BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, a controlling method, and a program, which are so designed as to accept from the user the entry for operation corresponding to a specific function.

There exists an information processing apparatus capable executing a plurality of application programs. It occasionally accepts from the user the entry for operation to execute a specific function which is independent of the application program being executed. Such a specific function includes, for example, the execution of the system program (such as operating system) which is independent of the application program. It also includes the function common to various application programs. This function may be part of the active application which is used, for example, to bring back the screen image by one step. For this function to be executed the user depresses a specific physical button or handles a specific object that appears at a predetermined position in the display region.

SUMMARY

In order to enter the operation relating to the specific function mentioned above, it is necessary to activate the specific function irrespective of the application program being executed. However, there may be an instance in which it is desirable to deactivate the specific function. Such an instance occurs when a little child plays computer games. In this instance it may be desirable to deactivate the function to terminate the application program or the function to switch the application program to another one. Unfortunately, the information processing apparatus such as game machine is usually designed such that it is not able to deactivate the function easily because deactivation will cause malfunction.

The present disclosure was completed in view of the foregoing. It is desirable to provide an information processing apparatus, a controlling method, and a program, which are so designed as to easily deactivate the entry of operation to accept the function independent of the application program.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus which is connected to a manipulating device, the apparatus including a manipulation receiving unit configured to accept from the manipulating device specific manipulation for instructing to execute a specific function independent of an application program, and a limiting unit configured to limit the acceptance of the specific manipulation in the case where an alternative section to instruct the execution of the specific function apart from the specific manipulation is available.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for controlling an information processing apparatus which is connected to a manipulating device, the method including accepting from the manipulating device specific manipulation for instructing to execute a specific function independent of an application program, and limiting the acceptance of the specific manipulation in the case where an alternative section to instruct the execution of the specific function apart from the specific manipulation is available.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a program for an information processing apparatus connected to a manipulating device, the program including by a manipulation receiving unit, accepting from the manipulating device specific manipulation for instructing to execute a specific function independent of an application program, and by a limiting unit, limiting the acceptance of the specific manipulation in the case where an alternative section to instruct the execution of the specific function apart from the specific manipulation is available. Incidentally, this program may be supplied in the form of data stored in a computer-readable non-temporary information storage medium.

