Information processing apparatus, processing method therefor, program allowing computer to execute the method

An information processing system comprising:

• an information processing apparatus having:
• a receiving section for receiving content data from a Web server,
• a selection area movement instructing section for receiving a first operation signal to instruct movement of a predetermined selection area displayed in an area where the content data is displayed, and for giving a first instruction corresponding to the first operation signal, wherein said predetermined selection area has a position,
• a selection area displaying section for moving and displaying the predetermined selection area according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing section,
• a link display position information extracting section for analyzing the content data, and for extracting, from the content data, a plurality of display position information, wherein the plurality of display position information includes:
• (i) first display position information of a first link display, and
• (ii) second display position information of a second link display, wherein said first display position information and said display position information are included in the content data, and wherein the predetermined selection area is sized to accommodate:
• (i) said first link display;
• and
• (ii) said second link display located in different positions within the selection area,
• a setting selection section for receiving a second operation signal to instruct a setting of the position of the predetermined selection area, and of giving a second instruction corresponding to the second operation signal,
• a link selection instructing section for receiving a third operation signal to instruct a selection of one of said plurality of different predetermined links, said one of the plurality of different predetermined links being limited to any one of the plurality of different link displays included in the content data and displayed within the set predetermined selection area, and for giving a third instruction corresponding to the third operation signal, wherein said third instruction is given after the position of the predetermined selection area which accommodates the plurality of different links is set a link selection controlling section for selecting the predetermined link instructed by the link selection instructing section when the link display corresponding to the predetermined link to be selected is displayed within the predetermined selection area, and
• a sending section for sending, to a link destination of the predetermined link selected by the link selection controlling section, a request for replying content data that the link destination stores;
• and
• an operation terminal for sending:
• (i) the first operation signal to instruct the movement of the selection area
• (ii) the second operation signal to instruct the setting of the position of the predetermined selection area;
• and
• (iii) the third operation signal to instruct the selection of one of said plurality of different predetermined links included in the content data wherein the selection area displaying section has:
• a circular selection area displaying section for moving and displaying the circular selection area according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing section, and
• a split selection area displaying section for splitting the area where the content data is displayed into a predetermined number of areas, for displaying the circular selection area in one of the split areas, and for moving the circular selection area on a split area basis according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing section, the information processing apparatus further comprising:
• a display selecting section for receiving a fourth operation signal to instruct a selection of either the circular selection area displaying section or the split selection area displaying section, and for making the selection according to the fourth operation signal.

A processing method for an information processing apparatus that selects a link displayed in an area where content data received from a Web server is displayed according to a plurality of operation signals sent from an operation terminal, and sends, to a link destination of the selected link, a request for replying predetermined content data, the plurality of operation signals including:

• (i) a first operation signal sent from said operation terminal;
• (ii) a second operation signal sent from the operation terminal;
• and
• (iii) a third operation signal sent from said operation terminal, the processing method comprising:
• a link display position information extracting step of analyzing the content data, and of extracting, from the content data, a plurality of display position information, wherein the plurality of display position information includes:
• (i) first display position information of a first link display;
• and
• (ii) second display position information of a second link display, wherein the first display position information and the second display position information are included in the content data;
• a selection area movement instructing step of receiving the first operation signal to instruct movement of a predetermined selection area displayed in the area where the content data is displayed, and of giving a first instruction corresponding to the first operation signal, wherein said predetermined selection area has a position;
• a selection area displaying step of moving and displaying the predetermined selection area according to the first instruction given in the selection area movement instructing step, the predetermined selection area being sized to accommodate:
• (i) said first link display;
• and
• (ii) said second link display located in different positions within the predetermined selection area;
• a setting selection instruction step of receiving the second operation signal to instruct a setting of the position of the predetermined selection area, and of giving a second instruction corresponding to the second operation signal;
• after the position of the predetermined selection area which accommodates the plurality of different links is set, a link selection instructing step of receiving the third operation signal to instruct a selection of one of said plurality of different predetermined links, said one of the plurality of different predetermined links being limited to any one of the plurality of different link displays displayed in the area where the content data is displayed and within the set predetermined selection area, and of giving a third instruction corresponding to the third operation signal;
• a link selecting step of selecting the predetermined link instructed in the link selection instructing step when the link display corresponding to the predetermined link to be selected is displayed within the predetermined selection area;
• and
• sending step of sending, to the link destination of the selected predetermined link, a request for replying predetermined content data wherein the selection area displaying step has:
• a circular selection area displaying step for moving and displaying the circular selection area according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing step,
• a split selection area displaying step for splitting the area where the content data is displayed into a predetermined number of areas, for displaying the circular selection area in one of the split areas, and for moving the circular selection area on a split area basis according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing step, and
• a display selecting step for receiving a fourth operation signal to instruct a selection of either the circular selection area displaying step or the split selection area displaying step, and for making the selection according to the fourth operation signal.

A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium including executable instructions that when executed by a processor performs steps for allowing an information processing apparatus, which selects a link displayed in an area where content data received from a Web server is displayed according to a plurality of operation signals sent from an operation terminal, and sends, to a link destination of the selected link, a request for replying predetermined content data, the plurality of operation signals including:

• (i) a first operation signal sent from said operation terminal;
• (ii) a second operation signal sent from the operation terminal;
• and
• (iii) a third operation signal sent from said operation terminal, said steps comprising:
• a link display position information extracting step of analyzing the content data, and of extracting, from the content data, a plurality of display position information, wherein the plurality of display position information includes:
• (i) first display position information of a first link display;
• and
• (ii) second display position information of a second link display, wherein the first display position information and the second display position information are included in the content data, the predetermined selection area being sized to accommodate:
• (i) said first link display;
• and
• (ii) said second link display located in different positions within the predetermined selection area;
• a selection area movement instructing step of receiving the first operation signal to instruct movement of a predetermined selection area displayed in the area where the content data is displayed, and of giving a first instruction corresponding to the first operation signal, wherein said predetermined selection area has a position;
• a selection area displaying step of moving and displaying the predetermined selection area according to the first instruction given in the selection area movement instructing step;
• a setting selection instruction step of receiving the second operation signal to instruct a setting of the position of the predetermined selection area, and of giving a second instruction corresponding to the second operation signal;
• after the position of the predetermined selection area which accommodates the plurality of different links is set, a link selection instructing step of receiving the third operation signal to instruct a selection of one of said plurality of different predetermined links, said one of the plurality of different predetermined links being limited to any one of the plurality of different link displays displayed in the area where the content data is displayed and within the set predetermined selection area, and of giving a third instruction corresponding to the third operation signal;
• a link selecting step of selecting the predetermined link instructed in the link selection instructing step when the link display corresponding to the predetermined link to be selected is displayed within the predetermined selection area;
• and
• sending step of sending, to the link destination of the selected predetermined link, a request for replying predetermined content data wherein the selection area displaying step has:
• a circular selection area displaying step for moving and displaying the circular selection area according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing step,
• a split selection area displaying step for splitting the area where the content data is displayed into a predetermined number of areas, for displaying the circular selection area in one of the split areas, and for moving the circular selection area on a split area basis according to the first instruction given by the selection area movement instructing step, and
• a display selecting step for receiving a fourth operation signal to instruct a selection of either the circular selection area displaying step or the split selection area displaying step, and for making the selection according to the fourth operation signal.