JP2001306475A - Device and method for controlling display, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select and display the web page of a transition destination based on the respective operations of a plurality of cursors by a plurality of user. SOLUTION: When the web page A is displayed and also when a user U1 operates a cursor Cur1 to click a link part b, a user U2 operates a cursor Cur2 to click a link part b and a user U3 operates a cursor Cur3 to click a link part d respectively, a web page B is selected, where a link is obtained from the link part b with the most largest click amount. The web page B is obtained from a WWW server and displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display control device, a display control method, and a recording medium, and more particularly to, for example, displaying, on one or more displays, a plurality of cursors operated by a plurality of users and a Web page. Display,
The present invention relates to a display control device, a display control method, and a recording medium that allow a transition destination Web page to be selected and displayed on all one or more displays based on operations of a plurality of cursors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, the WWW (World Wide Web) has been built in the Internet which has been rapidly spreading recently, and users can use a WWW browser to operate the WWW.
Various web pages provided by the server can be browsed.

[0003] Web pages are generally called HTML (Hyper Text Matrix), which is one of languages called hypertext.
rkup Language), and can be associated with other Web pages, image data, audio data, and the like, that is, links can be made to various types of information. In the WWW browser, a portion of a Web page to which a link is attached (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a link portion) is displayed in a different color or typeface from other portions, and further, in the link portion, a cursor is moved to another portion. Is displayed in a shape different from the case where the information is located, so that the user can recognize that the link portion is linked to other information.

A user operates, for example, a mouse or the like,
When the cursor is moved to the link portion and a click is made at that position, the WWW browser obtains information linked from the link portion from the WWW server and displays the information. That is, in the link part, the URL
Position information indicating the position of information on the Internet called (Uniform Resource Locator) is described, and the WWW browser acquires and displays the information specified by the URL.

[0005]

As described above, WWW
When browsing a Web page with a browser, the user operates the mouse and sequentially clicks a link portion to select a transition destination Web page (a linked Web page). .

Therefore, for example, when a plurality of persons, such as family members and friends, browse a Web page on one display, one of the plurality of persons acts as a representative to operate a cursor. It will be.

[0007] However, when a plurality of persons browse a Web page, for example, each of the plurality of persons operates a cursor to select a desired transition destination W.
It is convenient if a plurality of people can share information, such as selecting and inputting an eb page, and further, when the transition destinations conflict, making some adjustments to determine the final transition destination.

[0008] In addition to the case where a plurality of persons use one display at a certain place and the case where a plurality of persons use a plurality of displays at a remote place, the above-mentioned information can be shared. It is convenient.

[0009] As a device in which a plurality of people share information and individually operate an input device to control a character corresponding to a cursor, for example, there is a game machine. Only the operation of each character is performed, and the final transition destination is not determined based on the selection input by a plurality of persons.

In order to display information shared by a plurality of people on a plurality of displays, for example, a so-called distributed coordination system in which a cooperative activity is performed in a virtual conference system uniquely set on each of the plurality of displays or a plurality of displays. There is a system.

However, the video conference system allows all participants to share a place called a conference, and the distributed cooperative system collects work results of a plurality of persons in a shared virtual space. Again, the final destination is not determined based on the selection input by a plurality of persons.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and displays, on a display, a plurality of cursors operated by a plurality of users and information, and based on the operation of the plurality of cursors, Select the information of the transition destination,
It is intended to be able to display on a display.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus for displaying, on a display device, information associated with one or more pieces of other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position. Control means for selecting one of one or more pieces of information associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors on the information displayed on the display device; Means, and acquisition means for acquiring the information selected by the selection means.

[0014] In the first display control device, the display control means may cause the display device to also display the information acquired by the acquisition means.

[0015] The first display control device may further include a receiving means for receiving an operation signal from the operating means for operating each of the plurality of cursors. In this case,
The display control means can display each cursor on the display device based on the operation signal.

In the first display control device, the display control means can display a plurality of cursors so that they can be distinguished from each other.

[0017] In the first display control device, the selection means may provide other information based on the number of cursors pointing to a portion of the information displayed on the display device that is related to the other information. Can be selected.

In the first display control device, the information associated with one or more pieces of other information may be described in a predetermined screen description language.

In the first display control device, the obtaining means can obtain information from a server on the Internet.

The first display control device is a WWW (World Wid
e Web).

According to a first display control method of the present invention, a display control step of displaying information related to one or more other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position on a display device, Selecting one of one or more pieces of information associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors in the information displayed in the selecting step; And an obtaining step of obtaining the selected information.

A first recording medium according to the present invention includes a display control step of displaying, on a display device, information related to one or more other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position. A selection step of selecting one of one or more pieces of other information related to the displayed information based on a position pointed to by each of the plurality of cursors; and a selection step. And a step of acquiring the obtained information.

According to a second display control device of the present invention, there are provided a cursor information acquiring means for acquiring, from each of a plurality of devices, cursor information relating to one or more cursors operated in each device; Cursor information providing means for displaying a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information on each of the plurality of devices,
In each of the plurality of devices, the information related to one or more other information displayed together with the plurality of cursors is associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors. The information processing apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects any one of the one or more pieces of other information, and an acquisition control unit that causes each of the plurality of devices to acquire the information selected by the selection unit.

[0024] The second display control device may be one of a plurality of devices.

The second display control device can be connected to a plurality of devices via a predetermined network. In this case, the cursor information acquiring means causes the cursor information to be acquired via the network. The information providing means can provide cursor information via a network.

In the second display control device, the acquisition control means provides command information for instructing acquisition of the information selected by the selection means to each of the plurality of devices, so that the selection means selects the information. Information can be obtained by each of the plurality of devices.

According to a second display control method of the present invention, a cursor information acquiring step of acquiring, from each of a plurality of devices, cursor information relating to one or more cursors operated in each device; And providing a plurality of cursors based on cursor information to each of the plurality of devices, and associating one or more pieces of other information displayed with the plurality of cursors in each of the plurality of devices. A selecting step of selecting one of one or more pieces of other information related to the information based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors in the obtained information; and Acquisition control step of causing each of the plurality of devices to acquire the acquired information.

A second recording medium according to the present invention includes a cursor information acquiring step of acquiring, from each of a plurality of devices, cursor information relating to one or more cursors operated in each device, and transferring the cursor information to each of the plurality of devices. Providing a plurality of devices to display a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information in each of the plurality of devices; and a plurality of devices each associated with one or more other information displayed together with the plurality of cursors. Selecting, based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors, one of one or more pieces of other information associated with the information, and selecting the selected information in the selecting step. A program including an acquisition control step for causing each of a plurality of devices to acquire information. The features.

According to a third display control device of the present invention, cursor information relating to one or more cursors respectively controlled based on operation signals from one or more operation means for operating a cursor for designating a position is stored in a cursor. Cursor information providing means for providing a management device for managing information, cursor information obtaining means for obtaining cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device, and a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information obtained by the cursor obtaining means And display control means for displaying the information on the display device by superimposing the information on information related to one or more pieces of other information.

[0030] The third display control device further includes information acquisition means for the management device to acquire information to be selected based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices. Can be.

In the third display control device, the management device provides command information for instructing acquisition of information selected based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices. In this case, the information acquisition means can acquire information based on the command information.

The third display control device can be connected to the management device via a predetermined network. In this case, the cursor information providing means provides the cursor information via the network, The obtaining means can obtain the cursor information via the network.

According to a third display control method of the present invention, cursor information relating to one or more cursors respectively controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor for designating a position is stored in a cursor. A cursor information providing step for providing information to a management device that manages information, a cursor information obtaining step for obtaining cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device, and a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information obtained in the cursor obtaining step Over the information associated with one or more other information,
And a display control step of causing the display device to display.

According to a third recording medium of the present invention, cursor information relating to one or more cursors respectively controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor for designating a position is stored as cursor information. Cursor information providing step to provide to the management device that manages, cursor information obtaining step to obtain the cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device, and a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information obtained in the cursor obtaining step ,
A display control step of displaying the information on one or more pieces of information associated with the other information on a display device.

In the first display control device, the display control method, and the recording medium of the present invention, information associated with one or more pieces of other information and a plurality of cursors indicating positions are displayed on the display device. Is displayed. Then, based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors of the information displayed on the display device, one of one or more pieces of other information associated with the information is selected, and The selected information is obtained.

In the second display control device, display control method, and recording medium of the present invention, cursor information on one or more cursors operated in each device is obtained from each of the plurality of devices. Further, the cursor information is provided to each of the plurality of devices, whereby a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information are displayed on each of the plurality of devices. Then, in each of the plurality of devices, 1 is displayed together with the plurality of cursors.
Based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors of the information associated with the other information, one of the one or more other information associated with the information is selected, The selected information is acquired by each of the plurality of devices.

In the third display control device, the third display control method, and the recording medium according to the present invention, each of the first and second control units is controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor indicating a position. The above-described cursor information on the cursor is provided to the management device that manages the cursor information, and the cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device is obtained. Then, a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices are displayed on the display device so as to overlap information associated with one or more pieces of other information.

[0038]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an information processing system to which the present invention is applied (a system refers to a device in which a plurality of devices are logically aggregated, and whether or not each component device is in the same housing. (It does not matter if it does not matter)) shows a configuration example of the first embodiment.

The user terminal 1 is connected to the Internet 2 and has a function as a WWW browser. Therefore, in the information processing system of FIG. 1, the user terminal 1 can receive the provision of the Web page from the WWW server 3 on the Internet 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIGS. 10, 18 and 19 described later), only one WWW server 3 is shown in order to avoid complicating the drawing. There are many WWW servers on the actual Internet 2.

The Web page provided by the WWW server 3 is described in, for example, HTML, and can link to various information (other Web pages, image data, audio data, etc.). I can do it.

That is, FIG. 2 shows a state where a link is provided to a Web page.

In FIG. 2, portions (link portions) b, c, and d that are linked to the other web pages B, C, and D are displayed on the web page A. The link portion is displayed, for example, in a different color or typeface from the other portions. Alternatively, the link portion is displayed underlined or surrounded by a frame. Further, in the link portion, the cursor is displayed in a different shape from the case where the cursor is located in another portion. Specifically, for example, assuming that the other part is displayed in the Mincho style, the link part is displayed in the Gothic style, and the cursor has an arrow shape in the other part, but the link part has the arrow shape. , Finger shape.

When a mouse or other pointing device for controlling a cursor is clicked on the link portion, the user terminal 1 as a WWW browser transmits the URL of another Web page or the like linked to the link portion.
To the Internet 2 to request the WWW server 3 for a Web page or the like corresponding to the URL. The WWW server 3 transmits an HTML file corresponding to the requested Web page to the user terminal 1 via the Internet 2, whereby the user terminal 1, which is a WWW browser, interprets the HTML file and responds. Web page to be displayed is displayed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, as described above,
From the link parts b, c and d of the Web page A, links are respectively provided to the Web pages B, C and D. Therefore, when the cursor is moved to the link parts b, c and d and clicked, In the user terminal 1, Web pages B, C, and D are displayed as described above.

Hereafter, the Web page is represented by using uppercase letters of the alphabet, and the link portion is represented by using lowercase letters of the alphabet, as appropriate. And
In this case, it is assumed that the link portion represented by the lowercase alphabet is linked to the Web page represented by the uppercase alphabet.

Returning to FIG. 1, the user terminal 1 allows a plurality of users to operate the cursor simultaneously and independently.

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are three users U ₁ , U ₂ , and U _{3. In} this case, the user terminal 1, for example, as shown in FIG. , Three cursors Cur ₁ , Cur ₂ , and Cur ₃ that can be independently operated by _three users U ₁ , U ₂ , and U ₃ are displayed.

In the user terminal 1, a plurality of cursors are displayed so that the user operating each cursor can be distinguished. That is, the plurality of cursors are displayed, for example, in different colors and shapes for each user, or with a user name. As the cursor, for example, image data of a character imitating a user may be registered and used as the character.

As described above, in the user terminal 1 on which a plurality of cursors are displayed, different link portions may be clicked by operating the plurality of cursors independently by each of a plurality of users. In this case, the user terminal 1 selects the next transitioning Web page, for example, by majority decision, that is, selects the Web page to which the link is linked from the link portion most clicked by the cursor, Copy the web page to W
A request is made to the WW server 3 and displayed.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the Web page A is displayed on the user terminal 1, the user U ₁ operates the cursor Cur ₁ to move the link part b to the user terminal 1. When U ₂ operates the cursor Cur ₂ to click on the link portion b and the user U ₃ operates the cursor Cur ₃ to click on the link portion d, the user terminal 1 displays the link portion with the highest number of clicks. The web page B to which the link is linked is selected from the web page B, and the web page B is requested to the WWW server 3. As a result, in the user terminal 1, as shown in FIG.
The Web page B transmitted from the WW server 3 is displayed. Thus, in this case, so to speak, the requests of users U ₁ and U ₂ have been accepted.

In FIG. 4B, Web page B is
Link part a, Web with a link on Web page A, Web
b, a link portion e linked to page E, and W
The web page F has a link portion f linked to the web page F.

When such a Web page B is displayed, as shown in FIG. 4B, the user U ₁
Operates the cursor Cur ₁ to change the link part e to the user U ₂
Operates the cursor Cur ₂ to display the link portion f and the user U ₃
Operates the cursor Cur ₃ and clicks on the link portion e, respectively, and the user terminal 1 determines that the link W is linked from the link portion e with the most clicked number.
Web page E is selected, and the Web page E is
Request to server 3. Thereby, in the user terminal 1,
As shown in FIG. 4C, a Web page E transmitted from the WWW server 3 is displayed. Thus, in this case, so to speak, the requests of users U ₁ and U ₃ have been accepted.

As described above, the user terminal 1 displays a plurality of cursors operated by a plurality of users and a Web page, and selects a transition destination Web page based on the operation of the plurality of cursors. Can be displayed.

In the above case, by majority vote,
Only the Web pages with the largest number of selected users are displayed, but the Web pages selected by other users are:
For example, it is possible to open and display a small window.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the user terminal 1 of FIG.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the user terminal 1
It is based on a computer.

The communication I / F (Interface) 11 is, for example,
Modem, TA (Terminal Adapter), DSU (Digital S
service unit), an NIC (Network Interface Card), a tuner, and the like, and controls communication via the Internet 2 and other networks. That is, communication I / F
11 receives data from the Internet 2 or the like,
The data is output on the bus and the data on the bus is transmitted to the Internet 2 or the like.

The CPU 12 has an EEPROM (Electricall
y Executes a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program stored in an Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (13) 13 and further executes an OS (Operating System) program stored in an HD (Hard Disk) 15 via a bus. Then, the program is loaded into the RAM 14 and executed. Further, C
The PU 12 controls the HD 1 under the control of the BIOS and the OS.
5 is read out, or the application program stored in the removable recording medium 17 is read out via the drive 16 and developed (loaded) on the RAM 14 for execution. Thereby, the CPU 12 causes the user terminal 1 to function as a WWW browser as described above, and furthermore,
Various processes as described later are performed.

The EEPROM 13 stores, for example, a BIOS program. The means for storing the BIOS program is a rewritable EEPROM.
In addition to M, it is possible to use a non-rewritable ROM or the like, but in the present embodiment, the BIOS program is EEP, so that the BIOS can be upgraded.
It is stored in the ROM.

The RAM 14 temporarily stores programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU 12.

The HD 15 stores an OS program executed by the CPU 12, an application program, and other necessary programs and data. Furthermore, H
D15 temporarily stores data necessary for the operation of the CPU 12.

The drive 16 is controlled by the CPU 12
It reads and writes programs and data from and to the removable recording medium 17. The removable recording medium 17 is, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM (Compa
ct Disc Read Only Memory), MO (Magnetooptical) disk, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), magnetic disk,
It is composed of a semiconductor memory or the like, in which an OS program executed by the CPU 12, an application program, and other necessary programs and data are recorded. The removable recording medium 17 includes, for example, C
Data and the like obtained by the processing performed by the PU 12 are recorded.

The input I / F 18 receives an externally applied operation signal when the user performs various operations, and supplies the operation signal to the CPU 12 via the bus. That is, FIG.
In the embodiment, the input I / F 18 includes the keyboard 1
9, a mouse 20, and a light receiving unit 21 are connected. When operated by the user, the keyboard 19 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operated key to the input I / F 18. When operated by the user, the mouse 20 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation to the input I / F 18.
The light receiving unit 21 receives an operation signal, such as infrared light, corresponding to the operation of the remote controller 22 from a remote commander (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a remote controller) 22, performs photoelectric conversion, and outputs the signal to the input I / F 18.

Here, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of mice 20 can be connected, and by operating each of the plurality of mice 20, as described above, a plurality of cursors 20 can be connected. Can be controlled independently of each other. It should be noted that connecting a plurality of mice 20 and independently handling inputs of the plurality of mice 20 as described above includes, for example, providing a terminal for connecting the plurality of mice 20 and using a known BIOS program. Can be realized by improving.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
In this configuration, operation signals from a plurality of remote controllers 22 can be received. By operating each of the plurality of remote controllers 22, a plurality of cursors can be controlled independently. I have. Note that such independent control of each of the plurality of cursors by the plurality of remote controllers 22 is also performed by, for example, a known B
This can be realized by improving the IOS program.

The output I / F 23 receives the image data supplied via the bus and supplies it to the display 24.
The display 24 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and a liquid crystal panel, etc., and displays image data from the output I / F 23.

The communication I / F 11, CPU 12, EE
PROM 13, RAM 14, HD 15, drive 16,
The input I / F 18 and the output I / F 23 are connected to each other via a bus.

A program executed by the CPU 12 to perform various processes is recorded in the HD 15 built in the computer as the user terminal 1 in advance.
The information can be temporarily or permanently stored (recorded) in the removable recording medium 17. Such a removable recording medium 17 can be provided as so-called package software.

Further, the program can be installed on the user terminal 1 from the removable recording medium 17, or can be wirelessly transferred from the download site to the user terminal 1 via an artificial satellite for digital satellite broadcasting.
Via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet 2 to the user terminal 1 by wire,
The user terminal 1 receives the program transferred in this way by the communication I / F 11 and stores the program in the built-in HD 15.
Can be installed.

In the user terminal 1 configured as described above, the program installed in the HD 15 or the like is loaded into the RAM 14 and executed by the CPU 12 so that the communication I / F 11 transmits the WWW via the Internet 2 to the WWW. The Web page is requested to the server 3. Then, in response to this request, a Web page transmitted from the WWW server 3 via the Internet 2 is received by the communication I / F 11, supplied to the display 24 via the output I / F 23, and displayed. . Further, the CPU 12 controls the number of the mice 20 connected to the input I / F 18 or the remote controller 22 used.
Are displayed on the display 24.

In the following, it is assumed that the cursor is operated by the remote controller 22, for example.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the remote controller 22 includes a tablet including a pad 22A and a pen 22B.
Is moved, the cursor displayed on the display 24 moves. Then, in the remote controller 22, an operation signal including information indicating a position on the pad 22A with which the pen 22A is in contact is transmitted.
The operation signal is transmitted to the light receiving unit 21 and received by the light receiving unit 21, and is supplied to the CPU 12 via the input I / F 18. The CPU 12 moves the cursor displayed on the display 24 based on the operation signal thus supplied.

The operation means for operating the cursor is not limited to a mouse, a tablet or the like.
For example, a track pad, a track ball, another pointing device, or the like can be used.

Next, in the user terminal 1, a plurality of cursors independently operated by the plurality of remote controllers 22 are displayed on the display 24 so as to be superimposed on the Web page, for example, as follows. Is performed.

That is, the CPU 12 stores the storage area corresponding to the screen of the display 24 in the remote controller 2 in use.
The number 2, that is, the same number as the number of cursors operated by each of the plurality of remote controllers 22, is secured on the RAM 14. Here, the storage area secured in correspondence with each of the plurality of cursors in this manner is hereinafter appropriately referred to as a position expression layer. Also, multiple cursors Cu
r _1, Cur _2, ···, the position representation layer corresponding to Cur _N,
Hereinafter, as appropriate, Pos _1, Pos _2, · · ·, representing respectively Pos _N.

Further, the CPU 12 secures, on the RAM 14, only one storage area corresponding to the screen of the display 24 for gathering, as it were, the information of the position expression layer corresponding to each of the plurality of cursors. Here, in the user terminal 1, this one storage area reserved is referred to as an all-position expression layer All.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the CPU 12
Multiple cursors operated by multiple remote controllers 22
Cur _1, Cur _2, write ..., and Cur _N, position representation layer corresponding Pos _1, Pos _2, ..., the Pos _N. That is,
The CPU 12 recognizes the position of the cursor Cur _n (n = 1, 2,..., N) based on the operation signal from the remote controller 22, and places the cursor Cur _{n at} the corresponding position on the position expression layer Pos _n. Write the image data of

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the CPU 12 projects each of the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N of the position expression layers Pos _{1 to} Pos _N onto the entire position expression layer All. As a result, all the image data of the plurality of cursors Cur ₁ , Cur ₂ ,..., Cur _N independently operated by the plurality of remote controllers 22 are written in the all-position expression layer All.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the CPU 12 sets the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N of the all-position expression layer All.
To be displayed, received via the Internet 2
It is superimposed on page b (in the embodiment of FIG. 7C, it is Web page A) and displayed on the display 24.

As described above, in the user terminal 1, a plurality of cursors independently operated by the plurality of remote controllers 22 are displayed on the display 24 so as to overlap the Web page.

Note that as a method of displaying a plurality of cursors, it is possible to use a method other than the above.

Next, the user terminal 1 displays a plurality of cursors operated by a plurality of users and a Web page, and based on the operation of the plurality of cursors, displays the transition destination Web.
The page b is selected and displayed. The CPU 12 executes, for example, an input process for processing operation inputs of a plurality of cursors and a display control for controlling display of a plurality of cursors and a Web page by executing a program. It is realized by performing processing.

The input process will be described first with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The input processing is performed by a plurality of remote controllers 22.
(Thus, a plurality of cursors) are performed independently for each.

In the input process, first, in step S1
In the CPU 12, the remote controller 22 operates the cursor Cu
It is determined whether or not operation has been performed to move r _n, and if it is determined that such operation has not been performed, steps S2 to S4 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S1, remote controller 2
If 2, it is determined to have been operated to move the cursor Cur _n, i.e., for example, is CPU 12, the remote controller 2
When the operation signal including the information indicating the position of the cursor Cur _n is received from Step 2, the process proceeds to Step S2, and the CPU 12
Information indicating the position of the cursor Cur _n included in the operation signal
The coordinates are converted into coordinates on the screen of the display 24. That is, information indicating the position of the cursor Cur _n included in the operation signal from the remote controller 22, for example, the remote control 22 (FIG. 6), the coordinates or the like on the pad 22A of the pen 22B is in contact, CPU 12, the The coordinates on the pad 22A are converted into coordinates on the screen of the display 24.

Further, the CPU 12 proceeds to step S3, and proceeds to step S3 of the position expression layer Pos _n (FIG. 7A).
At a position corresponding to the coordinates obtained in 2, the write image data of the cursor Cur _n, the process proceeds to step S4. Step S
In 4, the CPU 12 sets the cursor on the position expression layer Pos _n
The Cur _n, projected in all position representation layer All on (Figure 7
(B)), and proceed to step S5.

Here, the input processing of FIG. 8 is performed independently for each of the plurality of cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N as described above. The image data of each of the plurality of cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N is written to the corresponding position. Then, in a display control process of FIG. 9 described later, a plurality of cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _{N of the} all-position expression layer All are displayed in a superimposed manner on the Web page, so that each user operates on the display 24. Cursor Cu
r _{1 to} Cur _N are displayed.

[0090] In step S5, CPU 12 is in the remote control 22 corresponding to the cursor Cur _n, determines whether the determination operation as to determine the current position of the cursor Cur _n is performed, confirmation operation has not been performed When the determination is made, the process returns to step S1, and thereafter, the same processing is repeated.

Here, the cursor Cur _n in the position expression layer Pos _n is rewritten according to the operation of the remote controller 22 by repeatedly performing the processing of steps S 1 to S 5. As a result, the cursor Cur _n on the all position expression layer All is also rewritten, and as a result, the display 24
Cur _n that appears in will move in response to operation of the remote controller 22.

On the other hand, in step S5, the cursor Cu
When it is determined that the remote controller 22 corresponding to r _n has been confirmed, that is, for example, in order for the user to select a predetermined link portion on the Web page displayed on the display 24, the cursor Cur _n When the confirmation operation is performed in a state where the pen 2 is positioned on the portion (for example, the pen 2 of the remote control 22 (FIG. 6) is pressed with a certain pressure).
When an operation equivalent to a mouse click, such as pressing the pad 22A, is performed in step 2B), step S6
The CPU 12 moves the cursor on the position expression layer Pos _n
The Cur _n, from the normal image data, and changes to the image data for definite.

That is, in this embodiment, since a plurality of users can respectively operate a plurality of cursors, each user can recognize whether or not the position of the cursor operated by another user has been determined. The cursor whose position has been determined is displayed in a different shape and color from the cursor before determination.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S7, wherein the CPU 12
Projects the cursor Cur _n of the position expression layer Pos _n onto the entire position expression layer All. Therefore, in step S7,
Image data for the determination of the cursor Cur _n is written in the all-position expression layer All. As a result, the cursor Cur _n whose position has been determined is displayed in a different shape, color, or the like from the case where the position has not been determined. 24. Here, the cursor Cur _n, the image data in a state where the position has not been determined, hereinafter referred to as normal image data.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S8, where the CPU 12
In the display control process of FIG.
It is determined whether or not a request to cancel the determination of the position of r _n has been issued. If it is determined in step S8 that the cancellation request has not been issued, step S8
And the same process is repeated thereafter.

[0096] Thus, after the position of the cursor Cur _n is decided, the cursor Cur _n is the position representation layer Pos _n, remains image data for confirmation is written, further, in all the positions represented Layer All also, since the remains image data for confirmation is written, again until confirmation cancel processing described later is performed, the display 24, the cursor Cur _n, with or without operation of the remote controller 22, confirmation operation At the position where is performed, it remains in the state displayed with the image for confirmation.

If it is determined in step S8 that a cancellation request has been issued, the process proceeds to step S9, and the CPU 12 performs a cancellation process. That is, CPU
12, the image data for the confirmation of the cursor Cur _n at position representation layer Pos _n, rewrites the normal image data. Then, the process returns to step S1, and thereafter, the same processing is repeated.

[0098] Therefore, if there is a definite release request, the cursor Cur _n is again a controllable state in response to operation of the remote controller 22.

[0099] Here, the cancellation processing is performed when there is a cancellation request. However, the cancellation processing may be performed, for example, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the remote controller 22. Is also possible. In this case, the user is in the wrong position, when determining the position of the cursor Cur _n, it is possible to repeat the determination of its position.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The display control processing will be described.

In the display control process, first, in step S11, for example, a URL input from a user is waited, or a preset URL is recognized, and a request for a Web page corresponding to the URL is issued. This is performed by the communication I / F 11. This request is received, for example, by the WWW server 3 via the Internet 2, and the WWW server 3 transmits the request to the user terminal 1 (communication I / F1).
HT as a Web page corresponding to the request from (1)
ML file) is transmitted to the user terminal 1 via the Internet 2.

The communication I / F 11 of the user terminal 1 receives the Web page transmitted from the WWW server 3 as described above and supplies it to the CPU 12 in step S12. In step S13, the CPU 12 adds the all-position expression layer to the Web page from the communication I / F 11.
All is overlapped, and the display 2 is output via the output I / F 23.
4

Here, as described above, the input processing of FIG. 8 is performed independently for each of the plurality of cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N.
At each position corresponding to the operation of the plurality of remote controllers 22,
The image data of each of the plurality of cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N is written. Accordingly, in step S13, a layer obtained by superimposing the all-position expression layer All on the Web page is supplied to the display 24, so that the display 24 displays the Web page and the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N operated by each user. Is displayed.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S14, wherein the CPU 1
2 is a cursor Cur _{1 to} Cur _N on the all position expression layer All
If it is determined whether all positions have been confirmed and not all positions have been confirmed,
Returning to step S13, the same processing is repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the positions of all the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N on the all position expression layer All have been determined, the process proceeds to step S15.
The CPU 12 displays the cursor Cu on the display 24.
Recognize the cursor located on the link portion of the Web page displayed together with r _{1 to} Cur _N.

That is, the CPU 12 compares the coordinates of each link portion of the Web page on the display 24 with the coordinates of the positions of the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N whose positions have been determined, thereby displaying each link portion. Recognize the cursor whose position is fixed.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S16, wherein the CPU 1
2 selects a transition destination Web page from the Web pages linked from each link part according to a predetermined algorithm based on the recognition result of the cursor whose position is determined on each link part. .

That is, for example, as described above, the CPU 12 recognizes the link portion of the Web page on the display 24 where the number of cursors located there is the largest, and links to the link portion. We are
Select page b as the transition destination.

Thereafter, the CPU 12 proceeds to step S17, makes a request for immediately preceding release of the input processing described in FIG. 8, and returns to step S11. in this case,
In step S11, the Web page selected in step S16 immediately before is requested, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

Therefore, in the user terminal 1, a plurality of users browse a Web page, and each of the plurality of users operates a corresponding cursor to select a Web page of a desired transition destination. You can make input. Then, when the transition destinations conflict, the final transition destination is determined by majority vote, and the We
Page b is displayed. As a result, multiple users check each other's selection input,
Screen selection can be made.

In the above case, the Web page of the transition destination is selected by a simple majority decision.
In addition, the selection of the transition destination Web page may be performed, for example, by setting a priority order for each of a plurality of cursors and performing a majority decision with a weight corresponding to the priority order of each cursor. In this case, the Web page selected by the user of the cursor with the higher priority is more likely to be selected as the transition destination Web page.

As described above, when a priority is set for each cursor, the priority can be fixed or variable. As a method of changing the priority order, for example, a method of sequentially changing the priority order set to each cursor, or a user whose request was not accepted in the selection of the previous transition destination Web page (a user who has not accepted the request) There is a method of assigning a higher priority to the cursor of the user whose web page linked to the linked portion is not selected).

Furthermore, the selection of the transition destination Web page is as follows.
For example, users who select different link parts,
It is also possible to play a game such as rock-paper-scissors on the user terminal 1 and perform the game based on the result.

Further, in the display control process of FIG. 9, after the positions of all the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N on the all position expression layer All are determined, the Web page of the transition destination is selected. , One of multiple users,
If the position of the cursor is not determined, the Web page does not transition, and the user who has already determined the position of the cursor waits for a long time. Therefore, the transition destination Web page is selected not only when the positions of all the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cur _N are determined but also when a predetermined time has elapsed since the cursor position was first determined. It is also possible. In this case, the destination Web
The selection of the page is performed based on, for example, only the cursor whose position is determined at that time.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a second embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be made below.
Omitted as appropriate. That is, the information processing system of FIG.
In place of one user terminal 1, for example, 3
The configuration is the same as that in FIG. 1 except that the user terminals 31 to 33 are provided.

Each of the user terminals 31 to 33
Is configured in the same manner as the user terminal 1. Therefore, in the user terminals 31 to 33, similarly to the user terminal 1, a plurality of users browse the same Web page, and each of the plurality of users operates a corresponding cursor to perform a desired operation. A transition destination Web page can be selected and input.

It is assumed that the user terminals 31 to 33 are respectively installed at remote locations (for example, Japan, the United States, China, etc.).

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, the user terminals 31 to 33 browse the same Web page on all of the user terminals 31 to 33, and all users of the user terminals 31 to 33 Operate the corresponding cursor to change the desired Web destination
It is also possible to select and input a page.

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, three users U _1-31 , U _2-31 ,
And U _3-31 as users of the user terminal 32 and four users U _1-32 , U _2-32 , U _3-32 , and U _4-32 as users of the user terminal 33. User U _1-33
Each exists. Then, the user terminals 31 to 3
3, the same Web page is displayed in all of them, and three users U of the user terminal 31
_1-31 , U _2-31 and U _3-31 , four users U _1-32 , U _2-32 , U _3-32 , and U _{4-32 of} the user terminal ₃₂ , and one of the user terminals 33. Cursors operated by a total of eight users U _1-33 , that is, eight cursors are displayed.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, the users U _1-31 , U _2-31 , U _3-31 , U 3 of the user terminals 31 to 33 are provided.
_When the transition destinations selected by _1-32 , U _2-32 , U _3-32 , U _4-32 , and U _1-33 conflict, the final transition destination is again determined by majority vote or the like. Then, the transition destination Web page is displayed on all of the user terminals 31 to 33. Therefore, in this case, even when a plurality of users are at remote locations, the screen can be selected in an all-participation manner while confirming each other's selection input.

When there are a plurality of user terminals as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 10, the majority decision when the transition destination conflicts can be performed on a user basis or on a user terminal basis. Can also be done.

That is, in FIG. 10, when the majority decision is made on a user basis, the eight users U _1-31 , U _2-31 , U _3-31 , U _1-32 , and eight users of the user terminals 31 to 33 are provided. U _2-32 , U
_{Among the 3-32} , U _4-32 , and U _1-33, the Web page with the largest number of selected users is set as the transition destination. When the majority decision is performed on a user terminal basis, first, in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, a transition destination Web page is provisionally determined by a majority decision by the user of each user terminal. Then, by the majority decision of the Web page provisionally determined in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, the Web destination of the transition is determined.
Page b is finally determined.

Accordingly, for example, when the web page A shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, one user U _{1-31 of} the user terminal 31 and three users U 1-3 of the user terminal 32 are displayed.
A total of four users _1-32 , U _2-32 and U _3-32 select the link part b, and two users U _2-31 and U 2-3 of the user terminal 31.
_3-31 , a total of three users, one user U _1-33 of the user terminal 33, select the link part c and
_Assuming that only one user U _4-32 selects the link part d, in the case of majority voting on a per-user basis, the link is linked to the link part b, which is the most frequently selected by four users. Web page B is determined as a transition destination.

On the other hand, in the case of the user terminal unit, first, in the user terminal 31, one of the three users U _{1-31 to} U _3-31 is linked by the user U _1-31 to the link part b. Since the two users U _2-31 and U _3-31 have selected the link portion c, the Web page C linked to the link portion c, which is the most selected by two users, is selected. ,
It is provisionally selected as the transition destination.

In the user terminal 32, of the four users U _{1-32 to} U _4-32 , three users U _1-32 ,
U _2-32, U _3-32 will select the link portion b, 1 of the users from U _4-32 has selected the link portion d, the most common link portion b at the user 3 who was selected Is temporarily selected as a transition destination.

Further, in the user terminal 33, since only one user U _1-33 has selected the link part c, the user linked to the link part C
The page b is temporarily selected as a transition destination.

Therefore, of the three user terminals 31 to 33, the two user terminals 31 and 3 have the Web
Since page C is tentatively selected as the transition destination and Web page B is tentatively selected as the transition destination in one user terminal 32, the number of the user terminals tentatively selecting Web page C is two, and In many cases, as a result, Web page C is finally determined as a transition destination.

As described above, even if the Web pages selected by the users of the user terminals 31 to 33 are the same, the transition destination depends on whether the majority decision is made on a user basis or on a user terminal basis. Web page is different in some cases.

Next, in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, as described above, a plurality of cursors independently operated by all the users of the user terminals 31 to 33 are displayed in a superimposed manner on the same Web page. However, this is performed as follows, for example.

That is, in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, as in the case of the user terminal 1, the storage area as the position expression layer and the entire position expression layer is stored in the RAM.
14 as well as user terminals 31 to 3
Only one storage area corresponding to the screen of the display for collecting the information of all three position expression layers is secured on the RAM 14.

Here, in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, a storage area secured in addition to the position expression layer and the all position expression layer as described above is referred to as a system-wide position expression layer Sys.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of user terminals are targeted, such as the user terminals 31 to 33. However, the following description will be made on a case-by-case basis in which all the position representations secured in each of the plurality of user terminals are appropriately performed. Layers are All ₁ and Al
l ₂ ,..., All _M and the overall system position expression layer are Sys ₁ ,
Sys ₂ ,..., Sys _M are represented respectively.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10, when there are a plurality of user terminals, for example, one of the plurality of user terminals is set as a master and the rest are set as a master. Slave. Now, an m-th (m is one of 1, 2,..., M) th user terminal (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an m-th user terminal) among a plurality of user terminals is set as a master, Assuming that the rest are slaves, the m-th user terminal, which is the master,
As described in FIG. 7 (A), a plurality of cursor Cur _1, Cur ₂ in the user terminal of the first m, · · ·, Cur _N is the position expressed layer corresponding Pos _1, Pos _2, · · · , Po
s _N , and further, as described with reference to FIG. 7B, the cursors Cur _{1 to} Cu of the position expression layers Pos _{1 to} Pos _N
r _N are written to the all-position expression layer All _m .

Also, the same writing is performed on the position expression layer and the entire position expression layer in the slave user terminal.

[0135] Thereafter, the user terminal of the m is the master, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of user terminals all all position representation layer _{All 1, All 2, ···,} All M is whole system position representation The image data is projected onto the layer Sys _m , whereby the image data of all of the plurality of cursors independently operated in each of the plurality of user terminals is written in the system-wide position expression layer Sys _m .

[0136] In the user terminal of the m, as shown in FIG. 12, the cursor on the whole system position representation layer Sys _m is to be displayed has been received via the Internet 2 We
It is superimposed on page b (in the embodiment of FIG. 12, it is Web page A) and displayed on the display 24.

In the user terminal serving as a slave, the system overall position expression layer Sys _m of the master user terminal _m is copied to the system overall position expression layer of the user terminal. Similarly, the cursor and the Web page are displayed.

That is, when there are three user terminals 31 to 33 as in the embodiment of FIG. 10, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the user terminal 31 is set as the master and the remaining user terminals 32 and 33 are set as the slaves, the user terminal 31 as the master sets its own position expression layer.
Pos ₁ is projected onto its own system-wide position expression layer Sys ₁ (1). Further, the user terminal 32 is connected to the Internet 2
Via the slave user terminals 32 and 33, the storage contents of the entire position expression layers Pos ₂ and Pos ₃ are respectively acquired, and the respective storage contents are projected on the system-wide position expression layer Sys ₁ of the own system ( 2). After that, the master user terminal 31 transmits the contents of its own system-wide position expression layer Sys ₁ to the slave user terminals 32 and 33 via the Internet 2, and the respective system-wide position expression layers Sys ₂ and
Copy to Sys ₃ . Accordingly, the user terminal 31 to 33 positions expressed overall each system layer Sys ₁ to Sys ₃ is
It has the same storage contents. Then, the user terminals 31 to 3
In _{No. 3} , a plurality of cursors on the system-wide position expression layers Sys1 to Sys3 are displayed so as to be superimposed on the same Web page.

As described above, in each user terminal, a plurality of cursors independently operated on each of the plurality of user terminals are superimposed on the Web page and displayed on the display 2.
4 is displayed.

Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, in the user terminals 31 to 33, three users U _1-31 , U _2-31 and U _{3-31 of} the user terminal 31 and four users of the user terminal 32 are used. The cursors operated by the one user U _1-32 , U _2-32 , U _3-32 , and U _4-32 , and the user U _{1-33 of the} user terminal 33 are all displayed.

In this case, for example, the user terminal 31
In, the cursor is displayed in such a manner that not only the user of the user terminal 31 but also all the users including the users of the other user terminals 32 and 33 can be distinguished. The same applies to the user terminals 32 and 33.

Further, which of the user terminals 31 to 33 is to be the master can be set in advance, for example. Furthermore, for example, among the user terminals 31 to 33, the one that has the fastest connection to the Internet 2 can be the master. In addition, for example, after all of the user terminals 31 to 33 connect to the Internet 2, the master can perform negotiation between the user terminals 31 to 33 to determine them.

Next, in each of the user terminals 31 to 33, the input processing shown in FIG. 8 is performed, and in the master user terminal (hereinafter, also simply referred to as master), the master input processing is further performed. Then, the slave user terminal (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a slave) further performs a slave input process.

The input process for the master will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Here, for the sake of simplicity, a plurality of user terminals are already connected to the Internet 2 and any one of the plurality of user terminals is determined as a master. Shall be. Also, among the plurality of user terminals, user terminals other than the master are slaves, but the master is the IP (Inter
net Protocol) address, and each slave
It is assumed that each of the P addresses is recognized. Then, it is assumed that communication is performed between the master and the slave via the Internet 2 with each other's IP address as a destination.

A user terminal is connected to the Internet 2
Is connected, and the IP address of the user terminal connected to the Internet 2 is, for example, Mirabili
ICQ (I Seek You) developed by s company (ICQ is a trademark)
It can be recognized by utilizing the technology of a messenger (messager) system called a "messenger". Here, regarding ICQ, for example, http://www.icq.com/
The details are disclosed.

In the master input process, first, in step S21, the slave receives the all-position expression layer obtained by performing the input process in FIG. That is, the slave transmits the storage contents of the entire position expression layer obtained by performing the input processing of FIG. 8 to the master via the Internet 2 by performing the slave input processing of FIG. Thus, in step S21, the storage contents of all the position expression layers transmitted from each slave are received in this way.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S22, wherein the master stores the stored contents of the self-position expression layer and the step S22.
The storage contents of the all position expression layer of each slave received at 21 are projected onto its own system overall position expression layer, and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the master transmits the stored contents of its own system-wide position expression layer obtained in step S22 to each slave via the Internet 2. Then, the master waits for the next all position expression layer to be transmitted from each slave, and then proceeds to step S21.
And the same process is repeated thereafter.

Next, the input processing for the slave will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the slave input process, first, in step S31, the storage contents of the all-position expression layer obtained by the slave performing the input process of FIG.
The data is transmitted to the master via the Internet 2.

Then, the master waits for the storage contents of the master system overall position expression layer obtained by performing the master input process shown in FIG. 14 to be transmitted via the Internet 2, and then proceeds to step S32. The slave receives the contents stored in the system-wide position expression layer of the master, and proceeds to step S33.

In step S33, the slave copies the storage contents of the master system overall position expression layer received in step S32 to its own system overall position expression layer.
Then, the slave performs the input process of FIG. 8 and waits until the next all-position expression layer is obtained, returns to step S31, and thereafter repeats the same process.

By performing the above-described master input processing and slave input processing, a plurality of cursors in the master and all the slaves are reflected in the overall system position expression layer of the master and each slave.

Next, the master among the plurality of user terminals performs a master display control process (master display control process) instead of the display control process of FIG.

The master display control process will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the master display control process, first,
In step S41, the master transmits the URL of a predetermined Web page to each slave via the Internet 2, and proceeds to step S42.

In step S42, the master sends the Web corresponding to the URL transmitted to each slave in step S41.
A page is requested from, for example, the WWW server 3. Then, the master waits for the Web page to be transmitted from the WWW server 3 via the Internet 2, proceeds to step S43, and receives the Web page.

Thereafter, the master proceeds to step S44, and displays the entire system position expression layer on the Web page from the WWW server 3 in a superimposed manner. The input process of FIG. 8 and the input process for the master of FIG. 14 store all cursors operated by the master and all the slaves in the master system overall position expression layer. Then, all the cursors and We
The page b is displayed.

Then, proceeding to step S45, the master determines whether or not all the positions of the cursor on the overall system position expression layer have been determined. If it is determined that all the positions have not been determined yet, the process proceeds to step S45. Returning to S44, the same processing is repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S45 that the positions of all the cursors on the overall system position expression layer have been determined, the process proceeds to step S46, where the master displays the cursor in the same manner as in step S15 of FIG. Recognize the cursor located on the link portion of the Web page being processed, and proceed to step S47.

In step S47, as in step S16 in FIG. 9, based on the recognition result of the cursor whose position has been determined on each link portion, the master determines each link portion in accordance with an algorithm such as majority decision. From the linked Web pages, a Web page to be a transition destination is selected, and the process proceeds to step S48.

In step S48, the master issues a request for cancellation of the input processing in FIG.
Return to 41. In this case, in step S41, the URL of the Web page selected in the immediately preceding step S47 is transmitted to each slave, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

Next, in each slave among the plurality of user terminals, display control processing for a slave (display control processing for a master) is performed instead of the display control processing in FIG.

The display control process for the slave will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the slave display control process, first, in step S51, the URL transmitted by the master performing the master display control process in FIG. 16 is received, and the flow advances to step S52.

In step S52, the slave sets the Web address corresponding to the URL received from the master in step S51.
A page is requested from, for example, the WWW server 3. Then, the slave waits for the Web page to be transmitted from the WWW server 3 via the Internet 2, proceeds to step S53, and receives the Web page.

Accordingly, each slave receives the same Web page as the master.

Thereafter, the slave proceeds to step S54, and displays the entire system position expression layer on the Web page from the WWW server 3 in a superimposed manner. Since all the cursors operated by the master and all the slaves are stored in the master system overall position expression layer by performing the input processing in FIG. 8 and the slave input processing in FIG. In the slave, all the cursors and the Web page are displayed as in the master. That is, the same screen is displayed on the master and all the slaves.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S55, wherein the slave determines whether a new URL has been transmitted from the master. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 16, when the master determines the transition destination, the master transmits the URL of the Web page of the transition destination. In step S55, the new URL is thus transmitted from the master. It is determined whether it has been transmitted.

In step S55, when it is determined that a new URL has not been transmitted from the master,
That is, if the positions of all the cursors in the master and each slave have not been determined yet, and therefore the transition destination Web page has not been selected in the master yet, the process returns to step S54, and the same processing is performed thereafter. repeat.

When it is determined in step S55 that a new URL has been transmitted from the master,
Proceeding to step S56, the slave issues a request for cancellation of the input processing of FIG. 8, and returns to step S51. In this case, in step S51, a new URL (URL of the transition destination Web page) transmitted from the master
L) is received, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

Therefore, the same Web page is browsed at a plurality of user terminals, and each user of the plurality of user terminals operates the corresponding cursor to display the desired transition destination Web page. Selection input can be performed. When the transition destinations conflict, the final transition destination is determined by majority vote or the like, and the Web page of the transition destination is displayed. As a result, a plurality of users can select a screen in a so-called all-participation manner while confirming each other's selection input even in a remote place.

Note that in the above case, the master is
The URL of the page is transmitted to each slave, and each slave obtains a Web page corresponding to the URL from the master. In addition, for example, the master transmits the IP address of each slave to the WWW server 3. The WWW server 3 transmits an address from the master.
Based on the P address, the Web page can be transmitted to each slave by a so-called push type.

In the above case, one of the plurality of user terminals is set as the master and the rest are set as the slaves. Alternatively, for example, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. A master server 4 serving as a server is provided on the Internet 2 and a plurality of user terminals can all be slaves.

Next, FIG. 18 shows a configuration example of a third embodiment of the information processing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be made below.
Omitted as appropriate. That is, the information processing system in FIG. 18 has the same configuration as that in FIG. 10 except that a home network 41 is newly provided.

The home network 41 is, for example, a LAN or the like configured as a SOHO (Small Office Home Office) at the user's house, and connects the user terminals 31 to 33 to each other. The home network 41 is further connected to the Internet 2 and, therefore,
The embodiment is the same as the case in FIG. 10 except that the user terminals 31 to 33 access the Internet 2 via the home network 41.
Therefore, the description is omitted.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 19, a plurality of user homes provided with one or more user terminals connected to a home network are connected to the Internet. Everybody can select the screen while checking each other's selection input, so to speak, in a way that everyone can participate.

Next, the case where a Web page is browsed has been described above. However, the present invention is applicable to a case where information related to one or more pieces of other information other than a Web page is displayed. is there.

That is, FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of a broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied.

[0182] From the broadcast station 52, data of a broadcast program,
Data of an EPG (Electric Program Guide) is broadcast via a broadcast network 51 such as a terrestrial wave, a satellite line, or a CATV (Cable Television) network. The broadcast program and EPG data are received and displayed by the user terminal 1.

In the above broadcasting system, the EP
The introduction column (program introduction column) of each broadcast program displayed in G is associated with the data of the broadcast program. In the user terminal 1, a plurality of cursors operated by a plurality of users are displayed together with the EPG. Is displayed. Then, when the program introduction section of the EPG is designated by each of the plurality of cursors, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, the broadcast program corresponding to the program introduction section having the largest designated number is selected and displayed. You.

Therefore, in this case, for example, at home, the family can determine the program to be viewed by majority vote.

The present invention is also applicable to, for example, a so-called interactive TV (television).

The present invention also provides a game in which, for example, a story provided with options in each scene, such as a tree structure, is prepared, and the direction of travel of the story is determined by majority decision or the like. And so on.

Here, in the present specification, the user terminal 1
Processing steps for writing a program for causing a computer to perform various types of processing as (31, 32, 33) do not necessarily need to be processed in chronological order in the order described in the flowchart, and may be performed in parallel or individually. (For example, parallel processing or object-based processing).

Further, the program may be processed by one computer or may be processed by a plurality of computers in a distributed manner. Further, the program may be transferred to a remote computer and executed.

[0189]

According to the first display control device, the first display control method, and the recording medium of the present invention, information associated with one or more other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position are displayed. Displayed on the display device. Then, based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors of the information displayed on the display device, one of one or more pieces of other information associated with the information is selected, and The selected information is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to select the transition destination information based on the operation of each of the plurality of cursors by the plurality of users and display the information on the display device.

According to the second display control device, the display control method, and the recording medium of the present invention, cursor information on one or more cursors operated in each device is obtained from each of the plurality of devices. Further, the cursor information is provided to each of the plurality of devices,
A plurality of cursors based on the cursor information are displayed on each of the plurality of devices. In each of the plurality of devices, the information related to the one or more pieces of information displayed together with the plurality of cursors is associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors. Any one of the one or more pieces of other information is selected, and the selected information is acquired by each of the plurality of devices. Therefore, based on the operation of each of the plurality of cursors by the plurality of users, the information of the transition destination is selected,
The information can be displayed on each of the plurality of devices.

According to the third display control device, the display control method, and the recording medium of the present invention, each is controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor for designating a position. Cursor information on one or more cursors is provided to a management device that manages the cursor information, and cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device is acquired. Then, a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices are displayed on the display device so as to overlap information associated with one or more pieces of other information. Therefore, it is possible to select information of a transition destination based on an operation of each of a plurality of cursors by a plurality of users, and to display the information on each of a plurality of devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a first embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where a link is provided from a Web page.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where a plurality of cursors are displayed over a Web page.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of selecting a transition destination Web page.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the user terminal 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a remote controller 22 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying a plurality of cursors superimposed on a Web page.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an input process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a display control process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a second embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying the same plurality of cursors on the same Web page in a plurality of user terminals.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying the same plurality of cursors on the same Web page in a plurality of user terminals.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying the same plurality of cursors on the same Web page in a plurality of user terminals.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a master input process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an input process for a slave.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a master display control process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a display control process for a slave.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a third embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a fourth embodiment of an information processing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a state where the screen changes from an EPG to a broadcast program.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 user terminal, 2 internet, 3 WWW
Server, 4 master server, 11 communication I / F,
12 CPU, 13 EEPROM, 14 RAM,
15 HD, 16 drives, 17 removable recording medium, 18 keyboard, 19 input I / F,
20 mouse, 21 light receiving part, 22 remote control,
22A pad, 22B pen, 23 output I /
F, 24 display, 31 to 33 user terminal, 41 home network, 51 broadcast network, 52 broadcast station

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Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A display control device for controlling display of information, comprising: display control means for displaying, on a display device, information associated with one or more other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position. And selecting one of the one or more pieces of information associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors on the information displayed on the display device. A display control device comprising: a selection unit; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information selected by the selection unit. 2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit also causes the display device to display information acquired by the acquisition unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive an operation signal from an operation unit for operating each of the plurality of cursors, wherein the display control unit displays each cursor on the display device based on the operation signal. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display is displayed. 4. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays the plurality of cursors so that they can be distinguished from each other. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit is configured to determine which of the other information based on the number of cursors pointing to a portion of the information displayed on the display device that is associated with the other information. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein one of the following is selected. 6. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the information associated with the one or more pieces of other information is described in a predetermined screen description language. 7. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires information from a server on the Internet. 8. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control device is a browser for WWW (World Wide Web). 9. A display control method for controlling display of information, the display control step of displaying, on a display device, information associated with one or more other information and a plurality of cursors indicating a position. And selecting one of the one or more pieces of information associated with the information based on the position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors on the information displayed on the display device. A display control method, comprising: a selection step; and an acquisition step of acquiring information selected in the selection step. 10. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute a display control process for controlling display of information is recorded, wherein information related to one or more other information and a position are indicated. A plurality of cursors, a display control step of causing a display device to display the information, and the information displayed on the display device, based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors, the information being associated with the information. A recording medium on which is recorded a program comprising: a selection step of selecting one of one or more pieces of other information; and an acquisition step of acquiring the information selected in the selection step. 11. A display control device for controlling display of information, wherein the display control device is operated by each of a plurality of devices.
Cursor information obtaining means for obtaining the cursor information relating to the cursor; providing the cursor information to each of the plurality of devices; and providing cursor information to each of the plurality of devices to display a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information. Means, in each of the plurality of devices, the information related to one or more other information displayed together with the plurality of cursors, based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors, The one associated with
A display control device, comprising: a selection unit that selects any of the other pieces of information described above; and an acquisition control unit that causes each of the plurality of devices to obtain the information selected by the selection unit. 12. The display control device according to claim 11, wherein the display control device is one of the plurality of devices. 13. The cursor information acquiring unit acquires the cursor information via the network, wherein the cursor information acquiring unit acquires the cursor information via the network, The display control device according to claim 11, wherein the cursor information is provided via the network. 14. The acquisition control unit provides command information for instructing acquisition of the information selected by the selection unit to each of the plurality of devices,
The display control device according to claim 11, wherein the information selected by the selection unit is obtained by each of the plurality of devices. 15. A display control method for controlling display of information, the method comprising:
A cursor information obtaining step of obtaining cursor information related to the cursor, providing the cursor information to each of the plurality of devices, and providing cursor information to each of the plurality of devices to display a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information; And in each of the plurality of devices, based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors, of information associated with one or more other information displayed together with the plurality of cursors. The one associated with
A display control method, comprising: a selection step of selecting any of the other pieces of information described above; and an acquisition control step of causing each of the plurality of devices to acquire the information selected in the selection step. 16. A recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to perform a display control process for controlling display of information is recorded, wherein each of the plurality of devices is operated by each device.
A cursor information obtaining step of obtaining cursor information relating to the cursor, providing cursor information to each of the plurality of devices, and providing cursor information to each of the plurality of devices to display a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information; And in each of the plurality of devices, based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors, of information associated with one or more other information displayed together with the plurality of cursors. The one associated with
A program including a selection step of selecting any one of the other pieces of information and an acquisition control step of causing each of the plurality of devices to acquire the information selected in the selection step is recorded. Recording medium. 17. A display control device for controlling display of information, the cursor being related to one or more cursors respectively controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor indicating a position. Cursor information providing means for providing information to a management device that manages the cursor information; cursor information obtaining means for obtaining the cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device; Display control means for displaying a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information on information associated with one or more pieces of other information on a display device. 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the management device further includes information acquisition means for acquiring information to be selected based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices. The display control device according to claim 17. 19. The management device provides command information for commanding acquisition of information selected based on a position indicated by each of the plurality of cursors based on the cursor information of the plurality of devices, 19. The display control device according to claim 18, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires information based on the command information. 20. The management device is connected via a predetermined network, the cursor information providing unit provides the cursor information via the network, and the cursor information obtaining unit includes: 18. The display control device according to claim 17, wherein the cursor information is obtained via a network. 21. A display control method for controlling display of information, the cursor being related to one or more cursors respectively controlled based on an operation signal from one or more operation means for operating a cursor indicating a position. Cursor information providing step of providing information to a management device that manages the cursor information; cursor information obtaining step of obtaining the cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device; and cursor information obtaining step. Displaying a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information on information associated with one or more pieces of other information on a display device. 22. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a display control process for controlling display of information, wherein the operation is performed by one or more operation means for operating a cursor indicating a position. A cursor information providing step of providing cursor information relating to one or more cursors each controlled based on a signal to a management device that manages the cursor information; and acquiring the cursor information of a plurality of devices provided by the management device. Cursor information obtaining step of performing, a display control step of displaying a plurality of cursors based on the cursor information obtained in the cursor obtaining step on a display device by superimposing the plurality of cursors on information associated with one or more other information; A recording medium characterized by recording a program comprising: