JPH05323932A - Multi-monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a multi-monitor system by which wholly controls window processes over all of plural monitors. CONSTITUTION:The multi-monitoring system is equipped with the monitors 1a, 1b..., a keyboard 4 and a mouse 5 for inputting the contents of the window processes on the monitors 1a, 1b..., a window control means 6 which performs inputted window processes, a window setting means 7 as application software for setting window parameters regarding the window processes, and a window control means 8 as window control software for controlling the window processes. The window control means 8 moves or copies a window generated on one monitor to another optional monitor or replacing windows between different monitors.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-monitor system having a plurality of monitors, and more particularly to a multi-monitor system for displaying medical image data or medical graphic data in a window format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image data obtained by MRI, X-ray CT, ultrasonic tomography or the like, or graphic data in which the processing results thereof are made into a graph are displayed on a monitor of a workstation and used for diagnosis. Be served.

Recently, a multi-monitor system capable of simultaneously displaying image data and the like on a plurality of monitors has been developed. For example, tomographic images relating to the same diagnostic site obtained on different slice planes are displayed on different monitors. It can be displayed at the same time.

[0004]

However, in the conventional multi-monitor system, for example, window processing such as limiting or canceling the moving range of the mouse cursor within a predetermined monitor or generating a window on a predetermined monitor is performed. Since all application software was responsible for it, it was necessary to consider the monitor configuration when creating the application software.

Therefore, there is a problem that extra time is required for creating a program of application software and the number of steps of the program is increased.

Further, when the monitor configuration is changed, it is necessary to change the program of the application software, which imposes a heavy burden on the creator of the application software.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-monitor system capable of comprehensively managing window processing over a plurality of monitors.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the multi-monitor system of the present invention has a plurality of monitors and an input for inputting the contents of window processing on the monitors as described in claim 1. Means, window control means for performing input window processing, window setting means for setting window parameters relating to the window processing, and window management means for managing the window processing.

[0009]

According to the multi-monitor system of the present invention, the window processing on each monitor is centrally managed, so that it is not necessary to consider the monitor configuration when creating application software.

Therefore, the burden of creating application software can be greatly reduced.

[0011]

Embodiments of the multi-monitor system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

The multi-monitor system of the present embodiment comprises a plurality of monitors 1a, 1b ... And a monitor 1a, 1b.
The input means 2 for inputting the contents of the above window processing and the CPU 3 for executing various processings or calculations are provided.

The window processing is to generate a predetermined window on a predetermined monitor, delete the generated window, move the generated window to another monitor, copy the generated window to another monitor, This includes replacing generated windows, regenerating erased windows, etc.

The input means 2 allows an operator to input a desired window processing command, and is preferably composed of a keyboard 4, a mouse 5 and the like.

The CPU 3 includes window control means 6 for performing the input window processing and window setting means 7 for setting window parameters relating to the window processing.
And a window management means 8 for managing window processing.

The window control means 6 includes a monitor 1a,
The predetermined window processing is executed on a predetermined monitor by controlling 1b ...

Further, the window control means 6 moves the mouse cursor among a plurality of monitors, restricts and cancels the movement of the mouse cursor within a predetermined monitor, creates a window on a predetermined monitor, and displays the window on the predetermined window. It is equipped with functions such as displaying data for use.

The window setting means 7 is so-called application software, and is a window such as the size of the window, the position of the window on the monitor, the magnification, the number of the monitor for generating the window, and the brightness of the display data displayed in the window. Parameters can be set.

The window setting means 7 is, for example, UNIX.
Is created as a program that operates as an operation system, and the above-mentioned set values can be freely changed by the input means 2.

The window management means 8 is arranged between the window control means 6 and the window setting means 7 as application software, and is software which manages window processing in a comprehensive manner over the monitors 1a, 1b. is there.

Further, the window management means 8 can move or copy a window generated on a certain monitor to another arbitrary monitor, and switch windows between different monitors. The window processing command received from the input means 2 can be transferred to the window setting means 7, and the command from the window setting means 7 can be transferred to the window control means 6.

As with the window setting means 7, the window management means 8 is preferably created as a program that operates on UNIX as an operating system.

The CPU 3 also has an image memory 9 for storing display data to be displayed in the window, and the image memory 9 is, for example, an MRI, an X-ray CT, etc. transferred from a database (not shown) via the network 10. It is possible to store created image data and graphic data related to them.

The window control means 6 comprises a frame memory (not shown) for storing image data and a graphic memory (not shown) for storing graphic data, and reads the display data from the image memory 9, It is designed to be loaded into a frame memory or graphic memory and displayed on a predetermined monitor.

The CPU 3 also comprises a window parameter storage memory 11 for storing window parameters for each window, and the window management means 8 writes the window parameter relating to the generated window to the window parameter storage memory 11 and also the window parameter storage memory. The window parameter written in 11 can be read.

Next, the operation of the multi-monitor system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart.

2 to 4 are flow charts showing the operation of the window management means 8 when a window is generated on a predetermined monitor.

FIGS. 5 to 6 show how windows are generated on, for example, three monitors 1a, 1b and 1c.

First, the operator uses the input means 2 to input "generate" which is a window processing command.

As shown in FIG. 2, the window management means 8 receives a window processing command (generation) from the input means 2 via the window control means 6.

After determining that the window processing instruction is "creation", the window management means 8 receives the window parameter from the window setting means 7, and the generation mode included in the window parameter is mode 1 or mode 2. Determine if there is.

Here, the mode 1 is a mode in which a window is generated on the monitor where the mouse cursor exists,
Mode 2 is a mode in which a window is created on a monitor in which an arbitrary window exists.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for generating a window in the mode 1.

Further, FIG. 5A shows the monitors 1a, 1b, 1c before the windows are generated, and the monitor numbers 1, 2, 3 are given in order.

The mouse cursor exists on the monitor 1a, for example.

Here, the window is, for example, the monitor 1b.
In order to generate it, the operator operates the mouse to move the mouse cursor to the monitor 1b, as shown in FIG. 5 (b).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the window management means 8 sends an instruction to the window control means 6 to limit the moving range of the mouse cursor to the monitor where the mouse cursor exists, that is, the monitor 1b.

Next, the window management means 8 receives from the window control means 6 the monitor number 2 of the monitor where the mouse cursor is.

Then, on the monitor 1b having the above-mentioned monitor number 2, an instruction to generate a window is sent to the window control means 6 according to the window parameter received from the window setting means 7.

Then, the above monitor number 2 is added to the window parameter, the generated window is given a window number, the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory 11 corresponding to the window number, and the mouse cursor is moved. An instruction for canceling the range limitation is sent to the window control means 6.

FIG. 5 (c) shows how the window control means 6 creates the window 20 on the monitor 1b.

Finally, the window management means 8 sends an instruction to display predetermined display data in the generated window 20 to the window control means 6, and the window control means 6 sends image data or image data from the image memory 9. The graphic data is read out, loaded into a built-in frame memory or graphic memory, and displayed in the window 20.

FIG. 4 shows a case where a window is generated in the mode 2.

FIG. 6 (a) shows the mode before the window is generated on the monitor in the mode 2.

As can be seen in the figure, window 2 has already been
0 and 21 are generated, of which window 20
Consider the case where another window is generated on the same monitor as the monitor 1b.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the window management means 8 uses the associated window number included in the window parameter received from the window setting means 7 to generate on which monitor the window having the associated window number is generated. It is specified by searching the window parameter storage memory 11.

The associated window number is a window number to be generated by the same monitor, and here corresponds to the window number given to the window 20.

Next, the window management means 8 sends to the window control means 6 an instruction to generate a window on the specified monitor, that is, the monitor 1b, according to the window parameter received from the window setting means 7.

Next, a window number is added to the generated window, and the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory 1 in correspondence with the window number.
Store in 1.

FIG. 6B shows the window 22 generated on the monitor 1b by the window control means 6.

Finally, the window management means 8 sends an instruction to display predetermined display data in the generated window 22 to the window control means 6, and the window control means 6 sends image data or image data from the image memory 9. The graphic data is read out, loaded into a built-in frame memory or graphic memory, and displayed in the window 22.

Next, a case will be described in which the created window is once deleted, the window parameters other than the monitor number are made the same, and the created window is recreated on another monitor.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow charts showing the flow of the operation of the window management means 8 when it is desired to regenerate the window in mode 1 and mode 2.

FIG. 9 (a) shows the state of the monitors 1a, 1b, 1c before the windows are regenerated,
As can be seen in the figure, the window 22 has been deleted.

First, the erased window 22 is set to the mode 1
When it is desired to regenerate the data on the monitor 1a by, the mouse cursor is operated to move the mouse cursor to the monitor 1a as shown in FIG. 9 (a).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the window management means 8 sends an instruction to the window control means 6 to limit the moving range of the mouse cursor to the monitor where the mouse cursor exists, that is, the monitor 1a.

Next, the window management means 8 receives from the window control means 6 the monitor number 1 of the monitor where the mouse cursor is.

Next, the window management means 8 reads the window number of the window to be regenerated, that is, the window number given to the window 22, from the window parameter received from the window setting means 7,
The window number of the window 22 is read from the window parameter storage memory 11 using this window number.

Next, on the monitor 1a having the above-mentioned monitor number 1, the window parameter storage memory 11
An instruction to generate a window is sent to the window control means 6 in accordance with the window parameter read from the.

Then, the above monitor number 1 is added to the window parameter, the generated window is given a window number, the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory 11 in correspondence with the window number, and the mouse cursor is moved. An instruction for canceling the range limitation is sent to the window control means 6.

FIG. 9B shows how the window control means 6 creates the window 23 on the monitor 1a.

Finally, the window management means 8 sends an instruction to display predetermined display data in the generated window 23 to the window control means 6, and the window control means 6 sends image data or image data from the image memory 9. The graphic data is read out, loaded into a built-in frame memory or graphic memory, and displayed in the window 23.

Although detailed description of regenerating the window in mode 2 is omitted, the window can be regenerated according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, the case where a window created on an arbitrary monitor is copied to another monitor will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for copying a window.

FIG. 11A shows the monitor 1a, 1b, 1c before copying.

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the window 2
Consider that 0 and 21 have already been generated, and of these, the window 20 is copied to the monitor 1a.

The operator uses the input means 2 to
The command indicating "copy" is input, and subsequently, the monitor number of the copy source and the monitor number of the copy destination, that is, 2, 1 are input.

Next, the window management means 8 receives these numbers from the input means 2 via the window control means 6.

Next, the window management means 8 reads out the window parameter relating to the window 20 created on the copy source monitor 1b from the window parameter storage memory 11, and creates the window on the copy destination monitor 1a according to the read window parameter. The power command is sent to the window control means 6.

Next, a window number is added to the generated window, and the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory 1 in correspondence with the window number.
Store in 1.

FIG. 11B shows how the window control means 6 creates the window 30 on the monitor 1a.

Finally, the window management means 8 sends to the window control means 6 an instruction to display the same display data as the display data displayed in the window 20 also in the generated window 30. The window control means 6 displays the same display data in the window 30.

Next, a case where a window created on an arbitrary monitor is moved to another monitor will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for moving a window.

FIG. 13 (a) shows the monitor 1a, 1b, 1c before moving.

As shown in FIG. 13 (a), the window 2
Consider that 0 and 21 have already been generated, and of these, the window 20 is moved to the monitor 1a.

The operator uses the input means 2 to
A command indicating "move" is input, and subsequently, the number of the monitor of the movement source and the number of the monitor of the movement destination, that is, 2, 1 are input.

Next, the window management means 8 receives these numbers from the input means 2 via the window control means 6.

Next, the window management means 8 reads out the window parameter relating to the window 20 generated on the monitor 1b of the movement source from the window parameter storage memory 11 and generates the window on the monitor 1a of the movement destination according to the read window parameter. The power command is sent to the window control means 6.

Next, a window number is attached to the generated window, and the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory 1 in correspondence with the window number.
Store in 1.

Then, the window 20 generated on the monitor 1b as the movement source is erased.

FIG. 13B shows a state in which the window 40 is generated and the window 20 is erased by the window control means 6 on the monitor 1a.

Finally, the window management means 8 sends to the window control means 6 an instruction to display the same display data as the display data displayed in the window 20 in the generated window 40, and Control means 6
Displays the same display data in the window 40.

By performing such movement twice, the windows generated on different monitors can be exchanged.

Next, the case of changing the brightness value of the data displayed in the generated window will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the flow of operation of the window management means 8 when changing the brightness value of the data displayed in the window.

FIG. 15 (a) shows the state of the monitors 1a, 1b, 1c before changing the brightness value. As can be seen in the figure, the windows 20, 21 have already been generated, Of these, consider the case where the brightness value of the window 20 is changed.

First, as shown in FIG. 15A, the mouse cursor is moved to the monitor 1b in which the window 20 whose brightness value is desired to be changed exists.

Next, the window management means 8 sends to the window control means 6 an instruction to limit the moving range of the mouse cursor to the monitor where the mouse cursor exists, that is, the monitor 1b.

Next, the window management means 8 receives from the window control means 6 the monitor number 2 of the monitor where the mouse cursor is.

Next, the window management means 8 reads the brightness value to be changed from the window parameter received from the window setting means 7.

Then, an instruction to display the image data in the window 20 with the read brightness value is sent to the window control means 6.

Next, the window management means 8 stores a window parameter including the changed brightness value in the window parameter storage memory 11, and issues an instruction to cancel the restriction of the moving range of the mouse cursor to the window control means 6.
Send to.

FIG. 15 (b) shows how the brightness value of the image data in the window 20 is changed by the window control means 6.

As described above, since the multi-monitor system of this embodiment has the window management means for managing a plurality of monitors, the window setting means, that is, the application software, does not give a control instruction such as moving, limiting, or releasing the cursor. Instead, it can be done by the window management means.

For this reason, the application software is created separately from the monitor configuration, and the labor for creating the software can be reduced, and even if the monitor configuration is changed, it is necessary to change the application software. Disappear.

In addition to the window management means, a window parameter storage memory is provided to store the window parameter for each window.
Related windows can be automatically generated on the same monitor.

Further, since the window parameter storage means is provided, the window once erased can be regenerated on a desired monitor, and the windows can be moved, copied, and replaced easily.

In this embodiment, the data displayed in the window is limited to medical data, but the multi-monitor system of the present invention can be applied to a system that handles various kinds of data. There is no end.

In the present embodiment, the window is generated on the monitor in which the cursor or any window is present, but it may be generated on the monitor set by the application software.

In the present embodiment, the window is regenerated on the monitor in which the cursor or any window is present, but it is automatically regenerated on the monitor having the monitor number stored in the window parameter storage memory, that is, the original monitor. You may do so.

In this embodiment, the window is regenerated according to the window parameter stored in the window parameter storage memory, but some window parameters may be set by application software.

[0105]

As described above, the multi-monitor system of the present invention includes a plurality of monitors, input means for inputting the contents of window processing on the monitors, and window control means for performing the input window processing. And window setting means for setting window parameters relating to the window processing and window management means for managing the window processing, so that the window processing on each monitor can be managed collectively. It is not necessary to consider the monitor configuration when creating software.

Therefore, the burden of creating application software can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a multi-monitor system of this embodiment.
The flowchart when creating a window.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.
The flowchart in the case of generating a window in mode 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.
The flowchart in the case of generating a window in mode 2.

5 (a) to 5 (c) are views showing a monitor 1b in a mode 1 window using the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.
FIG.

6 (a) and 6 (b) show a monitor 1b in a mode 2 window using the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 7: Using the multi-monitor system of this embodiment,
The flowchart in the case of regenerating a window in mode 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.
The flowchart in the case of regenerating a window in mode 2.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are views showing a monitor 1b in a mode 1 window using the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of being regenerated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for copying a window using the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are views showing how a window is copied using the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for moving a window using the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

13 (a) and 13 (b) are diagrams showing the manner in which windows are moved using the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for changing the brightness value of image data displayed in a window by using the multi-monitor system of this embodiment.

15A and 15B are diagrams showing a state in which the brightness value of image data displayed in a window is changed by using the multi-monitor system of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 monitor 2 input means 3 CPU 4 keyboard 5 mouse 6 window control means 7 window setting means 8 window management means 9 image memory 10 network 11 window parameter storage memory

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of monitors, input means for inputting the contents of window processing on the monitors, window control means for performing the input window processing, and window setting means for setting window parameters relating to the window processing. And a window management unit that manages the window processing. 2. The system includes a window parameter storage memory that stores the window parameter for each window, and the window management unit writes the window parameter relating to the generated window to the window parameter storage memory and the window parameter storage memory. The multi-monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the window parameters written in the parameter storage memory can be read. 3. The window management means receives a window parameter from the window setting means, sends an instruction to the window control means to limit the moving range of the mouse cursor to the monitor in which the mouse cursor is present, and the mouse cursor Receiving the number of the existing monitor from the window control means, sending to the window control means an instruction to create a window according to the window parameter on the monitor of the number, storing the window parameter in the window parameter storage memory, 3. The multi-monitor system according to claim 2, wherein a command for releasing the restriction on the moving range of the mouse cursor is sent to the window control means. 4. The window management means receives the window parameter from the window setting means, and searches the window parameter storage memory for which monitor the specified window included in the window parameter is generated. 3. The multi according to claim 2, wherein an instruction for specifying a window on the specified monitor to generate a window according to the window parameter is sent to the window control means, and the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory. Monitor system. 5. The window processing means reads out a window parameter relating to a window generated on a copy source monitor from the window parameter storage memory, and instructs the copy destination monitor to generate a window according to the window parameter. 3. The multi-monitor system according to claim 2, wherein the multi-monitor system is adapted to send to the control means to store the window parameter in the window parameter storage memory. 6. The window processing means reads out a window parameter relating to the window generated on the monitor of the movement source from the window parameter storage memory, and instructs the monitor of the movement destination to generate a window according to the window parameter. 3. The multi-monitor system according to claim 2, wherein the window parameter is sent to a control means, the window parameter is stored in the window parameter storage memory, and the window generated on the monitor as the movement source is erased. 7. The window management means receives a window parameter from the window setting means, sends an instruction to the window control means to limit the moving range of the mouse cursor to the monitor in which the mouse cursor exists, and the mouse cursor The number of the existing monitor is received from the window control means, the command to display the image data in the window generated on the monitor of the number according to the window parameter is sent to the window control means, and the window parameter is set to the window parameter. 3. The multi-monitor system according to claim 2, wherein a command stored in a parameter storage memory to release the restriction on the moving range of the mouse cursor is sent to the window control means.