CN1173327C - Apparatus and method for performing scrolling function of pointing device in computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer system including an operating system, comprising a keyboard for generating one or more specific control signals in response to one or more input keys; a pointing device for generating pointing information in response to movement of the pointing device; The control signal of the keyboard, and the microcomputer that generates scrolling information corresponding to the pointing information to the operating system. When a control signal is continuously input from a specific function key, the microcomputer outputs scroll information to the operating system to perform a scroll operation, and when the control signal is not continuously input, outputs the pointing information to the operating system to perform a normal operation.

Description

Apparatus and method for performing scrolling function of pointing device in computer system

This application relies on the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-36317 filed on August 30, 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

technical field

The present invention relates to a computer system with a pointing device, in particular to an apparatus and method for performing a scrolling function of the pointing device in the computer system.

Background technique

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for computers have gained widespread use and acceptance in recent years, especially those systems that allow a single display device to present information in two or more discrete areas on a single screen. These discrete areas, often referred to as "windows," can be used to present information to the user in textual, graphical, and similar forms. Since a specific window is usually displayed to the user so that a specific action can be performed accordingly, such as reading, inputting data, or manipulating the content of the window, for convenience, the information given in the specific window is referred to as "work" here. object". For the purpose of implementing the graphical user interface, it is provided that the user can move the displayed pointer cursor to locate it on a specific graphical user interface element and cause the computer system to respond in a certain way associated with the specific user interface element. Devices that point at objects on a screen have become common. Movement of the cursor may be accomplished through physical manipulation of a pointing device such as a mouse, touchpad, joystick, or directional control keys of a keyboard.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a conventional portable computer system 10 . Referring to FIG. 1, a portable computer system 10 includes a touchpad as a pointing device. Various methods and systems that can be used to implement the graphical user interface system are well known to computer programmers in the art.

In recent years, computer programs have become more sophisticated, requiring the user to control the various tools needed to fully realize the computer program. For example, Microsoft Corporation's generic Windows operating system that actually requires the use of pointing devices also uses pointing devices to perform sub-functions within the operating system such as erasing, coloring, drawing lines of various widths, scrolling, defining blocks, moving or deleting blocks, and similar content. Each of these sub-functions is typically implemented through a GUI display.

2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a GUI display interface including scrollable windows 30a and 30b. 2A and 2B, the display interface of a typical program may include a menu bar 31, a button bar 32, and data display screens 33a and 33b. Additionally, vertical and horizontal scroll bars 34 and 37 (and the graphical portions of the scroll bars, such as arrow buttons 36 and 39, and sliders 35 and 38) typically occupy a small portion or two of the screen.

Each of the arrows 36 and 39 controls scrolling in that direction the user desires through the visual object. Arrows 36 and 39 typically control movement through the visual object in small increments or small chunks of information, such as a single row or page of the visual object. Additionally, if the arrow 39 points in the upward direction, the viewable will scroll from its current position in the viewable to the first page shown in Figure 2A. If the arrow 39 points in a downward direction, the viewable will scroll from its current position in the viewable to the last page of the viewable shown in Figure 2B.

Sliders 35 and 38 are generally used to control movement of the visual object in larger increments than when arrows 36 and 39 are used to control the movement of small pieces of information. , or groups of information, such as two or more pages, are moved through visual object controls. So when the user wants to go from the first page to the ninth page, they usually select and move the slider until the ninth page is selected. The term "lift bar" is also used to describe the slider.

However, since the scroll bars 34 and 37 are typically located on a small portion of the screen, it can be difficult and/or time consuming for the user to accurately position the cursor on the scroll bars and scroll bar components. Users often overshoot the scrollbars and must use multiple motions to return the cursor to the proper position on the screen. Increasing the size of the scroll bar and its constituent parts is not a desirable option as this necessarily reduces the amount of display area available for data in the main data display portion. To solve the above-mentioned problems, a wheel mouse capable of performing a scrolling function is provided.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a wheel mouse 40 capable of performing a scrolling function. An example of a scrolling mouse is found in US Patent No. 5,530,455, issued June 25, 1996 to Gillick et al., entitled "Wheel Mouse for Implementing Scrolling in Windows Applications."

Referring to FIG. 3, a wheel mouse 40 includes left and right buttons 42 and 46, and an additional wheel 44 on its top surface. Wheel 44 is used to scroll the display window without repositioning the cursor. However, the use of the wheel mouse 40 is limited: it requires complex and expensive mechanical additions to existing mice. Additionally, the wheel mouse 40 is not suitable for some desktop computers and most portable computers (typically using trackballs, touch pads and similar fixed pointing devices) because of the space required to accommodate the moving mouse. Additionally, the computer system connected to the wheel mouse requires a dedicated driver or application program provided by the manufacturer or supplier to operate the wheel mouse. Usually, drivers or applications provided by different manufacturers and suppliers are different from each other and thus lack compatibility.

Contents of the invention

Therefore, there is a need for a novel apparatus and method for improving the performance of Windows and similar operating systems supporting GUI display interfaces by simplifying and accelerating the sub-functions performed by pointing devices, particularly the scrolling function.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for simplifying and speeding up the scrolling function of a pointing device in a computer system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for simplifying and speeding up the scrolling function of a pointing device in a computer system.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a computer system is provided, including a keyboard for generating one or more specific control signals in response to one or more input keys, and for generating pointing information in response to movement of a pointing device A pointing device, and a microcomputer for detecting control signals from the keyboard and generating scrolling information corresponding to the pointing information to the operating system.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for performing a scrolling function in a computer system including an operating system, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a control signal for controlling a scrolling operation is input from a specific function key included in a keyboard; When the control signal is continuously input, the scrolling information corresponding to the pointing information input from the pointing device is output to the operating system, so as to perform a scrolling operation in the active window of the operating system; when the control signal is not continuously input, output from the pointing device to the operating system Points to information to perform the normal operation of the operating system in the operating system's activation window.

Description of drawings

The invention will be better understood, and a more complete appreciation of the invention, together with its numerous attendant advantages will become apparent, by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate the same or similar components, where:

Fig. 1 is the exterior view of conventional portable computer system;

2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating a GUI display interface including a scrollable window;

Fig. 3 is the exterior view of the wheel mouse capable of performing the scrolling function;

4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a portable computer system capable of performing a scrolling function according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection between the microcomputer and the pointing device shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure of the computer system shown in Figure 4;

7 is a flow chart showing a control method for performing a scrolling function in the portable computer system shown in FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for performing a scrolling function in the portable computer system shown in FIG. 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a portable computer system 100 capable of performing a scrolling function using a general pointing device according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4 , computer system 100 includes central processing unit (CPU) 102 , main memory 104 constituted by random access memory (RAM), and basic input/output system (BIOS) read only memory (ROM) 106 . In addition, the computer system 100 includes an integrated device electronics (IDE) controller 110, an input/output (I/O) controller 120, and a novel microcomputer 130 according to the present invention.

A hard disk drive (HDD) 112 and a CD-ROM drive 114 are connected to the IDE controller 110 . HDD 112 contains an operating system (for example, Microsoft's Windows), and one or more application programs. One or more serial and parallel devices 122 and 124 are connected to I/O controller 120 .

A keyboard 140, a touch panel 150, and a PS/2 type mouse 160 are connected to the microcomputer 130 as input devices. Microprocessor 130 controls input devices 140 , 150 and 160 . The touchpad 150 and the mouse 160 function as pointing devices for inputting pointing information to the microcomputer 130 . Pointing information is related to movement of the pointing device. The keyboard 140 includes a specific function key Fn142 for inputting a scroll control signal to the microcomputer 130 in order to control a scroll function of the pointing device 150 or 160 . The microcomputer 130 includes an authentication unit 132 connected to the keyboard 140 , and a data transformation unit 134 connected to the touch panel 150 and/or the mouse 160 . The identification unit 132 determines whether the function key Fn142 is pressed by detecting the scroll control signal. When the function key Fn142 is continuously pressed, the data conversion unit 134 converts pointing information from the pointing device 150 or 160 into scrolling information for performing a scrolling function.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection between the microcomputer 130 and the pointing devices 150 and 160 shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, the microcomputer 130 detects the input state of the function key Fn142 by receiving the scroll control signal FN_SCROLL generated from the keyboard 140 when the user presses the function key Fn142. The function key Fn142 is employed in various models of portable computer systems manufactured by Samsung Electronics Corporation. Function key Fn142 cooperates with other function keys F1-F2 to save power, activate external display, adjust audio output, etc.

In addition, the microcomputer 130 controls the clock signal CLK of the pointing devices 150 and 160 in response to the pointing information DATA from the pointing devices 150 and 160, so as to execute sub-functions in the operating system, such as erasing, coloring, drawing lines of various widths, Scroll, define blocks, move or delete blocks, etc.

If the function key Fn142 is continuously pressed to perform a scrolling function, the microcomputer 130 converts the pointing information DATA into scrolling information DATA_SCROLL, and then outputs the converted scrolling information DATA_SCROLL to the operating system.

When the scroll control signal FN_SCROLL is input to the microcomputer 130 through the function key Fn142 , the microcomputer 130 generates an interrupt signal INTERRUPT to the BIOS 106 . In this case, BIOS 106 executes the corresponding interrupt service program in response to the interrupt signal INTERRUPT. Then, the microcomputer 130 converts the pointing information DATA from the pointing device 150 or 160 into scrolling information DATA_SCROLL. The converted scroll information DATA_SCROLL is output to the operating system or application.

Accordingly, the computer system can perform simplified and accelerated scrolling functions through common pointing devices such as the touchpad 150 and the PS/2 mouse 160 . Therefore, the computer does not require an additional wheeled mouse, including complex and expensive mechanical parts, and dedicated drives.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the computer system 100 shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. Referring to FIG. 6 , a computer system 100 including a Windows operating system or the like receives pointing information from a touchpad 150 or a PS/2 mouse 160 . The microcomputer 130 according to the present invention includes an authentication unit 132 and a data conversion unit 134 . The authentication unit 132 detects pressing of the function key Fn142. When the function key Fn142 is pressed continuously, the data conversion unit 134 generates scroll information DATA_SCROLL corresponding to the position information DATA.

For example, when the function key Fn142 is pressed continuously, if the pointing information DATA is input from the pointing device 150 or 160, the microcomputer 130 generates an interrupt signal INTERRUPT, such as IRQ12, to the BIOS106. BIOS 106 controls CPU 102 (refer to FIG. 4 ) to execute a corresponding interrupt service program. The CPU 102 provides the pointing information DATA from the microprocessor 130 to the operating system 170 . The operating system 170 performs normal operations corresponding to the pointing information DATA from the microcomputer 130 . At this time, a virtual device driver such as V×D shell of Windows discriminates the scroll control signal FN_SCROLL from a predetermined hot key signal in the activated application 180 or executes a function corresponding to the input hot key signal in the application 180 . Accordingly, the activated window may be scrolled up, down, left, and right in response to the scroll information DATA_SCROLL from the data transformation unit 134 of the microcomputer 130 .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for performing a scrolling function in the portable computer system shown in FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The method shown in FIG. 7 consists of a program that controls the scrolling function in response to the input state of the function key Fn. The program is stored in a memory (not shown) included in the microcomputer 130 , and is executed under the control of the microcomputer 130 .

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S200, the microcomputer 130 determines whether any key is pressed. If any key is pressed, the control flow advances to the next inquiry step S202. In step S202, it is determined whether the function key Fn is pressed. If the function key Fn is not pressed, the flow of control proceeds to step S212, where the microcomputer 130 performs normal operations corresponding to the input keys in the operating system or application programs. If the function key Fn is pressed, the control flow advances to step S204, where it is determined whether the function key Fn is continuously pressed. If not pressed, the microcomputer 130 continues to perform normal operations, and if the function key is pressed, the control flow proceeds to the next inquiry step S206.

In step S206, it is determined whether the mouse 160 (or the touch panel 150) moves during the Fn key input. In other words, it is determined whether or not pointing information DATA is input to the microcomputer 130 during Fn key input. If the pointing information DATA is input, the control flow advances to step S208, where the data transformation unit 134 of the microcomputer 130 transforms the pointing information DATA into scrolling information DATA_SCROLL. Then, in step S210, the converted scroll information DATA_SCROLL is output to the operating system or a corresponding application program, so as to perform a scroll function. According to the above method, the computer system can execute the scrolling function in response to the scrolling information DATA_SCROLL without an additional wheel mouse and a dedicated driver.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control method for performing a scrolling function in the portable computer system shown in FIG. 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Continuing to refer to FIG. 8, in step S300, the microcomputer 130 determines whether pointing information DATA corresponding to the movement of the mouse 160 (or the touchpad 150) is input. If the information is input, the control flow advances to the next inquiry step S302, where it is determined whether or not the function key Fn is pressed continuously. If the function key Fn is pressed continuously, the flow continues to step S304. In step S304, the data conversion unit 134 included in the microcomputer 130 converts pointing information DATA into scrolling information DATA_SCROLL. Then, in step S306, output the transformed scrolling information DATA_SCROLL to the operating system or the corresponding application program to perform the scrolling function. In addition, if the function key Fn is not continuously pressed, the flow continues to step S308, where the pointing information DATA is output to the operating system or the corresponding application program to perform normal operations.

According to the above method, the computer system can execute the scrolling function of the pointing device in response to the pointing information DATA from the pointing device and the scrolling control signal FN_SCROLL from the specific function key of the keyboard. In this case, the computer system does not require an additional wheeled mouse and a dedicated driver. In addition, the computer system can improve the performance of Windows or similar operating systems and programs supporting GUI displays by simplifying and speeding up the scrolling function of pointing devices, regardless of various system manufacturers and various product models.

While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that it may be practiced as outlined above with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. computer system that comprises operating system comprises:

Keyboard is used to respond one or more enter keies and produces one or more specific control signals;

Sensing equipment is used to respond the mobile generation directional information of this sensing equipment; With

Microcomputer is used to detect the control signal from keyboard, and produces the scrolling information corresponding with this directional information to operating system.

2. computer system according to claim 1, wherein microcomputer comprises:

Identification device is used to determine whether input control signal; With

Data converting apparatus is used for when continuous input control signal directional information being transformed into scrolling information, and wherein the scrolling information through conversion outputs to operating system to carry out rolling operation.

3. computer system according to claim 2, wherein when continuously during input control signal, microcomputer is exported this directional information to operating system, so that carry out normal running.

4. computer system according to claim 1, wherein keyboard further comprises and is used for input control signal to carry out the function key of rolling operation.

5. computer system according to claim 1, wherein this sensing equipment comprises a touch pad and a mouse.

6. method of in comprising the computer system of operating system, carrying out the rolling operation of sensing equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

Determine whether that the special function keys input that comprises is used to carry out the control signal of rolling operation from keyboard;

When this control signal of continuous input, to operating system output with from the corresponding scrolling information of the input directional information of sensing equipment, so that in the theactivewindow of operating system, carry out rolling operation; With

When continuously during input control signal, to the directional information of operating system output, so that in the theactivewindow of operating system, carry out normal operation from this sensing equipment.

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