JP4292379B2 - Screen split display system and screen split display method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-window display system and a display method in which a plurality of windows are displayed on a display screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The multi-window method includes a screen division method in which a screen is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas (windows) and an overlap method in which a plurality of windows are used in an overlapping manner. Here, a display system using a screen division method will be described.
[0003]
In the display system using the screen division method, display is performed by executing processing by different applications for each divided area. As the display mode of the system, there are, for example, a full screen mode, a two-screen split mode in which the screen is divided into two areas, and a four-screen split mode in which the screen is divided into four areas. The system display mode is determined from the inside, and the application performs display in the determined display mode (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-152388
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional screen splitting display system, the display mode is determined by the system itself, and the application needs to resize the window so as to conform to the determined display mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when there are three applications AP1, AP2, and AP3 in order from the top of the display order and the display is performed by the application AP1 in the full screen mode, the mode is switched to the two-screen split mode. The applications AP1 and AP2 need to resize to the size of the divided area. In such a conventional system in which the display mode is determined by the system itself and resizing is performed, the application is created so that it can be resized to the size of the divided area for all display modes that the system can take. This is a heavy burden on the application creator.
[0006]
In addition, since the system display mode is determined mainly by the system, if the application with the highest display order is changed to another application, it will be restricted by the set system display mode. When changing the application, it was necessary to reset the display mode of the system.
[0007]
In addition, display of applications in the divided areas is normally performed according to a preset display order (see FIG. 10), and other applications are preferentially displayed out of the display order. I couldn't. For this reason, in order to display a necessary application out of the display order, the system user has to perform some input operation for selectively displaying the necessary application from a plurality of applications.
[0008]
In addition, conventionally, there has been no concept that an application is displayed only in a display mode that can be supported, and there is no concept that a specific application is preferentially displayed at the same time when an application is displayed. For this reason, there has been a strong demand for the development of a display system that can display only in a display mode in which the application is compatible and can simultaneously display the application to be displayed together with the top-level application.
[0009]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and display only in a display mode in which the application can be handled. The screen division display system can freely change the application having the highest display order to another application. And a screen division display method and program.
[0010]
A further object of the present invention is to provide a screen split display system, a screen split display method, and a program capable of simultaneously displaying a specific application together with a top-level application.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the screen split display system of the present invention has a plurality of applications that operate in accordance with a set display order, and the display mode of the system is changed to the display mode by the application having the highest display order. Is a split screen display system that changes to a different display mode with a different number of areas that split the screen,
For each of the plurality of applications, a database that stores in advance a list that sets whether or not to display a plurality of display modes that can be set as the display mode of the system;
A display mode change detector that detects a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to the other display mode is detected by the display mode change detection unit, for the applications other than the top-level application, the display in the other display mode is displayed in order from the top application in the display order. Is determined based on whether or not display is possible in the list stored in the database, and the application that is determined to be displayable is selected as the topmost of the areas divided in the different display mode. An application management unit that sequentially assigns to an empty area other than the area to which the application is assigned and changes the display order so that the assigned application is higher than other applications that have not been assigned.
[0012]
In the screen division display method of the present invention, the application having the highest display order among a plurality of applications that operate according to a set display order determines the display mode of the system, and the display mode is the number of areas for dividing the screen. A first step of changing to a different display mode,
A second step of detecting a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to the other display mode is detected in the second step, a list group in which display permission for a plurality of display modes that can be set as the display mode of the system is set for each of the plurality of applications The third step of determining whether or not the display other than the highest-level application can be displayed in the different display mode in order from the higher-order application based on whether or not the display is possible. When,
The applications determined to be displayable in the third step are sequentially assigned to free areas other than the area to which the highest application is allocated among the areas divided in the different display mode, and the assigned And a fourth step of changing the display order so that the application is higher than other applications that have not been assigned.
[0013]
According to the program of the present invention, the application having the highest display order among a plurality of applications that operate according to a set display order is different from the display mode of the system in that the number of areas for dividing the screen is different from the display mode. A first process of changing to the display mode of
A second process for detecting a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to another display mode is detected in the second process, a list group in which display permission is set for each of the plurality of applications that can be set as the display mode of the system. The third process of determining whether or not the display other than the highest-level application can be displayed in the different display mode in order from the higher-order application in the display order. When,
The applications determined to be displayable in the third process are sequentially allocated to free areas other than the area to which the highest application is allocated among the areas divided in the different display mode. The computer is caused to execute a fourth process for changing the display order so that the application is placed higher than other applications that have not been assigned.
[0014]
In the split screen display system, split screen display method, and program as described above, when the display mode of the system is changed to another display mode by the highest-level application, there is an application that can display in the different display mode. The display order is changed to be higher. According to this configuration, the application creator need only consider the optimum display mode when creating the application, and does not need to consider all the display modes that the system can take.
[0015]
In addition, the display order of the system is determined by the top-level application. If the top-level application is changed to another application, the system is displayed by the changed other application. The mode is determined. As described above, the system display mode is determined mainly by the application. Therefore, when the application having the highest display order is changed to another application, the conventional system display mode is not limited.
[0016]
In the screen split display system, the screen split display method, and the program described above, each of the lists related to the plurality of applications is a priority display application among the plurality of applications for the display mode in which the display permission / inhibition setting is permitted. If a priority display application for the other display mode is set in the list regarding the highest-level application when assigning an application to the free space, the priority is set. A display application may be preferentially assigned to the empty area. According to this configuration, it is possible to preferentially display applications that are desired to be displayed together regardless of the display order.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a screen division display system which is an embodiment of the present invention. This split screen display system is a multi-window display mainly performed by an application, and its main parts are a window system 1, a display mode change detection unit 2, an application management unit 3, a database 4, and an input. The unit 5 and the display unit 6 are included.
[0019]
The display unit 6 is composed of, for example, a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and the screen 10 is divided into a plurality of windows for multi-window display. In the window system 1, a plurality of applications AP1 to APn operate, and the application having the highest display order divides the screen 10 and determines the display mode of the system. For example, when the display order of applications at the start of operation is set in the order of applications AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4... From the upper side as shown in FIG. The display mode of the system is determined. Further, the window system 1 assigns other applications in accordance with the display order set by the application management unit 3 to other free areas excluding the area to which the highest application is assigned among the divided areas. It has become.
[0020]
The input unit 5 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and the user can use the input unit 5 to change the desired application to the highest level. The top-level application may be changed by the user or the system itself in response to an external event request.
[0021]
The database 4 stores a priority display application list for each of the applications AP1 to APn. The priority display application list includes all display modes that can be displayed on the screen 10 (display modes that can be taken by the split screen display system) and display modes that can be taken by the application and applications that are preferentially displayed in the display mode. It is a registered one.
[0022]
As an example, FIG. 3 shows a priority display application list of the applications AP1 to AP4. In this example, there are three display modes of “full screen mode”, “two-screen split mode”, and “four-screen split mode” as display modes that can be displayed, and whether or not display of these display modes is set for each application. In addition, an application that is preferentially displayed is set for the display mode in which display is enabled. Specifically, in the priority display application list of application AP1, “full screen mode” and “two screen split mode” are set to “permitted”, “four screen split mode” is set to “impossible”, and “two screen split mode” is set. As for the “mode”, “AP4” and “AP3” are registered as priority-displayed applications. In the priority display application list of application AP2, “full screen mode” and “four screen split mode” are set to “permitted”, “two screen split mode” is set to “impossible”, and “four screen split mode” is prioritized. “AP4” is registered as an application to be displayed. In the priority display application list of the application AP3, “full screen mode” and “two screen split mode” are set to “permitted”, “four screen split mode” is set to “impossible”, and any display mode is preferentially displayed. The application is not registered. In the priority display application list of the application AP4, “full screen mode”, “two screen split mode”, and “four screen split mode” are all “permitted”, and “two screen split mode”, “four screen split mode”. Are registered as “AP1” and “AP2”, respectively.
[0023]
The display mode change detection unit 2 is configured to be able to detect a change in the display mode of the system by the top-level application performed in the window system 1. When a change in the display mode of the system is detected, this is detected. The application management unit 3 is notified. The display mode change detection unit 2 can be incorporated in the window system 1.
[0024]
Upon receiving notification from the display mode change detection unit 2 that the system display mode has been changed, the application management unit 3 refers to the priority display application list of each application stored in the database 4 and the display order at the start of operation. Then, the assignment of another application to the area divided by the top-level application is determined. Further, the application management unit 3 changes the display order of the applications based on the determined assignment result, and sets the changed display order for the window system 1. This application management unit 3 can also be incorporated in the window system 1.
[0025]
In the above-described split screen display system of the present embodiment, when the application having the highest display order in the window system 1 changes the display mode of the system, the display mode change detection unit 2 detects the change of the display mode. The application management unit 3 is notified. Upon receiving the notification of the display mode change, the application management unit 3 assigns applications to other free areas except for the area to which the highest application is assigned as follows.
[0026]
First, a priority display application list related to the highest application in the priority display application list group stored in the database 4 is referred to, and it is checked whether or not a priority display application is registered there. When the priority display application is registered, the priority display application is preferentially assigned to other free areas except the area to which the highest application is assigned.
[0027]
If the priority display application has not been registered, or if there is an empty area to which no application has been assigned after the above priority display application assignment, refer to the display order at the start of operation, and the highest application With respect to the application that is the next higher rank, the priority display application list relating to that application stored in the database 4 is referred to, and it is checked whether or not the display in the display mode determined by the uppermost application is possible. If it can be displayed, the application is allocated to a free area. Similar processing is repeated until an application is assigned to all free areas.
[0028]
When the assignment of the application to all the free areas is completed, the application management unit 3 determines that the application assigned to the free area is below the highest application and above other applications (applications that have not been assigned). Change the display order so that In the window system 1, applications are displayed according to the changed display order. As a result, on the screen 10, the top-level application and the application assigned by the application management unit 3 are displayed in areas divided by the top-level application.
[0029]
Hereinafter, the above-described screen division display operation will be specifically described.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen split display operation performed in the screen split display system of the present embodiment. In this example, the display order at the start of the operation is set in the display order shown in FIG. 2, and the applications AP1 to AP4 have the priority display application list shown in FIG. The operation when changing to the two-screen split mode is shown.
[0031]
When the application system AP1 having the highest display order is executed in the window system 1, the display mode of the system is changed from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode. The change to the two-screen division mode is detected by the display mode change detection unit 2.
[0032]
When the display mode change detection unit 2 detects the change to the two-screen split mode, the display mode change detection unit 2 notifies the application management unit 3 of the change. Upon receiving notification of the change to the two-screen split mode, the application management unit 3 first checks whether or not a priority display application is set in the two-screen split mode column in the priority display application list of the application AP1. In this example, since the application AP4 is set as the priority display application, the application management unit 3 assigns the application AP4 to one area of the two-screen split mode. Next, the application management unit 3 changes the display order so that the application AP4 comes under the highest-level application AP1, and sets the changed display order for the window system 1. In the window system 1, the applications are executed in accordance with the set display order. On the screen 10, the application AP1 is displayed in one area and the application AP4 is displayed in the other area as shown in FIG. The
[0033]
If the priority display application is not registered in the priority display application list of the application AP1, the two-screen division mode is set to “permitted” for the priority display application list of the application AP2 having the second highest display order after the application AP1. Find out if it is. In the example of FIG. 3, since it is “impossible”, whether or not the two-screen split mode is “permitted” for the priority display application list of the application AP 3 having the next highest display order after the application AP 2 is subsequently determined. Investigate. In the example of FIG. 3, since “Yes” is set, this application AP3 is assigned to one area of the two-screen split mode.
[0034]
According to the split screen display as described above, the application creator need only consider the optimum display mode when creating the application, and does not need to consider all the display modes that the system can take. In addition, it is possible to preferentially display applications that are desired to be displayed together regardless of the display order.
[0035]
Note that the screen split display operation described above was performed when the system display mode was changed by the top-level application. However, a change was made so that another application becomes the top level instead of the top-level application. Even in the case where the display mode of the system is changed by another application at the highest level, the same screen division display operation is performed.
[0036]
Next, the processing procedure performed in the application management unit 3 will be specifically described.
[0037]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a processing procedure in the application management unit 3. In this example, as shown in FIG. 6A, normal applications A1 to An and guard soldier applications B1 to Bm used for special purposes are prepared as applications that operate in the window system 1, and the database 4 Assume that for each of these applications, a priority display application list in which display permission and priority display applications are set for all display modes M1 to Mn that the system can take is stored.
[0038]
Each of the display modes M1 to Mn is assigned a screen division area number that is the number of areas when the screen is divided. In a display mode Mm (M1 ≦ Mm ≦ Mn) in the system, when the number of applications that can take the display mode Mm among the normal applications A1 to An is less than the number of screen division areas in the display mode Mm, that is, screen division The sentinel applications B1 to Bm are used when the number of normal applications allocated to the area is insufficient. For this reason, in the process described below, a sentry application that can take all screen modes is prepared, and the sentry application is assigned to an area that cannot be assigned from the normal applications A1 to An.
[0039]
The number of necessary sentinel applications is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the maximum number of screen division areas in the display mode that the system can take. An application registered in each display mode of the priority display application list must be displayable in that display mode. The maximum number of priority display applications that can be registered in each display mode of the priority display application list is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of screen division areas in the display mode. For example, in the two-screen split mode, the maximum value of the number of priority display applications is 1, and in the four-screen split mode, the maximum value of the number of priority display applications is 3.
[0040]
Hereinafter, the operation of the application management apparatus 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0041]
Consider a case where the normal application A1 changes the display mode from the display mode Mm to the display mode Mm ′. Here, the display modes Mm and Mm ′ are
M1 ≦ Mm ≦ Mn,
M1 ≦ Mm ′ ≦ Mn,
Mm ≠ Mm '
It shall satisfy the conditions of
[0042]
When the notification indicating that the display mode has been changed to the display mode Mm ′ is received from the display mode change detection device 2 (step S1), the sentry applications B1 to Bm are moved below the normal applications A1 to An in the display order ( Step S2). Next, a variable p holding the order of priority display applications is initialized with 1 (step S3). By this initialization, the first priority display application is initially assigned to the free area.
[0043]
Next, the variable e that holds the number of empty areas is initialized with a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of screen division areas in the new display mode Mm ′ (step S4). The reason why 1 is subtracted from the number of divided screen areas is that one of the areas divided in the display mode Mm ′ is always assigned the highest application, that is, the normal application A1.
[0044]
When the initialization of the variable p and the variable e is completed, the p-th (initially, p = 1) is subsequently entered in the column of the display mode Mp ′ in the priority display application list of the normal application A1 stored in the database 4. It is checked whether there is a priority display application (step S5). If there is a p-th priority display application, the application is assigned to a free area (step S6). Since the free space is reduced by one by the allocation to the free space, 1 is subtracted from the variable e and 1 is further added to the variable p in the subsequent processing (step S7). After this process, the process returns to step S5 and the same process is repeated. In this way, all the priority display applications set in the display mode Mp ′ field in the priority display application list of the normal application A1 are assigned to the free areas.
[0045]
If it is determined in step S5 that the p-th priority display application does not exist, the variable i holding the display order from the application to be determined is initialized with 2 (step S8). Thereby, first, the second application from the top in the display order is set as a determination target. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the variable e is 0 (step S9). Here, the variable e = 0 means that an application is assigned to all of the areas divided in the display mode Mm ′.
[0046]
If the variable e ≠ 0, then the i-th application from the top (initially i = 2) in the display order (the entire display order including the normal application and the sentinel application) is allocated to the free space. Confirming that the display mode Mp ′ in the priority display application list of the i-th application stored in the database 4 is “permitted” (step S <b> 1). S10). If the result is “Yes” in this confirmation, the i-th application is assigned to a free area (step S11). Since the free space is reduced by one by the allocation to the free space, 1 is subtracted from the variable e (step S12) and 1 is further added to the variable i in the subsequent processing (step S13). After this processing, the process returns to step S9. The same processing is repeated until the variable e becomes 0. In this way, applications are assigned in order from the highest display order (the general display order including the normal application and the sentinel application), and all the empty areas are filled.
[0047]
If the variable e = 0 is determined in step S9, the application assigned to each area obtained by dividing the screen is moved higher in the display order than the application not assigned (step S14). However, the display order of the normal application A1, which is the highest application, is not changed.
[0048]
When the display order is changed by the above procedure, the application is executed and displayed in the window system 1 according to the changed display order.
[0049]
As examples of the screen display form according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5, three specific examples 1 to 3 are shown in FIGS.
[0050]
(Specific example 1)
In the example shown in FIG. 7, normal applications A1, A2, and A3 are prepared in the order from the highest display order, and the highest normal application A1 changes the display mode from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode. It is an example of a screen display operation when The database 4 stores a priority display application list for each of the normal applications A1 to A3. In the priority display application list of the normal application A1, both “full screen mode” and “two-screen split mode” are set to “permitted”. In the priority display application list of the normal application A2, “full screen mode” is set to “permitted”, and “two screen split mode” is set to “impossible”. In the priority display application list of the normal application A3, “full screen mode” and “two-screen split mode” are both “enabled”. No priority display application is set in any priority display application list.
[0051]
When the normal application A1 changes the display mode of the system from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode, the display mode change detection unit 2 detects the change of the display mode and notifies the application management unit 3 of the change. Upon receiving notification of the display mode change, the application management unit 3 assigns applications to the divided areas as follows.
[0052]
First, it is checked whether or not a priority display application is set in the 2-screen split mode column in the priority display application list of the normal application A1 stored in the database 4. In this example, since the priority display application does not exist, the two-screen display is performed by referring to the priority display application list of the normal application A2 stored in the database 4 for the second normal application A2 in the display order. Determine if the mode can be taken. In this example, since the normal application A2 does not take the two-screen display mode, the priority display application list of the normal application A3 stored in the database 4 is subsequently referred to for the third normal application A3 whose display order is from the top. Then, it is determined whether or not the two-screen display mode can be taken. In this example, since the normal application A3 can take a two-screen display mode, the normal application A3 is assigned to a free area. With this assignment, the number of free areas becomes zero.
[0053]
When the number of free areas becomes 0, the application management unit 3 keeps the normal application A1 at the highest level and moves the display order so that the normal application A3 assigned to the divided area is moved to a position higher than the normal application A2. change. In the window system 1, applications are displayed according to the changed display order. As a result, on the screen, the display by the normal application A1 is performed in one area, and the display by the normal application A3 is performed in the other area. Done.
[0054]
(Specific example 2)
In the example shown in FIG. 8, the normal applications A1, A2 and the sentinel application B1 are prepared in the order from the highest display order, and the normal application A2 is changed to the top, and is changed by the normal application A2. It is an example of a screen display operation when the display mode of the system is changed from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode. The database 4 stores a priority display application list for each of the normal applications A1, A2 and the sentinel application B1. In the priority display application list of the normal application A1, the “full screen mode” is “enabled” and the “two-screen split mode” is “disabled”. In the priority display application list of the normal application A2, “full screen mode” is set to “impossible” and “two screen split mode” is set to “enabled”. In the priority display application list of the sentinel application B1, both “full screen mode” and “two-screen split mode” are “permitted”. No priority display application is set in any priority display application list.
[0055]
When the normal application A2 becomes the highest level, the display mode of the system is changed from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode, and the display mode change detection unit 2 notifies the application management unit 3 of the change of the display mode. Upon receiving notification of the display mode change, the application management unit 3 assigns applications to the divided areas as follows.
[0056]
First, it is checked whether or not a priority display application is set in the two-screen split mode column in the priority display application list of the normal application A2 stored in the database 4. In this example, since the priority display application does not exist, the normal application A1 whose display order is changed from the top second is referred to the priority display application list of the normal application A1 stored in the database 4, It is determined whether the two-screen display mode can be taken. In this example, since the normal application A1 does not take the two-screen display mode, the priority display application list of the soldier soldier application B1 stored in the database 4 is subsequently referred to for the third soldier soldier application B1 whose display order is from the top. Then, it is determined whether or not the two-screen display mode can be taken. In this example, since the sentry application B1 can take a two-screen display mode, the sentry application B1 is assigned to an empty area. With this assignment, the number of free areas becomes zero.
[0057]
When the number of free areas becomes 0, the application management unit 3 changes the display order so that the normal application A2 remains at the top and the sentry application B1 assigned to the divided area is moved to a position higher than the normal application A1. change. In the window system 1, the applications are displayed according to the changed display order. As a result, the normal application A2 is displayed in one area on the screen, and the display by the sentry application B1 is displayed in the other area. Done.
[0058]
(Specific example 3)
In the example shown in FIG. 9, four applications of normal applications A1, A2, A3, and A4 are prepared from the highest display order, and the highest normal application A1 changes the display mode from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode. It is an example of a screen display operation | movement at the time of changing to. The database 4 stores a priority display application list for each of the normal applications A1 to A4. In the priority display application list of the normal application A1, both “full screen mode” and “two screen split mode” are set to “permitted”, and the normal application 4 is set as the priority display application for the “two screen split mode”. Yes. In the priority display application list of the normal application A2, “full screen mode” is set to “permitted”, and “two screen split mode” is set to “impossible”. In each priority display application list of the normal applications A3 and A4, both “full screen mode” and “two-screen split mode” are set to “permitted”. No priority display application is set in any of the priority display application lists of the normal applications A2 to A4.
[0059]
When the normal application A1 changes the display mode of the system from the full screen mode to the two-screen split mode, the display mode change detection unit 2 detects the change of the display mode and notifies the application management unit 3 of the change. Upon receiving notification of the display mode change, the application management unit 3 assigns applications to the divided areas as follows.
[0060]
First, it is checked whether or not a priority display application is set in the 2-screen split mode column in the priority display application list of the normal application A1 stored in the database 4. In this example, since the normal application A4 is set as the priority display application, the normal application A4 is assigned to a free area. With this assignment, the number of free areas becomes zero.
[0061]
When the number of free areas becomes 0, the application management unit 3 displays the normal application A1 so that the normal application A4 assigned to the divided area is moved to a position higher than the normal applications A2 and A3 while the normal application A1 remains at the top. Change the order. In the window system 1, the application is displayed according to the changed display order. As a result, the normal application A1 is displayed in one area on the screen, and the normal application A4 is displayed in the other area. Done.
[0062]
The screen split display system described above is an example of the present invention, and the configuration and screen split display operation can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is possible not to use the sentry application in the processing procedure shown in FIG. In this case, the process of step S2 is omitted, and the condition determination of step S9 is set from “e = 0?” To “e = 0? Or variable i is set in the corresponding display mode column in the priority display application list. "Is the number of priority display applications exceeded?" If you do not use the sentry application, the application will not be assigned to all of the divided areas, so the area that is not assigned will be blank, and the display of that area will be indeterminate (the display mode of the system Some of the non-conforming applications may be displayed, and backgrounds such as wallpaper may be displayed).
[0063]
It is also possible not to use the priority display application. In this case, steps S3 and S5 to S7 in FIG.
Step S2 → Step A4 → Step A8
It becomes. When the priority display application is not used, it is determined from the priority display application list whether display in the display mode changed by the top application is possible from the top application according to the display order. Will be allocated to the free space. This operation is the same as the operation in the specific examples 1 and 2 described above (no priority display application is set).
[0064]
The screen split display system of the present embodiment described above can basically be configured by a computer system including a storage device that stores a program, and the screen split display processing described above is realized by the program. For example, a program for executing a series of processing procedures as shown in FIG. 5 is stored in a storage device in advance, and the computer reads and executes the program, thereby realizing the screen division display processing. Information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a PDA can be applied to such a screen division display process.
[0065]
Moreover, although the above-described screen division display has been described on the assumption that it is applied to a screen division method, the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to an overlap method. In this case, multiple windows (overlapping display) are set by the application with the highest display order, and the window located on the front side of the set windows is displayed by the highest application. Then, an application with reference to the priority display list and the display order is assigned to other empty windows. Then, the display order is changed so that the assigned application is higher than the unassigned application.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the application creator only needs to consider the display mode that is most suitable for the application when creating the application, so that the burden on the application creator is greatly reduced. There is.
[0067]
In addition, conventionally, since it was not possible to display an application out of the display order, when displaying a required application, the user of the system is required to select and display a required application from a plurality of applications. Although it is necessary to perform an input operation, according to the present invention, the top-level application and a specific application related thereto are automatically displayed at the same time regardless of the display order. This has the effect of reducing the burden of
[0068]
Furthermore, since the system display mode or the user has conventionally determined the system display mode, when the application with the highest display order is changed to another application, the system display mode is limited. However, according to the present invention, since the display mode of the system is determined by the application having the highest display order, the highest application can be freely changed to another application, further improving the usability of the system. It has the effect of improving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a screen division display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an application display order;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a priority display application list.
4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen split display operation performed in the screen split display system shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in an application management unit of the screen split display system shown in FIG. 1;
6A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an application display order, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of a priority display application list;
7 is a schematic diagram showing a first specific example of screen division display according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5; FIG.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a second specific example of screen division display according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5;
9 is a schematic diagram showing a third specific example of screen division display according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional screen division display method.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Window system
2 Display mode change detector
3 Application Management Department
4 Database
5 Input section
6 Display section
10 screens
AP1-APn application
A1-An Normal application
B1-Bm sentinel application

Claims (10)

The system has a plurality of applications that operate according to a set display order, and the display mode of the system is changed to another display mode in which the number of areas for dividing the screen is different from the display mode depending on the application having the highest display order. A screen split display system to be changed,
For each of the plurality of applications, a database that stores in advance a list that sets whether or not to display a plurality of display modes that can be set as the display mode of the system;
A display mode change detector that detects a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to the other display mode is detected by the display mode change detection unit, for the applications other than the top-level application, the display in the other display mode is displayed in order from the top application in the display order. Is determined based on whether or not display is possible in the list stored in the database, and the application that is determined to be displayable is selected as the topmost of the areas divided in the different display mode. A screen splitting display system comprising: an application management unit that sequentially assigns to an empty area other than an area to which applications are assigned, and changes the display order so that the assigned applications are higher than other applications that have not been assigned. Each of the lists related to the plurality of applications stored in the database is configured to be able to set a priority display application from among the plurality of applications for the display mode in which the setting of whether or not display is possible,
When the application management unit assigns an application to the free space, when a priority display application for the other display mode is set in the list regarding the highest-level application stored in the database, 2. The split screen display system according to claim 1, wherein the priority display application is preferentially assigned to the empty area. The plurality of applications includes a group of normal applications and a group of sentinel applications,
The application management unit assigns an application to the free area from the group of normal applications. If the free area is not filled only by the assignment from the normal application group, the application management unit moves to the free area that has not been filled. 3. The split screen display system according to claim 1, wherein the application is assigned from the group of sentinel applications. 4. The split screen display system according to claim 3, wherein the number of the sentinel applications is a number obtained by subtracting 1 from the maximum number of split areas that can be taken by the display mode set as the display mode of the system. . Of the plurality of applications that operate according to the set display order, the application having the highest display order changes the display mode of the system to another display mode in which the number of areas dividing the screen is different from the display mode. A first step;
A second step of detecting a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to the other display mode is detected in the second step, a list group in which display permission for a plurality of display modes that can be set as the display mode of the system is set for each of the plurality of applications The third step of determining whether or not the display other than the highest-level application can be displayed in the different display mode in order from the higher-order application based on whether or not the display is possible. When,
The applications determined to be displayable in the third step are sequentially assigned to free areas other than the area to which the highest application is allocated among the areas divided in the different display mode, and the assigned And a fourth step of changing the display order so that the application is placed higher than other applications that have not been assigned. The list group can set a priority display application among the plurality of applications for the display mode in which the setting of whether or not display is permitted for each application.
When a change to the other display mode is detected in the second step, the other display is displayed in a list relating to the top-level application in the list group before the determination in the third step is performed. Checking whether or not a priority display application for the mode is set, and if the priority display application is set, the method further includes a step of preferentially assigning the priority display application to the free space. The screen division display method according to claim 5. 7. The split screen display method according to claim 6, wherein when the empty area is not filled only by the allocation of the priority display application, the third and fourth steps are performed for the empty area not filled. Of the plurality of applications that operate according to the set display order, the application having the highest display order changes the display mode of the system to another display mode in which the number of areas dividing the screen is different from the display mode. A first process;
A second process for detecting a change to the other display mode by the top-level application;
When a change to another display mode is detected in the second process, a list group in which display permission is set for each of the plurality of applications that can be set as the display mode of the system. The third process of determining whether or not the display other than the highest-level application can be displayed in the different display mode in order from the higher-order application in the display order. When,
The applications determined to be displayable in the third process are sequentially allocated to free areas other than the area to which the highest application is allocated among the areas divided in the different display mode. A program that causes a computer to execute a fourth process for changing the display order so that an application is placed higher than other applications that have not been assigned. The list group can set a priority display application among the plurality of applications for the display mode in which the setting of whether or not display is permitted for each application.
When a change to the other display mode is detected in the second process, the other display is displayed in a list relating to the top-level application in the list group before the determination of the third process is performed. Checking whether or not a priority display application for the mode is set, and if a priority display application is set, causing the computer to execute processing for preferentially assigning the priority display application to the free space. The program according to claim 8. 10. The program according to claim 9, wherein if a free area is not filled only by the allocation of the priority display application, the program causes the computer to execute the third and fourth processes for the free area that has not been filled.

Images