JPH10254619A - User interface device for candidate selection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an unintended candidate from being selected by mistake by limiting selectable candidates and easily selecting the target candidate even when there are many selected candidates. SOLUTION: When an indicating means 104 for candidate selection selects a candidate, a choice deciding means 105 decides the choice of the candidate according to the choice and the selectability determined by a selectability determining means 102. In this case, when the need to select one of selected candidates arises, the user indicates candidate limitation by using a candidate limitation indicating means 101. Then the selectability determining means 102 determines the selectability of each selected candidate, i.e., whether it can be selected or not according to the candidate limitation information indicated by the candidate limitation indicating means 101. According to the selectability determined by the selectability determining means 102, a candidate display means 103, for example, emphasizes and displays the respective candidates on a screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a graphical user interface (GU) for a computer system.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a candidate selection user interface device that enables a target candidate to be easily selected in selecting a candidate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a display image editing system or the like, a device for performing highlighting only when a selected object is editable or must be edited has a user-selected error. It is used to eliminate unnecessary operations associated with user selection processing.

An example of such an apparatus is disclosed in, for example,
-72998. The display image editing system disclosed in this publication highlights a selected object only when the selected object is of the correct type for the function to be executed. As a result, a target to which the function cannot be applied is not erroneously selected, and unnecessary operations can be reduced.

Another example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-2176.
There is a highlighting method in the display device disclosed in JP-A-79. In the highlighting method disclosed in this publication, when a specific element is selected from densely located selection elements, the specific element specified by the cursor is deleted from the screen, and the position of the specific element is deleted. By displaying a display element of a specific shape identified from the surroundings, it is possible to easily confirm the selected element.

[0005]

In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-72998, the target candidate cannot be easily selected when there are many selection candidates. There is a disadvantage that. It prevents the wrong type of function for the function being performed from being selected by mistake. This is because there is a possibility that a wrong selection is made.

In order to select an intended object without fail, a pointer such as a mouse must be accurately positioned on the object to perform a selection operation. Can not be easily selected.

Further, in the highlighting method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-217679, it is possible to easily confirm a selected target, but it is possible to easily select a target candidate in the same manner as described above. Can not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages and to provide a candidate selection user interface device which can easily select a target candidate even when there are many selection candidates. is there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for selecting a candidate without strictly adjusting the position of a cursor or the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface device for selecting a candidate which can easily select a target candidate accurately.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a user interface device for selecting a selection candidate graphically displayed on a screen of a computer system. Candidate limitation instructing means for giving an instruction for limiting the selection of, and selectability degree determining means for determining the selectability of each selection candidate based on candidate limitation contents corresponding to the instruction by the candidate limitation instructing means, Display means for displaying each selection candidate so as to be identified according to the selectability determined by the selectability determination means, candidate selection instruction means for selecting a selection candidate on a screen, and the candidate selection instruction means And a determination unit for determining which candidate has been selected based on the selection instruction by the user and the selectability of each candidate.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the determination means highlights a selectable candidate closest to a pointer of the candidate selection instructing means and performs a candidate selection operation. In such a case, control is performed such that a selectable candidate closest to the pointer is selected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the user interface device for selecting a candidate, the candidate limitation instructing means comprises a specific key for selectively inputting a plurality of instructions according to the limited contents of the candidate. The possibility determining means includes a plurality of candidate limitation information corresponding to a plurality of instructions from the candidate limitation instruction means, and determines whether or not selection is possible for each selection candidate based on the candidate limitation information. And

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the display means emphasizes selectable candidates based on the selectability of each candidate determined by the selectability determining means. It is characterized by displaying.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the candidate selecting user interface device, the determining means distinguishes the selectable candidate closest to the pointer of the candidate selecting instruction means from the candidate highlighted as selectable. It is characterized in that it is highlighted when possible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the user interface device for selecting a candidate according to the present invention, further comprising a selection candidate rearranging means for rearranging the candidates in accordance with a certain rule in accordance with the density of the selection candidates and the arrangement state. Features.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a user interface device 10 according to the present embodiment is
1, selectability determining means 102, candidate displaying means 103,
It includes a candidate selecting instruction unit 104 and a selection determining unit 105. If necessary, the apparatus further includes a selection candidate rearrangement unit 106.

The candidate limiting instruction means 101 is a means for instructing the user to limit the selection candidates. A specific key (for example, a shift key, a control key, or the like) set according to, for example, the limited content of the candidate is assigned as the candidate limiting instruction unit 101. The user can limit the selection boxes so that the candidate to be selected can be selected or the candidate not to be selected cannot be selected.

The selectability determiner 102 determines, based on the contents of the limitation corresponding to the instruction of the candidate limitation instructor 101,
Determine the selectability of each candidate. Selectability determining means 1
02 includes a plurality of pieces of candidate limitation information according to the instruction content (type of the specific key) of the candidate limitation instruction means 101,
Based on the candidate limitation information, selectable or non-selectable is determined for each selection candidate.

Based on the selectability of each candidate determined by the selectability determiner 102, the candidate limit display means 103 displays whether or not each candidate can be selected. For example, a display that can distinguish the selectable state, such as highlighting a selectable candidate and displaying an unselectable candidate in a light color, is performed. in this way,
Since each candidate is displayed according to the selectability, the user can easily know how the candidates are limited by the candidate limitation instruction given by the user and which candidates are selectable or impossible. be able to.

The candidate selection instructing means 104 is a means for the user to make an input for selecting a candidate, and is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse.

The selection judging means 105 is means for controlling the selection of candidates based on the input for candidate selection by the user's candidate selecting instruction means 104 and the selectability of each candidate. When a candidate is selected by the candidate selecting instruction unit 104, the selection determining unit 105 determines the selection of the candidate based on the selection and the selectability determined by the selectability determining unit 102.

The selection judging means 105 highlights a selectable candidate closest to the cursor of the candidate selecting instructing means 104, and when a candidate selecting operation is performed, a selectable candidate closest to the cursor. Control to select. That is, even when the cursor of the candidate selecting instruction unit 104 is not strictly aligned with the selection candidate,
Allows selection of candidates.

Since the selection of a candidate is determined based on both the instruction for selecting a candidate and the selectability of each candidate, a correct candidate can be selected without strictly giving an instruction for selecting a candidate. .

The selection candidate rearranging means 106 is a means for rearranging each selection candidate according to a certain rule. For example, when the user operates a specific key, the selection candidate rearranging unit 106 is activated, and rearranges the selection candidates according to a preset rule. It is also possible to set so that the selection candidate rearranging means 106 is automatically activated and rearranged according to the degree of density of selection candidates and the arrangement state. By preventing adjacent selection candidates from being simultaneously selectable, selection errors are reduced.

Next, the operation of the user interface device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the user interface device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, if a starting condition such as starting the selection candidate rearranging means 106 and rearranging the selection candidates according to the density or arrangement state of the selection candidates is set, the state of the selection candidates is changed. Accordingly, the selection candidates are rearranged (step 201). For example, when the selection candidates are arranged irregularly, the selection candidate rearranging means 106 is activated to perform regular arrangement. Thus, it is possible to prevent a plurality of adjacent selection candidates from being selected at the same time by the selection candidate selection operation.

When it becomes necessary to select one of the selection candidates, the user gives a candidate limitation instruction using the candidate limitation instruction means 101 (step 202). That is, a specific key set corresponding to the type of candidate limited information to be set is input.

Based on the candidate limitation information designated by the candidate limitation instruction means 101, the selectability determining means 102
The selection degree of each selection candidate, that is, whether selection is possible or impossible is determined (step 203). Which of the candidates becomes selectable or impossible depends on the type of the candidate limitation information designated by the candidate limitation instruction unit 101. In the candidate limitation, it is desirable that the selectability of each candidate is determined so that adjacent selection candidates cannot be selected at the same time, but it is not always necessary.

Subsequently, according to the selectability determined by the selectability determining means 102, the candidate display means 103
Displays each candidate on the screen (step 204). For example, candidates determined to be selectable are highlighted.
Alternatively, the candidates determined to be unselectable are displayed in a conspicuous manner, such as by displaying them in pale colors. Alternatively, a display is performed in which selectable candidates are displayed large and unselectable candidates are displayed small.

The selection of a candidate is performed by a candidate selecting instruction means 104.
When the pointer is moved by moving the pointer (for example, a mouse cursor), that is, the point of interest of the user, a selectable candidate closest to the cursor is particularly emphasized and displayed (step 205). Then, when the cursor is moved by the user, the specially highlighted candidates also change according to the movement of the cursor.

When the user performs an input for selecting a candidate by clicking the mouse button or the like (step 206), the user can select a candidate having the highest relevance to the input, for example, a position closest to the cursor. A selectable candidate is selected (step 207).

The user interface device 10 according to the present embodiment is configured and operates as described above.
Even when there are many selection candidates, a target candidate can be easily selected. In particular, when the selection candidates are close to each other, by limiting the selectable candidates, a correct candidate can be easily selected without strictly adjusting the position of the cursor or the like. The selection of a candidate is divided into two stages, a rough selection by limiting the candidate and a selection from the candidate, so that the candidate can be limited and selected by a simple operation.

[0034]

Next, an embodiment using a user interface device of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, a case where the user interface device 10 of the present invention is applied to a graphic editor will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 3, in this graphic editor, when drawing or moving a graphic, it is necessary to designate a fine grid point 301 on the screen by input means such as a mouse. That is, in this graphic editor, the selection candidate is the lattice point 301.

The selection of a candidate is performed by, for example, using a mouse or the like as the candidate selection instructing means 104, moving the cursor 302 to the vicinity of the grid point 301 to be selected, and performing an input operation such as clicking a mouse button. This is performed by selecting the lattice point 301.

In FIG. 3, selectable grid points 301
Is a black point, an unselectable grid point 301 is a white point, and a cursor 302 such as a mouse is displayed as a white arrow.

In a normal state where there is no input for limiting selection candidates, all grid points 301 can be selected as shown in FIG.

When the user specifies, for example, the candidate limiting instruction means 1
By inputting a specific key set as 01 and giving an instruction L31 for limiting candidates,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the selectability of each grid point 301 is changed so that every other grid point 301 can be selected, and the screen display is changed. That is, the selectability of each grid point 301 is determined by the selectability determiner 102 according to the candidate limitation information corresponding to the candidate limitation instruction L31 in FIG.
(B) is determined.

In FIG. 3B, the cursor 302 is located between the grid points (Ff) and (Gf). However, since the grid point Gf cannot be selected, the position closest to the cursor 302 can be selected. Candidate is a grid point (Ff), which is highlighted. In this example, the highlight is grid point 3
This is done by displaying a circle around 01.

Here, when the user performs an input for selecting a candidate (grid point), for example, an operation such as clicking a mouse button, a grid point (Ff) is selected.

When the user issues a candidate limitation instruction L32 for limiting candidates by inputting another key set as the candidate limitation instruction means 101, for example, FIG. As shown, the candidate limitation instruction L31
In the case of (3), each of the grid points 3 is selected so that those that could be selected become unselectable and those that were not selectable become selectable.
01 is changed.

In FIGS. 3B and 3C, the position of the cursor 302 is the same, but the selectability of each grid point 301 is different. Grid point 3 different from the case of (B)
01 is particularly highlighted. That is, FIG.
In (C), the grid point (Gf) is particularly emphasized and displayed. Here, when the user performs an input for selecting a candidate, a grid point (Gf) is selected.

FIG. 4 shows another example in which the user interface device 10 of the present invention is applied to selection of a menu of an application.

In the menu of this application, when selecting each menu item (item) 401 set in the menu, each menu item 401 on the menu screen is selected by designating it with a cursor such as a mouse. That is, in this menu,
The selection candidate becomes each menu item.

The candidate is selected by moving the cursor 302 to the vicinity of the menu item 401 to be selected using, for example, a mouse or the like as the candidate selecting instruction means 104 and performing an input operation such as clicking a mouse button. Is performed by selecting the menu item 401.

In FIG. 4, selectable menu item 4
01 is displayed as a gray square, and the unselectable menu item 401 is displayed as a white square. The cursor 302 is displayed by a white arrow.

In a normal state in which there is no input for limiting selection candidates, as shown in FIG.
Is selectable.

When the user specifies, for example, the candidate limiting instruction means 1
By inputting a specific key set as 01 and giving an instruction L41 for limiting candidates,
As shown in FIG. 4B, the selectability of each menu item 401 is changed so that every other menu item 401 can be selected, and the screen display is changed. That is, according to the candidate limitation information corresponding to the candidate limitation instruction L41, each of the menu items 401
Are determined as shown in FIG. 4B.

In FIG. 4B, the cursor 302 is located between the menu items 401 "print" and "end", but the menu item "print" cannot be selected.
The selectable candidate closest to the cursor 302 is the menu item 401 “end”, which is highlighted. In this example, highlighting is performed by surrounding the menu item 401 with a thick frame.

Here, when the user performs an operation for selecting a candidate, for example, an operation such as clicking a mouse button, the menu item “end” is selected.

When the user issues a candidate limitation instruction L42 for limiting a candidate, for example, by inputting another key set as the candidate limitation instruction means 101, the state shown in FIG. As shown, the candidate limitation instruction L41
In the case of item (1), the selectability of the menu item 401 is changed so that the selectable item becomes unselectable and the unselectable item becomes selectable.

In FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, the position of the cursor 302 is the same, but the selectability of each menu item 401 is different. The menu item “print” different from the case (B) is particularly emphasized and displayed.
Here, when the user performs an input for selecting a candidate, the menu item “print” is selected.

FIG. 5 shows another example in which selection candidates are rearranged by the selection candidate rearrangement means 106 before selection.

FIG. 5A shows an initial arrangement state of the selection candidates. Here, as shown in the figure, the selection candidates (for example, icons and the like) are arranged so as to overlap each other in a dense state.

In the state where the selection candidates are arranged as shown in FIG. 5A, it is difficult to select a target selection candidate, and a selection error is likely to occur.

Here, by activating the selection candidate rearrangement means 106, the selection candidates are rearranged at equal intervals as shown in FIG. 5B. How to be rearranged by the selection candidate rearrangement unit 106 is set in advance.

Further, FIG. 5B shows a state where the selection candidates are rearranged and the candidates are limited. That is, by inputting a specific key set as the candidate limitation instructing means 101, the selectability is changed so that every other rearranged selection item can be selected. The selectability is determined so that adjacent candidates are not simultaneously selectable.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and examples, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above embodiments and examples. For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a menu of a graphic editor and an application has been described. However, the present invention is applied to a case where a user selects a selection item by an input unit such as a mouse. It is possible.

[0060]

As described above, according to the user interface device of the present invention, it is possible to limit the selectable candidates. Therefore, even if there are many selectable candidates, the target candidate can be selected. Can be easily selected. This can prevent an unintended candidate from being selected by mistake.

In particular, when the selection candidates are close to each other, a selection error is likely to occur in the conventional technique. However, in the apparatus of the present invention, the position of the cursor or the like is strictly adjusted by limiting the selectable candidates. Without doing so, the correct candidate can be easily selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the user interface device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific operation example when the present invention is applied to a graphic editor;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific operation example when the present invention is applied to menu selection of an application.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which selection candidates are rearranged and selection candidates are limited.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 User interface device 101 Candidate limitation instructing means 102 Selectability determining means 103 Candidate displaying means 104 Candidate selecting instructing means 105 Selection judging means 106 Selection candidate rearranging means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A user interface device for selecting a selection candidate graphically displayed on a screen of a computer system, in a user interface device for specifying an instruction for limiting the selection of the selection candidate displayed on the screen. And selectability determining means for determining the selectability of each selection candidate based on the candidate limitation content corresponding to the instruction by the candidate limitation instruction means, and according to the selectability determined by the selectability determination means. Display means for displaying each of the selection candidates so as to be able to identify each of the selection candidates; candidate selection instructing means for selecting a selection candidate on a screen; Determining means for determining whether any of the candidates has been selected. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit highlights a selectable candidate closest to the pointer of the candidate selection instructing unit and, when a candidate selecting operation is performed, selects a selectable candidate closest to the pointer. 2. The user interface device for selecting candidates according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed in such a manner. 3. The candidate limitation instructing means comprises a specific key for selectively inputting a plurality of instructions according to the limitation contents of the candidate, and the selectability determining means includes a plurality of keys provided by the candidate limitation instructing means. The user interface device for candidate selection according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of candidate limitation information is provided in response to the instruction, and selection or non-selection is determined for each selection candidate based on the candidate limitation information. . 4. The display means based on the selectability of each candidate determined by the selectability determiner,
The user interface device for selecting candidates according to claim 1, wherein selectable candidates are highlighted. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit highlights a selectable candidate closest to the pointer of the candidate selection instructing unit in a state in which the selectable candidate can be distinguished from the candidate highlighted as selectable. 4. A user interface device for selecting a candidate according to claim 1. 6. The user interface for selecting a candidate according to claim 1, further comprising a selection candidate rearranging means for rearranging the candidates according to a certain rule according to the degree of density and arrangement of the selection candidates. apparatus.