JPH06202839A - Device and method for displaying image - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it easier to see and operate when displaying multiple windows at the same time. [Arrangement] The operator first inputs parameters such as the maximum number of windows to be displayed, the covering rate of overlapping windows, and the priority of windows. When displaying a plurality of windows, if the number of windows exceeds the maximum number and the coverage exceeds the input value according to the parameter input by the operator, the windows with lower priority are displayed in order from the lowest priority window. If the displayed window falls below the value set by the operator, the icon is redisplayed as a window according to the priority.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method and apparatus for displaying an image using a plurality of windows.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of windows are displayed on the screen by such an image processing apparatus, if there is no open space in the display frame, the window is already displayed as shown in FIG. A new window was being displayed by overlapping them.

[0003]

Even if a plurality of windows are displayed in an overlapping manner, if the number of windows is small, the operability does not occur so much. However, when the number of windows that are overlapped and displayed on the screen is large, the screen becomes very difficult to see, and the window to be operated is hidden by another window. In such a case, in order to operate the target window, it is necessary to move another window or to make it into an icon to close the window even temporarily, which causes a problem in operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and even when a plurality of windows are opened simultaneously,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display method and device whose display contents are easy to see and which has good operability.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the image display method of the present invention has the following constitution.

[0006] A method of displaying an image in which a plurality of windows, which are frames surrounding an image, are displayed on the screen at the same time. A number setting step of setting the maximum number of windows to be displayed on the screen at one time and a current window display The number determination step of determining the size relationship between the number of windows being set and the number set by the number setting step, a ratio setting step of setting the maximum ratio of the area covered by another window, and The ratio determination step of determining the size relationship between the ratio of the area in which the window displayed on the window is covered by another window and the ratio set by the ratio setting step, and the priority of the window displayed on the screen are The window is set based on the setting step, the determination result by the number determination step, the determination result by the ratio determination step, and the priority. Show as an icon and a icon display step.

In order to achieve the above object, the image display device of the present invention has the following structure.

[0008] An image display device for simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows, which are frames surrounding an image, on the screen, and a number setting means for setting the maximum number of windows to be displayed on the screen at one time, and the current window. Number determination means for determining the size relationship between the number of windows being set and the number set by the number setting means, ratio setting means for setting the maximum ratio of the area covered by another window, and on the screen A ratio determination means for determining the magnitude relationship between the ratio of the area in which the window displayed on the screen is covered by another window and the ratio set by the ratio setting means, and the priority of the window displayed on the screen. The window based on the setting means, the determination result by the number determination means, the determination result by the ratio determination means, and the priority. Show as an icon and a icon display means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an information processing system which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system to which the window display method of the embodiment is applied. The main part of this system is composed of a central processing unit 1, a memory 2, a display device 3, a keyboard 4, and a mouse 5.

The operator inputs an operation instruction or the like regarding the window display or the content displayed in the window from the keyboard 4 or the mouse 5. The central processing unit 1 executes processing according to a program stored in the memory 2 based on the input data and the stored contents of the memory 2. The contents stored in the memory 2 include data displayed in a window, a program for controlling the window display, and the like. When the process to be executed is, for example, the display output of the window, the image of the window is displayed on the display device 3.

In the information processing system having the above-mentioned structure, the operator performs the following three parameters for displaying the window.

First, the operator inputs from the keyboard 4 or mouse 5 that the window display conditions are to be set. Then, the condition setting window as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. Here, the operator displays the maximum number of displayed windows a
Although 1 and the maximum window coverage a2 are input, the maximum number of windows displayed is the number of windows that are simultaneously displayed in the screen frame, and the maximum window coverage is the area of each displayed window. It is the ratio of the sum of the areas covered by duplication to the sum.

Further, the operator inputs an instruction to input the priority of the window display. Then, the window as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 3. In this embodiment, this window includes a region b1 in which four options are prepared, and the operator selects an item to give priority to from this region. For example, if "area" is specified as the priority, the window having the largest area is given a higher priority in order. Further, for example, when "access" is designated as the priority, a window having a shortest elapsed time after the most recent access is given a higher priority in order.

The parameters specified as above have the following meanings.

When the number of displayed windows exceeds the maximum display number, for example, in the state as shown in FIG.
If it can be said that the ratio of the area of the window to the area covered and hidden by the window exceeds the designated window coverage ratio a2, the designated maximum window display number a2 is displayed. The priority setting b1 serves as a reference for determining the window to be displayed at that time. Windows that are not selected as the windows to be displayed are closed and displayed as icons as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying a window as described above. The procedure of this flowchart is realized by the central processing unit 1 executing the program stored in the memory 2.

The operator operates the keyboard 4 or the mouse 5.
The process of FIG. 2 is started when an instruction is input to set a parameter for window display from.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the maximum display number of windows is input from the keyboard 4 or the mouse 5 into the maximum display number input area a1 of the windows simultaneously displayed on the screen of the display device 3 (S1). Next, in the input area a2 of the maximum window coverage, the maximum window coverage is input from the keyboard 4 or the mouse 5 (S
2). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the area b1 for setting the priority of the window displayed on the display device 3,
The priority of the window is set from the keyboard 4 or the mouse 5 (S3). These set parameters are stored in the memory 2 and used when displaying the window.

After that, the number of windows currently displayed on the display unit 3 is calculated, and it is determined whether the number is larger than the maximum display number set in step S1 (S4).

If the determination in step S4 is YES, the ratio of the displayed window hidden by other windows is calculated, and whether or not the window maximum coverage ratio set in step S2 is exceeded. Is determined (S5).

If the determination in step S5 is YES, the window with the lowest priority set in step S3 is selected (S6). The window thus selected and determined to have the lowest priority is iconized and displayed on the display device 3 (S7). It should be noted that the lowest priority is set for the window manually iconified by the user.

On the other hand, if the coverage ratio is an allowable value in step S5 or the number of windows displayed in step S4 is less than the maximum display number,
It branches to step S8.

In step S8 and subsequent steps, the user operates the display device 3
If the window that was displayed in is abandoned or made into an icon, it is a procedure to display the icon again in the window.

First, it is determined whether or not the number of windows currently displayed on the display unit 3 has become smaller than the maximum number of windows to be displayed set in step S1 (S8).
If the determination in S8 is YES, it is determined whether or not there is currently an iconized window on the display device 3 (S9). If the determination in S9 is YES, the window having the highest priority set in step S3 is selected from the windows currently iconified on the display device 3 (S10). In this case, even the icon is given the same priority as the original window.

Among the iconized windows selected in step S10, the icon with the highest priority is displayed again on the display device 3 as a window (S11).

Although the window display process is performed in this procedure, steps S1 to S3 may not be changed every time once set, and may be executed according to the operator's request. Good.

By executing the above-described processing, even when a plurality of windows are displayed at the same time, the number of windows to be displayed can be appropriately controlled according to the degree of overlap and a display state that is easy to see can be maintained. it can.

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

[0030]

As described above, according to the image display device of the present invention, even when a plurality of windows are opened at the same time, the displayed contents are easy to see and the operability is good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system to which a window display method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an input example in the step of setting the maximum number of windows to be displayed on the screen at the same time and the step of setting the maximum ratio at which a window can be hidden by another window in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an input example in a step of setting a priority of a window.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a plurality of windows according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a window of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Central processing unit, 2 ... Memory, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... Keyboard, 5 ... Mouse.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method of displaying an image, wherein a plurality of windows, which are frames surrounding an image, are simultaneously displayed on the screen, and a number setting step of setting a maximum number of windows to be displayed on the screen at one time, and a current screen. A number determination step of determining the magnitude relationship between the number of windows displayed in the window and the number set by the number setting step, and a ratio setting step of setting the maximum ratio of the area covered by another window. A ratio determination step of determining the size relationship between the ratio of the area in which the window displayed on the screen is covered by another window and the ratio set by the ratio setting step, and the window displayed on the screen. Based on the priority setting step, the determination result of the number determination step, the determination result of the ratio determination step, and the priority. And an icon displaying step of displaying the window as an icon. 2. The method further comprises the step of displaying the icon displayed in the icon display step as a window based on the determination result of the number determination step, the determination result of the ratio determination step, and the priority. The image display method according to claim 1. 3. An image display device for simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows, which are frames surrounding an image, on a screen, a number setting means for setting the maximum number of windows to be displayed on the screen at one time, and a current screen. A number determining means for determining the size relationship between the number of windows displayed in the window and the number set by the number setting means, and a ratio setting means for setting the maximum ratio of the area covered by another window. A ratio determination unit that determines the size relationship between the ratio of the area in which the window displayed on the screen is covered by another window and the ratio set by the ratio setting unit, and the ratio of the window displayed on the screen Means for setting a priority, a determination result by the number determination means, a determination result by the ratio determination means, and the priority based on the priority. An image display device comprising: an icon display unit that displays a window as an icon. 4. The apparatus further comprises means for displaying the icon displayed by the icon display means as a window on the basis of the determination result by the number determination means, the determination result by the ratio determination means, and the priority. The image display device according to claim 3.