JP3550234B2 - Data converter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data conversion device that can commonly use computers of different models, and more particularly, to a data conversion device that can commonly use a keyboard and a monitor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is not sufficient compatibility between input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and output devices such as a monitor between different types of computers such as current personal computers and workstations.
[0003]
In addition, data files output by application programs have different output file formats and kanji codes for each application program, and are incompatible.
[0004]
To give an example of the above, in the keyboard, a method of transmitting clock and data in a single line, a method of transmitting the data in a plurality of lines, and the like coexist, and the protocol between the computer and the keyboard differs between companies.
[0005]
There are various types of data transmission / reception even with a mouse, and the number of mouse buttons varies from one to three.
[0006]
As a multi-scan type monitor, a model capable of supporting several combinations of different horizontal scanning frequency and vertical scanning frequency has been put into practical use, but one monitor can be connected to only one computer at a time.
[0007]
For example, the output file format and the kanji code of the application program are different for each word processor program.
[0008]
To solve this problem, a method of creating a file conversion program or sending and receiving a common code via a network has been used, but these methods are all limited and are sufficient for an environment where multiple computers are used in parallel. Not really. For example, when creating a file conversion program, it must be created for each application program. Even when a shared file or a file is transferred over a network, the file format is not usually converted.
[0009]
As described above, except for some compatible models (such as an IBM machine in a personal computer and a Sun machine in a workstation), personal computers and workstations have different keyboard and mouse interfaces and monitor output signals for each company. The output file differs depending on the application program and is currently incompatible.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, when a computer of a different model and a program running on the computer are operated in order or alternately, and data is used for each other to perform the operation, the following problems have conventionally occurred.
[0011]
The first is that input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse of each computer and output devices such as a monitor are not sufficiently compatible or do not have a function of switching and used. Must be nearby. In particular, when placed on a desk, the work space for writing and the like is narrowed, and there is a problem in terms of work efficiency.
[0012]
Second, because the output file format and the kanji code of the application program are different, data cannot be directly transmitted and received between the computers. The operator inputs the output result displayed on the monitor using the keyboard of another computer, or I had to rewrite the program.
[0013]
Alternatively, a file conversion program had to be created for each character data and application program to be transmitted and received.
[0014]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a data conversion device suitable for inputting and displaying information of a computer of a different model.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a single keyboard and converts a keyboard signal from the keyboard into a keyboard signal corresponding to each of a plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies of different models. Input processing means for outputting to each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies, a single monitor, and video signals output from the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies in a plurality of windows on the single monitor. Image synthesizing means for signal processing and synthesizing the video signal so as to be displayed on a window, range specifying means for specifying a range of a character string in one of the plurality of windows, and a character having a range specified in the window Character recognition means for performing character recognition using a video signal used for display of a string and converting the character code string into a character code string;
Instruction means for instructing the information processing apparatus main body to which the converted character code string is to be input, wherein the input processing means transmits the converted character code string to the information processing apparatus main body instructed by the instruction means. It is characterized by inputting .
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided an instruction means for instructing whether or not each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies needs to display a window, A display control means for displaying a corresponding window is further provided.
[0017]
A third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, further comprises means for designating the size and display position of the window, and the display control means displays the window at the designated size and display position. It is characterized by making it.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the input processing means is connected to a single mouse, and a mouse signal from the mouse corresponds to each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies of different models. And outputs the mouse signal to each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video signal control means for controlling a video signal of the information processing apparatus main body designated by the designation means to be input to the video composition means.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a data conversion device to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the data conversion device main body 10 is roughly divided into an overall control unit 130, an input processing unit 110, a video synthesis unit 120, and a character extraction unit 100. The overall control unit 130 performs overall control of the processes related to each other among the input processing unit 110, the video synthesizing unit 120, and the character extracting unit 100, and can use a microprocessor or the like.
[0023]
The input processing unit 110 includes input means commonly used for a plurality of information processing devices, such as personal computers and workstations 51 to 53. In this example, a pseudo general-purpose keyboard 20, a pseudo general-purpose mouse 30, and a control panel 40 are connected. As the pseudo general-purpose keyboard 20, a well-known keyboard having character keys and function keys can be used. As the pseudo general-purpose mouse 30, a well-known mouse can be used, but it is preferable that the mouse has two click buttons.
[0024]
The control panel 40 is provided with various key switches, which will be described later. The control panel 40 specifies the type of the information processing device (main body) connected to the data conversion device 10. In this embodiment, a plurality of information processing apparatuses can be connected, and the content processed by each information processing apparatus can be displayed on the screen of the monitor 50 in the form of a multi-window (a plurality of windows) screen. Instructions and settings for this are executed by operating key switches on the control panel 40. A well-known monitor can also be used.
[0025]
Hereinafter, each of the above-described components will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows the details of the input processing unit 110 which operates as the input processing means according to the first aspect of the present invention. A plurality of input processing units 110 are prepared by the number of information processing devices connected to the input signal conversion unit, which includes the output control unit, the code conversion unit, and the input control unit as one set. The input control unit inputs a signal transmitted from a pseudo general-purpose keyboard (hereinafter, keyboard) 20 and a pseudo general-purpose mouse (hereinafter, mouse) 30 and transfers the signal to a code conversion unit. The input control unit includes an input interface unit for inputting output signals of the pseudo general-purpose keyboard 20 and the pseudo general-purpose mouse 30, and a control unit for a communication protocol between them. This input control unit conforms to the electrical and physical specifications and protocols of a commercially available keyboard and mouse used as the pseudo general purpose keyboard and the pseudo general purpose mouse.
[0026]
Also, a function is provided for inputting character code data from the character extraction unit and outputting the data to the computer requesting the data.
[0027]
The output control unit outputs a signal equivalent to a virtual keyboard and a virtual mouse connected to the computer. Accordingly, the computer implements the electrical and physical specifications and protocols of the keyboard and mouse that are provided as standard on the computer.
[0028]
The code conversion unit performs code conversion between the virtual keyboard 20 and the virtual mouse 30 and the virtual keyboard and the virtual mouse that are considered to be connected to the computer.
[0029]
In the example of FIG. 1, an input signal is output from the output control unit 111 to the personal computer main body 51, an input signal is output from the output control unit 114 to the workstation main body 52, and another information processing device is output from the output control unit 117. This indicates that the data is output to the main body 53.
[0030]
Which input signal conversion means to use is specified by a key switch for selecting a keyboard / mouse on the control panel 40.
[0031]
One of the many features of the present embodiment is that information input to a plurality of information processing devices is performed using only one set of the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30 and each information processing device is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 50. Can be displayed in the form of a multi-window. Therefore, the operator can use a plurality of information processing devices in parallel.
[0032]
FIG. 3 shows details of the video synthesizing section 120 which operates as the video synthesizing means of the first aspect of the present invention. The frame memory and the video input unit are provided for each information processing device. The video input unit inputs a video signal output from the information processing device, performs A / D conversion, and stores the video signal in the frame memory. The display positions of the video signals stored in the frame memories 121, 123,... (See FIG. 1) are edited under the control of the video control unit 127-2 so as to be displayed in a multi-window form on one display screen. The subsequent video signal is output to the monitor 50 via the video output unit 127-1. For example, the video signal of the information processing device 51 is displayed in the window screen of A on the monitor 50 (see FIG. 11), and the video signal of the information processing device 52 is displayed in the window screen of B. Edited at
[0033]
More specifically, conventionally, a video signal output from one information processing device is displayed on a dedicated monitor 1 screen, but in the present embodiment, the video signal is displayed so that the display of the video signal is contained in a window. Compress. However, it is also possible to cut out a part of the screen from each monitor and display it as it is (in this case, no compression is performed). The images are edited and combined so that a plurality of windows for displaying the compressed video signal are displayed on the display screen of the monitor 50. Therefore, the video control section 127-2 and the overall control section 130 operate as display control means according to the second and third aspects of the present invention.
[0034]
A plurality of sets of video signal conversion means including a video input unit and a frame memory can be selected by the control panel 40 to be used, and the display specification can be changed.
[0035]
More specifically, the type of each video signal, in this embodiment, the horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies and the number of pixels on the screen are instructed from the control panel 40, and the display position and range of the window for displaying each video signal ( The size), the display on / off of the windows, and the priority order between the windows (including the method of combining the displays when the window regions overlap) are instructed by operating the control panel 40. For this reason, the control panel 40 operates as a means for indicating the size and display position of the window according to the present invention.
[0036]
FIG. 4 shows the details of the character extracting unit 100 which operates as the character recognizing means of the present invention. In FIG. 4, an area in the display screen of the monitor 50 is designated by the marker address setting means of the control panel 40. That is, the frame memory data input unit 103 receives digital data equivalent to that displayed on the monitor 50 as an image from the image synthesizing unit 120, extracts an area designated by the control panel 40, and delivers it to the character cutout unit 104. The marker pattern address output unit 102 transfers the address information of the designated area to the video synthesizing unit 120 to display the designated area.
[0037]
The character cutout unit 104 extracts a pattern of a character portion by examining a known process, for example, a pixel distribution, and transfers the pattern to the character recognition unit 105. The character recognizing unit 105 compares, for example, a reference pattern whose built-in character code is known, and detects a matching reference pattern. The character code conversion unit 106 generates a character code corresponding to the matched reference pattern, and transfers the character code to the input processing unit 110 via the output control unit 107. Note that the input processing unit 110 delivers the character code string whose character has been recognized to the information processing apparatus main body.
[0038]
FIG. 5 shows the contents of the input / output control processing executed in the above system configuration. When the overall control unit 130 of the data conversion device according to the present invention is realized using a CPU or an IC memory, the processing in FIG. 5 can be realized by software processing.
[0039]
When starting the system, the operator operates the system start switch of the control panel 40 (step S10 in FIG. 5). The overall control unit 130 of the data converter 10 determines the type of the operated key switch, and when it is determined that the system start switch has been operated, executes the system start process (steps S20 → S31). This processing includes initialization of data used in input signal conversion processing, video signal conversion processing, and character recognition processing.
[0040]
During the processing by the control panel 40, the keyboard and the mouse are used for various data inputs and settings in the data conversion device 10 without going through the information processing device. At the end of the process, the keyboard and the mouse are connected again to the information processing device designated to be connected.
[0041]
In this example, an example in which three types of information processing apparatuses having different models are connected to the data conversion apparatus 10 and multi-window display is performed as shown in FIG. 1 will be described. For this reason, the types of information processing devices are represented as A, B, and C. For this purpose, the operator operates the keyboard / mouse designation switch of the control panel 40. In response to this instruction, the overall control unit 130 specifies the type of the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30 on the screen of the monitor 50 as shown in FIG. 7, and the type of the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30 used in the information processing apparatuses A to C. Display the menu screen for performing The operator refers to this menu screen and inputs the type from the keyboard 20 or specifies the type of the keyboard and mouse using the mouse 30 (steps S10 → S20 → S32 in FIG. 5).
[0042]
When the operator operates the connection designation switch of the control panel 40, the data converter 10 selects a data processing device A, B, C,... To which the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30 are connected (see FIG. 8). ) Is displayed. The operator operates the mouse 30 to select A, B, and C as connection targets. The result of the selection is displayed on the monitor 50 (steps S10 → S20 → S33 in FIG. 5).
[0043]
Next, the operator operates the horizontal and vertical scanning frequency and pixel number setting switches of the control panel 40. As a result, a screen for inputting video signal parameters for each of the selected information processing apparatuses is displayed on the monitor 50 as instructed by the overall control unit 130 as shown in FIG. And the video signal parameters output from the information processing apparatus main body. The setting result is displayed on the monitor 50 (steps S10 → S20 → S34 in FIG. 5). The operator can set the window display position (address) and the size of the window by using the window designation switch of the control panel 40. This switch operation is recognized in the process of step S35 in FIG. 5, and the setting process is performed.
[0044]
Further, the operator operates a switch for specifying whether to display a window on the control panel 40. As a result, the type corresponding to the information processing apparatus main body previously selected is displayed on the monitor 50 as shown in FIG. 10, and the operator should use the mouse 30 to display a window on the monitor 50. Specify the type of the main unit. The presence or absence of the display of the window is stored in the data conversion device 10. The display control of the window is executed by the video controller 127-2 based on this information (steps S10 → S20 → S36 in FIG. 5).
[0045]
Upon completion of such setting processing, a window screen corresponding to each information processing apparatus main body is created as shown in FIG. When the settings are made as shown in FIG. 10, the windows for the computers A and B are displayed as shown in FIG. 12, and the window C corresponding to the computer C is not displayed.
[0046]
In this embodiment, the character information displayed in the window A can be copied and displayed in another window, for example, the window B (see FIG. 12). For this purpose, the operator uses the area designation (marker address) switch of the control panel 40 to designate the area to be copied as indicated by reference numeral 300 in FIG. Next, the copy destination, in this case, the window of B, is designated by the area designation switch. With this designation, a copy area designation process is executed (steps S10 → S20 → S37). FIG. 6 shows the details of this processing. Thereby, the overall control unit 130 internally stores the area designation information (S200 → S210), extracts the image of the area designated by the range from the corresponding frame memory (see FIG. 1) in the video composition unit 120, and recognizes the character. To the character extraction unit 100.
[0047]
In response to this instruction, the character extracting unit 100 extracts an image whose area is specified from the corresponding frame, performs character recognition by a known method, and converts a character string indicated by the image into a character code string. The converted character code is input to the copy destination B input control unit of the input processing unit 110 via the overall control unit 130 (steps S10 → S20 in FIG. 5 → S200 → S220 → S221 → S222 → S222 in FIG. 6). ). As a result, the character string copied as indicated by reference numeral 301 is displayed in the window B of the monitor 50 by the video signal from the information processing body B.
[0048]
As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of different types of information processing devices can be used as if they were one information processing device, and a keyboard, mouse, and monitor can be commonly used by one device. Equipment space can be saved. In addition, since various types of application software can be effectively used, it is possible to execute various information processing that is not limited to the model. Further, since the operator does not need to use a plurality of types of input devices, learning of the operation is facilitated.
[0049]
The following example can be implemented in addition to this embodiment.
[0050]
1) In this embodiment, the monitor standard is indicated by numerical values such as horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies, but may be specified by the model number of the manufacturer. In this case, horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies and the like are described in a table corresponding to the model number, and information corresponding to the specified model number is obtained from the table.
[0051]
2) In the present embodiment, the settings for the signal input to the information processing device and the video signal output from the information processing device are executed in the control panel 40. However, the setting can be performed using the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30. In this case, input signal conversion means for directly inputting information to the overall control unit 130 is provided in the input unit 110, and when a special command is input, this input signal conversion means is selected and the overall control unit 130 Enter the above setting related information. The overall control unit 130 executes overall control based on the information set in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
[0052]
3) In addition to the keyboard 20 and the mouse 30 that are unique to the data conversion device 10, those used for one of the information processing devices to be connected can be used.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since a keyboard signal is converted into a form suitable for each information processing apparatus, information input to a plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies using a single keyboard is performed. Can be. Also, video signals output from a plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies are displayed in a plurality of windows in correspondence with the windows. Thus, a plurality of information processing apparatuses can be handled as if they were one information processing apparatus.
Also, when a character string in one window is copied to another window, characters are recognized from the video signal, so that the character code to be copied can be obtained without being aware of the character code system such as shift JIS and new JIS. An output character string of a certain information processing device can be input to a different type of information processing device.
[0054]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing information of the information processing apparatus main body which needs to be displayed in the connected information processing apparatus main body is displayed in a window. This saves unnecessary monitors.
[0055]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the size and position of the window can be variably set. For example, a usage method such as increasing the size of the display window of the frequently used information processing apparatus main body can be adopted.
[0056]
According to the invention of claim 4, a mouse can be commonly used in addition to the keyboard.
[0057]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use the window screen on the monitor to instruct which information processing apparatus main unit the information whose range is specified is to be input.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a data conversion device to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed system of an input processing unit 110.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed system of a video synthesizing unit 120.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed system of a character extracting unit 100.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control contents according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a keyboard / mouse device designation screen.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a keyboard / mouse connection designation screen.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a video signal designation screen.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a window display presence / absence designation screen.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a window screen corresponding to the information processing apparatus.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of copying a character string between windows.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a character string copying process between windows.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Data Conversion Device 20 (Pseudo General Purpose) Keyboard 30 (Pseudo General Purpose) Mouse 40 Control Panel 50 Monitors 51, 52, 53 Information Processing Device Main Body 100 Character Extraction Unit 110 Input Processing Unit 120 Video Synthesis Unit 130 Overall Control Unit

Claims (5)

Input processing means for connecting to a single keyboard, converting a keyboard signal from the keyboard into a keyboard signal corresponding to each of a plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies of different models, and outputting the keyboard signal to each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies When,
A single monitor,
Video synthesizing means for performing signal processing and synthesizing the video signals so as to display video signals output from the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies in a plurality of windows on the single monitor;
Range specifying means for specifying a range of a character string in one of the plurality of windows;
Character recognition means for performing character recognition using a video signal used to display a character string designated in the range in the window, and converting the character signal into a character code string;
Instruction means for instructing the information processing apparatus main body to input the converted character code string;
A data conversion apparatus , wherein the input processing means inputs the converted character code string to the information processing apparatus body designated by the designation means . Instruction processing means for instructing whether or not each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies needs to display a window, and display control means for displaying a window corresponding to the information processing apparatus main body instructed to display a window. The data conversion device according to claim 1. 3. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for designating a size and a display position of the window, wherein the display control means displays the window at the designated size and display position. The input processing means is connected to a single mouse, and converts a mouse signal from the mouse into a mouse signal corresponding to each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies having different models, and converts each of the plurality of information processing apparatus main bodies into a mouse signal. The data conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the data is output to the data conversion device. 2. The data conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising: a video signal control unit configured to control a video signal of the information processing apparatus main body designated by the designation unit to be input to the video composition unit.

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