Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-02
2001-08-07
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271841
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved information processor that has not only audio signal input capability but also a display screen of a display unit.
Recent development in information processing technologies has realized various multi-media information processors, many of which have audio signal input/output capability together with animated image display capability. Such a multi-media information processor generally employs a multi-window display system to display different information simultaneously and independently on different areas called “windows” resulting from splitting the display screen of the information processor. And plural icons are usually displayed so that an operator can activate any one of them in the information processor using a device called a mouse.
In a conventional multi-window display system, a window, in which information that is not currently referred to by an operator is being displayed, can be minimized to display an alternative to that window, i.e., an icon image with a smaller area. Thus, the area of a screen is effectively used. When minimizing an unnecessary window to display it as an icon image, a pattern to be applied to the icon image is read from a corresponding memory for display. Thereafter, such an icon image is displayed as a still image keeping the same pattern until it is activated to open a window.
There are several types of icon images capable of changing their patterns whilst being displayed on the screen of a display unit. For example, when an icon image is selected by an operator with a mouse for initiating input operations, such an icon image changes its pattern so as to indicate its current status of “being selected”. For the case of an icon image of a clock, such an icon image can change its pattern so as to show time. For the case of an icon image indicative of whether any electronic mail has been received, it can change its pattern when a monitoring system detects the reception of an electronic mail. However, it will take at least a period of some several seconds for an icon image to be able to change its pattern. Any shorter period than that results in disadvantageously increasing the burden to be handled by a CPU. This prevents conventional techniques from producing an icon image which shows no awkward movements.
There are several drawbacks presented by conventional information processors of the type having audio signal input capability and display screen of a display unit.
For example, with a first piece of information being displayed in a first window, and with a first audio signal corresponding to the first piece of information being output through a loudspeaker in the form of a sound, it the first window is minimized and displayed as an icon image in order that a second piece of information is displayed in a second window, both the first and second audio signals will be output as respective sounds at the same time. This causes listening confusion to an operator.
Meanwhile, if an audio signal corresponding to information of a minimized window in the form of an icon image is stopped, that is to say, if such an audio signal is not output currently through a loudspeaker in the form of a sound, this allows an operator to clearly hear a sound corresponding to information displayed in a new-opened window. However, this presents a problem that it is very hard for an operator to visually realize that there exists a concealed sound behind a minimized window now in the form of an icon image, since such a minimized window is displayed as a still image with no motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Bearing in mind the foregoing disadvantages in the prior art techniques, the present invention was made. It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved information processor that has not only audio signal input capability but also a display screen of a display unit. For example, while an icon image is being displayed on the display screen of the display unit, the information processor of the present invention can turn the icon image displayed into a window automatically and timely in response to an audio signal.
To achieve this object, the information processor of the present invention includes: a display unit having a display screen; audio signal input means for inputting an audio signal; display control means for controlling display on the display screen of the display unit; and comparison means for comparing information contained in an audio signal, input by the audio signal input means, with another information prescribed by an operator to determine whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied. The display control means changes a mode of display on the display screen of the display unit in accordance with results of the comparison performed by the comparison means.
In one embodiment of the present invention, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, then the display mode on the display screen of the display unit is changed in such a manner as to turn an icon image displayed into a window.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of windows are defined within the display screen of the display unit.
In still another embodiment, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, then the display mode on the display screen of the display unit is changed in such a manner as to turn at least one of the windows displayed into an icon image.
In still another embodiment, the icon image is displayed as an animated picture.
Suppose a piece of information contained in an audio signal supplied turns out to match with another piece of information prescribed by an operator while predetermined data such as a document is being displayed on the display screen of the display unit as an icon image, not as a window. In such a situation, since a predetermined condition of comparison has been met, the information processor of the present invention instantaneously turns the icon image into a window automatically and timely. Accordingly, an operator need not perform that troublesome operation of manually changing an icon image into a window. Furthermore, if the contents within the newly displayed window include any information that the operator wants to collect, then the operator can catch every bit of such information inside the window without missing any part of it.
In particular, if another window has already been displayed on the display screen when the icon image is automatically turned into a window, then the former window is minimized into an icon image. Thus, even such a preexisting window does not interfere with automatically changing an icon into a window.
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Bayerl Raymond J.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nguyen Cao H.
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