JP2007086961A - Information output system and information output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information output system capable of intuitively designating a combination of input device and output device from a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices. <P>SOLUTION: In this information output system 10 adapted to output information outputted from one of a plurality of PCs 12 by one or more of a plurality of projectors 16, the pointing direction of a pointer 22 is determined, one of the PCs 12 is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22, and one or more of the projectors 16 are specified. The information outputted from the specified PC 12 is supplied to the specified projectors 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information output system and an information output method, and more particularly to a novel interface technique that allows a user to intuitively specify an arbitrary combination from a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices.

  While selecting an arbitrary one from a plurality of input devices (such as a personal computer), selecting any one or more from a plurality of output devices (such as a projector), information input from the selected input device, Conventionally, a switching device is often used when outputting from a selected output device. The switching device is connected to the output terminals of a plurality of input devices, and is connected to the input terminals of the plurality of output devices. The switching device is provided with operation members such as buttons and dials, and by operating these operation members, a combination of an input device and an output device can be designated.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a system called “gaze-link” in which when a camera displays another device, a link with the device is automatically established.
JP 2001-142825 A

  However, when using a switching device, the user must know in advance which input device and which output device are designated when the operation member is operated, which is intuitive. There is a problem that it is difficult to operate. In addition, the system “gaze-link” does not make it possible to arbitrarily specify a combination of an input device and an output device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information output system and an information output method capable of intuitively specifying an arbitrary combination from a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information output system according to the present invention is an information output system in which information output from one of a plurality of input devices is output by one or a plurality of output devices. Based on the pointing direction determining means for determining the pointing direction of the pointer, the input device specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of input devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer, and the pointing direction of the pointer, Output device specifying means for specifying one or more of the plurality of output devices, and information output from the input device specified by the input device specifying means are specified by the output device specifying means. Information supply means for supplying to the output device.

  Also, the information output method according to the present invention determines the pointer pointing direction in the information output method in which information output from one of the plurality of input devices is output by one or more of the plurality of output devices. A pointing direction determination step, an output device specifying step for specifying one of the plurality of input devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer, and a plurality of the output devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer. Output device specifying step for specifying one or more of them, and information supplied from the input device specified in the input device specifying step to the output device specified in the output device specifying step And a supplying step.

  According to the present invention, since the input device and the output device are specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer, the combination of the input device and the output device can be very intuitively performed by the user appropriately using the pointer. Can be specified.

  The input device specifying means may specify one of the plurality of input devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer and each position related to the plurality of input devices. Further, the output device specifying means may specify one or more of the plurality of output devices based on an indication direction of the pointer and each position relating to the plurality of output devices. . The position related to the input device may be the position of the input device itself. For example, the position related to the input device such as the position of the projector that is outputting information about the input device and the position of the screen on which the image is projected by the projector. Any position may be used as long as it is a position to perform. The position relating to the output device may be the position of the output device itself, or may be any position as long as it is a position related to the output device, such as the position of the screen of the projector.

  Further, the input device specifying means may specify one of the plurality of input devices based on a pointing direction of the pointer at a timing when a predetermined operation is performed on the pointer. The output device specifying means may specify one or more of the plurality of output devices based on a pointing direction of the pointer at a timing when a predetermined operation is performed on the pointer. .

  Moreover, in one aspect of the present invention, it further includes output limiting device specifying means for specifying one or more of the plurality of input devices as output limiting devices, wherein the input device specifying means includes the plurality of input devices. Of these, specifying the output limiting device is limited. In this way, with respect to the input device designated as the output restricting means, the information output from the input device is restricted from being supplied to the output device, and privacy can be ensured as necessary.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information output system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information output system 10 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of personal computers 12, a switching device 14, a plurality of projectors 16, a plurality of cameras 20, and a pointer 22. These are arranged in various places such as a large conference room. The personal computer 12 creates, stores, and displays a presentation document and the like, and a display screen signal is output to any projector 16 via the switching device 14. . The projector 16 projects the content of the display screen of the personal computer 12 on the screen 18 using the signal of the display screen, so that the content of the document can be viewed by a large number of people. Here, the personal computer 12 and the switching device 14, the projector 16 and the switching device 14, and the camera 20 and the switching device 14 are connected by wire or wirelessly, respectively.

  In this information output system 10, a predetermined operation is performed toward one of the personal computers 12 that use the pointer 22 as an information source (input device), and further toward one or a plurality of projectors 16 that use the pointer 22 as an output device. Thus, by performing a predetermined operation, the content of the display screen of the desired personal computer 12 can be projected onto the screen 18 by the desired projector 16. Further, a predetermined operation is performed toward one of the personal computers 12 using the pointer 22 as an information source (input device), and further, the predetermined operation is performed while the pointer 22 is directed toward one or a plurality of screens 18. It is characteristic that the contents of the display screen of the personal computer 12 can be projected onto a desired screen 18.

  For this reason, the switching device 14 has a built-in computer, and the computer is connected to a plurality of cameras 20 that are spaced apart from each other, each displaying the entire room in which the information output system 10 is disposed. The pointer 22 has a plurality of projectors 16, a plurality of projectors 16, based on a moving image of the entire room captured by the camera 20, the positions of the projector 16, the screen 18, the personal computer 12, and the camera 20 registered in advance. The screen 18 and the plurality of personal computers 12 are analyzed. For example, in the switching device 14, appearance features such as the color and shape of the pointer 22 are registered in advance, and the position where the appearance feature of the pointer 22 appears is detected from each moving image, and the pointer is detected therefrom. 22 position coordinates (for example, three-dimensional coordinates and two-dimensional coordinates) and the pointing direction of the pointer 22 are calculated. The indication direction of the pointer 22 may be calculated in the form of a three-dimensional vector or a two-dimensional vector, and information indicating which position of the projector 16, the plurality of screens 18, or the plurality of personal computers 12 is indicated. It may be calculated in the form of

  The calculation of the pointing direction of the pointer 22 is not limited to the method described above. For example, in the above description, a plurality of cameras 20 photograph a room from a plurality of directions, and the pointing direction of the pointer 22 is calculated from the image. The pointing direction of the pointer 22 may be determined from a moving image taken by one camera 20.

  Alternatively, the pointing direction of the pointer 22 may be determined using a position measurement system that uses a light interference pattern. That is, a plurality of three-dimensional tags (small laser light generators equipped with an optical lens system that generates a light interference pattern) are attached to the pointer 22, and a plurality of light receiving sensors are installed on the wall or ceiling of the room. . Then, an interference pattern of light emitted from each three-dimensional tag of the pointer 22 may be detected by a light receiving sensor to specify the position of each three-dimensional tag, and the pointing direction of the pointer 22 may be calculated therefrom. (See JP 2004-28977 A)

  Further, each of the plurality of projectors 16, the plurality of screens 18, and the plurality of personal computers 12 is provided with a device for receiving a signal in a specific direction such as an infrared light receiver, and the pointer 22 has a tip in a specific direction such as an infrared light emitter. When a signal emitting device is provided and a signal emitted from the pointer 22 is received, the device may notify the switching device 14 that the own device has been instructed by the pointer 22.

  The switching device 14 and the pointer 22 are capable of short-range wireless communication, and the contents of the operation of the buttons provided on the pointer 22 are transmitted to the switching device 14 using the short-range wireless communication. ing. When the switching device 14 determines from the communication content that an operation of pointing the input device with the pointer 22 has been performed, the switching device 14 calculates the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at that timing, for example, by the method described above, and is thus calculated. One input device is specified based on the indicated direction. In addition, when it is determined from the communication content that an operation to instruct the output device with the pointer 22 has been performed, the instruction direction of the pointer 22 at that timing is calculated by, for example, the method described above, and the instruction direction thus calculated One output device is specified based on the above. A plurality of output devices (projectors 16) that output a display screen of a certain input device (personal computer 12) may be specified. In this case, it is assumed that an operation for instructing the output device with the pointer 22 is performed based on communication contents. Each time it is determined, the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at that timing is calculated by the method described above, for example. Then, the output device is further specified based on the calculated instruction direction.

  As an operation procedure of the pointer 22, there is a method of instructing the screen 18 after instructing the personal computer 12 first. Conversely, the personal computer 12 may be instructed after the screen 18 is instructed. In this way, the instructed personal computer 12 is selected as an input device, the projector 16 that projects information on the instructed screen 18 is selected as an output device, and signals on the computer screen are exchanged between these devices. Thus, the switching device 14 is controlled.

  Further, after instructing the personal computer 12, the projector 16 may be instructed. Conversely, after the projector 16 is instructed, the personal computer 12 may be instructed. In this way, the instructed personal computer 12 is selected as an input device, the instructed projector 16 is selected as an output device, and the switching device 14 is controlled so that signals are exchanged between these devices.

  In addition, after instructing the personal computer 12, a plurality of screens 18 may be instructed. Conversely, the personal computer 12 may be instructed after instructing the plurality of screens 18. In this way, the designated personal computer 12 is selected as an input device, a plurality of projectors 16 that project information on the designated screen 18 are selected as output devices, and signals are exchanged between these devices. The switching device 14 is controlled. In this case, the same information is projected on the plurality of screens 18.

  Further, after instructing the personal computer 12, a plurality of projectors 16 may be instructed. Conversely, the personal computer 12 may be instructed after instructing the plurality of projectors 16. In this way, the instructed personal computer 12 is selected as an input device, the instructed projectors 16 are selected as output devices, and the switching device 14 is controlled so that signals are exchanged between these devices. The Also in this case, the same information is projected by a plurality of projectors 16.

  In addition, after instructing the screen 18 and the projector 16, a plurality of personal computers 12 may be instructed sequentially. Thus, the projector 16 that projects information on the designated screen 18 or the designated projector 16 is selected as the output device. Further, the personal computers 12 that are sequentially designated are sequentially selected as input devices. In this case, information of a plurality of input devices is sequentially output by the selected one output device, and so-called zapping is possible.

  Furthermore, the projector 16 or the screen 18 that has already projected the information of any one of the personal computers 12 may be instructed to designate the input device. That is, the combination of the current input device and output device is managed (stored) by the switching device 14, and when the projector 16 or screen 18 is instructed, the display screen is projected by the instructed projector 16 or screen 18. It is determined that the personal computer 12 is designated as the input device. In this way, the input device can be specified while looking at the computer screen that is largely projected on the screen 18, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  Next, a method for inputting the direction indicated by the pointer 22 will be described. The pointer 22 is obtained by the user, and the pointing direction changes every moment. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to instruct the switching device 14 when to calculate the indication direction of the pointer 22. Further, it is necessary for the user to instruct the switching device 14 as to which of the input device and the output device should be specified using the indication direction of the pointer 22 at that timing.

  For this purpose, the pointer 22 is provided with a button, and whether or not this button is pressed may be transmitted to the switching device 14 by the short-range wireless communication. When the button is first pressed, the input device is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the pressing timing. When the button is pressed next, the input device is specified in the pointing direction at the pressing timing. The output device may be specified based on the result. Conversely, when the first button is pressed, the output device is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the pressing timing, and when the button is pressed next, the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the pressing timing. The input device may be specified based on the above.

  Further, when the button is pressed, the input device is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the pressing timing, and when the button is pressed, the output device is set based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the timing. May be specified. By doing this, the pointer 22 is pointed at the personal computer 12 used as the input device, the button is pressed, and information is projected by the projector 16 using the pointer 22 as the output device while the button is pressed or the projector 16. By stopping pressing the button after facing the screen 18, the combination of the input device and the output device can be instructed by a so-called drag and drop method.

  Alternatively, the pointer 22 is provided with a button for determining the input device and a button for determining the output device, and the input device is based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 when the former is pressed. And the output device may be specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 when the latter is pressed.

  Also, by pressing the decision button for a long time (pressing continuously for a predetermined time or more), pressing twice (pressing twice continuously within a predetermined time), or pressing a hold button provided separately from the decision button The selected content may be held. By doing this, it is possible to facilitate the operation of outputting the same information by a plurality of output devices or sequentially outputting the information of a plurality of input devices by the same output device.

  Further, a cancel button may be provided on the pointer 22 so that the previous operation can be canceled. Further, a reset button may be provided on the pointer 22 so that the entire series of operations can be canceled. Furthermore, when a certain period of time elapses until the operation is completed, all the previous operations may be canceled.

  Further, confirmation output of sound, vibration, display, etc. may be performed from the designated input device or output device so that the user can clearly understand the device designated as the input device or output device by the pointer 22. Specifically, when an input device is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 in the switching device 14, control data is transmitted from the switching device 14 to the input device (one of the personal computers 12). Thus, a predetermined confirmation output may be performed by the input device. Similarly, when an output device is specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22 in the switching device 14, control data is transmitted from the switching device 14 to the output device (any one of the projectors 16). A predetermined confirmation output may be performed by the output device.

  Further, the pointer 22 may be provided with a display means such as a liquid crystal so that the user's instruction content (names of devices selected as the input device and the output device) may be displayed. Further, a program may be made resident in each personal computer 12 so that the operation content of the pointer 22 is displayed on each personal computer 12 by the program.

  Furthermore, use prohibition may be set for any personal computer 12 or projector 16. In this case, a hardware switch or a software switch is provided for the personal computer 12 or the projector 16, and setting for prohibition of use is performed using them. In the case of a software switch, it is desirable that the use prohibition setting cannot be canceled by entering a password. This setting is transmitted to the switching device 14. The switching device 14 refers to the setting of each device, and restricts the selection of an input device or an output device for a device for which use is prohibited. If the device specified as the input device or the output device is set to prohibit use based on the direction indicated by the pointer 22, the use prohibition setting is canceled in the device or other device. It is preferable to display a dialog requesting to do so.

  Here, a specific example of the pointer 22 and an example of specifying an input device and an output device using the pointer 22 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the pointer 22. As shown in the figure, the pointer 22 includes a display 22b, a cancel button 22c, an input device determination button 22e, and an output device determination button 22d. The input device determination button 22e is used to designate the personal computer 12 as an input device (information source) when pressed with the pointer 22 pointing in any direction of the personal computer 12. The pressing of the determination button 22e is notified to the switching device 14 by the short-range wireless communication described above. The switching device 14 determines the pointing direction of the pointer 22 at the notification timing, and specifies the input device therefrom. The cancel button 22c is used to cancel the specification of the input device performed in this way. The output device determination button 22d is used to designate the projector 16 or the screen 18 as an output device by pressing the pointer with the pointer 22 pointing in any direction among the plurality of projectors 16 and the plurality of screens 18. . The pressing of the output device determination button 22d is also notified to the switching device 14 by the short-range wireless communication described above. The switching device 14 determines the indication direction of the pointer 22 at the notification timing, and specifies the output device therefrom. The display 22b is a display unit such as an LCD on which a set of input devices and output devices determined based on the direction indicated by the pointer 22 is displayed. The display content is displayed from the switching device 14 by the short-range wireless communication described above. It is supposed to be sent.

  In the usage form shown in FIG. 3, the user points the pointer 22 to any one of the personal computers 12 (here, PC [A]), presses the input device determination button 22 e, and also uses the screen 18 or the projector 16. Point the pointer 22 to any one of them (in this case, the projector [A]), and press the output device determination button 22d. Either order may be first. According to this aspect, the content of the display screen of the personal computer 12 can be projected to a desired location.

  In the usage mode shown in FIG. 4, the user points the pointer 22 to any one of the personal computers 12 (here, PC [A]), and presses and holds the input device determination button 22 e (holds the above-described hold). Operation). Then, the pointer 22 is pointed at any one of the screen 18 or the projector 16 (here, the projector [A]), and the output device determination button 22d is pressed. Furthermore, the pointer 22 is pointed at another arbitrary screen 18 or the projector 16 (here, the projector [B]), and the output device determination button 22d is pressed. According to this aspect, the contents of the display screen of one personal computer 22 can be projected on a plurality of desired locations.

  In the usage mode shown in FIG. 5, the user points the pointer 22 to any one of the screen 18 or the projector 16 that is used to project the display screen of the personal computer 12 (here, the projector [A]). Then, the input device determination button 22e is pressed. Thus, the personal computer 12 whose screen is being projected by the screen 18 or the projector 16 to which the pointer 22 is pointed is specified as the input device. Next, the pointer 22 is pointed at another screen 18 or the projector 16, and the output device determination button 22d is pressed. Thereby, an output device is specified. According to this aspect, the projection position can be moved by a very intuitive operation.

  As described above, since the input device and the output device are specified based on the pointing direction of the pointer 22, the user can specify the combination of the input device and the output device very intuitively.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the switching device 14 has a function of determining which input device and which output device are designated, but a separate computer may have this function. Further, a part or all of the computer 12 may perform this function.

It is a block diagram of the information output system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a pointer. It is a figure explaining the operation example of the information output system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the other operation example of the information output system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of further another operation | movement of the information output system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10 information output system, 12 personal computer, 14 switching device, 16 projector, 18 screen, 20 camera, 22 pointer, 22b display, 22c cancel button, 22d output device determination button, 22e input device determination button.

Claims (7)

In an information output system for outputting information output from one of a plurality of input devices by one or a plurality of output devices,
Pointing direction determining means for determining the pointing direction of the pointer;
Input device specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of input devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer;
Output device specifying means for specifying one or more of the plurality of output devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer;
Information supply means for supplying information output from the input device specified by the input device specifying means to the output device specified by the output device specifying means;
An information output system comprising: The information output system according to claim 1,
The input device specifying means specifies one of the plurality of input devices based on an indication direction of the pointer and positions related to the plurality of input devices;
An information output system characterized by that. The information output system according to claim 1 or 2,
The output device specifying means specifies one or more of the plurality of output devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer and each position relating to the plurality of output devices.
An information output system characterized by that. The information output system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The input device specifying means specifies one of the plurality of input devices based on an indication direction of the pointer at a timing when a predetermined operation is performed on the pointer;
An information output system characterized by that. The information output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The output device specifying means specifies one or more of the plurality of output devices based on an instruction direction of the pointer at a timing when a predetermined operation is performed on the pointer;
An information output system characterized by that. The information output system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An output limiting device designating unit for designating one or more of the plurality of input devices as an output limiting device;
The input device specifying means restricts specifying the output limiting device among the plurality of input devices;
An information output system characterized by that. In an information output method for outputting information output from one of a plurality of input devices by one or a plurality of output devices,
An instruction direction determination step for determining an instruction direction of the pointer;
An input device specifying step for specifying one of the plurality of input devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer;
An output device specifying step for specifying one or more of the plurality of output devices based on the pointing direction of the pointer;
An information supply step of supplying information output from the input device specified in the input device specifying step to the output device specified in the output device specifying step;
An information output method comprising:

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