DE-102017111384-B4 - Information processing device, input method and program

Abstract

Information processing device, comprising a display to show an image, comprising: - a time-detection unit configured to detect a point in time when a user performs an input operation; and - a unit for displaying an input area which, when the time detection unit detects the time, is configured to display an input area as a target of the input operation in a direction that has been previously set and is different from a direction of the image displayed on the screen.

Inventors

• Kazuo Matsumoto
• Setsuko Kawakami
• Eiji Ogata
• Tsutomu Mitsuhashi
• Yoshihiro Amenomiya

Assignees

• LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20170524

Priority Date

20160617

Claims (6)

1. Information processing device comprising a display for showing an image, comprising: - a time-detection unit configured to detect a time at which a user performs an input operation; and - an input area display unit which, when the time-detection unit detects the time, is configured to display an input area as a target of the input operation in a direction previously set. and differs from one direction of the image displayed on the screen.
2. Information processing device according to Claim 1 , comprising: - a first housing comprising an input part to enable the user to perform an input operation; - a second housing comprising the display; and - a unit for rotating a display image, configured to rotate the image shown on the display by a predetermined angle, - wherein the unit for displaying an input area, when the image shown on the display is rotated by a predetermined angle and the time-detection unit detects the time, is configured to display the input area such that the input area is oriented in the previously set direction.
3. Information processing device according to Claim 2 , where the previously set direction is a direction of the input part.
4. Information processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , where the unit is configured to display an input area when the time is detected, in order to make the input area appear.
5. Information processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , where the unit is configured to display an input range when the time is detected, in order to rotate the entire image displayed on the screen.
6. Method for input using an information processing device comprising a display for showing an image, comprising: - a first step of detecting a time when a user performs an input operation; and - a second step of displaying an input area as a target of the input operation in a direction that has been previously set and is different from a direction of the image displayed on the screen when the time is detected.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION The present invention relates to information processing devices and a method for input. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART A laptop personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a "laptop PC") comprises a main case and a display case, which in one example are connected by a hinge. The main case includes an input device, such as a keyboard, and the display case includes a display. This configuration allows the display case to rotate relative to the main case. Patent specification 1 discloses, as such an example, a hinge mechanism that joins a main housing and a display housing, allowing these housings to rotate from a 0-degree position through a 180-degree position to a 360-degree position. In the 0-degree position, the surfaces of the housings face each other. In the 180-degree position, the surfaces of the housings are parallel to each other and oriented in the same direction. In the 360-degree position, the backs of the housings face each other. For example, if a user is giving a presentation using a laptop PC, the user opens the laptop PC so that the main case and the display case are in a 180-degree position, and places the main case towards the user and the display case towards the person listening to the presentation. Some laptop PCs have a function to rotate an image displayed on the screen at a predetermined angle (e.g. 180 degrees) so that a person sitting on the side of the display housing listening to the presentation can easily understand it. Patent specification 1 Japanese patent specification no. 2016-38040 From the US 2013 / 0 300 671 A1 A display system with image sensor-based display orientation is known. The display system comprises: a display device; a sensor for capturing at least one electronic image from a field of view near the display device; and a processor that enables the control of at least one part of the display device into a display orientation associated with a specific edge of the display device, if a part of the at least one electronic image associated with the specific edge contains a specific reference image. The US 2007 / 0 220 444 A1 This describes a graphical user interface system where users can be positioned at any angle. Different application interfaces can be generated and displayed in various orientations, ensuring that different users, even those sitting at different positions around the edge of a display surface, each have a readable and accessible interface. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, if an image displayed on the screen is rotated 180 degrees, it is difficult for the user to perform input operations, such as typing letters, on the side of the main casing, as the image is not facing the user. In view of these circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and an input method that enables simple input operations by a user, even when an image displayed on the screen is not directed at the user. This problem is solved by the subject matter of main claim 1 and dependent claim 6, which define the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims. To solve the above problems, an information processing device and an input method according to the present invention have the following configuration. An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention, comprising a display for showing an image, includes: a time-detection unit configured to detect a time at which a user performs an input operation; and a unit for displaying an input area which, when the time-detection unit detects the time, is configured to display an input area as a target of the input operation in a direction that has been previously set and is different from a direction of the image displayed on the display. An input method according to a second aspect of the present invention is carried out using an information processing device comprising a display for showing an image, and wherein the method comprises: a first step of detecting a time at which a user performs an input operation; and when the time is detected, a second step of displaying an input area as a target of the input operation in a direction that has been previously set and is different from a direction of the image displayed on the screen. The present invention has an advantageous effect by facilitating the input processes of a user, even if an image displayed on the screen is not directed at the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS They show: 1 the appearance of a laptop PC according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 schematically the hardware configuration of the laptop PC according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 a flat mode according to an embodiment of the present invention in which an LCD screen is rotated overall. 4 a functional diagram of the reversed mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 an inverted mode according to an embodi