JPH08279998A - Computer system for supporting co-operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it easy for participants to identify pointer indication even if there are many participants in the case where remote participants and users other than those displayed on the multi-window screen of a computer execute computer-supported co-operation such as a video conference while indicating a data window and a blackboard window to be shared windows on the multiwindow screen of the computer with pointers. CONSTITUTION: A participant A is displayed on a television(TV) window 2A, information on the data window 3 is indicated by a long pointer 4A, a participant B is displayed on a TV window 2B, a point on the blackboard window 6 is indicated by a long pointer 4B to write information in the pointed position. A user of this computer indicates the sample window 3 by a long pointer 4H. Thus the TV windows of respective participants and their indication points are related by the long pointers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention supports a collaborative work such as a video conference performed by a plurality of participants who are separated from each other based on an operation performed by each participant on a CRT device of a computer corresponding to each participant. A computer system for collaborative work support. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a collaborative work carried out with the support of a computer, such as a video conference using a computer's multi-window function or a network function, a blackboard window in which each participant writes an opinion and materials brought in When each participant writes an opinion or points to the information being displayed on a shared window such as the document window that presents the information, the color or shape of the pointer to point to the information to be entered or the information being displayed is participated. By dividing by person, the relationship between each participant and the instruction given to the shared window by the participant was expressed.

[0003]

However, the relationship between each distant participant and the instruction to the shared window is expressed by separating the information and the color and shape of the pointer entered by each participant. With the method, as the number of participants increases, it becomes difficult to clearly identify which participant is trying to enter their opinion, and which participant is pointing to the displayed information. There is a problem of becoming.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system for collaborative work support that can solve this problem.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a computer system for collaborative work support according to claim 1 is a computer in which a plurality of participants (A, B, etc.) separated from each other correspond to themselves. While operating (such as video conferencing)
A computer system for supporting collaborative work, wherein each of the aforementioned computers includes a participant identification image window (such as a TV window 2A) that displays at least individual images of other participants or icons in place of them. Shared window (information window 3, blackboard window 6, etc.) that displays information that each participant wants to show to other participants
And a pointer (4A, 4B, 4H, etc.) as an image for indicating a designated point (P1, etc.) as a position of the information that each participant intends to point in the shared window within one screen. In a collaborative work support computer system having means (CRT device or the like) capable of displaying the multi-window screen (1), a pointer for each participant is provided near the participant identification image window of the participant.
It is assumed that a means for displaying the length extended to the designated point of this participant is provided.

A computer system for collaborative work support according to a second aspect is the computer system according to the first aspect,
When the participant identification image window or the shared window is moved within the multi-window screen, the length of the pointer affected by the movement is maintained while the connection between the participant identification image window and the pointing point is maintained. And means for changing the position.

A computer system for collaborative work support according to claim 3 is the computer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pointer for each participant displayed on a multi-window screen of a computer corresponding to each participant. A shape or a color characterizing the above item shall be provided for the same participant among the computers.

[0008]

In the computer-assisted collaborative work, when each participant writes an opinion or points the information being displayed on the shared window in the multi-window screen, (1) In the invention according to claim 1, the remote Use a pointer of sufficient length that extends from the direction of the TV window displaying the participants' facial expressions etc. to the designated point on the shared window,
(2) In the invention according to claim 2, even if the user moves the TV window or the sharing window, each distant participant writes an opinion or points the information being displayed on the sharing window. 4. The pointer is dynamically moved / rotated while varying the length so that the position of the above-mentioned and the TV window of the participant are always connected, (3).
In the invention related to, the shape and color of the pointer that associates each TV window with the pointing point on the shared window is unified for each participant, and which participant is about to write their opinion and which information is being displayed is indicated. Make it easy to visually recognize which participant is participating.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a multi-window screen as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1 in which each participant in a computer-assisted collaborative work and a shared window are associated with each other by a pointer having a sufficient length. An example of a computer-assisted joint work of three persons, that is, the participant A, the distant participant B, and the user himself of this computer is shown.

In the figure, 1 is a multi-window screen of a computer, 2A and 2B are TV windows, 2A is a TV window showing a participant A, and 2B is a TV window showing a participant B. Reference numeral 3 is a material window as a shared window, and 6 is a blackboard window. Further, 4A, 4B and 4H are pointers by which each participant points a designated point in the shared window, 4A is a pointer of the participant A, 4B is a pointer of the participant B, and 4H is a user of this computer. Show pointers respectively.

That is, on the multi-window screen 1 of the computer shown in FIG. 1, the participant A displayed in the television window 2A changes the information displayed in the material window 3 into
It is indicated by a pointer 4A extending from the television window 2A. Further, the participant B displayed on the television window 2B is about to write an opinion on the blackboard window 6 at the tip position of the pointer 4B extending from the television window 2B. In addition, the user himself / herself of this computer changes the information displayed in the document window 3 into
It is pointed by the pointer 4H from the front side, that is, the lower side.

Although the pointer 4 is shown as an arrow in the example of FIG. 1, a hand-shaped or finger-shaped pointer may be used, or the arrow-shaped, hand-shaped or finger-shaped pointer may be adapted to the operation situation. It is also possible to switch. If the participant's video cannot be displayed in the TV window 2 due to the environment of the device, it is possible to display icons and illustrations in the window area corresponding to the TV window instead of the TV window 2.

Further, although the pointer 4H for the user of this computer extends from the front side, that is, the lower side of the screen, it displays a TV window or icon for the user himself and uses it from the TV window or icon. It is also possible to extend the pointer for the person himself. FIG. 2 shows a multi-window screen as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2 in which the pointer being instructed is dynamically moved / rotated in accordance with the movement of the TV window as the instruction source in the multi-window screen. This figure shows an example of a computer-assisted collaborative work of two persons, a distant participant C and the user himself of this computer. However, the display of the pointer of the user of this computer is omitted.

In the figure, 2C and 2C 'are television windows of the user C, 2C is a television window before moving, and 2C' is a television window after moving. Further, 4C and 4C 'are pointers of the user C, 4C is a pointer before the movement of the television window 2C, and 4C' is a pointer after the movement. That is, in the multi-window screen 1 of the computer of FIG. 2, the user of this computer displays the television window 2C of the participant C who points the information displayed at the designated point P1 in the material window 3 by the pointer 4C. By moving to the position of the new TV window 2C 'shown by, the pointer 4C also moves to the new pointer 4 shown by the arrow A2.
Position of C '(that is, TV window 2C' after movement)
Then, it dynamically rotates while changing its length to a position (a position connecting the designated point P1 on the material window 3 which the pointer 4C has pointed to before this movement).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention according to claim 2 in which the pointer being instructed is dynamically moved / rotated in accordance with the movement of the shared window to be instructed in the multi-window screen. A window screen is shown. This figure shows a case where a user of this computer moves a shared window, and an example in which a distant participant D and the user of this computer themselves perform a computer-assisted joint work Shows. However, the display of the pointer by the user of this computer is omitted.

In the figure, 2D is a television window of the participant D, 3 and 3'are material windows, 3 is a material window before moving, and 3'is a material window after moving. Also, 4D and 4D 'are pointers of the participant D, and
D shows the pointer before the movement of the material window 3, and 4D 'shows the pointer after the movement. That is, when the participant D of the television window 2D points the information displayed at the designated point P2 in the material window 3 by the pointer 4D on the multi-window screen 1 of the computer of FIG. By moving the material window 3 to the position of the new material window 3'shown by the arrow A3, the pointer 4D also indicates the position of the new pointer 4D 'shown by the arrow A4 (that is, the TV window 2D and the pointer 4D are instructed). The position is dynamically changed to a position corresponding to the designated point P2 on the material window 3 and connected to the designated point P2 'on the material window 3'after the movement while changing the length.

FIG. 4 shows that the shape and color of the pointer to be used are shared by all participants (in other words, the same participant can specify the shape and color that can identify himself / herself in the multi-window screen of the computer for each participant. A multi-window screen for each participant is shown as an embodiment of the invention relating to claim 3, and this figure shows the case of the computer-assisted joint work of three participants X, Y, Z. .

In the figure, 1X, 1Y and 1Z are multi-window screens of the computers of participants X, Y and Z, 2X,
2Y and 2Z are TV windows of the participants X, Y, and Z, and 4X, 4Y, and 4Z are pointers of the participants X, Y, and Z, respectively. That is, the TV windows and shared windows of the participants are displayed on the multi-window screens 1X, 1Y, 1Z of the computers of the participants X, Y, Z connected by the communication means 11 of FIG. Here, on the multi-window screen 1X of the computer of the participant X, the TV window 2Y of the participant Y and the TV window 2 of the participant Z are displayed.
Z, a blackboard window 6 and a material window 3 are displayed.

On the multi-window screen 1Y of the computer of the participant Y, the television window 2X of the participant X, the television window 2Z of the participant Z, the blackboard window 6 and the material window 3 are displayed. Also, in the multi-window screen 1Z of the computer of the participant Z, the participant X
The TV window 2X of the participant, the TV window 2Y of the participant Y, the blackboard window 6 and the material window 3 are displayed.

At this time, the participant X informs the participants Y and Z of the information such as the shapes and colors of the pointers, assuming that the shape of the pointer of the participant X is wedge-shaped, and the participant Y similarly.
Assumes that the shape of its pointer is an arrow shape, and notifies the participants X and Z of information such as the shape and color of the pointer, and the participant Z further determines that the shape of his pointer is a hand shape. It is assumed that the participant X and the participant Y are notified of the information such as the shape and color of the pointer.

As a result, the pointer displayed on the multi-window screen of the computer of each participant is unified and shared by each participant. That is, the pointer of the participant X can be displayed on the multi-window screen 1X of his computer as well.
Multi-window screen of each computer of participants Y and Z 1
Even on Y and 1Z, they are all displayed by the wedge-shaped pointer 4X. Similarly, the pointer of the participant Y is displayed as an arrow-shaped pointer 4Y on both the multi-window screen 1Y of his / her own computer and the multi-window screens 1X and 1Z of the respective computers of the participants X and Z. Similarly, even if the pointer of the participant Z is on the multi-window screen 1Z of his / her own computer, the multi-window screens 1X, 1 of the respective computers of the participants X and Y are displayed.
Even on Y, all are displayed with the hand-shaped pointer 4Z. Therefore, even without looking at the TV window, it becomes easy to identify the participant who is instructing with the pointer, simply by looking at the shape and color of the pointer shared among the participants.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] In a computer-assisted joint work that also has a video conference function using a computer's multi-window function, network function, etc., each participant can enter and display their opinions on the shared window within the multi-window screen. (1) In the invention according to claim 1, when pointing to the information inside, a pointer of sufficient length extending from the direction of the television window displaying the facial expressions of each distant participant to the designated point on the shared window. (2) In the invention according to claim 2, even if the user moves the TV window or the shared window, each distant participant writes an opinion or displays the information being displayed on the shared window. The pointer is dynamically moved / rotated while changing the length so that the position of the pointing point and the TV window of the participant are always connected. (3) In the invention according to claim 3, the shape and color of the pointer associating each TV window with the pointing point on the shared window are unified for each participant, so that even if the number of participants increases. , It becomes easy to visually recognize the pointing by each participant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-window screen as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a multi-window screen as an embodiment of the invention related to claim 2.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a multi-window screen as another embodiment of the invention according to claim 2.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a multi-window screen as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1X to 1Z multi-window screen 2A to 2D, 2C ', 2X to 2Z TV window 3, 3'material window 4A to 4D, 4C', 4D ', 4H, 4X to 4Z pointer 6 blackboard window P1, P2, P2 ′ Point 11 Communication means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A computer system that supports a collaborative work performed by a plurality of participants who are separated from each other while operating a computer corresponding to each participant, wherein each individual computer is an individual computer of at least another participant. Participant identification image window that displays the image of, or an icon that replaces it, a shared window that displays the information that each participant wants to show to other participants, and each participant In a collaborative work support computer system having means capable of displaying a multi-window screen having in one screen a pointer as an image indicating a pointing point as a position of information to be pointed by itself, It is provided with a means for displaying the pointer with a length extending from the vicinity of the participant identification image window of the participant to the designated point of the participant. A computer system for supporting collaborative work. 2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein when a participant identification image window or a shared window is moved within the multi-window screen, a participant identification image window for a pointer affected by this movement is displayed. A computer system for collaborative work, comprising means for varying the length and position of the pointer while maintaining connection with the pointing point. 3. The computer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a shape or color characterizing a pointer for each participant displayed on a multi-window screen of a computer corresponding to each of the participants is distributed between the computers. A computer system for collaborative work, which is equipped with common means for the same participant.