JP2009104609A - Host device, client device, host device control program and host device control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a host-client type information processing system, connecting one host device to a plurality of client devices to control the operation performed extending over a plurality of client devices. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing system includes the host device 101 and the client device 102a. The host device 101 includes: a specified information providing part 211 and a pen 103, in which the client device 102a is specified by the specified information providing part 211 and the contents of the operation for the specified client device 102a is discriminated; a specification history recording part 105 for recording operation history information showing the contents of operation continuously performed between the plurality of client devices; and a processing part 104 for transmitting the information obtained as a result of the continuously performed operation to one of the plurality of client devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and a program for causing a computer to execute a client device control method, and more particularly to an information processing system and client device including a host device and a plurality of client devices that operate under the control of the host device. The present invention relates to a program for causing a computer to execute a control method.

2. Description of the Related Art A host / client system type information processing system in which a host device and a client device are connected and the host device controls the client device according to an operation executed on the client device side is used in many fields. Network WEB (World-Wide Web) systems and mobile phone PIM (Personal Information Manager) services are examples of host / client systems. Further, as a conventional technique of the host / client system, Patent Document 1 is cited.
Patent Document 1 is a configuration in which a client computer and a server computer constitute a system, and the execution result of the program is monitored by communicating information related to the end or execution state of the program between the client computer and the server computer. .
JP 2003-157184 A

  Incidentally, in recent years, a display medium called electronic paper has been put into practical use. The electronic paper is a display device that is configured by combining a thin display and a relatively small and simple display control device, and can display images by editing them in the same way as paper and edit the displayed images. Such simple electronic paper is applied as a client device of a host / client system, and can be further thinned and simplified by providing many parts of display control on the host device side. It is also assumed that a plurality of thin and simple electronic papers are used by one operator.

However, even if it is assumed that the host device is connected to a plurality of client devices, either the conventional host / client device or the invention described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of client devices are one person. It is not intended to use a client device. For this reason, for example, it has been impossible to control an operation across a plurality of client devices, such as an operator performing a copy operation in one client device and pasting copied text or the like to another client device.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a host-client type in which one host device is connected to a plurality of client devices and can control operations executed over a plurality of client devices. An object is to provide an information processing system.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing system of the present invention is an information processing system including a host device and a plurality of client devices that operate under the control of the host device, and the plurality of client devices include: Specific identification information for identifying each of the host devices, the host device detecting the identification information to identify each of the client devices, and the client device identified by the identification unit Operation determination unit for determining the content of the operation performed in the operation, and operation content for recording information associating the client device specified by the specifying unit with the operation content for the client device determined by the operation determination unit Based on the information recorded in the recording means and the operation content recording means, between the plurality of client devices Generates information obtained as a result of the operations continue to have been executed, the operation processing means for transmitting the generated information to one of a plurality of said client device, characterized in that it comprises a.

According to such an invention, in an information processing system including a host device and a plurality of client devices that operate under the control of the host device, each of the plurality of client devices can be specified. Further, it is possible to determine the content of the operation performed on the specified client device, and record information that associates the specified client device with the determined operation content. Furthermore, the operation history information indicating the contents of the operations executed continuously between the plurality of client devices is recorded, and the information obtained as a result of the operations executed continuously based on the operation history information is recorded on the plurality of clients. Can be sent to any of the devices.
Therefore, the present invention can provide a host-client type information processing system in which one host device is connected to a plurality of client devices and can control operations executed across the plurality of client devices.

In the information processing system of the present invention, the operation determination unit is connected to the host device by wire or wirelessly, and transmits the contents of the operation performed on the client device to the host device. .
According to such an invention, even when the host device and the client device are installed apart from each other, the operation content can be transmitted from the host device to the client device.
In the information processing system of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of client devices is a memory display device that displays an image using a memory display material.
According to such an invention, it is possible to construct an information processing system that is relatively inexpensive and has a simple configuration while one person can use a plurality of client devices.

  A program for causing a computer to execute the client device control method of the present invention causes a computer to execute a method for controlling a plurality of client devices in a host device of an information processing system including the host device and the client device. Each of the plurality of client devices, an operation determining step for determining contents of an operation performed on the client device specified in the specifying step, and specifying in the specifying step Based on the information recorded in the operation history recording step, the operation history recording step for recording information associating the determined client device with the content of the operation on the client device determined in the operation determining step, Of the class Characterized in that it comprises an operation processing step of transmitting the resulting information about the operations performed in succession between Ant device to any of the client device.

According to such an invention, each of the plurality of client devices can be specified, and the contents of the operation executed on the specified client device can be determined. Then, information associating the identified client device with the content of the operation on the determined client device is recorded, and the result of the operation continuously executed between the plurality of client devices based on the recorded information The resulting information can be sent to any of the client devices.
Therefore, the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to execute a client device control method in which one host device is connected to a plurality of client devices and can control operations executed across the plurality of client devices. Can do.

An embodiment of a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an image processing system and a client device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated information processing system is an information processing system including a host device 101 and a plurality of client devices 102 a and 102 b that operate under the control of the host device 101.
It is assumed that a document viewer host device process is assigned to the client device 102a, and a dictionary search service host process is assigned to the client device 102b. Each of the client devices 102a and 102b is a memory-type display device including a memory-type display 106a that displays an image using a memory-type display material.

The host apparatus 101 includes a pen 103 that is connected to the host apparatus 101 via a cable and allows an operator to input instructions to the client apparatuses 102a and 102b. The pen 103 according to the present embodiment is an operation instruction unit for the client devices 102a and 102b, and also functions as an operation determination unit that determines the content of the operation performed together with the instruction information providing unit 211 described later.
Note that the pen 103 is not limited to being connected to the client device by wire, and may be connected wirelessly.

  The determination of the operation content can be realized as follows, for example. That is, a dot pattern peculiar to the client device in which the position code is diffused is provided on the display 106 of the client devices 102a and 102b. On the other hand, the pen 103 includes an imaging unit that optically reads a dot pattern. The pen 103 picks up an image of one point on the display 106 and sends the image data to the host device 101. The host device 101 decodes the captured image data to identify the client devices 102a and 102b and specify a designated point.

The host device 101 includes a processing unit 104 for identifying the client devices 102a and 102b and specifying points. In addition, the host apparatus 101 includes an instruction history recording unit 105. The instruction history recording unit 105 is an operation content recording unit that records information associating the identified client device with the operation content (point position designated on the client device) for the client device.
According to the instruction history recording unit 105, after the pen 103 designates a point (ax, ay) on the display 106 of the client device 102a, a point (bx, by) on the display 106 of the client device 102b is subsequently designated. Can be recorded.

Next, the internal configurations of the host device 101 and the client devices 102a and 102b described above will be described in more detail. The client devices 102a and 102b have the same function. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the configuration of the client device 102a is illustrated in the description of the client devices 102a and 102b.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configurations of the host device 101 and the client devices 102a and 102b in more detail. As illustrated, the client apparatuses 102a and 102b include an instruction information providing unit 211 that provides instruction information that provides unique identification information for specifying each of the client apparatuses 102a and 102b. According to the above-described example, the instruction information is a dot pattern, and the dot pattern not only identifies the client devices 102a and 102b but also the information on the point designated by the pen 103 on the display 106. Can be provided to the side.

When a GUI (Graphical User Interface) indicating an operation instruction (copy or cut) is set on the display 106, an operation indicated by the GUI is executed by instructing a point on the GUI using the pen 103. be able to.
The pen 103 includes an imaging unit 203 that images a dot pattern. Data obtained by imaging by the imaging unit 203 is transmitted to the host device 101.
In the above configuration, the dot pattern of the client device 102a corresponds to the instruction information providing unit 211.

Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration using the dot pattern as the instruction information providing unit 211, and the position or area indicated on the display 106 by the near field communication such as electromagnetic induction or the barcode. In response, a command related to an instruction can be provided to the host apparatus 101 side.
Further, the client apparatus 102 a receives display data to be updated from the host apparatus 101 as a result of processing performed as necessary based on the information provided to the host apparatus 101 by the instruction information providing unit 211. The client device 102a includes a display execution unit 210 that causes the display 106 to display an image based on the display data. The display execution unit 210 indicates, for example, a driver of the display 106 and a driver control unit.

The client device 102a may receive and store at least one of the document data 209 for generating display data as necessary from the host device.
On the other hand, the host apparatus 101 includes an instruction information acquisition unit 208. The instruction information acquisition unit 208 acquires the imaging data transmitted by the pen 103, specifies the client device 102a or the client device 102b to which the pen 103 indicates a point from the data, and coordinates the point on the indicated display 106 And identification information of the area.
The identification information and coordinate / region information of the client devices 102a and 102b acquired by the instruction information acquisition unit 208 are also output to the document (process) correspondence management unit 204 for management. The host device 101 has information indicating the correspondence between the position on the display 106 and the GUI and the like, and has a client display management unit 201 for specifying the processing requested by the operator from the coordinates / area. .

In this embodiment, the instruction information acquisition unit 208 also grasps what document element is displayed at which position of the client devices 102a and 102b based on the data managed by the client display management unit 201. To do. In such a configuration, for example, a common data format may be defined in a plurality of client devices, and the relationship between the document and the display position may be interpreted as an independent task. Further, the relationship between the document and the display position may be included as a table in each document process processed by the document (process) processing unit 202 described later.
Among the configurations described above, the pen 103, the instruction information acquisition unit 208, and the client display management unit 201 that capture the dot pattern on the display 106 and send it to the host device 101 jointly identify each of the client devices 102a and 102b. Functions as an identification unit that identifies the content of an operation performed on the identified client devices 102a and 102b.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to specify the client device operated when the pen 103 operates the client devices 102a and 102b, and the point or area operated on the client device. For this reason, as described above, the instruction history recording unit 105 can record operation history information indicating the contents of operations executed continuously between the plurality of client devices 102a and 102b.
The host apparatus 101 also includes a document (process) processing unit 202 that generates display data according to the contents of the operation, document data 207 that is referred to when generating display data in the document processing unit 202, and a document that refers to the document data. The reference unit 206 includes a display data transmission unit 205 that transmits the generated display data to the client device 102a.

The display data transmitted to the client device 102a by the display data transmitting unit 205 is displayed on the display 106 by the display execution unit 210 on the client device 102a side.
The processing unit 104 including the above configuration is an operation for transmitting information (display data) obtained as a result of the operator's operation based on the information stored in the instruction history recording unit 105 to any of the plurality of client devices 102a and 102b. It functions as a processing means.

Next, the operation of the information processing system of the present embodiment described above will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the information processing system of this embodiment. When the operator designates one point on any display 106 among the plurality of client devices with the pen 103 (S301), the operation of the information processing system of the present embodiment is started.
The instruction information providing unit 211 of the host apparatus 101 acquires information indicating which position on the display 106 of which client apparatus is instructed from the client apparatus side (S302). The acquired information is added to the instruction history recording unit 105 and temporarily stored (S303).

Further, the instruction information acquisition unit 208 interprets the continuous history of recording in the instruction history recording unit 105 (S304), and determines whether or not the operation executed this time can be interpreted as a series of instructions following the previous operation ( S305). If it cannot be interpreted as a series of instructions (S305: No), the flowchart of the present embodiment waits for an instruction to the next client device. Such processing is because the operation of operating the client apparatuses 102a and 102b by instructing one point on the display 106 is not completed by only one instruction.
Further, when the instruction of the points on the continuous display 106 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S305: Yes), the process associated with this point is determined and executed (S306). The association between the instructed point and the process is determined based on the data managed by the client display management unit 201. The process execution includes a process in which the document processing unit 202 generates display data displayed as a result of the process execution.

The generated display data is transmitted to the client apparatuses 102a and 102b through the display data transmission unit.
According to the program for causing a computer to execute the above client device control method, for example, the following operations are possible. That is, when the operator selects a part of the document displayed on the client device 102a using the pen 103 and instructs the GUI to instruct copying to the clipboard, the instruction information providing unit 211 is instructed to point. The pen 103 is provided with information for identifying the client device and information indicating the position of the designated point.
In the host device, the identified client device and the position of the point on the display 106 of the client device are compared with the data managed by the client display management unit 201. Then, character string data or the like displayed at a point designated by the pen 103 is specified. Further, it is determined that the instruction at this point indicates a copy operation. The determination result is stored in the instruction history recording unit 105.

Next, when the operator indicates a point included in the place where the search character string on the display 106 of the client device 102b is entered, and further indicates a GUI for instructing paste, the instruction information providing unit 211 is instructed. Detects that a paste operation has been requested. The paste instruction is temporarily stored in the instruction history recording unit 105.
Further, the document processing unit 202 of the host device 101 refers to the record of the instruction history recording unit 105. Then, it is detected that an instruction to copy character string data has been made before, and it is determined that the current paste is to paste character string data instructed to copy. In this case, consecutively designated points are interpreted as indicating a series of operations.

The document processing unit 202 generates display data for synthesizing the character string data selected at the time of the copy operation at the location where the search character string of the client apparatus 102b is entered. The display data transmission unit 205 transmits the generated display data to the client device 102b. As a result of the above operation, an image obtained by combining the character string data selected by the client device 102a at a location designated by the client device 102b is displayed on the display 106 of the client device 102b.
As described above, the information processing system according to the present embodiment can execute an operation spanning the client apparatus 102a and the client apparatus 102b. The present embodiment is not limited to copying and pasting character string data and the like, but can be applied to other commands for hyperlink copying and document editing. Needless to say.

4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the above operation more specifically, both of which are processes performed on the host device side. However, FIG. 4 is an example of interpreting copy to paste as a series of processes, and FIG. 5 is an example of interpreting a copy operation and a paste operation as a series of processes. 4 and 5 are flowcharts in which the process of step S305 shown in FIG. 3 is developed.
In the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the operator designates one point on the display 106 of the client apparatus 102a using the pen 103, the operation starts (S401). At this time, a point on the display 106a (document plane: A in the flowchart) of the client apparatus 102 is designated from the pen 103 to the host apparatus 101, and the coordinates of the point are (x, y). A signal is sent (S403).

The host apparatus 101 receives this signal and adds a record in which the point (x, y) on the display 106a is designated to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S403). The instruction information acquisition unit 208 interprets the instructions in the instruction history (S404), and determines whether the operations from step S401 to S404 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S405). In the case of the present embodiment, since it cannot be interpreted as a series of operations only by an indication of the point (x, y), it cannot be interpreted as a series of operations in step S405.
Note that, as described above, the flowchart of FIG. 4 is an expansion of the determination in step S305, and step S405 and step S410, which will be described later, are processes determined as No in step S305 (S305: No). Further, step S415, which will be described later, is processing that is determined to be Yes in step S305 (S305: Yes).

Subsequently, when the operator operates the operation unit such as the operation button of the client apparatus 102a to input an instruction to the client apparatus 102a, the host apparatus 101 confirms that the instruction content corresponding to the operation unit is “copy”, for example. It is detected (S407). Then, the fact that the copy instruction has been made is added to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S408). Then, the instructions in the instruction history are interpreted (S409), and it is determined whether the operations from step S401 to S407 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S410). In the example of FIG. 4 in which the operations up to copying are not interpreted as a series of operations, they are not interpreted as a series of operations in step S410.
Further, when the operator operates the client apparatus 102b to instruct the paste (S411), the instruction information acquisition unit 208 detects that the client apparatus 102b has instructed the paste (S412). Then, this information is added to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S413). Then, the instructions in the instruction history are interpreted (S414), and it is determined whether or not the operations from step S401 to S413 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S415).

In the example of FIG. 4, the operation up to the designation of the position of the image to be operated (selection of the image), copying, and pasting is determined as a series of interpretation (S415: Yes). Then, display data obtained as a result of a series of operations is generated and sent to the client device (S416).
That is, the host apparatus 101 refers to the document correspondence management unit 204 and detects an operation (such as image selection) on the client apparatus 102a. Then, the image data displayed at the designated point (x, y) is extracted. Also, an operation performed on the client apparatus 102b is detected with reference to the document correspondence management unit 204. Since the detected operation is paste, in this embodiment, data extracted by the client device 102a is pasted by the client device 102b.

The document processing unit 202 generates display data obtained by combining the data extracted by the client device 102a with the screen displayed on the client device 102b.
After the above processing, the host apparatus 101 transmits to the client apparatus 102b via the display data transmission unit 205 (S417).
In the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the operator uses the pen 103 to designate one point on the display 106 of the client apparatus 102a, the operation starts (S501). At this time, a point on the display 106a (document plane: A in the flowchart) of the client apparatus 102 is designated from the pen 103 to the host apparatus 101, and the coordinates of the point are (x, y). A signal is sent (S503).

  The host apparatus 101 receives this signal and adds a record in which the point (x, y) on the display 106a is designated to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S503). The instruction information acquisition unit 208 interprets instructions in which the instruction history is continuous (S504), and determines whether the operations from step S501 to S504 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S505). In the case of the present embodiment, since it cannot be interpreted as a series of operations only by an indication of the point (x, y), it cannot be interpreted as a series of operations in step S505.

As described above, the flowchart of FIG. 5 is an expansion of the determination in step S305, and step S505 is a process in which the determination in step S305 is No (S305: No). Further, step S511 and step S516, which will be described later, are processes determined to be Yes in step S305 (S305: Yes).
Subsequently, when the operator operates the operation unit such as the operation button of the client apparatus 102a to input an instruction to the client apparatus 102a, the host apparatus 101 confirms that the instruction content corresponding to the operation unit is “copy”, for example. It is detected (S507). Then, the fact that the copy instruction has been made is added to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S508). Then, the instructions in the instruction history are interpreted (S509), and it is determined whether or not the operations from step S501 to S507 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S510).

  As described above, the flowchart of FIG. 5 is interpreted as a series of operations for each copy and paste operation. Therefore, a copy process corresponding to the copy operation is executed (S511). In the copy operation, the document correspondence management unit 204 is referenced to detect an operation (such as image selection) on the client apparatus 102a. Then, the image data displayed at the designated point (x, y) is extracted. Further, the extracted image data is stored on the clipboard. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the display on the client apparatuses 102a and 102b is not updated after the above processing. However, in the case of a cutting operation, for example, the display state can be updated by generating display data reflecting the cut state and transmitting it to the client apparatus 102a.

  Further, when the operator operates the client device 102b to instruct paste (S512), the instruction information acquisition unit 208 detects that the client device 102b has instructed paste (S513). Then, this information is added to the instruction history recording unit 105 (S514). Then, the instructions in the instruction history are interpreted (S515), and it is determined whether the operations from step S501 to S513 can be interpreted as a series of operations (S516). As a result of this determination, in the example of FIG. 5, a paste process corresponding to the paste operation is executed (S517).

  In the paste operation in step S517, first, the host apparatus 101 refers to the document correspondence management unit 204 to detect an operation performed on the client apparatus 102b. Since the detected operation is a paste, in the present embodiment, the document processing unit 202 combines the data stored in the clipboard in the series of processes included in step S511 on the screen displayed on the client device 102b. Generate data. The generated display data is transmitted to the client apparatus 102b via the display data transmission unit 205 (S518).

  A program for causing a computer to execute the client device control method described above is a computer in an installable or executable format, such as a CD-ROM, floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), or DVD. Recorded on a readable recording medium. Further, the program for causing a computer to execute the client device control method of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. good.

A program for causing a computer to execute the client device control method of the present embodiment described above is recorded in a memory device such as a ROM, flash memory, memory card, or USB-connected flash memory that can be read by the computer. It may be provided.
According to the embodiment described above, even if a single host device is in a host / client type information processing system connected to a plurality of client devices 102a and 102b, it is executed across the plurality of client devices 102a and 102b. Based on the operation, the host device can rewrite the display data of the client device.
Such an information processing system can give an operator a sense of operation as if an image or a character displayed on one of two paper media is moved to the other. In addition, the operability of the memory-type display material applied to the client device can be improved, and the operability can be brought close to a paper medium.

It is a figure for demonstrating the information processing system of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configurations of a host device and a client device shown in FIG. 1 in more detail. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the whole operation | movement of the information processing system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement performed in the host apparatus of the information processing system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the operation | movement performed in the host apparatus of the information processing system of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 host device, 102, 102b client device, 103 pen, 104 processing unit, 105 instruction history recording unit, 106a, 106b display, 201 client display management unit, 202 document processing unit, 203 imaging unit, 204 document correspondence management unit, 205 Display data transmission unit, 206 Document reference unit, 207, 209 Document data, 208 Instruction information acquisition unit, 210 Display execution unit, 211 Instruction information provision unit

Claims (4)

An information processing system comprising a host device and a plurality of client devices that operate under the control of the host device,
The plurality of client devices have unique identification information for specifying each of the client devices,
The host device is
Identifying means for detecting the identification information and identifying each of the client devices;
Operation discriminating means for discriminating the content of the operation performed on the client device identified by the identifying means;
Operation content recording means for recording information associating the client device specified by the specifying means with the content of the operation on the client device determined by the operation determining means;
Based on the information recorded in the operation content recording unit, information obtained as a result of an operation continuously executed between the plurality of client devices is generated, and the generated information is selected from any of the plurality of client devices. An operation processing means to send to,
An information processing system comprising:   The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the operation determination unit is connected to the host device by wire or wirelessly and transmits the content of an operation performed on the client device to the host device.  The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of client devices is a memory display device that displays an image using a memory display material. A program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a plurality of client devices in a host device of an information processing system including a host device and a client device,
A specifying step of specifying each of the plurality of client devices;
An operation determining step of determining the content of the operation performed on the client device specified in the specifying step;
An operation history recording step for recording information associating the client device specified in the specifying step with the content of the operation on the client device determined in the operation determining step;
Based on the information recorded in the operation history recording step, an operation processing step of transmitting information obtained as a result of operations executed continuously between the plurality of client devices to any of the client devices;
A program for causing a computer to execute a client device control method.

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