JP2000259300A - Computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow plural persons to simultaneously perform work on one screen by connecting plural input devices being independent of each other to one person al computer and displaying cursors and pointers performed by them on the screen independently of each other. SOLUTION: This system comprises a terminal device 1 such as a personal computer, plural input devices 2 and 3 being a mouse, a keyboard, etc. an I/O network 4 connecting the device 1 and the devices 2 and 3. The network 4 has plural inputting parts connecting the devices 2 and 3 and an outputting part for connecting plural inputting parts and the device 1. And, the network 4 is connected to either or both respective inputting parts of the device 1, and the devices 2 and 3 are connected to the plural inputting parts of the network 4. Thus, the plural devices 2 and 3 which are independent of each other are connected to one personal computer, and cursors and pointers performed by them are mutually displayed independently on the screen so that plural persons can simultaneously operate one personal computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer device which allows a plurality of operators to know at the same time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computers) have been widely used not only in offices but also in homes. . In particular, with the development of the Internet, personal computers are becoming indispensable in everyday life as a communication tool.

[0003] For example, homepages are established on a network to provide information and services to not only national organizations such as governments and ministries, but also local governments and their affiliated organizations, as well as general companies, organizations and individuals. I have. Therefore, if you have a personal computer at home, you can get a lot of information from all over the world, and you can send it from yourself.

[0004] The desire to use a personal computer as a communication tool is not only for general healthy persons, but also for elderly persons and persons with physical disabilities.
Rather, the true need is stronger for the elderly and disabled. For example, a healthy person can go directly to a store or bank for daily shopping, savings and savings at a bank, but the elderly and disabled people often find it difficult to go out to their families and acquaintances. In many cases, it is not possible to use the service directly, such as by asking or by telephone. In addition, in terms of using the information services described above, the benefits can be exploited only for the elderly and disabled people who have difficulty going out.

[0005] Considering such a background, the use of a personal computer is advantageous for the elderly and the disabled.

A conventional general personal computer is operated by operating a mouse or keyboard while moving the cursor on a screen. Usually, one keyboard and mouse are connected to one personal computer, and one cursor is displayed on the screen. Therefore, a person who can operate the personal computer by himself / herself can freely operate the cursor by operating the keyboard and mouse, and does not feel any inconvenience.

[0007]

However, elderly people and persons with disabilities often have motor dysfunction, and it is impossible to use input devices manufactured for general purposes. Requires an input device. There is a demand for an environment in which these dedicated input devices can be freely connected and used at any time with a personal computer.

[0008] On the other hand, in addition to the motor function aspect, there is often a need for assistance in an operation method. For example, when moving the mouse while looking at the screen, if it is difficult to move the mouse to the desired position if hand movements are difficult, or if the characters and icons displayed on the screen are small and difficult to see In some cases, such as when the meaning of the icon is not known, the helper must assist.

[0009] As described above, in the case of the elderly and the disabled, it is often impossible to operate the keyboard and mouse by themselves because they do not have knowledge of the operation of the personal computer or have limited limbs. Instead, they need to be operated. In this case, it is often the case that one's will is not conveyed accurately.

[0010] In addition, a plurality of people often collaborate while moving or pointing a cursor on one screen of one personal computer. However, since only one cursor is displayed, a mouse is used. There was a problem that the operation had to be performed alternately and the work was not always performed efficiently.

Further, it is impossible to simultaneously display a cursor and a pointer on the personal computer screens located at positions separated from each other.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer device which allows a plurality of persons to work on one screen at the same time.

[0013]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plurality of mutually independent input devices are connected to a single personal computer, and cursors and pointers made by these devices are independently displayed on a screen. This is displayed. These can be operated independently, and the user can be specified.

According to this configuration, a plurality of cursors and pointers can be simultaneously displayed on one personal computer screen, so that one input device can be operated by an elderly or disabled person,
When the caregiver operates another input device, the caregiver can support the personal computer operation of the elderly and the disabled. In addition, since a plurality of persons can simultaneously operate the personal computer on one screen, the collaborative work can be performed smoothly.

In another configuration of the present invention, one input device is connected to a plurality of personal computers directly or via a communication line. According to this configuration, it is possible to simultaneously input data to a plurality of personal computers by operating a single personal computer, so that the personal computer screen is explained to a person at a remote place or a remote place while operating his own screen. Or instruct an operation.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of mutually independent input devices are connected to one terminal device, and display elements of the respective input devices are displayed independently on a screen. It was made.

According to this configuration, a plurality of display elements such as a cursor and a pointer can be simultaneously displayed on a single personal computer screen, so that one input device can be operated by an elderly or disabled person and another When the caregiver operates the input device, the caregiver can support the operation of the personal computer of the elderly and the disabled. In addition, since a plurality of persons can simultaneously operate the personal computer on one screen, the collaborative work can be performed smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a plurality of input devices are connected to a terminal device via an I / O network.

According to this configuration, a multi-input device can be realized only by additionally connecting an I / O network to a conventional personal computer like an adapter.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the I / O network according to the second aspect of the present invention has an input unit connecting a plurality of input devices and an output unit connected to a terminal device. In addition, it is possible to connect a plurality of input devices to one terminal device with a simple configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the input device is a mouse, and the display position of a cursor as an input element can be indicated by a simple operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the number of input devices is three or more, and many people can participate in the same screen.

[0023] The invention described in claim 6 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein the display element is a cursor or a pointer, and is suitable for indicating a position on a screen.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, display elements by a plurality of input devices can be distinguished on a screen, and a plurality of display elements can be simultaneously displayed on a screen. Even when displayed, it is possible to determine who has input each display element, so that there is no mistake in operation or explanation.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the display screen is divided into a plurality of screens, and an input device is connected to each screen. According to this configuration, the same image is displayed on each of the divided screens, and an elderly person or a handicapped person operates one input device by performing comparison while operating independently, and cares for another input device. The caregiver can operate the computer for elderly and disabled people. In addition, since a plurality of persons can simultaneously operate the personal computer on one screen, the collaborative work can be performed smoothly.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the input device is dedicated to the user, and personal authentication is performed by the input device. Since the device is provided, the input operation for authentication such as inputting a password can be omitted regardless of which personal computer is used. This effect is extremely useful for the elderly and disabled.

[0027] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the first and second terminal devices connected via a network are connected to the first and second terminal devices.
And an input device connected to each of the second terminal devices;
It has means for simultaneously inputting and displaying on the first and second terminal devices by one input operation of the input device.

According to this configuration, the position of the screen can be displayed and characters can be input to another terminal device at a remote location or a remote location, and the screen can be displayed to the remote party while operating the screen at hand. Can be explained. Therefore, for example, it is extremely easy to explain a material or a position on a map to a remote party.

[0029] According to an eleventh aspect, in the tenth aspect, the input device is a mouse.
By operating the mouse at hand, it is possible to easily indicate the position on the screen to the remote party.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is suitable for the case of the tenth aspect of the present invention, wherein the input display is a cursor or a pointer, and a remote location is indicated on the screen.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of a computer apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a terminal device such as a personal computer, 2 and 3 are a plurality of input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, and 4 is an I / O connecting the terminal device 1 and the input devices 2 and 3.
O network. The I / O network 4 has a plurality of input units for connecting the input devices 2 and 3 and an output unit for connecting to the terminal device 1.

Although a normal terminal device has an input unit for connecting a mouse and a keyboard, in the present invention, an I / O network 4 is connected to one or both of the input units of the terminal device. A plurality of input devices 2 and 3 are connected to a plurality of input units of the I / O network 4.

Now, consider the case where the input devices 2 and 3 are mice. An I / O network 4 is connected to a mouse input unit of the terminal device 1, and a plurality of mice as input devices 2 and 3 are connected to a plurality of input units of the I / O network 4. One of the plurality of mice 2 and 3 is dedicated to user A,
If the other one is dedicated to the user B, a mouse having a special structure and shape for each of the users A and B can be provided.
For example, when the user B is a handicapped person with a disability, the mouse 3 can have a special shape and structure adapted to the size of the left hand of the user B and the movement of the hand. is there. In addition, by using the mouse 2 or 3 as the input device exclusively for the user, the user can be authenticated. Therefore, the operation of inputting authentication such as a password at the time of input can be omitted. Treating an input device not as an accessory of a personal computer but as a personal tool when a specific individual uses the personal computer has a handicap in the operation of the input device, such as the elderly and the disabled. It is extremely important for people.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a display scene of the terminal device 1. FIG. 2A shows an example in which a plurality of screens are displayed, for example, a two-screen display in which the screen is divided into two. It is displayed in screens 5 and 6.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows one display screen, and the cursors or pointers by the mice 2 and 3 are simultaneously displayed in the same screen 7.

In the two-screen system shown in FIG. 2A, it is set in advance so that the same screen is displayed on the two screens. When the user B clicks the mouse 3 corresponding to a certain position on the left screen, the cursor moves to that position on the left screen and is displayed. At this time, when the position of the cursor is different from the process to be operated, the user A can click the mouse 2 and teach the position of the cursor on the right screen.

As described above, the plurality of users A and B use the dedicated screens 5 and 6, respectively, and operate the mice 2 and 3, respectively, so that the trouble of alternately using the mouse is eliminated. It can be operated independently while comparing screens.

The cursor displayed on the screen can be distinguished from each other by different shapes and colors unique to the mice 2 and 3 so that the cursor displayed by the user and the cursor displayed by the other party can be displayed. It can be determined on the screen. Therefore, the operation and the description are not mistaken.

The same image is displayed on each of the divided screens, and a plurality of input operations can be simultaneously performed on each of the divided screens. Various applications are possible, such as a supplementary operation support of the instructor for the operation, a plurality of operators working together on the screen, and discussing the part while indicating the position.

FIG. 2B shows an example in which the cursor or pointer of the mouse 2 or 3 is simultaneously displayed on one screen. This case also has the same operation and effect as the case of FIG. 2A.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of a computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a terminal device such as a personal computer, 12 denotes an input device connected to the terminal device 11, and 13 denotes a terminal device provided at a position remote from the terminal device 11 or at a remote place. 14 are connected. As the communication line 14, a LAN line or an Internet line is used.

This embodiment is an embodiment in which the two-screen embodiment of FIG. 2A is applied to two terminal devices separated from each other.

When an input operation is performed on the input device 12, an input is performed on the terminal device 11. For example, when the input device 12 is a mouse, the pointer 15 is displayed on the terminal device 11. In this embodiment, at this time, the input operation of the input device 12 is sent to the remote terminal device 13 via the communication line 14, and the pointer 16 is input at the same position on the screen of the terminal device 13. Therefore, the terminal device 1 at hand
1 can be simultaneously input to the terminal device 13 at a remote location by operating the input device 12 with the input device 12.
It is possible to have a dialogue by performing an input operation with.

It is to be noted that the pointers 15 and 16 are suitable for simply indicating a position on the screen, but when a new character or the like is input on the screen, a cursor can be displayed to indicate the input position. . The image can be transmitted to the other party by a normal electronic mail or the like.

In the embodiment of the second embodiment, while looking at the screen with the other party in a remote place or another room of a building, the contents of the screen are pointed to by a pointer while talking on the telephone, or a visitor at the window of the city hall can be used. It is possible to use such as listening to an explanation given by a pointer while looking at a common screen from a person in charge at a position away from the window such as a separate room.

[0047]

As described above, the first configuration of the present invention is as follows.
A plurality of independent input devices are connected to one personal computer, and the cursors and pointers by them are displayed on the screen independently of each other. Cursors and pointers can be displayed simultaneously and independently. Therefore, the elderly and handicapped can interact with the caregiver while using one personal computer, and multiple people can operate one personal computer at the same time. Can be done.

A second configuration of the present invention is such that input from one input device can be input to a plurality of terminals such as personal computers connected by a communication line, and one personal computer can be operated. Can input data to a plurality of personal computers at the same time, so that the user can explain the personal computer screen to a person at a remote place or a remote place while operating his / her own screen, and can instruct the operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of a first embodiment of a computer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a computer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2a showing a split screen, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of a computer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal device 2, 3 Input device 4 I / O interface 11, 13 Terminal device 12 Input device 14 Communication line

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B087 AA05 AE00 DD02 DE02 DE07 DG01 5B089 GA23 GB03 JA02 JA16 KA03 KC58 LB07 5E501 AA02 AA13 AB30 AC37 BA11 BA13 CA03 CA04 CB09 EA05 EA10 EB20 FA02 FA47

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A computer device wherein a plurality of mutually independent input devices are connected to one terminal device, and display elements of each of the input devices can be operated independently and cooperatively on a screen. 2. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of input devices are connected to a terminal device via an I / O network. 3. The computer device according to claim 2, wherein the I / O network has an input unit connecting a plurality of input devices and an output unit connected to a terminal device. 4. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a mouse. 5. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the number of input devices is three or more. 6. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the display element is a cursor or a pointer. 7. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein display elements provided by a plurality of input devices are distinguishable on a screen. 8. The computer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is divided into a plurality of screens, and an input device is connected to each screen. 9. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is dedicated to the user, and personal authentication is performed by the input device. 10. A first system coupled via a network.
And a second terminal device, an input device connected to each of the first and second terminal devices, and means for simultaneously inputting and displaying on the first and second terminal devices by one input operation of the input device A computer device comprising: 11. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the input device is a mouse. 12. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the input display is a cursor or a pointer.