Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method providing a main display for displaying a first operation screen used to perform a first operation and a sub-display separate from the main display for displaying a second operation screen used to perform a second operation. The sub-display is integral with a touch pad pointing device. A processor of the information processing apparatus is programmed to provide notification when the second operation screen is opened or changed. The notification may be selectively provided on the main display such that a user performing touch operation on the sub-display while viewing the main display is notified that the second operation screen has been opened or changed. The notification may be visual, audible or tactile. The second operation may be executed in parallel with the first operation or independently of the first operation. The first operation screen and the second operation screen may be simultaneously displayed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is capable of executing functions associated with a plurality of shortcut keys each comprising a combination of an auxiliary key and another key. The apparatus includes a key-input device including a plurality of keys, a unit that detects depression of an auxiliary key of the key-input device, and a unit that displays, on a display screen, a list of shortcut keys including the auxiliary key detected.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which has means for granting an application program which outputs a use request of a sub-display, of a plurality of application programs that use a sub-display, a use right, and means for sending a message indicating that the sub-display cannot be used in response to a use request for the sub-display from a program other than the application program granted the use right.

Abstract: Information displayed on a main display is selected, and the selected information is displayed on a sub-display. A GUI corresponding to the type of selected information is displayed on the sub-display. The information displayed on the sub-display is edited, and the edited information is displayed at the original position on the main display.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a first display, a pointing device having a second display, an operation input controller which reflects a pointing operation of the pointing device to a mouse pointer displayed on the first display, and a first entire screen display controller which displays on the second display a first image of a virtual screen which is larger that a screen of the first display.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus comprises a unit for determining an authority level of a user who has demanded user switching, a unit for displaying on a display of the apparatus a list of users who have authority levels not higher than the determined authority level, and a unit for switching an operation environment of an apparatus to the operation environment corresponding to a user selected from the list displayed.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus displays a screen image of a display area of a virtual screen, on a display screen of a display unit. The apparatus includes a unit for displaying on the display screen a virtual screen display window displaying a layout of the virtual screen. The virtual screen display window includes a window frame indicating a position of a window arranged on the virtual screen, and a display area frame indicating a position of the display area on the virtual screen. The apparatus also includes a unit for updating, when the window frame on the virtual screen display window has been moved, a screen image of the display screen on the basis of a relationship between the display area frame and the moved window frame on the virtual screen display window.

Abstract: When a touch pad pointing device is tapped, the tapped position coordinate is detected and a predetermined function is performed based on the tapped coordinate. One of functions of a computer and a pointing function is allocated to a zone of the touch pad. When a zone of the touch pad is tapped, a notification based on the function allocated to the tapped zone is performed.

Abstract: When a touch pad pointing device is tapped, the tapped position coordinates are detected and a setup function or other operation is performed if the detected coordinates are registered in the setup table. If the detected coordinates are not registered in the setup table, a mouse pointing function is performed. When a middle user selectable operator is pressed, a mouse pointer motion speed setup screen is displayed on a sub display of the touch pad pointing device. By moving a slide bar displayed on the mouse pointer motion speed setup screen, a user may easily change the pointer motion speed on the sub display.

Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a main body having a keyboard, a display unit supported by the main body, and a sub display unit provided in the main body. The display unit can rotate between a closed position, in which the display unit covers the keyboard, and an opened position, in which the display unit exposes the keyboard. The sub display unit has a display panel which displays information, and the inclination angle of the sub display unit with the main body can be adjusted through an adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a main display and a sub-display. The apparatus includes a section which displays, on the sub-display, clock information indicating of time, a section which acquires changed time information, when the time information has been changed, and a section which changes a present value of the time of the clock information displayed on the sub-display, based on the acquired changed time information.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a button to which a to-be-executed program can be assigned. The apparatus further includes a unit which executes the program in response to an operation of the button, a unit which executes a button function setting process base on a request for setting of the button function for executing the program, and a unit which controls the execution of the button function setting process, depending upon a user authority level of the user who has made the request for the setting of the button function.

Abstract: A computer system includes a start button, a storage section and a controller. The start button starts a predetermined function allocated thereto. The first storage section stores first information on the predetermined function and second information as to whether the computer system is started upon operation of the start button. The controller starts the computer system in accordance with the predetermined function based on the first information when the second information indicates starting the computer system upon operation of the start button.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a portable information apparatus, which includes a main display, a sub-display provided independently of the main display, detection means for detecting information that the user must be informed of, and display control means for displaying a message indicating the information that the user must be informed of on the sub-display when the detection means detects this information.

Abstract: A portable information equipment of this invention has a jog switch for generating different events in correspondence with flip directions and times, and means for executing a process corresponding to a type of event generated by the jog switch.

Abstract: If an operating knob of a mode control switch is slide in one direction, disk medium reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of data recorded in an optical disk medium set to a CD/DVD drive is executed. If the operating knob is slid in another direction, MP3 data reproduction is selected and reproduction processing of digital audio data stored in a hard disk is executed in accordance with a play list.