JPS62222288A - Display unit with multiwindow display function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A country built on long life This invention provides a display equipped with a multi-window display function suitable for use in various data processing devices such as office computers, personal computers, word processors, and DPS (data processing systems). In particular, the present invention simplifies multi-window switching operations by prioritizing windows waiting for input, and simply inputting a window switching instruction to switch the windows according to the priority order to enable input. The present invention relates to a display device that improves the operability of a data processing device by reducing the burden on an operator.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, display devices equipped with a multi-window display function, so-called multi-window display systems, have been used in various data processing devices.

Multi-window display uses CR, which is a physical display device.
This is a display method in which the display screen of a display device such as T is divided into an arbitrary number of sections and separate data is displayed in each section.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a multi-window display.

In the drawings, D1 to D4 are display devices.

In FIG. 12, each section of the display device D4 shown on the right side has a plurality of display devices [Dl to D1 on the left side].
Multi-window display is performed by displaying an arbitrary portion of the display contents of 3 surrounded by a broken line.

In this way, a display device with a multi-window display function allows multiple windows to be opened on the real screen.

Such multi-window display is extremely convenient when processing a plurality of mutually related jobs in parallel.

In the case of a multi-window display system, in the display diagram of the display device [D4 in FIG.

Activate this window (ACTIVE)
Other windows are simply displayed and cannot be used for input or other processing.

In conventional multi-window display systems, when switching windows in order to change the active window, the switching order is determined by the order in which they were created, for example, and the operator cannot specify the order. Ta.

That is, windows are switched in an order that is unrelated to the importance of the contents of each window, the priority of processing requests, and the like.

Therefore, for example, when you want to switch to a window in which you want to complete input most quickly, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of effort and time to switch to that window.

In addition, in the case of conventional multi-window display systems, when switching windows, if the cursor position, that is, the input position of data, etc., is buzzing from the clipping area, it will not be displayed on the actual screen. You need to look for it.

13 (1) to (4) are diagrams for explaining the correspondence between the virtual screen memory and the real screen screen in a clipping-type multi-window, where (1) is the virtual screen memory, (2) to (4) shows a display example of the actual screen screen. In the drawing, ■ indicates a cursor on the virtual screen memory, and ■ to ■ also indicate clipping areas of the virtual screen memory.

As shown in FIG. 13 (1), when the clipping areas ■ to ■ of the virtual screen memory are set and the cursor position is ■, the actual screen screen is
It is displayed as shown in Figures (2) to (4).

Among the three display examples shown in Fig. 13 (2) to (4),
The cursor is displayed on the actual screen only in FIG. 13 (4), and the cursor is not displayed in FIGS. 13 (2) and (3).

However, when the cursor position is buzzing from the clipping area, the operator has no way to know in which direction, up, down, left or right, the cursor is hidden.

As a result, the operator has to search for the cursor while scrolling while properly registering, which causes an inconvenience in that the operator is forced to perform extremely inefficient work.

Purpose Therefore, the display device with the multi-window display function of the present invention solves the disadvantages of conventional multi-window display systems, namely, the inability to quickly switch to a specific window that is desired to be the active window. This solves the problem and allows each window to be prioritized in advance for input waiting, and simply by inputting a window switching instruction, it automatically switches to the window with the higher priority, and the display device is connected. The purpose is to improve the operational efficiency of data processing systems.

To that end, the present invention includes a real screen memory for storing display data of a physical display device, at least one virtual screen memory, and data in a partial area of the virtual screen memory is retrieved. means for combining the data of each area retrieved from the virtual screen memory and outputting the data to the real screen memory; and window switching control means for switching to a window that allows input, and has a multi-window display function. In the display device, a priority data holding means is provided to save priority data waiting for input for each window.

By inputting a window switching instruction, the priority data held in the priority data holding means is retrieved and outputted to the window switching control means, so that a window with a high priority can be switched to a window that allows input. There is.

In addition, when switching such windows, a display area data holding means for saving the data currently displayed on the actual screen for each window and a cursor position data holding means for saving the data at the cursor position are also provided.
If the cursor position data in the cursor position data holding means is compared with the data in the display area data holding means and one display area is corrected when the window switching command is manually operated, the cursor is always displayed on the actual screen. It is also possible to control as follows.

Next, embodiments of a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention. In the drawings, 1 is an input device, 2
is an input control section, 3 is a program section, 3a is a first program section, 3b is a second program section, 3n is an nth program section, 4 is a display control section, 5 is a virtual screen memory, and 5a is a the first virtual screen memory, 5b is the second
, 5n is the n-th virtual screen memory, 6 is the cursor position register table, 7 is the priority register table, 8 is the display area register table,
9 is a window task control unit.

10 is a window display control unit, 11 is a real screen memory, and 12 is a display device.

As shown in the display device of FIG. 1, a priority register table 7 is provided to store the input waiting priority of each window. In this case, the priority data is arranged so that the window with the highest priority, excluding the currently active window, is entered, and when a window switching command is input, the window with the highest priority is switched. . Note that once the window with the highest priority has been switched to, the order of the priority data is changed so that the window with the highest priority can be switched to, excluding the activated window, in preparation for the next switch. Perform rearrangement.

The functions of each part are outlined below.

The input device 1 is an input means such as a keyboard.

The input control section 2 distributes and outputs input data from the input device 1 to the program sections 3a to 3n and the window task control section 9 according to the contents thereof.

The program section 3 is a memory in which user programs are stored, and n programs from the first to the nth are stored in the first program section 3a to the nth program section 3n, respectively.

Each of these programs, that is, the programs stored in each of the first to nth program sections 3a to 3n, issues an input request to the input control section 2, and at the same time, the program is stored in the priority register table 7. writes the priority data of the input request to the register assigned to the input request.

The display control unit 4 interprets data and commands received from the program units 3a to 3n and the window task control unit 9, and outputs them to each virtual screen memory 5a to 5n as display data 6. For example, in response to requests from each program. The display data is stored in each of the corresponding virtual screen memories 58 to 58.
At the same time, data at the cursor position is written to its own register corresponding to each program in the cursor position register table 6.

The virtual screen memory 5 is made up of n screen memories 5a to 5n from the first to the nth, and display data for each virtual screen is stored therein.

The cursor position register table 6 is a table for saving data of the current cursor position of each window.

The priority register table 7 is a table that saves data of the current input priority of each window.

The display area register table 8 is a table that saves data regarding the current clipping area of each window, ie, data such as its position and size.

The window task control unit 9 controls window processing. Specifically, key human power and program parts 3a to 3
In response to commands and the like from n, window selection (that is, window switching), change of display position on real screen memory 11, change of clipping area, etc. are controlled, and commands are output to window display control section 10.

The window display control unit 10 displays each virtual screen memory 5 according to commands from the window task control unit 9.
Display data is taken out from a to 5n, combined, and output to the real screen memory 11.

In this case, each window's virtual screen memory 5a
When there is a change in the display area above ~5n, it is written into the corresponding register in the display area register table 8 at the same time.

The real screen memory 11 is a memory that stores display data, and the display data output here is displayed on the display device 12.
Output to.

The display device 12 is a display means that displays display data in a visible pattern.

First, a process for controlling the window switching order based on priority data in a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for controlling the window switching order based on the priority in the display device having the multi-window display function of the present invention shown in FIG.

When key input is performed, as shown in the flow of this figure 2,
It is determined whether the input is a window switching command.

If it is a window switching command, the priority data stored in the priority register table 7 for the currently activated window is moved to the end of the table.

Then, the first window of the priority register table 7 is switched to active.

In addition, when inputting something other than a window switching command,
Perform normal program processing.

After the window switching command is input, if the key is pressed again, it is determined whether it is a window switching command or not.

If it is a window switching command, the process returns to the previous flow and moves the priority data stored in the priority register table 7 of the currently activated window to the end of the table again.

On the other hand, if the input is not a window switching command, the contents of the table are sorted in the priority order of each window that is not currently activated in the priority register table 7.

As described above, in the display device equipped with the multi-window display function of the present invention, upon input of the window switching command, the priority data of the currently active window is moved to the end of the priority register table 7.
When inputting something other than a window switching command, the contents of the priority register table 7 are sorted in the order according to the priority data of windows that are not currently active, in preparation for inputting the next window switching command. ing.

This relationship will be explained with reference to the actual screen display and the contents of the priority register table 7.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen based on the data of the current real screen memory.

Assume that a screen like the one shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the current real screen. In other words, “MENU”
, “wp”, “Inventory management, 1.1lFileIP 4
Suppose you have two windows open.

Here, "MENU" instructs the next task to be performed.

'l WP II is creating a document using a word processor.

``Inventory Management'' is a package program for inventory management.
It is currently waiting for a confirmation input, and unless this confirmation is performed, it will not be possible to proceed to the next process.

"File"' is a file display and is the current active window. This active window typically has an outer border (
folder) will be highlighted.

The priority of input waiting for these four windows.

For example, it is assumed that there are seven levels from "1" to "7", with "1" having the highest priority and "7" having the lowest priority.

The input waiting priority of each window (each program) is, for example, "MENU" is r7J, "W
P'″ is r4J, “current i management” is r 2 j, “F
Suppose that "ile" is "6J.

A diagram showing how the contents of the priority register table 7 are changed in this case is as follows.

4 (1) to (5) are diagrams showing an example in which the priority data stored in the priority register table 7 is changed by the input of a window switching command and a command other than the switching command. ) is the display state shown in Figure 3, (2) is the state in which a window switching command has been input in state (1), and (3) is the state in which an input other than the window switching command has been entered in state (2). , (4) is (2)
A state in which a window switching command is input in the state,
(5) indicates a state in which an input other than the window switching command is made in state (4).

The priority data shown in FIG. 4(1) is the state of the priority order described above, and the screen display in this case is as shown in FIG. 3.

In the display state shown in FIG. 3, if a window switching command is input from the keyboard provided in the input device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the input control section 2 outputs the command to the window task control section 9.

The window task control unit 9 refers to the priority register table 7, moves the contents of the register at the head of the current table (of the currently active window) to the end of the table, and activates the window that is at the head of the table. .

Therefore, the priority data stored in the priority register table 7 is changed as shown in FIG. 4 (1) to (2).

Next, in the state shown in FIG. 4 (2), if there is an input that is not a window switching command, the window task control unit 9
re-sorts the contents of priority register table 7,
As shown in FIG. 4(3), data other than the active window is rearranged in order of priority. In this case, the active window does not change, so the key input is
Output to ``Inventory Management'' at the top of the table.

In the state shown in Fig. 4 (2), if the next key input is also a window switching command, the contents of the first register of the priority register table 7 are moved to the last position, and from Fig. 4 (2) Change as shown in (4). In this case,
The head of the table becomes II W P II, and this window becomes active.

Similarly, in the state shown in FIG. 4 (4), if the next input is not a window switching command, the contents of the priority register table 7 are re-sorted, and step 41g (5) is executed.
Change the contents of the table like this.

After that, the contents of the table are rotated every time a window switching command is input.
If the input is not a window switching command, the contents of the priority register table 7 are sorted again.

By performing the processing shown in the flowchart in Figure 2, it becomes possible to switch to a window with a higher priority simply by inputting a window switching command. manually), the contents of the priority register table 7 are also
Sorted in order of priority excluding the current active window.

Therefore, the operability for window switching is significantly improved.

Next, in the display device equipped with the multi-window display function of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, depending on the cursor position,
Processing when changing the display area on the virtual screen memory will be explained.

FIG. 5 shows a display device having a multi-window display function according to the present invention shown in FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for correcting.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a display when a certain window "UNIX" is displayed on the real screen in the display device having the multi-window display function of the present invention shown in FIG.

The window "UNIX" in this display example means a certain window, and may have any name.

Figure 7 shows the display example window "U" shown in Figure 6.
This is an example of a virtual screen memory corresponding to "N I

The contents of the cursor position register table 6 and display area register table 8 in this case are as follows.

Figure 8 shows the display example window "UNI" shown in Figure 6.
6 is a diagram showing an example of a cursor position register table 6 corresponding to X'''. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cursor position register table 6 shows the currently active window.
In the virtual screen memory corresponding to ``UNIX'', the current cursor position is saved as line and column data.

The next FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the display area register table 8 corresponding to the window "UNIX" of the display example shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, the display area register table 8
is the current display area, i.e. window "U N
Regarding the display area corresponding to IX'', data indicating the display start line, start column, and vertical and horizontal sizes on the virtual screen memory are saved.

The display area correction process is performed as follows.

In the display state shown in Figure 6, the window "UNIX"
” is input.

The input control section 2 passes the input data to the program corresponding to the window "UNIX" of the program section 3 (this program is a program for executing a job related to the specific window that has been switched). , notifies the window task control unit 9 that there has been an input.

The window task control unit 9 retrieves information about the window "UNIX" from the cursor position register table 6 and the 1 display area register table 8 6 and compares the display area and the cursor position to determine if the cursor position is within the display area. If not, perform correction for one display area.

Conventional methods for correcting the display area include methods of setting the display area when the cursor enters the display area, methods of setting the display area so that the cursor is in the center of the display area, and various other methods. It has been known.

Any of these methods can be adopted in the display device having the multi-window display function of the present invention.

Here, one table is displayed at a position with a margin of one vertical line and two horizontal columns from where the cursor enters the display area.
The following describes a case where correction is made so that the display area is set.

Figure 10 shows the window "UNIX" shown in Figure 7.
This is an example of a virtual screen memory in which correction has been completed so that the cursor enters the display area on the virtual screen memory corresponding to .

FIG. 11 is a display example of the window "UNIX" on the real screen at the time when the correction is also completed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the range indicated by the broken line is set as the display area so that the cursor position is within the display area by, for example, one vertical line and two horizontal columns.

After determining the correction position in this manner, the window task control unit 9 outputs a command to change the display area to the window display control unit 10.

The window display control unit 10 synthesizes the display data of each virtual screen memory 5a to 5n and outputs it back to the real screen memory 11, and at the same time displays the corrected window "UNIX" with respect to the display area register table 8. Rewrite area.

When such correction of the display area is completed, a window as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the real screen (the screen of the display device 12).

As explained in detail above, the present invention includes a real screen memory that stores display data of a physical display device, at least one virtual screen memory, and data in a partial area of the virtual screen memory is retrieved. A multi-window display function is provided. The display device is provided with priority data holding means for saving priority data waiting for input for each window, and upon input of a window switching instruction, the priority data held in the priority data holding means is retrieved and By outputting to the switching control means, a window with a high priority can be switched to a window that allows input.

Therefore, according to the display device with the multi-window display function of the present invention, when switching windows,
By simply inputting a window switching command, it becomes possible to switch to a window with a higher priority, thereby significantly improving operability.

In this case, if you correct the display area at the same time as switching windows, the cursor will always be displayed on the screen, and you can start input operations immediately after switching windows, improving operability. further improved,
Many excellent effects can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the essential configuration of a display device with a multi-window display function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a multi-window display according to the present invention shown in FIG. Flowchart showing the process for controlling the order of switching and displaying windows based on the priority in a display device equipped with this function. ) to (5) are diagrams showing an example in which the priority data stored in the priority register table 7 is changed by the input of a window switching command and a command other than the switching command; In the case of the display state, (2) is the state in which a window switching command was input in state (1), (3) is the state in which an input other than the window switching command was entered in state (2), and (4) is the state in which an input other than the window switching command is entered in state (2). (2)
A state in which a window switching command is input in the state,
(5) shows a state in which there is an input other than the window switching command in state (4), and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of automatically correcting the display area on the real screen based on the data of the cursor position and the data of the display area. An example of a display when a certain window "UNIX" is displayed on the actual screen in a display device equipped with the above-mentioned display device.
An example of the virtual screen memory corresponding to "N I
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the cursor position register table 6 corresponding to IX"'.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the display area register table 8 corresponding to the window "UNIX" shown in FIG.
An example of the virtual screen memory after correction has been completed so that the cursor enters the display area on the virtual screen memory corresponding to ``X''. A display example of ``N I
1) to (4) are diagrams for explaining the correspondence between the virtual screen memory and the real screen screen in a clipping-type multi-window, where (1) is the virtual screen memory and (2) to (4) are the Example of actual screen display. In the drawings, ■ is an input device, 2 is an input control section, 3 is a program section, 3a is a first program section, and 3b is a second program section.
3n is the nth program part, 4 is the display control part, 5 is the virtual screen memory, 5a is the first virtual screen memory, 5b is the second virtual screen memory, 5n is the nth virtual screen memory, 6 is a cursor position register table, 7 is a priority register table,
8 is a display area register table, 9 is a window task control section, 10 is a window display control section, 11 is a real screen memory, and 12 is a display device. E 4 Diagram 8 Diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] a real screen memory for storing display data of a physical display device; at least one virtual screen memory; means for retrieving data from a partial area of the virtual screen memory; and means for retrieving data from a partial area of the virtual screen memory; In a display device equipped with a multi-window display function, which is equipped with means for combining data of an area and outputting it to the real screen memory, and a window switching control means for switching to an input-enabled window, priority is given to input waiting for each window. The priority data holding means is provided with a priority data holding means for saving the priority data, and the priority data held in the priority data holding means is retrieved by inputting a window switching instruction and outputted to the window switching control means. A display device characterized by switching a high-speed window to a window that allows input.