JPH1083178A - Outline character display device for information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] In an information processing apparatus, outline characters are displayed at high speed without increasing the processing load on a CPU 4. SOLUTION: In an information processing apparatus including a host computer 1 for performing various information processing and a graphic accelerator processing unit 2 for performing processing on various image information, the host computer 1 includes a character font type, a character size, and character data. The display instruction is sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit 2, and the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 has a character font memory 12 for storing several types of character fonts, and stores the input display instruction character data in the character font memory. Based on the character font and the designated character size, the character is expanded into an outline character image, and the expanded outline character is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a function of displaying character data in outline,
In particular, the present invention relates to an outline character display device of an information processing device that performs outline display using a graphic accelerator processing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, image processing on a two-dimensional image (figure) or a three-dimensional image (figure) requires a large amount of processing and processing time. Therefore, in an information processing apparatus in which various image processing functions are incorporated, the image processing is not directly executed by the CPU of the host computer, and a graphic accelerator board (processing unit) dedicated to image processing is separately incorporated. Image processing is executed by the graphic accelerator board (processing unit). The graphic accelerator board (processing unit) contains a processor dedicated to image processing, and can perform image processing at a much higher speed than a general-purpose CPU in a host computer. Therefore, the CPU of the host computer can efficiently perform the original information processing other than the image processing.

In an information processing apparatus incorporating such a graphic accelerator board (processing section), for example, when characters are displayed in a figure or an image being displayed on a display screen of a CRT display device, a figure or an image is often used. Characters are enlarged and reduced according to the size and display position of the area. When enlarged display is performed, outline display is performed to make the characters look beautiful.

[0004] As the type of each character shape (character font), generally, Mincho type, Gothic type. There is an italic font and the like, and each character font is indicated by, for example, a dot image. Then, the character font of each character is stored in the master character font memory for each character font type. The size of the character font is a reference size such as 10 points.

When an arbitrary character string needs to be displayed on the display screen, the CPU reads a character font corresponding to character data (character code) input from the keyboard from the master character font memory, and designates the character font on the keyboard. Using the set character size, the image is developed into an outline character image having the corresponding character size.

Then, the CPU displays and outputs the expanded outline character image of the corresponding character to a designated position on the display screen. Further, each character may be displayed in a reduced size with respect to the reference size of the character font. In this case as well, an outline process is performed and displayed.

[0007]

However, outline processing for enlarging or reducing a character font to a designated character size and developing it into an outline character image requires a large amount of processing and processing time.

As a result, each time a character is displayed on the display screen, the CPU of the host computer takes a long time to perform outline processing, which is a pre-processing until the character is actually displayed, to increase the processing efficiency of the entire information processing apparatus. descend.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a graphic accelerator processing unit execute outline processing in addition to the original image information processing, thereby enabling the processing of the CPU on the host computer side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an outline character display device of an information processing device capable of reducing the burden, displaying outline characters at high speed, and improving the information processing efficiency inherent in the information processing device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a host computer for performing various information processing and a graphic accelerator processing section for performing processing on various image information, wherein character data output from the host computer is processed by the graphic accelerator processing. The present invention is applied to an outline character display device of an information processing device that displays an outline through a unit.

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first aspect of the present invention, a host computer is provided with:
A character data memory for storing the input character data, and a display instruction transmitting unit for transmitting a display instruction including at least a character font type, a character size, and character data to the graphic accelerator processing unit are added to the graphic accelerator processing unit. A character font memory for storing a plurality of types of character fonts, and a character font and a display instruction of a character font type designated by the display instruction stored in the character font memory. An outline processing means for developing an outline character image based on the character size designated by the above-mentioned and an outline character display means for displaying the outline character developed by the outline processing means are added.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a master character font memory for storing a plurality of types of character fonts and a character font type from a graphic accelerator processing unit are provided to the host computer. In addition, a character font sending unit for sending a character font of the corresponding character font type from the master character font memory to the graphic accelerator processing unit in response to a transmission request designating the character font is added.

When the character font type specified by the display instruction input from the host computer is not stored in the character font memory to the graphic accelerator processing unit, a transmission request of the character font is transmitted to the host computer. In addition, a character font additional registration unit for writing the corresponding character font input from the host computer into the character font memory is added.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an external character memory for storing a character font of a special character created by an external character creating operation. In addition, a character font sending means for sending a character font of the special character from the external character memory to the graphic accelerator processing unit in response to a transmission request of the character font of the special character from the graphic accelerator processing unit is added.

Further, when the character data of the display instruction received from the host computer includes a special character, the graphic accelerator processing unit sends a transmission request of the character font of the special character to the host computer. In the outline character display device of the information processing device thus configured, a character font additional registration unit for writing the character font of the corresponding special character input from the character font memory into the character font memory is added. A character font memory for storing various types of character fonts and an outline processing function are provided.

Then, on the host computer side,
When a display request for character data is generated, a display instruction including information necessary for outline processing such as character data to be displayed, character font type, and character size is sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit. Then, in the graphic accelerator processing unit, outline processing for expanding the input character data into an outline character image based on the character font of the corresponding character font type stored in its own character font memory and the designated character size. And output it for display.

Therefore, while the outline processing is being executed by the graphic accelerator processing unit, the host computer can perform the original information processing work.
The information processing efficiency of the entire information processing apparatus can be improved.

In another invention, when the character font type input to the graphic accelerator processing unit is not stored in its own character font memory,
A request for transmitting a character font is sent to the host computer, and the corresponding type of character font stored in the master character font memory of the host computer is downloaded to the character font memory of the graphic accelerator processing unit.

Therefore, the graphic accelerator processing unit can develop the corresponding character data into an outline character image using the downloaded character font. That is, it is not necessary to prepare all types of character fonts from the beginning as a graphic accelerator processing unit.

Further, in another invention, a character font of a special character called an external character arbitrarily created by the user on the host computer side is sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit.

Therefore, even a special character (external character) arbitrarily created by the user can be developed and displayed as an outline character image via the graphic accelerator processing unit.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus in which the outline character display device of the embodiment is incorporated. This information processing apparatus is roughly composed of a host computer 1 that executes general various processing tasks, and a graphic accelerator processing unit 2 that executes processing on various image information.

The host computer 1 comprises a system bus 3, a CPU 4 for executing various information processing, a program memory 5 for storing various control programs, an input device 6 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a CRT display device. The display 7 is connected.

The system bus 3 further includes a character data memory 8, a master character font memory 9, an external character memory 10, and the graphic accelerator processing unit 2.
Interface (I /
F) 11 is connected.

In the character data memory 8, there are formed a plurality of areas 8a for temporarily storing character data input through an input device 6 such as a keyboard. Each character data is stored in the character data memory 8 in a character code state.

In the master character font memory 9, a plurality of areas 9a storing a plurality of types of character fonts such as Mincho, Gothic and Italic are formed. Each character font stored in each area 9a is, for example, 1
It is stored as a dot image of a reference size such as 0 point.

The external character memory 10 stores character codes and character fonts of special characters called external characters created on the display screen of the display 7 by the user using the input device 6 such as a keyboard and a mouse. .

The graphic accelerator processing unit 2 includes a character font memory 12 and an outline processing unit 13. A plurality of areas 12a for storing a plurality of types of character fonts or character fonts of special characters created by a user in the character font memory 12.
Are formed. In addition to the areas 12a for storing normal character fonts such as the Mincho, Gothic and Italic fonts, the areas 12a for storing special character (external character) character fonts are reserved in advance. Have been. At first, nothing is registered in each area 12a in the character font memory 12.

Then, the CP of the host computer 1
U4 performs the display control process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in S (step) 1, when character data including a character code to be displayed is input from the input device 6 such as a keyboard, the input character data is temporarily written into an empty area 8a of the character data memory 8 ( S2).

When the user creates a character font of a special character (external character) on the display screen of the display device 7 using the input device 6 such as a keyboard or a mouse (S3), the special character (external character) thus created is created. Is written into the external character memory 10 together with character data consisting of character codes assigned to the corresponding special characters (S4). Therefore, when the corresponding special character (external character) is used thereafter, only the character code is designated by the keyboard, and the corresponding special character (external character) data is written to the character data memory 8 in the same manner as the ordinary character. .

When a display operation is performed by the input device 6 such as a keyboard (S5), a display condition menu is displayed on, for example, the first and second lines at the bottom of the display screen of the display 7 (S6).
In this display condition menu, for example, a list of character font types and a list of character sizes are displayed. When the user specifies display conditions such as a character font type and a character size with a mouse or the like (S7), an area 8a of the character data memory 8 is displayed.
Is read out and sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 as a display instruction together with the display conditions such as the previously selected character font type and character size (S8).

When a character font transmission request specifying a font type is input from the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 (S9), a character font of the specified font type is read from the master character font memory 9 and downloaded to the graphic accelerator processing unit 2. Yes (S1
0).

Further, when a transmission request of an external character font designating a character code is input from the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 (S11), a character (external character) font corresponding to the character code is read from the external character memory 10, and the graphic accelerator processing is performed. It is sent to the unit 2 (S12).

The graphic accelerator processing section 2 executes an outline display process for the input character data according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Q1, when a display command including a character code, a character font type, and a character size is input from the host computer 1, it is checked whether or not the specified character font type exists in its own character font memory 12 (Q2). If the character font type does not exist, a transmission request for the character font of the type is transmitted to the host computer 1 (Q
3).

When a character font of the corresponding type is received from the host computer 1 (Q4), the received character font is written into the free area 12a of its own character font memory 12 (Q5). In this manner, the various character fonts once additionally registered in the character font memory 12 are stored in the character font memory 12 unless a deletion operation is performed.
Is stored.

Therefore, in the initial state, the download processing of the character font from the host computer 1 is frequently performed. However, after the download processing for the character font of the main character font type has been completed for a certain period of time, it can be regarded as completed. , Download processing is hardly performed.

If the specified character font type already exists in the character font memory 12 in Q2, or if the specified character font is additionally registered in the character font memory 12 in specification Q5, the process proceeds to Q6. If the display instruction includes an external character (special character), a transmission request of the external character font designating the external character is sent to the host computer 1, and the character font of the external character is received from the host computer 1. Memory 1
2 is written to the area 12a designated only for the external character (Q
7).

Then, in Q8, one or a plurality of character fonts corresponding to the character data are read from each character font of the designated character font type. Then, the outline processing unit 13 is started, and outline processing for expanding the read character fonts into outline character images of the designated character size is performed (Q9). The outline characters obtained by the outline processing unit 13 are displayed on the display 7 (Q10).

In the outline character display device configured as described above, the graphic accelerator processing unit 2
Is provided with a character font memory 12 for storing a plurality of types of character fonts and an outline processing unit 13 in addition to a normal image information processing function.

When a user performs a display operation on the host computer 11 via the input device 6, for example, a display instruction including character data to be displayed, a character font type, a character size, and the like is sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit 2. Is done.

The graphic accelerator processing unit 2 converts the character data included in the input display instruction based on the character font of the corresponding character font type stored in its own character font memory 12 and the designated character size. The outline processing unit 13 is activated, and outline processing for developing the outline character image is performed. Then, the obtained outline characters are displayed on the display 7.
Is displayed and output.

Therefore, while the outline processing unit 13 of the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 is executing the outline processing, the CPU 4
Is released from complicated processing operations related to outline character display. As a result, the original information processing work as the host computer 1 can be performed, so that the information processing efficiency of the entire information processing apparatus can be improved.

In this case, the outline processing for developing a character font into outline characters is performed by the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 which performs image information processing exclusively, rather than by a general-purpose processing device such as a CPU. Is significantly higher, so that the overhead can be reduced, and as a result, outline characters can be displayed at high speed.

The graphic accelerator processing unit 2
If the character font of the character font type included in the display instruction input to the host computer 1 is not stored in its own character font memory 12, a request for transmitting a character font relating to the character font type is sent to the host computer 1.

Then, each character font of the corresponding type stored in the master character font memory 7 of the host computer 1 is downloaded to the character font memory 12 of the graphic accelerator processing unit 2.

Therefore, the graphic accelerator processing unit 2 can develop the corresponding character data into an outline character image using the downloaded character font.
That is, it is not necessary to prepare all types of character fonts from the beginning as a graphic accelerator processing unit.

Further, if there is no character font of the type specified by the display instruction in the character font memory 12,
Since the character font memory 12 can be downloaded from the host computer 1, the storage capacity of the character font memory 12 may be smaller than the storage capacity of the master character font memory 9 of the host computer 1.

When the character font memory 12 is downloaded from the host computer 1 and there is no free area 12a to be written, the character font of the type that is used least frequently is temporarily cleared and the cleared area 12a is cleared. It is only necessary to write each newly input character font in the.

Further, a character font of a special character (external character) arbitrarily created by the user on the host computer 1 side is sent to the graphic accelerator processing unit 2. The graphic accelerator processing unit 2 displays the corresponding special character (external character) as an outline character using the received character font.

Therefore, the user can arbitrarily create a special character (external character) as necessary and display the special character (external character) as an outline character, thereby providing a user-friendly information processing apparatus.

[0051]

As described above, in the outline character display device of the present invention, the graphic accelerator processing unit is made to execute outline processing for characters in addition to the original image information processing. The processing load on the CPU is reduced, and as a result, the outline characters can be displayed at high speed, and the processing efficiency of the original information processing in the information processing device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus in which an outline character display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a character display control operation of a host computer in the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a character display operation of a graphic accelerator processing unit in the information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer 2 ... Graphic accelerator processing part 4 ... CPU 6 ... Input device 7 ... Display 8 ... Character data memory 9 ... Master character font memory 10 ... External character memory 12 ... Character font memory 13 ... Outline processing part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A host computer that performs various types of information processing and a graphic accelerator processing unit that performs processing on various types of image information, and information that outlines character data output from the host computer via the graphic accelerator processing unit. In the outline character display device of the processing device, the host computer sends a character data memory for storing input character data, and a display instruction including at least a character font type, a character size, and character data to the graphic accelerator processing unit. A graphic instruction processing unit, comprising: a character font memory for storing a plurality of types of character fonts; and a display instruction character data input from the host computer. Based on the character font of the character font type specified by the display instruction stored in the memory and the character size specified by the display instruction,
An outline character display device for an information processing apparatus, comprising: outline processing means for developing an outline character image; and outline character display means for displaying outline characters developed by the outline processing means. 2. A host computer comprising: a master character font memory for storing a plurality of types of character fonts; and a master character font memory in response to a transmission request specifying a character font type from the graphic accelerator processing unit. Character font sending means for sending a character font of a character font type to the graphic accelerator processing unit, wherein the graphic accelerator processing unit has a character font type specified by a display instruction input from the host computer. A character font additional registering means for sending a request for transmission of the corresponding character font to the host computer when not stored in the memory and writing the corresponding character font input from the host computer into the character font memory; Outline character display device of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein. 3. The external computer according to claim 2, wherein the host computer stores an external character memory for storing a character font of the special character created by the external character creation operation, and responds to a transmission request for the character font of the special character from the graphic accelerator processing unit. Character font sending means for sending a character font of the special character from the memory to the graphic accelerator processing unit, wherein the graphic accelerator processing unit includes the special character in character data of a display instruction received from the host computer. A character font additional registration unit for sending a transmission request of the character font of the special character to the host computer and writing the character font of the special character input from the host computer into the character font memory. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein Outline character display device of the broadcast processing apparatus.