JP5864909B2 - Display control apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control device and a control method thereof.

  Currently, a projector is known as a display control device. Some projectors include a plurality of input terminals such as analog PC input, video input, HDMI (registered trademark) input, and LAN input. When projecting an image using such a projector, the user selects an input terminal for inputting an image to be displayed from menu items indicating input terminals such as analog PC input, video input, HDMI input, and LAN input. It is common to choose. In addition, a picture-in-picture (PinP) function and a picture-by-picture (PbyP) (picture-out-picture (PoutP)) function, which are functions for simultaneously displaying videos input from a plurality of input terminals, are provided. A projector having the same is also known.

  By the way, when the LAN input terminal is used, it is possible to simultaneously input images output from a plurality of video output devices toward the projector from the LAN input terminal. Patent Document 1 discloses that in such a case, a projector displays a plurality of images received via a network in a multi-screen, whereby each image is simultaneously displayed in a divided display area.

JP 2004-054134 A

  When a plurality of videos are displayed on multiple screens as in Patent Document 1, the display size per video is reduced. Therefore, when a large number of videos are input simultaneously from the LAN input terminal, the display size per video is extremely small, and the visibility of the video may be reduced. When the video input from the LAN input terminal using the PinP function is displayed on the sub-screen or when the PbyP function is used, the video input from the LAN input terminal is displayed only in a part of the display area. I can't. Therefore, the display size per video is further reduced, and the visibility of the video may be further reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing a decrease in visibility when displaying a plurality of image contents input simultaneously.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a display control apparatus including an input interface capable of simultaneously inputting a plurality of image contents, and the image contents input from the input interface When a plurality of image contents are simultaneously input from the display control means to be displayed on the display area and the input interface, a plurality of pieces obtained by dividing a predetermined display area of the display means into the number of the plurality of image contents Acquisition means for acquiring the number of pixels per divided area, and when the number of pixels is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the display control means causes the plurality of image contents to be displayed simultaneously on the plurality of divided areas, and when the number of pixels is less than the threshold value, the table, wherein the benzalkonium be displayed in time division the plurality of image contents prior Symbol predetermined display area To provide a control device.

  Other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description of the preferred embodiments.

  With the above configuration, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility when displaying a plurality of image contents input simultaneously.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a projector 100 according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of GUI for input I / F selection Conceptual diagram of display settings held by projector 100 Conceptual diagram of the projection screen corresponding to the display setting of FIG. Conceptual diagram showing an image actually displayed corresponding to the display setting of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process for suppressing the fall of the visibility at the time of displaying the several image content input simultaneously performed by the projector 100 Conceptual diagram of display setting of the time division display mode set in S604 of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the image actually displayed corresponding to the display setting of FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technical scope of the present invention is determined by the claims, and is not limited by the following individual embodiments. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the present invention.

  In the following embodiments, a projector will be described as an example of the display control apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to a projector, and can be applied to any display control device (for example, a display having a LAN input terminal) including an input interface (input I / F) capable of inputting a plurality of image contents simultaneously. . The “input I / F” referred to here may be any type of input I / F as long as image content can be input. For example, HDMI that can input one image content and disk I / F that can simultaneously input a plurality of image files from a hard disk drive (HDD) are also included in the input I / F.

  Further, the image content input to the display control device may be a still image content or a moving image content unless otherwise specified. In this specification, the term “image data” generally represents data representing an image, and the term “image content” refers to a series of images (or images) input to a specific input I / F of a projector. (Data) is used to express distinction.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a projector 100 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, first, the control unit 110 includes a CPU and a memory, or a microcomputer chip, and controls each functional block of the projector 100. The operation unit 120 receives a user instruction. The bus 130 is a transmission path for sending image data, control signals, and the like to each functional block of the projector 100.

  The recording medium control unit 140 reads image content recorded on the recording medium 141, other data, and the like. Here, the recording medium 141 may be any type of recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a semiconductor memory as long as it can record image content and the like. Type recording medium.

  The image input unit 150 receives (inputs) image content from an external device such as a personal computer (PC), a camera, or a mobile phone. The image input unit 150 includes, for example, an RGB terminal, a video terminal, a D terminal, an HDMI terminal, a DisplayPort terminal, and the like, and can receive image content via these terminals.

  The communication unit 160 is for receiving image content and control signals from an external device such as a PC, a camera, or a mobile phone. The communication unit 160 can perform communication using, for example, a wireless / wired LAN, USB, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. Further, if the terminal of the image input unit 150 is, for example, an HDMI terminal, the communication unit 160 can perform CEC communication via the HDMI terminal.

  The image processing unit 170 changes the number of pixels, the number of frames, and the image shape of image data sent from the control unit 110, the recording medium control unit 140, the image input unit 150, the communication unit 160, and the like. The image processing unit 170 performs a decoding process when the transmitted image data is compressed. Further, the image processing unit 170 also performs a process of blending the image data transmitted from each of the above units into one image data. The projection control unit 180 includes a liquid crystal panel, a light source, a lens, and the like, and performs light amount control of the light source, display image formation for output to the liquid crystal panel, lens drive control, and the like.

  Here, a typical operation of the projector 100 will be described. When the user turns on the projector 100 using the operation unit 120 or a remote controller (not shown), power is supplied to each unit of the projector 100 from the power supply unit (not shown).

  Subsequently, the user selects an input I / F for inputting image content to be displayed, using the operation unit 120 or a remote controller (not shown). For example, the operation unit 120 includes an input I / F selection button. When the user presses this button, the control unit 110 generates a GUI for selecting an input I / F and performs image processing as OSD image data. To the unit 170. The image processing unit 170 blends the OSD image data with the top surface of the display image data and transmits the blended image data to the projection control unit 180. After performing the display image forming process based on the blended image data, the projection control unit 180 projects an image on which the OSD image 210 is superimposed on the projection screen 200 as shown in FIG.

  A GUI for selecting an input I / F generally has a configuration in which menu items indicating connection terminals such as “analog PC”, “video”, “HDMI”, “DisplayPort”, and the like are arranged and a user can select from the menu items. . In the present embodiment, in addition to these image transmission connection terminals, a network connection terminal (LAN) and a built-in storage are also arranged in the same row to allow the user to select with a common GUI.

  Specifically, as shown in the OSD image 210 of FIG. 2, the selectable input I / F items are “analog PC”, “video”, “HDMI”, “LAN”, and “built-in storage”. There are five types. Here, “analog PC”, “video”, and “HDMI” correspond to the RGB terminal, the video terminal, and the HDMI terminal included in the image input unit 150, respectively. “LAN” corresponds to a LAN terminal included in the communication unit 160, and “built-in storage” corresponds to the recording medium control unit 140. The user can select an input I / F for inputting image content to be displayed by operating the operation unit 120 or a remote controller (not shown) while viewing the OSD image 210 projected on the projection screen 200.

  Further, the projector 100 causes the image processing unit 170 to display PbyP (PoutP) or PinP display of image content from two input systems (for example, the HDMI terminal of the image input unit 150 and the recording medium control unit 140). It is possible. In the case of PbyP display, the user selects an image content input I / F to be displayed on the left side and an image content input I / F to be displayed on the right side using the OSD image 210. Further, in the case of PinP display, the user selects an input I / F for image content to be displayed on the back side and an input I / F for image content to be displayed on the front side based on the OSD image 210. Further, the OSD image 210 may be configured such that the size of a display area for displaying each image content can be set.

  By such an operation via the OSD image 210, the user can set the input I / F and display mode of the image content displayed on the projection screen 200. This display setting is recorded in the control unit 110. Based on this display setting, the control unit 110 instructs the image input unit 150 and the communication unit 160 to receive image data, and instructs the recording medium control unit 140 to read out image data. Further, the control unit 110 instructs the image processing unit 170 to adjust the number of pixels of the image data according to the display area size. Further, when PbyP display or PinP display is selected, or when the communication unit 160 receives a plurality of image contents simultaneously from the LAN terminal, the control unit 110 transmits a plurality of image contents to the image processing unit 170. Also instruct the blend processing of the image data corresponding to.

  For example, when “HDMI” is selected in the OSD image 210, the control unit 110 instructs the image input unit 150 to receive an input from the HDMI terminal. Here, it is assumed that the HDMI terminal is connected to an HDMI terminal of an image output device (not shown) such as a PC, and image data output from the PC is input. The image data received by the image input unit 150 is transmitted to the image processing unit 170 under the control of the control unit 110. The image processing unit 170 adjusts the number of pixels, the number of frames, and the shape of the image data, and transmits the processed image to the projection control unit 180 under the control of the control unit 110. The projection control unit 180 adjusts the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel based on the received image, causes the liquid crystal panel to form an image, and causes the light source to emit light. The amount of light from the light source is controlled by an image formed on the liquid crystal panel and input to the lens. The light beam projected from the lens is projected on a screen (not shown). In this way, the image data received from the image input unit 150 is projected on the screen.

  Alternatively, when “Built-in storage” is selected in the OSD image 210, the control unit 110 causes the recording medium control unit 140 to execute control to read image data corresponding to the designated image file from the recording medium 141. Then, the read image data is transmitted to the image processing unit 170 and reproduced under the control of the control unit 110. Thereafter, the image data is projected onto the screen, as in the case of “HDMI” described above.

  When “LAN” is selected in the OSD image 210, the control unit 110 receives image data (still image file, moving image file, moving image data stream data, etc.) from the LAN terminal to the communication unit 160. To instruct. Here, a PC having a function of transmitting image data is connected to the LAN to which the projector 100 is connected, and the image data is transmitted from the PC to the projector 100 via the LAN. To do. In the case of a still image file or a moving image file, the image data received by the communication unit 160 is recorded on the recording medium 141 or other recording medium under the control of the control unit 110. Then, the control unit 110 controls the image processing unit 170 to reproduce the still image of the still image data of the still image file or to reproduce the moving image of the moving image data of the moving image file. Regarding the stream data, the image processing unit 170 sequentially reproduces the image of the frame every time it receives data capable of decoding one frame or a predetermined number of frames of the moving image under the control of the control unit 110. . Thereafter, as in the case of “HDMI” described above, the image data received from the LAN terminal is projected onto the screen.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, recording and management of display settings instructed via the OSD image 210 of FIG. 2 will be described. In addition, a projection screen corresponding to the display setting of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the image display size indicates the size on the display screen assigned to the display target (selected input I / F), and indicates the size when the input image content is input. It is not a thing.

  FIG. 3A shows display settings when “HDMI” is selected in the OSD image 210. This display setting is stored in the control unit 110 and can be changed by a user operation. When each item is described, the display target 301 indicates an item selected in the OSD image 210. The image display size 302 indicates which area within the display area size that can be displayed by the projector 100 is assigned to display of image data corresponding to the display target 301. Here, a case where the resolution of the liquid crystal panel of the projector 100 is set to WUXGA (1920 × 1200) is taken as an example. When displaying only one image content, the entire display area of the liquid crystal panel can be assigned to display the image content of the HDMI terminal, so that “x = 0, y = 0, width = 1920, height = 1200” (unit : Pixel). Next, the image source number 303 indicates the number of image contents input from the HDMI terminal. In this item, “1” is set for an analog PC terminal, a video terminal, an HDMI terminal, and the like that accept only one image content at a time for one physical connection terminal. As shown in an example described later, when “LAN” or “built-in storage” is selected as a display target, the number of image sources can have a value of 2 or more. This is because, for example, if there is a LAN terminal, even if there is only one physical connection terminal, if there are multiple image output devices on the network (or one image output device can simultaneously send multiple image contents) This is because a plurality of image contents can be received simultaneously. In this case, the projector 100 can combine a plurality of image contents received from the LAN terminal and display them as a single image in the display area assigned to the LAN terminal.

  In the following description, the LAN terminal of the communication unit 160 and the recording medium control unit 140 are given as input I / Fs capable of inputting a plurality of image contents simultaneously. However, such input I / Fs are not limited to this. . For example, BlueTooth or USB can be used as an input I / F that can input a plurality of image contents simultaneously.

  FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram of a projection screen corresponding to the display setting of FIG. FIG. 4A shows an area that can be used for the projector 100 to display the image data associated with the HDMI terminal. The size of the actually displayed image is adjusted according to the size of the image data received by the HDMI terminal, the display mode of the image data set by the user using the operation unit 120 or a remote controller (not shown), the aspect ratio, and the like. Therefore, the display area size shown in FIG. 4A may not match the size of the actually displayed image. For example, the size of the image data received by the HDMI terminal is XGA (1024 × 768), and the display mode set by the user means that the image data is enlarged while maintaining the aspect ratio up to the usable area. Consider the case of “Auto”. In this case, the actually displayed image is a display image 500 obtained by enlarging a 1024 × 768 image up to 1600 × 1200, as shown in FIG. If the display mode set by the user is “dot-by-dot”, which means that the received image data is displayed in the same size, the actually displayed image is shown in FIG. ) As shown. That is, the actually displayed image is a display image 510 in which an image of 1024 × 768 is displayed as it is.

  FIG. 3B shows display settings when “HDMI” and “LAN” are selected in the OSD image 210 and PbyP display is designated. When displaying two image contents such as PbyP, there are two items according to the number of display objects. The projection screen corresponding to this display setting is as shown in FIG. 4B. According to the display setting, the display area of the image content associated with the HDMI terminal on the left side and the image content associated with the LAN terminal on the right side. Display area is arranged.

  FIG. 3C shows display settings when “HDMI” and “Built-in storage” are selected in the OSD image 210 and PinP display is designated. Also in this case, each item becomes two according to the number of display objects, as in FIG. The projection screen corresponding to this display setting is as shown in FIG. 4C. According to the display setting, the display area of the image content associated with the HDMI terminal on the back is the image content associated with the LAN terminal on the front. Display area is arranged.

  FIG. 3D shows display settings when “LAN” is selected in the OSD image 210 and four image contents are simultaneously input from the LAN terminal. Here, since the image content associated with the LAN terminal is displayed, the display target 301 is “LAN”. The image display size 302 displays “x = 0, y = 0, width = 1920, height = 1200” (unit: pixel) in order to display only the image content associated with the LAN terminal, as in FIG. ). The number of image sources 303 is “4” because the number of image contents simultaneously input from the LAN terminal is four. As described above, when the number of image sources 303 is 2 or more, the items of the image source ID 304 and the divided display size 305 are used to manage each image content and set where to display in the image display size 302. Is set additionally. The image source ID 304 is an ID assigned to each image output apparatus that has transmitted the image content. Here, it is assumed that image data is received from four image output apparatuses, and the image source ID 304 is “1 to 4”. The divided display size 305 is an item indicating in which area the image content from each image output device corresponding to the image source ID 304 is displayed, and is set here so that the four image contents are displayed equally. ing. The projection screen corresponding to this setting is as shown in FIG. 4D. According to the display setting, a plurality of image contents constituting the image data associated with the LAN terminal are arranged and displayed in equal areas. The

  The basic image data projection processing in the projector 100 of the present embodiment, the display setting management method when projecting each image data, and the projection screen according to the display settings have been described above.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a process for suppressing a reduction in visibility when displaying a plurality of image contents input simultaneously will be described. The processing in FIG. 6 is executed when the projector 100 displays image content corresponding to the input I / F selected by the OSD image 210. When a plurality of input I / Fs are selected and PbyP display or PinP display is designated, the processing in FIG. 6 is executed for each image content corresponding to each input I / F. The processing in each step of FIG. 6 is realized by the control unit 110 executing the control program unless otherwise specified.

  In step S601, the control unit 110 determines whether the number of image sources of the input I / F to be displayed is two or more. Here, if the display target is “LAN”, the number of image sources is the number of image sources at the LAN terminal of the communication unit 160 or the number of image output devices (image files (still image files, moving image files, or streams)). Data) is calculated. Physically, even if one image output device is outputting two or more image contents, the image output devices are counted as the number of image contents being output. If the display target is “built-in storage”, the number of image sources is calculated according to how many image data (still image file or moving image file) the recording medium control unit 140 has instructed to display is read. Is done. When the display target corresponds to an input I / F that can receive only one image content such as “HDMI”, the number of image sources is always one. If the number of image sources is two or more, the process proceeds to S602; otherwise, the process proceeds to S609.

  In step S602, the control unit 110 displays the display area corresponding to the display target input I / F based on the image display size corresponding to the display target input I / F and the number of image sources acquired in step S601. An image display size (divided display size) (number of pixels) per one of a plurality of divided regions obtained by dividing into numbers is calculated. As described above, the image display size assigned to the input I / F to be displayed is a value set by the user and recorded in the control unit 110. For example, when the display setting from the first user is PbyP display of “HDMI” and “LAN” as shown in FIG. 4B, the image display size of “LAN” is 1920 × If it is 1200, it is 960 × 1200. Here, if the number of image sources of “LAN” is 2, the divided display size is 480 × 1200 when two images are arranged horizontally, and 960 × when two images are arranged vertically. 600. Note that the division form is set in the projector 100 in advance. Further, the control unit 110 may acquire the image display size stored in advance in association with the display setting, instead of calculating the image display size of the divided area each time.

  In S603, the control unit 110 determines whether or not each divided display size calculated (acquired) in S602 is less than a predetermined size (threshold). If it is less than the threshold, the process proceeds to S604, and if it is greater than or equal to the threshold, the process proceeds to S608.

  Here, the predetermined size indicates a size sufficient to display one image content. This value may be set as a fixed value in the projector 100 in advance. For example, if the predetermined size is 960 × 600 and the divided display size is 480 × 1200 as described above, the determination in S603 is YES because the horizontal width is smaller than the horizontal width of the predetermined size. Further, the value of the predetermined size may be determined so as to adaptively change according to the image display size. For example, if the image display size of the entire display area corresponding to the LAN terminal is 1920 × 1200, the predetermined size is ¼ × 960 × 600, and if the image display size is 1024 × 768, the predetermined size is It is good also as 1/4 of 512x384. Further, instead of directly comparing the divided display size and the predetermined size in S603, the control unit 110 defines the maximum number of image contents that allow multi-screen display for various divided display sizes, and determines the number of image sources. You may compare with this maximum number. When the number of image sources exceeds the maximum number, the control unit 110 determines that “the divided display size is less than a predetermined size”.

  In step S604, the control unit 110 sets the display mode of the image content corresponding to the input I / F to be displayed to a time division display mode that is one form of the special display mode. Here, a case is considered where “HDMI” and “LAN” are selected as display targets and PbyP display is designated. The display setting in this case is as shown in FIG. 7, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the number of image sources corresponding to “LAN” is two. In the time division display mode, unlike the multi-screen display mode (see FIG. 3D), the value of the division display size 305 corresponding to each image source ID 304 is the value of the image display size 302 corresponding to “LAN”. Same as value. Then, a display time 706 that is an item indicating the time for displaying the image content corresponding to each image source ID 304 is added to the display setting. The control unit 110 first transmits the image content corresponding to the image source ID 1 to the image processing unit 170 according to the display settings set in this way. Then, the control unit 110 instructs the image processing unit 170 to display an image in the divided area corresponding to the value set for the divided display size 305. Then, the control unit 110 performs control so that this display is continued for a time set by the display time 706 (for example, 3 seconds). Through the above processing, the projection screen shown in FIG. After the elapse of 3 seconds, the control unit 110 performs the same control on the image content corresponding to the image source ID 2 and continues displaying the image content for the time set in the display time 706. Through the above processing, the projection screen shown in FIG. 8B is projected by the projector 100. In this way, the control unit 110 realizes time-division display by changing the image content to be displayed at each time set by the display time 706 and displaying a plurality of image contents in order.

  Note that the display time 706 may be a fixed value or a fluctuating value determined according to the importance of the image content. Here, the importance is, for example, the size (number of pixels) at the time of input of the image content, the order in which the input from a specific image content input I / F (for example, a LAN terminal) among a plurality of image contents, and the image This is determined based on the content update frequency. With such a configuration, it is possible to take a configuration in which image content with a high update frequency among a plurality of image contents is displayed for a longer (or shorter) time. If it is the size at the time of input, the larger (or smaller) one is important. If it is the input order, the image content input later (or earlier) is important. Or, rarely) image content that is updated is important.

  It supplements about update frequency. An application for transmitting a display screen as a still image on the network is installed on the PC, and this application transmits a still image on the network whenever there is an update on the screen. The projector 100 can receive and display such still images. Here, consider a case where the projector 100 receives still images from two such PCs via a LAN. PCs that are frequently operated will frequently transmit still images, but PCs that are not frequently operated will transmit still images only infrequently. When the projector 100 receives still images from two such PCs via a LAN, the projector 100 can display a still image transmitted from the PC with the higher update frequency for a long time.

  In S604, the control unit 110 sets the display mode to the time division display mode. However, the control unit 110 may set the display mode to a representative image display mode, which is another form of the special display mode. The representative image display mode is a display mode in which only one (representative image) of a plurality of image contents is always displayed. Also in this case, it is possible to select a representative image according to the above-described importance. For example, the image content having the highest importance is selected as the representative image.

  In step S <b> 605, the control unit 110 determines whether communication with an image content transmission source device (for example, an image output device that outputs image content toward the LAN terminal of the communication unit 160) is possible. If communication is possible, the process proceeds to S606; otherwise, the process proceeds to S607. For example, if the display target is “LAN”, communication with an image output device such as a PC is possible, so the determination result in S606 is YES. If the display target is “built-in storage”, since there is no equivalent to the image output device, the determination result in S606 is NO. However, even if the display target is “built-in storage”, the reading of the image content from the recording medium 141 can be controlled by the control of the recording medium control unit 140, and therefore the determination result may be regarded as “YES”.

  In step S606, the control unit 110 transmits a control command to the image output apparatus via the communication unit 160 (when the display target is “LAN”). If the special display mode is the time-division display mode, the control command includes an instruction for reducing the output rate of the image data to the image output apparatus. The reduction rate of the output rate may be determined according to the number of image contents being displayed in time division. This is because the larger the number of image contents, the shorter the relative display time per image content, so that even if the output rate is lowered, the transfer of the image contents is in time. Lowering the output rate also contributes to network bandwidth reduction. On the other hand, when the special display mode is the representative image display mode, the control command includes an instruction to stop output other than the image content selected as the representative image. Note that the image content whose input has been stopped as a result of this control command is still handled as the image content being input in the processing of S601 and the like. In other words, even if transmission other than the image content selected as the representative image is stopped, the number of image sources of the display target “LAN” does not decrease.

  In step S <b> 607, the control unit 110 determines whether the projection display of the projector 100 is stopped according to an instruction from the user. If it has been stopped, the processing of this flowchart ends. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S610.

  In step S608, the control unit 110 updates the display setting so that a plurality of image contents corresponding to the input I / F to be displayed are simultaneously displayed in a plurality of divided areas. The control unit 110 transmits all of the plurality of image contents input from the LAN terminal of the communication unit 160 or the recording medium control unit 140 to the image processing unit 170 according to the display setting. Then, under the control of the control unit 110, the image processing unit 170 arranges a plurality of image contents so as to fit in a predetermined divided area. With the above processing, the control unit 110 realizes the multi-screen display mode, and the processing proceeds to S607.

  In S609, since there is only one image content, the control unit 110 performs display setting so that the image content is displayed in the entire predetermined display area corresponding to the input I / F to be displayed. The control unit 110 transmits one input image content to the image processing unit 170 according to the display setting, and the image processing unit 170 arranges the image content so as to fall within a predetermined display area. For example, the display of the “HDMI” portion on the left side of FIGS. 8A and 8B is realized by the processing of S609. With the above processing, the control unit 110 realizes the single screen display mode, and the processing proceeds to S607.

  Note that if control is performed on the transmission source in S606, the control unit 110 cancels this control if the display mode is changed from the special display mode to the multi-screen display mode or the single-screen display mode in S608 and S609. To do.

  In step S610, the control unit 110 determines whether a change in the number of image sources corresponding to the display target input I / F or a change in the image display size corresponding to the display target input I / F has occurred. The determination of whether or not the change in the number of image sources has occurred can be realized by the same processing as in S601. The determination as to whether or not a change in the image display size has occurred can be realized by confirming the presence or absence of an instruction to change the image display size from the operation unit 120 or a remote controller (not shown). If there is no change in either the number of image sources or the image display size, the control unit 110 continues the display mode set in S604, S608, or S609. If there is a change in the number of image sources or the image display size, the process proceeds to S601, and the control unit 110 performs the same process again to determine the display mode. In other words, when the number of image contents input from the input I / F to be displayed changes, the control unit 110 acquires the divided display size (number of pixels) again, and the display mode is set accordingly. In addition, when the entire or part of the display area is set to the image display size 302 (see FIG. 7) as the predetermined display area corresponding to the input I / F to be displayed, the control unit 110 again displays the divided display. The size (number of pixels) is acquired, and the display mode is set accordingly.

  Here, the situation when the number of image sources changes and the case where the image display size changes will be described. First, when the number of image sources changes, for example, when “LAN” is selected as a display target and there is one received image content, and a new image output device is displayed when this is displayed. Corresponds to the situation where transmission of image content is started via the network. Also, the case where the image display size changes is, for example, when only “LAN” is selected as a display target and four received image contents are displayed as shown in FIG. This corresponds to a situation where PbyP display of “HDMI” and “LAN” is instructed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 displays a plurality of image contents simultaneously input from one input I / F such as the LAN terminal of the communication unit 160. Is controlled based on the size of a divided area (divided display size) for multi-screen display. Specifically, the projector 100 performs multi-screen display when the divided display size is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and performs special display such as time division display when the divided display size is less than the threshold value. Thereby, it becomes possible to suppress a decrease in visibility when displaying a plurality of image contents input simultaneously.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (8)

A display control apparatus including an input interface capable of inputting a plurality of image contents simultaneously,
Display control means for displaying image content input from the input interface in a predetermined display area of the display means;
When a plurality of image contents are simultaneously input from the input interface, the number of pixels per a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing a predetermined display area of the display unit into the number of the plurality of image contents is obtained. Acquisition means to
With
Wherein the display control unit, wherein when the number of pixels is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the plurality of image contents at the same time to be displayed on the plurality of divided regions, if the number of pixels is less than the threshold value, before Symbol predetermined said plurality of image contents Ru is displayed in a time-divided into a display area
A display control device characterized by that. A decision means for deciding the importance of each of the plurality of image contents;
The display control means includes
When displaying a time-division the plurality of image contents prior Symbol predetermined display area, the display control device according to claim 1, characterized in that to the importance appears longer time high image content. The determination means, for each of the plurality of image content, based on the number of pixels at the time of input from the input interface, the order in which input from the input interface has started, and the update frequency of the image indicated by the image content The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein importance is determined. The display control means includes
When displaying a time-division the plurality of image contents prior Symbol predetermined display area, toward the input interface of the source of the plurality of image contents to reduce the output rate of outputting the plurality of image contents the display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that Gyosu control the device. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the number of pixels when the number of image contents input from the input interface changes. Further comprising setting means for setting all or part of the display area of the display means as the predetermined display area;
The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the number of pixels when the predetermined display area is set by the setting unit. A control method for a display control device including an input interface capable of inputting a plurality of image contents simultaneously,
A display control step of causing the display control means of the display control device to display the image content input from the input interface in a predetermined display area of the display means;
When a plurality of image contents are simultaneously input from the input interface, a plurality of divisions obtained by the acquisition means of the display control device dividing a predetermined display area of the display means into the number of the plurality of image contents An acquisition step of acquiring the number of pixels per region;
With
In the display control step, the display control means causes the plurality of image contents to be simultaneously displayed in the plurality of divided regions when the number of pixels is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and when the number of pixels is less than the threshold value, the plurality of images. Ru is displayed in a time-division before Symbol predetermined display area of the content
A control method characterized by that.   The program for making a computer perform each process of the control method of Claim 7.

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