Description
Title of Invention: DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, DISPLAY
CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a display control apparatus, a display control method,
and a program encoded on a non-transitory computer readable medium, and, in
particular, to a display control apparatus, a display control method, and a program
which improve, for example, visibility corresponding to a plurality of pieces of in
formation which is displayed on a screen.
Background Art
[0002] Recently, a so-called 3-Dimensional (3D) TV receiver, in which a screen can be
stereoscopically viewed, has been attracting attention.
[0003] In such a 3D TV receiver, content, such as a video image or the like, is displayed as a
3D image. Meanwhile, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is displayed as a 2D image
which is viewed in a plane.
[0004] Meanwhile, with respect to the display of the EPG, there is a stereoscopic display
technology which allows program titles or the like to be stereoscopically displayed
using depths according to the popularity of the corresponding programs (for example,
refer to Patent Literature 1).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0005] PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-147550
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006] Since the EPG is displayed as a 2D image in the above-described 3D TV receiver, it
is difficult to easily find, for example, a desired information display (for example, the
information display of programs belonging to the same genre) from among a plurality
of information displays, and the visibility thereof is singularly bad.
[0007] Further, according to the above-described stereoscopic display technology, the
popularity of a program corresponding to the information display can be easily
recognized based on the depth of the information display. However, it is difficult to
easily find a desired information display, hence visibility is bad.
[0008] The present invention has been made with the above situations in mind, and
improves visibility corresponding to a plurality of pieces of information displayed on a
screen.
Solution to Problem
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention broadly comprises an apparatus, a method, and a
non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a program which causes the
processor to perform the method. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a
detection section and a display controller. The detection section is configured to detect
an operation input. The display controller is configured to control a display to display a
plurality of objects, the display controller configured to control the display to select at
least one of the plurality of objects based on the operation input, to modify a depth
component of a display position of the at least one object selected, and to display the at
least one object selected at the display position having the depth component modified.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0010] According to the present invention, visibility corresponding to the plurality of pieces
of information displayed on a screen can be improved.
Brief Description of Drawings
[001 1] [fig. 1]Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a TV
receiver according to a present embodiment.
[fig.2]Fig. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a display screen.
[fig.3]Fig. 3 is a view illustrating another example of the display screen.
[fig.4]Fig. 4 is a first view illustrating a principle in order to perform stereoscopic
display.
[fig.5]Fig. 5 is a second view illustrating the principle in order to perform the
stereoscopic display.
[fig.6]Fig. 6 is a third view illustrating the principle in order to perform the
stereoscopic display.
[fig.7]Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a display process performed by the TV receiver.
[fig.8]Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a
computer.
[fig.9]Fig. 9 is a view illustrating another example of a display screen
[fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a further example of a display screen
[fig. 1l]Fig. 11 is a view illustrating an additional example of a display screen.
Description of Embodiments
[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as
present embodiment) will be described. Meanwhile, description will be performed in
the following order:
1. Present embodiment (an example when the visibility of an EPG, which is
configured with information displays, is improved by changing the depths of in
formation displays)
2. Modification
[00 13] <1. Present embodiment
Example of configuration of TV receiver 1
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a TV receiver 1 which is the
present embodiment.
[0014] The TV receiver 1 displays a stereoscopically visible EPG based on a manipulation
signal from, for example, a remote controller 2.
[0015] The TV receiver 1 includes a tuner 21, an image processing unit 22, a display unit
23, a light receiving unit 24, a control unit 25, a storage unit 26, and a generation unit
27.
[0016] The tuner 2 1 receives a broadcast signal via an antenna or the like, extracts an image
signal corresponding to a selected channel (frequency bandwidth) from the received
broadcast signal, and then supplies the extracted image signal to the image processing
unit 22. Further, the tuner 2 1 extracts an EPG, included in the broadcast signal, from
the received broadcast signal, and then supplies the extracted EPG to the control unit
25.
[0017] The image processing unit 22 supplies the image signal received from the tuner 2 1 to
the display unit 23, and displays a corresponding image. Further, when the EPG is
supplied from the generation unit 27 as a 3D image, the image processing unit 22 su
perimposes the EPG from the generation unit 27 on the image corresponding to the
image signal received from the tuner 21, supplies an image which is obtained as the
result of the superimposing to the display unit 23, and displays the image on the
display unit 23.
[0018] The display unit 23 is, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or the like, and
displays the image from the image processing unit 22. The light receiving unit 24
receives the manipulation signal from the remote controller 2, and supplies the ma
nipulation signal to the control unit 25.
[0019] The control unit 25 supplies the EPG received from the tuner 2 1 and stores the EPG
in the storage unit 26. Further, the control unit 25 controls the tuner 21, the image
processing unit 22, and the generation unit 27 based on, for example, the manipulation
signal received from the light receiving unit 24.
[0020] That is, for example, when the manipulation signal, which instructs the control unit
25 to display the EPG, is supplied from the light receiving unit 24, the control unit 25
reads the EPG from the storage unit 26. Thereafter, the control unit 25 supplies the
read EPG to the generation unit 27.
[0021] The storage unit 26 stores the EPG from the control unit 25 in addition to a control
program or the like executed by the control unit 25.
[0022] The generation unit 27 generates a 3D image, in which the program display sections
which configure the EPG can be stereoscopically viewed, based on the EPG from the
control unit 25 under the control of the control unit 25, and then supplies the 3D image
to the image processing unit 22.
[0023] Meanwhile, the 3D image is configured with a left eye 2D image which indicates an
EPG which is configured to be viewed by the left eye of a user (viewer) and a right eye
2D image which indicates an EPG which is configured to be viewed by the right eye of
the user.
[0024] Further, between a program display section which configures the EPG as the left eye
2D image and a program display section which configures the EPG as the right eye 2D
image, a parallax is provided such that program display sections on the 3D image,
which are viewed by the user, are stereoscopically viewed. Here, the parallax indicates
the deviation between the position of the program display section on the left eye 2D
image and the position of the program display section on the right eye 2D image.
[0025] Meanwhile, the program display section on the 3D image is stereoscopically viewed
using a depth according to the parallax provided to the program display section. This
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 which will be described later.
[0026]
Next, an example of an EPG displayed on the display unit 23 will be described with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0027] Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a 3D image when program display sections, which
indicate pieces of information about programs which satisfy with a condition that the
programs belong to the same genre, are displayed in the same depth.
[0028] In Fig. 2, from among a plurality of program display sections which configure the
EPG, a program display section 4 1 and a program display section 42 of programs
which belonging to the same genre "movie" are displayed on the front side of the
display screen of the display unit 23 in the same depth. Meanwhile, the depth is
defined using a Z-axis (not shown) which is defined in the normal line direction of the
display screen. In the Z-axis, the depth becomes large as the program display section
proceeds to the side of the display screen and the depth becomes small as the program
display section proceeds to the front side of the display screen.
[0029] For example, when the user wants to distinguish program display sections of
programs which belonging to the same genre "movie" from other program display
sections, and emphasize and display the program display sections, the user manipulates
the remote controller 2 as described below. That is, the user manipulates the remote
controller 2 such that, for example, the user can distinguish the program display
sections of the programs which belonging to the same genre "movie" from other
program display sections, and emphasize and display these program display sections.
In this case, the remote controller 2 outputs a corresponding manipulation signal to the
light receiving unit 24. The light receiving unit 24 receives the manipulation signal
from the remote controller 2, and supplies the manipulation signal to the control unit
25.
[0030] Further, when the manipulation signal is supplied from the light receiving unit 24,
the control unit 25 reads the EPG from the storage unit 26, and supplies the EPG to the
generation unit 27. Further, the control unit 25 controls the generation unit 27 and the
image processing unit 22, and displays a 3D image functioning as the EPG on the
display unit 23, as shown in Fig. 2.
[0031] That is, for example, the generation unit 27 generates the 3D image (the left eye 2D
image and the right eye 2D image), in which the amount of parallax (parallax amount)
of the program display sections 4 1 and 42 is greater than the parallax amount of other
program display sections, based on the EPG from the control unit 25.
[0032] In detail, for example, the generation unit 27 generates each program display section
as a 3D image on the display unit 23 using each program display section which
configures the EPG supplied from the control unit 25. Further, the generation unit 27
generates 3D display position information which indicates a 3D display position at
which each generated program display section is displayed. Meanwhile, the 3D display
position is defined on the display screen of the display unit 23 by an X-axis which
indicates a position in the horizontal direction and a Y-axis which indicates a position
in the vertical direction in addition to the Z-axis which indicates depth. Further, as
described above, when the remote controller 2 is manipulated by the user, the
generation unit 27 selects the program display sections 4 1 and 42 which will be em
phasized and displayed from each program display section, and modifies the 3D
display position information of the selected program display sections 4 1 and 42 under
the control of the control unit 25. That is, for example, the generation unit 27 modifies
the 3D display position information such that the depth of each of the 3D display
positions of the selected program display sections 4 1 and 42 is different from the
depths of other program display sections. Therefore, the 3D display position in
formation of each program display section becomes information which indicates the
3D display position in which each program display section is displayed as shown in
Fig. 2. Meanwhile, when the remote controller 2 is manipulated by the user, the
generation unit 27 may generate each program display section for indication and the
3D display position information, and then modify the 3D display position information.
[0033] Thereafter, the generation unit 27 generates the above-described 3D image by
rendering (drawing) the left eye 2D image and the right eye 2D image based on each
program display section generated, 3D display position information which is generated
for each program display section, and the right and left view points of the user which
are virtually determined.
[0034] Therefore, the 3D image, in which the parallax amount of the program display
sections 4 1 and 42 is greater than the parallax amount of other program display
sections, is generated by the generation unit 27. That is, the 3D image in which the
program display sections 4 1 and 42 are viewed in front of other program display
sections is generated.
[0035] The image processing unit 22 superimposes the 3D image functioning as the EPG
from the generation unit 27 on an image corresponding to the image signal from the
tuner 2 1 under the control from the control unit 25, and then supplies the superimposed
image obtained as the result of the superimposition to the display unit 23 and displays
on the display unit 23. Therefore, the stereoscopic EPG, as shown in Fig. 2, is
displayed on the display screen of the display unit 23.
[0036] Meanwhile, in Fig. 2, in order to emphasize and display the program display sections
4 1 and 42, the depths of the program display sections 4 1 and 42 of the plurality of
program display sections which configure the EPG are displayed in the same depth
which is different from the depths of the program display sections excluding the
program display sections 4 1 and 42.
[0037] However, a method of emphasizing and displaying the program display sections 4 1
and 42 is not limited thereto. That is, for example, when a setting is made such that the
depths of the program display sections 4 1 and 42 are different from the depths of the
program display sections excluding the program display sections 4 1 and 42, the
program display section 4 1 and the program display section 42 may be displayed in r e
spective depths which are different from each other.
[0038] In addition, for example, the depth of a first program display section which is present
around each of the program display sections 4 1 and 42 may be displayed in a depth
which is different from the depth of program display sections (including the program
display sections 4 1 and 42) excluding the first program display section from among the
plurality of program display sections which configure the EPG, so that the program
display sections 4 1 and 42 can be emphasized and displayed.
[0039] Next, Fig. 3 illustrates an example of the EPG in the case where the program display
sections are displayed in different depths according to states of watching, recording, or
appointing to record a program.
[0040] In Fig. 3, in addition to the plurality of program display sections which configure the
EPG, a menu display 6 1 which shows a list of manipulation menu items manipulated
by the user, a thumbnail image 62 which indicates the content of a program which is
being watched, a thumbnail image 63 which indicates the content of a program which
is being recorded, and a thumbnail image 64 which indicates the content of a program
which is appointed to be recorded are displayed on the display screen of the display
unit 23.
[0041] Meanwhile, the depths thereof increase in the order of the menu display 6 1 and the
thumbnail images 62, 63, and 64. Therefore, on the display screen of the display unit
23, the menu display 6 1 and the thumbnail images 62, 63, and 64 are viewed to be
present on the front side in the order thereof.
[0042] Further, on the display screen of the display unit 23, the thumbnail images 62, 63,
and 64 are overlapped and displayed in the order thereof.
[0043] For example, if the user manipulates the remote controller 2 such that "record" is
designated on the menu display 6 1 when the menu display 6 1 is displayed on the
display screen of the display unit 23, the remote controller 2 outputs a corresponding
manipulation signal to the light receiving unit 24. The light receiving unit 24 receives
the manipulation signal from the remote controller 2, and supplies the manipulation
signal to the control unit 25.
[0044] Thereafter, when the manipulation signal is supplied from the light receiving unit 24,
the control unit 25 reads the EPG from the storage unit 26, and supplies the EPG to the
generation unit 27. The control unit 25 controls the generation unit 27 and the image
processing unit 22, and displays the 3D image functioning as the EPG on the display
unit 23, as shown in Fig. 3, like the case where the 3D image, as shown in Fig. 2, is
generated.
[0045] That is, for example, the generation unit 27 generates the 3D image in which the
parallax amount of each of the menu display 6 1 and the thumbnail images 62, 63, and
64 is set such that the depths of the menu display 6 1 and the thumbnail images 62, 63,
and 64 become large in the order thereof under the control from the control unit 25.
[0046] Further, the generation unit 27 supplies the 3D image functioning as the generated
EPG to the image processing unit 22.
[0047] The image processing unit 22 superimposes the 3D image functioning as the EPG
from the generation unit 27 on an image corresponding to the image signal from the
tuner 2 1 under the control from the control unit 25, supplies the superimposed image
obtained as the result of the superimposition to the display unit 23, and displays the su
perimposed image on the display unit 23. Therefore, the stereoscopic EPG, as shown in
Fig. 3, is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 23.
[0048] Next, a principle in which the program display sections and the thumbnail images
can be displayed to be stereoscopically viewed using the 3D image which is generated
by the generation unit 27 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.
[0049] Meanwhile, as described above, a 3D image 8 1 is configured with, for example, a left
eye 2D image 81L and a right eye 2D image 81R, as shown in Fig. 4, and parallax is
provided between an object 8 1La on the left eye 2D image 81L and an object 81Ra on
the right eye 2D image 81R such that the object 81a (refer to Figs. 5 and 6) on the 3D
image 81 which is viewed by the user (viewer) is stereoscopically viewed. Here, the
parallax indicates the deviation between the position of the object 81La on the left eye
2D image 81L and the position of the object 81Ra on the right eye 2D image 81R, as
shown in Fig. 4.
[0050] Further, when the 3D image 8 1 is shown to the user, for example, as shown in Fig. 5,
the left eye 2D image 81L is shown such that the left eye 2D image 81L can be viewed
by only the left eye of the user and the right eye 2D image 81R is shown such that the
right eye 2D image 81R can be viewed by only the right eye of the user.
[0051] As shown in Fig. 6, the user can view as if the object 81a on the 3D image 8 1 is
stereoscopically present in real space according to the angle of convergence corre
sponding to the amount of parallax (parallax amount) set to the left eye 2D image 81L
and the right eye 2D image 81R.
[0052] Meanwhile, when the 3D image 81 corresponds to a still image or a video image, the
left eye 2D image 81L and the right eye 2D image 81R are generated by photographing
the object 81a from, for example, two different viewpoints.
[0053] Further, when the 3D image 8 1 is generated using computer graphics or the like, the
left eye 2D image 81L and the right eye 2D image 81R are generated by rendering the
left eye 2D image 81L and the right eye 2D image 81R according to two viewpoints
which are virtually determined. In the present embodiment, the generation unit 27
generates the 3D image by, for example, performing rendering according to the two
viewpoints which are virtually determined.
[0054] Meanwhile, the 3D image is displayed using a method corresponding to the display
unit 23, such as a frame sequential method, a polarization method, or the like.
[0055] Description of operation of TV receiver 1
Next, a display process performed by the TV receiver 1 will be described with
reference to the flowchart of Fig. 7.
[0056] This display process starts when, for example, the power of the TV receiver 1 is
turned on. Meanwhile, Fig. 7 illustrates the case where the EPG, as shown in Fig. 2, is
displayed.
[0057] In step SI, the tuner 2 1 receives a broadcast signal via an antenna or the like, extracts
an image signal corresponding to a selected channel (frequency bandwidth) from the
received broadcast signal, and supplies the image signal to the image processing unit
22.
[0058] In step S2, the image processing unit 22 supplies the image signal from the tuner 2 1
to the display unit 23, and displays a corresponding image.
[0059] In step S3, the control unit 25 determines whether display manipulation is performed
or not in order to display an EPG, in which a predetermined program display section is
emphasized, on the display screen of the display unit 23 in response to the ma
nipulation signal from the light receiving unit 24.
[0060] In step S3, when the control unit 25 determines that the display manipulation is not
performed in order to display the EPG, in which the predetermined program display
section is emphasized, on the display screen of the display unit 23 in response to the
manipulation signal from the light receiving unit 24, the process returns to step SI and
the same process is repeated thereafter.
[0061] Further, in step S3, when the control unit 25 determines that the display manipulation
is performed in order to display the EPG, in which the predetermined program display
section is emphasized, on the display screen of the display unit 23 in response to the
manipulation signal from the light receiving unit 24, the process proceeds to step S4.
[0062] In step S4, the control unit 25 reads the EPG from the storage unit 26, and supplies
the EPG to the generation unit 27.
[0063] In step S5, the generation unit 27 generates a 3D image, in which program display
sections which configure the EPG can be stereoscopically viewed, based on the EPG
from the control unit 25 under the control from the control unit 25, and supplies the 3D
image to the image processing unit 22.
[0064] That is, for example, the generation unit 27 generates the 3D image, in which the
parallax amount of the program display sections 4 1 and 42 (see Fig. 2) which function
as predetermined program display sections is greater than the parallax amount of
program display sections excluding the program display sections 4 1 and 42, and
supplies the 3D image to the image processing unit 22.
[0065] The generation unit 27 supplies the generated 3D image to the image processing unit
22.
[0066] In step S6, under the control of the control unit 25, the image processing unit 22 su
perimposes the 3D image which functions as the EPG from the generation unit 27 on
an image which corresponds to the image signal from the tuner 21, supplies the su
perimposed image obtained as the result of the superimposition to the display unit 23,
and displays the superimposed image. With that, the display process is terminated.
[0067] As described above, according to the display process, for example, a desired program
display section of the plurality of program display sections which configure the EPG is
emphasized and displayed in depth which is different from those of other program
display sections.
[0068] Therefore, the visibility of the program display section which configures the EPG is
improved, so that the user can rapidly recognize a desired program display section.
[0069] <2. Modification>
The program display sections of programs which belong to the same genre are
displayed in the same depth in the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2. However,
in addition, for example, the program display sections of programs which are broadcast
in the same time period may be displayed in the same depth. For example, Figure 9
shows that objects 4 1 and 42 which are broadcast at a same time are displayed at a
same depth.
[0070] Further, for example, configuration can be made such that the control unit 25
searches a plurality of programs for programs which are appropriate for a keyword
input by the user, and the program display sections of the programs, which are
obtained as the results of the search performed by the control unit 25, are displayed in
the same depth. For example, Figure 10 shows that object 4 1 and 42 which match the
keyword "movie" are displayed at different depths then all of the other program display
sections which do not match the keyword "movie."
[0071] In addition, for example, when the program display sections are designated by the
designation operation of the user, pieces of detailed information about the programs
corresponding to the program display sections may be overlapped and displayed in
front of the program display sections.
[0072] Therefore, according to the depths of the program display sections and the corre
sponding pieces of detailed information about the programs, it can be easily recognized
that the pieces of detailed information about the programs are displayed based on the
designation of the program display sections. Therefore, the relationship between the
program display sections and the pieces of detailed information is intuitively and easily
recognized.
[0073] Further, for example, the program display section, which is selected by the user from
among the plurality of program display sections which configure the EPG, may be
displayed in depth which is different from those of other program display sections. For
example, Figure 11 shows that object 4 1 is displayed at a different depths and all the
other program display section went object 4 1 is selected.
[0074] Further, for example, if all of the respective program display sections which
configure the EPG are displayed in front in the same depth, the programs can be
clearly distinguished from the EPG which is superimposed on the programs, so that the
visibility of the EPG can be improved.
[0075] Although the generation unit 27 generates the EPG as the 3D image in the present
embodiment, a generation target is not limited to the EPG.
[0076] That is, for example, in addition to the case where the EPG is generated as the 3D
image, a 3D image which includes information displays indicating information about
pieces of content, such as programs, music, video images, still images, or the like, can
be generated. In detail, for example, a list which includes titles related to music as in
formation displays can be generated as a 3D image.
[0077] Although description is made such that the TV receiver 1 generates the EPG as the
3D image and displays the EPG in the present embodiment, the present technology can
be applied to any type of electronic device, such as a personal computer, a mobile
phone or the like, which can display a 3D image, in addition to the TV receiver 1.
Meanwhile, the present technology can include the following configurations:
(1) An apparatus comprising:
an detection section configured to detect an operation input; and
a display controller configured to control a display to display a plurality of objects,
the display controller configured to control the display to select at least one of the
plurality of objects based on the operation input, to modify a depth component of a
display position of the at least one object selected, and to display the at least one object
selected at the display position having the depth component modified.
(2) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the display controller controls the display
to select all objects in the plurality of objects that meet a predetermined condition, and
to modify the depth component of the display position of all selected objects.
(3) The apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the display controller controls the
display to modify the depth component of the display position of all selected objects
such that all selected objects are displayed at a same depth, and displayed at a different
depth than objects that do not meet the predetermined condition.
(4) The apparatus according to (2), wherein the display controller controls the display
to select all objects in the plurality of objects that correspond to content in a particular
genre.
(5) The apparatus according to (4), wherein the input device receives a selection of
the particular genre from the user.
(6) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), wherein the display controller
controls the display to display all objects corresponding to content broadcast at a same
time at a same depth.
(7) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), or (6), wherein the display controller
controls the display to display each of the plurality of objects at a different depth.
(8) The apparatus according to (7), wherein the display controller controls the display
to display each of the plurality of objects at a different depth such that a largest object
is at a smallest depth.
(9) The apparatus according to (7) or (8), wherein the display controller controls the
display to display a first object corresponding to content currently being watched at a
first depth, a second object corresponding to content currently being recorded at a
second depth, and a third object corresponding to content to be recorded in the future at
a third depth, the third depth is greater than the second depth, and the second depth is
greater than the first depth.
(10) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), (6) or (7), wherein the input device
receives a keyword from the user, the display controller performs a search for content
associated with the keyword, and the display controller controls the display to display
objects corresponding to content associated with the keyword at a same depth.
(11) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), (6), (7) or (10), wherein the display
controller controls the display to display one of the plurality of objects selected by the
user with the input device at a different depth than a rest of the plurality of objects.
(12) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), (6), (7), (10) or (11), wherein the
display controller selects display objects which have same horizontal and vertical
components of a 3D display position from among the plurality of objects according to
a user input, and modifies the depth components of the 3D display positions of the
selected objects.
(13) The apparatus according to any of (1) to (3), (6), (7), (10), (11) or (12), wherein
when first and second objects have same horizontal and vertical components of a 3-D
display position, the display controller superimposes the second object, which is
displayed when the second object is selected, on the first object, and displays the su
perimposed image.
The present technology can also include the following configurations:
(1) A display control apparatus that controls display of a 3D image, including a
generation unit that generates a plurality of display objects and pieces of 3D display
position information which indicate the 3D display positions of the plurality of display
objects, respectively; and a display control unit that displays the display objects
generated by the generation unit on the 3D display positions corresponding to the
pieces of the 3D display position information. The generation unit selects at least one
or more display objects from among the plurality of display objects according to the
manipulation of a user, and may modify the depth components of the 3D display
positions of the selected display objects.
(2) In the display control apparatus of (1), the generation unit may select the display
objects which indicate content which satisfies a predetermined condition from among
the plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of the user, and may
modify the depth components of the 3D display positions of the selected display
objects.
(3) In the display control apparatus of(2), the generation unit may select the display
objects which indicate the content which belongs to the same genre from among the
plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of the user, and may modify
the depth components of the 3D display positions of the selected display objects.
(4) In the display control apparatus of (2), the generation unit may select the display
objects which indicate the content which is broadcast in the same time period from
among the plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of the user, and
may modify the depth components of the 3D display positions of the selected display
objects.
(5) In the display control apparatus of (2), the generation unit may select the display
objects which indicate the content, the state of which is the same, from among the
plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of the user, and may modify
the depth components of the 3D display positions of the selected display objects.
(6) In the display control apparatus of (5), the generation unit may select the display
objects which indicate any content which is being watched, content which is being
recorded, and content which is being appointed to be recorded, from among the
plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of the user, and may modify
the depth components of the 3D display positions of the selected display objects.
(7) The display control apparatus of (2), further includes a searching unit that searches
a plurality of pieces of content for content desired by the user, and the generation unit
may select the display objects which indicate the content obtained as the results of the
search performed by the searching unit, and may modify the depth components of the
3D display positions of the selected display objects.
(8) In the display control apparatus of (1) to (7), the generation unit may select the
display objects which are selected from among the plurality of display objects
according to the selection manipulation of the user, and may modify the depth
components of the 3D display positions of the selected display objects.
(9) In the display control apparatus of (1), the generation unit may select the display
objects which have the same horizontal and vertical components of the 3D display
position from among the plurality of display objects according to the manipulation of
the user, and may modify the depth components of the 3D display positions of the
selected display objects.
(10) In the display control apparatus of (9), with respect to first and second display
objects which have the same horizontal and vertical components of the 3D display
position, the display control unit may superimpose the second display object which is
displayed when the first display object is designated by the user, on the first display
object, and may display the superimposed image.
[0080] However, the series of processes which are described above can be performed using
both hardware and software. When the series of processes are performed using
software, a program which configures the software is installed from a program
recording media on, for example, a general-purpose computer which can execute
various types of functions by installing the computer which is provided with dedicated
hardware or various types of programs.
[0081]
Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the hardware
of a computer which executes the above-described series of processes using a program.
[0082] A Central Processing Unit (CPU) 101 executes various types of processes according
to a program which is stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) 102 or a storage unit
108. A Random Access Memory (RAM) 103 appropriately stores programs, data, or
the like executed by the CPU 101. The CPU 101, the ROM 102, and the RAM 103 are
connected to each other via a bus 104.
[0083] Further, the CPU 101 is connected to an input/output interface 105 via the bus 104.
The input/output interface 105 is connected to the input unit 106 which includes a
keyboard, a mouse, a microphone or the like and an output unit 107 which includes a
display, a speaker or the like. The CPU 101 executes various types of processes corre
sponding to instructions which are input from the input unit 106. Further, the CPU 101
outputs the result of the processes to the output unit 107.
[0084] The storage unit 108 which is connected to the input/output interface 105 includes,
for example, a hard disk, and stores the programs or various types of data which are
executed by the CPU 101. A communication unit 109 communicates with external ap
paratuses via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, or the like.
[0085] Further, programs can be obtained through the communication unit 109 and stored in
the storage unit 108.
[0086] When a removable media 111, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a magnetooptical
disc, a semiconductor memory or the like, is mounted, a drive 110 which is
connected to the input/output interface 105 drives the removable media 111 and
obtains programs, data or the like recorded therein. The obtained programs or data are
transmitted to and stored in the storage unit 108, as necessary.
[0087] As shown in Fig. 8, a recording media which is installed in the computer and which
records (stores) programs, the states of which is enabled to be executable by the
computer, includes a removable media 111 which is a package media including a
magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disc (including a Compact Disc-
Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a magnetooptical
disc (including a Mini-Disc (MD)), a semiconductor memory or the like, the
ROM 102 in which programs are temporally or permanently stored, a hard disk which
configures the storage unit 108, or the like. The programs are stored in the recording
media using wired or wireless communication media, such as a local area network, the
Internet, and digital satellite broadcasting, via the communication unit 109 which is an
interface such as a router, a modem or the like, as necessary.
[0088] Meanwhile, in the present specification, the steps, in which the series of processes
which are described above are described, include processes which are performed in
time-oriented manner along the described procedure, and processes which are executed
in parallel or individually even though the processes are not necessarily processed in
time-oriented manner.
[0089] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and can
be modified in various types of manner in the range which does not depart from the
gist of the present invention.
Reference Signs List
1TV receiver
2 1 tuner
22 image processing unit
23 display unit
24 light receiving unit
25 control unit
26 storage unit
27 generation unit
PCT/JP2012/003694
Claims
An apparatus comprising:
an detection section configured to detect an operation input; and
a display controller configured to control a display to display a plurality
of objects, the display controller configured to control the display to
select at least one of the plurality of objects based on the operation
input, to modify a depth component of a display position of the at least
one object selected, and to display the at least one object selected at the
display position having the depth component modified.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
controls the display to select all objects in the plurality of objects that
meet a predetermined condition, and to modify the depth component of
the display position of all selected objects.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
controls the display to modify the depth component of the display
position of all selected objects such that all selected objects are
displayed at a same depth, and displayed at a different depth than
objects that do not meet the predetermined condition.
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display controller
controls the display to select all objects in the plurality of objects that
correspond to content in a particular genre.
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the input device receives a
selection of the particular genre from the user.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
controls the display to display all objects corresponding to content
broadcast at a same time at a same depth.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
controls the display to display each of the plurality of objects at a
different depth.
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display controller
controls the display to display each of the plurality of objects at a
different depth such that a largest object is at a smallest depth.
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display controller
controls the display to display a first object corresponding to content
currently being watched at a first depth, a second object corresponding
to content currently being recorded at a second depth, and a third object
corresponding to content to be recorded in the future at a third depth,
WO 2012/172752 PCT/JP2012/003694
the third depth is greater than the second depth, and the second depth is
greater than the first depth.
[Claim 10] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device receives a
keyword from the user, the display controller performs a search for
content associated with the keyword, and the display controller controls
the display to display objects corresponding to content associated with
the keyword at a same depth.
[Claim 11] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
controls the display to display one of the plurality of objects selected by
the user with the input device at a different depth than a rest of the
plurality of objects.
[Claim 12] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller
selects display objects which have same horizontal and vertical
components of a 3D display position from among the plurality of
objects according to a user input, and modifies the depth components of
the 3D display positions of the selected objects.
[Claim 13] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when first and second
objects have same horizontal and vertical components of a 3-D display
position, the display controller superimposes the second object, which
is displayed when the second object is selected, on the first object, and
displays the superimposed image.
[Claim 14] A method comprising:
detecting an operation input; and
controlling a display to display a plurality of objects, the controlling
including controlling the display to select at least one of the plurality of
objects based on the operation input, modifying a depth component of a
display position of the at least one object selected, and displaying the at
least one object selected at the display position having the depth
component modified.
[Claim 15] A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a program
that, when loaded on a processor, causes the processor to perform
method comprising:
detecting an operation input; and
controlling a display to display a plurality of objects, the controlling
including controlling the display to select at least one of the plurality of
objects based on the operation input, modifying a depth component of a
display position of the at least one object selected, and displaying the at
least one object selected at the display position having the depth
PCT/JP2012/003694
component modified.