JP2009199456A - Information processing device, display method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an input operation into a window in a lower hierarchy without an impediment even a window in a higher hierarchy exists. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing device has: a determination means for determining whether an input position designated by a cursor 403 of a first window 401 is a predetermined distance apart from a second window 402 or not; a calculation means for calculating an area not used by the first windows 401; a search means for searching for a place into which the second window 402 fits; and a window moving means for moving the second window 402 from the search means to a relevant place when the input position designated by the determination means is not the predetermined distance apart. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a window display method, and a program.

  Conventionally, in a multi-window type operating system, a plurality of windows are displayed on a display screen having a limited size, so that the windows may overlap each other. In such an apparatus, there is a technique for making the front window semi-transparent (see, for example, Patent Document 1) in order to see overlapping window portions while maintaining the hierarchical relationship of the windows. Thus, it is possible to operate while looking at information of a plurality of windows at the same time without changing the window hierarchy without changing the windows.

  As an example of a method for making a window translucent, a terminal device (Toshiba Corporation) having a plurality of windows as in Patent Document 1 is known. In this example, if there are multiple windows, and those windows overlap, the overlapping lower layer windows become translucent and are displayed in front, so that the upper and lower layer windows can be viewed. be able to.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-249782

  However, the window display method as described above has the following problems. That is, input is continuously performed using a pointing device in a certain window, and input is performed while moving the pointing device. At this time, if “other windows” are displayed in front of “a certain window” at the destination of the cursor, even if those “other windows” are translucent. It will interfere with input.

  For this reason, the input in “a certain window” is temporarily interrupted, the “other window” is activated and moved to a position where it does not get in the way, and then the “a certain window” is activated to resume the input. It was.

Such an example will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 showing a display screen of a conventional multi-window system.
In this system, it is assumed that a free drawing application is executed while performing video communication, and an application window 1201 is displayed as “a certain window” on the display.
The communication destination video window 1202 is “another window” and is displayed on the upper surface of the application window 1201 in a translucent state.

  In FIG. 13, consider a case in which it is desired to perform drawing for a long time on the portion of the application window 1301 hidden on the lower surface of the window 1302 while the drawing content 1304 is being drawn using the cursor 1303 in the window 1301. In this case, the drawing operation is interrupted to move the video window 1302.

  By making the upper window semi-transparent in this way, even if the upper and lower windows can be viewed at the same time, the upper window becomes an obstacle in the environment where drawing and other work is performed, which is different from the conventional one. There was no need to do any operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can easily perform an input operation to a window in a lower hierarchy without obstructing an input operation to the window in a lower hierarchy even if an upper hierarchy window exists. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an information processing apparatus that includes at least a display device and that can display a plurality of windows simultaneously on the display device.
A first window that is the target of an input operation;
A second window displayed overlying the top surface of the first window;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the input position designated by the cursor in the first window is a predetermined distance away from the second window;
Calculating means for calculating an area not used in the first window;
Search means for finding a place where the size of the second window fits;
Window moving means for moving the second window from the search means to an appropriate place when the determining means determines that the designated input position is not separated from the second window by the predetermined distance. It is characterized by having.

  In the present invention, the upper window moves to a place where it does not interfere with the work according to the work contents without changing the hierarchical relationship of the upper windows necessary for work during the work in the lower window. Thereby, it is possible to proceed without interrupting the work in the lower window.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic hardware configuration of a multi-window system according to the present invention. The multi-window system includes a CPU, a memory, a storage device, an input device, an output device, and a bus.

  The CPU 101 performs processing calculations. The memory 102 realizes a storage area necessary for calculation. The storage device 103 also stores the program data itself of the multi-window system, the contents displayed by the multi-window system, and data necessary for the operation. The input device 104 receives information input by the user using a mouse, digitizer, keyboard, or the like. The output device 105 displays the information input by the input device 104 and the result calculated by the CPU 101. The bus 106 connects these devices and transfers data. Program data 107 of the multi-window system is stored as part of data in the storage device 103.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware functional configuration of the multi-window system of the present invention.
The information storage means 201 is for writing the currently managed or displayed object information, etc., or reading the written information in accordance with a request from the information management means 202. The information management unit 202 operates and manages the information storage unit 201, and writes information to the information storage unit 201, deletes information, or deletes information from the information storage unit 201 in accordance with a request from the control unit 203. read out. The control unit 203 gives an instruction for storing or displaying according to the information received by the receiving unit 204. The receiving unit 204 receives drawing information and a cursor movement instruction written by the user using a digitizer or the like. The display unit 205 performs display based on drawing information written by a user using a digitizer or the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of display display processing according to the present invention executed in the multi-window system of the present invention.
In step S301, it is determined whether the window for drawing has acquired focus. Acquiring focus is an action of inputting something into the drawing window.

  Here, since there is a window necessary for the application although it is not necessary for drawing such as the partner video window used in the videophone application, windows other than the drawing window are made translucent in step S302. If the focus of the drawing window is lost, the action is to end the input or to pay attention to another window. In step S303, the display of the window made translucent in step S302 is restored.

  In step S304, when the drawing window obtains the focus and the user starts the input work, it is confirmed whether there is a semi-transparent window within a predetermined distance of the input work, that is, an unused area. If it does not exist, it waits by repeating the process so far. If a semi-transparent window exists, in step S305, the undrawn area of the drawing window and the size of the semi-transparent window are calculated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display when the user focuses on the drawing window in step S302.
Reference numeral 401 denotes a drawing window (first window), and another window 402 (second window), which is a video, is displayed on the upper layer. Reference numeral 403 denotes a cursor, and the objects 404a to 404c have already been written as objects. In particular, 404a is an object that has just started to be written. In the drawings up to FIG. 11 below, the correspondence is indicated by the end (af) of each object.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display in the middle of drawing in the window direction which is translucent from the state of FIG. The drawing object 504a is drawing in the direction of the video window 502.

  Here, in step S304, it is determined whether or not the interval 505 between the input position designated by the cursor 503 at the forefront of drawing and the video window 502 is within a predetermined distance. There is no problem even if the predetermined distance is variable depending on the window. Further, when the distance is 0, that is, when it overlaps with the translucent window, there is no problem even if the process of step S305 is performed.

  In step S306, a search is made for a portion in which the target translucent window size can be stored in the undrawn area acquired in step S305. If it exists, the process proceeds to processing step S307 for moving the translucent window, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S308 to perform another means. In step S307, a process (window movement) for moving the translucent window to an undrawn area (an unused area) is performed. If there are a plurality of movable parts, the window is moved to a place having high importance for the translucent window. Then, the process returns to the start.

  FIG. 6 is an image diagram when a portion in which the drawing window is not drawn is acquired when the process of step S305 is performed from the state of FIG. A shaded portion 606 is a portion where the drawing window 601 is not drawn.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display after performing the processing of step S306 and step S307 from the state of FIG. Compared with FIG. 6, it can be seen that the video window 702, which is a translucent window, has moved to the upper part than before.

  Although the lower part of the drawing window 701 is listed as a candidate for the moving part, in the case of the video window, the upper part of the screen or the periphery of the drawing input part is high in importance, and as a result, the display as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. For example, in the case of a window such as a toolbar, there are many cases where the window exists in the lower part. In this case, the lower part has higher importance, and the importance may be set higher from the lower part.

  In step S308 and subsequent steps, processing is performed when there is no movable area of the translucent window. First, it is confirmed whether the translucent window can be changed. If it cannot be changed, the process of step S311 is performed. If possible, the process proceeds to the next step S309. In step S309, the translucent window is reduced, and the same process as in step S306 is performed again with the reduced window size. At this time, if there is a place where the reduced window can be accommodated, the process proceeds to the next step S310, and if the window cannot be accommodated even if the window is reduced, the process proceeds to step S311.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display when a large number of drawing objects are arranged in a wide range as compared with FIG.
In this case as well, since the interval between the position of the cursor 803, which is the most advanced drawing, and the video window 802 is within a predetermined distance, an attempt is made to move to an undrawn area. However, since there is no place to move with the current video window size, a solution is attempted by reducing the video window size.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display when the video window is made smaller and moved from the state of FIG.
Since there was no moving part in the video window size before the movement, the size was reduced and the movable place was searched for and displayed in the highly important place, so the display was as shown in FIG.

  In step S311, since a place that does not interfere with the drawing work for moving the translucent window has not been found, a process of moving to a place that does not interfere with the current drawing work is performed at least. For this purpose, a process of moving the translucent window in the direction opposite to the drawing input is performed, and the process returns to the start process.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display when a large number of drawing objects are arranged in a wide range and at a high density from FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display when the object 1004a being drawn from the state of FIG. 10 draws in the direction of the video window 1002.
In this case, even if the video window 1102 is changed, the image window 1102 cannot be moved to the undrawn area, so that the image window 1102 is finally moved to a place that does not interfere with the object 1104a being drawn. In this example, since the object 1004a being drawn is drawn in the right direction, the video window 1102 moves to the left with respect to the drawing. This case is an example, and if a predetermined storage location of the video window exists, it may be stored and displayed at that location.

  The above is the flow of performing the display process according to the work contents of the upper and lower windows in the multi-window system. This prevents the drawing work from being interrupted, and the interruption of the work can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the determination is made based only on the distance between the input target and the upper window. However, the determination may be performed in combination with the input time around the upper window.
For example, there is no change in the display of the upper window for drawing drawn by passing through the upper window in an instant, but there is a problem even if the processing described above is performed for drawing while staying around the upper window for a certain period of time. There is no.

It is also possible to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to read and execute the program codes stored in the storage medium by a computer such as the system. The present invention is achieved.
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As the storage medium, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.
Further, the present invention also includes the case where the OS of the computer or the like performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the hardware of the multiwindow system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the hardware of the multiwindow system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the basic composition of the multi-window system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, when the high-order window concerning embodiment of this invention will be in a translucent state. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, when the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is an image figure which illustrated the undrawn area | region of the drawing window concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, after the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, when the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display after the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, when the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display, after the drawing object in the input concerning embodiment of this invention approaches the high-order window which became the translucent state. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the conventional multiwindow system. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the conventional multiwindow system.

Explanation of symbols

101 CPU
102 memory 103 storage device 104 input device 105 output device 106 bus 107 program data 201 information storage means 202 information management means 203 control means 204 reception means

Claims (3)

An information processing apparatus comprising at least a display device and capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows on the display device,
A first window that is the target of an input operation;
A second window displayed overlying the top surface of the first window;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the input position designated by the cursor in the first window is a predetermined distance away from the second window;
Calculating means for calculating an area not used in the first window;
Search means for finding a place where the size of the second window fits;
Window moving means for moving the second window from the search means to an appropriate place when the determining means determines that the designated input position is not separated from the second window by the predetermined distance. And an information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus including at least a display device, wherein a first window which is a target of an input operation is displayed on the display device, and a second window is displayed so as to overlap an upper surface of the first window Display method,
A determining step of determining whether or not the input position designated by the cursor in the first window is a predetermined distance away from the second window;
A calculation step of calculating an area that is not used in the first window;
A search step for finding a place where the size of the second window fits;
A window moving step of moving the second window to a corresponding location from the searching step when the determining step determines that the designated input position is not separated from the second window by the predetermined distance; And a display method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the display method according to claim 2.

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