JP2001337663A - Method, terminal unit and system for screen display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the appearance and the attraction for customers by regarding displays of terminals as a large screen when multiple terminals display screen savers. SOLUTION: When multiple terminals 2a, 2b, 2c, etc., display screen savers to prevent burn of screens, these terminals are linked with each other to display a large screen saver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a screen display method for a screen saver screen, and a screen display terminal device and a screen display system capable of displaying the screen saver screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of network technology,
So-called customer-operated terminal devices are widely used. As the customer operation type terminal device, for example, a CD (Cash Dispe
n.) and ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) are known, and ticketing terminals installed in airport lobbies and the like are known. In order to enable simultaneous operation by a large number of customers, a plurality of these customer operated terminal devices are L
In many cases, they are arranged side by side while being connected by an AN (Local Area Network).

[0003] Such a customer-operated terminal device is
Usually, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid C
A display unit such as a crystal display (rystal Display) is provided, and a GUI (Graphical User Interface) function is realized on the display unit, thereby facilitating customer operations. For this reason, the customer-operated terminal device has a function of displaying a screen saver screen on the display unit in order to prevent the display unit from burning when there is no operation by the customer for a long time. I have.

[0004]

However, in the conventional customer-operated terminal device, even when a plurality of devices are arranged side by side, each terminal device displays its screen independently when displaying the screen saver screen. Have gone to. That is, each terminal device displays an independent design, character, or the like at an independent timing. This is because the screen saver screen is for preventing the burn-in of the display unit, and unlike the GUI screen, the visibility by the customer is not regarded as important. Therefore, when viewed as a whole of a plurality of customer-operated terminal devices arranged side by side, the appearance is not always good, and the appeal to customers is not high.

[0005] In view of the above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of terminal devices display a screen saver screen, the display unit of each terminal device is treated as one large screen, so that the appearance is improved as compared with the conventional art, and the appeal to customers is improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a screen display method, a screen display terminal device, and a screen display system that can be increased in degree.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a screen display method devised to achieve the above object, wherein the method is used when a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in is displayed on a plurality of terminal devices. It is characterized in that a plurality of terminal devices display a screen saver screen linked with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screen display terminal device devised to achieve the above object, which has a function of displaying a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in. And a display management unit for linking the display of the screen saver screen with the screen saver screen of the other terminal device.

The present invention is also a screen display system devised to achieve the above object, wherein a plurality of terminal devices having a function of displaying a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in are provided. A monitoring terminal connected via a communication line, wherein the monitoring terminal includes an instruction to each terminal to display a screen saver screen in which the plurality of terminals cooperate with each other. Means are provided.

According to the screen display method of the above-described procedure and the screen display terminal device and the screen display system having the above-described configurations, when displaying the screen saver screen for preventing burn-in, each terminal device displays the screen saver screen in cooperation with each other. . Here, the interlocking means that, for example, the respective screen saver screens operate at the same timing, or operate at a predetermined timing for each terminal device. Therefore, when a plurality of terminal devices are installed, the screen of each terminal device can be regarded as one large screen and a screen saver screen (moving image) can be displayed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A screen display method, a screen display terminal device and a screen display system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the system configuration of the entire screen display system to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a screen display system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing another example.

A screen display system to which the present invention is applied (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “system”) includes, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a plurality of customer-operated terminal devices (hereinafter, referred to as financial automation devices and ticket issuing terminals). Simply referred to as "terminal device")
Are arranged side by side. Each of the terminal devices 1, 2a, 2b,...
And display units 3, 3a, 3b... Such as T and LCD, and the display units 3, 3a, 3b.
Display parts 3 and 3
a, 3b ... has a function of displaying a screen saver screen.

Each of the terminal devices 1, 2a, 2b,.
Each terminal device 1 is connected to each other via AN4.
2a, 2b ... are TCP / IP (Transmission Control
ol Protocol / Internet Protocol). The plurality of terminal devices 1, 2a, 2b,... Connected by the LAN 4 constitute one group.

Further, the terminal devices 1 and 2 in the same group
a, 2b ... are the other terminal devices 2a, 2b ...
(Hereinafter, simply referred to as “monitoring terminal”) 1. As will be described later in detail, the monitoring terminal 1 always keeps track of the activation state and usage state of the other terminal devices 2a, 2b,.

However, the monitoring terminal 1 is not one of the terminal devices in the same group. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, an independent terminal device (computer device or the like) different from each terminal device 2a, 2b. It may be. In this case, one monitoring terminal 1 can manage a plurality of groups (A group, B group,...).

Next, an example of a processing operation in the system configured as described above, that is, a method of displaying a screen saver screen in the present embodiment will be described. Here, in the system shown in FIG. 2, a case will be described as an example where each terminal device 2a, 2b... Of the A group displays a screen saver screen while following an instruction from the monitoring terminal 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information exchange procedure required for screen display, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a displayed screen saver screen.

In the system shown in FIG. 2, when the whole system is started, information necessary for displaying a screen saver screen is exchanged between the monitoring terminal 1 and each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b. That is, in this system, as shown in FIG. 3, when power is supplied to the entire system, first, each terminal device 2a, 2b... Is transmitted via the LAN 4 (Step 11, hereinafter, the steps are abbreviated simply as "S"). Each terminal device 2
It is assumed that the terminal information in a, 2b,..., which terminal device functions as the monitoring terminal 1, and the like are set in advance. Although not described here, it goes without saying that the same applies to the terminal devices 2g, 2e,.

When receiving the terminal information from each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,..., The monitoring terminal 1
Then, the “group name” to which the source belongs is returned to the source via the LAN 4 (S12). In addition,
Which terminal devices 2a, 2b...
It is assumed that the monitoring terminal 1 is set when the entire system is started.

When the "group name" is returned from the monitoring terminal 1, each terminal device 2a, 2b... Replaces the returned "group name" with the previous "group name", that is, each terminal device 2a, 2b,. 2b... Are compared with the “group name” stored in each of them to determine whether or not the “group name” is changed. If there is no change, the terminal device 2
start operations for, for example, financial processing and ticketing processing based on the information already stored in each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b. On the other hand, if there is a change in the "group name", the terminal devices 2a, 2b ... request the monitoring terminal 1 to download information necessary for the change (S13).

The information to be downloaded includes, for example, "image data" for displaying a screen saver screen, "designated timing" for specifying its operation timing, and terminal devices 2a, 2 forming the same group.
b, “group list”, and the “order in group” of the own terminal in the same group. Based on this information, the monitoring terminal 1 shifts the operation timing of the screen saver screen in each terminal device 2a, 2b... In 1/1000 second units for each terminal device 2a, 2b. The amount can be set to a minimum of 0 seconds. The “image data” is, for example, M
PEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) data is conceivable.

When the information is downloaded (S14), the terminal device 2 that has downloaded the information is downloaded.
a, 2b... update information already stored in each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b..., and start operation based on the updated information.

As described above, when information is exchanged between the monitoring terminal 1 and each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,... When the entire system is started, even if a failure occurs in the LAN 4, for example, .. Can be recognized before the operation of each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,..., And the reliability of the entire system can be improved. Furthermore, it is also possible to upgrade the moving image to be displayed as the screen saver screen through the information exchange, so that the screen saver screen upgrade in each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b. Will be able to do it.

The above-mentioned transmission and reception of information may be performed not at the time of activation of the entire system but after the operation of each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b... In this case, even if there is a change in the group configuration or the like, the time required for starting the entire system can be reduced.

After the operation is started as described above, the terminal devices 2a, 2b...
Display the screen saver screen. That is, the terminal devices 2a, 2b... Respectively display the stored "image data" on the screen in order to prevent the display units 3a, 3b. Thereby, the display units 3a, 3b
.., A screen saver screen for displaying a moving image is displayed as a back screen on the operation screen in addition to the normal operation screen.

However, at this time, each terminal device 2a, 2b
.. Store “designated timing”, “group list”, and “order in group” in addition to “image data” to be displayed. Therefore, in displaying the screen saver screen, the terminal devices 2a, 2b,... Try to display the operation timing of the screen saver screen as the "designated timing", "group list", "order in group", and the screen saver screen. Is determined from the current time at the time of execution. That is, since the operation timing of the screen saver screen is mainly specified by the “designated timing” and the “order in the group”, each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b.
Based on the "order in the group" and the current time when the screen saver screen is to be displayed, it is grasped at what timing the screen saver screen should be operated. Then, by changing the operation timing according to the current time, the operation timing of the screen saver screen is changed to the other terminal devices 2a and 2 in the same group.
b ... linked with the screen saver screen displayed.

In this case, the interlock means that the screen saver screens displayed on the terminal devices 2a, 2b... In the same group operate at a predetermined timing for each terminal device 2a, 2b. To work with. More specifically, as an example, when one of the terminal devices 2a and 2b adjacent to each other starts the operation of the screen saver screen, the other terminal device 2b starts the operation of the screen saver screen after a predetermined time has elapsed. And so on.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of the whole system, the screen saver screen (moving image) can be displayed by regarding the display units 3a, 3b... Of the terminal devices 2a, 2b. . That is, since the screen area of the screen when the screen saver screen is displayed becomes large, the display units 3a, 3b,.
Can display moving images, animations, advertisement images, and the like that cannot be expressed by only one.

Specifically, if the display units 3a, 3b... Of the respective terminal devices 2a, 2b... Are arranged side by side, the screen saver screen operating for each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, a moving image of an airplane gradually moving on each of the display units 3a, 3b.
As shown in (1), it is possible to display a moving image in which the airplane that has been flying horizontally moves toward this side on the display unit 3a at the installation end. Further, since the screen saver screen can be displayed by using the plurality of display units 3a, 3b,.
It is possible to display a long sentence or the like which is difficult to recognize even if only a, 3b... are displayed.

By regarding the display units 3a, 3b... Of each terminal device 2a, 2b... As one large screen, one terminal device 3c in the same group can adjust as shown in FIG. Even when the screen saver screen is not displayed because it is inside, the impression received by the customer, that is, the degree of recognition that the user is not operating can be reduced as much as possible.

From the above, as described in the present embodiment, when the screen saver screens of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,. Since the screen looks large, the display units 3a and 3
This makes it possible to display a moving image or the like that cannot be expressed by only one b. As a result, it is possible to improve the appearance and the advertising effect, thereby increasing the degree of appeal to customers.

In the embodiment described above, the monitoring terminal 1
Describes the operation timing of the screen saver screen in each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,..., But the operation timing of the screen saver screen may be specified between the terminal devices 2a, 2b. .

Here, a brief description will be given of an example of a processing operation when the terminal devices 2a, 2b... Specify the operation timing of the screen saver screen. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the information exchange procedure necessary for screen display.

In the illustrated example, each terminal device 2a, 2b...
When there is no response from the monitoring terminal 1 even when the "terminal information" is transmitted to the terminal device 2, the terminal devices 2a, 2b,... This indicates that the operation is started while shifting the operation timing according to the order. That is, when a certain terminal device 2a starts the operation of the screen saver screen in each of the terminal devices 2a and 2b in the same group, the terminal device 2b notifies the next order of the operation to the terminal device 2b (S21). Thereby, the terminal device 2b in the next order
From the notification and the current time when the screen saver screen is to be displayed, it is possible to determine at what timing the screen saver screen should be operated (for example, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the terminal device 2a in the previous order). Since the operation timing can be changed according to the current time, the operation timing of the screen saver screen can be linked with the screen saver screen displayed by the other terminal devices 2a, 2c in the same group.

As described above, when the operation timing of the screen saver screen can be specified between the terminal devices 2a, 2b,..., Even if a failure or the like occurs in the monitoring terminal 1,
It is possible to operate each of the terminal devices 2a, 2b,.

This means that the monitoring terminal 1 does not necessarily have to exist in the system. That is, even if the monitoring terminal 1 does not exist in the system, the screen saver screens displayed by the terminal devices 2a, 2b,... Can be linked, and the screen saver screen is displayed in the same manner as when the monitoring terminal 1 exists. Can improve the appearance of the product, the advertising effect, and the like, and increase the degree of appeal to customers.

When the monitoring terminal 1 exists in the system, the terminal 2
When the operation timing of the screen saver screen is specified between a, 2b,..., it is necessary to switch the setting at the start of operation. The switching is performed by detecting the occurrence of a failure in the monitoring terminal 1 or instructing the operator. May be performed according to Also, the terminal device 2
a, 2b... when the operation timing of the screen saver screen is specified between the other terminal devices 2 when exchanging information.
If a, 2b... are not found, a disconnection of the LAN 4 or the like may be considered, and a message to that effect may be displayed on the display units 3a, 3b.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the display units 3a, 3b... Of the respective terminal devices 2a, 2b... Are arranged side by side has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. .., Even if a plurality of display units 3a, 3b... Are arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. , 3b..., 3b..., Can improve the appearance and the advertising effect as well as the degree of appeal to customers as in the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a system having a plurality of customer-operated terminal devices has been described. However, a plurality of display units such as CRTs and LCDs are provided. The present invention can be applied to any system that displays a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in on a display unit. For example, when a plurality of personal computers (PCs) having a screen saver screen display function are displayed side by side at a store or the like, and these are connected via a LAN or the like, the screen saver displayed by each PC is displayed. By linking the screens, it is possible to improve the appearance, the advertising effect, and the like at the store or the like.

[0039]

As described above, according to the screen display method, the screen display terminal device, and the screen display system according to the present invention, the screen saver screens displayed by the terminal device are linked to each other so that only one screen can be represented. Since a screen saver screen (moving image or the like) that cannot be displayed can be displayed, it is possible to improve the appearance, the advertising effect, and the like as compared with the related art, and it is possible to increase the degree of appeal to customers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a screen display system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing another example of a screen display system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information exchange procedure necessary for displaying a screen saver screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of a specific example of a screen saver screen to be displayed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of an information exchange procedure necessary for displaying a screen saver screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of a specific example of a screen saver screen to be displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitoring terminal 2a-2l Terminal device 3,3a-3l Display part 4 LAN

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G09G 3/36 G09G 3/36

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A screen display method used when a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in is displayed on a plurality of terminal devices, wherein the plurality of terminal devices display a screen saver screen linked to each other. Screen display method to be used. 2. A screen display terminal device having a function of displaying a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in, a connection means for connecting to another terminal device via a communication line, and displaying the screen saver screen. And a display management means for interlocking with a screen saver screen of the other terminal device. 3. A monitoring system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices having a function of displaying a screen saver screen for preventing burn-in; and a monitoring terminal device connected to the plurality of terminal devices via a communication line. A screen display system, wherein the terminal device is provided with display control means for giving an instruction to each terminal device so as to display a screen saver screen in which the plurality of terminal devices cooperate with each other. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of terminal devices exchange information with said monitoring terminal device via said communication line at a predetermined point in time to confirm instruction contents from said display control unit. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein
Screen display system as described. 5. The plurality of terminal devices exchange information with another terminal device when there is no instruction from the display control means, and link the display of the screen saver screen with the screen saver screen of the other terminal device. The screen display system according to claim 3, further comprising a display management unit.