JPH02310722A - Keyboard input system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the working efficiency of keyboard input by instructing the window targeted to be inputted of the keydoard input from an input window instruction device arranged on a keyboard. CONSTITUTION:The input window instruction device 8 is arranged on the key board 6, and generates a signal to instruct the window targeted to be inputted of the keyboard input. An input window change means 10 updates the content of an active window pointer 9 replying to the signal, and displays the fact that the windows 2a-2c corresponding to entries 4q-4c in a window managing table 5 for which the pointer 9 points out can be inputted on a display device 1. Thereby, the working efficiency of the keyboard input can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a keyboard input method, and in particular to a multi-window system (a multi-window system where rectangular areas called multiple windows are set on a display device and a program corresponding to each window is input). The present invention relates to a keyboard input method for processing keyboard input events that occur when individual keys on a keyboard are pressed in a computer system that displays output information in a superimposed manner.

[Conventional technology]

In order to provide a better man-machine interface as the processing power of computer systems and the resolution of display devices improve, rectangular areas called windows are set on the display device (screen of the display device) and the window is Display methods that display output information from programs inside computer systems have become widely used in computer systems such as personal computers and engineering workstations.

In multi-window systems in which a plurality of windows are set, a method in which the plurality of windows are displayed on a display device by overlapping each other like several documents stacked on a desk is becoming mainstream.

In such multi-window systems, multiple windows displaying output information from multiple programs running simultaneously are typically displayed on a single display device, and the user cannot observe the contents of each window. This allows you to know the operation of the program corresponding to each window.

In such a keyboard input method in a multi-window system, a keyboard input event that occurs when the user presses a key on the keyboard is notified to the appropriate program that the user expects among the multiple programs that are currently running. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an interface that allows the user to appropriately specify the program to which keyboard input events are notified.

As mentioned above, in such a multi-window system, the relationship between the windows displayed on the display device and the programs is known by the user, and the designation of the program to which keyboard events will be notified depends on the window designation. It is usually done by.

Conventionally, in this type of keyboard input method, the notification destination window for keyboard input events is specified using a pointing device such as a mouse input device (which is almost always used along with the keyboard in such multi-window systems). (The window having the position on the display device indicated by the mouse input device was designated as the notification destination and was the input target.)

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional keyboard input method described above, the window to which a keyboard input event is to be notified is specified using a mouse input device, and therefore has the following drawbacks.

[1] Before performing keyboard input, take your hands off the keyboard, pick up the mouse input device, specify the input target window for keyboard input (the window to which keyboard input events will be notified), and then put your hands on the keyboard. You have to go back to the keyboard and enter the event.

(2) When many windows are displayed on a display device, the desired input target window may be hidden under many other windows, and in this case, the mouse input device cannot be specified.

(3) A mouse input device is not subordinate to a keyboard, but is an input device that has its own unique uses. Therefore, when a keyboard and a mouse input device are used alternately in separate windows, each time a keyboard input is performed, the position indicated by the mouse input device is changed to the window where the input is being performed using the mouse input device. to the window where keyboard input is occurring.

(4) Many of the windows displayed on a display device are only for output, and even if there are windows that allow input, the number of windows to which a user can input keyboard input at a particular time is limited. Therefore, when selecting an input target window, if you simply selected each window in turn from among all the displayed windows, it would take many times to select the desired input target window. Unnecessary instructions must be given.

In particular, the first drawback ((1)) is a fatal drawback when considering the work efficiency of keyboard input. (The decline in the value of

In view of the above-mentioned points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard input method that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks by allowing a window to be inputted from the keyboard to be specified from an input window designating device installed on the keyboard. It is about providing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The keyboard input method of the present invention is a keyboard input method that processes keyboard events generated by pressing individual keys on the keyboard in a multi-window system. a window management table comprising links of configured entries; an active window pointer pointing to an entry in the window management table corresponding to a window to which keyboard input is input; an input window pointing device that generates a signal, and updating the contents of the active window pointer in response to the signal generated by the input window pointing device, and in the window management table that the active window pointer points to as a result of the update. input window changing means for displaying on a display device that a window corresponding to an entry is capable of keyboard input; and an entry link that receives a keyboard input event and links an entry in the window management table pointed to by the active window pointer. and window input means for notifying the program corresponding to the program identification information included in the entry of the received keyboard input event.

[Effect]

In the keyboard input method of the present invention, the window management table exists for each window and includes entry links made up of several entries including program identification information, and the active window pointer corresponds to the window to which keyboard input is input. Pointing to an entry in the window management table, the input window indicating device generates a signal for indicating the window to which keyboard input is input, and the input window changing means is activated in response to the signal generated by the input window indicating device. Updates the contents of the window pointer, displays on the display device that the window corresponding to the entry in the window management table that the active window pointer points to is capable of keyboard input, and the window input means accepts keyboard input. When the event is received, the entry in the window management table pointed to by the active window pointer is set at the beginning of the link of the entry, and the received keyboard event is notified to the program corresponding to the program identification information included in the entry.

〔Example〕

Next, eleven aspects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the keyboard input method of the present invention. The keyboard input method of this embodiment uses a display device 1 that displays a plurality of windows (including windows 2a, 2b, and 2c), and a program that generates windows on the display device 1 (windows 2a, 2b, and 2c). (including programs 3a, 3b and 3c being generated) and entries corresponding to each window (including entries 4a, 4b and 4C corresponding to windows 2a, 2b and 2c)
a window management table 5 having a keyboard input event, a keyboard 6 that generates a keyboard input event, a window input means 7 that receives the keyboard input event from the keyboard 6 and notifies it to any of the running programs, and a window input means 7 that generates a signal in response to a user's instruction. an input window pointing device 8 that generates (not shown, but the input window pointing device 8 is installed on the keyboard 6), and an active window pointer that points (indicates) one of the entries in the window management table 5. 9, and input window changing means 10 for changing (updating) the contents of the active window pointer 9 in response to a signal generated by the input window pointing device 8.

Here, the display device 1 and the keyboard 6 are the same devices that are realized by the known technology of the keyboard input method in the conventional multi-window system. That is, the display device 1 can display each window based on the display request of the program being executed. The keyboard 6 can also generate keyboard input events by pressing individual keys on the keyboard 6 .

The input window designation device 8 responds to a user's instruction to designate a program to be notified of a keyboard input event at a particular point in time (designated by the selection of the corresponding windows 2a, 2b, and 2C by the user). Input window changing means 10 by generating a signal in response
It is a device that notifies the signal to the Therefore, the input window indicating device 8 may be any device that can generate an appropriate signal that can be identified by the input window changing means 10, and in this embodiment, a key switch installed at an appropriate position on the keyboard 6 is used. (It goes without saying that special keys or combinations of keys not used for normal keyboard key operations can be used for this purpose).

The active window pointer 9 always points to one of the entries (including entries 4a, 4b, and 4C) included in the window management table 5.
In the initial state, the entry indicated by the head pointer 21 (see FIG. 2) is pointed to. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the window management table 5. As shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the window management table 5 includes mutually linked entries (entry 4
a, 4b, and 4C), and includes, as control information, a head pointer 21 indicating the head of the entry link (entry queue) and a rear end pointer 22 indicating the tail of the entry link. I'm here.

Each entry has a corresponding window (window 2a,
program identification information 23, which is the identification information of the program (including programs 3a, 3b, and 3C) that should be notified when a keyboard input event occurs for the program (including programs 2b and 2C), and the next link in the entry link. (Each entry also includes information necessary for displaying a window corresponding to the entry on the display device 1 as other information.)

The area of each entry is secured when the corresponding window is generated by the program, and necessary information such as program identification information 23 and link information 24 is set in the entry, and the entry is connected to the end of the link of the entry.

Additionally, each entry is removed from the entry's links when the corresponding window is removed programmatically,
The area used by the current entry until then is released.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the three programs 3a, 3b and 3C being executed each have one window on the display device 1 (one window among the windows 2a, 2b and 2C). However, it goes without saying that the present invention is also effective when one program generates multiple windows. One entry corresponds to each (one window) in , and multiple entries correspond to one program.

Referring to FIG. 3, the process of the input window changing means 10 includes an active window pointer determination step 31.
, an active window pointer update step 32, a window display step 33, a link information acquisition step 34, and a link information value active window pointer setting step 35.

Referring to FIG. 4, the processing of the window input means 7 is as follows:
Active window pointer determination step 41, program identification information acquisition step 42, keyboard input event notification step 43, previous entry acquisition step 44, acquired entry link information replacement step 45, active window pointer instruction entry link information replacement step 46 and head pointer replacement step 47
It consists of.

Next, the operation of the keyboard input method of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

The input window changing means 10 is activated by a signal from the input window designating device 8, and performs the following processing (see FIG. 3).

First, upon receiving a signal from the input window pointing device 8, it is determined whether the entry in the window management table 5 pointed to by the active window pointer 9 is the same as the entry pointed to by the rearmost pointer 22 ( Step 31).

In this judgment, if the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9 is the same as the entry pointed to by the last pointer 22, the content of the active window pointer 9 is changed to point to the entry pointed to by the first pointer 21. change (step 32).

Next, in the window on the display device 1 corresponding to the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9, a message indicating that "keyboard input is possible" is displayed (step 33), and the process ends. Note that the display indicating that "keyboard input is possible" is displayed on display device 1.
This can be realized using conventional known techniques. In this embodiment, this display is achieved by highlighting the title part of the window that corresponds to "Keyboard Input Enabled" on the display device l (it goes without saying that other display methods can be adopted). do not have).

The active window pointer 9 is determined in step 31.
If the entry pointed to by is not the same as the entry pointed to by the last pointer 22, the link information 24 included in the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9 is obtained (referenced) (step 34), and the entry is This entry in the link
Set the address of the next entry (the value of link information @124 in the entry) after (the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9) as the contents of the active window pointer 9 (step 35), and then perform the process of step 33. conduct.

By repeating the instructions from the input window specifying device 8 and repeating the process of the input window changing means IO described above, the active window pointer 9 points to the entry corresponding to the window of the intended input target. .

The window input means 7 is activated by a keyboard input event input from the keyboard 6, and performs the following processing (see FIG. 4).

First 5. When a keyboard input event input from the keyboard 6 is received, the active window pointer 9
It is determined whether the entry in the window management table 5 pointed to by is the same as the entry pointed to by the head pointer 21 (step 41).

In this judgment, if the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9 is the same as the entry pointed to by the head pointer 21, the system acquires (references) the program identification information 23 included in the entry pointed to by the head pointer 21. (Step 42), the program identified by the program identification information 23 is notified of the keyboard input event received from the keyboard 6 (Step 43), and the process ends. Note that notification of keyboard input events to the receiving program is as follows:
This can be realized using conventional known techniques.

In this embodiment, the notification is realized by activating the program after connecting the keyboard input event to an event queue (not shown) prepared by the receiving program (other notification methods are not available). Needless to say, it can be adopted).

The active window pointer 9 is determined in step 41.
If the entry pointed to by is not the same as the entry pointed to by the head pointer 21, obtain (reference) the entry immediately before the relevant entry (the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9) in the entry link. (To get this entry,
For example, this can be achieved by searching from the beginning of the entry's link for an entry that has the same link information 24 as the content of the active window pointer 9)
(Step 44).

Next, link information I! of the entry found (obtained) in step 44! 24 to active window pointer 9
Link information 2 included in the entry pointed to by
Replace (update) with the contents of 4 (step 45).

Furthermore, the contents of the link information 24 included in the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9 are replaced with the contents of the head pointer 21 (the entry address pointed to by the head pointer 21) (step 46).
, the contents of the head pointer 21 are replaced with the contents of the active window pointer 9 (step 47), and then steps 42 and 43 are performed.

Through the processing of the window input means 7 described above, a keyboard input event from the keyboard 6 is notified to the program corresponding to the entry pointed to by the active window pointer 9, and the next input window change means 10 changes the active window pointer 9. The entry is set at the beginning of the entry link in the window management table 5 so that update processing can be performed efficiently.

Note that, in order to simplify the explanation, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which a linking technique using a unidirectional simple list structure is used as the entry linking technique, but other linking techniques can be used. It goes without saying that this can further improve work efficiency.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention enables the input of a signal for instructing the input window for keyboard input from the input window instructing device installed on the keyboard, as shown below. There is an effect.

(1) Before manually inputting the keyboard, you must first remove your hand from below the keyboard, pick up the mouse input device, indicate the window to input, and then return your hand to the keyboard to input manually, which is a drawback of conventional technology. It can solve the disadvantages of keyboard input and improve the work efficiency of keyboard input.

(2) When many windows are displayed on the display device, and the target input window is hidden under many other windows (depending on the mouse input device, the window for the target input Even when it is not possible to specify the desired input window, it is possible to specify the desired input target window.

(3) In conventional technology, when a keyboard and a mouse input device are used alternately in separate windows, the mouse input device is used to change the position indicated by the mouse input device each time a keyboard input is performed. This eliminates the need to move from the window where input is being made to the window where keyboard input is being made, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in work efficiency caused by such operations.

(4) Based on the signal input from the input window designation device, windows that have recently become input targets for keyboard input can be selected as input target windows in order, and a large number of windows can be displayed on the display device. When selecting the input target window when there are only a limited number of windows that can be input targets, many unnecessary instructions may be performed until the desired input target window is selected. It becomes less.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the window management table in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an input window changing means in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the window input means in FIG. In the figure, 1...Display Wff, 2a, 2b,
2cm window, 3a, 3b, 3cm program, 4a, 4b, 4cm entry, 5... Window management table, 6...
...Keyboard, 7...Window input means, 8...
...Input window pointing device, 9...Active window pointer, 10...Input window changing means, 21.
......Start pointer, 22...Last pointer, 23...
. . . program identification information, 24 . . . link information.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a keyboard input method that processes keyboard input events generated by pressing individual keys on a keyboard in a multi-window system, the method comprises several entries that exist for each window and include program identification information. A window management table having entry links, an active window pointer pointing to an entry in the window management table corresponding to a window to which keyboard input is input, and a signal for indicating the window to which keyboard input is input. an input window pointing device that updates the contents of the active window pointer in response to a signal generated by the input window pointing device, and updates the contents of the active window pointer to an entry in the window management table that the active window pointer points to. input window changing means for displaying on a display device that a corresponding window is capable of keyboard input; and input window changing means that receives a keyboard input event and sets an entry in the window management table pointed to by the active window pointer to the beginning of a link of an entry. A keyboard input method comprising: a window input means for notifying a program corresponding to program identification information set and included in the entry of a received keyboard input event.