JP5661726B2 - Information processing apparatus and display program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate to a user interface of a device.

  For those used by multiple people, such as PCs (Personal Computers) and MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals), in order to identify who used them, user authentication is performed by entering a user name and password. Display the operation screen to perform work and settings.

  In order to use by a plurality of people, when user authentication is valid, it is necessary to switch the user every time the user is used, and it is not possible to use the device at the same time by a plurality of people and perform work and settings.

  The embodiment has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a user interface that allows a plurality of users to work simultaneously while securing a work area for each user.

  The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a touch panel display including an operation surface and a display surface, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to display each user's desktop screen in a direction in which each outer edge of the panel of the touch panel display is a lower side on the display and a direction from the panel outer edge toward the panel center is an upper side on the display. Control the display on the display.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the desktop information processing apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the desktop information processing apparatus of embodiment. It is a figure when the desktop type information processing apparatus of the embodiment is viewed from above. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the touchscreen display at the time of simultaneous login. It is a figure which shows the example of operation which adjusts the size of a user's work area (the 1). It is a figure which shows the example of operation which adjusts the size of a user's work area (the 2). It is a figure which shows the example of operation which adjusts the size of a user's work area (the 3). It is a figure explaining the delivery of the data between work areas. It is the figure which showed the desktop type information processing apparatus and the cloud, and is a figure explaining the storage method of the data which a user uses. It is a figure explaining the example of operation for displaying the data currently displayed on tablet PC on a desktop information processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example at the time of user login. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of adjustment of a work area area | region, and data transfer.

  In this embodiment, a desktop information processing apparatus (computer) will be described. The desktop information processing apparatus of this embodiment has a touch panel display on a flat top plate surface.

  The desktop information processing apparatus of the embodiment allows multi-login and can be used simultaneously by a plurality of people. When the user completes login authentication, the desktop information processing apparatus of the embodiment displays the user's work area (desktop screen) on the touch panel display. At the same time, a data storage location is created on the hard disk drive and the cloud side in the desktop information processing apparatus.

  Data being worked on or working on the desktop information processing apparatus is uploaded to the cloud in the background. When the user logs out, the data temporarily stored in the hard disk of the desktop information processing apparatus is deleted, and the work area displayed on the touch panel display is also deleted.

  Moreover, the desktop information processing apparatus of the embodiment can adjust the size of the work area used by each of a plurality of users with an easy operation. In the present embodiment, the user changes and adjusts the shape and size of the work area by touching and sliding the boundary of each work area with a fingertip.

  In addition, the desktop information processing apparatus according to the embodiment can perform data transfer between work areas by natural operations. In the present embodiment, the user touches the displayed object (image) and slides it to the destination work area, so that the data moves to the work area.

  Hereinafter, aspects of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a desktop information processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the table-type information processing apparatus 100 is a table-type (table-type) information processing apparatus, and a large touch panel display 50 for operation display is arranged on the top plate surface.

  The touch panel display 50 has a stack of touch panel sheets. In addition, there is a light receiving function on the entire surface of the display, and a scanner function that receives reflected light from the sheet and converts it into data by contacting and placing an object placed on the surface, especially a sheet printed with characters and pictures on the surface. Have.

  For example, an electrophotographic print engine (a printer unit 80 to be described later) is disposed below the desktop information processing apparatus 100. On one side of the desktop information processing apparatus 100, there is a discharge port for a sheet printed by the print engine.

  The touch panel display 50 is controlled by a control unit in the apparatus, and also functions as an apparatus for inputting print settings for the print engine. It also functions as a computer display device. The touch panel display 50 has a multi-touch function and can detect the movement of a finger at a plurality of different positions.

  The desktop information processing apparatus 100 allows simultaneous login of a plurality of users by authentication using, for example, a non-contact IC card or an ID (identification) card incorporating an RFID tag. When a plurality of users use it, an area that can be used is divided for each user, and the user uses each area. Discussions, presentations, business negotiations and the like can be performed by a plurality of people using the desktop information processing apparatus 100.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example inside the desktop information processing apparatus 100. The desktop information processing apparatus 100 includes a processor 10, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, a touch panel display 50, a network I / F (Interface) 60, a sensor. A unit 70 and a printer unit 80 are included. These devices transmit and receive control signals and data to and from each other via a communication bus 90.

  The processor 10 is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and loads a program stored in the ROM 30 or the HDD 40 to the DRAM 20 and executes various processes according to the program. The DRAM 20 is a volatile main storage device. The ROM 30 is a non-volatile storage device that stores permanently, and stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) at the time of system startup. The HDD 40 is a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device that can be stored permanently, and data and programs used by the user are stored in the HDD 40.

  The touch panel display 50 includes an input unit of a capacitive touch panel and a display unit of a flat panel. The touch detection surface (operation surface) of the touch panel and the display surface of the flat panel face upward. Here, “upward” means a direction penetrating from the back of the sheet of FIG. 4 to the near side in FIG. The touch panel is compatible with multi-touch that detects a plurality of simultaneous contacts, and can obtain coordinate values (X value, Y value) according to the contact position. Further, the flat panel is provided with a reading image pickup element on the entire surface of the panel together with a light emitting element for display, and also has an object reading function (scanner function). At the time of reading, the light emitting element irradiates the sheet surface, and the reflected light is imaged (received) by the imaging element.

  The network I / F 60 is a unit responsible for communication with an external device, and includes a LAN (Local Area Network) board, a unit and mechanism for controlling short-range wireless communication, a FAX board connected to a public line network, and the like. The sensor unit 70 is a unit that detects an ID card possessed by a user and reads information described in the ID card. The read information is used for login authentication of the desktop information processing apparatus 100. This ID card is a card with a built-in non-contact type IC card or RFID tag, and stores at least user identification information.

  The printer unit 80 is a unit that prints image data. The printer unit 80 includes a toner cartridge for storing toner, a cassette for storing sheets, a process unit (photosensitive drum, charging unit, exposure unit, intermediate transfer belt, etc.), a heat fixing device, and a discharge tray. A transport unit that transports the processed sheets in the order of a process unit, a heat fixing device, and a discharge tray.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the desktop information processing apparatus 100 viewed from above, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the touch panel display 50. The desktop information processing apparatus 100 allows multiple users to log in simultaneously, and can simultaneously display the desktop screens of multiple users. In this example, the sensor unit 70 includes sensors 70A to 70D arranged at the central portions of the four side surfaces near the top plate, and the user carrying the ID card 200A to 200D approaches one of the sensors 70A to 70D. Thus, the sensor unit 70 reads the information in the ID card, and login authentication is performed. If the information in the ID card is registered in advance in the HDD 40, an external authentication mechanism, or the cloud, authentication conforms and each individual's desktop screen is displayed in the direction in which the user is present (see FIG. 4). (See figure). Each of the sensors 70A to 70D is associated with identification information, and the direction in which the user is present is determined by which of the sensors 70A to 70D the ID card information is acquired.

  The touch panel display 50 also displays a boundary indicating a range that can be used by each individual. Each figure shown in FIG. 4 has shown the boundary with the broken line. FIG. 4A is an example in which each work area is divided by a straight line, and FIG. 4B is an example in which a non-work area that is not a work area of any user is provided with the boundary of the work area as a curved line. is there. This curve line is drawn so as to pass through a plurality of feature points using a conventional technique such as a Bezier curve or a spline curve. Each drawing in FIG. 4 is merely an example, and any form may be used as long as the usage range can be understood by the user. Further, whether the boundary is in the form of FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B is determined by the user's presetting.

  Each drawing in FIG. 4 is an example in which four users are using at the same time, and the work areas of each user are areas R1 to R4. The user detected by the sensor 70A uses the area R1 as the work area. Similarly, the user detected by the sensor 70B detects the area R2, the user detected by the sensor 70C detects the area R3, and the sensor 70D. The user uses the area R4 as a work area.

  The touch panel display 50 displays a desktop screen so as to be in a normal orientation for the user according to the position where the user is, as shown in FIGS. In other words, each user's desktop screen is displayed with the direction where the user is located (each outer edge of the panel) on the bottom of the display and the direction from the user's presence toward the center of the panel is the upward direction on the display. To do. Further, the desktop screen at the time of login may be displayed in a state when the user has logged out last time, or may be displayed in a default state (desktop color or the like) defined for each user in advance.

  In the present embodiment, display and touch detection on the touch panel display 50 are indicated by coordinate values based on the upper left corner of each diagram shown in FIG. The coordinate system is shown as a coordinate system in which the horizontal axis direction on the paper is X and the vertical axis direction is Y. Depending on the design, the coordinate system may be based on the upper right end (in this case, the horizontal axis direction on the paper is Y and the vertical axis direction is X). Similarly, the coordinates are based on the lower left end and the lower right end. System may be used. In addition, although each panel of FIG. 4 clearly shows the center of the panel, it is not actually drawn.

  Regarding such a user interface, a method for adjusting the size of the work area of each user will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. 5 and 6 show the adjustment method for the case where the work area is divided by the straight line in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 7 shows the adjustment for the case where the work area is divided by the curved line in FIG. 4B. Shows how.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, an arbitrary user touches a point P1 associated with all the work areas of each user with a fingertip, and slides in an arbitrary direction (lower right direction in the example of FIG. 5A). Then, it is adjusted to a work area having the destination point as a vertex (see FIG. 5B). In the example of FIG. 5, the shape of the work area for all users is changed. Further, the sizes of the regions R1 and R2 are expanded, and the sizes of the regions R3 and R4 are reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the user touches a point P2 on the boundary associated with the two work areas with a fingertip and slides it in an arbitrary direction (lower right in the example of FIG. 6A). The boundary is bent at the destination point. As a result, the two work areas linked to the boundary have a shape with the destination point as a vertex (see FIG. 6B). In the example of FIG. 6, the size of the region R1 is expanded and the size of the region R4 is reduced. Since the regions R2 and R3 are not linked, the shape and size do not change.

  An example of the case where the boundary is a curved line is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the user touches and slides a point P3 on the boundary of the region R3, only the region R3 expands until the other work region is touched. The shape and size are not changed (see FIG. 7B). Further, when sliding with a fingertip, the region R3 is further expanded, and the contacted regions (regions R1 and R2 in this example) are reduced (see FIG. 7C).

  Next, data transfer between work areas will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when data used in an arbitrary work area is browsed / edited to another work area. In the present embodiment, for example, four fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger) are brought into contact with the object display area, and in this state, the object is moved to the other work area by sliding it to the other work area. . The reason for using four fingers is to separate the operation from other operations, and the mode is not limited to this. If at least some contact is detected in the drawing area of the object, and the contact position slides into another work area in that state, the object moves to the work area.

  When the object is moved, the object is rotated and displayed so as to be in a normal orientation in the work area of the movement destination. FIG. 8A illustrates a case where the object is moved from the region R3 to the region R1, but after the movement, the object is displayed in a state rotated by 180 °. FIG. 8B illustrates a case where the object is moved from the region R3 to the region R4. After the movement, the object is rotated by 270 ° (some of the processing systems handle it as 90 °). Is displayed.

  In addition, the four fingers of either hand are brought into contact with the object, and the other hand is also brought into contact with the object, and in this state, only the four fingers are slid to another work area, and this is handled as copy processing. (See FIG. 8C). This operation is a sensation of pressing with the other hand. Naturally, the moved object is rotated and displayed so as to be in a normal orientation in the work area.

  Next, cooperation between the desktop information processing apparatus 100 and the cloud (configured by a server, a storage, or the like) will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. When logging in to the desktop information processing apparatus 100, the user's work area is displayed on the touch panel display 50 as described above. At the same time that the touch panel display 50 visually displays the user's work area on the screen, a folder unique to the user is created in the HDD 40 of the desktop information processing apparatus 100 and in the cloud 200 shown in FIG. User work data is generated in this folder.

  The parameter information called when the user logs in is stored for each user identification information in the cloud 200. This parameter information includes the file access right information, the name of the program file to be executed at login, the items in the command startup menu (program name), the desktop screen wallpaper image (may be a movie), and themes including the main color. There is information about. There may be a file name of data displayed at the previous logout and coordinate data indicating the position thereof.

  The shape and size of the work area are determined according to the size of the non-work area at the time of user login. Therefore, information regarding the shape and size of the previous work area (in this embodiment, specifically, the coordinate value of the feature point that is the basis of the shape of the work area) is not included in the parameter information. Of course, it may be implemented so as to be included in the parameter information so as to have the shape upon login.

  Data that is being worked on or is being worked on the desktop information processing apparatus 100 is uploaded to the cloud 200 (sequential automatic saving or push saving in the background). When the user logs out, the data temporarily stored in the HDD 40 of the desktop information processing apparatus 100 is deleted, and the work area visually displayed on the screen also disappears.

  Data uploaded to the cloud 200 can be downloaded by a tablet PC or the like and developed in the work area of the desktop information processing apparatus 100. The tablet PC 300 illustrated in FIG. 10 includes communication means such as short-range wireless communication and wireless LAN communication, and can perform data transmission / reception with the cloud 200 and data transmission / reception with the desktop information processing apparatus 100. The tablet PC 300 displays the data downloaded from the cloud 200 on the touch panel, and the user touches it with a fingertip and slides it horizontally to save the data file in the user's folder in the HDD 40. Displayed in the work area.

  When the fingertip slide operation is performed on the tablet PC 300, the user identification information is also transmitted to the desktop information processing apparatus 100 together with the data file. The processor 10 of the desktop information processing apparatus 100 determines whether a user who matches the transmitted user identification information is logged in. If the user is logged in, the processor 10 stores the transmission data in the user's folder, To display inside.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the desktop information processing apparatus 100, and more particularly, is a flowchart illustrating an operation example during login.

  The center unit 70 detects an ID card owned by the user in the vicinity (ACT001, Yes) and reads the information. The processor 10 performs login authentication by determining whether this information is information registered in advance in an external authentication mechanism, the cloud 200, or the HDD 40 (ACT002). If the authentication is conforming (ACT002, conforming), the processor 10 creates a working folder for the user in the HDD 40 and is generated in the cloud 200.

The processor 10 acquires information on which position the logged-in user is located (ACT003). This information can be derived depending on which of the sensors 70A to 70D has detected, and is identification information assigned to each of the sensors 70A to 70D.

  The processor 10 acquires the logged-in user's parameter information from the cloud 200 via the network I / F 60, and stores it in the work folder in the HDD 40 (ACT004). The touch panel display 50 displays the desktop screen so that each image data in the acquired parameter information is properly oriented at the login user position (ACT005). The processor 10 rotates each object for display to 0 °, 90 °, 180 °, or 270 ° according to the information acquired in ACT003. The processor 10 rotates each object constituting the desktop screen by 180 ° when detected by the sensor 70A, and rotates 90 ° when detected by the sensor 70B. When detected by the sensor 70C, it is rotated by 0 ° (that is, not rotated), and when detected by the sensor 70C, it is rotated by 270 °. Depending on the processing system, 90 ° and 270 ° may be handled in reverse. The touch panel display 50 displays the boundary of the work area, and displays the rotated desktop screen in the area.

  The desktop information processing apparatus 100 executes each process in accordance with an operation from the user (ACT006). Here, the various processes are processes on an application that can be performed on a PC, such as editing a document file, processing an image, playing a moving image, and browsing a home page. The data being edited is uploaded to the work folder on the cloud 200 side at any time or by a predetermined user operation. In addition, when the created and edited data is stored permanently, the data is stored in another storage area in the cloud 200.

  The process of ACT006 is performed until logout is accepted (ACT007, No loop). When the logout is accepted by a predetermined operation of the user, the processor 10 performs the logout process (ACT008), and the process ends. The logout process includes deletion of work data and work folders stored in the HDD 40 and the cloud 200 as described above. At this time, if there is data that has not been uploaded to the cloud 200, the processor 10 uploads the data to the cloud 200 via the network I / F 60.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example when the touch panel display 50 detects contact. When the touch panel display 50 detects contact (ACT101, Yes), the processor 10 determines which region the contact position (coordinates) is on (ACT102). When the contact position is on the boundary (ACT 102, boundary), the processor 10 determines whether the contact position has moved and released (ACT 103). When the contact is released by moving (ACT 103, Yes), the processor 10 reconfigures the work area so that the boundary is located at the release position (ACT 104). As for the reconstruction, as described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the shape and size of the work area associated with the boundary with the fingertip contact are changed. The processor 10 controls display on the touch panel display 50 so that the release position becomes a feature point of the shape.

  In ACT102, when the contact position is on the displayed object (ACT102, object), the processor 10 determines whether the contact is released in the work area of the other user (ACT105). If the contact is not canceled in the work area of another user (ACT 105, No), the touch panel display 10 moves and displays the display object at the position where the contact is canceled (ACT 109). The ACT 109 moves within the same work area.

  On the other hand, when the contact is canceled in the work area of the other user (ACT 105, Yes), the data is moved or copied to the work folder of the other user (ACT 106). When there are a plurality of contact points in ACT102 (in this example, four or more points from the index finger to the little finger), and all the points move to the work area of another user, the processor 10 treats them as data movement, and one or more points remain. If so, treat it as a copy of the data. By this determination, the data move / copy process can be separated. The processor 10 creates the same data file as the data to be moved in a folder unique to the user who is using the work area of the movement destination.

  The processor 10 rotates the display object in accordance with the contact-released area (ACT 107). Here, if it is the work area of the left user, it is rotated by 90 °, and if it is the work area of the facing user, it is rotated by 180 °. If it is the work area of the right user, it is rotated 270 °. Depending on the processing system, 90 ° and 270 ° may be reversed. The touch panel display 50 displays the rotated image at the position where the contact is released (ACT 108).

  When neither the boundary nor the display object is found in ACT 102 (ACT 102, etc.), other processing is executed (ACT 110). This process is a process according to various applications such as a drawing process when the user is using the image processing software, or a typing process when the user is using the document editing software.

  In the above description, the sensor unit 70 detects an ID card and obtains identification information to perform login authentication. However, an authentication method in which a user ID and a password are input may be used. When the user touches the touch panel display 50, the touch panel display 50 displays a dialog for inputting a user ID and a password. Moreover, the implementation may be such that the display direction of the login dialog or the desktop screen is controlled according to the touch position at the time of login. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the touch panel display 50 is divided into regions R1 to R4 in advance and contact is detected in any of the regions R1 to R4, the direction according to the region is set. It may be an implementation to be displayed. In this implementation, information regarding the user's position is used as identification information of the areas R1 to R4.

  A program for causing a computer to execute the above operation may be provided as a display program. This program is stored in advance in the HDD 40, and the processor 10 reads this program, expands it in the DRAM 20, and executes the calculation. The name of the program is not limited to the display program, and may be a login program, a user interface program, or the like.

  An image forming apparatus such as an MFP is an apparatus that performs processing for forming information called an image on a sheet. Therefore, the information processing apparatus includes not only a computer but also an image forming apparatus. Other devices and apparatuses that process information can be called information processing apparatuses.

  In the present embodiment, the function for implementing the invention is recorded in advance in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same function may be downloaded from the network to the apparatus. You may install what was memorize | stored in the apparatus. The recording medium may be any form as long as the recording medium can store the program and can be read by the apparatus, such as a CD-ROM. In addition, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) inside the apparatus.

  The control unit corresponds to a configuration including at least the processor 10, the DRAM 20, and the communication bus 90 of the embodiment. A program that operates in cooperation with the hardware such as the processor 10, the DRAM 20, and the communication bus 90 is stored in advance in the HDD 40 (or may be the ROM 30), and is loaded into the DRAM 20 by the processor 10 and executed. . The storage unit corresponds to the DRAM 20 and the HDD 40, and the communication unit corresponds to the network I / F 60.

  As described in detail above, according to the aspect of the present embodiment, a plurality of users can be used simultaneously, and a desktop area for each user can be secured.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

  10 processor, 20 DRAM, 30 ROM, 40 HDD, 50 touch panel display, 51 touch panel display, 52 imaging unit, 53 light emitting unit, 60 network I / F, 70 sensor unit, 80 printer unit, 90 communication bus, desktop information processing Device 100 (information processing device), 200 cloud, 300 tablet PC.

Claims (5)

A touch panel display having an operation surface and a display surface;
The touch panel display is configured to display each user's desktop screen in a direction in which each outer side of the panel of the touch panel display is a lower side on the display and a direction from the panel outer side toward the panel center is an upper side on the display The display is controlled, and when there is a contact at the boundary of one of the desktop screens displayed on the touch panel display, and the contact position moves, the boundary will come to the destination position A control unit that changes the shape of the one desktop screen, controls only the area of the desktop screen guided by the contact position, and does not expand the area of the other desktop screen ;
An information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control unit acquires information related to a position of a user who uses the information processing apparatus, and controls display of the touch panel display so that the desktop screen has a normal orientation at the user position. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
When the contact is detected on an image displayed in the first desktop screen of the desktop screens and the position of the contact moves in the second desktop screen which is another desktop screen, An information processing apparatus that controls the touch panel display to display an image in the second desktop screen so that an image has the same orientation as the second desktop screen. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
Furthermore, it has a memory | storage part and a communication part,
The control unit acquires information about a user who has completed login authentication from the external device via the communication unit, and stores the information in the storage unit.
An information processing apparatus that erases information stored in the storage unit when the user logs out. It is a program for causing a computer having a touch panel display having an operation surface and a display surface to execute,
Each user's desktop screen is displayed in an orientation in which each outer side of the touch panel display is a lower side on the display, and a direction from the outer side of the touch panel display toward the center of the touch panel display is an upper side on the display ,
When there is a contact at the boundary of one of the desktop screens displayed on the touch panel display and the contact position moves, the one of the desktop screens is arranged so that the boundary is at the destination position. A display program for causing a computer to execute a process of changing a shape of a desktop screen so that only a region of the desktop screen guided by the contact position is expanded and other regions of the desktop screen are not expanded .

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