JP5142840B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique that enables an information processing apparatus to be controlled by at least one external apparatus.

  In an information processing apparatus that performs processing under the control of an information processing terminal, the information processing apparatus performs processing in the information processing apparatus or provision of operation means for the information processing terminal in response to a request from each information processing terminal. Do. Specifically, for example, a display device for displaying a video in response to a request from the information processing terminal performs a content data display process or a user interface provision process for the information processing terminal in response to a request from the information processing terminal. Refers to that.

  Conventionally, in order to perform the above processing, a user grasps information such as a physical position of an information processing apparatus to be used and a network address, and performs an operation for controlling the information processing apparatus from the information processing terminal owned by the user. There was a need. As a specific example, the network address of the information processing apparatus is designated from the information processing terminal, and the information processing apparatus is brought into a state that can be controlled from the information processing terminal.

  As another conventional technique, a method for enabling an information processing apparatus remotely operated from a plurality of users via a network to appropriately respond to each command is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). According to this method, the operation of the information processing apparatus connected via wire or wireless can be controlled based on commands from a plurality of information processing terminals connected via a network. Here, in this conventional technology, it is determined which command is to be executed with priority by referring to the priority set for each information processing terminal. As a result, even when a command is issued to execute a process from another information processing terminal while executing a process from a certain information processing terminal, the process corresponding to each command is preferably executed. It becomes possible to control.

JP 2002-369266 A

  However, when the information processing apparatus is operated from a plurality of information processing terminals, control contention with respect to the information processing apparatus easily occurs. In a technology in which a network address of an information processing device is specified from the information processing terminal and the information processing device can be controlled from the information processing terminal, the information processing device sequentially executes a control operation according to a command from the information processing terminal. That is, in the conventional technology, the information processing apparatus performs control such that after the processing of the information processing terminal that has received the command ends, the processing of the information processing terminal that has received the command is executed next. However, with this method, there is no problem for the user of the information processing terminal that sent the command first, but the user of the information processing terminal that sent the command later must wait for the processing of the information processing terminal that sent the command first. I must. Further, in a place where there are a relatively large number of information processing terminals with respect to the number of information processing apparatuses such as offices, the above-described waiting time is further increased.

  Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when instructions from a plurality of information processing terminals compete, for example, even when an instruction from a certain information processing terminal is sent later, the priority of the information processing terminal is If it is higher, the process corresponding to the command sent from the other information processing terminal is stopped. And it is possible to start the process according to the command from the said information processing terminal sent later without waiting time.

  However, in this prior art, there is a problem that the user of the information processing terminal with a low priority has to wait for the processing according to the command of the information processing terminal with a high priority to end. In addition, in this prior art, it is necessary to specify a priority in advance for each information processing terminal that may use the information processing apparatus. However, the priority is not necessarily a priority suitable for actual use. There is a problem of not becoming.

  As a specific example, when the information processing device is a video display device such as a display, according to the method of this prior art, the content requested by the information processing terminal with higher priority is more than the content requested by other information processing terminals. Is also prioritized and output to the video display device. At this time, when the information processing terminal with a high priority is located at a position physically separated from the video display device, the user having the information processing terminal with a high priority actually views the content output from the video display device. I can't. Nevertheless, content requested from an information processing terminal with a high priority is output with priority over content requested by another information processing terminal.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to automatically determine an appropriate priority according to the relationship between an information processing device and each external device.

The information processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a determining means for determining whether or not controllable at least one external device the information processing apparatus is directed to the information processing apparatus, the external apparatus the information by the determining means When it is determined that the external device is not directed to the processing device, the external device is excluded from the priority determination target, and when the determination unit determines that the external device is directed to the information processing device, the external device Based on the positional relationship between each of the external devices included in the priority determination target by the priority determination target selection unit and the information processing device. a first determining means for determining a priority for the external device, based on the priority determined by said first determining means, determines the processing content in accordance with control by the respective external device And having a second determination unit that.

  In the present invention, the priority is determined for each external device according to the relationship between the information processing device and each external device, and the processing contents of the information processing device according to the control by each external device based on the priority Is configured to determine. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine an appropriate priority according to the relationship between the information processing device and each external device.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the structure shown in embodiment described below is only an example until it gets tired, and does not limit the structure applicable to this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system according to the present embodiment includes an information processing terminal A200, an information processing terminal B201, an information processing terminal C202, an information processing device 258, a video content database 256, and a video display device 259. . The information processing terminals A200 to C202 are configurations that are application examples of the external device of the present invention, and the information processing device 258 is a configuration that is an application example of the information processing device of the present invention.

  The information processing device 258 includes a wireless communication module 261, a memory 255, and a CPU 260. In the operation outline of this embodiment, first, the information processing device 258 detects the presence of the information processing terminal A200, the information processing terminal B201, and the information processing terminal C202 in the vicinity. The information processing device 258 then displays the display size (output size) of the content data requested by each information processing terminal based on the orientation of each information processing terminal and the distance between each information processing terminal and the information processing device 258, and The display position (output position) is determined, and the video signal 290 is output.

  Next, an operation flow of the information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described. The terminal detection unit 251, which is a function of the wireless communication module 261, periodically checks surrounding information processing terminals by wireless communication, and if an information processing terminal is detected, terminal registration information 294 indicating the detected information processing terminal. Is sent to the memory 255 for recording. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the description will proceed assuming that the information processing terminal A200, the information terminal B201, and the information processing terminal C202 are detected.

  Next, the terminal information acquisition unit 252 which is one function of the wireless communication module 261 acquires the terminal information 280 and the processing request information 282 of each information processing terminal detected by the terminal detection unit 251. Here, the terminal information 280 is information including directivity information and distance information, and the processing request information 282 is information including a content request signal transmitted from each information processing terminal. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the distance from the information processing device 258 is closest to the information processing terminal C202, next to the information processing terminal A200, and farthest from the information terminal B201. The distance information indicates the distance from the information processing device 258 for each information processing terminal. Also, it is assumed that any information processing terminal is directed to the information processing apparatus 258, and that is indicated in the directional information. The processing request information 282 indicates that a content request signal A285 is transmitted from the information terminal A200, a content request signal B286 is transmitted from the information terminal B201, and a content request signal C287 is transmitted from the information terminal C202. In the memory 255, each content request signal is recorded as processing request information 282.

  Next, the priority determination unit 253, which is a function of the CPU 260, determines priority information 281 for each information processing terminal based on the directivity information and distance information of each information processing terminal included in the terminal information 280. 255, priority information 281 is recorded. When determining the priority information 281, priority information 281 indicating higher priorities is set in order from the information processing terminal directed to the information processing device 258 in the order of distance from the information processing device 258. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the processing content determination unit 254, which is a function of the CPU 260, determines execution processing information 283 for each information processing terminal based on the priority information 281 and the processing request information 282, and records it in the memory 255.

  Here, the execution processing information 283 is command information for actually executing processing by the information processing device 258 with respect to the processing request information 282 of each information processing terminal. In the present embodiment, the execution processing information 283 includes content information for specifying content data, content display position information for specifying the display position of the content data, and content display size information for specifying the display size of the content data.

  When determining the execution processing information 283, the content display size information of each content data is determined in descending order of the priority information 281 corresponding to the content data requested by the processing request information 282. In addition, content display position information of each content is determined by laying out each content data within a predetermined video display area of the video display device 259. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the screen forming unit 257, which is a function of the CPU 260, refers to the content information included in the execution processing information 283 and transmits a content request signal 288 to the video content database 256 that holds the content data.

  Upon receiving the content request signal 288, the video content database 256 outputs the requested content data 289 to the screen forming unit 257. Next, the screen forming unit 257 forms frame data from the received content data 289 with reference to the content display position information and content display size information of the execution processing information 283, and outputs a video signal 290. Here, the frame data refers to image data displayed on one screen of the video display area of the video display device 259. The video signal 290 output at this time has content data arranged in a larger display size in descending order of priority indicated by the priority information 281 as determined by the processing content determination unit 254. Finally, the video display device 259 receives the video signal 290 and displays it.

  With the above-described configuration, in the information processing apparatus 258 that receives a command from a plurality of information processing terminals and performs processing, the command from each information processing terminal is added in consideration of the relationship between each information processing terminal and the information processing apparatus 258. It becomes possible to execute simultaneously. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the information processing terminal C202 is closest to the information processing apparatus 258, the information processing terminal A200 is next closest to the information processing apparatus 258, and the information processing terminal B201 is the closest. The distance from the information processing terminal 258 is long. Therefore, the display size of the content data requested to be displayed by the content request signal C287 from the information processing terminal C202 is maximized and displayed on the video window C293 having the largest size on the video display device 259. Further, the display size of the content data requested to be displayed by the content request signal A285 from the information processing terminal A200 is set to the next largest size and displayed on the video window A291 having the next largest size on the video display device 259. Also, the display size of the content data requested to be displayed by the content request signal 286 from the information processing terminal B202 is minimized, and is displayed on the video window B292 having the smallest size on the video display device 259.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the priority determination unit 253. Hereinafter, each processing step will be described in order. When the priority determination unit 253 starts the process, the process starts from Step 300, and the process proceeds to Step 301. Step 301 is a start end of a processing loop for all information processing terminals detected by the terminal detection unit 251. If an information processing terminal to which the subsequent steps are not applied remains, the process proceeds to step 301, and if not, the process proceeds to step 304.

  In step 302, the priority determination unit 253 refers to the orientation information of the corresponding information processing terminal included in the terminal information 280 and determines whether or not the information processing terminal is directed to the information processing device 258. If it is determined that the information processing terminal is directed to the information processing device 258, the process proceeds to step 303. If it is determined that the information processing terminal is not directed, the process proceeds to step 301.

  The following techniques are listed as specific means for determining the orientation of the information processing terminal. That is, for example, a plurality of infrared light emitting elements are added to the information processing apparatus 258, and an infrared imaging element is added to the information processing terminal. Then, infrared rays are projected from the information processing device 258 to measure (determine) the distance and directivity between the information processing device 258 and the information processing terminal. This processing is an example of processing of the determination unit of the present invention.

  When the process proceeds to step 303, the information processing terminal is added to the priority determination target list. When the above steps are completed, the process proceeds to step 304. Next, in step 305, the priority determination unit 253 sorts the priority determination target list in the order from the closest distance between the information processing device 258 and the information processing terminal.

  In step 306, the priority determination unit 253 sets priority information for each information processing terminal in the sorted order. As a result, priority information indicating higher priority is set as the distance between the information processing device 258 and the information processing terminal is shorter. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 307 to end the present process. Step 306 is an example of processing of the first determining means of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the processing content determination unit 254. Hereinafter, each processing step will be described in order. When the process content determination unit 254 starts the process, the process starts from Step 400, and the process proceeds to Step 401. Step 401 is a start end of a loop executed for an information processing terminal having all priority information. If an information processing terminal to which the subsequent steps are not applied remains, the process proceeds to step 401, and if not, the process proceeds to step 404.

  In step 402, the processing content determination unit 254 determines the display size of the content data specified by the processing request information 282 based on the priority information 281. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the priority indicated by the priority information and the display size of the content data. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the relationship between the priority and the display size of the content data is determined such that the higher the priority indicated by the priority information, the larger the display size. Thus, a display size is assigned to each content data based on the priority indicated in the priority information. Step 402 is an example of processing of the second determining means of the present invention.

  Next, in step 403, the processing content determination unit 254 records the display size assigned to each content data in the memory 255, and returns to step 401, which is the loop start end. After the above-described processing is completed for the information processing terminals having all priority information, the process proceeds to step 404, which is the loop end, and the loop processing is terminated.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 405, where the processing content determination unit 254 generates a screen layout based on the above-described display size for information processing terminals having all priority information. More specifically, the processing content determination unit 254 arranges the content data specified by the processing request information 282 on the video display area of the video display device 259 with the display size recorded in step 403, and each information processing The display position of the content data for the terminal is determined. Next, in step 406, the processing content determination unit 254 outputs execution processing information 283 including content information, content display size information, and content display position information for information processing terminals having all priority information, and stores it on the memory 255. Record. Then, the process proceeds to step 407, and this process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the priority is determined for each information processing device according to the relationship between the information processing device 258 and each information processing terminal, and the information processing terminal determines the priority based on the priority. The processing contents of the information processing device 258 according to the control are determined. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically determine an appropriate priority according to the relationship between the information processing device 258 and each information processing terminal.

  In the above-described embodiment, priority is determined according to the distance from the information processing device 258 for requests from each information processing terminal, and content data requested from each information processing terminal is displayed in descending order of priority. It is made to display with. The processing according to the priority is not limited to changing the display size. For example, a higher priority content data is assigned a video display area that is considered to be easy to view for the user, or the output volume of the audio data included in the content data is set. Increasing the size is conceivable.

  Further, the relationship between each information processing terminal for determining the priority and the information processing device 258 is not limited to the distance, and the information processing terminal and the information processing device 258 can be widely used such as the direction of each information processing terminal with respect to the information processing device 258. The priority may be determined according to the positional relationship. Furthermore, the priority may be determined according to how much each information processing terminal is directed to the information processing device 258 (directivity). Thereby, it is possible to determine the priority in consideration of the directivity of each information processing terminal with respect to the information processing terminal 258.

  Further, a high priority may be determined for an information processing terminal existing in the same LAN as the information processing apparatus 258. In addition, a high priority may be determined for an information processing terminal having a certain process or operation history related to the information processing device 259. For example, an information processing terminal in which a process for using the information processing device 258 is executed, an information processing terminal that uses the information processing device 258 that is close in date and time, or an information processing terminal that frequently uses the information processing device 258 The higher the priority may be determined. Thus, in the present invention, the priority can be determined according to various relationships between each information processing terminal and the information processing apparatus.

  Each means and each step constituting the embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM, a ROM, or the like of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  Further, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  The present invention supplies a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Furthermore, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  As another method, a program read from a recording medium is first written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a priority determination part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a process content determination part. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the priority shown by priority information, and a content display size.

Explanation of symbols

200 Information processing terminal A
201 Information processing terminal B
202 Information processing terminal C
251 Terminal detection unit 252 Terminal information acquisition unit 253 Priority determination unit 254 Processing content determination unit 255 Memory 256 Video content database 257 Screen formation unit 258 Information processing device 259 Video display device 260 CPU
261 Wireless communication module 280 Terminal information 281 Priority information 282 Processing request information 283 Execution processing information 288 Content request signal 289 Content data 290 Video signal 291 Video window A
292 Video window B
293 video window C
294 terminal registration information

Claims (7)

Determining means for determining whether or not at least one external device capable of controlling the information processing device is directed to the information processing device ;
When the determination means determines that the external device is not directed to the information processing device, the external device is excluded from the priority determination target, and the determination device determines that the external device is directed to the information processing device. A priority determination target selection means for including the external device in a priority determination target,
First determination means for determining a priority for each external device based on a positional relationship between each external device included in the priority determination target and the information processing device by the priority determination target selection unit. When,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a second determination unit that determines a processing content according to control by each of the external devices based on the priority determined by the first determination unit. Further have a relationship determination means for determining to the respective external apparatuses the relationship of the use of the information processing apparatus,
The first determination unit determines a priority for each of the external devices based on a relationship relating to use of the information processing device determined by the relationship determination unit. The information processing apparatus according to 1. The relationship determination means determines whether each information processing device has a process related to the use of the information processing device as a relationship related to the use of the information processing device or the frequency of using the information processing device to each external device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus performs determination. It said second determination means, the contents of the output processing of the data requested from the external device, any claim 1 to 3, wherein the determining based on the priority determined by said determining means The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 . The second determining means sets at least one of the output size of the data, the output position of the data, and the output volume of the audio data included in the data to the priority determined by the determining means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing apparatus is determined based on the information processing apparatus. An information processing method by an information processing apparatus,
A determination step of determining whether or not at least one external device capable of controlling the information processing device is directed to the information processing device ;
When the determination step determines that the external device is not directed to the information processing device, the external device is excluded from priority determination targets, and the external device is directed to the information processing device by the determination step. A priority determination target selection step for including the external device in a priority determination target,
A first determination step of determining a priority for the external device based on a positional relationship between each of the external devices included in the priority determination target and the information processing device in the priority determination target selection step; ,
A second determination step of determining a processing content according to control by each of the external devices based on the priority determined in the first determination step. A program for causing a computer to execute an information processing method by an information processing apparatus,
A determination step of determining whether or not at least one external device capable of controlling the information processing device is directed to the information processing device ;
When the determination step determines that the external device is not directed to the information processing device, the external device is excluded from priority determination targets, and the external device is directed to the information processing device by the determination step. A priority determination target selection step for including the external device in a priority determination target,
A first determination step of determining a priority for the external device based on a positional relationship between each of the external devices included in the priority determination target and the information processing device in the priority determination target selection step; ,
A program for causing a computer to execute a second determination step of determining a processing content according to control by each external device based on the priority determined in the first determination step.

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