JP3389816B2 - Information processing device - 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 having a display, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus in which an interrupt event occurs when an input signal is not input for a certain period of time. Information processing devices equipped with displays such as desktop personal computers and notebook personal computers monitor the presence of input signals from the keyboard and mouse, and operate signals from the keyboard and mouse to prevent display burn-in. It has an interrupt event to switch to a low power consumption mode in which the screen saver is activated if no input is made for a certain period of time, or the screen is turned off or darkened to reduce power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an interrupt event such as a screen saver function or a low power consumption mode switching function is generated, an input signal from a keyboard or a mouse is monitored, and an operation signal is not input over a preset time. It was sometimes done. However, in the case where the operator is thinking of a sentence to be created while looking at the screen displayed on the display without operating the keyboard or mouse while executing the application for creating a document on the information processing device. In many cases, if you suddenly switch to screen saver or switch to low power consumption mode,
It will hinder the operation. Further, in order to avoid such switching, the operator has to intentionally perform useless key operation and the like at appropriate time intervals, which makes the operator feel complicated.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-295883, filed on October 20, 1992, a far infrared sensor for detecting the presence of an operator is provided near the CRT screen. If the operator is present in front of the CRT screen, the operator is affected by preventing the screen saver from switching even if the input of the operation signal from the keyboard or the like is not detected for a certain period of time. It is known that the life of a CRT can be extended without giving the CRT.

[0004]

However, the technique for preventing the screen saver from being activated by the sensor requires the sensor, which is not suitable for the recent miniaturization of the device. Further, in a portable information processing device that expects low power consumption, the sensor and the control circuit itself for controlling the sensor consume power, which is not realistic.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide the generation of an interrupt event that does not interrupt the operator's thinking without requiring a special circuit.

[0006]

According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus in which an interrupt event occurs when a signal is not input from an input device for a certain period of time is predetermined as time information until the interrupt event is generated. A storage unit storing a first time, which is a time length, and a second time, which is a time length set longer than the first time, a position information of an arbitrary area displayed on the screen, and a cursor An information processing apparatus, comprising: a processing unit that activates either the first time or the second time from position information to generate the interrupt event.

That is, the interrupt event is not generated only by the passage of time, but the position information of where the cursor is positioned with respect to an arbitrary area on the display screen is also a factor for generating the interrupt event. As a result, the operator of the information processing device can intentionally operate the position of the cursor to change the display timing until the occurrence of the interrupt event.

Further, according to the present invention, the interrupt event is generated based on the second time when the cursor is positioned in the window displayed on the screen as the application is executed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. This is because when the operator falls into thinking while an arbitrary application is running and the window is open, the cursor often remains in the window. If the second time is longer than the first time, the second time set longer than the first time is validated to delay the occurrence of the interrupt event.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing device, and various operation devices having a display such as a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer and a word processor are collectively referred to as an information processing device in the present invention. Defined as a device.

Reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1 is a keyboard. Code 3
Is a mouse. Reference numeral 8 is a display. Also,
Reference numeral 9 is a printer. Reference numeral 10 is an auxiliary storage device. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, which not only performs the substantial processing of the application but also controls the reading or writing to the storage device and the output control to the display 8 and the printer 9. Reference numeral 5 is an input unit,
CP by detecting the input signal from the keyboard 2 and mouse 3
It is used to notify U4 of the presence / absence of signal input.

Reference numeral 6 is a RAM, which is, for example, a readable / writable storage unit in which the information of FIG. 2 is stored. The RAM 6 shown in FIG. 2 has an internal area divided into several areas 6-1 to 6-n, and in the embodiment of the present invention, at least the first area 6-1 is displayed on the display. Window position information (X1, Y1), (X
2, Y2) is the position information (Xn, Y) of the mouse cursor that is also displayed on the display in the second area 6-2.
n) is stored. Further, in the third area 6-3, a setting 1 which is set in advance as a time information having a predetermined length as the first time until the interrupt event is generated.
(Area 6-3 (1)) and setting 2 (area 6-3 (2)) set as a second time until an interrupt event occurs with a time length longer than that of setting 1 It is stored. The time based on these settings 1 and 2 can be arbitrarily set by the operator of the information processing apparatus.

If the operation signal from the keyboard or mouse is not input after the time set in the setting 1 or the setting 2 is exceeded, an interrupt event such as activation of the screen saver or switching to the low power consumption mode occurs. Reference numeral 7 is a ROM, which is, for example, a read-only storage unit in which various programs shown in FIG. 3 are stored. The ROM 7 shown in FIG. 3 is internally divided into several areas 7-1 to 7-n. In the embodiment of the present invention, at least the first area 7-1 contains the application execution program, A screen saver execution program is stored in the second area 7-2, and a low power consumption mode switching program is stored in the third area 7-3.
These programs are read out by the control of the CPU 4, and the respective programs are executed.

Reference numeral 1 is a main body processing unit, which is composed of a CPU 4, an input unit 5, a RAM 6, a ROM 7 and an internal bus. Next, as the first embodiment, an example of an information processing apparatus having a screen saver function will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, when the CPU 4 executes the application execution program read from the ROM 7, the display of the information processing device displays
In step S100, the screen of the operator's work is displayed. This is a state in which a window 81 displayed on the display 80 by executing an arbitrary application and a mouse cursor 82 are displayed as shown in screen A of FIG.

In step S101, the position information regarding the window 81 displayed on the display 80 is set to R.
This is the step of taking out from AM6. This is the display 80 stored in the first area 6-1 of the RAM 6.
It is position information of the upper left coordinate (X1, Y1) and the lower right coordinate (X2, Y2) of the window 81 whose origin is the upper left corner of (0, 0).

Step S102 is a step of extracting from the RAM 6 the position information relating to the mouse cursor 82 displayed on the display 80. This is RAM
Display 8 stored in second area 6-2 of 6
This is position information (X3, Y3) of the mouse cursor with the origin (0, 0) at the upper left corner of 0. Step S103 is a step of determining whether the mouse cursor 82 is located inside the window 81 or outside the window 81. That is, if the relationship between the position information of the window 81 and the position information of the mouse cursor is (X1 ≦ X3 ≦ X2) and (Y1 ≦ Y3 ≦ Y2), the mouse cursor 82 as shown in screen A of FIG. Is determined to be within the window 81. If the above relationship does not hold, the mouse cursor 82 as shown in screen D of FIG.
Is not in the window 81.

Since the position information of the mouse cursor 82 on the screen D of FIG. 5 is X4 and Y4, the relationship between the position information of the window and the position information of the mouse cursor is (X1≤X3≤X2). And (Y1 ≦ Y3 ≦ Y
The positional relationship is determined by replacing the portions of X3 and Y3 in 2) with X4 and Y4. Step S1 is that the mouse cursor 82 is not located in the window 81.
If it is judged in step 03, it is judged in step S whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or mouse over the predetermined time set in setting 1.
At 104. If there is no input, the CPU 4 executes the screen saver execution program read from the ROM 7 to activate the screen saver (step S10).
6). If an operation signal is input within the time of setting 1, the process returns to the previous stage of step S101. Then, the positional relationship between the window and the mouse cursor is determined again.

When the screen saver is executed, the screen is switched to the screen shown in screen E of FIG. 5 (step S107), and it is judged whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or the mouse (step S108). . If there is no operation signal input, the determination in step S108 continues, and if there is input, the screen saver execution program is canceled (step S10).
9), the screen D of FIG. 5 is displayed as the original screen (step S110). After step S110, the process returns to the previous stage of step S101.

Mouse cursor 82 in window 81
If it is determined in step S103 that the mouse is located, it is determined whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the mouse for longer than the time of setting 2 set as the time longer than setting 1. (Step S10
5). Even if the operation signal is not input after the time set in the setting 1 is reached and the time set in the setting 2 is reached, as shown in the screen B of FIG. A) is displayed as is.

If there is no operation signal input even after the time of setting 2 is exceeded, the CPU 4 executes the screen saver execution program read from the ROM 7 to activate the screen saver (step S106). If an operation signal is input within the time of setting 2, the process returns to the previous step of step S101. Then, the positional relationship between the window and the mouse cursor is determined again.

When the screen saver is executed, the state shown in screen C of FIG. 5 is obtained (step S107), and it is judged whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or the mouse (step S10).
8). If no operation signal is input, continue to step S1.
The judgment of 08 is continued, and if there is an input, the screen saver execution program is canceled (step S109), and
Screen A is displayed as the original screen (step S11)
0). After step S110, step S101 is performed again.
Return to the previous stage.

Next, as a second embodiment, an example of an information processing apparatus having a low power consumption mode switching function will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG.
By executing the application execution program read from the OM 7, the display of the information processing device displays the screen of the operator's work in step S200. This is a state in which a window 81 displayed on the display 80 by executing an arbitrary application and a mouse cursor 82 are displayed, as shown in the screen O of FIG. 7.

In step S201, the positional information on the window 81 displayed on the display 80 is set to R.
This is the step of taking out from AM6. This is the upper left coordinate (X1, Y1) and the lower right coordinate (X2, Y2) of the window 81 having the origin (0, 0) at the upper left corner of the display 80 stored in the first area 6-1 of the RAM 6. It is the position information of.

Step S202 is a step of extracting from the RAM 6 the position information relating to the mouse cursor 82 displayed on the display 80. This is RAM
Display 8 stored in second area 6-2 of 6
It is position information (X5, Y5) of the mouse cursor having the origin (0, 0) at the upper left corner of 0. Step S203 is a step of determining whether the mouse cursor 82 is located inside the window 81 or outside the window 81. That is, if the relationship between the position information of the window 81 and the position information of the mouse cursor is (X1 ≦ X5 ≦ X2) and (Y1 ≦ Y5 ≦ Y2), the mouse cursor 82 as shown in the screen O of FIG. Is determined to be within the window 81. If the above relationship does not hold, the mouse cursor 82 as shown in the screen R of FIG.
Is not in the window 81.

Since the position information of the mouse cursor 82 on the screen R of FIG. 7 is X6 and Y6, there is a relationship between the position information of the window and the position information of the mouse cursor (X1≤X5≤X2). And (Y1 ≦ Y5 ≦ Y
The position relationship is determined by replacing the portions of X5 and Y5 in 2) with X6 and Y6. Step S1 is that the mouse cursor 82 is not located in the window 81.
If it is judged in step 03, it is judged in step S whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or mouse over the predetermined time set in setting 1.
At 204. If there is no input, the CPU 4 executes the low power consumption mode switching program read from the ROM 7 to activate switching to the low power consumption mode (step S206). If an operation signal is input within the time of setting 1, the process returns to the previous stage of step S101. Then, the positional relationship between the window and the mouse cursor is determined again.

When the low power consumption mode is switched, the screen is switched to the screen S shown in FIG. 7 (step S20).
7) It is determined whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or the mouse (step S208). If there is no operation signal input, the determination in step S208 continues, and if there is input, the low power consumption mode switching program is canceled (step S209), and the screen R in FIG. 7 is displayed as the original screen (step S209). S210). After step S210, the process returns to the previous stage of step S201.

The display screen in the low power consumption mode may be darkened, or the contents of the display screen may be erased. However, in addition to changes to the display screen, the processing speed of the information processing device is reduced, and the display is Alternatively, processing may be performed such as turning off the power of each unit such as a hard disk. When it is determined in step S203 that the mouse cursor 82 is located in the window 81, the input of an operation signal generated by operating the mouse beyond the time of setting 2 set as a time longer than the setting 1 It is determined whether or not there is any (step S205). Even if the operation signal is not input after the time set in the setting 1 is reached and the time set in the setting 2 is reached, as shown in the screen P of FIG. O) is displayed as it is.

If the operation signal is not input even after the time of the setting 2 is exceeded, the CPU 4 executes the low power consumption mode switching program read from the ROM 7 to activate the switching to the low power consumption mode (step S206). . In addition, setting 2
If the operation signal is input within the time of, the process returns to the previous stage of step S201. Then, the positional relationship between the window and the mouse cursor is determined again.

When the low power consumption mode is switched, the screen is switched to the screen shown in screen Q of FIG. 7 (step S20).
7) It is determined whether or not there is an input of an operation signal generated by operating the keyboard or the mouse (step S208). If there is no operation signal input, the determination in step S208 continues, and if there is input, the low power consumption mode switching program is canceled (step S209), and screen O in FIG. 7 is displayed as the original screen (step S209). S210). After step S210, the process returns to the previous stage of step S201.

In the first and second embodiments, when the operator falls into thinking while executing an application such as document creation and opening the window, the mouse cursor remains in the window. It has been explained that the activation time of an interrupt event such as a screen saver or switching to a low power consumption mode is delayed when the mouse cursor is in the window, paying attention to many cases.

In the opposite case, when the mouse cursor is outside the window, the activation time of the interrupt event such as the screen saver or switching to the low power consumption mode may be delayed. In this case, it is necessary for the operator to intentionally operate the mouse to move the mouse cursor before falling into thinking, but the operator does not move the mouse cursor at an appropriate time interval so as not to exceed the short time based on the setting 1. Since it is not necessary to input an operation signal from the keyboard or mouse each time, it is possible to prevent the activation of an interrupt event such as a sudden screen saver during switching to a document or switching to a low power consumption mode.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the mouse cursor 8 is displayed in a specific display area 83 on the display 80 regardless of the display area of the window 81.
When 2 is located, activation of an interrupt event such as a screen saver or switching to a low power consumption mode based on setting 2 is delayed, and this specific display area 8
3 Setting when mouse cursor 82 is located outside 3
It is also possible to activate an interrupt event such as a screen saver or switching to a low power consumption mode based on.

The window position information (X1, Y1), (X
2, Y2) is the position information (X
7, Y7), (X8, Y8) can be replaced as they are, and the processing can be performed based on the processing flow of FIG. 4 or 6. Judging by the positional relationship between the window and the mouse cursor whose display position is fluid for each application, the device needs to recognize the position of the window each time the window is opened and store the position information of the window in the RAM. If a window is opened by executing another application, it is necessary to clear the position information regarding the previous window and store the position information regarding the new window. However, as in the embodiment of FIG. 8, in the determination based on the positional relationship between the specific display area and the mouse cursor, once the positional information of the specific display area is stored in the RAM, the same positional information is repeatedly read. Just do it.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of the operator is performed based on the arbitrary area displayed on the screen and the position information of the cursor, instead of mounting a hardware configuration such as a sensor on the information processing apparatus. Since the state is estimated and the generation timing of the interrupt event is changed, it is possible to cope with the recent downsizing of the information processing apparatus. Further, since the sensor and the circuit for controlling the sensor are not provided, the continuous operation time of the apparatus can be expected to be extended particularly in a morphological information processing apparatus that expects low power consumption.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, in many cases, the operator is thinking about the state in which the cursor is left when the cursor is positioned in the window opened when the application is started. By automatically identifying the interrupt event, the operator can change the interrupt event occurrence timing without requiring any special operation to prevent the interrupt event from occurring easily. The operability of the processing device is also improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of stored information in a RAM.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of a program stored in a ROM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display according to the first embodiment.

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

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of screen display according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Main processing unit 2 keyboard 3 mice 4 CPU 5 Input section 6 RAM 7 ROM 8 display 9 Printer 10 Auxiliary storage device

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus in which an interrupt event is generated when a signal is not input from an input device for a certain period of time, and a first time until the interrupt event is generated,
From the storage unit that stores the second time set longer than the first time and the position information of the arbitrary area displayed on the screen and the position information of the cursor, the first time or the second time An information processing apparatus, comprising: a processing unit that enables any one of the interrupt events to generate the interrupt event. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt event is a screen saver display activation process or a transition process to a low power consumption mode. 3. The interrupt event is generated based on the second time when the cursor is positioned in a window displayed on the screen as an application is executed. 1. The information processing device according to 1.