JPS63316891A - Display device with multiwindow display function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention has a multi-window display function suitable for use in various data processing devices such as office computers, personal computers, word processors, and DPS (data processing systems). The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly to a display device that reduces the burden on an operator in window switching operations and improves the operability of a data processing device by maintaining frequently used windows in a state where they can be easily switched.

Specifically, first, as a method for determining window priority (level control), one window is Control is performed so that a desired window can be displayed simply by a switching operation.

Second, if necessary, this time information is set to an arbitrary value different from the actual active time, thereby controlling so that a desired window can be displayed with a single switching operation.

The present invention relates to a display device that simplifies window switching operations by determining window priorities based on time information.

2. Description of the Related Art Display devices equipped with a multi-window display function, so-called multi-window display systems, have been used in various data processing devices.

Multi-window display uses CR, which is a physical display device.
A display method is used in which the display screen of a display device such as T is divided into an arbitrary number of sections and separate data is displayed in each section.

Such multi-window display is extremely convenient when processing a plurality of mutually related jobs in parallel.

However, in the case of a multi-window display system, only one window allows input and processing for that window. Activate this window (
Other windows are simply displayed and cannot be used for input or other processing.

In a conventional multi-window display system, when a large number of windows exist, the following three methods are used to make any window active (window switching).

The first method is to display a list of all window titles and select one of them.
This is a method of switching windows.

The second method is to switch windows by moving a cursor using a pointing device or the like to indicate the window that you want to make active.

The third method is to sequentially switch windows in a preset order by pressing a window switch key.

Below, these methods will be explained one by one.

First, a first method for switching windows by displaying a list of titles of all windows and selecting one of them is as follows.

Figure 12 is a display example explaining how to display a list of titles of all windows and select a window.
) shows the display screen at the start of the window switching operation, and (2) shows the display screen after the window switching. .

In the case of FIG. 12 (1), there are four windows A-
D is displayed, and window A is activated.

In this display state, for window switching.

For example, when you press the selection mode key,
As shown in the upper right corner of , a selection mode menu, ie, a list of titles of all windows, is displayed on the display screen.

Here, when the third window C is selected, that window C is displayed at the top, as shown in FIG. 12 (2).

In this first window switching method, at least three steps are required: pressing the selection mode key to display the list, inputting the number of the selected window, and inputting the execution key.
6. Moreover, from the list,
Since you have to find the desired window name,
When a large number of windows are displayed, the burden on the operator increases and operability is poor.

Next, a second method of switching windows by using a pointing device or the like to indicate the window to be made active will be described.

FIG. 13 is a display example illustrating how to select a window by using a pointing device or the like to indicate the window that you want to make active.
) indicates the start of the window switching operation, and (2) indicates the display screen after the window switching.
It is the same as Figure 2.

In addition, PD is a pointing device, and K is a cursor.6 For example, in the display state of FIG. 13 (1), a cursor K is displayed in window A on the left, and this window A is in an active state. .

In this display state, it is assumed that it is desired to make window B on the right side (lower priority) active.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 13(2), after moving the pointing device PD to the right so that the cursor K indicates the position in the window B, Window B can be activated by pressing the execution key.

This second method is extremely effective when the number of windows is relatively small.

However, there are many open windows.
- When the windows overlap each other in a complicated manner, the window switching operation becomes complicated.

FIG. 14 is a display example illustrating how to select a window by indicating the window to be made active using a pointing device, etc. (1) is when the window switching operation starts, (2) )and(
3) shows the state in the middle of the window switching operation, and (4) shows the display screen after the window switching.
1 to W3 are windows, and the broken line is window W3, which has a low priority and is located at the bottom, so it cannot be seen overlapping.
shows.

In FIG. 14, in order to simplify the process as much as possible, a case will be described in which three windows W1 to W3 are opened.

In the display screen of FIG. 14(1), the window W3. That is, it is assumed that the window w3, which is located at the bottom and completely overlaps the other windows W1 and W2 and cannot be seen, is to be made active.

In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 14(2), the window W2 located above it is activated.

In this state, window w2 is displayed above window W1.

After that, as shown in FIG. 14 (3), this window W2
, for example, upward so that the window W3 is visible.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 14 (4), the window W3 located at the top is activated.

Even if there are only three windows, as shown in Figure 14,
The window w3 that you want to make active is on the screen,
When the cursor is displayed at the bottom and cannot be seen, such a complicated operation is required, and inexperienced operators will have trouble moving the cursor, reducing operational efficiency.

Finally, a third method will be described in which windows are sequentially switched in a preset order by pressing a window switch key.

FIG. 15 is a display example explaining the method of sequentially switching windows by pressing the window switching key. (1) shows the display screen at the start of the window switching operation, and (2) shows the display screen after the window switching. In the drawing,
Wl-W5 indicate windows.

In the case of FIG. 15 (1), there are five windows W1.
~W5 are displayed, and the window W1 shown above is in the active state.

When the window switching key 1@ is pressed in the display state shown in FIG. 15 (1), the next priority window W2 becomes active, and the window W1 has the lowest priority, as shown in FIG. 15 (2). become.

Such operations are sequentially repeated each time the window switching key is pressed once.

FIG. 16 is a display example explaining the method of sequentially switching windows by pressing the window switching key.
In 2) and (3), the reference numerals in one drawing showing the display screen after pressing the window switching key once are the same as in FIG. 15.

As is clear from FIG. 16, each time the window switching key is pressed, the active windows are sequentially switched in a preset priority order, and the window that is made inactive is the lowest priority window. window.

For example, assume that you want to alternately repeat operations on windows W1 and W3.

In this case, work on the window W1 in the display state shown in FIG. 16 (1), and when the work is finished, press the window change key twice to change the window W3 to the display state shown in FIG. 16 (3). to the active state. In this case,
It is only necessary to press the window switching key twice.

However, in order to finish working on window W3 and start working on window W1 again, the window switching key must be pressed three times.

In this way, each time the window switching key is pressed,
In the third method of sequentially switching windows, the window switching key must be pressed many times, especially when switching the active state between specific windows due to work commitments.

In order to solve this inconvenience, a method of providing a window switching key in the opposite direction has also been used.

By using the reverse window switching key, the window with the lowest priority can be activated by pressing the window switching key once.

FIG. 17 is a display example illustrating how to sequentially switch windows using the reverse window switching keys.
(1) shows the display screen at the start of the window switching operation, and (2) shows the display screen after pressing the opposite window switching key once. The reference numerals in the drawings are the same as in FIG. 15.

In the state shown in FIG. 17 (1), if you press the reverse window switching key once, the active window changes to Wl.
to W5.

Therefore, even if the desired window has a lower priority,
Windows can be switched without having to press the window switching key that number of times.

As in the previous usage example, assume that you want to alternately repeat the work on windows W1 and W3.

To switch from window W3 to Wl, use this reverse window switching key and press it twice. To switch from window Wl to W3, use the reverse window switching key. For example, three operations are required.

The number of times the previous (forward) window switching key is pressed can be reduced.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 above, the case where there are five windows has been described.

However, as the number of open windows increases, the number of times the window switching key must be operated increases accordingly, resulting in an inconvenience in that the operator is forced to perform extremely inefficient work when switching windows.

As mentioned above, all three conventional window switching methods have their advantages and disadvantages. In particular, the more windows there are, the more times the window switching operations are required. When it is desired to repeat operations alternately for windows, there is a problem in that the burden on the operator increases and the operating efficiency decreases.

■-1" Therefore, the display device equipped with the multi-window display function of the present invention solves the problem of the conventional multi-window display system, namely, when a large number of windows are open, it is difficult to switch to the active window. By solving the inconvenience of not being able to quickly switch to the desired window and giving priority to each window according to the usage time, the desired window can be displayed quickly with just one window switching operation. An object of the present invention is to improve the operational efficiency of a data processing system to which a display device is connected by controlling the display device in this manner.

For this purpose, the present invention includes a physical display device, an output screen buffer corresponding to the display device, at least one virtual screen buffer, and data in a partial area of the virtual screen buffer. means for combining the data of each area taken out from the virtual screen buffer and outputting the data to the output screen buffer, an input device, and a window switching control means for switching to a window in which input is possible; In a conventional display device equipped with a display function, active time measuring means measures the time in which input is possible for each window, and time information holding means holds time information for each window obtained by the time measuring means. and a priority order determining means for determining the priority order of windows based on the time information, and controls switching to windows that allow input in the order determined by the priority order determining means.

Further, as another embodiment, the time information adding means adds an arbitrary time to the time information held in the time information holding means, and the priority determining means is determined based on the time information added by the time information adding means. The priority order of windows is determined, and control is performed to switch to windows that allow input in the determined order.

Next, embodiments of a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention. In the drawings, l is an input device, 2
3 is an input control unit; 3 is an input buffer; 4 is a window control unit; 5a to 5n are first to nth virtual screen control units; 6a to nth virtual screen control units;
6n is the first to nth virtual screen memories; 7 is an output control unit;
Reference numeral 8 indicates an output screen buffer, 9 indicates an output device, a single line indicates a flow of control, and a double line indicates a flow of data.

The functions of each part are outlined below.

The input device 1 is an input means such as a keyboard, and inputs data, control information, information for multi-window display, and the like.

The input control unit 2 distributes and outputs input information from the input device 1 to an input buffer 3 and a window control unit 4 according to its content.
If it is a notification of active level setting, it is forwarded to the window control unit 4, and if it is other control information or data, it is forwarded to the window control unit 4.
Transfer to input buffer 3.

Among the data transferred from the input control section 2, the input buffer 3 transfers active level data to the window control section 4, and transfers other normal data to a CPU (not shown).

The first to nth virtual screen control units 5a to 5n, and the first to nth virtual screen control units 5a to 5n.
The virtual screen memories 6a to 6n correspond to each other, and in FIG. 1, n windows can be opened.

The first to nth virtual screen control units 5a to 5n output data from the corresponding first to nth virtual screen memories 6a to 6n to the output screen buffer 8 via the window control unit 4. do.

The output control section 7 performs controls such as window selection (that is, window switching), changing the display position of the window on the output screen buffer 8, and changing the clipping area, in response to commands from the window control section 4.

The output screen buffer 8 includes the first to nth virtual screen memories 6
A buffer that stores data for each window from a to 6n, and is also called real screen memory.

The data in the output screen buffer 8 is output to the output device 9 and displayed on the screen.

The output device 9 is a display means such as a CRT or LCD.
The data from the output screen buffer 8 is displayed on the screen in a visible pattern.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the window control unit 4 of the display device shown in FIG. Section 43 indicates a multi-window overlay control section.

This window switching command is sent to the window switching control unit 4 in the window control unit 4 shown in detail in FIG.
given to 2.

The window switching control section 42 that receives this switching instruction controls the active level.

The window switching control section 42 first requests the active level control section 41 for level data necessary for active level control.

Upon receiving the level data for active level control from the active level control section 41, the window switching control section 42 next controls the multi-window superimposition control section 4.
3 to superimpose the windows according to this level data.

The multi-window superimposition control unit 43 superimposes data from the first to nth virtual screen memories 6a to 6n according to the level data, and outputs the screen display data of each window to the output screen buffer 8.

Therefore, superimposed windows are displayed on the screen of the output device 9, such as a CRT or LCD, in the order according to the level data of the active level control.

The key point in the display operation described above that differs from conventional display devices is that window display is performed in accordance with level data of active level control.

Next, window switching operations for the display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when switching windows in the display device with the multi-window display function of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. In the drawing, #1 to #9 indicate steps. .

When a key is input from the input device 1 of FIG.

Also, the flow shown in Figure 3 starts and step #1
In this case, the input control unit 2 determines that there is key human power.

Then, in step #2, the input control section 2 determines whether or not the key input is a window switching key.

If it is a window switching key, the input control unit 2 instructs the data in the input buffer 3 to be transferred to the window control unit 4.

Next, the process proceeds to step #4, and the window control unit 4 calculates the measured value of the timer that has been measuring the elapsed time since the previous input of the window switching key. Add to the window's level register (described in more detail in connection with FIG. 4 below).

Next, in step #5, the order of the level order registers is
Change according to level register value.

Thereafter, if there is a key force, it is detected in step #6, and in the next step #7, the input control section 2 determines whether or not the key force is a window switching key. If the window switching key is input, the input control unit 2.

A window switching command is output to the window control unit 4, and the flow returns to step #5 again.

If it is not the window switching key in step #7,
Proceeding to step #8, the windows other than the active window (inactive windows) are rearranged in descending order of values according to the contents of the level registers 47a to 47n, and set in the level order register.

In step #9, the register values of all level registers are converted to relative values so that the value of the level register of the window set to the top level is set to "0".

In step #10, the inactive windows are superimposed and displayed in the order according to the contents of the level order register.

Particularly, steps #4 to #9 in the flow shown in FIG. 3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4, which will be described later.

Returning to the topic, if in step #2 it is not the window switching key, the process proceeds to step #3, where an instruction is given to transfer the data in the input buffer 3 to the CPU side.

In order to prioritize windows (level control) in a display device with a multi-window display function according to the present invention, firstly, level control is performed using information on the time when the window was actually in an active state. control so that the desired window can be displayed with just one window switching operation.

Second, if necessary, this time information is set to an arbitrary value different from the actual active time, thereby controlling so that a desired window can be displayed with a single switching operation.

Next, the active level control section 41, which has an important function in controlling the priority order of windows in the display device of the present invention, will be explained.

Figure 4 (1) and (2) represent the active mode shown in Figure 2.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the level control unit 41, in which (1) is a functional block diagram thereof, and (2) is a diagram showing an example of the contents of each level register corresponding to the level order register. , 44 is a level control section;
45 is an active level priority control section, 46 is a level order register, 47a to 47n are first to nth level registers, 48 is a connection time control section, 49 is an active control section, and 50 is an active level monitoring timer. show.

As already explained, in the display device of the present invention, the priority order of each window is determined using information on the time that each window was actually in an active state.

For this purpose, as shown in detail in FIG. 4 (1), the first to nth windows that store this time information correspond to each window.
Level registers 47a to 47n are provided, and each of these level registers 47a to 47n is provided in the level order register 46.
Window information (for example, window number) arranged in the order of register values 7a to 47n is held.

This level order register 46 is basically similar to the level order register of conventional display devices, but in the display device of the present invention, when a window is activated,
The register values of the corresponding level registers 47a to 47n are added for the time they were in the active state,
Furthermore, a very significant feature is that between windows in an inactive state, the priorities are changed and the priority levels are controlled in the order of the register values of the level registers 47a to 47n. .

As mentioned above, when the active level setting key is input, the input control section 2 of FIG. 1 outputs an active level setting notification to the window control section 4,
It also issues a command to the input buffer 3 to transfer data to the window control unit 4.

When the window control unit 4 receives the active level setting notification, more specifically, when the window switching control unit 42 shown in FIG. A level request for changing the active level is output to the unit 41.

In the active level control unit 41 of FIG. 4(1), the active control unit 49 receives an instruction to change the active level and issues a level value change request to the level control unit 44.

When this active control section 49 receives a level data request for active level control, it issues a timer control request to the connection time control section 48 .

In response to this timer control request, the connection time control unit 48:
Stop the active level monitoring timer 50,
Read the timer value.

Next, the read timer value is sent to the level control section 44 to request addition.

The level control unit 44 adds the timer values and extracts the contents of each of the first to nth level registers 47a to 47n.

Thereafter, the level control unit 44 controls the level register 47 with the lowest value of the contents of the extracted level register.
In order to set the contents of a to 47n to "0", that is, to set relative values, each level register 47a to 47
Set the value obtained by subtracting the smallest value from the contents of n.

After performing such processing, the level control section 44 sends the values of the register numbers to the active level priority control section 45 in order from the level registers 478 to 47n having the largest set value.

The active level priority control section 45 changes the contents of the level order register 46 and transfers the changed order as level data to the window switching control section 42 shown in FIG. 2 above.

In the level order register 46, as shown in FIG. 4(2), the numbers of each window are arranged in accordance with the priority order. As already mentioned, the ranking in this case is from 1st to
The order of the windows is determined according to (the contents of) the register values of the n-th level registers 47a to 47n.

In the case of Fig. 4 (2), the window number is "1".
The register value of the level register (corresponding to 47a) is "0", and the level register (corresponding to 47a) whose window number is "2"
47b) whose register value is r40J, and the level register whose window number is "3" (corresponds to 47c)
The register value is r20J, and the window number is rn.
"The register value of the level register (corresponding to 47n) is "0".

In the case of conventional display devices, the contents of this level order register include the number of each window stored in a preset priority order, and a single window switching operation switches the window forward or backward. They are only moved one by one.

However, in the display device of the present invention, the contents of this level order register 46 are controlled by the register values of each level register 47a to 47n.

And for the first example, these register values are:
It is changed with information about the time each window was actually activated.

Therefore, the level control (priority order) of each window is controlled based on information corresponding to the actual usage time.

In other embodiments, it is also possible to change the priority of the window to be used next by setting this time information to an arbitrary value in advance.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of active level setting processing in the active level control section 41 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4(1). In the drawings, #11 to #16 indicate steps.

When an active level setting key is entered.

The flow shown in FIG. 5 starts, and the input control section 2 shown in FIG. 1 outputs an active level setting notification to the window control section 4, and also outputs an active level setting notification to the input buffer 3.
A command is issued to the window control unit 4 to transfer data.

In the window control unit 4 that has received the active level setting notification, its window switching control unit 42 (FIG. 2) outputs a level request to the active level control unit 41 to change the active level.

In the active level control unit 41 of FIG. 4(1), the active control unit 49 receives the instruction to change the active level and issues a level value change request to the level control unit 446. The unit 49 instructs the output control unit 7 in FIG. 1 to display the active level change mode on the screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the active level setting mode screen in the display device of the present invention.

In the display example of FIG. 6, the register value corresponding to window 1 is r 10 J and the register value of window 2 is "0".

Window 3 register value r 40 J, wi
When the register value of ndow4 is “0”, vindo%+
In order to increase the priority of 2, the register value ``0'' is changed to ``3''.
0” is shown.

As shown in FIG. 6, the level control section 44 in FIG. 4 takes in the window level value input from the active level setting screen. In the flow of FIG. 5, the process of step #14 is performed, and each level register 47a to 4
Rewrite the contents of 7n.

Next, in step #15 of the flowchart in FIG.
To set a to 47n, set the value obtained by subtracting the previous highest value from each level register.

Thereafter, the values of the level registers 47a to 47n rearranged in descending order of level register values are sent to the active level priority control section 45.

The active level priority control section 45 changes the contents of the level order register 46 according to the value of the level register sent out, and uses the order as level data to control the window switching control section in the window control section 4 of FIG. 42
Output to.

Thereafter, windows superimposed according to the level data are displayed on the output device 9 through the same processing as in conventional display devices. In the flow of FIG. 5, the process of step #16 is performed.

Next, regarding the operation at the time of window switching in the display device of the present invention, the level information and the change state of the display screen are as follows.
This will be explained using a specific example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the level control at the time of window switching and the changing state of the window display screen in the display device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and (1) to (5) are shown in FIG. 4. (6) is the initial state display screen;
(7) and (8) show the display screen after window switching.

In this Figure 7, the level order registers shown in (1) to (5) on the left side and the changing states of the contents of the corresponding level registers are the level order shown in Figure 4 (2) above. The contents of register 46 and the corresponding level register 4
This is the same as the state of 7a to 47n. This window number corresponds to the window number on the right. Further, the display screens indicated by (6) to (8) on the right side show the screen states when this level order register and the corresponding level registers are superimposed in an order corresponding to changes in each level register.

In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 7(1), register values are set in the level registers 47a to 47n in FIG. 4, respectively.

For example, the level register corresponding to window number (register number) "1" of the level order register has a register value "0", and the level register corresponding to window number "2" has a register value "40". The level register corresponding to window number “3” has a register value “2”.
0" corresponds to window number [4], and the register value "10" corresponds to window number "5".
The register value "5" is in the level register corresponding to
Assume that each is set.

In this state, on one display screen, as shown in Figure 7 (6), window 1 with the register value "0" is at the top, and windows 2 to 5 in the inactive state are in the corresponding level register. Register values are displayed in descending order.

Sunawa? :+, r40J, r20J, rl OJ
, r5J(7) order (window 2 to window 5 order).

It is assumed that the window is switched after 30 minutes have passed.

After 30 minutes have elapsed, the register value of the level register corresponding to window 1 is r30J (meaning 30 minutes), as shown in FIG. 7(2).

In the state shown in FIG. 7(2), the window is switched manually using the keys, so the level order register and each level register corresponding thereto change as shown in FIG. 7(3). That is, window 2 is made active, and window 1 is placed at the lowest level.

Therefore, the display screen is as shown in FIG. 7 (7).
Window 2 is at the top, and the windows are displayed in the order shown in FIG. 7(3).

Immediately after this, in the display device of the present invention, the inactive windows 3 to 5 and window 1 are rearranged in order of increasing register value of the level register, as shown in FIG. 7(4).

That is, window 1 with the register value "30" becomes the second window, and window 3. with the register value "20" thereafter. The order is converted into window 4 with register value "lO" and window 5 with register value "5".

Therefore, the display screen becomes as shown in FIG. 7(8).

In this case, the register values of the level registers are not all "0". Therefore, to prevent the value of this level register from overflowing, the minimum value "5" is subtracted from all register values.

As a result, the register value of the level register is
) is changed to the value shown in

Next, a specific example of the effect obtained by changing the priority order (level control) of windows in this way will be explained while comparing it with the case of a conventional display device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2) and the corresponding level registers, and (1) to (7) are diagrams showing the state of change in the contents of the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2). , (4)' to (6)' show cases using conventional display devices.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen display corresponding to a change in the contents of the level order register and each corresponding level register in FIG. 8, and a change in the level order register.
) are (3)′ to (5) when using the display device of this invention.
' indicates a case using a conventional display device.

Assume that all the level registers are set to the value [0] as the initial state, as shown in FIG. 8(1).

The display screen in this case is as shown in Figure 9 (1),
Window l is activated.

In the states shown in FIG. 8 (1) and FIG. 9 (1), operate window 1, which has been made active, for 10 minutes, switch to window 2, and operate it for 20 minutes.
Assume that you want to switch back to the original window 1 and perform an operation.

Note that the conventional window switching method for display devices is
This will be explained using the priority order described as the method described above, that is, the case where the contents of the level order register are sequentially incremented one by one for each input of the window switching key.

In the display device of the present invention, when switching from window 1 to window 2 and making window 2 active, that is, after window 1 has been active for 10 minutes, the state shown in FIG. The contents of the level register are as shown.

Only the level register of window 1 has the register value rlO
J, and all other level registers remain at "0".

When the contents of the level order register and the corresponding level registers are in the state shown in FIG. 8 (2), when the window is switched, the order of the level order register and the level registers is as shown in FIG. 8 (3). The windows are switched as follows, with window 2 at the top and window 1 at the bottom.

Therefore, the display screen, as shown in FIG. 9 (2),
Window 2 becomes active, and window 1 is displayed at the bottom. Note that the state of the display screen in this case is similar to that of a conventional display device.

In contrast, in the display device of the present invention, the window 2
When the window is activated, the priorities of the contents of the level register shown in FIG. 8(3) are exchanged between the windows 1.3 to 5 which are in the inactive state.

In the state shown in Figure 8 (3), the value of the level register for window 1 is "10" and all others are "0", so the priority order of the windows is as shown in Figure 8 (4). converted. Note that, as shown in FIG. 9(3), the 1st display screen is also displayed at -1 among the windows in which window 1 is in an inactive state.

When 20 minutes have passed since window 2 was activated, the contents of the level register of window 2 become "2", as shown in FIG. 8 (5).
0".

If the contents of the level register are in the state shown in Figure 8 (5),
When the window is switched again, the level order register is converted to the order shown in FIG. 8(6).

That is, among the inactive windows, window 1, which has the highest priority, is activated.
Window 2 is temporarily placed at the bottom.

The display screen is window 1, as shown in Figure 9 (4).
becomes active, and window 2 is displayed at the bottom.

Then, when window 1 is activated, the level order registers in FIG.
Priorities are exchanged between windows 5.

In the state shown in Fig. 8 (6), the register value of the level register of window 2 is [20], and all others are "OJ", so the priority order of the windows is as shown in Fig. 8 (7). , converted to the order of windows 2.3 and 4.5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9(5), the display screen is also displayed with window 2 at -1 among the inactive windows.

In contrast, in conventional display devices, the contents of the level order register remain unchanged even 20 minutes after window 2 is activated.

That is, since the state shown in FIG. 8(3) is maintained as it is, when the window switching key is operated once, the priority order of the window in the inactive state changes from FIG. 8(3) to FIG. 8(4)'. Window 1 is simply moved up one step to the fourth position (second from the bottom). The display screen changes from (2) to (3)' in FIG.

Therefore, in order to make window 1 active, that is, to display window l at the top, K operates the window switching key three times to change the contents of the level register as shown in FIG. 8 (4). It is necessary to switch from the state shown in ' to the state shown in FIG. 8 (7).

To summarize, in the case of a conventional display device, until switching from window 2 to window 1, that is, the display screen is
Before switching from the state shown in FIG. 9 (2) to the state shown in FIG.
The operations 4)' and (5)' are required three times, for a total of four operations.

In the above example, there are five windows, but
As the number of windows increases, conventional display devices require more switching operations.

In contrast, in the display device of the present invention, switching from window 2 to window 1 only requires one operation. Switching to any other window also requires only one operation by setting the level in advance.

Therefore, next, as another usage example of the display device of the present invention, a case where level setting is performed in advance will be described.

This level setting operation is independent of the actual usage time.
This changes the priority. A specific example of the effect obtained by performing this level setting will be explained while comparing it with that of a conventional display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2) and the corresponding level registers, and (1) to (6) are diagrams showing the state of change in the contents of the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2). , (2)' to (4)' show cases using conventional display devices.

FIG. 1I shows an example of the state of change in the contents of the level order register in FIG. 10 and each corresponding level register, and a display example of a screen corresponding to the change in the level order register.
(4) in the case of the display device of the present invention, (2)' to (
4)' indicates a case where a conventional display device is used. Reference numerals in the drawing are the same as in FIG. 15.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that after working on window 1 for about 10 minutes, the user plans to switch to window 5 and use it.

The level order register and each level register are shown in Figure 10 (
As shown in 1), all values are rOJ in the initial state.

The display screen in this case is as shown in FIG. 11(1), with window 1 in the active state.

In the states shown in FIG. 1O (1) and FIG. 11 (1), it is assumed that the user wants to operate window 1, which is in the active state, for 10 minutes, and then switch to window 5 and perform the operation.

Therefore, with window l in the active state, as shown in FIG. 10 (2), among the contents of the level order register and the corresponding level registers, the level of window 5 to be used next is Set the register to 1, for example, r20.

In this way, in the display device of the present invention, the level register of the window to be used primarily [47 in FIG.
a to 47n] to values that give higher priority. That is, as shown in FIG. 1O (3), the priorities of the contents of the level register are exchanged between the inactive windows 2 to 5.

Therefore, on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 11(2), among windows in an inactive state, window 5 is displayed at the top.

After 10 minutes have elapsed since window 1 was activated, the contents of the level order register and the corresponding level registers are changed to 10 minutes, as shown in FIG. 10".

When the window is switched again in the state shown in FIG. 10 (4), the contents of the level order register and the corresponding level registers are changed as shown in FIG. 10 (5).

On the display screen, as shown in FIG. 11(3), window 5 is in the active state and window 1 is displayed at the bottom.

Then, when window 5 is activated, the level order register in FIG. Replace.

In the state shown in Fig. 10 (5), the value of the level register of window 1 is "10" and all others are [0], so the priority order of the windows in the inactive state is as shown in Fig. 10 (6). ) is converted as follows.

As a result, if you switch the window only once,
Window 1 can be made active. Note that on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 11 (5), window 1 is displayed above the tank among the inactive windows.

In contrast, in conventional display devices, the contents of the level order register remain unchanged even after ten minutes have elapsed since window 1 was activated.

In other words, the state shown in Figure 10 (1) is maintained as is, so when the window switching key is operated once, the window priority changes from Figure 10 (1) to Figure 10 (2).
' and moves window 5 up one step to the fourth position (second from the bottom).

The display screen becomes as shown in FIG. 11 (1) to (2)'.

After that, when the window switching key is operated once, the priority order of window 5 is changed from Fig. 10 (2)' to Fig. 10 (3)', with 1 Move up by one.

Therefore, in order to make window 5 active, that is, to bring window 5 to the top, operate the window switching key four times to change the contents of each level register corresponding to the level order register to the 10th level register. Figure (1
) from the state in Figure 10 (2)', (3)', (4
)' and (6), it is necessary to operate the window switching key four times.

To summarize, in the case of a conventional display device, in order to switch the display screen from the state shown in FIG. 11 (1) to the state shown in FIG. 11 (4) from window 1 to window 5, it is necessary to At the stage of Fig. 11 (2)', (3
)' and (4)' are required three times, for a total of four operations.

On the other hand, as already explained many times, in the display device of the present invention, switching from window 1 to window 5 only requires one operation.

As the number of windows increases, in the conventional display device, the number of window switching operations increases to 4, but in the display device of the present invention, a high level can be set in advance in the corresponding level register. Therefore, in most cases, it is possible to switch to the desired window with just one switching operation.

As described above, in the display device of the present invention, if you change the contents of the level register of the window you want to use next and give it a higher priority, you can change it again by operating the window switching key once. That window (e.g.
Window 5 and window l) can be immediately activated.

As explained in detail above, the present invention includes a physical display device, an output screen buffer corresponding to the display device, at least one virtual screen buffer, and data in a partial area of the virtual screen buffer. the output screen buffer; an input device; and a window switching control means for switching to an input-enabled window; In a conventional display device equipped with a multi-window display function, active time measuring means measures the time during which input is possible for each window, and time for holding time information for each window obtained by the time measuring means. The apparatus includes an information holding means and a priority order determining means for determining the priority order of windows based on the time information, and controls switching to windows that allow input in the order determined by the priority order determining means.

Further, as another embodiment, the time information adding means adds an arbitrary time to the time information held in the time information holding means, and the priority determining means is determined based on the time information added by the time information adding means. The priority order of windows is determined, and control is performed to switch to windows that allow input in the determined order.

Therefore, according to the display device equipped with the multi-window display function of the present invention, it is possible to set the order of overlapping of each window in a priority order corresponding to the time in which the windows are used in an active state. Windows that are frequently used can be brought into the active state with fewer switching operations, improving the operational efficiency of the data processing system to which the display device is connected.

Moreover, this priority order is not limited to the actual time of use; it is possible to change the priority order simply by adding time information in advance, and in practice, it has not been used much until then. Even in the case of windows, the ranking can be easily increased depending on the usage status, so many excellent effects can be achieved, such as further improving operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of a display device with a multi-window display function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a window control section of the display device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of No. 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when switching windows in the display device having the multi-window display function of the present invention shown in FIG. The active shown in the figure
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the level control unit 41, in which (1) is a functional block diagram thereof, and (2) is a diagram showing an example of the contents of each level register corresponding to the level order register. is a flowchart showing the process flow of active level setting in the active level control unit 41 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (1); FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a mode screen, and is a diagram showing the level control at the time of window switching and the changing state of the window display screen in the display device of the present invention shown in FIG. (5) shows the change state of the level order register and each corresponding level register shown in FIG. 4, (6) shows the initial state display screen, (7) and (8)
) is the display screen after window switching, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2) and the state of change in the contents of each corresponding level register, FIG. The level order register in the figure and the changing state of the contents of each level register corresponding thereto. An example of a screen display corresponding to a change in the level order register; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of change in the level order register shown in FIG. 4 (2) and the contents of each corresponding level register; FIG. The following shows the change status of the contents of the level order register and each corresponding level register in Fig. 10, and a display example of the screen corresponding to the change in the level order register. FIG. 13 is a display example that explains how to select a window by using a pointing device or the like to indicate the window that you want to make active, and FIG. 14 is a display example that explains how to select a window. A display example illustrating how to select a window by indicating the window you want to make active using a pointing device, etc., is shown in Figure 15. Figure 15 shows a method for sequentially switching windows by pressing the window switching key. Figure 16 is a display example explaining how to sequentially switch windows by pressing the window switch key, and Figure 17 is a display example explaining how to switch windows sequentially by pressing the window switch key. Display example explaining how to switch. In the drawing, l is an input device, 2 is an input control section, 3 is an input buffer, 4 is a window control section, and 58 to 5n are first
~ nth virtual screen control unit, 68 to 6n are first to nth virtual screen memories, 7 is an output control unit, 8 is an output screen buffer, 9 is an output device, 41 is an active level control unit, 4
2 is a window switching control section, 43 is a multi-window superposition control section, 44 is a level control section, 45 is an active level priority control section, 46 is a level order register, and 47a to 47n are first to nth level registers. , 48
Reference numeral 49 indicates a connection time control section, 49 indicates an active control section, and 50 indicates an active level monitoring timer. To ωsa0 = (N
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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A physical display device, an output screen buffer corresponding to the display device, at least one virtual screen buffer, and means for extracting data from a partial area of the virtual screen buffer. , comprising means for combining data of each area taken out from the virtual screen buffer and outputting it to the output screen buffer, an input device, and a window switching control means for switching to a window in which input can be performed, and having a multi-window display function. In the display device, the active time measuring means measures the time in which input is possible for each window, and the time information holding means holds the time information for each window obtained by the time measuring means. , and priority determining means for determining the priority of windows based on the time information, and switching to windows that allow input in the order determined by the priority determining means. 2. A display device equipped with a multi-window display function as set forth in claim 1, further comprising time information adding means for adding an arbitrary time to the time information held in the time information holding means; A display device characterized in that a priority determining means determines the priority order of windows based on the time information added by the adding means, and switches to a window that can be inputted in the determined order.