JPH06337769A - Menu controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the menu controller which performs the display switching of a submenu without paying attention so that a pointer does not deviates from index items when making a choice in a hierarchic menu. CONSTITUTION:A menu display switching actuation device 25 refers to a pointing device controller 24 which manages information on the painter moving in synchronism with input from a pointing device 23, and suppresses the output of a display switching request for the submenu when the moving direction of the pointer is a specific direction or outputs the display switching request for the submenu in other cases, so that a menu display selection controller 22 performs the display switching of the submenu at the request.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu control device for a computer device which displays a menu using a pointing device to select and process functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a conventional menu control device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-3011. In FIG. 11, 11 is a CPU, 12 is a memory, 13 is a display memory, 14 is a CRT device, and 15 is a video signal generated from the contents of the display memory 13.
4 is a display control device for displaying, 16 is a menu display device for displaying a menu, 17 is a menu data management device for managing menu data, and 18 is a waiting time from when a menu item is designated to when submenu display is started. A waiting time storage device for storing, 19 is a counter for counting a waiting time from when a menu item is designated until the selection process is started, 20 is a processing item storage device for storing an item currently in the state of displaying a submenu, and 21 is A designated item storage device for storing the item currently designated, 22 is a menu display device 16, a menu data management device 17, a waiting time storage device 18, a counter 19, and a processing item storage device 20.
Is a menu display selection control device that controls the designated item storage device 21 to perform menu selection processing, 23 is a pointing device, and 24 is a pointing device control device that manages information from the pointing device 23.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 and FIG. In step 201,
When the menu display selection control device 22 receives the menu display instruction command from the pointing device control device 24, the menu display selection control device 22 displays the main menu of the headline and sets the headline item pointed to by the pointer as the process item to be displayed in the submenu. The item information is stored in the storage device 20.
Then, in step 203, the submenu corresponding to the item stored in the processing item storage device 20 is displayed (FIG. 13A).

In step 204, the menu display selection control device 22 controls the pointing device control device 24.
From, input the position of the pointer linked with the pointing device 23. If the menu selection is completed in step 205, the menu is erased and the selection information is returned to the system. If the menu processing is being continued in step 205, the following processing is performed. If the pointer points within the sub-menu in step 208, the sub-menu selection process is performed. When a menu selection decision command is received during the submenu selection processing of step 209, the selection information is generated from the processing item storage device 20, the contents of the menu data management device 17, and the pointer position to erase the menu, and the selection information is sent to the system. return. If the pointer leaves the sub-menu area while continuing the menu selection process, the process returns to the input process of step 204. In step 208, if the pointer is in the main menu area, the instructed item is obtained. If the pointer is not in the menu area, the process returns to the input processing of step 204. At this time, if there is an item in the waiting state, the contents of the designated item storage device 21 are cleared.

In step 212, if the designated item matches the item stored in the process item storage device 20, the process returns to the input process in step 204. The item designated in step 212 is the processing item storage device 20.
If it does not match the contents stored in step 21, step 21
3, the item is compared with the item stored in the instruction item storage device 21, and if they match, the counter 19 is incremented. If they do not match, the item information of the item pointed by the pointer is stored in the designated item storage device 21 as a new item in the waiting state, the count 19 is reset, and the process returns to the input process of step 204 (FIG. 13 ( b)).

After the counter is incremented in step 215, if the value of the counter 19 is equal to the value set in the waiting time storage device 18 in step 216, it is stored in the designated item storage device 21 in step 217. The item is stored in the process item storage device 20 as a process item to be displayed as a new submenu. The menu display selection control device 22 displays submenus corresponding to the items stored in the processing item storage device,
The processing from step 204 is continued (FIG. 13 (c)).

Thus, even if the pointer moves to another heading item or the like on the main menu and gives an instruction, the heading item for which the sub-menu has been displayed immediately before is continued for a certain period of time, and the sub-menu display is continued. , Even if the pointer temporarily leaves the menu area, the submenu is still displayed.

[0008]

Since the conventional menu control device is constructed as described above, when an attempt is made to select a hierarchical menu using the pointing device, the pointer is moved and the heading pointed to by the pointer is pointed out. There is a problem that a submenu is not displayed until a predetermined waiting time elapses after the items are switched and a quick selection operation cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and when selecting a hierarchical menu, it is not necessary to take care so that the pointer does not move out of the area of the heading item, and the sub An object of the present invention is to obtain a menu control device that can quickly display and select a menu.

[0010]

A menu control device according to a first aspect of the present invention manages information from a pointing device, and controls a position and a moving speed of a pointer which moves on a display device in synchronization with the pointing device. Pointing device control device for detecting, menu display device for controlling display of menu on display device, menu data management device for managing menu item data, processing item storage for storing items in the state of displaying submenu Apparatus, a menu display switching activation device that activates sub-menu display switching according to the position and movement speed of a pointer detected by the pointing device control device, the menu display device, the menu data management device, and the processing item Storage device and start-up device for switching menu display Controls, in which a menu display selection control device which performs display selection processing menu.

A menu control device according to a second aspect of the present invention manages information from a pointing device,
A pointing device control device that detects the position and moving direction of a pointer that moves on the display device in synchronization with the pointing device, a menu display device that controls the display of a menu on the display device, and manages item data of the menu. A menu data management device, a menu display switching activation device that activates sub-menu display switching in accordance with the position and movement direction of a pointer detected by the pointing device control device, and processing for storing items in the sub-menu displaying state. An item storage device, a menu display device, a menu data management device, a processing item storage device, and a menu display selection control device for performing menu display selection processing for controlling the menu display switching activation device Is.

A menu control device according to a third aspect of the present invention manages information from a pointing device,
A pointing device control device that detects the position of the pointer that moves on the display device in synchronization with the pointing device and its moving speed and moving direction, a menu display device that controls the display of the menu on the display device, and a menu item. A menu data management device that manages data, a processing item storage device that stores items in the submenu display state, and a submenu according to the position of the pointer detected by the pointing device control device and its moving speed and moving direction. A menu display switching start device for starting display switching, a menu display for controlling the menu display device, the menu data management device, the processing item storage device, and the menu display switching start device to perform menu display selection processing And a selection control device.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the menu control device detects the position of the pointer and the moving speed from the moving coordinate data from the pointing device by the pointing device control device, and the menu display switching starting means determines that the position of the pointer is the menu. Different from the item that is above the item and the menu item stored in the processing item storage device, issues a submenu display switching request when the movement speed of the pointer is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the menu is received in response to the request. The display selection controller switches the display of the submenu.

In the menu control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the menu display switching activation means is different from the item in which the pointer position is on the menu item and the menu item is stored in the processing item storage device. If the movement direction of the submenu is not a predetermined direction, a submenu display switching request is issued, and the menu display selection control device switches the submenu display in response to the request.

According to another aspect of the menu control device of the present invention, the menu display switching activation means is different from the item in which the position of the pointer is on the menu item and the menu item is stored in the processing item storage device. If the moving direction of the is not a predetermined direction and / or the moving speed of the pointer is less than or equal to a predetermined value, a sub-menu display switching request is issued, and the menu display selection control device receives the request and displays the sub-menu. Switch.

[0016]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a menu control device according to an embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes a mouse or the like equipped with a menu display request by a menu button, a menu selection confirmation request by a selection button, and a moving coordinate data input means. The pointing device 24 detects the menu display request, the menu selection confirmation request, and the moving coordinate data from the pointing device 23, and the position, moving direction, and moving speed of the pointer that moves on the screen of the display device 14 based on the moving coordinate data. Is a pointing device control device that manages pointer information such as a menu display / display deletion request and a menu selection confirmation request, and 25 refers to the display state of the menu and the pointer information of the pointing device control device 24. To switch the menu display A menu display switching activation device for outputting the signal of 22 controls the menu display device 16, the menu data management device 17, and the processing item storage device 20, and a menu display request from the pointing device control device 24 or the menu switching activation device 25, It is a menu display selection control device that detects a menu display switching request and the like to display / update / select / delete a menu.
Note that the parts denoted by the same numbers as in the configuration diagram (FIG. 11) of the conventional menu control device are the same or corresponding parts, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the submenu display switching start processing in the menu switching start device 25 which outputs a submenu switching request according to the moving speed and position of the pointer. The menu display example of FIG. 3 is used. However, the operation will be described below. In step 1, pointer information (position and moving speed) is acquired from the pointing device control device 24. In step 2, the moving speed of the pointer is compared with a predetermined reference value, and if the moving speed is high, the process returns to step 1. If the moving speed of the pointer is less than the specified value,
In step 3, it is determined whether or not the position of the pointer is on the main menu displayed by the display device 16, and if it is not on the main menu (FIG. 3A), the process returns to step 1. If the pointer is on the main menu, the menu item in which the pointer is currently located in step 4 (hereinafter referred to as the pointer instruction menu item)
And the current display device 14 stored in the process item storage device 20.
The menu item of the main menu (hereinafter, referred to as a processing item) which is in charge of the sub-menu displayed in is compared with each other, and if they match (FIG. 3B), the process returns to step 1. If the pointer instruction menu item and the processing item do not match (FIG. 3C), a submenu display switching request is output to the menu display selection control device 22 in step 5, and the pointer instruction menu item is selected in step 6. Send out.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the menu display selection processing in the menu display selection control device 22 for displaying / erasing / selecting the menu and switching the display of the submenu. In step 101, it is confirmed whether or not a display request signal for the menu is output from the pointing device control device 24. If a display request is output, the menu display device 16 is controlled in step 102 to display the main menu, In step 103, the processing item stored in the processing item storage device 20 is cleared. Next, in step 104, it is determined whether or not there is a menu deletion request from the pointing device control device 24, and if there is a request, the main menu display is deleted in step 113 (if a submenu is displayed, the submenu is deleted). Also) to the menu display device 16,
Return to step 101. If there is no menu deletion request, it is determined in step 105 whether there is a submenu display switching request from the menu display switching activation device 25, and if there is no request, the process proceeds to step 110. If there is a request, it is determined in step 106 whether or not there is a menu item being displayed in the submenu by referring to the processing item storage device 20, and if the submenu is being displayed, the submenu is displayed in step 107. The deletion is instructed to the menu display device 16. If the sub menu is not being displayed, the process proceeds to step 108. Next, at step 108, the pointer instruction menu item sent from the menu display switching device 25 is set to the process item storage device 20.
In step 109, the menu display device 16 is instructed to display the submenu corresponding to the menu item. In step 110, it is determined whether or not there is a menu selection confirmation request from the pointing device control device 24. If there is a request, the menu selection determination information is output in step 111, and in step 112 the display of the main menu and submenu is erased. To the menu display device,
Return to step 101. If there is no menu selection confirmation request in step 110, the process returns to step 104.

According to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4 configured as described above, when performing the menu selection process using the pointing device, the submenu can be displayed as it is even if the pointer deviates from the heading item. Also, the submenu display can be switched by slowly moving the pointer.

Example 2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the menu switching activation device 25 outputs a submenu display deletion request to the menu display selection control device 22 when the pointer is not on the menu, and FIG. 6 is a submenu display. 9 is a flowchart of a menu display selection process in the menu display selection control device 22 corresponding to a deletion request.

In FIG. 5, steps having the same symbols as those in FIG. 2 are the same or corresponding processes, and steps having the same symbols as those in FIG. 4 are the same or corresponding processes, and the description of the steps will be omitted. In FIG. 5, it is determined in step 3 whether or not the position of the pointer is on the main menu displayed on the display device 14, and if it is not on the main menu, in step 7, it is determined whether or not the pointer is on the submenu. If it is on the sub-menu, the process returns to step 1. If the pointer is not on the submenu, a submenu display deletion request is output to the menu display selection control device 22 in step 8. In FIG. 6, if it is determined in step 105 that the submenu display switching request is not output from the menu display switching activation device 25, it is determined in step 114 whether or not there is a submenu deletion request, and if there is a request. In step 115, the menu display device 16 is instructed to erase the display of the submenu, and in step 116, the processing item stored in the processing item storage device 20 is cleared. As a result, by moving the pointer to a position other than the menu with the pointing device 23, only the display of the sub menu can be erased.

Example 3. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sub-menu display switching activation process in the menu switching activation device 25 which outputs a sub-menu switching request depending on the moving direction and position of the pointer. In step 11, pointing device controller 2
The pointer information (position and moving direction) is acquired from 4. In step 12, it is determined whether the moving direction of the pointer matches a predetermined direction. For example, in FIG. 3B, if the X coordinate value of the position of the pointer is moving in a direction that increases, it is determined that the pointer is moving in the predetermined direction, and the process returns to step 11. If the pointer is moving in a direction other than the specified direction,
In step 13, it is determined whether or not the position of the pointer is on the main menu displayed by the menu display device 16, and if it is not on the main menu, the process returns to step 11. If the pointer is on the main menu, the menu item in which the pointer is located in step 14 (hereinafter referred to as a pointer-instruction menu item) and the sub-menu stored in the process item storage device 20 are being displayed. Items (hereinafter referred to as processing items) are compared, and if they match, the process returns to step 11. If the pointer instruction menu item and the process item do not match, step 15
The sub-menu display switching request is output to the menu display selection control device 22 and the pointer instruction menu item is transmitted in step 16. By configuring the sub-menu display switching start-up process in this way, when performing the menu selection process using the pointing device, the sub-menu can be displayed as it is even if the pointer temporarily leaves the heading item. The submenu display can be switched quickly.

Example 4. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of submenu display switching start processing in the menu switching start device 25 which outputs a submenu switching request depending on the moving speed, moving direction, and position of the pointer. In step 21, pointer information (position, moving speed, moving direction) is acquired from the pointing device controller 24. In step 22, the moving speed of the pointer is compared with a predetermined reference value, and if the moving speed is high, the process returns to step 21. If the moving speed of the pointer is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined in step 23 whether the moving direction of the pointer matches the predetermined direction,
If they match, the process returns to step 21. If the moving direction of the pointer is not the predetermined direction, it is determined in step 24 whether or not the position of the pointer is on the main menu displayed by the display device 14. If it is not on the main menu, the process returns to step 21. . If the pointer is on the main menu, the pointer instruction menu item is compared with the processing item stored in the processing item storage device 20 in step 25, and if they match, step 21
Return to. If the pointer instruction menu item and the process item do not match, a submenu display switching request is output to the menu display selection control device 22 in step 26,
In step 27, the pointer instruction menu item is transmitted.

Example 5. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the menu display selection processing in the menu display selection control device 22 when the main menu is always displayed, and FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen in which the main menu is always displayed.

In FIG. 9, steps with the same symbols as those in FIG. 6 are the same or equivalent processing, and in this embodiment, the main menu is always displayed, so the processing steps for the menu display request and the menu deletion request are omitted. . In step 105, when the pointer is positioned on the main menu (FIG. 10A) and it is confirmed that the submenu display switching request is output from the menu display switching activation device 25, the process item storage device 20 is referred to in step 106. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a menu item being displayed in the submenu, and if the submenu is being displayed, the menu display device 16 is instructed to erase the display of the submenu in step 107. Then step 108
The pointer instruction menu item sent from the menu display switching device 25 is stored in the processing item storage device 20,
In step 109, the menu display device 16 is instructed to display a submenu corresponding to the menu item (FIG. 10B). If there is no submenu display switching request in step 105, it is determined in step 114 whether or not there is a submenu deletion request, the pointer is positioned outside the menu (FIG. 10C), and a submenu deletion request is generated. If so, in step 115, the menu display device 16 is instructed to erase the submenu (FIG. 10D), the process item data in the process item storage device 20 is cleared, and the process proceeds to step 110. In step 110, it is determined whether or not there is a menu selection confirmation request from the pointing device control device 24, and if there is a request, step 111
The menu selection determination information is output in step 117, the menu display device 16 is instructed to erase the display of the submenu in step 117, the process item data stored in the process item storage device 20 is cleared in step 118, and the process returns to step 105. . Since the menu display selection processing is configured as described above, even when the heading item is always displayed,
When performing the menu selection process using the pointing device, the submenu can be displayed as it is even if the pointer temporarily leaves the headline item, and the submenu display can be switched quickly.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pointing device control device for managing the information from the pointing device and detecting the position and the moving speed of the pointer which moves on the display means in synchronization with the pointing device. A menu display device for controlling display of a menu on a display device, a menu data management device for managing menu item data, a processing item storage device for storing items in a submenu displaying state, and a pointing device control A menu display switching activation device that activates sub-menu display switching according to the position and movement speed of the pointer detected by the device, and a menu display device, a menu data management device, a processing item storage device, and a menu display switching activation device. Control and control the menu display selection process. Since it is equipped with a view display selection control device, when selecting a hierarchical menu using a pointing device, it is not necessary to pay attention so that the pointer does not move out of the heading item, and the operability is improved. To be

Further, a pointing device control device for managing information from the pointing device and detecting the position and moving speed of a pointer which moves on the display means in synchronization with the pointing device, and a menu display on the display device are displayed. A menu display device for controlling, a menu data managing device for managing menu item data, and a menu display switching starting device for starting submenu display switching according to the position and moving direction of the pointer detected by the pointing device control device. And a processing item storage device for storing items in the submenu display state,
Since the menu display device, the menu data management device, the processing item storage device, and the menu display switching start-up device are controlled and the menu display selection control device that performs the display selection processing of the menu is provided, the operability is good and the sub The effect that the menu can be switched is obtained.

Further, a pointing device control device for managing the information from the pointing device, detecting the position of the pointer which moves on the display means in synchronization with the pointing device, the moving speed and the moving direction thereof, and the display device. The menu display device that controls the display of the menu, the menu data management device that manages the item data of the menu, the processing item storage device that stores the items in the submenu displaying state, and the pointer that is detected by the pointing device control device. It controls the menu display switching activation device that activates the display switching of the submenu according to the position and its moving speed and movement direction, and these menu display device, menu data management device, processing item storage device, and menu display switching activation device. , The menu for selecting the display of the menu. Since a-menu display selection control device, effect that more operability can be switched swiftly submenu.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a menu control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a menu switching activation device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a menu display example in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the menu display selection control device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another processing example of the menu switching activation device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another processing example of the menu display selection control device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another processing example in the menu switching activation device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another processing example in the menu switching activation device in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the menu display selection control device in the embodiment of always displaying the main menu of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a menu display example in an embodiment of always displaying a main menu of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional menu control device.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process of a conventional menu control device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a menu display of a conventional menu control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 menu display device 17 menu data management device 20 processing item storage device 22 menu display selection control device 24 pointing device control device 25 menu display switching activation device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pointing device control device for managing information from a pointing device and detecting the position and movement speed of a pointer that moves on the display device in synchronization with the pointing device, and a menu display on the display device. A menu display device for controlling, a menu data management device for managing menu item data, a processing item storage device for storing items in a submenu displaying state, a position of a pointer detected by the pointing device control device, and A menu display switching activation device that activates sub-menu display switching in accordance with the moving speed, the menu display device, the menu data management device, the processing item storage device, and the menu display switching activation device are controlled, and Menu display selection control for display selection processing A menu control device comprising: a device. 2. A pointing device control device that manages information from a pointing device and detects the position and moving direction of a pointer that moves on the display device in synchronization with the pointing device, and display of a menu on the display device. And a menu data management device that manages menu item data, and menu display switching that activates submenu display switching according to the position and movement direction of the pointer detected by the pointing device control device. A start-up device, a process item storage device that stores items in the sub-menu display state, a menu display device, the menu data management device, the process item storage device, and the menu display switching start-up device are controlled to control the menu. Menu display selection control for display selection processing A menu control device comprising: a device. 3. A pointing device control device which manages information from a pointing device, detects the position of a pointer which moves on the display device in synchronization with the pointing device, and its moving speed and moving direction; Detected by the menu display device that controls the display of the menu, the menu data management device that manages the item data of the menu, the processing item storage device that stores the item in the submenu displaying state, and the pointing device control device. A menu display switching activation device that activates display switching of a submenu according to the position of the pointer and its moving speed and moving direction, the menu display device, the menu data management device, the processing item storage device, and the menu display switching activation. Controls the device and controls the menu display selection. And a menu display selection control device for performing processing.