JPH0553751A - Window display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an operator to immediately know a fact that the program which is executed in a background in an icon form gives a data input request to the operator in a window environment. CONSTITUTION:When a data input request is received while a program 1 is executed in a background, an input request detecting part 6 receives this fact and deports this to a control part 2 which controls the window display. The part 2 refers to an icon window table 5 end confirms that the input request is produced from a program transformed into an icon. Then an instruction is given to a window display part 7 to blink the relevant icon for its emphasized display when the request is given from the program in an icon form.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a window display device for simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows on one screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a window system in which a plurality of windows are simultaneously displayed on one screen, the window displayed by an operator's instruction can be kept on the screen as an icon. The iconified window is instructed when the operator needs it, and is returned to the operable window. This kind of iconized window is
It remained iconified unless the user explicitly operated it.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the program executed on the iconified window remains iconized even if operator intervention such as issuance of an input request is requested. ,
The operator could not notice this.

For this reason, the program goes into a sleep state, wasting the resources of the computer unnecessarily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. When a request for operator intervention occurs in an iconized running program, the operator is immediately made aware of the fact and a proper window can be taken. An object is to provide a display device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, by providing means for detecting an input request from an iconized program and means for highlighting an icon of a window having an input request, the program input can be performed. The request is immediately notified to the user to prompt the user for input.

In order to achieve the above object, the window display device of the present invention has the following configuration.

A window display device capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows on one display screen and executing the window of the program being executed as an icon in the background, and an operator of the iconized program being executed in the background. It comprises a detection means for detecting the intervention request and a display means for highlighting the icon of the program detected by the detection means.

[0009]

With the above structure, the window display device of the present invention switches the icon to a conspicuously emphasized display when the iconized program in execution requests the operator to intervene.

[0010]

1 is a window system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse that receives an input from an operator. 2 is a window control unit that controls windows such as creation / deletion / iconization of windows and windowing of icons, 3 is a window display unit that performs display according to instructions from the window control unit, and 4 is an instruction from the window control unit The program control unit 5 for controlling the program is an iconized window table for recording iconified windows. Each window is provided with an identifier for identification.
The window identifier that has become an icon is registered in this table 5, and it is possible to confirm which window is currently the icon by referring to this. Reference numeral 6 denotes an input request detection unit that detects an input request from a program being executed and notifies the window control unit 3, 7 is a storage unit, and 7-1 and 7-2 are stored in the storage unit 7 and are being executed. It is a program of.

Normally, a window of a program which the operator is not interested in even during processing may be iconified by the operator so as not to interfere with the current processing as shown by 20 in FIG. However, when this program issues an input request, the input request cannot be satisfied unless the iconic window is returned to a normal window as shown by 22 in FIG. 3 and then input is performed. Therefore, in such a case,
If the program issuing the input request is iconized, the icon is displayed in a flashing display, a high-brightness display, or by emphasizing by changing the color. By doing so, the operator is notified that there is an input request and the input is prompted.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of controlling the window system of this embodiment, which is executed by the window control unit 2. Here, only the processing when the iconified program makes an input request is described.

The processing flow of this embodiment will be described below based on these.

After executing the program 7-1 stored in the memory 7, the operator sets the program 7-1 as an icon 20 in order to start other work. Then, when the execution of the program 7-2 is started, the window 21 is generated. The process of the flowchart is started from this state.

First, when the program 7-1 converted into the icon 20 issues an input request during its execution, the request is detected by the input request detection unit 6. The fact that it has been detected is notified to the window control unit 2, and the window control unit 2 knows that an input request is generated in the program being executed (S1). Window control unit 2 that received the notification
Determines whether the source of this input request is an iconized window using the iconized window table 5 (S2, S3). If so, the window display section 3 is instructed to highlight this icon (S4). Upon receiving the instruction, the window display unit informs the operator that there is an input request by blinking this icon and prompts the operator to make an input (S5). The highlighting performed here may be high-luminance display, color display, or the like as long as the display is easily noticed by the operator.

Of course, whether or not to perform such highlighting can be designated by the operator and can be prohibited. The operator can also specify the emphasis method.

Further, these displays can be returned to the normal displays when the operator opens the iconified window or when the operator explicitly stops it. Highlighting not only when you are asked for input,
It may be done whenever it is necessary to attract the attention of the operator.

With such a window system,
Even if the program being executed is iconized, when the operator needs to perform a manual operation such as data entry, it can be dealt with promptly by the icon being displayed conspicuously, the processing of the program ends quickly, and system resources Lead to use.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0020]

As described above, in the window display device of the present invention, when a request for operator intervention occurs in the iconified program being executed, the operator can be immediately aware of the request and appropriate action can be taken. Yes, the process can be continued promptly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a window display device according to an embodiment.

[Fig. 2]

FIG. 3 is a display example of a window.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input part 2 ... Window control part 3 ... Window display part 4 ... Program control part 5 ... Iconized window table 6 ... Input request detection part 7 ... Storage part 7-1, 7-2 ... Program area in storage area

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A window display device capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows on one display screen and executing in the background by using the window of the program being executed as an icon, the program being iconified and being executed in the background. 2. A window display device comprising: a detection unit that detects the operator intervention request of 1 .; and a display unit that highlights the icon of the program detected by the detection unit. 2. The window display device, wherein the highlighted display is a display in which an icon blinks.