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US5898435A
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Image controlling device and image controlling method
Assignee: Z Intermediate Global Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-30
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2016-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An image controlling device and method is provided with superior operability when making selections from a menu displayed on a display device such as a CRT display. A menu is constructed by arranging a plurality of menu items three-dimensionally along a cylinder. A portion of these menu items is then displayed in such a manner that viewing is performed from the center of this cylinder outwards. The shifting velocity of the menu items is changed while all of the menu items are shifted in response to input signals from a controller operated by the user and the menu item arranged at the center of the picture is determined to be the selected menu item. When a following level exists for the selected menu item, this level is proceeded to and menu items are displayed on the display device in the same way. When the selected menu item does not have a following level an image corresponding to this menu item is displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 Junichi Nagahara
- 👤 Toshikazu Minoshima
- 👤 Tomohisa Shiga
- 👤 Hajime Ogura
- 👤 Mayu Irimajiri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06F3/0482; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04802; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/977
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; image generating means for generating said menu image in response to a signal from said input means with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and output means for outputting said menu image generated by said image generating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; image generating means for generating said menu image in response to a signal from said input means with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and output means for outputting said menu image generated by said image generating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image controlling device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking the said menu items of upper-level and the center of said closed curved surface of lower-level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling device according to claim 1, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling device according to claim 3, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image controlling device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of menu items can be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the center of said closed curved surface as an axis in response to a signal from said input means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image controlling device according to claim 1, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface can be rotated in response to a signal from said input means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image controlling device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking the menu items of an upper-level and a lower-level layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of: inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and outputting said menu image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of: inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and outputting said menu image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image controlling method according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking said menu items of upper-level and the center of the closed curved surface of lower-levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling method according to claim 8, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling method according to claim 10, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image controlling method according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of menu items are made to be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the center of said closed curved surface as an axis in response to said input from said user and the menu image is then generated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image controlling method according to claim 8, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface can be made to rotate in response to said instruction from said user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image controlling method according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking the menu items of an upper-level and a lower-level layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; image generating means for generating said menu image in response to a signal from said input means with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface, closed in at least one direction, being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and output means for outputting said menu image generated by said image generating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image controlling device for controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising: input means for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; image generating means for generating said menu image in response to a signal from said input means with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface, closed in at least one direction, being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and output means for outputting said menu image generated by said image generating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image controlling device according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking said menu items of an upper-level and the viewpoint of said closed curved surface of a lower-level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling device according to claim 15, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling device according to claim 17, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image controlling device according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of menu items can be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the viewpoint as the point of rotation for said closed curved surface in response to a signal from said input means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image controlling device according to claim 15, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint within said closed curved surface can be rotated in response to a signal from said input means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of: inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and outputting said menu image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image controlling method of controlling displaying of a menu image having a plurality of menu items arranged in three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of: inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and outputting said menu image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image controlling method according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking said menu items of upper-level and the viewpoint of the closed curved surface of a lower-level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling method according to claim 21, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image controlling method according to claim 23, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
An image controlling method according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of menu items are made to be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the viewpoint as a point of rotation in response to said input from said user and the menu image is then generated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image controlling method according to claim 21, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint within said closed curved surface can be made to rotate in response to said instruction from said user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
101 words
A recordable medium having instructions for operating 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 three-dimensional space, the recordable medium comprising: instructions for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; instructions for generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and instructions for outputting said menu image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
A recordable medium having instructions for operating 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 three-dimensional space, the recordable medium comprising: instructions for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; instructions for generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface; and instructions for outputting said menu image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A recordable medium according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking said menu items of upper-level and the center of the closed curved surface of lower-levels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recordable medium according to claim 27, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recordable medium according to claim 29, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
A recordable medium according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of menu items are made to be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the center of said closed curved surface as an axis in response to said input from said user and the menu image is then generated.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
A recordable medium according to claim 27, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint at the center of said closed curved surface can be made to rotate in response to said instruction from said user.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A recordable medium according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking the menu items of an upper-level and a lower-level layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recordable medium having instructions for operating 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 three-dimensional space, the recordable medium comprising: instructions for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; instructions for generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and instructions for outputting said menu image.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recordable medium having instructions for operating 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 three-dimensional space, the recordable medium comprising: instructions for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items; instructions for generating said menu image in response to said instruction from said user with said menu items arranged along a closed curved surface closed in at least one direction being viewed from a viewpoint within said closed curved surface; and instructions for outputting said menu image.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
A recordable medium according to claim 34, wherein said plurality of menu items has a hierarchical structure linking said menu items of upper-level and the viewpoint of the closed curved surface of a lower-level.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recordable medium according to claim 34, wherein said closed curved surface is a polygonal plane surface closed in every direction.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
A recordable medium according to claim 36, wherein said closed curved surface is formed from polygons all having the same shape.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A recordable medium according to claim 34, wherein said plurality of menu items are made to be rotated within said three-dimensional space taking the viewpoint as a point of rotation in response to said input from said user and the menu image is then generated.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A recordable medium according to claim 34, wherein a direction of viewing said menu items from said viewpoint within said closed curved surface can be made to rotate in response to said instruction from said user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |