JP4607991B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including an operation mechanism and a display mechanism.

  As a utility for enlarging and reducing the screen, there is a utility that can enlarge and reduce user interface components such as icons, toolbar options, and pull-down menus by clicking the mouse (for example, Liquid Display's Liquid). View (trade name)).

  This type of conventional utility for enlarging / reducing the screen has the function of enlarging / reducing each component of the user interface at the same time. There was a problem. In addition, there is a problem that the object to be enlarged / reduced is a window frame or title, and the content image in the window is not enlarged / reduced.

  As described above, the conventional utility for enlarging / reducing the screen displays all the images that are not intended by the user at once, and the contents in the window are not enlarged / reduced. There was a problem in terms of.

  In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having an easy-to-use display control function capable of changing display contents in a display form intended by a user.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display device capable of displaying a plurality of window screens on a desktop screen, a first table for registering an application for enlarging or reducing the display, and a correspondence relationship between the window and the application A second table for recording a screen, an operation unit for instructing enlargement / reduction of the screen, and an application for displaying an active window screen when the operation unit instructs enlargement / reduction is an application for performing enlargement / reduction of display Determining means for determining whether or not there is an application based on the first and second tables, and when the determining means determines that the application for displaying the active window screen is an application for enlarging or reducing the display For each application once from the operation unit. If the desktop screen is the active screen when the enlargement / reduction of the window is instructed and the operation unit instructs enlargement / reduction, the display content of the desktop screen is displayed for each instruction from the operation unit. Enlargement / reduction means for instructing enlargement or reduction.

  For an active window, only the image in the window can be enlarged / reduced, and the display on the desktop and the active window can be separated and enlarged / reduced by a single operation means. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the configuration of the computer system is shown by taking a notebook-type portable personal computer that can be driven by a battery as an example.

  As shown, the computer system includes a CPU 11, a graphic memory controller hub 12, a memory (main memory) 13, a graphics controller 14, a VRAM (video RAM) 141, an I / O hub 15, a BIOS-ROM 16, a hard disk drive. (HDD) 17, sound controller 18, keyboard embedded controller (EC / KBC) 19, keyboard 20, display device (DISP) 121, and the like.

  In addition to the keyboard 20 and the pointing device such as a mouse and a touch panel, dedicated buttons 10A and 10B for instructing a change in display form are provided here as user operation means (see FIG. 2).

  In this embodiment, among these dedicated buttons 10A and 10B, 10A is used as a button (enlargement button) for instructing enlargement of display, and 10B is used as a button (reduction button) for instructing reduction of display.

  When the display enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B is operated, an event notification associated with the operation is issued from the keyboard embedded controller 19 and notified to the CPU 11.

  When the display enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B is operated, an object to be changed (in this case, an area indicated by the mouse cursor) of the display form (here, enlargement / reduction) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 121. If it is an active window, the display content of the active window is enlarged or reduced according to the button operation. Will be enlarged and reduced. The processing procedure at this time will be described later.

  The CPU 11 is provided to control the operation of the computer, and executes various processes according to an operating system (OS) loaded from the hard disk drive 17 to the main memory 13, an application program, a utility program, and the like. In this embodiment, in accordance with a zooming utility program (ZUP) 201 relating to display, enlargement / reduction processing is executed for various windows including a desktop screen. This enlargement / reduction process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  In the memory 13, the above-described zooming utility program (ZUP) 201, an application reference table (TBL-A) 211 referred to by the zooming utility program 201, a property setting table (TBL-B) 212 related to the zooming utility, and zooming process activation A table (TBL-C) 213 and the like are stored. Further, a registry group 202 having setting information of various windows including a desktop screen is stored. The zooming utility program 201 is loaded from the hard disk drive 17 when the system is started. Configuration examples of the application reference table (TBL-A) 211, the zooming utility property setting table (TBL-B) 212, and the zooming process activation table (TBL-C) 213 will be described later with reference to FIGS. To do.

  The zooming utility program 201 is shown in FIG. 6 with reference to the application reference table (TBL-A) 211, the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 relating to the zooming utility, the zooming process activation table (TBL-C) 213, and the like. In accordance with such display control processing procedure, enlargement / reduction processing for the contents of the window as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 and enlargement / reduction processing for the icons on the desktop as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 are executed. In this process, the font size related to the display of the registry corresponding to the active window or the icon on the desktop screen included in the registry group 202 and subject to change (enlargement / reduction) of the display form is rewritten. The contents of the active window, icons on the desktop screen, and the like are enlarged or reduced. The enlargement / reduction processing function (zooming processing function) at this time will be described later.

  The graphics controller 14 controls display drive of the display device 121 under the control of an operating system (OS) executed by the CPU 11, and provides connection interfaces for various external displays such as a CRT terminal, a DVI terminal, and a TV terminal (not shown). Display drive control of the external display device connected via the interface.

  The keyboard / embedded controller (EC / KBC) 19 is an integrated device including a microprocessor that realizes functions such as system power management and a keyboard controller. Here, in addition to the keyboard 20, a display enlargement button 10 </ b> A is displayed. , Input processing such as a reduction button 10B is performed. When the enlargement button 10A, the reduction button 10B or the like is pressed, the keyboard / embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of a display control command associated with the operation. When the CPU 11 receives a display control command accompanying the pressing operation of the enlarge button 10A, the reduce button 10B or the like from the keyboard / embedded controller 19, the CPU 11 executes a zooming utility program 201 whose processing procedure is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment. Here, a perspective view of a notebook personal computer is shown as an example.

  The computer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 includes a computer main body 1 and a display unit (display unit housing) 2.

  The computer main body 1 has a thin box-shaped housing. A keyboard 20 is disposed on the top surface of the housing, and an armrest is formed on the top surface of the housing portion in front of the keyboard 20. A touch panel 4 is provided at substantially the center of the armrest. Further, on the upper surface of the housing, an operation unit 5 is provided between a pivotal support unit for instructing the display unit 2 to be rotatable and the keyboard 20, and the operation unit 5 is provided with the enlargement button 10A and the reduction button 10B. It has been. In the display unit 2, a display device using an LCD is incorporated as a display device 121. The display unit 2 is attached to the computer main body 1 so as to be rotatable between a release position and a closed position by the pivot portion.

3 to 5 show configuration examples of various tables referred to by the zooming utility program 201. FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the application reference table (TBL-A) 211. Here, for various applications (programs) that can be handled by the system, a class name, a window name, and an application name are respectively shown. Registered in association. By referring to the application reference table (TBL-A) 211, the application can be specified from the class name or the class name and the window name.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 relating to the zooming utility, and the contents set on the property screen relating to the zooming utility shown in FIG. It is set and held in the property setting table (TBL-B) 212. In the property screen related to the zooming utility shown in FIG. 4A, for example, each item shown in the figure can be set by the same operation procedure as the setting of the mouse property. In this example, auto / manual setting of zooming utility function, setting of target application under manual setting, display setting of property icon on system tray, setting of icon display position before change on desktop screen, etc. are possible It is. These setting contents are held in the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 shown in FIG. The application set in this table is only an application having a zooming processing function (zooming processing routine), and an application not having a zooming processing function is excluded from the search target applications at the time of manual setting.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the zooming process activation table (TBL-C) 213, which calls various applications that can be handled by the system and an enlargement / reduction process routine (zooming process function) related to the display of the application. Call destinations (entries) are registered in association with each other. By referring to this zooming process activation table (TBL-C) 213, the zooming function (zooming process routine) of the application can be called for the identified application.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the zooming utility program 201. Here, the illustrated processing (S10 to S16) is executed each time the above-described enlargement button 10A or reduction button 10B is operated.

  FIGS. 7 to 14 show display examples in the zooming processing function. 7 to 10 show examples of enlargement / reduction of the contents of the active window, and FIGS. 11 to 14 show examples of enlargement / reduction of desktop icons.

Here, the display control operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the respective drawings.
When the enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B provided on the upper surface of the housing of the computer main body 1 is operated after the computer system shown in FIG. 1 is started, the keyboard / embedded controller 19 displays an event associated with the button operation by the CPU 11. (Step S10 in FIG. 6). When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for an active window according to the zooming utility program 201 stored in the memory 13 (step 6 in FIG. 6). S12) An application having the window is specified (step S13 in FIG. 6), and when the application has an enlargement / reduction function (step S14 in FIG. 6), zooming according to the button operation is performed on the active window. The process is executed (step S15 in FIG. 6). Various display change processes at this time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation and processing for enlarging and displaying the contents of the active window will be described.

  When a window is selected on the display screen of the display device 121 and the contents of the window are to be enlarged and displayed, the mouse cursor (mc) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 121 as shown in FIG. A window (wa) to be enlarged is clicked, and the enlargement button 10A provided on the upper surface of the casing of the computer main body 1 is pressed while the window (wa) is activated. The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6).

  When the CPU 11 receives an event notification accompanying the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for the window (wa) in the active state (step S12 in FIG. 6), and the window (wa ) Or the class name and the window name, and the application reference table (TBL-A) 211 is referred to based on the acquired information to identify the application of the window (wa) in the active state. (FIG. 6, step S12).

  Further, with reference to the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 regarding the zooming utility, it is determined whether or not the identified application is an application capable of zooming processing that is a target of zooming processing (step S14 in FIG. 6). .

  When the application is capable of zooming (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) of the identified application is referred to with reference to the zooming processing activation table (TBL-C) 213. A zooming process is executed in accordance with the operation of the enlarge button 10A or the reduce button 10B displayed above (step S15 in FIG. 6). FIG. 8 shows an enlarged display example in the active window (wa) at this time. Further, when the specified application is an application that does not have a zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) (No in step S14 in FIG. 6), the operation of the enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B of the display is invalidated. The event accompanying the button operation is terminated (step S16 in FIG. 6).

  First, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation and processing for enlarging and displaying the contents of the active window will be described.

  When a window is selected on the display screen of the display device 121 and the contents of the window are to be enlarged and displayed, the mouse cursor (mc) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 121 as shown in FIG. A window (wa) to be enlarged is clicked, and the enlargement button 10A provided on the upper surface of the casing of the computer main body 1 is pressed while the window (wa) is activated. The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6).

  When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for the window (wa) in the active state (step S12 in FIG. 6). ) Or the class name and the window name, and the application reference table (TBL-A) 211 is referred to based on the acquired information to identify the application of the window (wa) in the active state. (FIG. 6, step S12).

  Further, with reference to the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 regarding the zooming utility, it is determined whether or not the identified application is an application capable of zooming processing that is a target of zooming processing (step S14 in FIG. 6). .

  Here, when the application is capable of zooming (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) of the identified application is referred to by referring to the zooming processing activation table (TBL-C) 213. A zooming process is executed in accordance with the operation of the enlarge button 10A or the reduce button 10B displayed above (step S15 in FIG. 6). FIG. 8 shows an enlarged display example in the active window (wa) at this time. Further, when the specified application is an application that does not have a zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) (No in step S14 in FIG. 6), the operation of the enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B of the display is invalidated. The event accompanying the button operation is terminated (step S16 in FIG. 6).

  First, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation and processing for enlarging and displaying the contents of the active window will be described.

  When a window is selected on the display screen of the display device 121 and the contents of the window are to be enlarged and displayed, the mouse cursor (mc) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 121 as shown in FIG. A window (wa) to be enlarged is clicked, and the enlargement button 10A provided on the upper surface of the casing of the computer main body 1 is pressed while the window (wa) is activated. The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6).

  When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for the window (wa) in the active state (step S12 in FIG. 6). ) Or the class name and the window name, and the application reference table (TBL-A) 211 is referred to based on the acquired information to identify the application of the window (wa) in the active state. (FIG. 6, step S13).

  Further, with reference to the property setting table (TBL-B) 212 regarding the zooming utility, it is determined whether or not the identified application is an application capable of zooming processing that is a target of zooming processing (step S14 in FIG. 6). .

  Here, when the application is capable of zooming (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) of the identified application is referred to by referring to the zooming processing activation table (TBL-C) 213. A zooming process is executed in accordance with the operation of the enlarged button 10A for display (step S15 in FIG. 6). Here, for example, each time the enlarge button 10A is operated, the display size information in the registry corresponding to the active window (wa) is updated each time, and the display contents are enlarged step by step. Or, enlarge at a certain magnification. FIG. 8 shows an enlarged display example in the active window (wa) at this time. Further, when the specified application is an application that does not have a zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) (No in step S14 in FIG. 6), the operation of the enlargement button 10A or the reduction button 10B of the display is invalidated. The event accompanying the button operation is terminated (step S16 in FIG. 6).

  In this way, the contents of an arbitrary window can be enlarged and displayed by a simple operation of the enlarge button 10A.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the operation and processing when the contents of the active window are reduced and displayed will be described.

  When a window is selected on the display screen of the display device 121 and the contents of the window are to be reduced, the mouse cursor (mc) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 121 as shown in FIG. The window (wa) to be reduced is clicked, and the enlargement button 10A is operated with the window (wa) activated. The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6). When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 displays the window (wa) in the active state in the same manner as the processing for the enlarged display described above. The application is searched (step S12 in FIG. 6), specified (step S132 in FIG. 6), and it is determined whether or not the specified application is an application that can be subjected to the zooming process that is the target of the zooming process (step S14 in FIG. 6). ) When the application is capable of zooming (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the zooming processing function (zooming processing routine) of the identified application is called and the zooming processing according to the operation of the reduction button 10B is executed. (FIG. 6, step S15). A reduced display example in the active window (wa) at this time is shown in FIG.

  In this manner, the contents of an arbitrary window can be reduced and displayed by a simple operation of the reduction button 10B.

  Next, operations and processing for enlarging / reducing the contents of the window intended for the desktop screen will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the desktop screen is also included in the window to be enlarged / reduced, and when the display enlargement button 10A is operated, the icon on the desktop screen is enlarged and displayed, for example, at a certain magnification. When 10B is operated, the icon on the desktop screen is reduced and displayed, for example, at a constant magnification.

  With reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, an operation and processing when an icon on the desktop screen is enlarged will be described.

  On the display screen of the display device 121 shown in FIG. 11, the desktop button (DT) is clicked with the mouse cursor (mc), and the enlargement button 10A is operated with the desktop screen (DT) activated. . The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6). When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for an active window indicated by the mouse cursor (mc) (step S12 in FIG. 6). A window is specified (step S13 in FIG. 6). Here, since the window in the active state is a desktop screen (DT) capable of enlarging / reducing icons (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the icons (Ia, Ib) provided on the desktop screen (DT) are displayed. ,...) Is updated at a constant magnification, for example, and the icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) are enlarged and displayed (step S15 in FIG. 6). FIG. 12 shows an enlarged display example of icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) at this time.

  In this way, the icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) can be enlarged and displayed by a simple operation of the enlarge button 10A.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, an operation and processing when the contents of the window targeted for the desktop screen are reduced and displayed will be described.

  On the display screen of the display device 121 shown in FIG. 13, the desktop cursor (DT) is clicked with the mouse cursor (mc), and the reduction button 10B is operated with the desktop screen (DT) activated. . The keyboard embedded controller 19 notifies the CPU 11 of an event associated with the button operation (step S10 in FIG. 6). When the CPU 11 receives an event notification associated with the button operation from the keyboard / embedded controller 19 (step S11 in FIG. 6), the CPU 11 searches for an active window indicated by the mouse cursor (mc) (step S12 in FIG. 6). A window is specified (step S13 in FIG. 6). Here, since the window in the active state is a desktop screen (DT) capable of enlarging / reducing icons (Yes in step S14 in FIG. 6), the icons (Ia, Ib) provided on the desktop screen (DT) are displayed. ,...) Is updated at a constant reduction ratio, for example, and the icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) are reduced and displayed (step S15 in FIG. 6). FIG. 14 shows an enlarged display example of icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) at this time.

  In this way, the icons (Ia, Ib,...) On the desktop screen (DT) can be enlarged and displayed by a simple operation of the reduction button 10B.

  In the embodiment described above, an example in which the enlargement / reduction display is performed on the contents of the active window and the icons on the desktop screen by operating the enlargement button 10A and the reduction button 10B provided on the upper surface of the casing of the computer main body 1. However, instead of the enlargement button 10A and the reduction button 10B, it is possible to use other operation means. For example, when the right button of the mouse is clicked in the active window (wc) or on the desktop screen, a display enlargement / reduction operation screen 71 as shown in FIG. By clicking on the enlargement button 72A and the reduction button 72B, the contents of the active window, icons on the desktop screen, and the like can be enlarged and reduced. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16, an enlargement / reduction dial 75 is provided in place of the enlargement button 72A and the reduction button 72B on the operation unit 5 provided on the upper surface of the casing of the computer main body 1, and the active window of the active window is displayed by this dial operation. The contents, icons on the desktop screen, and the like can be continuously enlarged and reduced. Alternatively, a specific single key or a specific combination key on the keyboard 20 can be assigned to the functions of the enlargement button 10A and the reduction button 10B.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, enlargement / reduction display is performed for the contents of the active window, icons on the desktop screen, and the like. For example, for an application having a processing function (processing routine) related to display other than the zooming processing function, Processing functions (processing routines) relating to the display of the application can be executed by the above-mentioned enlargement button 10A and reduction button 10B.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the application reference table (TBL-A) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the property setting table (TBL-B) regarding the zooming utility which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the zooming process starting table (TBL-C) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the zooming utility program (ZUP) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display of the zoom processing function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the modification of the operation means which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the modification of the operation means which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer main body, 2 ... Display unit (display part housing | casing), 3 ... 4, ... 5 ... Operation unit, 6 ..., 7 ..., 8 ..., 9 ... 10A ... Expansion button, 10B ... Reduction button, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Graphic memory controller hub, 13 ... Memory (main memory), 14 ... Graphics controller, 15 ... I / O hub, 16 ... BIOS-ROM, 17 ... Hard disk drive (HDD), 18 ... Sound controller 19 ... Keyboard embedded controller (EC / KBC), 20 ... Keyboard, 121 ... Display device (DISP), 141 ... VRAM (Video RAM), 201 ... Zooming utility program (ZUP), 202 ... Registry group, 211... Application reference table (TBL-A), 212 Zooming utility property setting related table (TBL-B), 213 ... zooming process activation table (TBL-C).

Claims (6)

A display device capable of displaying a plurality of window screens on the desktop screen;
A first table for registering an application for enlarging or reducing the display;
A second table that records the correspondence between windows and applications;
An operation unit for instructing enlargement / reduction of the screen;
Determining means for determining, based on the first and second tables, whether an application that displays an active window screen when the operation unit instructs enlargement / reduction is an application that performs enlargement / reduction of display; ,
When the determination unit determines that the application that displays the active window screen is an application that performs display enlargement / reduction, the window screen is displayed for the application for each instruction from the operation unit. If the desktop screen is the active screen when the operation unit instructs enlargement / reduction, the display content of the desktop screen is enlarged or reduced for each instruction from the operation unit. Enlargement / reduction means for instructing reduction ,
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a hardware member provided in a housing of the information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hardware member includes a button for instructing enlargement or reduction at a constant magnification.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hardware member comprises a rotary dial for instructing an enlargement or reduction of a variable magnification.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is an icon that is included in an enlargement / reduction operation screen and instructs enlargement / reduction at a constant magnification.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the icon includes an enlarge button and a reduce button.

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