Information processing apparatus, program, and input support method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12566534-B2
Application number	US-202218688912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Oct 14, 2021
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

An information processing apparatus for receiving input of information on a material composition from an operator includes a material reception unit configured to receive selection of a material, to which input of information is directed, in accordance with an operation specifying an on-screen position performed by the operator, and a material-content reception unit configured to receive selection of a content of the material, to which the input of information is directed, in accordance with an operation stopping specifying the on-screen position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An information processing apparatus for receiving input of information on a material composition from an operator, the information processing apparatus comprising:
circuitry configured to
receive selection of a material, to which input of information is directed, in accordance with a first operation to specify an on-screen position, the first operation being performed on a dial portion by the operator; and
receive, through a ring portion, selection of a content of the material, to which the input of information is directed, in accordance with a second operation to stop specifying the on-screen position,
wherein a plurality of materials are arranged on the dial portion, wherein the ring portion is configured to display the content based on a positional relationship with the material that is displayed on the dial portion, and wherein the circuitry is configured to
select the material displayed on the dial portion, as the material to which the input of information is directed, by performing the first operation to specify the on-screen position and rotating the dial portion, and
select the content of the material as the content of the material to which the input of information is directed, by performing the second operation to stop specifying the on-screen position, based on the positional relationship between the material displayed on the dial portion and the content displayed on the ring portion.

2 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to
display information on materials associated with respective on-screen positions on a screen such that the selection of the material, to which the input of information is directed, is received from the operator in accordance with the first operation, and display information on material contents associated with respective on-screen positions on the screen such that the selection of the content of the material is received from the operator in accordance with the second operation.

3 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to
receive selection of a category of the materials, and switch the information on the materials to be displayed on the screen in accordance with the category selected by the operator.

4 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to switch the information on the material contents selected by the operator, in accordance with the material, to which the input of information is directed, selected by the operator.

5 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to
display the information on the materials, to which the input of information is directed, arranged in a circumferential direction on the dial portion that rotates in accordance with an operation by the operator, receive the selection of the material, to which the input of information is directed, in accordance with the first operation on the dial portion, display the information on the material contents such that the information on the material contents are arranged in a circumferential direction on the ring portion displayed outside the dial portion, and receive the selection of the content of the material, to which the input of information is directed, by the second operation, based on the positional relationship between a position where the information on the material, to which the input of information is directed, is displayed on the dial portion and a position where the information on the material contents is displayed on the ring portion, the positional relationship being changed in accordance with a rotation distance of the dial portion in the circumferential direction.

6 . The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first operation includes starting of dragging by the operator, and the second operation includes ending of the dragging.

7 . An input support method executed by a computer for receiving input of information on a material composition from an operator, the method comprising:
receiving selection of a material, to which input of information is directed, in accordance with a first operation to specify an on-screen position performed on a dial portion by the operator; and receiving, through a ring portion, selection of a content of the material, to which the input of information is directed, in accordance with a second operation to stop specifying the on-screen position, wherein a plurality of materials are arranged on the dial portion, wherein the ring portion is configured to display the content based on a positional relationship with the material that is displayed on the dial portion, and wherein the input support method further includes:
selecting the material displayed on the dial portion, as the material to which the input of information is directed, by performing the first operation to specify the on-screen position and rotating the dial portion; and
selecting the content of the material as the content of the material to which the input of information is directed, by performing the second operation to stop specifying the on-screen position, based on the positional relationship between the material displayed on the dial portion and the content displayed on the ring portion.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program which causes a computer to execute the input support method of claim 7 .

Assignees

• Resonac Corp

Inventors

• Shimizu Yohei
• Okuno Yoshishige

Classifications

• G06F3/0486

  Drag-and-drop · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title