JPH05181582A - Display data transfer system and pen adaptor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transfer the display information only with operation of a pointing device between the computers which are not connected to each other via a circuit. CONSTITUTION:An operator makes a pen 140 containing a storing function touch to a touch panel 135 attended to a 1st computer 100 containing a display device 134 and designates the objective display information. Then the operator puts the pen 140 into an adaptor 136. Thus a CPU 100 writes the designated display information into a storage included in the pen device 140. The operator puts the pen 140 into an adaptor 186 of a 2nd computer 150. The computer 150 reads the display information out of the pen 140 and writes them into a storage of the adaptor 186. Then the computer 150 reads the display information out of the adaptor 186 and displays them on a display device 184.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transfer system between computers not connected by a line and a device used in the system, and more particularly to a display screen like a workstation and an indicating device such as a mouse. The present invention relates to a data transfer method suitable for data transfer between computers that interactively perform processing with a user, and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in data transfer between programs by operating a workstation, the information to be transferred is designated from information displayed on a display screen by a pointing device such as a mouse, and the information is called a clipboard or the like. A copy is made in the temporary memory, and then the position of the outer surface displayed by the program which is to receive this information is designated, and the designated information is read. This method is similarly performed even when the two programs are on different computers, and the information is passed through the communication system instead of being stored in the temporary memory. At that time, the two computers had to be connected by a communication path or a line. Regarding the transfer of information using such a pointing device, the description can be found in the manuals of various workstations. As an example, Macintosh System Software
are User's Guide p87-91.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, it is impossible to transfer data between computers that are not connected by communication or the like. Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to operate a storage medium such as a flexible disk or a magnetic tape in addition to the pointing operation with a mouse or the like. An object of the present invention is to realize the transfer of information even between computers that are not connected by a communication path, a line, etc., by operating only the above pointing device.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the following pointing device (pen device) is used. The shape is the same as a normal writing tool such as a pen or pencil, and it is assumed that a conical position indicating portion is attached to a cylindrical main body portion (a shape as if rotated around the central axis of 140 in FIG. 3). ). A storage device for storing information is provided in this device so that information can be transmitted and received between the storage device and the outside. A pen adapter is connected to the computer main body to store specified information in the pen device, and serves as a means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the pen device. In order to obtain the position of the information indicated by the pen device on the display device connected to the computer, it has a surface of the same size as the display device, and if there is a contact object on that surface, that effect Is provided to the central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a touch panel). Then, when transferring the information instructed by the pen device to another computer, the pen device is inserted into a pen adapter, the computer transfers the instructed information to the pen device, and then,
By inserting the pen device into a pen adapter connected to another computer, the other computer transfers information from the pen device to the pen adapter. Furthermore, another computer is configured to read the information from the pen adapter and display the information on the connected display device.

[0005]

The apparatus constructed to achieve the above-mentioned object operates in the following manner, so that the object can be achieved. The operator uses the pen device to specify the information he needs on the touch panel. Then, the computer recognizes which information is to be transmitted by the contact notification on the touch panel. Next, the operator inserts the pen device into the pen adapter attached to the computer body. Then, the designated information is sent to and stored in the storage device in the pen device. Next, the operator carries this pen device and inserts it into the pen adapter of the second computer (the configuration is the same as that described in the above section). The second computer temporarily transfers the information in the pen device to the storage device of the pen adapter, and then reads the information from the storage device of the pen adapter and displays it on the display device.

[0006]

EXAMPLE A first example will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the present invention. This is a configuration diagram in a case where data transfer between computers 100 and 150 having the same configuration is to be executed via a pen device 140 (hereinafter referred to as pen 140). The inside of the computer 100 is as follows. The bus 110 includes a CPU 120 and a memory 12.
1, timer 122, disk controller 123, display controller 124, touch panel controller 12
5, the pen adapter controller 126 is connected respectively.

The timer 122 indicates the CPU 120 after a specified time.
To generate an interrupt. Accuracy is mse
It is about c. The disk controller 123 controls the disk device 133 and can access a data block on the disk by using a number called a block number as a key. The display controller 124 controls the display device 134 and displays the designated character string from the designated position by inputting the character string and the position on the screen.

In this example, the display screen is shown in FIG. Screen 20
0 is divided into 10 × 20 meshes, and one character is displayed on each mesh. Each mesh is associated with a set of numbers (rows from the top, columns from the left). These are so-called coordinates. For example, the mesh 210 of FIG. 2 will have coordinates (2, 4). Further, in this example, the display device can change the background color for each mesh (for each character).

The touch panel controller 125 controls the touch panel 135, and when there is a touch on the touch panel, it notifies the CPU by an interrupt. Also CPU
There is also a function of responding to a processing request from the device as to whether or not there is a contact currently being made, or if there is a contact being made, the position or the like. The size of the touch detection part of the touch panel is the same as the screen 200 of the display device 134, and the coordinates thereof are also the same. The panel itself is transparent and is adhered to the screen of the display device. The pen adapter controller 126 controls the pen adapter 136.

FIG. 3 shows a pen device 14 used in the present invention.
It is a figure explaining the structure of 0 and the pen adapter 136. The pen device 140 has a pen-like shape, and a storage device 310 is incorporated therein (hereinafter, this storage device is referred to as PRAM). This PRAM has a signal line 331.
Address information via the R / W via the signal line 332.
The signal, the selection information of the storage device via the signal line 333,
The data information is communicated with the outside through the signal line 334 (this is the same as the normal main memory access). In order to communicate with the outside, each of the signal lines extends from the storage device 310 to the pen tip portion 320, and contact points 321 to 324 are provided on the pen tip portion 320.

The pen adapter 136 has an internal storage device 3
70 (hereinafter this storage device is referred to as ARAM) and a switch mechanism 360 are provided. The pen adapter 136 is provided with a pen insertion portion 380 that forms a recess for inserting the pen device 140, and contact surfaces 381 to 384 corresponding to the contact portions 321 to 324 of the pen device 140 are provided on the surface of the pen insertion portion 380. Be done. A signal line 341 for address information is provided from the contact portion 381 so as to be connected to the storage device 370 via the switch mechanism 360, and further provided so as to be extended from the storage device to the outside of the pen adapter 136. To be done. R / W from the contact point 382
A signal signal line 382, a storage device selection information signal line 383, and a data information signal line 384 are similarly arranged from the contact portion 383 and the contact portion 384, respectively. Further, a sensor 350 is provided in the pen insertion portion 380, and a sensor signal line 345 from the sensor 350 is provided so as to be connected to the switch mechanism 360 and is provided so as to extend to the outside of the pen adapter 136. To be done. The sensor 350 is for detecting that the pen device 140 has been inserted, and when the pen tip touches the sensor, the sensor 350 outputs a message to that effect to the switch mechanism 360 and the outside via the sensor signal line 345. This signal serves as an interrupt signal to the CPU and a selection signal to the switch mechanism 360. The switch 360 connects the corresponding signal lines when the selection signal is ON (when it is inserted) and turns it OFF.
In case of, disconnect.

PRAM 310 and ARAM 370 are CPUs
It looks like a normal main memory. The memory map (addresses seen by the CPU) is as shown in FIG. That is, the PRAM from the entire main memory (400)
310 indicates an area (410) from fffe0000 to fffeffffff, and ARAM 370 indicates ffff000.
It is assumed that the areas (420) from 0 to ffffffff are used. The configuration of the computer 150 is also 100
Same as. However, the number of quotation marks is +50 in FIG.

The procedure of the operator when transferring information from the disk 133 of the computer 100 to the disk 183 of the computer 150 and the operation in the computer according to the procedure will be described. The computer 100 is provided with a file system that can access data in alphabetical strings and an editor that edits the file system. The first half of this embodiment is used as an example of target information. It is shown in FIG. In this example, the carriage return (CR) is represented by a black circle (assuming that it has information for one character).

It is assumed that the second paragraph 501 in this sentence is information to be moved. The editor loads this document from the disk 133 into the main memory using the file system, and outputs a part of it to the display device 134. An example thereof is shown in FIG. In this example, a character string starting from the 100th character "U" in the entire information is displayed. The editor stores the value 100, which is the address of "u", in the storage area 905 in one variable area 900 managed by the OS.
(FIG. 9).

The operator sees this screen and specifies the information he or she needs using the pen device 140. In the designated method, the pen device is brought into contact with the beginning of the required information, the pen device is moved to the end of the information while being in contact, and then the pen device is released. In the case of this example, the pen device 140 is brought into contact with the mesh (1, 0) of the touch panel 135, and is moved to (5, 18) while being in contact, whereupon the pen device 140 is separated from the touch panel.

When such an operation is performed, the background color of each character between the beginning and the end is changed to another color, and the operator
Make sure you know where the specified area is. For example, the normal background color is white, and the background color of the character designated by the above operation is blue. 7 and 8 show the flow of the processing, and FIG. 9 shows one variable area 900 managed by the OS related to this processing.

When the head of the pen device comes into contact, the touch panel interrupts the CPU. When the interrupt occurs, the CPU executes the processing from step 710 to step 714. In step 710, the touch panel is notified that the interrupt has been received. Next, the contact bit 901 in the variable area 900 is turned on in order to memorize that the pen device is in contact.
(Step 711), the contacting coordinates are obtained from the touch panel and stored in the start coordinate area 902 and the end coordinate area 903 in the variable area 900 (step 712). In step 713, the start coordinate and the end coordinate are designated, and the display device is instructed so that the background color of the character string between them is blue. The process flow will be described later (FIG. 8). In step 714, the timer is set so that an interrupt is generated after a lapse of time that cannot be discriminated by human eyes. In this example, it is assumed that an interrupt occurs after 20 ms (interrupt frequency of about 50 times / second). This completes the processing for the interrupt that occurs when the touch panel is touched.

After 20 ms, a timer interrupt is generated, and the processing from step 720 onward is executed. Step 720
Then, the timer is notified that the interrupt has been received. Next, the contact bit 901 in the variable area 900 is used to determine whether or not the pen device was in contact 20 ms ago (step 72).
1). If it is determined that there is no contact, this is not a timer interrupt in step 714, so other normal processing is executed (step 722). If it is in contact, the touch panel is inquired whether it is currently in contact (step 723). If in contact,
The touched coordinates are obtained from the touch panel and stored in the end coordinate area 903 in the variable area 900 (step 724). Next, the control is moved to step 713, the background color of the target area is changed, and the timer is reset. The end coordinate storage area 903 is updated as long as the timer interrupt continues. If not in contact, contact bit 901 of of
f, and it is considered that the information specifying operation is completed. The information specification completion bit 904 is turned on.

FIG. 8 is a detailed version of step 713 and shows the procedure for designating two points on the touch panel and changing the background color of the character string between them. 2 points for A
Let (a0, a1) and B (b0, b1). First, in step 810, it is determined which of A and B is in front (20
Xa0 + a1> 20xb0 + b1), and if B is before, swap A and B (step 811). The start coordinates are substituted into the designated variables i0 and i1 for the position of the mesh (step 820), and the background color change is started. First step 8
In step 21, the background color of the mesh designated by i0 and i1 is changed, i1 is incremented to point to the next mesh (step 822), and if it exceeds point B, the processing is terminated (steps 823 and 840). ), If not, it is determined whether the right end of the line is exceeded (step 82).
4) If not, control is returned to 821. If it exceeds, i0 is incremented (pointing to the next line),
Point i1 to the left end (step 830), and then step 82
Transfer control to 1.

By the above processing, the background color of the target information area was changed on the display screen, and the start and end coordinates of the area could be stored. At this stage in the case of this example, the variable area 900 stores data as shown in FIG. That is, contact bit is OFF, start coordinate (1, 0), end coordinate (5, 18), designation completion bit O
This means that N and the address 100 of the first character of the display have been stored.

The operator then inserts the pen device 140 into the pen adapter 136 of the computer 100. Then, the specified information is stored in the PRAM (memory device of the pen device) 31.
0, and the pen device 140 is inserted into the pen adapter 186 of the computer 150. This information is then sent to computer 150. The processing flow will be described with reference to FIGS.

The pen device includes a sensor 350 in the pen adapter.
When is touched, a signal is output to the sensor signal line 345 from there. This signal turns on the switch 360, and the signal lines 341, 342, 343, and 344 are respectively connected to the CPU.
This allows the CPU to access the PRAM 310. The signal of the sensor signal line 345 is sent to the CPU as an interrupt signal.

The structures of the PRAM 310 and the ARAM 370 are shown in FIG. 12 (assuming that they have the same structure. The same reference numerals are used). It is assumed that each first data has a bit 1201 indicating the presence or absence of information. That is, this bit is O
FF means that there is no information on the storage device,
On the contrary, if it is ON, it means that information exists. The initial normal state is OFF. When an interrupt due to contact with the pen adapter occurs, the processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed.

First, at step 1110, the pen adapter is notified that an interrupt has been received. Next, it is determined whether or not there is information in the pen device (step 1120).
In this case, since no information is entered, step 1130
Control is transferred to. Here, the data in the variable area 900 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the designation of information is completed (designation completion bit 904). If the designation is not completed, an error is displayed. If the designation is completed, the information in the designated area is transferred to the PRAM 310 (step 1131).

The address of the designated area is obtained as follows.
As described above, it is stored in the variable area 900 that the head of the currently displayed information is the 100th of all the information. This is stored in the variable area 900 and the start coordinates (1,
0), from the end coordinates (5, 18), 100 + 1 × 20 =
120 is the start address of the designated area, and 100 + 5 × 20
+ 18 = 218 is the final address. The size is 218-1
There are 20 + 1 = 99. The information transferred to the PRAM is the information from the first address to the last address. Transfer destination PRAM
Is after fffe0000 in the main memory.

In the next step 1132, the PRAM 310
Data presence / absence bit 1201 of
The presence / absence bit 1201 of 0 is turned off. Next, the designation completion bit 904 of the information in the variable area 900 is turned off,
The change of the background color is returned to the original (step 1133, the change of the background color is the same as the processing of FIG. 8), and the interrupt processing is ended. The contents of the PRAM 310 at this stage are shown in FIG. The presence / absence bit of information is ON, the start address is (1, 0), the size is 99, and a string of information (character string) that is the target is stored.

Next, when the pen device 140 in this state is inserted into the pen adapter 186 of the computer 150, an interrupt occurs in the same manner as the computer 100, and the processing of FIG. 11 is started. In this case, since there is data in the PRAM 310 in step 1120, the control is 1140.
Move on to. ARAM (storage device in the pen adapter)
It is determined whether or not there is data in 370, and if there is data, that fact is displayed as an error. PRA if none
The entire contents of M310 are transferred to ARAM 370 (step 1141), and the presence / absence bit of PRAM 310 is turned off (step 1142). Further, if there is a program in the waiting state for this pen adapter, the waiting state is released (step 1143) and the interrupt processing is finished.

The editor of the computer 150 uses the OS A
Request reading of information from RAM. In response to this request, the OS executes the processing shown in FIG. It is assumed that the OS is in a state of waiting for the insertion of the pen device 140 (sleep in step 1404). If there is a pen insertion interrupt after this, step 1143 causes a sleep.
Is released and control is transferred to step 1401. Here, interruption is prohibited and it is determined whether or not there is data in the ARAM 360 (step 1402). In this case, since data has been entered by the above-mentioned interrupt, control is moved to step 1405, and in step 1405 ARAM3
Data is transferred from 70 to the buffer area of the editor. Next, the presence / absence bit of the ARAM 370 is turned off (step 1406), and the interrupt disabled state is released. Next, the OS receives the information (FIG. 1) fetched in the buffer area.
3) is displayed on the display screen from the position of the start coordinates (1, 0). According to the present embodiment, the desired data can be displayed on the first computer only by pointing the information displayed on the first computer to the pen-shaped device and then inserting the pen adapter and the second computer. Can be transferred from the computer to the second computer, and the transfer information can be displayed at the same position on the display screen of the second computer.

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 and FIGS. In this example, the pen device 140 is moved from the first computer 100 to the pen device 140 in exactly the same procedure as in the first embodiment.
Information has been transferred to (FIGS. 1 to 13). The flow of processing of the editor on the receiving side is shown in FIG.

After the initial processing (step 1501, preprocessing for screen display, etc.), in step 1502, the OS is requested to read information from the input device. Step 1503
And wait for input from the input device. The process of reading information from the input device by the OS is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 16 and is similar to the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, but the received information is displayed at the designated position (140
8) is not performed.

In step 1504, the received information read by the OS is analyzed. In step 1505, it is determined from the analysis result whether or not the information is from the pen adapter 186, and in the case other than the pen adapter 186, each processing 1505 corresponding thereto, that is, processing for information from another input device, To execute. Pen adapter 186
In the case of input from, a message requesting the user to specify the position, for example, a character string such as “Please specify the position to paste the information”, is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen in step 1507. In step 1508, a loop is executed until the position designation completion bit 904 of the variable area 900 is turned on. When the pen device 140 specifies a position on the touch panel 185 during this loop (contact and then release), the process of FIG. 7 is executed. Then, the position specification completion bit 904 is turned on (step 725),
The control in the loop of step 1508 is step 15
Move to 09. In step 1509, 903 of the variable area 900 is read as the designated position (the position when the pen device 140 is separated from the touch panel 185), and the designation completion bit 904 is turned off. Next, step 1
At 510, the target information is displayed at this designated coordinate.

According to the present embodiment, the pen-shaped device is used to indicate the information displayed on the first computer, then the pen adapter is inserted and the second computer is similarly inserted, and the second computer displays the information. The desired data can be transferred from the first computer to the desired digit value of the second computer by simply specifying the position on the screen.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 17 and FIGS. 2 to 14. FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of this embodiment. First, second
The difference from the configuration diagram (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment is that the mouse controller 172 is used without using the touch panels 135 and 185 and the controllers 125 and 175 used in the first embodiment.
5, 1775 and its controller 1735, 178
5 is provided. When the mouse 1735 is moved or the button is turned ON / OFF, the controller 1725 C
Generates an interrupt to the PU 120.

The operator uses the mouse to specify the information to be transmitted, as in the first embodiment. The computer obtains the coordinates of the designated position by the same method as in the first embodiment, and changes the background color of the designated area. Next, the pen device 140 is inserted into the pen adapter 136. The computer sends the information from the designated area to the pen device 140 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The operator inserts this pen device into the pen adapter 186 of the second computer. The second computer receives information from the pen device as in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the mouse and pen device 1
Although the number of holding operations of 40 is increased, information can be transmitted and received between computers that are not coupled by the communication system without a touch panel by simply operating a pointing device.

[0036]

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to transfer information even between computers not connected by a communication path, a line or the like by only pointing operation on a display screen by a pointing device. The burden on the operator when transferring information between computers can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device configuration in first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of coordinates on a display screen in the example.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a pen device and a pen adapter used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a map diagram of a memory built in a pen device and a pen adapter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information to be transferred in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of information to be transferred.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of interrupt processing of a touch panel and a timer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of background color change processing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a variable area managed by the OS.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a variable area managed by the OS.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of interrupt processing of the pen adapter.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory built in a pen device or a pen adapter.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a memory built in a pen device or a pen adapter.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of read processing by the OS for the pen adapter according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of processing of a receiving side editor in the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of read processing by the OS for the pen adapter according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a device configuration according to a third embodiment.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A display data transfer method for transferring display data between at least two computers to which a display device and a touch panel are connected, wherein a pen adapter is connected to each computer, and the pen device connects the first computer to the first computer. The display data on the display device to be transferred is designated by designating two desired points on the touch panel, and the pen device is inserted into the pen adapter of the first computer, whereby the first computer displays the display. By writing data to a storage device in the pen device and inserting the pen device into which the display data has been written into a pen adapter of a second computer, the second computer reads the display data from the pen device and the pen adapter. Write to a storage device within the second computer A display data transfer system characterized in that the display data in the adapter is read out and displayed on a connected display device. 2. The display data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein when the second computer reads the display data in the pen adapter and displays it on a display device, a display position on the display device of the first computer is displayed. A display data transfer method characterized by displaying at the same position. 3. The display data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein when the second computer reads the display data in the pen adapter and displays it on a display device, the second computer waits for a display position designation input by an operator and then displays the display position. A display data transfer method characterized in that, when designated, the display data is displayed at the designated position. 4. A display data transfer method for transferring display data between at least two computers to which a display device and a mouse are connected, wherein a pen adapter is connected to each computer, and the mouse is used for the first computer. By designating two desired points on the display screen of the display device, the display data on the display device to be transferred is designated, and the pen device is inserted into the pen adapter of the first computer, whereby the first data is displayed. Computer writes the display data in a storage device in the pen device, and the pen device in which the display data is written is inserted into a pen adapter of a second computer,
The second computer reads the display data from the pen device and writes the display data in a storage device in the pen adapter, and the second computer reads the display data in the pen adapter and displays it on a connected display device. Display data transfer method characterized by. 5. A pen-like shape, a first storage device is incorporated therein, and a plurality of signal lines connected to the first storage device are provided between the first storage device and the pen tip portion. Is located in
A pen device in which a contact portion connected to each of the signal lines is provided on the surface of the pen tip portion, a second storage device and a switch mechanism are provided inside, and forms a recess for inserting the pen device. The contact having a pen insertion part, the contact part corresponding to each contact part of the pen device is provided on the surface of the pen insertion part, and each signal line connected to the second storage device corresponds to the contact. Is arranged so as to be connected to the second storage device via the switch mechanism and further extended to the outside from the second storage device. A pen adaptor, which is provided with a sensor for detecting that the pen device is inserted, is arranged so that a sensor signal line from the sensor is connected to the switch mechanism and is extended to the outside. A pen / pen adapter device consisting of 6. A pen-like shape, a storage device is incorporated inside, and a plurality of signal lines connected to the storage device are arranged between the storage device and the pen tip portion. A pen device, wherein a contact portion connected to each of the signal lines is provided on the surface of the pen device. 7. A storage device and a switch mechanism are provided inside, and a pen insertion portion forming a recess for inserting the pen device is provided, and a surface of the pen insertion portion corresponds to each contact portion of the pen device. Is provided so that each signal line connected to the storage device is connected to the storage device from the corresponding contact part via the switch mechanism, and further from the storage device. A sensor for detecting that a pen device has been inserted is provided in the pen insertion portion so as to be extended to the outside, and a sensor signal line is arranged from the sensor to be connected to the switch mechanism. A pen adapter, which is provided so as to be extended to the outside.