JPH08185304A - Multiwindow control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it possible to refer to all or a part of data displayed on a lower hierarchical window by simple operation without changing display information relating to plural windows being displayed at present. CONSTITUTION: A multiwindow control part 1 executes the start of an window trnasmitting part 2, the security of a transmitting management information storing area 5, the setting of management information in the area 5, the security of a transmitting display information storing area 6, and the open of a transmitting window based upon transmission display request. A transmitted window selecting part 22 displays a transmission controlling selection menu on the transmitting window and selects an window to be transmitted based upon a selection command for the selection menu. A transmission data display part 21 stores transmission data on the window to be transmitted as display information in the area 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system capable of multi-window display, and more particularly to a multi-window control system for controlling window display in the computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of multi-window control method, a plurality of windows are displayed on a display (here, the entire screen on a display device capable of multi-window display) and the management required for display control of each window. Based on a management table storage unit that stores information and a display information storage unit that stores display information of each window (information indicating the content of data displayed in each window), a window manager ( The multi-window control unit) opens (OPEN), closes (CLOSE), displays and moves a plurality of windows on the display.
Controls such as reduction, enlargement, deletion and display switching. The management information required to control the display of each window includes the position, size, display hierarchy (information indicating the hierarchy of each window when a plurality of windows overlap each other), and display information pointer for each window. The information includes (information indicating the location of the display information of each window in the display information storage unit).

Here, in the process of processing in a computer system to which the multi-window control method is applied, when a plurality of windows are displayed on the display in an overlapping manner, the lower level hidden behind the upper level windows. Sometimes there is a request to see the data in a window of the hierarchy.

In such a conventional multi-window control method, at such a time, the window manager controls to move, reduce, or shrink the window of the upper hierarchy displayed in front of the window of the lower hierarchy hidden behind. It was necessary to perform deletion, etc. (It was also necessary to perform such a complicated operation when simply wanting to refer to the data displayed in the lower hierarchy window).

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional multi-window control method, when there is a request to refer to the data displayed in the window of the lower layer hidden behind the window of the upper layer. In addition, when you just want to refer to the data displayed in the lower hierarchy window, you have to change the display state of the window on the current display drastically. There is a problem in that it is necessary to perform a complicated operation such as reduction or deletion, and the operability of the computer system to which the multi-window control method is applied deteriorates.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to change the display information of a plurality of currently displayed windows and to switch the windows without significantly changing the current display state of the windows on the display. Multi-window control method that enables control (transparency control of multi-window) for referencing all or part of the data displayed in the lower hierarchy window with simple operation. To provide.

As a prior art relating to multi-window transmission control, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-15285 (a display device having a multi-window display function) has been published. However, this prior art differs from the present invention in the configuration and the like in the following points and.

In the invention according to the above publication, the contents of the display information relating to the window of the upper layer to be transparent (transparent window) is newly recombined, so that the data displayed in the window of the lower layer is transparent. It can be displayed (see, for example, page 753, upper right column, lines 14 to 17 in the publication). On the other hand, in the present invention, since such a transparent display is enabled by setting a new window (transparent window), there is no change in the display information regarding the transparent window. Thus, the invention according to the publication and the invention of the present application are essentially different in the configuration for realizing the transmission control of the multi-window, which is the essence of both inventions.

When three or more windows are overlapped and the data displayed in a window in a lower hierarchy than the windows in the third and subsequent hierarchies is to be transparent, It is necessary to repeat the processing for transmission control twice or more (for example, see page 753, lower right column, lines 14 to 16 in the publication). On the other hand, according to the present invention, desired transmission control can be realized in a single process in the same situation. Such a difference is due to a difference in the configuration for realizing the transmission control. Regarding this difference, it is considered that the present invention is more preferable from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of processing.

[0010]

According to the multi-window control method of the present invention, in a computer system capable of multi-window display, a management table storage unit for storing management information necessary for display control of a plurality of windows for normal display. And a display information storage unit that stores display information of a plurality of windows for normal display, a management information storage area for storage that stores management information necessary for display control of the transparent window, and display information of the transparent window. A transparent display information storage area to be stored, and activation of a window transparent section based on a transparent display request, securing of the transparent management information storage area, setting of management information in the transparent management information storage area, A multi-window control unit that secures a display information storage area and opens a transparent window, and this multi-window control unit Therefore, the transparent control selection menu is displayed in the opened transparent window, and the transparent target window selection unit in the window transparent unit that selects the transparent target window based on the selection instruction to the transparent control selection menu, and the transparent target A transparent data display section in the window transparent section for storing the transparent data on the transparent target window selected by the window selecting section as display information in the transparent display information storage area secured by the multi-window control section. .

[0011]

According to the multi-window control method of the present invention, in a computer system capable of multi-window display, the management table storage section stores management information necessary for display control of a plurality of windows for normal display, and the display information storage section Stores the display information of a plurality of windows for normal display, the management information storage area for transparent stores the management information necessary for display control of the window for transparent, and the display information storage area for transparent displays information of the window for transparent. Based on the transparent display request, the multi-window control unit activates the window transparent unit, secures the transparent management information storage area, sets the management information in the transparent management information storage area, and sets the transparent display information storage area. Secure and open the transparent window, and the transparent target window selection part in the window transparent part controls multiple windows. The transparent control selection menu is displayed in the transparent window opened by, and the transparent target window is selected based on the selection instruction for the transparent control selection menu, and the transparent data display section in the window transparent section is displayed by the transparent target window selection section. The transparency data on the selected transparency target window is stored as display information in the transparency display information storage area secured by the multi-window control unit.

[0012]

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment according to the multi-window control system of the present invention.

The multi-window control system of this embodiment is
A multi-window control unit 1, a window transparent unit 2 including a transparent data display unit 21 and a transparent target window selection unit 22, a management table storage unit 3, a display information storage unit 4, a transparent management information storage region 5, The transparent display information storage area 6, a keyboard 7, a mouse 8, and a display 9 are included. The multi-window control unit 1 and the window transparent unit 2 are expanded on a memory (main memory) and a CPU (Central Process).
It is realized by being executed under the control of the (Singing Unit). Further, the management table storage unit 3, the display information storage unit 4, the transparent management information storage area 5, and the transparent display information storage area 6 are realized by being expanded on the memory.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the management table storage unit 3, the display information storage unit 4, the transparent management information storage area 5, and the transparent display information storage area 6 and their relationships.

The management table storage unit 3 and the display information storage unit 4 are components already existing in the conventional multi-window control system. The management table storage unit 3 stores, in a table format, management information necessary for display control of each window for one or more windows (N (positive integer) windows in FIG. 2) that are open at that time. ing. Here, the management information necessary for display control of each window is, as described above, the position, size, display hierarchy and display information pointer (display information storage unit 4 for each window on the display 9. Information indicating the location of the display information of each window in the above). The display information storage unit 4 stores display information indicating the contents of the data displayed in each window. The information in the management table storage unit 3 and the display information storage unit 4 is not changed by the below-described transparency control (this point is referred to as the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
This is one of the points different from the invention according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-15285).

The transparent management information storage area 5 and the transparent display information storage area 6 are components peculiar to the present invention.
The transparent management information storage area 5 stores management information necessary for display control of the transparent window. Here, the management information necessary for controlling the display of the transparent window includes the position of the transparent window on the display 9, the size of the transparent window, and the display information pointer (for transparent in the transparent display information storage area 6). The information includes information indicating the location of the display information regarding the window) (the content of this management information is not limited to such content).
The transparent display information storage area 6 stores display information indicating the content of the data displayed in the transparent window, that is, the transparent data described later.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing of the multi-window control method of this embodiment. This processing is performed by a window transparent section starting step 301, a transparent management information storage area securing step 302, a transparent display information storage area securing step 303, a transparent window opening step 304, and a transparent management information storage area management Information setting step 305 and transparent control selection menu display step 3
06, transparent object window selection step 307, transparent display information storage area display information storage step 308
And a transparent window display request step 309 and a transparent window display control step 310.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining the specific operation of the multi-window control method of this embodiment.

Next, the operation of the multi-window control system of the present embodiment thus constructed will be described.

Here, referring to the specific examples in FIGS. 4A to 4C as appropriate, when a plurality of windows are displayed on the display 9, they are displayed in the third window from the top. The operation when transparent control of existing data is performed will be described.

Since the keyboard 7, mouse 8 and display 9 are known as basic function realizing means to be provided in a computer system capable of displaying multiple windows (multi-window system), they will not be described below. The detailed description of the operation is omitted.

The operator uses the keyboard 7 and the mouse 8 to make a transparent display request (request to refer to the data displayed in the lower hierarchy window) to the multi-window control unit 1.

The multi-window control unit 1 opens, closes, displays, moves, reduces, enlarges, and normally displays windows (windows other than transparent windows) for normal display.
It has already been activated at this point in order to realize control such as deletion and display switching.

The multi-window control section 1 activates the window transparent section 2 based on the transparent display request (step 301 in FIG. 3).

Here, the display information indicating the content of the data displayed in each window (each open window) on the display 9 when the window transmission unit 2 is activated is stored in the display information storage unit 4. ing. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a display state of a plurality of windows on the display 9 based on such display information, and a plurality of windows on the display 9 at this time (before the window transmission unit 2 is activated). It is a figure which shows the display state of a window.

Next, in addition to the management table storage unit 3, the multi-window control unit 1 has a transparent management information storage area 5
Is secured in the memory (step 302).

In addition to the display information storage unit 4, the multi-window control unit 1 secures the transparent display information storage area 6 in the memory (step 303).

Further, the multi-window control unit 1 newly opens a transparent window (see FIG. 4B), which is one window for transparent control, on the display 9 (step 304).

The operator operates the keyboard 7 and the mouse 8 to specify the position and size of the transparent window.

Based on this designation, the multi-window control section 1 sets the management information in the transparent management information storage area 5 (step 305).

On the other hand, under the control of the multi-window control section 1, the transparent data display section 21 and the transparent target window selection section 22 in the window transparent section 2 perform the following processing.

Based on the management information in the management table storage unit 3 and the transparent management information storage area 5, the transparent target window selection unit 22 selects a transparent control selection as shown in FIG. 4C on the transparent window. A menu is displayed (step 306). In this transparency control selection menu, the total number of windows (windows that can be transparent windows) that overlap the area on the display 9 that is specified by the position and size of the transparency window and each of those windows are specified. (3) of the denominator in “1/3” or the like in FIG. 4C is information indicating the total number of windows that can be transparent windows, and “1” in FIG. Each of "/ 3", "2/3", and "3/3" is information specifying each window). It should be noted that, for the convenience of the operator's selection instruction, it is possible to add information indicating the contents of the display information regarding each window to the transparency control selection menu (see the invention of claim 5). .

The operator operates the keyboard 7 or the mouse 8 to select a transparent control window to select a transparent window (a window having transparent data (see below) which is transparent data). I do.

The transparent target window selection unit 22 selects (recognizes) the transparent target window based on this selection instruction.
(Step 307). In the case shown in FIG. 4 (b),
The third highest window specified by "3/3" is the transparent window. As described above, even when the transparent control of the data displayed in the window of the third or lower hierarchy from the top is performed, the control can be performed by one processing.

The transparent data display section 21 refers to the management table storage section 3, the display information storage section 4 and the transparent management information storage area 5 to transparently display the transparent data in the transparent target window selected in step 307. Display information storage area 6
(Step 308). Here, the transparent data is the data in the display information of the transparent target window in the display information storage unit 4 and the area overlapping with the transparent window (the area specified by the position and size of the transparent window). The data that exists in.

Further, after storing the display information in step 308, the transparent data display section 21 requests the multi-window control section 1 to display the transparent window on the display 9 (step 309).

Based on this display request, the multi-window control unit 1 controls the display of the transparent window in the same manner as the display control of the normal display window (step 310). Thus, the display of the transparent window having the transparent data is realized, and the operator can refer to the desired transparent data.

In this embodiment, the transparent management information storage area 5 is set separately from the management table storage section 3, and the transparent display information storage area 6 is set separately from the display information storage section 4. The case was explained. However, it is also possible to realize the transparent management information storage area 5 as an entry in the management table storage unit 3 and the transparent display information storage area 6 as an area in the display information storage unit 4 (claim 2). See the invention described).

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when there is a request to refer to all or part of the data displayed in the window of the lower hierarchy, it is possible to use the transparent window in addition to the normal display window. By setting the window, the following effects and can be obtained.

A window in a lower layer without significantly changing the display state of the window on the current display (without changing the display information regarding the plurality of windows currently displayed or switching the windows) It is possible to perform control (transparency control of multi-window) for referring to the data displayed in.

The transparent control of the above-mentioned multi-window can be realized without performing complicated operations such as erasing, reducing and moving of other windows (upper layer windows), and a computer system to which the present invention is applied. Operability is improved.

The present invention also relates to the above-mentioned JP-A-63.
Compared with the invention according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 15285 (display device having a multi-window display function), it has the following unique effects.

As described above, the transparent control of the multi-window can be performed without changing the display information on the transparent window (the window of the upper hierarchy in the original display) (without changing the contents of the display information storage unit). It can be carried out.

When performing the transparency control for three or more windows, it is not necessary to repeat the process many times, and the transparency control can be realized by one process, and the above effect can be obtained by a simpler operation. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multi-window control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing configurations of a management table storage section, a display information storage section, a transparent management information storage area, and a transparent display information storage area in FIG. 1 and their relationships.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of the multi-window control method shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific operation of the multi-window control method shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 multi-window control unit 2 window transparent unit 3 management table storage unit 4 display information storage unit 5 transparent management information storage region 6 transparent display information storage region 7 keyboard 8 mouse 9 display 21 transparent data display unit 22 transparent target window selection unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a computer system capable of multi-window display, a management table storage unit for storing management information necessary for display control of a plurality of windows for normal display and a display information of a plurality of windows for normal display are provided. A display information storage unit for storing, a management information storage area for storage that stores management information necessary for display control of a transparent window, a display information storage area for storage that stores display information for a transparent window, and a transparent display request Based on the above, the window transparent part is activated, the transparent management information storage area is secured, management information is set in the transparent management information storage area, the transparent display information storage area is secured, and the transparent window is opened. The multi-window control unit that performs the transparent control on the transparent window opened by this multi-window control unit. For selecting the transparent target window based on the selection instruction for the transparent control selection menu, and the transparent target window selecting section in the window transparent section, and the transparent target window selected by the transparent target window selecting section. A multi-window control method, comprising: the transparent data display section in the window transparent section for storing the above transparent data as display information in the transparent display information storage area secured by the multi-window control section. 2. The multi-display according to claim 1, wherein the transparent management information storage area is realized as an entry in the management table storage section, and the transparent display information storage area is realized as an area in the display information storage section. Window control method. 3. The management information in the transparent management information storage area includes the position of the transparent window, the size of the transparent window,
3. The multi-window control system according to claim 1, further comprising a pointer to display information in the transparent display information storage area. 4. The total number of windows that overlap the area specified by the position and size of the transparent window in the transparency control selection menu presented to the operator by the transparent object window selection unit, and each of the windows that overlap the area. The multi-window control method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: 5. The transparency control selection menu has information indicating the content of display information regarding each of the windows that overlap with the region specified by the position and size of the transparency window. Multi-window control method.