JP2007133507A - Information processing apparatus, and method of arranging ui component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain configuration of a display screen faithfully to the intention of a provider of UI data, even in an information processing apparatus different in a screen size, based on the single UI data. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus has a UI component screen arranging means for arranging a UI component assigned by a UI component assigning element, or a group of the UI component assigned by a group element, on a screen, an additional screen preparing means for preparing at least one or more of additional screens, when incapable of arranging the UI component or the group of the UI component on the screen by the UI component screen arranging means, and a UI component addition screen arranging means for arranging the UI component assigned by the UI component assigning element, or the group of the UI component assigned by the group element, on the additional screen. The problem to be solved hereinbefore is solved by this configuration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a UI component arrangement method.

  An HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) language is widely used as a presentation language for displaying and configuring various information existing on servers on the Internet.

  According to the HTML language, differences in PC (Personal Computer) architecture and differences in browser applications can be absorbed, and display screens almost as intended by the author can be configured in any PC environment. Met.

  In recent years, with the development of communication infrastructure, there is a growing demand for PDA devices having a communication environment, mobile phones, and the like to connect to the Internet and display information on servers. Furthermore, with the advent of input / output devices of various sizes and types, client devices that do not fit in the genre such as PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones are also appearing. There is a request to display.

  With regard to display data using the HTML language designed mainly for display on a PC, a PC with a certain size of screen is configured and displayed almost without any problem as intended by the manufacturer. The However, with a PDA or a mobile phone having a relatively small screen, since the display is folded and displayed halfway, the entire screen is often not visible unless scrolling is performed endlessly.

  As a solution to this problem, for display devices with small screens such as PDAs and mobile phones, for example, using C-HTML (Compact HTML) language, etc. There is a method to prepare data on the server side.

  However, in this method, when display data for a display device having a small screen is displayed on a display device having a large screen, only a small amount of data is displayed despite the large screen. In other words, if an appropriate screen is displayed for each different type of display device, there is a problem that different display data must be prepared for each different type of display device. In this case, when the display contents are changed, it is necessary to uniformly change each description prepared for each display device, which causes an increase in cost.

  As a solution to this problem, normal display data for a PC is reduced and converted using a proxy service or the like for a mobile phone or the like. However, this method requires an operation of conversion in the first place, and furthermore, the conversion operation is to display the original display data by modifying it, and it cannot be said that the display necessarily reflects the intention of the producer. It was.

  When display data created for a display device having a large screen, such as a PC, is viewed on a display device having a small screen, the display device may be divided into a plurality of screens and displayed. In this case, contents that do not want to be divided may be divided into two screens in the contents that extend over the display boundary to be divided.

  As a solution to this problem, there is one that restricts the display output when the display content to be displayed on the apparatus is likely to be divided at the display boundary (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-196065 A

  However, Patent Document 1 mentions the case where one display target element such as a picture is divided, but there are cases where a plurality of elements are not displayed on the same screen and are divided into a plurality of screens. It was. That is, when it is desired to view and operate a plurality of elements at once, there is a problem that the ease of operation intended by the display data creator is significantly impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Based on a single UI data, a display screen configuration faithful to the intention of the UI data provider can be obtained even for information processing apparatuses having different screen sizes. For the purpose.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention has storage means for storing UI data related to a user interface, and arranges UI components on the screen according to the UI data stored in the storage means. In the information processing apparatus, the UI data includes a UI part designating element for designating a UI part and a group element including zero or one or more UI part designating elements, and the UI part designating element is displayed on the screen. UI component screen arrangement means for arranging a UI component designated by or a group of UI parts designated by the group element, and the UI component screen arrangement means for arranging the UI component or the group of UI components on the screen. If not, additional screen creation means for creating at least one additional screen, UI parts designated by the UI part designating element on the additional screen, Is characterized by having a a UI component add screen arrangement means for arranging a group of UI component the Group element is designated.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having storage means for storing UI data relating to a user interface, and arranging UI components on a screen in accordance with the UI data stored in the storage means, The UI data includes a UI part designating element for designating a UI part and a group element including zero or one or more UI part designating elements, and the UI part designated by the UI part designating element on the screen, or UI component screen arrangement means for arranging a group of UI parts designated by the group element and at least 1 when the UI component screen arrangement means cannot arrange the UI component or the group of UI parts on the screen. The additional screen creation means for creating the above additional screen, and the UI component designated by the UI component designation element or the group element designated on the additional screen A UI component addition screen arrangement means for arranging a group of UI components to be used, even for information processing apparatuses having different screen sizes based on a single UI data, faithfully comply with the intention of the UI data provider. A simple display screen configuration can be obtained.

  UI is an abbreviation for User Interface. The information processing apparatus corresponds to an information processing apparatus described later. The storage means corresponds to, for example, a program memory 4 or a data memory 5 described later. The UI data corresponds to, for example, data (document data, line data, table data, graphic data) used to configure (or create) a screen as described later.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention may be a UI component arrangement method, a program, and a storage medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a display screen configuration that is faithful to the intention of a UI data provider, even for information processing apparatuses having different screen sizes based on a single UI data.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input unit for inputting information (data). Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which performs operations for various processes, logical determinations, and the like, and controls each component connected to the bus 6. An output unit 3 outputs information (data). The output unit 3 includes a display such as an LCD or CRT, and a recording device such as a printer.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a program memory which stores a program for control by the CPU 2 including a processing procedure of a flowchart (activity diagram) described later. The program memory 4 may be a ROM or a RAM in which a program is loaded from an external storage device or the like.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a data memory, which stores data related to various processes (for example, UI data). The data memory 5 is a RAM, for example, but is loaded from a non-volatile external storage medium prior to processing or referred to whenever necessary.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes an address signal for instructing each component to be controlled by the CPU 2, a control signal for controlling each component, and a bus for transferring data exchanged between the components.

  2 and 3 are examples of UI data described as an HTML language according to the present embodiment. Line number 1 in FIG. 2 and line number 74 in FIG. 3 are tags indicating that they are HTML elements. Line numbers 2 to 5 in FIG. 2 are descriptions of the HTML head. Line numbers 7 in FIG. 2 to line number 73 in FIG. 3 indicate body elements, and data constituting the screen in this embodiment is described.

  The description of line number 8 in FIG. 2 is an h1 element indicating the top level heading, and the screen is configured and displayed with the element as the top level heading.

  The description of line number 9 in FIG. 2 is a text element, and the text is arranged on the screen. The same applies to 13, 14, 15, 25, 26, 27, 38, 39, 40 in FIG. 2 and line numbers 52, 58, 59, 60, 66 in FIG.

  The description of line number 12 in FIG. 2 is a form element, which indicates that the form is described up to the 72nd line in FIG. When the order button element indicated by the input tag of the line number 70 in FIG. 3 is pressed, the server order. It is described that cgi is activated and the value of the UI component in the form element is sent by POST.

  A group tag which is an extension based on the present embodiment is described in line number 10 in FIG. 2 and line numbers 50, 58, 63, and 66 in FIG. 3, and line numbers 49, 57, 62, and 65 and 71 describe a / group end tag which is an extension based on this embodiment. A group element surrounded by a group tag and a / group end tag indicates that it is a single element, and it is determined whether or not the screen can be configured on a group element basis. If parts that are difficult to arrange on a separate screen are made into one group element, they will not become separate screens, but a screen configuration reflecting the intention of the screen creator.

  FIG. 4 is an activity diagram showing an example of arranging UI parts from UI data in the information processing apparatus. S401 to S411 indicate each step.

  First, the information processing apparatus determines whether there is a tag in the UI data (S401), and if there is no tag, the information processing apparatus ends. If there is a tag in the UI data, the information processing apparatus reads one tag (S402). The information processing apparatus determines whether the read tag is a group tag or not (S403). If the tag is not a group, the information processing apparatus arranges it on the screen (S404).

  If the tag is a group tag as a result of the determination in S403, the information processing apparatus calculates the size when the UI component in the group is arranged (S405). The information processing apparatus determines whether the UI parts in the group can be arranged on the screen (S406), and when entering the screen, arranges them in the screen (S407). If the result of the determination in S406 is that the screen does not enter, the information processing apparatus creates a new screen (S408), and adds a button for opening the new screen to the existing screen (S409).

  The information processing apparatus adds a button for returning to the existing screen to the new screen (S410). The information processing apparatus arranges UI parts on the new screen (S411).

  With the processing described above, the information processing apparatus having a relatively large screen such as a PC is configured (created) from the UI data of FIGS. 2 and 3 as shown in FIG.

  Further, by the above-described processing, the information processing apparatus having a relatively small screen such as a mobile phone from the UI data of FIGS. 2 and 3 can be changed to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The screen as shown is configured. In FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, each group is divided into groups, and each group is arranged on a separate screen.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the arrangement of UI parts different from the first embodiment on the screen will be described.
The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. An example of UI data in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is an activity diagram illustrating an example of arranging UI parts from UI data in the information processing apparatus. Note that steps S1101 to S1109 indicate each step.

  First, the information processing apparatus determines whether there is an element in the UI data (S1101). If there is an element, the information processing apparatus reads one group element including the UI component designation element (S1102). The information processing apparatus calculates the total size of the parts arranged by the UI part designating elements in the group (S1103). The process returns to S1101 again, and the information processing apparatus continues until all group elements are read. If there is no element in the determination in S1101, the information processing apparatus determines whether all groups can be arranged in the screen (S1104), arranges them on the screen (S1105), and ends.

  As a result of the determination in S1104, if the information processing device cannot be placed in the screen, the information processing apparatus creates new screens for the number of groups (S1106), and adds buttons for opening the new screen to the existing screens for the number of new screens. (S1107). The information processing apparatus adds a button for returning to the existing screen to the new screen (S1108). Then, the information processing apparatus arranges UI parts in the group on each new screen (S1109).

  Through the processing described above, the screens as shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are constructed from the UI data shown in FIGS.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, UI data in which a group includes a group (inclusive group) will be described. The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. FIGS. 17 and 18 are examples of UI data described as HTML language.

  In the line numbers 10, 11, 23, 24, 36, and 37 in FIG. 17 and the line numbers 49 and 50 in FIG. 18, the group tag and the / group end tag of this embodiment are described, and the group includes a group in the group I am doing.

  19, 20, and 21 are examples in which UI parts are arranged on a device having a screen smaller than that of the first embodiment in the UI data of line number 50 in FIG. 17 to line number 50 in FIG. 17. Since the screen is small, the UI component of line number 50 in FIG. 17 to line number 50 in FIG. 18 cannot be arranged. Therefore, the screen is divided and arranged in units of groups in the group.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a plurality of component placement methods and designates the component placement method in UI data.

  The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. 22 and 23 are examples of UI data described as HTML language according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has two types of component arrangement methods (component arrangement method information).

  Based on the component arrangement method, the information processing apparatus configures, for example, the screens of FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 from the UI data of FIGS. 22 and 23, for example, FIG. 13, 14, 15, and 16 are configured.

  Line number 5 in FIG. 22 describes an arrangement tag and an / arrangement end tag that specify the component arrangement method of the present embodiment. The standard enclosed by the arrangement tag and the / arrangement end tag designates one of the component arrangement methods. By this designation, the information processing apparatus configures the screens of FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

  As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, if an information processing device having a large screen or an information processing device having a small screen cannot be configured with one screen, the device can be divided into a plurality of screens to Each UI screen can display an appropriate screen. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare different UI data for different types of information processing apparatuses, and even if the display contents are changed, it is only necessary to change one UI data, and the cost can be greatly reduced. Become.

  In addition, when a plurality of UI parts are designated in a group, the information processing apparatus may designate a screen configuration that reflects the intention of the UI screen creator in order to place the UI parts in accordance with the designation of the group. it can.

  Also, when a group is specified to include a group, the information processing apparatus divides and arranges UI components according to the group in the group even when one group cannot be displayed on the screen. The intention can be reflected.

  In addition, when divided and arranged on a plurality of screens, a UI such as a button for switching to each screen is automatically added, so that a screen with significantly improved operability can be provided to the user.

  When being divided and arranged on a plurality of screens, the information processing apparatus selects and executes a division arrangement method from a plurality of methods according to the content of the UI data. Therefore, the user can operate an appropriate screen according to the content of the UI data. That is, it is possible to provide the user with a screen with significantly improved operability.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of information processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language. FIG. 5 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language. FIG. 11 is an activity diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of arranging UI parts from UI data in an information processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating an example of a screen configuration. It is FIG. (2) which shows the example of a screen structure. FIG. 11 is a third diagram illustrating an exemplary screen configuration; It is FIG. (4) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (5) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (6) which shows the example of a screen structure. FIG. 10 is an activity diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of arranging UI parts from UI data in the information processing apparatus. It is FIG. (7) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (8) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (9) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (10) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (11) which shows the example of a screen structure. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language; FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 4) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language; It is FIG. (12) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (13) which shows the example of a screen structure. It is FIG. (14) which shows the example of a screen structure. FIG. 10 is a diagram (No. 5) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language. FIG. 6 is a diagram (No. 6) illustrating an example of UI data described as an HTML language;

Explanation of symbols

1 Input unit 2 CPU
3 Output unit 4 Program memory 5 Data memory 6 Bus

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus having storage means for storing UI data related to a user interface, and arranging UI parts on a screen in accordance with the UI data stored in the storage means,
The UI data includes a UI part specifying element that specifies a UI part, and a group element that includes zero or one or more UI part specifying elements,
UI component screen arrangement means for arranging a UI component designated by the UI component designation element on the screen or a group of UI components designated by the group element;
When the UI component screen arrangement unit cannot arrange the UI component or the group of UI components on the screen, an additional screen creation unit creates at least one additional screen;
UI component addition screen arrangement means for arranging a UI component designated by the UI component designation element on the addition screen or a group of UI components designated by the group element;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The group element includes one or more UI part designating elements and zero or one inclusion group element.
The UI component screen arrangement means is configured to specify the UI component specified by the inclusion group element on the screen when the UI component group cannot be arranged on the screen and the group element includes one or more inclusion group elements. Place a group of
The additional screen creation means creates at least one additional screen when the UI component screen arrangement means cannot arrange the UI component specified by the inclusion group element on the screen,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the UI component addition screen arrangement unit arranges a UI component designated by the inclusion group element on the addition screen.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first UI component addition means for adding a UI component that opens the additional screen to the screen.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second UI component adding means for adding a UI component that opens the screen to the additional screen.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the UI data includes information related to designation of a UI component arrangement method. A UI component placement method in an information processing apparatus that has storage means for storing UI data related to a user interface and places UI parts on a screen in accordance with the UI data stored in the storage means,
The UI data includes a UI part specifying element that specifies a UI part, and a group element that includes zero or one or more UI part specifying elements,
UI component screen arrangement step of arranging a UI component designated by the UI component designation element on the screen or a group of UI components designated by the group element;
An additional screen creation step for creating at least one or more additional screens when the UI component screen placement unit cannot place the UI parts or the group of UI parts on the screen;
A UI part addition screen arrangement step for arranging a UI part designated by the UI part designation element on the addition screen or a group of UI parts designated by the group element;
A UI component placement method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the UI component arranging method according to claim 6.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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