WO2004036410A1

WO2004036410A1 - A method for controlling displaying of a multi-monitor, and a system and a computer readable medium thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2004036410A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sanghwan Park
Original assignee: Marketpoint Inc.
Priority date: 2002-10-12
Filing date: 2003-10-13
Publication date: 2004-04-29
Also published as: AU2003271200A1; KR100418154B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-monitor controlling system and a method thereof, wherein a plurality of monitors are controlled to display a plurality of windows in order for a user to arrange the windows conveniently.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[TITLE]

A Method for Controlling Displaying of a Multi-Monitor, and a System

and a Computer Readable Medium Thereof

[ ECHNICAL FIELD]

The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors and a recording

medium thereof, and more particularly to a method and a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors driven by a

computer system and a recording medium thereof.

Terms used herein will be defined as follows.

"A multi-monitor" means a group of monitors that consists of a plurality of monitors driven by one computer system. Thus, the multi-monitor may operate like one monitor as a whole or operate individually in accordance with

the control of the computer system that drives it.

"Multi-monitoring" means displaying images caused by one or more programs being executed by one computer on the multi-monitor.

"A task display window" means an area on a monitor for displaying the

content, process, result and/or the like of a task when the task is being performed by a computer. For example, it may be a window displayed on a monitor in case of using "Windows^® 2000" of Microsoft^® as an operating system.

[BACKGROUND ART]

The recent trend of diversifying and enhancing the functions of a computer makes it possible to perform a lot of tasks at the same time using one computer, i.e. so-called multi-tasking. The contents of these tasks are displayed in their task display windows respectively, and thus a plurality of task display windows are displayed on a monitor when multi-tasking is being performed.

At this time, in case of using one monitor there is a problem that it is difficult to monitor each of the process situations or compare the data interactively because the task display windows except ones being activated among a plurality of task display windows are hidden by the activated ones at least partly due to their size limit.

To solve the problem, a multi-monitoring technology of performing a display using two or more monitors for one computer has been proposed, and as the way of realizing the technology a method of allowing an operating system to directly support the use of a plurality of monitors at the same time or individually or a method of driving a plurality of monitors by using an additional driving device has been used. An example of the general multi-monitoring technology is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2001- 60836. However, even by the multi-monitoring technology above there is still a problem that the contents being overlapped by other(s) cannot be seen unless a user aligns every task display window being displayed on the monitor manually. In addition, even if a user uses an automatic alignment function provided by an application being activated, a task display window might be positioned occupying a plurality of monitors, and in this case, the degree of recognition of the information displayed at the edge region is low, so that the user needs an additionally manual effort to align the task display windows or adjust the size of each task display window. Further, even though only one task display window is being displayed, the user has to perform the manual operation described above if desiring the task display window to be filled in one of the plurality of monitors.

[DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION] In order to solve the problems above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for controlling a display on a multi- monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors and a recording medium thereof, wherein task display windows being displayed can be automatically aligned not occupying a plurality of monitors, when the plurality of monitors is driven by a computer.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors and a recording medium thereof, wherein task display windows being displayed can be automatically aligned not occupying a plurality of monitors as well as not overlapping one another, when the plurality of monitors is driven by a computer.

In order to achieve the objects above, a method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which includes a plurality of monitors, includes the steps of (1) displaying an adjustment button or icon in a task display window, (2) detecting whether a user activates the adjustment button or icon and (3) adjusting the task display window in case it is detected that the user activates the adjustment button or icon, the step (3) including the steps of (3-1) determining a number of monitors being used, (3-2) determinging a monitor most largely occupied by the task display window being displayed and (3-3) performing adjustment in order that the task display window can be displayed on the monitor most largely occupied by the task display window.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which includes a plurality of monitors, includes an adjustment button or icon controlling module for displaying an adjustment button or icon in a task display window and detecting whether a user activates the adjustment button or icon, a number-of-monitor determining module for determining a number of monitors being used, in case it is detected that the user activates the adjustment button or icon, a task display window display situation deterring module for determinging a monitor most largely occupied by the task display window being displayed, in case it is detected that the user activates the adjustment button or icon and a task display window adjusting module for performing adjustment in order that the task display window can be displayed on the monitor most largely occupied by the task display window, in case it is detected that the user activates the adjustment button or icon.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an embodiment of a method for controlling the display on a multi-monitor according to the present invention.

Fig. 3a shows screens of a plurality of monitors on which a plurality of conventional task display windows are displayed.

Fig. 3b shows coordinates ranges of four monitors of 800^*600 pixels during the multi-monitoring. Fig. 3c shows screens adjusted in order that the task display windows shown in Fig. 3b can be displayed on monitors most largely occupied respectively after the amounts of coordinates areas of the monitors occupied by the task display windows is calculated according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3d shows screens on which one task display window is displayed filling at least two monitors according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4a shows screens on which at two task display windows are displayed overlapping one another in a coordinates area of one monitor.

Fig. 4b shows screens adjusted in order that the task display windows shown in Fig. 4a can be aligned and displayed.

Fig. 5a shows conventional screens of a plurality of monitors on which a plurality of task display windows are displayed.

Fig. 5b shows screens adjusted in order that the task display windows shown in Fig. 5a can be aligned and displayed in one monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5c shows screens adjusted in order that at least two task display windows aligned and displayed in one monitor shown in Fig. 5b can be allocated and displayed on other monitors according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5d shows screens adjusted in order that one task display window shown in Fig. 5c can displayed on a monitor not having displayed any task display window according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5e shows screens adjusted in order that the task display windows shown in Fig. 5d can be aligned and displayed alternatively according to still further another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of an adjustment button according to the present invention.

[BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to attached drawings.

As an embodiment of the present invention, a case that multi-monitoring with four monitors is performed on a stock investment program being generally used will be first described. Executing the stock investment program, a user can use in preference a task display window ("window 1") for displaying, e.g. Korean Composite Stock Index, a task display window ("window 2") for showing the rate of price change, trading volume and/or the like of the issues in which the user is interested, a task display window ("window 3") for orders of the user about buying and selling and a task display window ("window 4") for showing, e.g. the news about securities at the same time.

In this case, since the four task display windows need to be displayed on monitors, it is obvious that the user prefers a multi-monitor to use it extensively by combining a plurality of monitors, and desires the task display windows to be displayed not overlapping one another on the multi-monitor. In addition, it is obvious that the user desires even one of the task display windows to be displayed not occupying a plurality of monitors of the multi-monitor.

The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors and a recording medium thereof capable of satisfying the desires of the user. These will be described in detail below. Referring to Fig. 1 , Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor 100 according to the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to "system of the present invention"). As shown in Fig. 1 , the system 100 of the present invention includes a number-of-monitor determining module 102 for determining the number of the monitors being used, a task display window display situation deterring module 104 for determining a monitor most largely occupied by the task display window being displayed on the monitors and a task display window adjusting module 106 for adjusting the task display window in order that it can be displayed on the monitor most largely occupied by the task display window. In addition, the system 100 of the present invention may further include an adjustment button or icon controlling module 108 for displaying an adjustment button or icon in the task display window and detecting whether a user activates the adjustment button or icon. The user can align and adjust the task display window with only one instruction by operating the adjustment button or icon (c.f. Fig. 6) shown by the adjustment button or icon controlling module 108.

Further, it is preferable that the system 100 of the present invention is realized through a general computer system. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1 , the system 100 of the present invention preferably includes hardware 180 with which the general computer system is equipped, a basic input/output system 182, an operating system 184, an application program 186 and the like.

As described above, to display a plurality of task display windows on the multi-monitor, the number-of-monitor determining module 102 of the system 100 of the present invention first determines the number of the monitors being used at the present time. This operation can be easily performed by referring to the information stored in the basic input/output system (i.e. BIOS) 182 or the operating system 184.

Next, the task display window display situation determining module 104 of the system 100 of the present invention determines monitors most largely occupied by the task display windows being displayed on the monitors. For example, referring to Fig. 3a, the monitor most largely occupied by the window 1 is an upper left monitor (hereinafter, referred to as "first monitor"), and the monitor most largely occupied by the window 2 is a lower right monitor (hereinafter, referred to as "fourth monitor").

The operations to determine the monitor most largely occupied by each of the task display windows can be performed as follows. Referring to Fig. 2, after determining the number of the monitors being driven (step 202), the coordinates range of each of the monitors (step 204) and then the coordinates range of each of the task display windows being displayed while occupying the multi-monitor (step 206). By using the information about these the coordinates ranges, the monitor most largely occupied by each of the task display windows can be determined (step 208). Referring to Fig. 3 to Fig. 5, it will be described in further detail below.

The coordinates range of each of the monitors being driven at the present time is determined. For example, as shown in Fig. 3b, if the multi- monitor consists of four monitors capable of displaying 800^*600 pixels, the coordinates ranges of all of the monitors are as follows.

1 ) The coordinates range of the first monitor: (0, 0) to (799, 599) (pixels, the same hereafter)

2) The coordinates range of an upper right monitor (referred to as "second monitor"): (800, 0) to (1599, 599) 3) The coordinates range of an lower left monitor (referred to as "third monitor"): (0, 600) to (799, 1199) 4) The coordinates range of the fourth monitor: (800, 600) to (1599, 1199).

The coordinates ranges of these monitors can be easily determined by referring to the information stored in the BIOS 182 or the operating system 184. Then, the task display window display situation determining module 104 of the system 100 of the present invention determines the coordinates range of each of the task display windows being displayed while occupying said the multi- monitors. For example, the coordinates range of the window 1 can be determined as (400, 150) to (900, 700). The coordinates ranges of these the task display windows can be easily determined by referring to the information stored in the operating system 184 or the application program 186.

Then, if the determined coordinates ranges of the task display windows overlap the coordinates ranges of a plurality of monitors, the monitor on which the task display window is most largely displayed can be determined by calculating the areas of the task display windows being displayed on the monitors and comparing them.

Then, the task display window adjusting module 106 of the system 100 of the present invention adjusts the task display window to be displayed on the monitor most largely occupied (c.f. the step 210 in Fig. 2). For example, as shown in Fig. 3c, the window 1 is adjusted to be displayed on the first monitor, and the window 2 is adjusted to be displayed on the fourth monitor. In addition, if it is one task display window that most largely occupies one monitor, that the task display window is preferably adjusted to be displayed completely filling the screen of the monitor.

Referring to Fig. 3c and 3d, there is a monitor not displaying any task display window, one of the task display windows can be enlarged and displayed occupying on two or more monitors in accordance with the user's choice.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 4a and 4b, if at least two task display windows are determined to most largely occupy one monitor, it is preferable that the at least two task display windows are adjusted to be aligned and displayed not overlapping one another. For example, as shown in Fig. 4b, the windows 1 and 2 are adjusted to be displayed on the third monitor while not overlapping each other. Preferably, the windows 1 and 2 are adjusted to be displayed half occupying the third monitor respectively. According to further another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 5a to 5c, if there are two or more task display windows that most largely occupy one monitor and there is no task display window that most largely occupy other monitor, every task display window is aligned and displayed on a monitor in accordance to the user's choice (Fig. 5b) or a task display window is displayed on a monitor not having displayed any task display window (Fig. 5c, 5d and 5e). It is preferable that the task display windows are displayed not to overlap one another on each monitor.

The present invention may be realized through a computer program that can be read and executed by a computer, and necessary instructions may be recorded on a recording medium. As the recording medium, there is a hard disk drive, a RAM, a ROM, a compact disk, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, a floppy dick, a digital tape, a memory stick or the like. By installing the computer program recorded on the recording medium in a computer system, the system 100 of the present invention can easily realized.

If a plurality of task display windows is generated during the multi- monitoring, it is preferable that the functions of the present invention described above is automatically executed or in case of using a Windows^® operating system they are performed when the user clicks buttons displayed as a 'close' button 608, a 'total screen' button 606 and a 'minimization' button as well as an additional 'adjustment button (or adjustment icon)' 202 shown at the top-right of each task display window.

In addition, the present invention may be provided as software being included in an operating system or application program or as an additional application program independently.

In addition, the present invention may be applied to a method for comparing and editing motion pictures, photographs and/or the like interactively on a plurality of monitors, a method for broadcasting motion pictures, photographs and/or the like to public places on a multi-vision or the like, a method for indicating the kind, quantity, price or the like of goods in electronic commerce, a method for aligning pop-up windows in use of an Internet browser and a method for displaying digital contents on a plurality of digital TVs.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

[INDUSTRIALAPPLICABILITY]

According to present invention, it is possible to adjust every task display window being displayed not to occupy a plurality of monitors without an additional instruction or with only one instruction, when using a multi-monitor consisting of a plurality of monitors. In addition, according to present invention, it is possible to adjust each task display window being displayed not to overlap one another as well as not to occupy a plurality of monitors.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors, comprising the steps of: (1 ) displaying an adjustment button or icon in a task display window;

(2) detecting whether a user activates said adjustment button or icon;

and

(3) adjusting said task display window in case it is detected that said user

activates said adjustment button or icon, said step (3) comprising the steps of:

(3-1) determining a number of monitors being used;

(3-2) determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task

display window being displayed; and

(3-3) performing adjustment in order that said task display

window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said

task display window.

2. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-2) comprises the steps of:

(4) determining a coordinates range of each of said monitors within

which said display is performed on said monitors; and

(5) determining a coordinates range of said task display window being

displayed.

3. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step (3-2) further comprises a step of:

(6) determining a monitor on which said task display window is being most extensively displayed by calculating amounts of areas of said plurality of monitors occupied by said task display window and comparing said amounts, in case said task display window occupies said plurality of monitors.

4. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-3) comprises a step of:

(7) performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed to fill screens of said plurality of monitors.

5. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-3) further comprises a step of:

(8) performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed to fill a screen of one monitor occupied by said task display window among said plurality of monitors, in case there is only one task display window most largely occupying said monitor.

6. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-3) further comprises a step of:

(9) enlarging and displaying said task display window on at least two monitors in accordance with said user's choice, in case there is at least one monitor not displaying any task display window after adjustment in step (3-3).

7. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step (3-3) further comprises a step of:

(10) performing adjustment in order that at least two task display windows can be aligned not to overlap one another on a monitor, in case it is determined that said at least two task display windows most largely occupy said monitor.

8. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-3) further comprises a step of:

(11) aligning and displaying every task display window on a monitor in accordance with said user's choice, in case there are at least two task display windows most largely occupying a first monitor and there is no task display window most largely occupying a second monitor.

9. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim

1 , wherein said step (3-3) further comprises a step of:

(12) performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on a first monitor in accordance with said user's choice, in case there is no task display window most largely occupying said first monitor and there are at least two task display windows most largely occupying a second monitor.

10. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said task display window is an automatically pop-up window in online.

11. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of said monitors is a digital television and said the task display window displays a digital content.

12. A method for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors, comprising the steps of:

(1) determining a number of monitors being used; (2) determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task display window being displayed; and

(3) performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said task display window.

13. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors, comprising: an adjustment button or icon controlling module for displaying an adjustment button or icon in a task display window and detecting whether a user activates said adjustment button or icon; a number-of-monitor determining module for determining a number of monitors being used, in case it is detected that said user activates said adjustment button or icon; a task display window display situation determining module for determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task display window being displayed, in case it is detected that said user activates said adjustment button or icon; and a task display window adjusting module for performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said task display window, in case it is detected that said user activates said adjustment button or icon.

14. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said task display window display situation determining module determines said display situation of said task display window by determining a coordinates range of each of said monitors within which said display is performed on said monitors and a coordinates range of said task display window being displayed.

15. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said task display window display situation determining module determines said monitor on which said task display window is being most extensively displayed by calculating amounts of areas of said plurality of monitors occupied by said task display window and comparing said amounts, in case said task display window occupies said plurality of monitors.

16. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module performs adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed to fill screens of said plurality of monitors.

17. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module performs adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed to fill a screen of one monitor occupied by said task display window among said plurality of monitors, in case there is only one task display window most largely occupying said monitor.

18. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module enlarges and displays said task display window on at least two monitors in accordance with said user's choice, in case there is at least one monitor not displaying any task display window after said adjustment.

19. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module performs adjustment in order that at least two task display windows can be aligned not to overlap one another on a monitor, in case it is determined that said at least two task display windows most largely occupy said monitor.

20. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module aligns and displays every task display window on a monitor in accordance with said user's choice, in case there are at least two task display windows most largely occupying a first monitor and there is no task display window most largely occupying a second monitor.

21. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said the task display window adjusting module performs adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on a first monitor in accordance with said user's choice, in case there is no task display window most largely occupying said first monitor and there are at least two task display windows most largely occupying a second monitor.

22. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said task display window is an automatically pop-up window in online.

23. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of said monitors is a digital television and said the task display window displays a digital content.

24. A system for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors, comprising: a number-of-monitor determining module for determining a number of monitors being used; a task display window display situation determining module for determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task display window being displayed; and a task display window adjusting module for performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said task display window.

25. A recording medium on which a computer program for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors is recorded, said computer program comprising the means of: (1) displaying an adjustment button or icon in a task display window;

(2) detecting whether a user activates said adjustment button or icon; and

(3) adjusting said task display window in case it is detected that said user activates said adjustment button or icon, said adjusting means (3) comprising the means of:

(3-1) determining a number of monitors being used; (3-2) determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task display window being displayed; and (3-3) performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said task display window.

26. A recording medium on which a computer program for controlling a display on a multi-monitor which comprises a plurality of monitors is recorded, said computer program comprising the means of: determining a number of monitors being used; determinging a monitor most largely occupied by said task display window being displayed; and performing adjustment in order that said task display window can be displayed on said monitor most largely occupied by said task display window.