JPH1195931A - Automatic switching device and method for operation target machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] A machine that can operate a plurality of machines using a pointing device such as a mouse connected to one machine, and is operated by an input device including the pointing device. To provide a device and a method for automatically switching an operation target machine, which can easily switch the operation target machine. SOLUTION: When a cursor reaches an end of a display screen as a trigger, the coordinates of a cursor display position when the cursor is assumed to have moved to the opposite end are transmitted to another machine, and the coordinates are transmitted. Receiving the message displays a cursor on the display screen of the machine based on the transmitted coordinates.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case where a plurality of computers (hereinafter, referred to as "machines") are used to perform different tasks in parallel. The present invention relates to an automatic switching device and a method for an operation target machine that can perform an operation on another machine while using a pointing device or a keyboard connected to the machine in operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique for giving an operator a sense of operating a plurality of machines by using a single mouse, for example, image data of a display screen of one machine at a fixed time interval is provided. Is transmitted to another machine in a bitmap format, for example, and when an operation with a mouse is detected, the display screen of the other machine is
Displaying the image data of the transmitted screen has been performed.

[0003]

However, the above-described prior art certainly makes the operator feel as if he or she is operating a plurality of machines with one mouse. For example, it was not possible to drag an icon to be operated on the screen of one machine and drop the icon directly onto another machine while dragging the icon.

In addition, there is a problem in that the window of the application being used cannot be dragged and dropped on another machine, and its application range is very narrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention allows a plurality of machines to be operated using a pointing device such as a mouse connected to one machine, and is operated by an input device including the pointing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation target machine automatic switching device and method capable of easily switching a machine to be operated.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic switching device for an operation target machine according to the present invention is connected to one of the plurality of computers when the plurality of computers are connected. Automatic switching device for switching a computer to be operated by the pointing device, wherein the device detects that the position on the display screen of the computer indicated by the pointing device has reached a predetermined position on the display screen. It is characterized by comprising an arrival detecting means and a switching means for switching a computer to be operated by the pointing device when arrival is detected by the arrival detecting means.

Here, the arrival detecting means may detect that a position on the display screen indicated by the pointing device has reached an end of the display screen. By doing so, the operator can intuitively and naturally feel the switching of the operation target to another machine.

The switching means includes transmission means for transmitting information on an operation using the pointing device to a computer to be operated after the switching, and transmits the information to the computer to be operated after the switching. Receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the means, and cursor display means for displaying a cursor of a pointing device on a display screen of the computer after switching based on the information received by the receiving means. it can.

Further, a method of automatically switching an operation target machine according to the present invention includes first and second computers arranged adjacent to each other so as to be interconnected within a visual range of the same operator.
When the cursor on the display screen of the first computer is moved to a specific position by operating the pointing device connected to the first computer, the destination of the input information from the input means including the pointing device connected to the first computer Is switched to the second computer.

In the storage medium of the present invention, the step of detecting that the cursor on the display screen has reached the edge of the screen, and the destination of input information from the input device are switched in response to the detected data. And transmitting a switching signal, and validating an input from another input device in response to the switching signal.

As described above, according to the operation target machine automatic switching apparatus and method according to the present invention, it is possible to operate a plurality of machines using a pointing device such as a mouse connected to one machine. In addition, it is possible to easily switch a machine to be operated by an input device including the pointing device. In addition, information can be easily moved or copied between a plurality of machines.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an operation target machine automatic switching device (hereinafter, simply referred to as “automatic switching device”) in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment is realized, for example, between two machines 1 and 2 connected via a LAN 3.

In this embodiment, machine 1 and machine 2
Are equipped with an automatic switching device, it is possible to operate both the machine 1 and the machine 2 using the mouse 101 of the machine 1, and also to use the mouse 201 of the machine 2 The configuration is such that both the machine 2 and the machine 1 can be operated.

Of course, only one of the machines is provided with a mouse, and a plurality of machines are operated using the mouse. Some of the plurality of mice provided in the plurality of machines are used. It is also possible to operate a plurality of machines only by using. The configuration in those cases will be described later.

In this embodiment, a case where two machines are used will be described. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where more machines are connected. The application method will be described later.

Here, first, the case where both the machine 1 and the machine 2 are operated by the mouse 101 installed on the machine 1 will be described, and the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment will be described. Although the mouse 101 is used as a pointing device in the present embodiment, another pointing device can be used.

The machine 1 comprises a mouse 101, a control unit 10
2, output unit 103, device activation unit 104, data storage unit 1
05, an input device 106 is provided. Output unit 103
Is a display device such as a display device, the display of which is controlled by the display control unit 1025 of the control unit 102.

The device starting unit 104 is used when starting the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment. As the device activation unit 104, the mouse 101 can be used in common, or a device separately provided as the input device 106, such as a keyboard, may be used. As the input device 106, a keyboard, a microphone, and the like can be provided. After the operation target machine is switched, the input content to the input device 106 is transferred to another machine as described later.

The data storage unit 105 stores a table for determining a machine to be switched in the automatic switching apparatus according to the present embodiment. A temporary folder used for data transfer with another machine is created. The contents of the table will be described later.

The control unit 102 controls the entire machine 1 including the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment. The processing content of each unit shown in FIG. 1 in the control unit 102 constitutes the automatic switching device of the present embodiment. The control unit 102 includes a mouse position detection unit 1021, a mouse state detection unit 1022, a transmission / reception control unit 1023, a mouse state analysis unit 1024, and an output control unit 1025.

The mouse position detecting unit 1021 is connected to the output unit 10
On the display screen 3, the coordinates of the position on the screen where the mouse cursor of the mouse 101 (hereinafter simply referred to as “cursor”) exists, and the amount of movement of the cursor on the screen due to the operation of the mouse 101 are detected. Here, the coordinates of the cursor on the screen can be represented by, for example, a positive integer where the upper left of the screen is (0, 0) and the lower right is (m, n). The amount of movement of the cursor can be detected from the movement of the mouse as (Δx, Δy).

The contents of the input to the input device 106 are sent to the display control unit 1025 and output to the output unit 103 when the switching of the operation target machine does not occur, but the switching of the operation target machine is recognized. Then, it is sent to the switching target machine via the mouse state detection unit 1022.

The mouse state detection unit 1022 is a
1 is detected. Here, the mouse state (hereinafter,
"Mouse state". ) Means a situation in which the mouse is used, such as dragging while the left button of the mouse is kept pressed, which icon or window is being dragged, and the like. . Also, the mouse state detection unit 1022 of the present embodiment
Is based on the coordinates detected by the mouse position detection unit 1021 and the amount of movement of the cursor, and the cursor is positioned at the edge of the screen on the display screen (hereinafter, referred to as “edge”).
Is detected.

The transmission / reception control section 1023 sends information on the mouse state detected by the mouse state detection section 1022 (hereinafter, referred to as "mouse state information") to the LAN 3 and sends the information from another machine. Controls the process of receiving mouse state information. After the switching of the operation target machine is performed, transmission of input contents by the input device 106 and the like are also controlled.

When receiving the mouse state information transmitted from another machine, the mouse state analysis unit 1024 determines the contents thereof, and based on the determined contents, displays a cursor on the display screen of the output unit of the machine. Is sent to the display control unit 1025 to display.

The display control unit 1025 operates in a normal state.
The cursor is displayed on the output unit 103 in accordance with the coordinates of the position where the cursor should exist, detected by the mouse position detection unit 1021. However, when the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment causes a situation in which the mouse is operated by a mouse connected to another machine, a cursor is output to the output unit 103 in accordance with the content analyzed by the mouse state analysis unit 1024. Is displayed.

FIG. 2 shows a mouse 1 serving as the device starting unit 104.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window displayed on the output unit 103 when the password is also used as 01. By pressing the button 20 labeled "Connect" shown in the figure, the automatic switching device of the present embodiment is activated. In the example of the window shown in the figure, a function for defining a machine to be switched is also provided. This function will be described later.

Next, in the machine 1 of the example shown in FIG. 1, the processing contents of each unit when the automatic switching device of the present embodiment is started will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the control unit 102 when the automatic switching device of the present embodiment is started.

When the automatic switching apparatus according to the present embodiment is started, first, a temporary folder for storing information is created in the data storage unit 105, and the folder name may be switched. (S30)
1). Here, the machines that may be switching targets are
It is defined in a table stored in the data storage unit 105.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the contents of the table stored in the table storage unit 105. As shown in the drawing, the table holds the correspondence between the direction of the edge and the machine to be switched. In the example shown in the drawing, when the cursor reaches the right end or the left end of the display screen, the operation target is switched to the machine 2, and when the cursor reaches the upper end or the lower end, it is specified that the switching is not performed. . As a data definition method for representing a machine, an IP address of the machine, a machine name, and the like can be defined, and an edge can be defined using a coordinate value on the screen. It is. Further, the definition input of the switching target machine can be performed, for example, by specifying the edge direction and inputting the machine name from the machine name input unit 21 in the window shown in FIG.

Here, by specifying, for example, that the operation target is switched to the machine 3 when the upper end is reached, not only when the number of machines is two, but also for a larger number of machines. Can also be performed. Further, the contents of the table may be dynamically changed as in the present embodiment, or may be fixed.

In step S301, the contents of the table as shown in FIG. 4 are referred to, and the names of the temporary folders are notified for all the machines which may be the switching targets.
Note that the attribute of the temporary folder is shared so that the information in the temporary folder can be accessed from another machine to be switched.

Thereafter, until the mouse state detection unit 1022 detects that the cursor has reached the edge, the cursor corresponding to the mouse 101 of the machine 1 is output to the output unit 103 of the machine 1 as in the normal state. (S302).

When the mouse state detection unit 1022 detects that the cursor has reached the edge (S303: Ye)
s), the mouse state detection unit 1022 refers to the table shown in FIG. 4 (S304), and determines whether to switch the operation target machine (S305).

When the switching is performed (S305: Yes),
The transmission of the coordinate data indicating the cursor position or the information of the cursor movement amount to the machine to be switched is started (S306). Regarding the transmission of the information here, for example, it is possible to transmit the coordinate data of the mouse when the operation target is switched, and to transmit the information of the cursor movement amount after the switching. By doing so, the cursor can be appropriately moved on the screen of the machine after the switching of the operation target.

By starting the transmission processing, the coordinates of the position where the cursor should be displayed on the screen can be detected in another machine (the machine 2 in this example). Subsequent processing contents of the machine which has been operated by the switching will be described later, and first, the subsequent processing contents of the machine 1 will be described.

The machine 1 starts transferring input contents to the input device 106 to the switching target machine (S3).
07). By performing this processing, for example, the machine 1
Using the keyboard, you can input text into the machine 2, and using the microphone attached to the machine 1,
By using the recording application on the machine 2, it is possible to store recorded data in the machine 2. Specifically, a switching flag is provided on the machine 1 side, the flag is turned on when the switching occurs, and the input contents of the mouse 101 and the input device 106 are continuously transferred to the switching target machine during the on state. And so on.

Thereafter, in the machine 1, the mouse position detector 1021 clears the coordinates (S308). Here, the clearing of the coordinates means, for example, that when the cursor reaches the right end, the cursor has the same Y coordinate (hereinafter, the coordinate in the height direction is “Y coordinate” and the coordinate in the left and right direction is “X coordinate”. This means that the coordinates are detected as if they have moved to the left end. Specifically, if the cursor has reached the position of the coordinates (m, y) on the screen, it is assumed that the cursor has moved to the position of the coordinates (0, y). Similarly, when the cursor reaches the upper end, that is, the position of the coordinates (x, 0), it is assumed that the cursor has moved to the lower end of the screen, that is, the position of the coordinates (x, n) at the same X coordinate. , Transmission of coordinates at the time of switching, and detection of cursor position information thereafter.

However, in this case, the display control unit 102
5 deletes the display of the cursor from the display screen of the output unit 103. In other words, the coordinates of the position where the cursor should be displayed on the screen are detected, but the cursor is not displayed on the screen of the machine 1 (S309). Thereafter, masking of information from the mouse 101, specifically, the amount of movement of the cursor and the mouse state information is started for the machine 1 (S310). By performing this processing, for example, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as moving a file or folder of the machine 1 due to the presence of a mouse at the OS level of the machine 1.

After that, according to the mouse state at the time of switching, a mouse state transfer preparation process necessary for reproducing the mouse state on the switching destination machine is performed (S311). Since the state differs depending on the state, each case will be described later. If the mouse is not dragged at all by the mouse and the cursor simply reaches the edge, no special processing needs to be performed in step S311.

With the above processing, the switching processing on the machine 1 ends. However, even after the end of the switching process, the machine 1
(Step S3)
At 09, the coordinates of the invisible but supposed location are detected. ) Or the movement of the cursor, the input information to the input device 106, and the like to the switching target machine are continued.

Next, the processing contents of the machine to be switched will be described. Here, a case where the operation target is switched from the machine 1 to the machine 2 will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the control unit 20 of the machine 2 to be switched when the automatic switching device of the present embodiment is activated.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing content of No. 2;

Even if the automatic switching device of the present embodiment is activated, nothing is actually performed on the machine 2 until the cursor reaches the edge in the machine 1 (S5).
01: No).

In the machine 1, when the cursor reaches the edge, as described above, the machine 1
Since transmission of coordinate data indicating the position of the cursor or information on the amount of cursor movement is started, the transmission / reception control unit 20
The reception of information transmitted from the machine 1 via the server 23 is started (S501: Yes, S502). Also, the input device 10 whose transfer is started in step S307
The reception of the operation content of No. 6 is also started (S503).

In the machine 2, first, the mouse state analysis unit 2
Based on the analysis of the mouse state information by 024, a process of reproducing the mouse state on the machine 1 on the mouse 2 is performed (S504).

More specifically, the mouse state reproduction process is a process for displaying an icon, a window, or the like dragged by the mouse of the machine 1 on the machine 2 when the cursor reaches the edge. Therefore, for example, whether the icon being dragged is an icon indicating a file,
Or if it is a word processing software document editing window, etc.
That is, the processing to be performed differs depending on the mouse state. The detailed processing contents at this time will be described later together with the mouse state transfer preparation processing (S311).

On the other hand, if the mouse 101 of the machine 1 does not involve any drag or the like and the cursor simply reaches the edge, there is no need to perform any special processing in this step S504.

Next, the display control unit 2025 of the machine 2
A cursor is displayed on the screen of the output unit 203 based on the coordinates of the cursor position received from the machine 1 or the coordinates of the cursor position calculated from the information on the amount of cursor movement obtained through the mouse state analysis unit 2024 ( S505).

Thereafter, based on the information on the coordinates of the cursor transmitted from the mouse 1, the output unit 20
3, the cursor is continuously displayed, and processing is performed by the machine 2 based on the position indicated by the cursor.
By displaying the transferred operation contents of the input device, the mouse 101 of the machine 1 and the input device 106 are displayed.
, The operation of the machine 2 can be performed.

From the configuration of the automatic switching device according to the present embodiment as described above, the following becomes clear. That is, as described above, the fact that it is not always necessary to provide the configuration (shown in FIG. 1) that can switch the operation target machine in both directions will be described below.

For example, if a mouse capable of switching the operation target is connected to another machine, but a machine that is not operated by a mouse of another machine has a configuration as shown in FIG. Good.

The machine 6 shown in FIG. 6 has a mouse position detection unit 6021 and a mouse state detection unit 6022, and the transmission control unit 6023 has only the function of transmitting the mouse state information and the like in the above-mentioned transmission / reception control unit. Just do it.

In this case, the display control unit 6025
Displays a cursor on the output unit 603 according to the operation of the mouse 601 connected to the machine 6 in a normal state. However, when the operation target is switched so that the mouse 601 operates another machine, the display of the cursor is deleted from the screen of the output unit 603.

On the other hand, if no mouse is provided, or
Even if it is provided with a mouse, any machine that does not operate other machines using the mouse may have a configuration as shown in FIG. Machine 7 shown in FIG.
Is an example of a case where a mouse 701 is provided but no other machine is operated using the mouse 701.
In this case, activation of the automatic switching device from the machine 7 or
Since the operation target is not switched from the machine 7 to another machine, there is no need to provide a data storage unit or an apparatus activation unit, and it is not necessary to transmit the mouse state of the mouse 701 to another machine. There is no need to provide a mouse state detector.

The automatic switching device of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to a specific operation example for each mouse state. (Operation Example 1) First, as a first operation example, a case where the mouse 101 of the machine 1 has not dragged anything and the cursor simply reaches an edge will be described. In this case, as described above, there is no need to perform any special processing in the mouse state transfer preparation processing (S311) in the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the mouse state reproduction processing (S504) in the flowchart of FIG.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the operation in this case. FIG. 8 shows a display screen of the machine 1 and FIG. 9 shows a display screen of the machine 2. As shown in FIG. 8, when the cursor reaches the left edge of the screen, the machine 1 executes the processing described in the flowchart of FIG.
The cursor disappears from the display screen of.

At the same time, the processing described in the flowchart of FIG.
The cursor of the machine 2 moves to the right end of the screen (FIG. 9). In this case, since the X coordinate of the cursor position is cleared (S308), the Y coordinate of the cursor display position when the cursor is moved to the right end in FIG. 9 reaches the edge of the cursor in FIG. It is the same as the Y coordinate at the time. The subsequent movement of the cursor on Machine 2
This corresponds to the operation of the mouse 101 connected to the machine 1. (Operation Example 2) Next, as a second operation example, when the operation target is switched to the machine 2 while the icon indicating the file is being dragged by the mouse 101 of the machine 1,
Detailed processing contents will be described.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams for explaining the operation in this case. FIG. 10 shows a display screen of the machine 1 and FIG. 11 shows a display screen of the machine 2. As shown in FIG. 10, when the cursor reaches the left edge of the screen,
The cursor is deleted from the display screen of the machine 1 by the processing described in the flowchart of FIG. However, in this operation example, since the icon indicating the file is being dragged by the mouse, a predetermined process is required in the machine 2 to reproduce the mouse status.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of the mouse state transfer preparation processing (S311) in this operation example. In this operation example, the dragged file is
Since the file needs to be transferred to the machine 2 to be switched, the file is moved or copied to the machine 2, and the dragged file is moved or copied to a temporary folder according to the mouse state on the machine 1 ( S120
1).

Then, the file name of the file moved or copied to the temporary folder is changed to the machine 2 to be switched.
(S1202), and ends the mouse state transfer preparation processing.

On the other hand, FIG.
5 is the content of the mouse state reproduction process (S504). As shown in the drawing, in the machine 2, the file is moved from the temporary folder (S1301), and the method of displaying the cursor on the display screen of the machine 2 is changed to the drag of the file (S1302).

The other processing contents are the same as those described in the operation example 1.

By performing the above processing, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0 and FIG. 11, a file can be easily moved or copied by dragging between a plurality of machines. (Operation Example 3) Next, as a third operation example, a case will be described in which, when an application is running on the machine 1, the cursor reaches an edge while a window of the application is being dragged.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams for explaining the operation in this case. FIG. 14 shows a display screen of the machine 1 and FIG. 15 shows a display screen of the machine 2. As shown in FIG. 14, if the cursor 141 reaches the left edge of the screen while the window is being dragged by the mouse, the cursor is deleted by the machine 1 and the mouse state is reproduced by the machine 2. Is required.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the contents of the mouse state transfer preparation processing (S311) in this operation example. As shown in FIG. 14, in this operation example, since the window of the application is in a dragged state, it is necessary to move or copy the file opened by the application to the machine 2 first. Whether to move or copy is determined based on the mouse state at that time, but the open file is moved or copied to a temporary folder according to the mouse state on the machine 1 (S1601).

Thereafter, the name of the application and the file name of the opened file are notified to the switching target machine 2 (S1602).

Here, in the case where the mouse state on the machine 1 indicates the movement of the window (S1603:
Since the application is not required to be executed on the machine 1 (Yes), the application is terminated (S1604), and the mouse state transfer preparation processing is terminated.

On the other hand, FIG.
5 is the content of the mouse state reproduction process (S504). In this operation example, the window is moved or copied. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the machine 2 first needs to activate the corresponding application (S1701). Further, the file is moved from the temporary folder (S1702), and the method of displaying the cursor on the display unit of the machine 2 is changed to dragging the window (S1703).

Other processes are the same as those described in the operation example 1.

By performing the above processing, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0 and FIG. 11, it is possible to easily move or copy a window between a plurality of machines by dragging a mouse. (Operation Example 4) Next, as a fourth operation example, an icon representing a file is cut or copied in the machine 1, and then the operation target is switched to the machine 2 and the machine 2 is pasted. The details of the processing in this case will be described in detail.

In this operation example, although not particularly shown, the corresponding file is moved or copied to a temporary folder when the file is cut or copied in the machine 1 after the automatic switching device is started. . Thereafter, when the pasting is performed in the machine 1, the file moved or copied to the temporary folder is deleted.

When the cursor reaches the edge after the file is cut or copied in the machine 1, the same processing as that described in the above operation example is performed. In the process (S311), the file name of the file that has been moved or copied to the temporary folder is notified to the machine that may be the switching target.

On the other hand, in the machine 2 to be actually switched, when the cursor reaches the edge, the same processing as that described in the operation example is performed. In this case, no special processing is performed in the mouse state reproduction processing (S504).

After the switching of the operation target machine, the machine 2 to be switched becomes the LAN 2 at the time when the pasting is performed.
3 to access the temporary folder, move the file to the machine 2, and perform normal paste processing. After the switching, before the paste is performed in the machine 2,
When the cut or copy processing is performed again in the machine 2, the contents of the temporary folder are deleted, and the cut or copy processing after switching is prioritized.

By performing the processing described above, the processing of cutting or copying and pasting a file between a plurality of machines can be easily performed. (Operation Example 5) Next, as a fifth operation example, the details of processing when cutting and pasting data in an application between a plurality of machines will be described in detail.

In this operation example, the mouse state detection unit 1
At 022, the contents of the clipboard are constantly monitored for change. Further, the mouse state detection unit 102
2 outputs the contents of the clipboard as a file to the temporary folder at the time when the change of the contents of the clipboard is detected. Therefore, in the present operation example, when the automatic switching device is started, in step S301, not only the name of the temporary folder but also the file name for outputting the contents of the clipboard is notified to the machine that may be the switching target.

When the cursor reaches the edge after the data is cut or copied in the machine 1, the same processing as described in the operation example up to this point is performed. No special processing is performed in the processing (S311).

On the other hand, in the machine 2 to be actually switched, when the cursor reaches the edge, the same processing as that described in the operation example up to now is performed, but in the mouse state reproduction processing (S504). , In the temporary folder,
Copy the file with clipboard contents to Machine 2
And the contents of the file are copied to the clipboard of the machine 2.

After the switching of the operation target machine, when the pasting is performed in the machine 2, the clipboard of the machine 2 is referred to and the normal pasting process is performed. However, if the process of cutting or copying to the clipboard is performed again in the machine 2 before the pasting is performed after the switching, the process after the switching has priority.

By performing the above-described processing, data can be easily cut or copied and pasted using a clipboard between a plurality of machines.

As described above, by using the automatic switching device of the present invention, it is possible to operate a plurality of machines using a single pointing device, and to control an operation target by an input device including the pointing device. It is possible to easily switch between different machines. Further, it is possible to easily move and copy files and data between a plurality of machines.

In the present embodiment, the operation target machine is switched by using the trigger of the cursor reaching the edge of the display screen as a trigger. However, the cursor is not limited to the edge but reaches a predetermined position. In such a case, it is also possible to switch the operation target machine.

In this embodiment, the case where the LAN 3 is used as a method of connecting a plurality of machines has been described. However, the physical connection method is not limited to the LAN, but may be IrDA, Serial Port, Parallel.
ell Port etc. may be used.

A storage medium storing a program for realizing the operation target machine automatic switching apparatus and method according to the present invention includes:
As shown in the example of the storage medium in FIG. 18, not only a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM and a floppy disk but also any other storage device on a line or a storage medium such as a hard disk or a RAM of a computer may be used. When the program is executed, the program is loaded and executed on the main memory.

[0089]

As described above, according to the apparatus and method for automatically switching operation target machines according to the present invention, a plurality of machines are operated using a pointing device such as a mouse connected to one machine. Can and
There is an effect that the machine to be operated by the input device including the pointing device can be easily switched.

For example, if a file is being dragged by a pointing device, the file,
Data and the like are stored in a temporary storage unit, and after switching, by reading a file or the like from the storage unit on the operation target machine, it is possible to transfer or copy information between a plurality of machines. There is an effect that it can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window displayed as an apparatus activation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by a control unit when the automatic switching device according to the embodiment of the present invention is activated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a table stored in a data storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by a control unit of a machine to be switched when the automatic switching device according to the embodiment of the present invention is activated.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic switching device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic switching device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for describing a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for describing a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for explaining a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for describing a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of a mouse state transfer preparation process in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of a mouse state reproduction process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for explaining a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for describing a switching operation of the operation target machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the contents of a mouse state transfer preparation process in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the contents of a mouse state reproduction process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 6, 7 machine 3 LAN 101 mouse 102 control unit 1021 mouse position detection unit 1022 mouse state detection unit 1023 transmission / reception control unit 1024 mouse state analysis unit 1025 display control unit 103 output unit 104 device activation unit 105 data storage unit 106 Input device 201 Mouse 202 Control unit 2021 Mouse position detection unit 2022 Mouse state detection unit 2023 Transmission / reception control unit 2024 Mouse state analysis unit 2025 Display control unit 203 Output unit 204 Device start unit 205 Data storage unit 206 Input device 601 Mouse 602 Control unit 6021 Mouse position detection unit 6022 Mouse state detection unit 6023 Transmission control unit 6025 Display control unit 603 Output unit 604 Device start unit 605 Data storage unit 606 Input device 701 Mouse 702 Control 7021 Mouse position detection unit 7023 Reception control unit 7024 Mouse state analysis unit 7025 Display control unit 703 Output unit 706 Input device 181 Line destination storage device 182 Portable storage medium such as CD-ROM or floppy disk 182-1 CD-ROM 182 -2 Floppy disk 183 Computer 184 Storage medium such as RAM / hard disk on computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] An operation target machine automatic switching device that switches a computer to be operated by a pointing device connected to one of the plurality of computers in a state where the plurality of computers are connected, A position on the display screen of the computer indicated by the pointing device, arrival detection means for detecting that the position has reached a predetermined position on the display screen, and when the arrival is detected by the arrival detection means, by the pointing device An operation target machine automatic switching device, comprising: switching means for switching a computer to be operated. 2. The operation target machine automatic switching device according to claim 1, wherein the arrival detection means detects that a position on the display screen indicated by the pointing device has reached an end of the display screen. 3. The switching means includes transmitting means for transmitting information relating to an operation using the pointing device to a computer to be operated after the switching, and transmitting the information to a computer to be operated after the switching. Receiving means for receiving information transmitted by the means, and cursor display means for displaying a cursor of a pointing device on a display screen of the computer after switching based on the information received by the receiving means. Item 3. The operation target machine automatic switching device according to Item 2. 4. A display screen of the first computer including a first computer and a second computer arranged adjacent to each other in a form of being connected to each other within a visual range of the same operator, and operating a pointing device connected to the first computer. Wherein when the cursor is moved to a specific position, the transmission destination of the input information from the input means including the pointing device connected to the first computer is switched to the second computer. Automatic machine switching method. 5. A step of detecting that a cursor on a display screen has reached an edge of the screen, and a step of switching a destination of input information from an input device and transmitting a switching signal in response to the detection data. And a computer-readable program for executing a step of validating an input from another input device in response to a switching signal.