JPH09244982A - Multi-pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-pointing device capable of obtaining excellent operability without generating the scramble of a system cursor. SOLUTION: Plural tablets 40 are connected through a communication line 4 to a chairman device. The tablet 40 is provided with a microcomputer 30 for recognizing the input propriety command of an ID and controlling an input propriety state, an input propriety display LED 41 to be lighted when input is possible and a nonvolatile memory 42 for storing an ID number. Also, the control part of the chairman device performs control so as to individually instruct the propriety of the operation of the tablet 40 by adding the ID number of the tablet 40 whose operation is permitted by the execution of pointing device control to a command, sending it out, adding the ID number of the tablet 40 whose operation is inhibited to the command and sending it out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-pointing device device to which a plurality of pointing devices are connected, and more specifically, a main control unit to which a plurality of terminals are connected, and the terminals to which the pointing devices are respectively connected. Multi-pointing device apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-pointing device system is a system in which a plurality of display devices each having a pointing device are connected to a control device so that each user can operate the pointing device. Generally used for electronic conferencing systems.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional multi-pointing device system of this type, which is an example applied to an electronic conference system.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 is a chairperson apparatus that controls the entire electronic conference system, and reference numerals 2 and 3 are display devices (terminals) equipped with pointing devices. The display apparatuses 2 and 3 are a chairperson apparatus 1 and a communication line 4. Connected through. Display device 2,
3 is given to the attendees of the conference, and is increased or decreased according to the number of attendees.

The chairperson apparatus 1 serves as a control unit 11 for controlling the entire system, a display 12 such as a CRT for displaying display data, a keyboard 13 having various data input keys and function keys, and a pointing device. Mouse 14 and display data for each display device 2, 3
The display distribution circuit 15 is configured to distribute to

The controller 11 is a display controller 1
6, a keyboard controller 17, a mouse controller 18, a communication controller 19, a microcomputer (not shown), and the like, and the control unit 11 is required for various operations while exchanging data with the RAM according to the stored microprogram. A value is calculated and each of the control controllers is controlled based on the processed data.

The keyboard 13 is an operation panel on which keys for inputting alphanumeric characters, hiragana, etc., and function keys such as a cursor movement key and an execution key are arranged. When any key on the operation panel is operated. , Is converted into a predetermined key code corresponding to the key by the keyboard controller 17, and is output to the microcomputer.

The display distribution circuit 15 receives the display data from the display controller 16 incorporated in the control unit 11 into the control unit 1.
According to the instruction from 1, the display 12 and the displays 21 and 22 (described later) of the display devices 2 and 3 are distributed.
As a result, the display data having the same content is displayed on the displays 12, 21, 22.

On the other hand, the display devices 2 and 3 have a control unit 11
21, 22 for displaying display data from
And tablets 23 and 24 capable of pen input, and have the same hardware configuration. Tablet 23,2
Reference numeral 4 together with the mouse 14 of the chairperson apparatus 1 constitutes a multipointing device as a whole. An LCD (liquid crystal display device) is used for the displays 21 and 22.

With this configuration, if the keyboard 13 and the mouse 14 connected to the control unit 11 of the chairperson apparatus 1 are operated, the conference materials and display data are displayed on the displays 12 and 2.
1, 22 can be displayed, and the conference can be advanced.

The operation of the mouse 14 of the chairperson's device 1 and the tablet 23 of the display device 2 will be described in detail. Since the display devices 2 and 3 have the same hardware configuration with respect to the pointing system, the tablet 23 of the display device 2 is used.
Will be described as a representative.

FIG. 8 shows the mouse 14 and the tablets 23 and 2.
4 is a conceptual diagram showing the connection of the hardware of No. 4 and the configuration of software for controlling them.

In FIG. 8, the mouse 14 is connected to the mouse controller 18 inside the control unit 11, and the tablet 2
Reference numerals 3 and 24 are connected to the communication controller 19 inside the control unit 11 via the communication line 4. The control unit 11 controls the mouse 14 and the tablets 23 and 24 by software described below. That is, the storage unit (not shown) of the control unit 11 includes a mouse driver 25 that controls the mouse controller 18, a communication driver 26 that controls the communication controller 19, and a cursor management driver 27 that manages the mouse driver 25 and the communication driver 26. , An operating system 28 for controlling the entire system is stored, and the mouse 14 and the tablets 23, 24 are stored.
The processing described below is executed by the operation.

First, the operation of the mouse 14 will be described.

When the mouse 14 moves, the data shown in the example of FIG. 9 is notified to the mouse controller 18. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of mouse data, which shows data of 1 to 3 bytes. In the figure, X7 to X0 and Y7 to Y0 represent movement amounts ΔX and ΔY of the mouse 14.

The movement amounts ΔX and ΔY notified to the mouse controller 18 are notified to the mouse driver 25.

The mouse driver 25 inquires the current position of the system cursor to the cursor management driver 27, and based on the cursor position return values Xs, Ys from the cursor management driver 27 and the movement amounts ΔX, ΔY, the next cursor movement position Xn, Calculate Yn (Xn = Xs + ΔX, Yn =
Ys + ΔY) and notify the cursor management driver 27.

The cursor management driver 27 determines the next cursor movement position Xn, Yn to the operating system 28.
And the system cursor is moved to a position corresponding to the movement amounts ΔX and ΔY of the mouse 14. In this state, when the switch 14a of the mouse 14 is pressed, the pressing information R / L of the mouse data shown in FIG. 9 changes, and the operating system 28 is notified by the same route as in the case described above.
Corresponding processing is performed on the operating system 28.

Next, the operation of the tablets 23 and 24 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conventional tablets 23 and 24, which is an example of the structure of a resistance film type tablet.

In FIG. 10, the tablet 23 is an RO
M31, RAM 32, serial I / O (SIO) 33,
A microcomputer 30 having a built-in A / D converter (ADC) 34 and a tablet glass 3 for converting the coordinates in the X and Y directions of the point pressed by the pen into a voltage and outputting the voltage.
5 and are connected to each other via a bus 36.

The tablets 23 and 24 are connected to the communication controller 19 of the control unit 11 via the communication line 4. The communication line 4 includes RS-232C and RS-485.
Use a bidirectional line such as.

The microcomputer 30 has a ROM 31.
A predetermined process is executed using the RAM 32 as a work memory according to the microprogram stored in. That is, the voltage output from the tablet glass 35 at a constant interval is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 34, and the voltage value is converted into a predetermined absolute coordinate value of the tablet, and the communication line 4 is connected using the SIO 33. It notifies to the communication controller 19 via.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a tablet data format, in which the ADC 34 has an accuracy of 10 bits. In the figure, X7 to X0 and Y7 to Y0 are tablets 23 and 24.
Represents the absolute coordinates of.

The absolute coordinates of the tablet notified to the communication controller 19 are notified to the communication driver 26 and coordinate data Xn + managed by the operating system 28.
Cursor management driver 2 after conversion to 1, Yn + 1
7 will be notified.

The cursor management driver 27 notifies the operating system 28 of the next cursor movement position Xn + 1, Yn + 1, and the system cursor moves to the position corresponding to the absolute coordinates at which the tablet is pressed.

Therefore, when the mouse 14 is moved,
Alternatively, when the tablets 23 and 24 are pressed, the information is notified to the operating system 28 and the system cursor is moved. In this case, the operating system 28 does not care whether the notified information is the information from the mouse 14 or the tablets 23 and 24.

According to such a configuration, the conference attendee having the display device 2 looks at the display data displayed on the display 21 and operates the tablet 23 as necessary to point the conference material. be able to.

Here, the mouse 14 or the tablet 2
When it is desired to stop the input from 3, 24, it is realized by stopping the circuit operation of the mouse controller 18 or the communication controller 19 or by not executing the above-mentioned processing on the program.

[0030]

However, in such a conventional multi-pointing device, there is a problem in that the system cursor cannot be controlled when different conferees simultaneously operate the mouse 14 or the tablets 23 and 24. was there.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the current system cursor is at the point A (Xa, Ya), the mouse 14 at the chairperson's seat is operated to move the cursor to the point A '(Xa', Y).
In the case of moving to a ′), if the point B is pressed with the tablet 23 and the point C is pressed with the tablet 24, the cursor moves along the locus shown by the broken line in FIG. Further, if the point B or the point C is kept pressed, the system cursor moves from the point A ′ to the point B or the point C, resulting in a problem that the mouse 14 cannot move the system cursor. That is, when different people operate the mouse 14 or the tablets 23 and 24 at the same time, the system cursors are in conflict with each other, and the system cursors cannot be appropriately moved.

Further, although the input from the tablets 23 and 24 can be restricted by stopping the control of the communication controller 19, the conference attendees cannot input the tablets 23 and 24 during that time and the operability is deteriorated. .

The above-mentioned drawbacks are more likely to occur as the number of display devices to be given to the attendees increases, and moreover, it is difficult to predict when they will occur. Therefore, an effective solution has been desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even when different people operate a plurality of pointing devices at the same time, the system cursors do not conflict with each other, which is preferable. An object is to provide a multi-pointing device device that can obtain operability.

[0035]

A multi-pointing device device according to the present invention is a display device, a main control device for controlling the display of the display device, and a pointing device on the display device connected to the main control device. In a multi-pointing device device having a plurality of terminals capable of controlling the, the terminal has a data storage means for storing the data generated by the pointing operation, each terminal has an identification code for identifying itself, When there is data in the data storage means, the terminal issues a ready command to the main control device, and the main control device requests the terminal that issued the ready command to send data, and the non-corresponding terminal Is configured to issue a stop command to.

The multi-pointing device device according to the present invention includes a display device, a main control device for controlling the display of the display device, and a plurality of devices which are connected to the main control device and can control the pointing device on the display device. In the multi-pointing device apparatus including the terminal, the terminal includes data storage means for storing data generated by the pointing operation, each terminal is provided with an identification code for identifying itself, and the terminal is controlled by the main controller. When the stop command is received, the pointing control is stopped, and when the start command from the main controller is received,
It is configured to perform pointing control.

A multi-pointing device device according to the present invention includes a display device, a main control device for controlling the display of the display device, and a plurality of devices which are connected to the main control device and can control the pointing device on the display device. In a multi-pointing device device including a terminal, the terminal includes a data storage unit that stores data generated by a pointing operation, a timer unit that sets a predetermined time count and counts the time count, and the terminal is Each terminal is provided with an identification code for identifying itself, and only the terminal which is permitted the pointing control by receiving the command from the main control unit is configured to continuously execute the pointing control for a predetermined time by the timer. .

The main control unit issues the next request command to the terminal while the timer means measures the time, determines the end of the pointing control of the terminal based on the presence or absence of a response to the request command, and controls the pointing control of the terminal. When it is determined that the terminal has finished, a start command may be issued to the terminal in the stopped state.

A multi-pointing device device according to the present invention includes a display device, a main control device for controlling the display of the display device, and a plurality of terminals connected to the main control device and capable of controlling pointing on the display device. In the multi-pointing device apparatus including the terminal, each terminal is added with an identification code for identifying itself, and the main control unit allows each of the terminals to control the movement of the cursor by a command with the identification code. Or, it is configured to be prohibited.

Further, each of the terminals stores its own identification code, receives a command from the main control unit,
The identification code attached to the received command is compared with the identification code stored in the storage means, and when they match, transmission or non-transmission of a signal for moving the cursor is enabled or disabled according to the content of the command. It may be configured to have means.

[0041]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The multipointing device device according to the present invention can be applied to a multipointing device system such as an electronic conference system.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a tablet of a multi-pointing device device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The tablet shown in FIG. 1 has the same structure as that of the resistive film type tablet shown in FIG.
It is used for the display device that is delivered to the attendees of the meeting of the electronic conferencing system. In FIG. 1, elements that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, the tablet 40 is a ROM
31, RAM 32, serial I / O (SIO) 33, A
A microcomputer 30 having a built-in / D converter (ADC) 34, a tablet glass 35 that converts the coordinates of the pressed point in the X and Y directions into a voltage and outputs the voltage, and an input enable / disable display LED (Light Emitting Diode) 41. , A non-volatile memory 42, and are connected to each other via a bus 36.

As described above, the tablet 40 shown in FIG. 1 has the same configuration as the tablet 23 shown in FIG.
41 and a non-volatile memory 42 are added.

The input enable / disable display LED 41 indicates the tablet 4
It is a display LED that lights up when 0 can be input and goes out when input is not possible. When a command to the microcomputer 30 is received from the control unit 11 of the chairperson apparatus 1 (main control apparatus), the command is received. Turns on or off according to the contents.

The non-volatile memory 42 is, for example, EEPRO.
An identification (ID) that is composed of an M (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) and is assigned to each display device in order to enable each tablet to indicate whether or not input is possible.
Store the number.

The microcomputer 30 has a ROM 31.
In addition to the control of executing the above-mentioned processing by using the RAM 32 as a work memory according to the microprogram stored in, the ID number in the non-volatile memory 42 is read and the control unit 11 recognizes the input permission / prohibition command of the corresponding ID. Control the input enable / disable state.

FIG. 2 shows the mouse 14 and tablets 40, 5
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the connection of the hardware of 0, and the structure of the software which controls them. In FIG. 2, elements that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 8 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 2, the tablet 50 has the same configuration as the tablet 40, and the tablets 40 and 50 are connected to each other via the communication line 4 and the communication controller 19 inside the control unit 11.
Connected to. Further, the mouse 14 of the chairperson device 1 (main control device) is connected to the mouse controller 18 inside the control unit 11. In the predetermined storage unit of the control unit 11, a mouse driver 25 that controls the mouse controller 18, a communication driver 26 that controls the communication controller 19, a cursor management driver 27 that manages the mouse driver 25 and the communication driver 26, and the entire system. The operating system 28 for controlling the
A pointing device control AP (application) 51 is stored in correspondence with.

The pointing device control AP 51 is
It is an application program on the operating system 28, and has a function of sending the command shown in FIG. 3 to any one of the tablets 40 and 50 with an ID number added. Commands for the tablet include "start" for starting the operation of the tablet and "stop" for stopping the operation of the tablet.

The ID number is a 1-byte value uniquely added to the communication controller 19 and the tablets 40 and 50 in one system.
Is used to specify the issue destination when issuing command data to the tablets 40 and 50. The receiving device has an ID that matches its own ID number stored in advance.
Only the command data with a number is processed. Further, the ID number is used to specify the transmission source when transmitting data from the tablets 40, 50 to the communication controller 19.

The ID number "255" is a broadcast ID, and all the receiving devices process the corresponding command data. Therefore, if the ID number 255 is added and transmitted from the communication controller 19 to the tablets 40 and 50, the same pointing operation control as in the conventional example can be executed.

The operation of the multi-pointing device device configured as described above will be described below.

The present multi-pointing device apparatus comprises
The control unit 11 individually controls whether or not the operation of each pointing device (tablet 40, 50) is possible. As a premise of the operation explanation, the tablet 4
The display devices 2 and 3 (terminals) equipped with 0 and 50 are the same as those shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the chairperson device 1 (main controller) having the control unit 11 is connected via the communication line 4 as shown in FIG. The display devices 2 and 3 are assumed to be held by the attendees of the conference, and a case where the user of the tablet 40 operates the system cursor is taken as an example.

(1) Operation of tablet 40 when power is turned on The microcomputer 30 reads the ID number stored in the non-volatile memory 42 when the power of the display device to which the tablet 40 is connected is turned on.

The process of converting the voltage output from the tablet glass 35 into a digital signal by the ADC 34 is not performed, and the SIO 33 waits for a command. The input availability display LED 41 is in the off state.

In this state, even if the tablet is pushed, the pushing information is not sent to the communication controller 19 and the tablet is in the stopped state.

(2) Operation of control unit 11 (permitting input to a specific tablet) The chair uses the chair apparatus 1 as usual to proceed with the meeting.

Attendant tablet 40 during the meeting
When you are asked to use, operate the keyboard 13 etc. to allow input with the tablet you want to use,
The pointing device control AP 51 is executed by inputting the ID or the code attached to the ID.

Here, the attendee informs the chairman by raising his hand whether or not there is a request to use the tablet 40, and the chairperson gives the tablet 40 of the attendee input permission. In this case, it is assumed that the tablet to be handed over and the seating position of the attendee are determined in advance so that the attendee can easily know what kind of ID the attendant has.

The pointing device control AP 51 is
The start command (see FIG. 3) to which the ID of the tablet is added is sent to the communication driver 26 and the communication controller 19
To the communication line 4 via.

(3) Operation of Tablet 40 (Processing in Response to Input) The start command sent from the control unit 11 to the communication line 4 is sent to the tablets 40 and 50.

Microcomputer 3 of tablet 40
0 receives the command from the communication line 4, and the ID added to the received command and the ID given to itself
Compare. In this case, since the ID added to the start command and the ID given to itself are the same, the start command is executed and the operation of the tablet is started. Specifically, the voltage output from the tablet glass 35 is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 34, and the voltage value is converted into a predetermined absolute coordinate value of the tablet.

On the other hand, the microcomputer of the tablet 50 also receives the command from the communication line 4 and compares the ID added to the received command with the ID given to itself, but because the IDs do not match. The above tablet operation is not performed.

Then, the microcomputer 30 of the tablet 40 turns on the input availability display LED 41.

In this state, when the microcomputer 30 of the tablet 40 detects the pressing of the tablet, it enters the tablet operating state in which the pressing information is sent to the communication controller 19, and the communication controller 19 of the control unit 11 presses it via the communication line 4. Information is sent.

(4) Operation of Control Unit 11 (System Cursor Moving Process by Pressing Information from Specific Tablet) The control unit 11 sends the start command to the data appearing on the communication line 4 from the specific tablet 40. When it is determined that the information is the pressing information, the pressing information is received via the communication controller 19. The received pressing information from the specific tablet is notified to the communication driver 26, and the coordinate data Xn + 1, Yn managed by the operating system 28 is notified.
After being converted to +1, the cursor management driver 27 is notified. The cursor management driver 27 sets the next cursor movement position Xn + 1, Yn + 1 to the operating system 2
8 is notified, and the system cursor is moved to the position corresponding to the absolute coordinates when the tablet is pressed.

As a result, an attendee holding the tablet 40 can operate the tablet 40 to freely move the system cursor on the display 12 of the chairperson device 1.

(5) Operation of Control Unit 11 (Prohibition of Input) The chair confirms the end of the use of the tablet 40 and operates the pointing device control AP 51 so as to prohibit the input of the tablet which has been permitted to use. In this example, the input of the tablet 40 is prohibited.

By executing the pointing device control AP 51, the ID of the tablet (I of the tablet 40
The stop command with D) is added to the communication driver 2
6. Send to the communication line 4 via the communication controller 19.

(6) Operation of Tablet 40 (Processing Performed in Response to Input Prohibition) The microcomputer 30 of the tablet 40 receives the stop command from the communication line 4, and the ID added to the received stop command and the self The IDs assigned to are compared. In this case, since the IDs match, the stop command is processed and the operation of the tablet 40 is stopped. The tablet 40 is in the tablet stop state of (1) above. That is, the processing of converting the voltage from the tablet glass 35 into a digital signal by the ADC 34 is not performed, and the input enable / disable display LED 41 is turned off.
Waiting for a command from the SIO 33 continues.

The above is an example of the case where the user of the tablet 40 operates the system cursor. The operation of the tablet 50 at this point is as follows.

That is, the tablet 50 continues the standby state after performing the same processing as the tablet operation at the time of turning on the power described in (1) above. In particular,
As described in (3) and (6) above, command reception from the communication line 4 is continued, and comparison processing is performed to compare the ID added to the received command with the ID given to itself. However, in this case, during the series of operations of the tablet 40, since the ID added to the command sent from the control unit 11 is different from its own ID, the command is not processed and the tablet operation described above is not performed. The input enable / disable display LED 41 is not lit.

As described above, in the multi-pointing device apparatus according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, a plurality of pointing devices (tablets 4
0, 50) is connected to the chairperson device 1 via the communication line 4, and the tablets 40, 50 recognize the input enable / disable command of the corresponding ID and control the input enable / disable state, the microcomputer 30 lights up when input is possible. Input enable / disable display LED4
1. The non-volatile memory 42 for storing the ID number is provided, and the control unit 11 of the chairperson apparatus 1 adds the ID numbers of the tablets 40, 50 which are permitted to operate by executing the pointing device control AP 51 to the command. Send out,
Since the ID numbers of the tablets 40 and 50 whose operations have been prohibited are added to the command and transmitted to individually instruct whether the tablets 40 and 50 can be operated, the mouse 14 or the tablets 40 and 50 are controlled. It is possible to prevent the problem that the system cursors cannot be used even if different people simultaneously operate the system cursors and prevent the system cursor from being used, and to execute a multipointing device system such as an electronic conference system.

Further, unlike the conventional example, since the control state of the communication controller 19 is continued, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the conference attendee suddenly cannot use the system cursor by operating the tablet, and good operability is provided. Obtainable.

Further, an input enable / disable display LED 41 (display means) for displaying whether or not the pointing operation is possible.
Since it is configured to include, it is possible to easily know whether or not the system cursor can be operated, and the usability can be further improved.

By the way, in the multi-pointing device apparatus according to the present embodiment, the chairperson is informed of the presence or absence of the request for using the tablet by raising the hands of the attendees. For example, the tablets 40, 50 (terminals) are Tablet use request switch and this request switch is ON
Also, a control means for sending the ID number of the tablet and the request signal to the chair apparatus 1 via the communication line 4 is newly provided so that the chair apparatus 1 side receives the request signal from the communication line 4. Good. When the chairman device 1 receives the request signal, the chairman device 1 displays the corresponding tablet based on the ID number added to the request signal to notify the chairman. Based on the displayed information, the chairman determines whether to give input permission to the attendee's tablet, and when input is permitted, operates the keyboard 13 or the like to obtain the ID or the code attached to the ID. Is input to execute the pointing device control AP51.

With this configuration, attendees do not need to raise their hands when requesting to use the tablet, and it is easier for them to participate in the conference. Further, since it is not necessary to predetermine the tablet to be given to the attendee and the seating position of the attendee, the usability can be further improved.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipointing device apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The multipointing device apparatus according to this embodiment is also a multipointing device apparatus such as an electronic conference system. This is an example of application. In the description of the multi-pointing device apparatus according to the second embodiment, the same components as those of the multi-pointing device apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be assigned the same reference numerals and overlapping description will be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows the mouse 14 and the tablets 40, 5
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the connection of the hardware of 0, and the structure of the software which controls them. In this FIG.
Elements that are the same as or correspond to are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 4, the tablet 50 has the same configuration as the tablet 40, and the tablets 40 and 50 are connected to each other via the communication line 4 and the communication controller 19 inside the control unit 11.
Connected to.

The tablets 40, 50 have a nonvolatile memory 42 for storing the ID numbers assigned to the respective display devices.
(See FIG. 1), the ID number in the non-volatile memory 42 is read, and the tablet data generated by the tablet operation is added with the ID number read from the non-volatile memory 42 and sent.

The mouse 14 of the chairperson apparatus 1 (main controller) is connected to the mouse controller 18 inside the controller 11. In the predetermined storage unit of the control unit 11, a mouse driver 25 that controls the mouse controller 18, a communication driver 26 that controls the communication controller 19, a cursor management driver (cursor management driver) that manages the mouse driver 25 and the communication driver 26. 2) 61, operating system 28 that controls the entire system,
Further, a timer 62 (timer means) for measuring a fixed time
Is stored.

The timer 62 has a timekeeping function and a function of setting / holding a time to be timed, and starts the timekeeping according to an instruction from the cursor management driver (cursor management driver 2) 61, and a preset time elapses. Then, the cursor management driver 61 is notified of the end of the time measurement.

The cursor management driver (cursor management driver 2) 61 reads the ID number from the data from the pointing device, processes only the tablet data for which the input is permitted, and discards the data from the tablet not permitted. Have the function to

Here, the ID number is a 1-byte value uniquely added to the communication controller 19 and the tablets 40 and 50 in one system.
It is used to specify the issue destination when issuing command data from 9 to the tablets 40, 50. The receiving device receives an I that matches its own ID number stored in advance.
Only the command data with the D number is processed.

Further, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, the ID number is also added to the tablet data, and when the tablet data is transmitted from the tablets 40 and 50 to the communication controller 19, it is transmitted together with the tablet data. Used to specify the source.

The ID number "255" is a broadcast ID, and all the receiving devices process the corresponding command data. Therefore, if the ID number 255 is added and transmitted from the communication controller 19 to the tablets 40 and 50, the same pointing operation control as in the conventional example can be executed.

The command between the control unit 11 and the tablets 40, 50 is composed of a total of 3 bytes of ID: 1 byte + character: 2 bytes, each having the meaning of the table shown in FIG.

The operation of the multi-pointing device device configured as described above will be described below.

The multi-pointing device device according to the second embodiment is also similar to the above-described first embodiment.
The control unit 11 individually controls whether or not the operation of each pointing device (tablet 40, 50) is possible.

In particular, the present embodiment is characterized by the control that enables the terminal that has acquired the cursor to continue inputting for a certain period of time.

As a premise of the operation explanation, the tablet 40,
It is assumed that the display devices 2 and 3 (terminals) provided with 50 are connected to the chairperson device 1 (main control device) having the control unit 11 via the communication line 4 as shown in FIG. 7. Also,
It is assumed that the display attendees have these display devices 2 and 3, and the case where the user of the tablet 40 operates the system cursor is taken as an example. The tablet 50 is a tablet other than the corresponding ID.

(1) Operation of Tablet 40 at Power-on The microcomputer 30 reads the ID number stored in the non-volatile memory 42 at power-on of the display device to which the tablet 40 is connected.

Further, the voltage output from the tablet glass 35 is converted into a digital signal by the ADC 34, and the input enable / disable display LED 41 is turned on.

When the depression of the tablet glass is detected in this state, the depression data is stored in the RAM 32 of FIG. 1 according to the format shown in FIG.

Further, a ready command indicating that there is data is sent to the control unit 11 together with the ID. This state is the tablet operating state.

The functions of the ready command, stop command, request command, etc., which will be described later, are shown in the table of FIG.

(2) Operation of Control Unit 11 (Permitting Input to Specific Tablet) The control unit 11 sets the time count time in the timer 62 when the power is turned on. This clock time is, for example, 1 second.

The chairperson uses the chairperson apparatus 1 as usual to proceed with the conference.

The control section 11 which has received the ready command
The ID is read and a stop command is issued to tablets other than the corresponding ID.

When a ready command with another ID is received in this state, this command is not processed.

The timer 62 starts counting time and issues a stop command to the tablet having the corresponding ID.

(3) Operation of tablet (tablet 50) other than the corresponding ID The tablet which has received the stop command turns off the input permission display LED 41 and stops the digital signal conversion processing of the ADC 34. This state is a tablet stop state.

(4) Operation of Tablet 40 (Processing According to Input) The start command sent from the control unit 11 to the communication line 4 is sent to the tablets 40 and 50.

The tablet 40 which has received the request command adds an ID to the tablet data if the tablet data is stored in the RAM 32, and sends it to the control unit 11 as a response. An example of the tablet data transmitted at this time is shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of tablet data, showing ID numbers of 1 to 4 bytes and tablet data. As shown in FIG. 6, in the second embodiment, tablet data to be sent to the control unit 11 (2nd to 4th bytes).
The ID number (first byte) is added to. X9 to X0 and Y9 to Y0 at the 2nd to 4th bytes are tablet data representing the movement amounts ΔX and ΔY of the tablet.

When there is no tablet data in the RAM 32, no response is returned.

(5) Operation of control unit 11 (system cursor movement processing by pressing information from a specific tablet) After issuing a request command, the cursor management driver (cursor management driver 2) 61 waits for a response from the tablet, When there is a response, the data following the ID is processed as tablet data. After processing the tablet data, issue the next request command.

After the request command is issued, if there is no response before the timer 62 finishes measuring time (response timeout), the timer 62 starts counting time again and the next request command is issued.

When the response timeout occurs a predetermined number of times, for example, three times in total, it is determined that the input of the tablet of the corresponding ID is completed, and the start command is issued to the tablet of the non-corresponding ID.

If a response is received while the request command is issued three times in total, the above process (5) is repeated.

(6) Operation of Tablet (Tablet 50) Other than the Corresponding ID The tablet which has received the start command turns on the input permission display LED 41 and restarts the digital signal conversion processing of the ADC 34. This state is the tablet operating state.

As described above, in the multipointing device apparatus according to the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the control unit 11 of the chairperson apparatus 1 reads the ID number from the data from the pointing device and permits the input. Cursor management driver (cursor management driver 2) 6 that processes only the tablet data that is enabled and discards the data from the tablet that is not allowed 6
1 and a function of setting and holding a timekeeping function and a time to be timed, start timekeeping according to an instruction from the cursor management driver 61, and notify the cursor management driver 61 of the end of timekeeping when a preset time has elapsed When the tablet has pointing data, a ready command is issued to the chairman device 1 (main control device), and the chairman device 1 issues a ready command to send the data to the tablet. It is configured to request sending and issue a stop command to the non-corresponding tablet, and when the tablet receives the stop command from the chairperson device 1, it stops pointing control and sends a start command from the chairman device 1. Since it is configured to perform pointing control upon reception, the same as in the first embodiment It is possible to individually control whether or not the tablet can be input, and even if different people operate the tablets 40 and 50 at the same time, the system cursor does not contend with each other, thereby preventing the problem that the system cursor cannot be used. Good operability can be obtained.

Particularly, in the second embodiment, a timer 62 for setting a predetermined time count and measuring the time count is provided.
Since only the tablet for which the pointing control is permitted by receiving the command from the chairperson device 1 is configured to execute the pointing control continuously for a predetermined time by the time measurement of the timer 62, the first input tablet is the first input tablet. The tablet that has started can continue to input for a certain period of time, and other display devices cannot input during that time, and good operability can be obtained without the occurrence of system cursors.

Note that the apparatus according to each of the above embodiments is an example in which the multi-pointing device system is applied to an electronic conference system, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any apparatus to which a plurality of pointing devices are connected can be used. It goes without saying that such a system may be used. In this case, any system may be used as long as it is connected with a plurality of pointing devices, and the main controller does not necessarily have to be fixed. That is, an apparatus including a plurality of terminals or pointing devices may be connected, and the apparatus that has obtained the control right may be the main control apparatus at that time. Although the terminals are connected via the communication line 4, any communication line or wireless communication may be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned constitution, the resistance film type tablet is used as the pointing device, but any pointing device can be applied, for example, mouse, trackball, electromagnetic induction type tablet, electrostatic tablet. The same effect can be obtained by using another pointing device such as a capacitive tablet.

Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, the input availability information of the tablet is displayed by using the input availability display LED 41, but instead of the LED, it is displayed as the input availability information on the displays 21 and 22. It is also possible to obtain the same effect.

In each of the above embodiments, the ID number is 1
The tablet that can be connected is 255 because it is byte
Although it is up to a table, if the ID number is 2 bytes or more, more tablets can be connected.

In the second embodiment, the timer is used as the time counting function, but it may be timed by software.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, it is determined that one tablet is terminated when the response timeout occurs three times, but it goes without saying that the number may be changed depending on the usage of the system.

[0122]

In the multi-pointing device device according to the present invention, the terminal is provided with the data storing means for storing the data generated by the pointing operation, and each terminal is provided with the identification code for identifying itself, and the terminal is provided with the data. If there is data in the storage means, it issues a ready command to the main control unit, and the main control unit requests the terminal that issued the ready command to send data, and Since it is configured to issue a stop command, the terminal that first started input can continue input for a certain period of time, while other display devices can not input, and the operation of the system cursor does not occur and good operation is possible. You can get sex.

In the multi-pointing device device according to the present invention, the terminal is provided with the data storing means for storing the data generated by the pointing operation, each terminal is provided with the identification code for identifying itself, and the terminal is the main controller. When the stop command is received from, the pointing control is stopped, and when the start command from the main controller is received, the pointing control is performed. It is possible, and other display devices cannot be input during that time, so that there is no occurrence of the system cursor, and good operability can be obtained.

In the multi-pointing device device according to the present invention, the terminal is provided with the data storing means for storing the data generated by the pointing operation and the timer means for setting a predetermined time and measuring the time. Each has an identification code to identify itself, and is configured so that only terminals that are permitted to perform pointing control by receiving a command from the main control device continue to perform pointing control for a predetermined period of time by the timer means. As a result, the terminal that first started inputting can continue inputting for a certain period of time, and other display devices cannot input during that time, and good operability can be obtained without the occurrence of system cursors.

In the multi-pointing device device according to the present invention, the terminals connected to the main control device are each provided with an identification code for identifying themselves, and the main control device attaches the identification code to each of the terminals. Since the control of the movement of the cursor is permitted or prohibited by the command described above, even if different people operate the pointing devices at the same time, the system cursor is not argued with each other and good operability can be obtained. it can.

Further, in the multi-pointing device device according to the present invention, the terminal stores its own identification code, receives a command from the main control device, and stores the identification code attached to the received command. In comparison with the identification code described above, when the two coincide, the means for enabling or disabling the signal for moving the cursor according to the content of the command is provided, so that each pointing device can be surely secured. A pointing device user who is designated and permitted to operate can reliably use the system cursor, and the operability can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a tablet of a multi-pointing device device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a hardware connection of a mouse and a tablet of the multi-pointing device device and a software configuration for controlling them.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing commands for a tablet of the multi-pointing device device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a hardware connection of a mouse and a tablet of a multi-pointing device according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and a software configuration for controlling them.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing commands for a tablet of the multi-pointing device device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of tablet data of the multi-pointing device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional electronic conference system.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection of a conventional multipointing device device and a configuration of software for controlling them.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of mouse data of a conventional multi-pointing device device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a tablet of a conventional multipointing device device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of tablet data of a conventional multipointing device device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining how to handle a system cursor of a conventional multipointing device device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining how to handle a system cursor of a conventional multipointing device.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 Chairperson device (main control device) 2, 3 Display device (terminal) 11 Control unit 12, 21, 22 Display 13 Keyboard 14 Mouse (pointing device) 30 Microcomputer 41 Input enable / disable display LED 42 Nonvolatile memory 40,50 tablet (pointing device) 51,61 pointing device control AP 62 timer (timer means)

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 7/15 H04N 7/15

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A multi-function apparatus comprising: a display device; a main control device for controlling display of the display device; and a plurality of terminals connected to the main control device and capable of controlling pointing on the display device. In the pointing device apparatus, the terminal includes data storage means for storing data generated by a pointing operation, each terminal has an identification code for identifying itself, and the terminal has data in the data storage means. In this case, a ready command is issued to the main control device, and the main control device requests the terminal that issued the ready command to send data and issues a stop command to the non-corresponding terminal. A multi-pointing device device characterized by: 2. A multi-device comprising a display device, a main control device for controlling display of the display device, and a plurality of terminals connected to the main control device and capable of controlling pointing on the display device. In the pointing device device, the terminal is provided with a data storage means for storing data generated by a pointing operation, each terminal is provided with an identification code for identifying itself, and the terminal is provided with a stop command from the main control device. When receiving the start command from the main controller,
A multi-pointing device device for performing the above-mentioned pointing control. 3. A multi-display comprising: a display device; a main control device for controlling display of the display device; and a plurality of terminals connected to the main control device and capable of controlling pointing on the display device. In the pointing device device, the terminal includes a data storage means for storing data generated by a pointing operation and a timer means for setting a predetermined time count and measuring the time count, and each of the terminals identifies itself. An identification code is added, and only the terminal that is permitted to perform the pointing control by receiving a command from the main controller executes the pointing control continuously for a predetermined time by the time counting by the timer means. Multi-pointing device device. 4. The main control unit issues the next request command to the terminal while the timer means measures the time, and determines the end of the pointing control of the terminal based on the presence or absence of a response to the request command. 4. The multipointing device device according to claim 1, wherein a start command is issued to the terminal in a stopped state when it is determined that pointing control of the terminal has ended. 5. A multi-display comprising: a display device; a main control device for controlling display on the display device; and a plurality of terminals connected to the main control device and capable of controlling pointing on the display device. In the pointing device unit, each of the terminals is provided with an identification code for identifying itself, and the main control unit allows each of the terminals to control the movement of the cursor by a command having the identification code. Alternatively, a multi-pointing device device characterized by being prohibited. 6. Each of the terminals stores its own identification code, receives a command from the main control device, and stores the identification code attached to the received command in the storage means. The identification code is compared with the identification code, and when the two coincide, the means for enabling or disabling the signal for moving the cursor according to the content of the command is provided. 6. The multipointing device device according to any one of 4 and 5.