Information-processing apparatus and button function control method for use in the apparatus
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsFujihito Numano, Yuki Akiyama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a button to which a to-be-executed program can be assigned. The apparatus further includes a unit which executes the program in response to an operation of the button, a unit which executes a button function setting process base on a request for setting of the button function for executing the program, and a unit which controls the execution of the button function setting process, depending upon a user authority level of the user who has made the request for the setting of the button function.
Claims6
A portable computer including a hardware button that is provided on a main body of the portable computer and to which a program is assigned, comprising:
- means for executing the program in response to an operation of the hardware button;
- means for inhibiting the program from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has operated the hardware button is lower than a first authority level with which the user is allowed to use the hardware button;
- means for executing a button function setting process based on a request for setting of a button function for executing the program, the button function setting process including a process to assign a program to the hardware button and a process to change the program assigned to the hardware button to another program;
- and
- means for inhibiting the button function setting process from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has made the request for the setting of the button function is lower than a second authority level with which the user is allowed to use the button function setting process.
A method of controlling a button function for executing a program assigned to a hardware button provided on a portable computer, comprising:
- executing the program in response to an operation of the hardware button;
- inhibiting the program from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has operated the button is lower than a first authority level with which the user is allowed to use the button;
- executing a button function setting process based on a request for setting of the button function for executing the program, the button function setting process including a process to assian a program to the hardware button and a process to change the program assigned to the hardware button to another program;
- and
- inhibiting the button function setting process from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has made the request for the setting of the button function is lower than a second authority level with which the user is allowed to use the button function setting process.
A program stored in a storage medium for causing a portable computer to control a button function for executing a program assigned to a hardware button provided on the portable computer, comprising:
- causing the computer to execute the program in response to an operation of the hardware button;
- causing the computer to inhibit the program from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has operated the hardware button is lower than a first authority level with which the user is allowed to use the hardware button;
- causing the computer to execute a button function setting process based on a request for the setting of the button function, the button function setting process including a process to assign a program to the hardware button and a process to change the program assigned to the hardware button to another program;
- and
- causing the computer to inhibit the button function setting process from being executed, when an authority level of a user who has made the request for the setting of the button function is lower than a second authority level with which the user is allowed to use the button function setting process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.