Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a drawing unit which draws one of a plurality of images arranged in an order specified based on a predetermined rule as a reference image in an image memory and which arranges and draws a predetermined number of images located before the reference image and a predetermined number of images located after the reference image, in an order and continuing from the reference image as near images of the reference image with reference to the reference image in the image memory;

a display controller which displays images falling within a predetermined range as the near images drawn in the image memory on a display unit; and

a controller which changes position of the predetermined range in accordance with an instruction operation of changing a display state of the images on the display unit, when the instruction operation is received, which changes the reference image to another image from the near images drawn in the image memory, when a given condition is satisfied, and which permits the drawing unit to arrange and draw the near images of the changed reference image in the order with reference to the changed reference image,

wherein the drawing unit arranges and draws the reference image and the near images in the order in a specified direction in an image drawing region of the image memory,

wherein the controller permits, when all of the near images of the changed reference image are not able to be arranged and drawn in the image drawing region in the specified direction in the order upon changing the reference image, the drawing unit to draw a near image, which is not able to be drawn, in the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction in the order.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the instruction operation is received, the controller changes the number of near images of the changed reference image in accordance to the received instruction operation.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the drawing unit draws the same image as the reference image or the near image drawn in one end of the image drawing region in the specified direction in the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction, and

wherein the controller moves the predetermined range to the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction, when the predetermined range changed in accordance with the instruction operation reaches either one or the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the drawing unit allows the size of a drawing region in the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction, where the same image as the reference image or the near image drawn in the one end of the image drawing region is drawn, to be nearly equal to the largest size of the predetermined range.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller permits the drawing unit to newly draw only the near image which is not drawn in the image memory as the near images, when the reference image is changed.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation receiving unit which receives an operation detail as an instruction operation to scroll-display the plurality of images on the display unit,

wherein the display controller moves the predetermined range in accordance with the instruction operation to scroll-display and permits the display unit to scroll-display each image drawn in the image memory.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of images are images indicating contents, and

wherein the drawing unit specifies the order based on attribute information associated with the contents.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of images are thumbnail images indicating contents,

wherein the drawing unit draws the reference image and the near images in the order in accordance with display arrangement of a content selection screen used to select the contents, and

wherein the display controller displays the content selection screen, which contains the predetermined range within which a plurality of thumbnail images fall among the thumbnail images drawn in the image memory and contains the plurality of thumbnail images falling within the predetermined range, on the display unit.

9. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

drawing one of a plurality of images arranged in an order specified based on a predetermined rule as a reference image in an image memory, and arranging and drawing, a predetermined number of images located before the reference image and a predetermined number of images located after the reference image, in an order and continuing from the reference image as near images of the reference image with reference to the reference image in the image memory;

displaying images falling within a predetermined range as the near images drawn in the image memory on a display unit;

changing position of the predetermined range in accordance with an instruction operation of changing a display state of the images on the display unit, when the instruction operation is received, changing the reference image to another image from the near images drawn in the image memory, when a given condition is satisfied, and permitting to arrange and draw the near images of the changed reference image in the order with reference to the changed reference image;

arranging and drawing the reference image and the near images in the order in a specified direction in the image drawing region of the image memory; and

permitting, when all of the near images of the changed reference image are not able to be arranged and drawn in the image drawing region in the specified direction in the order upon changing the reference image, to draw the near image, which is not able to be drawn, in the opposite end of an image drawing region in the specified direction in the order.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for image processing, said at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing said computer to perform steps comprising:

drawing one of a plurality of images arranged in an order specified based on a predetermined rule as a reference image in an image memory, and arranging and drawing, a predetermined number of images located before the reference image and a predetermined number of images located after the reference image, in an order and continuing from the reference image as near images of the reference image with reference to the reference image in the image memory;

displaying images falling within a predetermined range as the near images drawn in the image memory on a display unit;

changing position of the predetermined range in accordance with an instruction operation of changing a display state of the images on the display unit, when the instruction operation is received, changing the reference image to another image from the near images from the image memory, when a given condition is satisfied, and permitting to arrange and draw the near images of the changed reference image in the order with reference to the changed reference image;

arranging and drawing the reference image and the near images in the order in a specified direction in the image drawing region of the image memory; and

permitting, when all of the near images of the changed reference image are not able to be arranged and drawn in the image drawing region in the specified direction in the order upon changing the reference image, to draw the near image, which is not able to be drawn, in the opposite end of an image drawing region in the specified direction in the order.

11. The method according to claim 9 , comprising changing the near images based on the changed reference image, when the instruction operation is received.

12. The method according to claim 9 , comprising moving the predetermined range to the opposite end of the image drawing region in the specified direction, when the predetermined range changed in accordance with the instruction operation reaches one end of the image drawing region in the specified direction.

13. The method according to claim 9 , comprising newly drawing only the near image which is not drawn in the image memory as the near images, when the reference image is changed.

14. The method according to claim 9 , comprising:

receiving an operation detail as an instruction operation to scroll-display the plurality of images on the display unit,

moving the predetermined range in accordance with the instruction operation to scroll-display and permitting to scroll-display each image drawn in the image memory.

15. The method according to claim 9 , comprising specifying the order based on attribute information associated with contents, wherein the plurality of images are images indicating the contents.

16. The method according to claim 9 , comprising:

drawing the reference image and the near images in the order in accordance with display arrangement of a content selection screen used to select the contents, and

displaying the content selection screen, which contains the predetermined range within which a plurality of thumbnail images fall among the thumbnail images drawn in the image memory and contains the plurality of thumbnail images falling within the predetermined range, on the display unit,

wherein the plurality of images are thumbnail images indicating contents.