JP4186914B2 - Apparatus, method, program and recording medium for real-time evaluation of pointing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides real-time performance as a whole system in a system in which input data from a pointing device having an operation unit that moves a pointer in a plurality of directions such as a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, etc. for performing the evaluation.

  In personal computers, game machines, and the like, a joystick exists as a kind of pointing device used for designating an input position and coordinates on a screen. As is well known, the joystick can be used in multiple directions (for example, four directions, up, down, left, and right, or up, down, left, and right, and in the middle between the top left, bottom left, top right, and bottom right). An operation bar that can be tilted is provided, and the movement direction of the pointer on the screen is designated by tilting the operation bar.

  As a characteristic of the joystick, it is easy to operate as compared with a mouse or the like, but the resolution is low (the minimum moving distance of the pointer is large). In particular, with an eight-way joystick, the resolution in the middle four directions is lower than the four directions up, down, left, and right.

  In general, when the user moves the pointer with the pointing device, the user confirms the result of the pointer movement on the screen while operating the pointing device, and determines whether to continue or interrupt the operation of the pointing device according to the movement result. That is, the result of the pointer movement on the screen is fed back to the operation of the pointing device.

  Therefore, when the pointing device operation is reflected in the screen display in real time, the pointer can be stopped at the position intended by the user. Otherwise, the pointer exceeds the position intended by the user. Will move.

  In the case of a joystick, since the resolution is low as described above, if the operation is not reflected on the screen display in real time, the pointer moves far beyond the position intended by the user.

  Therefore, in a system that uses a joystick as an input device, the presence or absence of “real time”, that is, whether or not the operation of the joystick is reflected on the screen display in real time becomes important.

  Conventionally, as an apparatus for evaluating the operability of a GUI screen layout that uses a pointing device, for example, a device that inputs a coefficient representing a characteristic of the pointing device as a parameter when calculating an operability index has been proposed ( Patent Document 1). However, this apparatus evaluates the time required for moving the pointer to the operation target button on the GUI screen as an operability index, and whether or not the operation of the pointing device is reflected on the screen display in real time. It is not something to evaluate.

In addition to this, a technique for evaluating the real-time property of image display for such a joystick has not been proposed.
JP-A-7-56730 (paragraph number 0024, FIG. 1)

  Here, as a system using a joystick as an input device, in addition to a system in which input data from a joystick is directly sent to a personal computer, a game machine, etc., input data from the joystick is personalized via a transmission path of a specific protocol. There are systems that are supplied to computers, game machines, and the like.

  In the latter system, the real-time property of the screen display is more greatly affected by the communication performance of the transmission path than the performance of the joystick itself. Therefore, in the latter system, this real-time property should be able to be evaluated as a whole system including the transmission path.

  In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention, in particular, in a system in which input data from a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol, the real-time property of the screen display as a whole system including the transmission path, An object of the present invention is to enable evaluation from the viewpoint of whether or not a user is sufficient to use the system.

In order to solve this problem, the pointing device real-time evaluation apparatus according to the present invention uses an image display means and a pointing device having an operation unit for moving a pointer in a plurality of directions on the screen of the image display means. Processing means for displaying a plurality of evaluation patterns each having a plurality of target points arranged corresponding to a plurality of directions of movement of the pointer and having different arrangement patterns of the target points in a random order, and transmission of a predetermined protocol The pointer displayed on this screen in accordance with the input data from the pointing device supplied via the road is moved from the movement start point to the final end of the end portion far from the movement start point of the evaluation pattern. Last from the movement start time of the pointer when moving along the evaluation pattern to the target point And a evaluation means for evaluating the time required for the arrival time of the target point as an index.

Further, the real-time evaluation method for a pointing device according to the present invention is arranged on the screen of the image display means in correspondence with a plurality of directions of movement of the pointer by the pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions. A first step of randomly displaying one of a plurality of evaluation patterns having different target points and different arrangement patterns of the target points, and this pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol The pointer displayed on this screen is moved along the evaluation pattern from the movement start point to the final target point at the end farther from the movement start point of the evaluation pattern according to the input data from the time required from the movement start time of the pointer to the arrival time of the target point of the last time the And a second step of evaluating as a standard.

Further, the program according to the present invention is a target point arranged on a screen of an image display means corresponding to a plurality of directions of movement of a pointer by a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions. According to a procedure for displaying a plurality of evaluation patterns having different arrangement patterns of the target points in a random order and input data from the pointing device supplied via a predetermined protocol transmission path. from the movement start point a pointer displayed on the screen, the movement start time of the pointer when said up to the final the target point of the end of the side far from the moving start point is moved along the evaluation pattern of the evaluation pattern perform a procedure for evaluation as an index the amount of time it takes for the said target point arrival time of the last from To.

The computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention corresponds to a plurality of pointer movement directions by a pointing device having an operation unit that moves the pointer in a plurality of directions on the screen of the image display means. A procedure for displaying a plurality of evaluation patterns composed of arranged target points and having different arrangement patterns of the target points in a random order, and an input from this pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol When the pointer displayed on this screen according to the data is moved along the evaluation pattern from the movement start point to the final target point at the end far from the movement start point of the evaluation pattern. an indicator the time required from the movement start time of the pointer to the arrival time of the last said target point A program to be executed and the procedure for the evaluation was recorded.

  In the present invention, on the screen of the image display means, target points arranged corresponding to the moving direction of the pointer by a pointing device (for example, a joystick) having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions are displayed.

  The user only needs to operate the pointing device so that the pointer reaches the target point on the screen. When the pointer reaches the target point on the screen according to this operation, real-time evaluation is performed using the time required to reach the target as an index.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the input data from the pointing device such as the joystick is supplied via the transmission path of the predetermined protocol, the real-time property of the screen display corresponds to the movement direction of the pointer. The time required to reach the target point is evaluated as the only indicator.

  As a result, in a system in which input data from a pointing device such as a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol, the user can control the real-time display on the screen as a whole system including the transmission path. From the standpoint of whether or not it is sufficient to use this, it is possible to evaluate intuitively and easily.

  When the pointing device has an operation unit that moves the pointer in the eight directions of up / down / left / right / upper left / lower left / upper right / lower right On the direction connecting the upper right and the lower left, one target point arranged on the left, the upper left and the lower right, the upper left and the lower right A total of four target points with one target point placed in the position of the final target point with respect to the start point of the pointer is one of the lower right, lower left, upper right, upper left It is preferable to arrange and display so as to be in a position.

  The movement direction of the pointer by the eight-direction pointing device can be represented by these four target points. Further, in the actual use situation of the pointing device, the position of the point intended by the user can be represented by four points on the lower right side, lower left side, upper right side, and upper left side of the screen with respect to the movement start point of the pointer. it can. Therefore, by arranging and displaying these four target points as described above, the target point arrangement pattern is the minimum pattern that represents the moving direction of the pointer by the pointing device and the actual use status of the pointing device. It is narrowed down to. As a result, real-time evaluation can be performed efficiently.

  Moreover, as an example, it is preferable to display so that the distances to the respective target points are the same. As a result, the real-time property of all the movement directions of the pointer by the pointing device can be evaluated equally.

  Further, as an example, it is preferable to further include processing means for identifying and displaying the target point with respect to the target point that has not reached each time the pointer reaches each target point. Thereby, during the evaluation work, the user can easily visually confirm that the pointer has reached each target point.

  According to the present invention, in a system in which input data from a pointing device (for example, a joystick) having an operation unit for moving a pointer in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol, screen display The real-time performance of the system can be intuitively and easily evaluated from the viewpoint of whether or not the user as a whole including the transmission path is sufficient to use the system.

  Moreover, the effect that such real-time evaluation can be performed efficiently is also obtained. Moreover, the effect that the real-time property about all the movement directions of the pointer by a pointing device can be evaluated equally is also acquired. In addition, it is possible to obtain an effect that the user can easily visually confirm that the pointer has reached each target point during the evaluation work.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a system in which input data from a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol.

<< System configuration example >>
First, a system to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a system to which the present invention is applied.

  These systems allow a plurality of users to specify input positions and coordinates on the screen of a common display device by operating their own joysticks. Specific examples of such a system include a conference system in which conference participants operate their own joysticks to make presentations on the screen of a common display device, or multiple game participants each have their own hands. Examples thereof include a game system in which a joystick is operated to advance a game on the screen of a common display device.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, one terminal 7 (computer or dedicated device) using a joystick 1 (8-way joystick) as an input device is provided at each user's seat. 2 (for example, LAN).

  A memory 3 and a CPU 5 are also connected to the network 2. A display device 4 and an external storage device 6 (for example, HDD) are connected to the memory 3 and the CPU 5, respectively. The memory 3, the display device 4, the CPU 5, and the external storage device 6 may all be composed of a single device (for example, a computer having a built-in HDD and a monitor), or two or more devices (for example, a built-in device). The computer may include an HDD and a large screen projector).

  The external storage device 6 stores application software (such as presentation software and game software) necessary for the original use of the system, an external network driver, and a joystick device driver. Stores an “evaluation program” for real-time evaluation of processing contents. This evaluation program may be installed from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be downloaded from a website and installed. The program in the external storage device 6 is loaded on the memory 3.

  Input data from each joystick 1 is transmitted from the corresponding terminal 7 through the network 2 using a predetermined protocol (for example, TCP / IP) and passed to an external network driver loaded on the memory 3.

  The external network driver passes the received input data to the evaluation program. The evaluation program calculates the received input data using the CPU 5, converts it into coordinate data of the display device 4, and passes it to the device driver.

  On the other hand, in the system of FIG. 2, one terminal 10 using the joystick 11 (8-direction joystick) as an input device is provided at each user's seat. However, these terminals 10 share a transmission path of one transmission band, and the input data from each joystick 11 is transmitted to the terminal 10 on the downstream side (left side in the figure) of the corresponding terminal 10. Is done. For example, UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), which is one of asynchronous transmission technologies, is used as a protocol for this transmission path.

  Each terminal 10 has a priority determination function of giving priority to the terminal 10 on the upstream side (right side in the figure) of the transmission path, for example, and the terminal with the highest priority among the input data from each joystick 11 The input data from the ten joysticks 11 is transmitted to the terminal 10 on the most downstream side.

Each terminal 10 incorporates a data processing unit 12 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 3 in order to realize this priority determination function. The data processing unit 1 2 includes a data detection unit 12A and a data selection section 12B.

  The data detection unit 12A detects whether significant data (input data from the joystick 11 is one of them) has been received from another terminal 10 located on the upstream side of the data detection unit 12A.

  When the data detection unit 12A detects the reception of significant data, the data selection unit 12B transfers the significant data to the downstream terminal 10 as it is. When the data detection unit 12A does not detect the reception of significant data, the data selection unit 12B The significant data generated in the terminal 10 is output to the terminal 10 on the downstream side.

  Significant data is sent to the computer 13 of FIG. The built-in HDD of the computer 13 stores application software necessary for the original use of the system, device drivers, and the above-described evaluation program.

  Of the significant data sent from the terminal 10 at the most downstream position, the input data from the joystick 11 is passed to the evaluation program loaded on the memory in the computer 13. The evaluation program calculates the received input data using the CPU in the computer 13, converts it into coordinate data of the display device (monitor) 14, and passes it to the device driver.

  According to the system of FIG. 2, even when a large number of terminals 10 are connected, the necessary significant data can be collected in the terminal 10 at the most downstream side with the minimum transmission band (data transmission amount). Therefore, the data rate (result data amount obtained per unit time) can be made independent of the number of terminals. The present applicant has already applied for a patent for the invention of the data transmission system as shown in FIG. 2 (application number: Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-345616).

  The systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are merely examples, and the present invention can be applied to any system in which input data from a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol.

<< Basic Policy of Evaluation Program >>
Next, the basic policy of real-time evaluation in the above-described evaluation program will be described.
<Evaluation of real-time properties>
Input data from a joystick (joystick 1 in FIG. 1, joystick 11 in FIG. 2) passes through a transmission path of a specific protocol (TCP / IP in FIG. 1, UART in FIG. 2) as in the system of FIGS. In such a system supplied in real time, the real-time property of whether or not the operation of the joystick is reflected on the screen display in real time is more greatly affected by the communication performance of the transmission path than the performance of the joystick itself. Therefore, it should be possible to evaluate the real-time property of the entire system including the transmission path.

<Real-time evaluation method>
In the systems shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is considered that there are the following requirements 1) to 5) for the method for evaluating the real-time property of the screen display by operating the joystick.
1) We want to evaluate whether or not the pointer can efficiently reach the point intended by the user.
2) We want to evaluate whether or not the user has sufficient real-time characteristics for using the system for every direction of movement of the pointer.
3) I want to evaluate efficiently.
4) I want to evaluate intuitively.
5) The evaluation index can be easily determined.

  Here, the target point is displayed on the screen of the display device (the display device 4 in the system of FIG. 1 and the display device 14 in the system of FIG. 2), and it is evaluated whether the pointer has reached the target point efficiently. Thus, the above requirement 1) is satisfied.

  In order to satisfy the requirement 2) at the same time, the target points are arranged corresponding to the eight directions of upward, downward, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right, which are pointer movement directions by the joystick. do it. Arranging the target point corresponding to the movement direction of the pointer is nothing but arranging the target point at a position that can be reached by moving the pointer straight in the movement direction.

  Further, in a single evaluation, it is closer to the actual use situation of the system by the user when a plurality of target points corresponding to different movement directions are arranged in combination. Therefore, the real-time evaluation method can be replaced with a combination method of a plurality of pointer movement directions (a plurality of operation directions of a joystick operation bar).

<How to combine operating directions>
In the case of a joystick that has 8 directions of operation (upper, lower, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right), such as the joystick 1 in FIG. 1 or the joystick 11 in FIG. If the combination of the target point arrangement pattern is determined in combination, or the target point arrangement pattern is determined by combining all eight directions, the number of target point arrangement patterns becomes too large. This is contrary to the requirement of method 3) (want to be evaluated efficiently).

Therefore, in consideration of the following points 1) to 4), the arrangement pattern of the target points is represented by the direction of movement of the pointer by the joystick and the actual use status of the system by the user (actual use status of the joystick). Narrow down to the minimum pattern.
1) The eight directions of movement of the pointer with the joystick are up / down / left / right / upper left / lower left / upper right / lower right. And two intermediate directions (a direction connecting upper left and lower right and a direction connecting upper right and lower left).
2) For the user, the horizontal and vertical directions are easier to operate.
3) In an actual joystick usage situation, it is unlikely that the pointer will reach the point intended by the user just by moving the pointer in one direction, and the pointer is moved in two directions: horizontal, vertical and intermediate. It is often necessary to move continuously in the above directions.
4) From the above 3), the movement direction of the pointer as a whole from the movement start point in the actual use situation to the point intended by the user is a direction from the upper left position to the lower right position on the screen, A direction from the upper right position of the screen to the lower left position, a direction from the lower left position of the screen to the upper right position, and a direction from the lower right position of the screen to the upper left position. Can be represented by one.

  From the points 1) and 2), one target point arranged in the horizontal direction (left and right direction), one target point arranged in the vertical direction (up and down direction), and one intermediate direction ( A total of four target points, one target point located on the upper left and the lower right) and one target point placed on the other middle direction (the direction connecting the upper right and lower left) Can be combined. In other words, the movement direction of the pointer by the eight joysticks can be represented by these four target points. And the order of the arrangement of these four target points is to arrange the target point in the horizontal direction and the target point in the vertical direction in succession and arrange the target points in the two middle directions in succession. Alternatively, the target point in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction and the target point in the intermediate direction are alternately switched and arranged.

  When this and the above point 4) are combined, as shown in FIG. 4, the movement direction of the pointer as a whole from these movement target points P0 to the final target point P4 is represented by these four target points P1 to P4. However, the pattern (patterns A and B) arranged so as to go from the upper left position to the lower right position of the screen, and the movement direction of the pointer as a whole from the movement start point P0 to the final target point P4, Patterns (patterns C and D) arranged so as to be directed from the upper right position to the lower left position on the screen, and the movement direction of the pointer as a whole from the movement start point P0 to the final target point P4, Patterns (patterns E and F) arranged so as to be directed from the lower left position of the screen toward the upper right position, and from the movement start point P0 to the final target point P4 Move the pointer with the joystick in a total of eight patterns (patterns G and H) arranged so that the movement direction of the pointer as a body is from the lower right position to the upper left position on the screen. The direction and actual joystick usage can be represented.

  As described above, the target point arrangement pattern is narrowed down to the minimum pattern that represents the movement direction of the pointer by the joystick and the actual use state of the joystick, whereby the real-time evaluation can be performed efficiently.

Of the eight arrangement patterns in FIG. 4, the upper patterns A, C, E, and G are arranged in such a manner that a horizontal target point and a vertical target point are continuously arranged and two intermediate directions are This is a pattern in which the target points are continuously arranged. The lower patterns B, D, F, and H are patterns in which target points in the horizontal and vertical directions and target points in the middle direction are alternately replaced. In such an alternating arrangement pattern, as shown in the figure, the pointer is moved from the vertical direction to the intermediate direction (patterns B and D), from the horizontal direction to the intermediate direction (patterns B and D), and from the intermediate direction to the horizontal direction (pattern F). , H) or the intermediate direction, it is desirable to arrange the target points so as to move in the vertical direction (patterns F, H).

  Hereinafter, the eight arrangement patterns in FIG. 4 are referred to as “evaluation patterns” used for real-time evaluation. In the case of a system that uses a joystick with more than eight operating directions, it is possible to further increase this evaluation pattern corresponding to the number of operating directions. If the pattern is an evaluation pattern, real-time evaluation can be performed efficiently.

<Other points to keep in mind>
-The distance to each target point on the screen is the same for all four target points. This is to make it possible to uniformly evaluate the real-time property of all the movement directions of the pointer by the joystick. The specific distance is determined according to the standard size of the range in which the pointer is moved on the screen in the target system. Some joystick device drivers can operate by adding input values and accelerating the pointer if the operation direction is the same. In the case of such a device driver, there is also a method of setting the distance so that the user can feel this acceleration.

  -The size of the target point on the screen is the minimum size of the object to be pointed on the screen in the system. For example, in a computer in which Windows (registered trademark) operates as an OS, the button has a minimum size (16 dots × 16 dots) in a general window.

The eight evaluation patterns in FIG. 4 are displayed in a random order because the user may become familiar with the operation if they are repeatedly displayed in the same order.
・ The operation of the joystick is based on the premise that the operation bar is pushed down to the maximum in order to eliminate individual differences.

<Evaluation index>
Whether the time taken from the start of joystick operation until reaching the final target point has cleared the set value is used as an evaluation index for real-time performance. The allowable range of time to reach one target point is determined from the convenience of the system, and the time required to reach the final target point is measured using a value obtained by multiplying the time by the number of target points (four times).

  Although it is possible to measure the distance of the pointer trajectory and use it as an evaluation index, in order to evaluate whether joystick operations are reflected in real time on the screen display, time must still be used as the evaluation index. . In addition, when distance is used as an evaluation index, it is compared with the shortest distance (the number of target points times the distance to the target point), but whether the ratio result is sufficient to use the system or not. Know-how is required for the judgment, which is contrary to the requirements of 4) and 5) of <Real-time evaluation method> described above (it is easy to judge an evaluation index intuitively).

<< Evaluation Program >>
The evaluation program is created so that real-time evaluation can be performed according to the policy described in <<<< Basic Policy of Evaluation Program >>>>. Next, processing by this evaluation program will be specifically described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing by the evaluation program. FIGS. 6 to 7 are diagrams showing screen display examples of the display device (display device 4 in the system of FIG. 1 and display device 14 in the system of FIG. 2) during execution of the evaluation program over time.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the evaluation program is started, fields for the user to input the time of the evaluation index, the distance to the target point, and the size of the target point as parameters are displayed on the screen, and depending on the input result To set these parameters. If the user does not input a parameter, the parameter is automatically set according to the policy described in <Other points to note> and <Evaluation index> (step S1).

  Subsequently, the display order of the eight evaluation patterns shown in FIG. 4 is determined at random (step S2). The first evaluation pattern is displayed on the screen and the pointer is moved to the movement start point (step S3).

  FIG. 6A shows an example in which the pattern F in FIG. 4 is displayed as the first evaluation pattern. The pointer 20 has moved to the movement start point P0. Lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 for sequentially guiding the pointer to the target points P1, P2, P3, and P4 from the movement start point P0 to the final target point P4 are also displayed. The distances to the target points P1 to P4 (that is, the lengths of the lines L1 to L4) are the same for all of the target points P1 to P4 from the policy described in <Other points to be noted>.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when there is input data from the joystick thereafter, the pointer is moved from the movement start point P0 on the screen according to the input data, and measurement of the elapsed time from the start of movement is started. Each time the pointer reaches one of the target points, the target point (and the line to the target point) is identified with respect to the unreachable target point (and the line to the unreached target point). Are displayed (step S4).

  FIG. 6B shows a state where the pointer has reached the target point P1 in FIG. 6A. In this state, the target point P1 and the line L1 are identified and displayed with respect to the target points P2 to P4 and the lines L2 to L4. For example).

As shown in FIG. 5, when the pointer reaches the final target point P4 thereafter, the required time to reach the pointer is stored in association with the displayed evaluation pattern (pattern F in the example of FIG. 6) (step S5).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not eight evaluation patterns have been displayed (step S6). If no, the next evaluation pattern determined in step S2 is displayed on the screen and the pointer is moved to the movement start point (step S7). Then, steps S4 and S5 are repeated for the evaluation pattern.

If the answer is yes in step S6, the time required for each evaluation pattern stored in step S5 is compared with a set value ( set value in step S1 according to the policy described in <evaluation index> above) to evaluate real-time characteristics. And a screen notifying the evaluation result is displayed (step S8). FIG. 7 shows an example of this evaluation result screen. The required time for each evaluation pattern stored in step S5 and the information indicating whether or not the required time has cleared the set value are displayed together with the graphic of the evaluation pattern, or is the evaluation operation continued? A column 21 is also displayed for the user to specify whether or not.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the user has designated to continue (step S9). If yes, the process returns to step S1, and if no, the evaluation program is terminated.

<< User evaluation work >>
Finally, evaluation work performed by the user when the evaluation program is executed will be described. When the evaluation program is started, target points P1 to P4 (one of eight evaluation patterns) arranged corresponding to the moving direction of the pointer 20 by the joystick are displayed as illustrated in FIG. 6A. .

  The user only needs to operate the joystick so that the pointer 20 sequentially reaches the target points P1 to P4 on this screen. In the process, when the pointer 20 reaches each target point, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the target point is identified and displayed with respect to the unreached target point. Therefore, it can be easily confirmed visually that the pointer has reached each of the target points P1 to P4.

When this operation is completed for all the eight evaluation patterns, real-time evaluation is performed using the time required to reach the final target point P4 as an index, and an evaluation result screen as illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed.

  If the required time is cleared for all the evaluation patterns, the real-time property can be determined to be sufficient. In addition, for example, when a plurality of users perform an evaluation operation, and a tendency that most users cannot clear the set value for a specific evaluation pattern, the operation characteristics of the joystick are improved, or Application software (presentation software, game software, etc.) can also be used as material for improving.

  In this way, when the input data from the joystick is supplied via the transmission path of a predetermined protocol, the real-time display of the screen is required to reach the target point arranged corresponding to the moving direction of the pointer. Time is evaluated as the only indicator.

  As a result, in a system in which input data from a joystick is supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol as in the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2, the real-time property of the screen display is improved for the entire system including the transmission path. From the viewpoint of whether or not the user is sufficient to use the system, the evaluation can be performed intuitively and easily.

  In addition, as described in <Method of Combining Operation Direction> above, the evaluation pattern is narrowed down to a minimum pattern that represents the pointer movement direction using the joystick and the actual use status of the joystick. Can be performed efficiently.

  In the above example, the present invention is applied to a system using a joystick. However, one type of pointing device has a plurality of directions (e.g., four directions (up, down, left, right, or up, down, left, right, diagonal upper left, diagonal lower left, diagonal upper right, diagonal lower right) There are also some which have a plurality of push buttons corresponding one-to-one to each direction, and specify the moving direction of the pointer on the screen by pressing these push buttons. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a system using any pointing device including an operation unit that moves the pointer in a plurality of directions, including such a push button type pointing device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the system used as the application object of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows another structural example of the system used as the application object of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the data processing part in the terminal of FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrangement pattern of the target point used for evaluation of real-time property. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content by an evaluation program. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display during evaluation program execution with time. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display during evaluation program execution with time.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Joystick, 2 Network, 3 Memory, 4 Display apparatus, 5 CPU, 6 External storage device, 7 Terminal, 10 Terminal, 11 Joystick, 13 Computer, 14 Display apparatus

Claims (8)

Image display means;
On the screen of the image display means, a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions is composed of a plurality of target points respectively arranged corresponding to a plurality of pointer movement directions, and the arrangement pattern of the target points Processing means for displaying a plurality of evaluation patterns different from each other in a random order;
A pointer displayed on the screen according to input data from the pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol from the movement start point to the end of the evaluation pattern far from the movement start point A pointing device comprising: an evaluation means for performing an evaluation using as an index the time required from the movement start time of the pointer when moving to the final target point of the section along the evaluation pattern to the final arrival time of the target point Device for evaluating the real-time nature of devices. The real-time evaluation apparatus for a pointing device according to claim 1,
The processing means includes target points arranged corresponding to the moving direction of the pointer by a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in eight directions of up, down, left, right, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right. Real-time evaluation device for pointing device to be displayed. The pointing device real-time evaluation apparatus according to claim 2,
The processing means includes one target point arranged in the vertical direction, one target point arranged in the left-right direction, and one target point arranged in a direction connecting the upper left and the lower right, A total of four target points with one target point arranged in the direction connecting the upper right and the lower left, the position of the final target point with respect to the start point of the pointer moves to the lower right, lower left, upper right, An apparatus for evaluating the real-time property of a pointing device that is arranged and displayed so as to be located at any position on the upper left side. The pointing device real-time evaluation apparatus according to claim 3,
The real-time evaluation apparatus for a pointing device that displays the processing means so that the distances between the target points are the same. The real-time evaluation apparatus for a pointing device according to claim 1,
A pointing device real-time evaluation apparatus further comprising processing means for identifying and displaying each target point with respect to a target point that has not yet reached each time the pointer reaches each target point. On the screen of the image display means, there are a plurality of target points respectively arranged corresponding to a plurality of directions of movement of the pointer by a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions, and the arrangement pattern of the target points is A first step of randomly displaying one of a plurality of different evaluation patterns;
A pointer displayed on the screen according to input data from the pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol from the movement start point to the end of the evaluation pattern far from the movement start point A second step of performing an evaluation using as an index the time required from the movement start time of the pointer when moving to the final target point of the section along the evaluation pattern to the arrival time of the final target point. A method for evaluating the real-time nature of pointing devices. On the computer,
On the screen of the image display means, there are a plurality of target points respectively arranged corresponding to a plurality of directions of movement of the pointer by a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions, and the arrangement pattern of the target points is A procedure for displaying different evaluation patterns in a random order;
A pointer displayed on the screen according to input data from the pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol from the movement start point to the end of the evaluation pattern far from the movement start point A program for executing an evaluation using as an index the time required from the movement start time of a pointer to the final arrival time of the target point when moving to the final target point of the section along the evaluation pattern. On the computer,
On the screen of the image display means, there are a plurality of target points respectively arranged corresponding to a plurality of directions of movement of the pointer by a pointing device having an operation unit for moving the pointer in a plurality of directions, and the arrangement pattern of the target points is A procedure for displaying different evaluation patterns in a random order;
A pointer displayed on the screen according to input data from the pointing device supplied via a transmission path of a predetermined protocol from the movement start point to the end of the evaluation pattern far from the movement start point A program for executing a procedure for performing an evaluation using as an index the time required from the movement start time of the pointer to the last target point arrival time when moving to the final target point of the section along the evaluation pattern A recorded computer-readable recording medium.

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