JPH08152992A - Method and system for controlling display - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make plural persons able to perform the next processing simultaneously observing the displayed result by displaying a window onto a display screen so as to be seen on the front side from any arbitrary position when watching the display screen from arbitrary position. CONSTITUTION: Data inputted from an input device 1 are outputted to an output device 9 under the control of an operating system. During that operation, the data sometimes outputted by being converted or read from an external storage device 10 under the control of a CPU 3. Concerning the data to be outputted to a display device, data transforming the display position with a display position transform module 5 are displayed on a window designated by a user. Further, when simultaneously using the display device for plural users, the display position transform module prepares a VRAM-WINDOW transform body structure for every WINDOW on each display. Then, when watching the display screen from arbitrary position, the window is displayed so as to be seen on the front side from that position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display control method for improving a display device used not only in personal computers, workstations, office computers, mainframes (large-scale computers), but also in microcomputer application fields. And a display control system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a display device is generally used for displaying the output result of a computer. In this case, it is general that one user controls the output, and a plurality of users do not simultaneously output to the display device.

There are many types of display devices, from a CRT display device having a high resolution to a low resolution display device for a low-priced personal computer, but in the future, the resolution of the display device will be high even in a low-priced personal computer.

On the other hand, for example, Windows or X-wi
By displaying a plurality of windows typified by Windows on a display device and executing a program in window units, it is becoming possible to efficiently perform a number of tasks. This is because an individual performs a plurality of tasks. Method.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional case, a plurality of users display the results of executing the programs independently or in association with each other on one display device,
There was no way to do multiple jobs at the same time.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a plurality of people simultaneously display the processing results of the program on the screen and look at the display results. An object of the present invention is to provide a display system and a display method capable of realizing various forms of applied work so that processing can be performed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display screen viewed from any position when the display screen is viewed from any position in order to give a user a dedicated display environment. A display control method is characterized in that a window is displayed on a screen and a plurality of windows are displayed and controlled so that a plurality of users can simultaneously use the windows.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention allows a plurality of users to view from any direction,
An operating system module that controls a display device that is installed horizontally on a table, an operating system module that enables input by a keyboard device or an input device that is a pointing device and controls scheduling of these, and a storage area of an arbitrary storage device. The display control system is provided with an operating system module that is allocated as necessary.

[0009]

In the above structure, a plurality of people can simultaneously display the processing results of the program on the screen, see the display results, and apply various forms of applied work so that the next processing can be performed based on these results. Can be realized.

[0010]

The outline of the present invention is as follows. That is, when one display device is viewed from an arbitrary position, the window image information is displayed in the video RAM (VRA) in order to display the window on the display device so that it can be seen from the position.
Before writing to M), it is necessary to convert the writing position according to the reference position information and the angle information. This is achieved by performing this in the display position conversion module and then writing in the VRAM. At this time, the reference position and direction are determined by the following method (see FIG. 8).

1. The number of users of the display device is calculated. 2. The reference area line is determined by the number of users and the user position information. 3. The optimum display position of the window according to the reference area line is determined according to the position specified by the user.

4. Display multiple windows within the reference area line. The above 1 to 3 are display position conversion modules. That is, basically, the reference area line is a reference line on a circle or an ellipse obtained centering on the position of the user, within a range close to the user on the display device and not intersecting with the reference area lines of other users. The position is set to the maximum range.

Input system devices for the display system are assigned to each window to form one independent resource environment as an object. This resource includes a portion in which memory or hard disk memory is dedicated to the object. Input devices include keyboards, pointing devices such as mice and pens, and other input devices that can be positioned. Realize the function to control and manage multiple objects as an operating system module.

When overlapping windows,
The window on the back side is displayed so that it can be recognized to some extent by combining some dot pattern groups. Further, in order to make it easier to see when viewed from an oblique direction, the operating system has a function of changing the display density of characters and graphics to control the density according to the position of the user and the position of the display window.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input device, which includes a wireless mouse, a mouse, a keyboard, a wireless keyboard, a keyboard, a pen, and the like. A mouse, a keyboard, and a pen transmit information to and from a computer system using a RS-232C standard cable. The wireless mouse and the wireless keyboard perform information transmission by a wireless system. The types of radio waves are assumed to be radio waves, electromagnetic waves, light waves, sound waves, and the like.

Reference numeral 2 is a memory device in which an operating system (OS) resides. A CPU unit (central control unit) 3 processes requests from the operating system and returns the results.

Reference numeral 4 is an input control driver module,
The number of the input devices 1 exists under the control of the OS, and the data sent from the input devices 1 is entrusted to the control of the OS.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a display position conversion module, which is an OS
Of the input control driver module 4, receives the data from the input control driver module 4, converts the display position, and then passes the data to the output control driver module 6.

Reference numeral 6 is an output control driver module,
It exists under the control of the OS according to the number of output devices, processes the output request of the OS, and outputs it to the output devices. In this case, a display control driver for outputting to a display device (display device) is targeted.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an operating system, which is a program resident in the memory device 2 for controlling resources and controlling the entire system. A video RAM device 8 is used to record screen drawing information by the output control driver module 6 and display it on a display device.

Reference numeral 9 is an output device, and in the present case, it is intended for a liquid crystal display device, a TFT liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a CRT display and the like. 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes an external storage device including a hard disk device (HDD) and a floppy disk device (FDD), which stores various database information.

Next, FIG. 2 conceptually shows the position (x mark) of the user and the display display, and expresses the display screen and some windows displayed in the display screen. is there.

In FIG. 2, 21 and 22, 23, 24
Is the window displayed on the display screen,
Each is arranged so that it can be seen from the direction of the X mark to the front direction.

Reference numerals 25, 26 and 27 are exclusive areas allocated on the display according to the number of users, and the windows created in this area are directed to the users who exclusively use this area.

28, 29 and 30 are user positions,
It is determined by a user's instruction or position information of the wireless device. Reference numeral 31 denotes a user, who represents operating the display device from the side.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a display device, which is shown from the side. Reference numeral 33 denotes a window, which indicates that the window is displayed on the display as seen from the side.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an input device, which indicates that it is in the user's hand. The operation of the above configuration will be described below. The diff input from the input device 1 is output to the output device 9 under the control of the operating system. In the meantime, data may be converted by the control of the CPU device 3 or may be read out from the external storage device 10 and output. In any case, as the data output to the display device, the display position converted by the display position conversion module 5 is output on the window designated by the user.

At this time, the display position conversion module 5 uses the video RAM device 8 corresponding to the dot position on the display.
VRA for converting only the address of the window
The M-WINDOW conversion structure is dynamically created internally, and it is possible to output in dot units and a range in which several dots are collected. This VRAM-WINDOW conversion structure is created when the user issues a window creation request, and the subsequent output is performed accordingly. When the position information is changed, the VRAM-WINDOW conversion structure is immediately updated. The WINDOW configuration information itself is registered in the data area of the OS module that manages the WINDOW during system configuration or when the user specifies.

When a plurality of users use the display at the same time, the display position conversion module creates a VRAM-WINDOW conversion structure for each WINDOW on each display. Further, the exclusive resource is secured for each processing process for independently performing a series of processing of input-conversion-output. This processing process is called an object and exists along with the existence of the user. Therefore, the object is dynamically added to the configuration by the OS when the user starts using the system, and is deleted from the configuration when the user finishes using the system.

The display position conversion module 5 is a circular or elliptical area line (indicated by a dotted line in the figure) on the display based on the user positions 28, 29 and 30 in the display diagram of FIG. To display a window in it. The area line settings are set so that the circumferences do not intersect so as not to conflict with the area line settings of other users. The position at the initial display, the size of the window and the number of screens are determined by the configuration information registered at the time of system setting or use, but when using a wireless input device, use a device that can automatically measure the user position. By doing so, it will be displayed at the optimum position when the user starts using the system,
It is possible to change it at any time. Code 2
In each of windows 1, 22, 23, and 24, reference numeral 22 is directed to reference numeral 28, reference numerals 23 and 24 are directed to reference numeral 30, and reference numeral 21 is directed to reference numeral 29, respectively.

The area line can be expanded, and the area line of another user can be taken in some cases.
In this case, dynamic reconfiguration of object resources is required.

Next, the process from system startup to the display of the user-oriented window will be described. It is clear from FIG. 2, which is a relationship diagram between the user position and the display, that the angle α when the window indicated by the reference numeral 33 from the user 31 is an acute angle, which is more difficult to see than when viewed from the front. This is realized by the display position conversion module 5 to increase the visibility by increasing the brightness of the dots as it moves away from the front side when representing a character or a figure. The letter Z in the frame illustrated in FIG. 5 is composed of normal-luminance dots represented by white squares and high-luminance dots represented by squares filled with black. When viewed from the bottom, it is easier to see than the one composed of only normal luminance. This is especially effective in high-density display devices. Basically, the high brightness dot density is adjusted so that the brightness increases in proportion to the distance of the line of sight of the user. If it is not possible to adjust the brightness on a dot-by-dot basis, the dot density of normal brightness is simply adjusted (see FIG. 6). Specifically, in the former case, high-brightness dot filters are used to add high-brightness dots. In the latter case, the brightness of the entire screen is increased in advance and a filter for thinning out dots in the front direction is used. The display position conversion module 5 has a filter as a brightness conversion filter structure, and the line-of-sight length and the line-of-sight angle are set by configuration information or dynamic designation by the user.

As an application of the above filter, when the windows are overlapped, some of the dots hidden in the lower side are inverted and displayed at a constant density, so that the dots are displayed in a slightly visible state when viewed from the user. This makes it possible to see the front screen display and the back screen display at the same time. In this case, the display position conversion module 5 adjusts and displays the reverse display density by the back screen display filter (see FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 7, when the system is started (see step S71 in FIG. 7), the configuration is read (step S72).
After that, the object resource is acquired for each user (step S73). Then, it is determined whether or not the user position is designated (step S74).

If the user position is designated (Y in step S74), the default area line is set (step S75), and the VRAM-WINDOW conversion structure is set (step S77).

On the other hand, if the user position is not designated (N in step S74), the area line is acquired and set (step S76), and the VRAM-WINDOW conversion structure is set (step S77).

After step S77, a user-oriented window is created and a display command prompt is displayed. According to the above-described embodiment, the present invention allows a large flat display to be placed in a horizontal direction, and several windows each of which can be controlled by one or more users can be freely manipulated. It's easy to peek into someone else's window and see the changes.
Also, the output result of the window operated by the user can be similarly output to the clone window provided in the area of another person and facing the person. The screens that are operated by each person are display-corrected so that the screens are sufficiently easy to see even when viewed from an oblique direction, so that it is not difficult to see. You can instantly transfer and receive the window environment. The effect of the present invention is particularly effective when a plurality of people work while communicating in a common environment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and assuming that two users operate face-to-face, the output to the screen operated by one user is the screen of the other user. By displaying the data at the same time on the other side, it is possible for the other user to confirm the data created by the operating user. You can reverse this by displaying another set of windows on both screens. By performing these operations at the same time, it is possible to perform an operation in which the other user performs processing based on the result of the processing by one user. Furthermore, by performing multiple tasks at the same time, using multiple object resources at the same time, and handing the pointing device directly,
One person's window can be used as it is. You can also exchange resources between objects,
By making a request / approval while communicating on one display, it is possible to provide a wear environment. Based on the above means of application, to give an example of application, when one teacher and three students surround a table with a high-density and sufficiently large display controlled by a computer system This is an effective means for realizing that the teacher can display an example or the like on the window and the students can see the contents on their own displays, and explain in this state. In addition, students can use the pointing device to instantly capture the explanation part of this screen as another note in the window, and the teacher can empirically collect many answers to the student's question. Has a searchable dictionary and Q with oral explanation
Providing students with A & A. Students take this in their notebooks. As a matter of course, books and papers may be prepared on the table and explained. in this case,
If one voice recognition device or the like is connected, explanations of important points of books and important matters of teachers can be captured by voice input. Furthermore, there is great potential for application in game machines where several people compete.

[0039]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of persons can simultaneously display the processing results of the program on the screen and see the display results, and the next processing can be performed based on these results. It is possible to realize various forms of application work so as to be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the position of the user and the display on the display according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a relationship diagram of a position of a user and a display according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of simultaneous display of a front screen and a back screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen display in a state different from that of FIG. 4 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display in a state different from that of FIG. 5 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the present invention according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Input device, 2 ... Memory device, 3 ... CPU device, 4 ...
Input control driver module, 5 ... Display position conversion module, 6 ... Output control driver module, 7 ... Operating system, 8 ... Video RAM device, 9 ... Output device, 10 ... External storage device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. When a display screen is viewed from an arbitrary position so as to provide a user with a dedicated display environment, a window is displayed on the display screen so that the user can see from the position in front, and a plurality of windows are displayed and controlled. A display control method characterized in that a plurality of users are controlled so that they can be used at the same time. 2. An operating system module for controlling a display device horizontally installed on a table so that a plurality of users can view it from any direction, and input by an input device such as a keyboard device or a pointing device is possible. A display control system comprising: an operating system module for controlling these scheduling as described above, and an operating system module for allocating a storage area of an arbitrary storage device as needed.