KR20090030447A - Apparatus and method for processing game images with dual monitor mode - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for processing game screen is provided, which simplifies the complicated user interface screen and enables a user to play games more conveniently and efficiently. An apparatus for processing game screen in a dual screen mode comprises: a mode setting portion(31) for setting up the displaying mode; a game client(32) which is installed at the user computer and progresses the on-line game while communicating with the game server through the communications network; an image control part(33) which classifies the image information into main image information and sub-image information and outputs the images; a main display processing unit(34); and a sub-display processing unit(35).

Description

Game screen processing device and method for supporting dual screen mode {Apparatus and Method for Processing Game Images with Dual Monitor Mode}

The present invention relates to a game screen processing apparatus and a method for supporting a dual screen mode, and in particular, to display the content that is directly related to the progress of the game when using an online game through a communication network and the content that is incidentally related to the progress of the game The images to be displayed can be displayed on different monitors, so that even when a user uses a game function that is not directly related to the game progress, the user can efficiently play the online game without being interrupted.

Due to the development of communication technology and related technologies such as graphics and sound, various types of computer games are provided. Computer games have been developed in the form of online games that allow users to play games by accessing game servers through various communication networks such as the Internet or mobile communication network, instead of allowing them to be executed independently on a personal computer (PC). .

Online games have no time or space constraints and can be configured to have a wide variety of game methods and game progress scenarios.

These online games have a variety of user interfaces. The video information constituting the user interface is the main part where the user participates in the game alone or with other users and proceeds the game according to the scenario of the game, and allows the user to set the game status for the game or schedule the user. It can be divided into additional parts that inform the matter.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the former will be referred to as main image information, and the latter will be referred to as sub image information.

In addition, the user interface means that the user encounters through the game screen while using the online game, such as the appearance of the game progress, guidance of the game-related matters, and providing various menus that the user can use. That is, any visual element that appears on the screen when playing an online game.

The main video information and the sub video information may be arbitrarily divided for the convenience of the user's game use, and some information does not have an absolute standard such as to be included in the main video information.

For example, if a user navigates a game map and battles a monster or another user's character, the game shows the user's character moving around in the game map and the game map, and the user moves. Or the main video information for the functions required for the battle, in addition to the user's current level, owned cyber money, attack success rate or attack speed, such as combat-related figures, basic abilities, announcements, Chatting with other users and displaying the types of quests to be performed by the user may be set as sub image information because they are additional elements rather than essential elements of the game progress itself.

On the other hand, online games are not very complicated in game content or user interface, so even if the user interface is displayed on one screen, there is no problem for the user to proceed with the game. Increasingly, when a user interface for providing additional functions is used, there is a lack of space in a screen for outputting an interface for game progress, and thus, game progress becomes difficult or the game progress itself is impossible.

For example, in a massively multi-player online role playing game (MMORPG) game, a role playing game (RPG) or a type of game in which a large number of users can simultaneously participate in a user, as shown in FIG. If you need to use additional features such as game data (e.g. record, odds, game speed, attack success rate) or notices, chats, setting various game states, etc. This can be difficult, and it often happens that you have to suspend the game for a while.

However, in the current development of online games, the scale of online games continues to grow and the user interface will become more complicated. Therefore, displaying all of the user interfaces on a single screen, as in the past, reduces the efficiency of game use. In other words, it can be a factor that can halve the interest in the game and needs improvement.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, using the main image and other additional functions directly required for the game progress to the user interface to be output to the online game screen made through the communication network The game screen supports the dual screen mode for dividing the video into sub-videos and outputting the main video and sub-videos through separate display devices to simplify the complex user interface screen and make the game more convenient and efficient. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing apparatus and method.

In order to achieve the above object, the game screen processing apparatus supporting the dual screen mode according to the present invention, a mode setting unit for setting the display mode; A game client installed in a user computer device to communicate with a game server through a communication network to play an online game; An image control unit configured to output image information to be displayed on the online game screen by the game client into main image information and sub image information according to a type when the display mode set by the mode setting unit is a dual mode; A main display processing unit converting the main image information, which is divided and outputted by the image control unit, into a video signal that can be used in the main display apparatus and transferring the main image information to the main display apparatus; And a sub display processor for converting sub image information, which is divided and outputted by the image controller, into a video signal for use in the sub display apparatus and transferring the sub image information to the sub display apparatus.

The mode setting unit may be configured to allow the user to set the display mode through a mode selection menu displayed on the main display device or the sub display device.

The information divided by the image control unit into the main image information includes information directly required to proceed with the online game, and the information divided into the sub image information includes information for guiding a certain matter to a user and a game. It may be configured to include information for the setting function of the state.

Information to be included in the main image information and the sub image information may be configured to be selectively set by the user.

When the display mode is set to the single mode by the mode setting unit, the image controller outputs the single image information without distinguishing the main image information and the sub image information, and the single image information output through the image controller is The display device may be configured to be converted through the main display processor or the sub display processor and transferred to the display device.

On the other hand, the game screen processing method supporting the dual screen mode according to the present invention, the step of allowing the user to set the display mode while using the online game service; When the display mode is set to a dual mode, dividing and outputting image information to be displayed on the online game screen into main image information and sub image information according to a type; Converting the main image information and the sub image information into a video signal for use in a display device; And outputting the converted signals through separate display devices.

According to the present invention, an online game screen having a complex user interface such as an MMORPG game may be divided into a main image and a sub image and output through a separate display device.

Accordingly, the user is not disturbed by the game progress due to game functions or information not directly related to the progress of the game, so that the user can use the online game more conveniently and efficiently.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, users access the game service system 23 through various communication networks 22 such as the Internet network or the mobile communication network by using their computer device 21 to provide the game service system 23. There are a variety of online games available.

The user's computer device 21 may be configured with various computer devices that can access online games provided by the game service system 23 by connecting to a predetermined communication network 22 such as a mobile phone as well as a personal computer (PC). The game client 21-1 which executes and advances is installed. The game client 21-1 may be configured as a computer program installed and operated in the computer device 21, and is generally downloaded and installed through the communication network 22.

The game service system 23 may be configured in various ways as necessary. For example, the game service system 23 may provide various types of information related to game services through an internet network, and allow a user to open a game account by registering as a user or as a game client. Web server (23-2) that performs the role of such as to download the program, authentication server (23-3) for authenticating users who want to use the game, game server that allows each user to proceed with the game ( 23-1), a database 23-4 for storing and managing various kinds of information required for operating the game service system 23 and providing an online game service.

Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a game screen processing apparatus 30 supporting a dual screen mode according to the present invention will be described.

The mode setting unit 31 performs a role for setting the display mode.

Here, the display mode includes a single mode and a dual mode, and the single mode refers to a display mode displaying a user interface on a single screen as in the prior art, and the dual mode refers to a main image and a sub image through separate display devices. It means the display mode to output.

The setting of the display mode may be configured by a user, and a menu for selecting the display mode may be included in the main image or the sub image as necessary. The user then sets the desired display mode according to the display mode selection menu displayed on the screen.

The game client 32 is basically installed in the user computer device 21 to communicate with the game server 23-1 through the communication network 22 to play an online game. The game client 32 can be configured in various ways according to the type and content of the game, but basically processes the relevant video data so that various images for game progress can be output, outputs various sound effects, and the game server It plays a role of packetizing and transmitting the information to be transmitted to 23-1 or processing the packet received from the game server 23-1 to reflect the contents contained in the packet to the game.

When the display mode is set to the dual mode by the mode setting unit 31, the image controller 33 classifies the image information to be output through the display devices 36 and 37 according to the type, and thus the main image information and the sub image information. The output is separated by.

As described above, the main image and the sub image may be classified in various ways as necessary.

For example, the information classified by the image controller 33 as main image information may include image information directly required to play an online game. An example of an MMORPG game is a video of a game map, a video of a user character wandering in the game map and a battle with a monster or another user's character, and what you need to keep track of as the game progresses (e.g., the remaining energy of yourself and the monster). Etc.) may be divided into main image information.

Also, the information divided by the sub image information by the image controller 33 may include image information additionally required for using a game such as an image for guiding a certain matter to the user. For example, an image displaying a notice, a record, a win rate, a game speed, an attack success rate, a chat related matter, a matter for setting a game state, and the like may be divided into sub image information.

In this case, the main video information and the sub video information may be fixed, but may be configured to be selectively designated by the user. In such an embodiment, a user interface may be provided to list various types of information to a user and directly specify whether the user displays each listed information on a main screen or a sub screen.

For example, if an interface image (eg, a chat window and a chat message) related to performing a chat is set as sub image information as a default, the user may designate the interface image related to performing a chat as main image information if necessary. It can be accessed through the main screen.

The main display processor 34 converts the main image information output from the image controller 33 into an image signal that can be output from the main display apparatus 36, and transmits the converted image signal to the main display apparatus 36, and the main display apparatus 36. ) Displays a video signal output from the main display processor 34 on the screen.

The sub display processing unit 35 converts the sub image information output from the image control unit 33 into an image signal that can be output from the sub display apparatus 37, and transfers the sub image information to the sub display apparatus 37, and the sub display apparatus 37. ) Displays a video signal output from the sub display processor 35 on the screen.

In this case, the main image information and the sub image information output from the image control unit 33 are digital data, and each of the display apparatuses may be buffered once in the buffer of the main display processor 34 and the buffer of the sub display processor 35. 36 and 37 may be converted into an image signal that can be output.

The main display device 36 and the sub display device 37 are devices that visually output a game screen. Examples of the main display device 36 and the sub display device 37 include LCD monitors and CRT monitors generally used in personal computers (PCs).

However, if the display mode set by the mode setting unit 31 is a single mode, the image controller 33 outputs the image information to be displayed on the game screen as single image information without dividing the main image information and the sub image information. do. In other words, only one monitor is used.

In this case, the single image information output through the image controller 33 may be processed by the main display processor 34 or the sub display processor 35. When the main display processor 34 is used, a game is displayed on the main display device 36. The screen is output, and the game screen is output to the sub display apparatus 37 when the sub display processing unit 35 is used.

An example of configuring the user computer device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. However, of course, the user computer device 21 may be configured in various ways as necessary.

The control unit 49 is responsible for the overall control of the computer device 21, and is usually configured using a central processing unit (CPU). Read Only Memory (ROM) 41 stores a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) that contains basic routines for transferring information between internal components of the computer device 21 during startup time. Memory temporarily stores various data necessary for the operation of the computer device 21 and the computer program code being executed. The controller 49 reads and executes the computer program code recorded in the RAM 42 in order.

The storage unit 43 is configured using a nonvolatile storage medium for storing digital data such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory, and includes an interface for connecting the controller 49 to the storage medium. The storage unit 43 stores various computer programs that a user needs in order to use the computer device. In particular, the storage unit 43 may be provided with various computer programs for using online games, such as a web browser, a flash player, a game client for using the Internet network.

The input unit 44 may include various input devices for allowing a user to input desired information such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a joystick, and include an interface for transmitting a signal generated from each input device to the controller 49. The speaker 46 audibly outputs an audio signal such as voice or sound, and the speaker driver 45 processes and amplifies the audio file or the audio data, and then delivers the audio signal to the speaker 46.

The display processor 48 controls the display devices 36 and 37, including a video adapter, and converts and displays information to be displayed on the screen into an image signal suitable for output through the display device. In particular, in order to support the dual display mode according to the present invention, the display processor 48 is configured to be connected to two display devices 36 and 37 to control the display device, respectively.

The display devices 36 and 37 may be configured as CRT monitors or LCD monitors, and are components for visually displaying a game screen.

The communication unit 47 may include a network interface card (NIC) or a modem, and performs a role of allowing the computer device 21 to communicate with the communication network 22 in a wired or wireless manner. .

On the other hand, the user executes a computer program necessary for communication such as a web browser stored in the storage unit 43 to connect to the game service system 23, and the online game according to the guidance provided by the web server 23-2 Set up a game account to use. Then, by executing the game client installed in the storage unit 43 is connected to the game server 23-1 to enjoy the online game with other users.

The game server 23-1 communicates with the game clients of the respective users through the communication network 22, and plays a role in overall control of the game progress of users participating in the game together.

Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a game screen processing method supporting the dual screen mode according to the present invention will be described with reference to the computer device shown in FIG. 4.

First, when the user executes the game client installed in the storage unit 43, the game client program is loaded into the RAM 42 and sequentially analyzed and executed by the controller 49 to start the online game. The user sets the display mode in the display mode selection menu provided by the game client (S51).

On the other hand, if the display mode is set to the dual mode in step S51 (S53), the game client outputs the video information to be displayed on the game screen divided into the main video information and the sub video information (S54-1).

In operation S54-1, the main image and the sub image may be classified in various ways as necessary. For example, the information divided into the main image information may include image information that is necessary to play an online game.

That is, in an MMORPG game, the game map, a video showing the user's character moving around the game map and fighting a monster or another user's character, and information that should be continuously checked during the game (e.g. self and monster's remaining energy, etc.) ) Can be divided into main images.

In addition, the information divided into the sub-image information may include an image for displaying the additionally necessary to use the game, such as an image for guiding a certain matter to the user. For example, an image for displaying announcements, achievements, odds, game speed, and aggression rate, information related to performing a chat, information for setting a game state, and the like may be divided into sub-images.

The main image information and the sub image information which are divided and output in step S54-1 are digital information and are delivered to the display processor 48 under the control of the controller 49 and are buffered, and the display processor 48 is buffered in each buffer. The main image information and the sub image information are read in order, converted into image signals that can be output through the display devices 36 and 37, and transferred to the corresponding display device (S53).

Then, the main image is output through the screen of the main display device 36, and the sub image is output through the screen of the sub display device 37 (S54-3).

On the other hand, if the display mode set in step S53 is a single mode, the game client does not distinguish between the main video information and the sub video information and outputs together as a single video information (S55-1).

The single image information is buffered by the display processor 48 and then converted into an image signal that can be output from the display apparatus (S55-2), and then output through the screen of the corresponding display apparatus 36 or 37 (S55-). 3).

The above-described embodiments are intended to help the understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. to be.

1 is an example of an MMORPG game screen,

2 is an overview of a system for providing an online game service through a communication network;

3 is an embodiment of a game screen processing apparatus supporting a dual screen mode according to the present invention;

4 is an example of a user computer device;

5 is an embodiment of a game screen processing method supporting the dual screen mode according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

21: User Computer Device 21-1: Game Client

22: communication network 23: game service system

23-1: Game Server 23-2: Web Server

23-3: Authentication Server 23-4: Database

30: game screen processing unit 31: mode setting unit

32: game client 33: video controller

34: main display processor 35: sub display processor

36: main display device 37: sub display device

Claims (7)

A mode setting unit for setting a display mode; A game client installed in a user computer device to communicate with a game server through a communication network to play an online game; An image control unit configured to output image information to be displayed on the online game screen by the game client into main image information and sub image information according to a type if the display mode set by the mode setting unit is a dual mode; A main display processing unit converting the main image information, which is divided and outputted by the image control unit, into a video signal that can be used in the main display apparatus and transferring the main image information to the main display apparatus; And And a sub display processor configured to convert sub image information, which is divided and outputted by the image controller, into a video signal that can be used by the sub display apparatus, and transmit the sub image information to the sub display apparatus. The method of claim 1, And the mode setting unit is configured to allow a user to set the display mode through a mode selection menu. The method of claim 1, The information divided by the image control unit into the main image information includes information directly required to proceed with the online game, and the information divided into the sub image information includes information for guiding a certain matter to a user and a game. Game screen processing apparatus supporting a dual screen mode, characterized in that configured to include information for the setting function of the state. The method of claim 1, And information to be included in the main image information and the sub image information. The game screen processing apparatus supporting the dual screen mode may be configured to be selectively set by a user. The method of claim 1, When the display mode is set to the single mode by the mode setting unit, the image controller outputs the single image information without distinguishing the main image information and the sub image information, and the single image information output through the image controller is The game screen processing apparatus supporting the dual screen mode, characterized in that configured to be converted through the main display processing unit or the sub display processing unit and transmitted to the display device. Processing a user to set a display mode while using an online game service; When the display mode is set to the dual mode, dividing and outputting image information to be displayed on the online game screen into main image information and sub image information according to a type; Converting the main image information and the sub image information into a video signal for use in a display device; And And outputting the converted video signals through separate display devices, respectively. The method of claim 6, The information divided into the main image information includes information directly needed to proceed with the online game, and the information divided into the sub image information provides information for guiding a certain matter to the user and a game function setting function. Game screen processing method that supports the dual screen mode, characterized in that configured to include information for.

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