JP2003256112A - Information processor and key operation control method for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of incapability in carrying out an event processing to an application program according to an operation mode, in freely setting an optional key code according to the application program and in setting virtual key codes for every routine in the application program. <P>SOLUTION: A different event processing for every application program can be carried out by setting the operation mode by a user, and the user can freely set the virtual key code by managing key assignment and the virtual key code according to the application program in a management table. Further, the different virtual key codes can be set for every prescribed routine by including the allocation information of the virtual key code in the prescribed routine of the application program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key operation control method for an information processing apparatus by assigning a key function to a cross key or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable information processing device is usually not equipped with an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse in order to make compactness and portability important. In such a portable information processing device, the operation of the device is configured to be performed using a minimum necessary device such as a tablet or a cross key provided in the device.

However, the above-mentioned information processing apparatus has only the minimum necessary operating devices, and the functions that can be assigned to individual operating devices are limited, so that various application programs can perform the necessary operations. There were quite a few restrictions to achieve.

On the other hand, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-89892, when a mode for instructing a predetermined application program with a remote controller according to its execution area is set to a mouse mode, cursor control according to a mouse operation is performed. It is shown that the key cursor control is performed when the anchor mode is set.

[0005]

As described above, in the portable information processing apparatus, even if the above-mentioned conventional technique is used, the keyboard operation and the mouse cursor for executing the predetermined operation necessary for various application programs are performed. A method that can simultaneously control the operations of was not established.

According to the present invention, by changing a series of operation events such as a keyboard operation for executing a predetermined process and a mouse cursor operation in accordance with an application program, the information which has improved the operability for the user can be obtained. An object is to provide a processing device.

[0007]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has an operation key, a mode setting means for setting an operation mode for the operation key, and an operation mode set by the mode setting means. And a means for allocating an operation event generated by the operation key to a predetermined data event, and a means for transferring the allocated data event to an application program.

With such a configuration, it becomes possible to assign an operation event to a predetermined data event according to the operation mode. The information processing apparatus of the present invention further has a management table in which virtual key codes are assigned to the operation keys according to application programs, and keys for assigning virtual key codes to the operation keys in association with the application programs. It is characterized by comprising an allocation setting means and a means for storing the contents set by the setting means as the management table.

With such a configuration, it becomes possible to freely assign a virtual key code for each operation event of the operation key for each application program. Then, the information processing apparatus of the present invention receives the operation key and the allocation information of the virtual key code corresponding to the operation key sent from the application program, and outputs the operation event generated by operating the operation key. It is characterized by comprising means for allocating the received virtual key code event and means for transferring the allocated data event to the application program.

With such a configuration, it becomes possible to assign a virtual key code to the operation event of the operation key in units of predetermined processing of the application program.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable information processing device. The information processing device body 10 includes a display / input device 11 in which a liquid crystal display device as a display device and a tablet device as an input device are integrated, a cross key 12 for performing a predetermined operation, and a specific function. A function key 13 for performing the operation is provided. The cross key 12
Up key 12a, Left key 12b, Right key 12c, Down key 1
2d and a confirmation key 12e. Further, in this embodiment, two function keys 13a and 13b are provided.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the main functions of the information processing apparatus. Key operation data input according to the operation of the cross key 12 or the function key 13 is managed by the input control unit 14. In the present embodiment, it is treated as mouse operation data and virtual key code data according to a mouse mode and a keyboard mode, which are operation modes described later. The control unit 15 controls the entire device. The key operation management unit 17 refers to the function assigned to each key of the cross key 12 for each application program stored in the management table, and assigns a virtual key code corresponding to an input event input from the cross key 12 or the like. , The control unit 1 to receive the data based on the input event as the mouse operation data in the mouse mode.
The input control unit 14 is controlled via 5. The application execution unit 16 manages the execution of the application program. The application execution unit 16 manages the application program that is currently being executed, and the input operation unit 14 controls the input event according to the operation mode by the key operation management unit 17.
The process of passing the data to the application program via the command line 5 is performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation mode setting process. FIG. 3A shows a case where an operation mode setting property screen is opened for setting. On the property screen 20a for setting the operation mode, the mouse mode selection item 20b and the keyboard mode selection item 20 are selected.
c is provided, and either one can be selected. When registering with the selected setting contents, the item 20d of "Yes" is selected, and when the selection is interrupted, the item 20e of "No" is selected.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a case where the operation mode is set from the task tray icon. The display screen of the display input device 11 is composed of a desktop screen 11a and a taskbar area 11b.
The task bar area 11b may be always displayed, or may be displayed when the mouse cursor approaches. Currently, in the task bar area 11b, an operation mode setting icon 21d and other function icons 21f are displayed as task tray icons. In this state, move the mouse cursor 21e to the taskbar area 11
Perform a predetermined operation in accordance with the operation mode setting icon 21d of b (for example, operate the confirm key 12e of the cross key).
Then, a menu screen 21a for setting the operation mode is displayed. This menu screen 21a has mouse mode options 21b and keyboard mode options 21c as options.
There are two, and either one can be selected. Currently, mouse mode option 21b
A check mark is attached on the left side of, indicating that the mouse mode is selected.

The operation mode is set by the setting operation shown in FIG. 3, and the contents set here are stored as mode management information in the storage area managed by the key operation management unit 17. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the management table 18. The items managed as the management table include the application program name item 22.
a, an item 22b indicating a key arrangement to which the cross key 12 is assigned, and an item 22c indicating a virtual key code output when the key assigned in 22b is operated. In this way, each of the plurality of application programs is managed in association with each key of the cross key and the virtual key code output when the key is operated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation for setting the key operation assignment of the cross key for the application program. The setting screen 23 is composed of the following items. First, as an item for setting an application program for key assignment, a setting item 23a for directly setting the application program name or displaying a reference file, and a reference item 2 for selecting a predetermined application execution program from the file list.
3b and. Then, there is an item 23c for setting a virtual key code to be assigned to each key of the cross key 12, and a portion for selecting a virtual key code to be assigned to each key is provided on the right side in correspondence with the content of the cross key on the left side. By operating the selection tab on the right side, an arbitrary virtual key code can be assigned. Confirmation items 23d and 23e for confirming the setting contents are provided. When registering the setting contents, the item 23d is selected, and when the registration is stopped, the item 23e is selected. The contents thus set are stored in the management table 18.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the key operation control processing according to the present invention. First, the input control unit 14
Detects an operation event of the cross key 12 (step S10). The control unit 15 determines whether or not the current operation mode is the mouse mode based on the mode management information in which the operation mode managed by the key operation management unit is stored (step S11). If the mouse mode is set, the process proceeds to step S17, and if the keyboard mode is set, the process proceeds to step S12.

When the operation mode is set to the keyboard mode, the currently active application program managed by the application execution unit 16 is searched (step S12). Subsequently, the application execution unit 16 determines whether or not the active application program is a program to which key operation assignment is performed in the keyboard mode.
Is done with reference to.

If it is already registered as the management table 18, the process proceeds to step S14, and if it is not registered, the process proceeds to step S16. When the application program is registered in the management table 18, the input control unit 14 sets the management table 18
Based on the contents of the above, the virtual key code assigned from the registered application program and the detected cross key event type is mapped (step S1).
4). On the other hand, if not registered, the input control unit 14
Maps the default virtual key code (step S16). Subsequently, the keyboard event mapped by the input control unit 14 is passed to the application execution unit 16 via the control unit 15 and passed to the application program currently being executed (step S15).

In the processing step S11, if the operation mode is set to the mouse mode, the input control section 14 maps the event type of the cross key as a mouse event (step S17). The mouse event mapped by the input control unit 14 is controlled by the control unit 15.
Is passed to the application execution unit 16 via the, and passed to the application program currently being executed (step S18).

Next, a specific operation example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining event processing control according to an operation mode in a predetermined application program. FIG. 7A shows a state in which a plurality of selection items are displayed on the screen when the application program is executed. On the display screen of the display input device 11, a window 24a corresponding to the application program is displayed, and the selection item is 6 in this window.
Is displayed. Here, when the mouse mode is set as the operation mode, a mouse event is output by operating the cross key 12, and the mouse cursor 24c is moved to an arbitrary position. For example, the confirmation key 12e of the cross key 12 is pressed. By the operation, the active application program being activated executes the item at the cursor position.

Next, FIG. 7B shows a state in which the operation panel 25 is displayed as the application program on the display screen of the display input device 11 when the music reproduction application is activated. The operation panel 25 includes a status display area 25a showing a music reproduction status, an area 25b showing a track number being reproduced, an area 25c showing a reproduction time, and a stop button 25d and a reproduction button 2 as operation buttons.
5e, a previous track instruction button 25f, and a next track instruction button 25g are prepared. It is assumed that a virtual key code having the content shown in FIG. 5 as the management table 18 is assigned to this music reproduction application (application B in FIG. 5). Further, it is assumed that the keyboard mode is set as the operation mode. A [replay] key is assigned to the up key 12a of the cross key 12 as a virtual key code, and the same process as when the replay button 25e is operated by operating the up key 12a is executed. Thereafter, similarly, the down key 12d, the left key 12b, the right key 1
Virtual key codes of a [stop] key, a [previous track] key, and a [next track] key are assigned to 2c, respectively.

By thus designating the operation mode,
The event assigned to the cross key can be freely assigned according to various application programs, and the operability of the information processing apparatus is improved for the user.

In the above embodiment, one virtual key code is made to correspond to one key of the cross key,
The virtual key code to be associated is not limited to one, but a plurality of virtual key codes may be associated. For example, the upper key of the cross key is made to correspond to the virtual key code [A] key and the [Enter] key.

Further, in the above embodiment, the virtual key code of the operation key is made to correspond to the application program. However, the macro is not used for each application program but is changed in common when the information processing apparatus is activated. May be set or a profile may be set to change the virtual key code for the operation key. In this case, a plurality of macros and profiles may be set and registered by the same method as shown in FIG.

Next, another embodiment will be described.
In the above embodiment, when the keyboard mode is set as the operation mode, the virtual keyboard is mapped based on the contents registered in the management table 18 in advance. In this embodiment, the point of variably setting a virtual key code when executing a predetermined routine from an application program will be described. Figure 8
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining that different key events are set for each predetermined routine in the application program. In the application program 30, the mapping information A (30a) is information for setting that key operations are assigned to the routine a as up, down, left and right. Similarly, the mapping information B (30b) is information for setting the key operation for the routine b so as to assign the letters ABCD. When this application program is executed and the interface is called by a predetermined routine, the key event assigned to each key of the cross key is passed to the input control unit 14. The input control unit maps the virtual key code based on the key event obtained from the application program 30 according to the operation state of the cross key 12. Then, the input control unit 14
The keyboard event mapped by
When the cross key 12 is operated, it is passed to the application execution unit 16 via the control unit 15 based on a keyboard event of the cross key, and is passed to the application program currently being executed.

In this way, it is possible to change the keyboard event by calling the interface for mapping in any routine in the application program, and the operability is further improved for the user.

[0028]

As described above, by designating the operation mode, the key event processing can be changed according to various application programs.
Operability is improved for the user. Further, since the user can arbitrarily set the keyboard event and even one application can freely set the keyboard event for each processing routine, the convenience is further increased for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of an information processing device.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the information processing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining setting of operation modes.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to key operation control processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a management table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining key operation assignment setting.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining event processing according to an operation mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Information processing equipment 11 Display input device 12 cross key 13 Function key 14 Input control section 15 Control unit 16 Application Execution Unit 17 Key operation management section 18 management table

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An operation key, a mode setting means for setting an operation mode for the operation key, and an operation event generated by the operation key according to the operation mode set by the mode setting means. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for allocating a data event, and means for transferring the allocated data event to an application program. 2. The operation mode includes a mouse mode in which a mouse event is generated as an operation event and a keyboard mode in which a virtual key code is generated as an operation event, and the allocation unit is set to the mouse mode as an operation mode. In this case, the operation event generated by the operation key may be assigned as a mouse event, and if the operation mode is set to the keyboard mode, the operation event generated by the operation key may be assigned as a virtual key code event. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. A key assignment setting means for assigning a virtual key code to the operation key according to an application program, further comprising a management table to which a virtual key code is assigned to the operation key according to an application program. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that stores the contents set by the setting unit as the management table. 4. The operation key and the allocation information of the virtual key code corresponding to the operation key sent from the application program are received, and the operation event generated by operating the operation key is the received virtual key code. An information processing apparatus comprising means for allocating an event and means for delivering the allocated data event to an application program. 5. A key operation control method in an information processing apparatus having an operation key, wherein an operation mode for the operation key is set, and an operation event generated by the operation key is predetermined according to the set operation mode. And a means for delivering the allocated data event to an application program. 6. The operation mode includes a mouse mode in which a mouse event is generated as an operation event and a keyboard mode in which a virtual key code is generated as an operation event, and in the allocation processing, the operation mode is set to the mouse mode. In this case, the operation event generated by the operation key may be assigned as a mouse event, and if the operation mode is set to the keyboard mode, the operation event generated by the operation key may be assigned as a virtual key code event. The key operation control method in the information processing apparatus according to claim 5. 7. A key assignment setting means for assigning a virtual key code to the operation key corresponding to an application program, and a set content in a management table to which a virtual key code is assigned to the operation key according to the application program. 7. The key operation control method in the information processing device according to claim 5, wherein the key operation control method is stored. 8. A key operation control method in an information processing apparatus having an operation key, comprising: receiving allocation information of a virtual key code corresponding to the operation key sent from an application program, and operating the operation key. A key operation control method in an information processing apparatus, wherein an operation event that occurs is assigned to the received virtual key code event, and the assigned data event is passed to an application program.