JPH06282363A - Control device for input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically switch operation right among plural users in the case of simultaneously operating the same processor and the same data from respective I/O devices including mouses, keyboards and display devices by plural users. CONSTITUTION:Input/output devices 107, 111 including keyboards 106, 110 having means for inputting characters, pointing devices such as mouses 105, 109 for specifying coordinates or selecting a command, display devices 104, 108 for displaying information, etc., are connected through plural network cables and this system consists of these I/O devices 107, 111, a data processor 101 including a main storage device, etc., and an input device control device 103 having an auxiliary storage device for storing data and a means for controlling inputs from the I/O devices 107, 111.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device controller used for group working in which a plurality of users simultaneously perform the same data processing via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, many computers are connected via a network, and group working has become possible. Here, group working means that a plurality of users share the same data processing device and the same data,
The operation of interactively operating the computer while simultaneously displaying the processing state of the data on each display device. Figure 2 shows how group work is generally performed. Since a plurality of users work on one data at the same time, it is possible to work more efficiently than when one user operates alone. However, if the data processing device indiscriminately receives and processes inputs from a plurality of users, inconvenience may occur. The phenomenon will be described below.

FIG. 9 shows a case where there is one input / output device. Taking an example of drawing a circle on the screen, the data flow between the data processing device 101 and the input / output device 107 is as follows.
a) Send a command to draw a circle to the data processing device 101. b)
The user points the center point on the screen with the mouse 105, etc.
c) The data processing device 101 displays the designated center point on the display device 104. d) The user specifies the radius from the keyboard 106. e) The data processing device 101 displays a circle graphic on the display device 104.

FIG. 10 shows a case where there are two input / output devices. That is, for one data processing device 101, the input / output device 107
The drawing shows a case where an attempt is made to draw a quadrangle from, and a circle is drawn from the input / output device 111. In this example, it is assumed that a quadrangle is designated by designating four vertices, and a circle is designated by designating a center point, a radius r, or three vertices. A command for drawing a quadrangle is sent from the input / output device 107 to the data processing device 101 (S
51). A vertex is designated from the input / output device 107 (S52). The data processing device 101 displays a dot at the designated position on the display device of each of the input / output devices 107 and 111 (S53). A command for drawing a circle is sent from the input / output device 111 to the data processing device 101 (S54). The data processing apparatus 101 interprets the following operation as a circular drawing operation, assuming that the rectangular drawing instruction has been discarded (S55). The center position of the circle is designated from the input / output device 111 (S56). The data processing device 101 displays on the two designated display devices (S57). I / O devices 107 and 111
When 3 points are specified in total (S56, S58, S59),
The data processing device 101 displays a circle passing through three points on the two display devices (S60). As a result, the user of the input / output device 107 will create a circle with the intention of drawing a rectangle.
In this way, if the data processing device 101 accepts an unlimited number of inputs from the plurality of display devices, the operation becomes inconsistent. If a series of operations is meaningful in data processing, the data processing device must accept input from only one user.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the system has the input operation right, and the data processing device
By allowing only the user who has the operation right to input to 101, the input signal to the data processing device 101 is prevented from being confused. In the prior art,
The users were interactively controlling the operation right. That is, a user who does not have the operation right to make an input informs the user who has the operation right by displaying it on the display device of the other party, and the user who has the operation right gives the operation right. After receiving it, input. FIG. 11 shows a data flow between the input / output device, the input device control device, and the data processing device in the conventional example. Input signals 502 are transmitted from the plurality of input / output devices to the input device control device 103,
Only the input signal 503 from the input / output device to which the operation right is given flows to the data processing device 101. As the output signal 504 from the data processing device 101, the same output signal 501 is given to all the display devices from the input device control device 103. FIG. 12 shows an operation example of controlling the operation right in the conventional example. To simplify the description, the flow of output signals is omitted. The input / output device 107 requests the operation right from the input device control device 103 (S61). The input device control device 103 gives the operation right to the input / output device 107 (S62). The other input / output devices are invalidated until the input / output device 107 releases the operation right. A square drawing command is sent from the input / output device 107 to the data processing device 101 (S63). Since the input / output device 111 does not have the operation right,
The operation right request is notified to 103 (S64). The input device control device 103 notifies the input / output device 107 having the operation right that another input / output device requests the operation right.
(S65). The I / O device 107 performs all operations (S6
6, S67, S68, S69) and the operation right is released (S70). The input device control device 103 gives the operation right to the input / output device 111 until the input / output device 111 releases the operation right (S71).

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, if the user makes an input, the operation right must be given from the user who has the operation right each time. However, there has been a problem that it becomes complicated and efficient work cannot be performed. The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device control device that automatically switches the operation right among users when a plurality of users operate at the same time. is there.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a computer system having a data processing device, a display device, and an input / output device. The input operation right to the data processing device is provided with a means for automatically giving the operation right to the user who wants to input the result of totalizing the switching permission signals from a plurality of other input / output devices. Is.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the efficiency of the input work can be realized when the data processing device is shared by a plurality of users.

[0009]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 shows the flow of data between the input / output device, the input device control device, and the data processing device in the first embodiment of the present invention. Input signal 3 from multiple input / output devices to the input device control device 103
02 is transmitted, but the data processing device 101 receives the input signal 30 from the input / output device to which the operation right is given.
Only three are flowing. As the output signal 304 from the data processing device 101, the same output signal 301 is given to all the input / output devices from the input device control device 103. In addition, an acquisition request 309 is issued from the input / output device 711 that wants to acquire the operation right to the input device control device 103, and an inquiry 3 is made as to whether the operation right is approved or not.
08 flows from the input device controller 103 to another input / output device (here, 107, 111), and the approval / disapproval notice 305 is input device controller.
Returning to 103, the input device control device 103 determines the operation right, switches the input right, and notifies each input / output device 310 of the acquisition of the operation right.

FIG. 4 shows an operation example in the first embodiment of the present invention. For simplicity of explanation, the flow of output signals is omitted, and all input / output devices approve the operation right. First, the input / output device 711 is the input device controller 1
Request the operation right to 03 (S11). Next, the input device controller
103 inquires of other pros and cons to the other input / output devices (here, 107 and 111) (S12), and when receiving the approval / disapproval notice of the acquisition of the operating right of the input / output device 711 (S13),
It is determined whether or not it is suitable for obtaining the operation right, the input right is switched according to the result, all the input / output devices are notified and switched to acquire the operation right (S14), and the input / output device 711 inputs the data for the first time. Is possible (S15). If another input / output device 107 requests the operation right to the input device control device 103 while the input / output device 711 is performing a processing operation (S22), the request from the input / output device is Invalidate (S23). Alternatively, in the same manner as described above, the input / output device 111 inquires about the pros and cons of the operating right (S24, S25). If the operating right is recognized, the input device control device 103 switches the operating right (S26), and the operation is performed until then. The release of the operation right is notified to the input / output device 711 having the right (S27). FIG. 7 shows a state transition diagram of the input device control device 103.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of data between the input / output device, the input device control device and the data processing device in the second embodiment of the present invention. Different input signals 402 are transmitted to the input device control device 103 for each of the plurality of input / output devices, but the data processing device 101 receives only the input signal 403 from the input / output device to which the operation right is given. It's flowing. The output signal 404 from the data processing device 101 is given to all input / output devices from the input device control device 103 (401). Further, after a command (an input signal 402 that is different for each input / output device) in the input device control device 103 is input from the input / output device 107 that has the operation right, another command is input from another input device 111. Then, the input device control device 103 compares the priorities of both commands, and the operation right is given to the one with the higher priority.
Transmitted as 5.

FIG. 6 shows an operation example in the second embodiment of the present invention. To simplify the description, the flow of output signals is omitted. First, the input device control device 103 gives an operation right to the input / output device 107 (S33), the input / output device 107 is ready for input, and a certain command (here, a rectangular drawing command) is input to the input device. Instructed to control device 103
(S31). On the other hand, at this time, if another command (circle drawing command) is instructed from the input / output device 111 to the input device control device 103 (S38), the input device control device 103 gives the operation right based on the priority of both commands. The input / output device that can be acquired is determined, the operation right is switched according to the result, and a report (S40, S41) is made to each input / output device. Then, the operation right is given to the input / output device having the higher command priority (S4
2). When a circle drawing command is issued from the input / output device 107 while the input / output device 111 is performing a circle drawing processing operation (S43, S44), the input device control device 103 uses the same priority drawing command. Therefore, the operation right is kept as it is and the processing is continued (S46), or the input / output device input later
The operation right is switched to 107 and the transfer of the operation right is notified (S4
8, S49). FIG. 8 shows a state transition diagram of the input device control device 103.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, the present invention does not cause the input signal to be confused in the data processing device when a plurality of users perform processing on the same data processing device and the same data. Also, by setting the time to give the operation right appropriately (for example, the average time required to perform a certain series of operations), the user can perform the work efficiently without being aware of the operation right. Have an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a computer system used for group working.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of group working.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data flow between the input / output device, the input device control device, and the data processing device in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data flow between an input / output device, an input device control device and a data processing device in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation example in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a state transition diagram of the input device control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram of the input device control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an input data and a processing flow of the data processing device when there is one input / output device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an inconvenience that occurs when the input device control device is not provided when there are a plurality of input / output devices.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data flow between an input / output device, an input device control device, and a data processing device in a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an operation example in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Data processing device, 103 ... Input device control device, 10
4, 108, 705 ... Display device, 105, 109, 707 ... Mouse,
106, 110, 706 ... Keyboard, 107, 111, 711 ... Input / output device.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A data processing device, a display device for displaying characters and figures, a pointing device such as a mouse for pointing characters and figures on the display device, and a device for inputting characters and numbers. In a computer system including an input / output device having a keyboard, when there are a plurality of the input / output devices, the input operation right for the data processing device between the input / output devices aggregates switching permission signals from a plurality of other input / output devices. The input device control device is characterized by being switched as a result. 2. When an input / output device having an input operation right is performing processing and another operation request is issued for the operation right, the request from the input / output device is invalidated. .
2. The input device control device according to claim 1, wherein the input / output device inquires about the approval / disapproval of the operation right to another input / output device. 3. A data processing device, a display device for displaying characters and figures, a pointing device such as a mouse for pointing characters and figures on the display device, and for inputting characters and numbers. In a computer system consisting of input / output devices having a keyboard of, when there are a plurality of the input / output devices, the data processing instruction for which the input operation right between the input / output devices to the data processing device is designated by each input / output device has priority. An input device control device characterized by being switched to a higher priority of a data processing command by a rank comparison means. 4. When the data processing instructions have the same priority, the input authority is held in the input device input first, or the input operation is switched to the input device input later. 3. The input device control device according to item 3.