JPH03269487A - Overlap inhibition control system for plural windows - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent necessary information from being hidden by deciding the contents of the window operation of an input device by a multi-window system and making necessary automatic adjustments by a rearrangement processing part when windows used by the same program overlap with each other. CONSTITUTION:When the operation of the input device 12 is detected by the window operation detection part 15 of the window control part 14 of a processor 10, the window operation contents decision part 17 of an application processing part 16 investigates and decides the input operation contents. Then when the windows used by the same program overlap with each other, that is reported and the window rearrangement processing part 18 refers to a window attribute storage part 19 to make automatic adjustments so that the windows have optimum sizes and are at optimum positions, thereby preventing necessary information in the same program from being hidden.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A control method for preventing overlapping of multiple windows in a multi-window system in which multiple windows are set on a display screen and independent information processing can be performed for each window. When a program that executes uses multiple interrelated windows, the purpose is to prevent necessary information from being hidden by user operations.It detects manual window operations from human-powered devices. The window operation detection unit that detects the window operation and the details of the window operation are
a window operation content determination unit that determines whether related windows used by the same program overlap;
The present invention is configured to include a window relocation processing unit that automatically adjusts the position and size of the windows so that when related windows overlap, the windows do not overlap each other.

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a control method for suppressing overlapping of multiple windows in a multi-window system in which multiple windows are set on a display screen and independent information processing can be performed for each window.

Multi-window systems have the advantage that users can display multiple windows at the same time and perform multiple tasks in parallel. However, there is a limit to the size of the display surface.

Generally, windows are displayed overlapping each other, so in order to perform tasks efficiently, control is required to optimize the display positions and overlapping of windows.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, optimization of one display has been carried out by rearranging windows so that their overlap is minimized or by arranging the display positions of windows.

However, such conventional technology is realized as a simple window relocation method, and windows displayed from the same program and windows displayed from other programs are treated equally without distinction. That's what I do.

As a result, multiple windows used for the same task end up overlapping each other even though they should not overlap, and users find that important information is hidden, and they try to make the windows easier to see. In many cases, these operations do not lead to improvements in the efficiency of business execution.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Even in a multi-window system, at a certain point in time, the user is performing one task, and in that case, it is desirable that the window being processed be displayed relatively large and in the foreground.

Conventional technology only performs general-purpose rearrangement processing for the entire window system, and thus does not improve the user's work efficiency.

The present invention aims to solve the above problem, and when a program that executes one task uses a plurality of mutually related windows, those windows do not overlap.
and be displayed in the optimal position and at the optimal size.
The purpose is to prevent necessary information from being hidden due to user operations.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a processing unit including a CPU and memory, 11 is a display, 12 is an input device such as a mouse and keyboard, 13 is an input control unit that controls input from the input device 12, and 14 is a multi-window control unit. Control m
15 is a window operation detection unit; 16 is an application processing unit that performs work using a plurality of windows; 17 is a window operation content determination unit; 18
19 represents a window relocation processing unit, and 19 represents a window attribute storage unit that stores information such as the display position, size, and display state of each window.

The application processing unit 16 uses the functions of the input control unit 13 and the window control unit 14 provided by the operating system to set up multiple interaction areas called windows on the screen of the display 11 to carry out one task. It is something to do.

Window operation detection unit 1 in window control unit 14
5 detects an operation such as moving or enlarging a window based on an input from the input device 12 based on a notification from the one-man control unit 13 .

When the window operation detection section 15 detects a window operation, it notifies the application processing section 16 of the window operation information.

In response to the notification, the window operation content determination unit 17 of the application processing unit 16 examines the content of the window operation, refers to the attribute information such as the window position and size that has been roughly set in the window attribute storage unit 19, and performs the application processing. Part 16
Determine whether related windows used by .

If the window operation content determining unit 17 determines that related windows overlap, the window relocation processing unit 1 automatically adjusts the positions and sizes of the windows so that they do not overlap each other. The adjustment result is notified to the window control unit 14, and the window is rearranged.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the window operation content determination unit 1
7 and the window relocation processing section 18.

Although these are the processing functions of the application processing section 16, they may be provided within the window control section 14. In that case, the application processing section 16 notifies the window control section 14 of the window attributes when opening a window.

The window control unit 14 controls the window according to its window attributes.

[Effect]

The operation performed by the user on the window is first detected by the window operation detection section 15.

Here, operations on the window include moving the position of the window, changing the size, temporarily stopping display, and changing the order of overlapping windows. When these window operations are detected, the application processing unit 16 is asynchronously notified of this fact.

The window operation content determination unit 17 determines the content of the notified window operation, analyzes the positional relationship with other windows displayed within the same program, and determines the optimal window display position and size. .

The window rearrangement processing unit 18 rearranges and displays the window at the determined display position and with the specified size.

As a result, even if the user performs various operations on the window, the window will be displayed in the optimal position and size for the job.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is an example of using multiple windows, which is the premise of the present invention; FIG. 3 is an example of window expansion processing according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an example of window movement processing according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 shows a window control interface and processing flow according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The environment in which the present invention can be implemented is under an operating system that has a multi-window control function, and window operations can be directly instructed by the user using a human-powered device such as a keyboard or mouse.
This can also be done from the window control unit 14 of the system.

In the present invention, the program using the window can know the window operation directly performed by the user before it is actually processed (drawn) according to the user's instructions, and the contents of the window operation can be known in advance. It is now possible to forcibly suppress it.

In the following description of the embodiment, it is assumed that one program uses two windows Wl and W2 as shown in FIG. Window W1 on display screen 21
is used as the main screen for dialogue, and window W2 is
It is used as an auxiliary screen to display status and instruction messages.

Therefore, window W2 needs to be displayed so as not to overlap window W1.

Such characteristics regarding window display can be defined as preliminary window attributes.

For example, a display screen 21 as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the user issues an instruction to enlarge the window W1 to a window Wl' indicated by a two-dot line frame in the display state. In this case, when window W1 is expanded to a specified size, the resulting window Wl' overlaps window W2.

When this operation is performed, the window operation detection unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 detects that the window size has been changed. By that notice.

The window operation content determining unit 17 inspects the positional relationship between the changed window and other windows displayed from the same program.

If the windows do not overlap, the process proceeds to the resizing process, but in the case of FIG. 3 (a).

It is determined that the windows overlap. In this example, since the window W2 is a window whose size cannot be changed, it is determined that the window W1 can only be expanded up to just before the window W2, and the size after expansion is corrected so that they do not overlap.

According to this corrected result, the window relocation processing unit 1
8 displays a window W1 as shown in FIG. 3 (b).

In addition, a display screen 21 as shown in FIG.
Assume that the user issues an instruction to move the window Wl to a window Wl' indicated by a two-dot line frame in the display state. In this case, when window W1 is moved to the specified position, the resulting window W! ' will overlap window W2.

When this operation is performed, the window operation detection unit 15 shown in FIG. 1 detects that a window moving operation has been performed. In response to the notification, the window operation content determination unit 17 inspects the positional relationship between the moved window and other windows displayed from the same program.

If the windows do not overlap, the process proceeds directly to the resizing process, but in the case of FIG. 4 (a).

It is determined that the windows overlap. Therefore, it is determined that the window W1 can only be moved to the position immediately before the window W2, and the position after the movement is corrected to the position closest to the designated position within the five non-overlapping ranges.

According to this corrected result, the window relocation processing unit 1
8 displays a window W1 as shown in FIG. 4(b).

The window control interface and overall processing flow according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5, for example.

■ The application processing unit 16 that uses the window makes initial settings for the window usage environment.

At the same time, an attribute is set as to whether or not it is necessary to notify the application processing unit 16 of the window operation information. When using multiple windows, perform this initial setting for each window.

■ Give drawing instructions to the window according to the business content.

(2) The window control unit 14 performs actual drawing processing on the display 11 according to drawing instructions from the application processing unit 16.

(2) When a user operates a window using a mouse or the like, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to notify the application processing unit 16 that uses the window.

■ When it is necessary to notify the application processing unit 16.

The application processing unit 16 is notified of the operation details.

■ Examine the notified operation and determine whether the related windows overlap.

■ If related windows overlap, determine the optimal window arrangement and correct the display position, etc.

■ Notify the window control unit 14 of the corrected position and size.

(2) The window control unit 14 performs actual drawing processing of the window that has been changed in accordance with the corrected position and the like that have been notified.

In this embodiment, when the user changes the position and size of the window, there is not only a function to automatically rearrange the window, but also a function to automatically rearrange the window.
We are also looking forward to the following features:

If the user pumps up the window i.e.
When a window hidden behind another window is brought to the forefront, mutually related windows are automatically brought to the front at the same time.

When a user hides a window, mutually related windows are automatically hidden at the same time.

By performing such processing, when one program uses a plurality of windows, the operational burden on the user can be reduced and the efficiency of one work can be further improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when a program for executing one task uses a plurality of mutually related windows, it is possible to control what kind of window operations the user performs. However, the display is controlled so that windows displaying related information do not overlap, improving operability.

It becomes possible to improve the user's work efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an example of using multiple windows, which is a premise of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example of window enlargement processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an example of window movement processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a window control interface and processing flow according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a processing device, and 11 is a display. 12 is a human power device, 13 is an input control unit, 14 is a window control unit, 15 is a window operation detection unit, 16 is an application processing unit, 17 is a window operation content determination unit, 1B is a window rearrangement processing unit, and 19 is a window attribute Represents the storage unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a multi-window system having a processing function that sets a plurality of windows on a display screen and controls the display of each window, a window operation detection unit (1) that detects a window operation by input from an input device is provided.
5), a window operation content determination unit (17) that examines the content of the window operation and determines whether related windows used by the same program overlap, and a window operation content determination unit (17) that examines the content of the window operation and determines whether related windows used by the same program overlap, and 1. A control method for preventing overlapping of multiple windows, characterized by comprising: a window relocation processing unit (18) that automatically adjusts the position and size of windows.