U.S. patent application number 17/173738 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-03 for information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hideaki Mizobe.
Application Number | 20210165627 17/173738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005389610 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210165627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mizobe; Hideaki |
June 3, 2021 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD,
AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
An information processing apparatus that controls a display on
one or more display apparatuses includes a determination unit that
determines whether at least a portion of a display part in a window
displayed in a displayable region of the display apparatus is
arranged on a position outside the displayable region and a
changing unit that changes, based on a result of the determination,
at least the position of the display part or the size of the
display part or the size of a region where the display part is
displayed, such that at least the portion of the display part is
not arranged on a position outside the displayable region.
Inventors: |
Mizobe; Hideaki; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005389610 |
Appl. No.: |
17/173738 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16149438 |
Oct 2, 2018 |
10956111 |
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17173738 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 2340/04 20130101;
G06F 3/1446 20130101; G09G 2380/08 20130101; G16H 30/20 20180101;
G06F 3/04845 20130101; G09G 5/38 20130101; G16H 40/63 20180101;
G09G 5/14 20130101; G06F 9/451 20180201; G09G 2340/0464 20130101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101; G09G 5/373 20130101; G09G 2354/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/14 20060101
G06F003/14; G09G 5/38 20060101 G09G005/38; G09G 5/373 20060101
G09G005/373; G09G 5/14 20060101 G09G005/14; G16H 30/20 20060101
G16H030/20; G16H 40/63 20060101 G16H040/63; G06F 9/451 20060101
G06F009/451 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 6, 2017 |
JP |
2017-196055 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus configured to display a
window including a plurality of display parts in each of a
plurality of regions over a first displayable region and a second
displayable region, the information processing apparatus
comprising: a memory storing a program; and one or more processors
which, by executing the program, function as: a determination unit
configured to determine whether a display part in the window is
arranged over the first displayable region and the second
displayable region; and a changing unit configured to change, by
using a position of a first display part and a position of a second
display part in a region where the first display part is to be
arranged based on a result of the determination, the position of
the first display part and the position of the second display part,
such that the first display part is prevented from being arranged
over the first displayable region and the second displayable region
and from overlapping without the second display part, in a case
where the determination unit determined that the first display part
is arranged over the first displayable region and the second
displayable region.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first display part and the second display part have
functions different from each other.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a first
display apparatus configured to display the first displayable
region, and a second display apparatus configured to display the
second displayable region.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the changing unit is configured to change the position of
the first display part and the position of the second display part
based on a moving direction of the display parts to be set to the
region where the first display part is to be arranged.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the changing unit is configured to change the position of
the first display part and the position of the second display part
based on a degree of priority of a display part in the region where
the first display part is to be arranged.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the changing unit is configured to change a position of the
display part in descending order of the degree of priority of the
display part.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the changing unit is configured to raise the degree of
priority of the display part for a display part positioned opposite
to the moving direction to be set to the region where the first
display part is to be arranged.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein, in a case where a free space for changing the position of
the display part is not secured in the region where the first
display part is to be arranged, the changing unit is configured to
hide the display part that protrudes from the region or change a
display form as a decompression button.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein, in a case where a free space for changing the position of
the display part is not secured in the region where the first
display part is to be arranged, the changing unit is configured to
change a size of the region.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the changing unit does not execute the change in a case
where the determination unit determines that the first display part
is not arranged over the first displayable region of the first
display apparatus and the second displayable region of the second
display apparatus.
11. An information processing method of displaying a window
including a plurality of display parts in each of a plurality of
regions over a first displayable region and a second displayable
region, the information processing method comprising: determining
whether a display part in the window is arranged over the first
displayable region and the second displayable region; and changing,
by using a position of a first display part and a position of a
second display part in a region where the first display part is to
be arranged based on a result of the determination, the position of
the first display part and the position of the second display part,
such that the first display part is prevented from being arranged
over the first displayable region and the second displayable region
and from overlapping without the second display part, in a case
where the determination unit determined that the first display part
is arranged over the first displayable region and the second
displayable region.
12. An non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
computer program that causes a computer to execute an information
processing method of displaying a window including a plurality of
display parts in each of a plurality of regions over a first
displayable region and a second displayable region, the information
processing method comprising: determining whether a display part in
the window is arranged over the first displayable region and the
second displayable region; and changing, by using a position of a
first display part and a position of a second display part in a
region where the first display part is to be arranged based on a
result of the determination, the position of the first display part
and the position of the second display part, such that the first
display part is prevented from being arranged over the first
displayable region and the second displayable region and from
overlapping without the second display part, in a case where the
determination unit determined that the first display part is
arranged over the first displayable region and the second
displayable region.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/149,438 filed on Oct. 2, 2018, which claims
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-196055 filed
Oct. 6, 2017, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an information processing
apparatus, an information processing method, and a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] In some medical institutions and facilities, radiologists
examine medical images captured by medical image capturing
apparatuses to examine the extent and progress of a disease of a
patient, which is a medical practice generally called radiologic
interpretations. In recent years, radiologic interpretations are
conducted by displaying digitalized medical images on monitors with
high definition and high luminance. Many medical institutions and
facilities conduct radiologic interpretations using a method in
which two or more monitors are placed next to each other to display
medical images captured at different time points on the respective
monitors for the purpose of examining the progress of a disease.
This display form is employed for several reasons. For example, the
number of monitors is increased so that the display region per
medical image is enlarged to enable more detailed examination of
the medical images. The monitors though, especially liquid crystal
monitors, have a problem that displayed colors can appear
differently depending on the viewing angle. Thus, a plurality of
monitors is arranged vertically to the line of sight of a
radiologist, instead of displaying medical images next to each
other on a large monitor, so that the above-described problem
associated with the viewing angle is reduced to enable accurate
radiologic interpretations.
[0004] In the case of using a plurality of monitors, a control
(e.g., window, icon, etc. also referred to as "graphical user
interface (GUI) part") of a GUI displayed on one of the monitors
can be moved onto another monitor. Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 2015-38746 discusses a conventional technique for
moving a control on an electronic device including a plurality of
monitors. Specifically, when a control is moved from a first
monitor to a second monitor, if the control is moved beyond the
edge of the first monitor, a portion of the control is not
displayed on the first monitor while the portion of the control is
displayed on the second monitor.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an
information processing apparatus configured to display a window
over a first display apparatus and a second display apparatus
includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a
display part in the window is arranged over a first displayable
region of the first display apparatus and a second displayable
region of the second display apparatus, and a changing unit
configured to change, based on a result of the determination, at
least a position of the display part, a size of the display part,
or a size of a region where the display part is to be arranged,
such that the display part is prevented from being arranged over
the first displayable region and the second displayable region.
[0006] Further features will become apparent from the following
description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a
radiologic interpretation system according to a first exemplary
embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
hardware configuration of an operation terminal according to the
first exemplary embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
functional configuration of medical image display software
according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration of a
graphical user interface (GUI) of the medical image display
software according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of function buttons of the
medical image display software according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of derivative function buttons
of the medical image display software according to the first
exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of display coordinates of the
radiologic interpretation system according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a state of conventional
medical image display software.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a first view illustrating an example of a state of
the medical image display software according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a second view illustrating an example of a state
of the medical image display software according to the first
exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a function button drawing
region according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a first flowchart illustrating an example of a
sequence of processing according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a second flowchart illustrating an example of a
sequence of processing according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a state of medical image
display software according to a second exemplary embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sequence
of processing according to the second exemplary embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] With the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 2015-38746, a portion of a control of a graphical
user interface (GUI) is drawn over the border between monitors.
Consequently, the control appears to be divided or only a portion
of the control is visible in the field of view of the user, causing
a problem that the type of the control is difficult to
identify.
[0023] In response to the problem, the technique disclosed herein
is directed to preventing a situation where at least a portion of a
display part is arranged at a position outside a displayable region
of a display apparatus.
[0024] An aspect of the present disclosure is not limited to the
foregoing, and producing an advantage that is derived from a
configuration described below and cannot be produced by a
conventional technique is also positioned as another aspect of the
disclosure.
[0025] Information processing apparatuses according to various
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail
below with reference to the attached drawings. It should be noted
that the illustrated examples are not intended to limit the scope
of the disclosure.
[0026] First, terms that are necessary to describe a first
exemplary embodiment will be described below.
[0027] As used herein, the term "operation terminal" (information
processing apparatus) refers to an apparatus including a device
such as a mouse, keyboard, and/or touch panel with which a user
provides an instruction to the operation terminal. Specifically,
the operation terminal corresponds to an example of an information
processing apparatus configured to display a window over a first
display apparatus and a second display apparatus. Software
programmed to cause various types of processing described below to
operate is installed in the operation terminal, and the program is
executed and data is input and output as needed. Examples of the
operation terminal include a personal computer (hereinafter, "PC"),
work station, tablet PC, personal digital assistant (PDA), and
smartphone.
[0028] As used herein, the term "display apparatus" (display unit)
refers to an apparatus that is connected to an electronic
calculation device (i.e., operation terminal), such as a PC or work
station, and displays screen outputs and three-dimensional outputs
drawn by the software running on the electronic calculation device.
Examples include a liquid crystal monitor, cathode ray tube (CRT)
display, and three-dimensional projection device.
[0029] As used herein, the term "network" refers to an interface
connecting the apparatuses. Examples include a private line, local
area network (hereinafter, "LAN"), wireless LAN, and Internet
line.
[0030] As used herein, the term "medical image capturing apparatus"
refers to an apparatus configured to capture images for use in
medical diagnosis. Examples include a magnetic resonance imaging
(also referred to as "MRI") apparatus, X-ray computer tomographic
(also referred to as "CT") imaging apparatus, and positron emission
tomographic (also referred to as "PET") imaging apparatus.
[0031] As used herein, the term "picture archiving and
communication system" (PACS) refers to an image saving and
communication system. PACS is a system configured to receive and
save medical images captured by medical image capturing apparatuses
and transmit medical images in response to a request from a
connected apparatus. PACS includes a database that stores received
medical images in association with various types of data, such as
imaged patient information and imaging time. In general, PACS is
connected to a network to receive and transmit medical images and
various types of associated data in response to requests from other
systems.
[0032] As used herein, the term "control" refers to an element
constituting a GUI, and examples include a window, button, check
box, radio button, combo box, scroll bar, text box, slider, icon,
image, and text label. The controls can execute predetermined
functions.
[0033] Next, the drawings necessary for describing the present
exemplary embodiment will be described below.
[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a radiologic interpretation system 200 in
which medical image display software 100 according to the present
exemplary embodiment is installed to be used by the radiologic
interpretation system. The radiologic interpretation system 200
includes a first display apparatus 201, a second display apparatus
202, and an operation terminal 203, where the operation terminal
203 is connected to a network 210. While the number of display
apparatuses of the present exemplary embodiment is two for
description purposes, the present exemplary embodiment is
implementable with one display apparatus or more than two display
apparatuses. The medical image display software 100 is installed in
the operation terminal 203. The medical image display software 100
receives medical images input from other systems, such as a PACS,
via the network 210 connected to the operation terminal 203. The
medical image display software 100 configures a GUI to enable the
user of the radiologic interpretation system 200 to conduct
radiologic interpretations. The medical image display software 100
displays the GUI on one or both of the first display apparatus 201
and the second display apparatus 202 based on the context, such as
a user operation of the operation terminal 203 or a predetermined
action.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of
the operation terminal 203 according to the present exemplary
embodiment. The hardware configuration of the present exemplary
embodiment is a mere example and an image processing apparatus
including hardware other than the illustrated hardware can be
employed.
[0036] The operation terminal 203 includes a communication
interface (I/F) 31 (communication unit), a read-only memory ROM 32,
a random-access memory (RAM) 33, a storage unit 34, an operation
unit 35, a display control unit 36, and a control unit 37.
[0037] The communication I/F 31 (communication unit) includes a LAN
card and realizes communication between an external apparatus
(e.g., PACS, etc.) and the operation terminal 203 via the network
210. The ROM 32 includes a non-volatile memory and stores various
programs. The RAM 33 includes a volatile memory and temporarily
stores various types of information as data. The storage unit 34
includes a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores various types of
information as data. The operation unit 35 includes a keyboard,
mouse, and touch panel and inputs user (e.g., doctor) instructions
to various apparatuses.
[0038] The display control unit 36 controls the display of images
on the first display apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus
202. Specifically, the display control unit 36 corresponds to, for
example, a graphic controller (graphics processing unit (GPU),
etc.). The control unit 37 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
and comprehensively controls processing executed at the operation
terminal 203. The control unit 37 operates as a function unit that
executes the functions illustrated in FIG. 3 described below.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional
configuration according to the present exemplary embodiment that is
implemented on the operation terminal 203 according to the present
exemplary embodiment. If the medical image display software 100 is
installed in the operation terminal 203, the control unit 37 can
execute the functions illustrated in FIG. 3. In the following
description, for convenience, various types of processing executed
by the control unit 37 will be described as being executed by the
medical image display software 100. For example, the description
"the control unit 37 of the operation terminal 203 in which the
medical image display software 100 is installed executes
processing" will be simplified to the description "the medical
image display software 100 executes processing".
[0040] A re-drawing processing detection unit 101 detects a GUI
re-drawing instruction that triggers execution of step S101
described below. A display information acquisition unit 102
acquires a display coordinate needed in step S101 described below.
A drawing region acquisition unit 103 acquires a control coordinate
needed in step S102 described below. A drawing region determination
unit 104 derives a definite drawing region needed in step S104
described below. A screen display unit 105 performs GUI drawing in
step S104 described below. The functions can be integrated together
or can be configured by a plurality of software groups that
communicate information needed by each function.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a GUI displayed on a
display apparatus by the medical image display software 100
according to the present exemplary embodiment. The GUI illustrated
in FIG. 4 is a mere example, and the present exemplary embodiment
is not limited to the above-described GUI configuration. The GUI
configuration includes a window 300 including approximately three
sections on top of another, which are a function button region 301,
a thumbnail image region 302, and an examined image region 303 in
this order from the top. In the function button region 301,
function buttons (rectangle regions Fn1, Fn2, . . . , Fn9)
illustrated as function buttons 3011 are left-justified and
displayed. The number of function buttons is not limited to the
nine illustrated in FIG. 4 and can be increased or decreased based
on the number of functions to be assigned to the function
buttons.
[0042] In general radiologic interpretations, it is improvement in
work efficiency is needed to enable a prompt response to the
patient, reduce user fatigue, and prevent misdiagnoses. Thus,
medical image display software for use in general radiologic
interpretations, as well as the medical image display software in
the present exemplary embodiment, often include a large number of
functions to assist radiologic interpretations so that medical
images are examined in detail and accurately in a short time. The
functions for assisting in the radiologic interpretations can be
assigned to the function buttons of the medical image display
software 100 to enable the user to use the functions promptly and
with ease. For example, the user can operate a device such as a
mouse connected to the operation terminal to input an instruction
to execute the functions so that the user can use the
functions.
[0043] Various functions are assigned to the function buttons.
There are many examples, including the function of adjusting the
display colors of medical images, the function of measuring lesions
in medical images, the function of changing the number of medical
images to be displayed in the examined image region 303 and how the
medical images are arranged, and the function of displaying a
screen for the settings of the medical image display software 100.
In the drawing region where the function buttons are arranged, it
is desirable to provide a drawing that presents an effect of each
assigned function to the user. Thus, for example, an icon image
representing an effect of a function, e.g., a function button
display example 402 in FIG. 5, can be displayed instead of
displaying text as in the drawing region of the function buttons in
FIG. 4. A character string representing an effect of a function, as
in a function button display example 403, can be displayed, or a
combination of an icon image and a character string can be
displayed as in a function button display example 401.
[0044] As described above, the medical image display software 100
includes a large number of functions, and even if only
frequently-used functions are selected and assigned to the function
buttons, it is sometimes impossible to display all in the window
300. Thus, the medical image display software 100 also employs a
display form where, when a user operates a function button, related
function buttons (hereinafter, "derivative function buttons") are
newly displayed so that the user can operate a function button
relating to a function to be used from among the displayed function
buttons. Specifically, the display form is such that, if the
function button Fn1 is operated, derivative function buttons Fn11,
Fn12, and Fn13 are newly displayed, as illustrated in FIG. 6, so
that the user can operate a function button relating to the
function that the user desires to use from among the displayed
function buttons. The derivative function buttons are not
continually displayed, and if the user operates one of the controls
constituting the window 300 including the derivative function
buttons, the derivative function buttons are hidden.
[0045] Referring back to FIG. 4, in the thumbnail image region 302,
thumbnail images such as thumbnail images 3021 corresponding to the
medical images input by the medical image display software 100 are
displayed side by side. In the examined image region 303 medical
images to be examined by the user are displayed, such as an
examined image 3031. The examined image region 303 is a region to
display an enlarged image on different display apparatuses.
Examples of a method of selecting a medical image to be displayed
in the examined image region 303 include a method in which the user
selects a thumbnail image corresponding to a desired medical image
from thumbnail images displayed in the thumbnail image region 302.
For example, if the user operates the mouse connected to the
operation terminal 203 to drag and drop the thumbnail image
corresponding to the medical image to be examined from the
thumbnail image region 302 to the examined image region 303, the
medical image is displayed in the examined image region 303. An end
button 304 is a button that is operated by the user to end the
medical image display software 100.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates display coordinates of the first display
apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus 202 that constitute
the radiologic interpretation system 200 according to the present
exemplary embodiment. The term "display coordinate" refers to
coordinate information about a virtual layout of the displayable
regions that is set regardless of the physical location of the
display apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first display
apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus 202 are
multi-monitors. The display coordinates are managed by the
operation terminal 203, and the medical image display software 100
can acquire the display coordinates from the operation terminal 203
as needed. To simplify the description, the elements constituting
the GUI are drawn on a two-dimensional plane, and the plane will be
described using an XY-coordinate system. In the XY-coordinate
system, the direction in which the X-coordinate increases is a
rightward direction, the direction in which the Y-coordinate
increases is a downward direction, and the unit is pixel. The GUI
coordinate system controllable by the medical image display
software 100 can be extended to three-dimensional system.
[0047] If the display coordinate is determined, the screen
resolutions of the respective display apparatuses and the virtual
relative positional relationship between the display apparatuses
are determined. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the display
coordinates of the first display apparatus 201 are (X, Y)=(0, 0)
for the upper left and (X, Y)=(1079, 1919) for the lower right. The
display coordinates of the second display apparatus 202 are (X,
Y)=(1080, 0) for the upper left and (X, Y)=(2159, 1919) for the
lower right. Specifically, it is understood that the first display
apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus 202 each have a
horizontal screen resolution of 1080 pixels and a vertical screen
resolution of 1920 pixels. It is also understood that virtually,
the first display apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus
202 are displayed next to each other.
[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates a window of the virtual medical image
display software of convention medical image display software that
does not include the GUI drawing method and the program according
to the present exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 8, elements that are
similar to those of the medical image display software 100 are
included. In the case where the GUI drawing method and the program
according to the present exemplary embodiment are not provided, the
drawing region of the function button Fn6 is divided into two
regions, left and right regions, at the portion corresponding to
the function button region 301 in FIG. 4, and the two regions are
respectively displayed on the first display apparatus 201 and the
second display apparatus 202. In other words, a display apparatus
in general includes a display apparatus frame outside a displayable
region, so that the function button Fn6 appears to be physically
separated in the field of vision of the user, making it difficult
for the user to instantly recognize the type of the function
button. When the above-described situation occurs while a
radiologic interpretation is performed, if the type of the control
is difficult to recognize, it can be especially difficult to make a
diagnosis promptly or an erroneous operation can be performed to
cause a misdiagnosis. A flat design is one of the GUI design
methods that has become mainstream in recent years. In the flat
design, frame lines of controls are not drawn and the foreground
color of the controls and the background color of the surrounding
area are the same, so that it can sometimes be difficult to
discriminate the border between one control and another control.
Thus, in the case where the control appears to be divided as
described above, the user can erroneously recognize the divided
regions as different controls.
[0049] FIG. 9 illustrates the window 300 that is maximized and
displayed on the first display apparatus 201 and the second display
apparatus 202 by the medical image display software 100 including
the GUI drawing method and the program according to the present
exemplary embodiment. The medical image display software 100
adjusts, as needed, the coordinates at which the respective
function buttons are to be drawn, thereby preventing the function
buttons from being drawn over ends (hereinafter, "screen end") of
the displayable regions of the display apparatuses. Specifically,
this prevents the function buttons from appearing to be divided in
the field of vision of the user. Hereinafter, a control that is a
target of drawing coordinate adjustment, such as the function
buttons in the present exemplary embodiment, will be referred to as
"drawing region adjustment target control". While the drawing
region adjustment target control is the function buttons in the
medical image display software 100 according to the present
exemplary embodiment, the same is also applicable to thumbnail
images and examined images. In addition to the case of the medical
image display software 100 according to the present exemplary
embodiment, in the case of general software including a GUI, it is
suitable to adjust the drawing coordinates of controls to prevent
the controls from being drawn over the screen ends in order to
solve similar problems.
[0050] FIG. 10 illustrates the window 300 of the medical image
display software 100 including the GUI drawing method and the
program according to the present exemplary embodiment, which is
displayed on the first display apparatus 201 and the second display
apparatus 202. FIG. 10 is different from FIG. 9 in that the window
300 is not maximized on the first display apparatus 201 and the
second display apparatus 202. Specifically, according to the
present exemplary embodiment, the coordinates at which the function
buttons are drawn are adjustable to prevent the function buttons
from being displayed over the screen ends, regardless of whether
the window 300 is maximized.
[0051] FIG. 11 illustrates control coordinates with respect to the
function button Fn6 of the window 300. The control coordinates
refer to the coordinates that indicate the position at which a
control is to be drawn in the display coordinates. Specifically, in
FIG. 11, the function button Fn6, which is a control, is drawn in
the region having the upper left at (X, Y)=(960, 20) and the lower
right at (X, Y)=(1159, 219) in the display coordinates. The control
coordinates are irrelevant to whether the corresponding control is
actually drawn and displayed on the display apparatuses and visible
to the user. That is, since the controls are under the management
of the GUI controlled by the medical image display software 100, it
is possible to acquire the control coordinates of a control that is
currently not displayed on the display apparatuses but is to be
drawn. Hereinafter, a rectangle region in which a control is
surrounded by coordinates corresponding to the upper left and the
lower right, i.e., the region where the control is to be drawn,
will be referred to as "drawing region".
[0052] A process according to the present exemplary embodiment will
be described below with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 12 and
13.
[0053] In the present exemplary embodiment, the process illustrated
in the flowchart in FIG. 12 is started at a time point, as a start
point, at which the medical image display software 100 re-draws a
portion of the GUI that is detected by the re-drawing processing
detection unit 101. Specific examples of the time point at which
the re-drawing is performed include a time point at which the GUI
of the medical image display software 100 is displayed, a time
point at which the GUI is moved, a time point at which an
instruction to forcibly perform re-drawing is provided by the
medical image display software 100, and a time point at which an
instruction to forcibly perform re-drawing is provided by the
operation terminal 203. Examples of the time point at which the GUI
of the medical image display software 100 is displayed include a
time point at which the medical image display software 100 is
started. Examples of the time point at which the GUI is moved
include a time point at which the window 300, as the GUI of the
medical image display software 100, is moved on the screen by the
user. During the movement, re-drawing is performed at suitable time
intervals. Specifically, this corresponds to an example of a
determination unit configured to perform determination each time an
instruction to re-draw the window or the display part is detected.
In the description of the process according to the present
exemplary embodiment, the situation in which the function buttons
being the drawing region adjustment target controls from among the
GUI of the medical image display software 100 are re-drawn will be
described as an example.
[0054] There are matters that need to be determined in advance. The
first matter is a control to be determined as a drawing region
adjustment target control. The second matter is a screen end
(hereinafter, "limiting screen end") to be determined as a screen
end over which the control is not to be drawn. The third matter is
a direction (hereinafter, "drawing coordinate movement direction")
to be determined as a direction in which the drawing coordinate is
to be moved in the case where the control is drawn over the screen
end. In the present exemplary embodiment, as described above, the
function buttons are determined as drawing region adjustment target
controls. A derivative function button, an image thumbnail, or an
examined image can be included as a drawing region adjustment
target control.
[0055] In the case where a drawing region adjustment target control
is drawn over the right screen end of the first display apparatus
201 or the left screen end of the second display apparatus 202, the
drawing coordinate is moved rightward. Specifically, the limiting
screen end is the right screen end of the first display apparatus
201 and the left screen end of the second display apparatus 202,
and the drawing coordinate movement direction is the rightward
direction. In the case where the selected limiting screen ends are
adjacent to each other on the display coordinate, as in the
description of the present exemplary embodiment, it is sufficient
to determine one of the limiting screen ends to execute the process
described below, so that only one of the limiting screen ends can
be determined from the point of view of calculation cost. However,
there can be a situation in which the limiting screen ends located
close to each other on the display coordinate are not adjacent to
each other. Thus, in the description of the present exemplary
embodiment, two limiting screen ends are determined so that details
of the process in the above-described situation are also
understandable in such a case. While the two screen ends are
described as the limiting screen ends in the present exemplary
embodiment, other screen ends, such as the left screen end and the
upper screen end of the first display apparatus 201, can be
determined as the limiting screen ends. Specifically, up to four
limiting screen ends can be determined if the coordinate system of
the drawing region includes two dimensions, or up to six limiting
screen ends can be determined if the coordinate system of the
drawing region includes three dimensions.
[0056] Since the function buttons are left-justified and drawn in
the function button region 301 of the medical image display
software 100, it is not suitable to determine the leftward
direction as the drawing coordinate movement direction.
Specifically, it is not suitable to set the leftward direction as
the drawing coordinate movement direction because if the leftward
direction is set as the drawing coordinate movement direction, an
overlap with another function button or a decrease in space from
another function button can occur to make it difficult for the user
to recognize the type of the control or cause erroneous operations.
It is also unsuitable to set the upward direction or the downward
direction as the drawing coordinate movement direction because if
the upward direction or the downward direction is set as the
drawing coordinate movement direction, since the limiting screen
end is along the Y-axis direction in the present exemplary
embodiment, the control drawing region is arranged on the screen
end even after moving. Thus, it is suitable to select the drawing
coordinate movement direction in the present exemplary embodiment
from the rightward direction, the upper right direction, the lower
right direction, the upper left direction, or the lower left
direction. In the case where the drawing coordinate movement
direction contains an upward direction component or a downward
direction component, it is suitable to increase the region size of
the function button region in the vertical direction as needed to
prevent the function buttons from protruding into the thumbnail
image region, etc.
[0057] In the case where the drawing coordinate movement direction
contains a rightward direction component, a free area corresponding
to an offset coordinate adjustment amount set in step S202
described below needs to be provided on the right side of the
function button region 301. Specifically, if the free area is not
large enough, a portion of the function buttons can protrude from
the window 300. If the free area cannot be provided, step S101 and
subsequent steps are not performed, the control that protrudes from
the window 300 is hidden, and/or the size of the drawing region is
changed.
[0058] In step S101, the display information acquisition unit 102
of the medical image display software 100 acquires a display
coordinate and determines a limiting screen end based on the
coordinates of the screen ends of the respective display
apparatuses. Specifically, in the display coordinate illustrated in
FIG. 7, the screen ends of the first display apparatus 201 are X=0,
X=1079, Y=0, and Y=1919, and the screen ends of the second display
apparatus 202 are X=1080, X=2159, Y=0, and Y=1919. As to the
limiting screen ends, the coordinate of the right screen end
(hereinafter, "right limiting screen end") of the first display
apparatus 201 is X=1079, and the coordinate of the left screen end
(hereinafter, "left limiting screen end") of the second display
apparatus 202 is X=1080.
[0059] While one right limiting screen end and one left limiting
screen end are determined in the present exemplary embodiment, the
number of the right limiting screen end and the left limiting
screen end is increased or decreased depending on the
configurations of the display apparatuses, the display coordinate
settings, etc.
[0060] In step S102, the drawing region acquisition unit 103 of the
medical image display software 100 acquires control coordinates of
controls to be re-drawn. The drawing region acquisition unit 103
calculates from the control coordinates the drawing regions of the
function buttons that are drawing region adjustment target
controls, and the drawing region acquisition unit 103 recognizes
where to draw which function button in the display coordinate. The
controls to be re-drawn can be only some of the function buttons
depending on the content of a re-drawing instruction. In this
situation, it is suitable to perform the processing in step S102 by
treating all the function buttons that are drawing region
adjustment target controls as the controls to be re-drawn, because
if the drawing regions of only some of the function buttons are
adjusted, the function buttons may be superimposed and drawn on
another unadjusted function button.
[0061] In step S103, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 selects one control as a
processing target of step S1031. A control with high drawing
priority is selected as the control to be the processing target
from the controls to be re-drawn. The drawing priority is an index
for determining the drawing order set to each control. For example,
the drawing priority of a control located in the background is
higher than the drawing priority of a control located in the
foreground. Specifically, in FIG. 4, the drawing priority of the
window 300 is higher than the drawing priority of the function
buttons. In the cases where there is no distinction of the
background and the foreground between controls, the drawing
priority of the control that is higher in the coordinate dependence
relationship is higher than the other. Specifically, as to the
function buttons that are left-justified and drawn in the function
button region 301 in FIG. 4, the drawing priority of a function
button located on the left is higher than the drawing priority of a
function button located on the right. Specifically, if the drawing
region of a function button located on the left is not determined,
the drawing regions of function buttons located on the right of the
function button located on the left cannot be determined, so that
the priority of the function button located on the left needs to be
set high to determine the drawing region first. If a control is
previously selected as a processing target in step S103, the
control will not be selected again unless otherwise specified. If
there is no more control selectable as a processing target, step
S104 is performed.
[0062] In step S1031, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 determines whether the
control selected in step S103 is a drawing region adjustment target
control. If the selected control is a drawing region adjustment
target control, i.e., if the type of the control is a function
button (YES in step S1031), step S1032 is performed. If the
selected control is not a drawing region adjustment target control
(NO in step S1031), step S1034 is performed. Specifically, this
corresponds to an example of a changing unit configured to execute
the change with respect to the display part that is predetermined
and does not execute the change with respect to a display part
different from the predetermined display part.
[0063] In step S1032, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 calculates and sets an
offset coordinate adjustment amount of the control selected in step
S103 (hereinafter, "selected control"). The offset coordinate
adjustment amount refers to information about a movement amount
that is set with respect to each drawing region adjustment target
control and by which the drawing region is moved to prevent the
drawing region adjustment target control from being drawn over the
limiting screen ends. The number of dimensions of the offset
coordinate adjustment amount and the unit system are similar to
those of the coordinate system of the drawing region. Specifically,
in the coordinate system of the present exemplary embodiment, if
the offset coordinate adjustment amount of a control is set to X=10
and Y=0, the offset coordinate adjustment amount is added to the
previously-defined drawing region and the drawing region of the
control is moved rightward by 10 pixels and drawing is
performed.
[0064] A specific process of calculating an offset coordinate
adjustment amount will be described below with reference to the
flowchart in FIG. 13.
[0065] In step S201, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 determines whether the
selected control is drawn over the limiting screen ends.
Specifically, step S201 corresponds to an example of a
determination unit configured to determine whether at least a
portion of a display part in a window displayed in a displayable
region of the display apparatus is arranged at a position outside
the displayable region. Step S201 corresponds to an example of a
determination unit configured to determine whether a display part
in the window is arranged over a first displayable region of the
first display apparatus and a second displayable region of the
second display apparatus. Step S201 corresponds to an example of a
determination unit configured to determine whether the display part
is arranged over the first displayable region and the second
displayable region based on an end of the first displayable region
or an end of the second displayable region and the position of the
display part. In the present exemplary embodiment, since one right
limiting screen end and one left limiting screen end are determined
in step S101, the determination is performed with respect to each
of the determined limiting screen ends.
[0066] Specifically, first, it is determined whether a portion
other than the right end coordinate of the drawing region of the
selected control is drawn on the coordinates of the right limiting
screen ends determined in step S101. An offset coordinate
adjustment amount of a parent control in the coordinate dependence
relationship of the selected control is added to the drawing region
of the selected control, and the following calculation is
performed, details of which will be described below. The parent
control refers to a control with the closest dependence
relationship among the controls that are higher in the coordinate
dependence relationship. Specifically, in FIG. 4, the left one of
adjacent function buttons from among the function buttons that are
left-justified and drawn in the function button region 301 is a
parent control, and the parent control of the leftmost function
button Fn1 is the window 300. A default value of the offset
coordinate adjustment amount of each control is X=0 and Y=0, and if
there is no parent control, the offset coordinate adjustment amount
is X=0 and Y=0. In the coordinate dependence relationship of the
medical image display software 100 in the present exemplary
embodiment, the highest control is the window 300 in FIG. 4, i.e.,
the window 300 is the only control with no parent control. As
described above in the description of step S103, the drawing
priority of the parent control is higher than the drawing priority
of the selected control, so that the offset coordinate adjustment
amount of the parent control is already set at the time of
determining the offset coordinate adjustment amount of the selected
control.
[0067] In FIG. 11, in the case where the selected control is the
function button Fn6, the parent control is the function button Fn5.
For description, the offset coordinate adjustment amount of the
function button Fn5 at this time point is X=0 and Y=0. Since the
upper left of the drawing region of the function button Fn6 is (X,
Y)=(960, 20) and the lower right is (X, Y)=(1159, 219), the upper
left of the drawing region other than the right end coordinate of
the drawing region is (X, Y)=(960, 20) and the lower right is (X,
Y)=(1158, 219). The drawing region other than the right end
coordinate lies on the coordinate X=1079, which is the right
limiting screen end, so that it is determined that the function
button Fn6 is to be drawn over the limiting screen end. Next,
whether a portion other than the left end coordinate of the drawing
region of the selected control is drawn on the coordinates of the
left limiting screen ends determined in step S101 is determined.
This will be described below with reference to FIG. 11, as in the
above-described example of the case of the right limiting screen
end. Since the upper left of the drawing region of the function
button Fn6 is (X, Y)=(960, 20) and the lower right is (X, Y)=(1159,
219), the upper left of the drawing region other than the left end
coordinate of the drawing region is (X, Y)=(961, 20) and the lower
right is (X, Y)=(1159, 219). Since the drawing region other than
the left end coordinate lies on the coordinate X=1080, which is the
left limiting screen end, it is determined that the function button
Fn6 is drawn over the limiting screen end of the second display
apparatus 202. If it is determined that the selected control is
drawn over the limiting screen ends (YES in step S201), step S202
is performed. If it is determined that the selected control is not
drawn over the limiting screen ends (NO in step S201), step S203 is
performed.
[0068] In step S202, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 sets an offset coordinate
adjustment amount as the offset coordinate adjustment amount of the
selected control such that the selected control is not drawn over
the limiting screen end. Specifically, this corresponds to an
example of a changing unit configured to change, based on a result
of the determination, at least a position of the display part, a
size of the display part, or a size of a region where the display
part is to be arranged, in such a way that the display part is
prevented from being arranged over the first displayable region and
the second displayable region. If an offset coordinate adjustment
amount is already set by any processing, one of the already-set
offset coordinate adjustment amount and the new offset coordinate
adjustment amount set in step S202 that has a larger norm is
employed. Details thereof will be described below with reference to
FIG. 11. In the following description, the offset coordinate
adjustment amount set to the function button Fn5 is X=0 and
Y=0.
[0069] The process is performed sequentially on the limiting screen
ends over which the function button Fn6 is judged as being drawn in
step S201, in order from left to right. First, the offset
coordinate adjustment amount calculation processing is performed
with respect to the right limiting screen end of the first display
apparatus 201. Specifically, this corresponds to an example of an
acquisition unit configured to acquire a position in which the
display part is not arranged over the first displayable region and
the second displayable region. The reason for processing the
limiting screen ends in order from left to right is to process the
limiting screen ends in order opposite to the predetermined drawing
coordinate movement direction. Specifically, since the drawing
coordinate movement direction is the rightward direction, the
processing is performed in order from left to right. A first
provisional drawing region is calculated by adding the offset
coordinate adjustment amount of the function button Fn5, which is
the parent control of the function button Fn6, to the drawing
region of the function button Fn6. As a result, the first
provisional drawing region lies on the right limiting screen end,
so that a first offset coordinate adjustment amount is calculated
such that the function button Fn6 is not drawn in the region from
X=960, which is the left end coordinate of the drawing region of
the function button Fn6, to X=1079, which is the coordinate of the
right limiting screen end. Specifically, X=1079-960+1=120 and Y=0
are calculated as the first offset coordinate adjustment amount.
Next, the offset coordinate adjustment amount calculation
processing is performed on the left limiting screen end of the
second display apparatus 202. The second provisional drawing region
obtained by adding the first offset coordinate adjustment amount to
the first provisional drawing region does not lie on the left
limiting screen end, so that X=120 and Y=0, which remain unchanged
from the first offset coordinate adjustment amount, are calculated
as the second offset coordinate adjustment amount. The offset
coordinate adjustment amount calculated lastly in the
above-described processing, i.e., second offset coordinate
adjustment amount, is set as the offset coordinate adjustment
amount of the function button Fn6.
[0070] There can be a case in which the regions of the first
display apparatus 201 and the second display apparatus 202 are not
adjacent to each other with respect to the display coordinates
managed by the operation terminal 203, which is a different
situation from the present case. Specifically, the right limiting
screen end of the first display apparatus 201 and the left limiting
screen end of the second display apparatus 202 are not adjacent to
each other. In this case, the second offset coordinate adjustment
amount is a value with a larger norm than that of the first offset
coordinate adjustment amount.
[0071] If the offset coordinate adjustment amount in step S202 is
maintained, the drawing region of the function button Fn6 is set
next to the limiting screen end in subsequent step S1033. If a
margin needs to be adjusted such that the function button Fn6 is
not drawn next to the limiting screen end, the X-component of the
offset coordinate adjustment amount of the function button Fn6 can
be increased to set a margin between the function button Fn6 and
the limiting screen end.
[0072] In step S203, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 sets, as the offset
coordinate adjustment amount of the selected control, the same
value as the offset coordinate adjustment amount set to the parent
control in the coordinate dependence relationship of the selected
control.
[0073] The following is a continuation of the description of the
process illustrated in the flowchart in FIG. 12.
[0074] In step S1033, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 sets, to the selected
control, a definite drawing region obtained by adding the offset
coordinate adjustment amount set to the selected control in step
S1032 to the previously-defined drawing region of the selected
control. The definite drawing region refers to a drawing region in
which the control is to be drawn on the GUI.
[0075] In step S1034, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 sets the previously-defined
drawing region of the selected control as a definite drawing
region.
[0076] In step S104, the screen display unit 105 of the medical
image display software 100 re-draws the controls based on the
definite drawing regions set to the respective controls. The
re-drawn GUI is displayed on the display apparatuses by the display
control unit 36. In this way, the user can check the re-drawn GUI
on the display apparatuses.
[0077] As described above, the medical image display software of
the present exemplary embodiment prevents each control of a GUI
from being drawn over the ends of displayable regions of display
apparatuses to make it easier for the user to recognize the type of
the control so that operation delays and erroneous operations are
prevented.
[0078] Medical image display software for use in radiologic
interpretations that includes a GUI drawing method and a program
according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention
will now be described.
[0079] The terms that are necessary to describe the present
exemplary embodiment are the same as those in the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0080] The present exemplary embodiment is similar to the first
exemplary embodiment in many points, so the present exemplary
embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings in the
first exemplary embodiment.
[0081] In the first exemplary embodiment, the offset coordinate
adjustment amount is set to prevent the drawing region adjustment
target controls from being drawn over the limiting screen frames,
and the drawing region adjustment target controls are moved. In the
second exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the size of
the drawing region of one or more drawing region adjustment target
controls is adjusted, i.e., enlarged or reduced, such that the
drawing region adjustment target controls do not lie on the
limiting screen frames. Specifically, the processing corresponding
to steps S1032 and S1033 in FIG. 12 in the first exemplary
embodiment corresponds to the processing of adjusting the size of
the drawing region as illustrated in FIG. 15.
[0082] A process of the present exemplary embodiment will be
described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 15.
[0083] There are matters that need to be determined in advance. The
first matter is a control to be determined as a drawing region
adjustment target control. The second matter is a screen end
(hereinafter, "limiting screen end" as in the first exemplary
embodiment) to be determined as a screen end over which the control
is not to be drawn. The third matter is whether to reduce or
enlarge the size in the case where the drawing region adjustment
target controls are drawn over the limiting screen frames
(hereinafter, "drawing region size adjustment method"). In the
present exemplary embodiment, the function buttons are determined
as drawing region adjustment target controls. The drawing region
size adjustment method is set such that the size is reduced if a
drawing region adjustment target control is drawn over the right
screen end of the first display apparatus 201 or over the left
screen end of the second display apparatus 202. In the case where
the drawing region size adjustment method is set to enlarge the
size, it is suitable to enlarge the region size of the function
button region as needed to prevent the function button from
protruding into the thumbnail image region, etc. In the case where
the drawing region size adjustment method is set to reduce the
size, it is suitable to reduce the region size of the function
button region as needed to prevent the margin in the vicinity of
the function buttons from being excessively enlarged. If the
function buttons are enlarged, the free area on the right side of
the function button region is reduced, so that a portion of the
function buttons may protrude from the window 300 if the free area
is insufficient. If the free area cannot be provided, step S301 and
subsequent steps are not performed or the control that protrudes
from the window 300 is hidden. The region size of the function
button region can be enlarged as needed while the function buttons
are arranged in a plurality of lines. Specifically, if a drawing
region adjustment target control protrudes from the limiting screen
end, the function buttons drawn in a single line are drawn in two
lines, and the drawing region adjustment target control is drawn in
the second line.
[0084] Steps S301, S302, S303, S3031, S3034, and S304 are similar
to steps S101, S102, S103, S1031, S1034, and S104 in the flowchart
of the first exemplary embodiment in FIG. 12.
[0085] In step S3032, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 determines whether the
control (hereinafter, "selected control") selected in step S303 is
drawn over the limiting screen ends. In the present exemplary
embodiment, since one right limiting screen end and one left
limiting screen end are determined in step S301, the determination
is performed with respect to each of the determined limiting screen
ends.
[0086] Specifically, first, it is determined whether a portion
other than the right end coordinate of the drawing region of the
selected control is drawn on the coordinates of the right limiting
screen ends determined in step S301. In FIG. 11, the upper left of
the drawing region of the function button Fn6 is (X, Y)=(960, 20)
and the lower right is (X, Y)=(1159, 219). Specifically, the upper
left of the drawing region other than the right end coordinate of
the drawing region is (X, Y)=(960, 20) and the lower right is (X,
Y)=(1158, 219). Since the drawing region other than the right end
coordinate is on the coordinate X=1079, which is the right limiting
screen end, it is determined that the function button Fn6 is drawn
over the limiting screen end. Next, whether a portion other than
the left end coordinate of the drawing region of the selected
control is drawn on the coordinates of the left limiting screen
ends that are determined in step S301 is determined. In FIG. 11, as
in the example of the case of the right limiting screen end, the
upper left of the drawing region of the function button Fn6 is (X,
Y)=(960, 20) and the lower right is (X, Y)=(1159, 219).
Specifically, the upper left of the drawing region other than the
left end coordinate of the drawing region is (X, Y)=(961, 20) and
the lower right is (X, Y)=(1159, 219). Since the drawing region
other than the left end coordinate is on the coordinate X=1080,
which is the left limiting screen end, it is determined that the
function button Fn6 is drawn over the limiting screen end, as
already determined. If it is determined that the selected control
is drawn over the limiting screen end (YES in step S3032), step
S3033 is performed. If it is determined that the selected control
is not drawn over the limiting screen end (NO in step S3032), step
S3034 is performed.
[0087] In step S3033, the drawing region determination unit 104 of
the medical image display software 100 sets the selected control
and a definite drawing region. Specifically, this corresponds to an
example of a changing unit configured to change, based on a result
of the determination, at least a position of the display part, a
size of the display part, or a size of a region where the display
part is to be arranged, in such a way that the display part is
prevented from being arranged over the first displayable region and
the second displayable region. The setting of the definite drawing
region is executed to change the drawing region size of the drawing
region adjustment target controls displayed on the display
apparatus on which the upper left coordinate of the drawing region
of the selected control exists. The definite drawing region is a
drawing region set to prevent each drawing region adjustment target
control from being drawn over the limiting screen end and is
coordinate information about the drawing region for enlarging or
reducing the size thereof. For example, there is a case in which
the upper left of the drawing region of a control is (X, Y)=(0, 0)
and the lower right is (X, Y)=(10, 10) in the coordinate system of
the present exemplary embodiment. If the upper left of a new
drawing region of the control is (X, Y)=(0, 0) and the lower right
is (X, Y)=(20, 20), the drawing is performed while the upper left
coordinate of the control remains unchanged and the size is doubled
in the vertical direction and also doubled in the horizontal
direction. In the case where the function button Fn6 lies on the
limiting screen end as illustrated in FIG. 11, if the right end
coordinate of the definite drawing region of the function button
Fn6 is adjusted to the right limiting screen end of the first
display apparatus 201, the reduction of the function buttons Fn1 to
Fn6 is minimized.
[0088] Specifically, since the right end drawing region of the
function button Fn6 is X=1159 and the coordinate of the right
limiting screen end is X=1079, the difference is Diff=1159-1079=80.
Amounts by which the respective six function buttons, the function
buttons Fn1 to Fn6, are to be reduced respectively are calculated.
As a result of calculation, Diff/6=80/6.apprxeq.13.3 pixels is
obtained. Since the pixels are expressed by a natural number, the
number of pixels can be 14. Accordingly, the definite drawing
region is reduced to be smaller by 14 pixels than the width of the
original drawing region while the margins between the function
buttons remain unchanged. In this way, the six function buttons,
the function buttons Fn1 to Fn6, are set to be left-justified with
respect to the function button region 301. If an additional margin
is needed between the function button Fn6 and the right limiting
screen end of the first display apparatus 201, the amount of 14
pixels can be increased to a greater value.
[0089] In step S304, the screen display unit 105 of the medical
image display software 100 re-draws the controls based on the
definite drawing regions set to the respective controls. The
re-drawn GUI is displayed on the display apparatuses by the display
control unit 36. In this way, the user can check the re-drawn GUI
on the display apparatuses.
[0090] As described above, the medical image display software of
the present exemplary embodiment prevents each control of a GUI
from being drawn over the ends of displayable regions of display
apparatuses to make it easier for the user to recognize the type of
the control so that operation delays and erroneous operations are
prevented. Execution of unnecessary functions due to erroneous
operations is reduced so that the processing load on the control
unit 37 is reduced.
[0091] A first modified example will be described below. In the
first exemplary embodiment, the coordinates of the drawing regions
of the drawing region adjustment target controls are changed, i.e.,
the drawing region adjustment target controls are moved, so that
the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled not to
be arranged over the limiting screen frames. In the second
exemplary embodiment, the size of the drawing region of the drawing
region adjustment target controls is enlarged or reduced such that
the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled not to
be arranged over the limiting screen frames. Specifically, the
medical image display software 100 enlarges or reduces the size of
the function buttons. The drawing region adjustment target control
region (e.g., function button region 301) is enlarged or reduced so
that the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled
not to be arranged over the limiting screen frames.
[0092] CT apparatuses and MRI apparatuses output a plurality of
cross-sectional images (also referred to as "sliced images"). In
the cases where the medical image display software displays the
plurality of cross-sectional images as a single series, for
example, the user operates a mouse wheel to switch the display of
the cross-sectional images. This is a paging function.
[0093] As in the first and second exemplary embodiments, in the
cases of drawing cross-sectional images as examined images on the
examined image region 303, various changes are executed so that the
cross-sectional images are not drawn over the limiting screen
frames. At this time, if the display of a cross-sectional image on
which the various changes are executed is switched by the paging
function, the medical image display software desirably executes the
same changes on the newly displayed cross-sectional image as the
changes executed on the cross-sectional image that is previously
displayed before the switch. Specifically, in the case where the
drawing coordinate of the cross-sectional image before the switch
is changed, it is desirable to change the drawing coordinate of the
cross-sectional image after the switch to the same coordinate. It
is desirable to apply the enlargement ratio (size) of the drawing
region of the cross-sectional image before the switch to the
enlargement ratio of the drawing region of the cross-sectional
image after the switch. It is desirable to apply the enlargement
ratio of the examined image region 303 in which the cross-sectional
image before the switch is drawn to the enlargement ratio of the
examined image region 303 in which the cross-sectional image after
the switch is drawn.
[0094] In this way, even if the display of the cross-sectional
image is switched by the paging function, the cross-sectional image
is displayed in the same position as the position before the
switch. The cross-sectional image is displayed at the same
enlargement ratio as the enlargement ratio applied before the
switch. The examined image region in which the cross-sectional
image is drawn is displayed at the same enlargement ratio as the
enlargement ratio applied before the switch.
[0095] In the cases where the display of thumbnail images is
switchable by the paging function, a similar advantage is produced
by executing processing similar to the above-described processing
executed on the cross-sectional image.
[0096] The foregoing processing corresponds to an example of the
changing unit configured to execute on a second medical image the
same change as the change executed with respect to a first medical
image in a case where the first medical image is switched to the
second medical image.
[0097] A second modified example will be described below. In the
first exemplary embodiment, the coordinates of the drawing regions
of the drawing region adjustment target controls are changed, i.e.,
the drawing region adjustment target controls are moved, so that
the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled not to
be arranged over the limiting screen frames. In the second
exemplary embodiment, the size of the drawing region of the drawing
region adjustment target controls is enlarged or reduced such that
the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled not to
be arranged over the limiting screen frames. Specifically, the
medical image display software 100 enlarges or reduces the size of
the function buttons. The drawing region adjustment target control
region (e.g., function button region 301) is enlarged or reduced so
that the drawing region adjustment target controls are controlled
not to be arranged over the limiting screen frames.
[0098] The medical image display software needs to only execute at
least one of the changes, not all the changing methods. The medical
image display software can execute all the changes or a combination
of some of the changes.
[0099] As an alternative changing method, the drawing region
adjustment target controls that are drawn over the limiting screen
frames can be hidden and can be combined together as a single
expand button or a plurality of expand buttons. Specifically, if a
selection that is made with respect to the expand button is
received, the drawing region adjustment target controls that have
been hidden are displayed, for example, in the form of pop-ups.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0100] Embodiment(s) can also be realized by a computer of a system
or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable
instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage
medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a
`non-transitory computer-readable storage medium`) to perform the
functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment (s)
and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method
performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for
example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.), a flash memory
device, a memory card, and the like.
[0101] While exemplary embodiments have been described, it is to be
understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed
exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be
accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
* * * * *