Portable information processing apparatus

A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

• a photographing unit for performing a photographing operation;
• an information display unit for displaying photographic image information obtained by said photographing unit;
• an information processing unit for recognizing a reception of a predetermined detection signal which corresponds to an operation for setting an action mode of said apparatus to a photographing mode;
• and
• a display circuit for displaying on a portion of said information display unit a pattern which functions as an operation panel for operating the photographing unit when said information processing unit recognizes the reception of the predetermined detection signal which corresponds to the operation for setting the action mode of said apparatus to the photographing mode.

A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

• a photographing unit which performs a photographing operation to obtain photographic image information;
• an information display unit which displays information for controlling said portable information processing apparatus and the photographic image information obtained by said photographing unit;
• an information processing unit which sets one of (i) a photographing operation mode in which said portable information processing apparatus processes information for controlling said photographing unit, and (ii) a normal operation mode in which said portable information processing apparatus processes other information excluding the information for controlling said photographing unit, wherein said information processing unit sets the normal operation mode when a first predetermined detection signal which corresponds to an operation for setting the normal operation mode is received, and wherein said information processing unit sets the photographing operation mode when a second predetermined signal which corresponds to an operation for setting the photographing operation mode is received;
• and
• a track ball operating member which is operable in conjunction with said information processing unit to:
• (i) control operations of said portable information processing apparatus when the normal operation mode is set, and (ii) control operations of said photographing unit when the photographing operation mode is set.

A portable information processing apparatus comprising:

• a photographing unit which performs a photographing operation to obtain photographic image information;
• an information display unit which displays information for controlling said portable information processing apparatus and the photographic image information obtained by said photographing unit;
• an information input unit including a plurality of operation keys for inputting information for controlling said photographing unit and for inputting other processing information;
• an information processing unit which sets one of (i) a photographing operation mode in which said portable information processing apparatus processes the information for controlling said photographing unit, and (ii) a normal operation mode in which said portable information processing apparatus processes the other processing information, wherein said information processing unit sets the normal operation mode when a first predetermined detection signal which corresponds to an operation for setting the normal operation mode is received, and wherein said information processing unit sets the photographing operation mode when a second predetermined signal which corresponds to an operation for setting the photographing operation mode is received;
• and
• a function setting unit which sets said plurality of operation keys to be operable for controlling said information processing apparatus when the normal operation mode is set, and which sets predetermined ones of said plurality of operation keys to be operable for controlling said photographing unit when the photographing operation mode is set.