JPH10133845A - Information terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information terminal equipment capable of performing information input and display without using a memory device for a large capacity video data memory. SOLUTION: This information terminal equipment 21 is connected to a host computer 22 via a network 23, and at the same time, is connected to a video equipment 26 via a video signal bus 27. Display data to perform information inputting is made to interrupt in a video signal supplied from the video equipment 26, supplied to a display unit 25, and displayed along with the video signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information terminal connected to a network, and more particularly to an information terminal having a display-based input (GUI: graphical user interface) function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an electrical configuration of an information terminal device 1 which is a typical conventional example. The information terminal device 1 is connected to a host computer 2 via a network 3. A plurality of information terminal devices such as an information terminal device 1a having a configuration similar to that of the information terminal device 1 are connected to the network 3.

[0005] An input device 4 and a display device 5 are connected to the information terminal device 1. The display device 5 displays an image based on the image signal and a selection menu which is display data for inputting information. The operator of the information terminal device 1 is
Input device 4 with reference to a selection menu displayed on
To input data etc. Information terminal device 1a
Also, an input device 4a and a display device 5a are provided. It should be noted that since only the selection menu changes little and often the entire screen is not used, other video data is displayed in the remaining portion.

The information terminal device 1 includes a CPU 11, a display control circuit 12, a storage device 13, an image RAM 14,
It is configured to include an input control circuit 15 and a communication control circuit 16. The display control circuit 12 reads video data stored in advance in the storage device 13 and writes the video data in the image RAM 14. The storage device 13 stores video data of a video displayed on the display device 5. In addition, the storage device 1
3 stores display data separately from video data.

[0005] The video data written in the image RAM 14 is read out from the image RAM 14 by the display control circuit 12 in accordance with the display timing of the display device 5 and given to the display device 5 as a video signal. When given to the display device 5, the video data is provided with a selection menu as display data. Therefore, the selection menu is displayed on the display device 5 so as to interrupt the image indicated by the image data.

A signal input from the input device 4 is processed by the input control circuit 15 based on a selection menu displayed on the display device 5 and transferred to the CPU 11. CPU11
Transmits an input signal from the communication control circuit 16 to the host computer 2 via the network 3. The host computer 2 performs processing based on the input signal.

When transmitting data from the host computer 2, the data is transmitted to the information terminal device 1 via the network 3. Data from the host computer 2 is provided to the CPU 11 via the communication control circuit 16. The CPU 11 reads arbitrary video data from the storage device 13 and causes the display device 5 to display the video data based on, for example, given data.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-234717 discloses an apparatus which displays a menu in accordance with a screen display, and realizes data display of an operation target and data operation within the same visual sense. In this prior art, when changing the data displayed on the screen, when the pointing device cursor is used to indicate the data display area and point, a window opens next to this display area and a menu for data operation is displayed. Is done. When the displayed menu is selected with the cursor and pointed, the value of the data is changed.

[0009]

When an attempt is made to display the entire screen of the display device 5, the size of the video data increases, and the storage device 13 for storing the video data and the image RA are stored.
It is necessary to increase the capacity with M14. In addition, since the size of the video data is large, the display control circuit 12 that controls the video data needs to be a high-performance circuit that can process a large amount of data at high speed. Therefore,
There is a problem that the configuration of the device cannot be simplified and the product cost cannot be reduced. Further, there is a problem that the configuration of a circuit for processing video data or the like cannot be simplified, and thus the information terminal device cannot be downsized.

[0010] In the prior art disclosed in the gazette,
There is a problem that a menu for data operation is required according to the data displayed on the screen, and the capacity required for storing the menu is increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information terminal device capable of performing information input display without using a large-capacity storage device for storing video data.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information terminal device for communicating with a host computer via a network, a video input means for inputting a video signal, and a display storage for storing display data for inputting information in advance. Means, a display control means for interrupting display data stored in the display storage means with respect to a video signal inputted from the video input means, and a video signal interrupted by the display data by the display control means. An information terminal device comprising: an image display means for displaying information as information; and an information input means for inputting information based on display data displayed on the image display means. According to the present invention, the display control means causes display data for information input previously stored in the display storage means to be interrupted in the video signal from the video input means. An image based on the video signal into which the display data has been interrupted is displayed on the image display means. Information is input by the information input means based on the display data displayed on the image display means. In the information terminal device, the video signal for the image displayed on the image display means is supplied from the video input means, and the display data stored in the display storage means is interrupted and displayed on the image indicated by the video signal. Therefore, a device for storing the video signal is not required, the capacity of the storage means can be reduced, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

The information input means of the present invention is capable of designating a position on an image displayed on the image display means, and the display control means transmits display data representing the designated position of the information input means to the information input means. The video signal is interrupted so as to move on an image in response to an operation of the video signal. According to the present invention, the display control means moves the display data display position on the image according to the position on the image displayed on the image display means designated by the information input means. Therefore, the display data is displayed at the position designated by the information input means, and the operation can be performed by displaying the display data at a desired position on the image displayed on the image display means.

[0014] The display control means of the present invention includes input control means for reading display data for information input by the information input means from a display storage means, and display data read by the input control means as video data. It is characterized by including video storage means, and video control means for reading out video data stored in the video storage means in synchronization with the video signal and interrupting the video signal. According to the present invention, the display data read from the display storage means by the input control means is stored in the video storage means as video data. The video data stored in the video storage means is read out by the video control means in synchronization with the video signal from the video input means, and is interrupted by the video signal. Since the video data stored in the video storage means is read out in synchronization with the video signal by the video control means, display data can be displayed on the video corresponding to the video signal, and good display can be performed on the image display means. .

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows an electrical configuration of an information terminal device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information terminal device 21 is connected to the host computer 22 and the network 2
3 are connected. An information terminal device 21a having a configuration similar to that of the information terminal device 21 is provided in the network 23.
And a plurality of information terminal devices.

The information terminal device 21 is connected to an input device 24 for inputting information and a display device 25 for displaying an image. Similarly, the input device 24a and the display device 25a are connected to the information terminal device 21a. The operator of the information terminal device 21 inputs data such as data by operating the input device 24 with reference to a selection menu or the like displayed on the display device 25. The video device 26 supplies a video signal to the information terminal devices 21 and 21a via the video signal bus 27.

The video equipment 26 is, for example, a video deck,
Video cameras and personal computers. When the video equipment 26 is a video deck or a video camera, the video signal is NTSC (National television).
system committee) signal, and when the video device 26 is a personal computer, for example, an analog RGB signal.

The information terminal device 21 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 31, a display control circuit 32, a ROM 33, a display RAM 34, an input control circuit 35, and a communication control circuit 3.
6 is included. The ROM 33 stores display data such as selection menus required for inputting.
Since the video data for at least the entire screen is not stored unlike the storage device 13 of the prior art, the ROM 33
May have a small storage capacity. The display RAM 34
Stores display data such as a selection menu required for inputting. Since the image data requiring a large storage capacity is not stored unlike the image RAM 14 of the related art, the storage capacity of the display RAM 34 may be small.

The display control circuit 32 reads out display data stored in the ROM 33 via the CPU 31 and transfers the display data to the display RAM 34. The display control circuit 32 reads the display data from the display RAM 34 at a timing based on the synchronization signal included in the video signal, interrupts the display data with the video indicated by the video signal, and provides the display device 25 with the display data. The display control circuit 32 controls the range and position of the display performed on the display device 25 based on the synchronization signal of the video signal. A cursor and a pointer for selecting a selection menu are also stored in the ROM 33 as display data in advance, and the display RAM 3
Transfer to 4. The display control circuit 32 converts display data indicating a cursor, a pointer, and the like into cursor and pointer data before being interrupted by the image indicated by the video signal. The positions where the cursor and the pointer are displayed are controlled by the CPU 31.

Based on the display displayed on the display device 25, a signal input from the input device 24 is input to the input control circuit 3
5 and transferred to the CPU 31. CPU31
Transmits an input signal from the communication control circuit 36 to the network 2
3 to the host computer 22. The host computer 22 performs a process based on the received signal. When transmitting data from the host computer 22, the data is transmitted to the information terminal device 21 via the network 23. Data from the host computer 22 is provided to the CPU 31 via the communication control circuit 36.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the information terminal device 21. Image 3 shown on video equipment 26
7a and the image 37b displayed on the display device 25 are the same image except that a selection menu 38, which is video data created based on display data, is interrupted and displayed on the image 37b. is there. Images 37a and 37b
Is a video for advertisement, for example, which is irrelevant to an operation performed by the information terminal device 21 using the input device.

The video signal representing the image 37a is transmitted to the video equipment 2
6 to the information terminal device 21 via the video signal bus 27. The information terminal device 21 displays the image 37b on the display device 25 based on the video signal. The selection menu 38 is interrupted and displayed on the image 37b displayed on the display device 25. The operator of the information terminal device 21 refers to the selection menu 38 displayed on the display device 25,
Information is input using the mouse 54 as an input device.
The information terminal device 21 and the host computer 22 are connected via a network 23, and the selection menu 3
The information input to the information terminal device 21 based on 8 is given to the host computer 22 via the network 23.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the display control circuit 32. The display control circuit 32 includes a video data synthesis circuit 41
, A synchronization signal detection circuit 42 and a display control circuit 4
3, a CPU interface 44, a RAM writing circuit 45, a RAM reading circuit 46, and a video data creating circuit 47.

The video signal supplied from the video device 26 is
The video data combining circuit 41 combines the video data created based on the display data and supplies the combined data to the display device 25. The synchronizing signal detecting circuit 42 detects vertical and horizontal synchronizing signals included in the video signal supplied from the video device 26 and supplies the same to the display control circuit 43. The display control circuit 43, based on each synchronization signal supplied from the synchronization signal detection circuit 42,
And video data creation circuit 47 and video data synthesis circuit 4
1 is controlled. Display RAM 34
Is composed of, for example, a two-port RAM, and can simultaneously perform writing and reading.

The CPU interface 44 includes a ROM 3
3, and data such as display data which is given through the CPU 31. The display data given to the CPU interface 44 is stored in a RAM writing circuit 45.
Is written to the display RAM 34 via the. The RAM reading circuit 46 reads the display data stored in the display RAM 34 and provides the read data to the video data creation circuit 47. The video data creation circuit 47 creates video data based on the display data. The video data created by the video data creation circuit 47 is supplied to the video data synthesis circuit 41 and interrupted by the video signal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process in which the display control circuit 32 shown in FIG. 1 writes display data into the display RAM 34. In describing this flowchart, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. Step a
1, the display data read from the ROM 33 is CP
It is provided to the display control circuit 32 via U31. The display data is provided to the RAM writing circuit 45 via the CPU interface 44.

In step a2, the RAM writing circuit 45
Determines the address of the display RAM 34 to which the given display data is to be written, and creates a write address. In step a3, display data is written to the display RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for interrupting display data into a video signal. In describing this flowchart, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. In step b1, the synchronization signal detection circuit 42 detects horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video signal supplied from the video device 26. Each detected synchronization signal is provided to the display control circuit 46. At step b2, the CPU 31 gives data indicating the position at which the display data is displayed and the size of the display data. This data is provided to the display control circuit 43 via the CPU interface 44.

In step b3, based on the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, data indicating the display data display position and the display data size, the display data read address and the display RAM 34 address are combined. The position in the video signal is determined. At step b4, display data is read from the address of the display RAM 34 determined at step b3. In step b5, video data is created based on the read display data. The created video data is provided to the video data combining circuit 41.

In step b6, the video data and the video signal are synthesized based on each synchronization signal. In step b7, a video signal obtained by combining the video data is output to the display device 25.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in order to display an image on the entire screen of the display device in the related art, it is necessary to previously store the video data in the storage device 13, and the large capacity Although a storage device must be prepared, in the information terminal device 21 in the present embodiment, the display control circuit 32 combines the display data with the video signal supplied from the video device 26, so that the display data can be stored. Only a relatively small-capacity storage device needs to be prepared, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

Further, in the conventional image RAM 14,
Although it is necessary to store one screen of video data, the information terminal device 21 may store the display data in the display RAM 34, and the storage capacity of the RAM can be reduced.

Further, the information terminal devices 21 and 21a are supplied with a video signal from the video device 26 via the video signal bus 27, and by preparing one video device 26, a network including the information terminal device is established. Costs required for configuration can be reduced.

Although the mouse 54 is shown as an example of the input device 24 in this embodiment, any pointing device having a selection key for selecting a menu, which can move a cursor or a pointer up, down, left, or right, can be used. I just need. As another example of the input device 24, a touch panel or the like in which a transparent thin film is pasted on the surface of the display device 25 and an input is performed by pressing the thin film with a human finger can be used.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the display control means causes the video signal from the video input means to interrupt the display data for information input previously stored in the display storage means to display the image. Display on the means. Since the video data to be displayed on the image display means is supplied from the video input means, the information terminal device does not need a large-capacity storage device for forming the video data, thus reducing the capacity of the storage means. In addition, the configuration of the device can be simplified.

According to the present invention, the display control means displays the display data at the position specified by the information input means on the image displayed on the image display means, so that the display data is displayed at a desired position on the image. Can be easily performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the display data read from the display storage means by the input control means and stored as video data in the video storage means is read out in synchronization with the video signal by the video control means. Only by preparing partial display data in the display storage means, good display can be performed on the entire screen of the image display means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an information terminal device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the information terminal device 21.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a display control circuit 32.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display control circuit which stores display data in a display RAM;
34 is a flowchart illustrating a process for writing data to a storage device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing when the display control circuit 32 interrupts display data into a video signal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a conventional information terminal device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21, 21a Information terminal device 22 Host computer 23 Network network 24, 24a Input device 25, 25a Display device 26 Video device 27 Video signal bus 31 CPU 32 Display control circuit 33 ROM 34 Display RAM 35 Input control circuit 36 Communication control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal device for communicating with a host computer via a network, a video input means for inputting a video signal, a display storage means for storing display data for inputting information in advance, and an input from the video input means. Display control means for interrupting the display data stored in the display storage means with respect to the video signal to be provided; image display means for displaying, as an image, the video signal interrupted by the display data by the display control means; An information input unit for inputting information based on display data displayed on the image display unit. 2. The information input means is capable of designating a position on an image displayed on an image display means, and the display control means transmits display data representing the designated position of the information input means to the information input means. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the video signal is interrupted so as to move on the image in response to the operation of (1). 3. The display control means includes: an input control means for reading display data for information input by the information input means from a display storage means; and an image for storing the display data read by the input control means as video data. 3. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit; and a video control unit that reads out video data stored in the video storage unit in synchronization with the video signal and interrupts the video signal. Terminal device.