IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,276,093
Granted Patent B2
US 8,276,093 · App. 12/544,557 · Granted Sep 25, 2012

Computer-readable storage medium having object display order changing program stored therein and apparatus

Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,276,093
App. No.
12/544,557
Granted
Sep 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An icon line is displayed on a screen. A display order for the icon line can be changed by using a switch input unit enabling a direction input. When an input in a first direction is made, objects are scrolled so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position or the objects are scrolled across the specific position. When an input in the second direction is made, an object positioned at the specific position is saved at a saving position or an object positioned at the saving position is positioned at the specific position. Thus, a user is allowed to easily change the display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen.

Claims (36)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an object display order changing program for enabling a user to change, by using a switch input unit enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen,

the object display order changing program causing a computer to execute instructions comprising:

displaying a subset (m; m>1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction;

scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input unit;

saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input unit;

scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction; and

inserting, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made during the saving in the predetermined saving area, is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein the switch input unit is a cross key.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute instructions comprising starting a program corresponding to an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, in accordance with a predetermined button operation being performed.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 3 , wherein the program is started corresponding to the object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, in accordance with the predetermined button operation being performed, only when no object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 4 , wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute instructions comprising displaying information of the program corresponding to the object displayed at the specific position.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute instructions comprising performing control so as to prevent the input in the second direction made during the saving in the predetermined saving area by using the switch input unit from being accepted while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein the object display order changing program causes the computer to further execute instructions comprising performing, in accordance with the predetermined button operation being performed, a process associated with the object displayed at the specific position, and performing control so as to prevent the predetermined button operation from being accepted while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area.

8. An object display order changing apparatus for enabling a user to change, by using a switch input unit enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen, the object display order changing apparatus comprising:

a display unit having the screen;

the switch input unit;

an object display unit for displaying a subset (m; m>1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction;

a first scrolling unit for scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input unit;

a saving unit for saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input unit;

a second scrolling unit for scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction; and

an object insertion unit for inserting, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made for the saving unit, is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.

9. An object display order changing system, comprising:

a display device having a screen and configured to display image data; and

an object display order changing apparatus coupled to the display device and for enabling a user to change, by using a switch input unit enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on the screen, the object display order changing apparatus comprising:

the switch input unit,

an object display unit for displaying a subset (m; m>1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction,

a first scrolling unit for scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input unit,

a saving unit for saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input unit,

a second scrolling unit for scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction, and

an object insertion unit for inserting, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made for the saving unit, is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.

10. A method implemented in a computer having one or more processors and for enabling a user to change, by using a switch input unit enabling a direction input, a display order in which a plurality of objects are displayed on a screen, the method comprising:

displaying a subset (m; m>1) of objects, among the plurality of objects, in an object display area on the screen in a predetermined display order so as to align the subset of objects along a first direction;

scrolling, in the first direction, the plurality of objects so as to sequentially display each object at a specific position in the object display area, in accordance with an input in the first direction being made by using the switch input unit;

saving, in a predetermined saving area, an object displayed at the specific position, among the subset of objects displayed in the object display area, when an input in a second direction different from the first direction is made by using the switch input unit;

scrolling, when an input in the first direction is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, all the plurality of objects other than the object saved in the predetermined saving area, across the specific position, in the first direction; and

inserting, via the one or more processors, when an input, in the second direction, which is reverse to the input made during the saving in the predetermined saving area, is made by using the switch input unit while an object is saved in the predetermined saving area, the object saved in the predetermined saving area between two objects which are displayed adjacent to each other in the object display area so as to sandwich the specific position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2009
From: MATSUSHIMA, YOSHIHIRO; KAWASE, TOMOHIRO
To: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023287/0593 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2008-114434 · Apr 24, 2008 · national
JP 2008-213383 · Aug 21, 2008 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 12149266 · Apr 29, 2008
Related Publication 20100017732A1 · Jan 21, 2010