JP2009237701A - Area size-adjusting method, program, and device - Google Patents

Abstract

The size of a desired work area in a single window is adjusted without burdening a user with a special adjustment operation.
In response to an operation of an operation unit, a pointer moves across a virtual area for movement start determination and continuously moves to any one of adjacent areas. At least one of the height or the width of the area is reduced, and the movement destination area is enlarged so as to fit the space generated by the reduction of the real area that has been the movement start area.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to size adjustment when a plurality of divided areas are displayed in a single window.

According to Patent Document 1, the user selects a panel by moving the pointer to the window panel. If there is content in the panel that is not visible to the user, the panel is enlarged so that the entire content is visible. If enlargement is not initially required, the system waits to see if any action by the user requires enlargement. During enlargement at any stage, certain portions of the neighboring window panels are covered instead of shrinking the neighboring panels and reformatting their contents. When the pointer is moved out of the window panel, the panel is reduced to its default or original size, and an enlargement process occurs for the newly entered panel.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-326136

  When performing image editing work or other GUI operations in each area where a single window is divided into a plurality of areas, the user moves the cursor or pointer to a desired section according to the work purpose and performs the work there. repeat.

  The area partitioned in a single window is limited in size, and when the work area is narrow, the conventional technique adjusts the size by operating the mouse pointer to enlarge or reduce it. Or, it is necessary to display a desired portion by performing a scroll display operation in a narrow area. As described above, since the size adjustment operation different from the original work is necessary repeatedly, the user is burdened with a troublesome operation, which greatly affects the work efficiency on the screen.

  In Patent Document 1, there is a problem that when the user's desired window panel is enlarged and the adjacent window panel is resized, the text of the adjacent window panel cannot be read (paragraphs 0007-0008). If the selected window panel is stationary, the default size of the selected window is enlarged without resizing adjacent window panels. However, if the contents of the proximity window panel are not necessary for the user's desired work, there is no point in maintaining the size of the proximity window panel. Rather, reducing the meaningless area reduces the burden of window drawing switching processing, It is efficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform size adjustment of a desired work area in a single window without burdening a user with a special adjustment operation.

  The present invention relates to a region size adjustment method for relatively adjusting the sizes of a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in a single window, wherein the first region is a first region. A first virtual region is set on the peripheral portion of the first region adjacent to the second region, and the second region is set on the peripheral portion of the second region adjacent to the first region, Setting a second virtual area; determining whether or not the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold; If it is determined that the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than the predetermined first threshold, the size of the second area is set to be relatively larger than the size of the first area. While enlarging, the size of the first area is larger than the size of the second area Comprising the steps of: reducing pair basis.

  More preferably, it is determined whether or not the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than the first threshold and equal to or lower than a predetermined second threshold greater than the first threshold. And when determining that the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed not less than the first threshold and not more than the second threshold, the size of the second area is set to the first Enlarging the area relative to the size of the first area and reducing the size of the first area relative to the size of the second area.

  More preferably, determining whether the cursor has moved continuously or intermittently from the first virtual area to the second virtual area; and from the first virtual area to the second virtual area; If it is determined that the cursor has moved continuously over the target area, the size of the second area is enlarged relative to the size of the first area, and the size of the first area is set to the size of the second area. Reducing relative to each other.

  A program for causing a computer to execute the above region size adjustment method is also included in the present invention.

  The present invention relates to a region size adjusting device for relatively adjusting the sizes of a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in a single window. Means for setting the first virtual region on the peripheral portion of the first region adjacent to the second region, and the peripheral portion of the second region adjacent to the first region, Means for setting a second virtual area; means for determining whether the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold; If it is determined that the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than the predetermined first threshold, the size of the second area is set to be relatively larger than the size of the first area. Enlarge and reduce the size of the first area relative to the size of the second area And means that, a.

  According to the present invention, the second area that is the movement destination of the pointer is enlarged and the first area that is the movement source of the pointer is reduced, so that the user does not have to adjust the size of the necessary area each time. The area to be worked automatically is large and the area not to be worked is reduced automatically.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image editing apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied. For example, the image editing apparatus 10 takes in still image data (including a still image obtained by capturing a moving image) stored in various recording media 40 such as a CD and a DVD, a memory card 42, and the like, and uses it as a material for a photo book ( Data for displaying an image with a predetermined layout and design on a display device or a print medium such as paper on which an image is printed with a predetermined layout and design is created. The image editing apparatus 10 is operated by an operation unit 52 including a pointing device capable of instructing movement of a pointer (cursor) such as a mouse, a touch pad, and a drag ball, and various operation devices such as a keyboard.

  The image editing apparatus 10 includes a CPU 12 that controls the entire image editing apparatus 10, a drive 11 that reads / writes data from / to a recording medium 40, a card slot 16 that reads / writes data from / to a memory card 42, and read still image data and images Stored in a hard disk drive (storage medium) 18 (hereinafter referred to as HDD 18) in which a program for controlling the editing apparatus 10 is stored, a RAM 20 that functions as a working memory when the CPU 12 performs various processes, a RAM 20 and the like. A list of images displayed, a window including a template image to be described later, and other graphical user interfaces related to image editing, and a pointer moving on the window according to an input operation including an instruction of a moving direction and a moving speed from the operation unit 26 Display video signal 5 A video encoder 22 to be displayed is output to a communication I / F 28 for connecting to the Internet or other network, the data recording unit responsible for specialized treatment, respectively (operation history recording means) 30, and a city. These units are connected to each other via a bus 36, and the CPU 12 controls the respective units of the apparatus according to an operation program stored in the HDD 18.

  The image editing apparatus 10 is connected to a printer 44 for printing the designated still image on plain paper or photographic paper via a printer driver 38.

  The card slot 16 detachably holds, for example, a memory card 42 such as a compact flash (registered trademark), an SD card, and smart media, and reads or writes still image data recorded on the memory card 42. Thereby, still image data captured by a digital still camera or the like can be read. In addition to the multi-drive 11 and the card slot 16, for example, a communication port such as USB or IEEE1394 may be provided so that direct communication with an electronic device such as a digital still camera or a PDA can be performed.

  The HDD 18 stores decoration image data combined with the still image data at the time of generating the photo book, in addition to one or a plurality of still image data as the material of the photo book. Examples of the decoration image include a mask image that covers an unnecessary portion of the target image, a template image in which a fitting frame of the target image is defined, and a decoration such as an illustration is applied. These decoration images add color to the photo book, such as decorating the background of still images as materials and adding one-point decorations.

  Each still image data is stored in the HDD 18 in the form of an image file such as JPEG, TIFF, or EXIF standardized for a digital still camera. These image files are provided with a data area for storing still image data and a tag area for storing metadata indicating the contents of the data. In the tag area of each image file, for example, information (see Table 1) such as the number of display times, the display time, the number of times of e-mail transmission (attachment), the number of times of image enlargement operation, and the number of times of printing are metadata (ie, claims). Equivalent to the described operation history).

  The communication I / F 28 connects the image editing apparatus 10 to the Internet, displays a homepage on the Internet on the display 50, and transmits / receives image data via electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as mail). The communication I / F 28 is a broadband compatible modem or the like. The communication I / F 28 may be connected to the Internet via an optical communication network or a cable network.

  The data recording unit 30 and the photobook generation unit 34 are so-called coprocessors, each of which is responsible for specialized processing and assists the processing operation of the CPU 12.

  The data recording unit 30 records history information of operation input to the operation unit 26 such as a staying area, staying position coordinates, staying time of a pointer, time and number of input operations, and the like.

  The outline of the area display size adjustment process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In S1, as shown in FIG. 3, with respect to real area A and real area B, which are areas formed by dividing a single window and are adjacent to each other, a movement start area that is a partitioned area where the pointer is actually located Identify In FIG. 3, since the current position P1 of the pointer is within the real area A, the real area A is identified as the movement start area. Further, an area where the pointer is not actually located and adjacent to the identified movement start area is identified as an adjacent area. In FIG. 3, the real region B and the real region C are adjacent to the real region A because the real region B and the real region C are adjacent to the real region A that is the movement start region.

  Next, a virtual region for pointer movement start determination is set at the peripheral portion in the movement start region where the movement start region is in contact with the adjacent region. The width and length of the virtual region for determining movement start are arbitrary.

  In FIG. 3, a virtual area A ′ is set at a boundary portion where the real area A (movement start area) is in contact with the real area B (adjacent area) to the real area C (adjacent area).

  In S <b> 2, a pointer movement end determination virtual area is set at a boundary portion in the adjacent area where the adjacent area is adjacent to the movement start area. The width and length of the virtual area for determining movement end are arbitrary.

  In FIG. 3, a virtual area B ′ is set at a boundary portion in the real area B where the real area B (adjacent area) is in contact with the real area A (movement start area), and the real area C (adjacent area) is the real area. A virtual area C ′ is set at a boundary portion in the real area C that is in contact with A (movement start area).

  In the case of FIG. 3, the destination of the pointer in the real area A is only one of the real area B and the real area C, but since it cannot be known in advance which one actually moves, it is adjacent to the movement start area. A virtual region for determining movement end is set for all real regions to be performed. However, the pointer never moves or is an actual area that does not need to be resized even if it moves (for example, a message display area that does not accept any user input or meaningful information is displayed. If there is a non-existing area or an area that is always kept at the default size), it is not necessary to set a virtual area for determining movement end there.

  In S <b> 3, it is determined whether or not the pointer has moved continuously to any one of the adjacent areas across the virtual area for movement start determination in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 120. If it has moved, the real area to which the pointer has moved is recognized as the movement destination area, and the process proceeds to S4.

  Here, “moving continuously” means that the pointer has not stopped (moving speed is zero) during the movement from the movement start area to the movement destination area. For example, when the pointer moves at a constant speed, it is determined as continuous movement, and when the pointer reaches the destination area by repeatedly moving and stopping, it is not determined as continuous movement. In addition, it is not necessary to determine that the object has moved to the adjacent area with having crossed all of the adjacent areas, and after the pointer crosses the virtual area for determining movement start, the coordinates of the pointer are somewhere in the adjacent area. If it enters, it will be judged that it moved to the adjacent area at that time. This is because the adjacent area itself is included in the real area, and the entry of the pointer to the adjacent area is presumed to be the intention of starting the operation to the real area including the adjacent area.

  In S4, it is determined whether or not the speed (average speed when the speed is not constant) V crossing the virtual area and the movement end determination virtual area satisfies X <V <Y. If X <V <Y is satisfied, the process proceeds to S5.

  Here, XY is a threshold value determined empirically. When the pointer moving speed is lower than a certain speed X, for example, when the user's hand accidentally touches the mouse or touchpad and moves the pointer slowly, it can be determined that this is not an intentional movement. Also, if the pointer moving speed exceeds a certain speed Y, for example, if the pointer is moved at an abnormal speed by suddenly hitting a mouse or touchpad, this is not an intentional movement. I can judge.

  In S5, at least one of the height and width of the real area that has been the movement start area is reduced (how much is reduced, for example, it is reduced to a predetermined reduced display size, or (The value obtained by multiplying the vertical and horizontal lengths by the specified reduction ratio can also be used as the size after the change.) Expanding. Note that other areas other than the movement destination area and the movement start area are appropriately enlarged or reduced so that the layout between the areas does not become unnatural.

  3 and 4, as an example, in order to select an image to be placed on the photobook PB titled “New Year”, an image to be placed on the photobook PB is displayed from the position P1 of the real area A where the layout of the photobook PB is previewed. It is assumed that the pointer has moved to a position P2 in the real area B where the image thumbnail list IM is displayed for selection one by one.

  When it is determined that the pointer has crossed the virtual area A ′ and entered the virtual area B ′, the height of the real area A is reduced by a predetermined reduction ratio (for example, reduced by 50%), and the movement destination is correspondingly reduced. The height of the real area B which becomes the area is enlarged. The user finishes selecting the previous image and placing the photobook PB at the desired position (X1 or X2), and moves the pointer toward the real area B with the intention of selecting the next image from the list IM. Therefore, when entering the virtual area B ′, the real area B is immediately enlarged, and the number of thumbnail images displayed in the real area B area as the list IM increases. This facilitates an image selection operation that would be performed immediately after the pointer movement. On the other hand, even if the real area A where the layout of the photobook PB is displayed is reduced, the influence on the selection operation of a new image is small.

  Thereafter, the movement start area, the movement destination area, and the virtual area are reset, and the process returns to S1. Thereby, the adjacent area that has become the movement destination area is identified as a new movement start area. In FIG. 4, the real area B becomes a new movement start area. Thereafter, the above processing is repeated until an instruction to end the editing operation is given. When the end of the editing operation is instructed, the photobook generation unit 34 places the selected image in the instructed position on the photobook template PB, converts it into print data or video data, and converts it into the printer driver 38 or video. Output to the encoder 22.

  3 and 4 show a case where the pointer moves from the real area A to the real area B as an example, but when the pointer moves from the real area B to the real area A, the real area A to the real area When the pointer moves to C, when the pointer moves from the real area C to the real area A, when the pointer moves from the real area B to the real area C, or when the pointer moves from the real area C to the real area B Similarly, the relative size can be adjusted. In short, the flow of this process is the same regardless of where the movement start area is and where the movement destination area is.

  According to the above processing, for example, the user selects a desired image from the image list IM in the real area B on the template PB of the “New Year” in the real area A and arranges it at a desired image layout position. In the case of repetition, when an image is arranged on the template PB of “New Year” and the next image is selected, the template PB of “New Year” is not necessarily necessarily enlarged and displayed. The list IM needs to be enlarged so that a large number of images can be easily selected. In such a case, simply moving the pointer between the real area A and the real area B enlarges the real area to which the pointer is moved and reduces the real area from which the pointer is moved. Even without adjusting the size of the necessary area, the area to be worked automatically becomes large and the area outside the work area becomes small.

  In addition, when the history of the user's pointer movement operation is recorded in the data recording unit 30 and the CPU 12 analyzes the characteristics and a certain movement pattern exceeds a certain number of times, the same movement pattern occurs thereafter. In the process shown in FIG. 2, only S5 may be performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the editing operation in which an image is selected in the real area B and the selected image is dragged and dropped into the real area A is repeatedly input (for example, three times). In this case, when the pointer movement operation from the real area A to the real area B is started, it is highly likely that the image selection operation in the real area B is performed. In this case, as in S3 and S4 The determination is omitted, and the real area B is made relatively large and the real area A is made relatively small immediately. By doing so, it is possible to react quickly to the work that the user intends to repeat.

  Note that this area display size adjustment processing is not limited to the creation of various products using images such as photobooks, postcards, calendars, and posters, and other windows related to image processing. For example, it can be applied to multi-windows for programming environment tools and multi-windows for document editing.

Configuration diagram of image editing device Flow chart of area display size adjustment processing The figure which shows an example of an adjacent area | region and a movement start area | region The figure which shows an example of an adjacent area display size adjustment process and a movement destination area | region

Explanation of symbols

10: Image editing device, 18: HDD, 34: Photobook generator

Claims (5)

A region size adjustment method for adjusting a size of a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in a single window relative to each other in the single window,
Setting a first virtual region in a peripheral portion of the first region where the first region is adjacent to the second region;
Setting a second virtual region at a peripheral portion of the second region where the second region is adjacent to the first region;
Determining whether or not the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold;
When it is determined that the cursor has moved at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold from the first virtual area to the second virtual area, the size of the second area is set to the size of the first area. Expanding relative to the size and reducing the size of the first region relative to the size of the second region;
Including region size adjustment method. Whether or not the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed equal to or higher than the first threshold and lower than a predetermined second threshold greater than the first threshold. A step of judging;
When it is determined that the cursor has moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area at a speed that is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to the second threshold, the size of the second area is Enlarging relative to the size of the first region and reducing the size of the first region relative to the size of the second region;
The region size adjusting method according to claim 1, comprising: Determining whether the cursor has moved continuously or intermittently from the first virtual region to the second virtual region; and
When it is determined that the cursor has continuously moved from the first virtual area to the second virtual area, the size of the second area is relatively larger than the size of the first area. And reducing the size of the first region relative to the size of the second region;
The region size adjusting method according to claim 1, comprising:   The program for making a computer perform the area | region size adjustment method in any one of Claims 1-3. An area size adjusting device for adjusting a size of a first area and a second area adjacent to each other in a single window relatively in the single window,
Means for setting a first virtual region at a peripheral portion of the first region where the first region is adjacent to the second region;
Means for setting a second virtual region at a peripheral portion of the second region where the second region is adjacent to the first region;
Means for determining whether or not the cursor has moved at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold from the first virtual area to the second virtual area;
When it is determined that the cursor has moved at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold from the first virtual area to the second virtual area, the size of the second area is set to the size of the first area. Means for relatively enlarging the size and reducing the size of the first region relative to the size of the second region;
Including area size adjustment device.

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