JPH11102276A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an information display device which eliminates the need to move a cursor up to the menu bar at the top of a screen by displaying a dialog box where a menu is displayed when an operation button for displaying the menu showing executable process contents on the screen is displayed. SOLUTION: A remote control unit is equipped with a selection button 43 at the right end of an upper surface, a decision button 44 at the left end, and various operation buttons 45 at the center part as shown in the picture 42 displayed at the lower part of the initial screen. The operation button 45 includes the operation button 45a for displaying a pop-up menu (dialog box) 48 where the menu is displayed. Consequently, the cursor need not be moved up to the menu bar at the top of the screen so as to use a tool button, which can speedily be used to select the menu.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device for displaying a video signal in a video signal on a screen, taking in data from a computer network such as the Internet or an intranet, converting the data into a video signal, and displaying the video signal on the screen. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet is a computer network in which a large number of computers are connected on a worldwide scale, and each computer stores various information that can be read. This information includes e-mails, various programs, homepages, etc., and can be communicated in both directions. The homepage is a cover and a table of contents of one piece of information, and necessary information can be searched by selecting a picture (icon) and a word on the homepage.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between each computer and the Internet. In this connection example, the personal computer 7 has a modem 8
Alternatively, it is connected to the telephone line 2 via a terminal adapter, and the telephone line 2 is connected to a modem 3 or a terminal adapter of a provider which is a connection service company. The modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a computer of the provider.

[0004] The server 4 is always connected to the Internet 6 via a router 5 for setting a relay route. The personal computer 7 makes a call when necessary and connects to the Internet 6 via the provider server 4 (dial-up connection). Recently, an information display device that can connect to the Internet 6 in place of the personal computer 7 and display various information of the Internet on its screen has been proposed.

The connection between the information display device and the Internet is, for example, as shown in FIG. In this connection example, the information display device 1 remotely operated by the remote control device 20a is connected to the telephone line 2. The information display device 1 has a built-in modem. The telephone line 2 is connected to a modem 3 or a terminal adapter of a provider which is a connection service company, and the modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a computer of the provider.

[0006] The server 4 is always connected to the Internet 6 via a router 5 for setting a relay route. When the remote control device 20a is operated from the information display device 1, a telephone call operation is automatically performed and the information display device 1 is connected to the Internet 6 via the server 4 of the provider (dial-up connection).

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A conventional information display device 1
In FIG. 6, a menu bar in which tool button icons representing executable processing contents are arranged in one horizontal line as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed at the top of the screen. Therefore, when using the tool button when the cursor is at the bottom of the screen, it is necessary to move the cursor to the tool button at the top of the screen, which is time-consuming and troublesome.

For example, when a user reads a vertically long homepage, the user can place a cursor on the lower end of the screen and scroll vertically, and when the reading is completed, the cursor is naturally at the bottom of the screen. Therefore, if the user likes this page and wants to register a bookmark, the cursor must be moved from the bottom of the screen to the top,
This is a frequently occurring problem. The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display device which does not require a cursor to be moved to a menu bar at the top of a screen when using a tool button.

[0009]

An information display device according to the present invention displays a video signal in a video signal on a screen.
In an information display device that takes in data from a computer network, converts it into a video signal, and displays it on a screen,
An operation button for displaying a menu showing contents of executable processing on the screen, and means for displaying a dialog box in which the menu is displayed when the operation button is operated. .

In this information display device, when an operation button for displaying a menu showing executable processing contents on a screen is operated, the display means displays a dialog box in which the menu is displayed. You can use the tool button in the dialog box menu. Therefore, when using the tool button, it is not necessary to move the cursor to the menu bar at the top of the screen.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of connection between the information display device according to the present invention and the Internet. In this connection example, the information display device 1a remotely operated by the remote control device 20a
Is connected to the telephone line 2. In the information display device 1a,
Has a built-in modem. The telephone line 2 is connected to a modem 3 or a terminal adapter of a provider which is a connection service company, and the modem 3 is connected to a server 4 which is a computer of the provider.

The server 4 is always connected to the Internet 6 and is connected to the Internet 6 via a router 5 for setting a relay route. When the remote control device 20a is operated from the information display device 1a, a telephone call operation is automatically performed, and the information display device 1a connects to the Internet 6 via the provider server 4 (dial-up connection).

The configuration of the information display device 1a is as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 (speech is omitted).
A television wave received by the antenna 10a is selected by the tuner 10, and a video signal of the selected television wave is detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11. From the detected video signal, a luminance signal Y and color difference signals BY and RY are extracted by a video chroma processing unit 12.

The extracted luminance signal Y and color difference signal B-
The video signal processor 13 converts Y, RY into red, green, and blue color signals R, G, and B, respectively. The color signals R, G, and B are supplied to an RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 14 and output to the CRT 17 for each color. The video signal detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11 is also supplied to a sync separation / deflection processing unit 16 to extract a vertical sync signal and a horizontal sync signal. The extracted vertical synchronizing signal and horizontal synchronizing signal are supplied to the CRT 17 and used as a screen scanning synchronizing signal.

On the other hand, the Internet processing unit 22 connected to the communication line 24 converts red, green and blue color signals R, G, B of a video signal from data supplied via the communication line 24.
Are extracted, and these color signals R, G, and B are supplied to the RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 23, and CR signals are output for each color.
Output to T17. When displaying only the screen of the Internet, the Internet processing unit 22 independently creates a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal, and the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal are supplied to the CRT 17 and used as screen synchronization signals. used.

The tuning CPU 20 outputs a tuning instruction signal to the tuner 10 in accordance with an instruction from an optical signal, a radio signal, or the like from the remote control device 20a, transmits and receives a signal to and from the Internet processing unit 22, and displays information. The operation of the device 1a is controlled. Further, if necessary, an instruction signal is also output to the on-screen display control unit 21 so that the video signal is supplied from the on-screen display control unit 21 to the RGB matrix 15.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the Internet processing unit 22. Internet processing unit 22
Is a CPU 3 that controls the entire Internet processing unit 22
1, a flash memory 34 for storing a program that can be updated at a later date, and an RO for storing data and programs that will not be updated at a later date, such as font data.
M32 and a working RAM 33 are provided.

The internet processing unit 22 also selects a channel selection CPU I / F (interface) 35 for connecting to the channel selection CPU 20, an image memory 40 in which video signals are written and read, and writes the video signals to the image memory 40. An image processing unit 39, a serial I / F 37, an I / O port 30a, a serial I / F 38 for connecting to an external personal computer or the like, a keyboard I / F 36 for connecting to a keyboard, , A modem 50 connected to the communication line 24,
TA (terminal adapter) for connecting to SDN line
51, the image memory 40, the switching unit 23, the RG
A D / A conversion unit 41 connected to a video processing unit such as the B matrix 15; The serial I / F 37 is connected to one of the modem 50 and the TA 51 as necessary.

An information display device 1 having such a configuration will be described below.
The operation of a will be described. The information display device 1a includes a channel selection CPU
When the mode for operating as a normal television is designated by 20, the television wave received by the antenna 10 a is tuned by the tuner 10 in accordance with an instruction from the tuning CPU 20. From the selected television wave, a video signal is detected by a video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11, and from the detected video signal, a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal BY,
RY is extracted.

The extracted luminance signal Y and color difference signal B-
The video signal processor 13 converts Y, RY into red, green, and blue color signals R, G, and B, respectively. The color signals R, G, and B are supplied to an RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 14 and output to the CRT 17 for each color. From the video signal detected by the video intermediate frequency / detection circuit 11, a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal are extracted by a sync separation / deflection processing unit 16. The extracted vertical synchronizing signal and horizontal synchronizing signal are supplied to the CRT 17, and are used as synchronizing signals when the respective color signals R, G, B are scanned on the screen.

When the mode for operating the information display device 1a as the information display device is designated by the channel selection CPU 20, the CPU 31 is interrupted. The CPU 31
When an interrupt is applied, a video signal for one screen of the initial screen is read from the flash memory 34 and set in the RAM 33. Further, the CPU 31 outputs a switching signal via the I / O port 30a, stops the output from the switching unit 14, and switches the input to the RGB matrix 15 only from the switching unit 23 and the on-screen display control unit 21. You.

The image processing unit 39 activates a built-in DMA controller of the CPU 31 each time a horizontal synchronizing signal is given by a built-in clock,
The color signals R, G, and B of the video signal for one scanning line are read from 33 and supplied to the image memory 40. The image memory 40 writes and reads out each of the color signals R, G, and B based on the timing of a clock incorporated in the image processing unit 39. Each read color signal R, G, B
Are supplied to the RGB matrix 15 via the switching unit 23 and output to the CRT 17 for each color.

As a result of the above-described operation, an initial screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 17. The operator can change the picture (icon) of “Shop information”, “Travel / tourism”, “News”, “Learning”, “Amusement”, “Regional and corporate information”, “Original”, “Search”, and “Email” When the user operates the remote control device 20a from the inside and selects and decides, for example, a picture of “Travel / Sightseeing”, the Internet processing unit 22 executes
A “Travel / Sightseeing” selection screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Hereinafter, similarly, each time a selection is made and determined on the selection screen, a similar lower selection screen in which options are arranged in a tree shape is displayed.

The remote control device 20a has a selection button (43) at the right end of the upper surface, a decision button (44) at the left end, and various types of buttons at the center, like a picture 42 displayed at the bottom of the initial screen (FIG. 4). An operation button (45) is provided. Operation buttons (4
5) An operation button (45) for displaying a pop-up menu (dialog box) in which a menu is displayed.
a) is also provided. The selection button (43) is capable of freely moving the position of the pointer or cursor or the like of the "pointing hand" in eight directions, and is a picture overlapping the pointer or cursor or the like when the determination button (44) is operated. Items (including button-shaped pictures) or character strings are selected and determined.

When the selection is determined on the selection screen and the search proceeds, a picture related to the searched item is read out from the flash memory 34 and displayed on the display screen. When the operator operates the remote control device 20a to make a selection from this picture, the CPU 31 reads out the telephone number of the server 4 of the provider and performs a telephone calling operation.
The server 4 of the provider and the Internet processing unit 22 are connected. When connected to the server 4 of the provider, the URL corresponding to the picture determined and determined is called and connected.

When data of the connected URL home page is sent via the communication line 24 and the modem 50,
The CPU 31 converts this data into a video signal and
Set to 3. The video signal set in the RAM 33 is displayed on the display screen in the same manner as in the case of the initial screen. To call a URL that has not been registered, the user selects and determines “URL input” on the menu screen (menu bar) of the browser displayed at the top of the screen as shown in FIG. 6, and inputs the URL. The menu bar also has a pop-up menu on / off icon (menu) 47 for displaying a pop-up menu.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a pop-up menu display operation. When the keyboard is connected to the keyboard I / F 36, the CPU 31 sets the form input mode (S10). When the keyboard is not connected to the keyboard I / F 36 (S1
0), the free cursor mode is set (S12). CPU
At 31, in the free cursor mode, the enter button (44) of the remote control device 20a is turned on (S1
4) If the cursor position is on the pop-up menu on / off icon 47 at that time, a pop-up menu 48 as shown in FIG.

In the free cursor mode (S12), the CPU 31 sets the remote control device 20
a operation button (4) for displaying the pop-up menu
When 5a) is operated, a pop-up menu 48 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Pop-up menu 4
8 is, for example, from the top, “to menu”, “return”,
“Go”, “URL input”, “Bookmark”, “Reload”, “Reload image”, “Recall frame”, “Basic setting”, “Option setting”, “Cancel”, “End”, “Self demonstration” Words and icons indicating the menu are displayed. When the cursor is moved on the icon and the enter button (44) of the remote control device 20a is turned on,
The processing of the menu is executed.

When the "go to menu" icon is selected, the display returns to the main screen. When the "back" icon is selected, the previous page is displayed. When the “forward” icon is selected, the next page is displayed. When the icon of “URL input” is selected, a URL input screen is displayed. When the "bookmark" icon is selected, a bookmark operation screen is displayed. When the “reload” icon is selected, the page whose reading has been stopped is read again. When the "image reload" icon is selected, only the image is read again.

When the "frame call" icon is selected, a frame map is displayed when a page having a frame configuration is displayed. When the “basic setting” icon is selected, a screen for selecting a provider and inputting an ID and a password is displayed. When the "Set options" icon is selected, Internet operation lock,
Displays a setting screen for automatic disconnection of the telephone line. "Cancel"
When the icon of is selected, the reading is stopped. When the "end" icon is selected, the telephone line is disconnected and the process ends. When the “Self-Demo” icon is selected, a self-demonstration screen for sales promotion is displayed.

[0031]

According to the information display device of the present invention, when using the tool button, it is not necessary to move the cursor to the menu bar at the top of the screen, and the menu is quickly displayed using the tool button. You can choose.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of connection between an information display device according to the present invention and the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an Internet processing unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an initial screen of the Internet unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a selection screen of “travel / sightseeing”.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a menu screen of a browser.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the Internet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a Information display device 14, 23 Switching unit 15 RGB matrix 17 CRT 20 Tuning CPU 20a Remote control device 22 Internet processing unit 24 Communication line (telephone line) 31 CPU 32 ROM 33 RAM 34 Flash memory 39 Image processing unit 40 Image memory 50 Modem 45a Operation button 47 Pop-up menu on / off icon (menu) 48 Pop-up menu (dialog box)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information display device which displays a video signal in a video signal on a screen, fetches data from a computer network, converts the data into a video signal, and displays the video signal on a screen. An information display device comprising: an operation button for displaying on the screen; and means for displaying a dialog box in which the menu is displayed when the operation button is operated.