U.S. patent application number 09/179424 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-09 for method of display scrolling along a timebase and an apparatus for performing the method.
Invention is credited to MIZUNO, SHINYA.
Application Number | 20020054103 09/179424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18016050 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020054103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MIZUNO, SHINYA |
May 9, 2002 |
METHOD OF DISPLAY SCROLLING ALONG A TIMEBASE AND AN APPARATUS FOR
PERFORMING THE METHOD
Abstract
This invention has a scroll means for displaying GUI operation
members consisting of calendar information on the computer screen,
and moving the screen display field to a date position containing
information corresponding to the date of the operated GUI operation
member upon operation of one of the GUI operation members. The user
can very easily see the information compared to a conventional
scroll bar display, and can quickly observe corresponding
information by only operating the GUI operation member of his or
her desired date.
Inventors: |
MIZUNO, SHINYA; (TOKYO,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POLLOCK VANDE SANDE & PRIDDY
PO BOX 19088
WASHINGTON
DC
200363425
|
Family ID: |
18016050 |
Appl. No.: |
09/179424 |
Filed: |
October 27, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/764 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 715/963 20130101;
G06Q 10/109 20130101; G06F 3/04855 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/764 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 28, 1997 |
JP |
9-311346 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scroll display method for moving a screen display field of
information along a time axis, which is displayed on a screen,
along the time axis, comprising the steps of: displaying GUI
operation members consisting of calendar information on the screen;
and moving the screen display field along the time axis to display
at least information corresponding to a date indicated by the
operated GUI operation member on the screen upon operation of one
of said GUI operation members.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said GUI operation
members are displayed on the screen together with information to be
displayed on the screen display field.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to
one day.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned
to one month.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned
to one year.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed
on the screen display field is schedule information for scheduling,
said method has a mode for displaying the schedule information in
units of days, a mode for displaying the schedule information in
units of months, and a mode for displaying the schedule information
in units of years, and said GUI operation members are switched to a
plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to one day, a
plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned to one month,
or a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned to one
year in correspondence with one of the modes selected.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the modes are switched by
mode selection means.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed
on the screen display field is time information for scheduling,
said method has a mode for displaying one unit schedule of the time
information, and a mode for simultaneously displaying a plurality
of unit schedules, and when the mode for simultaneously displaying
the plurality of unit schedules is selected, scrolling is made to
move and display a plurality of unit schedules of the time
information including a date indicated by the operated GUI
operation member within the screen display field.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the modes are switched by
mode switching means.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein a GUI operation member
consisting of a scroll bar is displayed in the vicinity of said GUI
operation members consisting of the calendar information, and when
the scroll bar is operated, the screen display field is moved along
the time axis to display information of a date corresponding to a
position of a scroll box that forms the scroll bar on the
screen.
11. A scroll display control apparatus for moving a screen display
field of information along a time axis, which is displayed on a
screen, along the time axis, comprising: GUI operation members
consisting of calendar information displayed on the screen; and
scroll means for moving the screen display field along the time
axis to display at least information corresponding to a date
indicated by the operated GUI operation member on the screen upon
operation of one of said GUI operation members.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said GUI operation
members are displayed on the screen together with information to be
displayed on the screen display field.
13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to
one day.
14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned
to one month.
15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned
to one year.
16. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information
displayed on the screen display field is schedule information for
scheduling, and said apparatus further comprises: mode selection
means for selecting one of a mode for displaying the schedule
information in units of days, a mode for displaying the schedule
information in units of months, and a mode for displaying the
schedule information in units of years; and GUI switching means for
switching said GUI operation members to a plurality of day buttons
each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of month buttons
each of which is assigned to one month, or a plurality of year
buttons each of which is assigned to one year in correspondence
with one of the modes selected.
17. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information
displayed on the screen display field is time information for
scheduling, said apparatus further comprises mode selection means
for selecting one of a mode for displaying one unit schedule of the
time information, and a mode for simultaneously displaying a
plurality of unit schedules, and when the mode for simultaneously
displaying the plurality of unit schedules is selected, said scroll
means scrolls to move and display a plurality of unit schedules of
the time information including a date indicated by the operated GUI
operation member within the screen display field.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a scroll button is
used together with said day, month, or year buttons.
19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a GUI operation
member consisting of a scroll bar is displayed in the vicinity of
said GUI operation members consisting of the calendar information,
and when the scroll bar is operated, said scroll means moves the
screen display field along the time axis to display information of
a date corresponding to a position of a scroll box that forms the
scroll bar on the screen.
20. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: first
storage means for storing schedule information in units of years,
months, and days for scheduling; second storage means for storing
some pieces of schedule information read out from said first
storage means; and read-out control means for, upon switching the
modes, controlling to store some pieces of schedule information
required for the selected mode from said first storage means to
said second storage means, and wherein when one of said GUI
operation members is operated, said scroll means reads out
information corresponding to a date indicated by the operated GUI
operation member from said second storage means and displays the
readout information on the screen.
21. A computer-readable storage medium recording a program for
making a computer implement a function of displaying GUI operation
members consisting of calendar information displayed on a screen
which can be scrolled to move a screen display field of information
along a time axis, along the time axis, and moving the screen
display field along the time axis to display at least information
corresponding to a date indicated by the operated GUI operation
member on the screen upon operation of one of said GUI operation
members.
22. A medium according to claim 21, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to
one day.
23. A medium according to claim 21, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned
to one month.
24. A medium according to claim 21, wherein said GUI operation
members are a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned
to one year.
25. A medium according to claim 21, wherein the information
displayed on the screen display field is schedule information for
scheduling, and said medium further records a program for making
the computer implement a function, which has mode selection means
for selecting one of a mode for displaying the schedule information
in units of days, a mode for displaying the schedule information in
units of months, and a mode for displaying the schedule information
in units of years, and which switches said GUI operation members to
a plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to one day, a
plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned to one month,
or a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned to one
year in correspondence with one of the modes selected.
26. A medium according to claim 21, further recording a program for
making the computer implement a function of displaying a GUI
operation member consisting of a scroll bar in the vicinity of said
GUI operation members consisting of the calendar information, and
moving the screen display field along the time axis to display
information of a date corresponding to a position of a scroll box
that forms the scroll bar on the screen upon operation of the
scroll bar.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. [Field of the Invention]
[0002] The present invention relates to a scroll display method on
a time axis, a scroll display control apparatus, and a storage
medium and, for example, to a technique for moving the screen
display field of information, which is formed along the time axis,
along the time axis on a planning chart used in, e.g., scheduling
on a computer.
[0003] 2. [Description of the Related Art]
[0004] Conventionally, various techniques for displaying planning
charts used in, e.g., scheduling on the display screen of a
computer and controlling schedules on the computer have been
proposed. As an example of a planning chart, a bar chart, a
so-called Gantt chart, which is used in production planning,
control, and the like, and depicts jobs, experiments, or the like
planned or done in relation to time, is known.
[0005] When such Gantt chart is displayed on the entire computer
screen or on a window in the screen, all scheduled items on the
time axis cannot often be displayed. In such case, a GUI operation
member called a scroll bar is displayed. By operating this scroll
bar, information within the screen or window can be scrolled
vertically or horizontally.
[0006] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, only a schedule for one day
is displayed on the display screen, and when a schedule for another
day is to be input or checked, the user can move the display field
to the right or left by clicking a right or left scroll button 41b
or 41a of a scroll bar 41. In this case, upon operation of the left
scroll button 41a, a schedule of the previous day is displayed on
the screen, and upon operation of the right scroll button 41b, a
schedule of the next day is displayed. By dragging a scroll box 41c
to the right or left, the display field can be moved.
[0007] However, in the conventional technique which uses the
aforementioned scroll bar 41 as a means for moving (scrolling) the
display field along the time axis in association with information
formed along the time axis such as a Gantt chart, scroll
operability upon displaying information for a desired day on the
screen is very poor.
[0008] More specifically, when the right or left scroll button 41b
or 41a is used, the screen is scrolled once per clicking, and the
scroll speed is low. When the display field is to be moved skipping
many days, a long time is required. By holding down the right or
left scroll buttons 41b or 41a, the same effect as continuous
clicking can be obtained, but such operation is by no means
convenient.
[0009] By contrast, when the scroll box 41c is used, the display
field can be quickly moved to information of a schedule part
corresponding to the dropped position of the scroll box 41c on the
scroll bar 41. However, in order to display a schedule for a
desired day on the screen, the user experiences difficulty in
determining the dropping position of the scroll box 41c. As a
consequence, the user must gradually move the display field using
the right or left scroll button 41b or 41a, or the scroll box 41c
to adjust the display position while confirming the screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to improve scroll
operability upon displaying information for a desired interval of
time when a display field is scrolled along the time axis for
information such as a Gantt chart on a computer.
[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a scroll display
method on a time axis according to the present invention, comprises
the steps of: displaying GUI operation members consisting of
calendar information on the screen; and moving the screen display
field along the time axis to display at least information
corresponding to a date indicated by the operated GUI operation
member on the screen upon operation of one of the GUI operation
members.
[0012] Note that the GUI operation members may be displayed on the
screen together with information to be displayed on the screen
display field.
[0013] The GUI operation members may be a plurality of day buttons
each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of month buttons
each of which is assigned to one month, or a plurality of year
buttons each of which is assigned to one year.
[0014] The information displayed on the screen display field may be
schedule information for scheduling, the method may have a mode for
displaying the schedule information in units of days, a mode for
displaying the schedule information in units of months, and a mode
for displaying the schedule information in units of years, and the
GUI operation members may be switched to a plurality of day buttons
each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of month buttons
each of which is assigned to one month, or a plurality of year
buttons each of which is assigned to one year in correspondence
with one of the modes selected.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, the information
displayed on the screen display field is time information for
scheduling, the method has a mode for displaying one unit schedule
of the time information, and a mode for simultaneously displaying a
plurality of unit schedules, and when the mode for simultaneously
displaying the plurality of unit schedules is selected, scrolling
is made to move and display a plurality of unit schedules of the
time information including a date indicated by the operated GUI
operation member within the screen display field.
[0016] In still another aspect of the present invention, a GUI
operation member consisting of a scroll bar is displayed in the
vicinity of the GUI operation members consisting of the calendar
information, and when the scroll bar is operated, the screen
display field is moved along the time axis to display information
of a date corresponding to a position of a scroll box that forms
the scroll bar on the screen.
[0017] A scroll display control apparatus on the time axis
according to the present invention is a scroll display control
apparatus for moving a screen display field of information along a
time axis, which is displayed on a screen, along the time axis,
comprising GUI operation members consisting of calendar information
displayed on the screen, and scroll means for moving the screen
display field along the time axis to display at least information
corresponding to a date indicated by the operated GUI operation
member on the screen upon operation of one of the GUI operation
members.
[0018] The GUI operation members may be a plurality of day buttons
each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of month buttons
each of which is assigned to one month, or a plurality of year
buttons each of which is assigned to one year.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, the information
displayed on the screen display field is schedule information for
scheduling, and the apparatus further comprises mode selection
means for selecting one of a mode for displaying the schedule
information in units of days, a mode for displaying the schedule
information in units of months, and a mode for displaying the
schedule information in units of years, and GUI switching means for
switching the GUI operation members to a plurality of day buttons
each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of month buttons
each of which is assigned to one month, or a plurality of year
buttons each of which is assigned to one year in correspondence
with one of the modes selected.
[0020] In still another aspect of the present invention, the
information displayed on the screen display field is time
information for scheduling, the apparatus further comprises mode
selection means for selecting one of a mode for displaying one unit
schedule of the time information, and a mode for simultaneously
displaying a plurality of unit schedules, and when the mode for
simultaneously displaying the plurality of unit schedules is
selected, the scroll means scrolls to move and display a plurality
of unit schedules of the time information including a date
indicated by the operated GUI operation member within the screen
display field.
[0021] In still another aspect of the present invention, a scroll
button is used together with the day, month, or year buttons.
[0022] In still another aspect of the present invention, a GUI
operation member consisting of a scroll bar is displayed in the
vicinity of the GUI operation members consisting of the calendar
information, and when the scroll bar is operated, the scroll means
moves the screen display field along the time axis to display
information of a date corresponding to a position of a scroll box
that forms the scroll bar on the screen.
[0023] In still another aspect of the present invention, the
apparatus further comprises first storage means for storing
schedule information in units of years, months, and days for
scheduling, second storage means for storing some pieces of
schedule information read out from the first storage means, and
read-out control means for, upon switching the modes, controlling
to store some pieces of schedule information required for the
selected mode from the first storage means to the second storage
means, and when one of the GUI operation members is operated, the
scroll means reads out information corresponding to a date
indicated by the operated GUI operation member from the second
storage means and displays the readout information on the
screen.
[0024] A computer-readable storage medium according to the present
invention records a program for making a computer implement a
function of displaying GUI operation members consisting of calendar
information displayed on a screen which can be scrolled to move a
screen display field of information along a time axis, along the
time axis, and moving the screen display field along the time axis
to display at least information corresponding to a date indicated
by the operated GUI operation member on the screen upon operation
of one of the GUI operation members.
[0025] Note that the GUI operation members may be a plurality of
day buttons each of which is assigned to one day, a plurality of
month buttons each of which is assigned to one month, or a
plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned to one
year.
[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, the information
displayed on the screen display field is schedule information for
scheduling, and the medium further records a program for making the
computer implement a function, which has mode selection means for
selecting one of a mode for displaying the schedule information in
units of days, a mode for displaying the schedule information in
units of months, and a mode for displaying the schedule information
in units of years, and which switches the GUI operation members to
a plurality of day buttons each of which is assigned to one day, a
plurality of month buttons each of which is assigned to one month,
or a plurality of year buttons each of which is assigned to one
year in correspondence with one of the modes selected.
[0027] In still another aspect of the present invention, the medium
further records a program for making the computer implement a
function of displaying a GUI operation member consisting of a
scroll bar in the vicinity of the GUI operation members consisting
of the calendar information, and moving the screen display field
along the time axis to display information of a date corresponding
to a position of a scroll box that forms the scroll bar on the
screen upon operation of the scroll bar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a conventional scroll
display method;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principal functional
arrangement of a computer which comprises a scroll display control
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a scroll display method on a
time axis according to the present invention, and shows a display
example on a screen when a day mode and normal mode have been
selected;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a scroll display method on a
time axis according to the present invention, and shows a display
example on the screen when the day mode and a reduced-scale mode
have been selected;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a scroll display method on a
time axis according to the present invention, and shows a display
example on the screen when a month mode and the normal mode have
been selected;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a scroll display method on a
time axis according to the present invention, and shows a display
example on the screen when a year mode and the normal mode have
been selected;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a scroll display method on a
time axis according to the present invention, and shows another
display example on the screen when the day mode and normal mode
have been selected;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing hardware image of a
computer which comprises a scroll display control apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a data storage example in
a first RAM shown in FIG. 8; and
[0037] FIGS. 10A to 10C are flow charts showing the operation of
the computer shown in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principal functional
arrangement of a computer which comprises a scroll display control
apparatus according to the present invention.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a screen of
a display apparatus (to be referred to as a display screen
hereinafter), within which a window 2 is displayed. Various kinds
of information are displayed on this window 2. In this embodiment,
information that can be depicted along the time axis, e.g., a
planning chart (e.g., a Gantt chart) used in various kinds of
scheduling on the computer is displayed.
[0041] When such Gantt chart is displayed on the window 2, all
pieces of information cannot often be displayed at once within the
window. Hence, GUI operation members 3 are displayed together with
the window 2. By operating one of the GUI operation members 3,
schedule information (screen display field) in the Gantt chart
within the window 2 can be scrolled to the right or left along the
time axis.
[0042] In this embodiment, the GUI operation members 3 include
those consisting of calendar information. For example, in a day
mode (to be described in detail later), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
in detail, the GUI operation members 3 include a plurality of day
buttons 3a, right and left scroll buttons 3c and 3b, a scroll bar
3d, and scroll buttons 3e and 3f for switching information to be
displayed to a schedule for the last or next month. In this
example, the day buttons 3a are displayed for 30 days from the
start day to be displayed. The start day to be displayed can be
arbitrarily set.
[0043] This embodiment has, as a mode upon displaying schedule
information of the Gantt chart on the window 2, a day mode for
displaying information in units of days, a month mode for
displaying information in units of months, and a year mode for
displaying information in units of years. Furthermore, the day mode
is classified into a normal mode for displaying schedule
information for a day, and a reduced-scale mode for displaying
information for a plurality of days at the same time. The month and
year modes are also classified into the normal and reduced-scale
modes. These modes can be selected by a mode selection means 7
shown in FIG. 2.
[0044] In the example in FIG. 3, the day mode for displaying
schedule information in units of days, and the normal mode for
displaying schedule information for a day have been selected. In
the example in FIG. 4, the day mode has been selected as in FIG. 3,
but the reduced-scale mode for displaying schedule information for
a plurality of days (five days in this example) at the same time
has been selected in place of the normal mode.
[0045] The mode selection means 7 may be implemented by hardware
buttons and the like provided to the computer, or GUI operation
members displayed on the display screen 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 exemplify
a case wherein the mode selection means 7 is implemented by GUI
operation members.
[0046] More specifically, as a GUI button for selecting one of the
normal and reduced-scale modes, a reduced-scale button 7a for
displaying schedule information by changing, e.g., the reduction
scale on the time axis is provided. By pressing this reduced-scale
button 7a, the normal mode and reduced-scale mode are toggled.
Also, an arbitrary item may be selected by clicking a mouse button
from a popup menu that shows a list of one day/five days/one week,
and the like.
[0047] As GUI buttons for selecting one of the year, month, and day
modes, a year mode button 7b, month mode button 7c, and day mode
button 7d are provided. Of these three buttons, a mode
corresponding to the pressed button is set. Note that the year,
month, and day modes may be toggled every time one button is
pressed, like the reduced-scale button 7a.
[0048] The contents of the mode selected by these buttons 7a to 7d
are displayed as a guide 7e. In the example in FIG. 3, "one day" is
displayed there, i.e., it indicates that the day mode and normal
mode have been selected. On the other hand, in the example in FIG.
4, "five days" is displayed there, i.e., it indicates that the day
mode and reduced-scale mode have been selected.
[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 show display examples in the day mode, as
described above. Display examples in the month and year modes are
respectively shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (both these examples are in the
normal mode). Although not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a bar schedule
chart is displayed on the window 2 in practice like in FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0050] In FIG. 5 that shows the display example in the month mode,
a plurality of month buttons 3g to each of which one operation
member is assigned per month are displayed in place of the day
buttons 3a displayed in the day mode. On the other hand, the scroll
buttons 3e and 3f displayed in the day mode serve as scroll buttons
for switching the schedule to the one for the last or next year.
Other GUI buttons are the same as those in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0051] Also, in FIG. 6 that shows the display example in the year
mode, a plurality of year buttons 3h to each of which one operation
member is assigned per year are displayed in place of the day
buttons 3a displayed in the day mode. On the other hand, the scroll
buttons 3e and 3f which are displayed in the day or month mode are
not displayed. Other GUI buttons are the same as those in FIGS. 3
and 4.
[0052] Referring back to FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes an
information management means for managing schedule information of
the Gantt chart displayed on the window 2 in units of, e.g., years,
months, and days. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display control
means for controlling to display schedule information managed by
the information management means 4 on the window 2. Reference
numeral 6 denotes a scroll means which controls the display control
means 5 to immediately move the screen display field to a data
position containing schedule information corresponding to the year,
month, and day of the operated button, when a given button of the
GUI operation members 3 is operated.
[0053] More specifically, when the mode selection means 7 has
selected a mode for displaying schedule information for a day in
units of days, and the day button 3a for the 14th is clicked on the
screen shown in FIG. 3, the scroll means 6 is informed of that
operation. The scroll means 6 directs the display control means 5
to move the screen display field to schedule information
corresponding to the 14th. In response to this direction, the
display control means 5 reads out schedule information for the 14th
from the information management means 4, supplies the readout
information to the display apparatus, and displays the information
on the window 2.
[0054] In this embodiment, since the right and left scroll buttons
3c and 3b are also displayed, a display can be gradually updated
day by day. For example, when the left scroll button 3b is clicked
while schedule information for the 14th is being displayed on the
screen in FIG. 3, schedule information corresponding to the 13th is
displayed; when the right scroll button 3c is clicked in that
state, schedule information corresponding to the 15th is
displayed.
[0055] When the scroll button 3e or 3f is clicked on the screen,
the scroll means 6 is informed of that operation. The scroll means
6 directs to move the screen display field to schedule information
for the last or next month on the same day as that currently
displayed. In response to this direction, the display control means
5 reads out the corresponding schedule information for the last or
next month from the information management means 4, supplies the
readout information to the display apparatus, and displays the
information on the window 2.
[0056] For example, initially, e.g., immediately after the day mode
button 7d has been pressed, schedule information of the current
month selected upon operation is displayed. At that time, when the
day button 3a for the 14th is clicked, schedule information
corresponding to the 14th of the current month is read out from the
information management means 4, and is displayed on the window 2.
Furthermore, when the scroll button 3e is clicked in that state,
schedule information corresponding to the 14th of the last month is
read out from the information management means 4, and is displayed
on the window 2.
[0057] When a mode for displaying schedule information for a
plurality of days in units of days is selected by the mode
selection means 7, the scroll means 6 scrolls to move schedule
information for a plurality of days including the day of the
operated day button 3a to fall within the screen display field. For
example, when the day button 3a for the 14th is clicked on the
screen shown in FIG. 4, the scroll means 6 is informed of that
operation. Upon reception of this information, the scroll means 6
controls the display control means 5 to move the screen display
field to display schedule information for five days including the
14th on the window 2.
[0058] In the example in FIG. 4, the plurality of day buttons 3a
are divided in units of five days from the left end, and schedule
information for each divided unit is displayed on the window 2.
According to this example, since the day button 3a for the 14th is
included within the unit from the 13th to 17th, schedule
information for the 13th to 17th is displayed on the window 2 upon
operation of the day button 3a for the 14th. That is, independently
of the day buttons 3a for the 13th and 17th to be pressed, the same
display state is obtained after scrolling, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0059] Note that the display format upon displaying schedule
information in units of a plurality of days is not limited to such
example shown in FIG. 4. For example, schedule information on the
day of the operated day button 3a may always be displayed at the
center of the screen of the window 2. In such case, upon operation
of the day button 3a for the 14th, schedule information for the
12th to 16th is read out from the information management means 4
and displayed.
[0060] When a mode for displaying schedule information for one
month in units of months has been selected by the mode selection
means 7, if the month button 3g for April is clicked on the screen
in FIG. 5, the scroll means 6 is informed of that operation. The
scroll means 6 directs the display control means 5 to move the
screen display field to schedule information corresponding to
"April". In response to this direction, the display control means 5
reads out schedule information for "April", supplies the readout
information to the display apparatus, and displays the information
on the window 2.
[0061] Furthermore, when the scroll button 3e or 3f is clicked in
that state, schedule information corresponding to "April" of the
last or next year is read out from the information management means
4, and is displayed on the window 2. Upon display in the month mode
shown in FIG. 5 as well, initially, e.g., immediately after the
month mode button 7c has been operated, schedule information for
the current year upon operation is displayed.
[0062] When a mode for displaying schedule information for one year
in units of years has been selected by the mode selection means 7,
if the year button 3h for 1998 is clicked on the screen in FIG. 6,
the scroll means 6 is informed of that operation. The scroll means
6 directs the display control means 5 to move the screen display
field to schedule information corresponding to "1998". In response
to this direction, the display control means 5 reads out schedule
information for "1998" from the information management means 4,
supplies the readout information to the display apparatus, and
displays the information on the window 2.
[0063] In this way, according to this embodiment, by operating the
day button 3a, month button 3g, year button 3h, or the like,
schedule information of the corresponding day, month, or year can
be displayed on the window 2. In addition, schedule information can
be scrolled by operating a scroll box 3d.sub.-1 or a right or left
scroll button 3d.sub.-3 or 3d.sub.-2 that form the scroll bar
3d.
[0064] For example, on the display screen in FIG. 3, when the day
button 3a for the 14th is clicked, schedule information for one day
corresponding to the 14th is displayed on the window 2, as
described above. By contrast, when the scroll box 3d.sub.-1 is
dragged, schedule information for a certain day can be displayed in
the same manner as that upon operation of the day button 3a, and
schedule information across two days can also be displayed.
[0065] More specifically, when the scroll box 3.sub.d-1 is dragged
to the central position between, e.g., the 14th and 15th, schedule
information for the latter half (e.g., 19:00 to 7:00) of the 14th
and schedule information for the former half (e.g., 7:00 to 19:00)
of the 15th are displayed in combination on the window 2. Such
display can also be attained by slightly moving the scroll box
3d.sub.-1 by clicking the right or left scroll button 3d.sub.-3 or
3d.sub.-2.
[0066] Upon creating a certain job schedule, the user must be aware
of the fact that the job may be completed within one day or may
continue over a plurality of days, or it may start from a late time
of a certain day and end at a certain time of the next day. Upon
planning or checking a job that takes less than one day, the user
need only operate the corresponding day button 3a. However, when a
job takes more than one day, the user can easily confirm the start
and end times of the job across the days by operating the scroll
bar 3d.
[0067] When the scroll bar 3d is operated on the display screen in
the month mode shown in FIG. 5 or in the year mode shown in FIG. 6,
schedule information across two months or years can be displayed on
the window 2 by coupling their latter and former halves.
[0068] In this manner, schedule information at the boundaries
between days, months, or years can be very easily created or
checked.
[0069] In the examples in FIGS. 3 and 4, information for 24 hours
is displayed as schedule information for a day. Alternatively, as
shown in FIG. 7, schedule information for hours shorter than 24
hours may be displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, schedule
information for eight hours (7:00 to 15:00) is displayed. Depending
on the contents of a job to be scheduled, the time zone for the job
may be limited in relation to, e.g., the equipment operation time
period.
[0070] For example, when the operation time period ranges from 7:00
to 15:00, since a job schedule can be planned within that period,
schedule information for that period is managed by the information
management means 4, and is displayed on the window 2 via the
display control means 5. In such case, whether information for 24
hours or several hours shorter than 24 hours is displayed may be
switched by automatically checking schedule information managed in
the information management means 4 by the display control means 5,
or the user may designate it by preparing GUI buttons or menus for
that.
[0071] The information management means 4, display control means 5,
and scroll means 6 shown in FIG. 2 above are implemented by a
microcomputer system which comprises a CPU, ROM, RAM, hard disk,
and the like (not shown), in practice. The work program of the CPU
for attaining the above-mentioned scrolling is stored in, e.g., the
ROM. In this case, the ROM that stores the work program constitutes
a recording medium of the present invention.
[0072] Alternatively, the work program for the CPU may be stored in
the hard disk. The work program can be externally supplied to this
hard disk. In this case, the hard disk and a means for externally
supplying the work program, e.g., a recording medium that stores
the work program, constitute a recording medium of the present
invention.
[0073] As a recording medium that stores the work program, for
example, a floppy disk, optical disk, magnetooptical disk, CD-ROM,
magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, and the like may be used in
addition to the above-mentioned ROM and hard disk.
[0074] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing hardware image when the
scroll display control apparatus of this embodiment is implemented
by the microcomputer system. Note that buttons 3a to 3h, and 7a to
7d illustrated around a CPU 11 in FIG. 8 are GUI operation members
displayed on the display screen of a display unit 15 in practice,
and are not hardware components in strict sense, but they are
illustrated for the purpose of easy understanding.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 8, the CPU 11 executes scroll display
control described above with the aid of the display screens shown
in FIGS. 3 to 7 in accordance with the work program stored in a ROM
12. In the scroll display control, the CPU 11 outputs appropriate
addresses to first and second RAMs 13 and 14 to read out schedule
information stored in these RAMs 13 and 14 to the display unit 15
in units of days, months, or years.
[0076] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing schedule information
stored in the first RAM 13. As shown in FIG. 9, the schedule
information is stored in the first RAM 13 in units of years,
months, and days. The CPU 11 appropriately controls the address to
be output in correspondence with the current display mode selected
by one of the mode selection buttons 7a to 7d so as to read out
schedule information from the first RAM 13 in units of years,
months, or days.
[0077] At this time, since the volume of information stored in the
first RAM 13 is very large, when the corresponding schedule
information is read out to the display unit 15 by designating an
appropriate address in the first RAM 13 upon operation of one of
the scroll display buttons 3a to 3h, much time is required from
that access to read-out, resulting in slow scrolling.
[0078] To avoid such problem, in this embodiment, when one of the
display modes is selected upon operation of one of the mode
selection buttons 7a to 7d, schedule information in an appropriate
unit corresponding to the selected display mode is read out from
the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14 in advance. Note that the
second RAM 14 has a size much smaller than that of the first RAM
13. For example, the first RAM 13 may be constructed by a
large-capacity hard disk or the like, and the second RAM 14 may be
constructed by a DRAM or the like.
[0079] Upon operation of one of the scroll display buttons 3a to
3h, the CPU 11 detects the day of the month, month, year, or the
like of the operated button, and reads out schedule information
corresponding to the detected contents from the second RAM 14 to
the display unit 15. With this control, when a scroll instruction
is actually issued, the corresponding schedule information can be
read out from the second RAM 14 with a small size to the display
unit 15, thus preventing slow scrolling.
[0080] For example, when the day mode is selected upon operation of
the day mode button 7d, the CPU 11 outputs an address for reading
out schedule information for a month including the current date
counted by a current date counter 11a to the first RAM 13 to read
out the schedule information for that month to the second RAM 14 in
advance. For example, if the date upon setting the day mode is
October 2, 1998, schedule information for the month of October in
1998 is read out onto the second RAM 14.
[0081] After that, if the day button 3a for the 14th is pressed, as
has been described above with reference to FIG. 3, the CPU 11
outputs an address for outputting schedule information for the 14th
to the second RAM 14. With this address, schedule information for
the 14th of October in 1998 is read out and is supplied to the
display unit 15.
[0082] In the initial state, the display mode is set in the day
mode and normal mode, and schedule information on the current date
indicated by the current date counter 11a is displayed on the
window of the display unit 15.
[0083] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 11 comprises X, Y, and Z
counters 11b, 11c, and 11d. These counters are used for displaying
schedule information in units of a plurality of days, months, or
years in the reduced-scale mode.
[0084] More specifically, in the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
modes for displaying schedule information for a day or five days
are toggled every time the reduced-scale button 7a is pressed. By
contrast, in the example shown in FIG. 8, schedule information to
be displayed at the same time increases by one day every time the
reduced-scale button 7a is pressed. When schedule information for
10 days is displayed by repetitively pressing the reduced-scale
button 7a, the display returns to that for one day upon next
operation of the reduced-scale button 7a. The same applies to the
month and year modes. At this time, the contents of the counters
11b, 11c, and 11d are counted up in correspondence with operation
of the reduced-scale button 7a.
[0085] The operation of the scroll display control apparatus
according to this embodiment with the arrangement shown in FIG. 8
will be described in detail below with the aid of the flow charts
in FIGS. 10A to 10C. The flow chart shown in FIG. 10A starts
operation when the power supply of the computer is turned on or an
application program is started. In the initial state, since the day
mode and normal mode are set, schedule information for one month
including the current date indicated by the current date counter
11a is output from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14 in step
S1.
[0086] It is checked in step S2 if the scroll button 3e or 3f has
been pressed, i.e., if a display of schedule information for the
last or next month is directed. If such button has been operated,
schedule information for the last or next month is output from the
first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14 in step S3. On the other hand, if
the scroll button 3e or 3f is not operated, the control skips step
S3, and data loaded onto the second RAM 14 in step S1 is used.
[0087] In step S4, schedule information for the current date
indicated by the current date counter 11a is read out from the
second RAM 14 and is displayed on the display unit 15. If the
processing in step S3 has been done, schedule information on the
same day in the last or next month is displayed. Furthermore, it is
checked in step S5 if any day button 3a has been pressed. If a day
button 3a has been operated, schedule information for the day
corresponding to the operated button is read out from the second
RAM 14, and is displayed on the display unit 15 in step S6.
[0088] On the other hand, if none of the day buttons 3a are
operated, it is checked in step S7 if the scroll bar 3d has been
operated. If the scroll bar 3d has been operated, schedule
information for a day corresponding to the position of the moved
scroll box 3d.sub.-1 is read out from the second RAM 14 and is
displayed on the display unit 15 in step S8. On the other hand, if
the scroll bar 3d is not operated, it is checked in step S9 if the
reduced-scale button 7a has been operated.
[0089] If the reduced-scale button 7a has been operated, the value
of the X counter 11b for day of the month is incremented by 1 in
step S10, and it is checked in step S11 if the sum of the counter
value X and the current day of the month is larger than "28". This
number "28" indicates the number of days of February having the
smallest number of days in one year. If the sum of the counter
value X and the current day of the month exceeds this number of
days, it indicates that schedule information for a plurality of
days to be displayed is likely to include that for a day or days of
the next month.
[0090] Normally, in the day mode, the second RAM 14 stores only
schedule information for the current month. In such case, schedule
information for the next month must be read out from the first RAM
13 to the second RAM 14. For this purpose, if the sum of the
counter value X and the current day of the month is larger than
"28", the flow advances to step S12 to output schedule information
for the next month from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14,
thereby storing schedule information for two months in the second
RAM 14. On the other hand, if the sum is smaller than "28", the
control skips the processing in step S12, i.e., jumps to step
S13.
[0091] In step S13, schedule information for X days indicated by
the counter 11b for day of the month starting from the current day
of the month indicated by the current date counter 11a is read out
from the second RAM 14 and is displayed on the display unit 15.
After the processing in step S13, after the processing in step S6
or S8, or after it is determined in step S9 that the reduced-scale
button 7a is not operated, the flow advances to steps S14 and S15
to check if the month or year mode button 7c or 7b has been
operated. If none of the mode buttons are operated, the flow
returns to step S2 to continue the processing in the day mode. If
one of these mode buttons has been operated, the flow advances to
the processing in FIG. 10B or 10C to execute processing in the
month or year mode.
[0092] If the month mode button 7c has been pressed, schedule
information for a year including the current month indicated by the
current date counter 11a is output from the first RAM 13 to the
second RAM 14 in step S16 in FIG. 10B. It is then checked in step
S17 if the scroll button 3e or 3f has been pressed, i.e., if a
display of schedule information for the last or next year has been
instructed. If the scroll button 3e or 3f has been operated, the
flow advances to step S18 to output schedule information for the
last or next year from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14.
[0093] On the other hand, if neither the scroll button 3e nor 3f is
operated, the control skips the processing in step S18, and data
loaded onto the second RAM 14 in step S16 is used. In step S19,
schedule information for the current month indicated by the current
date counter 11a is read out from the second RAM 14 and is
displayed on the display unit 15. In this case, if the processing
in step S18 has been done, schedule information for the identical
month in the last or next year is displayed.
[0094] Furthermore, it is checked in step S20 if any month button
3g has been pressed. If one of the month buttons 3g has been
pressed, schedule information for a month corresponding to the
operated button is read out from the second RAM 14 and is displayed
on the display unit 15 in step S21. On the other hand, if none of
the month buttons 3g are operated, it is checked in step S22 if the
scroll bar 3d has been operated. If the scroll bar 3d has been
operated, schedule information for a month corresponding to the
position of the moved scroll box 3d.sub.-1 is read out from the
second RAM 14 and is displayed on the display unit 15 in step S23.
If the scroll bar 3d is not operated, it is also checked in step
S24 if the reduced-scale button 7a has been operated.
[0095] If the reduced-scale button 7a has been operated, the value
of the Y counter 11c for months is incremented by 1 in step S25,
and it is checked in step S26 if the sum of the counter value Y and
the current month number is larger than "12". This number "12"
indicates the number of months included in a year. If the sum of
the counter value Y and the current month number exceeds this
number of months, it indicates that schedule information for a
plurality of months to be displayed include that for a month or
months in the next year.
[0096] Normally, in the month mode, the second RAM 14 stores only
schedule information for the current year. In this case, schedule
information for the next year must be read out from the first RAM
13 to the second RAM 14. For this purpose, if the sum of the
counter value Y and the current month number is larger than "12",
the flow advances to step S27 to output schedule information for
the next year from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14, thus
storing schedule information for two years in the second RAM 14. On
the other hand, if the sum is smaller than "12", the control skips
the processing in step S27, i.e., jumps to step S28.
[0097] In step S28, schedule information for Y months indicated by
the counter 11c for the month number starting from the current
month indicated by the current date counter 11a is read out from
the second RAM 14 and is displayed on the display unit 15. After
the processing in step S28, after the processing in step S21 or
S23, or after it is determined in step S24 that the reduced-scale
button 7a is not operated, the flow advances to steps S29 and S30
to check if the day or year mode button 7d or 7b has been operated.
If neither of these mode buttons are operated, the flow returns to
step S17 to continue the processing in the month mode. On the other
hand, if one of these mode buttons has been operated, the flow
advances to the processing shown in FIG. 10A or 10C to execute
processing in the day or year mode.
[0098] If the year mode button 7b has been pressed, schedule
information for a plurality of years (e.g., three years) from the
current year indicated by the current date counter 11a is output
from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14 in step S31 in FIG. 10C.
In step S32, schedule information for the current year indicated by
the current date counter 11a is read out from the second RAM 14 and
is displayed on the display unit 15.
[0099] Furthermore, it is checked in step S33 if one of the year
buttons 3h has been operated. If one of the year buttons 3h has
been operated, schedule information for a year corresponding to the
operated button is read out from the second RAM 14 and is displayed
on the display unit 15 in step S34. On the other hand, if none of
the year buttons 3h are operated, it is checked in step S35 if the
scroll bar 3d has been operated. If the scroll bar 3d has been
operated, schedule information for a year corresponding to the
position of the moved scroll box 3d.sub.-1 is read out from the
second RAM 14 and is displayed on the display unit 15 in step S36.
If the scroll bar 3d is not operated, it is then checked in step
S37 if the reduced-scale button 7a has been operated.
[0100] If the reduced-scale button 7a has been operated, the value
of the Z counter 11d for years is incremented by 1 in step S38, and
it is checked in step S39 if the sum of the counter value Z and the
current year number is larger than the sum of a value obtained by
subtracting 1 from a value indicating the number of years (three
years in the initial state) corresponding to the currently stored
schedule information, and the current year number. If this
condition is satisfied, it indicates that schedule information for
a plurality of years to be displayed includes that for a year,
which is not stored in the second RAM 14.
[0101] In such case, schedule information for that year must be
read out from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14. The flow then
advances to step S40 to output schedule information for that year
from the first RAM 13 to the second RAM 14. On the other hand, if
the condition is not satisfied in step S39, the control skips the
processing in step S40, i.e., jumps to step S41.
[0102] In step S41, schedule information for Z years indicated by
the counter 11d for years starting from the current year indicated
by the current date counter 11a is read out from the second RAM 14
and is displayed on the display unit 15. After the processing in
step S41, after the processing in step S34 or S36, or after it is
determined in step S37 that the reduced-scale button 7a is not
operated, the flow advances to steps S42 and S43 to check if the
day or month mode button 7d or 7c has been operated. If neither of
these buttons are operated, the flow returns to step S32 to
continue the processing in the year mode. On the other hand, if one
of these mode buttons has been operated, the flow advances to the
processing in FIG. 10A or 10B to execute processing in the day or
month mode.
[0103] As has been described in detail above, according to this
embodiment, when information along the time axis such as a Gantt
chart is processed on the computer, since the day, month, and year
buttons 3a, 3g, and 3h are used as means for moving (scrolling) the
screen display field along the time axis, the user can very easily
see the information as compared to the conventional case using a
scroll bar alone, and can quickly observe information of the
corresponding part by clicking the day, month, or year button 3a,
3g, or 3h of a desired day of the month, month, or year in the
corresponding display mode.
[0104] Since the scroll bar 3d is displayed in addition to these
day, month, and year buttons 3a, 3g, and 3h, and corresponding
schedule information can be displayed by moving the scroll box
3d.sub.-1 to a position between the neighboring buttons, schedule
information across two days, months, or years can be displayed by
coupling their latter and former halves. In this way, visibility
upon generating or checking schedule information at boundaries
between days, months, or years can be improved.
[0105] In this case, since the day, month, or year buttons 3a, 3g,
or 3h are displayed immediately above the scroll bar 3d, the scroll
box 3d.sub.-1, can be easily moved to a desired date position while
observing indications on these buttons. Hence, the user can
immediately observe schedule information for a desired day of the
month, month, or year even by using the scroll bar 3d, and
operability upon generating or checking schedule information at
boundaries between days, months, or years can be improved.
[0106] In this embodiment, since the day, month, or year buttons
3a, 3g, or 3h, the scroll bar 3d, and scroll buttons 3e and 3f are
displayed on the display screen 1 of the computer together with
schedule information of a Gantt chart displayed on the window 2,
the user need not select another calendar information screen or
window that displays these buttons alone to attain scrolling,
resulting in easy operation.
[0107] In the above embodiment, in the examples shown in FIGS. 3
and 4, the plurality of day buttons 3a are lined up from the left
to right on the screen beneath the window 2 for displaying
information of the screen display field. However, the present
invention is not limited to such specific display pattern (the same
applies to the month and year buttons 3g and 3h).
[0108] The Gantt chart has been exemplified as information to be
displayed on the window 2. However, the present invention is not
limited to such specific information. That is, any other kinds of
information to be displayed along the time axis can be used in
addition to schedule information in other patterns.
[0109] In the above embodiment, as a mode for displaying schedule
information on the window 2, for example, the day mode includes the
mode for displaying information in units of days (FIG. 3) and the
mode for displaying information in units of five days (FIG. 4).
Also, information may be displayed in other units. For example,
information may be displayed in units of shifts or half days. In
the month and year modes as well, schedule information may be
displayed in various units.
[0110] When information is to be displayed in units of half days,
the right and left scroll buttons 3d.sub.-3 and 3d.sub.-2 can be
used as effective means for scrolling. More specifically, when
scrolling of schedule information for half a day is implemented by
day buttons alone, the number of day buttons becomes large (that
is, the number of day buttons doubles if buttons are displayed in
units of half days). By contrast, when GUI operation members for
scrolling use only the day buttons 3a shown in FIG. 3, and the
former and latter halves in a day are shifted using the right and
left scroll buttons 3d.sub.-3 and 3d.sub.-2, the number of day
buttons 3a need not be increased.
* * * * *