JPH11194892A - Computer input device and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow computers to share a computer input device. SOLUTION: The system is equipped with a connecting means 3a which connects operation information from a user so that it can be transmitted to any of computers 1 and 2, a switch means 3b which specifies an arbitrary computer between the computers 1 and 2, and a control means which performs control for sending the operation information to the computer specified by the switch means 3b through the connecting means 3a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for transmitting operation information from a user to a computer, and a computer system using the computer input device. The present invention relates to a computer input device for transmitting operation information to an arbitrary computer among the computers, and a computer system using the computer input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, input devices in a computer include:
A pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and the like are used, and such a computer input device is provided in each computer.

On the other hand, a display device is generally used as an output device in a computer, and such a computer output device is also provided in each computer.

That is, in the conventional computer input device and computer output device, when one user handles a plurality of computers, the operation may be performed by the plurality of computer input devices and the plurality of computer output devices. .

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional computer input device and computer output device, a plurality of computer input devices and computer output devices are provided for a plurality of computers. However, when one user handles a plurality of computers, using a plurality of computer input devices is troublesome for the user and causes a decrease in operability.

Further, when one user handles a plurality of computers, if a plurality of computer input devices and a plurality of computer output devices are purchased, cost is increased and installation space is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and designates an arbitrary computer among a plurality of computers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer input device having a function of transmitting operation information from a user to the designated computer and a computer system using the computer input device.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer input device for transmitting operation information from a user to a computer. Connection means for connecting to any of the computers so that transmission is possible; switch means for designating any one of the plurality of computers; and connection means to the computer designated by the switch means. And a control unit for transmitting operation information.

Therefore, in the computer input device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation information is transmitted to the computer specified by the switch means among the plurality of computers, the computer input device is shared by the plurality of computers. Can be changed.

Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of computer input devices, the operability can be improved.

Further, since there is no need to purchase a plurality of computer input devices, costs and installation space can be reduced.

Next, a second aspect of the present invention is a computer system in which a user operates a plurality of computers by the computer input device according to the first aspect, wherein the computer input device is connected to a computer designated by a switch means. Transmitting operation information and transmitting computer designation information indicating the computer designated by the switch means to the computer output device, wherein the computer output device receives video from the computer indicated by the computer designation information received from the computer input device; This is a computer system that displays signals.

Therefore, in the computer system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the computer input device transmits operation information to a computer specified by the switch means among the plurality of computers, and the computer output device transmits the operation information by the switch means. Since the video signal received from the designated computer is displayed on the display, the computer input device and the computer output device can be shared by a plurality of computers.

Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of computer input devices and computer output devices, the operability can be improved.

Further, when one user handles a plurality of computers, it is not necessary to purchase a plurality of computer input devices and a plurality of computer output devices, so that the cost and installation space can be reduced.

A third aspect of the present invention is a computer input device for transmitting operation information from a user to a computer, wherein the operation information from the user can be transmitted to any of a plurality of computers. Connecting means for connecting to a computer, a switch means for specifying an arbitrary computer among the plurality of computers, and transmitting computer designation information and operation information indicating the computer designated by the switch means via the connecting means. A computer input device comprising a control unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system in which a user operates a plurality of computers by using the computer input device according to the third aspect, wherein the plurality of computers include a computer designation received from the computer input device. A computer system including a determination unit that determines whether operation information is information addressed to itself based on information.

Therefore, in the computer input device according to the third aspect of the invention and the computer input system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the computer input device transmits computer designation information indicating the computer to be operated, and the plurality of computers receive the computer designation information. Only when the computer designation information indicates itself, the processing according to the operation information is executed, so that the computer input device can be shared by a plurality of computers.

Therefore, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the first aspect.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a mouse as a pointing device is used as an example of a computer input device, and the present invention is applied to this mouse.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an application example of a mouse with a switching function.

FIG. 1 shows two computers 1 and 2.

One connecting cable 3a drawn from the mouse 3 with the switching function is branched in two directions and connected to the computers 1 and 2. Also, this connection cable 3a
Includes two information transmission lines 3c, the connection cable 3a before branching includes two information transmission lines 3c, and the connection cable 3a after branching includes respective connection cables 3a toward each computer. The information transmission lines 3c are included separately. This branch front side, ie, the mouse 3 with the switching function
The end of the information transmission line 3c on the side is connected to a control device 3d inside the mouse 3 with a switching function.

The control device 3d transmits the operation information from the user to the computer 1 or the computer 2 designated by the switch 3b.
Control for transmission to the server.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the mouse 3 with the switching function. The position of the little finger when the user uses it, ie, the right side of the mouse 3 with the switching function,
A switch 3b for designating one of the computers 1 and 2 is provided.

The user slides the switch 3b with a little finger to designate one of the SW1 state and the SW2 state, whereby the switch 3b is associated with the computer 1 or SW2 state associated with the SW1 state. The operation information from the user is transmitted to one of the computers 2 that are present.

Table 1 shows the relationship between the computers 1 and 2 and the switching state of the switch 3b in the control device 3d.

[0029]

[Table 1] That is, when the switch 3b is in the SW1 state, the control device 3d recognizes that the mouse of the computer 1 is operating and the mouse of the computer 2 is unavailable, and similarly, when the switch 3b is in the SW2 state. The control device 3d determines that the mouse of the computer 1 is unusable and recognizes that the mouse of the computer 2 is operating. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by the control device 3d.

When the power is turned on, the controller 3d first recognizes the state of the switch 3b (s1).

Here, when the switch 3b is in the SW1 state, the control device 3d transmits operation information from the user obtained by the operation of the mouse 3 with the switching function to the computer 1, but not to the computer 2 ( s2).

On the other hand, when the switch 3b is in the SW2 state, the control device 3d transmits the operation information from the user obtained by the operation of the mouse 3 with the switching function to the computer 2, but not to the computer 1 (s3). ).

As described above, in the mouse 3 with the switching function according to the present embodiment, since the control device 3d transmits the operation information only to the computer 1 or the computer 2 specified by the switch 3b, the switching function is provided. The mouse 3 can be shared by the computers 1 and 2.

Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of mice, the operability can be improved.

Further, since it is not necessary to purchase a plurality of mice, the cost and the installation space can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the case of using two computers 1 and 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to three or more computers. The effect of can be obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, the mouse 3 with the switching function and the computers 1 and 2 are connected by the connection cable 3a, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, operation information from a user is transmitted to the computer 1,
2 may be transmitted. As described above, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof,
In addition, the present invention can be similarly applied to a computer input device other than a mouse, such as a pointing device and a keyboard.

(Second Embodiment) In the present embodiment, a case where a mouse which is a pointing device is used as an example of a computer input device and the present invention is applied to this mouse will be described. The case where the present invention is applied using a display device will be described as an example.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a computer system according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

The connection cable 3a drawn from the mouse 3 with the switching function is connected to each of the computers 1 and 2 via the display device 4.

Each of the computers 1 and 2 is connected to a display device 4 by a video signal cable 5.

The mouse 3 with the switching function transmits an operation signal from the user to the computer 1 or the computer 2 specified by the switch 3b via the display device 4. In addition, the mouse 3 with the switch 3b transmits the operation signal. Alternatively, computer designation information indicating which of the computers 2 is designated is transmitted to the display device 4.

The display device 4 receives a video signal from each of the computers 1 and 2 and receives computer designation information from the mouse 3 with a switching function.

The display device 4 recognizes which of the computers 1 and 2 is designated by the switch 3b based on the computer designation information received from the mouse 3 having the switching function, and indicates the information by the computer designation information. The video signal received from either the computer 1 or the computer 2 is displayed on a display.

As described above, in the computer system according to the present embodiment, the switch 3b of the computers 1 and 2
Since the operation information is transmitted only to the computer 1 or the computer 2 designated by the user, the mouse 3 with the switching function can be shared by the computers 1 and 2.

Further, since the video signal received from the computer 1 or 2 specified by the switch 3b among the computers 1 and 2 is displayed on the display, the display device 4 can be shared by the computers 1 and 2.

Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of mice and a plurality of display devices, the user is not bothered.
Operability can be improved.

Further, since there is no need to purchase a plurality of mice and a plurality of display devices, the cost and the installation space can be reduced.

(Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, a computer system provided with a mouse having a switching function will be described.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a computer system according to the present embodiment. The same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Control device 3f of mouse 3 with switching function
One connection cable 3e drawn out of the computer is branched in two directions and connected to each determination device 6 of each of the computers 1 and 2.

When the switch 3b is switched, the control device 3f transmits the computer designation information to both the control devices 6 of the computers 1 and 2 via the connection cable 3e.

Each of the judging devices 6 of the computers 1 and 2 receives the computer designation information. If the received computer designation information indicates itself, the operation information received thereafter is directed to itself. Then, the computer executes the process according to the received operation information. On the other hand, if the received computer designation information does not indicate itself, each of the determination devices 6 of the computers 1 and 2 determines that operation information received thereafter is not addressed to itself, and blocks the operation information.

As described above, in the computer system provided with the mouse 3 having the switching function according to the present embodiment, the determination device 6 of each of the computers 1 and 2 determines whether or not the received operation information is addressed to itself. Is determined, the mouse 3 with the switching function can be shared by the computers 1 and 2, whereby the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

As a modification of the computer system according to the present embodiment, the control device 3f adds a computer designation signal to the operation information and transmits it, and the determination devices 6 of the computers 1 and 2 add the operation information to the received operation information. It may be determined whether or not the received operation information is addressed to itself based on the computer designation signal.

[0056]

As described above, according to the computer input device of the present invention, the operation information is transmitted by designating any one of the plurality of computers by the switch means. It can be shared by two computers.

Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of computer input devices, the operability can be improved.

Further, since there is no need to purchase a plurality of computer input devices, costs and installation space can be reduced.

In a computer system according to another aspect of the invention, the computer input device specifies an arbitrary computer and causes a common computer output device to display a video signal from the computer. And

Therefore, the computer input device and the computer output device can be shared by a plurality of computers.
Therefore, since the user does not have to use a plurality of computer input devices and a plurality of computer output devices, the operability can be improved.

Further, when one user handles a plurality of computers, it is not necessary to purchase a plurality of computer input devices and a plurality of computer output devices, so that the cost and the installation space can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an application example of a mouse with a switching function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view showing an example of a mouse with a switching function according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the control device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a computer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a computer system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Calculator 3 Mouse with switching function 3a, 3e Connection cable 3b Switch 3c Information transmission line 3d, 3f Control device 4 Display device 5 Video signal cable 6 Judgment device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A computer input device for transmitting operation information from a user to a computer, comprising: a connection unit for connecting the operation information from the user to any of a plurality of computers so as to be transmittable; Switch means for designating an arbitrary computer among the plurality of computers; and control means for transmitting the operation information to the computer designated by the switch means via the connection means. Computer input device. 2. A computer system in which a user operates a plurality of computers using the computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the computer input device transmits the operation information to a computer specified by the switch. And transmitting computer designation information indicating a computer designated by the switch means to a computer output device, wherein the computer output device receives a video signal from the computer indicated by the computer designation information received from the computer input device. The computer system characterized by displaying. 3. A computer input device for transmitting operation information from a user to a computer, a connection means for connecting the operation information from the user to any of a plurality of computers so as to be transmittable, Switch means for designating an arbitrary computer among the plurality of computers; and control means for transmitting, via the connection means, computer designation information indicating the computer designated by the switch means and the operation information. A computer input device comprising: 4. A computer system in which a user operates a plurality of computers using the computer input device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of computers perform the operation according to computer designation information received from the computer input device. A computer system, comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether information is information addressed to itself.