JPH05241752A - Controlling method for variable analog value and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To control a variable analog value like sound volume, etc., by the graphic display of a display device. CONSTITUTION: A control object 22 is used in order to display the controller of round shape like a rotatable knob by using the display device 14. The information of exclusive use for communicating between an analog value variable application for determining the range, the present value and the increment of the selected analog value and the control object 22 is used. A graphical pointing device 24 like a mouse is used for selecting and operating the graphic display of the knob, and in response to this operation, the related variable analog value is changed. In a good example, the video of the knob of the graphic display of the round shape is given, and this graphic display contains the mark of a position and a scale arrayed in the shape of the circular arc. The rotation of this round graphic display is executed by the well-known 'dragging' operation of the mouse.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to multimedia computer systems, and more particularly to computer systems.
A method and system for controlling variable analog values in a system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for graphically sensuously controlling variable analog values in a multimedia computer system.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The mutual exchange of data within a data processing system is well known as one feature of modern computer systems. Text and graphics are
A well known device, the Faximili device, can be utilized to efficiently interoperate between various parts of a data processing device. More recently, newer computer systems have begun experimenting with the transfer of data called "multimedia" data. That is, combining displays including audio, video, text, graphics and graphics into a common display. One factor that complicates the combining and handling of multimedia data is that such data takes various forms. For example, audio data may be stored on audio tape as analog data, such as amplitude modulated or frequency modulated RF signals, and interchanged.

In addition, audio data is stored and interchanged as coded data that includes coded values for factors such as tone, length, and strength. As an example of exchanging encoded audio data, a common interface is used to encode keystrokes that are interchanged with each other.
Interface (Musical Instrument Digital Inter
face-MIDI) ". Finally, audio data can be stored and exchanged as uncoded data or simply as a digital representation of a digital representation of an audio signal, such as a signal encoded on a compact audio disc. ..

Due to the various formats that audio data can take, great difficulties are encountered in exchanging and processing such data. This problem becomes particularly difficult when an operator who uses the audio device tries to change or operate various analog values such as sound intensity and tone. Such manual operation of operating audio equipment extends to the field of use of digital devices, where the operator has the analog nature to control the sensory nature of controlling analog values in non-computer related environments. Attempts have been made to provide a control interface that appears to operate in various ways. For example, a linear scroll bar or slider control is a method in which an operator of an analog device changes an analog value by operating a lever indicating a position along a linear indicator. Often found in the field of interfaces used in the environment. Such a device occupies a large area on the screen of a display device, and the use of such a device is not perceptually acceptable to the average user. Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that can control variable analog values in a small graphical image in a sensory manner without using a large portion of the display area of a computer system display device. That is clear.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved multimedia computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for controlling variable analog values in a multimedia computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method in a multimedia computer system that can be manipulated in a sensory manner using a small graphical image to control variable analog values. ..

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method and system for controlling variable analog values, such as volume control, bass control, or treble control of audio equipment in a multimedia computer system.
A "control object" is used to generate a graphic image of a rotating controller, such as a dial or knob displayed on a visual display system. Then, communicate between the control object and the variable analog value application to determine and set the desired range for the analog value range, the current analog value and the selected variable analog value. A dedicated message is used. A graphical display of dials or knobs is selected and operated by a light pen or a graphical pointing device such as a mouse, and thereby the variable analog values associated with these dials etc. Is changed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a schematic representation of a rotary circular knob is provided and is shown, the knob having graduated arcs arranged around the knob. The rotation of the circular graphic display can be done by the well-known mouse "drag" technique, by the graphical selection of a specific incremental display, or by the graphical "rotation" button using a graphical pointing device. It can be done by any choice.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a multimedia computer system 10 which may be used to implement the method and system of the present invention. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, multimedia computer system 10 includes a processor 12 connected in a known manner to a display device 14 and a keyboard 16. The display device 14 has a graphical user interface configured in the manner described below.
It includes a screen 18 of a display device that can be used in accordance with the method and system of the present invention to provide an interface.

Display device 1 in a manner to be described later.
A display driver 20 used to create and manipulate an image in screen 4 of a four display device is shown in processor 12. Further, the control object 22 is shown. The control object 22 in accordance with an important feature of the present invention is used to control a variable analog value in the multimedia application 26 in a manner described below.

Those skilled in the art of multimedia computer technology will readily understand that multimedia application 26 includes any application that utilizes information called "multimedia" data. That is, this information includes audio, video, text, graphics and other data formats. Of course, multimedia application 26 may be stored in memory associated with processor 12, or may be located in an associated computer and accessed remotely by processor 12 in a known manner. You can

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, multimedia application 26 preferably includes at least some audio data that is output in a conventional manner through loudspeaker 28. Finally, a graphical pointing device 24 is connected to the processor 12. Although the illustrated graphical pointing device 24 is referred to as a "mouse", the present invention can be implemented using any suitable graphical pointing device such as, for example, a light pen or a touch sensitive screen. Could be easily implemented.

Similarly, equipment such as, for example, IBM's PS / 2 computer, or any other suitable "personal" computer, may be utilized in the multimedia computer system 10 of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of the screen 18 of the display device used to provide a graphical image of the graphical user-controlled interface 34 is shown. Display device screen 18
Preferably provides a so-called "window" or "viewpoint" that can be used to provide a visual display associated with a multimedia application such as "MUSIC APPLICATION". As is well known to this road expert, computer display 18
Pre-set therein is a command bar 32 which preferably includes pull down commands that can be used to select various actions in the displayed application.

Further, the screen 18 of the display device
A mouse pointer 36 is shown in the figure. The mouse pointer 36 points to any position within the computer display 18 by physical manual manipulation of the graphical pointing device 24 (see FIG. 1) in a manner known in the art. You can A graphical user control interface 34 is used to control the variable analog values associated with the application displayed in the computer display screen 18, as described in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an enlarged schematic diagram of the graphical user control interface 34 of FIG. 2 utilized in the method and system of the present invention.
As shown, the graphical user control interface 34 is preferably a graphic representation of a rotating circular controller such as a knob or dial. The schematic display is a mode that gives a three-dimensional visual effect, and is preferably a three-dimensional representation including colors and shades. By displaying an image illuminated by a light source located near the leading edge of the graphical user controlled interface 34, and with the trailing edge highlighted in the dark,
Achieving a graphical representation of the graphical user-controlled interface 34 is readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in FIG. 3, the graphical user interface 34 is a rotatable circular representation of a knob 38 containing a position indicator 40. As shown, the term "knob" refers to a knob, dial,
By a generally circular rotatable controller such as a rheostat. Around the periphery of the knob 38, a plurality of scales 42 arranged in an arc shape are provided. Also, the graphical user control interface 34 is provided with user selectable graphical displays, such as push buttons 44 and 46. As shown, push button 44 is labeled "-" (minus), while push button 46 is labeled "+" (plus) and push button 44 The selection reduces the level of the variable analog value associated with the graphical user control interface 34, while the selection of the push button 46 selects the graphical user control interface 3.
An intuitive display to the user of increasing the level of the variable analog value associated with 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mouse pointer 3
6 can be used to select the push button 46, which allows the graphical image of the graphical user-controlled interface 34 to be manipulated by a knob in the direction of rotation of the clock as indicated by arrow 48. Rotate 38. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the user is
The pointer 36 may be utilized to increase or decrease the level of the variable analog value associated with the graphical user control interface 34 by selecting either push button 44 or push button 46. it can.

In addition, the graphical user control interface 34 can be associated with a label that is labeled with letters that represent the particular variable analog value associated with the control interface 34. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the graphical user control interface 34.
Can be used to change the "volume", a variable analog value associated with a particular multimedia application, as indicated by the letter label shown. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variable analog values associated with "bass", "treble", "balance", etc. knobs can be controlled in the same way as the letter labels above. it is obvious.

Referring to FIG. 4 to explain another control method, there is shown an enlarged view of the graphical user control interface 34 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the mouse pointer 36 is used to select one of the scales 42 arranged in an arc around the outer circumference of the knob 38. To utilize the mouse pointer 36 to select one of such indicia, the knob 38 rotates a position indicium 40 to align with the selected indicia in the direction indicated by arrow 48. This can be changed graphically.

Finally, referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an enlarged view of the graphical user control interface 34 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the mouse pointer 36 is placed over the knob 38, and then manually moved in the so-called "drag" mode of the mouse pointer in the direction of arrow 50. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that this technique is commonly used by graphical pointing devices, such as mouse pointers, to select and move computer display objects. it can. The above movements are usually
This is accomplished by holding down the mouse button and positioning the mouse pointer at the desired location. By performing a "drag" operation on the mouse pointer 36 in the direction indicated by the arrow 50, the knob 38 is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow 48.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, graphical users are able to act intuitively to increase or decrease the level of variable analog values in a multimedia computer system. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the control interface is provided by the present invention. The level of the associated variable analog value can be set by selecting a particular scale arranged around the knob 38 of the graphical user-controlled interface 34, or by turning the knob 38 into a known mouse "drag" operation. Push button 44
Either or 46 can be selected to increase or decrease. In this way, the user of the multimedia computer system 10 can immediately operate the graphical user control interface 34 from the knowledge of controlling the analog amount experienced in the actual living environment.
And it is necessary to pay attention to what can be intuitively understood.

Referring to FIG. 6, the graphical representation of FIG.
4 is a high level flow chart illustrating a method of creating a user controlled interface 34. As shown, the initialization process begins at block 70 and then proceeds to block 72 which identifies the user's application and the selected analog variable to be controlled.
The initialization process then passes to block 74 which selects and controls the object to control.
Then proceed to block 76 which establishes communication between the control object and the user's application.

The manner in which the above communication is set differs depending on the environment in which the actual application is executed.
This is easily understood by experts in this field. However, in an OS / 2 presentation manager operating system environment (commercially available from IBM), or other similar windowing environment, the control object and the user's application Communication between the standard presentation
WinSendMs, a communication protocol for managers
This can be accomplished using standard window-passing communication techniques, such as the interface of the g application program. If the user's application and control object are not located in the same process or task, the so-called “dynamic data exchange (Dynami
Data Exchange-DDE) "is used to set up communication between the control object and the user's application. For more information on DDE technology, see 198.
See page 13 of the Microsoft Systems Journal, November 1995.

After setting up the communication between the control object and the user's application, block 78 shows the range of analog values, the determination and setting of the current analog and increment values. Each multimedia application that has an associated variable analog value associated with it has a variable analog value, a current value within the above range of variable analog values, and a minimum and maximum value of the analog value range. It is to be understood by this road expert that it is necessary to have a tolerance with the value of the increment allowed at

For example, the variable analog value selected may have an allowed increment of 10 and a range of 0 to 100. Therefore, when a graphical representation of the control is created, as indicated by block 80, the minimum position of the control displays a value of 0, while the maximum position of the control is 10
Display a value of 0. Therefore, each incremental scale between the minimum and maximum values is 10 values per scale. afterwards,
After creating a schematic representation of a user-controlled interface, such as a dial or knob, that contains the allowed analog values, the current analog value, and the range of values for the increment given over the range. The process ends at block 82.

Finally, referring to FIG. 7, a high level flowchart illustrating the use of the graphical user control interface 34 of FIG. 2 is shown. Similar to the process described above, the user input process shown in FIG. 7 begins at block 90 and then proceeds to block 92. At block 92, it is determined whether a focus situation has occurred. "Focus situation" means that the user wishes to operate the graphical user control interface 34 or change variables by user input through a graphical pointing device, keyboard, or other device. Whether or not After that happened,
User input processing proceeds to block 94 which provides a graphical display change of the user controlled interface according to the focus situation.

As already explained, in the embodiment of the present invention, this modification of the schematic representation of the control causes the disc-shaped rotary knob 38 to rotate in the direction and size specified according to the focus situation. Take in. Then block 96
As indicated in, the change in the current value of the selected variable is communicated to the user's application, thereby controlling the value of the variable analog value in the multimedia application. The user input process then returns to block 92 in a sensible manner to wait for the next focus event to occur.

The above-described embodiment provides a new user-controlled interface that can be operated by the user in a sensory manner and does not occupy a large area on the screen surface of the display. Was understood. In this way, the variable analog value in a multimedia application can be controlled in a sensory manner without the user having sufficient knowledge of a complex control system.

[0030]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, in a multimedia computer system, the analog amount can be sensuously controlled by a graphic image without using a large portion of the screen of the display device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multimedia computer system for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a screen of a computer display device that includes a graphical user control interface used to implement the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the graphical user control interface shown in FIG. 2 for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a first control method in the graphical user control interface shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram for explaining a second control method in the graphical user control interface shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a high level flow chart illustrating the creation of the graphical user controlled interface shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a high level flow chart illustrating the use of the graphical user controlled interface shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Multimedia Computer System 12 Processor 14 Display Device 16 Keyboard 18 Screen 20 Display Driver 22 Control Object 24 Graphical Pointing Device 26 Multimedia Application 28 Loudspeaker 32 Command Bar 34 Graphical User Control Interface 36 Mouse pointer 38 Knob 40 Position mark 42 Scale 44, 46 Push button

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for a user to control variable analog values in a computer system having a display device and a graphical pointing device, the method comprising the step of creating a graphical representation of a knob in the display device. A step of manipulating the graphical representation of the knob using the graphical pointing device, and at least one of the variable analog values by manipulating the graphical representation of the knob. A method of controlling a variable analog value, including a step of changing one. 2. The step of creating a graphical representation of a knob in the display device, wherein the step comprises a step of creating a rotatable, round-shaped graphical representation of the knob. Variable analog value control method. 3. The step of rotating the rotatable, round-shaped schematic representation of the knob uses the graphical pointing device.
The method for controlling the variable analog value according to. 4. A method for controlling a variable analog value as claimed in claim 1, including a step for producing a graphical representation of at least one selectable push button. 5. A step of manipulating said graphical representation of a knob comprises the step of selecting said at least one graphically represented pushbutton using said graphical pointing device, and responsive to said selection. 5. A method of controlling a variable analog value according to claim 4, including the step of rotating said graphical representation of said knob. 6. A computer system in which a user can control variable analog values, a processor, a display means connected to the processor for generating a visible image, and a display means in the display means. A display control means connected to the display means to create a graphical representation of the knob, and a graphical pointing connected to the display means for graphically selecting an image in the display means. A device and, in response to a graphical selection of the graphical representation of the knob by using the graphical pointing device, connecting to the display means for changing the graphical representation of the knob. Selected in response to the changed graphical display of the knob and the graphical representation of the knob. A computer system including control means for changing a variable analog value. 7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein said graphical representation in said display means comprises a rotatable round knob graphical representation of a knob. 8. The image manipulation means is responsive to the graphical selection of a graphical representation of the round knob by using the graphical pointing device to rotate the rotatable round knob. 8. A computer system as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that it rotates the schematic representation of. 9. The control means includes means for communicating with an application in association with a selected variable analog value to determine a range for the variable analog value. The computer system described in.