Method of inputting a numerical value using a touch panel and input apparatus thereof

Abstract

A numerical value input method and input apparatus are disclosed using a touch panel, permitting the determination of the numerical value to be inputted by a unit executing an application without having to use a separate input apparatus. A virtual input device picture, preferably a dial picture, is displayed on a display screen with a touch input function. Then a finger or a pen is moved in a state of contact on the displayed virtual dial picture. By thus moving a finger or a pen on the virtual dial picture, the numerical value to be inputted is determined. Numerical values can be thereby inputted with only a display unit, without using any separate unit of hardware, such as a jog dial or a dial box. In this context, the numerical value means a concept including both an increment/decrement and a continuous value.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.