JP3144954B2 - Computer system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an external storage device,
The present invention relates to a computer system to which a plurality of types of peripheral devices such as a printer can be connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system such as a personal computer or a word processor, a peripheral device such as a keyboard, a display, a floppy disk device (FDD) is connected to a system main body, and is generally equipped as a standard. is there. Further, there is a system in which peripheral devices such as a hard disk device (HDD), a printer, and an IC card device are prepared as options and can be connected to the system main body.

In such a computer system, a relatively complicated input operation is required when an operator checks the type of peripheral device effectively connected to the system body. When driving a peripheral device in accordance with the processing mode, the operator needs to perform an input operation process for driving the peripheral device. Specifically, for example, in a processing mode for calling a document file, an input operation for confirming whether a peripheral device such as an FDD or an HDD storing the document file is effectively connected to the system body is required. Further, an input operation process for driving a confirmed peripheral device such as an HDD is required.

[0004]

In a conventional computer system to which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be connected, an operator can effectively confirm the type of peripheral device connected and drive a peripheral device corresponding to a processing mode. In order to perform the input operation process, a relatively complicated operation is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system capable of connecting a plurality of types of peripheral devices so that it is possible to easily confirm the types of peripheral devices that are effectively connected and to perform input operation processing of the peripheral devices. Another object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of use of peripheral devices.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer system to which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be connected. This is a system including display means for displaying an icon corresponding to the type of the device on a display screen.

Further, the present invention provides a display means for displaying a menu screen for selecting a processing mode, a check means for checking whether connection of a peripheral device to a system main body is valid, and a display means for selecting a processing mode. This is a system including control means for executing drive control of the peripheral device according to the above.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the recognition means recognizes the type of the peripheral device connected to the system main body. The display means displays an icon corresponding to the type of the peripheral device recognized by the recognition means on a display screen. The control means executes drive control of the peripheral device of the type recognized by the recognition means.

Further, according to the present invention, the display means displays a menu screen for selecting a designated processing mode from a plurality of types of processing modes. The checking unit checks whether the connection of the peripheral device of the type corresponding to the processing mode selected from the menu screen to the system main body is valid. When the connection is valid, the control means executes the drive control of the peripheral device according to the selected processing mode.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a system constituting a word processor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the system according to the first embodiment.
(B) and FIG. 4 are conceptual diagrams showing the display screen of the display of the system according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

The system main body 20 of the word processor comprises:
As shown in FIG. 2, it is composed of a laptop type housing, and includes a keyboard 4, a floppy disk device (FDD) 6,
Each of the C card device 10 and the display 14 is provided as standard. Further, although not shown, a serial printer 16 is also provided as standard equipment on the rear housing of the display 14.

A hard disk drive (HDD) 8 and a page printer (laser printer, etc.) 18 provided as options can be connected to the system body 20 as peripheral devices in addition to the standard peripheral devices. . As an optional peripheral device, the tablet input device 12 can also be connected to the system main body 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system body 20 includes:
Microprocessor (CPU) constituting central processing unit
1. A built-in RAM 2 used as a main memory and a ROM 3 storing programs and the like. ROM3
Stores data related to icons related to the present invention and operation screens of peripheral devices. The CPU 1 performs document creation / edit processing of a word processor and controls various peripheral devices according to the present invention.

The system main body 20 has built-in interfaces 5, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 of various peripheral devices prepared as standard equipment and options. The FDC 7 and the HDC 9, which are the controllers of the FDD 6 and the HDD 8, respectively, are the FDD 6 and the HDC 9, respectively.
It is built into DD8.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. As shown in step S1 of FIG. 3, after the power of the system is turned on, the CPU 1 executes various initial processes when the system is started. At this time, in the present invention, the CPU 1 executes a process of recognizing the type of the peripheral device effectively connected to the system main body 20 (step S2). Here, the types of peripheral devices that can be connected to the system main body 20 are set in advance as shown in FIG. The CPU 1 executes a check process corresponding to the type of the peripheral device, and recognizes the type of the peripheral device that is effectively connected. Specifically, for example, HD
In the case of D8, the CPU 1
And recognizes that it is connected if there is a valid response. For example, in the case of the page printer 18,
By receiving the REDY signal output from the page printer 18, it is recognized that the page printer 18 is effectively connected to the system main body 20. IC card device 10
In the case of, as in the case of the HDD 8, the CPU 1 recognizes that it is connected if there is a valid response when accessing.

Next, the CPU 1 displays on the display screen of the display 14 icons corresponding to the types of peripheral devices that are effectively connected to the system main body 20 (step S3). Icon display data is stored in the ROM 3 in advance. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, among the peripheral devices, the page printer 18, FDD 6, HDD 8,
Icon 14 corresponding to each of IC card devices 10
a to 14d are displayed. CPU1 displays the icon 1
The identification information for identifying the peripheral devices corresponding to 4a to 14d is set in the RAM 2.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the operator operates the cursor 4a using the keyboard 4 or the touch pen 40 from among the icons 14a to 14d displayed on the display screen of the display 14.
It is assumed that a peripheral device to be used has been selected according to the processing mode (YES in step S4). The CPU 1 controls the peripheral device of the type specified by the icons 14a to 14d,
Confirmation is made based on the identification information set in the RAM 2, and an operation screen corresponding to the peripheral device is displayed on the display screen of the display 14. Here, the icon 14b of the FDD 6 is selected, and the display screen of the display 14 is displayed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), an operation screen corresponding to FDD 6 is displayed (YES in step S6, S7). When a peripheral device other than the FDD 6 is selected by the icons 14a, 14c, and 14d, an operation screen corresponding to the type of the peripheral device is displayed (NO in step S6, S).
9).

When the operator selects, for example, the document call mode from the operation screen shown in FIG. 4B, the CPU 1 accesses the FDD 6 and reads the designated document file.
A process called from D6 is executed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4A, with the icons 14a to 14d displayed,
The operator can perform document creation / edit processing and the like while checking the types of peripheral devices effectively connected to the system main body 20 (NO in step S4, S5).

Thus, the icons 14a to 14d
Can easily confirm the type of the peripheral device effectively connected to the system main body 20. By specifying the displayed icons 14a to 14d, an operation screen of a peripheral device to be used is displayed. Since the operator can execute an input operation necessary for driving the peripheral device from the operation screen, the input operation process of the peripheral device can be easily performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a display screen of a display of a system according to the second embodiment. Note that, also in the second embodiment, the configuration of the system is the same as that shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment, after turning on the power of the system, the CPU 1 displays a basic menu screen on the display 14 as shown in FIG. 6A (step S11 in FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the basic menu screen displays the processing modes (new document creation,
Document creation continuation, save and recall, layout printing, printing etc.)
Menu.

When the operator selects a desired processing mode from the basic menu screen using the cursor 4a of the keyboard 4 or the touch pen 40, the CPU 1 executes the selected processing mode (step S1).
2). Here, assuming that the processing mode of “save and recall” is selected from the basic menu screen, the CPU 1
Displays an operation screen corresponding to the processing mode of "save and recall" on the display 14 as shown in FIG. 6B (YES in step S13 in FIG. 5, S15). Of course, if another processing mode is selected, the CPU 1 displays an operation screen corresponding to the selected processing mode (step S14).

Here, the processing mode of the "save call" is as follows.
Copy the created document file to FDD6, HDD8 or I
This means a document saving process to be saved in any one of the file devices of the C card device 10 and a document calling process to call up a document file saved from the file device and store it in the RAM 2 of the system main body 20.

In this embodiment, the operator operates the keyboard 4
6 by the cursor 4a or the touch pen 40 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the document recall processing is selected from the operation screen of “save and recall” shown in (B) (YE in step S16).
S). The CPU 1 executes a connection check process of a peripheral device to be drive-controlled in executing the processing mode of "save and recall" (step S18). That is, "Save call"
It is checked whether or not a file device which is a peripheral device corresponding to the processing mode is effectively connected to the system main body 20.

Based on the result of this check processing, the CPU 1
Displays on the display 14 an icon corresponding to the file device that is effectively connected (step S19). Here, as a file device, as shown in FIG.
The icons 14b to 14d corresponding to the FDD 6, the HDD 8, and the IC card device 10 are displayed. Further, since the document calling process has been selected, a message "select a document medium" is displayed on the same screen, for example. The CPU 1 displays the displayed icons 14b to 1
The identification information for identifying the peripheral device corresponding to 4d is R
Set to AM2.

From the icons 14b to 14d displayed on the display screen of the display 14, the operator uses the cursor 4a or the touch pen 40 of the keyboard 4 to select the icons 14b to 14d corresponding to the file device storing the desired document file. Select one of C
The PU 1 accesses the FDD 6 corresponding to, for example, the selected icon 14b, and executes a process of calling a specified document file (Step S20).

As described above, when a desired processing mode is selected from the menu screen, the connection of the peripheral device of the type corresponding to the selected processing mode is checked. In accordance with the connection check, icons corresponding to the peripheral devices that are effectively connected are displayed. Therefore, if the operator selects a processing mode, the available peripheral devices related to the processing mode and available can be easily confirmed by the icons. For example, if the processing mode is printing, the display 1
On the display screen of FIG. 4, unlike the icons 14b to 14d relating to the file device, icons corresponding to the printer 16 and the page printer 18 are displayed.

Next, by selecting the displayed icon, the peripheral device corresponding to the icon is driven and controlled, and the contents of the selected processing mode are executed. For example, if an icon corresponding to the page printer 18 is selected, the printing operation in the selected print mode is performed by the page printer 1.
8 will execute.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a display screen according to the third embodiment. FIG.

The third embodiment is a system using touch-type input means as an input device.
0, a touch position determination unit 31, a next stage selection screen creation unit 32, and a memory (RAM) 2 for storing a correspondence table 2a between touch positions and input items. The other configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.

The touch sensor 30 detects, on the display screen of the display 14, a coordinate position touched by an operator with a fingertip, for example. The touch position determining unit 31 is a component for determining a correspondence between a touched position and an input item on the operation screen. Next-stage selection screen creation unit 32
Creates a correspondence table 2a between a new input item corresponding to the input item in the touch range determined by the touch position determination unit 31 and the touch position, stores the table in the memory 2, and creates a display screen of the table. 14 is output.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the CPU 1 of the system executes, for example, a scheduler that is schedule management software for individuals. It is assumed that one year of calendar information is displayed on the display screen of the display 14 by the scheduler (step S30 in FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 9A, the calendar information for one year includes input items from January to December, and each input item is further divided into a date and a day of the week.

When the operator touches the display screen of the display 14 and selects a desired input item, the touch position determining section 31 determines the input item based on the coordinate position of the touch sensor 30. The scheduler calls the schedule information (preset in the memory 2) corresponding to the selected input item and displays it on the display screen of the display 14.

Here, it is assumed that the operator touches a desired position in the February range 50 displayed on the display screen 14 in order to obtain the schedule information of, for example, February 17 (YES in step S31). At this time, since the displayed February range 50 is limited, it is difficult to touch only the position on February 17. For this reason, the touch position determining unit 31 selects a plurality of candidate data of input items corresponding to the position range touched by the operator based on the correspondence table 2a stored in the memory 2 (step S3).
2).

When a plurality of candidate data corresponding to the input item is selected from the touch position discriminating unit 31, the next stage selection screen creating unit 32 creates a new correspondence table 2a between each candidate data and the touch position. It is stored in the memory 2 (step S36). Further, the next-stage selection screen creating unit 32 creates a display screen of the input items including the candidate data of the new correspondence table 2a and outputs the screen to the display 14. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9B, the input items 51 in the range touched by the operator are displayed in an enlarged state on the display 14 (step S37).

The newly displayed input items 51 are, for example, candidates for the 9th to 11th, the 16th and 18th, and the 23rd to 25th around the 17th of February. When the operator touches the position on the 17th in the input item 51 of the display 14, the touch position determination unit 31
It is determined based on the new correspondence table 2a stored in that the input item of February 17 has been selected (step S34). Thereby, the scheduler calls the schedule information corresponding to the input item on February 17, and displays it on the display screen of the display 14 (step S35).

If the input item cannot be specified on the new display screen created by the next-stage selection screen creating unit 32 by touching the operator, a series of processes from step S31 to step S37 is repeated. . In this example, as the second new display screen, input items including candidates on the 10th, 16th, 18th, and 24th, which are located around the 17th, are displayed.

As described above, when an input item is selected from a limited range of the display screen by the touch-type input device, candidates for the input item in the touch range are selected, and a new display screen including only each candidate is selected. (As a result, enlarged screen)
And a correspondence table 2a can be created and displayed on the display 14. Therefore, in the system using the touch-type input device, the efficiency of the input operation process can be improved as a result.

[0039]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a computer system to which a plurality of types of peripheral devices can be connected, it is easy to confirm the types of peripheral devices that are effectively connected and to perform input operation processing of the peripheral devices. The efficiency of use of peripheral devices can be improved.

Further, in a system using a touch-type input device, input items can be efficiently specified even on a display screen having a limited range. As a result, the efficiency of input operation processing can be improved. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a system constituting a word processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a system according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram illustrating a display screen of a display according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a display screen of a display according to the first embodiment.

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

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a display screen of a display according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main part of a system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a display screen of a display according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... RAM, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... keyboard, 6 ... FDD, 8 ... HDD, 10 ... IC card device,
14 Display.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/00 G06F 3/14 G06F 13/14

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Connection of plural kinds of peripheral devices to a system main body
In a computer system capable of performing the operation, the type of the peripheral device connected to the system main body is recognized.
And a type of the peripheral device recognized by the recognition means.
First display means for displaying a corresponding icon on a display screen
And select from the icons displayed on the display screen
The operation screen of the peripheral device of the type corresponding to the icon
Second display means for displaying on the display screen, and input operation according to the operation screen displayed on the display screen.
The drive control of the peripheral device selected according to the operation is executed.
Computer having control means
system. 2. Connection of plural types of peripheral devices to the system main body
In the computer system capable to select a processing mode designated from a plurality of types of processing modes
Display means for displaying a menu screen for displaying a menu screen corresponding to the processing mode selected from the menu screen.
The type of connection of the peripheral device to the system body is
Checking means for checking whether or not the connection is valid; and setting the selected processing mode when the connection is valid.
Control means for executing drive control of the peripheral device according to
A computer system, comprising: 3. Connection of plural types of peripheral devices to the system main body
In the computer system capable to select a processing mode designated from a plurality of types of processing modes
Display means for displaying a menu screen for displaying a menu screen corresponding to the processing mode selected from the menu screen.
The type of connection of the peripheral device to the system body is
Checking means for checking whether or not the connection is valid;
And Table Shimesuru second display means on the display screen icon, then select from among the icons displayed on the display screen
Drive control of the peripheral device of the type corresponding to the icon
And a control means for executing the program.
Computer system.