JP5242748B2 - Information processing apparatus and screen selection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that displays images on a plurality of screens and a screen selection method applied to the information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, computers having a function for managing a plurality of physically or logically set screens have become widespread. For example, a multi-display system that handles a plurality of display devices connected to one computer as if it were one display device is used. A virtual desktop system or the like that sets a plurality of virtual screens for one display device and switches and displays each of the plurality of virtual screens on the display device is also used.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-display system that displays a window on a display that is designated in advance for each application program in a multi-display system that manages a plurality of displays. In this multi-display system, a display used for display at the time of execution of the program is designated for each application program, and this information is stored as display selection information. When the application program is started, the window of the program is displayed on the display designated by the display selection information.

JP 2008-164988 A

  In the multi-display system of Patent Document 1, a screen for displaying a window of the application program is designated in advance for each of a plurality of application programs, so that the screen for specifying the window of the application program is specified when the application program is started. Can be displayed.

  However, when a new application program is added, it is necessary to perform an operation for adding display selection information for designating a screen for displaying the window. In order to display a window on a screen different from the screen specified by the display selection information, the display selection information is rewritten, or after the window is displayed on the screen, the window is moved to another screen. It is necessary to perform an operation. That is, in the multi-display system using the above-described display selection information, it is difficult to set a screen on which a window is displayed according to the usage status of each of a plurality of screens.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and provides an information processing apparatus and a screen selection method capable of reducing a burden on an operation for displaying a window on an arbitrary screen among a plurality of screens. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a screen layout information storage unit that stores screen layout information indicating a layout of a plurality of screens, and window generation that detects a window generation operation for generating a window. Gesture operation detection for detecting a gesture operation indicating a direction to a screen for displaying the window among the plurality of screens after the window generation operation is detected and before the window is displayed. Means for determining the screen on which the window is displayed based on the gesture operation and the screen layout information, and window display means for displaying the window on the determined screen. Features.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the burden concerning operation for displaying a window on arbitrary screens can be reduced among several screens.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a screen selection program which operates on the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. The conceptual diagram for demonstrating the example of the operation | movement of the screen selection performed using the screen selection program of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the example of the screen arrangement | positioning information used by the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows the example of operation which selects a screen from a some display apparatus using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows another example of operation which selects a screen from a some display apparatus using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows the other example of operation which selects a screen from a some display apparatus using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows another example of operation which selects a screen from a some display apparatus using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows the example of operation which selects a screen from several virtual screens using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows another example of operation which selects a screen from several virtual screens using the screen selection program of FIG. The figure which shows the other example of operation which selects a screen from several virtual screens using the screen selection program of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the example which selects a screen by operation which instruct | indicates a direction using the screen selection program of FIG. The conceptual diagram for demonstrating the example of window generation operation detected by the screen selection program of FIG. 3, and screen selection operation. The flowchart which shows the example of the procedure of the screen selection process performed by the screen selection program of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This information processing apparatus is realized as, for example, a notebook type personal computer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the computer 10 includes a computer main body 11 and a display unit 12. The display unit 12 incorporates a display device including an LCD (liquid crystal display) 17. The display unit 12 further incorporates a touch panel 14 so as to cover the surface of the LCD 17. The display unit 12 is attached to the computer main body 11 so as to be rotatable between an open position where the upper surface of the computer main body 11 is exposed and a closed position covering the upper surface of the computer main body 11. The display unit 12 also includes a camera module 115 above the LCD 17. The camera module 115 is used to photograph a user or the like who uses the computer 10 when the display unit 12 is in an open position where the upper surface of the computer main body 11 is exposed.

  The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped casing, and on the upper surface thereof, the keyboard 13, the input operation panel 15, the touch pad 16, the speakers 18A and 18B, and the computer 10 are turned on / off. The power button 19 and the like are arranged. Various operation buttons are provided on the input operation panel 15.

  Further, an external display connection terminal (not shown) corresponding to, for example, an HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) standard is provided on the back of the computer main body 11. This external display connection terminal is used to output a digital video signal to an external display.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the computer 10.
2, the computer 10 includes a CPU 101, a north bridge 102, a main memory 103, a south bridge 104, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 105, a VRAM (video RAM) 105A, a sound controller 106, a BIOS-ROM 107, It includes a LAN controller 108, a hard disk drive (HDD) 109, an optical disk drive (ODD) 110, a USB controller 111, a wireless LAN controller 112, an embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC) 113, an EEPROM 114, a camera module 115, and the like.

  The CPU 101 is a processor that controls the operation of the computer 10, and executes various programs such as an operating system (OS) 201 and a screen selection program 202 that are loaded from the HDD 109 to the main memory 103. The screen selection program 202 is software having a function of displaying a window on a selected screen among a plurality of display device screens (for example, dual display or multi-display) or a plurality of virtual screens (for example, virtual desktop). . In response to detecting an operation for generating a window, for example, an operation for starting an application or an operation for opening a file, the screen selection program 202 further performs an operation for selecting one screen from a plurality of screens. To detect. The screen selection program 202 also has a function of displaying an object indicating a screen candidate that can display a window. The CPU 101 also executes the BIOS stored in the BIOS-ROM 107. The BIOS is a program for hardware control.

  The north bridge 102 is a bridge device that connects the local bus of the CPU 101 and the south bridge 104. The north bridge 102 also includes a memory controller that controls access to the main memory 103. The north bridge 102 also has a function of executing communication with the GPU 105 via a PCI EXPRESS standard serial bus or the like.

  The GPU 105 is a display controller that controls the LCD 17 used as a display monitor of the computer 10. A display signal generated by the GPU 105 is sent to the LCD 17. The GPU 105 can also send a digital video signal to the external display device 1 via the HDMI control circuit 3 and the HDMI terminal 2.

  The HDMI terminal 2 is the aforementioned external display connection terminal. The HDMI terminal 2 can send an uncompressed digital video signal and a digital audio signal to the external display device 1 such as a television with a single cable. The HDMI control circuit 3 is an interface for sending a digital video signal to the external display device 1 called an HDMI monitor via the HDMI terminal 2.

The south bridge 104 controls each device on a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus and each device on a low pin count (LPC) bus. Further, the south bridge 104 includes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller for controlling the HDD 109 and the ODD 110. Further, the south bridge 104 has a function of executing communication with the sound controller 106.
The sound controller 106 is a sound source device, and outputs audio data to be reproduced to the speakers 18A and 18B or the HDMI control circuit 3.

  The LAN controller 108 is a wired communication device that executes IEEE 802.3 standard wired communication, for example, while the wireless LAN controller 112 is a wireless communication device that executes IEEE 802.11g standard wireless communication, for example. In addition, the USB controller 111 executes communication with an external device (connected via the USB connector 19) that supports, for example, the USB 2.0 standard. For example, the USB controller 111 detects an operation performed by the mouse 20 </ b> A connected via the USB connector 20. Then, the USB controller 111 transmits a control signal corresponding to the detected operation to the CPU 101 via the south bridge 104.

  The camera module 115 executes an imaging process using a built-in camera. For example, the camera module 115 generates image data using an image captured by a built-in camera, and executes communication for storing the image data in the main memory 103 or the HDD 109. Further, the camera module 115 supplies image data to various application programs such as the screen selection program 202.

  The EC / KBC 113 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard 13 and the touch pad 16 are integrated. The EC / KBC 113 has a function of turning on / off the computer 10 in accordance with the operation of the power button 19 by the user.

  Next, a functional configuration of the screen selection program 202 operating on the computer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The screen selection program 202 displays a window on a selected screen among a plurality of display device screens and a plurality of virtual screens. In an environment in which a plurality of screens are set in the computer 10 (for example, a multi-display environment or a virtual desktop environment), for example, the user starts an application program and displays the window of the application program on the operating screen. It is assumed that the window is moved to another screen for work. Such an operation of moving a window to another screen may be cumbersome for the user. The screen selection program 202 according to the present embodiment performs an operation for designating a screen for displaying a window before the window is displayed without causing the user to perform an operation for moving the displayed window to another screen. Detect and display a window on the screen specified by the detected operation. Accordingly, the user uses the screen selection program 202 to perform, for example, a series of operations including an operation (action) for starting an application program and an operation for designating a screen on which a window corresponding to the application program is to be displayed. A window can be displayed on an arbitrary screen simultaneously with the activation of the application program. The operation for designating the screen is, for example, an operation for instructing directions in which screens of a plurality of display devices and a plurality of virtual screens physically or logically exist.

  The screen selection program 202 includes a control unit 301, a window generation operation detection unit 302, a screen selection unit 303, a window generation unit 304, a window display unit 305, and the like. The control unit 301 controls the operation of each unit provided in the screen selection program 202.

  The window generation operation detection unit 302 detects an operation (window generation operation) for generating a window. The window generation operation detection unit 302 detects, for example, an operation for starting an application program and an operation for opening a file or directory associated with the application program. More specifically, the window generation operation detection unit 302 detects an operation of clicking an icon on the screen using the mouse 20A, the touch pad 16, the touch panel 14, or the like. The window generation operation is not limited to the above example, and may be any operation in which a window is generated in response to the operation and the window is displayed on the screen. The window generation operation detection unit 302 notifies the screen selection unit 303 that the window generation operation has been detected.

  The screen selection unit 303 includes a screen candidate display unit 303A, a selection operation detection unit 303B, and a selection screen determination unit 303C. The screen selection unit 303 reads the screen arrangement information 306 stored in the HDD 109 or the like. The screen arrangement information 306 includes information such as the number of screens such as screens of a plurality of display devices and a plurality of virtual screens, positions and sizes of the plurality of screens set in the computer 10. The screen layout information 306 can be managed by the OS and various programs. The screen layout information 306 can also be set by user input.

  The screen candidate display unit 303A acquires, from the screen arrangement information 306, information on a screen that can display a window generated in response to the window generation operation. Then, the screen candidate display unit 303A displays a plurality of objects representing each of the plurality of screens that can display the window on the screen being operated.

  The selection operation detection unit 303B detects an operation (screen selection operation) for selecting one screen from a plurality of screens that can display a window. For example, the selection operation detection unit 303B detects a screen selection operation in which the user selects an object corresponding to a screen on which a window is to be displayed from a plurality of objects displayed by the screen candidate display unit 303A. The selection operation detection unit 303B notifies the selection screen determination unit 303C of the detected screen selection operation.

  The selection screen determination unit 303C determines the screen on which the window is displayed based on the screen selection operation notified by the selection operation detection unit 303B and the screen arrangement information 306. For example, the selection screen determination unit 303C determines the screen corresponding to the object selected by the screen selection operation as a screen for displaying a window. The selection screen determination unit 303C notifies the window generation unit 304 that the screen for displaying the window has been determined. Further, the selection screen determination unit 303C transmits information indicating a screen for displaying a window to the window display unit 305.

  It should be noted that the selection operation detection unit 303B may detect a screen selection operation that instructs a screen on which a window is desired to be displayed according to a direction from a plurality of screens. In this case, the selection screen determination unit 303C determines, from among a plurality of screens that can display a window, a screen that is designated by the direction of the screen selection operation as a screen that displays the window.

  The window generation unit 304 generates a window corresponding to the window generation operation. The window generation unit 304 generates a window corresponding to the application program, for example, in response to an operation for starting the application program. In addition, for example, in response to an operation for opening a file associated with an application program, the window generation unit 304 generates a window corresponding to the application program associated with the file.

  The window display unit 305 displays the window generated by the window generation unit 304 on the screen determined by the selection screen determination unit 303C. Thereby, the screen selection program 202 can display the window generated according to the window generation operation on the screen specified by the screen selection operation among the screens of the plurality of display devices and the plurality of virtual screens. The screen selection program 202 shifts to a mode for detecting a screen selection operation with the detection of the window generation operation as a trigger. At that time, as described above, the screen selection program 202 may display an object representing a screen that can display a window and prompt the user to perform a screen selection operation.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the screen selection operation performed using the screen selection program 202. Here, a dual display environment in which the screens of two display devices are arranged on the left and right will be described as an example.

  First, the user performs an operation of opening a file corresponding to the icon, for example, by clicking the icon displayed on the screen with the mouse. In response to the operation of opening this file, the screen selection program 202 inquires of the user whether to display the window on the left or right screen. The screen selection program 202 displays an object representing a screen that can display a window around the clicked icon. As shown in FIG. 4, the displayed objects are, for example, a left arrow object and a right arrow object corresponding to each of the left and right screens that can display a window. The user responds to this inquiry with an operation (gesture, key input, etc.) for selecting a screen. Specifically, for example, the user selects a screen from the above-described objects by clicking on the object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed with the mouse 20A. Further, the user selects a screen by pressing a direction key on the keyboard 13 corresponding to a screen on which a window is to be displayed (for example, input of “←” key or “→” key). The screen selection program 202 displays a window on the screen selected by the screen selection operation by the user.

  As described above, the screen selection program 202 detects a window generation operation such as an operation for opening a file, and then detects a screen selection operation for selecting a screen for displaying a window. The screen selection program 202 displays a window corresponding to the window generation operation on the screen selected by the screen selection operation based on these two detected operations.

  Note that the screen set in the computer 10 is not limited to a screen of a plurality of display devices, and may be a plurality of virtual screens. The screen selection program 202 determines one screen for displaying a window using screen layout information 306 indicating the layout of a plurality of screens set in the computer 10. FIG. 5 shows an example of the screen arrangement information 306 used by the screen selection program 202.

  The screens 401 </ b> A of the plurality of display devices include, for example, a screen of the LCD 17 and a screen of the external display device 1. In this case, the screen arrangement information 401B includes information indicating that the screen of the LCD 17 is arranged on the left side and the screen of the external display device 1 is arranged on the right side. Therefore, the screen layout information 401B indicates, for example, that two screens configured by the screen of the LCD 17 and the screen of the external display device 1 are set in the computer 10 and the physical position and size of each screen. Contains information.

  Further, the plurality of virtual screens 402A are configured by, for example, four virtual screens. In this case, the screen arrangement information 402B is information indicating that the first virtual screen is arranged at the upper left, the second virtual screen at the upper right, the third virtual screen at the lower left, and the fourth virtual screen at the lower right. Including. Accordingly, the screen layout information 402B includes information indicating that, for example, four virtual screens are set in the computer 10, and the logical position and size of each screen. That is, the screen layout information 306 indicates the number of screens set in the computer 10 and the logical or physical positional relationship thereof. The screen layout information 306 can be managed by the OS and various programs.

  Next, an example of an operation for selecting one screen from the screens of a plurality of display devices using the screen selection program 202 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the screen of the LCD 17 and the screen of the external display device 1 are set in the computer 10.

  First, the screen selection program 202 detects an operation for starting an application program, for example. Specifically, the screen selection program 202 detects that an application program is activated by an operation of clicking an icon 501A displayed on the screen of the LCD 17, for example.

  Next, the screen selection program 202 displays objects 501B and 502A representing a screen on which a window 503 corresponding to the activated application program can be displayed on the screen being operated (here, the screen of the LCD 17). The object 501B is an object on which an emphasis display (circular dotted line) indicating that it is a mode for selecting a screen is performed on the icon 501A. The object 501B is also a candidate object for designating that the window 503 is displayed on the screen of the LCD 17 being operated. The object 502A is a candidate object for designating that the window 503 is displayed on the screen of the external display device 1. The user selects a candidate object corresponding to the screen on which the window 503 is to be displayed from these candidate objects 501B and 502A. For example, the user selects a candidate object corresponding to a screen on which the window 503 is to be displayed by clicking with the mouse.

  The screen selection program 202 determines a screen on which the window 503 is displayed in response to an operation of clicking a candidate object by the user. Here, it is assumed that the candidate object 502A is selected. In this case, the screen selection program 202 displays a window 503 on the screen of the external display device 1 corresponding to the candidate object 502A.

  As described above, the screen selection program 202 displays a plurality of objects representing each of a plurality of screens capable of displaying a window on the screen being operated, and displays a screen corresponding to the object selected from the plurality of objects. Display a window. 7 to 9 show another example of an operation for selecting a screen for displaying a window from the screens of a plurality of display devices. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, it is assumed that three screens including a screen of the LCD 17, a screen of the external display device 1, and a screen of the external display monitor 5 are set for the computer 10.

  In FIG. 7, the screen selection program 202 displays candidate objects 511, 512, and 513 indicating screens that can display windows in response to an operation of clicking an icon displayed on the screen of the LCD 17. On the screen. That is, a candidate object 511 indicating the screen of the external display device 1 is displayed on the left side, a candidate object 512 indicating the screen of the LCD 17 is displayed in the center, and a candidate object 513 indicating the screen of the external display monitor 5 is displayed on the right side. . The user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed from the candidate objects 511, 512, and 513.

  In FIG. 8, the screen selection program 202 operates candidate objects 521, 522, and 523 indicating screens that can display windows in response to an operation of clicking an icon displayed on the screen of the external display monitor 5. It is displayed on the screen of the external display monitor 5 inside. That is, a candidate object 521 indicating the screen of the external display device 1 is displayed on the left side, a candidate object 522 indicating the screen of the LCD 17 is displayed in the center, and a candidate object 523 indicating the screen of the external display monitor 5 is displayed on the right side. . The user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed from the candidate objects 521, 522, and 523.

  In FIG. 9, the screen selection program 202 displays candidate objects 531, 532, and 533 indicating screens that can display windows in response to an operation of clicking an icon displayed on the screen of the LCD 17, and the LCD 17 being operated. On the screen. That is, the left-pointed candidate object 531 indicating the screen on the left side of the screen of the LCD 17 being operated (the screen of the external display device 1) is displayed on the left side, and the candidate object 532 indicating the screen of the LCD 17 is displayed in the center. A right-pointing candidate object 533 indicating the screen on the right side of the screen of the LCD 17 (screen of the external display monitor 5) is displayed on the right side. The user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed from the candidate objects 531, 532, and 533. The operation for selecting the left and right screens (the screens of the external display devices 1 and 5) is not limited to the operation of clicking the candidate objects 531 and 533, but the direction using the mouse 20A, the touch panel 14, the touch pad 16, and the like. It may be a gesture operation shown. For example, instead of the operation of clicking the candidate object 531 representing the left arrow, an operation of sliding a finger from the right to the left on the touch panel 14 may be performed. Further, for example, instead of clicking the candidate object 533 representing the right arrow, an operation of sliding a finger from left to right on the touch pad 16 may be performed. Note that when selecting a screen by a gesture operation, the screen selection program 202 may not display a candidate object on the screen.

  10 to 12 show examples of operations for selecting a screen for displaying a window from a plurality of virtual screens. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12, it is assumed that four virtual screens 7 </ b> A, 7 </ b> B, 7 </ b> C, and 7 </ b> D are set in the computer 10.

  In FIG. 10, the screen selection program 202 is operating candidate objects 541, 542, 543, and 544 indicating screens that can display windows in response to an operation of clicking an icon displayed on the virtual screen 7A. Displayed on the virtual screen 7A. That is, the candidate object 541 indicating the virtual screen 7A is displayed on the upper left, the candidate object 542 indicating the virtual screen 7B is displayed on the upper right, the candidate object 543 indicating the virtual screen 7C is displayed on the lower left, and the candidate indicating the virtual screen 7D An object 544 is displayed at the lower right. The user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed from the candidate objects 541, 542, 543, and 544.

  In FIG. 11, the screen selection program 202 is operating the candidate objects 551, 552, 553, and 554 indicating screens that can display windows in response to an operation of clicking an icon displayed on the virtual screen 7A. Displayed on the virtual screen 7A. That is, the candidate object 551 indicating the virtual screen 7A being operated is displayed in the center, the candidate object 552 pointing to the right pointing to the virtual screen 7B is displayed to the right, and the candidate object pointing down to the virtual screen 7C 554 is displayed on the lower side, and a candidate object 553 with an arrow pointing downward to the right showing the virtual screen 7D is displayed on the lower right side. From these candidate objects 551, 552, 553, and 554, the user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed. The operation of selecting the virtual screens 7B, 7C, and 7D is not limited to the operation of clicking the candidate objects 552, 553, and 554, but the gesture operation indicating the direction using the mouse 20A, the touch panel 14, the touch pad 16, and the like. It may be. For example, instead of the operation of clicking the candidate object 552 representing the right arrow, an operation of sliding a finger from left to right on the touch panel 14 may be performed. Further, for example, instead of the operation of clicking the candidate object 553 representing the lower right arrow, an operation of sliding a finger from the upper left to the lower right on the touch pad 16 may be performed.

  In FIG. 12, the screen selection program 202 operates candidate objects 562, 563, 564, and 565 indicating screens that can display a window in response to an operation in which the icon 561 displayed on the virtual screen 7A is clicked. Displayed on the middle virtual screen 7A. In other words, for the icon 561 displayed in the center, a candidate object 562 pointing upwards with an arrow pointing to the upper left indicating the virtual screen 7A being operated is displayed on the upper left side, and a candidate object pointing upwards with an arrow pointing upwards indicating the virtual screen 7B. 563 is displayed on the upper right side, a lower left arrow candidate object 564 indicating the virtual screen 7C is displayed on the lower left side, and a lower right arrow candidate object 565 indicating the virtual screen 7D is displayed on the lower right side. The From these candidate objects 562, 563, 564, and 565, the user selects an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed. Note that, as described in FIG. 11 and the like, the operation for selecting the virtual screens 7A to 7D may be a gesture operation indicating a direction using the mouse 20A, the touch panel 14, the touch pad 16, or the like. When a gesture operation indicating a direction or the like is input, the screen selection program 202 determines a screen on which a window is displayed based on the instructed direction and the screen layout information 306.

  FIG. 13 shows an example in which a screen for displaying a window is determined based on the instructed direction 562 and the screen layout information 306. Here, it is assumed that four virtual screens 7 </ b> A to 7 </ b> D are set in the computer 10. Therefore, the screen arrangement information 306 includes information indicating the arrangement of the four virtual screens 7A to 7D. When the input in the direction 562 is detected, the screen selection program 202 determines the virtual screen 7A that is estimated to be most appropriate as a screen for displaying a window based on the direction 562 and the screen arrangement information 306. When there is no appropriate screen or when an input of direction cannot be detected, a window is displayed on a predetermined screen (for example, a screen being operated).

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a window generation operation and a screen selection operation detected by the screen selection program 202. As described above, the screen selection program 202 detects window generation operations such as an operation for starting an application program and an operation for opening a file or folder. For the window generation operation, a click using the mouse 20A, a command input using the keyboard 13 or the like, an input by a gesture using the camera module 115 or the like, an input by voice using a microphone (not shown), a program (launcher or the like) ) Or the like can be used.

  The screen selection program 202 detects a screen selection operation such as an operation for selecting an object indicating a screen on which a window can be displayed and an operation for instructing a direction. For the screen selection operation, the movement of the pointing device such as the mouse 20A, the touch panel 14, and the touch pad 16, the input by the keyboard 13, the input by characters, the input by voice using the microphone, the input by various sensors, the camera module 115, etc. are used. Input using gestures can be used.

  The screen selection program 202 detects the screen selection operation using the detection of the window generation operation as a trigger (shifts to a mode for detecting the screen selection operation). The screen selection program 202 determines a screen to display a window based on a screen selection operation and screen layout information 306 indicating the number of screens and their physical / logical positional relationship. Then, the screen selection program 202 displays a window corresponding to the window generation operation on the screen determined based on the screen selection operation.

Next, an example of the procedure of the screen selection process executed by the screen selection program 202 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the screen selection program 202 detects an operation (window generation operation) for generating a window (step S101). When the window generation operation is detected (YES in step S101), the screen selection program 202 displays a plurality of objects representing each of the plurality of screens that can display the window on the screen in operation (step S102).

  Next, the screen selection program 202 detects an operation (screen selection operation) for selecting one object from a plurality of objects indicating each of the plurality of screens (step S103). When a screen selection operation is detected (YES in step S103), the screen selection program 202 refers to the screen arrangement information 306 and changes the screen corresponding to this screen selection operation to a window display window (window display screen). Determine (step S104). When the screen selection operation is not detected (NO in step S103), the screen selection program 202 determines the screen being operated as the window display screen (step S105).

  Next, the screen selection program 202 generates a window corresponding to the window generation operation detected in step S101 (step S106). Then, the screen selection program 202 displays the generated window on the window display screen determined in step S104 or step S105 (step S107).

  Through the above processing, the screen selection program 202 can display the window generated according to the window generation operation on the screen specified by the screen selection operation among the screens of the plurality of display devices or the plurality of virtual screens. it can. Therefore, the user does not need to perform an operation of moving the window to another screen in order to display the window displayed on the screen being operated on another screen. The burden on the operation for displaying the window can be reduced. Further, the user can select an object corresponding to the screen on which the window is to be displayed from a plurality of objects representing each of the plurality of screens on which the window can be displayed, or the screen on which the window is to be displayed is physically or logically selected. A screen for displaying a window is selected by an operation for instructing an existing direction. Since such a screen selection operation can be performed using the mouse 20A, the touch panel 14, or the like, the user can select a screen for displaying a window with an intuitive and simple operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce a burden on an operation for displaying a window on an arbitrary screen among a plurality of screens. In response to detecting a window generation operation such as activation of an application program, the screen selection program 202 detects a screen selection operation for selecting a screen for displaying a window generated by the window generation operation. Then, the screen selection program 202 displays a window generated according to the window generation operation on a screen designated by the screen selection operation among the screens of the plurality of display devices and the plurality of virtual screens. As a result, for example, when starting an application program, the user can select a window at the same time as the application program is started without performing a troublesome task of moving the window to another arbitrary screen after the window is displayed on the screen. Can be displayed on the screen.

  Note that the entire screen selection processing procedure of the present embodiment can be executed by software. For this reason, it is possible to easily realize the same effect as that of the present embodiment simply by installing and executing this program on a normal computer through a computer-readable storage medium storing the program for executing the screen selection processing procedure. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  202 ... Screen selection program, 301 ... Control unit, 302 ... Window generation operation detection unit, 303 ... Screen selection unit, 303A ... Screen candidate display unit, 303B ... Selection operation detection unit, 303C ... Selection screen determination unit, 304 ... Window generation Part, 305... Window display part, 306.

Claims (10)

Screen layout information storage means for storing screen layout information indicating the layout of a plurality of screens;
Window generation operation detection means for detecting a window generation operation for generating a window;
Gesture operation detection means for detecting a gesture operation indicating a direction to a screen for displaying the window among the plurality of screens before the window is displayed after the window generation operation is detected;
Screen determining means for determining a screen to display the window based on the gesture operation and the screen layout information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: window display means for displaying the window on the determined screen.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gesture operation is a movement that is input by using a pointing device and that slides in a direction toward a screen that displays the window. The plurality of screens are screens of a plurality of display devices,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen arrangement information includes information indicating an arrangement of screens of the plurality of display devices. The plurality of screens are a plurality of virtual screens;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen layout information includes information indicating a logical layout of the plurality of virtual screens. The window is a window corresponding to an application program,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the window generation operation detection unit detects an operation for starting the application program. The window is a window corresponding to an application program associated with the file;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the window generation operation detection unit detects an operation of opening the file. A window generation operation detection step for detecting a window generation operation for generating a window;
A gesture operation detection step of detecting a gesture operation indicating a direction to a screen for displaying the window among a plurality of screens before the window is displayed after the window generation operation is detected;
A screen determining step for determining a screen for displaying the window based on the gesture operation and screen layout information indicating the layout of the plurality of screens;
And a window display step for displaying the window on the determined screen.   The screen selection method according to claim 7, wherein the gesture operation is a movement that is input using a pointing device and slides in a direction toward a screen that displays the window. A procedure for executing window generation operation detection processing for detecting a window generation operation for generating a window;
A procedure for executing a gesture operation detection process for detecting a gesture operation indicating a direction to a screen for displaying the window among a plurality of screens before the window is displayed after the window generation operation is detected; ,
A procedure for executing a screen determination process for determining a screen on which to display the window based on the gesture operation and screen layout information indicating the layout of the plurality of screens;
A program for causing a computer to execute a window display process for displaying the window on the determined screen.   The program according to claim 9, wherein the gesture operation is a movement that is input using a pointing device and slides in a direction toward a screen that displays the window.

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