JP5008088B2 - Display system, display control apparatus, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display system in a so-called multi-monitor environment in which a plurality of display devices such as monitors are connected to a display control device such as a PC (Personal Computer), and to a display control device and a computer program constituting the display system.

  In recent years, a display system in a multi-monitor environment in which a plurality of monitors are connected to one PC and different information can be displayed on each monitor has begun to spread. In a PC equipped with a multi-window system OS (Operating System), a plurality of applications can be started and used simultaneously. However, since the display area of one monitor is limited, the user can select a window to be displayed. It is necessary to work while switching. Although the display area can be enlarged by increasing the size of the monitor, there is a problem that the display area is expensive. By configuring the display system in the multi-monitor environment as described above, the display area can be reduced at a relatively low cost. Enlargement can be realized. In addition, when it is necessary to display an image with a resolution higher than that which can be displayed on an existing monitor, a large image can be displayed by arranging a plurality of monitors side by side and displaying one image over the plurality of monitors. Can be realized. Furthermore, the display system in a multi-monitor environment has an advantage that power consumption can be reduced because power supply to a monitor not used by the user can be turned off.

  However, in a display system in a multi-monitor environment, it is necessary for the user to operate the power switch of each monitor to individually turn on / off the power supply of multiple monitors. However, there was a problem that power was consumed wastefully. In addition, there is a possibility that the user forgets to turn off the power supply of some monitors after the work on the PC is finished, and there is a possibility that power consumption by the monitor that is forgotten to be turned off is caused.

  Various inventions have been made for controlling a plurality of monitors in a display system in a multi-monitor environment. In Patent Document 1, for example, a monitor control apparatus and a control method for an image communication system in which a plurality of sub-monitors used for a conference room are connected in a daisy chain and the plurality of sub-monitors can be controlled by a computer are proposed. ing. In this monitor control method, an administrator operates a computer having a communication unit capable of mutual communication with a plurality of monitors, selects a monitor to be controlled, and functions to control the selected monitor. And the data value is input as control data. The microcomputer built in each monitor controls each monitor according to the control data, and transfers the control data to another monitor if it is control data for another monitor.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a display device with a video signal distribution function that can display the same display contents on a plurality of display devices without using an external distributor. This display device has a video signal distribution function and a distribution function stop switch inside, and a plurality of display devices can be connected in a daisy chain, and the same image is simultaneously displayed on the plurality of connected display devices. be able to. In addition, the distribution function stop switch can stop the display of the display device that is not required for display and save the power.

  Patent Document 3 proposes a display device power management method in which a user can individually set a waiting time for turning off the power of each display device. In this method, in an electronic device that can display the same display contents on a plurality of display devices at the same time, a waiting time until the display device is turned off is individually set. If there is a display device for which the waiting time has been set and there is no change in the connection state and the input device has not changed, and the connection time has reached the waiting time, the display device is turned off. To.

Patent Document 4 proposes an image display system in which a display device itself can perform power management even when a plurality of display devices are connected to a host device. In this image display system, synchronization is performed by switching between a state in which an image is displayed based on an image signal transmitted from a host device and a state in which an image is displayed based on an image signal stored in a memory circuit, based on a synchronization signal. A circuit is provided in the display device. The connection control circuit of the host device and the connection processing circuit of the display device are connected by a connection monitoring line for controlling the power supply of the display device, and the connection processing circuit of the display device is connected to the host device by the connection monitoring line. The connection status is monitored. Thus, when the synchronization signal is interrupted, the display device individually determines whether to display an image based on the image signal stored in the memory circuit or to perform power management according to the connection state with the host device. can do.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-12018 JP 2000-298462 A JP 2004-362156 A JP 2002-72990 A

  However, the monitor control device and the control method described in Patent Document 1 are configured so that an administrator operates a computer to which a plurality of monitors are connected in an environment in which a plurality of users use one monitor, so that each monitor In this configuration, the administrator performs control collectively. There is also a problem that the operation is troublesome because the administrator needs to operate the computer to turn on / off each monitor. There is a problem that the power on / off of each monitor is dependent on the manager, and the power on / off of each monitor cannot be controlled when the manager is absent. In the case of a display system in a multi-monitor environment as described above in which one user uses a plurality of monitors, it is rather easier to operate the power switch of each monitor.

  Since the display device with a video signal distribution function described in Patent Document 2 is configured to perform the same display on a plurality of display devices, it is suitable for a display system in the above-described multi-monitor environment in which each monitor performs different display. Absent. The display device with a video signal distribution function described in Patent Document 2 can stop display on an unnecessary display device, but it is necessary to individually operate a distribution function stop switch provided in each operation device. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome.

  The display device power management method described in Patent Literature 3 is configured to individually set the waiting time until the power is turned off for a plurality of display devices that perform the same display. Therefore, it is not suitable for the display system in the above-described multi-monitor environment in which each monitor performs different display. In addition, since the invention relates to the time setting until the power is automatically turned off when there is no input, the troublesome operation when the user turns on / off the power by operating the power switch or the like is improved. It is not possible.

  In the image display system described in Patent Literature 4, when the display device monitors the connection state with the host device through a connection monitoring line, and the synchronization signal from the host device is interrupted, the power supply is turned on according to the connection state with the host device. The display device individually determines whether or not to perform management, and when the host device power is turned off, the display device can individually perform power management to automatically turn off the power. . However, in order to turn off a plurality of display devices connected to the host device, the power of the host device must be turned off. For example, a plurality of display devices connected to a server device that cannot be turned off. The power cannot be turned off automatically.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display system in a multi-monitor environment in which a plurality of display devices are connected to a display control device. When the power supply of the other display device is turned on / off by the user's operation, the power supply state of other display devices with lower priority is automatically changed to turn on / off the power supply to a plurality of display devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display system, a display control device, and a computer program that can be easily operated.

  A display system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an operation for turning on / off power feeding to an internal circuit related to image display, and the plurality of displays provided with images for display. In a display system including a display control device for displaying an image on the device, the display device has communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the display control device, and the display control device is connected to an internal circuit. Setting means for setting the priority order for power supply ON / OFF to each of the plurality of display devices, communication means for transmitting / receiving information to / from each display device, and power supply ON / OFF to the internal circuit When the power supply state of one display device is changed by an operation received by the operation unit and the power supply state acquisition unit that acquires the off state from each display device by the communication unit, The feeding state of the one display device than lower priority other display device, and having a feed control means for performing control to change to the same feed with said one display device.

  The display system according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display, and a plurality of display devices that provide images for display. A display control device for displaying an image on the display device, wherein the display device has communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the display control device, and the display control device Setting means for setting the priority order related to on / off of power supply to the circuit to each of the plurality of display devices, communication means for transmitting / receiving information to / from each display device, and power supply to the internal circuit The power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state from each display device by the communication means, and the power supply state of one display device from the on state by the operation received by the operation unit When changes to the off state, and having a feed control means for performing control to change the power supply state of the one of the display devices than lower priority other display device to the off state.

In the display system according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the display control device changes the power supply state of the one display device from the on state to the off state, the power supply state acquisition unit obtains the power supply states of all the display devices. The power supply control means of the display control device acquires and stores the power supply state storage means when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state. The power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device is restored to the stored power supply state.

  In the display system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the power supply control means of the display control device has a higher priority than the one display device when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state. The power supply state of another expensive display device is changed to an on state.

  In the display system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the display device accepts a power on / off operation at the operation unit, the communication unit notifies the display control device of the power supply state. And a power supply state acquisition unit of the display control device that acquires a power supply state of each display device according to a notification from the power supply state notification unit.

  In the display system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the display control device includes a receiving unit that receives settings related to the priority order of the plurality of display devices, and the setting unit of the display control device receives the setting unit. The priority order of the plurality of display devices is set based on the setting.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a display control apparatus provides an image for display to each of a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that receives an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display. In the display control device for displaying the information, communication is performed for transmitting / receiving information to / from each of the display devices and setting means for setting the priority order for turning on / off the power supply to the internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices. The power supply state of one display device is changed by the operation, the power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means, and the operation received by the operation unit A power supply control means for performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device to the same power supply state as that of the one display device. And butterflies.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus that provides an image for display to a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that receives an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display. In the display control device for displaying the information, communication is performed for transmitting / receiving information to / from each of the display devices and setting means for setting the priority order for turning on / off the power supply to the internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices. And a power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means, and a power supply state of one display device is on by the operation received by the operation unit Power supply control means for performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device to the off state when the display device changes from the first display device to the off state. To.

The display control device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention acquires and stores the power supply states of all the display devices by the power supply state acquisition means when the power supply state of the one display device changes from the on state to the off state. to comprise a powered state storing means, said power supply control means, when the power supply state of the one of the display device is changed from the oFF state to the oN state, the power supply state storage means said one display device to the stored power supply state The power supply state of another display device having a lower priority is restored.

  The display control device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the display control device, wherein when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state, the display control device has a higher priority than the one display device. The power supply state of the display device is changed to an on state.

  The computer program according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a computer for giving images for display and displaying the images on a plurality of display devices, to give priority to on / off of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display. A step of setting each of the plurality of display devices, and a control for changing the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device whose power supply state has changed to the same power supply state as the one display device. And performing.

  A computer program according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a computer that gives images for display and displays images on a plurality of display devices, and gives priority to on / off of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display. Each of the plurality of display devices is set, and a step of performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device whose power supply state has changed to the off state to the off state. It is characterized by that.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program that stores a power supply state of all display devices when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an on state to an off state; Returning the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device to the stored power supply state when the power supply state of the display device changes from the off state to the on state. To do.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for supplying power to another display device having a higher priority than the one display device when the power supply state of the one display device is changed from an off state to an on state. The method includes a step of performing control to change the state to an on state.

In the present invention, a means for performing communication between the display control device and the plurality of display devices is provided for each, and the display control device acquires the power supply state of the display device. The plurality of display devices are given priorities statically by a method set in advance by the user or dynamically according to the usage status of the user. The display control device determines the priority of each display device, and automatically supplies power to another display device with a lower priority when the power of one display device with a higher priority is turned on / off by a user operation. On / off. Thereby, the user can turn on / off the power supply of a plurality of display devices at a time only by performing the power supply on / off operation for one display device.
In addition, when the user performs power supply on / off operation on another display device with a low priority, power supply is turned on / off only for the display device on which the operation has been performed. If power is supplied to any of the display devices without being prioritized, and the power supply of the remaining display devices is turned on / off in conjunction with the display, only the display devices that are not used are partially selected. However, by turning on / off the power supply according to the priority order as in the present invention, it is possible to perform partial power-off of the plurality of display devices.

In the present invention, the display control device compares the priorities of the display devices, and when the power of one display device having a high priority is turned off by the user's operation, The power supply is automatically turned off. As a result, the user can turn off the power supply of a plurality of display devices at a time only by performing an operation of turning off the power supply to one display device.
In this way, the power supply of a plurality of display devices may be turned off collectively only when the power supply is turned off. When turning on the power supply of the display device, the user does not always use all the display devices immediately after the power supply is turned on. Therefore, it is better to sequentially turn on the power supply of the display device according to the user's use. There is also. In such a case, a configuration is preferable in which only power-off is performed at once and power-on is individually performed by the user.

  However, there is a possibility that the user uses a plurality of display devices immediately after the power supply is turned on. In this case, the operation is troublesome if the user individually turns on the power supply of the plurality of display devices. Therefore, in the present invention, when the power supply of one display device having a high priority is turned off and the power supply of other display devices is turned off, the display control device stores the on / off state of the power supply of each display device. Then, the other display devices are turned off. Thereafter, when the power supply of one display device is turned on, the display control device returns the power supply state of the other display device according to the stored power supply state. Since the display device used by the user immediately before the power supply is turned off is likely to be used by the user after the power supply is turned on next time, the power supply state of each display device can be restored to the state before the power supply is turned off. The power supply state suitable for the user's use can be controlled.

  In addition, when turning on the power supply of the display device, it may be preferable to turn on the power supply for a display device with a high priority even when the power supply on operation is performed on the operation unit of any display device. Therefore, in the present invention, when a power-on operation is performed on one display device, power is turned on for another display device having a higher priority than the one display device. Thereby, it is possible to control the power supply state suitable for the user's use.

  Further, in the present invention, when the user performs a power on / off operation on the operation unit of the display device, the display device notifies the display control device of the power supply state. Thereby, the display control device can acquire the power supply state of each display device, and can determine whether or not the power supply state of one display device having a higher priority has changed.

  In the present invention, the user sets the priorities of a plurality of display devices in advance. When one user uses a plurality of display devices, the display device to be mainly used by the user is naturally determined from the performance, size, arrangement, and the like of each display device. Therefore, the user mainly sets the priority of the display device to be used highest, and sets the priority of the display device with the lowest usage frequency to the lowest. The display control device can accept a user setting and determine the priority of each display device according to this setting.

  Note that the processing performed by the above-described display control device can be provided as a computer program when the display control device is a device such as a PC. In this case, by installing a computer program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) in the display control device, the display control device can perform processing related to power on / off of the plurality of display devices.

  According to the present invention, when the power supply state of one display device having a high priority is changed, the power supply state of another display device having a low priority is automatically changed, so that the user can change the priority. The power supply for a plurality of display devices can be turned on / off in a lump by simply performing the power supply on / off operation for one display device with a high level of operation. Can be improved. In addition, since other display devices with low priority can be individually turned on / off, the power consumption can be reduced by turning off the power supply of the display devices with low usage frequency.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing a configuration of a display system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows details of a display control device constituting the display system, and FIG. 2 shows a display constituting the display system. Details of the device are shown. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a PC, which corresponds to a display control device constituting the display system of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 3a to 3c denote monitors, which correspond to display devices constituting the display system of the present invention. In the illustrated example, a display system is configured by connecting three monitors 3 a to 3 c to one PC 1 with cables 5. In FIG. 2, only the monitor 3a is shown in detail, but the other two monitors 3b and 3c are the same as the monitor 3a, and are not shown.

  The PC 1 of the display system is a general-purpose computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, a display processing unit 13, an operation unit 14, a hard disk 15, a disk drive 16, and the like. In addition, the PC 1 of the present invention includes three connection portions 20a to 20c for connecting the monitors 3a to 3c, and the connection portions 20a to 20c are connected to the monitors 3a to 3c via the cable 5, respectively. .

  The CPU 11 reads out and executes various programs installed in advance on the hard disk 15 to perform control processing of various units in the PC 1 and various arithmetic processing. In the PC 1 of the present invention, the CPU 11 reads out and executes the power supply control program 50 installed in the hard disk 15 in advance, thereby performing power supply on / off control processing for the monitors 3a to 3c connected to the connection units 20a to 20c. (Details will be described later).

  The memory 12 is composed of a memory element such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and temporarily stores programs and data read from the hard disk 15 and data generated in the calculation process of the CPU 11. Remember me. The display processing unit 13 generates an image to be displayed on the monitors 3a to 3c, performs various image processing on the generated image, and supplies the image data to the connection units 20a to 20c. The operation unit 14 includes devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and performs a process of receiving an operation by the user and notifying the CPU 11.

  The hard disk 15 is a storage device composed of a large-capacity magnetic disk, and stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and application programs for operating the PC 1 and data used by these programs. ing. In particular, in the PC 1 of the present invention, the power supply control program 50 is installed and stored in the hard disk 15 in advance. The disk drive 16 reads and writes data from and on a recording medium such as a CD or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). By reading the program and data from the optical disk by the disk drive 16 and storing them in the hard disk 15, the program and data can be installed.

  The connection units 20a to 20c have, for example, DVI (Digital Visual Interface) standard connection terminals and are connected to the monitors 3a to 3c by a single cable 5, respectively, and send image signals to the monitors 3a to 3c. In addition to being able to output, bidirectional communication can be performed. Each connection unit 20 a to 20 c includes an image signal output unit 21 and a communication unit 22. The image signal output unit 21 converts the image data given from the display processing unit 13 into an image signal in a format suitable for transmission / reception via the cable 5, and outputs the image signal to the monitors 3 a to 3 c via the cable 5. .

  The communication unit 22 performs bidirectional communication with the monitors 3a to 3c via the cable 5 according to the DDC / CI (Display Data Channel / Command Interface) standard, for example. The communication unit 22 transmits a power supply on / off command and a command to change settings such as brightness and saturation to the monitors 3a to 3c according to the control of the CPU 11, and the monitors 3a to 3c by the power supply control program 50. The CPU 11 receives a response to a transmission request such as a power supply state (whether the power supply is on or power supply is off) and setting values such as brightness and saturation and notifies the CPU 11 of the response. Accordingly, the PC 1 can acquire the power supply states of the three monitors 3a to 3c connected to the connection units 20a to 20c, and can individually control the power supply on / off of the monitors 3a to 3c. .

  Each of the monitors 3a to 3c includes a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a power feeding unit 34, a display processing unit 35, a connection unit 36, and a control unit 31 that controls these units. The display unit 32 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal panel or a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and displays an image according to an image signal given from the display processing unit 35. The display processing unit 35 converts the image signal given from the PC 1 into an image signal suitable for display on the display unit 32, adjusts the brightness and saturation according to the set conditions, and outputs the image signal. This is given to the display unit 32.

  The operation unit 33 includes a plurality of switches arranged in the housings of the monitors 3a to 3c. The operation unit 33 accepts a power on / off operation by a user and an operation for changing setting values such as brightness and saturation. The control unit 31 is notified. The power supply unit 34 converts commercial AC power into DC power and supplies it to each unit of the monitors 3 a to 3 c (particularly, an internal circuit related to image display). The control unit 31 starts / stops power supply. Being controlled.

  The connection unit 36 has, for example, a connection terminal conforming to the DVI standard, and is connected to the PC 1 with a single cable 5. The connection unit 36 acquires an image signal output from the PC 1 and performs bidirectional communication with the PC 1. be able to. The connection unit 36 includes an image signal input unit 37 and a communication unit 38. The image signal input unit 37 acquires the image signal given from the PC 1 and gives it to the display processing unit 35.

  The communication unit 38 performs bidirectional communication with the PC 1 via the cable 5 according to the DDC / CI standard, for example. In response to a request from the PC 1, the communication unit 38 transmits the power supply states of the monitors 3 a to 3 c and set values such as brightness and saturation to the PC 1, and also includes a power on / off command transmitted from the PC 1 and A setting value change command or the like is received and notified to the control unit 31.

  The control unit 31 performs control processing of operations of each unit of the monitors 3a to 3c, various arithmetic processes, and the like. Moreover, the control part 31 of the monitor 3a-3c of this invention can control the electric power feeding to each part by controlling the operation | movement of the electric power feeding part 34, ie, controls the electric power feeding on / off of the monitors 3a-3c. Can do. The control unit 31 starts / stops power supply to each unit by the power supply unit 34 when the operation unit 33 accepts a power supply on / off operation by the user, and also performs a communication unit 38 in response to a request from the PC 1. To notify the PC 1 of the power supply state. The control unit 31 starts / stops power supply in response to a power supply on / off command received from the PC 1 by the communication unit 38.

  In the present invention, the state of “power supply off” is a state in which the internal circuits related to image display such as the display unit 32 and the display processing unit 35 of the monitors 3a to 3c are not operating because power supply is stopped. The operation unit 33 can accept a power-on operation, the communication unit 38 can accept a power-on command, and the control unit 31 can control the start of power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit. It includes a state. The “power supply on” state is a state in which the display unit 32 and the display processing unit 35 are operated by being supplied with power, and the monitors 3 a to 3 c are displaying images on the display unit 32.

  Next, power supply on / off control processing of the monitors 3a to 3c in the display system according to the present invention will be described. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams for explaining the power supply control processing of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example of turning off the power supply. 4 shows an example of turning on the power supply.

  Priorities are assigned to the three monitors 3a to 3c connected to the PC 1 in advance. In this example, it is assumed that the priority of each of the monitors 3a to 3c is set in advance to either “high” or “low”, the priority of the monitor 3a is set to “high”, and the monitor 3b and Assume that the priority of 3c is set to “low”.

  The PC 1 periodically transmits a power supply state acquisition request from the communication unit 22 to each of the monitors 3a to 3c, and acquires the power supply state notified from each of the monitors 3a to 3c. The power supply state of 3c is periodically determined. As a result, the PC 1 performs an operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitors 3a to 3c, and that the power supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed from power supply on to power supply off and that the power supply off has changed to power supply on. I can judge.

  When all of the three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-on state (see FIG. 3A), when the user performs a power-off operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3a having a high priority, the power supply of the monitor 3a is performed. Is turned off, and the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3a through communication performed by the communication unit 22. Accordingly, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3a has changed from power-on to power-off, and transmits a power-off command to the other monitors 3b and 3c with lower priority. The monitors 3b and 3c that have received the command to turn off the power supply stop the power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each part and turn off the power supply, and all the monitors 3a to 3c are in the power supply off state (see FIG. 3B).

  In contrast, when all of the three monitors 3a to 3c are in the power-on state (see FIG. 3A), the user performs a power-off operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3b having a low priority. The power supply to the monitor 3b is turned off, and the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3b through communication performed by the communication unit 22. As a result, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3b has changed from power-on to power-off, but the PC 1 does not turn off the power of the other monitors 3a and 3c because the priority of the monitor 3b is low (see FIG. 3 (c)). Although illustration is omitted, when the power supply off operation is performed on the monitor 3c having a low priority, similarly, only the monitor 3c is turned off.

  Further, when the power supply is turned off by the user with respect to the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3a having a higher priority in the state where the power supply is off in the three monitors 3a to 3c (see FIG. 4A), the power supply of the monitor 3a Is turned on, and the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3a through communication performed by the communication unit 22. As a result, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3a has changed from power-off to power-on, and transmits a power-on command to the other monitors 3b and 3c with lower priority. Thereby, the power supply of the two monitors 3b and 3c having a low priority is turned on, and all the monitors 3a to 3c are in the power supply on state (see FIG. 4B).

  On the other hand, when the three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-off state (see FIG. 4A), when the user performs a power-on operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3b having a low priority, the monitor While the power supply of 3b is turned on, the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3b through communication performed by the communication unit 22. As a result, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3b has changed from power supply OFF to power supply ON, but since the priority of the monitor 3b is low, the PC1 does not turn on the power supply of the other monitors 3a and 3c (see FIG. 4 (c)). Although illustration is omitted, when the power supply on operation is performed on the monitor 3c having a low priority, only the monitor 3c is turned on.

  In other words, when the power supply state is changed from on to off or from off to on when the monitor 3a having a high priority is operated, the PC 1 changes the power supply state of the other monitors 3b and 3c with low priority. Control is performed so as to be the same as the power supply state of the high monitor 3a. Further, the PC 1 does not change the power supply states of the other monitors 3a and 3c when the power supply state of the monitor 3b having a low priority is changed. As a result, the user sets the priority of the monitor 3a to “high” so that the power supply on / off of all the monitors 3a to 3b can be performed only by performing the power supply on / off operation with respect to the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3a. Can be done in a lump.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the power supply control processing of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and shows another example in which the priority order setting is different from FIGS. 3 and 4. In this example, the priority of the monitor 3a is set to “high”, the priority of the monitor 3b is set to “medium”, and the priority of the monitor 3c is set to “low”.

  In the state where the three monitors 3a to 3c are in the power supply on state (see FIG. 5A), when the power supply off operation of the monitor 3a having the highest priority is performed, the power supply to all the monitors 3a to 3c is turned off ( (Refer FIG.5 (b)). When the power supply off operation of the monitor 3b with the second highest priority is performed, the power supply of the monitor 3c with the lower priority is interlocked and turned off (see FIG. 5C). When the power supply off operation of the monitor 3c having the lowest priority is performed, the power supply of the other monitors 3a and 3b is not turned off (see FIG. 5D).

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of setting priorities of the monitors 3a to 3c in the display system according to the present invention. When a request for setting the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c is given by the operation of the operation unit 14 by the user, the PC 1 sets the priority order setting window 60 shown in FIG. 6 to any one of the monitors 3a to 3c. May be displayed on the display unit 32. The priority order setting window 60 is provided with pull-down menus 61 for selecting the priority order for the three monitors 3a to 3c. The user operates the mouse of the operation unit 14 of the PC 1 so that the priority order is set. One of “high”, “medium”, and “low” can be selected. After the priority is selected from the pull-down menu 61, when the user operates an OK button 62 provided in the priority setting window 60, the priority setting is accepted by the PC 1, and the priority of each of the monitors 3a to 3c is set. Is set. If the cancel button 63 provided in the priority order setting window 60 is operated, the PC 1 closes the priority order setting window 60 without accepting the priority order setting.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed when the power supply on / off is performed by the monitors 3a to 3c of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and is performed by the control unit 31 of the monitors 3a to 3c. It is processing. The illustrated flowchart shows the procedure from the state in which the monitors 3a to 3c are turned off. The control unit 31 of the monitors 3a to 3c determines whether or not a power-on operation has been performed by the operation unit 33 (step S1). When the power-on operation has not been performed (S1: NO), communication is performed. The unit 38 further determines whether or not a power-on command has been received from the PC 1 (step S2). If a power-on command has not been received (S2: NO), the control unit 31 waits until a power-on operation is performed or a power-on command is received.

  When a power-on operation is performed (S1: YES) or when a power-on command is received (S2: YES), the control unit 31 starts power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S3). Then, image display on the display unit 32 by the display processing unit 35 is started.

  Thereafter, the control unit 31 determines whether or not a power-off operation has been performed by the operation unit 33 (step S4), and when the power-off operation has not been performed (S4: NO), the control unit 31 determines It is further determined whether or not a power-off command has been received from the PC 1 (step S5). If a power-off command has not been received (S5: NO), the control unit 31 waits until a power-off operation is performed or a power-on command is received.

  When an operation for turning off the power supply is performed (S4: YES), or when a command to turn off the power supply is received (S5: YES), the control unit 31 stops the power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S6). End the process.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the monitors 3a to 3c of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The control unit 31 of the monitors 3a to 3c determines whether or not the power supply state acquisition request from the PC 1 is received by the communication unit 38 (step S11), and when the power supply state acquisition request is not received. (S11: NO), it waits until it receives the acquisition request of the power supply state. When the power supply state acquisition request is received (S11: YES), the control unit 31 transmits the power supply state (power supply on / off) to the PC 1 (step S12) and ends the process.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of power supply off control performed by the PC 1 of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and is a process performed when the CPU 11 of the PC 1 executes the power supply control program 50. The illustrated flowchart is a case where the priorities of the monitors 3a to 3c are set in three stages of “high”, “medium”, and “low”.

  The CPU 11 of the PC 1 transmits a power supply state acquisition request to each of the monitors 3a to 3c through the communication unit 22 of each of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S21), and notifies the power supply state acquisition request from the monitors 3a to 3c. It is checked whether or not all the power supply states to be acquired have been acquired (step S22). When the power supply state is not acquired (S22: NO), the CPU 11 stands by until the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c.

  When the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c (S22: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the power supply state of any of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed from power supply on to power supply off (step S23). ) If the power supply state has not changed (S23: NO), the process returns to step S21 and the above-described process is repeated. When the power supply state changes from power supply on to power supply off (S23: YES), the CPU 11 determines the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c whose power supply state has changed (step S24). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S25). If the priority order is “high” (S25: YES), the priority order is “medium”. Then, the power-off command is transmitted to the other monitors 3a to 3c that are “low” (step S27), and the process is terminated.

  When the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c notifying that power supply is off is not “high” (S25: NO), the CPU 11 further checks whether or not the priority order is “medium” (step S26). When the priority is “medium” (S26: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a power-off command to the other monitors 3a to 3c with the priority “low” (step S28), and ends the process. When the priority is not “medium” (S26: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting the power-off command.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of power-on control performed by PC 1 of the display system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The CPU 11 of the PC 1 transmits a power supply state acquisition request to each of the monitors 3a to 3c through the communication unit 22 of each of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S31), and notifies the power supply state acquisition request from the monitors 3a to 3c. It is checked whether or not all the power supply states to be acquired have been acquired (step S32). When the power supply state is not acquired (S32: NO), the CPU 11 waits until the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c.

  When the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c (S32: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether any of the power supply states of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed from power supply off to power supply on (step S33). If the power supply state has not changed (S33: NO), the process returns to step S31, and the above-described processing is repeated. When the power supply state changes from power supply off to power supply on (S33: YES), the CPU 11 determines the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c whose power supply state has changed (step S34). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether the priority of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S35). If the priority is “high” (S35: YES), the priority is “medium”. Then, the power-on command is transmitted to the other “low” monitors 3a to 3c (step S37), and the process is terminated.

  When the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c that have notified power-on is not “high” (S35: NO), the CPU 11 further checks whether or not the priority order is “medium” (step S36). When the priority is “medium” (S36: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a power-on command to the other monitors 3a to 3c with the priority “low” (step S38), and ends the process. When the priority is not “medium” (S36: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting the power-on command.

  In the display system according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the PC 1 and the monitors 3a to 3c are provided with the communication units 22 and 38, respectively, so that the PC 1 can communicate with each other by communicating with the monitors 3a to 3c. It can be determined that the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed. When the power supply state of one of the monitors 3a to 3c having a higher priority changes, the PC 1 transmits a command to change the power supply state to the other monitors 3a to 3c having a lower priority, thereby causing the other monitors 3a to 3c to transmit. It is possible to control the power supply on / off of 3c. Accordingly, the user only performs the power on / off operation for the one of the monitors 3a to 3c having the highest priority among the plurality of monitors 3a to 3c, and the power on / off of all the monitors 3a to 3c is collectively performed. It can be carried out. In addition, when the power supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c with low priority changes, the PC 1 does not change the power supply state of the other monitors 3a to 3c with high priority, so the monitors 3a to 3 not used by the user. 3c can be individually powered to save power.

  Further, the PC 1 displays the priority order setting window 60 so that the user can set the priority order of each of the monitors 3a to 3c, so that the power supply control of the monitors 3a to 3c suitable for the use situation of the user can be performed. Therefore, the convenience of the display system can be improved. In addition, since the PC 1 performs the power supply control process by executing the power supply control program 50 stored in the hard disk 15, the power supply control process can be performed using a general-purpose computer. The versatility of the display system can be improved.

  In this embodiment, the priority is set to two levels of “high” and “low”, or three levels of “high”, “medium”, and “low”. It is good also as a structure which can set a priority. In addition, when three or more levels of priority are assigned, the power supply of other monitors is turned on / off only when the power supply on / off operation is performed on the monitor with the highest priority. The power supply on / off operation of other monitors may not be performed when the power supply on / off operation is performed on the monitors with the priorities.

  In addition, although the three monitors 3a to 3c are connected to one PC 1, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more monitors may be connected. In addition, the three monitors 3a to 3c are connected to the PC 1 by the cable 5, that is, a so-called star type configuration, but the present invention is not limited to this, but a daisy chain type in which another monitor is connected to one monitor. A configuration may be used, a bus configuration may be used, and other configurations may be used for connection. In addition, the PC 1 and the monitors 3a to 3c are each connected by a single DVI standard cable 5, and the communication between the PC 1 and the monitors 3a to 3c is performed by DDC / CI. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another video signal cable including a communication line such as HDMI-CEC (High Definition Multimedia Inter-Consumer Electronics Control) may be used, and communication such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable apart from a cable for transmitting an image signal. It is good also as a structure which connects a cable for this separately, it is good also as a structure which communicates by radio | wireless, and you may connect PC1 and the monitors 3a-3c by another structure.

  Further, the priority order setting window 60 for setting the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of using the priority order setting window 60 for setting the priority order, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which hardware switches provided in the monitors 3a to 3c are switched. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which PC1 determines automatically instead of a user setting the priority of each monitor 3a-3c. For example, when the OS operating on the PC 1 has a multi-window function and a plurality of windows are displayed on the monitors 3a to 3c, the window (active window) used by the user is displayed. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the PC 1 determines which monitor is present and automatically determines this monitor as the highest priority.

  In addition, when both power on / off operations are performed on one monitor 3a to 3c having a high priority, the power supply on / off of the other monitors 3a to 3c having a low priority is controlled. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the power supply off control may be performed only when the power supply off operation is performed, and the power supply on control may not be performed when the power supply on operation is performed. Further, the power supply on / off control function of the monitors 3a to 3c is realized by executing the power supply control program 50 of the PC1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be realized as a hardware function of the PC1. .

  Further, in step S22 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and step S32 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, when the PC 1 does not acquire the power supply state notified from each of the monitors 3a to 3c, the PC 1 waits until acquisition. However, when the monitors 3a to 3c are configured not to perform communication while the power supply is off, the monitors 3a to 3c may be determined to be in a power supply off state when the PC 1 cannot acquire the power supply state within a predetermined time.

(Modification 1)
In the display system according to the first embodiment described above, the PC 1 periodically acquires the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c through communication of the communication unit 22, and determines whether or not the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the monitors 3a to 3c may notify the PC 1 of power supply on / off.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processes performed when the monitors 3a to 3c of the display system according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention perform power supply on / off. The control unit 31 of the monitors 3a to 3c determines whether or not a power-on operation has been performed by the operation unit 33 (step S51). When the power-on operation has not been performed (S51: NO), communication is performed. The unit 38 further determines whether or not a power-on command has been received from the PC 1 (step S52). If a power-on command has not been received (S52: NO), the control unit 31 waits until a power-on operation is performed or a power-on command is received.

  When the power supply is turned on (S51: YES), the control unit 31 starts power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S53), and starts display of an image on the display unit 32 by the display processing unit 35. At the same time, the communication unit 38 notifies the PC 1 of power-on (step S54). When notifying the PC 1 that the power supply is turned on, the control unit 31 performs the notification by adding identification information for identifying each of the monitors 3a to 3c in the communication unit 38. Accordingly, the PC 1 that has received the power-on notification can determine which monitor 3a to 3c is the notification. Further, when a power-on command is received (S52: YES), the control unit 31 starts power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S55).

  Thereafter, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation for turning off the power supply is performed by the operation unit 33 (step S56). When the operation for turning off the power supply is not performed (S56: NO), the control unit 31 determines It is further determined whether or not a power-off command has been received from the PC 1 (step S57). If a power-off command has not been received (S57: NO), the control unit 31 waits until a power-off operation is performed or a power-on command is received.

  When the power supply off operation is performed (S56: YES), the control unit 31 stops power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S58), and notifies the PC 1 of the power supply off through the communication unit 38 (step S58). S59), the process ends. If a power-off command is received (S57: YES), the control unit 31 stops power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit (step S60) and ends the process.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of power supply off control performed by PC 1 of the display system according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The illustrated flowchart is a case where the priorities of the monitors 3a to 3c are set in three stages of “high”, “medium”, and “low”. The CPU 11 of the PC 1 determines whether or not the power supply off notification is received from the monitors 3a to 3c in the communication units 22 of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S71), and the power supply off notification is not received. (S71: NO), it waits until it receives a notification of power-off.

  When the notification of power-off is received (S71: YES), the CPU 11 determines that the power-supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c that transmitted this notification has changed from power-on to power-off, and reads a preset priority order. Thus, the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c that have transmitted this notification is determined (step S72). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the priority of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S73). If the priority is “high” (S73: YES), the priority is “medium”. Then, a power-off command is transmitted to the other “low” monitors 3a to 3c (step S75), and the process is terminated.

  When the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c notifying that power supply is off is not “high” (S73: NO), the CPU 11 further checks whether the priority order is “medium” (step S74). When the priority is “medium” (S74: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a power-off command to the other monitors 3a to 3c with the priority “low” (step S76), and the process is terminated. When the priority is not “medium” (S74: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting a power-off command.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a power-on control process performed by PC 1 of the display system according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The CPU 11 of the PC 1 determines whether or not the power supply ON notification is received from the monitors 3a to 3c in the communication units 22 of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S81), and the power supply ON notification is not received. (S81: NO), it waits until it receives a power-on notification.

  When the notification of power-on is received (S81: YES), the CPU 11 determines that the power-supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c that transmitted this notification has changed from power-off to power-on, and reads a preset priority order. Thus, the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c that have transmitted this notification is determined (step S82). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether the priority of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S83). If the priority is “high” (S83: YES), the priority is “medium”. Then, a power-on command is transmitted to the other “low” monitors 3a to 3c (step S85), and the process ends.

  When the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c that notify the power supply on is not “high” (S83: NO), the CPU 11 further checks whether the priority order is “medium” (step S84). When the priority is “medium” (S84: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a power-on command to the other monitors 3a to 3c with the priority “low” (step S86), and the process is terminated. When the priority is not “medium” (S84: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting the power-on command.

  The display system according to Modification 1 having the above configuration can obtain the same effects as those of the display system according to Embodiment 1 described above.

(Modification 2)
The display system according to the above-described first embodiment automatically adjusts the power supply states of the low priority monitors 3a to 3c to the same state when the high priority monitors 3a to 3c are turned on / off. The power supply is turned on / off. However, with regard to power-on, it may be better to automatically power-on the monitors 3a to 3c having a higher priority by performing a power-on operation on the monitors 3a to 3c having a lower priority. In the second modification, this configuration will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining the power feeding control process of the display system according to the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that three levels of priority “high”, “medium”, and “low” are set in advance to the three monitors 3 a to 3 c connected to the PC 1.

  When all of the three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-off state (see FIG. 14A), when the user performs a power-on operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3a having the priority “high”, the monitor While the power supply 3a is turned on, the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3a through communication performed by the communication unit 22. Accordingly, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3a has changed from power supply OFF to power supply ON, but since there is no other monitor having a higher priority than the monitor 3a, the power supply of the other monitor 3b or 3c is turned on. There is nothing (see FIG. 14B).

  When all of the three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-off state (see FIG. 14A), if the user performs a power-on operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3b having the priority “medium”, the monitor While the power supply 3b is turned on, the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3b through communication performed by the communication unit 22. As a result, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3b has changed from power-off to power-on, and transmits a power-on command to the monitor 3a having a higher priority than the monitor 3b. The monitor 3a that has received the power-on command starts power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit, whereby the two monitors 3a and 3b are in a power-on state (see FIG. 14C).

  When all three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-off state (see FIG. 14A), when the user performs a power-on operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3c having the priority “low”. The monitor 3c is turned on, and the PC 1 acquires the power supply state of the monitor 3c through communication performed by the communication unit 22. Accordingly, the PC 1 recognizes that the power supply state of the monitor 3c has changed from power supply off to power supply on, and transmits a power supply on command to the two monitors 3a and 3b having higher priority than the monitor 3c. The monitors 3a and 3b that have received the power-on command start power supply from the power supply unit 34 to the respective units, whereby the three monitors 3a to 3c are in a power-on state (see FIG. 14D).

  As described above, the power supply is turned off in conjunction with the monitors 3a to 3c having a lower priority than the monitors 3a to 3c that have received the operation, and the power supply on is prioritized from the monitors 3a to 3c that have received the operation. The high monitors 3a to 3c may be configured to turn on the power in conjunction with each other. For example, in the process performed by the PC 1 of the display device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10, when it is determined that the priority of the monitor that has changed from power-off to power-on is “high” (S35: YES). If the process is terminated without transmitting a power-on command and the priority is determined to be “medium” (S36: YES), the power supply is turned on to the monitors 3a to 3c having the high priority. When the priority is not “medium” (S36: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, power supply is turned on to the monitors 3a to 3c having the priority “high” and “medium”. This can be realized by transmitting the command.

(Embodiment 2)
In the display system according to the first embodiment described above, when the power-on operation of the monitors 3a to 3c having a high priority is performed, the power supply of all the other monitors 3a to 3c having the low priority is collectively turned on by the PC 1. It is the composition which is done. On the other hand, in the display system according to the second embodiment, when all the monitors 3a to 3c are powered off by the power-off operation of the monitors 3a to 3c having higher priority, the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c is detected by the PC 1 Is stored, and thereafter, when all the monitors 3a to 3c are turned on collectively, the PC 1 performs power supply control of each of the monitors 3a to 3c so as to return to the power supply state when the power supply is turned off. is there.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining power supply control processing of the display system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this example, it is assumed that two levels of priority, “high” and “low”, are set for the three monitors 3a to 3c. When the priority “high” monitor 3a and the priority “low” monitor 3b are in the power supply on state and the priority “low” monitor 3c is in the power supply off state (see FIG. 15A). When the user performs a power-off operation on the operation unit 33 of the monitor 3a having a higher priority, the power supply to the monitor 3a is turned off. Since the PC 1 periodically acquires the power supply status of the monitors 3a to 3c, the PC 1 determines that the power supply state of the monitor 3a has changed from power supply on to power supply off, and the other monitors 3b and 3c with lower priority levels. The power supply state is acquired and stored in the hard disk 15, and a power supply off command is transmitted to the monitor 3b. The monitors 3b and 3c that have received the power-off command stop power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit and turn off the power supply, and all the monitors 3a to 3c are in a power supply off state (see FIG. 15B).

  Thereafter, when the user performs a power-on operation on the monitor 3a having a higher priority, the power supply of the monitor 3a is turned on. Since the PC 1 periodically acquires the power supply status of the monitors 3a to 3c, it is determined that the power supply status of the monitor 3a has changed from power supply OFF to power supply ON, and the power supply OFF stored in the hard disk 15 is stored. The power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c is read, and a power supply on command is transmitted to the monitor 3b that was in the power supply on state when the power supply is off. The monitor 3b that receives the power-on command starts power supply from the power supply unit 34 to each unit, but the monitor 3c that does not receive the power-on command does not start power supply, so the monitors 3a to 3c are in a power supply state when the power is off. (See FIG. 15C).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of power-off control performed by PC 1 of the display system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the illustrated flowchart, the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c is set in two stages of “high” and “low”. The CPU 11 of the PC 1 transmits a power supply state acquisition request to each of the monitors 3a to 3c through the communication unit 22 of each of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S101), and notifies the power supply state acquisition request from the monitors 3a to 3c. It is checked whether or not all the power supply states to be acquired have been acquired (step S102). When the power supply state is not acquired (S102: NO), the CPU 11 waits until the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c.

  When the power supply status is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c (S102: YES), the CPU 11 stores the acquired power supply status of each of the monitors 3a to 3c in the hard disk 15 or the like (step S103). Next, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the power supply state of any of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed from power supply on to power supply off (step S104). If the power supply state has not changed (S104: NO), step 1 is performed. Returning to S101, the above process is repeated. When the power supply state changes from power supply on to power supply off (S104: YES), the CPU 11 determines the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c whose power supply state has changed (step S105). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S106).

  When the priority is “high” (S106: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a power-off command to the other monitors 3a to 3c with the priority “low” (step S107), and the process ends. When the priority is not “high” (S106: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting the power-off command. The power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c is stored in the hard disk 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be stored in other storage means such as the memory 12, but stored in the nonvolatile storage means. It is desirable to do.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a power-on control process performed by the PC 1 of the display system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The CPU 11 of the PC 1 transmits a power supply state acquisition request to each of the monitors 3a to 3c through the communication unit 22 of each of the connection terminals 20a to 20c (step S111), and notifies the power supply state acquisition request from the monitors 3a to 3c. It is checked whether or not all the power supply states to be acquired have been acquired (step S112). When the power supply state is not acquired (S112: NO), the CPU 11 waits until the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c.

  When the power supply state is acquired from all the monitors 3a to 3c (S112: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the power supply state of any of the monitors 3a to 3c has changed from power supply off to power supply on (step S113). ), If the power supply state has not changed (S113: NO), the process returns to step S111 and the above-described process is repeated. When the power supply state changes from power supply off to power supply on (S113: YES), the CPU 11 determines the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c whose power supply state has changed (step S114). As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the priority order of the monitors 3a to 3c is “high” (step S115).

  When the priority is “high” (S115: YES), the CPU 11 reads the power supply states of the monitors 3a to 3c at the time of power supply off stored in the hard disk 15 in step S103 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 (step S116). ) The power supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c having the priority “low” is restored by transmitting a power supply ON command to the monitors 3a to 3c whose power supply state was the power supply on (step S117). End the process. On the other hand, when the priority is not “high” (S115: NO), that is, when the priority is “low”, the CPU 11 ends the process without transmitting the power-on command. When the PC 1 returns the power supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c in step S117, it is not necessary to return the power supply on state monitors 3a to 3c to power supply off.

  In the display system according to the second embodiment having the above configuration, when one of the monitors 3a to 3c having a higher priority is operated to turn off the power, and the PC 1 turns off the other monitors 3a to 3c having a lower priority, By acquiring and storing the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c, when one of the monitors 3a to 3c having a higher priority is subsequently turned on, the power supply state stored by the PC 1 The power supply state of the monitors 3a to 3c can be restored. Therefore, since the monitors 3a to 3c used by the user immediately before the power supply is turned off are likely to be used by the user after the power supply is turned on next, the power supplies of the monitors 3a to 3c are in a state before the power supply is turned off. By returning the state, power supply control suitable for the user's use can be performed.

  In the display system according to the second embodiment, as in the display system according to the first embodiment, the PC 1 periodically acquires the power supply state of each of the monitors 3a to 3c. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, when the power supply on / off operation is performed on the monitors 3a to 3c as in the display system according to the first modification of the first embodiment, the monitors 3a to 3c that receive the operation notify the PC 1 of the power supply state. It is good also as composition to do. In addition, the PC 1 and the monitors 3a to 3c are each connected by a single DVI standard cable 5, and the communication between the PC 1 and the monitors 3a to 3c is performed by DDC / CI. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another video signal cable including a communication line such as HDMI-CEC (High Definition Multimedia Inter-Consumer Electronics Control) may be used, and communication such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable apart from a cable for transmitting an image signal. It is good also as a structure which connects a cable for this separately, it is good also as a structure which communicates by radio | wireless, and you may connect PC1 and the monitors 3a-3c by another structure.

  In addition, since the other structure of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 2 is the same as that of the structure of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1, it attaches | subjects the same code | symbol to the same location, and abbreviate | omits detailed description.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the electric power feeding control process of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the electric power feeding control process of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the electric power feeding control process of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the priority setting method of the monitor in the display system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process performed when the monitor of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention turns on / off electric power feeding. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the monitor of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power supply OFF control which PC of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power supply ON control which PC of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the monitor of the display system which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs when electric power feeding is turned on / off. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power feeding off control which PC of the display system which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power supply ON control which PC of the display system which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the electric power feeding control process of the display system which concerns on the modification 2 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the electric power feeding control process of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power supply OFF control which PC of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the electric power supply ON control which PC of the display system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC (display control device)
3a-3c monitor (display device)
5 Cable 11 CPU (determination means, power supply state acquisition means, power supply control means)
12 Memory 13 Display Processing Unit 14 Operation Unit 15 Hard Disk (Power Supply State Storage Unit)
16 disk drive 20a-20c connection part 21 image signal output part 22 communication part (communication means)
31 Control unit (power supply state notifying means)
32 Display unit 33 Operation unit 34 Power feeding unit 35 Display processing unit 36 Connection unit 37 Image signal input unit 38 Communication unit (communication means)
50 Power supply control program (computer program)
60 Priority setting window (setting accepting means)

Claims (14)

A plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display, and a display control device that provides images for display and displays the images on the plurality of display devices A display system comprising:
The display device has communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the display control device,
The display control device includes:
A setting means for setting a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from each display device;
Power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means;
When the power supply state of one display device is changed by the operation received by the operation unit, the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device is changed to the same power supply state as the one display device. A display system comprising: power supply control means for performing control to change.
A plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display, and a display control device that provides images for display and displays the images on the plurality of display devices A display system comprising:
The display device has communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the display control device,
The display control device includes:
A setting means for setting a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from each display device;
Power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means;
When the power supply state of one display device changes from an on state to an off state by an operation received by the operation unit, the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device is changed to an off state. And a power supply control means for performing control.
The display control device includes a power supply state storage unit that acquires and stores the power supply state of all the display devices by the power supply state acquisition unit when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an on state to an off state. Have
When the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state, the power supply control unit of the display control device has a priority order higher than the one display device to the power supply state stored by the power supply state storage unit. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the power supply state of another low display device is restored.
When the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state, the power supply control unit of the display control device turns on the power supply state of another display device having a higher priority than the one display device. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the display system is changed.
The display device has power supply state notifying means for notifying the display control device of a power supply state by the communication means when an operation of turning on / off power supply is received by the operation unit.
5. The power supply state acquisition unit of the display control device acquires the power supply state of each display device according to the notification of the power supply state notification unit. 5. Display system described.
The display control device includes a receiving unit that receives a setting related to a priority order of the plurality of display devices,
The setting means of the display control device is configured to set the priority order of the plurality of display devices based on the setting received by the receiving means. The display system according to one.
In a display control device that displays images by giving images for display to a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display,
A setting means for setting a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from each display device;
Power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means;
When the power supply state of one display device is changed by the operation received by the operation unit, the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device is changed to the same power supply state as the one display device. A display control apparatus comprising: a power supply control unit that performs control to change.
In a display control device that displays images by giving images for display to a plurality of display devices each having an operation unit that accepts an on / off operation of power supply to an internal circuit related to image display,
A setting means for setting a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit to each of the plurality of display devices;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from each display device;
Power supply state acquisition means for acquiring the on / off state of power supply to the internal circuit from each display device by the communication means;
When the power supply state of one display device changes from an on state to an off state by an operation received by the operation unit, the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device is changed to an off state. And a power supply control means for performing control.
When the power supply state of the one display device changes from the on state to the off state, the power supply state storage unit that acquires and stores the power supply state of all the display devices by the power supply state acquisition unit,
When the power supply state of the one display device is changed from an off state to an on state, the power supply control unit is provided with another display having a lower priority than the one display device to the power supply state stored in the power supply state storage unit. The display control device according to claim 8, wherein the power supply state of the device is restored.
When the power supply state of the one display device changes from the off state to the on state, the power supply control unit changes the power supply state of another display device having a higher priority than the one display device to the on state. The display control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display control apparatus is configured as follows.
A computer that provides images for display and displays images on a plurality of display devices.
A step of causing each of the plurality of display devices to set a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit related to image display;
And a step of performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device in which the power supply state has changed to the same power supply state as that of the one display device.
A computer that provides images for display and displays images on a plurality of display devices.
A step of causing each of the plurality of display devices to set a priority order related to on / off of power feeding to an internal circuit related to image display;
And a step of performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device whose power supply state has changed to the off state to the off state.
On the computer,
Storing power supply states of all display devices when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an on state to an off state;
Returning the power supply state of another display device having a lower priority than the one display device to the stored power supply state when the power supply state of the one display device changes from an off state to an on state. The computer program according to claim 12.
On the computer,
Including a step of performing control to change the power supply state of another display device having a higher priority than the one display device to the on state when the power supply state of the one display device is changed from the off state to the on state. The computer program according to claim 12.

Images