operation S39 (operation S39; No), the second control unit 110f determines whether the obtained designation information is designation information for designating manipulation information of which deletion is restricted (hereinafter, referred to as deletion-restricted designation information) (operation S41).
If it is determined that the obtained designation information is the so deletion-restricted designation information in operation S41 (operation S41; Yes), the second control unit 110f turns a deletion-restricted flag to be ON. wherein the deletion-restricted flag is preserved in the manipulation history table of
Otherwise, if it is determined that the obtained designation information is not the deletion-restricted designation information in operation S41 (operation S41; No), the second control unit 110f determines whether the obtained designation information is designation information for designating the manipulation information that releases deletion restriction (hereinafter, referred to as restriction releasing designation information (operation S43).
If it is determined that the obtained designation information is not the restriction releasing designation information in operation S43 (operation S43; No), the processes from operation S31 are repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the obtained designation information is the restriction releasing designation information (operation S43; Yes), the second control unit 110f turns a deletion-restricted flag to be OFF, wherein the deletion-restricted flag is preserved in the manipulation history table of
When the maximum storage number of pieces of history information as shown in
According to such a structure, manipulation information for indicating a combined manipulation performed by a user is preserved in the storage unit 110a if a condition that is valid when the combined manipulation is highly likely to be performed again by the user is satisfied. Consequently, user convenience is improved since the user does not have to perform a manipulation different from the combined manipulation, for example, pressing a special switch, so as to preserve the manipulation information. Also, since the manipulation information is preserved when the condition is satisfied, the number of pieces of manipulation information preserved in the storage unit 110a is difficult to be increased. Accordingly, user convenience is improved since the user can easily and quickly designate a manipulation (i.e., shorten a time required to perform a manipulation) desired from the combined manipulation indicated by the preserved manipulation information. Specifically, not only a driver at the wheel and a passenger in a passenger seat assisting the driver can be freed from the inconvenience of registering manipulation information by combining manipulations performed on the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100 or the inconvenience of repeatedly performing a combination of complex operations, but also the driver can drive safely.
Also, according to such structures, the manipulation information for indicating the combined manipulation is preserved when the condition designated by the user is valid according to types of combined manipulations. Accordingly, not only the number of pieces of manipulation information preserved in the storage unit 110a is difficult to be increased, but also a manipulation desired from the combined manipulation indicated by the preserved manipulation information can be easily designated, and thus, user convenience is further improved with respect to the vehicle-mounted apparatus 100, for example, when the user is at the wheel.
Also, according to such structures, when the number of pieces of stored manipulation information reaches a predetermined number, at least one piece of manipulation information different from manipulation information designated by the user as manipulation information of which deletion is restricted is deleted, and thus, not only do the number of pieces of manipulation information preserved in the storage unit 110a not exceed the predetermined number, but also the user can easily and definitely designate the manipulation information of which deletion is restricted. Thus, user convenience is improved.
Also, the structure for realizing the functions according to the present invention not only can be provided as a pre-prepared manipulation control apparatus, but also can operate a conventional manipulation control apparatus as a manipulation control apparatus of the present invention via a program application. In other words, a manipulation control program for realizing each functional structure of the manipulation control apparatus 110 according to the above embodiment may be applied to a computer (CPU or the like) of the conventional manipulation control apparatus to execute the computer controlling the conventional manipulation control apparatus, so as to operate the conventional manipulation control apparatus as the manipulation control apparatus of the present invention.
A method of distributing such a program is arbitrary, and for example, the program may be distributed through a communication medium, such as the Internet, as well as by being stored in a recording medium, such as a memory card, a CD-ROM, or a DVD-ROM. Also, a manipulation control method of the present invention may be performed by using the manipulation control apparatus 110.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-290727 filed on 27 Dec. 2010. The present application is recorded by referring to all of the specification, the claims, and the drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-290727.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-290727 | Dec 2010 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2011/080351 | 12/27/2011 | WO | 00 | 11/30/2012 |
