JPH03148982A - Information instruction system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve whole working efficiency for work to be executed by co-operation by communicating mutually a picture information element instructed by the picture information of each work station, and displaying the picture information element in a lump by mapping it on the picture information easy for every worker to recognize. CONSTITUTION:Position information from an instruction picture information input part 102 is transmitted to an instruction picture information generating part 103. The instruction picture information generating part 103 discriminates that it is input from the work station 100, and displays instruction picture information Pi on a picture information and instruction picture information display part 104. The picture information and instruction picture information display part 104 displays the picture information and the instruction picture information by superimposing them. Next, the picture information element detected by a picture information element detecting part 105 is transmitted to the instruction element information communicating part 206 of another work station 200 by the instruction element information communicating part 106. The instruction picture information generating part 203 displays the instruction picture information on the picture information and instruction picture information display part 204 from the displaying position of the transmitted instruction picture information Pi.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to technology for supporting collaborative work in communication systems, computer systems, chemical plants, transportation systems, and the like.

[Prior art]

Work that is performed collaboratively in communications systems, computer systems, chemical plants, etc., such as infrequent system failure diagnosis and recovery work, often requires multiple locations to work together. In such cases, it becomes necessary for workers at multiple work locations to communicate with each other about the progress of their work. Conventionally, in order to communicate the progress status of a plurality of tasks in this way, workers carried out the tasks while communicating with each other using telephones, TV cameras, or the like.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with telephones and TV cameras, it is difficult to monitor the progress of work, resulting in increased communication time, reduced work efficiency, and increased errors in confirmation of work.

In order to solve such problems, a method can be considered in which workers view the same image information and communicate instruction element information, etc., which the workers are giving instructions (bonting) on the image information. By sharing instruction information with each other, it becomes possible to grasp what is being instructed at that time. However, in the following cases, it becomes a problem to perform collaborative work while viewing the same image information. For example, consider collaborative work such as troubleshooting for a certain system. For operators who are proficient in operating the system itself but do not know much about the internal working mechanism of the system, working while viewing the system itself can improve the operator's work efficiency. On the other hand, for a designer who is familiar with the internal operating mechanism of the system, working while looking at the functional configuration of the system may improve the designer's work efficiency. In this case, if the image information that the operator recognizes is shared as the same image information and the operator and designer work together, the designer can...

Every time an operator gives an instruction, the instructions are translated and interpreted into the system's functional configuration that the designer is aware of, which reduces the designer's work efficiency and reduces the overall efficiency of collaborative work. A problem arises in that the value decreases. In other words, in general, sharing the same image information while working does not necessarily improve the overall work efficiency of collaborative work, and in this case, displaying image information that is easy for each person participating in the work to be It is necessary to proceed with the work.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

An object of the present invention is to communicate image information elements indicated by image information of each work station to each other at work stations that support collaborative work of multiple workers at multiple work locations, so that each worker can recognize them. By mapping the image information elements onto easy-to-read image information and displaying them all at once, each worker's recognition efficiency is improved, work efficiency is improved, and overall work efficiency is improved through collaboration. It's about letting people know.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image information element
is (1≦S≦si), image information Xi (1≦
isN); a means for generating instruction image information Pi; a means for detecting an image information element Xis indicated by the instruction image information Pi from the image information Xi; a communication means for transmitting instruction element information and receiving instruction element information regarding image information element Xjt (1≦t≦ts) in other image information Xj (1≦j≦N, j#i); means for holding correspondence information between the image information element Xis in the image information element Xj and the image information element Xjt in the image information Xj; Image information element X is (1≦S′≦
si) is provided, and image information elements corresponding to different instruction element information instructed in different image information are collectively displayed on the image information Xi. ■Operation] According to the above-mentioned means, the image information element Xis (1≦S≦st
) holds image information Xi (1≦i≦N),
Instruction image information Pi is generated, and an image information element Xis indicated by the instruction image information Pi is detected from the image information Xi. In addition to transmitting instruction element information regarding this detected image information element Xis, instruction element information regarding image information element Xjt (1≦t≦tj) in other image information Xj (1≦j≦N, j#i) is transmitted. received, holds correspondence information between the image information element Xis in the image information Xi and the image information element Xjt in the image information Xj, and extracts the image information from instruction element information regarding the received image information element The instruction image information Pj that indicates the image information element Xis (1≦S″≦S□) in the image information Xi that corresponds to the element Xjt is generated, and the By collectively displaying the information elements on the image information Xi, it is possible to improve the recognition efficiency of each worker, improve the work efficiency, and improve the overall work efficiency performed collaboratively.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described using the drawings.

In addition, in all the times for explaining the example.

Components having the same function are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a certain work station in the information instruction system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 100 is a work station where a certain worker collaborates with other workers.

101 is an image information holding unit, and work station 100
It holds image information Xi composed of image information elements Xis recognized by the operator operating the .

Reference numeral 102 denotes an instruction image information input unit, which inputs position information of instruction image information Pi for indicating an image information element on image information Xi.

Reference numeral 103 denotes an instruction picture information generation unit, which generates instruction picture information Pj generated based on instruction picture information Pi corresponding to the position information of the instruction picture information and instruction element information transmitted from other work stages J. .

104 is an image information/instruction image information element display section.

Instruction picture information Pi generated from the instruction picture information generation unit 103
and Pj and the image information Xi in the image information holding unit 101 are displayed in a superimposed manner.

An image information element detection unit 105 detects an image information element Xis indicated by the instruction image information Pi from the image information Xi.

Reference numeral 106 denotes an instruction element information communication unit, which transmits instruction element information regarding the image information element Xis detected by the image information element detection unit 105, and also transmits instructions regarding the image information element Xjt in the image information Xi on other work stations. Receive element information.

107 is an image information element correspondence information holding unit, which stores image information
Image information element Xis in i and image information element X in image information Xj
Holds correspondence information with jt.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an instruction image information conversion unit, which converts an image from the instruction element information regarding the image information element The instruction image information Pj is converted into position information for indicating the image information element Xis in the image information Xi corresponding to the information element Xjt.

Although Figure 1 shows the configuration of work stations at one work location, if instruction element information is communicated between multiple work locations, work stations with the same configuration as in Figure 1 may be installed at multiple locations. exists.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which two work stations are connected in the information instruction system of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 200 is another work station, and 201 is another work station that holds image information Xj composed of image information elements Xjt recognized by the worker who operates the other work stage 200 It is an information holding section.

Reference numeral 202 denotes another instruction image information input unit, which inputs position information of instruction image information Pj for indicating an image information element on image information Xj.

Reference numeral 203 denotes another instruction image information generation unit, which generates instruction image information Pi generated from instruction image information Pj and instruction element information transmitted from the work station 100 based on the position information of the instruction image information.

204 is another image information/instruction image information display section.

Instruction picture information Pi generated from the instruction picture information generation unit 203
and Pi, and the image information Xj in the image information holding unit 201 are displayed in a superimposed manner.

205 is another image information element detection unit, which detects instruction image information pj
The image information element Xjt indicated by is detected from the image information Xj.

20B is another instruction element information communication unit, which transmits instruction element information regarding the image information element Xjt detected by the image information element detection unit 20! O
The instruction element information regarding the image information element Xis in the image information Xi on O is received.

207 is another image information element correspondence holding unit, which holds image information
Image information element Xjt in i and image information element X in image information Xj
Holds correspondence information with is.

Reference numeral 208 denotes another instruction image information conversion unit, which converts instruction element information regarding the image information element Xis sent to the instruction element information communication unit 206 and correspondence information held in the image information element correspondence information holding unit 207. , image information element Xjt in image information Xj corresponding to image information element Xis (1≦t'≦tj
) is converted into position information of other instruction image information Pi for instructing.

FIG. 3 is an example of the image information Xi held in the image information holding unit 101, and is a system configuration diagram in which the peripheral devices, central processing unit, etc. of the computer system are described for each functional block A to L. In the figure, A-L are functional blocks each displayed as a rectangle.

FIG. 4 is an example of display information displayed on the image information/instruction image information display section 104.

In this example, the image information Xi in FIG. 3 and the instruction image information Pi instructed by the instruction image information input section 102 and generated by the instruction image information generation section 103 are displayed in a superimposed manner.
401 is instruction information Pi, and 411 is an image information element Xis instructed by instruction image information Pj.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of detection by the image information element detection unit 105, and FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of displaying coordinates. This indicates that the image information element D (=Xi,) is detected if the instruction image information Pi on the image information Xi exists within a rectangle defined by the coordinate values D1 and D2, for example.

FIG. 6 shows an example of instruction element information transmitted and received by the instruction element information communication unit 106, and FIG. 6(a) shows an example of instruction element information transmitted from the work station 100 to the work station 200. 601 is a work station identifier, 602 is an image information identifier, and 603 is an image information element identifier.

FIG. 6(b) is an example of instruction element information transmitted from the work station 200 to the work station lOO, where 611 is the work station identifier, 612 is the image information identifier, and 613 is the image information element identifier. .

FIG. 7 is an example of correspondence information between the image information element Xjt in the image information Xj and the image information element Xis in the image information Xj in the image information element correspondence information holding unit 207.

For example, the image information element D (-Xi,) on the image information Xi corresponds to the image information element 4 (=Xj,) on the image information Xj. Note that the image information element C (=Xi,
), multiple image information elements 3 and 5 on image information Xj
In some cases, it corresponds to

FIG. 8 shows an example of a method in which the instruction image information conversion unit 208 converts the image information element Xjt into position information of instruction image information for instructing.

For example, if the image information element Xjt in the image information Xj is 4 (=Xj
, ), the display position of the instruction picture information Pi becomes the coordinate value S.

FIG. 9 shows image information Xj held in the image information holding unit 201.
This is an example of a landscape map of a computer system.

FIG. 10 shows the instruction picture information generation unit 20 based on the position information of other instruction picture information Pi output from the instruction picture information conversion unit 208.
The other instruction image information Pi generated in step 3 and the image information holding unit 20
This is an example in which image information Xj within 1 is displayed in a superimposed manner. 100
1 corresponds to the image information element Xis in the image information Xi of the work station 100. Image information element Xjt in image information Xi
This is an example of other instruction picture information Pi that instructs 1011
is an example of the image information element Xjt.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, +CPU is a central processing unit, MT is a disk such as a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, or optical disk, CONT is a control device, and FP is a floppy disk.

Next, the operation of the information instruction system of this embodiment will be explained using the example of two work stations shown in FIG.

The prerequisite conditions for explaining this operation example are as follows.

(1) The image information holding unit 101 holds a system configuration diagram showing a functional block diagram of the computer system expressed by the image information Xi in FIG. 3, and the image information elements are A-
It is assumed that the functional block is displayed as an L rectangle. In addition, the image information holding unit 201 holds image information Xj showing a landscape view of the computer system shown in FIG. It is assumed that

(2) The instruction picture information Pi input by the instruction picture information input section 102, generated by the instruction picture information generation section 103, and displayed on the picture information/instruction picture information display section 104 is expressed by the instruction picture information 401. Image information.

(3) The image information element detection unit 105 uses the detection method shown in FIG. 5.

(4) The instruction element information transmitted by the instruction element information communication unit 106 and received by the instruction element information communication unit 206 is shown in FIG.
The format is a).

(5) It is assumed that the correspondence information shown in FIG. 7 is held in the image information element correspondence information holding unit 207.

(6) The instruction picture information conversion unit 208 calculates the display position of the instruction picture information using the method shown in FIG.

(7) In the instruction picture information generation unit 203, the instruction picture information conversion unit 2
Other instruction image information Pi on the image information/instruction image information display section 204, which is displayed based on the output of step 08, is image information expressed by instruction image information 1001 in FIG.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. In the work station 100 shown in FIG. 2, the image information Xi shown in FIG. 3 held in the image information holding section 101 is displayed on the image information/instruction image information display section 104. While viewing the image information Xi, the operator enters the instruction image information P using the instruction image information input unit 102.
i is aligned with the position D in FIG. 3, and the position information of the instruction picture information Pi is input. Position information from the instruction picture information input section 102 is sent to the instruction picture information generation section 103. The instruction image information generation unit 103.

Identifies that the input is from the work station 100, and displays instruction picture information Pi on the picture information/instruction picture information display section 104.
Display. The image information/instruction image information display section 104
As shown in the figure, image information Xi and instruction image information 401 are displayed in a superimposed manner.

Next, the image information element detection unit 105 detects the image information element D (=Xi,) on the image information Xi indicated by the instruction image information Pi according to the method shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, at the same time as the image information element 411 is detected, an echo pack is displayed with diagonal lines in the portion D indicating that the image information element 411 has been detected.

Next, the detected image information element Xi is converted by the instruction element information communication unit 106 into a format as shown in FIG. 6(a) and transmitted to the instruction element information communication unit 206 of the work station 200 . The instruction image information converting unit 208 receives the transmitted instruction element information and converts the image information element xi on the image information Xi of the work station 100 shown in FIG.
4, and the image information element correspondence information holding unit 2
The image information element Xi is transmitted to 07. The image information element correspondence information holding unit 207 stores the image information elements Xi based on the correspondence information shown in FIG.

The image information element on the image information Xj corresponding to 4 (=X J
4) is transmitted to the instruction image information conversion unit 208. The instruction picture information converter 208 uses the method shown in FIG.
Outputting the position information of the instruction picture information Pi on the work station 200 on the picture information Xj corresponding to the picture information element XJ4,
It is transmitted to the instruction image information generation unit 203.

The instruction picture information generation unit 203 generates the transmitted instruction picture information Pi.
The instruction picture information 1001 is displayed on the picture information/instruction picture information display section 204 from the display position.

In FIG. 10, at the same time as the image information element 1011 is detected, an echo pack indicating that the image information element 1011 has been designated is displayed with diagonal lines in the DK area.

The above is an example of the operation of displaying instruction element information specified on the image information Xi at the work station 100 on the image information Xj of the work station 200.

The instruction picture information Pi on the work station 100 is picture information X
i, and as the detected image information element changes, other instructed image information Pi indicated on the image information Xj on the work station 200 moves.

In addition, although the above was only the communication of instruction element information from work station 100 to work station 200, communication of instruction element information from work station 200 to work station 200 can also be realized by a similar operation, and in that case, The small picture information element Xjt instructed by the picture information Pj in the picture information Xj of the station 200 is shown in FIG.
) According to the instruction element information shown in
The instruction image information Pj on the image information Xi designates the image information element Xis on the image information Xi that corresponds to the image information element Xjt on the image information Xj-.

The image information holding unit 101 holds the image information Xi″r in FIG. 3: a system configuration diagram showing a functional block diagram of the computer system to be expressed, and the image information elements are A to L.
Furthermore, the image information holding unit 201 holds image information Xj indicating the landscape IU of the computer system shown in FIG. It is assumed that the peripheral devices of the tape MT and the device such as the control device CONT are displayed as a landscape map, but in addition to the landscape of the functional blocks and devices, the image information elements include packages, programs, JLL configuration diagrams, names, etc. It may be expressed as true, etc., or simply as coordinate values,
Any expression is possible. The image information composed of image information elements may also be expressed in any desired manner.

Furthermore, the image information may be stored in advance or may be communicated from another source, and the storage format thereof is arbitrary. Furthermore, the image information may hold not only one type of image information but also multiple types of image information corresponding to the work station. The instruction picture information Pi displayed on the picture information/instruction picture information display section 104 is the instruction picture information 40
Although the image information is expressed as 1, in addition to the arrow, a crosshair cursor or other icons may be used, and the representation of the instruction image information is arbitrary.

Further, regarding the timing at which the instruction picture information moves, it may be moved when there is a change in the position information from the instruction picture information input unit 102, and the timing is arbitrary. Although the image information element detecting unit 105 uses the detection method shown in FIG. 5, the coordinate range may be set arbitrarily other than rectangularly.

Also. You may also use a method used in computer graphics, such as registering image information elements as segments and extracting segments by searching with instruction image information. The method is arbitrary.

Further, the detection timing may be performed at a certain period, or at any detection timing such as when the instructed image information element changes. Although the instruction element information received by the unit 206 is in the format shown in FIG. 6(a), the format may be arbitrary as long as the image information element can be identified.

Also. It is assumed that the correspondence information shown in No. 7J is held in the image information element correspondence information holding unit 207.

The correspondence information may be changed depending on the image information required SO table format, and may be expressed as a function of coordinate values, for example, and the information format is arbitrary. Also. The correspondence information may be stored in advance or may be communicated from another device when used, and the storage format thereof is arbitrary.

Also. Although the instruction picture information conversion unit 20B calculates the display position of the instruction picture information using the method shown in FIG. 8, the method of converting the display position and display format of the instruction picture information is arbitrary.
The conversion may be performed in accordance with a display format such as a rectangle or simply adding diagonal lines to the image information element.

Also. In the instruction picture information generation section 203, the instruction picture information conversion section 2
Display based on the output of 08. The other instruction image information Pi on the image information/instruction image information display section 204 is the image information expressed by the instruction image information 1001 of the first OvI, but the expression of the instruction image information is arbitrary.

Also. The display timing may be displayed every time the information is transmitted from the work station 100, or may be displayed at a certain period, or may be displayed at any timing. Although it is assumed that the user inputs the position of the instruction image information, the position information may also be automatically input using another communication means.

Also. In addition to the position information, the method of specifying the name of the image information element, etc., and the method of generating the instruction image information associated therewith are arbitrary.

Next, an explanation will be given of the information instruction method between the three locations. 11 is a diagram showing the connection form of three work stations, and ttot to 1103 are work stages, respectively.

Figure 12 shows the image information Xi at the work station 110.
This is an example of a display in which instruction image information and instruction image information are superimposed. 1201 is instruction picture information instructed at the work station 1101;
Reference numeral 1211 indicates an image information element indicated by the instruction image information 1201.

1202 is instructed by the work station 1102 and transmitted to the work station 1101 as instruction element information,
+1212 is the instruction picture information 12 that is converted and generated using the corresponding information in the work station 1101.
02 is the designated image information element.

1203 is instructed by the work stage ball 1103 and transmitted to the work station 1101 as instruction element information,
This is instruction picture information converted and generated using the correspondence information in the work station 1101, and 1213 is the instruction picture information 120.
3 is the designated image information element.

FIG. 13 shows image information X on the work station 1102.
This is an example of a display in which j and instruction image information are superimposed.

1301 is instructed by the work station 1101 and transmitted to the work station 1102 as instruction element information;
The instruction image information is converted and generated using the correspondence information in the work station 1102, and 1311 is the instruction image information 130.
1 is the designated image information element.

1302 is instruction image information instructed by the work station 1102, and 1312 is an image information element instructed by the instruction image information 1302.

1303 is instructed by the work station 1103 and sent to the work stage (n 1102) as instruction element information;
This is instruction picture information converted and generated using the correspondence information in the work station 1102, and 1313 is the instruction picture information 130.
3 is the designated image information element.

Next, an example of the operation of information instruction between the three work stations shown in FIG. 11 will be described.

When instruction image information Pi is specified on image information Xi in operation 1101, instruction image information 1201 shown in FIG. 12 is specified. It is detected that the image information element on the image information Xi indicated by the instruction image information 1201 is D, and it is transmitted to the work stations 1102 and 1103 as instruction element information. Similarly, the respective instruction element information is transmitted from work stations 1102 and 1103 to work station 1101, and then passes through the instruction image information converter of work stage 1101 and is converted into instruction image information 1202, 1203 and 1203 as shown in FIG. Each pointing image information element 1212.

1213 is displayed within work station 1101.

At work station 1102, work station 11
According to the instruction element information sent from 01.

Instruction image information 1301 is displayed in the portion of the image information element disk DK on the image information xj corresponding to D on the image information Xi. Feeding amount image information 13 instructed by work station 1102
02 and instruction image information 1303 converted based on the instruction element information transmitted from the work station 1103 are displayed on the work station 1102. Similar processing is performed at work station 1103 as well.

The above is an example of the operation of information instruction between three work stations, but it can be realized by the same process as the operation example of information instruction between two work stations based on Figure 2. It goes without saying that information instruction between work stations is also possible in the same way, and the configuration of the network between work stations may be in any other form, such as a star shape or a loop shape, in addition to the format shown in FIG. 11. Figure 12 and 1
In Figure 3, the display format of instruction image information and image information elements is 1:1.
However, this correspondence may be changed and displayed as appropriate within the work station.

The present invention has been specifically explained above based on examples, but
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in a work station that supports collaborative work of a plurality of workers at a plurality of work locations, image information elements indicated by image information of each work station are communicated with each other, Since the image information elements are mapped onto the image information that is easy for each worker to recognize and displayed all at once, it has the effect of improving the recognition efficiency of each worker, and the overall work performed collaboratively. It has the effect of improving efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a certain work stage J in the information instruction method of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of the case. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of image information held in a work station, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display information displayed on the work station. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a method for detecting image information elements. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of instruction element information transmitted and received between work stations. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence information; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a method of converting instruction image information into position information; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of other image information; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display information displayed on other work stations. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the connection form of three work stations. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of display at the first work station, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of display at the second work station. In the figure + too, 200... work station, 1
01.201... Image information holding unit, 102.202.
・Instruction picture information entry section. 103, 203 -- Instruction picture information generation unit, 104.20
4... Image information/instruction image information display section, 105.205
... Image information element detection unit. 106, 206... instruction element information communication section, 107.2
0 Fu... Image information element correspondence information holding unit, 108.2
08... Instruction picture information conversion unit, 401-... Instruction picture information, 411-... One stroke information element, 601.611... Work station identifier, 602.612... One stroke information identifier, 603.613. ...Image information element identifier, 10
01... Instruction picture information, 1011... Picture information element,
1101-1103 --- Work station, 120
1~1203---Indication picture information! 211-1213・
-・Image information element, 1301 to 1303... Instruction image information. 1311-1313... Image information elements. Fig. 3 1A11811c1 -I1- 1A1 IBI ICI 41\ I IGI-"-1κl Fig. 7 1 on image information XL I on image information x, on
1Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a method for specifying image information elements in N types (N≧1) of image information at work stations in multiple work locations, image information Xi consisting of image information elements Xis (1≦s≦s_i) (1≦i≦N); a means for generating instruction image information Pi; a means for detecting an image information element Xis indicated by the instruction image information Pi from the image information Xi; and a detected image information element. In addition to transmitting instruction element information regarding Xis, other image information Xj (1≦j≦N, j≠i
) and holds correspondence information between the image information element Xis in the image information Xi and the image information element Xjt in the image information Xj. and an image information element Xis in the image information Xi corresponding to the image information element Xjt based on the correspondence information from the instruction element information regarding the received image information element Xjt.
′ (1≦s′≦s_i); means for generating instruction image information Pj that instructs ``(1≦s′≦s_i); and image information elements corresponding to different instruction element information instructed in different image information are collectively displayed on image information Xi. An information instruction method characterized by having a means for