JP3239511B2 - 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 multi-window display device, and more particularly to a multi-window display device capable of suppressing activation of a window other than an activated window. The present invention relates to a display device capable of displaying menu information.

When a plurality of windows are superimposed and displayed on the screen of a display device, it is necessary that a window requiring an operator operation such as data input can be smoothly operated without being hidden by other windows during the operation. However, if a window other than the window where data is being input is displayed in the foreground due to an operation error, the input operation will be obstructed, and it will be necessary to perform an operation to restore it. A method that does not activate the window is desired.

In the multi-window menu display, an operation menu corresponding to each window is displayed, or an operation menu sequence common to a plurality of windows is displayed at the top of the screen. And the operation is troublesome, a method for solving this is desired.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In a display device in which multi-windows are displayed, when windows are overlapped on the screen, a window that requires an operator operation such as data entry is positioned at the forefront by clicking a mouse (referred to as activation). ) Has been started.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), when windows A to C are superimposed on the screen, the foreground window A is activated. Then, when the mouse cursor (arrow in the figure) is positioned within the area of window B and clicked, window B is brought out to the front and activated as shown by the vertical hatching in FIG. When the mouse cursor is further clicked in the area of the window C after the operation input, the window C is activated as shown by the horizontal hatching in FIG.

When an operation menu is displayed on a display screen on which a window is displayed, a method of individually displaying the operation menu at the top of the window for each window, for example, as shown in FIG. The operation menu items (selection, setting, cancellation, exit, and deletion) used in W1 and the operation menu items (addition, deletion, editing, exit, and deletion) used in window W2 are respectively displayed in window W1 and window W1.
It is displayed at the top of W2.

[0007] Alternatively, a method of displaying a common operation menu row for a plurality of windows in the upper area of the screen, for example,
As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and (b), the operation menu items used in the window W1 and the operation menu items used in the window W2 are arranged and displayed in common in the upper area of the display screen. When window W1 is activated, the window
W2 operation menu items are displayed in halftone and cannot be used. When window W2 is activated,
Window W1 operation menu items are displayed in halftone
(Items in parentheses in the figure indicate halftone display.) The method is taken.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned conventional method, if the operator erroneously clicks a mouse on a window other than the operation target during operation, the clicked window is activated and positioned at the forefront. I will. Therefore, the window to be operated cannot always be positioned at the top of the superimposition, and the input operation is hindered. Therefore, it is necessary to return the window to the original operation target.

When a plurality of windows individually require an operation menu, in a method of setting an operation menu in each window for each window, the input area of the window is narrowed by the operation menu. In addition, a method of displaying a menu row common to a plurality of operation menus may cause a wasteful operation menu display area on the screen and confusion in operation. There is a problem.

According to the present invention, by suppressing activation of windows other than the window to be operated, it is possible to prevent windows other than the operation target from being activated due to an operation error, thereby improving operability. In addition, the operation menu corresponding to each window is displayed in one menu display area without reducing the area in the window for displaying the operation menu or securing a useless operation menu display area on the screen, It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device capable of simplifying a menu operation.

[0011]

1 and 2 show the principle of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram corresponding to claim 1, and FIG.
Is a block diagram corresponding to claim 3. FIG.

1) Means corresponding to claim 1 In the figure, 3 is a display screen, 40 is an instruction means for instructing activation of any one of the multi-windows displayed on the display screen 3, and 11 is an instruction means A window activating means for activating the designated window based on the activation instruction by 40; a suppression information setting means for setting activation suppression information to a window other than the window activated by the window activating means 11 It is.

Therefore, the window in which the activation suppression information is set is configured so that activation is suppressed even if the activation instruction is given by the instruction means 40. 2) Means Corresponding to Claim 3 In the figure, 3 is a display screen, 15 is storage means for storing menu information of operation corresponding to each window of the multi-window, and 40 is a multi-window displayed on the display screen 3. Instructing means 11 for instructing the activation of any one of the windows is a window activating means for activating the designated window based on the activation instruction by the instructing means 40.

Therefore, the menu information of the operation corresponding to the window activated by the window activating means 11 is read from the storage means 15 and displayed on the display screen 3.

[0015]

[Action]

1) Actions Corresponding to Claim 1 When the activation of any one of the multi-windows displayed on the display screen 3 is instructed by the instructing means 40, the window activating means 11 activates the instructed window. Set activation suppression information in a window other than the window. The window in which the activation suppression information is set is suppressed from being activated even if the instruction unit 40 instructs activation.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent a window outside the operation target from being activated due to an operation error, so that an unnecessary operation for returning to the original window is not required, and the operation can be smoothly performed without hindering the operation. The performance is improved.

2) Action According to Claim 3 When activation of any one of the multi-windows displayed on the display screen 3 is instructed by the instructing means 40, the window activating means 11 activates the designated window. Become Then, the menu information of the operation corresponding to the activated window is read from the storage means 15 and displayed on the display screen 3.

Therefore, there is no need to secure a useless display area as compared with the conventional method of displaying individual operation menus for individual windows or displaying a common operation menu row for a plurality of windows. , And menu operations can be simplified.

[0019]

【Example】

1) Description of First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment (corresponding to claims 1 and 2) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings.

The display of FIG. 3 (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 3
a, window activation unit 11a, suppression information setting instruction unit 12
a and the click button 40a correspond to the display screen 3, the inhibition information setting means 12, and the instruction means 40 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment.
In the figure, 1 is a CPU, 2a is a ROM, 3a is a CRT, 4a
Is a keyboard (KB), 4b is a mouse, 5 is R
Indicates AM.

The CPU 1 controls each unit according to a management program stored in the ROM 2a. KB4a is an input button such as a numeric keypad for inputting data into the activated window.
The mouse 4b includes an instruction for a window to be displayed in a window menu displayed on the CRT 3a, an instruction for a window to be activated from any of a plurality of displayed windows, and an operation menu to be described later. The click button 40a is provided. The ROM 2a has a program storage area 6 and a data storage area 7 for storing a management program.

The program storage area 6 is opened from the window format area 13 of the data storage area 7 described below based on a click of the mouse 4b.
Reading of the specified window format in the operation menu and the window menu, control of data input from the input button 41 of the KB 4a, and input information determination for determining whether or not the instruction data of the click button 40a is an activation instruction It stores an input control program 8 having a unit 9, a display control of data read from the window format area 13 and input data, and a screen control program 10 including a window activation unit 11a and a suppression information setting instruction unit 12a.

The window activating section 11a activates a window specified by a mouse click by positioning the window at the forefront in the RAM 5. The inhibition information setting instructing unit 12a
The setting of the suppression information is instructed to windows other than the window designated to be activated in the screen data developed in the RAM 5. In addition, an instruction to cancel the setting of the suppression information is issued by clicking the “end” mouse in the operation menu.

The data storage area 7 has a window format storage area 13 for storing a window menu, a window format and an operation menu, and a suppression information storage area 14 for storing activation suppression information. Although the operation menu is not shown, the operation items “selection, setting, release, addition, deletion, editing,
End, delete ".

The RAM 5 is provided with a window format to be displayed on the CRT 3a, an area for expanding an operation menu, input data, and the like. The window instructed to be activated by the window activation section 11a is moved to the foreground and activated. The activation suppression information read from the suppression information storage area 14 is set in accordance with an instruction of the suppression information setting instructing unit 12a for a window other than the selected window.

The CRT 3a displays a multi-window under the control of the screen control program 10, and displays input data at a predetermined position of the activated window. Having such a configuration and function, the operation will be described next with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the power supply of the apparatus is turned on, a management program is started. When windows A to C are designated by a mouse click from a window menu displayed on the CRT 3a, each window format and operation menu are read out and expanded in the RAM 5. After that, as shown in FIG. 4A, the windows A to C overlap and are displayed on the CRT 3a. At this time, window A is activated.

If the first operation input is window B, the operator positions the mouse cursor in the area of window B and clicks. Then, the input information determination unit 9 determines whether or not the instruction information is an activation instruction. When the instruction information is determined to be an activation instruction, the activation information is activated from the inhibition information storage area 14 by the instruction of the inhibition information setting instruction unit 12a. Read out the activation suppression information, and
The activation suppression information is set in the format of the window A located at the forefront of the screen data expanded in the window data, and the activation of the window A displayed on the CRT 3a is performed as indicated by hatching in FIG. 4 (b). Is suppressed. When the input information determination unit 9 determines that the instruction is not an activation instruction, the current state is maintained, and the process is repeated again.

Next, as shown by vertical hatching in FIG. 4C, the window B is
Activate by placing it on the foreground. Next, activation inhibition information is read from the inhibition information storage area 14 in accordance with an instruction from the inhibition information setting instructing section 12a, and is read from the RAM.
Activation suppression information is set in the format of the window C of the screen data of No. 5, and the activation of the window C displayed on the CRT 3a is suppressed as shown by hatching in FIG. 4D. If there are more windows, the flow is repeated.

When the input of the data to the window B is completed and the "end" of the operation menu on the screen is clicked with the mouse, the input data is stored in a not-shown internal memory or an external storage device. The setting of the activation suppression information set in the windows A and C of the screen data expanded in the RAM 5 is released, and the suppression of the activation of the windows A and C displayed on the CRT 3a is released.

Further, if activation is required for inputting an operation to the window A or the window C, the flow of (1) to (5) is repeated. Thus, the operation input is completed, and the multi-display of the windows A to C disappears by the mouse click of “delete” in the operation menu for each window.

In this manner, the windows A and C other than the activated window B are prohibited from being activated.
Even if the mouse is accidentally clicked on the windows A and C during the input operation of the window B, the windows A and C are not activated, and confusion of the operation input is prevented.
The operation of returning to the original state is not required.

2) Description of the Second Embodiment An embodiment (corresponding to claim 3) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings.

CRT 3a of FIG. 6, window activating section 11
a, the RAM 15a, and the click button 40a correspond to the display screen 3, the window activating means 11, the storage means 15, and the instruction means 40 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment.
In the figure, 1a is a CPU, 2b is a ROM, and 5a and 15a are RAMs.
Is shown. The CPU 1a controls each unit according to a control program stored in the ROM 2b.

The RAM 5a has a window format to be displayed on the CRT 3a and an area for expanding input data. The RAM 15a stores a table of operation menu information corresponding to each of the windows W1 and W2. In advance, windows W1 and W2 are displayed in multi-window on CRT3a,
The operation menu information corresponding to each is input, and RAM 15a
To be stored. FIG. 7 shows the structure of the operation menu information. That is, the operation menu information (a plurality of menu items) are respectively provided in the windows W1, W2,..., For example, the operation menu items 1 to 5 (selection, setting, release, end, and delete) are provided in the window W1, and the operation menu items 6 to 10 (add, delete, edit,
(End, erase) are stored correspondingly.

The ROM 2b includes a program area 6a and a program area 7a instead of the program area 6 and the data storage area 7 of the ROM 6 described in the first embodiment. The program area 6a includes a menu reading section 16 instead of the inhibition information setting instructing section 12a of the program area 6,
In the program area 7a, the activation information area 14 is deleted from the program area 7.

When any one of the windows W1 and W2 is instructed to be activated and the window format is expanded in the RAM 5a, the menu reading section 16 reads the operation menu information stored in the RAM 15a from the RAM 15a and reads the operation menu information from the RAM 15a.
Expand to the predetermined position of 5a.

Having such a configuration and function, the operation will be described next with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 8 and the flowchart of FIG. First, when the power of the device is turned on, the control program is started, and the windows W1 and W1 are displayed from the displayed window menu.
When the multi-display 2 is instructed, the formats of the windows W1 and W2 are read and expanded in the RAM 5a. Next, the menu reading unit 16 reads a plurality of operation menu items (selection, setting, release, termination, and erasure) of the window W1 of the RAM 15a and develops them at a predetermined position of the RAM 5a, and thereafter, the window W1 and its operation menu information and the window W2 To CR
Display on T3a.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the operation menu information of the window W1 is displayed at the upper position of the CRT 3a where the windows W1 and W2 are displayed. Therefore, only the operation menu information corresponding to the window W1 can be used. At this time, the window W1 is activated.

Then, a desired operation menu item is clicked on the window W1 with the mouse, and an input operation is performed with the KB 4a. The input ends and the operation menu item "Exit"
When the mouse is clicked, the input data is stored in a not-shown internal memory or an external storage device. If an input to another operation menu item is necessary, the same operation is repeated. This ends the flow if the input is completed.

When the input is not completed, the window is switched to window W2.
If you switch, move the mouse cursor to the area of window W2
And click the click button 40a of the mouse 4b.
You.  Then, the input information determination unit 9 determines that the instruction information is an activation instruction.
And if it is determined to be an activation instruction,
First, the data is expanded in the RAM 5a by the window activation unit 11a.
Window W2 is brought to the front. Then
The new reading unit 16 corresponds to the window W2 of the RAM 15a.
Multiple operation menu items (add, delete, edit, end, delete
) And change the operation menu item of window W1.
After erasing and expanding to that position, window W2 and its window
Menu item and window W1 on CRT3a
You. Also, the input information determination unit 9 determines that the instruction is not an activation instruction.
If so, the current situation is maintained, so repeat again.

As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the operation menu item of the window W2 is displayed at an upper position of the CRT 3a where the windows W2 and W1 overlap each other. Therefore, only a plurality of operation menu items corresponding to the window W2 can be used.

Then, an input operation is performed on the window W2 to a desired operation menu item by using the KB 4a or the mouse 4b, and when the input is completed and the "end" of the operation menu item is clicked with the mouse, the input data is stored. If input to another menu item is necessary, the same operation is repeated. If the input is not completed and the window W1 is input again, the above steps are repeated.

Thus, the operation input of each of the windows W1 and W2 is completed, and the display on the display screen disappears by the mouse click of the "delete" of the operation menu item. In this way, when one of the windows W1 and W2 is activated, only the operation menu item corresponding to the activated window can be displayed at the top of the screen. , W2, respectively, to display the operation menu items in the window area to reduce the window area, or to display a common operation menu item sequence in the windows W1, W2 to secure a useless area. In comparison, since unnecessary operation menu items are not displayed, a wide window or display screen area can be used, and the appearance is clear, and the operation menu operation is simple, no confusion, and clear.

In the first embodiment, when a specific window B is instructed to be activated, the activation of the window A is suppressed, then the window B is activated, and finally, the activation of the window C is inhibited. Has been described, first, window B is activated, and then window A and window C are activated.
Needless to say, a method of suppressing the activation of the data may be used.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the first aspect, when activation of any one of the overlapping multi-windows is instructed, a window other than the window to be activated is displayed. By setting the activation suppression information, windows that are not targeted for operation are suppressed from being activated even if an activation instruction is given, so that activation due to an operation mistake can be prevented, and there is no need to return to the original window. Operation is not required, and the operation can be performed smoothly without hindering the operation, thereby improving the operability.

According to the second aspect, the setting of the suppression information for windows other than the window to be activated according to the first aspect is canceled by an input instruction of completion of input to the activated window. Can be easily performed.

According to the present invention, the operation menu information corresponding to each window is stored in the storage means, and only the operation menu information corresponding to the activated window is read out from the storage means and displayed on the display screen. By
Compared to the conventional method of displaying individual operation menus for individual windows or displaying a common operation menu column for multiple windows, there is no need to secure a useless display area, and menu operations can be performed. Can be simplified. This has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram according to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of menu information.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example (part 1)

11 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example (part 2).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional example (part 3).

[Explanation of symbols]

3 is a display screen, 3a is a CRT, 11 is a window activation unit, 11a is a window activation unit,
12 is inhibition information setting means, 12a is inhibition information setting instruction section, 15 is storage means, 15a is RAM, 40 is instruction means, 40a is a click button,

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/14

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display device in which a multi-window is displayed on a display screen (3), and instructing means for instructing activation of any one of the multi-windows displayed on the display screen (3). 40)
Window activation means (11) for activating the specified window based on the activation instruction by the instruction means (40)
And suppression information setting means (12) for setting activation suppression information in a window other than the window activated by the window activating means (11), and activation suppression by the suppression information setting means (12). A display device in which activation of a window in which information is set is suppressed even if an instruction for activation of the instruction means (40) is given. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the inhibition information by the inhibition information setting means (12) is canceled by an input instruction of the completion of the input to the activated window. 3. A display device in which a multi-window is displayed on a display screen (3), comprising: storage means (15) for storing menu information of an operation corresponding to each window of the multi-window; Instruction means (40) for instructing activation of any one of the multi-windows displayed in (3)
Window activation means (11) for activating the specified window based on the activation instruction by the instruction means (40)
A display device for reading operation menu information corresponding to the window activated by the window activation means (11) from the storage means (15) and displaying the operation menu information on the display screen (3). .