SPECIFICATION
DATA PROCESSING DEVICE  AND COMPUTER PROGRAM AND DATA
PROCESSING NETHOD THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a data processing device used for processing various kinds of data  and more particularly  to a data processing device that executes an image display operation and a touch manipulation with a touch panel  and a computer program and a data processing method thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
At present  inparticular  in a data processing device such as a mobile personal digital assistant (PDA) or a mobile phone terminal  a touch panel capable of executing an image display operation and a touch manipulation is widely used. Various data processing devices using such a touch panel have been proposed.
[0003]
For example  an invention that provides a manipulation display unit including a touch panel or the like which has multiple functions but is easy for users to manipulate  a manipulation displaying method  and a manipulation

displaying program has already been filed.
[0004]
The data processing device is a manipulation display unit that displays the icons and keys of an image forming apparatus and receives the settings of operation conditions through manipulations from the user. The data processing device includes a touch panel for displaying icons and the like  in which a basic screen for displaying predetermined icons and the like and a simple screen for displaying a smaller number of icons and the like than predetermined operation condition items displayed on the basic screen are interchangeably displayed on the touch panel (for example  see Patent Document 1)
[0005]
Moreover  an invention that enables users to easily call a function setting menu  for example  and performs
function settings smoothly and quickly while effectively using a display screen has already been filed. In the data processing device  a control unit displays a dial
look/secret mode setting notifying icon and the like on an upper border region of a display screen while a standby screen is displayed in a main display region and displays a vibrator setting notifying icon and the like on a lower border region of the display screen.
[0006]
When a user manipulates a cursor key  selects the
vibrator setting notifying icon  for example  and presses

an OK key  the control unit displays a vibrator setting menu on the main display region.
[0007]
Here  when the user manipulates the cursor key and selects OFF  for example  and presses the OK key  the control unit rewrites the setting contents stored in a storage unit (for example  see Patent Document 2)
RELATED DOCUMENT
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0008]
[Patent Document 1] JP—A—2007—l8l993
[Patent Document 2] JP—A—2003—2987l5
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009]
However  in the data processing devices of the related art  in order to enable users to easily use a specific function  the image of a function activation icon associated with the function is displayed on a screen of a touch panel.
[0010]
Moreover  in particular  in a small touch panel or the
like of a mobile data processing device  when the images of
a number of function activation icons are displayed in
advance on the screen thereof  the images may obstruct the
display image associated with various processes.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above

problems  and provides a data processing device capable of allowing users to use a plurality of function activation icons quickly and easily to thereby minimize obstruction of the display image associated with various processes  and a computer program and a data processing method thereof.
[0012]
A data processing device of the present invention includes: a touch panel that includes a rectangular screen which has a function of displaying images and a function of accepting a touch manipulation; an icon storage unit that stores a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation; a call display unit that displays the image of the stored function calling icon on at least one of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel; a function calling unit that calls the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon; and a function display unit that displays the images of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
[0013]
A computer program of the present invention is a

computer program of the data processing device of the present invention which causes the data processing device to execute: an icon storage process of storing a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a
predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation; a call display process of displaying the image of the stored function calling icon on at least one of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel; a function calling process of calling the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon; and a function display process of displaying the images of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
[0014]
A data processing method of the present invention is a data processing method of the data processing device of the present invention which includes: an icon storage operation of storing a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation; a call display operation of displaying the image of the stored function calling icon on at least one

of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel; a function calling operation of calling the plurality of
function activation icons in correspondence to a touch
manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon; and a function display operation of displaying the images of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
[0015]
Various kinds of constituent elements of the present invention may be formed so as to realize the functions
thereof. For example  the constituent elements can be
realized as dedicated hardware that performs predetermined functions  a data processing device which is provided with predetermined functions by a computer program  and
predetermined functions which are realized in a data
processing device by a computer program  and an arbitrary combination thereof.
[0016]
Moreover  various kinds of constituent elements of the present invention may not always be individually independent elements  but a plurality of constituent elements may be formed as a single member  a single constituent element may be formed as a plurality of members  a certain constituent element may be a part of the other constituent elements  and a part of a certain constituent element may overlap with a

part of the other constituent elements.
[0017]
Moreover  although the computer program and the data
processing method of the present invention are described as
a sequence of a plurality of prccesses and operations  the
described sequence does not limit the sequence of executing
the plurality of processes and the plurality of operations.
[0018]
Therefore  whenperforming the computerprogramandthe data processing method of the present invention  the sequence of the plurality of processes and the plurality of operations may be changed unless contrary to the content thereof.
[0019]
In addition  in the computer program and the data processing method according to the present invention  the plurality of processes and the plurality of operations are not limited to being individually executed at different timings. Thus  another process and operation may occur during execution of a certain process and operation  and another process and operation may occur partially or entirely at the same timing as a certain process and operation.
[0020]
In addition  “store data” as used in the present invention means that the data processing device of the present invention at least has a function of storing data.

Thus  the data processing device of the present invention may allow storing data which is newly registered by a
consumer  and may allow storing data which is registered during manufacturing by a supplier but may not allow new data to be registered by the consumer after the shipment.
[0021]
In addition  although the up  down  left  and right directions are defined in the present invention  the
directions are defined for the sake of convenience in order to simplify the relative relationship between constituent elements  and the directions do not restrict the directions when manufacturing or using the product in which the present invention is implemented.
[0022]
Moreover  the data processing device as used in the present invention can be implemented as hardware constructed bygeneral-purposedevices suchas a centralprocessingunit (CPU)   a read only memory (ROM)   a random access memory (RAM) or an interface (I/F) unit so as to read a computer program to execute a corresponding processing operation  a dedicated logic circuit constructed so as to execute a predetermined processing operation  and a combination thereof.
[0023]
In the present invention  causing the data processing device to execute various operations corresponding to the computer program means causing the data processing device to control the operation of various kinds of devices.

[0024]
In the data processing device of the present invention  a touch panel including a rectangular screen has a function of displaying images and a function of accepting a touch manipulation. An icon storage unit stores a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation. A call display unit displays the image of the stored function calling icon on at least one of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel. A function calling unit calls the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon. A function display unit displays the images of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located. Therefore  it is possible to minimize the proportion in which the images of the plurality of displayed function activation icons obstruct the display image displayed on the screen.
ERIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025]
The above and other objects  features  and advantages will be more apparent from the following description of

certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings  in which:
[0026]
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a logic structure of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic front view showing a state where a display image associated with various processes and the image of a function calling icon are displayed on a screen of a touch panel;
Fig. 3 is a schematic front view showing a state where the image of the function calling icon displayed on the screen of the touch panel is touched;
Fig. 4 is a schematic front view showing a state where the images of a plurality of function activation icons are displayed on the screen of the touch panel and one of them is touched;
Fig. 5 is a schematic front view showing a state where the function calling icon is touched in a state where the images of the plurality of function activation icons are displayed on the screen of the touch panel; and
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a data processing method by the data processing device.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0027]
An embodiment of the present invention will be

described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment  the front  rear  left  right  and up  and down directions are defined as shown in the drawings. However  the directions are defined for the sake of convenience in order to simplify the relative relationship between
constituent elements. Thus  the directions do not restrict the directions when manufacturing or using the product that implements the present invention.
[0028]
As shown in Fig. 1  a data processing device 100 of the present embodiment includes a touch panel 110 that includes a rectangular screen 111 which has a function of displaying images and a function of accepting a touch manipulation  and an icon storage unit 120 that stores a plurality of function activation icons FAI each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon FOl for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3  the data processing device 100 includes a call display unit 130 that displays the image of the stored function calling icon FCI on at least one of the four corners of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110  and an icon calling unit 140 that calls the plurality of function activation icons FAI in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon FCI. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5  the data processing device 100 includes a function display unit 150 that displays the images of the plurality

of called function activation icons FAI so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen 111  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon FOl is located.
[0029]
More specifically  as shown in Figs. 4 and 5  the function display unit 150 displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI so as to be arranged on two of the four sides which communicate with one of the four corners where the function calling icon FCI is located.
[0030]
Moreover  the icon storage unit 120 stores the function calling icon FCI which is displayed as an image in a predeternined vertical height and horizontal width. The function display unit 150 displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI so as to be arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates in a vertical direction with the same horizontal width as the function calling icon FCI with one of the four corners where the function calling icon FCI is located  and displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI so as to be arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates in a horizontal direction with the same vertical height as the function calling icon FOl.
[0031]
In addition  the icon storage unit 120 stores the
function calling icon FOl of which the display image is changed before and after the images of the function activation icons are displayed  which will be described in detail later.
[0032]
More specifically  the data processing device 100 of
the present embodiment is formed as a mobile electronic
terminal such as  for example  a mobile telephone terminal 
a personal digital assistance (POA)  or an electronic
dicticnary.
[0033]
Therefore  in order to reduce the size of a whole body and realize multiple functions  a touch manipulation is enabled in the touch panel 110 that displays images. The data processing device 100 of the present embodiment includes a stylus 160 as shown in Fig. 3 and the like  for example  in order to enable an accurate touch manipulation on the small—size touch panel 110.
[0034]
The data processing device 100 of the present embodiment includes a computer unit  a memory device  and the like as hardware (not shown) in addition to the touch panel 110 and the like described above. A computer program is installed in the computer unit  and the computer unit controls the touch panel 110 and the like in an integrated manner in correspondence to the computer program  whereby the respective units as described above are logically

right corner which is one of the four corners of the screen
111 of the touch panel 110 as shown in Fig. 2 (step S2)
[0037]
The function calling icon FCI displayed as an image as described above is displayed  for example  as an image like “TOOL” or the like as shown in the drawing  and is spontaneously understood by the user that the function activation icons FAI of various kinds of tools can be called.
[0038]
In this state  approximately the entire area of the creen 111 of the touch panel 110 is left blank  and an operation of displaying images and a touch manipulation can be executed. Thus  when the user executes various touch manipulations  for example  (step S3—Y) using a portion where no image of the function calling icon FCI is displayed  various processes such as an image display operation are executed as shown in Fig. 2 (step S4)
[0039]
In this state  approximately the entire area of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110 is used for various processes. In such a state  when the user wants to use a specific function executed by the function activation icon FAI  for example  as shown in Fig. 3  the user touches on the function calling icon FCI on the bottom right corner of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110 (step S5—Y) [0040]
Then  a plurality of function activation icons FAI set
in advance is called (step 56)  and as shown in Fig. 4  the images thereof are displayed and arranged on the upper and left sides of the function calling icon FCI (step 57)
[0041]
In this case  the screen 111 of the touch panel 110 which is used for displaying of the images or the like associated with various processes as described above is also used for displaying of the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI as described above.
[0042]
However  as described above  the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI are displayed and arranged on the right and bottom sides of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110. Thus  approximately the entire area of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110 can be used for displaying of the images associated with various processes  and substantially no displayed image is obstructed.
[0043]
In such a state  when the image of the displayed function activation icon FAI is touched (step S8—Y)  a specific function corresponding to the icon is executed (step 59) . Such a touch manipulation is executed by a finger as well as the stylus 160 described above.
[0044]
As described above  in a state where the images of the function activation icons FAI are displayed  as shown in the drawing  the function calling icon FOl is displayed  for
example  as an image like “CLOSE” or the like  and is spontaneously understood by the user that the function activation icon FAT can be removed.
[0045]
Thus  as described above  when the user who has touched on the function activation icon FAT to use various functions touches again on the function calling icon FCT as shown in Fig. 5 (step SlO-Y)  the plurality of function activation icons E’AI displayed as images as described above are removed as shown in Fig. 2 (step Sll)
[004 6.1
Thus  a state where approximately the entire area of the screen 111 of the touch panel 110 is used again for various processes is created. Accordingly  the entire part of a display image which has been obstructed by the function activation icons FAI  for example  is displayed again.
[0047]
In this way  the function calling icon ECI and the function activation icons FAI return to an initial state. Thus  the process operations as described above can be repeatedly performed until the data processing device 100 is turned off  for example  by a predetermined operation (step S12—Y)
[0048]
In the data processing device 100 of the present
embodiment  as described above  the icon storage unit 120 stores a plurality cf function activation icons FAT each for
activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon FCI for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation.
[0049]
The calling and display unit 130 displays the image of the function calling icon FCI stored in this way on at least one of the four corners of the screen 111 of the touch panel
110. The icon calling unit 140 calls a plurality of function activation icons FAI in correspondence to the touch manipulation on the function calling icon ECI displayed as an image as described above.
[0050]
The function display unit 150 displays the images of
the plurality of called function activation icons FAI so as
to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen
111  which communicates with one of the four corners where
the function calling icon FCI is located.
[0051]
Thus  it is possible to minimize the proportion in which the images of the plurality of displayed function activation icons FAI obstruct the display image displayed on the screen
ill. Therefore  the user can use various functions with the plurality of function activation icons FAT while utilizing approximately the entire area of the screen 111 of the touch panel 100.
[0052]
In particular  the function display unit 150 displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons PAl so as to be arranged on to of the four sides which communicate with one of the four corners where the function calling icon PCI is located. Thus  the plurality of function activation icons PAl are displayed so as to be arranged on the two sides of the screen 111 of the rectangle of the touch panel 110.
[0053]
Thus  a remaining portion in a state where the images of the function activation icons PAl are displayed can be made to be rectangular similarly to that before the images are displayed. Therefore  a display image may be displayed approximately in the entire area of the rectangle of the screen 111  and the display image may be reduced and
displayed in a remaining portion of the rectangle of the screen 111 when the plurality of function activation icons PAl are arranged and displayed on the four sides (not shown)
[0054]
In addition  the icon storage unit 120 stores the
function calling icon PCI which is displayed as an image in a predetermined vertical height and horizontal width. The function display unit 150 displays the images of the
plurality of function activation icons PAl so as to be
arranged on one of the four sides which communicates in a vertical direction with the same horizontal width as the function calling icon PCI with one of the four corners where the function calling icon PCI is located  and displays the
images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI so as to be arranged on one of the four sides which communicates in a horizontal direction with the same vertical height as the function calling icon FCI.
[0055]
Therefore  in a state where the function activation icons FAI are not displayed  the user can spontaneously predict a region where the images of the function activation icons FAI are displayed. Thus  when displaying the images of the function activation icons FAT  as shown in Figs. 3 and 4  it is possible to arrange the display image associated with various processes in advance at a position such that the display image is not obstructed even when the images of the function activation icons FAI are displayed.
[0056]
In addition  the display image of the function calling icon FCI is changed before and after the images of the function activation icons PAl are displayed. More specifically  since the function calling icon FCI is displayed as an image like “TOOL” or the like as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 before the images of the function activation icons FAT are displayed  the user can spontaneously understand that the function activation icons PAl of various tools can be called.
[0057]
On the other hand  since the function calling icon PCI is displayed as an image like “CLOSE” or the like as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5 after the images of the function activation icons FAI are displayed  the user can spohtaneously
understand that the function activation icons FAI can be removed.
[0058]
The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment  but various modifications can be made within the range without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For example  in the above embodiment  although the data processing device 100 is illustrated as being formed in a mobile type  the present invention can be implemented in a non—mobile type data processing device 100.
[0059]
Moreover  in the above embodiment  the image of the function calling icon FCI is illustrated as being displayed on one of the four corners of the screen 111 of the rectanle of the touch panel 110. However  the images of a plurality of function calling icons FOl may be individually displayed on plural corners of the four corners of the screen 11 of the touch panel 110.
[0060]
In addition  in the above embodiment  the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI are illustrated as being displayed so as to be arranged on two of the four sides  which communicate with one of the four corners where the function calling icon FCI is located.
[0061]
However  the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAI may be displayed so as to be arranged on only one of the four sides  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon FCI is located (not shown)
[0062
Moreover  the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAT may be displayed so as to be arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates with another one of the two of the four sides  where the images of the plurality of function activation icons FAT are displayed and arranged.
[0063]
In this case  the images of the plurality of function
activation icons FAT are displayed so as to be arranged on
threecontinuous sidesof the screenlll  whicharegenerally

[0064]
In addition  in the present embodiment  the respective units of the data processing device 100 are illustrated as being logically realized as various functions by a computer program. However  these respective units may be formed as unique hardware and may be realized as a combination of software and hardware.
[0065]
It goes without saying that the embodiment and the plurality of modifications described above can be combined

with each other unless contrary to the content thereof. Moreover  in the embodiment and modifications described above  although the structure and the like of the respective units have been described concretely  the structure and the like may be changed in various ways within the range of the present invention.
[0066]
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2009-096979 filed on April 13  2009  the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
CLAIMS
1. A data processing device comprising:
a touch panel that includes a rectangular screen which has a function of displaying images and a function of accepting a touch manipulation;
an icon storage unit that stores a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation;
a call display unit that displays an image of the stored function calling icon on at least one of four corners of the screen of the touch panel;
a function calling unit that calls the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manip
icon;
a function display unit
plurality of called function
arranged on at least one of
which communicates with one
function calling icon is located.
arranged on two of the four sides  which communicate with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
3. The data processing device according to claim 2 
wherein the icon storage unit stores the function
calling icon which is displayed as an image in a predetermined vertical height and horizontal width  and
wherein the function display unit displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons so as to be arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates in a vertical direction with the same horizontal width as the function calling icon with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located  and displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons so as to be arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates wtth the corner in a horizontal direction with the same vertical height as the function calling icon.
4. The data processing device according to any one of claims
1 to 3 
wherein the function display unit displays the images of the plurality of function activation icons so as to be also arranged on one of the four sides  which communicates with another one of two of the four sides where the images of the plurality of function activation icons are arranged and displayed.

5. The data processing device according to any one of claims
1 to 4 
wherein the icon storage unit stores the function calling icon of which the display image is changed before and after the images of the function activation icons are displayed.
6. The data processing device according to any one of claims
1 to 5  further comprising:
an image display unit that displays a display image approximately in the entire area of the rectangular screen; and
a reduction display unit that reduces and displays the display image in a remaining portion of the rectangular screen when the plurality of function activation icons are arranged and displayed on the four sides.
7. A computer program of the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6  for causing the data processing device to execute:
an icon storage process of storing a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation;
a call display process of displaying the image of the
stored function calling icon on at least one of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel;
a function calling process of calling the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon; and
a function display process of displaying the images of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
8. A data processing method of the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6  comprising:
an icon storage operation of storing a plurality of function activation icons each for activating a predetermined function by the touch manipulation and a function calling icon for calling the plurality of function activation icons by the touch manipulation;
a call display operation of displaying the image of the stored function calling icon on at least one of the four corners of the screen of the touch panel;
a function calling operation of calling the plurality of function activation icons in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the image of the displayed function calling icon; and
a function display operation of displaying the images

of the plurality of called function activation icons so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen  which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon is located.
ABSTRACT
A calling and display unit (130) displays the image of a function calling icon (FCI) on at least one of the four corners of a screen (111) of a touch panel (110) . An icon calling unit (140) calls a plurality of function activation icons (FAI) in correspondence to a touch manipulation on the function calling icon (ECI) . A function display unit (150) displays the images of the plurality of called function activation icons (FAI) so as to be arranged on at least one of the four sides of the screen (ill)   which communicates with one of the four corners where the function calling icon (FCI) is located. Therefore  the proportion in which the images of the plurality of displayed function activation icons (FAI) obstruct a display image displayed on the screen (ill) can be minimized. In this way  a data processing device capable of minimizing the proportion in which the images of the plurality of function activation icons displayed on the touch panel obstruct the display image is provided.