JP4560410B2 - Desktop display method, desktop display device, desktop display program, and computer-readable recording medium recording the program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a desktop screen on a display (display unit) such as a personal computer or a workstation.

  In personal computers and workstations, environments using windows as user interfaces are becoming mainstream. When working in such an environment, it is common to open multiple application windows on the display screen at the same time, select the active window (reference / update target window) and switch between them as needed. It has become.

However, of course, the size of the display screen is limited, and if many windows are opened at the same time, the windows overlap each other, making it difficult to see the display contents.
Therefore, in recent years, the screen that can be displayed on the display has been virtually expanded, and it is assumed that parts other than the actual screen actually displayed on the display exist in the virtual space. In some cases, you can use a virtual desktop that allows you to switch between tasks.

  In this case, for example, a virtual desktop screen 2 as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 11, on the virtual desktop screen (actual screen) 2, three windows 3a, 3b, 3c are opened and the window 3a is active. The display area including these windows 3a, 3b, and 3c is the area of the actual screen that is actually displayed on the display 1.

  On the virtual desktop screen 2, a selector image 4 is displayed so as to be resident on the top surface. The selector image 4 is a small rectangular area having a size that does not hinder the work on the real screen, and the entire area of the screen that can be displayed on the display 1 (the entire virtual space; in FIG. 11, four real screens). Area) is divided into four areas 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d corresponding to the four areas of the real screen.

  In the selector image 4, the frame of the window currently opened in the entire area is mapped and displayed, so that the operator or the like recognizes where the currently opened window exists in the entire area. Be able to. At this time, since the selector image 4 is a fairly small rectangular area, only the frame of the window is displayed in the selector image 4 so that the position of the selector image 4 can be seen, and the specific display contents in each window are displayed. Absent.

Then, the operator or the like operates the mouse and clicks (specifies) the cursor on a desired area (an area that the operator or the like desires to display; any one of the areas 4a to 4d) in the selector image 4. As a result, the virtual space corresponding to the designated area can be displayed on the virtual desktop screen 2 as a real screen.
In the example shown in FIG. 11, the region 4 a in the selector image 4 is selected, and the region 4 a in which the three windows 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are opened is displayed as a real screen on the virtual desktop screen 2.

The selector image 4 can be moved or minimized so as not to hinder the work on the real screen.
Next, the actual screen display switching procedure on the virtual desktop screen 2 as described above will be described in accordance with the flowchart (steps S1 to S5) shown in FIG. 12 and the specifics of the virtual desktop screen 2 shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to various display states.

  When an operator or the like wants to display a window that is not currently displayed on the virtual desktop screen 2 but has already been opened and exists in the virtual space as a real screen, and activate the window to perform work, for example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, first, the mouse is operated, and the cursor 5 is placed on a desired area (an area that the operator or the like desires to display; any one of the areas 4a to 4d) in the selector image 4 and clicked (mouse (Press left button) (step S1). In the example shown in FIG. 13, the cursor 5 is positioned at the position of the area 4c in order to display the area 4c of the selector image 4 as a real screen in a state where the area 4a of the selector image 4 is displayed as the real screen. .

  When the area 4c is clicked in the state shown in FIG. 13, the virtual space corresponding to the area 4c of the selector image 4 is displayed as a real screen on the virtual desktop screen 2 as shown in FIG. 14 (step S2). As a result, the operator or the like can visually recognize the display contents of the windows opened in the virtual space corresponding to the area 4c of the selector image 4 (windows denoted by reference numerals 3d and 3e in FIG. 14). The windows 3d and 3e displayed at this time are both inactive.

  Then, the operator or the like refers to the display contents of the windows 3d and 3e on the virtual desktop screen 2 and determines whether or not the target window exists (step S3). If it does not exist (NO route), the process returns to step S1, the region 4b or 4d other than the regions 4a and 4c in the selector image 4 is designated and displayed, and the same determination as described above is performed.

  If the target window exists (YES route; here, it is assumed that the window labeled 3e in FIG. 14 is the target), the operator or the like in FIG. 15 activates the target window 3e. As shown, the cursor 5 is placed on the target window 3e and clicked (step S4). In response to this click operation, as shown in FIG. 16, the target window 3e is activated by the operating system.

  As described above, in the conventional virtual desktop screen 2, a part of the virtual space (only one of the four screen areas 4a to 4d in the above example) is displayed as a real screen. When it is desired to work in a window existing in another area, it is necessary to switch the display of the real screen by the procedure described above with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16, and the following problems (1- There were 1) to (1-3).

(1-1) The selector image 4 can be resident at the top of the window on the virtual desktop screen 2, but the presence of such a selector image 4 often hinders work, and the selector image 4 It is necessary to move or minimize frequently, and the operation for that is troublesome for an operator or the like.
(1-2) In the selector image 4, only the position of the window opened in the virtual space corresponding to each of the areas 4a to 4d is displayed as a frame. In order to display the virtual space in which the target window exists as a real screen without immediately recognizing whether the application window is arranged, the display switching operation of the virtual space (steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 12) is repeated. In some cases, it is necessary to perform this operation, and the display switching operation is troublesome for an operator or the like.

  (1-3) After selecting one of the areas 4a to 4d in the selector image 4 and switching the display of the real screen, in order to work in the target window, the target window An operation for selecting and activating is necessary, which is troublesome for an operator or the like. For example, in the display switching operation described above with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16, a minimum of two click operations are required before the target window is displayed and activated on the virtual desktop screen 2.

  The present invention was devised in view of such problems, and allows display contents of a virtual space not displayed on the real screen to be displayed together with the real screen to the extent that does not hinder the work on the real screen. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the complexity of the actual screen display switching work and to improve the efficiency of work on a desktop screen displayed on a display such as a personal computer or a workstation.

In order to achieve the above object, the desktop display method of the present invention employs a virtual desktop that virtually expands the screen that can be displayed on the display unit and works while switching between the real screen and the screen in the virtual space, One main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as the screen in the virtual space are the main area and the one in a state that includes one or more windows that are displayed according to the above one or more each of the task of the sub-region, and displays as an virtual desktop screen of the said display unit, the display content of the one or more sub-areas a schematic, a first display step of displaying the one or more sub-areas in the visible degree of resolution, by a one-click operation of the mouse, the virtual desktop At the same time by specifying one of the one or more sub-areas in the plane, a designation step of designating one of the one or more windows included in the specified sub region, in the virtual desktop screen, Second display for displaying the window designated in the designation step as an active window at the same time as displaying the main area and the sub-region designated in the designation step. And using the area management table for storing the vertex coordinates of the main area and the one or more sub areas and information for specifying the display contents displayed in each area in the first display step. while managing the display state of the virtual desktop, it performs a display of the main area and the one or more sub-regions, the second display step Then, the coordinates of the designated position are acquired in response to the one-click operation using the mouse, and the area including the designated position and the area are determined based on the acquired coordinates and the area management table. By identifying the information that identifies the displayed display content, and rewriting the information that identifies the display content of the main area in the area management table and the information that identifies the display content of the designated sub-area, The display content of the main area and the display content of the designated sub-area are switched and displayed.

Further, the desktop display device of the present invention employs a virtual desktop that has a display unit, virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on the display unit, and works while switching between a real screen and a screen in a virtual space. a is, includes a display control unit for controlling the display state in said display unit, and a mouse to specify a specific position of a screen displayed on the display unit, the display control unit, and the reference as the real screen One main area including the update target screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as screens in the virtual space are respectively included in the main area and the one or more sub areas. in a state that includes one or more windows that are displayed according to one or more tasks, along with displays as an virtual desktop screen of the said display unit, approximate the display contents of the one or more sub-areas Display one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable, and store the vertex coordinates of the main region and the one or more sub-regions and information specifying the display contents displayed in each region While managing the display state of the virtual desktop screen using an area management table, the main area and the one or more sub areas are displayed on the display unit, and the virtual desktop screen is displayed by a one-click operation using the mouse. When one of the one or more sub-regions is designated and one of the one or more windows included in the designated sub-region is designated, the one-click operation using the mouse The coordinates of the specified position are acquired according to the area, and the area including the specified position and the area displayed based on the acquired coordinates and the area management table are displayed. The information specifying the display content is specified, and by rewriting the information specifying the display content of the main area in the area management table and the information specifying the display content of the designated sub area, On the virtual desktop screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the sub-area designated by the mouse are displayed interchangeably, and at the same time, the window designated by the mouse is displayed as an active window in the main area. It is characterized by letting.

Furthermore, the desktop display program of the present invention is a display device that employs a virtual desktop that virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on the display unit and switches between a real screen and a screen in a virtual space. For displaying a virtual desktop screen, wherein one main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub-areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen, In the state including one or more windows displayed in accordance with one or more tasks in each of the main area and the one or more sub areas, the display unit displays the virtual area on the display unit as one virtual desktop screen. A first display step of displaying the one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable, and an outline of the display contents of the sub-region, and one using a mouse By Rick operation, at the same time by specifying one of the one or more sub-regions in the virtual desktop screen, a designation step of designating one of the one or more windows included in the specified sub region On the virtual desktop screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the sub-area designated in the designation step are displayed interchangeably, and at the same time, the window designated in the designation step is activated in the main area. A second display step for displaying as a window, and information for specifying the vertex coordinates of the main region and the one or more sub-regions and the display contents displayed in each region in the first display step; while managing the display state of the virtual desktop screen using area management table for storing, main area And functioning the computer to display the one or more sub-regions, and in the second display step, obtain coordinates of a position specified in accordance with the one-click operation using the mouse, Based on the acquired coordinates and the area management table, an area including the designated position and information for specifying display contents displayed in the area are specified, and the main area in the area management table is specified. By rewriting the information specifying the display content and the information specifying the display content of the designated sub-region, the display content of the main region and the display content of the designated sub-region are switched and displayed. The computer is made to function. A computer-readable recording medium of the present invention records the desktop display program.

Incidentally, the click event generated by one click operation of the mouse, is notified to the operating system to manage the display state of the main area, designated the window is activated by the operating system.
Further, the operating system manages the display position of the window in the main area and the one or more sub areas, and the operating system operates between the main area and the one or more sub areas according to an operation of the mouse. The window may be moved, or the operating system may perform a drag-and-drop operation of the file from the main area to one of the one or more sub-areas according to the operation of the mouse. Good.

Furthermore, one polyhedron may be displayed on the display unit, and a plurality of surfaces constituting the polyhedron may be used as the main region and the one or more sub-regions, respectively.
According to the present invention described above, the following operational effects (2-1) to (2-6) can be obtained.
(2-1) One main area including the reference / update target screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen are displayed as one desktop screen on the display unit. A real screen can be displayed in the area, and at the same time, a screen existing in a virtual space other than the real screen can be displayed in the sub area. When one of the sub areas is designated, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the designated sub area are switched and displayed on the desktop screen. Therefore, the selector image becomes unnecessary and the existence of the selector image does not hinder the work.

(2-2) By simply specifying a sub-area, the screen corresponding to that sub-area can be displayed in the main area as a reference / update target screen, eliminating the complexity of switching the display of the real screen. At the same time, the work on the desktop screen can be greatly improved.
(2-3) To the extent that the display contents of the virtual space that are not displayed on the real screen do not interfere with the work on the real screen (with a resolution that allows the outline of the display contents to be visually recognized), together with the real screen, the desktop Since it is displayed on the screen, an operator or the like can operate while referring to and comparing the contents displayed in the plurality of windows in the virtual space. Therefore, the operator or the like can immediately recognize where the target window exists, and does not need to repeat the display switching operation as in the conventional case, so that the work efficiency on the desktop screen can be further improved.

(2-4) Since the contents of the virtual space are visualized, the target window can be selected at the same time as selecting the switching target virtual space (sub-region). It is possible to perform activation until a single selection operation (one-click operation), and the work efficiency on the desktop screen can be further increased.
(2-5) In the conventional virtual desktop display method, when the window is moved to a different area, it is necessary to switch the display of the real screen. However, according to the present invention, the display of the real screen is not switched. The window can be moved between the main area and the sub area according to the operation of the mouse, and the convenience for the operator and the like is greatly improved.

  (2-6) In the conventional virtual desktop display method, when a file drag-and-drop operation is performed on a window existing in the virtual space, it is necessary to switch the display of the real screen. It is possible to perform a drag-and-drop operation of a file from the main area to the sub-area according to the operation of the mouse without switching the display, and the convenience for the operator and the like is greatly improved.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a desktop display device (personal computer) as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the desktop screen of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the display switching procedure of the real screen on the desktop screen of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the desktop screen of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the desktop screen of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a virtual space area secured in the memory of this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram specifically showing the division state and the coordinate system of the image data writing area in the display RAM of the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the virtual space area management table of the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the display switching operation of this embodiment in detail. FIGS. 10A to 10C are diagrams showing modifications of the desktop screen of this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a conventional virtual desktop screen. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a display switching procedure of a real screen on a conventional virtual desktop screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the virtual desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the conventional virtual desktop screen. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the virtual desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the conventional virtual desktop screen. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the virtual desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the conventional virtual desktop screen. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a specific display state of the virtual desktop screen in order to explain the display switching procedure of the real screen on the conventional virtual desktop screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the desktop display device as one embodiment of the present invention is configured by a personal computer 10 provided with a mouse 20. The personal computer 10 is configured by connecting a display 11, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, an input / output interface 13, a memory 14, and a display RAM (Random Access Memory) 15 so that they can communicate with each other via a bus 16. Yes.

Here, the display 11 is specifically a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), for example, a multidimensional virtual desktop screen 30 as shown in FIG. It functions as a display unit for displaying.
The CPU 12 performs arithmetic processing and control by reading out and executing various programs stored in the memory 14, and functions as a display control unit that controls the display state on the display 11.

Here, the input / output interface 13 is connected to a mouse 20, and instruction information (for example, a click event generated by a one-click operation of the mouse 20) input when the operator operates the mouse 20 via the bus 16. Thus, it functions as a notification means for notifying the CPU 12 that performs the function of the operating system.
The memory 14 stores various programs (including a desktop display program to be described later) and functions as a working memory when the CPU 12 performs arithmetic processing and control.

The display RAM 15 is a screen in which screen data to be displayed on the display 11 is temporarily written by the CPU 12 (display control unit).
The mouse 20 is connected to the personal computer 10 as described above, and designates one of a plurality (four in this embodiment) of sub-regions 32 to 35 (see FIG. 2) on the desktop screen 30 as described later. It serves as a designation means.

  In this embodiment, the desktop screen 30 displayed on the display 11 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, one main area 31 including a reference / update target screen (actual screen), and a screen other than the reference / update target screen. Are composed of four sub-regions 32, 33, 34, 35 including a virtual screen. In particular, on the desktop screen 30 of the present embodiment, a rectangular parallelepiped (polyhedron) is three-dimensionally displayed, the central area is used as the main area 31, and the four outer peripheral areas surrounding the main area 31 are each four sub-areas. Used as regions 32-35. These five areas 31 to 35 display the entire area of the screen that can be displayed on the display 11 (total virtual space; area for five screens).

  Each of the areas 31 to 35 includes one or more windows displayed according to one or more tasks. In the example shown in FIG. 2, two windows 31 a and 31 b are opened in the main area 31, two windows 32 a and 32 b are opened in the sub area 32, one window 33 a is opened in the sub area 33, and the sub area 34 is opened. The two windows 34a and 34b are opened, and no window is opened in the sub area 35.

  Furthermore, the main area 31 is an area for displaying an actual screen that is accessed and referred to by an operator or the like, and the display content of the main area 31 is displayed with a normal resolution. On the other hand, the four sub-regions 32 to 35 are regions that display a virtual space region that is not currently a reference / update target as a virtual screen. The display contents of these sub-regions 32 to 35 are as follows: The resolution is lower than that of the main area 31, and more specifically, the outline of the display content is displayed at a resolution that can be visually recognized by an operator or the like. Accordingly, it goes without saying that the operator or the like can visually recognize the display contents of the main area 31 and can also visually recognize the outline of the display contents of the four sub areas 32 to 35 (what windows are opened). ing.

All the display states on the desktop screen 30 described above are controlled by a function (operating system) as a display control unit of the CPU 12.
Further, the CPU 12 (operating system) of the present embodiment switches the display contents of the main area 31 and the display contents of any one of the sub areas 32 to 35 designated by the mouse 20 on the desktop screen 30 and displays them. It also has a function.

  More specifically, in this embodiment, an operator or the like operates the mouse 20 with one click, and simultaneously designates one of the four sub-regions 32 to 35 and one of the windows included in the designated region. It is configured to be able to. When a click event generated by a one-click operation of the mouse 20 is notified to the CPU 12 (operating system) through the input / output interface 13 and the bus 16, the CPU 12 displays the current display contents of the main area 31 on the desktop screen 30. And the display contents of the sub-region designated by the one-click operation are displayed interchangeably, and at the same time, the window designated by the one-click operation is displayed as the active window in the main region 31.

  Furthermore, the CPU 12 (operating system) of the present embodiment manages the display positions of the windows in the areas 31 to 35, and between the main area 31 and the one or more sub areas 32 to 35 according to the operation of the mouse 30. In addition to having a function of moving a window, it also has a function of dragging and dropping a file from the main area 31 to one of the one or more sub-areas 32 to 35 in accordance with the operation of the mouse 30. Yes.

  The above-described function of the CPU 12 as a display control unit (operating system) is realized by the CPU 12 executing a desktop display program for causing the display 11 to display a desktop screen. This desktop display program displays one main area 31 including a reference / update target screen (actual screen) and one or more sub areas 32 to 35 including a screen (virtual screen) other than the reference / update target screen. In step 1, one of the one or more sub-regions 32 to 35 on the desktop screen 30 is designated according to the first display step displayed as one desktop screen 30 and the instruction from the outside (in this embodiment, the instruction from the mouse 20). Created to cause the CPU 12 (computer) to execute a designation step to be performed and a second display step for switching the display contents of the main area 31 on the desktop screen 30 and the display contents of the sub-area designated in the designation step. It has been done.

  This desktop display program is provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD. In the present embodiment, a desktop display program is stored in advance in the memory 14 or the like in the personal computer 10, and the desktop display program is read and executed by the CPU 12, so that the above-described display control unit (operating system) is obtained. The function is realized.

The desktop display program may be recorded in a storage device (recording medium) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and provided to the computer from the storage device via a communication path.
Next, the basic operation of the desktop display device (personal computer 10) of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, regarding the display switching procedure of the real screen on the desktop screen 30 described above, refer to the specific display state of the desktop screen 30 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 (steps S11 and S12). While explaining.
On the display 11, for example, the desktop screen 30 shown in FIG. 4 (substantially the same as the desktop screen 30 shown in FIG. 2) is already displayed (first display step). While referring to the desktop screen 30, an operator or the like is referring to or updating the active window 31a in the main area 31.

  In such a state, when the operator or the like desires to activate a window other than the current active window 31a to perform the work, the operator or the like refers to the other window 31b of the main area 31 of the desktop screen 30, and A desired (target) window is searched with reference to the windows roughly displayed with low resolution in the sub-regions 32 to 35 (in the virtual space).

  When the operator recognizes the target window (in this case, for example, the window 34a in the sub-region 34 is the target), the operator operates the mouse 30 to display the window 34a in the sub-region 34 as shown in FIG. The cursor 36 is moved to and a one-click operation, that is, the left button of the mouse 30 is pressed once. As a result, a virtual screen (sub-region 34 in FIG. 4) to be displayed in the main area 31 is selected / designated, and at the same time, a target window 34a to be activated is selected / designated (step S11; designation step).

  In response to the one-click operation (click event) as described above, the CPU 12 displays the display content currently displayed in the main area 31 and the virtual space corresponding to the selected sub-area 34, as shown in FIG. The target window 34a is activated at the same time as the contents are switched and displayed (second display step). Note that the windows 31a 'and 31b' in the main area 31 in FIG. 5 correspond to the windows 34a and 34b in the sub-area 34 in FIG. 4, respectively. Further, the windows 34a 'and 34b' in the sub-region 34 in FIG. 5 correspond to the windows 31a and 31b in the main region 31 in FIG. 4, respectively.

Subsequently, a display switching operation by the desktop display device (personal computer 10) of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
When the CPU 12 displays the multi-dimensional virtual desktop screen 30 as shown in FIG. 2 on the display 11, the CPU 12 secures a virtual space area in the memory 14 (system memory) as shown in FIG.

  In the memory 14 shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular area for a real screen (current display screen) to be displayed in the main area 31 is secured and 4 4 to be displayed in each of the four sub areas 32 to 35. A rectangular area for one virtual screen (a rectangular area similar to the real screen) is secured as a virtual space area. At this time, sequential numbers i = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are assigned to these five rectangular areas, respectively. Further, the two-dimensional coordinate positions in the real screen (i = 1) and the four virtual screens (i = 2 to 5) are represented as (Xi, Yi) (i = 1 to 5), respectively. .

  Further, when the CPU 12 displays the multi-dimensional virtual desktop screen 30 as shown in FIG. 2 on the display 11, as shown in FIG. 7, the screen data to be displayed on the display 11 (the desktop screen 30 of the desktop screen 30 is displayed). The rectangular area into which data is written is divided into five closed areas (closed space, polygon) corresponding to the areas 31 to 35, and a coordinate system is set.

At this time, sequential circled numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are assigned to the five divided closed areas, respectively. The closed areas 1 to 5 of the display RAM 15 (hereinafter, the circled numbers 1 to 5 are simply described as “1” to “5” in the text , respectively ) are the sub areas 32 and sub areas of the desktop screen 30, respectively. 35, the main area 31, the sub area 33, and the sub area 34. The origin of the coordinate system in the display RAM 15 is the upper left vertex of the rectangular area in which the screen data is written, the right direction in FIG. 7 is the X axis direction, and the lower direction in FIG. 7 is the Y axis direction. Furthermore, it is assumed that the two-dimensional coordinate positions in the closed regions 1 to 5 are represented as (xj, xj) (j = 1 to 5), respectively.

When the CPU 12 maps the screen i (i = 1 to 5) shown in FIG. 6 to any one of the closed regions 1 to 5 shown in FIG. 7, the following mapping conversion function given in advance is used. To perform planar coordinate mapping.
Mapping function fj (Xi, Yi) = (xj, yj)
However, i = 1 to 5, j = 1 to 5
There are the same number of mapping functions as the number of divisions of the rectangular area in the display RAM 15 (here, 5). For example, when the virtual screen 2 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in the subregion 33, the virtual screen 2 is mapped to the closed region 4 shown in FIG. 7 by the mapping function f4 (X2, Y2) = (x4, y4). (Plane coordinate mapping). In addition, since the screen assigned number 1 in the example shown in FIG. 6 is a real screen (current display screen) and should be displayed in the main area 31, the mapping function f3 (X1, Y1) = ( By x3, y3), mapping (planar coordinate mapping) is performed on the closed region 3 shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the CPU 12 creates a virtual space area management table as shown in FIG. 8 in the memory 14 and manages the display state of the multidimensional virtual desktop screen 30 on the display 11.
The virtual space area management table shown in FIG. 8 uses the coordinate system shown in FIG. 7 to store the coordinates of the four vertices of each closed area (display virtual screen number) 1 to 5 and each closed area 1 to 5. The currently displayed screen number (memory virtual space number) and a flag (specific area flag) for specifying which of the closed areas 1 to 5 is the main area 31 are stored. In FIG. 8, “1” is set in the specific region flag column of the closed region 3 that is the main region 31, and “0” is set in the specific region flag column of the other closed regions.

In the data storage example in FIG. 8, in the desktop screen 30, the closed area 3 is the main area 31, and the closed areas 1 to 5 (areas 32, 35, 31, 33, and 34) are shown in the screens 2 and 3 in FIG. , 1, 4 and 5 are displayed.
In addition, vertex numbers are sequentially assigned to the vertices of the closed areas 1 to 5, and in the virtual space area management table illustrated in FIG. 8, the edge from the vertex number 1 to 2 is the upper edge in the desktop screen 30. The coordinates of each vertex are stored so that

As described above, the CPU 12 manages the five screens 1 to 5 as shown in FIG. 7 while managing the display state of the multidimensional virtual desktop screen 30 using the virtual space area management table as shown in FIG. A multi-dimensional virtual desktop screen 30 is displayed on the display 11 in accordance with display RAM coordinates as shown.
Next, the display switching operation of the CPU 12 performed using the virtual space area management table will be described according to the flowchart (steps S21 to S28) shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, as described above, when a specific sub-region (specific virtual space) is designated by the mouse 20, the designated sub-region (virtual space) becomes active, and at the same time, by the mouse 20 If a window exists at the specified coordinates, that window is also activated.
First, when an operator or the like designates a specific position on the desktop screen 30 with the cursor 36 using the mouse 20 and performs a one-click operation at that position, the CPU 12 determines the coordinates of the position designated in accordance with the one-click operation. Obtain (step S21). Here, in a state where the desktop screen 30 is displayed according to the virtual space area management table shown in FIG. 8, the operator or the like performs a one-click operation by placing the cursor 36 as shown in FIG. It is assumed that display RAM coordinates (mx, my) as shown in FIG.

The CPU 12 searches the virtual space area management table shown in FIG. 8 and searches where the acquired coordinates (mx, my) are included in the closed areas 1 to 5 shown in FIG. 7 (step S22). If it is not included in any of the closed areas 1 to 5 (NO route of step S23), the CPU 12 ends abnormally and performs an error notification to the operator or the like.
On the other hand, when the closed region including the coordinates (mx, my) is specified (YES route of step S23; here, the closed region 5 ), the CPU 12 performs the following steps S24 to S26 and performs the virtual process shown in FIG. Rewrite the space area management table. As a result, the virtual space is rotated, and the display contents of the main area 31 are replaced with the display contents of the designated sub area (here, the sub area 34).

That is, the CPU 12 writes the number (5) stored in the memory virtual space number column of the closed area 5 specified in the virtual space area management table in the work area wk of the memory 14 (step S24). Next, the CPU 12 stores the number (1) stored in the memory virtual space number field of the closed area 3 in which the specific area flag “1” is set in the virtual space area management table in the memory virtual space number field of the closed area 5. Write (step S25). Then, the CPU 12 writes the number (5) written in the work area wk of the memory 14 in the memory virtual space number column of the closed area 3 in which the specific area flag “1” is set in the virtual space area management table (step S26). Thus, in the virtual space area management table, the memory virtual space number 5 of closed regions 5 identified, is replaced with a memory virtual space number 1 in closed area 3 set a specific area flag.

Thereafter, the CPU 12 maps the virtual screen 5 to the closed region 3 of the display RAM 15 by the mapping function f3 (X5, Y5) = (x3, y3) in order to display the virtual screen 5 as a real screen in the main region 31 ( And mapping the real screen 1 to the closed region 5 of the display RAM 15 by the mapping function f5 (X1, Y1) = (x5, y5) to display the real screen 1 as a virtual screen in the sub-region 34. (Plane coordinate mapping) is performed (step S27).

Further, the CPU 12 inversely converts the display RAM coordinates (mx, my) acquired in step S21 into coordinates in the closed region including the coordinates (mx, my) by using an inverse mapping function, and the obtained coordinates. A click event at the position is notified to the OS (step S28, notification step). Here, the display RAM coordinates (mx, my) so is included in the closed region 5, the coordinates in the closed region within 5 (Mx, My) is the inverse mapping function ^{(Mx, My) = f5 -1} (mx, my).

  After the rotation of the virtual space is completed, the main area 31 is managed by the OS, so that the click event at the coordinates (Mx, My) obtained by the inverse transformation is regarded as the same event as when a normal mouse click occurs. If there is a window including the coordinates (Mx, My), the window is activated by the OS. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, since the coordinates (Mx, My) are included in the window 34a, this window 34a is activated as the window 31a 'in the main area 31, as shown in FIG. Will be displayed.

When the replacement of the display contents and the activation of the window are completed as described above, the CPU 12 discards the area wk and the table secured in the memory 14 and ends the process.
If the coordinates (mx, my) acquired in step S21 are included in the closed area 3 , that is, the main area 31, the CPU 12 does not perform the processes in steps S24 to S27 described above. The process of S28 is performed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the main area 31 including the reference / update target screen and the four sub areas 32 to 35 including screens other than the reference / update target screen are displayed on the desktop of the display 11. Since it is displayed as the screen 30, it is possible to display a screen (virtual screen) existing in a virtual space other than the real screen in the sub-regions 32 to 35 simultaneously with displaying the real screen in the main region 31. When one of the sub areas 32 to 35 is designated, the display contents of the main area 31 and the display contents of the designated sub area are switched and displayed on the desktop screen 30. Therefore, the conventional selector image is not necessary, and the presence of the selector image does not hinder the work.

Further, the screen corresponding to the designated sub-region can be displayed as the reference / update target screen in the main region 31 only by designating any one of the sub-regions 32 to 35 with the mouse. The complexity of the display switching work is eliminated, and the work on the desktop screen 30 can be greatly improved in efficiency.
Furthermore, on the desktop screen 30 together with the real screen, the display content of the virtual space that is not displayed on the real screen does not hinder the work on the real screen (with a resolution that allows the outline of the display content to be visually recognized). Therefore, an operator or the like can operate while referring to and comparing contents displayed in a plurality of windows in the virtual space. Therefore, the operator or the like can immediately recognize where the target window exists, and does not need to repeat the display switching work as in the conventional case, and the work efficiency on the desktop screen 30 can be further improved. .

  At this time, in the present embodiment, a main area 31 for displaying a real screen is arranged at the center of the desktop screen 30, and four sub areas 32 to 35 surrounding the outer periphery thereof are arranged. A virtual space including a screen other than the real screen is displayed. Distortion occurs in the displayed image at the outer peripheral portion (peripheral portion of the display 11) of these sub-regions 32 to 35. Even if such distortion exists, the outline of the display contents in the sub-regions 32 to 35. It is possible to give the sub-regions 32 to 35 a sufficient amount of information for confirming.

  Further, since the contents of the virtual space are visualized, the target window is simultaneously selected at the same time when the switching target virtual space (any one of the sub-regions 32 to 35) is selected and designated using the mouse 20. Therefore, it is possible to perform a single selection operation (one-click operation with the mouse 20) from the display switching of the real screen to the activation of the window, thereby further improving the work efficiency on the desktop screen 30. Can do.

  On the other hand, in the conventional virtual desktop display method, when the window is moved to a different area, it is necessary to switch the display of the real screen. However, in this embodiment, the display of the mouse 30 is not performed without switching the display of the real screen. It becomes possible to move the window between the main area 31 and any one of the sub areas 32 to 35 according to the operation, and the convenience for the operator or the like is greatly improved.

  Similarly, in the conventional virtual desktop display method, when performing a drag-and-drop operation of a file to a window existing in the virtual space, it is necessary to switch the display of the real screen. In the present embodiment, however, the display switching of the real screen is performed. It is possible to perform a drag and drop operation of a file from the main area 31 to any one of the sub areas 32 to 35 in accordance with the operation of the mouse 30, without greatly performing the operation. To improve.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, on the desktop screen 30 of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the rectangular parallelepiped is displayed in three dimensions, the central area is used as the main area 31, and four outer peripheral surfaces surrounding the main area 31. Are used as four sub-regions 32 to 35, but the desktop screen of the present invention is not limited to this, and displays a polyhedron other than a rectangular parallelepiped and displays each surface of the polyhedron as a main region or It may be used as a sub-region, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C (desktop screens 10A to 10C), respectively, or as disclosed in the present specification. The shape, the number of divisions, the size, and the arrangement state of the regions and sub-regions are not limited, and the shape, the number of divisions, the size, the arrangement state, and the like can be changed dynamically and freely.

  Here, in the desktop screen 10A shown in FIG. 10A, the large rectangular area at the top of the screen is used as the main area 31A, and the small rectangular areas obtained by dividing the lower area of the screen into four are the sub areas 32A to 35A. Used as In the desktop screen 10B shown in FIG. 10B, the large rectangular area on the left side of the screen is used as the main area 31B, and the small rectangular areas obtained by dividing the right area on the screen into four are used as the sub areas 32B to 35B. . In the desktop screen 10C shown in FIG. 10C, an octagonal region is used as the main region 31C in the center of the screen, and small regions obtained by dividing the outer peripheral region of the main region 31C into eight are subregions 32C to 39C. Used as

  As described above, according to the present invention, a real screen can be displayed in the main area, and at the same time, a screen existing in a virtual space other than the real screen can be displayed in the sub area. On the screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the designated sub area are switched and displayed. Accordingly, the presence of the selector image does not hinder the work, the complexity of the display switching operation of the actual screen is eliminated, and the work on the desktop screen can be greatly improved in efficiency.

  Therefore, the present invention is suitable for use when displaying a desktop screen on a display (display unit) such as a personal computer or a workstation, and is considered to be extremely useful.

Claims (4)

A desktop display method that employs a virtual desktop that virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on a display unit and switches between a real screen and a screen in a virtual space,
One main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as the screen in the virtual space are the main area and the one in a state that includes one or more windows that are displayed according to the above one or more each of the task of the sub-region, and displays as an virtual desktop screen of the said display unit, the display content of the one or more sub-areas A first display step for displaying the one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable;
One of the one or more sub-regions on the virtual desktop screen is designated by a one-click operation using the mouse, and at the same time, one of the one or more windows included in the designated sub-region is designated. A specified step to specify;
On the virtual desktop screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the sub area designated in the designation step are switched and displayed, and at the same time, the window designated in the designation step is displayed as an active window in the main area. And a second display step for displaying as
In the first display step, display of the virtual desktop screen using an area management table that stores vertex coordinates of the main area and the one or more sub areas and information specifying display contents displayed in each area While displaying the main area and the one or more sub areas while managing the state,
In the second display step, the coordinates of the designated position are obtained in response to the one-click operation using the mouse, and the designated position is included based on the obtained coordinates and the area management table An area and information for specifying display contents displayed in the area; information for specifying display contents of the main area in the area management table; and information for specifying display contents of the designated sub area; The display content of the main area and the display content of the designated sub-area are exchanged and displayed by rewriting the data. A desktop display device that employs a virtual desktop that includes a display unit, virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on the display unit, and performs work while switching between a real screen and a screen in a virtual space,
A display control unit for controlling a display state in the display unit;
A mouse for designating a specific position of the screen displayed on the display unit;
The display control unit
One main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as the screen in the virtual space are the main area and the one Each of the above sub-areas is displayed as one virtual desktop screen on the display unit in a state including one or more windows displayed according to one or more tasks, and the display contents of the one or more sub-areas are displayed. Display the one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable,
While managing the display state of the virtual desktop screen using an area management table that stores vertex coordinates of the main area and the one or more sub areas and information for specifying display contents displayed in each area, Displaying the main area and the one or more sub areas on the display unit;
One of the one or more sub-regions on the virtual desktop screen is designated by a one-click operation using the mouse, and at the same time, one of the one or more windows included in the designated sub-region is designated. Then, the coordinates of the designated position are acquired in response to the one-click operation using the mouse, and the region including the designated position and the region based on the acquired coordinates and the region management table The information specifying the display contents displayed in the area is specified, and the information specifying the display contents of the main area in the area management table is rewritten with the information specifying the display contents of the designated sub area. Accordingly, in the virtual desktop screen of the display unit, it is displayed interchanging the display contents of the sub area designated by the display contents and the mice of the main area That when, characterized in that to be displayed as the active window the window specified by the mouse in the main area at the same time, a desktop display device. In a display device that employs a virtual desktop that virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on the display unit and switches between a real screen and a screen in the virtual space, the desktop for displaying the virtual desktop screen on the display unit A display program,
One main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as the screen in the virtual space are the main area and the one Each of the above sub-areas is displayed as one virtual desktop screen on the display unit in a state including one or more windows displayed according to one or more tasks, and the display contents of the one or more sub-areas are displayed. A first display step for displaying the one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable;
One of the one or more sub-regions on the virtual desktop screen is designated by a one-click operation using the mouse, and at the same time, one of the one or more windows included in the designated sub-region is designated. A specified step to specify;
On the virtual desktop screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the sub area designated in the designation step are switched and displayed, and at the same time, the window designated in the designation step is displayed as an active window in the main area. And causing the computer to execute a second display step of displaying as
In the first display step, display of the virtual desktop screen using an area management table that stores vertex coordinates of the main area and the one or more sub areas and information specifying display contents displayed in each area Operating the computer to display the main area and the one or more sub-areas while managing the state;
In the second display step, the coordinates of the designated position are obtained in response to the one-click operation using the mouse, and the designated position is included based on the obtained coordinates and the area management table An area and information for specifying display contents displayed in the area; information for specifying display contents of the main area in the area management table; and information for specifying display contents of the designated sub area; A desktop display program which causes the computer to function so that the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the designated sub-area are exchanged and displayed by rewriting. In a display device that employs a virtual desktop that virtually expands a screen that can be displayed on the display unit and switches between a real screen and a screen in the virtual space, the desktop for displaying the virtual desktop screen on the display unit A computer-readable recording medium recording a display program,
The desktop display program is
One main area including the reference / update target screen as the real screen and one or more sub areas including screens other than the reference / update target screen as the screen in the virtual space are the main area and the one Each of the above sub-areas is displayed as one virtual desktop screen on the display unit in a state including one or more windows displayed according to one or more tasks, and the display contents of the one or more sub-areas are displayed. A first display step for displaying the one or more sub-regions with a resolution that is visually recognizable;
One of the one or more sub-regions on the virtual desktop screen is designated by a one-click operation using the mouse, and at the same time, one of the one or more windows included in the designated sub-region is designated. A specified step to specify;
On the virtual desktop screen, the display contents of the main area and the display contents of the sub area designated in the designation step are switched and displayed, and at the same time, the window designated in the designation step is displayed as an active window in the main area. And causing the computer to execute a second display step of displaying as
In the first display step, display of the virtual desktop screen using an area management table that stores vertex coordinates of the main area and the one or more sub areas and information specifying display contents displayed in each area Operating the computer to display the main area and the one or more sub-areas while managing the state;
In the second display step, the coordinates of the position specified in accordance with the one-click operation using the mouse are acquired, and the specified position is included based on the acquired coordinates and the area management table An area and information for specifying display contents displayed in the area; information for specifying display contents of the main area in the area management table; and information for specifying display contents of the designated sub area; The computer can be read by recording a desktop display program, which causes the computer to function so that the display content of the main area and the display content of the designated sub-area are switched to be displayed by rewriting Recording medium.

Images