United States Patent [19]
`Yoshino et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,548,304
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCREEN
`DISPLAYING
`
`4,975,690 12/1990 Torres ................................... .. 340/721
`5,047,754
`9/1991 Akatsuka et a1. ..................... .. 340/709
`
`[75] Inventors: Hitoshi Yoshino, Chiba; Keiji Oshima,
`Katsuta; Hisanori Miyagaki,
`Hitachiohta, all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] Appl' No‘: 568,484
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0066025 5/1980
`0169838 10/1982
`0091589 5/1984
`63-306491 12/1988 Japan.
`0110595 5/1991 Japan ................................... .. 340/709
`2190569 11/1987 United Klngdom ................. .. 340/709
`
`-
`19
`A .
`22 F1 d:
`90
`ug 16’
`1 e
`[
`1
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Aug. 18,1989
`[JP]
`Japan .................................. .. 1-211352
`
`Prima Examiner—Richard H'e e
`'Y
`J ‘P
`Assistant Examiner—M. Fatahiyar
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fay, Sharpe, Beall, Fagan, Min
`mch & McKee
`
`[51] Int. GL6 .............................. .. G09G 5/08; 6096 5/14
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`U-S. Cl- ......................... ..
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 340/706, 709, '
`340/710, 717, 721, 723; 178/18; 273/148 B;
`364/518, 521; 345/145, 119, 157
`_
`References Clted
`Us‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`9/1978 Mayer et a1. ......................... .. 340/709
`4,116,444
`3/1981 Andrews et a1.
`340/724
`4,259,725
`3/1987 Mayamki et a1. .... ..
`340/706
`4,651,299
`4,884,068 11/1989 Matheny et a1.
`340/710
`4,924,433
`5/1990 Hirata et a1. .......................... .. 340/709
`
`are
`Con?icting rcqucsts for cursor control of
`resolved by priority. The cursors can re?ect attributes of
`their control or those of their control units, with visual
`attributes being color, shape or the like. Priority may be
`established between each cursor and a range of areas accept
`able for cursor movement subdivided from the screen, or
`according to a pnorityof allowable functions, or according
`to a priority of con?icting operating times, or a combination
`of the same. Simultaneous control of a plurality of cursors
`can be permitted when there is no con?ict,
`
`10 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`P1
`
`+932 +033
`+081
`__J
`
`P2
`
`+CS4
`
`“1
`P3
`l -/\7
`
`‘[
`
`SIGNAL GENERATING T
`
`(5
`
`‘I 5
`
`[
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`{10
`
`r- gggggg POSITION SUPERVIZING L21,
`
`H SUPERVIZING TABLE FOR CURSOR ___22
`AND CURSOR CONTROL UNIT
`
`~—~ SUPERVIZING TABLE FOR USER AND ~21
`CURSOR comm. UNIT
`
`H SUPERVIZING TABLE FOR CURSOR CONTROL POWER
`
`\
`
`9
`
`L
`
`I
`L
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`LPICTURE IMAGE DISPLAY CONTROLI
`
`FRAME MEMORY
`I
`
`3
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`CONTROL r
`
`29~~cuRsoR CURSOR CURSOR CURSOR 26
`SHAPE _COLOR
`TRACE
`RANGE _~27
`FILE
`FILE
`FILE
`H SUPERVIZING TABLE FOR cunson ~25
`ATTRIBUTE
`
`t
`
`r ‘‘‘‘‘‘ "_- ------ "1
`
`2'".
`;
`;
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`CONLROL
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`
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`
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`
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`‘
`
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`
`+
`CURSOR
`CONTROL
`
`:
`;
`;
`
`8
`
`r
`I
`TRANSMISSION
`INTERFACE
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 1
`
`

`

`U.8. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`mowmzomommzomommzomowmso
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`@wo
`
`CURSOR CONTROL uNIT ID
`T
`CONVERSION OF IO IN CURSOR CONTROL UNIT INTD ID OF CURSOR ~L03
`
`~l+01
`
`V
`
`TAKE-IN OF MOVEMENT DIRECTION
`INFORMATION AND MOVEMENT
`DISTANCE INFORMATION
`T
`CALCuLATIoN OF NEw
`POSITION 0F CURSOR AND DIREC
`TION AND DISTANCE OF NovENENT
`l
`
`'-\..
`M 1
`
`\. TAKE-IN POSITION INDICATION
`[+08
`INFORMATION
`
`~
`L12
`
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`~A CALCULATION OF NEW POSITION
`(‘09
`FROM POSITION INDICATION
`INFORMATION
`'
`
`I
`
`I
`CHECK NEW POSITION
`
`L10
`
`READ-OUT AND DISPLAY ATTRIBUTE OF CURSOR
`
`411+
`
`ERASE PREVIOUS Jvcuasorx POSITION
`
`DRAW TRACE LINE
`
`DNNDIADDTNEN TEWAEEEEEIW
`
`STORE NEw LIOORDINATES
`
`@
`
`~lT15
`
`~M6
`
`~A11
`
`M8
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`H6. 3
`
`21
`
`USER ID
`
`U
`
`FIG. 4
`
`22
`
`CURSOR ID
`CS3
`CS 1
`CS7
`O
`
`CS2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`CURSOR 10
`CS1
`CS2
`CS3
`
`X COORDINATE Y COORDINATE
`ON SCREEN
`on SCREEN
`X1
`Y1
`X2
`Y2
`X3
`Y3
`
`PAGE ID
`P1
`P1
`P2
`
`(24
`X COORDINATE Y COORDINATE
`on PAGE
`0N PAGE
`PX]
`PY|
`PXZ
`PY2
`PX3
`PY3
`
`CSm
`
`XN
`
`YN
`
`P3
`
`PXN
`
`PYN
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`CURSOR 1n
`
`CURSOR SHAPE
`
`a)
`
`-29
`
`1
`SHAPE 1
`2
`SHAPE 2
`a
`SHAPE a
`4
`SHAPE 4
`‘Bl/A
`
`I
`l
`l
`l
`
`b)
`
`25
`
`CURSOR 1n
`CURSOR COLOR
`1
`COLOR 1
`2
`COLOR 2
`a
`COLOR a
`4
`COLOR 4
`‘IL/A
`
`CURSOR 111
`
`.
`
`C)
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`
`I
`l
`
`l
`CURSOR LUMINANCE
`
`LUMINANCE 1
`LUMINANCE 2
`LUMINANCE 3‘
`LUHINANCE 4
`
`\_5--/J.-—
`
`l
`I
`
`CURSOR 10
`
`I
`CURSOR LUMINANCE CYCLE
`
`‘1
`
`d)
`
`1
`2
`a
`4
`
`5
`
`CYCLE 1
`CYCLE 2
`CYCLE 3
`CYCLE 4
`
`I
`l
`I
`
`‘x
`
`FIG. 7(8)
`
`CURSOR 1o
`1
`2 a
`
`souun oumne CURSOR 01411411011
`souun 1
`soum) 3
`
`4
`5
`V
`
`$011110 4
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`*
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`KIND 4
`
`
`D_—b“ ”0’11 1“
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COLOR 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`F/G. 8(a)
`
`F/G.
`
`8/17”}
`
`F/G. 8(5)
`
`
`
`
` TRACE LINE WIDTH
`
`
`
`WIDTH 2
`
`
`
`
`
`|l Il
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3-m—
`
`
`
`
`
`TRACE LUMINANCE
`
`F/G. 8/07
`
`LUMINANCE 2
`
`
`
`
`mmI
`
`
`
`I—I—
`
`FIG. 8(8)
`
`
`MTRACE LUMINANCE YNRYINGCYCLE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 6
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`F/G. 9(a)
`
`PAGE P1
`1
`1
`0
`0
`
`PAGE P2
`o
`1
`1
`0
`
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`
`"
`
`PAGE Pn
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`1
`0
`1
`
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`CURSOR 10
`cs,
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`033
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`
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`
`PAGE ID
`
`FIG. 9 ( [7)
`
`RIGHT-LOWER EDGE POINT OF
`LEFT-UPPER EDGE POINT OF
`POSSIBLE MOVEMENT AREA
`POSSIBLE MOVEMENT AREA
`X-COORDINATE Y~COOROINATE X-COORDINATE Y-COORDINATE
`
`P1
`
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`
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent V
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`FIG. 70 (a)
`
`28 v
`
`>
`
`ATTRIBUTES
`
`FIG. 70(0)
`
`28 7
`
`ATTRIBUTE 0F CANDIDATES
`
`C S 1
`
`SHAPE
`
`COLOR
`
`LUMINANCE
`
`CYCLE
`
`SOUND
`
`C S 1
`
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`
`COLOR
`
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`
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`
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`
`F/G. 70(6)
`
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`
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`
`
`
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`
`
`
`TRACE o
`
`1
`
`5
`
`I
`
`P1, P2
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`cs2
`cs 3
`cs4
`
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`
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`
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`it
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`
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`
`
`
`
`kHz:JOmhzoomowmzu
`
`
`
`m4m<wozHNH>mwm2w
`
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`
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 9
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996 -
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`PAGE P1
`
`El
`E.
`
`1/ a [u Q
`
`
`
`1231.‘, ll
`
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 0f 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`FIG. 73
`
`( START )
`
`C
`_ _.._-—-—- """TBT\ ~\ _
`A
`500)
`ACCESS LEVEL FOR EVERY
`ACCESS LEVEL FOR EVERY
`ACCESS LEVEL FOR EVERY
`CURSOR
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT
`USER
`
`"
`501)
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT ID
`
`‘
`506J
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT ID
`
`r510
`,
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT ID
`
`v
`502w
`ACOUIRING CURSOR ID
`
`507i
`
`rs11
`‘
`ACQUIRING USER ID
`
`v
`503)
`ACCESS LEVEL (ALi)
`CORRESPONDING TO
`CURSOR ID
`I .
`
`(50B
`‘
`ACCESS LEVEL (ALi)
`CORRESPONDING TO
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT ID
`
`(512
`,
`ACCESS LEVEL (ALi)
`CORRESPONDING TO
`USER ID
`
`I
`
`POSITION ON SCREEN (Xi, Yi) IS
`DETERMINED AS ACCESSIBLE WITH
`ACCESS LEVEL (ALi)
`
`505
`
`YES
`
`ACCESS IS
`POSSIBLQE OR NOT
`
`I
`
`END
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`H5. 74
`
`A
`
`5137
`ACCESS ACCEPTANCE IDENTIFYING
`INFORMATION FOR EVERY CHARAC~
`TER ON PAGE
`
`,
`514w
`PAGE ID Pi) AND COORDINATES
`0N PAGE PXi. PYi) FROM
`POSITION 0N SCREEN (Xi. Yi)
`
`0
`515 q
`READING PXi AND PYi CORRE
`:KENDING TO PAGE P1, DEFINING
`1
`516]
`COMPARING (ALi) WITH (AALi) -
`IF. Mi 2 AALi ACCESS IS
`ALLOWED
`IF. ALi < AALi ACCESS IS NOT
`ALLOWED
`
`B
`
`{ 517
`ACCESS ACCEPTANCE IDENTIFYING
`INFORMATION FOR EVERY PAGE
`
`(518
`,
`OBTAINING PAGE 10 (Pi) INCLUD
`ING (Xi. Yi)
`
`,
`
`{519
`
`DEFINING AALi
`
`COMPARING (ALi) WITH (AALi).
`FOR EXAMPLE.
`IF ALi 2 AALi ACCESS IS
`ALLOWED
`IF ALi ( AALi ACCESS IS NOT
`ALLOWED
`
`END
`
`END
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 12 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`FIG. 75
`
`I START )
`
`60%
`
`T
`INPARTING CuRsOR
`CONTROL POwER T0
`NEw CuRsOR
`CONTROL uNIT CCj
`
`600
`—-@< CuRsOR ALREADY CONTROLLED '2 >
`YES CONTROLLEO
`
`r
`PRIORITY CORRESPONDING J 602
`T0 CURSOR CONTROL UNIT
`CCi, AS PLi
`l
`
`PRIORITY CORRESPONDING I 603
`TO NEw CURSOR CONTROL
`UNIT CCj, AS PLj
`
`@
`
`.
`
`>604
`—————N°< PLi > FL)‘ ?
`PL j 13 HIGHER
`YES
`PLi IS HIGHER)
`PRIORITY
`PRIORITY
`
`V
`CuRsOR CONTROL uNIT "r605
`CCj WAITING
`
`606
`H
`‘V
`TRANSFERRING POwER
`FROM CCi TO CCj
`
`V
`
`END
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`H6. 76
`
`L START )
`
`V
`
`ID OF CURSOR CONTROL
`UNIT CEASED TO
`OPERATED, CCi
`
`NO/
`
`CCi ACOUIRING
`CONTROL POWER ?
`
`YES
`
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT
`CCi IS OPERATED
`
`702
`H
`1
`CO1 IS NOT OPERATED
`
`K T
`
`CURSOR CONTROL
`UNIT WAITING ?
`
`YES
`
`I704
`
`T
`CURSOR CONTROL UNIT
`HIGHEST IN PRIORITY
`IN ALL CURSOR CONTROL
`UNITS WAITING AS CCj
`T
`CCj ACOUIRING CONTROL $705
`POWER
`
`END
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`5850 woé?w
`
`
`E K E2 "528 wk Eem: MEE
`
`91 263
`
`QZEEEQ
`
`
`
`
`
`‘v ‘r
`
`m a 2:26 momma Ta W23 $56K
`
`
`
`
`
`5550 6528 SE28 2958
`
`
`MWH ZSwwEwEE ‘Q a 283225:
`$552 3255
`
`
`r
`
`ww mm
`
`F f
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`, US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
`Sheet 15 0f 23
`
`5,548,304
`5,548,304
`
`--I@@
`
`F/G. 78(0)
`
`P1
`
`1
`
`FIG. 78(6)
`
`+
`
`
`
`F/G. 78(0')
`233
`37...
`
`3_ a/\/\\
`
`2 3 / /
`
`
`
`= X/ /
`
`\ \\‘
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 16
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`F/G. 79(0)
`
`200
`
`270
`
`PAGE DISPLAY
`UNIT
`C
`
`250
`230 2A1
`
`SCREEN 3
`
`SCREEN 1+
`
`0
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 17 0f 23
`
`‘1 5,548,304
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`RATE
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`
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 18 0f 23
`
`5,548,304
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`EN
`
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 19 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`$5
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 20
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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
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`
`Sheet 20 of 23
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`5,548,304
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`33
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 21
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 21
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`5,548,304
`
`F/G. 22
`
`
`
`MONITORING
`TABLE
`
`OPERATOR
`
`MONITORING TABLE A
`(TASK 0F MONITORING AND ADJUSTING HATER LEVEL)
`
`
`
`MONITORING TABLE B
`(TASK OF MONITORING AND ADJUSTING ELoM RATE)
`
`OPERATOR
`(MOUSE T)
`
`a
`
`OPERATOR
`(MOUSE 2)
`
`b
`
`OPERATOR
`(MOUSE 3)
`
`c
`
`OPERATOR
`(MOUSE 4)
`
`d
`
`MEMBER ON mm
`
`CHIEF MEMBER ON DUTY
`
`MEMBER 0N DUTY
`
`3‘33”” "WEE“ °"
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DECIDING HATER LEVEL.
`DECIDING FLOH RATE
`FOR ANOTHER. ALLOHED
`TO HOLD MONITORING
`TASK
`
`
`
`
`MONITORING FLOH RATE.
`EXECUTE MONITORING
`HATER LEVEL FOR
`ANOTHER. NOT DECIDING
`OBJECT VALUE
`
`
`
`
`DECIDING OBJECTFLOH
`RATE, DECIDING HATER
`LEVEL FOR ANOTHER
`ALLOHED TO HOLD
`MONITORING TASK
`
`2
`
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`
`MONITORING HATER
`LEVEL. EXECUTE
`MONITORING FLOH RATE
`FOR ANOTHER, NOT
`ALLOHED TO DECIDE
`OBJECT VALUE
`ACCESS LEVEL---—
`PRIORITY FOR
`ACOUIRING
`CURSOR
`
`
`CONTENT OF
`
`TASK
`
`
`3
`
`_
`(t2) START OF MONITOR-
`‘
`ING OPERATION OF HATER
`INC OPERATION OF FLOH
`VALVE
`
`RATE '
`
`
`(t3) SUBCHIEF MEMBER
`(ta) STARTS DECIDING
`S
`
`
`ON DUTY (d) STARTS
`(tLO END OF MONITORING HATER LEVEL
`
`
`
`DECIDING HATER LEVEL
`(t5) NOTE ERRONEOUS
`OPERATIONS OF FLOH
`(BY MISTAKE)
`
`
`
`
`SO CURSOR FOR MONITOR-
`RATE
`PRESET OF HATER LEVEL
`
`
`
`
`ING HATER LEVEL IS
`BY SUBCHIEF SO SEIZE
`
`
`
`SEIZED
`POHER OF DECIDING
`
`
`OPERATION
`
`
`
`SIMULATED
`
`
`SCENE
`
`
`(t7) STARTS PROPER
`
`
`
`TASK OF DECIDING FLOH
`INTENOS TO START
`(ta)
`
`
`
`
`OPERATION OF MONITOR‘
`RATE
`(t9) CHIEF (b) TAKES
`(t9) END OF DECIDING
`
`
`
`MOUSE OFF. MONITORING
`OPERATION OF HATER
`ING FLOH RATE . BUT
`
`
`HATER LEVEL. MONITOR-
`LEVEL. TAKES MOUSE OFF
`CURSOR FOR MONITORING
`
`
`
`
`FLOH RATE IS USED BY
`EEVEEPERATION OF HATER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SUBCRIEF (d) 50 HAITS
`
`
`(t10) SUBCHIEF (d)
`(no) END OF DECIDING
`TAKES MOUSE OFF, SO
`OPERATION OF ELBM
`
`
`ACOUIRES CURSOR FOR
`RATE, TAKES MOUSE OFF
`
`
`
`
`(tn) END OF MONITOR-
`MONITORING FLOH RATE.
`
`
`ING OPERATION OF HATER
`STARTS MONITORING
`
`
`
`LEVEL. TAKES MOUSE OFF
`OPERATION OF FLDH RATE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`It6) NOTE ERRONEOUS
`PRESET OHING TO INTER-
`RUPT BY CHIEF MEMBER
`ON DUTY (b) SO CEASES
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 22
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 22
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
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`5,548,304
`
`mom
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`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 23
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 23
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 1996
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
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`5,548,304
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`
`
`.\
`
`E’—
`§
`
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`§
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`
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 24
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 24
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`

`

`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SCREEN
`DISPLAYING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention relates to cursor control on a
`The present
`display, particularly a screen or image display.
`In controlling a plant, a number of monitors are disposed
`in a centralized or a decentralized manner. Each operator for
`the monitors watches at least one monitor, for example a
`CRT screen, and the operators communicate with each other.
`However, it often occurs that an appropriate and immediate
`operation is needed by one skillful operator based on judg-
`ments made by a plurality of operators, depending upon the
`behavior of the process in the plant.
`A method for displaying a plurality of cursors on a single
`screen is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai
`(Laid-Open) No. 63—306491 (1988, particularly FIG. 17).
`According to this publication, a plurality of cursors are
`displayed on a common display screen, and one of these
`cursors can be selected at will by means of one input unit,
`so that that is cursor control unit, the location of input data
`can be indicated on the display screen. Thus, an individual
`cursor can be used at each entry area on a screen, or an
`individual cursor can be selectively used by selecting the
`corresponding one of a plurality of input units.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`It is an object of the present invention to overcome
`disadvantages with respect to the prior art.
`More particularly, with respect to the above-mentioned
`plant operation,
`it may be desired to have one ‘ skillful
`operator take over control, for example by interrupting the
`cursor indication on a monitor by another operator or by
`simultaneously accessing the cursor of the other operator or
`each operator, for example on one large screen for common
`monitoring.
`
`While CAI, Computer Aided Instruction, systems are
`known in the field of education wherein the instructor and
`pupils have common access to a large visual display corre—
`sponding to a blackboard, it is an object of the present
`invention to provide the instructor with a higher priority to
`dominate access by the pupils to the common display.
`With respect to Japanese Patent Application Kokai No.
`63-306491, relationships among the plurality of cursors or
`relationships between the plurality of cursors and the plu-
`rality of cursor control units have not been established, so
`that methodical or controlled operations cannot be made
`when a plurality of operators simultaneously seek access
`through their respective cursors.
`In general, cursors not only indicate a location on a
`display, for example screen, but also symbolize the power of
`the access on the screen and the various control modes of
`displaying on the screen, such as entry or change of infor-
`mation, enlargement, reduction or exchange of images on
`the screen. It is known to use icons for the cursor to indicate
`the type of control that is being conducted at the location of
`the cursor. When a plurality of such cursors are displayed on
`a screen and an attempt is made for simultaneous access of
`more than one such cursor, confusion can result, and the
`need for the cursors to be fully functional may not be
`satisfied.
`
`While it is known to employ cursors that may have
`difierent colors, there is no recognition of providing diiferent
`visual attributes to the cursors such as dilferent shapes,
`
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`5,548,304
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`luminance, cycles of varying luminance, traces of movement
`or movement velocities, or applying attributes of ability as
`ranges of movement of cursors or access levels resolving
`problems relating to allowing a plurality of cursors to
`function when simultaneously accessed for the same screen
`or system.
`
`In the case of common use of a plurality of cursors by a
`plurality of cursor control units, there has been no regard for
`the mutual relationships between the cursors or with regard
`to the different processing abilities of the cursors or access
`levels in the event of conflicting access, for example simul-
`taneous access of a plurality of the cursors with respect to
`information in a common system, for example a common
`screen.
`
`Therefore, it is seen that there are many problems, rec—
`ognized by the inventors,
`to be solved with respect to
`simultaneously accessing or otherwise conflictingly operat-
`ing a plurality of cursors by a plurality of users of a common
`system, for example a common display screen.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide for
`screen display with a plurality of cursors with simultaneous
`requested access or conflicting requested access to be con-
`trolled so that access can be selectively given according to
`cursor hierarchy, for example according to various attributes
`assigned to the cursors to enhance visibility and operability
`for the users, to solve the above-mentioned problems.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a common
`system, for example a screen display, with a plurality of
`individual controls, for example cursors, that are related
`exclusively to corresponding individual cursor control units
`that have difierent accessibilities of the cursors or access
`levels, together with a system to maintain order in the event
`of simultaneous or other conflicting requested accesses
`through the cursors by, for example, a plurality of operators.
`The control determines
`the exclusive relationships
`between M (capital M equals an integer from 1 to m) cursor
`control units which control the cursors to access or relay
`information on the screen, and N (capital N is an integer
`from 1 to n) cursors, which can be displayed on the screen,
`and further with the powers of control corresponding to
`particular cursors according to a priority defined with
`respect to their cursor control units, respectively. The cursor
`control units are provided with levels of access to the screen,
`and with respect to specific cursors; access acceptance levels
`are defined for the information or areas on the screen. The
`access of the cursors is individually within the allowable
`range of the access acceptance levels.
`With a plurality of cursors on the screen that are con-
`trolled by a plurality of cursor control units, simultaneous
`addresses can be made on the screen by the plurality of
`cursors. Various visual attributes, for example shapes, col-
`ors, luminance, traces, or attributes of ability, for example
`range of movement, access levels, etc. can be given to each
`cursor, individually or in combination. The attributes are
`preliminarily defined for the cursors in a fixed manner or
`defined by a command from input units. The interrelation—
`ships between individual cursors and between individual
`cursor control units are established preliminarily in a fixed
`manner, or established automatically and exclusively, for
`example according to the order of entry, and in each case
`they may be changed. When conflicts occur among cursor
`control units for a particular cursor, the power of the cursor
`control is shifted according to the priority order defined in
`the cursor control units.
`
`The access level grades the information on the screen or
`grades the contents of the access for control on the screen
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 25
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 25
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`5,548,304
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`3
`display and is defined for each cursor, so that each cursor
`executes an access according to its level. When different
`accesses are requested for a plurality of cursors for the same
`information on the screen, the access of a higher level is
`executed with priority. Access acceptance levels are defined
`corresponding to the displayed positions of the information
`or areas displayed on the screen. Only the accesses of the
`cursors with access levels within the allowable range of the
`acceptance level are permitted, and access of the cursors out
`of the allowable range of the access acceptance level are
`neglected.
`Access on one screen by a plurality of cursors that are
`controlled by a plurality of operators are put into order
`without confiision according to the ranks of priority of the
`cursor control units or according to the access levels of the
`cursor. Particularly, with the ranks of priority or access
`levels, the control with priority can be assured owing to the
`ranks or skillfulness of the operators, and the damage to the
`image information due to mistakes by the operators of lower
`ranks can be prevented, for example.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWING
`
`4
`
`FIG. 17 shows an analysis of the construction of a
`conventional page displaying control;
`FIGS. 18(a) through 18(d) are examples of cursor control
`for CAI;
`FIG. 19(a) is an example of a specific environment of the
`present invention, particularly a monitor in a plant;
`FIG. 19(b) shows the control system for the plant of the
`example of FIG. 19(a);
`
`FIG. 20 shows relationship among page display units,
`input devices and screens in the plant;
`FIG. 21(a) shows the construction of a page display unit
`from the plant;
`FIG. 21(1)) shows the data structure of the cursor data
`storage unit for the page display unit of FIG. 21(a);
`FIG. 22 is a table showing the operation of different
`operators at different monitoring tables;
`
`IO
`
`15
`
`FIG. 23 shows the system for monitoring and controlling
`a plant; and
`
`20
`
`FIGS. 24(a) through 24(c) show examples of the display
`for the system of FIG. 23.
`
`Further objects, features and advantages of the present
`invention will become more clear from the following
`Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment, as shown
`in the accompanying drawing, wherein:
`FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, as
`a whole, disclosed in firrther detail with respect to FIGS.
`2—10;
`
`25
`
`30
`
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing for move-
`ment of the cursor;
`
`FIG. 3 shows the data structure relating the cursor control
`units with the users;
`
`35
`
`FIG. 4 shows the data structure relating the cursor control
`units to the cursors;
`
`FIG. 5 shows the data structure for supervising the power
`of cursor control waiting;
`FIG. 6 shows the data structure supervising buffer space
`for cursor position;
`FIGS. 7A through 7E show examples of visual attributes
`of cursors;
`
`FIGS. 8A through 8E show examples of visual attributes
`of cursors;
`
`FIG. 9(a) is a table for managing the range of movement
`of cursors;
`
`FIG. 9(b) is a table storing the coordinates for the range
`of movements;
`
`FIGS. 10(a) through 10(c) define cursor attributes;
`FIG. 11 illustrates the embodiment, in more detail, which
`is further described with respect to FIGS. 12—14;
`FIGS. 12(a) through 12(c) show the data structure in the
`supervising file for access acceptance levels;
`FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing processing based on
`access levels;
`
`FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing processing based on
`access levels;
`
`FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing processing for a cursor
`control unit requesting the power of control for a cursor;
`FIG. 16 is a flow chart for the processing of a transferring
`of the power of control for the cursor when the cursor
`control previously having the power of control ceases to be
`operated;
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`-
`
`In FIG. 1, a plurality of cursors CSl—CS4 are displayed on
`a screen 7 of a display device 1 for moving under the control
`of an electrical signal from cursor control units 2 or from an
`outside source. A frame memory 5 stores picture image
`information in picture element units, or pixels, from an
`image display control circuit 4 or from a cursor display
`control circuit 9. The frame memory 5 has suflicient storage
`capacity for a plurality of frames in the case of a. multi-
`window display comprising a plurality of windows or pages
`Pl—P3. A screen image signal generating circuit 6 generates
`screen image signals from the data in the frame memory 5
`and delivers the same to the picture image display 1.
`A cursor display control circuit 9 executes the picture
`drawing process for a plurality of the cursors,
`that
`is
`provides information for movement of the cursors and
`delivers this to the frame memory 5. A cursor data storage
`unit 10 supervises the display and motions of the cursors.
`The picture image display control circuit 3 functions as a bus
`for picture image display data.
`The cursor data storage unit stores a plurality of attributes,
`for example: a supervising table 21 for relating a‘ plurality of
`users with a plurality of cursor control units 2; a supervising
`table 22 for relating a plurality of cursors CS and a plurality
`of cursor control units 2; a supervising table 23 for relating
`either cursors CS or cursor control units 2 with cursor
`control power, such as enlargement; a buffer 24 for super-
`vising the position of a cursor CS to be continually renewed
`and to store the coordinates of each of the cursors on the
`screen or within a particular page or window as operated by
`the control circuit 9; a file 25 of color attributes assigned to
`ditferent cursors; a file 26 of traces that are assigned to
`different cursors; a file 27 for assigning different ranges to
`the cursors; a supervising table 28 for assigning diiferent
`cursor attributes to the cursors; and a file 29 for assigning
`different cursor shapes to the cursors. The assignment of
`attributes to specific cursors within the tables and files
`mentioned above may be determined at the factory, deter-
`mined by the user, dynamically determined as cursors are
`activated, or one or more combinations of these. The cursor
`control units 2 constitute input devices for cursor control
`information, and may take diiferent forms, with each having
`
`'
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 26
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`Petitioners Ex. 1002 Page 26
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`a cursor control adapter 202, which have logical assign-
`ments of CCl, CC2 .
`.
`. CC". Each cursory control unit 2 also
`includes a user input, for example mouse 201, keyboard
`201a, or a light pen (not shown). Each of the cursor control
`units 2 sends information necessary for determining the
`positions of the cursors, information necessary for deter-
`mining the amount of movement and the direction of move-
`ment, and functions of the cursors to the cursor display
`control circuit 9 through the cursor control adapter 202 that
`forms an interface with the same. Also, any type of input]
`output device can act as a cursor control unit, for example
`a transmission interface 8 may provide the interface for
`entry of picture image information or cursor display control
`information from an input/output device 201C, which may
`be, for example, an external computer. Also, the transmis-
`sion interface 8 may function to link the external computer
`as the input/output device 201C to the picture image display
`control circuit 3 or bus, to transmit information from the bus
`to the external computer as the input/output device 201C.
`In FIG. 2, the processing provided for controlling move-
`ment of the cursors is shown. In step 400, the process starts
`with a control signal. The cursor control unit 2 is identified
`in step 401 as requesting access. An interrupt is generated to
`stop the processing, for example of a microcomputer, and
`control of the passing of information to the cursor picture
`image display control circuit from the cursor control unit
`adapter 202 that is requesting access. The identification of
`the cursor control unit 2 requesting access from step 401 is
`converted in step 403 into a unique identification of the
`requested cursor to distinguish it from all of the other cursors
`on the screen 7, which step 403 searches table 22 from
`cursor data storage unit 10 to determine the concordance of
`the cursor assignments to difi'erent cursor control units
`already made. Based upon this information, a decision is
`made in step 405 as to whether or not the cursor control unit
`identified is convertible into a cursor identification, which
`decision is based upon the reference information from step
`405 that conversion is not allowed when the cursor control
`unit does not control or is not permitted to control the
`requested cursor.
`
`If the answer to the decision in step 405 is no, precessing
`proceeds to the end. If the answer is yes in step 405,
`processing proceeds for the designation of direction and
`distance of movement for the identified cursor. In step 407,
`a decision is made as to whether there is a form of movement
`request. Ifthe answer is no, step 408 will take in the position
`indication information from the cursor control unit adapter
`202 of the requesting cursor control unit 2 so that in step 409
`a new position of the accessed and now identified cursor
`may be calculated from the position indication information
`from step 408 and then processing proceeds to step 410. If
`the answer to the decision in step 407 is yes indicating that
`there is a form of movement request, processing proceeds to
`step 411 to take in information as to the movement direction
`and movement distance requested by the cursor control unit
`that has accessed the identified cursor. In step 412 the
`information from step 411 is used to calculate a new position
`of the cursor and the direction and distance of movement
`necessary to reach the new position on the screen 7, and
`thereafter control is passed to step 410.
`In step 410, the information from either step 412 or step
`409 is checked against reference information, for example to
`determine whether the new position extends outside of the
`screen so that it is not allowed, or whether the new position
`takes the cursor outside of its range of movement as deter-
`mined from file 27.
`
`In step 413, based upon the checking of step 410, the
`decision is made as to whether the screen is capable of
`
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`
`positioning the cursor at the new location, that is whether the
`new location is allowable. If the answer is no, processing
`proceeds to the end, but if the answer is yes, processing
`proceeds to step 414 where the cursor identification is
`matched with an attribute from the cursor data storage unit
`10, for