JP2006268745A - Information processing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system and method in which one of a plurality of information processors connected with each other is used as an information processing control apparatus and control of the plurality of information processors and information processing are speedily performed based on a control signal output from the above information processing control apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In an information processing system 1, an information processing control apparatus 2, a first information processor 3, an n-th information processor 4, a peripheral device 5a and a peripheral device 5b are provided and are each connected by a communication means 6. The information processing control apparatus 2 has an internal configuration similar to the first information processor 3 and the n-th information processor 4 and controls the first information processor 3, the n-th information processor 4, the peripheral device 5a and the peripheral device 5b via the communication means 6. The information processing control apparatus 2, the first information processor 3 and the n-th information processor 4 are connected serially by a high-speed interface of IEEE1394b S800. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing system that performs information processing of a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

  When using a plurality of information processing devices at the same time, for example, two computer devices, the user needs to prepare input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse for each computer device and use them separately. In addition, in order to save space and improve convenience, a plurality of computer devices may be used by switching control signals output from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse using an input switching device (for example, patents). Reference 1).

However, when the input switching device is used, there are problems that the computer devices are complicatedly connected and that a space for installing the devices is widened. Further, there is a problem in that only a single set of peripheral devices such as a printer and a drive device can be accessed simultaneously for a plurality of computer devices.
JP 2002-41438 A (page 13, FIG. 8)

  The present invention uses one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to each other as an information processing control apparatus, and controls and controls the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a control signal output from the information processing control apparatus. Provided are an information processing system and an information processing method capable of quickly performing information processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing system of one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of information processing devices each having an input operation function and a display function and processing arbitrary information, and the plurality of information processing devices. Control means for controlling the information processing apparatus, input means for inputting a control signal for controlling the information processing apparatus, information transferred from the information processing apparatus, and processed information Information processing control device having a display means for displaying the information and a distribution means for delivering the processed information to the information processing device, and communication that connects the information processing device and the information processing control device and performs two-way communication Means.

  Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, an information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention provides first image information displayed on a display device of an information processing control device selected from a plurality of information processing devices. A step of catching, a step of transferring the first image information to an information processing device, a second image information displayed on the information processing device, wherein the first image information is displayed on the information processing device. Comparing the first image information with the first image information, and when the second image information is different from the first image information, catching the second image information; and Transferring the second image information to the information processing control device; and replacing the first image information of the information processing control device with the second image information.

  According to the present invention, one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to each other is used as an information processing control apparatus, and based on a control signal output from the information processing control apparatus, It is possible to provide an information processing system and an information processing method capable of quickly performing control and information processing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an information processing system and an information processing method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the information processing apparatus and the information processing control apparatus. In this embodiment, a communication cable is used as a communication means for connecting each device with IEEE1394 of a high-speed serial interface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes an information processing control device 2, a first information processing device 3, an nth information processing device 4, a peripheral device 5 a, and a peripheral device 5 b. Connected by means 6. Here, n information processing devices as computer devices are provided in the information processing system 1, and are high-speed capable of processing image data that has been encoded with high efficiency such as MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) 4 and compressed. A computer device is preferred. Note that illustration and description of the second information processing apparatus to the (n-1) th information processing apparatus are omitted.

  The information processing control device 2 has the same internal configuration as the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4, and the first information processing device 3 and the nth information via the communication means 6. The processing device 4, the peripheral device 5a, and the peripheral device 5b are controlled.

  The first information processing apparatus 3 and the nth information processing apparatus 4 receive control signals output from the information processing control apparatus 2 through the communication means 6 and perform various information processing operations, as well as information Various information processing operations by users with access rights authorized by the processing control device 2, mutual information communication via the information processing control device 2, and data output from the peripheral device 5a and the peripheral device 5b via the communication means 6 Etc.

  The peripheral device 5a has a function of outputting or distributing information output from the information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4. The peripheral device 5b has a function of storing information output from the information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4.

  The communication means is made of, for example, a plastic optical fiber, and can transfer information up to Gbps (Giga bit per sec) at a high speed. The information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 are serially connected by a high-speed interface of IEEE1394b S800 (800 Mbps).

  Here, the number n of information processing devices provided in the information processing system 1 is preferably within 63. In the case of n> 64, the number is larger than the number of nodes per access point (one bus) as the IEEE 1394 interface. Further, instead of the high-speed interface of IEEE 1394b S800, the information processing system 1 may be connected using an interface of IEEE 1394b S400 (400 Mbps), S1600 (1600 Mbps) or IEEE 1394a S200 (200 Mbps).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 are each provided with an information processing unit 11, a display unit 12, and an input / output unit 13. It has been. The information processing unit 11 is provided with an input / output I / F 15, a controller 16, a memory 17, and a data storage unit 18, which are connected by an internal bus 14.

  The input / output I / F 15 is connected to the communication unit 6, the display unit 12, and the input / output unit 13. The controller 16 controls information processing performed by the information processing unit 11. The memory 17 temporarily stores programs, data, and the like for information processing performed by the information processing unit 11. The data storage unit 18 stores various data related to information processing. Here, the information processing unit 11 of the information processing control device 2 not only generates a control signal in the information processing control device, but also performs information processing of the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4. A control signal to be controlled is generated and output to the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4.

  The display unit 12 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and displays information processed by the information processing unit 11. The input / output unit 13 outputs information input from the outside to the information processing unit 11 and inputs information output from the information processing unit 11. Here, the input / output unit 13 of the information processing control device 2 also functions as an input device for inputting an input signal for controlling the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4. The display unit 12 of the information processing control device 2 displays information executed by the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 and information executed by the information processing control device 2 based on the information. It also functions as a display device.

  The information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 move information displayed on the respective display units 12 up and down, left and right, diagonally, etc. You can change the displayed information to new information. In addition, the target area for capturing the displayed information can be arbitrarily selected, and the captured information can be enlarged or reduced.

  Next, the construction of the information processing system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a configuration example of the information processing system.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, an arbitrary one of n + 1 information processing devices on a specific premises or floor is placed at a predetermined location as the information processing control device 2. Here, the n + 1 information processing devices do not necessarily have the same performance and function, and the information processing control device 2 selects the information processing device having the highest performance and the highest function among them. Is preferred. (Step S1).

  Next, n information processing apparatuses are arranged on a specific campus or floor. Here, the distance between the information processing devices or between the information processing device and the information processing control device 2 is preferably arranged within 100 m in order to satisfy the high-speed interface of IEEE1394 (step S2).

  Subsequently, the information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, the nth information processing device 4, the peripheral device 5a, and the peripheral device 5b are connected by the communication means 6 through the high-speed interface of IEEE1394b S800. The control device 2 performs authentication of the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 and user authentication using the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 (step S3). ).

  Next, an information processing method using the information processing system will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a flowchart showing information processing using the information processing system, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example, FIG. 5A is a display example of a display unit of the information processing control device, and FIG. FIG. 5C is a display example of the display unit of the information processing control apparatus after information processing. Here, the image data displayed on the display unit of the information processing control device is replaced with the latest image data displayed on the information processing device.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, image information displayed on the display unit 12 of the information processing control device 2 is caught. Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, the image information to be caught is the first screen 22, the second screen 23, and the third displayed on the display screen 20 of the display unit 12 of the information processing control device 2. This is the first screen 22 information including the high-definition color-displayed image information A displayed in the upper left of the first screen 22 in the screen 24 (step S11).

  Next, based on the input signal input to the input / output unit 13 of the information processing control device 2, the first screen 22 information including the image information A caught by the information processing control device 2 is MPEG-compressed and the communication means 6. Is transmitted to the first information processing apparatus 3 (step S12).

  Subsequently, the first information processing device 3 displays the transmitted image information and the previously transmitted image information on the display screen 21 of the display unit 12 based on the control signal of the information processing control device 2, and compares them. To do. Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image information to be compared is the first screen 22 information including the transmitted image information A, and the fourth screen 22a information including the previously transmitted image information B ( Information on the first screen 22 transmitted from the information processing control device 2 previously). If the compared image information A and image information B are the same, the operation is terminated, and if they are different, the process proceeds to the next step (step S13).

  Then, the first information processing device 3 catches the image information B on the fourth screen 22a different from the image information A based on the control signal of the information processing control device 2 (step S14).

  Next, the first information processing device 3 performs MPEG compression on the captured image information B based on the control signal of the information processing control device 2 and transfers the image information B to the information processing control device 2 via the communication means 6 (step). S15).

  Subsequently, the information processing control device 2 performs image information replacement. Here, as the image information to be replaced, as shown in FIG. 5C, the image information A on the first screen 22 is replaced with the image information B transferred from the first information processing apparatus 3 (step S16).

  Then, the information processing control device 2 uses the first information processing device 3 to the nth information processing device 4 (n information processing devices) with the display screen 20 information including the replaced image information as the latest information. Distribute (step S17).

  Here, the image information A displayed on the display unit 12 of the information processing control device 2 is replaced with the latest image information B. In the information processing system 1, The latest image information displayed in the area can also be replaced at the same time. In this case, the second and subsequent information processing apparatuses may be one or more.

  As described above, the information processing system and the information processing method according to the present embodiment have the same internal configuration as the first information processing apparatus 3 and the nth information processing apparatus 4, and the first information is transmitted via the communication unit 6. The information processing control device 2 for controlling the information processing device 3, the nth information processing device 4, the peripheral device 5a, and the peripheral device 5b is provided. The information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 are serially connected by a high-speed interface of IEEE1394b S800.

  For this reason, instantaneous switching and control of a plurality of information processing apparatuses can be performed. In addition, a plurality of screens of other information processing apparatuses can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen, and communication and control between the information processing apparatuses can be easily performed. Furthermore, since a switching device is not required and the connection between the information processing devices is simplified, the installation space can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the information processing system 1 is connected using the IEEE 1394 interface, but may be connected using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 having a transfer speed of 480 Mbps. Further, although the image information is replaced by the information processing control device 2, the image information may be replaced by the first information processing device 3 and the information may be transferred to the information processing control device 2.

  Next, an information processing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the information processing system. In this embodiment, the information processing control device and the information processing device are connected using a wireless local area network (LAN).

  In the following, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted, and only different portions are described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the information processing system 1a includes an information processing control device 2, a first information processing device 3, an nth information processing device 4, a peripheral device 5a, a peripheral device 5b, and an access point 31. It has been. Note that illustration and description of the second information processing apparatus to the (n-1) th information processing apparatus are omitted.

  The information processing control device 2 is selected from any one of the n + 1 information processing devices, generates a control signal for performing control in the information processing system 1a, and receives the information processing system via the communication unit 6. Send in 1a.

  The access point 31 is connected to the communication means 6 and transmits a control signal output from the information processing control device 2 to the first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 by the radio wave 32. Information processed by the information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 is received by the radio wave 32.

  Here, the information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 are connected by a wireless LAN of 5 GHz, but a wireless LAN of 2.4 GHz or a wireless USB 2.0. You may connect with.

  The first information processing device 3 and the nth information processing device 4 receive control signals output from the information processing control device 2 via the access point 31 and perform various information processing operations as well as information Various information processing operations by users with access rights authorized by the processing control device 2, mutual information communication via the information processing control device 2, and output of data from the peripheral device 5a and the peripheral device 5b via the access point 31 Etc.

  When the information processing system 1a is networked, the encryption authentication security of the first information processing apparatus 3 and the nth information processing apparatus 4, the first information processing apparatus 3 and the nth information processing apparatus It is desirable to perform user authentication using 4. In addition, although one access point 31 is used for transmission / reception with the information processing apparatus, a plurality of access points may be provided for transmission / reception with the information processing apparatus.

  As described above, the information processing system according to the present embodiment has the same internal configuration as the first information processing apparatus 3 and the nth information processing apparatus 4, and the first information processing apparatus via the communication unit 6. 3. An information processing control device 2 that controls the nth information processing device 4, the peripheral device 5a, and the peripheral device 5b is provided. The information processing control device 2, the first information processing device 3, and the nth information processing device 4 are connected by a wireless LAN of 5 GHz.

  For this reason, instantaneous switching and control of a plurality of information processing apparatuses can be performed. In addition, a plurality of screens of other information processing apparatuses can be simultaneously displayed on the display screen, and communication and control between the information processing apparatuses can be easily performed. And since a switching apparatus becomes unnecessary and the connection between information processing apparatuses is simplified, an installation space can be reduced. Furthermore, since the access point is used to connect to the information processing apparatus via a 5 GHz wireless LAN, the communication means 6 can be simplified as compared to the first embodiment, and the degree of freedom in installing the information processing system is improved. Space can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the image data is replaced in the information processing system, but information processing work such as a floor plan in layout design and a change in arrangement and wiring may be performed. In addition, a plurality of people in the information processing system 1 may perform a multitasking operation for performing information processing using one information processing apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of an information processing apparatus and an information processing control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of construction of an information processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing information processing using the information processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the display part which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the information processing system which concerns on Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a Information processing system 2 Information processing control device 3, 4 Information processing device 5a, 5b Peripheral device 6 Communication means 11 Information processing unit 12 Display unit 13 Input / output unit 14 Internal bus 15 Input / output I / F
16 Controller 17 Memory 18 Data storage unit 20, 21 Display screen 22 First screen 23 Second screen 24 Third screen A, B Image information 31 Access point 32 Radio wave

Claims (5)

A plurality of information processing apparatuses that have an input operation function and a display function and process arbitrary information;
Control means for controlling the information processing apparatus selected from among the plurality of information processing apparatuses, input means for inputting a control signal for controlling the information processing apparatus, and information transferred from the information processing apparatus An information processing control device having display means for displaying the processed information, and distribution means for distributing the processed information to the information processing apparatus;
A communication means for connecting the information processing apparatus and the information processing control apparatus to perform bidirectional communication;
An information processing system comprising: A plurality of information processing apparatuses that have an input operation function and a display function and process arbitrary information;
Control means for controlling the information processing apparatus selected from among the plurality of information processing apparatuses, input means for inputting a control signal for controlling the information processing apparatus, and information transferred from the information processing apparatus Display means for displaying the processed information, replacement means for replacing the image information displayed on the display means with image information transferred from the information processing apparatus, and the processed information on the information processing apparatus An information processing control device having a distribution means for distributing to,
A communication means for connecting the information processing apparatus and the information processing control apparatus to perform bidirectional communication;
An information processing system comprising:   The display function of the information processing apparatus and the display means of the information processing control apparatus include display selection means for displaying a plurality of pieces of information as separate screens and selecting part or all of the screen information. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that   The communication means serially connects the information processing apparatus and the information processing control apparatus, and the control means of the information processing control apparatus performs authentication of the information processing apparatus and user authentication using the information processing apparatus. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Catching first image information displayed on a display device of an information processing control device selected from among a plurality of information processing devices;
Transferring the first image information to an information processing device;
Displaying the first image information on the information processing device and comparing the second image information displayed on the information processing device with the first image information;
Catching the second image information if the second image information and the first image information are different;
Transferring the second image information of the information processing apparatus to the information processing control apparatus;
Replacing the first image information of the information processing control device with the second image information;
An information processing method comprising:

Images