JP3232468B2 - Icon menu display method and display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of displaying an icon menu and an improvement of a display device used in operation display screens of ordinary personal computers and other control devices. The present invention relates to a method and a device for displaying an icon menu in which an attribute display icon having a prohibition condition is displayed, and an information icon is operated in accordance with the condition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a computer or a control device using a computer displays an icon of a program to be started and selected on a display screen such as a CRT or a liquid crystal in order to improve the operability of an operator. Click, select, set, and execute with the mouse.

[0003] Further, for a program for which selection, setting, and execution are prohibited, the above-mentioned icon is changed to a blurred color different from other icons so that its state can be seen at a glance or operated. Also, by making an error, the operator is informed that the operation of the icon menu is prohibited.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional icon menu display method and display device, programs that cannot be selected, set, or executed are often not displayed on the display screen. A user who only knows the existence of the icon menu and who does not know the contents of the operation prohibition of the icon menu is required to know the contents separately by using HEL.
I had to refer to the P screen and manual. Furthermore, temporarily interrupting the icon menu operation in this way deteriorates the operability, and the operation prohibition contents cannot be completely understood, so that an erroneous operation may be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables the operable condition and the operation prohibition condition to be recognized and determined at a glance at the time of selecting operation of an icon menu, and the content of the condition is represented by an image or voice. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display method and a display device of an icon menu that can be confirmed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention according to claim 1 proposed to achieve the above object comprises selecting, setting,
The conditions for enabling input operation such as running, side by side and constrained attribute display icon with a picture information, and information icons indicating the contents, and the display means displays the menu screen.

Here, conditions for enabling the input operation include, for example, user restrictions, and selection, setting, and execution are limited to specific persons such as low, medium, and high users, construction contractors, and managers. And other input operations.

[0008] The present invention according to claim 2 provides a method for selecting, setting,
That the execution operation is prohibited, the prohibition attribute display icon with a picture information, an information icon indicating the contents
Are arranged and displayed on the menu screen.

Here, the prohibition of the operation is, for example, a time zone in which the operation cannot be performed due to time restrictions, is displayed by picture information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the color of the picture information of the prohibition attribute display icon changes between when the selection, setting, and execution operations are prohibited and when the prohibition is released. I am trying to do it.

Here, the color change when the operation is prohibited / inhibited is, for example, a time zone in which the operation can be performed and a time zone in which the operation cannot be performed due to time restrictions, are displayed in clear and unclear colors, flickering, and the like. Is performed in the following manner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when one of the constraint attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon is clicked with a mouse, the attribute information is displayed in characters. For example, a window screen is displayed below the icon and the like, and the restriction condition and the prohibition are displayed in characters.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when one of the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibition attribute display icon is clicked with a mouse, the attribute information is output as voice. The audio output may be output from a speaker of the computer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the picture information of the restricted attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon is displayed as a moving image on the menu screen. Here, a moving image refers to an animation image having color and movement.

Claims 7 to 10 propose an icon menu display device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an icon storage unit in which an information icon, a restriction attribute display icon, and a prohibition attribute display icon are registered as image data;
An attribute condition storing means for storing a prohibition condition as attribute information, and discriminating an icon displayed on the display screen and clicked with a mouse, and performing necessary processing such as switching of the display screen in response to the operation of the icon. Display screen control means.

The present invention according to claim 8 is provided with animation display control means for displaying the constraint attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon displayed on the display screen as a moving image.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the attribute condition storage means stores character information corresponding to the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon, and the display screen control means is clicked with a mouse. When the attribute display icon is determined, the character information stored in the attribute condition storage means is displayed on the display screen in association with the attribute display icon.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the attribute condition storage means stores audio information corresponding to the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon, and the display screen control means is clicked with a mouse. When the attribute display icon is determined, the audio information stored in the attribute condition storage means is output from the speaker in association with the attribute display icon.

In the icon menu display method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the constraint attribute display icon is displayed on the menu screen together with the information icon. Understand the conditions for enabling the operation. In the icon menu display method according to the second aspect, since the prohibited attribute display icon is displayed on the menu screen together with the information icon, it can be seen at a glance that the operation of the information icon is prohibited.

In the icon menu display method according to the third aspect, the color of the picture information of the prohibited attribute display icon changes between when the operation is prohibited and when the prohibition is released. At a glance, the status of the operation of the information icon at the present time is prohibited / removed.

According to the icon menu display method of the present invention, since the attribute information of the restriction attribute display icon or the prohibition attribute display icon is displayed in characters, the attribute of the information icon can be recognized on the menu screen.

According to the icon menu display method of the present invention, the attribute information of the restriction attribute display icon or the prohibition attribute display icon is output as voice, so that the attribute of the information icon can be recognized aurally.

According to the icon menu display method of the present invention, the picture information of the restriction attribute display icon or the prohibited attribute display icon is displayed as a moving image on the menu screen, and the attribute display icon itself is currently valid. I understand.

In the icon menu display device according to the present invention, since the restriction attribute display icon or the prohibition attribute display icon is displayed together with the information icon, the information icon can be operated based on the attribute information.

In the icon menu display device according to the present invention, since the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibited attribute display icon are displayed as a moving image, it can be visually recognized whether the attribute display icon itself is currently valid.

In the icon menu display device according to the ninth aspect, when the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibition attribute display icon are clicked with a mouse, the attribute information of the restriction attribute display icon can be displayed on the display screen. .

[0027] In the icon menu display device according to the tenth aspect, when the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibition attribute display icon are clicked with a mouse, the attribute information of the restriction attribute display icon is output to the speaker by voice. it can.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a method of displaying an icon menu according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method of displaying an icon menu.

In the figure, 1 indicates one or more attribute display icons, and 2 indicates a selection, setting,
It is an information icon for executing an input operation such as execution and executing a command.

The attribute display icon 1 includes a constraint attribute display icon 1 and a prohibition attribute display icon 1. The constraint attribute display icon 1 has conditions for enabling selection, setting, and execution of the information icon 2. In the prohibition attribute display icon 1, the fact that the selection, setting, and execution operations are prohibited is displayed as pictorial information. At this time, if the information icon 2 is clicked with a mouse, selection, setting, and execution operations can be performed according to the attribute of the attribute display icon 1.

An icon menu display method when each attribute display icon 1 is displayed will be described below. First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon menu display method in which a constraint attribute display icon 1 is displayed together with an information icon 2.

The constraint attribute display icon 1 shown in the figure is an attribute display icon 1 having a user restriction, and divides a user into three levels of low, medium, and high, and restricts information to a specific person among them. Input operations such as selection, setting, and execution using the icon 2 are enabled.

The constraint attribute display icon 1 shown in FIG.
Indicates that the user at all levels of low, medium, high, and all levels can set the communication baud rate indicated by the information icon 2, and the constraint attribute display icon 1 shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C.
Indicates that only the middle, high level, and high level users can set, respectively. Here, FIG.
In the case of (c), the password input screen 3 is displayed, and by inputting the password, the user level is checked, and the restriction condition of the restriction attribute display icon 1 is determined. In this case, first, a password input screen 3 is displayed in the menu display screen by a click operation of the information icon 2 with a mouse, and the input of the password is prompted.
When a password is entered, it is checked whether the password is a valid user with the constraint attribute display icon 1 at present. Therefore, if the user is enabled, the content of the information icon 2 can be operated, and the next operation screen is displayed. Second Embodiment Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon menu display method in which a prohibited attribute display icon 1 is displayed together with an information icon 2.

The prohibition attribute display icon 1 shown in the figure is an attribute display icon having a time restriction, and prohibits input operations such as selection, setting, execution, etc. within a limited time zone.
For example, AM9: 00 to PM5: 30 is the operable time (release of prohibition), PM5: 31 to AM8: 59 is the operable time (prohibited), and 30 minutes before the operable time is switched to the operable time. From (PM5: 01-PM
5:30) is set as the limit warning time, and the operator is notified that the inoperable time is approaching.

The prohibited attribute display icon 1 shown in FIG.
Indicates that the prohibition has been released. At this time,
When the information icon 2 is clicked on with a mouse, the information icon 2 can be operated. The prohibition attribute display icon 1 in FIG. 3B indicates that the prohibition is released, but the prohibition state is approaching. In this case, when the information icon 2 is clicked with the mouse, the information icon 2 is displayed. Can be operated. Prohibition attribute display icon 1 in FIG.
Indicates that the information icon 2 is in the forbidden state. At this time, even if the information icon 2 is clicked with the mouse, the information icon 2 cannot be operated.

As described above, the prohibited attribute display icon 1
Can prohibit the selection, setting, and execution operations of the information icon 2 and, by changing the colors of the prohibition state and the prohibition release state, can inform the operator of the state in an easily understandable manner.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the picture information has a clear display color when the prohibition state of FIG.
In the prohibition state, the color is changed according to the state as an unclear display color, and in the prohibition state in which the prohibition state of FIG. ing.

The operation of the information icon 2 by each attribute display icon 1 has been described above. Next, another main invention of the present invention, that is, a process of confirming the attribute information of each attribute display icon 1 will be described. .

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the attribute information of the prohibited attribute display icon 1 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. By clicking the prohibited attribute display icon 1 with a mouse, its attribute information 4
Is displayed on the menu display screen. In the figure, only the attribute information 4 of the currently displayed prohibited attribute display icon 1 is indicated by only character information. However, in the present invention, the attribute information 4 of the restricted attribute display icon 1 or the prohibited attribute display icon 1 is listed. May be displayed, or picture information may be displayed simultaneously in correspondence with character information.

The attribute information of each attribute display icon 1 can also be output by voice, and when the constraint attribute display icon 1 or the prohibited attribute display icon 1 is clicked on with a mouse, the attribute information is output by voice. . The output of the sound may be performed simultaneously with the display of the character information of the attribute information 4.

Further, according to the present invention, the picture information described above can be displayed as a moving image. The constraint attribute display icon 1, the prohibited attribute display icon 1, and the picture information of each attribute display icon 1 displayed as the attribute information 4 are the targets. For example, the clock hand of the prohibition attribute display icon 1 shown in FIG. 3 can be moved and displayed every second.

The method for displaying an icon menu according to the present invention has been described above. Next, a display device for displaying an icon menu according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the icon menu display device 10 according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an icon storage unit that registers the attribute display icon 1 as image data, 12 denotes an attribute condition storage unit that stores constraint conditions and prohibition conditions by the attribute display icon 1 as attribute information, and 13 denotes a screen on the CRT device 21. A display screen control means for determining the icon clicked by the mouse 20 and performing necessary processing such as switching of display screens in response to the operation of the icon; and 14 an attribute display icon displayed on the display screen. This is animation display control means for displaying 1 as a moving image. Also, 15
Is an operation input unit that detects mouse clicks and notifies the display screen control unit 13 of necessary data; 16 is a screen display unit that displays a screen on the CRT device 21 based on a display request from the display screen control unit 13; It is an audio output unit that outputs the attribute conditions stored in the condition storage unit 12 to the speaker 22 as audio.

With such a configuration, the icon menu display device 10 realizes the above-described icon menu display method. Attribute display icon 1
Registration, display processing, attribute condition determination processing by operating the information icon 2, moving image display processing of the attribute condition display icon 1, attribute condition display processing of the attribute condition display icon 1, and audio output processing. Will be described.

The registration of the attribute display icon 1 is performed by the operation of the mouse 20 or the like in the display screen control means 13 through the operation input means 15, and the image data is stored in the icon storage means 11 in the attribute condition storage means. 12, the attribute condition is registered. The display of the attribute display icon 1 is performed by reading the attribute display icon 1 corresponding to the information icon 2 from the icon storage unit 11 when the information icon 2 is displayed by the display screen control unit 13 and then displaying the screen display unit 16. And display it on the CRT device 21 via the CRT device 21. The determination of the attribute condition is performed when the display screen control unit 13 detects a click operation of the information icon 2. The attribute condition of the attribute display icon 1 corresponding to the clicked information icon 2 is read from the attribute condition storage unit 12 and it is checked whether the click operation is applicable to the attribute condition. The next operation screen is displayed, and if the operation is not possible, a warning sound is output to notify that the operation is not possible. In the moving image display, under the control of the display screen control unit 13, the animation display control unit 14 periodically creates an image based on the image data of the icon storage unit 11 and the attribute information of the attribute storage unit 12. Control means 1
3 to display an animation image. in this case,
If the animation image is devised, a more intuitive menu screen can be realized. The attribute condition display of the attribute condition display icon 1 is performed when the display screen control unit 13 detects a click operation of the constraint attribute display icon 1 or the prohibition attribute display icon 1, and displays the attribute corresponding to the clicked attribute display icon 1. The character information of the condition is read out from the attribute condition storage means 12, and is read via the screen display means 16.
The information is displayed on the RT device 21. On the other hand, the audio output of the attribute condition is performed when the click operation of each attribute display icon 1 is detected by the display screen control unit 13 in the same manner as described above.
The audio information of the attribute condition corresponding to the clicked attribute display icon 1 is read from the attribute condition storage unit 12 and output to the speaker 22 via the audio output unit 17.

Although the display method and the display device of the icon menu according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, when a plurality of attribute display icons 1 are displayed together with the information icons 2, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the attribute display icons 1 is displayed horizontally and the respective attribute conditions are changed to AND conditions. , Displayed vertically
The R condition may be used. More specifically, using the attribute condition icon 1 shown in the drawing, the AND condition indicates a condition under which the information icon 2 can be operated only when the specific user can operate, and an OR condition and Indicates a condition that the information icon 2 can be operated even if the user is not operable for a operable time, or that the information icon 2 can be operated for a specific user even during the unavailable time.

The picture information of the attribute display icon 1 is not limited, and the operation of the information icon 2 may be defined by displaying attribute conditions as shown in FIG. 7A shows a seasonal constraint attribute, FIG. 7B shows a weekday / special day constraint attribute,
(C) is a constraint attribute by weather / climate, (d) is a constraint attribute by function setting, (e) is a three-dimensional menu structure attribute,
Each is shown.

Furthermore, the icon menu display method and display device of the present invention are used for monitoring equipment such as building equipment monitoring, disaster prevention monitoring, and plant equipment monitoring in addition to ordinary personal computers, and are connected to them. The attribute information of the attribute display icon 1 may be changed according to the operation status of the terminal.

[0052]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the method for displaying an icon menu according to the first and second aspects of the present invention and the apparatus for displaying an icon menu according to the seventh aspect, Since the constraints and prohibitions of the information icons can be seen at a glance, it is not necessary to refer to the HELP screen or the manual separately, and the operability is improved.

According to the method of displaying an icon menu according to the third aspect, at a glance, the current state of inhibition or release of the operation of the information icon can be determined. The effect of improving the performance is exhibited.

According to the icon menu display method according to the fourth and fifth aspects and the icon menu display device according to the ninth and tenth aspects, the contents of the restriction condition and the prohibition condition of the information icon are not changed. Since it can be recognized on the menu display screen or by voice from the speaker, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation performed because the restriction condition and the prohibition condition are not known.

According to the method for displaying an icon menu according to the sixth aspect and the display apparatus for an icon menu according to the eighth aspect, the operation status of the program existing to satisfy the restriction condition and the prohibition condition for the information icon. Can be confirmed, and a trouble of the program can be found immediately, so that a trouble caused by the above condition not being set can be prevented beforehand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method for displaying an icon menu according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon menu display method displaying a constraint attribute display icon.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon menu display method displaying a prohibited attribute display icon.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displaying attribute information of a prohibited attribute display icon.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a display device for an icon menu according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon menu display method in which a plurality of restriction attribute display icons or prohibition attribute display icons are displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a restriction attribute display icon or a prohibition attribute display icon.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Restriction attribute display icon or prohibition attribute display icon 2 Information icon 4 Attribute information 10 Icon menu display device 11 Icon storage means 12 Attribute condition storage means 13 Display screen control means 14 Animation display control means 15 Operation input means 16 Screen display means 17 Voice Output means

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A menu display screen in which an information icon displayed on a screen is clicked with a mouse to perform an input operation such as selection, setting, execution and the like, and a command is executed. Conditions to enable
Side by side and constrained attribute display icon with a picture information, and information icons indicating the contents, the display method of icons menu and displaying on the menu screen. 2. A menu display screen in which an information icon displayed on a screen is clicked with a mouse to perform an input operation such as selection, setting, execution, etc. to execute a command. that but is prohibited, side by side and prohibit attribute display icon with a picture information, and information icons indicating the contents, the display method of icons menu and displaying on the menu screen. 3. The icon menu display method according to claim 2, wherein the selection, setting, and execution of the picture information of the prohibited attribute display icon is prohibited, and the prohibition is released. How to display the icon menu so that the color changes with time. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when one of the restriction attribute display icon and the prohibition attribute display icon is clicked with a mouse, the attribute information is displayed as characters on the menu display screen. How to display the icon menu. 5. An icon menu according to claim 1, wherein when one of said restriction attribute display icon and said prohibition attribute display icon is clicked with a mouse, the attribute information is output as sound. Display method. 6. The method for displaying an icon menu according to claim 1, wherein the restriction attribute display icon and the inhibition attribute display icon are:
A method of displaying an icon menu in which picture information is displayed as a moving image on the menu screen. 7. An icon storage means in which an information icon, a constraint attribute display icon, and a prohibition attribute display icon are registered as image data, and an attribute in which a constraint condition by the constraint attribute display icon, a prohibition attribute display icon, and a prohibition condition are stored as attribute information. Condition storage means; and display screen control means for determining an icon displayed on the display screen and clicked with the mouse, and performing necessary processing such as switching of the display screen for the operation of the icon. A display device for an icon menu. 8. The icon menu display device according to claim 7, further comprising animation display control means for displaying a restriction attribute display icon and a prohibition attribute display icon displayed on the display screen as a moving image. 9. The attribute condition storage means stores character information corresponding to a constraint attribute display icon and a prohibited attribute display icon, and the display screen control means determines the attribute display icon clicked with a mouse. 8. A structure in which the character information stored in the attribute condition storage means is displayed on the display screen in association with the attribute display icon.
Or the icon menu display device according to 8. 10. The attribute condition storage means stores audio information corresponding to a restriction attribute display icon and a prohibited attribute display icon, and the display screen control means determines an attribute display icon clicked with a mouse. The icon menu display device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the audio information stored in the attribute condition storage means is output from a speaker in association with the attribute display icon.