JP2000122786A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize windows for all applications opened on a virtual desk top and to display a window for a required application on a display area of a display device in a workable state. SOLUTION: A virtual desk top X larger than a display area 13a of a liquid crystal display(LCD) is formed so as to open windows for plural applications and the whole virtual desk top X is displayed on the display area 13a as a compressed picture. When the window of a certain application opened on the virtual desk top X displayed on the display area 13a is specified, the window of the specified application is displayed as a real picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a multitask system capable of operating a plurality of application programs (applications) has been adopted. Further, in the graphical user interface, when performing operations such as data input for each application, it is necessary to display windows of each opened application in a display area which is a work area on the display device in a workable state. . However, the display area of the display screen is limited, and there is a possibility that all application windows cannot be displayed in the display area in a workable state.

For this purpose, a display area, which is a work area,
2. Description of the Related Art A window of an application in which work such as data input is performed is displayed as a top level in a workable state, and windows of other applications are displayed in a state of being superimposed below the window. When a window of another application is displayed at the highest level so that work can be performed, a window of a predetermined application displayed in a state of being overlapped with the display area is selected, and an instruction is given by a pointing device or the like. It has become.

In this case, since the windows of all the applications are displayed in an overlapping state on the display area, the window of the highest application which can be operated is displayed over the entire display area. In addition, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to input data and the like. In addition, only a part of the application window displayed in a state of being overlapped under the window of the top-level application is displayed only partially, and the window of the application may be designated by a pointing device or the like. There is also a problem that it is not easy.

On the other hand, a virtual desktop on which an application window is opened is provided in an area not displayed on the display screen, and a work area is virtually enlarged. When performing operations such as data input to the window of the application opened on the virtual desktop, the virtual desktop is displayed in the display area (real desktop), and data is displayed on the window of the application opened on the virtual desktop. An input operation or the like is performed. Switching of the display of the virtual desktop to the display area is performed by operating a pointing device or the like.

[0006]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus having a configuration in which a plurality of virtual desktops are continuously moved in a horizontal direction with respect to a display area, and each virtual desktop is sequentially displayed in the display area. However, in such a configuration, all the virtual desktops are not displayed. Therefore, the virtual desktop in which the window of the application to be operated, such as data input, is opened must be moved until the virtual desktop in the display area appears. Must.

Further, a window for displaying the entire virtual desktop is provided in the display area, and the virtual desktop displayed in the window is instructed by operating a pointing device or the like and displayed in the display area. In this case, since the entire virtual desktop is displayed in a small window in the display area, it is not easy to recognize the overview of all the virtual desktops. Not easily found. In addition, there is a problem that the virtual desktop displayed in the small window needs to be pointed by a pointing device or the like, and the pointing operation is not easy.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem. It is an object of the present invention to be able to easily recognize windows of all opened applications and to display windows of a desired application in a display area. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can easily display a workable state.

[0009]

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a virtual desktop having a larger area than the display area on the display device so that windows of a plurality of applications are opened. The whole is displayed as a compressed screen in the display area of the display device.

On the compressed screen of the virtual desktop displayed in the display area of the display device, by specifying a window of any application opened on the virtual desktop, the window of the specified application is displayed as a real screen. Is done.

[0011] The display screen of the display device is switched by a touch-sensitive or non-contact-sensing pen input type tablet device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The portable information device includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 for executing various controls, a CPU 11
R that temporarily stores programs, data, etc. for
A main storage unit 12 composed of an AM, a ROM, etc., a liquid crystal display 13 as a display device for displaying various data, graphics, and the like, and a disk controller 15 for controlling input and output of data to and from a disk 41 as an external storage device. And a tablet device 19 provided on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 13 so that information is input by a dedicated input pen. In the present embodiment, as the tablet device 19, a pressure-sensitive resistive film system that is a contact detection system is adopted. The tablet device 19 of the pressure-sensitive resistive film type is a device in which two resistive films are overlapped with each other with a slight gap formed therebetween. The position is detected.

The liquid crystal display 13 is controlled by a display controller 14 for controlling the same, and the tablet device 19 is controlled by a tablet controller 18.
The interrupt signal input from the tablet device 19 is given to the interrupt controller 17 via the tablet controller 18, and is given from the interrupt controller 17 to the CPU 11 and the like.

In this information processing apparatus, a multi-task system capable of operating a plurality of application programs (applications) is used. When performing operations such as data input for each application, a graphical user interface is used. A window of an application requiring work is displayed in a display area of the liquid crystal display 13 in a workable state. In this information processing apparatus, one virtual desktop on which windows of a plurality of applications are respectively opened is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the virtual desktop X is located above the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 so that all of the windows of the plurality of applications individually displayed on the display area of the liquid crystal display 13 can be displayed. It is getting bigger.

As shown in FIG. 3, the entire virtual desktop X is displayed as a compressed screen on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as necessary. In the virtual desktop X, for example, windows of three applications A, B, and C are respectively opened. The compressed screen display of the virtual desktop X is performed by thinning out the pixels of the virtual desktop X displayed in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13.

The display area 1 of the liquid crystal display 13
In a state where the virtual desktop X is displayed on the compressed screen in the virtual desktop X, a window of any application opened in the virtual desktop X is displayed in the display area 13a as a real screen that can be used for data input or the like instead of the compressed screen. Is done. For example, when the window of the application B opened on the virtual desktop X displayed on the display area 13a is indicated by the input pen, the window of the application B is changed to the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as shown in FIG. Is displayed as a real screen that is not a compressed screen. Liquid crystal display 1
When the window of the application B is displayed as an actual screen in the display area 13a of the
Then, operations such as data input are performed by operating the keyboard.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display control program for the liquid crystal display 13 stored in the main storage unit 12. The main storage unit 12 is provided with a contact detection type pen input detection unit 21 for detecting that an interrupt signal is input by an input pen to the tablet device 19 of the pressure-sensitive resistive film type. When the interrupt signal is detected by the means 21, the pen state determining means 22 determines whether the input pen is in a contact state or a non-contact state with the tablet device 19.

When the pen state determining means 22 determines whether the input pen is in contact with the tablet device 19 or in a non-contact state, the pen state change detecting means 23
Thus, it is determined whether the input pen has changed from the contact state to the non-contact state or has changed from the non-contact state to the contact state with the tablet device 19 during the predetermined time.

The display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13
In the state where the virtual desktop X is displayed on the compressed screen,
When the pen state change detection unit 23 determines that the input pen for the tablet device 19 has changed from the non-contact state to the contact state, a predetermined signal is output to the display screen determination unit 24. Display screen determining means 24
Determines which application window of the virtual desktop X displayed on the compressed screen is instructed based on the coordinate position of the input pen touching the tablet device 19, and changes the window of the application to A signal to be displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as a real screen other than a compressed screen is output to the real screen display means 25. The real screen display means 25 is a display screen determination means 24
The application window on the virtual desktop X designated by the input pen is displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as a real screen other than a compressed screen based on the signal from the input pen.

The display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13
In the state where the virtual desktop X is not displayed on the compressed screen and the pen state change detecting unit 23 determines that the input pen for the tablet device 19 has changed from the contact state to the non-contact state, the real screen display release determination is performed. A predetermined signal is output to the means 26. The real screen display release determination means 26 determines whether the display area 1 of the liquid crystal display 13 is
It is determined whether or not the display of the real screen displayed in 3a should be released. If it is determined that the display of the displayed real screen should be released, a predetermined screen is displayed to the compressed screen display means 27. Output a signal. The compressed screen display unit 27 displays windows of all applications in the virtual desktop X on a compressed screen based on the signal from the real screen display release determination unit 26.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the display control of the liquid crystal display 13. When the contact detection pen input detecting means 21 detects that the input pen is touched at a predetermined position on the tablet device 19 and the interrupt signal is input (see step S1 in FIG. 5, the same applies hereinafter), the display screen is displayed. The determining unit 24 determines whether a compressed screen of the virtual desktop X is displayed in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 (step S2).

When the compressed screen of the virtual desktop X is displayed in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13, the pen state determining means 22 determines whether the input pen is in contact with the tablet device 19 or not. The pen state change detecting means 23 determines whether the input pen has changed from the contact state to the non-contact state or from the non-contact state to the contact state with respect to the tablet device 19 (step S1). S
3). At this time, if it is determined that the input pen has not changed from the non-contact state to the contact state for a predetermined time with respect to the tablet device 19, it is determined that the interrupt signal has been canceled, and the process returns to step S1. It goes into a standby state until a signal is generated.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the input pen has changed from the non-contact state to the contact state for a predetermined time with respect to the tablet device 19, the display screen determining means 24 determines that the tablet device has the tablet device. Based on the coordinates (pointing data) of the contact position of the input pen with respect to 19, it is determined which application window of the compressed screen of the virtual desktop X displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 is instructed, The window of the application is instructed to the real screen display unit 25 (step S4). Thereby, the real screen display unit 25 places the application window on the virtual desktop X designated by the input pen in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13.
Display as a real screen that is not a compressed screen (step S4),
The displayed window of the application is in a workable state such as data input.

When the pen input detecting means 21 detects that an interrupt signal has been generated (step S1),
When the virtual desktop X is displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 without displaying the compressed screen on the compressed screen (step S2), the pen state determining unit 22, the pen state change detecting unit 23, and the real screen display cancellation are performed. The determination means 26 determines whether or not the real screen display should be canceled. At this time, when the input pen has not changed from the contact state to the non-contact state with respect to the tablet device 19 for a predetermined time (step S6), it is determined that the real screen display should not be canceled. Returning to S1,
It is in a standby state until the next interrupt signal is generated.

On the other hand, when the input pen that has been in contact with the tablet device 19 changes to the non-contact state for a predetermined time, the display area 1 of the liquid crystal display 13 is displayed.
The display of the real screen in 3a is canceled, and the compressed screen display unit 27 is instructed to display the entire virtual desktop X as a compressed screen. As a result, the compressed screen display means 27 displays the display area 13 a of the liquid crystal display 13.
Then, the entire virtual desktop X is displayed on a compressed screen (step S7).

As described above, based on the contact and non-contact of the input pen with the touch-sensitive tablet device 19 provided on the liquid crystal display 13, the entire virtual desktop X in which a plurality of application windows are opened is displayed on the liquid crystal display. Display area 13a of display 13
Is displayed on the virtual desktop X and the window of the designated application on the virtual desktop X displayed on the compressed screen is displayed on the display area 13 of the liquid crystal display 13.
a is displayed on the real screen. Therefore, the windows of all the applications opened on the virtual desktop X can be easily recognized, and the windows of the predetermined application can be easily displayed on the actual screen in a workable state.

In the above-described embodiment, the tablet device 19 of the pressure-sensitive resistive type, which is a contact detection type in which a signal is input when the input pen makes contact with the input pen, is used. Alternatively, an electromagnetic induction type tablet device 19, in which a signal is input in a non-contact state when the input pen approaches, may be used. In the electromagnetic induction type tablet device 19, when the input pen approaches the detectable state, an induced current is generated, and the proximity position of the input pen is specified.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display control program for the liquid crystal display 13 when an electromagnetic induction type tablet device 19 of a non-contact detection type is used. The main storage unit 12 is provided with a non-contact detection type pen input detection unit 31 for detecting that an interrupt signal is input by an input pen to the electromagnetic induction type tablet device 19. When the interrupt signal is detected by the means 31, the pen state determining means 32 determines whether the input pen is in a detectable state with respect to the tablet device 19 or in an undetectable state.

When the pen state judging means 32 judges whether the input pen is detectable or undetectable with respect to the tablet device 19, the pen state change detecting means 33 inputs the input pen for a predetermined time. It is determined whether the pen has changed from the detectable state to the undetectable state or from the undetectable state to the detectable state with respect to the tablet device 19.

Display area 13a of liquid crystal display 13
In the state where the virtual desktop X is displayed on the compressed screen,
When the pen state change detecting unit 33 determines that the input pen for the tablet device 19 has changed from the undetectable state to the detectable state, a predetermined signal is output to the display screen determining unit 34. . The display screen determination unit 34 determines which application window of the virtual desktop X displayed on the compressed screen is instructed based on the coordinate position of the input pen close to the tablet device 19, A signal for displaying a window of the application on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as a real screen which is not a compressed screen is output to the real screen display means 35. The real screen display means 35 displays the application window in the virtual desktop X designated by the input pen on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 based on the signal from the display screen determination means 34.
Is displayed as a real screen other than the compressed screen.

Display area 13a of liquid crystal display 13
In the state where the virtual desktop X is not displayed on the compressed screen and the pen state change detecting means 33 determines that the input pen for the tablet device 19 has changed from the detectable state to the undetectable state, the real screen display is performed. A predetermined signal is output to the release judging means 36. The real screen display release determination means 36 determines whether to release the display of the real screen displayed in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 and determines that the display of the displayed real screen should be released. In this case, a predetermined signal is output to the real screen holding unit 38.

The real screen holding means 38 is adapted to receive information to hold the display of the real screen displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 and to input the real screen to the real screen holding means 38. When the information to be suspended is input, the actual screen displayed in the display area 13a is suspended.

On the other hand, when the information for holding the real screen is not input to the real screen holding means 38, the compressed screen display means 37 is used to cancel the display of the displayed real screen. In response, a predetermined signal is output. The compressed screen display means 37 displays all application windows in the virtual desktop X on a compressed screen based on the signal from the real screen holding means 38.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the display control of the liquid crystal display 13 when such a non-contact detection type electromagnetic induction type tablet device 19 is used. When the non-contact detection type pen input detection unit 31 detects that the input pen has become detectable at a predetermined position in the tablet device 19 and an interrupt signal has been input (see step S11 in FIG. 7, the same applies hereinafter). The display screen determination means 34 determines whether a compressed screen of the virtual desktop X is displayed in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 (step S12).

When the compressed screen of the virtual desktop X is displayed in the display area 13 a of the liquid crystal display 13, the input pen is in a detectable state with respect to the tablet device 19 by the pen state determining means 32. And whether it is in an undetectable state,
The pen state change detection unit 33 determines whether the input pen has changed from the detectable state to the undetectable state or from the undetectable state to the detectable state with respect to the tablet device 19 (step S13). At this time, when it is determined that the input pen has not changed from the undetectable state to the detectable state for a predetermined time with respect to the tablet device 19, the process returns to step S1 assuming that the interrupt signal has been canceled. It is in a standby state until the next interrupt signal is generated.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the input pen has changed from the undetectable state to the detectable state with respect to the tablet device 19 within a predetermined time, the display screen determining means 34 The display area 1 of the liquid crystal display 13 is determined based on the coordinates (pointing data) of the proximity position of the input pen to the tablet device 19.
It is determined which window of the application of the compressed screen of the virtual desktop X displayed in 3a is instructed, and the window of the application is instructed to the real screen display means 35 (step S1).
4). As a result, the real screen display means 35 displays the application window on the virtual desktop X designated by the input pen in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 as a real screen that is not a compressed screen (step S15).

At this time, it is determined whether the coordinates (pointing data) of the tablet device 19 specified by the input pen have been stable for a predetermined time (step S16), and the pointing data is determined for a predetermined time. If it is in a stable state, the actual screen of the application window displayed in the display area 13a is fixed (Step S).
17). As a result, the displayed window of the application is in a workable state such as data input.

If the pointing data from the input pen is not stable, the process returns to step S14, where it is again confirmed which window of the application on the virtual desktop X is indicated by the pointing data.

When the pen input detecting means 31 detects that an interrupt signal has been generated (step S1).
1) When the virtual desktop X is displayed on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 without displaying the compressed screen on the compressed screen (step S12), the pen state determining unit 32, the pen state change detecting unit 33, and the real The screen display release determining means 36 and the real screen display holding means 38 determine whether the real screen display should be released. At this time,
If the input pen has not changed from the detectable state to the undetectable state for a predetermined time with respect to the tablet device 19 (step S18), it is determined that the real screen display should not be canceled. Returning to S1, the apparatus enters a standby state until the next interrupt signal is generated.

On the other hand, when the input pen which has been in contact with the tablet device 19 changes from the detectable state to the undetectable state within a predetermined time, the real screen holding unit 38 displays the real screen. It is confirmed whether information to be suspended has been input (step S19). Then, when the information to hold the real screen has not been input, the display of the real screen in the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 is canceled and the entire virtual desktop X should be displayed as a compressed screen. An instruction is given to the compressed screen display means 27. As a result, the compressed screen display means 27 displays the entire virtual desktop X in a compressed screen on the display area 13a of the liquid crystal display 13 (step S20). When the information for holding the real screen is input to the real screen holding means 38, the display area 13 of the liquid crystal display 13 is displayed.
The real screen display is continued without canceling the display of the real screen displayed in a.

[0042]

According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention,
Since the entire virtual desktop in which windows of a plurality of applications are opened is displayed as a compressed screen in the display area of the display device, the windows of all the applications opened in the virtual desktop can be easily recognized. In addition, by indicating the window of the application in the virtual desktop displayed as a compressed screen in the display area of the display device,
Since the window of the application is displayed in the display area of the display device in a workable state such as data input, the application can be easily switched.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part showing an example of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a virtual desktop in the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a virtual desktop displayed in a display area of a liquid crystal display provided in the information processing device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a screen display control program in a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents of the control program.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the display control program in the liquid crystal display.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control contents of the control program.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 CPU 12 Main storage unit 13 Liquid crystal display 13a Display area 14 Display controller 15 Disk controller 17 Interrupt controller 18 Tablet controller 19 Tablet device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A virtual desktop having an area larger than a display area of a display device is provided so that windows of a plurality of applications are opened, and the entire virtual desktop is provided as a compressed screen in the display area of the display device. An information processing apparatus characterized by being displayed. 2. A virtual desktop compressed screen displayed in a display area of a display device, by designating a window of any application opened in the virtual desktop, the designated application window is displayed on the real screen. Claim 1 displayed as
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display screen of the display device is switched by a touch-sensitive or non-contact-sensing pen input type tablet device.