Control method for controlling screen saver function, apparatus and system adopting the method

• US 6,404,447 B1
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Eiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joseph, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US09/019,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 345/112, 345/339, 345/117, 345/328, 345/329-332, 345/326, 345/156, 345/856, 345/723-726, 345/738-743, 345/751-759, 345/701-702, 345/727, 345/728, 345/769-770, 345/426, 345/718, 345/867
• US Class Current: 715/867
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

When a TV conference application program is initiated, a software timer is activated. The timer is set to a predetermined period, e.g., 30 seconds, which is shorter than the time when a screen saver image starts to be displayed, e.g., one minute. Every 30 seconds, a pseudo user input event of mouse displacement is generated. Accordingly, the time counter of a screen saver is cleared before the predetermined time when the screen saver image starts to be displayed has elapsed, thereby it is possible to prevent the screen saver image from being displayed during executing the TV conference application program.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

inactivating means for automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inactivating means generates a command for inactivating the screen saver function using an application program interface of a screen saver.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

state determination means for obtaining and determining an on/off state of the screen saver function before starting the predetermined processing; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said state determination means determines that the screen saver function is in an off state.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

sound input means for inputting sound;

sound determination means for determining whether or not a level of sound input by said sound input means is greater than a predetermined level; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said sound determination means determines that the level of the input sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

image input means for inputting a moving image from an external device;

image determination means for determining whether or not there is a difference between an image currently inputted by said image input means and an image input by said image input means a predetermined period before; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said image determination means determines that there is no difference between the two images.

6. An image sensing system comprising:

means for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

inactivating means automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during image sensing operation.

7. The image sensing system according to claim 6, wherein said inactivating means generates a command for inactivating the screen saver function using an application program interface of a screen saver.

8. The image sensing system according to claim 6 further comprising:

state determination means for obtaining and determining an on/off state of the screen saver function before starting image sensing operation; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said state determination means determines that the screen saver function is in an off state.

9. The image sensing system according to claim 6 further comprising:

sound input means for inputting sound;

sound determination means for determining whether or not a level of sound input by said sound input means is greater than a predetermined level; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said sound determination means determines that the level of the input sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

10. The image sensing system according to claim 6 further comprising:

image input means for inputting an image;

image determination means for determining whether or not there is a difference between an image currently inputted by said image input means and an image input by said image input means a predetermined period before; and

disabling means for disabling said inactivating means when said image determination means determines that there is no difference between the two images.

11. A control method comprising:

a providing step for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

an inactivating step of automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

12. The control method according to claim 11 further comprising an activating step of automatically activating the screen saver function after completing the predetermined processing.

13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein, in said inactivating step, a command for inactivating the screen saver function is generated using an application program interface of a screen saver and in said activating step, a command for activating the screen saver function is generated using the application program interface of the screen saver.

14. The control method according to claim 12 further comprising:

a state determination step of obtaining and determining an on/off state of the screen saver function before said inactivating step; and

a disabling step of disabling said inactivating step and said activating step when it is determined in said state determination step that the screen saver function is in an off state.

15. The control method according to claim 11 further comprising:

a sound input step of inputting sound;

a sound determination step of determining whether or not a level of sound input in said sound input step is greater than a predetermined level; and

a disabling step of disabling said inactivating step when it is determined in said sound determination step that the level of the input sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

16. The control method according to claim 11 further comprising:

an image input step of inputting an image;

an image determination step of determining whether or not there is a difference between an image currently inputted in said image input step and an image input in said image input step a predetermined period before; and

a disabling step of disabling said inactivating step when it is determined in said image determination step that there is no difference between the two images.

17. The control method according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV conference system.

18. The control method according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV phone system.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18 further comprising second computer readable program code means for automatically activating the screen saver function after completing the predetermined processing.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said first computer readable program code means generates a command for inactivating the screen saver function using an application program interface of a screen saver and said second computer readable program code means generates a command for activating the screen saver function using the application program interface of the screen saver.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 20 further comprising:

third computer readable program code means for obtaining and determining an on/off state of the screen saver function before the predetermined processing starts; and

fourth computer readable program code means for disabling said first computer readable program code means and said second computer readable program code means when said third computer readable program code means determines that the screen saver function is in an off state.

19. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

code for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

first computer readable program code for automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 19 further comprising:

fifth computer readable program code means for determining whether or not sound whose level is greater than a predetermined level is input; and

sixth computer readable program code means for disabling first computer readable program code means when said fifth computer readable program code means determines that sound whose level is greater than a predetermined level is not inputted.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 19 further comprising:

seventh computer readable program code means for determining whether or not there is a difference between an image currently inputted and an image input a predetermined period before; and

eighth computer readable program code means for disabling said first computer readable program code means when said seventh computer readable program code means determines that there is no difference between the two images.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV conference system.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV phone system.

27. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor,

control means for automatically controlling a screen saver function,

inactivating means for automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver function,

the inactivating means inactivates the screen saver function during the execution of a predetermined application program, wherein the predetermined application program does not activate the processor.

28. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

means for automatically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

29. An image sensing system comprising:

means for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

means automatically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during image sensing operation,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

30. A control method comprising:

a providing step for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

an inactivating step of automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

31. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

code for providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

first computer readable program code for automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

32. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor,

control means for automatically controlling a screen saver,

inactivating means for automatically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver,

the inactivating means inactivates the screen saver during the execution of a predetermined application program, wherein the predetermined application program does not activate the processor, and

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

33. A computer system to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing, the system including a computer readable medium, comprising:

a code component adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

a first computer readable program code component adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

34. A computer system to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing, the system including a computer readable medium, comprising:

a code component adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

a first computer readable program code component adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing, wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

35. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a unit adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

an inactivating unit adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

36. The information processing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said inactivating unit generates a command for inactivating the screen saver function using an application program interface of a screen saver.

37. The information processing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

a state determination unit adapted to obtain and determine an on/off state of the screen saver function before starting the predetermined processing; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said state determination unit determines that the screen saver function is in an off state.

38. The information processing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

a sound input unit adapted to input sound;

a sound determination unit adapted to determine whether a level of sound input by said sound input unit is greater than a predetermined level; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said sound determination unit determines that the level of the input sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

39. The information processing apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

an image input unit adapted to input a moving image from an external device;

an image determination unit adapted to determine whether there is a difference between an image currently inputted by said image input unit and an image input by said image input unit a predetermined period before; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said image determination unit determines that there is no difference between the two images.

40. An image sensing system comprising:

a unit adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

an inactivating unit adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during image sensing operation.

41. The image sensing system according to claim 40, wherein said inactivating unit generates a command for inactivating the screen saver using an application program interface of a screen saver.

42. The image sensing system according to claim 40, further comprising:

a state determination unit adapted to obtain and determine an on/off state of the screen saver function before starting image sensing operation; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said state determination unit determines that the screen saver function is in an off state.

43. The image sensing system according to claim 40, further comprising:

a sound input unit adapted to input sound;

a sound determination unit adapted to determine whether a level of sound input by said sound input unit is greater than a predetermined level; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said sound determination unit determines that the level of the input sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

44. The information processing apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising:

an image input unit adapted to input an image;

an image determination unit adapted to determine whether there is a difference between an image currently inputted by said image input unit and an image input by said image input unit a predetermined period before; and

a disabling unit adapted to disable said inactivating unit when said image determination unit determines that there is no difference between the two images.

45. A control method comprising:

providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period; and

automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing.

46. The control method according to claim 45 further comprising automatically activating the screen saver function after completing the predetermined processing.

47. The control method according to claim 46, wherein

a command for inactivating the screen saver function is generated using an application program interface of a screen saver; and

a command for activating the screen saver function is generated using the application program interface of the screen saver.

48. The control method according to claim 46, further comprising:

obtaining and determining an on/off state of the screen saver function before said inactivating; and

disabling said inactivating and said activating when it is determined that the screen saver function is in an off state.

49. The control method according to claim 45, further comprising:

inputting sound;

determining whether a level of sound input by said inputted sound is greater than a predetermined level; and

disabling said inactivating when it is determined that the level of the inputted sound is not greater than the predetermined level.

50. The control method according to claim 45, further comprising:

inputting an image;

determining whether there is a difference between an image currently inputted and an image inputted a predetermined period before; and

disabling said inactivating when it is determined that there is no difference between the two images.

51. The control method according to claim 45, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV conference system.

52. The control method according to claim 45, wherein said predetermined processing is to make an information processing apparatus function as a part of a TV phone system.

53. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a controller adapted to automatically control a screen saver function;

an inactivating unit adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver function;

the inactivating unit inactivates the screen saver function during the execution of a predetermined application program, wherein the predetermined application program does not activate the processor.

54. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a controller adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period; and

a pseudo user event generator adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

55. An image sensing system comprising:

a controller adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period; and

a pseudo user event generator adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during image sensing operation,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

56. A control method comprising:

providing a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period; and

automatically and periodically generating a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

57. A computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising:

a code unit for adapted to provide a screen saver when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period, and

a first computer readable program code unit adapted to automatically and periodically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver during predetermined processing,

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.

58. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor,

a controller adapted to automatically control a screen saver,

an inactivating unit adapted to automatically generate a pseudo user input event to inactivate the screen saver, the inactivating unit inactivates the screen saver during the execution of a predetermined application program, wherein the predetermined application program does not activate the processor, and

wherein the generation of the pseudo user input event is performed more than once.