JPH04242823A - Multiwindow display method and monitor device with multiwindow display function using this method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To grasp the function available state without taking a display area more than necessary by providing an outer frame for each of plural windows displayed on a display part and checking the function available state of each window and displaying the outer frame with a display attribute corresponding to this state. CONSTITUTION:A window state display control part 28 periodically checks the function available state such as the real-time variable picture display state, the still picture display state, the key input effective state, and the key input ineffective state of the dynamic state of a process l for each of windows displayed at present. Display attributes like line classifications and colors of outer frames surrounding respective windows are changed based on periodically checked function available states of windows to display the function available state of each window by the attribute of the outer frame.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention provides a multi-window display method that allows you to grasp at a glance the functional status of each window, such as dynamic status display, still image display, key input enabled, key input disabled, etc. The present invention relates to a monitoring device with a multi-window display function that monitors information from a process in an industrial plant or the like using the multi-window display method.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a monitoring device with a multi-window display function using a conventional multi-window display method. In the figure, 1 is a process to be monitored, and 2 is a monitoring device with a multi-window display function (hereinafter referred to as a monitoring device) that monitors information from this process 1.

In the monitoring device 2, 21 is the process 1
22 is an input/output control unit that collects information from the input/output control unit 21, and 22 has a screen for displaying the information collected by the input/output control unit 21, and a window for displaying various predetermined information at a predetermined position within the screen. This is the screen/window display control unit to call. 23 is a display section on which screens and windows called up by the screen/window display control section 22 are displayed, and 24 is a display control section that controls the output of display information to the display section 23.

[0004] Reference numeral 25 denotes an operation key through which information for calling up a screen or each window to be displayed on the display section 23 is input. 26 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that monitors and controls these input/output control unit 21, screen/window display control unit 22, display control unit 24, and operation keys 25 to realize the functions of the monitoring device 2. 27 is a memory in which programs and data used by the CPU 26 in control processing are stored.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display on the display section 23 of the monitoring device 2. As shown in FIG. In the figure, 3 is the display section 23
These are a plurality of windows for displaying various information, messages, etc. from the CPU 26 and the like in a predetermined area of the screen called up, and for monitoring the status of the process 1 independently from the screen. 31 is the outer frame of this window 3, and 32
is a title area provided in the top row of window 3. 4 is a cursor that is present in one of the windows 3 and is moved by instructions from the operation keys.

Next, the operation will be explained. Here, Figure 6
is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of this monitoring device 2.

First, in step ST1, the operator selects and operates the operation key 25 to call up a screen for monitoring the status of the process 1. Next, in step ST2, the screen/window display control unit 22 takes in information from the process 1 via the input/output control unit 21 according to the operation of the operation key 25, and displays it on the display unit 23 via the display control unit 24. do. At the same time, the operator uses the cursor of the operation key 25 to specify a predetermined area or pixel for calling up the window 3 in the called screen, or places the pixel on the touch switch display section 23 on the screen. Select by touching the nearly transparent switch.

[0008] Next, in step ST3, the screen/window display control unit 22 determines whether a window call is previously defined for the selected portion. As a result, if defined, the window 3 called up via the display control section 24 is displayed on the display section 23 in step ST4. From this step ST2 to step ST
If there are multiple windows 3 to be called up on the screen, the steps up to step 4 are repeated for the number of windows 3 to be called up.

When the operator inputs through the operation keys 25 that the display of all necessary windows 3 has been completed, this is detected in step ST5 and the process proceeds to step ST6. In this step ST6, the screen/window display control unit 22 determines information about the display contents of the dynamic state display that displays the dynamic state of the process 1 in real time among the plurality of windows 3 being displayed. Data is periodically collected from the process 1 via the input/output control unit 21, and based on this information, the display on the display unit 23 is updated via the display control unit 24. On the other hand, this display update is not performed for the still image display window 3 whose display contents do not change in real time from the initial display of the window call.

Furthermore, if there is a key input corresponding to a character or numerical value input from the operation key 25 in the window 3 where the cursor 4 is present, a reaction display following this input is performed.

[0011] Here, each process of steps ST1, ST2, and ST5 marked with * in the flowchart of FIG. is the processing of this monitoring device 2 itself.

In addition to the method of calling the window 3 in steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG.
There are various methods, such as calling directly by selecting.

[0013] As a technical document regarding such a conventional monitoring device with a multi-window display function, for example, Toshiba Review (Vol. 44, No. 6, 1989), No. 46
Examples include "CIEMAC Human Interface", pages 6-469, and page 18 of NEC Device Technology (No. 30, 1990).

[0014]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Since the monitoring device using the conventional multi-window display method is configured as described above, the operator can check whether the display contents of each window 3 display the dynamic state of the process 1. The display in the window 3 shows the functional status of each window 3, such as whether the window 3 is displayed or a still image is displayed, and for which window 3 the key input using the operation key 25 is valid. It is troublesome to have to make decisions one by one depending on the content and the position of the cursor 4, and there is a problem in that the operator is required to make more decisions than necessary when performing an emergency operation on the process 1.

[0015] In addition, some conventional models have a title area 32 shown in FIG. Some display the status of window 3 (for example, ``operating,''``stopped,'' ``key input enabled,'' etc.) within the window to indicate the functional status of each window 3, but this method creates unnecessary space. , which caused problems such as the size of window 3 becoming slightly larger.

[0016] The invention as claimed in claim 1 has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to grasp the functional status of each window at a glance without taking up an unnecessarily large display area within the window. The object of the present invention is to obtain a multi-window display method, and the invention according to claim 2 aims to obtain a monitoring device with a multi-window display function using such a multi-window display method.

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A multi-window display method according to the invention as set forth in claim 1 provides an outer frame surrounding each of a plurality of windows displayed on a display section,
The function validity state of each window is checked, and the outer frame is displayed with display attributes corresponding to the function validity state.

Further, the monitoring device with a multi-window display function according to claim 2 has a screen for displaying information collected from the monitored object, and a screen for displaying various kinds of predetermined information at predetermined positions within the screen. A screen/window display control unit that calls a window, and a window status display control that checks the functional status of each window displayed on the display unit and displays the outer frame of each window with display attributes according to its functional status. It is equipped with a section.

[0019]

[Operation] The multi-window display method according to the invention as claimed in claim 1 changes the display attributes such as the line type and color of the outer frame surrounding each window displayed on the display unit. Displays dynamic status display, still image display, valid key input, invalid key input, etc. of each window in a distinguishable manner.

[0020] The window state display control unit in the invention according to claim 2 checks the functional valid state of each window displayed on the display unit, and sets the outer frame of each window to display attributes according to the functional valid state. By displaying the screen, a monitoring device with a multi-window display function is realized, which allows the functional status of each window to be grasped at a glance, without taking up an unnecessarily large display area within the window.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a monitoring device with a multi-window display function according to the invention set forth in claim 2, using the multi-window display method according to the invention set forth in claim 1. In the figure, 1 is a process to be monitored;
21 is an input/output control unit, 22 is a screen/window display control unit, 23 is a display unit, 24 is a display control unit, 25 is an operation key, 26 is a CPU, and 27 is a memory, which are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. Detailed explanation will be omitted since the parts are the same or equivalent to those of the conventional ones.

Further, 28 is a window status display control unit that checks the functional status of each window displayed on the display unit 23 and displays the outer frame of each window with display attributes according to the functional status. be. The monitoring device 2 differs from conventional devices in that it includes this window status display control section 28.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display on the display section 23. In the figure, 3 is a plurality of windows displayed on the display unit 23, and 4 is a cursor. Reference numeral 33 denotes an outer frame that is displayed with different display attributes (line types) depending on the functional enable state of each window 3.

Next, an embodiment of the invention set forth in claim 1 will be described along with its operation. Here, FIG. 1 shows the monitoring device 2 as an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1.
3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure.

First, in step ST1, the operator selects and operates the operation key 25 to call up a screen for monitoring the status of the process 1. Next, in step ST2, the screen/window display control unit 22 takes in information from the process 1 via the input/output control unit 21 according to the operation of the operation key 25, and displays it on the display unit 23 via the display control unit 24. do. Hereinafter, from this step ST2, step ST
5, the operator calls up a plurality of necessary windows 3 and displays them on the display section 23 in exactly the same manner as in the conventional case shown in FIG.

Next, in step ST6, as in the conventional case, the screen/window display control unit 22 selects the window displaying the dynamic state of the process 1 in real time from among the plurality of windows 3 being displayed. The display contents of the target status display are periodically collected from the process 1 via the input/output control section 3, and the display on the display section 23 is updated via the display control section 24 based on this. In addition, as in the conventional case, the display of the still image display window 3 is not updated, and furthermore, if there is a key input from the operation key 25 for the window 3 where the cursor 4 is present, it will be updated. A follow-up reaction display is performed.

In step ST7, the window state display control unit 28 controls the function enable state of each window 3 currently being displayed, that is, the real-time variable image display state, still image display state, and key of the dynamic state of the process 1. Regularly check input valid status, key input invalid status, etc.

[0028]

[Table 1]

Next, in step ST8, the window status display control unit 28 determines the functional valid status of each window 3 as shown in the above table based on the functional valid status of each window 3 checked periodically in step ST7. The outer frame 33 of each window 3 is displayed in the corresponding line type according to the correspondence with the display attribute of the outer frame. Here, the line type of the outer frame 33 is updated when a change occurs in the functional enable state of the window 3 being displayed.

In this case as well, as in FIG. 6, the processes in steps ST1, ST2, and ST5 marked with * are based on the operations or judgments of the operator, and the processes in other steps ST3
, ST4, and ST6 to ST8 are the processes of the monitoring device 2 itself.

In the above embodiment, the functional status of the window is displayed by changing the line type, but the line thickness (width), display color, presence or absence of blinking, etc.
Other display attributes may be used, and by combining them, it is possible to identify and display a wider variety of functional enabled states.

[0032] Furthermore, the window calling in steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG. For each screen, combine the windows that are used frequently and that you want to display immediately after the screen is called, define and memorize this combination in advance, and when the screen is called by operating the operation keys etc., the window with the defined combination will be displayed on that screen. It is also possible to use a method of searching for and automatically displaying the called screen immediately after it is displayed, and the same effect as the above embodiment is achieved.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where it is applied to the monitoring of processes in industrial plants, etc. is shown, but O
The present invention can also be applied to monitoring devices with a multi-window display function for other purposes, such as administrative PCs and workstations such as A. In that case, especially in devices equipped with a multitasking function (operating system) that performs multiple processes at the same time, the still image display of the above embodiment is
This corresponds to the text display and menu display of word processing functions, etc., and the dynamic state display of the process corresponds to the display of communication processing with other devices and the display of various calculation processing, etc., and the valid/invalid key input is handled in exactly the same way. can be realized.

[0034]

As described above, according to the invention as set forth in claim 1, the display attributes of the outer frames surrounding each window displayed on the display section are changed, and the functional enable state of each window is changed. Since the configuration is configured to display the function enable status of each window, the operator can grasp the function enable status of each window at a glance.In addition, since there is no need to provide a separate title area to display the function enable status, the window display area Not only can all the functions be used effectively, but since the functional status is indicated by the outer frame of the window, it can be easily applied to windows of any shape other than rectangles, such as circular or oval shapes. This has the effect of providing a multi-window display method.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 2, a window status display control unit is provided, and the function valid status of each window displayed on the display unit is checked, and the outer frame of each window is set to indicate the function valid state. The multi-window display function allows you to understand the functional status of each window at a glance without taking up more display area than necessary, reducing the burden on the operator. This has the effect of providing an attached monitoring device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of a multi-window display method according to an embodiment of the invention as set forth in claim 1 and a monitoring device with a multi-window display function according to an embodiment of the invention as set forth in claim 2;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring device with a multi-window display function according to an embodiment of the invention as set forth in claim 2;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display on the display unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring device with a multi-window display function using a conventional multi-window display method.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display on the display unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Operation target (process) 2 Monitoring device 3 Window 21 Input/output control device 22 Screen/window display control section 23
Display unit 25 Operation keys 28 Window status display control unit 33 Outer frame Note that in the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-window display method for displaying a plurality of windows on a display unit, wherein each of the windows is provided with an outer frame surrounding it, and the functional enable state of each window is checked, and the outer frame is A multi-window display method characterized by displaying a multi-window with display attributes corresponding to its function enable state. [Claim 2] An input/output control unit that collects information from a monitoring target, a screen that displays the information collected by the input/output control unit, and various types of predetermined information that are displayed at predetermined positions within the screen. a screen/window display control unit that calls a window for the purpose of displaying a screen, a display unit that displays the screen and window called by the screen/window display control unit, and a functional enable state of each window displayed on the display unit. a window status display control unit that checks the status of each window and displays the outer frame of each window with a display attribute according to its functional enable status, and an operation key that inputs information for calling the screen or each window. Monitoring device with multi-window display function.