JP2002314879A - Method and apparatus for controlling signal connection and recording medium storing its controlling program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method for controlling signal connection in which various kinds of extra information concerning to the signal of an routing object can be confirmed freely and accurately as required and routing operation miss caused by deficiency of information can be eliminated surely. SOLUTION: A personal computer 10 provides a graphical user interface 30 for controlling a routing switch 11 which controls connection between a plurality of input signals (IN1-IN5) and a plurality of output signals (OUT1-OUT 5). The graphical user interface includes output signal objects 37 corresponding to respective output signals and displays extra information of an output signal corresponding to the output signal objects 37 or extra information of an input signal assigned to that output signal in response to a specified user action (e.g. on focus event) performed for the output signal objects 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal connection control method and a control device, and a recording medium storing a control program therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control method and a control device of a “routing switch” used in a transmission section of a television broadcasting station, and a recording medium storing a control program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a transmission section of a television broadcasting station, particularly when a live program is transmitted, a signal from a studio camera or a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) is used.
Or a device for switching various broadcast signals such as an external signal input through a satellite line or the like. This device is commonly called signal routing
Is called a routing switch (or simply a router) in the sense that it can be switched freely.

Although similar devices (so-called network routers) are used in the field of networks,
This network router is a route change device dedicated to packet communication, and performs a route change in packet units based on a destination address included in a subdivided data block (packet). Differences. Therefore, in the following description, the term "routing switch" simply refers to a switch used in the transmission department of a television broadcasting station.

FIG. 9A is a conceptual configuration diagram of a routing switch. The routing switch 1 has input signal lines 2a to 2e connected to each of the plurality of input terminals IN.
And the output signal lines 3a to 3e connected to each of the plurality of output terminals OUT are arranged in a crossing manner, and a switch element 4 is provided at each crossing point. For example, an electromagnetic relay is used as the switch element 4, and the connection between an arbitrary input terminal and an arbitrary output terminal can be freely connected and disconnected by controlling on / off of a relay contact. ing.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9B, the off state of the switch element 4 is represented by a white circle symbol (○), and the on state is represented by a black circle symbol (●; also referred to as a cross point). The routing state of the routing switch 1 can be represented by a plan view as shown in FIG. Now, in the state shown in the figure, all intersections are indicated by white circle symbols, and neither is connected between the input / output terminals IN and OUT. However, in this state, any intersection is changed to a black circle symbol, and Switch element 4 located at the intersection
Is turned on, control of the routing switch 1, that is, routing control can be performed.

FIG. 10A is a system configuration diagram for performing routing control. The personal computer 5 operates as a routing control device, and provides a user interface simulating the above-described plan chart to the operator. When connecting an arbitrary input terminal IN and an arbitrary output terminal OUT, the operator selects (eg, clicks) the corresponding intersection position on the user interface screen and changes the intersection symbol from a white circle to a black circle. (This operation is called a crosspoint switching operation.)

After that, the personal computer 5
Generates crosspoint information to route switch 1
The switching control unit 6 controls the routing switch 1 based on the cross point information to turn on the switch element 4 at the corresponding intersection position. Thus, the connection state of the routing switch 1 can be remotely controlled from the personal computer 5.

The user interface using the above-mentioned plan chart is effective in that the switching control of the cross point can be performed intuitively. However, for example, an arbitrary broadcast signal is provided to each of the input / output terminals IN and OUT. Cannot be assigned, there is room for improvement.

Therefore, a user interface as shown in FIG. 10B is used. This user interface 7 lays out an input terminal and its signal name display area 8 (hereinafter, “input display area”) on the right side, and has an output terminal and its signal name display area 9 (hereinafter, “output display area”) on the left side. The layout is designed.

The input display area 8 has a terminal number (No.)
Column 8a and input terminal name column 8b are displayed in a number of rows,
Arbitrary terminal names or broadcast signal names can be freely registered in the input terminal name column 8b. In the output display area 9, a terminal number (No.) column 9a, an output terminal name column 9b, and an input terminal name column 9c are displayed in a large number of rows.
An arbitrary terminal name or broadcast signal name can be freely registered in the output terminal name column 9b. In addition, an arbitrary line of the input display area 8 can be D & D (drag and drag) in an arbitrary line of the input terminal name column 9c. Drop) and output the D & D source information (input terminal name or input signal name) to the output display area 9
Can be freely transcribed to the input terminal name column 9c.

According to this, for example, as shown in FIG. 10C, an arbitrary row (No.
= 5) and drop it on an arbitrary line (the line with No. = 5 in the figure) in the output display area 9,
The information (“IN05” in the figure) of the row of the input display area 8 can be transcribed to the input terminal name column 9c of the output display area 9.

Such a transfer operation corresponds to a crosspoint switching operation in the above-mentioned plan view. Therefore, the routing switch 1 can be controlled by the user interface 7, and furthermore, arbitrary names can be freely assigned to the input terminal name column 8b and the output terminal name column 9b. Can flexibly assign broadcast signal names and the like to each of them, and can eliminate the drawbacks of the user interface using the above-mentioned plan chart.

[0013]

However, the user interface 7 has input / output terminals IN and OUT.
Although it is useful in that the assignment of broadcast signal names and the like to each of them can be flexibly performed, it is still insufficient in presenting more information to the operator, and there is a technical problem to be improved.

That is, there are two types of signal to be routed, a video signal and an audio signal, and the video signal has image quality classification such as high definition image quality and standard image quality.
The audio signal also has audio classifications such as stereo and monaural, and those signals are further described as “levels” (FIG. 11).
If the user interface 7 is used for classification, it is necessary to grasp each section and level and perform a reliable routing operation. Information)
Is not displayed at all, the operator must perform a routing operation based on limited information such as terminal names and signal names, and there is a problem that the possibility of an operation error cannot be denied.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a routing switch having a level structure. This routing switch is composed of a plurality of routing switch layers from level 1 to level n (n is about 7), groups the same terminals of each level, and assigns one broadcast material (video signal + audio signal) to one group. ) Is used. For example, when an image signal of a certain broadcast material is assigned to a predetermined terminal of level 1 (referred to as a terminal x for convenience) and an audio signal of the same material is assigned to a terminal x of level 2 and grouped, By switching the terminals x of n at once, the routing operation for each broadcast material can be efficiently performed without switching the signal for each video or audio.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a problem to be solved is to enable various additional information relating to input / output signals to be routed to be freely and accurately confirmed as necessary. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a routing switch control method and a control device intended to surely eliminate a routing operation error caused by a lack of information, and a recording medium storing the control program.

[0017]

According to the present invention, there is provided a signal connection control method for controlling a connection relationship between a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals, comprising a graphical user interface for controlling the connection relationship. The graphical user interface includes an output signal object corresponding to each of the output signals, and responds to a predetermined user action performed on the output signal object to correspond to the output signal object. It is characterized by including a processing step for displaying the additional information of the output signal or the additional information of the input signal allocated to the output signal. According to the present invention, when a predetermined user action is performed on an arbitrary output signal object, additional information of an output signal corresponding to the output signal object or additional information of an input signal assigned to the output signal is displayed. Is done.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the specification or examples of various details and examples of numerical values, character strings, and other symbols are merely reference for clarifying the idea of the present invention, and all or some of them Obviously, the spirit of the invention is not limited.
In addition, well-known methods, well-known procedures, well-known architectures, and well-known circuit configurations (hereinafter, “known matters”) will not be described in detail, but this is also for the purpose of simplifying the description. It does not intentionally exclude all or some of the matters. Such well-known matters can be known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing the present invention, and therefore are naturally included in the following description.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual system configuration diagram for routing control in the present embodiment. In this figure, a personal computer 10 (providing means, detecting means, display means) operates as a routing control device, and will be described in detail later, but a graphical user interface for routing operation including the characteristic elements of the present invention. (Refer to FIG. 4; hereinafter, referred to as “GUI”) and provide it to the operator.

However, the name of the personal computer 10 (particularly, "personal" or "computer") has no special meaning. In short, not only can you display the GUI described below,
Any information processing device having a mechanism capable of catching an operator's action (user action; also referred to as an event) on each part of the GUI may be used, such as a workstation. Realistically, GUI
Considering the ease of development and low-cost execution environment,
A general-purpose personal computer (typically DOS / OS) equipped with an operating system with excellent GUI such as ows (registered trademark) series and UNIX (registered trademark).
V architecture).

The switching control unit 11 includes an interface section 11a for controlling signal input / output with the personal computer 10, and an interface section 11b for controlling signal input / output with the routing switch 12.
And a control unit 11c for controlling the internal operation of the switching control unit 11. On / off of the switch element (see reference numeral 4 in FIG. 9) of the routing switch 12 based on a routing control command signal output from the personal computer 10. The control is performed.

The routing switch 12 includes an interface unit 12a for controlling signal input / output with the switching control unit 11, an interface unit 12b for controlling signal input / output with a router setting device (not shown), and a television. An interface unit 12c for controlling signal input and output exchanged with another device (for example, a remote controller 14 for routing switching) via a system bus 13 of the broadcast system, and a routing switch unit 12d (the internal configuration is shown in FIG. 9). And a control unit 12e for controlling the internal operation of the routing switch 12. Based on a control signal from the switching control unit 11, a plurality of input terminals IN1 to IN1 of the routing switch unit 12d are provided.
The connection state between IN5 and the plurality of output terminals OUT1 to OUT5 is switched, and various broadcast signals, for example, signals from the first camera 15, the second camera 16, or the VTR 17, or input from the satellite line 18, the dedicated line 19, or the like. The selected signal is appropriately distributed to the viewer's home via the switcher 20 while being appropriately selected (transmitted).

Here, the signals extracted from the output terminals OUT1 to OUT5 of the routing switch 12 are also sent to a monitor device installed in a sub studio of a broadcasting station.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram of a sub studio. The transmission supervisor 21 checks whether or not broadcast material of appropriate content is transmitted from a specified channel in a specified time zone while watching screen displays of a plurality of monitor devices 22 to 35 arranged on a wall surface. The monitoring is performed, and if an inappropriate situation is found, necessary measures such as switching the active system and the standby system by operating the switcher 20 are taken.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer 10. The personal computer 10 is C
PU 10a, RAM 10b, disk controller 10
c, disk device 10d, display controller 1
0e, display device 10f, keyboard controller 10g, keyboard device 10h, pointing device device 10i, communication control device 10j, main bus 10
k, bus interface 10m and internal bus 10n
Etc.

The personal computer 10 stores the operating system and necessary application programs stored in the disk device 10d in advance in the RAM 1
0b and executed by the CPU 10a,
A GUI to be described later is displayed on the display device 10f, and further, a user action (operation action of the keyboard device 10h or the pointing device device 10i) for the GUI is detected, a routing control command signal is generated, and the routing control signal is switched. The data can be output to the control unit 11.

FIG. 4 is a preferred layout diagram of the GUI. In this figure, the GUI 30 has a title bar 31 and a menu bar 32 at the upper end, an output signal display area 34 in the upper half of the client area 33 in the form, and an input signal display area 35 in the lower half.
Are arranged, and the control area 36 is arranged in the lower right part.

The title bar 31, the menu bar 32, and the client area 33 are defined member objects constituting the GUI 30. That is, Windows
The output signal display area 34 is an element that is naturally included in a form object designed and developed under a general-purpose operating system such as the ws (registered trademark) series.
And input signal display area 35 and control area 36
Other object elements, such as, are uniquely designed to achieve the intent of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the character string “Assign” is added to the title name of the title bar 31.

[Monitor] ”is set, and“ File (F) ”,“ Editing method (C) ”,“ Assign selection (A) ”,“ Interlock (W) ”,
“Help (H)” and the like are set, but these are for convenience. Incidentally, the alphabets of the respective menu items (F, C, A, W, H; these are underlined on the screen) represent shortcut keys combined with predetermined keys. For example, if the predetermined key is the Alt key, the Alt key and F
By pressing the keys simultaneously, the leftmost menu item (“file”) is selected.

In the output signal display area 34, a plurality of output signal objects of an arbitrary size (in the figure, one object is denoted by a representative symbol 37 to avoid congestion in the drawing) are arranged at appropriate positions. ing. These output signal objects 37 are connected to the routing switch 12.
Output terminals (OUT1 to OUT5) in a one-to-one correspondence.

Each output signal object 37
Corresponds to each of the monitor devices 22 to 35 in the sub studio, and their respective layout positions also correspond to the actual positions of the monitor devices 22 to 35. However, the number (31) of the output signal objects 37 in the output signal display area 34 in FIG. 4 does not exactly match the number (14) of the monitor devices 22 to 35 in FIG. The layout position of the output signal object 37 is also the monitor device 22 to 35 in FIG.
However, this is for convenience in drawing. Actually, the number of the output signal objects 37 and the number of the monitor devices 22 to 35 are the same, and the layout position of the output signal objects 37 and the arrangement position of the monitor devices 22 to 35 also match. By doing so, it is possible to intuitively select an output signal and an input signal during a routing operation without error.

In the input signal display area 34, a plurality of input signal objects of substantially the same size (in the figure, one object is denoted by a representative symbol 38 to avoid congestion in the drawing) is arranged. These input signal objects 38 correspond one-to-one to the input terminals (IN1 to IN5) of the routing switch 12.

In the control area 36, a first edit method designating box control 39 for designating one edit method (click edit) and a second edit method (drag and drop edit) are designated. Box control 40 for specifying the editing method, send command button control 41, and return command button control 4
2 and an end command button control 43.

Either the first edit method designating box control 39 or the second edit method designating box control 40 can be selected. When the former is in the selected state, the output signal and the input signal are controlled. The assignment can be performed by a click operation with a mouse, and when the latter is in a selected state, the assignment can be performed by D & D. Note that the assignment operation by clicking is an operation of clicking and selecting an arbitrary input signal object in the input signal area 35, and immediately after that, selecting an arbitrary output signal object in the output signal display area 34. Say. The assignment operation by D & D means that an arbitrary input signal object in the input signal area 35 is clicked and moved (dragged) onto an arbitrary output signal object in the output signal display area 34.
This is the operation of releasing (dropping) the click.

The return command button control 42
The end command button control 43 is for re-editing (assigning) the editing (assignment) operation (also referred to as undo), the end command button control 43 is for ending the editing operation, and the GUI 30 is closed.
This is for generating a routing control command signal reflecting the result of the routing operation and outputting it to the switching control unit 11.

Therefore, the editing (assignment) operation can be redone by the return command button control 42, the GUI 30 can be closed by the end command button control 43, and the routing operation result is reflected by the transmission command button control 41. The switching control command signal is generated and output to the switching control unit 11 to perform on / off control of the switching element of the routing switch 12.

As described at the beginning, the problem of the present invention is that "various additional information on a signal to be routed can be freely and accurately confirmed as necessary, and a routing operation error caused by a lack of information. To provide a routing switch control method and a control device intended to reliably eliminate the above, and a recording medium storing the control program thereof. In the present embodiment, as a technical element for this purpose, the output signal object 37 in the output signal display area 34 of the GUI 30 is structurally devised.

FIG. 5 is a diagram representatively showing one of the output signal objects 37 in the output signal display area 34.
The output signal object 37 has a vertically divided two-part structure (an upper region 37a and a lower region 37b). Each of the upper region 37a and the lower region 37b is also an individual object, and an output signal is specified in the upper region 37a, and an input signal assigned to the output signal is specified in the lower region 37b.

For example, in the illustrated example, the upper region 37a
And "C1" is displayed in the title of the lower region 37b. From these displays, the operator can intuitively understand that the input signal (or input terminal) of “C1” is assigned to the output signal (or output terminal) of “PM4”. As described above, each of the output signal objects 37 corresponds one-to-one with the monitor devices 22 to 35 installed in the sub studio. By looking at the screen displays of the corresponding monitor devices 22 to 35, the signals in the above-mentioned assignment relationship ("PM4" and "C1") can be surely monitored.

How to assign an input signal (or input terminal) to an arbitrary output signal (or output terminal) depends on the "editing method" in the control area 36. If click edit is selected, the target input signal object 38 in the input signal display area 34
After clicking and selecting, the object for output signal 37 in the output signal display area 34 may be selected by clicking. Alternatively, if D & D editing is selected, the object in the input signal display area 34 may be selected. The input signal object 38 to be dragged is dropped on the target output signal object 37 in the output signal display area 34. Regardless of the editing method,
The title character string in the lower area 37 b of the output signal object 37 is replaced with the title character string of the input signal object 38.

Here, in this embodiment, when the mouse pointer 37c is placed on the upper area 37a of the output signal object 37, the pop hint text 37d is displayed. Similarly, a mouse pointer 37c is placed on the lower area 37b of the output signal object 37.
Is displayed, the pop-up hint text 37e is displayed. "Pop hint text" is a display of the setting value (generally a character string) of the balloon property of the corresponding object in a balloon state for a predetermined time, and is also called balloon hint text.

In the example of FIG. 5, the output signal object 3
7 when the mouse pointer 37c is placed over the upper area 37a of "7: Name: PM4, LEVEL: 1, System: H"
A pop-tip text 37d having a character string of "D" is displayed, and when the mouse pointer 37c is placed over the lower area 37b of the output signal object 37,
A pop hint text 37e having a character string “Name: C1, system: HD” is displayed.

These character strings include the additional information (LEVEL and system) of the output signal (PM4) and the additional information (system) of the input signal (C1), and correspond to the corresponding objects (upper area 37a and lower area 37b). ) Is displayed only when the mouse pointer 37c is intentionally positioned on the screen, the subject of the present invention described at the beginning, that is, "free and appropriate various kinds of additional information regarding a signal to be routed as necessary. As a result, "reliable elimination of routing operation errors due to lack of information" can be achieved.

In order to display the pop hint text 37d and the pop hint text 37e, the GUI 30 according to the present embodiment refers to a table having a structure shown in FIG. 6 at the time of the open event. . This table is composed of (a) an output signal table 50 storing additional information relating to an output signal, and (b) an input signal table 51 storing additional information relating to an input signal.

The output signal table 50 includes, for example, a terminal number field 50a, a name field 50b, an LEV
It has an additional information field such as an EL field 50c and a system field 50d.
1 has an additional information field such as a terminal number field 51a, a name field 51b, and a system field 51d.

The terminal number field 50a of the output signal table 50 stores the output terminal number of the routing switch 12, and the name field 50b stores the terminal name or signal name assigned to each output terminal. Also,
LEVEL of each output signal is stored in the LEVEL field 50c.
L (for example, level 1, level 1, 2, etc.) is stored, and the system name (for example, HD for high definition image quality, SD for standard image quality, etc.) of each output signal is stored in the system field 50c. Similarly, the terminal number field 51a of the input signal table 51 includes the routing switch 12
Are stored in the name field 51b, and the terminal name or signal name assigned to each input terminal is stored in the name field 51b. The system field 50c stores the system name of each input signal (for example, HD indicating high definition image quality, SD indicating standard image quality). Note that these additional information (LEVEL, system, etc.) is merely an example. Of course, other information may be added as needed.

At the time of the open event, the GUI 30 reads the information of the tables 50 and 51 and executes a process of setting the information in the balloon property of the output signal object in the output signal display area 34.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main part of the open event procedure of the GUI 30. This flowchart representatively shows, for each object (output signal object) in the output signal display area 34, an information setting algorithm for the balloon property. Here, as described above, the "balloon property" means that when the mouse pointer is placed on an object, a pop-up text (or balloon hint text) is displayed on or near the object. It is a property to do. An example of such a property is, for example, Visual
"ControlTip" in the lBasic development environment
This property is also known as a “Text” property. In this specification, such a property is referred to as “balloon property” for convenience, but is not limited to this property.

When the flowchart shown in the figure is started, first, the GUI 30 is opened (step S11). Next, an initial value is set to the loop variable maximum value imax (step S12), and further, the loop variable i is initialized (step S13). Here, the loop variable maximum value im
The initial value of ax is a number corresponding to the number of registered records in the output signal table 50 and the input signal table 51,
For example, it is "1024" in the illustrated example.

Next, while sequentially incrementing the loop variable i from the initial value (= 1) (step S16), the i-th output signal object 37 in the output signal display area 34 is generated (step S14). An operation of setting information extracted from the i-th record of the output signal table 50 and the input signal table 51 to the balloon properties of the upper area 37a and the lower area 37b of the i-th output signal object 37 (step S15). Is repeatedly executed until the value of the loop variable i reaches the maximum value (imax) (“YES determination” in step S17).

Now, assuming that the value of the loop variable i is "4" for convenience, the fourth output signal object in the output signal display area 34 (the output signal object 37 in FIG. 5 for convenience of explanation). .) Is generated. Then, the information extracted from the fourth record 50e of the output signal table 50 (the additional information of the output signal; "name: PM
4, LEVEL: 1, system: HD ") is set in the balloon property of the upper area 37a of the output signal object 37, and information extracted from the fourth record 51d of the input signal table 51 (additional information of the input signal) “Name: C1, system: HD”) is set in the balloon property of the lower region 37b of the output signal object 37.

This operation is similarly performed for other output signal objects. As a result, the upper region 37a and the lower region 3 of all the output signal objects 37
The information (the additional information of the input / output signal) of the corresponding record in the output signal table 50 and the input signal table 51 is set in the balloon property 7b.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) The output signal objects 37 having the same arrangement as the monitor devices 22 to 35 of the sub-studio are laid out in the output signal display area 34 of the GUI 30, and the output signal name is displayed in the upper area 37 a of each output signal object 37. And the input signal names are displayed in the lower area 37b to clearly show the assignment relationship between the two, so that the assignment status of input / output signals corresponding to the screen display of a specific monitor device can be intuitively grasped without error. can do.

(2) To change the assignment of input / output signals, select a desired input signal (input signal object 38) from the input signal display area 34 of the GUI 30,
It can be D & D (or click-edited) to a desired output signal (output signal object 37) in the output signal display area 34 of the GUI 30, and the assignment can be changed by a simple operation, and an assignment error due to an erroneous operation. Can be avoided.

(3) If the user wants to know detailed information of a specific output signal, the mouse pointer 37c may be positioned on the upper area 37a of the corresponding output signal object 37. Alternatively, if the user wants to know detailed information of the input signal assigned to the output signal, the lower area 3 of the corresponding output signal object 37
What is necessary is just to position the mouse pointer 37c on 7b.
In any case, the additional information of the output signal or the input signal is used as the pop hint text 37d or 37e for a predetermined period of time for the target object (the upper area 37a or the lower area 37b)
, And detailed information of a specific output signal or an input signal assigned to the output signal can be easily and reliably grasped.

(4) The additional information of the output signal and the input signal is stored in a table (output signal table 50 and input signal table 51) for each signal, and the information is stored in the upper area 37a and the lower area of the output signal object 37. Since the balloon property of 37b is set, additional information can be easily added or modified only by changing the contents of the table, and a highly flexible system can be constructed.

In the above embodiment, when the mouse cursor 37c is positioned on one of the upper area 37a and the lower area 37b of the output signal object 37, the pop-tip texts 37d and 37e are displayed.
Is displayed, but since the size of the upper region 37a and the lower region 37b is relatively large, the mouse pointer 37c may be casually or accidentally positioned. However, the pop hint texts 37d and 37e are displayed, and there is a drawback that an unpleasant feeling cannot be denied.

Therefore, in a second embodiment of the present invention described below, as shown in FIG. 8B, small dummy objects 37f and 37g are provided in the upper area 37a and the lower area 37b of the output signal object 37, respectively. (Transparent object) and place the dummy object 37
When the mouse cursor 37c is positioned over f and 37g, the display is improved so that the pop hint texts 37d and 37e are displayed.

According to this improved example, the size of the target objects (dummy objects 37f, 37g) for displaying the pop hint texts 37d, 37e is reduced, so that the mouse pointer 37c is casually or accidentally positioned. The possibility can be reduced, and the display of unnecessary pop hint texts 37d and 37e not based on the intention of the operator can be avoided.

By the way, when such an improved example is applied,
A target object (dummy object 37) for displaying the pop tip texts 37d and 37e
Because of the small size of (f, 37g), it is difficult to position the mouse cursor 37c on the mouse cursor 37c, and as a result, a new disadvantage that operability is deteriorated is caused.

In order to solve this, in the present embodiment, the mouse cursor 37c is instantaneously positioned on the target object (dummy objects 37f, 37g) by using a keyboard operation.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart of a keyboard operation detection procedure for that. In this procedure, first, it is determined whether or not a specific key operation (for example, a simultaneous operation of the control key and the ↑ key or a simultaneous operation of the control key and the ↓ key) is performed (step S21). If not,
The procedure is terminated as it is. If the procedure has been performed, the current mouse cursor position (position coordinates on the display screen) is acquired (step S22), and the mouse cursor position is displayed on the output signal object 37. It is determined whether or not there is (step S23). And
If the mouse cursor is not positioned on the output signal object 37, the procedure is terminated as it is. If the mouse cursor is positioned on the output signal object 37, one of the specific key operations is performed by a key indicating the lower area 37b (for example, a ↓ key). ) Is determined (step S24), and the following processing is executed for each determination result.

<↓ key> Move the mouse cursor to the lower area 37
b on the dummy object 37g (step S
25) After the completion, the procedure ends. <↑ key> After moving the mouse cursor over the dummy object 37f in the upper area 37a (step S26), the procedure ends.

As described above, according to this procedure, the mouse cursor moves to an arbitrary output signal object 3.
7, the mouse cursor is moved to a dummy object in the lower area 37b by performing a specific key operation (for example, simultaneous operation of the control key and the ↑ key or simultaneous operation of the control key and the ↓ key). 3
It can be instantaneously moved over 7g or over the dummy object 37f in the upper area 37a. Therefore, the mouse cursor can be reliably positioned even on the small-sized and transparent dummy objects 37g and 37f, so that unnecessary pop-tip texts 37d and 37e that are not based on the user's intention can be displayed. In addition to being able to avoid this, it is possible to detect a clear user intention (specific key operation) and display the pop hint texts 37d and 37e only when necessary.

In the illustrated example, the dummy objects 37f and 37g are located substantially at the center of the upper area 37a and the lower area 37b, but this is only an example.
For example, it may be located at a corner between the upper region 37a and the lower region 37b. In particular, since it is customary in design to handle the upper left corner of the object graphic as the origin coordinates of the graphic, it is preferable to locate the corner at the corner to simplify the procedure.

In the above description, the on-focus event of the mouse cursor (for example, GotFocus)
Event), but other events can also be used. For example, when using a Click event generated when a mouse button is clicked or a DblClick event generated when a mouse button is double-clicked, the position of the mouse cursor is acquired when the event is detected, and the position is output as an output signal. If the position is above the upper region 37a of the object 37, a pop hint text 37d for the output signal is displayed, or if the position is above the lower region 37b, the pop hint text 37e for the input signal is displayed. You may.

In addition, the display of the additional information may be performed by using something other than the pop hint texts 37d and 37e. For example, a message box or a dedicated form may be used. In short, it is only necessary that the intention of the operator is detected by a predetermined event (such as a GotFocus event, a Click event, or a DblClick event), and additional information can be displayed when the event is detected.

[0067]

According to the present invention, when a predetermined user action is performed on an arbitrary output signal object, the additional information of the output signal corresponding to the output signal object or the output signal is assigned to the additional information. The additional information of the input signal is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to freely and accurately display and confirm various additional information relating to the input / output signals to be routed as necessary, and it is possible to reliably eliminate a routing operation error due to a lack of information. Alternatively, the output signal object is divided into two regions, and a user action is detected for each region. For example, when a user action is detected for one region, additional information of the output signal is displayed, and for the other region, If the additional information of the input signal assigned to the output signal is displayed when a user action is detected, more detailed additional information can be displayed for each input / output signal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual system configuration diagram for routing control in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram of a sub studio.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer 10.

FIG. 4 is a preferred layout diagram of a GUI 30.

5 is a diagram representatively showing one of the output signal objects (output signal object 37) in the output signal display area 34. FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an output signal table 50 and an input signal table 5
1 is a conceptual structural diagram of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main part of an open event procedure of the GUI 30;

FIG. 8 is a procedure and object layout diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a routing switch, an OFF / OFF state diagram of a switch element 4, and a table showing a routing state.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration diagram and a user interface diagram for performing routing control, and an example of an allocation operation performed using the user interface.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a level structured routing switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 personal computer (providing means, detecting means, display means), 30 GUI (graphical user interface).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C023 AA21 AA23 AA27 AA38 BA15 CA01 EA02 5E501 AC01 AC32 AC37 BA02 CB03 FA46

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A signal connection control method for controlling a connection relationship between a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals, comprising a graphical user interface for controlling the connection relationship, wherein the graphical user interface comprises: In addition to the output signal object corresponding to each of the signals, the additional information of the output signal corresponding to the output signal object or the output thereof in response to a predetermined user action performed on the output signal object A signal connection control method including a processing step for displaying additional information of an input signal assigned to a signal. 2. A signal connection control method for controlling a connection relationship between a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals, comprising: a graphical user interface for controlling the connection relationship; An output signal object corresponding to each of the signals and an area obtained by dividing the output signal object into two parts, and responding to a predetermined user action performed on one area of the output signal object. The additional information of the output signal corresponding to the output signal object is displayed, or assigned to the output signal in response to a predetermined user action performed on the other area of the output signal object. A processing step for displaying additional information of the input signal obtained. No. connection control method. 3. The signal connection control method according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined user action is performed in one of the two areas according to a key operation. 4. A signal connection control device for controlling a connection relationship between a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals, comprising: a providing unit for providing a user with a graphical user interface for controlling the connection relationship; The user interface includes an output signal object corresponding to each of the output signals, a detection unit that detects a predetermined user action performed on the output signal object, and a predetermined user by the detection unit. Display means for displaying, when an action is detected, additional information of an output signal corresponding to the output signal object or additional information of an input signal allocated to the output signal. Control device. 5. A signal connection control device for controlling a connection relationship between a plurality of input signals and a plurality of output signals, comprising: providing means for providing a user with a graphical user interface for controlling the connection relationship; The user interface includes an output signal object corresponding to each of the output signals, and an area obtained by dividing the output signal object into two, and a predetermined user performed on the output signal object. Detecting means for detecting an action for each area, and when a predetermined user action for one area is detected by the detecting means, additional information of an output signal corresponding to the output signal object is displayed, or A predetermined user action on the other area is detected by the detecting means. Case, the signal connection control apparatus characterized by comprising a display means for displaying the additional information of the input signals assigned to the output signal. 6. The signal connection control device according to claim 5, wherein which of the two areas is subjected to a predetermined user action is distinguished by a key operation. 7. A recording medium storing a program for realizing the providing means, the detecting means, and the displaying means according to claim 4. 8. A recording medium storing a program for realizing the providing means, the detecting means, and the displaying means according to claim 5.