JP2004030166A - User interface and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of a user by performing the enlargement/reduction display of respective setting items according to a pointer instruction operable by input equipment or the like, and performing the enlargement/reduction display of the setting items within the range of a UI screen, and always validating pointer instruction to the other setting items even in the enlargement display state, and performing the enlargement display of the whole setting items even at miniaturizing the setting item display according to the increase of control element items. <P>SOLUTION: This system is provided with a UI being a setting means(especially, a screen configured by graphics) for designating the control method of peripheral equipment, a computer environment, and operations or the like on a computer connected to peripheral equipment such as a printer device, a means for storing and obtaining the setting contents, a means for judging a pointer position operable by input equipment, and a means for performing the enlargement/reduction display of respective setting items. In this case, the enlargement display of the setting items instructed by the pointer is performed, and the reduction display of the other setting items is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a setting device, a setting method, and a storage medium for controlling a peripheral device such as a printer device connected to a computer or a computer terminal itself on the computer, and particularly to a display device connected to a computer in advance. When a pointer that can be operated by an input device or a screen touch is present in the area of each setting item on the user interface, the setting item is enlarged and displayed on the same user interface. Even if the display of the setting items is reduced due to the increase in the number of control element items by reducing and displaying the items other than the setting items, the setting items can be enlarged and reduced within the range of the same user interface screen. When the setting item designated by the item is enlarged and displayed, the pointer instruction to other than the setting item is always valid. Yet, by enlarge the entire setting items, and a storage medium that stores the user interface, and a program of the method was as capable of improving user operability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional user interface, when element items for controlling a computer and peripheral devices are displayed as setting items on a user interface as setting means, it is necessary to include all elements in one user interface screen. This is avoided by superimposing user interface screens in which the element items to be controlled are classified and switching the screen display by selecting a tab added to each screen, or displaying a new user interface screen.
[0003]
However, in the former, as the number of control element items increases, space becomes difficult even in one classified user interface screen, and as a result, it is necessary to reduce the setting items displayed on the user interface screen. Due to the trade-off with the display space of the interface screen, the user interface is ignoring the operability for the user.
[0004]
In the latter, the newly displayed user interface screen is independent of the display, so it is difficult to understand the relationship with the original user interface screen and the relationship with the setting items on the user interface screen. However, the operability is worse for all users.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional user interface, when element items for controlling a computer and peripheral devices are displayed as setting items on a user interface serving as setting means, all elements can be included in one user interface screen. Space becomes difficult, and the user interface screen in which the element items to be controlled are classified is overlaid, and the screen display is switched by selecting a tab added to each screen, or the user interface screen is newly displayed to avoid the problem.
[0006]
However, in the former, as the number of control element items increases, space becomes difficult even in one classified user interface screen, and as a result, it is necessary to reduce the setting items displayed on the user interface screen. Due to the trade-off with the display space of the interface screen, the user interface is ignoring the operability for the user.In the latter, the newly displayed user interface screen is independent of the display, There is a problem that it is difficult to understand the relationship with the original user interface screen and the relationship with the setting items on the user interface screen, and the operability is deteriorated for all users.
[0007]
As means for solving this problem, there are inventions (JP-A-08-292870 and JP-A-11-08453) in which only the setting item indicated by the pointer is enlarged and displayed. When the display overlaps with the setting item other than the setting item, the pointer instruction to the setting item other than the setting item becomes difficult, or the pointer instruction becomes impossible unless the enlarged display of the setting item is once returned to the normal display. Problem has occurred.
[0008]
In addition, there is an invention (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-0665769) that includes a distance detection unit for setting items and a pointer, and enlarges and displays the vicinity of the pointer when the distance is within a certain range. Since only a part of the setting items is enlarged and displayed, the visibility in the setting operation is poor, and there is a problem that the operation is difficult.
[0009]
The above problem is shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to enlarge a setting item on the same user interface when a pointer operable by an input device or a screen touch exists in a region of each setting item in a conventional user interface. In addition to displaying the setting items, the setting items are displayed in a reduced size, so that the setting items can be enlarged and reduced within the range of the same user interface screen even when the setting item display is reduced in accordance with the increase in the number of control element items. By doing so, when the setting item indicated by the pointer is enlarged and displayed, the pointer instruction to other than the setting item is always valid, and the entire setting item is enlarged and displayed, thereby improving the operability for the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface and a storage medium that can be operated.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the system of the present invention according to claim 1 includes:
Setting means for specifying a control method of peripheral devices or a computer environment and operation on a computer terminal device (hereinafter, computer) connected to peripheral devices such as a printer device (mainly by a graphics user interface (hereinafter, GUI)) A user interface that is a (constructed screen), a means for saving the setting content set by the setting means, and a means for acquiring the setting content saved by the saving means.
Means for determining whether an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet, or a pointer operable by screen touch or the like exists in the area of each setting item for each setting item on the user interface as the setting unit. Means for enlarging and displaying each setting item on a user interface which is the setting means having each setting item,
When the setting item is enlarged and displayed by the enlarging unit, a unit that reduces and displays each setting item other than the setting item on a user interface that is the setting unit having each setting item,
When the determination means determines that a pointer is present in the area of each setting item, the enlargement display means enlarges and displays the setting item and reduces and displays other items than the setting item.
[0012]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the method of the present invention according to claim 2 comprises:
A user who is a setting unit (mainly a screen constructed by a GUI) for designating a control method such as a peripheral device or a computer environment and operation on a computer terminal device (hereinafter, a computer) connected to the peripheral device such as a printer device. An interface, a step of saving the setting contents set by the setting means, and a step of acquiring the setting contents saved by the saving means,
In the user interface as the setting means, for each setting item on the user interface, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a tablet, or a pointer that can be operated by screen touch or the like is present in an area of each setting item. Judging whether or not, comprises a step of enlarging and displaying the respective setting items on a user interface which is the setting means having the respective setting items,
When the setting item is enlarged and displayed by the enlarging means, the method further comprises a step of reducing and displaying each setting item other than the setting item on a user interface as the setting means having each setting item,
When the determination means determines that the pointer is present in the area of each setting item, the setting item is enlarged and displayed in the enlarging display step, and the setting items other than the setting item are reduced and displayed.
[0013]
In order to solve the above problem, a storage medium according to a third aspect of the present invention stores a program for a printer control method including the steps described in the second aspect.
[0014]
According to the inventions having the above configurations, the present invention relates to a setting device, a setting method, and a storage medium for controlling a peripheral device such as a printer device connected to a computer or a computer terminal itself on the computer, When a pointer that can be operated by an input device or a screen touch is present in the area of each setting item on the user interface displayed on the displayed display, the setting item is enlarged on the same user interface. In addition to displaying the setting items, by reducing the display of the setting items other than the setting items, the user can switch the display within the same user interface screen even when the setting item display is downsized due to the increase of the control element items. Operability can be improved.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system of FIG. 1 is roughly composed of a computer device 1000 and a printer 3000.
[0017]
The computer device 1000 has a well-known configuration including a CPU 1001, a RAM 1002, a ROM 1003, a hard disk storage device (HDD) 1004, a display device 1006, an input device 1007 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and further includes an external storage device 1005. The external storage device 1005 reads / writes data and programs from / to a storage medium that is detachable from a device such as a DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, PD, MO, FD, JAZZ®, JIP®, or various magnetic tapes. It is something to memorize freely. The RAM 1002 is used for a work area of the CPU 1001 and for temporarily storing data.
[0018]
The computer device 1000 loads various application software 1100 and a printer driver 2000 including the program of the present invention from the external storage device 1005 into a hard disk storage device (HDD) 1004 or a RAM 1002 and executes the program by the CPU 1001. The printer driver 2000 thereby exerts a characteristic output processing operation. In FIG. 1, the printer driver 2000 and the spool file 2100 created by the printer driver 2000 are shown separately from these media.
[0019]
The printer driver 2000 can be loaded and executed on various other readable and writable storage media. Further, the information may be stored in a nonvolatile memory element such as a ROM or an NVRAM in advance, or may be loaded into a storage device by communicating with another device or the like via a network.
[0020]
The printer data created by the printer driver 2000 is configured to be transmitted by the transmission processing unit 2010 to the reception processing unit 3010 of the printer 3000.
[0021]
The printer driver 2000 includes the following elements.
[0022]
Reference numeral 2001 denotes an output processing method setting unit for changing the setting of the print data output processing method by a user, and includes a user interface for implementing the program of the present invention.
[0023]
Reference numeral 2002 denotes an output processing method storage unit that stores the settings of the print data output processing method set by the output processing method setting unit 2001.
[0024]
An output processing method acquisition unit 2003 acquires the setting (storing) of the output processing method of the print data stored in the output processing method storage unit 2002.
[0025]
An output processing method switching unit 2004 switches output processing between foreground and background according to the setting state of the output processing method acquired by the output processing method acquisition unit 2003.
[0026]
Reference numeral 2006 denotes a spool file writing unit that stores print data in the spool file 2100 when the output processing method switching unit 2004 switches the output processing to the background.
[0027]
Reference numeral 2007 denotes a spool file control unit that controls an output order display of print data stored in the spool file writing unit 2006, designation of a storage destination of the spool file, and the like.
[0028]
A spool file reading unit 2008 reads print data from a spool file.
[0029]
Reference numeral 2005 denotes a bitmap data conversion unit that converts print data into bitmap data according to the setting state of the output processing method acquired by the output processing method acquisition unit 2003.
[0030]
A printer data conversion unit 2009 converts the bitmap data converted by the bitmap data conversion unit 2005 into a data format suitable for print output desired by the printer 3000.
[0031]
Reference numeral 2010 denotes a transmission processing unit that transmits the printer data converted by the printer data conversion unit 2009 to the printer.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the output processing in the printer control system including the user interface according to the present embodiment having the above configuration. The output processing according to the flowchart will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. explain.
[0033]
Note that in FIG. 2, the processing by the elements in FIG. 1 indicated by 2001 to 2010 is given step numbers S01 to S010.
[0034]
First, the output processing method setting unit S01 sets an output processing method for data to be printed on the computer apparatus 1000. S01 is a user interface constructed by the GUI.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the output processing method setting unit S01.
[0036]
Here, the processing of S01 and the output processing method setting module will be described in detail.
[0037]
First, the position of an input device such as a mouse or a tablet, or the position of a pointer operable by screen touch or the like is acquired (S101).
[0038]
It is determined whether the pointer position acquired in S101 exists on the user interface (S102).
[0039]
If it is determined in S102 that the pointer does not exist on the user interface, the pointer position is acquired again in S101.
[0040]
If it is determined in S102 that the pointer exists on the user interface, the setting item on the user interface where the pointer exists is obtained (S103).
[0041]
The setting items acquired in S103 are enlarged and displayed, and the items other than the setting items acquired in S103 are reduced (S104).
[0042]
The position of the pointer is acquired again (S105).
[0043]
It is determined whether the pointer position acquired in S105 exists on the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104 (S106).
[0044]
If it is determined in S106 that the setting item does not exist on the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104, all the setting items enlarged and reduced in S104 are returned to the original size display (S107).
[0045]
When all the setting items enlarged and reduced in S104 are returned to the original size display in S107, the pointer position is acquired again in S101.
[0046]
When it is determined in S106 that the setting item is present on the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104, the input to the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104 is determined (S108).
[0047]
If it is determined in S108 that there is no input to the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104, the position of the pointer is acquired again in S105.
[0048]
If it is determined in S108 that an input has been made to the setting item enlarged and displayed in S104, it is determined whether to end the setting process (S109).
[0049]
If it is determined in S109 that the setting process is not to be ended, the pointer position is acquired again in S105.
[0050]
If it is determined in S109 that the setting process is to be ended, the process exits from the module process.
[0051]
Here, description will be made returning to FIG.
[0052]
When the setting of the output processing method by the user is completed and the actual print output is performed, the output processing method set in the output processing method of S01 is stored in the output processing method storage unit S02.
[0053]
The output processing method acquisition unit S03 acquires the settings of the output processing method stored in the output processing method storage unit S02. The output processing method switching unit S04 switches the foreground / background of the print output processing according to the setting of the output processing method acquired in S03.
[0054]
When the print output processing is performed in the foreground based on the switching result of the output processing method switching unit S04, the print data itself is converted into bitmap data by the bitmap data conversion unit S05. If the printout process is to be performed in the background according to the switching result of S04, the print data is stored in the spool file 2100 on the storage medium specified in the unique file format by the spool file writing unit S06.
[0055]
In step S06, the spool file control unit S07 is activated at the same time as the start of storing the spool file. S07 is an execution program for performing spool file control such as display of the output order of spool files and designation of a storage destination, and displays a user interface screen constructed by a GUI. It is to be noted that S07 can be independently activated in addition to the activation from S06, and in this case, it is assumed that the storage destination can be specified.
[0056]
The spool file reading unit S08 reads print data from the spool file. In step S08, a user interface screen constructed by the GUI is displayed, and the reading status is displayed.
[0057]
At S05, the print data read at S08 is converted into bitmap data.
[0058]
The printer data conversion unit S09 converts the bitmap data converted in S05 into printer data in a format suitable for print output desired by the printer 3000.
[0059]
The transmission processing unit S10 transmits the printer data converted in S09 to the printer 3000.
[0060]
FIG. 6 shows a display example according to the first embodiment.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention as described above,
The present invention relates to a setting unit, a setting method, and a storage medium for controlling a peripheral device such as a printer device connected to a computer or a computer terminal itself on the computer, and particularly to a user interface displayed on a display connected to the computer in advance. On the face,
When an input device or a pointer that can be operated by touching the screen is present in the area of each setting item, the setting item is enlarged and displayed on the same user interface, and the other items are displayed in a reduced size. By
Even when the size of the setting item display is reduced due to the increase of the control element items, the setting item indicated by the pointer is enlarged and displayed by performing the scaling display of the setting item within the range of the same user interface screen. At this time, the pointer operation to the setting items other than the setting items is always valid, and the entire setting items are displayed in an enlarged manner, thereby improving the operability of the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an output processing operation in a printer control system. FIG. 3-1 is an example of an output processing method setting GUI screen in a printer control system. FIG. 3-2: Spool file control GUI screen example in the printer control system [FIG. 3-3] Spool file reading status display GUI screen example in the printer control system [FIG. 4] Output processing method setting in the printer control system of the first embodiment 5A is a diagram showing an example of a problem of a pointer instruction accompanying an enlarged display, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of a problem of a setting operation associated with a partially enlarged display. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example regarding the first embodiment.
1000 Computer device 1001 CPU
1002 RAM
1003 ROM
1004 Hard Disk Storage (HDD)
1005 External storage device 1006 Display device 1007 Input device 2000 Printer driver 2001 Output processing method setting unit 2002 Output processing method storage unit 2003 Output processing method acquisition unit 2004 Output processing method switching unit 2005 Bitmap data conversion unit 2006 Spool file write 2007 Spool file Control unit 2008 Spool file reading unit 2009 Printer data conversion unit 2010 Transmission processing unit 2100 Spool file 3000 Printer 3010 Reception processing unit

Claims (3)

Setting means for specifying a control method of peripheral devices or a computer environment and operation on a computer terminal device (hereinafter, computer) connected to peripheral devices such as a printer device (mainly by a graphics user interface (hereinafter, GUI)) Built-in screen)
Means for saving the setting contents set by the setting means,
A user interface having means for acquiring the setting content saved by the saving means,
Means for determining whether an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet, or a pointer operable by screen touch or the like exists in the area of each setting item for each setting item on the user interface as the setting unit. ,
Means for enlarging and displaying each of the setting items on a user interface which is the setting means having each setting item,
When the setting item is enlarged and displayed by the enlarging unit, a unit that reduces and displays each setting item other than the setting item on a user interface that is the setting unit having each setting item,
When the determining means determines that a pointer is present in the area of each setting item, the enlargement display means displays the setting item in an enlarged manner, and displays a setting item other than the setting item in a reduced size. face. A user who is a setting unit (mainly a screen constructed by a GUI) for designating a control method such as a peripheral device or a computer environment and operation on a computer terminal device (hereinafter, a computer) connected to the peripheral device such as a printer device. Interface and
Saving the setting content set by the setting means,
Obtaining the setting content stored by the storage unit.
In the user interface as the setting means, for each setting item on the user interface, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a tablet, or a pointer that can be operated by screen touch or the like is present in an area of each setting item. Determining whether or not
Enlarging and displaying each of the setting items on a user interface that is the setting means having each setting item,
When the setting item is enlarged and displayed by the enlarging means, the method further comprises a step of reducing and displaying each setting item other than the setting item on a user interface as the setting means having each setting item,
When the determining means determines that a pointer exists in the area of each setting item, the setting item is enlarged and displayed in the enlarging and displaying step, and a portion other than the setting item is reduced and displayed. face. A storage medium storing a user interface program, comprising the steps of claim 2.

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