JP3882424B2 - Input device and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device for inputting data for each menu item, and a storage medium storing the processing program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a terminal that employs a touch panel attached to a physically restricted display device, input keys are arranged in the display screen of the display device in consideration of operability. For example, a plurality of menu screens for each menu item Etc., and by switching the menu screen, more item data can be input.
[0003]
In addition, when setting a menu screen, there may be a hierarchical structure of menu item screens that take into account the data entry procedure corresponding to a given task. Menu item screens may be set for each category.
[0004]
In the case of the menu item screen having such a hierarchical structure, the operator finally inputs a desired category item by inputting the category item of each layer while sequentially switching the menu item screen from the large category menu item screen. It will be.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of a terminal having a plurality of menu screens using such a conventional touch panel, in the case of a menu item screen having a hierarchical structure, the operator switches the classification item of each layer while switching the classification menu item screen. Therefore, there is a problem in that the continuity of the operation is lost and the operation becomes complicated.
[0006]
Further, every time the menu item screen is switched, all the displayed item contents are also switched, which causes a problem that the operator cannot recognize the hierarchical level currently being input.
[0007]
Further, a key group that is particularly problematic in a display device with physical restrictions is a layout of a numeric key part. Regardless of the menu screen, the numeric key part normally requires a space for 12 keys in the display area. For this reason, the display area of the menu item screen is further reduced, the space of the key group displayed in the menu screen is reduced, and the operability is sacrificed.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to set a key palette in which a plurality of keys are grouped to an arbitrary key on a touch panel attached to a display device, and display the key palette according to the operation of the arbitrary key to shift the operation. It is to improve the operability of the touch panel under physical constraints.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The input device of the present invention is
In an input device provided with display means for displaying a key image of a touch panel operation key on a display screen, and inputting information by operating this key,
The key has a hierarchy for each of a plurality of keys, and each key is connected to a key group in a lower hierarchy to form a tree structure, and each of the keys indicates a connection relationship with a lower key. Storage means for storing information;
When any key displayed on the display screen is operated, based on the connection information stored in the storage unit, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a lower key connected to the key;
When it is determined by the determining means that there is a lower key, a key image is generated for a plurality of keys belonging to the lower hierarchy, and these are connected to form one key group image, which is formed for each hierarchy. Display control means for displaying the key group image on the same screen and displaying the operated key and the key group image formed by the key operation in association with each other ,
When any key of the displayed key group image is operated, the hierarchy level of the operation key and the number of layers at the lowest layer of the currently displayed key group image are respectively determined, and the determined hierarchy Operation control means for enabling the operation of the key if the level is equal to the determined number of hierarchies, and invalidating the operation of the key if the determined hierarchy level is not equal to the determined number of hierarchies; ,
It is characterized by providing.
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the key group image is displayed for each layer according to the operation of the arbitrary key displayed on the display screen, so that the operation can be smoothly transferred, and the physical The operability of the touch panel under restrictions can be improved.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 14 are diagrams showing an ECR (electronic cash register) according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of ECR 1 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the ECR 1 includes a CPU 2, an input device 3, a touch panel 4, a RAM 5, a transmission control unit 6, a display device 7, a printing device 8, a storage device 9, and a storage medium 10. The other parts are connected to the bus 11.
[0013]
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 performs arithmetic processing of numerical values necessary for various operations while exchanging various data with the RAM 5 according to various control programs stored in the storage medium 10, and based on this arithmetic processing. Various control signals for controlling each unit in the ECR 1 are output.
[0014]
Further, the CPU 2 executes a key input process (see FIGS. 6 and 7) described later in response to a key input operation on the touch panel 4. In this key input process, the CPU 2 determines the key event No. of the operated key. Is read from the key management table (see FIG. 3A), and the virtual key No. If there is a setting of this virtual key No. The virtual key information corresponding to the event is read from the virtual key management table (see FIG. 3B), the virtual key display process (see FIG. 9) for displaying the virtual key image is executed, and the event set in the virtual key The process according to is executed. In addition, the CPU 2 uses a virtual key No. If there is no setting, processing according to the read key information is executed.
[0015]
Although not shown, the input device 3 includes a mode key, a clerk key, a numeric keypad, a function key, a receipt button, and the like, and outputs various key input signals according to each key operation by the user to the CPU 2.
[0016]
The touch panel 4 is configured integrally with the display area of the display device 7, and outputs coordinate data of the operation position to the CPU 2 when operated on the key layout displayed on the display device 7.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 5 includes a key management table memory 5a, a virtual key management table memory 5b, a sales data memory 5c, a work memory 5d, and the like.
[0018]
The key management table memory 5a stores a key management table as shown in FIG. 3A, and key information for each key menu operated by the touch panel 4 is set in the key management table. As the key information, “Menu Key No.”, “EVENT No.”, “FUNCTION CODE”, “RECORD No.”, “FILE No.”, “End FLAG”, “Image Data No.”, “Link”. “Virtual key No.” is set.
[0019]
The virtual key management table memory 5b stores a virtual key management table as shown in FIG. 3B. The virtual key management table includes key information set in the key management table of FIG. Virtual key information to be linked to is set. As the virtual key information, “virtual key No.”, “EVENT No.”, “FUNCTION CODE”, “RECORD No.”, “FILE No.”, “End FLAG”, “Image Data No.”, “Link” Virtual key No. ”is set.
[0020]
With the virtual key information set in the virtual key management table memory 5b, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the ten key displayed when the key set with the ten key is operated, as shown in FIG. A virtual key such as “EVENT1” is set to the “0” key, “EVENT2” is set to the “.” Key, “EVENT3” is set to the “QTY” key, and “EVENT12” is set to the “9” key.
[0021]
The sales data memory 5c is a memory for storing sales data of products input for each transaction process, and the work memory 5d temporarily stores process data during transaction processing, processing data during key input processing, and the like. Memory.
[0022]
The transmission control unit 6 is a terminal for connecting the ECR 1 and an external device such as a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line, and the data stored in the storage medium 10 is transmitted via the transmission medium. Sends data to the server or client, or receives data sent from the server or client.
[0023]
The display device 7 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, displays calculation results, various data, sales data, setting data, and the like input from the CPU 2, the input device 3, and the RAM 4, and a key layout corresponding to the operation content on the touch panel 4 Is displayed.
[0024]
The printing device 8 includes, for example, a print head unit in which segment-unit thermal elements are arranged in a line, and a conveyance unit in which receipt paper and journal paper are set. The transaction data that is input is printed on receipt paper and journal paper, and the receipt data that is input for each line from the CPU 2 at a predetermined time interval and the horizontal writing receipt that combines the background pattern are printed on the receipt paper. To do.
[0025]
The storage device 9 includes a storage medium 10 in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the storage medium 10 includes a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 10 is fixedly attached to the storage device 9 or is detachably attached. The transaction processing program, key input processing program, print processing program, and transaction processing program are stored in the storage medium 10. The data processed in is stored.
[0026]
Further, the program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 10 may be configured to be received and stored from other devices connected via a communication line or the like, and further connected via a communication line or the like. A storage device provided with the above storage medium may be provided on the other device side, and the program and data stored in this storage medium may be used via a communication line.
[0027]
Next, the operation of ECR1 in the present embodiment will be described.
First, key input processing executed by the CPU 2 in response to a key input operation on the touch panel 4 will be described based on flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0028]
In FIG. 6, the CPU 2 first waits for a key operation (key event) on the touch panel 4 (step S <b> 1). If there is a key operation, the CPU 2 determines whether the key operation content is “menu switching” (step S <b> 1). Step S2). If it is a menu switching instruction, the CPU 2 proceeds to step S19 to execute a menu switching process and returns to step S1. If it is not a menu switching instruction, the key information corresponding to the operation key is stored in the key management table in the RAM 5. Read from a key management table (see FIG. 3A) stored in advance in the memory 5b (step S3).
[0029]
Then, the CPU 2 determines whether or not “virtual key No.” is set in the read key information (step S4). If “virtual key No.” is not set, the process proceeds to step S20 and is read. The process corresponding to the key information is executed, and the process returns to step S1. Processing according to the key information will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0030]
In FIG. 8, the CPU 2 first determines the key function of the operation key (step S101), and according to the determined key function, the number processing (step S102), the decimal point processing (step S103), or the number processing (step S103). Step S104) is executed.
[0031]
If “virtual key No.” is set, the CPU 2 first executes processing corresponding to the key information read first (step S5), and sets the virtual level stored in the RAM 5 to “1”. Set (step S6). The virtual level is information for confirming the hierarchical level of the virtual key set for each key.
[0032]
Next, the CPU 2 reads the virtual key information corresponding to the “virtual key No.” from the virtual key management table (see FIG. 3B) stored in advance in the virtual key management table memory 5c in the RAM 5, and the virtual key information. Image data corresponding to “image data No.” set in the information is read from the storage device 9 (step S7), and a virtual key display process is executed (step S8).
[0033]
The virtual key display process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In FIG. 9, the CPU 2 first determines whether or not the virtual key information is a linked virtual key based on whether or not “virtual key No. to be linked” is set in the read virtual key information (step S201). If the linked virtual key is not a “virtual key No. to be linked”, the CPU 2 reads the image data of the corresponding virtual key (step S202), and image image management information set corresponding to the image data. The display position information is read from (Step S203).
[0034]
Then, the CPU 2 displays the virtual key image at the display position in the display area of the display device 7 based on the read display position information (step S204), and the display start position (upper left edge of the virtual key display frame). (Coordinates) and the connection position (the connection position coordinates set in the virtual key display frame) are stored (step S205), and this process is terminated.
[0035]
A specific example of the image management information of the virtual key image and the expanded state of the virtual key image will be described with reference to FIG.
[0036]
The image image management information shown in FIG. 10 sets “default display start point (X0, Y0)” and “default size of palette (Xs, Ys) as palette information indicating the display frame of the virtual key image. For each EVENT No. indicating each virtual key, “relative display start position” and “relative size” are set, and “connection FLAG” indicating the connection position is set. Based on this image image management information, the virtual key image is developed in units of palettes as shown in FIG.
[0037]
If the “virtual key No. to be linked” is set and the virtual key is a linked virtual key in step S201, the CPU 2 reads the image data of the virtual key (step S206) and displays the previously stored display. The display connection pointer (connection position) of the virtual key is acquired (step S207). The CPU 2 sets the acquired connection position as the display start position (step S208), regenerates the displayed virtual key image and the connected virtual key image as one piece of image information (step S209), and sets the virtual key. Management table concatenation processing is executed (step S210).
[0038]
The concatenation process of the virtual key management table will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0039]
In FIG. 11, the CPU 2 first copies the previously displayed virtual key management table of the upper virtual key to the work memory 5d in the RAM 5 (step S301), and stores the virtual key management table of the concatenated virtual key to be connected this time. It is linked to the copy area (step S302). In this linked virtual key management table, the key pressing event No. Are rearranged and numbered (step S303), the process is terminated, and the process returns to step S211 in FIG.
[0040]
A specific example of the virtual key management table linked by this virtual key management table linkage process will be described with reference to FIG.
[0041]
The virtual key management table shown in FIG. 12A is an upper virtual key management table, the virtual key management table shown in FIG. 12B is a concatenated virtual key management table, and FIG. Pressing event No. This is a concatenated virtual key management table that has been rearranged and numbered. Based on this concatenated virtual key management table, as shown in FIG. 12, the display of the virtual keys is combined into one and the “concatenated virtual key” is displayed under “numerical key (virtual key)”. .
[0042]
Returning to step S211 in FIG. 9, the CPU 2 calculates the entire image display position of the concatenated virtual key based on the concatenated virtual key management table, and the calculated image display position is outside the display screen of the display device 7. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S212). If it is not outside the display screen, the process proceeds to step S214, and if it is outside the display screen, the display position is negatively corrected (−) or reduced in the X and Y directions so as not to be applied ( In step S213), the new display start position and connection position are stored (step S214).
[0043]
Next, the CPU 2 displays the entire virtual key image at the stored display position (step S215), ends this process, and returns to step S9 in FIG.
[0044]
Returning to step S9 in FIG. 6, the CPU 2 waits for the operation (event) of the displayed virtual key, and if there is an operation (event) of the virtual key, the operation position is the virtual level currently stored in the RAM 5. It is determined whether or not the input is a virtual key (step S210). If it is not the virtual key input of the currently stored virtual level, the CPU 2 returns to step S9, and if it is the virtual key input of the currently stored virtual level, the virtual key management is performed from the virtual key management table of the virtual key. The information is read (step S11), and the virtual key No. Is determined (step S12).
[0045]
Virtual key No. Is set, the CPU 2 adds “1” to the virtual level (step S13), executes a process (see FIG. 8) according to the read virtual key information (step S14), and returns to step S7. Then, a virtual key display process (see FIG. 9) below the virtual key is executed. The virtual key No. If there is no setting, the CPU 2 executes a process (see FIG. 8) according to the read virtual key information (step S15), and confirms whether or not the process is terminated by the corresponding function of the virtual key (step S16). ).
[0046]
If the process is not finished, the CPU 2 returns to step S9. If the process is finished, the CPU 2 further determines whether or not the corresponding function is an instruction to close all open virtual keys (step S17). If the instruction is to close all the open virtual keys, the CPU 2 erases all the display of the virtual keys (step S18) and returns to step S1. If it is not an instruction to close all the open virtual keys, the CPU 2 deletes only the display of the current virtual key (step S21), subtracts "1" from the virtual level (step S22), and the virtual level. Is determined to be "0" (step S23). If the virtual level is not “0”, the CPU 2 returns to step S9 because the upper virtual key display remains, and if the virtual level is “0”, the display of all virtual keys is erased. Therefore, the process returns to step S1.
[0047]
As described above, when the CPU 2 executes the key input process in response to the key input operation on the touch panel 4, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the “SOFT DRIVE” key in the numeric keypad as a virtual key is operated. When this occurs, a virtual key for selecting the item “SOFT DRIVE” set below it is further displayed. As a display form of the virtual key, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a virtual key for selecting an item may be displayed in the vicinity of the operated “SOFT DRINK” key.
[0048]
In addition, the virtual key display process allows you to set the function "Close all open virtual keys" to the displayed virtual keys, so that all the displayed virtual keys can be erased with a single key operation. It is possible to improve the operability when the virtual key is displayed.
[0049]
In addition, the virtual key display process allows the function of "close open virtual key" to be set for the displayed virtual key, so that multiple open virtual keys can be closed sequentially. Yes, it is possible for the operator to confirm the deployment order of the virtual keys.
[0050]
Therefore, it is possible to display a virtual key set in advance according to the operation of an arbitrary key on the touch panel and switch the operation smoothly without switching menu keys and the like in the conventional touch panel operation. The operability of the touch panel can be improved.
[0051]
Further, in the above embodiment, it is possible to set virtual keys of a plurality of hierarchies for each key, and to provide more various virtual key operation environments, and to further improve the operability by setting virtual keys. Can do.
[0052]
In the above embodiment, a case is shown in which virtual keys are set as touch keys developed on the touch panel 4. However, virtual keys may be set for each key of the stroke keys. Moreover, although the case where the virtual key comprised from a some key was displayed was shown in the said embodiment, the structure of a virtual key may be one.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first , second, and fourth aspects of the present invention, the key group image is displayed for each layer according to the operation of the arbitrary key displayed on the display screen, so that the operation can be smoothly transferred. The operability of the touch panel under physical constraints can be improved.
[0054]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the displayed key group image can be erased by a single key operation, and the operability when the key group image is displayed can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an ECR 1 in an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory configuration in a RAM 5 of FIG.
3 shows an example of a key management table stored in the key management table memory 5a of FIG. 2 (FIG. 3A) and an example of a virtual key management table stored in the virtual key management table memory 5c of FIG. It is the figure which showed (b)).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of virtual keys based on the settings in the virtual key management table of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of EVENT set in the virtual key of FIG. 4;
6 is a flowchart showing a part of key input processing executed by CPU 2 of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of key input processing following FIG. 6;
8 is a flowchart showing processing according to key information executed in steps S5, S14, S20 of FIG. 6 and step S15 of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a virtual key display process executed in step S9 of FIG.
10 is a diagram showing a process of displaying a virtual key executed in the virtual key display process of FIG. 9. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a virtual key management table concatenation process executed in step S210 of FIG. 9;
12 is a diagram showing a process of concatenating virtual key management tables executed in the concatenation process of virtual key management tables in FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a display form of virtual keys displayed in the key input processing of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.
14 is a diagram showing a specific example of another display form of virtual keys displayed in the key input process of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ECR
2 CPU
3 Input device 4 Touch panel 5 RAM
6 Transmission Control Unit 7 Display Device 8 Printing Device 9 Storage Device 10 Storage Medium 11 Bus

Claims (4)

In an input device provided with display means for displaying a key image of a touch panel operation key on a display screen, and inputting information by operating this key,
The key has a hierarchy for each of a plurality of keys, and each key is connected to a key group in a lower hierarchy to form a tree structure, and each of the keys indicates a connection relationship with a lower key. Storage means for storing information;
When any key displayed on the display screen is operated, based on the connection information stored in the storage unit, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of a lower key connected to the key;
When it is determined by the determining means that there is a lower key, a key image is generated for a plurality of keys belonging to the lower hierarchy, and these are connected to form one key group image, which is formed for each hierarchy. Display control means for displaying the key group image on the same screen and displaying the operated key and the key group image formed by the key operation in association with each other ,
When any key of the displayed key group image is operated, the hierarchy level of the operation key and the number of layers at the lowest layer of the currently displayed key group image are respectively determined, and the determined hierarchy Operation control means for enabling the operation of the key if the level is equal to the determined number of hierarchies, and invalidating the operation of the key if the determined hierarchy level is not equal to the determined number of hierarchies; ,
An input device comprising:   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of key group images include a key group image of a numeric keypad. The storage means stores setting information of operation contents for hiding the key group image for one key included in the key group image;
When any key of the displayed key group image is operated, the display control means determines whether or not the setting information is stored in the operated key, and the setting information is stored. 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the key group image is displayed, the displayed key group image is not displayed. Computer
Display means for displaying a key image of a key for touch panel operation on a display screen;
The key constitutes a tree structure that is linked in a hierarchy for each of a plurality of keys, and storage means for storing connection information indicating a connection relationship with a lower key for each key.
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not there is a lower-order key linked to the key based on the linkage information stored in the storage means when any key displayed on the display screen is operated;
When it is determined by the determining means that there is a lower key, a key image is generated for a plurality of keys belonging to the lower hierarchy, and these are connected to form one key group image, which is formed for each hierarchy. Display control means for displaying the key group image on the same screen and displaying the operated key and the key group image formed by the key operation in association with each other ,
When any key of the displayed key group image is operated, the a hierarchical level of operation keys, and a bottom layer number of the hierarchical key group image currently displayed to determine respectively the determined hierarchy If equal to the number of hierarchy level is discriminated to enable operation of the key, the operation control means for disabling the operation of the keys when the determined hierarchical level is not equal to the number of determined hierarchy,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for functioning as a computer.

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