Information processing apparatus, method for information processing, and game apparatus

Abstract

User's error operation is prevented by effectively distinguishing an inputting operation of specifying an area on a display screen from a touching or click inputting operation of specifying one point and an operation of sliding an input of one point while continuing inputting the point. The present invention determines a coordinate of a first intermediate point calculated from coordinates of first two points based on the coordinates of the first two points simultaneously inputted to a coordinate input unit, and determines a coordinate of a second intermediate point calculated from coordinates of last two points based on the coordinates of the last two points detected immediately before the coordinates of the two points stop being simultaneously inputted. Further, the present invention defines an area on a display screen of a display unit based on the coordinate of the first intermediate point and the coordinate of the second intermediate point.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a display unit which can display an image;   a coordinate input unit which receives an input of a coordinate on a display screen of the display unit; and   an area specifying unit which specifies an area on the display screen of the display unit based on the coordinate inputted to the coordinate input unit,   wherein the area specifying unit   determines a coordinate of a first intermediate point calculated from coordinates of first two points based on the coordinates of the first two points simultaneously inputted to the coordinate input unit,   determines a coordinate of a second intermediate point calculated from coordinates of last two points based on the coordinates of the last two points detected immediately before coordinates of two points stop being simultaneously inputted, and   defines the area on the display screen of the display unit based on the coordinate of the first intermediate point and the coordinate of the second intermediate point.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit can display a plurality of objects on the display screen, and further comprises an object selecting unit which selects one or the plurality of objects at least part of which is included in the area specified by the area specifying unit. 
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit and the coordinate input unit forms a touch panel display with the coordinate input unit overlaid in front of the display unit. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the area is   a polygonal area a diagonal line of which is a line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point,   a circular area a diameter of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point, or   an elliptical area a major axis or a minor axis of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point.   
     
     
         5 . A method for information processing of specifying an area on a display screen of a display unit based on a coordinate detected by a coordinate input unit which receives an input of the coordinate on the display screen of the display unit,
 the method comprising:   a step of determining a coordinate of a first intermediate point calculated from coordinates of first two points based on the coordinates of the first two points simultaneously inputted to the coordinate input unit;   a step of determining a coordinate of a second intermediate point calculated from coordinates of last two points based on the coordinates of the last two points detected immediately before coordinates of two points stop being simultaneously inputted; and   a step of defining an area on the display screen of the display unit based on the coordinate of the first intermediate point and the coordinate of the second intermediate point.   
     
     
         6 . A game apparatus comprising:
 a touch panel display;   a card reader; and   a game body which advances a game by displaying information read by the card reader and displaying the information on the touch panel,   wherein the touch panel display comprises:
 a display which can display an image; and 
 a touch screen which is overlaid in front of the display and through which a coordinate on a display screen of the display is inputted, 
   the card reader comprises:
 a panel on which a card with a code comprising predetermined card information printed thereon is set; and 
 an image sensor which reads the code of the card set on the panel and detects the card information, 
   the game body comprises:
 a game information memory unit which stores information related to an object in association with the card information; 
 an image processing unit which reads the information related to the object from the game information memory unit based on the card information detected by the image sensor of the card reader, and performs control of displaying an image of the read object on the display of the touch panel display; and 
 a game processing unit, and 
   the game processing unit:
 determines a coordinate of a first intermediate point calculated from coordinates of first two points based on the coordinates of the first two points simultaneously inputted to the touch screen of the touch panel display; 
 determines a coordinate of a second intermediate point calculated from coordinates of last two points based on the coordinates of the last two points detected immediately before coordinates of two points stop being simultaneously inputted; 
 specifies an area on the display screen of the display based on the coordinate of the first intermediate point and the coordinate of the second intermediate point; and 
 selects one or a plurality of objects an image of which is displayed such that at least part of the objects are included in the specified area to advance a game. 
   
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the display unit and the coordinate input unit forms a touch panel display with the coordinate input unit overlaid in front of the display unit. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the area is   a polygonal area a diagonal line of which is a line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point,   a circular area a diameter of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point, or   an elliptical area a major axis or a minor axis of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point.   
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the area is   a polygonal area a diagonal line of which is a line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point,   a circular area a diameter of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point, or   an elliptical area a major axis or a minor axis of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the area is   a polygonal area a diagonal line of which is a line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point,   a circular area a diameter of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point, or   an elliptical area a major axis or a minor axis of which is the line segment connecting the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point.