GB2246058A

GB2246058A - Data display system

Info

Publication number: GB2246058A
Application number: GB9112544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenji Sasaki
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-11
Filing date: 1991-06-11
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-11
Also published as: GB9112544D0; JPH0420162U; GB2246058B

Abstract

A data display system includes a display unit for displaying characters (eg "ABCDEFGHIJKL") on a display field (eg 6 chars long), a memory for storing data on a chain of characters, a server for supplying to the display unit display data on a predetermined number of characters (eg 6) beginning from a read starting point in a chain of characters in the data stored in the memory, and a controller for controlling the serving means so that the read starting point on the chain of characters is periodically shifted by one character beginning from a leading end of the chain of characters and shifted toward a tail end thereof whenever the supplier supplies the display data to the display unit, whereby the display unit displays the characters corresponding to the display data supplied from the server which is controlled by the controller so that the characters displayed on the display field are periodically scrolled by one character. <IMAGE>

Description

"DATA DISPLAY SYSTEM" The present invention generally relates to a data display system, and more particularly to a data display system in which a chain of characters is displayed. The data display system is, for example, used in a document-processing system in which a title of each document recorded in a data base can be displayed to facilitate retrieval of the documents and so on.

In general, a document processing system in which a title of each document is recorded in a data base is displayed on a display unit has been known.

According to this type of document processing system, it is possible for a user to retrieve and ascertain the document information recorded in the data base.

In the above type of document processing system, title data representing a title of each document is stored in the data base. However the number of bytes of title data capable of being displayed on the display unit has been set to an allowable value beforehand. Thus, when the title data for the document recorded in the data base has a number of bytes greater than the allowable value, it is impossible to display the whole title of the document on the display unit at once.

Thus, in a conventional document processing system, when the above case occurs, a format for displaying the title of the document is changed so that the title data having a large number of bytes can be displayed on the display unit. That is, the above allowable value is reset for an increased value.

However, as the title of each document is displayed in a constant area of the display corresponding to the allowable value without regard to the length of the title, when the allowable value is increased so that the title data having a large numberof bytes (length) can be displayed, the number of titles which can be displayed in one picture on the display unit is decreased so that the quantity of information displayed in one picture on the display unit is decreased. Further, in a case where the distance between each starting point of two titles displayed on the display unit is too large, it is troublesome for the user to ascertain the titles on the display unit.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful document processing system in which the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art are eliminated.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a data display system in which a chain of characters can be entirely displayed in a field having a predetermined length without changing a format for displaying the title.

The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a data display system comprising: display means for displaying characters on a display area; storage means for storing data on a chain of characters; serving means, coupled to the display means and the storage means, for supplying to the display means display data on a first predetermined number of characters beginning from a read starting point in a chain of characters in the data stored in the storage means; and control means for controlling the supplying means so that the starting point on the chain of characters is shifted by a second predetermined number of characters beginning from a leading end of the chain of characters toward an tail end thereof whenever the supplying means supplies the display data to the display means, whereby the display means displays the characters corresponding to the display data supplied from the supplying means which is controlled by the control means so that the characters displayed on the display area are scrolled by the second predetermined number of characters.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1 is a block diagram illustrating a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS.2, 3A and 3B are flow charts illustrating processes for displaying a title of each document recorded in a data base; FIG.4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a retrieval table; FIG.5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list showing a title of each document; FIG.6 is a diagram illustrating an example of original title data stored in a saving buffer; FIG.7 is a time chart illustrating.an example of a variation of data in a display buffer; and FIG.8 is a time chart illustrating an example of a variation of title displayed on a display unit.

A description will now be given of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG.1, which shows a basic structure of a document processing system, the document processing system includes a processor 1, a program memory 2, a data base 3, a saving buffer 5, a display buffer 6, a checking buffer 8, an input unit 4 and a display unlit 7 which are connected with each other by a bus. The processor 1 controls this whole system. Programs used in this system, such as control programs for the processor 1, are stored in the program memory 2. In formation for various documents is recorded in the data base 3. That is, title data which represents a title of each document is stored in the data base 3. When the document title data recorded in the data base 3 is retrieved, a document code identifying each document, a title code representing a title of each document and the like are input from the input unit 4.The input unit 4 has, for example, a key board and a mouse. Title data is read out from the data base 3. The title data read out from the data base 3 is transferred to and stored in the saving buffer 5. The title data stored in the saving buffer 5 is referred to as original title data. The original title data is formed of bytes required for representing the whole title of each document. A part of the original title data is, as display data, read out from the saving buffer 5. That is, the display data formed of bytes corresponding to a display field starting from a read starting point is read out from the saving buffer 5.

The above display field is an area on which a title of each document is displayed. The read starting point in the saving buffer 5 is periodically shifted by the number of bytes corresponding to one character in a direction starting from the leading end of the title of the document to the tail end of the title thereof. While this occurs, the display data starting from each shifted read starting point is read out from the saving buffer 5 and transferred to the display buffer 6. The display data stored in the display buffer 6 is transferred to the display unit 7, so that characters corresponding to the display data are displayed on the display unit 7. When the display data is transferred from the saving buffer 5 to the display buffer 6, each character of the display data is also stored in the checking buffer 8.

In this document processing system, the display data, obtained each time the read starting point in the saving buffer 5 is shifted by the number of bytes for one character, is supplied to the display unit 7. Thus, the characters displayed on the display unit 7 are periodically scrolled by one character so that the title of each document is entirely displayed on the display unit 7. When the characters are periodically scrolled by one character on the display unit 7 in accordance with the above process, there occurs a time when the number of bytes starting from the shifted read starting point in the saving buffer 5 is less than the number of bytes in the display field. This also occurs when the number of bytes forming the original title data is initially less than the number of bytes for the display field.

In this embodiment, in a case where the number of bytes starting from the read starting point in the saving buffer 5 is less than the number of bytes for the display field, a predetermined checking code is added to the data read out from the saving buffer 5 so that the number of bytes for the data transferred to the display buffer 6 is always a constant value corresponding to the length of the display field.

The checking code is, for example, determined as to be a character code corresponding to a numeral "20".

As the read starting point is shifted in the saving buffer 5 by bytes for one character, the bytes for the data read out from the saving buffer 5 decreases by bytes for one character at every time the data is read out from the saving buffer 5, in the above case. Thus, the number of bytes for the checking code added to the data from the saving buffer 5 increases by the number of bytes corresponding to one character. As a result, when the data transferred to the display buffer 6 is entirely changed to the checking code, it is detected that the title data has been entirely transferred to the display buffer 6.

At this time, the title of document is completely displayed due to the scrolling of the characters.

The checking buffer 8 is used for checking whether or not the data transferred to the display buffer 6 has the checking code.

A description will now be given of a process carried out in this document processing system with reference to FIGS.2, 3A and 3B.

The number of bytes corresponding to the length of the display field is initially set at a predetermined value. Next, the process in accordance with a flow chart shown in FIG.2 is carried out.

Referring to FIG.2, when the character code and the title code are input from the input unit 4 to retrieve the documents recorded in the data base 3 (in step S1), the processor 1 retrieves title data based on the document code and the title code from the data base 3 (in step S2). Then the original title data retrieved by the processor 1 is transferred to the saving buffer 5 (in step S3).

After the original title data is stored in the saving buffer 5, an automatic scroll process (in step S4) for periodically scrolling the displayed characters forming the title of the document is carried out.

The automatic scroll process is carried out in accordance with a flow chart shown in FIGS.3A and 3B.

Referring to FIGS.3A and 3B, step S10 initially sets a check flag CFTh at "0". The check flag CFL describes a result of checking whether or not the data transferred to the display buffer 6 is entirely formed of the checking codes (a predetermined character code). Step S S10 initially also sets the read starting point P in the saving buffer 5 at "0", for example. After the checking flag CFL and the read starting point P are respectively set at "0", the processor 1 carries out a process for reading out the display data from the saving buffer 5 to transfer the display data to the display buffer 6. That is, the following process is carried out.

Step S11 initially sets a data counter value CNT at "0" and a detecting counter value X at "0". The data counter value CNT describes the number of the data on one character read out from the saving buffer 5. The detecting counter value X describes the number of times that the checking code is detected. Then, step S12 determines whether or not the number of bytes corresponding to the data counter value CNT is greater than the number of bytes corresponding to the display field. The number of bytes corresponding to the display field is hereinafter referred to as a display byte number DS.

When the number of bytes corresponding to the data counter value CNT is not greater than the display byte number (N in step S12), the data having bytes for one character starting from a point defined by (P+CNT) in the saving buffer 5 is read out from the saving buffer 5 in step S13. The data read out from the saving buffer 5 in step S13 is stored in the checking buffer 8 in step S14. Then, step S15 determines whether or not the data stored in the checking buffer 8 is formed of the checking code (the character code). When the data stored in the checking buffer 8 is not formed of the checking code but is instead formed of bytes corresponding to one character out of the original title data (N in step S15), the data having bytes for one character is transferred to and stored in the display buffer 6.

Then step S17 increments the data counter value CNT by one, and the process returns to step S12. After that, steps S12 to S17 are repeated until step S12 determines that the number of bytes corresponding to the data counter value CNT is greater than the display byte number DS. While steps S12 to S17 are being repeated, (P+CNT) is increased by one for each step and the data on one character starting from the position corresponding to (P+CNT) is successively read out from the saving buffer 5 and transferred via the checking buffer 8 to the display buffer 6.

According to the above process, the data on every character starting from the read starting out position P (initially "0") and shifting towards the tail end of the title is successively read out from the saving buffer 5 and stored in the display buffer 6. Then the number of bytes of the data stored in the display buffer 6 becomes the display byte number DS.In this case, step S12 determines that the number of bytes corresponding to the data counter value CNT is greater than the display byte number DS (N in step S12). Then a process for transferring the data from the save buffer 5 to the display buffer 6 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S22' 22 The display data is read out from the display buffer 6 and supplied to the display unit 7, in step S22. Then the characters corresponding to the display data are displayed on the display unit 7. After step S22 step S23 determines whether or not the checking flag CFL is "1". When step S23 determines that the checking flag CFt is not "1" (N in step S23), the read starting point P is shifted by one character. That is, the read starting point P is incremented by "1". Then the process returns to step S11, and steps S12 to S17 and S22 are carried out so that the process for transferring the next data of the display byte number DS from the save buffer 5 to the display buffer 6 is performed. In this case, as the read starting point P is shifted by one character in the saving buffer 5, the next display data starting from the read starting point P shifted by one character is read out from the saving buffer 5 and transferred to the display buffer 6.

Then the next display data stored in the display buffer 6 is displayed on the display unit 7 in step S22 so that the displayed characters are shifted by one character with respect to those obtained by preceding process for displaying the characters for the display data.

In the above process for displaying characters, there is a case where the number of bytes of the data starting from the reading out position P and shifting toward a point corresponding to the tail end of the title in the saving buffer 5 is less than the display byte number DS. In this case, one or a plurality of the checking codes are added to the data read out from the saving buffer 5 so that the number of bytes of the data supplied to the display buffer 6 is equal to the display byte number DS. Each checking code is formed of a predetermined character code. When the checking code is stored in the checking buffer 8 in step S14, step S15 determines that the data on one character read out from the saving buffer 5 is the checking code. In this case, step S18 increments the detecting counter value X by one.Then step S19 determines whether or not the detecting counter value X is equal to the display byte number DS. When step S19 determines that the detecting counter value X is less than the display byte number DS, step S16 transfers the data on the checking code from the saving buffer 5 to the display buffer 6. Until the checking counter value X becomes equal to the display byte number DS, the process for transferring the data from the saving buffer 5 to the display buffer 6 in accordance with steps S12 to S17 is repeatedly carried out.At this time, the process for displaying the display data stored in the display buffer 6 is carried out in accordance with steps S22 to 524 and step S 11 When the data counter value CNT and the detecting counter value X are respectively equal to the display byte number DS, the data stored in the display buffer 6 is formed of only the checking codes. That is, in this case, the data stored in the display buffer 6 does not include the bytes for the title data. Thus, step S19 determines the detecting counter value X is equal to the display byte number DS. When this occurs, step S20 sets the checking flag CFL at "1".

After a tail end character of the title specified by the data stored in the display buffer 6 is scrolled on the display unit 7, step S23 determines the checking flag CFL is equal to "1". At this time, the automatic scrolling process is completed.

A description will now be give of an example of changing data stored in the display buffer 6 and displayed character.

FIG.4 shows a retrieval table TB formed in the data base 3. The retrieval table TB is used for retrieving the documents recorded in the data base 3. In FIG.4, document codes "01", "02", "03", are provided in the retrieval table TB. Title information storage areas C1, C2, C3,...

respectively correspond to the document codes "01", "02", "03", ... . For example, in the title information storage area C11 items "001", "002", "003", ... are provided. Title data "ABCDEFGHIJKL" specified by the first item "001", title data "(03)123-4567" specified by the second item "002", and title data "MNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" specified by the third item "003" are stored in the title information storage area C1 of the data base 3.

The display buffer 6 has a capacity for six characters. Thus, the maximum number of characters which can be displayed on the display field is six.

That is, the display byte number corresponds to six characters.

When an instruction that a title of a document is displayed by the automatic scroll process described above is supplied to the processor 1, first, a list of titles as shown in FIG.5 is displayed on the display unit 7. Each title in the list displayed on the display unit 7 is formed of six characters. The user operates the input unit 7 while looking at the list displayed on the display unit 7.

When the document code "01" and the title information code "001" corresponding to the document number "1" are input from the input unit 4, the processor 1 reads out the title data "ABCDEFGHIJKL" specified by the document code "01" and the title information code "001" from the data base 3 based on the retrieval table TB as shown in FIG.4. The title data "ABCDEFGHIJKL" read out from the data base 3 is stored in the saving buffer 5 as shown in FIG.6. The title data stored in the saving buffer 5 is formed of bytes for 14 full-sized characters. The title data for 14 full-sized characters is used as the original title data. The capacity of the saving buffer 5 is such that bytes for 60 half-sized characters, for example, can be stored therein.

After the original title data nABCDEFGHIJKL" is stored in the saving buffer 5, the processor 1 carries out the automatic scrolling process.

First, the processor 1 sets the read starting point P in the saving buffer 5 at "O", and transfers the data on the display byte number DS starting from the read starting point P from the saving buffer 5 to the display buffer 6. That is, the data on six characters starting from the reading position P "O" is transferred to the display buffer 6. Thus, the data on six characters "ABCDEF" starting from the leading end of the title is stored in the display buffer 6, as shown in FIG.7 (a). At this time, the data shown in FIG. 7 (a) is transferred to the display unit 7, and a picture shown in FIG.8 (a) is displayed on the display unit 7. Next, the read starting point P is shifted by one character toward the tail end of the title. Thus, the data on six characters "BCDEFG" starting from the second character "B" is stored in the saving buffer 5, as shown in FIG. 7 (b). The picture displayed on the display unit 7 is changed from that shown in FIG.8 (a) to that shown in FIG.8 (b) so that one character is shifted. In FIG.8 (b) to (m), titles "DOCUMENT No" and "SCHOOL NAME" are omitted for the sake of simplicity.

After that, when the read starting point P is successively shifted by one character, the data on six characters stored in the saving buffer 6 is changed as shown in FIG.7 (c) to (m). Then, the picture displayed on the display unit 7 is successively changed as shown in FIG.8 (c) to (m).

That is, the characters displayed on the display unit 7 are scrolled by one character. Thus, the whole title having characters larger than the maximum number of characters to be displayed on the display field can be displayed without changing the display format. The amount of information displayed in one picture on the display unit 7 can also be increased.

In a process for displaying characters on the display unit, as has been described above, when the reading out position P is shifted to "7", the number of characters of the data which is read out from the saving buffer 5 becomes "5". That is, the number of characters of the data read out from the saving buffer 5 becomes less than six, which is the maximum number of characters capable of being displayed on the displayed area by one character.

Thus, in this case, the checking code for one character is added to the data on five characters which is read out from the saving buffer 5, so that the data on six characters is obtained. Then the data on six characters is transferred to the display buffer 6. When the data to which the checking code for one character is added is transferred to the display buffer 6, the detecting counter value X is incremented by "1". As this detecting counter value X=l is less than the value corresponding to the display byte number DS, the checking flag CFL is maintained at "O". Then, when the read starting point P is successively shifted to "8", "9", ..., the detecting counter value X successively becomes "2", "3", ... . Then, when the read starting point P reaches "12", the detecting counter value X becomes "6".That is, the detecting counter value X becomes equal to the value corresponding to the display byte number DS. At this time, the checking flag CFL is set at "1". That is, when the picture displayed on the display unit 7 is changed to that shown in FIG.8 (m), the checking flag CFL is set at "1". When the processor 1 detects the checking flag CFL of "1", the processor 1 ends the automatic scrolling process.

When the processor 1 detects the checking flag CFL of "l", the automatic scrolling process can also be restarted. In this case, the picture on the display unit 7 is returned from a state shown in FIG.8 (m) to a state shown in FIG.8 (a). Then the picture is successively changed as shown in FIG.8 (a) through (m) again.

In the above embodiment, the characters displayed on the display unit 7 are scrolled by one character, however, it is also possible to scroll the characters displayed on the display unit 7 by more than one character.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A data display system comprising: display means for display characters on a display field; storage means for storing data on a chain of characters; serving means, coupled to said display means and said storage means, for supplying to said display means display data on a predetermined number of characters which beginning from a read starting point in a chain of characters in the data stored in said storage means; and control means for controlling said serving means so that the read starting point on the chain of characters is periodically shifted by a predetermined characters beginning from a leading end of the chain of characters and shifted toward a tail end thereof whenever the serving means supplies the display data to said display means, whereby said display means displays the characters corresponding to the display data supplied from said serving means which is controlled by said control means so that the characters displayed on the display field are scrolled by the predetermined characters.

2. A data display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said serving means comprises: extracting means, coupled to said storage means, for extracting the display data from the data on the chain of characters stored in said storage means; and display data storage means, coupled to said extracting means and said display means, for storing the display data extracted by said extracting means, whereby the display data stored in said display data storage means is supplied to said display means.

3. A display data system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means controls said said serving means so that the read starting point on the chain of characters is shifted by one character, whereby the characters displayed on the display field by said display means are scrolled by one character.

4. A display data system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said extracting means extracts the display data on a maximum number of characters which can be displayed on the display field.

5. A display data system as claimed in claim 4, said serving means further comprises: addition means for adding a predetermined code to the display data in a case where the number of characters of the display data is less than the maximum number of characters due to the shifting of the read starting point on the chain of characters, so that a number of characters corresponding to data formed of the display data and the predetermined code becomes equal to the maximum number of characters, and the data formed of the display data and the predetermined code is stored in said display data storage means.

6. A display data system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said serving means further comprises: checking means for checking whether or not the number of characters corresponding to the predetermined code reaches the maximum number of characters, wherein when said checking means determines that the number of characters corresponding to the predetermined code has reached the maximum number of characters, said display data system detects that the chain of characters corresponding to the data stored in said storage means has been entirely scrolled.

7. A data display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chain of characters stored in said storage means represents a title of a document recorded in a data base.

8. A data display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.