# US 7,460,140 B2 · Method and apparatus for displaying information and program and medium used therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,460,140 B2 - Document ID: US7460140B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/845,382 - Filed: 2001-04-30 - Published: 2002-04-18 - Granted: 2008-12-02 - Earliest claimed: 2000-05-01 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Masakazu Hayashi; Hideyuki Agata; Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella; Makoto Imamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7460140B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A content processing routine divides a thumbnail-area according to data size and generates the same number of pixels values as the number of divided thumbnail-areas. The content processing routine sets the generated pixel values to the divided thumbnail-areas and controls the display processing so that the thumbnails set with the pixel values are displayed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display method, comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated; wherein a number of the plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A displaying method according to claim 1, wherein a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is modified by obtaining unit data quantities of said non-image data as data values of red, green and blue dots of said one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A displaying method according to claim 1, wherein boundaries between the plurality of areas are blurred after a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is changed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display method according to claim 1, wherein a size of an area of said plurality of areas is smaller than an area corresponding to a thumbnail image. ### Claim 5 A display method, comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display of a display apparatus area into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 6 A display method, comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display of a display apparatus area into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein said non-image data is a text file, and wherein at least a part of the contents of said text file is displayed in a form of text in such a manner as to be overlapped to image information, wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 7 A displaying apparatus, comprising: means for dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; means for generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; means for displaying the image generated, wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A displaying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is modified by obtaining unit data quantities of said non-image data as data values of red, green and blue dots of said one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A displaying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein boundaries among said areas are blurred after a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is changed. ### Claim 10 A displaying apparatus, comprising: means for dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; means for generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; means for displaying the image generated, wherein a number of plurality of area is a function of a size said non-image data, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 11 A displaying apparatus, comprising: means for dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; means for generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and means for displaying the image generated, wherein said non-image data is a text file, wherein at least a part of the contents of said text file is displayed in a form of text in such a manner as to be overlapped to image information, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 12 A computer-readable medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated; wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The program according to claim 12, wherein a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is modified by obtaining unit data quantities of said non-image data as data values of red, green and blue dots of said one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The program according to claim 12, wherein boundaries between the plurality of areas are blurred after a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is changed. ### Claim 15 A computer-readable medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein the pixel data is proportional to a size of the non-image data, wherein a number of plurality of areas is a function of a size of said non-image data, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 16 A computer-readable medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein said non-image data is a text file, wherein at least part of the contents of said text file is displayed in a form of text in such a manner as to be overlapped to image information, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 17 A computer readable medium adapted to store a program, the program, comprising the steps of: dividing said specific display area into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein the pixel data is proportional to a size of the non-image data, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The program according to claim 17, wherein a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of plurality of areas is modified by obtaining unit data quantities of said non-image data as data values of red, green and blue dots of said one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The program according to claim 17, wherein boundaries between the plurality of areas are blurred after a lightness or saturation of one or a plurality of pixels in each of said areas is changed. ### Claim 20 A computer readable medium adapted to store a program, the program, comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein the pixel data is proportional to a size of the non-image data, wherein a number of plurality of areas is a function of a size of said non-image data, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data. ### Claim 21 A computer readable medium adapted to store a program, the program, comprising the steps of: dividing a specific display area of a display apparatus into a plurality of areas as a function of a size of desired non-image data; generating image data that is related to the desired non-image data and comprises the plurality of areas divided, by setting a pixel data for each of the plurality of areas based on the non-image data; and displaying the image generated, wherein the pixel data is proportional to a size of the non-image data, wherein said non-image data is a text file, wherein at least part of the contents of said text file is displayed in the form of text in such a manner as to be overlapped to said image information, and wherein a number of plurality of areas within the generated image data are proportional to the size of said non-image data so as to increase the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is larger and to decrease the number of the plurality of areas the display area is divided into when the size of the said non-image data is smaller, and wherein each pixel of the generated image is related to a specific character of the non-image data.