JPH03231557A - Information processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the processing along with a sense of the operator by counting lapse of time from the start of picture communication and adjusting the size of a window for picture display according to the lapse of time. CONSTITUTION:When a picture line is connected, a reception picture window of a predetermined size is set and a communication controller 8 connects the picture line to start the display onto the reception picture window. In order to count the lapse of time of the picture communication time, a timer 4 is set. Then whether or not a prescribed time elapses is checked and when a CPU 1 is noticed already by the timer 4, that is, a prescribed time elapses from the start of the picture communication, the size of the window is reduced. Moreover, whether or not a prescribed time elapses further is checked, and when the time elapses, the window size may be reduced further.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention can be used as a communication terminal device that can perform image communication, such as ISDN, and can also be used as an information device that can display information by dividing the screen into multiple windows. It relates to a processing device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, information processing apparatuses such as personal computers having an image communication function using ISDN have been developed. In the above information processing device equipped with a multi-task mechanism and a multi-window mechanism, an image received from the ISDN is displayed as a window on a part of the screen of the display device, while another window is displayed on the other part of the screen. You can also perform other processes at the same time, such as creating documents using a word processor.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional example, when an image communication is received, the screen of the display device is divided and a certain area is set as a window for displaying the received image, and communication is started. An image display window is often used to see the face of the other party. In this application, the face of the communication partner is often seen at the beginning of communication, but this frequency decreases as time passes, so the operator often feels that the image display window is a nuisance, and furthermore, it is necessary to change the window to an appropriate size. There was an inconvenience in that it took time and effort to do so.

Further, when an information processing apparatus having multiple processing functions is used as a communication terminal, there is no change in the window size for displaying an incoming image regardless of a certain processing situation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a main purpose of measuring the elapsed time from the start of image communication and adjusting the size of the image display window according to the elapsed time. It was proposed.

This problem is solved by an information processing device having a multi-window function that displays a received image in at least one window, which requires a timer for measuring the image communication time and a window for displaying the received image according to the elapsed time measured by the timer. This is achieved by an information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a window size adjustment means for adjusting the size.

Also, displaying the received image in at least one window,
In an information processing apparatus having a multi-window function that displays processing results in one other window, a determination means for determining the processing status and a window size adjustment means for adjusting the size of the window according to the determined status are provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can be used as a communication terminal that can set a window size according to processing conditions.

[Operations] According to the present invention, the window size for image display can be adjusted to the required size according to the elapsed time.

In addition, even if an information processing device that can be used as a communication terminal receives an incoming call during other processing, the window size can be set according to the processing situation, so it can be used as a communication terminal with a window that suits the processing situation. Information processing equipment can be provided.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the communication terminal device on which the embodiment of the present invention is based is 1.
This is a terminal device having a plurality of windows on the screen, and the following explanation will focus on controlling one window W for displaying an image on the screen. Therefore, in principle, we do not mention the control of other windows that involve other tasks.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls the entire device, 2 is a CRT for displaying received images and other function execution results, and the screen can have a plurality of windows. 3 is a keyboard that transmits operator instructions to CPU 1; 4 is a timer that notifies CPU 1 that a set time has elapsed; 5 is a memory that stores programs and data; 6
is an external storage device for storing programs and data, 7
is a video camera for photographing a communication terminal user and transmitting image information of the communication terminal user's face to the CPU 1. Images captured by the video camera are stored in the memory 5 as still images. 8 is a communication control device that transmits and receives image data through the ISDN line 9 and controls the line.

This device reads the program from the external storage device 6,
It has a multitasking function that allows several functions to be executed simultaneously by storing it in the memory 5 and activating it.

Processing related to image communication in this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the CPU 1 waits for notification from the communication control device 8 that an image communication has been received via the ISDN line 9. When there is a notification, the fact that there is an incoming call is displayed on the CRT 2 and the operator is notified (S2). In response, the operator instructs whether or not to connect the image line by operating the keyboard 3 (S3
). If the image line is not connected, the communication control device 8 sends a line control message to the effect that the connection is refused to the 15DN line (S4). The process returns to the beginning (Sl). When connecting an image line, a reception image window of a predetermined size is set (S5), and the communication control device 8 starts displaying on the reception image window by connecting the image line (S6). Next, in step 87, a timer is set to measure the elapsed image communication time. Therefore, when this timer times out, the CPU receives a notification that a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

In step S8, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the CPU 1 has already received the notification from the timer 4, that is, if a certain period of time has passed since the start of image communication, the process proceeds to step Sll and reduces the size of the window. If not, the process advances to step S9. In step S9, if there is an instruction to disconnect the image line from the operator or if the communication control device 8 receives a line control message to disconnect the image line from the 15DN line 9, the process advances to step SIO; otherwise, step Return to S8. In step SIO, the communication control device 8
disconnects the image line and returns to the beginning of the process (Sl).

In step Sll, the size of the received image window is reduced. Further, in step S12, it is further checked whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the window size may be further reduced. In step S14, an instruction to disconnect the image line from the operator or an instruction to disconnect the ISDN line 8 is issued.
The process waits for an image line disconnection line control message from , and then proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the communication control device 8
disconnects the image line and returns to the beginning of the process (Sl).

In the above embodiment, from the start to the end of image communication, 2
By repeating the timer settings every time a certain period of time has elapsed, the size of the receiving image window can be reduced step by step, allowing for more fine-grained control in line with the operator's senses. It is also possible to perform other processing.

[Other Examples] Also, when using the information processing device as a communication terminal,
Even if an incoming call is received during other processing, setting the window size according to the processing status increases the efficiency of device usage. In particular, when an operator scanning an information processing device receives an image communication while in the middle of other processing, the reception image window may feel like a nuisance, and when the operator receives a call while the operator is not processing, the reception image window may feel small. was there. Furthermore, there is an operational inconvenience in that it takes time and effort to change the received image window to an appropriate size. Next, such an embodiment will be described.

Since the apparatus shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 can be used in this embodiment, a description of the apparatus will be omitted, and the flow of control processing executed by this embodiment will be explained below.

For simplicity, it is assumed that only image data is communicated via the 15DN line 9, and that only one of the command interpreter and the application program can be processed simultaneously with the image communication program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall process flow from the time of device startup to the arrival of image communication.

After starting this device, an image communication program is read from the external storage device 6, stored in the memory 5, and the program is started (S21). At this time, the image communication program only initializes related devices, etc., and does not perform any processing until the image communication is received.

Next, the command interpreter is read from the external storage device 6, stored in the memory 5, and the command interpreter is activated (S22). From then on, the operator uses keyboard 3.
When you operate , this information is transmitted to the command interpreter, and application programs can be started or other processing can be performed in accordance with input from the keyboard 3 .

Next, proceed to 323. Steps 323 to 328 are repeated until the image communication is received.

In S23, if there is an input from the keyboard 3, the process advances to S24, where the running program (command interpreter or application program) performs processing. The contents of the process in S24 vary depending on the program being activated at that time. When the processing of the running program (S24) is finished, the start of the repetition (S24) is completed.
Return to 23).

In S23, if there is no input from the keyboard 3, the process advances to S25. In S25, if the communication control device 8 has received an image communication from the ISDN line 9, the process advances to S26, and after the image communication program performs processing, the process returns to the beginning of the repetition (S23).

If no image communication has been received in S25, the process returns to the beginning of repetition (S23) without doing anything.

Next, the processing of the running program performed in step 324 will be explained separately for cases where the running program is a command interpreter and cases where the running program is another application program. Note that immediately after starting up this device, the command interpreter is in an activated state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the command interpreter.

First, in S31, if the instruction input from the keyboard 3 is an instruction to start an application program, the process advances to S32. The designated application program is read from the external storage device 6, stored in the memory 5, and this program is activated (S32). The command interpreter then stops controlling itself and does not perform any processing until it is restarted by the application program that started it.

In S31, if the input from the keyboard 3 is not an instruction to start an application program, S31
Proceeding to step 34, processing corresponding to the key human power is performed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the application program.

First, perform processing corresponding to input from keyboard 3 (
S41). The content of the processing performed here is
By program. Next, in step 342, if the processing of the application program is to be terminated as a result of the processing in S41, the process proceeds to S43 and the command interpreter is restarted.

If the application program is not terminated in S42, the process shown in FIG. 5 is terminated.

From the explanation of FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that either the command interpreter or the application program is always activated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an image communication program that is called when an image communication is received.

First, the operator is notified by displaying on the CRT 2 that an image communication has been received (551), and the process proceeds to S52.

If the operator uses the keyboard 3 to instruct not to connect the line in response to the incoming call notification, the process advances to S53;
The communication control device 8 transmits a line control message to the 15DN line 9 to the effect that image communication is rejected, and the process shown in FIG. 6 ends.

In S52, the operator connects the image line. If the instruction is made using the keyboard 3, the process advances to S54;
The communication control device 8 starts image communication by transmitting a line control message to the effect that the image line is to be connected to the ISDN line 9, and the process proceeds to S55. In S55, it is determined what program is currently running. If the currently running program is an application program, set the receive image window small (S5-6); if the currently running program is a command interpreter,
Set the received image window to be large (557), and in either case proceed to S58. Then, display of the received image in the old image window is started, and the process shown in FIG. 6 is ended.

In the embodiment described above, it is determined whether the operator is in the middle of other processing based on whether the program being activated at the time of receiving an image communication call is an application. This determination process is performed by calculating the CPU usage rate, and if the CPU usage rate is greater than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the operator is busy with other processing, and if the CPU usage rate is less than the threshold value, the operator is It is also possible to determine that the operator is not doing other processing.

Furthermore, by combining information regarding several information processing devices, such as CPU usage rate, keyboard input frequency, and CRT output frequency, it is also possible to determine whether the operator is currently performing another process.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, since the window size of the reception image window can be adjusted according to the passage of time from the start of image communication, the operator does not feel that the reception image window is a hindrance. Furthermore, the trouble of changing the received image window to an appropriate size after starting image communication can be saved.

Furthermore, since the apparatus includes a window size adjustment means for adjusting the window size according to the determined situation, the screen of the information processing device used as a communication terminal device can be adjusted according to the situation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of the overall processing of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of the entire processing of another embodiment, Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of the command interpreter used in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of the command interpreter used in the embodiment shown in Figure 3.
Schematic Flowchart of Program FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of the image communication program used in the embodiment of FIG. In the figure, 1... CPU, 2... CRT, 3... Keyboard, 4... Timer, 5... Memory, 6... External storage device, 7... Video camera, 8... ...Communication control device, 9...r SDN line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an information processing device equipped with a multi-window function that displays a received image in at least one window, there is provided a timer for measuring the image communication time from the reception of a call, and a timer for measuring the elapsed time measured by the timer. An information processing apparatus comprising: window size adjustment means for adjusting the size of a window in which a received image is displayed. (2) The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing executed by the information processing device is displayed in at least one other window. (3) In an information processing apparatus having a multi-window function that displays a received image in at least one window and a processing result in one other window, a determination means for determining the processing status, and a determination unit according to the determined status. An information processing apparatus comprising: window size adjustment means for adjusting the size of the window.