JPS609263A - Operation mode managing system of electronic blackboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To manage effectively an electronic blackboard by constituting so that common and individual modes are switched automatically or manually as an operation mode of the blackboard, and displaying a picture filed in a storage device by the own station side only, even in the course of a conference with a remote place. CONSTITUTION:In an electronic blackboard device which is communicating with other electronic blackboard device, in case control devices 6 and 6' of both of them are set to a common mode, a handwriting information inputted in one station is superposed on a picture displaying in common and managed as a new common mode picture. While a conference is being progressed, seeing the picture displayed in common in this way, an individual mode is used in order to fetch an existing picture required for a study from a storage device and to display it. In this case, an operator inputs an individual switching instruction by a keyboard device 5, and designates a file number, etc. of the existing picture. In this way, a desired picture is displayed on a display device 4 of the own station irrespective of a display picture of the other station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic whiteboard device used in a teleconferencing system, and in particular, to an electronic blackboard device that displays an electronic whiteboard in an individual mode while communicating with a device of a partner station located at a remote location. Technical Background In recent years, in addition to conference telephones and conference videophones, electronic whiteboard devices have attracted attention as devices that enable conferences to be held between remote locations. has been done. In other words, conference telephones and conference videophones allow conferences to be held between remote locations, but since conference telephones only transmit audio, it is not possible to conduct a conference using handwritten drawings, etc. Monodeashi,
Furthermore, conference videophones have the advantage of being able to capture and transmit images of handwritten drawings, etc., making meetings easier, but they require a broadband transmission line and the imaging area on the transmitting side is relatively small. Since it is a physical object, it has the disadvantage that it is not easy to transmit images drawn on a blackboard or the like. In response to these, electronic whiteboard devices that can transmit and display handwritten information over a wide area have been proposed.

This electronic whiteboard device obtains handwritten input information by drawing with a felt pen or the like on a handwriting input board with functions such as a tablet, and transmits this handwritten input information over a telephone line to a projector or other device. Since handwritten input information can be transmitted along with voice information, remote gold and silver transactions can be easily performed. Furthermore, by using handwritten input information that includes color information, a color image can be displayed on a color image display device. It is also possible to record the displayed content as a hard copy. 〇Prior art and problems Conventional remote conference systems using electronic blackboards are unable to communicate between the display device of the electronic blackboard device placed in a conference room in a remote location and the own conference room. The same screen is displayed on the display devices of the rooms, and the display screens of both conference rooms can be modified by handwritten data inputted from the router input device of either conference room. By the way, while I was having a meeting with a conference room in a remote location,
There may be times when you need to refer to the existing file screen only in your own conference room. However, in conventional systems, it is not possible for the own station to display a different screen while communicating with the other station, so screens that do not need to be displayed on the other side are also displayed on the other side. There is.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to
When a conference is held simultaneously in a conference room in a remote location using an electronic whiteboard device, the operating mode of the electronic whiteboard can be automatically or manually switched between a common mode and an individual mode, thereby allowing the remote location and the conference to be held simultaneously. Among other things, it is possible to display screens stored in a storage device only on the local station side.

Structure of the Invention In the present invention, a digitizer device for inputting handwritten data, a CRT monitor device for display, a keyboard device for operation, a storage device for storing screen information, and a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to and from a partner station are provided. In a remote conference system in which a plurality of electronic whiteboard devices each having a control device having a processing section are connected to each other via communication lines, the operation mode of the electronic whiteboard device that is communicating with other electronic whiteboard devices is automatic or A common mode and an individual mode are provided that can be switched manually, and in the common mode, the same screen as that of the other station is displayed on the display device, and handwritten data input from the Digitype device is displayed on the common mode screen. An electronic blackboard characterized in that the screen is superimposed on the display device and managed as a new common mode screen, and in the individual mode, the screen stored in the storage device is displayed on the display device independently of the other station. An operating mode management scheme is provided.

Embodiments of the Invention The operation mode management method for an electronic whiteboard according to the present invention is as follows:
This will be explained below using drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of an electronic whiteboard device.

In FIG. 1, a local electronic whiteboard device 1 is connected to a remote electronic whiteboard device 1' via a communication line such as a telephone line. The electronic blackboard device 1 includes a digitizer device (tablet) 2 for inputting handwritten data, a document input device 3 that is a scanner device for inputting existing materials,
CRT for displaying handwritten information or documents
It is equipped with a display device 4 which is a monitor or a projector, a key device 5 for inputting operation commands, a control device 6, and a storage device 7 such as a 70-pin or magnetic disk for filing screen information. There is.

In the electronic whiteboard device 1 shown in FIG. 1, screen information X input from the digitizer device 2 or the document device 3
is assigned an individual screen number n and an absolute screen number F by the control device 6 as shown in FIG. The absolute number F is assigned by the device that created the original screen. If the stored screen data X is to be displayed simultaneously on the display devices 4 and 4' of the local station and the partner station, the individual screen number n of the desired screen is input into the keyboard device 5. The control device 6 reads the absolute screen number F corresponding to the individual screen number n from the storage device 7, and notifies the control device 6' of the partner station of F. The control device 6' of the partner station searches whether or not the absolute number F exists in the screen data stored in the storage device 7'. If the absolute number F exists, the control device 6' returns a notification of acceptance to the local control device 6. If the absolute number F does not exist, the control device 6' notifies the local control device 6 of this fact. In this case, the control device 6 automatically transfers the screen data Storage device 7 with number F
Store in 1. In this way, a common absolute screen number F
Screen data having the following values are simultaneously displayed on the display devices 4 and 4' by the control devices 6 and 6I.

When displaying the same screen at both stations in this way, the control devices 6 and 6' of both stations are both set to the common mode. In this common mode,
Handwritten information input at any station is superimposed on the commonly displayed screen and managed as a new common mode screen.

While the meeting is proceeding while looking at the commonly displayed screen in this way, if it becomes necessary to discuss only in the own conference room, the existing screen necessary for the review can be retrieved from the storage device 7 and displayed. Individual mode is used to do this. in this case,
The operator inputs the command to switch to the individual mode using the keyboard device 5, and at the same time designates the file number of the existing plane.

As a result, the desired screen is displayed on the display device 4 of the own station, regardless of the display screen of the other station. In this individual mode, data on the display screen of the own station is not transmitted to the other station.

By the way, even when one station is set to the individual mode, it is desirable to configure the information about the common mode screen to be held in both stations. in this case,
If the other station is set to the common mode, the handwritten data transmitted from that station is automatically added to the file information on the common mode screen.

A more detailed configuration of the control circuit 6 of the electronic whiteboard device using the screen management method according to the present invention is shown in FIG. In the control circuit 6 shown in FIG. 2, the handwritten data input section 11 controls the input of the tablet 2, and edits the coordinate data input from the tablet 2 into packets of a fixed length. Furthermore, the data is converted into a differential vector code and transferred to the transmitter 27 as communication data to the other station. The document input section 12 performs input control of the IJ-da 3. The screen numbering section 14 and the absolute numbering section 15 are used when a new screen is formed based on data input from the tablet 2 or document reader 3, and when a new screen is transferred from the other station. , assign a screen number and an absolute number to the corresponding screen, respectively. The key input section 16 is
Determine the data of the function keys and numeric keys that are input from key 5. The screen number detection unit 19
It converts the data of function keys (for example, ■, 1, etc.) input from the keyboard 5 into a screen number to be displayed, and notifies the readout control section 25 of the screen number. The absolute number management section 21 manages the absolute number according to the common mode in which mutual transmission is carried out with the other station, and writes the absolute number of the common mode into the common mode management register 23. Furthermore, when an absolute number is sent from the partner station, it is determined whether the same number exists in the file of the local station, and the communication response control unit 22 is notified of the result. The write control unit 24 records the input screen number or absolute number in the index section within the border, and records the corresponding screen data in the screen data area of the corresponding file. The read control unit 25 searches for the address of the screen data area in the file corresponding to the input screen number or absolute number, and outputs the screen data to the screen memory unit 26 and the transmitting unit 27.

The screen memory unit 26 expands the input screen data,
It is converted into a video signal and output to a display device 4 such as a CRT monitor. The common mode determination unit 29 determines that the key is "
Upon receiving the “common mode setting command”, gate 13.30.32
．． 34. Execute the control of 35.

The operation of the control circuit 6 shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below.

Each part of the control circuit 6' on the other side is indicated by a dash added to the number of the corresponding part in FIG. When the common mode is commanded by the key date 5, the "common mode" is set in the common mode determination section 29 via the path of the key date input section 16--■, and the high level "1" is set to the AND gate 13.
30, 32, 34.35. The data from the handwritten data input section 11 or the document input section 12 is input to the computer game) 13, the OR gate 17, and the number addition section 18.
The data is sent to the write control unit 24 via the write control unit 24, and stored in the storage device (file) 7 by the write control unit 24. On the other hand, the output of the OR gate 17 is also stored in the screen memory unit 26 via the OR gate 33, AND gate 34, and OR gate 36, and displayed on the display device 4. Furthermore, the output of the AND gate 13 is also transmitted to the transmitter 2 via the OR gate 31.
7, and is transmitted from there to the other station. In this case, the screen number n and the absolute number F are numbered by the screen numbering section 14 and the absolute numbering section 15, added to the screen data by the numbering section 18, and stored simultaneously in the file 7. The absolute number F is composed of a file number, an individual number, and a version number.

In response to a "screen display request" input from the key date device 5, an absolute number F corresponding to the screen number n is sent to the key date input section 16, screen number detection section 19, readout control section 25, and storage device 7. Read out.

And gate 30, OR gate 31, transmitter 2
7, the absolute number F is notified to the other station. At the partner station, the notified absolute number F is sent to the receiving section 28',
It is set in the common mode management register 23' via the absolute number management section 21', and at the same time, it is set in the absolute number management section 21'-〇, the reading control section 25', and the storage device 7' corresponding to the absolute screen number F. Search screen data.

If the corresponding screen data exists in the storage device 7' of the other station, the absolute number management section 21' and the communication response control section 2
At the same time, the existence of the corresponding screen data is notified to the own station through the route of the transmitter 2', the transmitter 27', and the memory device 7', the read controller 25', the AND gate 32', the OR gate 33', the AND gate 34, and the OR gate. 36 and screen memory section 2
The corresponding screen is displayed on the display device 4' via route 6'.

On the other hand, when the receiving unit 28 receives the notification of the existence of the corresponding screen data, the local station accesses the screen data through the route of the absolute number management unit 21-■, the read control unit 25, and the storage device 7. Read control unit 25, AND gate 3
2, or gate 33, and gate 34, or gate 3
6. Display the screen on the display device 4 via the route of the screen memory section 26.

If the corresponding screen data does not exist in the storage device 7' of the other station, the corresponding screen data is sent to the own station via the route of the absolute number management section 21', communication response control section 22', and transmission section 27'. We will notify you that there is no such request. Upon receiving this notification, the local station requests the screen data via the receiving unit 28, the absolute number management unit 21-◎, the read control unit 25, and the storage device 7, and
The screen data is transferred to the other station through the route of the storage device 7, read control section 25, AND gate 30, OR gate 31, and transmission section 27. At the same time, the storage device 7, the read control unit 25,
AND gate 32, OR gate 33, AND gate 34
, the OR gate 36, and the screen memory section 26 to display the corresponding screen on the display device 4. On the other hand, the partner station adds a screen number through the route of the receiving section 28ζ or game 17ζ number addition section 18', the write control section 24', and the storage device 7', and records the absolute number and screen data at the same time. Receiving section 28', OR gate 17', 33', AND gate 3
4', or game) 36', the corresponding screen is displayed on the display device 4' via the route of the screen memory section 26'.

Next, if you want to refer to and display the existing screen only in your own station during a conference with a conference room in a remote location, if the key is requested to display the individual mode screen on the card device 5, the key date input section 16-@ will determine the common mode. In the route of the section 29, if the output of the mode determining section 29 is rOJ and the AND gate 13 is off, input at the own station is prohibited. Also, when the AND gate 34 is off, the display of received data is prohibited;
5 is turned on. The screen in the individual mode is accessed through the route of the keyboard input section 16, screen number detection section 19, readout control section 28, and storage device 7, and accessed through the route of the readout control section 28, AND gate 35, OR gate 36, and screen memory section 26. Is displayed. This individual data is
is closed, so it is not sent to the other station. Next, when returning to the common mode from the individual mode, the input from the key date device 5 is transmitted to the -mode input section 16, the common mode return determination section 2o-■, and the common mode determination section 29. , the output of the common mode determining unit 29 is set to "1". Also, by accessing the absolute number management unit 21, the absolute number management unit 21-■ reads the screen corresponding to the absolute screen number corresponding to the common mode set in the common mode control register 23. 25. Search by the root of the storage device 7.

The relevant screen includes the storage device 7, readout control unit 28, and gate 32.
．． 33, 34, and 36, the screen memory section 26, and the display device 4 are displayed.

Next, the operation when data is sent from a partner station operating in the common mode while operating in the individual mode will be explained. The data from the partner station is additionally stored in the data on the common mode screen via the receiving section 28, the gate 17, the number adding section 18, the write control section 24, and the storage device 7. Since the gate 34 is closed, this data does not affect the individual mode screen being displayed. In this way, the common mode screen data is corrected even while operating in the individual mode, so when you return to the common mode from the individual mode, the common mode screen will be displayed with the additional input data added. , the same screen as the other station is displayed.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, in a remote location synchronization system, while displaying the same screen and making money, it is possible to move away from the common source and display an individual mode screen only in the own conference room. It seems possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system to which the electronic whiteboard operating mode management method according to the present invention is applied, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the detailed configuration of the control device in the system shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the file groove structure of the storage device. (Explanation of symbols) 1.1/: electronic whiteboard device, 2.2': digitizer device, 3.3': document input device, 4, 4': display device, 5.5': keyboard device, 6.6 ': Control device, 7.7': Storage device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Digitype device for inputting handwritten data and display C
A plurality of electronic whiteboard devices each having an RT monitor device, a keyboard device for operation, a storage device for storing screen information, and a control device having a communication processing unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a partner station are connected to each other. In a remote conference system connected via a communication line, a common mode and an individual mode are provided as operating modes of an electronic whiteboard device that is communicating with other electronic whiteboard devices, and can be switched automatically or manually. , the same screen as that of the partner station is displayed on the display device, and the handwritten data input from the digitizer device is superimposed on the screen and managed as a new common mode screen, and in the individual mode, the screen is displayed independently of the partner station. 1. A method for managing operating elements of an electronic blackboard, characterized in that a screen stored in a storage device is displayed on the display device. 2. If the electronic whiteboard device of the other station you are communicating with is set to common mode, and the display screen of your own station is displayed in individual mode, input from the other station's digital board device. Claim 1, wherein the handwritten data received by the communication processing unit is automatically additionally stored in the common mode screen information stored in the storage device. Operation mode management method for electronic whiteboard.