JPH0752456B2 - Drawing display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a drawing display device for displaying drawing information in which a facility to be managed is superimposed on a map on a graphic information device based on a request from a host computer. Is.

B. Outline of the invention The host computer fetches the status information of each facility online and displays it in real time on the graphic display device, and the graphic display device is switched and connected between the main-series host computer and the slave-series host computer. In the drawing display device, a table for storing and updating the status information of each equipment taken in online and a recording unit for recording the status change of each equipment are provided in the main and slave host computers, and switching between the host computer series By using these contents to update the graphic display device's segment buffer, for example, let's quickly and surely reflect the online facility status information received when the graphic display device is switched between host computer series to the graphic display device. It is what

C. Conventional technology Maps can represent various human activity information such as local natural conditions, population facilities, and population / economic conditions, and have been used for a long time in the aspect of administration. Even now, the national government, local governments, fire departments, etc., use it as a basis for regional planning and management. In addition, in public enterprises such as electricity, telephone, and gas, we have our own facilities (power lines, telephone lines,
For the planning and management of gas pipes, the drawings of the facility are used on the map. These maps and facility diagrams are drawn as drawings on paper, and the information drawn is called drawing information in this specification.

In recent years, attempts have been made to draw these drawings with a computer and process drawing information with a computer. This was pioneered by the United States and has been carried out since the 1960s. Such a computer system is called a drawing information processing system. Today, it is used by federal, state, and local governments, as well as by public companies such as electricity, telephone, and gas, and private companies such as marketing.

In Japan, we started research later than in the United States, but we have started researching databases, computer graphics, etc.
It successfully absorbs the technological development during that time and shows its own development. It can be said that the government, local governments, fire departments, and public enterprises such as electricity, telephone, and gas have finally reached the stage of practical use.

A feature of each of the drawing information processing systems is that a drawing display device can be connected to display a drawing. The host computer manages the drawing information, and controls to display the requested portion of the drawing on the graphic display device according to the operator's request. The graphic display device displays a requested portion of the drawing in response to a request from the host computer. In the drawing information processing system, a portion that realizes the function of displaying a drawing by the host computer and the graphic display device is hereinafter referred to as a drawing display device.

In a drawing information processing system, it is basically used to proceed with processing by an interactive operation with an operator centering on a drawing displayed on a graphic display device.
Therefore, good responsiveness of the drawing display function is strongly required. However, since the host computer performs various general-purpose tasks in addition to the drawing display processing, the steady load is large, and the effect of improving the performance of the host computer cannot be expected. Rather, the steady load tends to increase due to the increase in information to be processed and the demand for higher functionality, and the display processing on the host computer becomes a burden. Therefore, in order to reduce the load on the host computer and improve the responsiveness of the display processing, there is a tendency that the graphic display device becomes more intelligent. That is, most of the graphic display functions are performed by the graphic display device. Less than,
The graphic display device having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 will be described in detail.

First, the graphic display device has a host interface (HIF) that transmits and receives data to and from the host computer. H
The IF receives various display instructions and graphic information from the host computer and transmits them to the display processor (CPU). Also, upon request from the host computer, it receives various display-related information from the CPU and sends it to the host computer.

The segment buffer (SB) is a descriptive representation (numerical value, symbol)
It is a memory for storing the graphic information of. The graphic information is
It is managed in a hierarchical structure. The lowest layer is a concrete figure entity (display figure shape, position coordinates, display color, etc.). It is what is called an IDB. These several IDBs come together to form a segment. Each segment has information on various attributes (visible attributes, detection attributes, etc.). Both IDB and segment have names, and various operations can be performed by specifying the names. It should be noted that the position coordinates of the graphic entity do not directly indicate the pixel position on the tube surface, but are called coordinates on a virtual large screen, so-called world coordinates.

With respect to the graphic information stored in this SB, the graphic information in the range requested to be displayed (a rectangular area determined by world coordinate values) is cut out. For this cutting process,
A matrix calculator (MTX) that performs parallel movement and rotation conversion of the displayed figure, and a clipping device (CLP) that removes the part that extends beyond the displayable area corresponding to the CRT monitor (CRT) are available. In addition, a digital differential analyzer (DDA) is provided that expands the segment of the graphic information of the cut descriptive representation into the ON / OFF information of the bit on the frame buffer (FB) corresponding to the display position coordinate. .

The frame buffer (FB) is a memory that has one-to-one bits for each pixel on the tube surface of the CRT, at least to the extent corresponding to the number of pixels on the tube surface. In color display, a plurality of memory planes are provided, and a set of bits corresponding to the same pixel is arranged in each plane to form column data, which is used as a color code of the pixel corresponding to the bit. Further, in recent years, there is a lookup table (LT), which is also known as a color map, in which color codes are stored in advance, the column data of the bit is used as an address, the contents of the address in LT are read, and the color code of the corresponding pixel is read. The graphic display device is called the mainstream. In such a graphic display device, overlay priority display is possible. That is, first FB
The priority order is set for each plane, and the priority order that indicates which one of the figures to be displayed is prioritized when they are superimposed is set in advance. Next, for each LT address, store the display color code of the graphic to be developed on the plane with the highest priority among the combinations of planes whose bit contents are on, in the LT portion of that address. . Then, the graphic in the display range is cut out from the SB, and each graphic is bit-developed on the plane of the FB corresponding to the priority. On the other hand, when some figures in each plane overlap, LT is referred to by using the bit string corresponding to the pixel in the overlapping part as an address.
Since the color code of the highest-priority display graphic when the graphic sets of the planes corresponding to the "on" bits of the addresses overlap is stored in the address part in advance, the overlay priority display is realized. This will be described with reference to FIG. There are display figures ●, ▲, and ■, and the priority of overlay priority display is in this order. The display colors are red, green, and blue. FB plane priority is P2, P1,
The order is P0. Displayed figures ●, ▲, ■ are P2, P1, respectively
Bits shall be expanded to P0. A set of bits corresponding to one pixel read from each plane of the FB is arranged in the order of P2, P1, P0 from the high order, and serves as a reference address of LT. The following shows the combination of overlapping graphics in each pixel, the corresponding LT reference address and the corresponding
Indicates the LT contents. (Where the bit content of the address is ×,
0/1 Indicates that either is acceptable. ) The figure also shows the combination of overlapping figures. The numbers written on the surface surrounded by the line segments are the numbers given to the above-mentioned graphic overlapping combinations. The screen displayed on the tube surface as described above is as shown in the figure.

LT is a table that stores the brightness of the three primary colors of R, G, and B. A unique color is expressed by combining the R, G, and B luminance colors stored at each address.

The video interface (VIF) reads the contents of FB and uses the bit string corresponding to each pixel as an address to read the color code of LT to read the video signal (R, G,
B, separate, composite) and sync signal to CRT (vertical sync signal: VD, horizontal sync signal: H)
D) is generated. These operations are independent of the control of the CPU and are always executed at high speed and cyclically. The mechanism until the video signal is generated will be described with reference to FIG. The VIF generates a bit address (FBAD) corresponding to a pixel for each plane of FB. The bit contents read out in this way are arranged at predetermined positions to create an LT reference address. The content of the corresponding LT is read out in R, G, B units by this LT reference address. The read contents are sent to the DA converter. Here, D-A conversion is performed to generate R, G, B video signals, respectively. The above processing is performed one after another in the order in which the pixels are arranged. Since these are executed at extremely high speed and cyclically, they appear as a single screen to human eyes, aided by the afterimage phenomenon.

The CRT is a rendering method using the raster scan display method. That is, R for each pixel,
Receiving G and B video signals, radiating an electron beam of corresponding intensity to the pixel position on the phosphor screen and emitting light at each brightness R,
Various colors are displayed by combining the colors of the G and B fluorescent points. Further, the designation of pixels, that is, the radiation position of the beam is controlled by the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal. That is, the electron beam is scanned in the horizontal direction from the upper left on the screen, and the required number of scanning lines are sequentially made 30 to 60 times per second to the lower right.
The numerical value of 30 to 60 times is called a vertical scanning frequency (reflecting rate), and generally, a numerical value close to the lower limit is set within a range where flicker does not occur.

The CPU analyzes and executes input information from the host computer or IM. However, the specific processing is mostly performed by each dedicated processor (MTX, CLP, VIF, etc.), and in practice, they are often controlled.

The input device (IM) is used by an operator to input various information to the graphic display device. There are various types depending on the application. There is a keyboard as standard. Devices for inputting coordinate values include digitizers and tablets. In addition, as a means for moving a figure or a cursor on the tube surface, there are a joystick, a track ball, and the like.

As described above, in the drawing display device including the host computer and the graphic display device, the drawing information is managed by the host computer. This can be considered to have a virtual large drawing which is continuous in plane in the computer. In the conventional method, when there is a display request from the operator, the host computer sends the drawing information of the requested portion in the virtual large drawing to the cutout graphic display device. The graphic display device that has received it stores each graphic element of drawing information in SB in the form of a segment, bit-expands it in FB, and displays it on the screen. In this method, it takes a considerable time to transmit a large amount of information between the host computer and the graphic display device and to register a segment in the graphic display device, and it takes a long time from the display request to the display on the screen. As described above, the responsiveness is the maximum requirement for the drawing display device, and this method has been a problem.

Recently, a drawing display device has been constructed using a large-capacity (about 4 MB) SB graphic display device, and at startup, the graphic information corresponding to all drawing information managed by the host computer is stored in the SB.
In the operation, when there is a display request, the host computer gives an instruction only for the display range to the graphic display device.
In the graphic display device, a method has been developed in which the graphic information in the required range is cut out from the graphic information corresponding to all the drawings in the SB, bit-developed and displayed in the FB. This is because the amount of transmission information at the time of display request is small and segment registration processing is not necessary, so that an arbitrary drawing location can be displayed at high speed. We have realized a drawing display device with extremely good responsiveness.

By the way, in recent years, in the drawing information processing system, there has appeared a device which displays geographical information by superimposing a facility to be managed, takes in the state information of the facility online, and displays it on a drawing display device in real time. The state information may be a quantity value or a logical value. Display them at or near the location of the facility on the drawing. The display style is the color or shape of the equipment figure, or is directly indicated by a number near the equipment figure. When the system receives the status information and there is a change in the status of the equipment, the one that represents the status by color changes the segment of the equipment figure or the color attribute of the IDB to the corresponding one, and the one that represents the status by the shape or numerical value. Perform operations such as replacing the corresponding segment or IDB itself with the one corresponding to the state.

Some of the above drawing information processing systems have a duplex configuration of a host computer in order to ensure reliability. That is, the host computer is operated in a plurality of series, one of the series is used for business, and the other series is put in a standby state. The former is called the main line (main line) and the latter is called the sub line (sub line). (It is also said that the operating modes of such a computer are "main mode" and "slave mode".) The 1/0 device connected to the system is used for business, and is always connected to the main system. There is. When the main line goes down, the sub line automatically starts up as the new main line. It is also possible to manually switch the master / slave for maintenance / inspection of the main line. (After switching the master-slave series, the old master, that is, the new slave, is stopped, and work is performed on this.) At that time, the 1/0 device automatically switches the connection to the newly started master series.

D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention The drawing display device of such a system also has a duplex configuration. Therefore, the graphic display device is also a 1/0 device, and if the connected main system goes down or goes down, the connection is switched to the new master system. Even in this case, the online status information is still coming up. By the way, the online status information is configured such that the online network is duplicated and is received by both the main and slave series, or the main series receives and transmits the slave series. In the sub-series, the same data as the main series must be managed at all times so that the sub-series can immediately start up to the main series. Online status information is processed and managed in the same way as the main system. However, the processing is not performed in synchronization between the series, but is performed immediately upon reception of each. Therefore, if the online status information is received when switching between the series of graphic display devices, there is a possibility that the status information cannot be reflected in the corresponding equipment graphic segment of the graphic display apparatus due to the switching processing time or the processing time difference between the series. . That is, after disconnecting the graphic display device from the old master (new slave), before the system receives the status information and before the graphic display device connects to the old slave (new master),
The old subordinate system (new main system) may process the status information, and the graphic display device may not be updated. In such a system, sufficient reliability cannot be obtained. Even if the graphic display device is switched, if the equipment status information that manages all the equipment segments is updated, the omission of reflection of the status information is prevented, but this process requires a considerable amount of time, and after switching the graphic display device, There is a problem of having to suspend work for a while.

An object of the present invention is to quickly and surely reflect on-line facility status information received when switching between host computer series of a graphic display device.

E. Means for Solving the Problems FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention. 1A, 1B
Are host computers each having the same function, one acting as a main series and the other acting as a slave series. The host computer 1A (1B) stores the drawing information storage area 2A (2B) that stores the drawing information that is used for actual operation and that superimposes the equipment to be managed on the map, and the status information of each equipment that is imported online. An equipment state table 3A (3B) that is stored and updated,
A state change recording unit for comparing the state information of each facility acquired online and the contents of the facility state table 3A (3B) up to that point to record whether or not the state of each facility has changed
4A (4B) is provided. Further, the graphic display device 5 is provided with a segment buffer 6 for storing drawing information. 7 is a communication line.

Each element of the equipment state table 3A (3B) corresponds to the equipment to be managed 1: 1 and stores the state of each equipment. Each element of the state change recording unit 4A (4B) also corresponds to the equipment to be managed 1: 1 and the recorded content is “with state change” or “without state change”.

F. Operation Now, one host computer 1A is connected to the graphic display device 5 for normal operation, and the other host computer 1B is connected to the graphic display device 5
Suppose you are separated from. In this case, these host computers 1A and 1B are the main series and the slave series, respectively. Host computer 1
Both A and 1B compare the equipment status information acquired online and the contents of the equipment status tables 3A and 3B to detect equipment with a status change (hereinafter referred to as "status change"), and the equipment with the status change The contents of the equipment state tables 3A and 3B for (hereinafter referred to as "state change equipment") are updated. The host computer 1A, which is the main system, updates the state representation mode of the segment buffer in the segment buffer 6 corresponding to the condition change equipment, for example, the display color or the shape.

Here, for example, when the host computer 1A is disconnected from the graphic display device 5 in order to switch the main computer for maintenance and inspection of the main computer 1A, the other host computer 1B, which is the new main computer For the equipment that has been in a state change until it was connected to the display device 5, the contents of the state table 3B are updated and the contents of the state change recording unit 4B are set to “state change”. The state change recording unit 4B is initialized by the time of switching the master-slave series (for all equipment, "No change")
Setting).

Next, when the other host computer 1B is connected to the graphic display device 5, the host computer 1B takes out the equipment which has been described as "abnormal" from the state change recording section 4B and refers to the equipment state table 3B for the equipment. The state of the segment in the segment buffer 6 is updated. In this way, the master-slave series is switched, and the master series and the slave series are inverted between the host computers 1A and 1B.

G. Example An example will be described with reference to FIGS.

Online equipment status information is shown on the left side of the figure, host computers 1A and 1B are shown in the center of the figure, and a graphic display device is shown on the right side of the figure. Inside the graphic display device 5, equipment segments are shown. The equipment name corresponding to one element of each data set is indicated by an alphabet. The equipment status value is set to ON / OFF, and the status is expressed by the red / green color display.

a. Equipment status information processing during normal operation Figure 2 shows the processing when equipment status information is received. Initially, the host computer 1A is the main line and the host computer 1B is the sub line. If there is a change in the equipment H, the host computer 1A, which is the main system, updates the status of the equipment state table 3A and the equipment segment of the graphic display device 5. The host computer 1B, which is a subordinate system, updates the state of the equipment state table for the state change equipment.

b. Sequence switching Fig. 3 shows the processing when the sequence of the host computer is switched. The host computer 1A becomes a sub-series and the host computer 1B becomes a main-series. Also, the graphic display device 5 is a host computer 1A.
Separated from. After the graphic display device 5 is disconnected,
It is assumed that the equipment H has changed before the host computer 1B of the new main system is connected. The host computer 1A, which has become a new subordinate system, uses the equipment state table 3A
In the host computer 1B which has been updated only and has newly become the main sequence, the equipment state table 3B is updated with respect to the state-change equipment, and the content of the state change recording unit 4B is set to “state change”.

c. Graphic display device connection processing The processing when connecting a graphic display device to a new main line
Shown in the figure.

In the new main series host computer 1B, the state change recording unit 4B
The state change equipment H is detected from the above, and the state of the equipment segment of the graphic display device 5 is updated with reference to the equipment state table 3B.

In the above, in the above example, each element of the equipment state table and the state change recording unit and the segment in the segment buffer are made to correspond, but this correspondence is not limited to the segment unit, and IDB It may be a unit or a graphic information unit larger than a segment.

H. Effect of the Invention In the present invention, the state change recording unit is provided to record the state change equipment that occurs during the switching of the graphic display devices between the series, and after the figure display device is connected, the state update is performed for the segment of the state change equipment. Since this is done, it is possible to prevent omission of status updates during the series switching of the graphic display device, and to realize a highly reliable online drawing display device. Then, when connecting the graphic display device, only the condition change equipment is processed so that the time-consuming 1/0 operation to the graphic display device can be minimized, and the work can be performed promptly after connecting the new main system of the graphic display device. You can start.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing equipment state information processing during normal operation, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing state information processing during disconnection of the graphic display device, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the connection processing of the graphic display device, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of the graphic display device, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the state of graphic overlapping, and FIG. 7 is a video signal generation process. It is a block diagram showing a mechanism. 1A, 1B …… Host computer, 2A, 2B …… Drawing information storage area,
3A, 3B ... Equipment status table, 4A, 4B ... Status change recording section, 5 ... Graphic display device, 6 ... Segment buffer.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 8125-5L G06F 15/62 335

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Drawing information in which a facility to be managed is superimposed on a map is registered in a segment buffer of a graphic display device, and graphic information in a display range designated by a host computer is stored in the segment buffer. In addition to cutting out the drawing information and displaying it on the screen, the host computer fetches the status information of each facility online and displays it on the graphic display device in real time. The status information of each facility acquired online in the drawing display device that connects the display device to the main system side and performs business while the subordinate side process is waiting while performing processing so that the data contents are the same as the main system side The equipment status table that stores and updates the equipment status information, and status information of each equipment that was imported online when the graphic display device was disconnected from the host computer. Each of the host computer of the main series and the host computer of the slave series is provided with a status change recording unit for comparing the contents of the equipment status table and recording the presence or absence of a change in the status of each equipment, and the graphic display device is connected. When switching between the host computer of the main series and the host computer of the slave series, the equipment with the state change is searched based on the recorded contents of the state change recording unit in the newly changed host computer, A drawing display device, characterized in that the present state of the equipment is grasped by the equipment state table and the state of the graphic information unit relating to the equipment in the segment buffer is updated based on the grasped state.