JPH064257A - Icon display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the icon display system which displays plural icons registered for one object at specific time intervals. CONSTITUTION:The leading font of plural icons registered in a main memory 22 is displayed on a display unit 14 under display control 15. When the display icon is indicated with a mouse 11 and reported to a CPU 21 through a mouse controller 12, the CPU 21 displays sequentially the icon fonts registered at the specific time intervals clocked by a timer 23 on the display unit 14 from the display control 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an icon display system for an information processing apparatus having an icon display function, and more particularly to an icon display system in which the operator's ease of use and work efficiency are improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a user-friendly user interface has been provided in which a plurality of icons are displayed on the display screen of a personal computer, a workstation or the like to make the processing of the computer easier to understand. However, there is a system in which the meaning and meaning of the icon is supplementarily explained by a help function or the like, because the meaning and function thereof are unclear only by the display contents of the icon. Further, in some systems, in order to clarify the display content of the icon, a large icon display area is used and the icon is displayed in a larger icon font.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the display area of one icon is made large so that it can be seen at a glance. However, many icons cannot be displayed on one screen. was there.
Also, when the icon display area is made small and many icons are displayed, its function is difficult to see at a glance,
If a booklet such as a quick reference guide explaining the icons is prepared, the guide is referred to during the operation, the continuity of the operation is interrupted, and the operability deteriorates.

Further, when the function cannot be identified by a small icon, there are some cases where the function explanation is supplemented by the help function of another method, but the operation is temporarily suspended because the screen display area for help occupies the screen. There is a poor operability because it is necessary to learn the operation for displaying the help guidance screen.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an icon display system for displaying a plurality of icons registered for one object at predetermined time intervals. To do.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the icon display system of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in the icon display method of the information processing apparatus having the icon display function, a registration unit that registers a plurality of icons for one object, a display unit that displays the icons registered by the registration unit, and the display unit. The display device is provided with an instruction means for instructing display of all the registered icons for the icon displayed by, and a time measurement means for measuring the display interval of the icons instructed by the instruction means. It is characterized by displaying all the registered icons at predetermined time intervals.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions on the information processing apparatus (personal computer) in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 11 is a mouse (MS),
It is a pointing device. 12 is a mouse controller (M
CNT) and controls the hardware of the mouse 11. A mouse display control (MLCNT) 13 displays the operation of the mouse 11 on the screen. 14 is a display (DS
P), which is a CRT in this embodiment. Reference numeral 15 is a display control (DCNT), which performs hardware-like display control. A screen display control (SCNT) 16 logically receives the data requested to be displayed and converts it into physical display data. An icon display control (ICNT) 17 controls the icon display such as detection of the next icon from the plurality of registered icons and registration / deletion of the plurality of icons. 18 is an application program (AP
ROG), and requests screen display and registration of icon fonts.

An icon display data table (IFNTBL) 19 stores font data for displaying icons and control data thereof. In this embodiment, 10 fonts are registered for each of 50 types of icons in this embodiment, and are managed by the icon display control 17. 20 is a screen control data table (SC) for storing icon display control data including the screen display state.
ONTBL). In this example, this table is
Data for controlling display of 50 types of objects is registered and managed by the screen display control 16.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the hardware side, and is a block diagram showing a personal computer in this embodiment. In FIG. 2, 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a microprocessor (CPU), which performs overall control according to a control procedure (program) and control data described later. Reference numeral 22 denotes a main memory (MM) in which the mouse display control 13, screen display control 16, icon display control 17, application program 18, icon display data table 19, screen control data table 20 and the like shown in FIG. There is. 23 is a timer (TIME
R), which measures a predetermined time interval when displaying the registered icon font. And 24 is a CPU
The bus is composed of an address bus, a data bus, and a control line.

FIG. 3 shows one unit of the above-mentioned icon display data table 19, and is a display data format of icons for one type of object.
In FIG. 3, IFNTREC is a general term for the entire area that stores one unit of data, and the current display icon number (CD
Area 31 showing NO), area 32 storing the number of registered fonts (ITNO) showing how many are currently registered for one type of object, and area 33 storing the registered font (IFNTREG) To be done. Here, the currently displayed icon number area 31
The registered font number areas 32 are each composed of 2 bytes, and the registered font area 33 is composed of 512 bytes per icon font, which is a unit of 512 bytes.

FIG. 4 shows the screen control data table 2 described above.
This indicates one unit of 0 and is a screen control data format for one type of object. In FIG. 4, SCONREC is a general term for the entire area that stores one unit of data, and an area 41 that stores data (IOBJNO) for identifying an object and a display unit 1.
4 is composed of areas 42 and 43 for storing the upper left position (ILADR) and the lower right position (IRADR) of the icon when the icon is displayed on the screen 4. Here, the area 41 is composed of 2 bytes, and the areas 42 and 43 are respectively composed of 2 bytes each indicating an X- and Y-axis address, that is, 4 bytes in total.

Registration and display of icons and deletion of icons in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the related drawings.

FIG. 5 is a control transition diagram when registering and displaying a plurality of icon fonts for one object. Hereinafter, each transition will be described in order.

1) Application program (APR
From OG) to icon display control (ICNT), the icon font registration parameter (IFNTPR) will be described in detail later.
M) is passed.

2) The icon display control (ICNT) processes the icon font registration parameter (IFNTPRM) and stores it in the icon display data table (IFNTBL), and the storage position is stored in the object identifier (OBJN).
O) as an application program (APROG)
Let us know.

3) Application program (APR
The OG) passes the upper left display address on the display (DSP) of the icon font and the object identifier (OBJNO) to the screen display control (SCNT) to request the icon initial display of the registered object.

4) The screen display control (SCNT) stores the object identifier (OBJNO) and the display address in the screen control data table (SCONTBL), and the object identifier (OBJNO) is controlled by the icon display control (ICN).
Pass to T) to request the icon font address of the object.

5) The icon display control (ICNT) detects the corresponding font address from the icon display data table (IFNTBL) by the object identifier (OBJNO) and notifies the screen display control (SCNT) of the font address.

6) The screen display control (SCNT) is a display control (DC) based on the display address on the display (DSP).
The icon is displayed on the display (DSP) by writing the icon font in the corresponding display address in NT).

Next, before explaining the process of operating the mouse to sequentially change the icon display, the operation of the mouse button and its corresponding function in this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a 2-button mouse is used and the following processing is performed.

1. Left-click 1 click ... Positive instruction 2. Click left button 2 ... Execute object 3. Right-click 1 click ... Negative instruction 4. Right button 2 click ... Display of the next font of the icon The above 1, 2 and 3 are mouse controlled (MCN
T), mouse display control (MLCNT), and screen display control (SCNT), respectively, but since they are not directly related to the present invention, description thereof is omitted here.

The control transition when the mouse is operated by clicking the right button 2 times will be described below with reference to FIG.

1) When the mouse (MS) is operated by the operator (user), the mouse display control (MLCNT) detects the operation content via the mouse control (MCNT). If the mouse is simply moved, the mouse display control (MLCNT) sequentially writes the data in the display control (DCNT) in order to display the mouse icon on the display (DSP) according to the movement amount.

2) If the data from the mouse control (MCNT) is a button operation, the mouse display control (MLCNT) is a physical address (X, Y coordinate values) on the mouse display and a button operation (right / The screen display control (SCNT) is notified of the contents of left and ½ click).

3) The screen display control (SCNT) performs each process according to the contents of the button process. For example, right button 2
In the case of clicking, it is determined that it is the next display request of the icon, and the X and Y coordinate values received from the mouse display control (MLCNT) are 1 in the screen control data table (SCONTBL).
Address (ILADR,
IRADR) to determine whether it is inside a rectangle, and SCONREC having the corresponding ILADR and IRADR.
Is detected and the object identifier (OBJNO) is searched. Next, the screen control display (SCNT) displays the detected object identifier (OBJNO) as an icon display control (I
CNT) and request the address of the icon font to be displayed next.

4) The icon display control (ICNT) detects the corresponding font address of the icon display data table (IFNTBL) by the object identifier (OBJNO) and notifies the screen display control (SCNT) of the address.

5) The screen display control (SCNT) individually displays all the corresponding registered icon fonts of the icon display data table (IFNTBL) managed by the icon display control (ICNT) at a certain time interval (DS).
P) Write to appropriate address in display control (DCNT) for display on top. In addition, the above-mentioned certain time interval is
In the present embodiment, it is 1.5 seconds, and the timer (T
The screen display control (S
CNT) is activated.

As a result, on the display (DSP),
All icon fonts registered for one object are displayed at intervals of 1.5 seconds. When 1.5 seconds have passed after the last registered icon font was displayed, the corresponding icon display area (64 × 64 dot area) on the display (DSP) is cleared (1.5 seconds), The first registered icon font is displayed again.

Next, the process of registering and deleting a plurality of icon fonts and the process of displaying the next icon font will be described below with reference to the parameters shown in FIG. 7 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows an application program (A
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of an icon font registration parameter (IFNTPRM) when PROG) registers a plurality of icon fonts for one object. As shown in the figure, IFNTPRM indicates the number of icon fonts (I
No) and a font pattern (IFNTP). Here, the number of icon fonts (INO)
Is an area showing how many font patterns (IFNTP) are defined, and has a size of 2 bytes. Since the icon font in this embodiment has a design of vertical and horizontal 64 × 64 dots, the font pattern (IFNTP) is 512 bytes per font.
Up to 10 icons can be defined per icon.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the process of registering an icon font.

First, in step S81, the currently displayed icon number (CDN) in one unit (IFNTREC) of the above-mentioned icon display data table (IFNTBL).
O) searches the area of FFFFh (h is Hexdecimal display). Here, the currently displayed icon number (CDN
O) indicates FFFFh and an unused area.

Next, in step S82, the number of registered fonts in one unit (IFNTREC) searched (I
The number of icon fonts (INO) and the font pattern (IF) of the registration parameter (IFNTREC) described above in the TNO) area and the registration font (IFNTREG) area.
NTP) respectively. Also, the searched icon display data table (INTREC) of one unit (IFNTREC)
The position in (FNTBL) is set as the object identifier (OBJNO) which is the return data, and the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing for deleting the icon font.

In step S91, one unit (IC) in the icon display data table (IFNTBL) is determined based on the object identifier (OBJNO) of the input parameter.
ONREC). Then, in step S92, FFFFh (deletion symbol) is set to the currently displayed icon number (CDNO) in the designated ICONREC.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing for displaying the next icon font. When the right button 2 is clicked, the screen display control (SCNT) activates the object identifier (OBJNO) as a parameter.

First, in step S101, one unit (ICO) in the icon display data table (IFNTBL) is used.
NREC) based on the object identifier (OBJNO). Then, in step S102, the value obtained by adding "1" to the current display icon number (CDNO) is compared with the registered font number (ITNO), and if it is larger than the registered font number (ITNO), the current displayed icon number (CDNO). Is set to “0”.

Next, in step S103, the next display font address is calculated based on the current display icon number (CDNO), the size of IFNTREC and the start address of the icon display data table (IFNTBL), and the value is used as return data. .

The current display icon number (CDNO) is
Since it is initialized to FFFFh at the time of registration, "1" is added to the currently displayed icon number (CDNO) in step S102. Because of this processing, the routine shown in FIG. 10 can be commonly used for the initial display after initial registration and the next icon font display.

Further, in this embodiment, at the time of power-on,
The areas of 50 current display icon numbers (CDNO) are preset to FFFFh in advance.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
With the function of registering a plurality of icon fonts and the function of recognizing the next icon font display request, it is possible to display a plurality of icon fonts in the same display location for one object.

As a result, even if only one icon font can be displayed to represent one object,
It is possible to determine the meaning of the object, which has the effect of improving the work efficiency of the operator and the user interface function.

[0044]

Other Embodiments In the present embodiment, a personal computer has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be similarly applied to a workstation or a terminal-dedicated machine.

The workstation can be realized by the same FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as in the present embodiment, and the terminal dedicated machine can use the application program (APRO) shown in FIG.
G) is on the host computer, has a “functional block that communicates with the host computer” instead of the application program of FIG.
FNTPRM ”and“ Object Identifier (OBJN)
It becomes possible by communicating "O) with the display address". At this time, a host communication interface for communicating with the host computer is added to FIG.

In this embodiment, the number of icon fonts is limited to 10 at maximum, but by changing one unit (IFNTREC) in the icon display data table (IFNTBL) to a variable length, You can also remove the registration limit for the number of icon fonts.

Further, the application program shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with object management, and the object management is controlled so that a plurality of application programs can be operated at the same time, and the object identifier and the icon display address are managed as in the present embodiment. Is also good.

In the present embodiment, although the description of the multi-window is omitted, the screen display control (SCNT),
If the above object management is made compatible with multiple windows, icon display control (I
It goes without saying that the next icon font display function can be realized on the multi-window without changing the CONT function. Also, by making the workstation and terminal-dedicated machine compatible with multiple windows, the function of displaying the next icon font can of course be realized.

In this embodiment, the font size is described as 512 bytes (vertical / horizontal 64 × 64 dots).
This size is not fixed and you may change it to any size vertically and horizontally. In that case, the layout change of one unit (IFNTREC) in the icon display data table (IFNTBL), the layout change of the registration parameter (IFNTPRM), the processing content of the screen display control (SCNT), and the icon display control (ICNT) are changed. Although it is necessary to change the processing content, it goes without saying that these changes can be easily made.

Although the next icon font is displayed by clicking the right mouse button 2 on the mouse, the same function can be performed by key operation on the keyboard or by adding a touch panel on the display and touching the display icon. It goes without saying that it is easy to realize this function.

Furthermore, IFN is added to SCONREC in FIG.
There is an area to save the font address in TBL,
The font address of FIG. 5 and the font address of FIG. 6 may be stored in SCONREC by the screen display control (SCNT) to improve the processing speed at the time of functions such as full-screen display.

Further, in the present embodiment, the interval for displaying registered icon fonts one after another is set to 1.5 seconds in the explanation of FIG. 6, but this value can be changed by the user at the time of use. Things are possible.

The present invention may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device or a system composed of a plurality of devices. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to an apparatus or system.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By displaying a plurality of registered icons for one object at predetermined time intervals, it is possible to improve operability and work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a personal computer in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one unit configuration in an icon display data table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one unit configuration in a screen control data table.

FIG. 5 is a control transition diagram when registering a plurality of icon fonts.

FIG. 6 is a control transition diagram when displaying a next icon font.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing icon font registration parameters.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for registering a plurality of icon fonts.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for deleting a plurality of icon fonts.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for displaying a next icon font.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 mouse 12 mouse control 13 mouse display control 14 indicator 15 display control 16 screen display control 17 icon display control 18 application program 19 icon display data table 20 screen control data table

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An icon display method for an information processing apparatus having an icon display function, comprising: registration means for registering a plurality of icons for one object; and display means for displaying the icons registered by the registration means. The display device further comprises an instruction means for instructing the display of all the registered icons for the icons displayed by the display means, and a time measurement means for measuring the display interval of the icons instructed by the instruction means. An icon display method characterized by displaying all the registered icons at a predetermined time interval, which is timed in.