# US 2014/0157126 A1 · Information input apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157126 A1 - Document ID: US20140157126A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,489 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-11 - Assignees: Sony Mobile Communications Inc. - Applicants: Sony Mobile Communications, Inc. - Inventors: Shunichi KUSANO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157126A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0236: {using selection techniques to select from displayed items} - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F 2203/04804: Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows - G06F 2203/04807: Pen manipulated menu - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An information input apparatus including a user interface that detects a first input operation and a processor that assigns information to each of a plurality of directions from a position centered at the first input operation detected by the user interface. The user interface detects a second input operation corresponding to one of the plurality of directions, and the processor selects information assigned to the one of the plurality of directions as an input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information input apparatus comprising: a user interface configured to detect a first input operation; a processor configured to assign information to each of a plurality of directions from a position centered at the first input operation detected by the user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to detect a second input operation corresponding to one of the plurality of directions, and the processor is configured to select information assigned to the one of the plurality of directions as an input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a transparent panel configured to detect a touch input. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The information input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display surface configured to be controlled by the processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The information input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to display the information assigned to each of the plurality of directions when the user interface detects the first input operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The information input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information assigned to each of the plurality of directions includes a character group identifying a plurality of characters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information input apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to select a character group assigned to the one of the plurality of directions corresponding to the second input operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The information input apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to assign each of the characters included in the selected character group to one of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The information input apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to display each of the characters identified by the selected character group assigned to each of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The information input apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user interface is configured to detect a third input operation by the user corresponding to one of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The information input apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to select the character assigned to the one of the plurality of directions corresponding to the third input operation as an input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The information input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information assigned to each of the plurality of directions includes menu items configured to control reproduction of at least one of audio and video content. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The information input apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to display the menu items assigned to each of the plurality of directions when the user interface detects the first input operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The information input apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information assigned to at least one of the plurality of directions includes a menu group identifying a plurality of menu items. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The information input apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to select the menu function or the menu group corresponding to the second input operation as an input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information input apparatus of claim 14, wherein, when the selected direction corresponds to the menu group, the processor is configured to assign each of the plurality of menu items identified by the menu group to one of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The information input apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to control the user interface to display each of the menu items identified by the selected menu group assigned to each of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The information input apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface is configured to detect a third input operation by the user corresponding to one of the plurality of directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The information input apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to select the menu item assigned to the one of the plurality of directions corresponding to the third input operation as an input. ### Claim 19 A method of controlling a user interface of an information input apparatus, the method comprising: detecting, at a user interface of the information input apparatus, a first input operation by a user; assigning, by a processor of the information input apparatus, information to each of a plurality of directions from a position of the first input operation detected by the user interface; detecting, by the user interface, a second input operation by the user corresponding to one of the plurality of directions; and selecting, by the processor, information assigned to the one of the plurality of directions as an input. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by an information input apparatus, cause the information input apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising: detecting a first input operation by a user; assigning information to each of a plurality of directions from a position of the first input operation detected by the user interface; detecting a second input operation by the user corresponding to one of the plurality of directions; and selecting information assigned to the one of the plurality of directions as an input.