Data processing apparatus for scrolling a display image by designating a point within the visual display region

A method for processing data, comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing data of an image as image data to be visually displayed in a memory;
• (b) visually displaying the image data stored in step (a) with a visual display region being smaller than a virtual display region of the image data and at least partially overlapping the virtual display region;
• (c) designating one point of the image data displayed within the visual display region as a designate position;
• (d) calculating a positional deviation of the designate position from a reference position predetermined within the visual display region, in response to an output from step (c);
• (e) scrolling the data of the image which is displayed in the visual display region, in response to an output from step (d) so that the positional deviation is substantially eliminated;
• and
• (f) displaying the image in the visual display region.

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing data of an image as image data to be visually displayed;
• a displaying unit that includes a visual display region for visually displaying the image data stored in the memory, the visual display region being smaller than a virtual display region of the image data and at least partially overlapping the virtual display region;
• a designating unit that designates one point of the image data displayed within the visual display region of the displaying unit as a designate position;
• a computing unit that calculates a positional deviation of the designate position designated by the designating unit from a reference position predetermined within the visual display region, in response to an output from the designating unit;
• and
• an image moving unit that scrolls the data of the image which is displayed in the visual display region, in response to an output from the computing unit so that the positional deviation is substantially eliminated, and having the displaying unit display the image in the visual display region.

A data processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing data of an image as image data to be visually displayed;
• displaying means including a substantially flat visual display region for visually displaying the image data stored in the memory, the visual display region being smaller than a virtual display region of the image data and at least partially overlapping the virtual display region;
• designating means for designating a point at the visual display region of the displaying means as a designate position having a corresponding image portion of the image data, wherein the designating means is translucent and includes two-dimensional position detecting means spread across the visual display region for detecting the point;
• supplying means for supplying the designate position to the computing means;
• computing means for calculating a positional deviation of the designate position from a reference position predetermined within the visual display region;
• and
• image moving means for scrolling the image portion of the image data displayed in the visual display region to the reference position based on the designate position supplied to the computing means and in response to an output from the computing means, wherein the displaying means displays the scrolled image in the visual display region.