JPH0773009A - Mouse button emulating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To emulate the functions of buttons with software without providing a pen device main body with a required number of mechanical buttons. CONSTITUTION:A pen device 5 is used as a pointing device of a window system. A window server 4 monitors the motion of the pen device 5. A mouse icon 3 communicates with the window server 4 to report the state of the mouse button. A mouse icon is displayed on a picture, and a pointer is provided in the button center of the mouse icon to clarify the pointed point by the mouse icon.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mouse button emulation method, and more particularly to a mouse button emulation method in which a pointer is provided on a button display portion so that a point pointed by the button is clearly indicated. Pointer installation) method. For example, the present invention is applied to a display-integrated pen device input system or a computer system including a pen device input system and having a standard window system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mouse is most widely used as a pointing device of a window system. There are various shapes, but for example,
UNIX workstations typically have three buttons. In the X window system, which is the most standard window system of UNIX workstations, the functions assigned to mouse buttons can be changed to some extent by a configuration file, but in general, menu display, menu item Selection, window operation (move, iconize, resize,
It is used for pop-ups, deletions, etc.), and button operation is indispensable in the window system. The window server controls all of these mouse and mouse button operations and corresponding window movements.

In contrast to the conventional technique using a mouse, when the workstation has been downsized and has been used more frequently while being carried, the use of a mouse icon by a pen device causes a problem of operating space required for the mouse. What you can solve, and operating the mouse icon with the pen is better than attaching a physical button to the pen
Some have been proposed that show excellent operability and flexibility.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional mouse button emulation method is a method of emulating a mouse with a pen. This is a pen device input system integrated with a display, or a computer system having a pen device input system and a standard window system, by emulating the operation of a conventional mouse button by software.
Even if the pen device does not have the same number of buttons as the mouse has, the pen device can realize the same operability as in the past. In other words, the pen is not provided with the same number of buttons as the hardware in terms of hardware, but it is possible to emulate the operation of the button by detecting the movement of the pen by software and making a determination.

When a window system is considered as a general user interface, since the window server normally receives data from various input devices, the window server is provided with a function for judging the movement of the pen. When a certain movement is performed, this is interpreted as a transition to a specific mode. For example, a mouse emulation mode or the like. If it is found that the mouse emulation mode is entered, the window server automatically launches an application and emulates mouse button operation through the application.
Specifically, an icon representing the shape of the mouse is displayed on the screen, and the button displayed on the icon is touched with a pen to emulate the button operation of the mouse. However, in this method, the point pointed by the mouse is not clear, and the function as a pointing device is insufficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to emulate the function of a button by software without providing the necessary number of mechanical buttons in the pen device body. Also, by providing a pointer to the mouse icon, the operability of the conventional method is improved, while maintaining the compatibility with the conventional house operation while utilizing the characteristics of the pen input device, it can be operated with the conventional mouse. The purpose is to provide a mouse button emulation method that can handle a large number of programs created in the same way as operating with a mouse.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in a computer system having a window system, a pen device used as a pointing device of the window system, and a window for monitoring the movement of the pen device. The mouse has a server and a mouse icon that communicates with the window server and notifies the state of the mouse button. The mouse icon is displayed on the screen, and a pointer is provided at the center of the button displayed in the mouse icon. It is characterized by emulating the button function of an icon.

[0008]

In the conventional method, the index indicating the point pointed by the mouse icon has not been defined. Therefore, the function as a pointing device is insufficient.
Therefore, a pointer is provided at the center of each button of the mouse icon so that the point pointed by the mouse icon becomes clear. In this case, if the button portion is opaque, the point to be pointed cannot be seen, so the inside of the button is made transparent. Also, by replacing the mouse with a mouse icon with a pen, first, without providing the same number of mechanical buttons as the conventional mouse in the pen device body,
Since it is possible to maintain compatibility with conventional mouse operations,
A program using a conventional mouse can be used as it is by using a pen device without impairing the operability of the pen. Further, since the mouse icon is displayed on the screen, the operation is more visually and easily understood as compared with the case where the mechanical button mechanism is provided on the pen. In the case of a computer system with a display-integrated pen device input function, it does not require a special space for operation like a mouse, so it can be used while moving a downsized computer system. Match Also, since the mouse icon emulates the button function by software, it is possible to change the number of buttons.
The flexibility of the system is higher than when a mechanical switch is provided on the pen device body. Further, by displaying a pointer at the center of each button, the point actually pointed can be clearly understood. Therefore, the operation of the mouse icon with the pen becomes easier.

[0009]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a mouse button emulation method according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 2 is a client, 3 is a mouse icon, 4 is an X window server, and 5 is a device (keyboard, mouse, pen). In the case of a computer system having an X window system which is a common window system for UNIX workstations, the movement of the input device 5 is controlled by the window server 4. The window server 4 is aware of what kind of input devices 5 are currently in the window system, and constantly monitors data input from these input devices 5.

According to the present invention, the window server 4 is changed, the pen input device 5 is added, the coordinates of the pen device are constantly monitored, and a specific movement of the pen device is transferred to a specific mode. Add the function to judge. Further, in the present invention, the mouse icon 3 is activated as one X client, and the client 1, 2 is activated.
Since the state change such as push / release of a button is notified to the window server 4 through the pseudo device, it is necessary to add the pseudo device to the input device 5 of the window server 4.

For example, when the pen device makes a certain movement, this is considered to be the transition to the emulation mode of the mouse. In the case of the transition to the mouse emulation mode, the window server 4 automatically launches the necessary application, thereby enabling the mouse operation to be emulated by the pen device 5.

Specifically, in the mouse emulation mode, a mouse icon is displayed at the coordinate point on the screen where the transition to the emulation mode is instructed. Since the icon is one of the applications, the window server 4
Communicate with the X protocol. The window server 4, which has detected that the pen has touched the area of the mouse icon 3, notifies the mouse icon, which is one of the clients, of this event by the X protocol. Upon receiving this notification, the mouse icon 3 makes a determination such as push / click / release of the mouse button and notifies the X window server of the state of the mouse button through the pseudo device. If the format of the data sent to the window server 4 through this pseudo device is the same as that of the mouse, the conventional method of interpreting the mouse data for interpreting the data from the pseudo device on the window server 4 is used. Can be used.

Although the input from the pseudo device driver is not actually the input from the mouse, the window server 4 interprets it as the input from the mouse, and the push / release of each button is judged by the touch of the pen device. . For example, when the button of the pen tip is turned off and the button is touched, it is interpreted as the movement of the mouse pointer. The mouse icon 3 is moved by moving the pen while touching the button. When you reach the desired point, press the pen to turn on the pen tip switch. If the pen tip switch is turned off within a predetermined time, it is interpreted as a button click, and if the switch is turned on any more, it is interpreted as a button push.

While the pen tip switch is on, the corresponding mouse button portion of the icon is highlighted to visually display the push of the button. However, in this case as well, the portion representing the pointer in the button must be visible. If the pen tip switch is turned off, it is interpreted as a button release and the highlight display is restored. This time can be set by the user. Also, if the button is pushed twice in succession at a time interval that does not exceed a certain fixed interval, it is determined that the button is a double click. This interval can also be changed by the user.

Also, this mouse icon is a normal X
Since it can be handled like a client, the mouse icon once displayed can be displayed on the screen as many times as necessary and used. It will be erased when it is no longer needed, but will be displayed if you enter the mouse emulation mode again.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts of the mouse button emulation method according to the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a flowchart of the server. FIG. 6B is a flowchart of the mouse icon. Hereinafter, each step will be described in order. In the figure (a), first,
Monitor the coordinates of the pen device (Step 1). Next, it is determined whether or not a specific movement of the pen device is a transition to a specific mobe (Step 2). If it is not the mouse emulation mode, normal processing is performed (Step 3) and the process returns to Step 1. If it is the mouse emulation mode in Step 2, then it is judged whether or not the mouse icon is displayed (Step 4), and if the mouse icon is displayed, the icon display is performed (Step 5). Next, it is judged whether or not the icon is touched with a pen (Step 6). If not touched, the process returns to Step 1 described above, and if touched,
Event notification is sent to the mouse icon (Step 7), and the St
Return to ep1. In Figure (b), determine the button status
(Step 1), the state of the server button is notified. (Step
2).

Next, a more specific embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 11 is a pointer, 1
Reference numeral 2 is a button icon, and 13 is a mouse icon. In FIG. 3, the displayed mouse icon 13 is shown. Intersection 11 of the hairline shown in the icon button
Indicates the point on the button. It is assumed that an operation indicating the transition to the mouse emulation mode by the pen device is performed. A mouse icon is displayed at the coordinate point as shown in FIG. Input with the pen to this mouse icon (touching the button, dragging the mouse icon) is X
It is sent to the mouse icon (3 in FIG. 1) by the protocol, and the result of interpreting the mouse state by the mouse icon is sent to the window server (4 in FIG. 1) through the pseudo device.

In FIG. 4, when the first button (left button) of the mouse icon is touched by the pen so as to determine that the button is pushed, the state shown in FIG. Highlight the button that is being pushed, as shown. For example, if the push of the first button on the root window is set to display the menu, the window server indicates that the first button of the mouse icon is pressed as shown in FIG. It is judged that it is the same as the mouse button 1 being pressed, and the menu is displayed. This menu will be displayed until the button is released or the menu item is pushed with the pen. If you push an item in the menu with the pen, it is determined that this item has been selected, the menu is erased, the highlight indicating the button push is restored, and the process corresponding to the selected menu item is performed. .

In FIG. 5, assuming that the operation of pushing the first mouse button on the title bar while dragging corresponds to the movement of the window, as shown in FIG. Consider the case where the mouse icon is displayed with. In this case, use the pen first
While holding down the mouse button, pull the pen in the direction you want to move. The mouse icon button is highlighted and the mouse icon and window move as the pen moves. At the point where the pen is released from the first mouse button, the window stops moving and the button highlighting returns to its original state, as shown in FIG. As with windows, mouse icons outside the screen are not displayed. Assign the same function to the other two buttons.

As another implementation method, a method of providing a mechanical button on the pen device itself can be considered. However, considering the physical size of the pen device, if three buttons are provided, it becomes rather difficult to use, and The benefits of using the device are believed to diminish. On the other hand, according to the method of the present invention, the operation can be easily performed only by turning on / off the pen tip, and the operation is performed by using the mouse icon displayed on the screen, which is very easy to visually understand. Become. In addition, since the method of the present invention emulates the button function by software, it is possible to change the number of buttons, which is more flexible than the case where a mechanical switch is provided in the pen device body. Is high.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when a pen device is used as a pointing device of a window system, software is provided without providing the necessary number of mechanical buttons in the pen device body. Since the button function can be emulated with, the application developed for the conventional mouse can be used without compromising the operability of the pen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a mouse button emulation method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a mouse button emulation method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a more specific example (1) of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a more specific embodiment (2) of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a more specific example of the present invention (part 3).
FIG.

FIG. 6 is a more specific example of the present invention (No. 4).
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... client, 3 ... mouse microcomputer, 4 ... X window server, 5 ... device (keyboard, mouse, pen).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a computer system having a window system, a pen device used as a pointing device of the window system, a window server monitoring the movement of the pen device, and communication with the window server to notify the state of a mouse button. A mouse button emulator for displaying a mouse icon on the screen, providing a pointer at the center of the button displayed in the mouse icon, and emulating the button function of the mouse icon. Rate method.