Information display system having graphical user interface switchingly controlling information display on display screen

Abstract

Disclosed is an information display system capable of efficiently browsing items of information related by links. When displaying the information obtained by accessing a network, a plurality of display areas are formed, and plural items of information are displayed in these display areas. In this case, a display history of the information displayed may be stored, and the items of information displayed at the present or in the past may be displayed in a predetermined order in the respective display areas. When a first item of information displayed in a first display area is related to a second item of information, and when given an indication of displaying a second item of information, the second item of information may be displayed in a second display area while keeping the display of the first item of information in the first display area.

1 . An information display system comprising: 
 a display unit including a predetermined display area which is able to be divided into a plurality of divided display areas;    an operation unit indicating an item of information to be displayed in each of said divided display areas;    an acquiring unit acquiring the specified item of information; and    a control unit displaying the acquired information in each of said divided display areas,    wherein said display unit displays identifying information for identifying each of said divided display areas,    said control unit, when the identifying information corresponding to the divided display area is specified through said operation unit, enlarges said divided display area corresponding to the identifying information up to said predetermined display area, displays only said divided display area and deletes other divided display areas.    
   
   
       2 . An information display system according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifying information is displayed within said display area identified by the identifying information, 
 when said operation unit detects an indicating operation with respect to the identifying information, said display area corresponding to the identifying information is enlarged.    
   
   
       3 . An information display system according to  claim 1 , wherein when said operation unit detects an indication operation with respect to the identifying information, said enlarged single display area is changed into a plurality of display areas.  
   
   
       4 . A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, the method comprising: 
 forming a predetermined display area which is able to be divided into a plurality of divided display areas;    specifying an item of information to be displayed in each of the divided display areas;    obtaining the specified item of information;    displaying the obtained information in each of the divided display areas,    displaying identifying information for identifying each of said divided display areas; and    detecting an operation with respect to the identifying information,    wherein when the identifying information corresponding to the divided display area is specified, said divided display area corresponding to the identifying information is enlarged up to said predetermined display area, only said divided display area is displayed and other divided display areas are deleted.    
   
   
       5 . A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a program according to  claim 4 , of instructions executable by the machine, the method steps further comprising displaying the identifying information within said display area identified by the identifying information, and, when detecting an indicating operation with respect to the identifying information, enlarging said single display area corresponding to the identifying information.  
   
   
       6 . A storage medium readable by a machine tangible embodying a program according to  claim 4 , of instructions executable by the machine, wherein when detecting an indication operation with respect to the identifying information, said enlarged single display area is changed into a plurality of display areas.  
   
   
       7 . An information display method comprising: 
 forming a predetermined display area which is able to be divided into a plurality of divided display areas;    specifying an item of information to be displayed in each of the divided display areas;    obtaining the specified item of information;    displaying the obtained information in each of the divided display areas,    displaying identifying information for identifying each of said divided display areas; and    detecting an operation with respect to the identifying information,    wherein when the identifying information corresponding to the divided display area is specified, said divided display area corresponding to the identifying information is enlarged up to said predetermined display area, only said divided display area is displayed and other divided display areas are deleted.    
   
   
       8 . An information display method according to  claim 7 , further comprising displaying the identifying information within said display area identified by the identifying information, and, when detecting an indicating operation with respect to the identifying information, enlarging said single display area corresponding to the identifying information.  
   
   
       9 . An information display method according to  claim 7 , wherein when detecting an indication operation with respect to the identifying information, said enlarged single display area is changed into a plurality of display areas.