JPH10133842A - Method for displaying selective item, and item selector using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively display respective menu areas so as not to overlap adjacent menu areas with each other by displaying the shape of each menu area as an obliquely observed pattern observed from a three-dimensional visual point when its adjacent menu area is displayed. SOLUTION: When a sub-menu M2 is displayed, a sub-menu M1 is displayed together with its menu display (selective items) so as not to overlap with the sub-menu M2 by deforming its shape to a shape, i.e., obliquely observed pattern, observed from a three-dimensional visual point. Namely each menu area automatically deforms its shape to an obliquely observed pattern when its adjacent menu area is displayed so as to reduce an area (size) displayed on a two-dimensional screen 1 and so as not to overlap with the other menu area. Since menu M1 is not hidden by the menu M2, not only selective items in the menu M2, but also selective items in the menu M1 can easily be selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of displaying selection items on the screen of a VDT (Video (Visual) Display Terminal) such as a personal computer, a word processor, a workstation, and the like, and a VDT using this display method.
It relates to an item selection device such as DT.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of OA equipment using a computer, improvement of a man-machine interface is required. As one of them, a plurality of menu areas are divided by windows on a VDT screen. A plurality of items that can be displayed and selected from a plurality of items displayed on them are widely used. For example, a list of a plurality of items is displayed in text, a picture, or the like, and a plurality of menu areas are displayed. By doing so, many items can be selected.

However, if the screen size is not sufficient, the total number of menus to be displayed and the number of characters of each item are limited. Therefore, in order to solve this, conventionally, each menu is temporarily displayed as a pull-down menu or a pop-up menu.
As proposed in JP-A-214595, a three-dimensional display is used, and a window display employs a cascade display in which a plurality of windows are displayed while being slightly shifted from each other.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional method of displaying selection items, pull-down menus, pop-up menus, cascade displays, and the like are hidden below the displayed area and overlapped. Cannot be displayed at the same time, and there is a disadvantage that selection is difficult.

In the three-dimensional display, the number of items (the number of menus) that can be displayed is determined by the number of surfaces and the area of the three-dimensional solid for displaying the items, and thus there is a limit in terms of operability. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and displays a plurality of menu areas on a screen so as not to overlap with each other, so that it is easy to select an item and many items can be displayed at the same time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for displaying a selected item and an item selecting device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying a selection item, wherein each menu area is displayed when an adjacent menu area is displayed. By displaying the shape as a shape viewed from a three-dimensional viewpoint, that is, as a perspective picture, it is effectively displayed on the screen so as not to overlap with the adjacent menu area.

Here, the menu area for displaying the selection items refers to a menu area for displaying the selection items in characters or pictures (icons, etc.) by dividing the screen of a CRT or the like. Are a pull-down menu, a pop-up menu and a window menu, for example, a dialog box. Each menu area is
When adjacent menu areas are displayed, the shape (view) from a three-dimensional viewpoint, that is, a perspective view, is reduced and the area (size) displayed on a two-dimensional screen is reduced, so that other menus are displayed. Do not overlap with the area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying a selection item.
Each of the menu areas is characterized in that when the adjacent menu areas are displayed, the size thereof is reduced so that the adjacent menu areas are not overlapped with the adjacent menu areas. Here, the size (size) of the menu area on the screen is reduced at a predetermined reduction rate so as not to overlap with the adjacent menu area.

[0009] The display method of the selection item according to the third aspect is as follows.
According to claim 1 or 2, when the adjacent menu area is deleted, the shape or size of the menu area is returned to the original shape or size. The menu area whose shape has been deformed or reduced in size will return to its original shape and size if the display of the adjacent menu area is erased, and will be large enough and the perspective picture will be correct. , The items in the menu area are easy to see and can be easily selected.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an item selection device for displaying a selection item according to any one of the first to third aspects, and a cursor movably displayed on each menu area. Cursor display means, an operation means for designating a display position of the cursor, and a selection means for selecting an item designated by the cursor by the operation means. Here, the display means is constituted by a CRT or the like, and the operation means is constituted by a mouse, a keyboard or the like.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying a selection item. Here, on the screen,
An example is shown in which a plurality of menu areas displaying selection items are displayed in a menu format.

FIG. 1A shows a menu bar M on the screen 1.
B shows a case where one menu (item) is selected and the submenu M1 is displayed. FIG. 4B shows a case where one menu is further selected from the submenu M1 and the submenu M2 is displayed. Is shown. At this time, when the submenu M2 is displayed, the submenu M1 is displayed together with the menu display (selection item) in the menu.
By transforming the shape into a shape viewed from a three-dimensional viewpoint, that is, a perspective picture, the image is displayed so as not to overlap with the submenu M2.

That is, when the adjacent menu areas are displayed, each menu area is automatically transformed into a perspective picture, and the area (size) displayed on the two-dimensional screen 1 is reduced. By making it smaller, it does not overlap with other menu areas. Therefore, menu M2
As a result, the menu M1 is not hidden, so that not only the selection items in the menu M2 but also the selection items in the menu M1 can be easily selected. Further, compared to the case where tiles are displayed on the screen 1 so that adjacent menu areas do not overlap, a larger number of menu areas can be displayed, so that the number of selectable items increases and operability is improved.

Further, in this display method, compared to the three-dimensional display for displaying a three-dimensional figure, the display can be performed by simple processing, so that the software change is minimized, and the memory and C
Resources such as PUs can also be used effectively. FIG. 1C is a diagram when one more menu is selected from the submenu M2 and the submenu M3 is displayed. Also at this time, the shape of the submenu M2 is deformed and displayed.
The contents of all the menus M1 to M3 can be displayed on the screen 1 at the same time.

As described above, in the method of displaying selection items of the present invention, only the last displayed menu is displayed two-dimensionally.
Other menus are displayed three-dimensionally in order. Note that the three-dimensional display is not limited to the one based on the viewpoint from the illustrated direction. Includes any position, such as right, left, top, bottom, etc., as a viewpoint. When the display of the adjacent menu area is deleted, the shape of the menu area is returned to the original shape. That is, in FIG. 1C, when the menu M3 is deleted, as shown in FIG.
The shape 2 is returned to the original shape viewed from the two-dimensional viewpoint, that is, the front view. In addition, in FIG. 1B, when the menu M2 is deleted, as shown in FIG.
Return the shape of 1 to its original shape. In this method, if the menus M3 and M2 displayed later are deleted, the menus M2 and M1 are deleted.
Returns to its original shape, making it easier to see the items and making the selection operation easier.

Next, another method of displaying the selection items is shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows a case where one menu (item) is selected from the menu bar MB on the screen 1 and the submenu M1a is displayed, as in FIG. 1A. Shows a case where one menu is further selected from the submenu M1a and the submenu M2a is displayed.

At this time, when the sub-menu M2a is displayed, the sub-menu M2a is displayed so as not to overlap with the sub-menu M2a by reducing its size together with the menu display (selection item) in the menu. You. That is, each menu area is automatically reduced in size (size) at a predetermined reduction rate when an adjacent menu area is displayed, so that it does not overlap with another menu area. .

Therefore, since the menu M1a is not hidden by the menu M2a, not only the selection items in the menu M2a but also the selection items in the menu M1a can be easily selected. Further, compared to the case where tiles are displayed on the screen 1 so that adjacent menu areas do not overlap, a larger number of menu areas can be displayed, so that the number of selectable items increases and operability is improved.

FIG. 2C shows that the sub menu M2a
Further, a case where one menu is selected and a submenu M3a is displayed is shown. At this time, the sub menu M
Since 2a is displayed in a reduced size, the contents of all menus M1a to M3a can be displayed on the screen 1 at the same time. Thus, in the display method of the selection item of the present invention,
Menu M other than menu M3a displayed last
1a and M2a are sequentially reduced and displayed.

When the display of the adjacent menu area is deleted, the size of the menu area is returned to the original size. That is, when the menu M3a is deleted in FIG. 2C, the size of the menu M2a is returned to the original size as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG.
In (b), when the menu M2a is deleted, the size of the menu M1a is returned to the original size as shown in FIG. In this method, when the menus M3a and M2a displayed later are deleted, the menus M2a and M1a return to their original shapes, so that the items are easy to see and the selection is easy.

Next, a method of displaying still another selection item is shown in FIG.
Shown in FIG. 3A shows that one menu (item) is selected from the menu bar MB on the screen 1, a submenu M1b is displayed, and the menus are sequentially selected, and a submenu M2b and a submenu M3b are displayed. Each menu M1b ~
A case is shown in which cascade display is performed such that M3b overlaps each other.

At this time, by selecting a specific operation or selecting a menu, the shapes of the sub-menu M1b and the sub-menu M2b are changed as shown in FIG.
The menus M1b to M3b can be displayed so as not to overlap each other by deforming and displaying a perspective picture viewed from a three-dimensional viewpoint. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the sub-menu M3b displayed last can also be displayed with its shape modified.

The size of each of the sub-menus M1b to M3b is reduced by a specific operation or menu selection, and the shape of each of the reduced sub-menus M1b to M3b is viewed from a three-dimensional perspective. And the menus M1b to M3b can be displayed so as not to overlap each other. Next, an item selection device using the above-described selection item display method will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

This item selecting device is constituted by a computer having a CPU or the like, and a plurality of menus M1 to M3 (M1a) are displayed on the CRT screen 1 by the method described above.
To M3a, M1b to M3b)
Cursor display means 12 for movably displaying a cursor 12a indicated by an arrow in the figure on each menu area.
Operating means 13 for specifying a display position of the cursor 12a, a selecting means 14 for selecting an item specified by the cursor 12a by the operating means 13, and a hard disk, etc. Storage means 15 for storing data to be displayed.

The cursor display means 12 displays a cursor 12a on the screen 1 on which a plurality of selection items are displayed by the display means 11, moves the cursor 12a, and clicks the mouse as the operation means 13 to display the screen. 1
If the above item is designated, the desired item can be selected by the selecting means 14. Then, a pre-assigned process is executed according to each selected item.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the item selection device. Here, the main menu (first hierarchy) is configured by the menu bar MB, and when the menus are sequentially selected, the submenus are sequentially arranged in three stages (second hierarchy)
(102-106, 1st to 4th)
09). In the submenu (second level, third level), the next menu (submenu) is added to the selected menu.
If there is (104, 107), the menu of the current level is transformed and displayed so as to change the viewpoint (105, 10).
8) The next menu is displayed (106, 109).

When an item is selected from a menu other than the last displayed menu (113, 11)
5, 110), the menus displayed after the selected menu are deleted (114, 116, 117),
Return the viewpoint of the selected menu to its original position and display it (11
6, 117). Since a corresponding process is assigned to each item in advance, when an item without a submenu is selected, the process is executed according to the selected item (11).
1).

[0028]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the method for displaying selection items according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Each menu area formed on the screen, when adjacent menu areas are displayed, transforms its shape into a perspective picture viewed from a three-dimensional viewpoint, and is displayed so as not to overlap with adjacent menu areas. I do. Therefore, since the respective menu areas do not overlap and are not hidden, the selection items of all the menu areas can be easily selected. Further, compared to the case where two adjacent menu areas are displayed two-dimensionally so as not to overlap, many menu areas can be displayed more efficiently, so that the range in which items can be selected is widened and operability is improved.

According to the selection item display method of the present invention, the size of each menu area formed on the screen is reduced when the adjacent menu area is displayed. Displayed so that they do not overlap the menu area. Therefore, since the respective menu areas do not overlap and are not hidden, the selection items of all the menu areas can be easily selected. Also, compared to the case of displaying two-dimensionally so that adjacent menu areas do not overlap, more menu areas can be efficiently displayed in accordance with the reduction ratio, so that the range in which items can be selected is expanded. The performance is improved.

According to the selection item display method of the third aspect, when the display of the adjacent menu area is deleted, the shape or size of the menu area is returned to the original shape or size. The menu area with the highest probability of selection can always be displayed in an easily viewable manner, and selection can be made easily.
According to the item selection device of the fourth aspect, an arbitrary item is selected by a cursor from each of the menu areas displayed by the selection item display method of any one of the first to third aspects. be able to. Therefore, the number of selectable items is increased compared to the past, and the items are not hidden by overlapping the menu areas.
Selection is easy and operability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method for displaying a selection item according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of a method for displaying selection items according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a method for displaying selection items according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an item selection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the item selection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

M1 to M3, M1a to M3a, M1b to M3b ... menu area MB ... menu bar 1 ... screen 11 ... display means 12 ... cursor display means 12a ... cursor 13 ... operation Means 14 ... Selection means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method comprising: forming a plurality of menu areas on a screen;
In the method of displaying a selection item in each menu area, each of the above-mentioned menu areas is formed such that, when an adjacent menu area is displayed, its shape is made to be a perspective shape viewed from a three-dimensional viewpoint. A method of displaying a selection item, wherein the selection item is displayed so as not to overlap the menu area. 2. A plurality of menu areas are formed on a screen,
In the method of displaying the selection items in each menu area, when the adjacent menu areas are displayed, the size is reduced so that the menu areas do not overlap with the adjacent menu areas. A method for displaying a selection item. 3. The selection item according to claim 1, wherein when the display of the adjacent menu area is deleted, the shape and size of the menu area are returned to the original shape and size. Display method. 4. An item selection device for selecting an item in a menu area from among a plurality of menu areas drawn on a screen, wherein the selection item display method according to claim 1 is selected. Display means to be implemented; cursor display means for movably displaying a cursor on each of the regions; operation means for specifying a display position of the cursor; and selection means for selecting an item specified by the cursor by the operation means An item selection device comprising: