JP2006227977A - Information display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of obtaining a user interface screen which allows a user to easily view and conveniently operate by displaying a sub-window so as not to be overlapped with a prescribed area in a main window. <P>SOLUTION: An information display system for reading out information concerned with a prescribed information apparatus to another apparatus through a network and displaying the information so as to be visible by using a plurality of windows is provided with a first operation means for calculating the size and position of a first window and a second operation means for calculating the size and position of a second window. The second operation means calculates the size and position of the second window so that the second window is not overlapped with a prescribed area in the first window. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display system that reads information related to a predetermined information device to another device via a network and displays the information using a plurality of windows so as to be visible.

  Conventionally, in a network to which a terminal, copier or multi-function peripheral (MFP) is connected, the terminal can obtain information from other devices via the network, check the status of each device, or set the device The conditions have been changed. As a format for displaying various information and setting conditions on the terminal side, for example, a format for displaying in a list format in one window, or a format for displaying in multiple windows by newly creating a window for each related item It has been known. In displaying the window, it is required to realize a user interface screen that is easy for the user to visually recognize and easy to use.

  In relation to the window display control technology, conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-160464, an overflow occurs when information displayed on the main window does not fit in the display area of the main window. A technique has been proposed in which the information is displayed in a subwindow. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-282413, a technique has been proposed in which the second input window is closed when the operation of the first window is completed.

JP-A-7-160464 JP 2001-282413 A

  By the way, when a plurality of windows are used, the sub-window may be displayed so as to overlap the main window. However, in some cases, a region of interest in the main window (so-called focus point) is covered by the sub-window. Sometimes. Neither of the above-mentioned patent documents 1 and 2 proposes to control the display position of the sub-window, and cannot solve this problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problem, and by displaying a sub-window so as not to overlap a predetermined area in the main window, it is possible to realize a user interface screen that is easy for the user to visually recognize and easy to use. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a device information display program, and a recording medium on which the device information display program is recorded.

  Accordingly, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is directed to an information display system that reads information related to a predetermined information device to another device via a network and displays the information using a plurality of windows, so that the size of the first window and First calculating means for calculating the position, and second calculating means for calculating the size and position of the second window, wherein the second calculating means is configured such that the second window is the second calculating means. The size and position of the second window are calculated so as not to overlap a predetermined area in one window.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, when it is determined that the information does not fit in the first window, the overflowing information is transferred to the second window. It is characterized by being displayed.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, in the first window, a predetermined condition can be set in advance for information related to the information device, while in the second window The state of the information device can be displayed in real time, and the state of the information device displayed in the second window satisfies the predetermined condition displayed in the first window. The display specification of the second window is changed.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, the first window is provided with an input area for setting and inputting a predetermined condition for information related to the information device. In the second window, a list of parameters that can be selected as a predetermined condition for the information on the information device can be displayed, and when a parameter is selected in the second window, it is reflected in the input area of the first window. It is characterized by making it.

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 4, the parameter selected in the second window and already reflected in the input area of the first window is described above. This is characterized in that selection in the second window is impossible.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 6 of the present application is the invention according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a plurality of the input areas are provided in the first window, and the input areas in the first window are reflected. The parameters are temporarily set when each parameter is selected in the second window and reflected in the first window, and when all the parameters are selected and reflected in the first window, It is characterized in that it can be determined on the first window.

  According to the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, by considering the position of a predetermined region such as a region of particular interest in the first window, by calculating the size and position of the sub-window so as not to overlap therewith. A user interface screen that is easy for the user to visually recognize and easy to use can be realized.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, it is not necessary to use a scroll screen, and all information can be displayed on a single screen.

  Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, the user can easily grasp the apparatus state including the state of consumables such as paper and toner on the information device side.

  Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, by creating a second window that displays a predetermined condition in a selectable manner and reflecting the selection result on the first window, the user can Conditions can be easily set.

  Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, the user can easily and accurately set the conditions without duplicating the same conditions.

  Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, the user can surely set all the conditions.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a network including terminals and MFPs according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network 1 includes a plurality of terminals 10 and an MFP 20 having a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a facsimile function, a copy function, and a scanner function, and these transmit and receive data to and from each other via a network bus 15. Connected as possible. In the network 1, for example, job data such as document data and image data processed by the terminal 10 is transmitted to the MFP 20 and printed on the MFP 20 side, or job data created by reading an original on the MFP 20 is displayed. It can be transmitted to the terminal 10 and displayed or stored on the terminal 10 side.

  Although not particularly shown, the network 1 may be connected to the Internet via the network bus 15. In this case, the MFP 20 transmits the job data created based on the original to, for example, a remote terminal on another network via the Internet, or receives job data from the remote terminal via the Internet, and prints based on the received data. It is also possible to output. In addition, the configuration of the network 1 actually includes configurations other than the configuration shown in FIG. 1 such as a proxy server, a mail server, and a router, but these are omitted here.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the terminal 10. The terminal 10 is based on a program such as an operating system (OS) which is basic software, a CPU 2 that controls each component in the terminal 10, a ROM 3 that records a boot program that is executed when the terminal 10 is started, Between the RAM 4 used as a buffer area of the work area necessary for execution, the hard disk (“HD” in the figure) 5 for storing the OS, application programs and various data, and external devices, job data, etc. And a network interface card (“NIC” in the figure) 6 for transmitting and receiving various data. These components are connected to each other via a bus 7 so that data can be transmitted and received. Although not particularly illustrated, the terminal 10 may have a configuration such as a CD-ROM drive or a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the MFP 20. The MFP 20 executes various instructions based on a predetermined program to control each component in the MFP 20, a ROM 22 that stores a program to be controlled by the CPU 21, and a program necessary for executing the program A RAM 23 for temporarily storing job data transmitted from the work area or the outside, an operation unit 24 having a touch panel display panel that allows a user to operate the apparatus and input various settings, and read a document. For example, a scanning unit 25 that acquires image data in bitmap format, a printing unit 26 that performs printing on paper based on job data, a paper feeding unit 27 that feeds paper to the printing unit 26, and job data Network interface card (for example, “NI” in the figure) ") Has a 28, a. These components are connected to each other via a bus 29 so that data can be transmitted and received.

  By the way, the terminal 10 is installed with driver software used when transmitting job data to the MFP 20 to print out the job data, and is stored in the hard disk 5. An information reading function for reading out consumables status and setting conditions via a network is programmed. With this information reading function, in addition to the transmission / reception of job data as described above between the terminal 10 and the MFP 20 connected so as to be able to transmit / receive data to / from each other via the network bus 15, various requests are made in response to requests from the terminal 10. It is possible to read information about the MFP 20 such as the state of consumables and setting conditions via the network and display the information on the terminal 10 side. In this case, various types of information read on the terminal 10 side are conventionally known windows. Displayed in the format. Usually, for example, when a lot of information to be displayed is complicated or when it is necessary to input setting conditions, a plurality of windows are used. For example, another window (sub-window) is used to display information that supplements the information in the first displayed window (main window). On the other hand, when an input area for setting conditions is provided on the main window, a sub-window that displays a list of setting conditions to be input to the input area so as to be user-selectable is used. In the present embodiment, when displaying a plurality of windows, a window display control process for improving the visibility of information displayed on the terminal 10 side and facilitating input of setting conditions is executed.

  In such window display control processing, the size and position of the sub-window are basically set so that the sub-window is not displayed on a predetermined area in the main window which is a focus point to which the user particularly pays attention when displaying the sub-window on the main window. Control is performed. Hereinafter, as an example, a case will be described in which the size and position of the subwindow are controlled so as not to overlap the input area for setting conditions and the like.

FIG. 4 shows a user interface screen having a main window and a sub window, which is displayed on the monitor display M on the terminal 10 side. As can be seen from this figure, the main window W1 is provided with an input area Q that can be input by the user, for example, for changing the setting conditions on the MFP 20 side. The input area Q is displayed so as not to overlap. In order to realize this, when it is necessary to display the sub window W2 in addition to the main window W1, the size and position thereof are calculated so that the sub window W2 does not overlap the input area Q of the main window W1. More specifically, first, the size of the sub window W2 is calculated based on the content and amount of information displayed on the sub window W2. In this case, the horizontal width X (dot) and the vertical width Y (dot) of the sub-window W2 shown in FIG. 1 are respectively expressed as follows.
X = display row (row) × a (dot / row)
Y = display line (line) x b (dot / line)

Next, the position of the sub window W2 is calculated. Here, if the display start point of the input area Q is (x1, y1), the horizontal and vertical widths are x2 and y2, respectively, and the vertical and horizontal margins of the subwindow W2 for the input area Q are x3 and y3, respectively, the subwindow W2 X ′ and Y ′ of the display start coordinates (X ′, Y ′) are respectively expressed as follows.
X ′ = x1 + x2 + x3
Y ′ = y1 + y2 + y3
The sub window W2 is displayed so as not to overlap the input area Q with the size and position calculated in this way.

  The above display control process may be executed by either the terminal 10 or the MFP 20. Hereinafter, a display control process executed on the terminal 10 based on the display control program stored on the terminal 10 side, and a display control process executed on the MFP 20 based on the display control program stored on the MFP 20 side, respectively. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the window display control process executed in the terminal 10 based on the display control program stored on the terminal 10 side. In this process, first, it is determined whether or not an operation for requesting display of information related to the MFP 20 (MFP information) has been performed by the user (# 11). For example, a button for reading and displaying MFP information is provided on the user interface screen (not shown) displayed when the driver software is started on the terminal 10 side, and this button is clicked by the user. Thus, it is determined that an operation for requesting display of MFP information has been performed. As a result of step # 11, when it is determined that the operation is not performed, step # 11 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation is performed, the display information from the terminal 10 to the MFP 20 is displayed. Is requested (# 12).

  Next, it is determined whether display information is received from the MFP 20 (# 13). As a result, if it is determined that the display information is not received, step # 13 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the display information is received, the size and position of the main window W1 are continued. Calculated (# 14). Then, the main window W1 is displayed (# 15). Further, it is determined whether sub-window display is necessary (# 16). As a result, if it is determined that the sub window display is not necessary, the process proceeds to step # 20. On the other hand, if it is determined that the sub window display is necessary, the size and position of the sub window W2 are continuously changed to the main window. The size and position are calculated so as not to overlap the input area Q of W1 (# 17). Then, the sub window W2 is displayed (# 18).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not another sub-window display is necessary (# 19). As a result, when it is determined that another subwindow display is necessary, the process returns to step # 17, and the subsequent steps are repeated, so that the size and position of the new subwindow W2 are changed as described above. Calculated. On the other hand, if it is determined that another subwindow display is not necessary, it is subsequently determined whether or not an operation for closing the subwindow W2 has been performed by the user (# 20). As a result, if it is determined that the operation for closing the sub window W2 is not performed, step # 20 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation for closing the sub window W2 is performed, the sub window W2 is repeated. Is immediately closed (# 21). This is the end of the process.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the display control process executed in the MFP 20 based on the display control program stored on the MFP 20 side. In this process, first, it is determined whether there is a request to display MFP information from the terminal 10 (# 31). As a result, if it is determined that there is no request for displaying MFP information, step # 31 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a request for displaying MFP information, information to be displayed ( Based on the main window display information), the size and position information of the main window W1 is calculated (# 32). Then, together with the main window display information, the calculated size and position information is output to the terminal 10 (# 33).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether sub-window display is necessary (# 34). As a result, for example, when it is determined that the sub window display is not necessary, such as when the amount of information is small and display is possible only with the main window W1, the processing is immediately terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the sub window display is necessary, the size and position of the sub window are continuously calculated so as not to overlap the input area Q of the main window W1 (# 35). ). Then, the size and position information is output to the terminal 10 together with the sub window display information (# 36).

  Finally, it is determined whether another sub-window display is necessary (# 37). As a result, when it is determined that another sub-window display is necessary, the process returns to step # 35, and the subsequent steps are repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that another sub-window display is not necessary, Processing is terminated immediately.

  As described above, by calculating the size and position of the sub-window that does not overlap with the position of the area of particular interest in the main window, the user interface screen that is easy for the user to view and easy to use is obtained. Can be realized.

  5 and 6 is executed by reading a program stored in each ROM of the terminal 10 or the MFP 20, and the program is executed by each CPU of the terminal 10 or the MFP 20. Downloaded as a display control program using an external recording medium such as a CD-ROM 8 or a floppy disk 9 or via a network. Thus, it may be installed in the MFP 20 and additionally stored.

  Subsequently, with the execution of the display control processing for the windows W1 and W2, additional first to fourth display control processing for realizing a user interface screen that is easier for the user to visually recognize and easier to use will be described. To do.

  In the first additional display control process, when it is determined that the amount of information related to the MFP 20 is large and the information does not fit in the main window W1, a sub-window W2 that displays overflow information is supplementarily created. It is a thing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing the first additional display control process. In this example, texts 1 to 5 are displayed in the main window W1, and texts 6 to 12 that could not be displayed in the main window W1 are displayed in the auxiliary sub-window W2. Thereby, all the information can be displayed on one screen without using a scroll screen.

  Next, the second additional display control process creates a sub-window W2 that displays the state of the MFP 20 in real time, and the state of the MFP 20 displayed in the sub-window W2 satisfies the conditions set in advance in the main window W1. When the condition is satisfied, the color of the sub window W2 is changed or the sub window W2 is blinked to notify the user.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing the second additional display control process. In this example, a main window W1 that displays a warning condition in a selectable manner and a sub-window W2 that displays a state of an object related to the warning condition selected in the main window W1 in real time are created on the main window W1. Reflecting the setting of the warning conditions “no paper” and “no toner”, the sub-window W2 displays the paper and toner states in real time. FIG. 8A shows a state in which both the paper and the toner are “normal” on the sub-window W2, and both the paper and the toner are still left. When the MFP 20 side runs out of paper, as shown in FIG. 8B, the paper is set to “None” on the sub window W2, and the color of the sub window W1 is changed. In FIG. 8, the mode in which the color is changed is indicated by hatching. According to the second additional display control process, the user can easily grasp the apparatus state including the state of consumables such as paper and toner on the MFP 20 side.

  The third additional display control process creates a sub-window W2 that displays a list of conditions in a selectable manner when setting a predetermined condition on the main window W1, and selects the condition selected on the sub-window W2. This is reflected in the main window W1.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually showing the third additional display control process. In this example, the main window W1 for setting “paper feed tray”, “discharge tray”, and “paper size” as print setting conditions, and the print setting conditions to be set in the main window W1 are related. Then, a sub-window W2 that displays various conditions in a selectable manner is created. In the state shown in FIG. 9, “paper feed tray” is set on the main window W1, and various paper feed trays (paper feed trays 1 to 4) are displayed in the sub-window W2 accordingly. Are listed for selection. In this state, “paper feed tray 1” is selected on the sub window W2, and reflecting this, “paper feed tray 1” is set as the print setting condition “paper feed tray” in the main window W1. Has been. In this way, the user can easily set the conditions by creating the sub-window W2 that displays the predetermined conditions in a selectable manner and reflecting the selection results on the main window W1.

  Further, the fourth additional display control process is similar to the above-described third additional display control process, and is a sub-window that displays a condition list in a selectable manner when setting a predetermined condition on the main window W1. In addition to creating W2 and reflecting the condition selected on the subwindow W2 to the main window W1, the condition selected on the subwindow W2 and reflected on the main window W1 is duplicated on the subwindow W2. The prohibition process is performed to prohibit the above. As the prohibition process, the display specification for the condition already selected on the sub-window W2 is changed to make the selection impossible.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing the fourth additional display control process. In this example, a main window W1 for setting “Mail address 1”, “Mail address 2”, and “Mail address 3” as transmission destinations, and a transmission destination to be set in the main window W1. Then, a sub-window W2 that displays various transmission destinations in a selectable manner is created. In the state shown in FIG. 10A, “Mail address 1” is set on the main window W1, and various transmission destinations “aaa @ bbb. “co.jp”, “123@bbb.co.jp”, “abc@mmm.co.jp”, and “xyz@mmm.co.jp” are displayed in a list. In this state, “aaa@bbb.co.jp” is selected on the sub-window W2, and reflecting this, the main window W1 sets “aaa@bbb.co” as the transmission destination “Mail address 1”. .Jp "is set.

  Then, as “aaa@bbb.co.jp” is determined as the transmission destination “Mail address 1”, the above-described prohibition process causes “[address] already set as the transmission destination“ Mail address 1 ”in the subwindow W2. “aaa@bbb.co.jp” cannot be selected. In the state shown in FIG. 10B, the transmission destination “Mail address 2” is set on the main window W1, and “Mail address 2” is set on the various transmission main windows W1 accordingly. A sub-window W2 that displays various transmission destinations in a selectable state is created. In this sub-window W2, “aaa@bbb.co” already set as the transmission destination “Mail address 1” is created. The display specification for “.jp” is changed and cannot be selected. In FIG. 10B, a mode in which the display specification of “aaa@bbb.co.jp” is changed is indicated by hatching. In this way, in addition to creating a sub-window W2 that displays a predetermined condition in a selectable manner and reflecting the selection result on the main window W1, the conditions already selected on the sub-window W2 are displayed on the sub-window W2. By performing the prohibition process so as to prohibit the duplicate selection in the user, the user can easily and accurately set the condition without duplicating the same condition.

  In the third and fourth additional display control processes, regarding the determination of each condition reflected on the main window W1, the condition is still selected when the condition is selected on the sub window W2 side and reflected on the main window W1. Temporary setting may be made, and after all the conditions have been selected, confirmation may be performed on the main window W1. Further, the display specifications for the conditions on the main window W1 in the temporary setting state may be changed so that the user can easily identify.

  Along with the execution of the display control process as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, by executing the first to fourth display control processes as described above, a user interface screen that is easier for the user to see and more convenient to use is provided. Can be realized.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a network to which a terminal and an MFP are connected. FIG. It is a block diagram showing the basic composition of the said terminal. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows the user interface screen provided with the main window and the subwindow displayed on the monitor display of the said terminal side. It is a flowchart about the window display control process performed by the said terminal side. 6 is a flowchart of window display control processing executed on the MFP side. It is a figure showing notionally the 1st additional display control processing used together with the above-mentioned window display control processing. It is a figure showing notionally the 2nd additional display control processing used together with the above-mentioned window display control processing. It is a figure showing notionally the 3rd additional display control processing used together with the above-mentioned window display control processing. It is a figure showing notionally the 4th additional display control processing used together with the above-mentioned window display control processing.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... RAM, 5 ... Hard disk, 6 ... NIC, 8 ... CD-ROM, 9 ... Floppy disk, 10 ... Terminal, 20 ... MFP, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM , 23 ... RAM, 24 ... operation unit, 28 ... NIC, M ... monitor display, W1 ... main window, W2 ... sub-window

Claims (6)

In an information display system that reads information related to a predetermined information device to another device via a network and displays the information using a plurality of windows,
First computing means for computing the size and position of the first window;
Second computing means for computing the size and position of the second window,
The information display system, wherein the second calculation means calculates the size and position of the second window so that the second window does not overlap a predetermined area in the first window.   2. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the information does not fit in the first window, the overflow information is displayed on the second window.   In the first window, a predetermined condition can be set in advance for the information on the information device. On the other hand, the state of the information device can be displayed in real time in the second window. 2. The display specification of the second window is changed when the state of the information device displayed in 1 satisfies a predetermined condition displayed in the first window. 3. Information display system.   In the first window, an input area for setting and inputting a predetermined condition for information related to the information device is provided. On the second window, a list of parameters that can be selected as a predetermined condition for information related to the information device is displayed. 2. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein when the parameter is selected in the second window, it is reflected in the input area of the first window.   The parameter selected in the second window and reflected in the input area of the first window cannot be selected in the second window. The information display system described.   A plurality of the input areas are provided in the first window, and parameters reflected in the input areas in the first window are reflected in the first window by selecting individual parameters in the second window. 6. The provisional setting is made at the time of being performed, and when all parameters are selected and reflected in the first window, they can be confirmed on the first window. Information display system.

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