Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Program Therefor

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a memory storing instructions and a control unit executing the instructions is provided. The control unit is configured to send signals to display first and second indicators on a display device. The control unit is further configured to receive first and second user inputs and, in response to the received inputs, to send signals to change a display state of the first indicator according to the first input. The control unit is further configured to send signals to change a display state of the second indicator according to the second input and initiate an operation to be performed based on a combination of the first and second inputs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   a control unit executing the instructions to:
 send signals to display first and second indicators on a display device; 
 receive first and second user inputs; 
   
       in response to the received inputs:
 send signals to change a display state of the first indicator according to the first input; 
 send signals to change a display state of the second indicator according to the second input; and 
 initiate an operation to be performed based on a combination of the first and second inputs. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control unit is further configured to select a first object displayed on the screen based on at least one of the first and second inputs; and   initiating an operation further comprises initiating the operation for performing on the selected first object.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 selecting the first object further comprises selecting a second object based on an association between the first object and the second object; and   initiating an operation further comprises initiating the operation for performing on the second selected object.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first display state represents a first location on the display device;   the second display state represents a second location on the display device; and   the operation comprises moving the selected first object from the first location to the second location.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the operation comprises at least one of copying, deleting, compressing, or decompressing the selected first object. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first input represents a location of the first indicator on the display device;   the second input represents a location of the second indicator on the display device; and   initiating an operation further comprises initiating the operation when the combination results in one of an increase or a decrease in a distance between the locations of the first and second indicators on the display device.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the location of the first indicator on the display device and the location of the second indicator on the display device both correspond to an object on the display device and the operation is performed on the object. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when the combination results in an increase in the distance between the locations of the first and second indicators and the location of one of the first or second indicators does not change, the operation comprises copying a file associated with the object. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when the combination results in an increase in the distance between the locations of the first and second indicators and the location of both of the first and second indicators changes, the operation comprises deleting a file associated with the object. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein when the combination results in a decrease in the distance between the locations of the first and second indicators, the operation comprises compressing a file associated with the object. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first input represents a location of the first indicator on the display device;   the second input represents a location of the second indicator on the display device; and   the operation is initiated when the combination comprises a user click operation associated with at least one of the first or second indicators.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operation is different when the user click is associated with the first indicator than when the user click is associated with the second indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first input represents a series of locations of the first indicator on the display device;   the second input represents a series of locations of the second indicator on the display device; and   the operation comprises selecting an object on the display device located between the series of locations of the first indicator and the series of locations of the second indicator.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the operation further comprises at least one of copying, deleting, compressing, or decompressing the selected object. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a touch pad and wherein the touch pad detects the first and second user inputs. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the touch pad detects a pressure of a user pressure input and the control unit receives a signal associated with the detected pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical detection device which detects the first and second user inputs. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared radiation detection device that detects the first and second user inputs. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 sending signals to display first and second indicators on a display device;   receiving first and second user inputs; and   
       in response to the received inputs:
 sending signals to change a display state of the first indicator according to the first input; 
 sending signals to change a display state of the second indicator according to the second input; and 
 initiating an operation to be performed based on a combination of the first and second inputs. 
 
     
     
         20 . A tangibly embodied non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
 sending signals to display first and second indicators on a display device;   receiving first and second user inputs;   
       in response to the received inputs:
 sending signals to change a display state of the first indicator according to the first input; 
 sending signals to change a display state of the second indicator according to the second input; and 
 initiating an operation to be performed based on a combination of the first and second inputs.