JPH01320530A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily display a designated window by dividing a picture plane by providing a designation means to designate a window or plural windows out of all windows by attaching sequence at a window managing part, and providing a recovery means. CONSTITUTION:The designation of the window is performed by depressing the button of a mouse 11. The information of the window and the sequence designated at that time are set on a window information memory 13 by a window managing part 10. In the case of receiving the indication of the division of the picture plane afterwards, the content of the memory 13 is withdrawn in a memory 14 for the retention of window state information, and after that, the fact is informed to a window state calculation part 15. The calculation part 15 finds size and a position for the re-display of the window by referring to the memory 14, and after setting a result on the memory 13, informs the fact to the managing part 10. The managing part 10 performs the re-display of each window based on the content of the memory 13 set newly. In such a way, it is possible to compare and refer the contents of the plural windows.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device having a superimposed multi-window display function, such as a word processor or workstation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a display unit in a conventional display device having an overlapping multi-window display function.

In FIG. 3, 1 is a display data memory, and 2 is a window management unit. This window management unit 2 takes out a plurality of display effective portions (hereinafter referred to as windows) in the designated display data memory 1. 3 is frame memory, 4
1 is a CRT serving as a display means, and the frame memory 3 corresponds to the screen of the CRT 4, so that the contents written in the frame memory 3 are displayed as they are on the screen of the CRT 4.

Next, the operation of the above conventional example will be explained.

The window management unit 2 uses the specified display data memory 1
A plurality of windows are extracted from the frame memory 3, each is transferred to the frame memory 3, and multi-window display is performed by superimposing them at designated positions on the CRTA in the designated priority order.

Frame memory a corresponds to the screen of CBr4, and the contents written here are displayed as they are on the screen of CBr4.

In the example shown in Figure 3, window a has the highest priority and is displayed at the forefront of the screen, and window b
, c, the priority order becomes lower.

Additionally, when windows overlap, the one with the higher priority is displayed, and the overlapping part with the lower priority is hidden behind the window with the higher priority and is not displayed. The size and display position of each window on the CRTS can be changed by instructions from an input device such as a pointing device.

Further, depending on the display device, only the window displayed in the foreground can be changed in size or moved, and in such a display device, if you want to change the window state as described above, the operation is as follows.

First, move Window 1 displayed in the front to the upper left of the screen. Next, resize the window so that it is half the size of the screen. Then, the priority order of the windows is changed and window b is displayed in front. moreover,
Move window b to the upper left of the part of the screen where window a is not displayed. Finally, change the size of window b to fill the remaining half of the screen. This is how you resize and move the window.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional display device described above, when it is desired to increase the effective display area of each window, for example, when it is desired to use half of the entire screen for window heat and window b, etc. There was a problem in that the size of the window had to be changed and moved repeatedly.

In addition, on display devices that can only resize or move windows with the highest priority, operations may be complicated, or windows with lower priority may be completely hidden behind windows with higher priority. There was a problem in that this situation occurred.

Furthermore, there is a problem in that the operation becomes even more complicated when the window size cannot be adjusted to the desired size at once.

The present invention solves such conventional problems by specifying one or more windows, and if there is only one specified window, it fills the entire screen, and if there are multiple specified windows, it fills the entire screen according to the specified input. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can easily display designated windows by dividing the screen, and can easily return from this state to the original state in which the windows overlap.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a designating means for ordering and designating one or more windows from among all windows, a screen splitting instruction means for instructing the start of split screen display,
A storage means for storing state information of overlapping windows, a display position indexing means for automatically determining the size and display position of windows for split display based on the specified number and order of windows, and a state of split display. This system is equipped with an instructing means for instructing the original overlapping display from the above, and a restoring means for returning to the original overlapping window state based on stored window state information.

Operation With the above-described configuration, the present invention specifies one or more of all displayed windows in order,
In addition to displaying multiple windows by overlapping them at specified positions on the screen in the specified priority order,
If there is one window specified by the specifying means, that window will be displayed on the entire screen, and if there are multiple windows, the screen will be divided according to the order specified by the above specifying means, and the window size will be changed or moved. This allows the screen to be easily divided and displayed in a specified window without having to do so, and it is also possible to easily return to the original overlapping multi-window display.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and in FIG. 1, the same or equivalent components as in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a window management unit that controls window display as described later, and 11 is a window management unit that transmits information to the window management unit 1 via a mouse interface 12.
This mouse 11 is used as a screen splitting instruction means to output the output to 0. This mouse 11 specifies the window to be displayed by splitting the screen.

13 is a window state information memory as a setting means for setting the size, display position and priority of each window; 14 is a window state information save memory for saving the contents of this window state information memory 13; 15 is a memory for saving window state information;
is a window state calculation section which serves as an instruction means that is notified after the contents of the window state information memory 13 have been saved.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of screen display before and after split screen display is instructed.

The window management unit 10 extracts a plurality of rectangular areas from the specified display data memory i, transfers each to the frame memory 3, and superimposes them at the specified position on the CRTA in the specified priority order to display a multi-window display. At the same time, the size, display position, and priority of each window are set in the window state information memory 13.

Further, the designation of a window to be displayed in a divided screen is inputted from the mouse 11 via the mouse interface 12.

That is, by first pressing the screen division button on the mouse 11, the screen can be divided and one window can be designated for display. The window is designated by pointing to any part of the window to be designated and pressing the designated button on the mouse 11. Information on the window and order specified at this time is set in the window state information memory 13 by the window management section 10.

After this, if there is an instruction to start splitting the screen by pressing the screen splitting button on the mouse 11 again, the contents of the window state information memory 13 are saved in the window state information saving memory 14, and then the window state calculation unit 15
to notify.

- The in-to-state calculation unit 15 refers to the window state information saving memory 14, calculates the size and display position of each window to be redisplayed, sets this result in the window state information memory 13, and then manages the window. Department 10 to that effect. Upon receiving this, the window management section 10 redisplays each window based on the newly set contents of the window state information memory 13.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 ((A)), if window a with a high priority and window t with a low priority are displayed, and only window [Yes] is specified, window 1 If windows b and a are specified in this order, window theory is enlarged and displayed on the left half of the screen, and window a is displayed on the right half of the screen.

Also, windows a and h are arranged in order of priority.

With C displayed, windows b, a,.

When specified in this order, window b is displayed on the left half of the screen, window f is displayed on the upper half of the right half of the screen, and window G is displayed on the lower half of the right half of the screen.

Next, in order to instruct the original superimposed multi-window display from the mouse 11 via the mouse interface 12, by pressing the screen display button of the mouse 11 again, the window management unit 1o is transferred to the memory 14 for saving window state information. The state of the original window is retrieved from , and each window is redisplayed at the original window size and display position based on this content.

In this way, according to the above embodiment, the window to be displayed in a divided screen is specified by inputting it from the mouse 11 via the mouse interface 12, and information about the specified window and order is simultaneously managed by window management. The window state information memory 13 is stored by the unit 10.
is set to

Also, by inputting the original superimposed window display specification again from the mouse 11 via the mouse interface 12, the window management unit 10 retrieves the original window state from the window state information saving memory 14 and saves the contents. Based on this, each window is redisplayed to its original window size and display position, so after specifying a window, the screen is split and the specified window is displayed in one operation, and the specified window is displayed in just one operation. It is possible to return to the original superimposed multi-window display by an instruction operation, and a great effect can be obtained when comparing and referencing the contents of multiple windows.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention provides the window management section with a designation means for ordering and designating one or more windows from among all the windows, and also includes a restoring means. It has excellent operability, allowing you to easily split the screen and display specified windows without changing or moving the screen, and easily return to the original overlapping multi-window display, making it very practical. It has excellent effects when used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen display before and after the screen division instruction in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a conventional display device. FIG. 1... Display data memory, 3... Frame memory, 1o... Window management unit, 11...
... Mouse, 13 ... Window state information memory, 14 ... Memory for saving window state information, 1S ... Window state calculation unit. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao et al. 18th
1 Figure 2 (B) (/S)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A window management unit that retrieves a plurality of display effective portions from a display data memory and transfers each to a frame memory corresponding to the screen, a specification means that specifies one or more of all windows in order, and a screen split display. A screen splitting instruction means for instructing the start, a storage means for storing state information of overlapping windows, and a display that automatically determines the size and display position of windows to be split and displayed from the specified number and order of windows. It includes a position indexing means, an instruction means for instructing the original overlapping display from the split display state, and a restoring means for returning to the original overlapping window state based on the stored window state information. display device.