JPH04287093A - Picture display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a user by apparently increasing the size of a frame memory to expand a display area on a display device of a work station or the like and enabling the user to easily access objective picture information. CONSTITUTION:Plural display data A and B stored in different areas of a storage device 7 are mapped on different positions of one virtual display space S, and a partial area of the virtual display space S is selected and is transferred to the frame memory. The select position on the virtual display space S is changed to display an objective picture on the picture display device by scrolling.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image display method for outputting images to an image display device in a computer or workstation, and is particularly suitable for displaying a plurality of images on the display screen of an image display device. This invention relates to an image display method.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional image display devices are provided with a frame memory that can perform bit operations in one-to-one correspondence with pixels of an image to be output, and it is possible to control the on/off state of the bits in this frame memory. This controls the brightness and darkness of pixels in the image. In such a display device, the displayable area is the size of the frame memory (for example, 119
(2 pixels x 980 pixels).

[0003] Therefore, when displaying a plurality of windows simultaneously on the screen of an image display device, that is, when operating in a multi-window environment, the display area may be insufficient. For this reason, during multi-window display, windows are displayed in an overlapping manner. When displaying overlapping windows, it is necessary to temporarily save the image information of the part covered by the upper window to a memory other than the frame memory and save its contents, and then overwrite the image of the upper window. be. In this way, if you save the image information of the lower window, when the upper window is closed, the image information of the lower window that was saved earlier will be returned to its original position in the frame memory. As a result, the image information in the lower window will be displayed again.

When selecting one of these windows, move a cursor whose position is controlled on the display screen using a mouse or the like to the desired window position, and press the mouse selection button to operate the desired window. becomes possible. Such window processing is generally performed by a window management device provided for each window, but as the number of windows increases, the windows overlap each other many times, making the processing in the window management device complicated. This causes problems such as it takes time and effort to create a processing program and the processing time becomes long. Furthermore, there is a drawback that the window selection operation becomes complicated and it becomes difficult to immediately view the data that one desires.

[0005] Furthermore, if the size of the frame memory is increased, that is, the number of pixels is increased, and the image display device is correspondingly increased in size and resolution, the amount of image information that can be displayed on one screen will be increased. However, in this case, increasing the size and resolution of the image display device increases manufacturing costs and has physical limitations. Furthermore, since the frame memory needs to operate at high speed in synchronization with screen scanning of the image display device and requires a dedicated drive circuit, increasing the size of the frame memory also results in high costs.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention expands the displayable area by apparently expanding the size of the frame memory. The purpose is to enable users to easily access desired image information and to improve user operability.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image display method of the present invention stores a plurality of image information in different areas of a storage device, and displays the plurality of image information stored in the storage device in one virtual display. map to different locations in space,
Selecting an arbitrary partial area on the virtual display space, determining a real address on the storage device that corresponds to image information in the selected area, and finding a real address on the storage device that corresponds to the real address stored in the storage device. It is characterized in that image information is displayed by an image display device.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a workstation to which the image display method of the present invention is applied. The workstation includes a workstation body 1, a display 2, a mouse 3, a keyboard 4, and the like. Inside the workstation main body 1, a frame memory 5 having a size of, for example, 1192 pixels x 980 pixels stores image information to be displayed on the screen of the display 2, and image data is written to and read from the frame memory 5. Frame memory management device 6 that controls
, a large-capacity secondary storage device 7 such as a hard disk to which the contents of the frame memory 5 are transferred and stored are connected to each other via an internal bus 8, so that data can be transferred to each other. The internal bus 8 also includes a ROM (read-only memory) for operating as a workstation.
9, a main storage device 10, a mouse/keyboard controller 11, a LAN (local area network) interface 12, a CPU (central processing unit) 13, and the like are connected.

In this embodiment, a plurality of pieces of image information are
The next storage device 7 is stored in different areas and these two
Next, a plurality of pieces of image information stored in the storage device 7 are mapped to different positions on one virtual display space. 2 to 4 show the workstation shown in FIG.
The area occupied by the display data in the secondary storage device 7, the arrangement of each display data on the virtual display space S, and the image drawn in the frame memory 5, that is, the image displayed on the screen of the actual display 2. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the relationship between images. Further, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of display processing.

FIG. 2 shows an initial state, in which only one piece of display data A is displayed on the screen of the display 2, similar to the conventional image display device. Note that 2a in the figure schematically shows a display frame on the display 2, which corresponds to the size of the frame memory 5. In this case, a storage area for the display data A is secured in the secondary storage device 7 (step 101), and is drawn in the frame memory 5 (step 102). That is, the display data A is drawn directly into the frame memory 5 by the window management device based on operations of the mouse and keyboard, or based on data from the LAN. However, at this time, only a storage area of the size of the frame memory 5 is secured in the secondary storage device 7, and it is not always necessary to save and store display data in the secondary storage device 7 from the viewpoint of drawing efficiency. There isn't.

Next, in addition to display data A, display data B
Let us consider the case where the following is displayed on the display 2. However, here, it is assumed that the display data B is stored in advance in an appropriate area in the secondary storage device 7 that does not overlap with the display data A. In this embodiment, storage areas corresponding to each display data in the secondary storage device 7 are mapped to different positions on the virtual display space S. At this time,
The actual storage address of the display data in the secondary storage device 7 (
The real address) and the coordinates on the virtual display space S are associated in advance. Note that the arrangement of each display data on the storage area of the secondary storage device 7 is automatically and appropriately stored in a vacant area, similar to normal file management. Further, mapping from the secondary storage device 7 onto the virtual display space S is performed by referring to a set of display data name, physical data address, and virtual display address held in a table. However, if the virtual display address has not been determined, the system arbitrarily sets it in an area that does not overlap. Then, by cutting out the display data on the virtual display space S with the size of the frame memory 5, that is, 1192 pixels x 980 pixels, the display data required by the user is displayed on the screen of the display 2. . Conceptually, all display data is projected onto the virtual display space S, and a certain area on the virtual display space S drawn on the display 2 can be seen as if it were moving. In other words, the display data developed on the virtual display space S can be viewed while scrolling.

FIG. 3 shows a case where two pieces of display data A and B that cannot be stored in the frame memory 5 are displayed on the screen of the display 2.

When a scroll request from the mouse 3 or keyboard 4 is accepted (step 103), the cutout positions on the virtual display space S are sequentially moved. Now, Figure 3
Suppose that display data A has protruded from the display frame 2a of the display 2, and a portion of display data B has newly entered the display frame 2a, as shown in FIG. In this case, display data b appearing in the frame memory 5, that is, within the display frame 2a, is calculated among the data on the virtual display space S (step 104), and with the data in the frame memory 5,
The display data a of the portion that protrudes from the frame memory 5 is calculated (step 105). Next, the frame memory management device 6 shown in FIG. 1 saves and stores the display data a in the area reserved for the display data A in the secondary storage device 7 as needed (step 106). Next, by reading the display data b onto the frame memory 5, parts that have not been displayed until now are displayed (Step 1
07). The processes of steps 103 to 107 are repeated until the scroll request ends (step 108). Finally, as shown in FIG. 4, all display data A is stored in the secondary storage device 7.
All display data B is stored in the secondary storage device 7.
When the data is transferred from the frame memory 5 to the frame memory 5, it can be seen that all the display data has changed. That is, the display data A is displayed while scrolling from the display data B to the display data B.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the desired display data is accessed by scrolling, but by arranging each display data on the virtual display space S according to predetermined rules, the desired display data can be accessed by scrolling. Display data can be easily accessed. Furthermore, operability can be improved by jumping directly to a predetermined distance or display data position with a single scroll instruction, rather than scrolling continuously.

The frame memory management device 6 performs scroll management by
Coordinates and Y coordinates, size in the X direction, size in the Y direction,
and the storage address in the secondary storage device are held as data.

The scroll display operation management by the frame memory management device 6 will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, (X1, Y1) to (X4
, Y4) indicates the coordinates of the apex of the space occupied by the image of the display data A on the virtual display space S, and (x1, y1) ~
(x4, y4) indicates the coordinates of the vertex of the space that the image of display data B occupies on the virtual display space S. usually,
X1 = X3, X2 = X4, Y1 = Y2, Y
3 = Y4 , x1 = x3 , x2 = x4 , y1
= y2, y3 = y4. Furthermore, a frame indicated by a broken line is a display frame 2a indicating a displayable range in the frame memory 5. Note that, as shown in FIG. 7, the display data A is stored from address ADA1 to address AD
Display data B is stored between address A2 and address ADB.
1 to address ADB2.

If the range of display frame 2a and display data A match, all data at addresses ADA1 to ADA2 are transferred to frame memory 5, and all display data A is displayed.

Next, when a scroll request is made, display data is transferred in accordance with the requested amount of movement. Let ΔX be the amount of movement in the X direction, ΔY be the amount of movement in the Y direction, and let the coordinates of the upper left of the destination display frame 2a be (X8, Y8). Now, focusing only on the X direction, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the coordinate X8 in the X direction on the left side of the destination display frame 2a is between the coordinates x1 and x2, The coordinates X8 to x2 of 2a are the virtual display space S
The above data becomes the display data b appearing in the frame memory 5 (see step 104 in FIG. 5). Also,
If the coordinate X8 of the left side of the destination display frame 2a in the X direction is to the left of the coordinate x1, then the coordinate x2 is moved from the coordinate x1 to the coordinate x2.
up to display data b appearing in the frame memory 5
becomes. However, it is assumed here that the size of the frame memory 5 in the X direction is sufficiently large with respect to the movement amount ΔX.

Although the above explanation focused only on the X direction, both the X and Y directions will be considered below.

In the example of FIG. 6, as a result of scrolling, display frame 2
The case where a is in a state spanning two display data A and B is shown.

In this case, the coordinates (x2
, y2 ), (x5, y5 ), (x6, y6 ), (
x7, y7) are obtained by calculation. Data b to be newly displayed is determined from these coordinates (step 10
(See 4). Next, the coordinates (X1, Y1), (X2
, Y2 ), (X4, Y4 ), (X7, Y7 ), (
X6, Y6) and (X5, Y5) are obtained by calculation. Display data a of the part that protrudes from these coordinates
is determined (see step 105). Furthermore, the real address (indicated by the vertical line in FIG. 7) of the display data a on the secondary storage device 7 is obtained, and the data of the portion of the display data A that protrudes from the display frame 2a is stored in the frame memory 5 at this address. transferred from. That is, display data a is saved (see step 106). In addition, display data b
The real address (indicated by the horizontal line in FIG. 7) on the secondary storage device 7 is determined, and from this address, the data of the portion of display data B that falls within the display frame is transferred to the secondary storage device 7.
The image is then transferred to the frame memory 5 and displayed (see step 107). Note that the relationship between the coordinates on the virtual display space S and the real addresses on the secondary storage device 7 is associated with each other by a table.

At this time, the display data A on the virtual display space S
Since there is no data to be displayed between and display data B, no matter how far apart the positional relationship between these two display data A and B is on the frame memory 5, there is no data in the secondary storage device 7. , the area reserved is only the size of the portion where the display data exists. Therefore, the size of the display data, which is the same size as the frame memory 5, is 1192 pixels x
Even with 980 pixels and 8-bit color display, 1MB
Considering that the amount of data is small (1192 x 980 x 8 = 9,345,280) and the capacity of the secondary storage device 7 is from several hundred Mbytes to several Gbytes or more, in practical terms, Virtually infinite virtual display space is available.

In the above embodiment, the display data is stored in the secondary storage device 7 by the frame memory management device 6, but any means that eliminates the physical limitations of the frame memory 5 may be used. For example, a service that provides storage area on a network (memory server)
etc. may also be used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the members corresponding to those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that a user-attached data memory 14 is further connected to the internal bus 8. Display data for various icons that need to be displayed on the screen of the display 2 at all times is written into this user-attached data memory 14. Icons that need to be displayed at all times include, for example, a clock icon, an e-mail box icon, and basic icons such as documents (hereinafter referred to as basic icons).

In this second embodiment as well, the display state is changed by an instruction from the mouse 3 or keyboard 4 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. Alternatively, the frame memory management device 6 automatically overwrites the contents written in the user-attached data memory 13 in the frame memory 5 every time the display state is changed. Thereby, even if the position cut out from the virtual display space S is changed, the basic icons will always be displayed on the screen of the display 2. Therefore, the user can refer to these various icons at any time. Furthermore, by controlling externally whether or not data can be written from the user-attached data memory 13 to the frame memory 5, display of the icon can be temporarily prohibited when it is a nuisance.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on the screen of the display 2. Currently, a document 21 being edited, a desktop 22 on which it is placed, and basic icons 23 are displayed on the display. Among these, the basic icons 23 are displayed by overwriting the documents 21 and desktop 22 displayed on the frame memory 5 by the frame memory management device 6 with those drawn in the user-attached data memory 13. Ru.

[0030] Here, when scrolling the entire desktop 22 on the screen of the display 2 and displaying another part on the virtual display space S based on an instruction from the mouse 3 or the keyboard 4, the procedure as shown in FIG. , the document 21 and the desktop 22 are scrolled, but the basic icons 23 are on the user-attached data memory 13 and are overwritten in the frame memory 5, so they are not scrolled and are moved to the same position on the screen of the display 2. will be displayed.

Furthermore, since the basic icons 23 are on the user-attached display data memory 13, it is possible to display the document 21 and desktop 22 as shown in FIG. 11 without displaying only the basic icons. . That is, a flag is set whose on/off is controlled based on instructions from the mouse 3 or keyboard 4, and for example, the display data in the user-attached data memory 13 is transferred to the frame memory 5 only when this flag is on. do it.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the members corresponding to those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that an additional frame memory 15 similar to the frame memory 5 is further connected to the internal bus 8. The additional frame memory 15 includes the display 2 as in the second embodiment.
Display data for basic icons that must be displayed on the screen at all times is written.

In the third embodiment, since the frame memory is for two screens, the basic icons 23 can be displayed as necessary by switching between the frame memory 5 and the frame memory 15 using a hardware changeover switch 16. You can then access it.

Furthermore, if a plurality of displays are provided to form a multi-display system, and one of the displays 17 is used exclusively for the additional frame memory 15, as shown in FIG.
7, the contents of the frame memory 15, that is, the display frequently used by the user, is always displayed, improving operability.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the plurality of display data displayed on the screen of the display 2 are all created in the same user environment, but they are created in different user environments. Display data can also be displayed on the same display screen. Note that the user environment here refers to, for example,
SunView (registered trademark), Xwindow (
(registered trademark), Smalltalk (registered trademark), etc. system environment, window management environment, language environment, etc.

In order to display display data created in different user environments on the same display screen, the display data created in each user environment is assigned to different display spaces on the same virtual display space. All you have to do is cut out the part to be displayed and transfer it to the frame memory. Taking FIGS. 2 to 4 as an example, display data A indicates display data generated in a certain user environment α, and display data B indicates display data generated in another user environment β.

Furthermore, if an additional frame memory is provided as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, and the contents of this additional frame memory are displayed on another display, display data based on different user environments for each display can be displayed. This allows operations to be performed as if using multiple workstations, each providing a different user environment.

[0039]

As described above, in the present invention, different display data is arranged in a virtual display space, and the image data is transferred to a frame memory while changing the position to be cut out from this display space. It is displayed on a display device. This makes it possible to arrange a plurality of pieces of image information in parallel and easily access target image data without being limited by the physical capacity of the frame memory. Therefore, operability is improved compared to searching for a target image from overlapping image data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a workstation to which an image display method of the present invention is applied.

[Figure 2] In the initial state of the workstation shown in Figure 1, the area occupied by display data in the secondary storage device, the arrangement of each display data in the virtual display space, and the area displayed on the display screen. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the relationship between images.

[Fig. 3] In the workstation shown in Fig. 1, the area occupied by display data in the secondary storage device, the arrangement of each display data in the virtual display space, and the display data displayed on the display screen during scrolling. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the relationship between images.

[Figure 4] In the workstation shown in Figure 1, the area occupied by display data in the secondary storage device, the arrangement of each display data in the virtual display space, and the area displayed on the display screen at the end of scrolling. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the relationship between images.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of display processing in the workstation shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between coordinates of display data and display frames on a virtual display space.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of display data in a secondary storage device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a workstation showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an initial display screen of the display of the workstation shown in FIG. 8;

10 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen when the display of the workstation shown in FIG. 8 is scrolled; FIG.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen when displaying basic icons on the display of the workstation shown in FIG. 8 is prohibited; FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a workstation showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a workstation showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Workstation body 2 Display 3 Mouse 4 Keyboard 5 Frame memory 6 Frame memory management device 7 Secondary storage device 8 Internal bus 9 ROM 10 Main storage device 11 Mouse/keyboard controller 12 L
AN interface 13 CPU 14 User-attached data memory 15 Additional frame memory 16 Changeover switch 17 Display 21 Document 22 Desktop 23 Basic icons A, B Display data S Virtual display space

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of pieces of image information are stored in different areas of a storage device, the plurality of image information stored in the storage device are mapped to different positions on one virtual display space, and the plurality of image information stored in the storage device are mapped to different positions on one virtual display space, Select any partial area on the display space, find the real address on the storage device corresponding to the image information in the selected area, and calculate the image information corresponding to the real address stored in the storage device. An image display method characterized by displaying on an image display device. 2. Image information that needs to be constantly or frequently displayed on the screen of the image display device is stored in a storage device other than the storage device, and the image information in the other storage device is stored. 2. The image display method according to claim 1, wherein the image information is displayed on the image display device superimposed on or in place of the image information from the storage device.