JP3114736B2 - Information processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus operated by a program represented by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computers store a basic program for operation in a ROM, and execute various processes according to the program. When two or more programs exist, when the processing of one program ends,
Next, if you want to use another program, you need to switch the program. As a method of switching the program, there is a method of executing a command such as EXIT or QUIT when the processing by a predetermined program is completed, returning to the OS level, and then selecting another program and starting it. The second method is usually employed in a window system. For example, a target program is started by clicking an icon. Alternatively, it is activated by moving the mouse cursor onto a target program window. In the third method, a predetermined program is described in advance so that another program is chained.

[0003]

However, the first method described above has a problem that the user must remember the OS command and is difficult to execute unless the user is accustomed to the operation. Further, the user selects which program to execute, and there is a high possibility of erroneous operation.

[0004] The above-mentioned second method involves transferring to another program while keeping the current state of a certain program, and is difficult to execute when the memory capacity is small.

Further, in the third method, the program must be a careful program so that the execution environment of the program does not affect the next program, and the design of the program becomes complicated. Unless a measure for informing the user that the program being executed has been switched is not taken into consideration, the user may not notice that the program has been switched and may perform an erroneous operation.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and aims to easily switch from a predetermined program to another program.

[0007]

According to an information processing method of the present invention , a conversion program is activated during execution of a management program.
A first specifying step of specifying based on the icon,
By the processing of the first specified step, the conversion program is started.
Power off to automatically turn off the power when specified
Step and power-off step
When the power is turned on again, the conversion program is
It depends on the execution step to be executed and the processing of the execution step.
While the conversion program is running,
Selection to select the type of conversion performed by the program
Step and the transformation selected by the processing of the selection step
Instruction step for instructing the start of processing based on the first button
And the end of the conversion program processing to the second button
A second specifying step of specifying
End of conversion program processing is specified by
Automatically turns off the power when the
Specifies to return to the administration program when turned on again
And a third designating means . The strange
The conversion program converts the file format.
Format conversion program and can be
You. The conversion program is executed by the processing in the execution step.
In the selection step,
Selection, instructions in the processing of the instruction step, and
One of the end designations in the processing of the designated step 2
Any deviation can be made executable. Previous
The information processing device is a portable computer.
Can be

[0008]

In the information processing method having the above configuration, the management program
While the program is running, the conversion program
When the start is specified, the power is automatically turned off. Power supply
Is turned on again, the conversion program is executed and the
In the state, the conversion process executed by the conversion program
The type of processing is selected, and the start of the selected
It is instructed based on the 1 button. Conversion program processing
Is specified based on the second button,
The power turns off automatically and the power turns on again.
Is specified to return to the management program.

Therefore, the operation of switching the program can be executed very easily.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the information processing method of the present invention is applied to an electronic organizer (portable computer). The main body 1 is provided with a power switch 2, which is turned on when the apparatus is used and turned off when the use is stopped. Provided on the left of the power switch 2 is a brightness adjustment switch 3 for adjusting the brightness of the screen 8 (the brightness of the LCD 22 described later). A case 4 is provided on the side of the main body 1. The case 4 has a switch 7 at the end and a pen 6 connected to the main body 1 via the cord 5 is accommodated when not in use. This pen 6
Can be arranged in a groove 10 formed horizontally in the upper part of the main body 1 when taken out of the case 4. A speaker 9 is provided on the left side of the groove 10 to output a predetermined sound.

Two switches 1 are provided on the upper right side of the main body 1.
1 and 12 are provided. The switch 11 is a changeover switch for changing the brightness of the backlight described later, for example, to two levels, and the switch 12 is a volume changeover switch for changing the volume of the sound output from the speaker 9 to, for example, three levels. Switch 13 provided on left side of main body 1
Is a stop switch that is operated when a predetermined operation is stopped halfway (for example, when a sound being emitted is stopped). A memory (IC) card 70 is also provided on the left side of the main body 1.
(See FIG. 5). A socket 15 is provided on the rear side of the main body 1. A socket 16 is also provided inside the battery mounting portion 1a for mounting the battery 19 on the rear side of the main body 1. For example, RS2
A 32C cable, a modem, other adapters, and the like are connected. Further, a connection terminal 18 of an AC adapter 17 is provided above the left side of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed configuration example of the screen 8. In this embodiment, the tablet 21 (X
The tablet 21a for detecting the position in the axial direction and the tablet 21b) for detecting the position in the Y-axis direction are provided at the top. An LCD 22 is provided below the tablet 21. The LCD 22 is composed of glass plates 22a and 22b provided above and below, and a liquid crystal 23 inserted between them. A fluorescent plate (EL) 26 is provided below the LCD 22. When the fluorescent plate 26 as the backlight generates light, the light is transmitted to the LCD.
Illuminate 22. Since the tablets 21a and 21b are formed of a transparent member, an image displayed on the liquid crystal 23 is observed from above in the figure. Printed circuit board (PC
B) 25 is loaded with a component (not shown) and is electrically connected to the LCD 22 via a rubber connector 24. Further, the conductive film 27 is also electrically connected to the tablet 21.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed configuration example of the fluorescent plate 26. In this embodiment, an insulating film 33 is disposed between an electrode 31 and a light emitting section (the other electrode) 32. By applying a predetermined voltage between the electrode 31 and the light emitting unit 32, the light emitting unit 32 emits light. The electrode 31 and the light emitting section 32 are formed in a plate shape, and can irradiate the screen 8 uniformly.

As a backlight, a fluorescent tube may be used. In addition, a fluorescent tube is provided as a side light on the side of the main body, and the light is transmitted to the LC by a light transmitting member.
It is also possible to transmit to the rear of D22 so that it can be illuminated.

FIG. 4 shows the position detection by a tablet and LC
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the principle of display by D. Tablet 2
1 has, for example, 512 electrodes in the X-axis direction,
It has 342 electrodes in the Y-axis direction. This allows
It becomes possible to detect 512 × 342 pixels. The tablet controller 46 controls the clock generation circuit 45a, and sequentially applies a predetermined voltage to each of the 342 electrodes. Next, the clock generation circuit 45b is controlled,
Voltage is sequentially applied to the twelve electrodes. That is, the tablet 21 is scanned by the clocks generated by the clock generation circuits 45a and 45b. When the pen 6 approaches a predetermined position on the tablet 21, a predetermined capacitance is formed between the tablet 21 and the pen 6. When the pen 6 is pressed against the tablet 21, the switch 7 at the tip of the pen 6 is turned on, so that a charge generated between the pen 6 and a predetermined electrode on the tablet 21 is detected. It is supplied to the controller 46. Since the tablet controller 46 manages the clock generation timing of the clock generation circuits 45a and 45b, the tablet controller 46 can detect the pressed position on the tablet 21 by the pen 6 from the detection signal supplied from the pen 6 and the clock generation timing. it can. The tablet controller 46 supplies the operation coordinates of the pen 6 thus detected to the CPU 41. CPU4
1 is always monitoring the position where the pen 6 presses the tablet 21 and the switch 7 is turned on (pen down), and the position where the pen 6 is separated from the tablet 21 and the switch 7 is turned off (pen up). Then, input is accepted by pen down, and input is confirmed by pen up.

On the other hand, the CPU 41
3 and writes data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the memory (V-RAM) 44. LCD controller 4
3 reads data from the memory 44 and supplies a signal corresponding to the data to the drive circuit 42b. LCD 22
It has 512 electrodes in the horizontal direction and 342 electrodes in the vertical direction corresponding to the tablet 21. The drive circuit 42a sequentially applies a predetermined voltage to 342 electrodes one by one. Further, the drive circuit 42b sequentially applies voltages corresponding to image data to the 512 electrodes. Thus, each pixel on the LCD 22 is scanned, and the LCD 22 is scanned.
A predetermined image is displayed on 22.

FIG. 5 shows a more detailed electrical configuration of the main body 1. The CPU 41 is connected to various ICs via a bus line 57. In the ROM 51, for example, a kana-kanji conversion program for a word processor function and a dictionary table therefor, as well as a recognition program for handwritten input and a dictionary table therefor are written, in addition to the system program of the entire apparatus.
The working RAM 52 stores data necessary for operation as needed. A backup battery 54 (a battery different from the battery 19) is connected to the backup RAM 53, so that necessary data is backed up even when the power of the apparatus main body is turned off. The timer IC 55 is connected to the battery 54, counts the clock from the crystal oscillator 56, and outputs data of the date and time at that time. LC described above
The D controller 43 and the tablet controller 46 are also
It is connected to the CPU 41 via the bus line 57.

The audio processing circuit 58 includes the sockets 14 to 1
A predetermined audio signal is generated in response to an input from the CPU 6 or a command from the CPU 41 and output to the adder 59. The voice memory 61 is controlled by the CPU 41 and outputs a predetermined voice (for example, a warning sound “Eh?”) Stored in advance to the adder 59. The adder 59 adds the output of the audio processing circuit 58 and the output of the audio memory 61 and outputs the result to the speaker 9 via the audio volume controller 60. The volume controller 60 is connected to the volume selector switch 12, and the volume can be controlled by operating the switch.

A power supply circuit 64 (when the power switch 2 is turned on, the battery 1
9 or power supplied from the AC adapter 17) is supplied via the inverter circuit 63. The brightness of the fluorescent screen 26 can be switched between two levels (for example, a brightness suitable for a bright room and a brightness suitable for a dark room) via the inverter circuit 63 by switching the changeover switch 11. In addition, by controlling the brightness adjustment switch 3, the brightness of the LCD 22 can be controlled to a desired value in multiple steps. The switch 65a is turned on / off according to whether the battery 19 mounted on the main body 1 is a primary battery or a secondary battery. The switch 65b detects the capacity of the battery 19, and is turned on / off according to the size of the capacity. These switches 65 a and 65 b are connected to the key interface 62 via the power supply circuit 64. The key interface 62 is also connected to the brightness adjustment switch 3, the changeover switch 11, the stop switch 13, and the like. The key interface 62 supplies signals corresponding to ON / OFF of these switches to the CPU 41.

An IC card 70 is connected to the socket 14, and the CPU 41 can exchange data, programs, and the like with the IC card 70 via the IC card interface 66. In addition, sockets 15, 1
The adapter 6 is connected to the CPU 6 via the extension interface 68.

Next, the operation when the program is switched will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 8 and the input screen diagrams of FIGS. 9 to 12.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the power switch 2 has been turned on. When the power switch 2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, and the start file program is read from the backup RAM 53. In step S14 or S24 described later, the start program file specifies a program to be executed when the power is turned on. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the content of the read start program file is a management program. The management program is a basic program required to operate as an electronic organizer. If the start file program is the management program, the process proceeds to step S6, and the program is started. This allows the device to be used as a normal electronic organizer.

On this management program, the shift button 88 (FIG. 11) to a format conversion program as another program is set in the pen 6 in step S11.
It is determined whether or not a touch has been made. If the “transition mode” button 88 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S12, and other processes are executed.
On the other hand, when the button 88 is touched by the pen 6, a predetermined message is issued as necessary at step S.
13 and the format conversion program is registered in the start program file in step S14. Then, the process proceeds to step S15, in which the management program is terminated. That is, data and the like obtained as a result of executing the management program are stored in the backup RAM 53 as needed. Then, the power is automatically turned off by the program. As described above, since the power is automatically turned off by the program, in step S13, it is preferable to display a message indicating that the power is automatically turned off when at least the button 88 is operated.

After the power is automatically turned off by the program as described above, when the user operates the power switch 2 again to turn on the power, the start program file contains the format in step S14 described above. A conversion program has been specified. as a result,
The process proceeds to step S4 via steps S1 and S3, and YES is determined in step S4, and the process proceeds to step S7. Thereby, the format conversion program is started. In the format conversion program, it is determined in step S21 whether or not the file conversion end button 94 (FIG. 12) in the format conversion program has been touched by the pen 6. If the button 94 is not touched, the process proceeds to step S22, and other processes are executed. That is, for example, a process for file conversion is executed. This will be described in detail later.

When the button 94 is touched by the pen 6, the process proceeds to step S23, and a predetermined message is displayed as necessary. Since the power is automatically turned off by the program in step S25 described later, it is preferable to display at least a message notifying the user that the power is automatically turned off. Next, the process proceeds to step S24, where the management program is registered in the start program file. And
In step S25, the format conversion program is terminated, and the power is automatically turned off.

If it is determined in step S4 that the content of the start program file is not a format conversion program, the process proceeds to step S5, where other processing is executed.

The processing in steps S2 to S5 may jump to the program start address based on a table describing the start address of the start program.

Further, a specific operation of the program switching will be described with reference to the input screen diagrams of FIGS. 9 to 12.

FIG. 9 shows one display state of the screen 8. This screen is displayed as a result of executing the management program. In this state, an icon display area 81 is formed above, and various icons 8 are displayed there.
3 is displayed. Here, "Dog" icon 8
When the pen 6 is moved down to the input display area 82 by dragging the pen 6 toward the input display area 82 and the pen is raised at a predetermined position, the icon 83a is enlarged and displayed in the input display area 82 as shown in FIG. It becomes "tool box" 84. In the icons of the “tool box” 84, other icons 83 that cannot be displayed in the icon display area 81 are collectively accommodated. Of these, Hengkan
When the pen 6 is moved down to the icon 83b with the pen 6, the icon 83b is highlighted and an arrow 86 is displayed. Icon 8 pen-down by this arrow 86
It is suggested to the user that 3b is pulled out from the “tool box” icon 84 to the outside. Note that this arrow is displayed even when the pen is down to a predetermined icon in the icon display area 81.

After pen-down to the "Henkan" icon 83b, drag it out of the "tool box" icon 84 as it is, and when it is pen-up there, the icon 83b is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. Icon 87. Various messages are displayed inside the icon 87. For example, it is described that this file conversion is for reading a document of a disk or a memory card used in an electronic organizer of a different model number in this model. Further, it is described that the power is automatically turned off when the button 88 of “transition to the conversion mode” is touched, and that when the power switch 2 is manually operated thereafter, the apparatus enters a file conversion exclusive state. Then, in this state, when the button 6 of “transition to the conversion mode” is touched with the pen 6, the power is automatically turned off.

At this time, as described above, the format conversion program is registered in the start program file (step S14).

As a result, when the user next turns on the power switch 2 by manual operation, the management program does not operate and the format conversion program operates. As a result, a window 91 as shown in FIG. In this window 91, when the “Start” button 93 is touched with the pen 6, the conversion operation starts. When the “File conversion end” button 94 is touched with the pen 6, the file is not converted and the power is automatically turned on. Is described. By touching any of the buttons 92 with the pen 6, a desired conversion operation can be selected from the four conversion operations.

Here, when the "start" button 93 is touched with the pen 6, the operations required for the conversion processing designated by the button 92 are sequentially displayed on the screen. For example, a message prompting the user to insert a disk or IC card to be converted into the socket 14 is displayed. The user performs necessary operations according to the message. Then, when the predetermined preparation is completed, the conversion process is executed.

When such a conversion operation is completed, the user next operates the "file conversion button" 94. When the “file conversion end” button 94 is touched with the pen 6, the power is automatically turned off. At this time, as described above, since the management program is registered as a start program file in step S24, the management program is operated when the user turns on the power switch 2 thereafter,
As before, it can be used as a normal electronic organizer.

In the above, an example has been described in which switching is performed by operating the buttons 88 and 94 between a management program for performing processing as an electronic organizer and a conversion program for performing format conversion. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a monitor is used as an output device of a television tuner and a case where the monitor is used as an output device of a viewfinder of a television camera.

[0036]

As described above, according to the information processing method of the present invention, after the power is automatically turned off by specifying the start of the conversion program on the management program, when the power is turned on again , the conversion program Is executed, so that the conversion program is not affected by the environment of the previously running management program. Therefore, the management program and
The conversion programs may be designed individually, which facilitates the design. In addition, since the power is turned off once, there is an effect that the user can easily recognize that the program has shifted to another program. Further, since the power is once turned off, the memory is not occupied by the first program, so that the memory capacity can be small.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a portable computer to which an information processing method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a fluorescent screen in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection relationship between the LCD and the tablet in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall electrical connection relationship in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen in the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 pen 8 screen 21 tablet 22 LCD 41 CPU 51 ROM 52 RAM 53 backup RAM 81 icon display area 82 input display area 85 icon

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-163825 (JP, A) JP-A-2-228731 (JP, A) Satoshi Hirayama, "PalmTOP, a personal information management terminal," Information Processing Society of Japan Research Report (91-MIC-65), (1991/02/01), Vol. 91, No. 12, pp. 1-8 (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 9/06-9/445 G06F 3/00-3/14 G06F 1/00 G06F 15/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A conversion program is executed during execution of a management program.
Information processing method of information processing apparatus that executes by switching to RAM
In the execution of the management program, the conversion program
First designation step of designating activation based on an icon
And the conversion program by the processing of the first specifying step.
Automatically turn off the power when the start of the ram is specified
Power off step, automatically turned off by the processing of the power off step
When the power is turned on again, the conversion program
An execution step to be executed, and the processing of the execution step executes the conversion program.
While the conversion program is running
A selection step of selecting a type of conversion processing to be executed; and the conversion processing selected by the processing of the selection step
For instructing the start of the operation based on the first button
And the end of the processing of the conversion program, based on the second button.
A second specifying step for specifying the conversion program and a process of the second specifying step.
When the end of program processing is specified, the power is automatically turned off.
And when the power is turned on again,
Third designating means for designating return to the management program;
An information processing method comprising : 2. The conversion program according to claim 1, wherein the conversion program
Format conversion program to convert the format
The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The conversion according to the execution step.
When the program is running,
Selection in step processing, processing of the instruction step
In the instruction in the above, and the processing of the second specifying step
Any of the end specifications in
The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The portable information processing device according to claim 1, wherein
Is a computer 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Method.