Image controlling device and image controlling method for displaying a plurality of menu items

An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising the steps of:

• inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• shifting said plurality of menu items within said multi-dimensional space in the same direction at the same velocity in response to said instruction from said user;
• deciding upon one of the plurality of menu items at a prescribed position based on the shifting step such that when one of said menu items is shifted to said prescribed position, said menu item at said prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• generating a menu image;
• wherein said menu item displayed in the center of said menu image is decided upon as said selected menu item said prescribed position corresponding to the center location of said menu image, and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• an input circuit configured to receive an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• a controller configured for carrying out a process for rotating a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of said menu image displayed in response to a signal from said input means;
• a selecting circuit configured for carrying out a process for deciding upon said menu item at a prescribed position within a visual field angle in the direction of said line of sight as a selected menu item such that when the visual field angle in the direction of the line of sight is rotated to the prescribed position, the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• image generating means for generating a menu image on the basis of processing results of said controlling means and said selecting means;
• wherein said menu item displayed in the center of said menu image is determined as said selected menu item, said prescribed position corresponding to the center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising the steps of:

• inputting an instruction from a user for selecting one of said plurality of menu items;
• rotating a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of said plurality of menu images displayed in response to said instruction from said user;
• deciding upon said menu item at a prescribed position within a visual field angle in the direction of said line of sight as a selected menu item such that when the visual field angle in the direction of the line of sight is rotated to the prescribed position, the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• generating a menu image;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• controlling means for calculating shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to a signal from said input means, shifting said menu items in said cylindrical multi-dimensional space at said shifting velocity such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, and generating multi-dimensional space information, wherein said prescribed parameters include at least acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• image generating means for generating said menu image on the basis of said multi-dimensional information generated by said controlling means;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising the steps of:

• inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• calculating shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to said instruction from said user, shifting said menu items in multi-dimensional space at said shifting velocity such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, and generating multi-dimensional space information, wherein said prescribed parameters include at least acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• generating said menu image on the basis of said multi-dimensional information;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• controlling means for calculating a shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to a signal from said input means and rotating at said shifting velocity a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of a menu image to be displayed such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, wherein said prescribed parameters include acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• image generating means for generating said menu image on the basis of said direction of said line of sight;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising the steps of:

• inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• calculating a shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to said instruction from said user and rotating at said shifting velocity a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of a menu image to be displayed such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, wherein said prescribed parameters include acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• generating said menu image on the basis of said direction of said line of sight;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

A recordable medium having instructions directing the operation of a computer recorded thereon, wherein the instructions are operative to control the display of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• instructions directing the computer to input an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• instructions directing the computer to carry out a process for shifting said plurality of menu items within said multi-dimensional space in the same direction at the same velocity in response to the instruction from a user;
• instructions directing the computer to carry out a process for deciding upon one of said menu items at a prescribed position based on the instructions directing the computer to carry out the shifting process such that when one of said menu items is shifted to said prescribed position, said menu item at said prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• instructions directing the computer to generate a menu image on the basis of the processing results of the process for shifting and the process for deciding;
• wherein the instructions directing the computer to carry out a process for deciding further direct the computer to decide upon said menu item displayed in the center of said menu image as said selected menu item, said prescribed position corresponding to said center of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

A recordable medium containing instructions directing the operation of a computer, wherein the instructions control the display of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• instructions directing the computer to receive an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• instructions directing the computer to shift said plurality of menu items within said multi-dimensional space in the same direction at the same velocity in response to said instruction from said user;
• instructions directing the computer to decide upon one of the plurality of menu items at a prescribed position based on the instructions directing the computer to shift such that when one of said menu items is shifted to said prescribed position, said menu item at said prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• instructions directing the computer to generate a menu image;
• wherein the instructions directing the computer to decide further direct the computer to decide upon a menu item displayed in the center of said menu image as said selected menu item, said prescribed position corresponding to said center of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

A recordable medium containing instructions directing the operation of a computer, wherein the instructions control the display of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• instructions directing the computer to receive an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• instructions directing the computer to rotate a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of said menu image displayed in response to said instruction from said user;
• instructions directing the computer to decide upon said menu item at a prescribed position within a visual field angle in the direction of said line of sight as a selected menu item such that when the visual field angle in the direction of the line of sight is rotated to the prescribed position, the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as the selected menu item;
• and
• instructions directing the computer to generate a menu image;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

A recordable medium containing instructions directing the operation of a computer, wherein the instructions control the display of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• instructions directing the computer to receive an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• instructions directing the computer to calculate a shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to a signal from an input means, to shift said menu items in multi-dimensional space at said shifting velocity such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, and to generate multi-dimensional space information, wherein said prescribed parameters include at least acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• instructions directing the computer to generate said menu image on the basis of said multi-dimensional information;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.

A recordable medium containing instructions directing the operation of a computer, wherein the instructions control the display of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in an inner side of a multi-dimensional space having a cylindrical shape, comprising:

• instructions directing the computer to receive an instruction from a user for selecting said plurality of menu items;
• instructions directing the computer to calculate a shifting velocity from prescribed parameters in response to the instruction from the user and to rotate, at said shifting velocity, a direction of a line of sight expressing the direction of a menu image to be displayed such that one of said menu items is positioned at a prescribed position, wherein said prescribed parameters include at least acceleration, and further wherein the menu item at the prescribed position is automatically determined as a selected menu item;
• and
• instructions directing the computer to generate said menu image on the basis of said direction of said line of sight;
• wherein said prescribed position corresponds to a center location of said menu image;
• and further
• wherein said selected menu item located at said center position of said menu image is highlighted.