JP2012048671A - Information processing apparatus, input interface control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus or the like which can be operated from a plurality of input interfaces of the same type.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected includes: means for correspondingly managing each of the plurality of input interfaces and an operation target reflected with an input operation of an input interface among at least one or more operation targets displayed on a display device; and means for reflecting the operation target being managed correspondingly to the input interface with the input operation of the input interface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control technique when a plurality of input interfaces are connected to one information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is known that can display a plurality of windows on a display unit such as a display (multi-window system).
Among the plurality of windows, one window that can reflect a user operation via a connected pointing device (such as a mouse) or a keyboard input interface is recognized as an active window. The active window can be switched by clicking with a pointing device (such as a mouse) or simultaneously pressing the Alt key and Tab key of the keyboard.

  Even when multiple pointing devices (such as a mouse) and multiple keyboard input interfaces are connected to an information processing device such as a personal computer, there is one active window or pointer (such as a mouse pointer) in principle. Even if a plurality of users perform operations simultaneously from a plurality of input interfaces, only one operation is recognized.

  As for pointers (mouse pointers, etc.), there are applications that display a plurality of pointers (mouse pointers, etc.) when input interfaces of a plurality of pointing devices (mouse, etc.) are connected. ) Is one active pointer that can reflect the user operation via the input interface of the connected pointing device (mouse, etc.), so when operating the active pointer, other pointers (mouse The pointer etc. cannot be operated.

  As a related technique, a technique for inputting a command to a predetermined processing task without setting an active window is disclosed regarding a character string input unit in a multi-window system. In the multi-window system for displaying a processing result of a computer having a character input means and a display device on a window, the configuration is a processing task for receiving the input character string by analyzing the input character string for the input processing task. And input the input character string (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-255069

  Since an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is basically assumed to be operated by a single user, even when a plurality of pointing devices (such as a mouse) or a plurality of keyboard input interfaces are connected. In addition, there is always one control object such as an active window and an active pointer, and a plurality of users or the like cannot be operated simultaneously from a plurality of similar input interfaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an input interface control method, and a program that can be operated from a plurality of input interfaces of the same type.

The first information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected,
Means for associating and managing each of the plurality of input interfaces and an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface among at least one or more operation objects displayed on the display device;
The input operation of the input interface comprises means for reflecting the operation target managed in association with the input interface.

The second information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus in which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected for each type,
Means for associating and managing each of a plurality of input interfaces of one type among the plurality of types and another type of input interface of the plurality of types;
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. Means for associating and managing an operation target reflecting the input operation of the input interface;
The input operation of the input interface includes means for reflecting the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface.

According to a first input interface control method of the present invention, each of the plurality of input interfaces of an information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected, and at least one operation target displayed on a display device Managing in association with the operation target reflecting the input operation of the input interface;
Reflecting the input operation of the input interface to the operation target managed in association with the input interface.

The second input interface control method of the present invention includes a plurality of input interfaces of one type among the plurality of types of the information processing apparatus in which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected for each type, and Associating and managing other types of input interfaces among a plurality of types;
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. A step of managing an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface in association with each other;
Reflecting the input operation of the input interface to the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface.

The first program of the present invention is an information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected.
A process of managing each of the plurality of input interfaces in association with an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface among at least one or more operation targets displayed on the display device;
A process of reflecting an input operation of the input interface on the operation target managed in association with the input interface is executed.

The second program of the present invention is an information processing apparatus in which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected for each type.
A process of managing each of a plurality of input interfaces of one type of the plurality of types in association with another type of input interface of the plurality of types;
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. A process for managing an operation target reflecting the input operation of the input interface in association with each other;
A process of reflecting an input operation of the input interface on the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface is executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to operate one information processing from a plurality of the same type of input interfaces.

It is a figure which shows the apparatus structure which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a personal computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input interface management table which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the processing operation which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the user setting screen which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen display which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input interface management table which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input interface management table which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the processing operation which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A personal computer 10 as an information processing apparatus in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is connected to input interfaces of a mouse 21 and a mouse 22 and two keyboards 31 and 32 as pointing devices, and a display device 40. It has.
The personal computer 10 is an information processing apparatus main body, is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unite) or the like, and includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like, and is further known. Input / output mechanism and communication function. Note that the personal computer is an example of an information processing apparatus, and various apparatuses can be applied.
The mouse 21 and mouse 22 have a known configuration such as a mechanism for displaying a mouse pointer, but a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The mouse is an example of a pointing device, and various devices can be applied. Here, the mouse 21 is used by the first user (1), and the mouse 22 is used by the second user (2).
The keyboard 31 and the keyboard 32 have a known configuration such as an input mechanism for characters and the like, but detailed description thereof is omitted. Here, the keyboard 31 is used by the first user (1), and the keyboard 32 is used by the second user (2).
The display device 40 includes a display for displaying a result of a user operation via the input interfaces of the mouse 21, mouse 22, keyboard 31, and keyboard 32.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the personal computer 10 in the present embodiment.

  The personal computer 10 includes a main control unit 11, an input control unit 12, a storage unit 13, and an output control unit 14.

The main control unit 11 has a function for controlling the entire apparatus.
The input control unit 12 uses an input interface management table of the storage unit 13 for user operations via the input interfaces of the mouse 21, mouse 22, keyboard 31, and keyboard 32. Etc., and a function for managing the controlled object. The layer may be realized by an OS (Operating System) layer.
The storage unit 13 stores, for example, an input interface management table as shown in FIG. In the input interface management table, a user, a mouse, a keyboard, a mouse pointer (active mouse pointer), and an active window are managed in association with each other. It may be realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like.
The output control unit 14 has a function of outputting data such as characters input from a window including an active window displayed on the display device 40, a mouse pointer including an active mouse pointer, and a keyboard. The layer may be realized by an OS (Operating System) layer.

Next, the processing operation of the personal computer 10 in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Assuming that the mouse 21 and the keyboard 31 are used by the user (1) and the mouse 22 and the keyboard 32 are used by the user (2), the respective data are stored in the input interface management table as shown in FIG. It shall be. When a mouse is connected to the personal computer 10, a mouse pointer associated with the mouse is displayed on the display device 40.
In the input interface management table, for example, data registration may be performed by displaying a user setting screen as shown in FIG. Alternatively, when a mouse or keyboard is connected to the personal computer 10, the main control unit 11 or the like may automatically recognize and register data.
In the input interface management table of FIG. 3, the user (1) uses the mouse 21 and the keyboard 31, the mouse pointer 51 is associated with the mouse 21, and the window 61 (see FIG. 6) is set as the active window. Has been. The user (2) uses a mouse 22 and a keyboard 32, and a mouse pointer 52 is associated with the mouse 22, and a window 62 (see FIG. 6) is set as an active window. The active window may be set by default, for example, the most recently opened window according to a predetermined rule, or may be blank (NULL: not set) until a mouse click operation is performed. Good.

  Referring to FIG. 4, first, the user (1) operates the mouse 21 and clicks a single or a plurality of windows with the mouse pointer 51 displayed on the display device 40 (S401). ). Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the window 63 is clicked among the four windows 61 to 64.

The input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 receives the user operation via the mouse 21 in step S401 described above, and accordingly, the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) of the storage unit 13 is stored in the user (1 ) Is used by the mouse 21 and the keyboard 31, and the mouse pointer 51 is linked to the mouse 21, and the window 63 is set as the active window (S402). That is, the active window is changed from the window 61 to the window 63 (see FIG. 7 (1)).

  When the user (1) operates the keyboard 31 to input characters and the like, the input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 accepts the user operation via the keyboard 31 (S403), and the storage unit 13 Referring to the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3), it is determined that the active window corresponding to the keyboard 31 is the window 63 (S404).

Next, the output control unit 14 of the personal computer 10 receives data such as characters input from the keyboard 31 in step S403 based on the active window information grasped by the input control unit 12 in step S404. Then, the data is output to the window 63 as the active window displayed on the display device 40 (S405).
Through the processing so far, the input from the input interface of the mouse 21 and keyboard 31 used by the user (1) can be output to the active window 63 (associated with the mouse 21 and mouse pointer 51).

  Similarly, the user (2) operates the mouse 22 and clicks, for example, a single window or one of a plurality of windows with the mouse pointer 52 displayed on the display device 40 (S406). Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the window 64 is clicked among the four windows 61 to 64.

  The input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 receives the user operation via the mouse 22 in the above step S406, and accordingly, the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) of the storage unit 13 is stored in the user (2 ) Is used by the mouse 22 and the keyboard 32, and the mouse pointer 52 is linked to the mouse 22, and the window 64 is set as the active window (S407). That is, the active window is changed from the window 62 to the window 64 (see FIG. 7 (2)).

  When the user (2) operates the keyboard 32 to input characters or the like, the input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 receives the user operation via the keyboard 32 (S408), and the storage unit 13 Referring to the data of the input interface management table (see FIG. 3), it is determined that the active window corresponding to the keyboard 32 is the window 64 (S409).

Next, the output control unit 14 of the personal computer 10 receives data such as characters input from the keyboard 32 in step S408 based on the active window information grasped by the input control unit 12 in step S409. Then, the data is output to the window 64 as the active window displayed on the display device 40 (S410).
Through the processing so far, the input from the input interface of the mouse 22 and the keyboard 32 used by the user (2) can be output to the active window 64 (associated with the mouse 22 / mouse pointer 52).

In the above flow, steps S401 to S405 related to the user (1) and steps S406 to S410 related to the user (2) may be switched in order. It becomes possible to have control objects (active windows) independently of each other, and inputs from a plurality of input interfaces are separated, and a plurality of users (user (1), user (2)) use one by using a plurality of input interfaces. Personal computer 10 can be operated.
Accordingly, a plurality of users (user (1), user (2)) can work simultaneously on a single personal computer 10 on a large display in a presentation or a meeting.
If a plurality of displays are connected to one personal computer 10, a plurality of users (user (1), user (2)) can work simultaneously on one personal computer 10, so that data sharing and parallel work can be performed. It becomes easy, work efficiency increases, and follow-up work by feedback etc. becomes easy.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the user (1) or the user (2) operates the mouse to operate any one of the four windows 61 to 64 or a newly opened display device. By clicking the window displayed at 40, etc., the active window (associated with the mouse / mouse pointer) is changed, so that the input from the input interface can be output to the active window.

In this regard, according to the flow of steps S401 to S410, the user (1) uses the data in the input interface management table for the mouse 21 and the keyboard 31, and the mouse 21 is associated with the mouse 21. The window 63 is set as the active window, and the user (2) uses the mouse 22 and the keyboard 32. The mouse pointer 52 is associated with the mouse 22, and the window 64 is set as the active window. (See FIG. 7B), for example, the user (2) operates the mouse 22, and the mouse pointer 52 displayed on the display device 40 causes the window 63 (the input interface of the user (1)). Input when you click (active window) The data in the interface management table is changed as shown in FIG. 8 (1), and the active window of the input interface of the user (2) is also set as the window 63. It may be shared as an active window.
Further, the data of the input interface management table is changed as shown in FIG. 8B, and the active window of the input interface of the user (2) is changed to the window 63 and the active window of the input interface of the user (2) is mouse The user (2) may take the active window of the input interface of the user (1) as a blank (NULL: not set) until the click operation or the like is performed.
The same applies when the user (2) and the user (1) are interchanged.

  As described above, by sharing one window as an active window by a plurality of people (user (1), user (2)), collaborative work such as painting with a large number of people with paint software or the like is facilitated. .

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a duplicate description is omitted. In the first embodiment, data such as characters finally input from the keyboard is output to the active window. However, in the present embodiment, the data finally input from the mouse is output. It differs in that it outputs to the active window.

  Referring to FIG. 9, first, the user (1) operates the mouse 21 and clicks a single or a plurality of windows with the mouse pointer 51 displayed on the display device 40 (S901). ). Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the window 63 is clicked among the four windows 61 to 64.

The input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 receives the user operation via the mouse 21 in the above step S901, and accordingly, the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) of the storage unit 13 is stored in the user (1 ) Is used by the mouse 21, and the mouse pointer 51 is associated with the mouse 21, and the window 63 is set as the active window (S902). That is, the active window is changed from the window 61 to the window 63 (see FIG. 7 (1)).

  When the user (1) operates the mouse 21 to move and display the mouse pointer 51 displayed on the display device 40, the input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 causes the user via the mouse 21 to operate. Operation is accepted (S903), and it is grasped that the active window corresponding to the mouse 21 is the window 63 with reference to the data of the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) of the storage unit 13 (S904).

Next, the output control unit 14 of the personal computer 10 receives the data input from the mouse 21 in step S903 and the input data based on the active window information grasped by the input control unit 12 in step S904. The predetermined processing result data based on is output to the window 63 as the active window displayed on the display device 40 (S905). For example, when the user (1) operates the mouse 21 to move and display the mouse pointer 51 displayed on the display device 40, an application for displaying the movement locus of the mouse pointer 51, and the movement display of the mouse pointer 51 are displayed. The present invention can be applied to an application or the like in which a predetermined event process is started.
Through the processing so far, it is possible to output the input from the input interface of the mouse 21 used by the user (1) to the active window 63 (associated with the mouse 21 / mouse pointer 51).

  Similarly, the user (2) operates the mouse 22 and clicks a single or a plurality of windows with the mouse pointer 52 displayed on the display device 40 (S906). Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the window 64 is clicked among the four windows 61 to 64.

  The input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 receives the user operation via the mouse 22 in step S906 described above, and accordingly, the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) of the storage unit 13 is stored in the user (2 ) Is used by the mouse 22, and the mouse pointer 52 is linked to the mouse 22, and the window 64 is set as the active window (S907). That is, the active window is changed from the window 62 to the window 64 (see FIG. 7 (2)).

  When the user (2) operates the mouse 22 to move and display the mouse pointer 52 displayed on the display device 40, the input control unit 12 of the personal computer 10 causes the user via the mouse 22 to operate. An operation is accepted (S908), and it is grasped that the active window corresponding to the mouse 21 is the window 64 with reference to the data in the input interface management table (see FIG. 3) in the storage unit 13 (S909).

Next, the output control unit 14 of the personal computer 10 receives the data input from the mouse 22 in step S908 and the input data based on the active window information grasped by the input control unit 12 in step S909. The predetermined processing result data based on is output to the window 64 as the active window displayed on the display device 40 (S910). For example, when the user (2) operates the mouse 22 to move and display the mouse pointer 52 displayed on the display device 40, an application for displaying the movement locus of the mouse pointer 52, and the movement display of the mouse pointer 52 are displayed. The present invention can be applied to an application or the like in which a predetermined event process is started.
Through the processing so far, it becomes possible to output the input from the input interface of the mouse 22 used by the user (2) to the active window 64 (associated with the mouse 22 and the mouse pointer 52).

  In the above flow, steps S901 to S905 related to the user (1) and steps S906 to S910 related to the user (2) may be switched in order. It becomes possible to have control objects (active windows) independently of each other, and inputs from a plurality of input interfaces are separated, and a plurality of users (user (1), user (2)) use one by using a plurality of input interfaces. Personal computer 10 can be operated.

  According to the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment described above, the user operates the mouse without a mouse click operation or the like, and the mouse pointer 51 displayed on the display device 40 is moved and displayed. In this case, input from the mouse can be output to the active window.

  A processing flow in which the present embodiment is incorporated into the first embodiment is also possible.

  In each of the above embodiments, for example, an input interface other than a mouse or a keyboard may be used, and the number of users or input interfaces may be three or more. Furthermore, the aspect which a single user uses may be sufficient instead of multiple persons (user (1), user (2)).

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, processing for realizing the functions of the apparatus may be performed by causing the apparatus to read and execute a program for realizing the functions of the personal computer 10. Further, the program is transmitted to another computer system by a transmission wave via a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a magneto-optical disk, or via a transmission medium such as the Internet or a telephone line. Also good. In addition, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the functions of each device are realized by other devices collectively or the functions are distributed by additional devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Personal computer 21, 22 Mouse 31, 32 Keyboard 40 Display apparatus 51, 52 Mouse pointer 61-64 Window

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected,
Means for associating and managing each of the plurality of input interfaces and an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface among at least one or more operation objects displayed on the display device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for reflecting an input operation of the input interface to the operation target managed in association with the input interface. An information processing apparatus in which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected for each type,
Means for associating and managing each of a plurality of input interfaces of one type among the plurality of types and another type of input interface of the plurality of types;
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. Means for associating and managing an operation target reflecting the input operation of the input interface;
An input operation of the input interface comprises means for reflecting on the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface. apparatus. The one type of input interface is a mouse;
The other type of input interface is a keyboard;
The predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of input interfaces of the one type is a click operation,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one operation target displayed on the display device is a window. Each of the plurality of input interfaces of the information processing apparatus to which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected, and an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface among at least one operation target displayed on the display device Managing and associating,
Reflecting the input operation of the input interface to the operation target managed in association with the input interface. Each of a plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types of information processing apparatuses in which a plurality of input interfaces of the same type are connected for each type, and other types of input interfaces of the plurality of types Managing and associating,
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. A step of managing an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface in association with each other;
Reflecting the input operation of the input interface to the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface. Control method. For information processing devices to which multiple input interfaces of the same type are connected,
A process of managing each of the plurality of input interfaces in association with an operation target reflecting an input operation of the input interface among at least one or more operation targets displayed on the display device;
A program for causing an input operation of the input interface to be reflected on the operation target managed in association with the input interface. To information processing devices in which multiple same-type input interfaces are connected for each type,
A process of managing each of a plurality of input interfaces of one type of the plurality of types in association with another type of input interface of the plurality of types;
Each of the one type of input interfaces and at least one operation target displayed on the display device according to a predetermined input operation of each of the plurality of types of input interfaces of the plurality of types. A process for managing an operation target reflecting the input operation of the input interface in association with each other;
A program for causing an input operation of the input interface to be reflected on the operation target managed in association with the one type of input interface managed in association with the input interface. .

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