Display screen control method

• US 4,786,897 A
• Filed: 07/24/1986
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamada, Kimitoshi, Takanashi, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US06/888,979
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 340/721, 340/723, 340/724, 340/731, 340/734, 340/706, 364/521
• US Class Current: 715/799
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar

Abstract

A display screen control method for a display device capable of supporting a logical screen larger in size than its physical screen is provided. This method enables a desired area to be displayed on the display device by a single operation.

According to the method, a first rectangle similar to the logical screen is displayed on the physical screen, a second rectangle similar to the window area which was displayed within a view port in the physical screen is displayed in the first rectangle. The second rectangle is moved to a desired position within the first rectangle by a position indicating means such as a pointing device whereby the area the operator wishes to view is displayed in one quick operation.

Claims

1. A display screen control method for facilitating the selection of display data in a display device capable of supporting a logical screen larger in size than a physical screen on which information of the logical screen is to be displayed, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying on the physical screen a first window area which is within the logical screen;

changing the display on the physical screen to a first rectangle related to the size of said logical screen in response to a command inputted by an operator, and displaying in the first rectangle displayed on the physical screen a second rectangle similar to said first window area which is within the logical screen and which was previously displayed on the physical screen just before displaying the first rectangle, the second rectangle being displayed in the first rectangle at a position corresponding to a position of the first window area in the logical screen;

moving the second rectangle to a desired position within said first rectangle so as to determine a second window area which is within the logical screen and which is desired to be picked up from the logical screen and to be displayed on the physical screen; and

changing the display on the physical screen to the second window area determined by the second rectangle moved to the desired position in the first rectangle in response to another command inputted by the operator.