US 2003/0067446 A1 · Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

A new-type user interface for providing a hotkey is disclosed, which has high operability and which can also be used to provide the hotkey in a conventional manner. In information processing apparatus has a hierarchical structure including a keyboard as one of hardware parts in a bottom layer, a built-in controller as one of hardware parts in a layer higher than the keyboard, and an operating system and an application program as software part in a layer higher than the built-in controller, wherein the operating system and the application program are connected to the built-in controller via a bus. In this information processing apparatus, if an Fn key is pressed and released, information indicating that the Fn key has been pressed and released is supplied to a utility via an SPIC which is logically different from the keyboard controller. In response, a launcher including hotkey menu icons corresponding to additional keys is displayed on a display.

Claims62

Dependent claims

An information processing apparatus having a capability of performing a specific process in response to pressing of a combination of a predetermined specific key and a predetermined additional key, said information processing apparatus comprising:

key input means including a plurality of keys arranged thereon and including the specific key and the additional key;
display means for displaying various kinds of information;
and
control means for controlling the key input means and for controlling displaying, on the display means, various kinds of information including at least a user interface for presenting a specific menu including a specific process menu icon button assigned to the specific process corresponding to said additional key,
wherein, in response to pressing or releasing of the specific key, the control means activates the user interface for presenting the specific menu and displays the user interface on the display means.

2 more elements

An information processing method for performing a specific process in response to pressing of a combination of a predetermined specific key and a predetermined additional key, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling key input means and controlling displaying, on display means, various kinds of information including at least a user interface for presenting a specific menu including a specific process menu icon button assigned to the specific process corresponding to said additional key;
and
in response to pressing or releasing of the specific key disposed on the key input means including a plurality of keys arranged thereon and including the specific key and the additional key, activating the user interface for presenting the specific menu and displaying the user interface on the display means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Life of this patent

Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims62