JP3474315B2 - Color data management 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 color data management device capable of effectively utilizing a color palette function in a multi-window system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional color data management device disclosed as a multi-window color display device in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-165224.
In the figure, the user process 10 writes the color elements used for display in the used color element table 11 corresponding to each screen process. Here, the used color element table 1
1 indicates each user process 10 as shown in FIG.
It is a table that manages the logical color numbers and color elements owned by.

On the other hand, the color palette 13 is a table that defines physical color elements when displaying colors on the screen, and the contents thereof are the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue ( It is shown by the intensity of B). The color definition table 12 defines the contents to be set in the color palette 13. As shown in FIG. 14, the contents of the color definition table 12 are composed of color elements and color numbers corresponding to each screen.

The user process 10 sets the color elements used in the process at the time of activation in the used color element table 11 corresponding to each screen process, and loads them into the empty area of the color palette 13. Then, when the color data is loaded, the color number on the color palette 13 is received, and the user process 10 creates a corresponding color definition table 12 in the used color element table 11 based on the received color number. The user process 10 manages the screen display data of the CRT 14 with coordinates and color data (in-program color number) of each coordinate. Further, the user process 10 uses the used color element table 11, the color definition table 12, and the color palette 13 when displaying the screen.
Are sequentially scanned, the color number in the program is expressed by the three primary colors, and a window is displayed on the CRT 14 screen.

[0005]

Since the conventional color data management device is configured as described above, each window manages only the color data displayed in its own window. As a result, one window and another window C
Coexistence on the RT screen (multi-window state)
When the number of color data is allowed, the same color element may be repeatedly assigned to the color map as shown in FIG. 13, and the number of color data used easily exceeds the manageable number of the color palette. Occurs. If such a situation occurs, the contents of the color palette 13 will be destroyed, and the color data of other windows will change unduly.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a color data management apparatus capable of effectively utilizing a management area of a color palette by collectively managing the contents of the color palette. Aim to get.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color data management apparatus, wherein a color element of each used color element table provided for each screen process of a user process is replaced with a used color element table and R, Display color determination means for combining and writing in a color definition table that correlates with a color palette that manages physical color data set by G and B values, and color elements of the color definition table for the color palette. And a loading means for loading into.

A color data management device according to a second aspect of the present invention is used for realizing blinking display of colors for alternately displaying different colors, and a color definition table for associating a used color element table with a color palette and It is provided with a blinking color definition table and a timer for alternately loading the contents of the color definition table and the blinking color definition table in a fixed cycle into the color palette.

A color data management device according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with a color element changing means for independently changing the contents of the color definition table or the blinking color definition table.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color data management apparatus for operation observing means for observing an operation, and screen erasing for erasing a display image on a screen by setting all color elements to "black". And a color definition table.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color data management device including a plurality of mutually connected CPUs for displaying screens.
Is a plurality of color definition tables for respectively associating a used color element table provided for each user process with a color palette of each CPU including its own CPU, and a color element of the used color element table for each CPU. Display color determining means for combining the respective color definition tables provided so as not to overlap with each other and writing the respective color distributions for each CPU, and a load for loading the color elements of the self-color definition table of the respective color definition tables into a color palette. Means and color data transmitting means for transmitting the color data set in each color definition table to the corresponding color definition table of another CPU.

[0012]

According to the color data management apparatus of the present invention,
Write the color elements of the used color element table provided for each user process to the color definition table so that they do not overlap,
Combining the color definition tables for each of the used color element tables into one,
Since the color elements written in the color definition table are loaded into the color palette and the color elements of the user process are managed collectively, the conventional color data in which the color elements loaded in the color palette may overlap The management area of the color palette can be used more effectively than the management device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the color data management device, the color definition table in which different color elements are written and the blinking color definition table are alternately loaded into the color palette at a constant period by the timer, and the different color Realize the blinking display by color elements while effectively using the management area of the color palette.

The color element changing means in the invention of claim 3 changes the contents of the color definition table or the blinking color definition table by changing the contents of the color definition table or the blinking color definition table independently. It is possible to change the colors used by all user processes all at once while effectively using the management area of the color palette.

In the color data management apparatus according to the present invention, all color elements are "black" when no operation is performed.
By setting to, the display on the screen is erased, and deterioration such as burn-in due to the same image being displayed in the same area of the display screen for a long time is prevented.

According to another aspect of the invention, in the color data management device, the color data to be set in the color definition table that associates the used color element table of the own CPU with the color palette of the other CPU is transmitted to the other CPU, The other CPU sets the sent color data in the own color definition table and loads the color elements of the own color definition table into the color palette of the own CPU. Therefore, management of the color data of the other CPU is performed. CP
By U, it becomes possible to carry out centrally.

[0017]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the color data management apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 13 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the color data management apparatus of this embodiment, the conventional color data management apparatus provides the color definition tables 12 as many as the number of screen processes of the user process 10, while the color management process 21.
Centrally manages the color definition table. The color management process 21 includes a color definition table 22 and a display color determination unit 23 that creates a color definition table 22 by synthesizing (logically ORing) the color elements used by the user process 10.

Next, the operation of the color data management device thus constructed will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows the used color element table 11 and the color definition table 22.
And FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the color management process 21 by specifically showing the contents of the color palette 13 and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the color management process 21. According to this flowchart, first, the contents of the used color element table 11 issued by the user process 10 are received (step ST1). Next, the display color determining means 23 is used to collectively write the color definition table 22 so that the color elements do not overlap (step ST2). Then, the color element 25 written in the color definition table 22 is loaded into the color palette 13 by the loading means 2
4 is loaded (step ST3). Next, the color management process 21 sets the color number 26 received at the time of loading the color data into the color palette 13 in the color definition table 22 (step ST4, step ST5). Further, it is judged whether or not a new color element is added to the color definition table 22 (step ST6), and when it is added, the loading means 24 loads the color data of the added color element to the color palette 13. To do. Even when this color data is added, the color management process 21 uses the color palette 1 of the color data.
Color definition table 22
Set to.

Next, the display color determining means 23 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a specific operation of the display color determining means 23. The display color determining means 23 acquires the used color element data from the user process 10. This used color element data is a correspondence table of logical color numbers and color elements used by each screen process of the user process 10, as shown in the used color element table 11 of FIG.

First, the reference pointer of the used color element table 11 passed from the user process 10 is set at the head (step ST10). Here, the reference pointer is a pointer indicating the position of the data to be acquired in the table. When the reference pointer of the used color element table 11 is set to the head, the head logical color number and color element are acquired. can do. As a result, the data content at the position pointed to by the reference pointer is read from the used color element table 11 (step ST11). Similarly, for the color definition table 22, the reference pointer is set to the head (step ST1).
2) Obtain the data of the color definition table 22 at the position pointed to by the reference pointer (step ST13). As shown in FIG. 2, the data of the color definition table 22 is a correspondence table of color elements and color numbers of the color palette 13.

Next, step ST11 and step ST1
It is determined whether the contents of the color elements of the data obtained in 3 match (step ST14). When it is determined that they do not coincide with each other, it is further determined whether or not the position pointed to by the reference pointer in the color definition table 22 is the end of the data (step ST15), and if the data exists, the reference pointer is moved backward by one. The shift is performed (step ST18), and the comparison with the value of the color element of the used color data is repeated.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no data in step ST15, since the used color element is not defined in the color definition table 22, the color element is set in the empty area of the color definition table 22 (step ST16).

If the used color element and the color element of the color definition table 22 match in step ST14, it is not necessary to add the color element to the color definition table 22, so the process proceeds to step ST17. In step ST17, it is determined whether or not there is used color data that has not been compared in the used color element table 11,
If there is used color data that has not been compared, the reference pointer of the used color element table 11 is moved back by one (step ST19), and then the process returns to step ST11.
In the processing steps after step ST11, the used color elements are sequentially read from the used color element table 11, and the color definition table 22
Repeat the comparison with the contents of the color element of.

Next, the operation of screen display will be described.
The user process 10 manages the CRT screen display data by coordinates and color data (in-program color number) of each coordinate. The user process 10 scans the used color element table 11, the color definition table 22, and the color palette 13 in order at the time of screen display, expresses the color data (color number in the program) in three primary colors, and displays it on the CRT 14 screen. Display a window on.

Example 2. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color data management apparatus of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is the second embodiment.
5 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data configuration of a used color element table 11, a color definition table 22, a blinking color definition table 31, and a color palette 13 of the color data management device of FIG. 5 and 6
In FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the color data management apparatus of this embodiment, the color management process 21 of the first embodiment is provided with a cycle timer, and the blinking of colors is realized by rewriting the contents of the color palette 13 at a constant cycle. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a blinking color definition table 31 is provided in addition to the color definition table 22. Further, the color management process 21 includes a fixed cycle timer (timer) 32.

The specific contents will be described below with reference to FIG. Now, suppose that the user process 10 (screen 2 process) defines blinking of gray and brown for color number 4 in the program. Then, the display color determining means 23 sets gray data in the color number 4 of the color definition table 22 and brown data in the color number 4 of the blinking color definition table 31.

Here, the fixed-cycle timer 32 sets the color definition table 22.
And the blinking color definition table 31 are alternately displayed in the color palette 13
When loaded into, the coordinates that use color number 4 in the program in the screen 2 process will be displayed in gray and brown flashes.

Example 3. In the first embodiment, the case where the color elements loaded in the color palette 13 depend on the color definition table 22 created by the display color determining means 23 has been described, but as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. By providing the color element changing means 41 for independently changing the contents, it is possible to change a certain specific color on the CRT 14 screen all at once.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color data management apparatus of the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a concrete data configuration example of the color definition table 22 and the color palette 13. The color element changing means 41 can request the user process 10 to change the color element. User process 1
0 passes the color number of the color palette 13 and the changed color element 42 to the color element changing means 41. Then, the color element changing unit 41 rewrites the content of the color element in the color definition table 22. When the content of the color definition table 22 is rewritten, the color management process 21 loads the content of the color definition table 22 into the color palette 13.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the color number "0" is changed from red to magenta. In this example, the changed data is loaded into the color palette 13, and at the same time, the portion displayed in red on the CRT 14 simultaneously changes to reddish purple on all windows.

Example 4. In the third embodiment, an example of changing the color element of the color number “0” from red to magenta has been described. However, if all the color elements are changed to black using the color requirement changing means 41, the CRT 14 The image displayed on the screen can be erased.

Example 5. Next, the function of the fixed cycle timer 32 used in the third embodiment is replaced with an operation monitoring means, and the operation monitoring means monitors the operation of the worker. By rewriting all the contents of the color palette to black when there is no operation for a certain period of time, it is possible to realize a screen burn prevention function of the CRT 14.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color data management apparatus of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a used color element table 1
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing specific data configurations of 1, a color definition table 22, a screen deletion color definition table 33, and a color palette 13.
As shown in FIG. 9, this color data management device is provided with a screen erasing color definition table 33 and an operation monitoring means 51. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, a screen definition color definition table 3
All black data is set in 3. Normally, the contents of the color definition table 22 are loaded in the color palette 13, but the operation monitoring means 51 constantly manages the operation by the worker, and the operation of the worker (input from the keyboard, If there is no mouse operation), the operation monitoring means 51 loads the screen erasing color definition table 33 into the color palette 13. As a result, the screen of the CRT 14 is in a screen erased state. Further, when the operation monitoring means 51 detects the operation of the worker in the screen erased state, the original color definition table 22 is loaded into the color palette 13. As a result, the CRT 14 screen is returned to the state before the screen was erased, so that the same image when the operator's operation is not performed for a long time continues to be displayed at the same position on the screen, which causes burn-in. This has the effect of preventing the phenomenon and extending the life of not only the CRT display but also the display.

Example 6. In the embodiment described above, the self C
Although the case of managing the color data in the PU has been described, in the sixth embodiment, by providing the color data transmitting means as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it is possible to manage the color data of other CPUs. become.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color data management apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a detailed description of the contents of the used color element table, color definition table and color palette of the color data management apparatus of this embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing various data configurations. As shown in FIG. 11, each CPU has color definition tables 62a, 63a, 6 according to the number of CPUs connected to each other.
4a or color definition table 62b, 63b, 64b and other CP
The color data transmitting means 61a or the color data transmitting means 61b for setting color data in the U color definition table, and the used color elements issued by the user process 10 are stored in the color definition table for each CPU including its own CPU. The display color determining means 66 provided with a process for allocating is provided.

Next, the operation of this color data management device will be described. 21a and 21b are color management processes, 25
a and 25b are color elements, 26a and 26b are color numbers, and 32
a and 32b are loading means. The operation in this case is C
The case where the color data of CPUB is managed by PUA will be described. The user process 10 passes the color element to be used and the identification information of the CPU that wants to manage the color data to the color management process 21a. In this case, since the CPU managed by CPUA is CPUB, the color management process 21a
CP the color element received using the display color determining means 66.
The color definition table 63a corresponding to the UB is collectively set so as not to overlap. When the data set in the color definition table 63a is completed, the color management process 21a causes the color data transmitting means 61 to
Using a, the color definition table 62 of another CPU, that is, CPUB
Send these data to a. When the transmitted data is set in the color definition table 62b of the own CPU, the color management process 21b of the CPUB loads the contents of the color definition table 62b into the color palette 13 of the own CPU. Then, in the color definition table 62b, the color palette 1 of the own CPUB is displayed.
A color number of 3 is set. The color number of the color palette 13 of the own CPUB is the color data transmitting means 6 of the CPUB.
1b to the color definition table 63a of CPUA.

Therefore, the color number of the color palette when displaying the screen of the own CPU is set in the color definition table 62a of CPUA, and the color number of the color palette when displaying the screen of CPUB is set in the color definition table 63a. Is set, and the screen 2 process in the user process 10 of the CPU A that issues a screen display request to another CPU is
Refer to the color definition table 63a corresponding to CPUB in the
The color number of the color palette that displays the UB screen can be acquired.

[0038]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the color elements of the plurality of used color element tables provided for each user process are combined so as not to overlap with each other, and are written in the color definition table. Since the color elements of the color definition table are loaded into the color palette and the color elements are collectively managed,
Since the overlapping color elements are not loaded into the color palette, there is an effect that a color data management device that can effectively use the management area of the color palette can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the contents of the color definition table and the blinking color definition table are alternately loaded into the color palette by the timer at a constant cycle. There is an effect that a color data management device can be obtained which can realize blinking display of colors which are alternately displayed by different colors while being effectively used.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the contents of the color definition table or the blinking color definition table can be changed independently by the color element changing means, it is necessary to change the display color for each screen. There is an advantage that a color data management device capable of easily and quickly changing the display color for all screens can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 4, when the operation by the worker is not performed for a predetermined time, the image on the screen can be erased by setting all the color elements to "black". There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a color data management device capable of preventing the display screen from being deteriorated due to a burning phenomenon and extending the life of the image display function of the display screen.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the color data in one of the plurality of CPUs connected to each other can be managed by the other CPU. There is an effect that a color data management device that can be centrally controlled to manage color data in another CPU can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color data management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data structure of a used color element table, a color definition table, and a color palette of the color data management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a color management process of the color data management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display color determination means of the color data management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color data management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data structure of a used color element table, a color definition table, a blinking color definition table, and a color palette of the color data management device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color data management device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data structure of a color definition table and a color palette by the color element changing means of the color data management device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color data management device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a used color element table, a color definition table, a blinking color definition table of a color data management device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
It is explanatory drawing which shows the concrete data structure of a color palette.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color data management device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data structure of a used color element table, a color definition table, and a color palette of the color data management device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional color data management device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-165224.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific data structure of a used color element table, a color definition table, and a color palette of the conventional color data management device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-165224.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 user process, 11 used color element table, 1
3 color palettes, 22, 62a, 62b, 63a,
63b, 64a, 64b color definition table, 23 display color determination means, 24 loading means, 31 blinking color definition table, 32
Fixed-cycle timer (timer), 33 screen erasing color definition table, 41 color element changing means, 51 operation monitoring means, 61a and 61b color data transmitting means, 66 display color determining means.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-61-184589 (JP, A) JP-A-2-165224 (JP, A) JP-A-3-119386 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 216450 (JP, A) JP-A-6-324658 (JP, A) JP-A-7-28445 (JP, A) European patent application publication 645694 (EP, A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/06 G06F 3/14

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A user process, a used color element table provided corresponding to each screen process of the user process, and physical color data set by R, G, B values are managed. A color palette, a color definition table for associating the used color element table with the color palette, and color elements of a plurality of used color element tables provided for each user process are combined into the color definition table so as not to overlap. A color data management device comprising display color determining means for writing and writing, and loading means for loading color elements of the color definition table into a color palette. 2. A timer for loading a blinking color definition table for realizing a blinking display of colors and the contents of the color definition table and the blinking color definition table alternately into the color palette at a constant cycle. The color data management device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The color data management device according to claim 1, further comprising a color element changing unit that independently changes the contents of the color definition table or the blinking color definition table. 4. An operation monitoring means for monitoring an operation by a worker, and a screen erasing color definition table for erasing the display on the screen by setting all color elements to "black". The color data management device according to claim 1, wherein 5. A plurality of screen display CPUs connected to each other. Each CPU manages a plurality of user processes and physical color data set by R, G, B values. A color palette, a plurality of color definition tables that respectively associate the used color element table provided corresponding to the user process and the color palette of each CPU including its own CPU, and each screen process of the user process Display color deciding means for synthesizing the color elements of the used color element table so as not to overlap and writing the color elements in the respective color definition tables separately for each CPU, and the color elements of the color definition table Loading means for loading the palette and color data to be set in each color definition table on another CPU
And a color data transmitting unit for transmitting the color data to each corresponding color definition table.