JPH08305539A - Input controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To select any of many commands in a few registration forms by retrieving instruction information in the operating mode corresponding to a locus form on the basis of the locus form of a cursor and the operating mode and conducting the processing in response to the retrieved instruction information. CONSTITUTION: A detection means 3 detects a locus form of a cursor C drawn on a display screen DP by the operation of a pointing device 2. A retrieval means 10 retrieves instruction information in the operating mode corresponding to the locus form from a storage means 5 on the operating mode selected by a changeover means 7 and the locus form of the cursor C detected by the detection means 3. An instruction information processing means 6 conducts processing in response to the instruction information retrieved by the retrieval means 10. Thus, any of many commands can be selected by a few of registration forms.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input control device for inputting various kinds of command information (commands) from a display screen in a computer system or the like, and particularly to a trajectory of a cursor drawn by operating a pointing device such as a mouse or a stylus pen. The present invention relates to an input control device for inputting various commands from a shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system that interactively performs various processes using a display screen, in order to instruct display contents, commands, etc. on the display screen, or to instruct an arbitrary position on the display screen. , Pointing devices are used. In this computer system that interactively performs various processes, a menu for selecting various commands is displayed on the display screen.

However, when the number of commands to be selected becomes large, continuous menu selection of further selecting submenus displayed in the pull-down menu opened after the selection of the main menu becomes necessary, so that the menu operation is performed. There is a problem that the display screen cannot be used effectively because a complicated problem occurs or a menu area occupying a finite display screen size increases and a work area for application processing decreases. It was happening.

As a prior art for solving these problems, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 4-322375 compares the locus shape of a pointing device with a previously registered graphic shape, and matches the registered graphic shape. An input control method is described in which, when a trajectory shape is input, a command defined corresponding to this figure shape is selected.

For example, if the pointing device is drawn linearly in the X-axis direction, a predetermined command corresponding thereto is selected, and if it is drawn in a circular shape, the corresponding command is selected. There is.

[0006]

However, even if the above-mentioned input control method is adopted, if the number of commands increases, many graphic shapes corresponding to these commands must be registered, and Since the number of types of locus shapes drawn by the user using a pointing device also increases with the increase in the number of figure shapes created, there is a problem that the user needs to memorize a large number of figure shapes. .

It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate such problems and provide an input control device capable of selecting a large number of commands with a small number of registered shapes.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an input control device for displaying a cursor indicating a desired position on a display screen, a pointing device for controlling movement of the position of the cursor (2 in FIG. 1). A switching means (7 in FIG. 1) for switching a plurality of operation modes, and a storage means (FIG. 1) for storing a correspondence relationship between a predetermined trajectory shape and command information corresponding to each operation mode switched by the switching means. 1
5), detection means (3 in FIG. 1) for detecting the trajectory shape of the cursor drawn on the display screen with the cursor by operating the pointing device, the operation mode switched by the switching means, and the operation mode described above. Retrieval means (10 in FIG. 1) for retrieving instruction information in the operation mode corresponding to the trajectory shape from the storage means based on the trajectory shape of the cursor detected by the detection means, and the instruction information retrieved by the retrieval means. Command information processing means for processing
6) and 6) are provided.

A second aspect of the present invention further comprises cursor shape changing means (8 in FIG. 1) for changing the shape of the cursor according to each operation mode switched by the switching means in the first invention. It is characterized by doing.

[0010]

In the first aspect of the invention, the detecting means detects the trajectory shape of the cursor drawn on the display screen with the cursor by operating the pointing device. The search means searches the storage means for command information in the operation mode corresponding to the trajectory shape based on the operation mode switched by the switching means and the trajectory shape of the cursor detected by the detection means. The instruction information processing means performs processing according to the instruction information retrieved by the retrieval means.

As a result, since the menu is not displayed on the display screen, the display screen can be effectively used, and the command information corresponds to each operation mode even when the input of the same locus shape is performed. Since a lot of command information is defined with a few trajectory shapes, the burden on the operator is reduced.

In the second invention, cursor shape changing means is further provided in the first invention, and the cursor shape changing means changes the shape of the cursor in accordance with each operation mode switched by the switching means. To do.

Thus, the operator can recognize the operation mode currently set, and by recognizing the operation mode, a large number of command information can be defined with a few trajectory shapes.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

In FIG. 1, the display control device comprises a display unit 1, a pointing device 2, a detection unit 3, a setting unit 4,
The storage unit 5, the processing unit 6, and the mode switching unit 7 are included.

The display unit 1 is composed of a bitmap display or the like having a display screen DP.

The pointing device 2 is composed of a mouse, a stylus pen and the like. The pointing device 2 has at least two buttons, a first button and a second button. The first button is a button that is pressed when inputting the trajectory shape of the cursor, and the second button is a button that is pressed when changing the operation mode described later. From the pointing device 2, input coordinate information indicating the coordinate position of the cursor C on the display screen DP and pointer information such as pressed state information of the first button or the second button are output every predetermined unit time.

The detection unit 3 detects input coordinate information (hereinafter referred to as an input point) in the pointer information output from the pointing device 2 in a state where the pressed state information of the first button is received. The shape of the trajectory of the cursor C that moves on the display screen DP according to the input point is referred to as the trajectory shape of the cursor.

The setting unit 4 sets and changes the contents stored in the storage unit 5.

The storage unit 5 stores a plurality of predetermined trajectory shape information 5a, mode management information 5c in which a plurality of operation modes corresponding to a plurality of types of cursor shapes such as pens and arrows are stored, and Command information 5b is stored for each operation mode indicated by the mode management information 5c, which stores the correspondence between each trajectory shape in the trajectory shape information 5a and the command corresponding thereto.

The processing unit 6 has a display processing unit 8 and a command processing unit 9, and the display processing unit 8 has a trajectory information table 8
a, a comparison / determination unit 8b, and a command selection unit 8c. The locus information table 8a stores information on the input points detected by the detection unit 3. The comparison and determination unit 8b determines whether or not the trajectory shape indicated by the input point information stored in the trajectory information table 8a matches the trajectory shape stored in the trajectory shape information 5a. If the determination results match, the command selection unit 8c refers to the command information 5b and selects a command determined from the matched trajectory shape and the operation mode output from the mode switching unit 7 described later. Then, the display processing unit 8 performs the display process of the command when the command related to the display process is selected, and notifies the command processing unit 9 of the command when the command is a command other than the display process. Then, the command processing unit 9 processes the command notified from the display processing unit 8. When it is necessary to display the processing result, the command processing unit 9 requests the display processing unit 8 for the processing, and 1
Display processing is performed.

The mode switching unit 7 has a mode management table 7a for managing the operation mode based on the mode management information 5c and pointer information output from the pointing device 2 for instructing the operation mode switching. When an operation mode switching instruction is input from the pointing device 2, the operation mode of the mode management table 7a is changed to the operation mode after switching, and the display processing unit 8 is notified of the operation mode after switching. By this notification, the display processing unit 8 performs a process of switching and displaying the shape of the cursor C displayed on the display screen DP to the cursor shape corresponding to the operation mode stored in the mode management information 5c.

2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer system including the input control device shown in FIG. 1. This computer system is a CPU 11 for controlling the entire system and a program relating to control processing of the CPU 11. , A main memory 12 having an area for storing data and a work area for various processes, a pointing device 13 including a pointing device such as a mouse or a stylus, a display device 14 including a bitmap display, and a main memory. Auxiliary storage device 15 composed of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or the like in which a program stored in the device 12 or data used for various processes is stored, and the CPU 1
1 to the auxiliary storage device 15 and a bus 16 for electrically connecting them.

In the input control device shown in FIG. 1 and the computer system shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 1 is the display device 14, the pointing device 2 is the pointing device 13, the detection unit 3,
The setting unit 4, the processing unit 6, and the mode switching unit 7 correspond to the CPU 11 and the main storage device 12, and the storage unit 5 corresponds to the auxiliary storage device 15 or the main storage device 12, respectively.

Here, the auxiliary storage device 15 has a data structure as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the data structure is large and comprises a program area 15a, a mode management file 15b, and a locus shape / command information management file 15c. In the program area 15a, a system program 15a-1 for supporting a program operating on a computer system, a command selection program 15a-2 for controlling command selection, and a system program 15a.
-1 and the command selection program 15a-2 are stored, and the application program 15a-3 which operates is stored. Application program 15a-
3 includes a mode management file 15b in addition to a normal application program such as document processing or graphic processing.
Also included is an application program for setting or changing the contents of the trajectory shape / command information management file 15c.

The mode management file 15b stores information necessary for managing operation modes grouped for each command category, for example. The mode management file 15b stores information corresponding to the mode management information 5c in FIG.

Track shape / command information management file 15
In c, the correspondence between the registered shape registered in advance for identifying the trajectory shape input by the pointing device which is the pointing device 13 and the command corresponding to the registered shape for each operation mode is stored. The trajectory shape / command information management file 15c stores information corresponding to the trajectory shape information 5a and the command information 5b in FIG.

The mode management file 15b and the locus shape / command information management file 15c are usually prepared for each application program, and the mode management information in the mode management file 15b corresponding to when a predetermined application program is activated. 5c and the locus shape information 5a and the command information 5b in the locus shape / command information management file 15c are read.

Therefore, in the configuration of the input control device shown in FIG. 1, after the predetermined application program is started, the locus shape information 5a, the command information 5b and the mode management information 5c corresponding to this application program.
Shows the state stored in the storage unit 5.

Here, the data structure of the mode management information 5c will be described with reference to FIG.

In the mode management information 5c, management information of a plurality of operation modes that can be instructed to the activated application is arranged in the same data structure for each operation mode. However, in order to indicate the number of operation modes, "registration mode number (N)" indicating the number N of registered operation modes is arranged at the beginning of the data.

The registered operation mode information includes a "mode number", a "shape comparison flag", and a "cursor shape", which are stored for each operation mode.
The “mode number” is a number for identifying the operation mode. The "shape comparison flag" stores information on whether or not to make a comparison judgment between the input point information indicating the trajectory shape of the cursor stored in the trajectory shape table 8a and the registered shape in the trajectory shape information 5a. Specifically, "shape comparison flag"
Stores a flag indicating "no" in the operation mode in which the shape comparison between the trajectory shape of the cursor and the registered shape is not performed. In the operation mode in which the shape comparison is performed, a flag indicating "execute" is stored Is stored. In the operation mode in which the shape comparison is not performed, one command corresponding to the operation mode is selected. Although the correspondence between the registered shape and the operation mode will be described later, a plurality of operation modes may be set so that the shape comparison is performed in all the operation modes, or the operation mode in which the shape comparison is not performed is performed. It may be set to a plurality of operation modes including. However,
The command corresponding to the operation mode without shape comparison is
It must be unique regardless of the cursor trajectory shape. This is to eliminate the problem that a plurality of commands are selected without performing shape comparison. The “cursor shape” stores information on the cursor shape that differs for each operation mode. This "cursor shape" is displayed as a cursor on the display screen, and the user recognizes the shape of this cursor, so that the user can know the operation mode currently set.

Here, the specific contents of the mode management information will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, there are three operation modes. That is, it has three operation modes of "comment mode", "display mode", and "edit mode".

The "comment mode" is for displaying the input trajectory shape as it is on the display screen, and the "display mode" is for each page displayed on the display screen corresponding to the input trajectory shape. The screen is switched from one page of the original data to the next page, etc. The "editing mode" is to perform various editing processes corresponding to the input trajectory shape, for example, underline drawing. is there. Now, in the mode management information, these "comment modes" to "editing modes" are sequentially associated with the mode numbers "1" to "3". Also,
Since the “shape comparison flag” is set to “not” only in the “comment mode”, shape comparison is not performed in the “comment mode”. The "cursor shape" of each operation mode is preferably set to a shape associated with the corresponding operation mode. In this embodiment, the cursor shape in the "comment mode" is set as a pencil shape, the cursor shape in the "display mode" is set as an arrow shape, and the cursor shape in the "edit mode" is set as a hand shape pointed by the index finger. . The contents of the command for the registered shape for each of these three operation modes will be described later.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the trajectory shape information 5a
The data structure of will be described.

In FIG. 6, the locus shape information 5a stores locus shape information for the registered number. Similar to the mode management information 5c, the trajectory shape information 5a stores, for each trajectory shape, information on a plurality of trajectory shapes corresponding to the activated application, for each trajectory shape. However, at the beginning of the data, "registered shape number (M)" indicating the number of registered trajectory shapes and "coordinate difference determination minimum value (e)" which is information common to each trajectory shape are arranged. There is. The “coordinate difference determination minimum value (e)” is an allowable value used to determine whether or not there is an effective difference between the unidirectional coordinate values of two points, for example, the x coordinate indicating the horizontal direction.
This is because the user generally cannot draw a horizontal trajectory with no error with the pointing device, and therefore it is necessary to allow some error.

For each trajectory shape, a "registered shape identifier",
The “minimum number of points for identification determination”, the “first determination condition”, and the “second determination condition” are stored. "Registered shape identifier"
Is an identifier used to indicate a registered shape in command information 5b described later. The “minimum number of identification determination points” is a condition value for preventing an unexpected input operation due to an unexpected movement of the pointing device 2 from executing an unexpected process by the operator. Stored as the number of input points from.

"First judgment condition" and "second judgment condition"
Is a condition for determining whether or not the trajectory shape is the same as the trajectory shape indicated by the input point. Here, the difference between the x and y coordinates between the start point of the input point and the end point of the input point is defined as a “positive number”, where the “first determination condition” is the difference between the x coordinates and the “second determination condition” is the difference between the y coordinates. "/" Negative number "/" equal to "is stored.

Now, with reference to FIG. 7, a specific locus shape in the case of using the “first judgment condition” and the “second judgment condition” will be described.

In FIG. 7, the locus shapes of nine cursors are shown. That is, from the start point PS to the end point PE1,
Vertical movement direction (21, 22) to PE2, horizontal movement direction (23, 24) from start point PS to end point PE3, PE4,
Upper right movement direction (25) from start point PS to end point PE5, upper left movement direction (26) from start point PS to end point PE6, lower right movement direction (27) from start point PS to end point PE7, start point P
A lower left movement direction (28) from S to the end point PE8, and a movement (29) from the start point PS to the end point PE9 which is the same as the start point PS.

Here, the two judgment conditions of the "first judgment condition" and the "second judgment condition" are defined as, for example, the trajectory shape 24 of the cursor from the start point PS to the end point PE4
By setting the “judgment condition” to be a “positive number” and the “second judgment condition” to be “equal”, the trajectory shape 2 of one cursor can be changed.
This is because 4 can be specified.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, command information 5b
The contents of will be described.

The command information 5b describes the correspondence with the command corresponding to the registered shape for each of the above-mentioned three operation modes, and one command is determined based on this correspondence. become. Here, the registered shape is
The vertical movement direction (21, 22) and the horizontal movement direction (23, 2) are used without using all nine registered shapes shown in FIG.
4) and only five registered shapes in the upper right movement direction (75) are used. Therefore, 15 commands can be registered by combining three operation modes and five registered shapes. However, in this embodiment, the "comment mode" which is an operation mode in which the trajectory shapes are not compared is set, and in this "comment mode", 1 is set regardless of the registered shape.
The two commands "Draw trajectory shape" are always specified. In addition, in each of the “display mode” and the “edit mode”, the command is “undefined” in relation to the registered shape that is difficult to associate with the command, and “undefined” is set for each operation mode. are doing. Therefore, the number of commands finally set is nine. As described above, when it is difficult to associate the relationship between the registered shape and the command, it is not necessary to forcibly set the corresponding command. When such an "undefined" command is detected, it is considered that the input trajectory shape has not been input.

This command is determined from the combination of the operation mode currently set and the registered shape identifier indicating the registered shape, and the determined command identifier is extracted. For example, when the trajectory shape 24 of the cursor, which is a horizontal trajectory from left to right, is currently input in the "display mode" with the mode number "2", the registered shape identifier ID1 corresponding to this is extracted, and the command A command identifier I indicating "next page display" determined by the registered shape identifier ID1 and the mode number "2" in the information 5b.
D21 is taken out. Further, when the trajectory shape 24 of the cursor corresponding to the registered shape identifier ID1 is currently input in the "editing mode" with the mode number "3", the registered shape identifier ID1 and the mode number "3" in the command information 5b. The command identifier ID31 indicating "selection of the character under the locus shape" determined by "is extracted, and the command corresponding to the command identifier ID31 is processed.

Here, with reference to FIG. 9, an example of different processing for each operation mode with respect to the same cursor locus shape input will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the case where the document editing application program is started and the editing process is performed on the document data P1 to P3 for three pages in page units. Although not shown, the document data P1 to P3 are stored in the storage unit 5. The command information shown in FIG. 8 is used as the command information. Further, as the current display state on the display screen DP, the document data P1 of the first page is displayed.

Now, the user uses the pointing device 2
When the locus shape DR corresponding to the locus shape 24 of the cursor is drawn on the display screen DP using, a command indicating different editing processing is executed based on the operation mode currently set. That is, when the currently set operation mode is the “comment mode”, on the display screen DPA on which the content of the document data P1 of the first page is displayed,
The drawn trajectory shape DR is displayed as it is, and as a result, a cancellation line as shown in the display screen DP1 is displayed.
Also, the currently set operation mode is "display mode".
If it is, the display is switched to the document data P2 of the second page, which is the next page, as shown in the display screen DP2. Furthermore, the currently set operation mode is "Edit mode".
If it is, as shown in the display screen DP3, the trajectory shape D
The character under the display of R is selected, and the underline of the selected character is displayed.

Here, the data structure of the trajectory shape table 8a will be described with reference to FIG.

The locus shape table 8a is a table for storing information on the input points detected by the detecting section 3. The data configuration of the locus shape table 8a includes "the number of input points (p)", "the x coordinate of the first input point", "the y coordinate of the first input point", ... "The x coordinate of the pth input point", " The “y coordinate of the p-th input point” is stored.

Next, the operation of the input control procedure by this input control device will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the application program is started, predetermined initialization is performed (step 10).
1). In this initialization, the mode switching unit 7 creates the mode management table 7a based on the mode management information 5c. Then, the mode number m in the mode management table 7a is set to "1". Further, the display processing unit 8 creates the trajectory information table 8a shown in FIG. At this time, the value of “the number of input points (p)” is set to 0.

In the initialization of step 101,
The display position and size of the application screen displayed on the display screen DP are the application screen A with respect to the absolute coordinates (X, Y) with the upper left of the display screen DP as the reference position.
The upper left position (APX, APY) of the PD is stored as the display position of the application screen, and the width APW and height APH of the application screen are displayed as the size in the display processing unit 6.
Be stored in.

As a result, the mode management information 5b shown in FIG.
If it is the content of ",""commentmode" is set as the operation mode at the time of initialization. The setting of the "comment mode" is notified from the mode switching unit 7 to the display processing unit 8, and the display processing unit 8 displays the pencil shape of the cursor shape corresponding to the "comment mode" on the display screen DP. To do.

After this initialization, the display processing unit 8 receives the pointer information from the pointing device 2 and moves the cursor C based on the received information (step 102).

Thereafter, the display processing unit 8 determines whether or not the cursor C is on the application screen (step 103). This determination is based on the application screen display position (APX, APY) and width APW / height APH.
This is performed based on whether or not the cursor C exists within the rectangular area defined by. As a result, if the cursor C does not exist within this rectangular area, it is regarded as an instruction to the system, not an instruction to the application, and step 1
Move to 04. In step 104, it is further determined whether or not the instruction to the system is an instruction to terminate the system,
If it is an instruction to terminate the system, this processing is terminated, and if it is an instruction other than termination of the system, system processing by the system program 15a-1 is performed (step 105). Then, the process proceeds to step 102, and the display processing unit 8 repeats the pointer information reception and cursor movement processing.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 103 that the cursor C is present in the application screen, the display processing unit 8 further determines whether or not the second button is pressed (step 106). If the result of this determination is that the second button has been pressed, it is regarded as operation mode switching, and operation mode mode switching processing is performed (step 1
07). This mode switching process is a process in which the mode switching unit 7 sequentially switches to an operation mode according to the number of times the second button is pressed, on condition that pointer information indicating the pressing of the second button output from the pointing device 2 is input. Done. When the mode switching process is completed, the process proceeds to step 102, and the display processing unit 8 receives the pointer information and moves the cursor.

When it is determined in step 106 that the second button has not been pressed, the display processing unit 8 further causes the first
It is determined whether or not the button is pressed (step 10
8) If the first button is pressed, the trajectory shape detection process for the trajectory shape of the input cursor is performed (step 109). This locus shape detection processing is performed by the detection unit 3 in a state where pointer information indicating pressing of the first button output from the pointing device 2 is being received.
The comparison determination unit 8b determines whether or not there is a registered shape stored in the trajectory shape information 5a that matches the trajectory shape of the cursor indicated by the input point detected by the command selection unit 8c based on the determination result. A command corresponding to the registered shape and the operation mode currently set is selected. On the other hand, if it is determined that the second button has not been pressed, the application processing is continued (step 112) unless the application is terminated (step 111).

After this processing, the display processing section 8 judges whether or not the command is selected by the command selecting section 8c (step 110), and if the command is selected, unless the application is terminated (step 11).
1) Perform application processing corresponding to the selected command (step 112). Then step 10
In step 2, the pointer information is received and the cursor is moved.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 110 that the command is not selected, the process proceeds to step 102,
The above process is repeated.

Next, the operation procedure of the mode switching process described in step 107 of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the mode switching unit 7 determines whether to use the second pointer information based on the pointer information output from the pointing device 2.
It is determined whether or not the button is pressed (step 2)
01). When the second button is pressed, the display processing unit 8 receives the pointer information from the pointing device 2, performs cursor movement processing based on the input coordinate information (step 202), and proceeds to step 201, The determination process of whether the second button is pressed is repeated. That is, the repeating processing of steps 201 and 202 is repeated while the second button is being pressed, in other words, until the user operating the pointing device 2 releases the second button. As a result, it is possible to prevent the operation modes from being continuously switched.

In step 201, the mode switching unit 7 is set to the second
When it is determined that the button is no longer pressed, the mode switching unit 7 sets the mode number value m in the mode management table 7a.
Is incremented by 1 (step 203).

After that, the mode switching unit 7 determines whether or not the value m of the mode number is less than or equal to the number M of registered modes (step 204). Then, the mode switching unit 7 resets the value m of the mode number to "1" only when the value m of the mode number exceeds the registered mode number M in step 204 (step 205). After that, the mode switching unit 7 notifies the display processing unit 8 of the mode number value m, and the display processing unit 8 determines the corresponding cursor shape based on the notified mode number value m. Then, the cursor currently displayed on the display screen DP is changed to the cursor having the cursor shape and displayed (step 206).

As a result, the display of the cursor shape is changed due to the mode conversion of the operation mode, and the user can confirm that the operation mode has been changed to the desired operation mode.

Next, the operation procedure of the trajectory shape detection processing described in step 109 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the display processing unit 8 initializes the number p of input points in the trajectory information table 8a to 0 (step 3).
01). Then, when an input point is input from the detection unit 3, the display processing unit 8 stores the x and y coordinates of the input point in the trajectory information table 8a and increments the value p of the currently set input point number. (Step 302). After that, the pointer information from the pointing device 2 is received, and the process of moving the cursor C is performed (step 303). Furthermore, the display processing unit 8
The pointer information output from the pointing device 2 is received, and it is determined whether or not the first button is pressed (step 304). Then, unless the first button is released, the process proceeds to step 302, and steps 302 to 3
The processing of 04 is repeated. Here, the release of the first button means a state in which the trajectory shape of the cursor is drawn by the pointing device 2.

When it is determined in step 304 that the first button has been released, the display processing unit 8 causes the mode management information 5c to be displayed.
It is determined whether or not the shape comparison flag of the operation mode currently set in is set to "not" (step 305). The determination in step 305 is made in the operation mode in which the shape comparison is not performed.
This is because the command is uniquely determined. Therefore, when it is determined in step 305 that the shape comparison flag is set to "not", the display processing unit 8 selects a command common to the currently set operation modes from the command information 5b ( (Step 306), this locus shape detection processing ends.

On the other hand, when the shape comparison flag is set to "Yes" in step 305, the comparison / determination unit 8b
A first subtraction value obtained by subtracting the x coordinate value of the pth input point from the x coordinate value of the first input point stored in the trajectory information table 8a, and the y coordinate of the pth point from the y coordinate value of the first input point. Calculate the second subtraction value by subtracting the value,
The “first determination condition” is applied to the first subtracted value, the value of the “second determination condition” is applied to the first subtracted value, and the “coordinate value determination minimum value (e ) ”, The determination condition value of either“ positive number ”/“ negative number ”/“ equal ”is calculated as the first determination condition value and the second determination condition value (step 307).

Further, the comparison / judgment unit 8b determines in step 30.
It is determined whether or not there is a registered shape that satisfies the first determination condition value and the second determination condition value calculated in step 7 (step 3
08). That is, the locus shape information 5a is searched, the number p of input points stored in the locus shape table 8a is equal to or more than the minimum number of points for identification determination, and the first determination condition value and the second determination condition value
It is determined whether or not there is a registered shape having the same value as the determination condition value.

In step 308, if there is a registered shape that satisfies the first judgment condition value and the second judgment condition value, the command selection unit 8c searches the command information 5b, and the registration that is judged to be satisfied in step 308 is registered. It is determined whether or not there is a command corresponding to the combination of the shape and the currently set operation mode (step 309). That is, the command selection unit 8c determines whether or not there is a corresponding command identifier based on the registered shape identifier searched by the comparison determination unit 8b and the currently set mode number m. Then, if the command identifier exists, the command selection unit 8c selects this command identifier (step 310).

On the other hand, in step 308, the comparison / determination unit 8b
If it is determined that there is no registered shape that satisfies the first determination condition value and the second determination condition value, it is determined that the predetermined cursor trajectory shape is not designated, and the trajectory shape detection processing is ended. If the command selection unit 8c determines that the corresponding command identifier does not exist in step 309, the command is determined to be "undefined", and the trajectory shape detection process ends. The command identifier selected in step 310 is notified to the application,
The processing unit 6 executes the command processing corresponding to the notified command identifier.

Next, the process of setting or changing the setting of the locus shape information 5a, the command information 5b, and the mode management information 5c stored in the storage unit 5 by the setting unit 4 will be described.

In the above description, the trajectory shape information 5 has already been described.
Although description has been made on the premise that the a, the command information 5b, and the mode management information are set, new information can be set or the setting can be changed by using the setting unit 4.

For example, the number N of registered modes in the mode management information 5c shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be increased by 1, and a new operation mode can be additionally set. At this time, it is preferable that the cursor shape is a cursor shape that is associated with a new operation mode.

Alternatively, the display mode and the edit mode may be combined into one operation mode, and a correspondence relationship with a new registered shape may be added to the command information 5b.

Of course, not only addition, but also various changes such as deletion of operation mode or registered shape, change of shape comparison flag, change of cursor shape, and setting processing can be performed.

Also, the trajectory shape information 5a and the command information 5
The same applies to b.

The setting / changing processing by the setting section 4 is also
It is set as one of the above-mentioned commands. And the program that performs the processing corresponding to this command is
It is prepared in advance as one of the application programs shown in FIG.

Here, the command indicating the setting / changing processing by the setting unit 4 may be set in advance so that it can be selected according to the combination of the operation mode and the registered shape as described above, or the setting can be performed. Only the application program of the / change process may be an exception of other application programs, and when this application program is started, a menu screen for the setting / change process may be displayed to enable the setting / change process. .

In the above-described embodiment, the concept of operation mode is provided, a command group is set for each of a plurality of operation modes, and a command for selecting a command in this command group is common to the operation mode and this operation mode. Since it is determined from a plurality of registered shapes, the user can select a large number of commands by combining a small number of registered shapes and operation modes, and the user can register a large number of commands when issuing command selection instructions. The burden of having to remember the shape is reduced.

Further, the trajectory shape of the cursor corresponding to the registered shape is displayed on the display screen DP using the pointing device 2.
Since it is possible to give desired command selection instructions just by drawing on the screen, a menu for command selection is unnecessary, the work area for applications can be effectively used, and the command selection instructions can be made with few operation instructions. It can be carried out.

Further, in order for the user to recognize the current operation mode, the shape of the cursor is made to be associated with the operation mode, so that the burden of command selection instruction on the user is reduced and a user interface that is easier to use is provided. Will be provided.

Further, by providing the setting section, it is possible to flexibly change and set the already set input control.

[0087]

As described above in detail, in the first invention, the detecting means detects the trajectory shape of the cursor drawn on the display screen with the cursor by operating the pointing device. The search means searches the storage means for command information in the operation mode corresponding to the trajectory shape based on the operation mode switched by the switching means and the trajectory shape of the cursor detected by the detection means. The instruction information processing means performs processing according to the instruction information retrieved by the retrieval means.

Therefore, the combination of the few registered trajectory shapes and operation modes enables the operator to instruct selection of a large number of commands, and the operator can register a large number of commands at the time of command selection. This has the advantage that the burden of having to remember the locus shape is reduced.

Further, since it is possible to instruct the selection of a desired command only by drawing the registered locus shape on the display screen using the pointing device, a menu for command selection becomes unnecessary, and the display screen is displayed. It has advantages that the work area for the above application can be effectively used, and that the complicated operation related to menu selection is reduced in the case of command selection instruction.

In the second invention, cursor shape changing means is further provided in the first invention, and the cursor shape changing means changes the shape of the cursor in accordance with each operation mode switched by the switching means. I am trying to do it.

Therefore, the operator can change the shape of the cursor indicating the operation mode according to the operation mode.
If the operation mode that is currently set can be easily recognized and the cursor shape is associated with the operation mode, the burden on the operator of the instruction selection instruction can be reduced, and the user can use it more easily. It has the advantage that an interface can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an input control device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer system including the input control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of an auxiliary storage device 15.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of mode management information 5c.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing specific contents of mode management information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of trajectory shape information 5a.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific trajectory shape when two determination conditions are used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a setting example of command information 5b.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of different processing for each operation mode with respect to the input of the same trajectory shape.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a data structure of a trajectory information table 8a.

FIG. 11 is an overall flowchart showing an operation procedure of input control according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a mode switching processing procedure shown in step 107.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the trajectory shape detection processing shown in step 109.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 display part 2 pointing device 3 detection part 4 setting part 5 storage part 5a locus shape information 5b command information 5c mode management information 6 processing part 7 mode switching part 7a mode management table 8 display processing part 8a locus information table 8b comparison judgment part 8c Command selection section 9 Command processing section DP display screen C cursor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input control device for displaying a cursor indicating a desired position on a display screen, a pointing device for controlling movement of the position of the cursor, switching means for switching a plurality of operation modes, and the switching means. Storage means for storing a correspondence relationship between a predetermined trajectory shape and command information corresponding to each of the switched operation modes, and a trajectory shape of the cursor drawn on the display screen by the cursor by operating the pointing device. Detecting means for detecting, and retrieving means for retrieving command information in the operation mode corresponding to the trajectory shape from the storage means based on the operation mode switched by the switching means and the trajectory shape of the cursor detected by the detecting means. And an instruction information processing means for processing the instruction information retrieved by the retrieval means. An input control device characterized by the above. 2. The input control device according to claim 1, further comprising cursor shape changing means for changing the shape of the cursor corresponding to each operation mode switched by the switching means.