Method and apparatus for continuously scrolling large scale picture

• US 5,208,588 A
• Filed: 04/10/1991
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishiyama, Kazuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, AMELIA MEGAN
• Application Number:
  US07/683,067
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/726, 340/724, 340/723, 340/747, 340/750, 340/799, 340/798, 382/41, 382/45
• US Class Current: 345/590
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/346 for systems having a bit-mapped display memory

Abstract

A method for continuously scrolling a large scale picture, comprising scrolling picture data of first partial picture memory in a predetermined direction, the first picture memory having a region with a position and a size, reserving second partial picture memory having a region of a different position and a predetermined size in the predetermined direction of scrolling, the region of the second partial picture memory overlapping that of the first partial picture memory, changing display data from the first partial picture memory to the second partial picture memory at the time when scrolled position become near to a boundary region of the first partial picture memory, continuously scrolling picture data of the second memory.

Claims

1. A method for continuously scrolling a large scale picture, comprising the step of:

extracting a first partial picture of a part of the large scale picture from picture memory means storing a plurality of unit pictures, which form the large scale picture and are respectively corresponded to predetermined addresses;

storing the first partial picture into a first partial picture memory means, said first partial picture having a region with a first position and a first size, which are relatively defined based on orthogonal coordinate axes of said large scale picture;

reserving second partial picture memory means for storing a second partial picture having a second position and a second size, which are relatively defined based on the orthogonal coordinate axes of the large scale picture, said second position of said second partial picture being defined by parallel translation of said first position of said first partial picture, said second partial picture having a region overlapping said first partial picture;

calculating a position and a size of the region where said first and second partial picture overlap each other, and those of a region where said first and second partial picture do not overlap each other;

copying picture data of said first partial picture memory means corresponding to the region where said first and second partial pictures overlap each other, to a corresponding region of said second partial picture memory means;

searching the unit pictures forming the region of said second partial picture which does not overlap said first picture based on the respective addresses of the plurality of the unit pictures forming said large scale picture;

storing the searched unit pictures to the corresponding position of said second partial picture memory means and operating said second partial picture memory means in which all picture data to be stored are stored, in place of the operation of said first partial picture memory means; and

displaying the content of said second partial picture memory means, thereby continuously scrolling the large scale picture.

2. An apparatus for continuously scrolling a large scale picture, comprising:

picture memory means for dividing the large scale picture into a plurality of unit pictures, and storing the plurality of unit pictures to the respective predetermined addresses;

first partial picture memory means for storing a first partial picture of a part of the large scale picture formed by said unit pictures, said first partial picture having a first position and a first size, which are relatively defined based on orthogonal coordinate axes of the large scale picture;

second partial picture memory means for storing a second partial picture having a second position and a second size, which are relatively defined based on the orthogonal coordinate axes of the large scale picture, said second position of said second partial picture being defined by parallel translation of said first position of said first partial picture, said second partial picture having a region overlapping said first partial picture;

geometrical calculation means for calculating the position and the size of the region where said first and second picture overlap each other, and those of the region where said first and second picture do not overlap each other;

copy means for copying picture data of said first partial picture memory means corresponding the region where said first and second partial picture overlap each other to a corresponding region of said second partial picture memory means;

search means for searching the unit pictures forming the region of said second partial picture which does not overlap said first partial picture based on the respective addresses of the plurality of the unit pictures forming said large scale picture;

picture memory control means for storing the searched unit pictures to the position corresponding to said second partial picture memory means and controlling said second partial picture memory means, in which all picture data to be stored are stored, to be set in an operation mode in place of the operation of said first partial picture memory means; and

display means for displaying either the content of said first picture memory means or that of said second partial picture memory means, thereby continuously scrolling the large scale picture.

3. The scrolling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said picture control means stores addresses of the unit picture included in said first and second partial picture memory means in the form of table.

4. The scrolling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said unit picture search means stores address data of said large scale picture.

5. The scrolling apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display frame means for storing a part of picture data of either said first or second partial picture memory means, and sequentially sending said data to the display means.