Information processing apparatus and method

Abstract

In instances where a plurality of objects is aligned by an operation using a pointing device having only a single point for pointing, the procedure is a troublesome one. To solve this problem, an information processing apparatus according to the invention includes a display unit configured to display objects; a recognition unit configured to recognize that a plurality of positions on the display unit have been designated; and an alignment unit. In a state in which a first position contained in an area in which a plurality of objects are displayed has been recognized by the recognition unit and a second position on the display unit has been recognized by the recognition unit, the alignment unit aligns the plurality of objects on the display unit in accordance with path of movement when movement of the first position or second position has been detected.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a display unit configured to display a plurality of objects with an overlap;   a touch-sensitive panel superimposed upon a display surface of the display unit;   an obtaining unit configured to obtain a position of a first control point based on a first touch on the touch-sensitive panel and a position of a second control point based on a second touch on the touch-sensitive panel; and   an alignment unit configured to align the plurality of objects based on the obtained positions of the first and second control points.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of objects comprise thumbnail images of image files. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the alignment unit restores the placement of the plurality of objects to the original when the first touch is released. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the alignment unit aligns the plurality of objects in one dimension between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the alignment unit aligns the plurality of objects with an overlap between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the alignment unit aligns the plurality of objects to be placed at intervals between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the alignment unit determines the order of an alignment based on the date and time of creation. 
     
     
         14 . A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a touch-sensitive panel superimposed upon a display surface of a display unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of objects with an overlap;   obtaining a position of a first control point based on a first touch on the touch-sensitive panel and a position of a second control point based on a second touch on the touch-sensitive panel; and   aligning the plurality of objects based on the obtained positions of the first and second control points.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of objects comprise thumbnail images of image files. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the alignment step restores the placement of the plurality of objects to the original when the first touch is released. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the alignment step aligns the plurality of objects in one dimension between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the alignment step aligns the plurality of objects with an overlap between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the alignment step aligns the plurality of objects to be placed at intervals between the positions of the first and second control points. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the alignment step determines the order of an alignment based on the date and time of creation. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for operating an information processing apparatus having a touch-sensitive panel superimposed upon a display surface of a display unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of objects with an overlap;   obtaining a position of a first control point based on a first touch on the touch-sensitive panel and a position of a second control point based on a second touch on the touch-sensitive panel; and   aligning the plurality of objects based on the obtained positions of the first and second control points.