JP2005010984A - Display screen switching control device and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display screen switching control device capable of performing smoothly display switching from a first process to a second process, in a software configuration having the first process and the second process. <P>SOLUTION: In this display screen switching control device, both the first process 21 and the second process 22 are started, and in the state where the first window 41 relative to the first process 21 is active and the second window 42 relative to the second process 22 is inactive, the second window 42 is switched from the inactive state to the active state. The device is equipped with a detection means 22b capable of detecting a switching factor, and a switching means 22c for switching the second window 42 to the active state by detecting the switching factor by the detection means 22b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention activates both the first process and the second process, and when the first window related to the first process is active and the second window related to the second process is in an inactive state, The present invention relates to a display screen switching control device and a control program for switching a second window from inactive to active.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a photo processing system that prints and exposes images on photographic photosensitive materials using image data taken with a digital camera or image data read by a scanner from developed negative film frame images, photo processing is smooth. For this purpose, various displays are performed on the monitor screen. Software for operating the photographic processing system can be divided into a first process and a second process. Here, the process is a target to be controlled by an OS (Operating System), and refers to a user program that has been collected to execute a certain job. Photo processing software has a general-purpose part and other parts, and the general-purpose part may be purchased from an external software manufacturer and incorporated into the photo processing system. This is defined as the first process. For example, a screen configuration for setting print conditions, a print progress display screen, and a screen configuration for inputting and outputting image data from a digital camera or a personal computer is a program purchased from the outside (the first process). Process) is used as is.
[0003]
On the other hand, the second process is, for example, a program that displays an error on the screen and is designed independently. An error display is, for example, when the photographic photosensitive material has been used up or when a factor that interferes with photographic processing continues, such as when the photographic photosensitive material's development processing solution is consumed. Is displayed.
[0004]
When there are a plurality of processes as described above, the display relating to the first process is performed by the first window, and the display regarding the second process is performed by the second window. Thus, since the first process and the second process are separate programs (software), if the first window is in an active state, the other second window is in an inactive state. It has become.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of such a multi-process configuration, in order to switch the screen from the first process (first window) to the second process (second window), for example, it is necessary to switch by operating a task bar below the monitor screen. there were. Alternatively, it was necessary to switch by operating the “Alt” key and the “Tab” key. That is, the screen can be switched for the first time by some operation by the operator. The above error display or the like is a situation that occurs regardless of the operator's operation, and it is complicated to require some operation to display such a situation.
[0006]
In order to perform the display switching operation smoothly, a configuration in which an operation button for switching to the second process is provided in the screen of the first window of the first process is conceivable. However, it is often difficult to add such a custom function to the first general-purpose process purchased from the outside from the viewpoint of impairing versatility.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its task is to smoothly switch the display from the first process to the second process in a software configuration having the first process and the second process. It is to provide a display screen switching control device and a control program.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a display screen switching control device according to the present invention includes:
When both the first process and the second process are activated and the first window related to the first process is active and the second window related to the second process is inactive, the second window is A display screen switching control device for switching from inactive to active,
Detection means capable of detecting the switching factor;
Switching means for switching the second window to active by detecting a switching factor by the detecting means is provided.
[0008]
The operations and effects of this display screen switching control device are as follows. That is, a detection means capable of detecting a switching factor is provided, and when the switching factor is detected, the second window is automatically switched to active. In addition, the first window becomes inactive. Therefore, the second window comes out in front of the screen rather than the first window, and the operator can know on the monitor screen that a switching factor has occurred. Further, the screen is automatically switched without performing the screen switching operation. As a result, it is possible to provide a display screen switching control device capable of smoothly switching the display from the first process to the second process in the software configuration having the first process and the second process.
[0009]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one in which the function of the detecting means is incorporated as the function of the second process can be mentioned.
With this configuration, the second window can be switched to active smoothly.
[0010]
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a configuration in which the second window is forcibly switched to active regardless of the state of the first process.
[0011]
In the second process, if an error that needs to be notified urgently occurs, the operator can be notified immediately.
[0012]
As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is one in which the second process has a function of starting the first process.
According to this configuration, the first process can be started by starting the second process. As a result, the first process and the second process can be started simultaneously, and the first process can be normally activated.
[0013]
In order to solve the above problems, a display screen switching control program according to the present invention provides:
When both the first process and the second process are activated and the first window related to the first process is active and the second window related to the second process is inactive, the second window is A display screen switching control program for switching from inactive to active,
Processing to detect the switching factor;
By detecting this switching factor, the computer is caused to execute processing for switching the second window to active.
The operations and effects of this configuration are as described above.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of a display screen switching control device (control program) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of a photographic processing system in which a display screen switching control device is used will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. This photographic processing system is a system for creating a photographic print using image data taken by a digital camera or image data read by a scanner from an image forming medium such as a negative film.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, a scanner 1 reads a frame image of a developed negative film and converts it into digital data. The image data of the read frame image is stored in the storage device. The controller 2 is configured with a CPU as a core, and controls each part of the system. The keyboard 3 is used for inputting various commands and data for performing photo processing. The monitor 4 projects a screen necessary for performing photo processing. The display control unit 5 includes a video memory that stores display data to be displayed on the monitor 4, a display controller (outputs a synchronization signal), a D / A converter, and the like.
[0016]
In the paper magazine 6, paper P, which is a photographic photosensitive material, is accommodated in a roll shape. The long paper P drawn from the paper magazine 6 is cut into a print size by a paper cutter 8. Thereafter, the paper P is transported by a number of transport rollers 9 arranged along the transport path. The exposure engine 10 prints and exposes an image on the emulsion surface of the paper P based on the image data acquired by the scanner 1. The exposure engine 10 can employ a digital engine having an appropriate structure such as a laser engine, a CRT engine, or a PLZT engine. The paper P on which the image is printed and exposed is developed by the development processing unit 11 and then discharged from the print discharge unit 13 as a finished photographic print.
[0017]
Sensors are also provided to monitor the status of each part. The first sensor 7 detects the presence or absence of the paper P in the paper magazine 6. If the paper P is not pulled out from the paper magazine 6, it is determined that the paper P has been cut and displayed on the monitor 4 to notify the operator. The second sensor 12 is a sensor that monitors the situation in the development processing unit 11 (development of the developing solution, the waste liquid tank is full, etc.), and also notifies the monitor 4 when an abnormality occurs by the sensor. Yes.
[0018]
Next, the part which functions as the display screen switching control device 20 will be described. Various display screens are displayed on the monitor 4 in order to smoothly execute photo processing. The software for operating the photo processing is roughly composed of a first process 21 and a second process 22. In other words, there are general-purpose processes and other processes. The general-purpose processes may be purchased from an external manufacturer and incorporated into the photo processing system, which is defined as the first process 21. . For example, a screen configuration for setting print conditions, a print progress display screen, and a screen configuration for inputting and outputting image data from a digital camera or a personal computer uses a program purchased from the outside as a first process. .
[0019]
On the other hand, the second process 22 is, for example, a program that displays an error on the screen and is designed independently. The error display is displayed on the monitor screen when, for example, the paper P has been used up or when a factor causing trouble in continuing the photo processing, such as exhausting the developing processing solution of the paper P, occurs. To do.
[0020]
The first process 21 and the second process 22 both operate on the OS and are separate software (applications). In addition, when performing photo processing, both the first process 21 and the second process 22 are activated.
[0021]
Since the first process 21 uses the program purchased from the outside as it is, it is difficult to add the function of the starting means of the second process. Therefore, the function of the first process starting means 22a is added to the originally designed second process so that the first process 21 and the second process 22 are started simultaneously.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the first process 21 includes a display data generation unit 21a for causing the monitor 4 to display necessary for executing various processes. A screen display is performed on the monitor 4 based on the display data. As a function of the first process 21, a screen for capturing an image from the scanner 1 for inputting image data and a screen for capturing image data from a recording medium of a digital camera are displayed on the monitor 4. it can.
[0023]
The second process 22 has the function of the first process starting means 22a. That is, a configuration is adopted in which the first process 21 is automatically started by starting the second process 22. Further, it has a function of the detecting means 22b and detects whether or not a switching factor from the display screen for the first process 21 to the display screen for the second process 22 has occurred. That is, signals from the first sensor 7 and the second sensor 12 are taken in via the interface 23, and the printing status is always grasped. When a switching factor occurs, the monitor screen is switched based on the function of the switching means 22c (described later). As described above, the switching factor is a factor that hinders the continuation of photo processing, such as the paper P being used up. In FIG. 1, only two sensors 7 and 12 are shown, but the number of sensors set is not limited, and it is natural that more sensors may be provided. The display data generation unit 22d generates display data for causing the monitor 4 to display the generated contents, the countermeasures, and the like when a switching factor occurs. Further, FIG. 1 shows a part of the functions of the first process 21 and the second process 22, and further includes various functions not shown.
[0024]
<Operation of each process>
Next, the operation of the first and second processes will be described with reference to the configuration of the monitor screen of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. First, when starting up the photo processing system for the first time, the second process 22 is activated, and a second window 42 is displayed on the monitor 4 as a display screen of the second process 22 (# 01). When the second process 22 is activated, the first process 21 is also activated based on the function of the first process activation means 22a, and the first window 41 for the first process 21 is also displayed (# 3). ). The first process 21 can be started as EXE (Exe: file extension is set to exe).
[0025]
That is, both the first process 21 and the second process 22 are activated. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 2, the state of the monitor screen at this time is the state in which the first window 41 activated later is active and comes out to the front of the screen. Further, the second window 42 is in an inactive state and is hidden behind the first window 41. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a part of the second window 42 is hidden for easy understanding, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the size of the first window 41 is maximized, the inactive second window 42 is completely invisible on the monitor screen.
[0026]
In this way, the two processes are always started up, and normally function as a user interface for performing print processing only in the first window 41 of the first process 21. However, the second process 22 constantly monitors the operation status of the system using sensors. That is, it is constantly monitored whether or not a switching factor is detected (# 5). When the switching factor is detected, the second window 42 of the second process 22 is automatically displayed on the front. That is, the state automatically switches from the upper state to the lower state in FIG. 2, the second process 22 becomes active, and the first process 21 becomes inactive.
[0027]
As described above, when a switching factor occurs without performing the operator's screen switching operation, the screen is immediately switched, and the operator can know that a situation has occurred that hinders the continuation of the photographic processing.
[0028]
The second window 42 displayed on the front side can be switched to the first window 41 behind by the operator's screen switching operation.
[0029]
<Another embodiment>
As software for performing photo processing, it is possible to appropriately set what function the first process and the second process are to perform.
[0030]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a photographic processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing switching of a monitor screen. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing operations of first and second processes.
20 display screen switching control device 21 first process 22 second process 22a first process starting means 22b detecting means 22c switching means 41 first window 42 second window

Claims (5)

When both the first process and the second process are activated and the first window related to the first process is active and the second window related to the second process is inactive, the second window is A display screen switching control device for switching from inactive to active,
Detection means capable of detecting the switching factor;
A display screen switching control device comprising: switching means for switching the second window to active by detecting a switching factor by the detecting means. The display screen switching control device according to claim 1, wherein the function of the detection unit is incorporated as a function of a second process. 3. The display screen switching control device according to claim 1, wherein the second window is forcibly switched to active regardless of the state of the first process. The display screen switching control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second process has a function of starting the first process. When both the first process and the second process are activated and the first window related to the first process is active and the second window related to the second process is inactive, the second window is A display screen switching control program for switching from inactive to active,
Processing to detect the switching factor;
A display screen switching control program for causing a computer to execute processing for switching the second window to active by detecting the switching factor.

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