JP2757911B2 - Function key guide setting and display method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function key guide setting and display method, for example, to a function key guide setting and display method of an information terminal incorporating a plurality of application software and kana-kanji conversion software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional software for various terminal devices, various functions are assigned to function keys so that they can be used with few operations. However, different functions are assigned to the same function key for each software. In order to fully utilize the function assigned to each function key, a display that conveys the content to the user is required.

For this reason, a function key guide is prepared for each software by preparing a function guide label on which a function is printed for each function key on a paper or plastic board and exchanging it according to the software to be used. While using, or
A method of displaying a function key guide in accordance with software to be used by using display means capable of dynamically switching the function of a function key and controlling the display is adopted.

[0004] Documents describing the above-mentioned conventional techniques are disclosed in JP-A-3-65719 and JP-A-3-220.
614, JP-A-3-192416, JP-A-2-293918 and JP-A-1-231118.
A function guide display device described in Japanese Patent No. 5719 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the function guide display device 31 is composed of a function guide display function control device 32 and a function guide display message storage device 33. ,It has been incorporated. The function guide display unit 35 can freely display a large number of various guides.

First, a program 37 which is a terminal device
Is started. The CPU 36 notifies the function guide display function control device 32 of the program name. Function guide display function controller 32
Is a function guide display message storage device 3
Then, a display message corresponding to the program 37 is selected from (3).

At this time, it is assumed that some display messages are registered in the function guide display message storage device 33 in advance. In the function guide display message storage device 33, a program name assumed to be activated by the terminal device and a function guide message required by the program are stored in association with each other. The display message selected by the function guide display function control device 32 is displayed on the function guide display section 35.

Further, even when a certain program 37 is running,
When the program 37 wants to change the contents of the function guide, the program 37 notifies the CPU 36 which function guide is to be displayed. CPU36
Transfers the contents to the function guide display function control device 32. The function guide display function control device 32 searches the function guide display message storage device 33 based on the content received from the CPU 36 and displays the content on the function guide display unit 35.

[0009]

A first problem of the above-mentioned prior art is that, when two software programs each having a function assigned to a function key are running at the same time, each function key is assigned a function key. Guide settings do not exist uniquely.

[0010] The reason is that the functions of the two software are set to the function keys independently of each other, and the setting of the function key guide is duplicated.

A second problem of the above-mentioned conventional technique is that when two software programs each having a function assigned to a function key are running at the same time, the executable functions assigned to the function keys correspond to the executable functions. The function key guide display means that accurate one-to-one function key guide information cannot be transmitted to the user.

The reason is that the first problem is that the setting information of the function key guide of the two software is displayed in parallel depending on the characteristics of the display means.
Alternatively, only the function key guide setting information of either one of the software is displayed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a function key that can uniquely associate a function key guide setting for each function key with two software programs each having a function assigned to the function key running simultaneously. A function that enables the guide setting method, the executable functions assigned to the function keys, and the corresponding function key guide display to transmit accurate one-to-one corresponding function key guide information to the user. And a key guide display method.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus having display means (11 in FIG. 1) capable of displaying a function guide and function keys for solving the above-mentioned problems. A function key setting method for two software programs (12 and 13 in FIG. 1) which have functions assigned to the software and which can be started at the same time.
(12 in FIG. 1) is added to the other software (B) (1 in FIG. 1).
Mode setting means for making the control of 3) dependent (14 in FIG. 1)
A function key guide setting method including function key information setting means (15 in FIG. 1) for setting function key assignment information of one software (A) to the other software (B), and setting based on the above. Software (A) (1 in FIG. 1)
There is provided key guide transmission means (16 in FIG. 1) for integrating the function key guide of 2) and the function key guide of the other software (B) (13 in FIG. 1) to the display means. A function key guide display method of displaying function key guide information of two softwares (12 and 13 in FIG. 1) is adopted as a means.

The two softwares are, for example, application software and kana-kanji conversion software.

[0016]

First, the mode setting means makes it possible for one software (A) to control the state of the other software (B), and the function keys of the former software (A) are set by the following function key information setting means. The information serves to prevent the software (A) from being lost in an invisible state. (21 in FIG. 2)
The function key information setting means sets the function key information of the former software (A) in the latter software (B), and the latter software (B)
Can hold the function key information of both the former software (A) and the latter software (B). (22 in FIG. 2) Further, the function key guide information in which the former software (A) and the latter software (B) are integrated is transmitted to the display means by the transmission means, and the display means is integrated so that the function becomes effective. The stored function key guide information can be held. (23 in FIG. 2) Finally, the above-mentioned function key guide information is displayed to the user by the display means.
Executable functions assigned to the function keys and corresponding function key guide displays make it possible to obtain accurate function key guide information in a one-to-one correspondence. (24 in FIG. 2)

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a method for setting and displaying function key information according to the present invention.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a display unit 11 capable of displaying a function guide, a mode setting unit 14 for making the control of the software (B) 13 dependent on the software (A) 12, and a software (A). The function key information setting means 15 for setting the function key assignment information of the software (B) to the function key guide of the software (A) 12 and the function key guide of the software (B) 13 are integrated into the display means. Key guide transmitting means 16 for transmitting
And

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of setting and displaying function key information.

First, in mode setting 21, the state of software (B) can be controlled by software (A) by mode setting means, and function key information of software (A) set by the following function key information setting means: Works to prevent the software (A) from disappearing in an unrecognizable state.

Next, setting of function key information 22
The function key information setting means sets the function key information of the software (A) in the software (B), and the software (B) can hold the function key information of both the software (A) and the software (B). Become.

Further, in the transmission 23 to the display means, the function key guide information in which the software (A) and the software (B) are integrated is transmitted to the display means by the transmission means, and the display means is integrated so that the function becomes effective. The stored function key guide information can be held.

Finally, display of function key information 2
At 4, the display means displays the above-mentioned function key guide information to the user, and the user makes a one-to-one correspondence between the executable function assigned to the function key and the corresponding function key guide display. Corresponding and accurate function key guide information can be obtained.

[0025]

According to the present invention, as a first effect, the setting of the function key guide for each function key uniquely corresponds in a state where two softwares each having a function assigned to a function key are simultaneously activated. Can be attached.

The reason is that the function set to the function key of the two software and the setting of the function key guide are duplicated. This is because the control of one software is made dependent on the other software, and the function key assignment information of one software is set in the other software.

Further, according to the present invention, as a second effect, the executable function assigned to the function key and the corresponding function key guide display are one.
Exact function key guide information corresponding to one to one can be transmitted to the user.

The reason is that the function key guide setting for each function key is uniquely associated with the first effect, so that the function key guide information corresponding to one-to-one correspondence can be displayed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a method for setting and displaying function key information according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment of a method for setting and displaying function key information according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 display means 12 software (A) 13 software (B) 14 mode setting means 15 function key information setting means 16 key guide transmission means 21 mode setting 22 function key information setting 23 transmission to display means 24 display of function key information 31 Function guide display device 32 Function guide display function control device 33 Message storage device for display 34 Keyboard 35 Function guide display unit 36 CPU 37 Program

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus having display means capable of displaying a function guide and capable of display control and a function key, wherein a function is assigned to the function key, and
A function key setting method for two software programs that can be started at the same time, comprising: mode setting means for making one software control the control of another software program; and a function for setting function key assignment information of one software program to the other software program. A function key guide setting method comprising: key information setting means. 2. The function key guide setting method according to claim 1, wherein said software is application software and kana-kanji conversion software. 3. An apparatus having display means capable of displaying a function guide and capable of controlling display and a function key, wherein a function is assigned to the function key, and
A method for displaying function keys in two software programs that can be started simultaneously, a mode setting means for making one software control the control of another software program, and a function for setting function key assignment information of one software program to the other software program. Key information setting means; and key guide transmission means for integrating the function key guide of one set software and the function key guide of the other software and transmitting the function key guide to the display means, and displays the function key guide of the display means. Function key guide display method characterized by the following. 4. The function key guide display system according to claim 3, wherein said software is application software and kana-kanji conversion software.