GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE DEVICE

• US 20090044116A1
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kitabayashi, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7408 Direct viewing projectors, e.g. an image displayed on a video CRT or LCD display being projected on a screen

Abstract

The disclosure refers to a graphical user interface device. In one example, the device is configured to provide images for display on a plurality of split screen forming areas of a split screen display. The device displays to a user an operation window having operation areas, the number of operation areas being the same as the number of split screen forming areas of the split screen display. Each of the operation areas is associated with one of the split screen forming areas.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface device configured to provide predetermined images for display on a plurality of split screen forming areas of a split screen display, the device comprising:

a first unit configured to display to a user an operation window having operation areas, the number of operation areas being the same as the number of split screen forming areas of the split screen display, and wherein each of the operation areas is univocally associated with one of the split screen forming areas.

2. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the operation areas are arranged in a same positional relation as a layout of the split screen forming areas.

3. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further comprising an allocation unit configured to allocate the predetermined image associated with each of the operation areas to the corresponding split screen forming area.

4. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit associated with each of the operation areas, each switching unit configured to switch the predetermined image associated with the operating area from being displayed on one of the split screen forming areas in the split screen display to being displayed in a non-split screen, full-screen display.

5. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an allocation unit configured to allocate the predetermined image associated with each of the operation areas to the corresponding split screen forming area;

a switching unit associated with each of the operation areas, each switching unit configured to switch the predetermined image associated with the operating area from being displayed on one of the split screen forming areas in the split screen display to being displayed in a non-split screen, full-screen display; and

the allocation unit configured to permit selective association of a new image to the operating area while the switching unit is switching from displaying the predetermined image in the split screen display to displaying the predetermined image in the full-screen display.

6. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further comprising a second unit configured to display in each of the operation areas a thumbnail of the predetermined image displayed in the split screen forming area corresponding to the operation area.

7. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third unit configured to change a number of split screen forming areas and/or a layout of the split screen forming areas; and

a fourth unit configured to change a number of operation areas in accordance with the changed number of the split screen forming areas and change a layout of the operation areas in accordance with the changed layout of the split screen forming areas.

8. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further configured to:

read a predefined data set;

upon receiving a connection request from a participant device, permitting a connection if the participant device belongs to the predefined data set;

selecting at least two participant devices for display on the split screen display and assigning each of these participant devices to one of the operation areas;

receiving image data from each of the at least two participant devices;

combining the image data from the at least two participant devices to form the predetermined images; and

providing the predetermined images for display on the split screen forming areas of the split screen display.

9. The graphical user interface device according to claim 8, wherein the predefined data set comprises hourly profile data and class makeup profile data.

10. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the device is implemented within a personal computer.

11. A conference system including the graphical user interface device of claim 1.

12. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further configured to display to the user a list of participant devices that are connected to the graphical user interface device and a status of whether image data from each of the participant devices is being transmitted to the display.

13. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, further configured to receive a selection of an image display apparatus for displaying the images on the split screen display, and receiving a selection of a screen display setting for configuring the number of split screen forming areas of the split screen display.

14. The graphical user interface device according to claim 1, wherein each of the operating areas have a colored window and each of the split screen forming areas include a screen frame having a distinguishing color, each of the windows of the operating areas having a same color as the color of the screen frame of the split screen forming area associated with the operation area.

15. A graphical user interface device configured to provide a predetermined image to each of a plurality of split screen forming areas of a split screen display, the device comprising:

a unit configured to display to a user an operation window including plural operation areas, each of the operation areas having a visually recognizable corresponding relation with one of the split screen forming areas.