JP2008077301A - Projection system and projection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projection system or the like capable of controlling the operation of a screen saver of a PC according to the setting of a projector.
A projection system includes: a storage unit that stores setting data; an information generation unit that generates control information related to a screen saver operation based on the setting data; and a projector that receives image information and transmits control information. A projector 100 including a side communication unit, a PC side communication unit that transmits image information and receives control information, a determination unit that determines whether a screen saver activation event has occurred, and a startup event that has occurred A control unit that suppresses activation of the screen saver if the control information is information that prohibits activation of the screen saver, and activates the screen saver if the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver. PC200.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a projection system and a projection method using a PC and a projector.

  For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-58668, image information of an image displayed on a notebook PC (Personal Computer) is transmitted from the notebook PC to the projector via the network, and the projector The same image as that displayed on the PC may be displayed.

  In addition, when a presentation or a meeting is performed using a projector, a notebook PC for each user is often connected to the projector and used.

  If the user sets the screen saver during normal use of the notebook PC, the user may use the setting as it is when connected to the projector. In such a case, when the screen saver is activated on the notebook PC, the screen saver image is also displayed on the image of the projector, which may cause discomfort to the viewer of the projector image.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to stop the operation of the screen saver or suppress the activation when the PC is connected to the projector. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-194599 describes that when an event occurs in an application, the operation of the screen saver is stopped and the content of the event is displayed.
JP 2006-58668 A JP-A-8-194599

  However, when the projector is used in a meeting or the like, there is no problem if a screen saver image is displayed on the projector image when the participant of the conference refers to the material at hand instead of the image of the projector. It is not preferable to suppress the operation of the screen saver when the is connected to the projector.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projection system and a projection method capable of controlling the operation of a screen saver of a PC in accordance with projector settings.

In order to solve the above problems, a projection system according to the present invention is a projection system including at least one PC and a projector that projects an image based on image information from the PC.
The projector is
A storage unit for storing setting data indicating settings relating to the operation of the screen saver in the PC;
An information generating unit that generates control information related to the operation of the screen saver based on the setting data;
A projector-side communication unit that receives the image information from the PC and transmits the control information to the PC;
Including
The PC
A PC-side communication unit that transmits the image information to the projector and receives the control information from the projector;
A determination unit that determines whether an activation event of the screen saver has occurred;
When the activation event occurs, based on the control information, if the control information is information that prohibits activation of the screen saver, the activation of the screen saver is suppressed, and the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver. If there is a control unit that activates the screen saver,
It is characterized by including.

The projection method according to the present invention is a projection method using at least one PC and a projector that projects an image based on image information from the PC.
When the projector is connected to the PC, the projector transmits control information regarding the operation of the screen saver in the PC to the PC.
The PC
Receiving the control information from the projector;
Determine whether the screen saver activation event has occurred,
When the activation event occurs, based on the control information, if the control information is information that prohibits activation of the screen saver, the activation of the screen saver is suppressed, and the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver. If present, the screen saver is activated.

  According to the present invention, the projection system can control the operation of the PC screen saver according to the setting of the projector by transmitting control information related to the operation of the PC screen saver from the projector.

The projector projects an image based on the image information and projects a setting image for inputting information on the setting data;
A setting unit that inputs information about the setting data and stores the setting data in the storage unit;
May be included.

  According to this, the projection system can generate and update the setting data in accordance with the user setting.

In addition, the PC
A time measuring unit for measuring the non-input duration in the PC;
A storage unit for storing startup setting time data indicating the startup setting time of the screen saver;
Including
When the control information is information prohibiting activation of the screen saver, based on the non-input continuation time and the activation set time data, the determination unit determines whether the non-input continuation time has passed the activation set time. It may be determined that the activation event has occurred.

  According to this, the projection system can more reliably suppress the activation of the screen saver by determining that the activation event has occurred before the non-input duration time has passed the activation setting time.

  The control unit may stop transmission of the image information to the PC-side communication unit when the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver and the activation event occurs. Also good.

  According to this, the projection system can reduce the processing load and the transmission path load by stopping the transmission of the image information when the screen saver is activated. In this case, since the image of the projector does not change, the projection system can perform a meeting or the like without reducing the concentration of the observer of the image.

  Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a projection system using a PC (Personal Computer) and a projector will be described as an example with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example shown below does not limit the content of the invention described in the claim at all. In addition, all of the configurations shown in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential as means for solving the problems described in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the projection system 10 in the present embodiment.

  The projection system 10 includes a PC 200 and a projector 100 that projects an image based on image information transmitted from the PC 200.

  The PC 200 and the projector 100 are connected via a USB cable 300, and the projector 100 projects the same image as the image displayed on the PC 200 onto a screen or the like.

  In such a case, when the screen saver is activated on the PC 200, the image projected by the projector 100 also becomes an image of the screen saver. In particular, when the screen saver image is a moving image with a lot of movement, the viewer of the image of the projector 100 is uncomfortable.

  In the present embodiment, the screen saver is activated or inhibited from being activated in accordance with the setting of the projector 100 by transmitting screen saver control information from the projector 100 to the PC 200.

  Next, functional blocks of the projector 100 and the PC 200 that implement such functions will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the projector 100 according to the present embodiment.

  Projector 100 stores image information from PC 200 and projector-side communication unit 110 that transmits control information to PC 200, setting unit 120 that performs various settings according to user operations, and storage unit 140. An update unit 130 for updating data, a storage unit 140 for storing various data, an information generation unit 160 for generating control information, an image generation unit 150 for generating various images, and projecting the images. The projection unit 190 is included.

  In addition, the storage unit 140 indicates setting image data 142 for generating a setting image that prompts the user to make settings related to the operation of the screen saver, settings related to the operation of the screen saver in the PC 200, setting data 144 set by the setting unit 120, and PC 200 The image data 146 related to the image information transmitted from is stored. Note that the update unit 130 updates the image data 146 based on the image information transmitted from the PC 200. Further, the information generation unit 160 generates control information related to the operation of the screen saver based on the setting data 144.

  Next, functional blocks of the PC 200 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the PC 200 in the present embodiment.

  The PC 200 transmits image information to the projector 100 and receives control information from the projector 100, a PC-side communication unit 210, a determination unit 220 that performs various determinations, a control unit 230 that performs various controls, A storage unit 240 for storing the data, an image generation unit 250 for generating various images, an information generation unit 260 for generating image information and the like based on the images, and a timing unit 270 for measuring a non-input duration in the PC 200. And an input unit 280 that inputs operation information and the like from a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and a display unit 290 that displays an image generated by the image generation unit 250.

  Here, the image information is information obtained by transforming the original image for data communication. Examples of the image information include information obtained by packetizing the original image information, information obtained by adding a header to the original image information, information obtained by compressing the original image information, and the like.

  Here, the non-input duration is, for example, a duration in a state where there is no input by the input unit 280. That is, the non-input duration is increased while the user does not operate the mouse or the like, and the non-input duration is reset when the user operates the mouse or the like.

  The storage unit 240 also stores activation setting time data 242 indicating the time until the screen saver is activated, screen saver image data 244 for displaying a screen saver image, image data 246 for displaying a normal image, and the like. ing. Note that the time until the screen saver is activated is set by the user in a state where a general screen saver setting image is displayed, for example, and the input unit 280 stores the setting information as the activation setting time data 242 in the storage unit 240. .

  In addition, you may mount these each part using the following hardwares, for example. For example, the projector-side communication unit 110 and the PC-side communication unit 210 include a USB interface, the setting unit 120 includes an operation button, a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote control”), an infrared light receiving unit, and the like, an update unit 130, information The generation units 160 and 260, the determination unit 220, and the control unit 230 are CPUs, the storage units 140 and 240 are HDDs, RAMs, ROMs, the image generation units 150 and 250 are image processing circuits, and the projection unit 190 is. A liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal driving circuit, a lamp, a projection lens, etc., the timer 270 may be a system timer and CPU, the input unit 280 may be an input port and CPU, and the display unit 290 may be a liquid crystal monitor.

  Next, a screen saver control procedure using these units will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a screen saver control procedure in this embodiment.

  First, when using the projector 100, the user of the projector 100 sets the projector 100 to permit or prohibit activation of the screen saver.

  Therefore, the image generation unit 150 generates a setting image based on the setting image data 142, and the projection unit 190 projects the setting image (step S1).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting image 400 in the present embodiment.

  The setting image 400 includes, for example, a character string image such as “Do you want to prohibit activation of the screen saver?” And button images such as “Yes”, “No”, and “Back”.

  The user operates a direction key on the remote controller to select a desired button image, and presses the “OK” button on the remote controller. For example, if “Yes” is selected, screen saver activation is prohibited, if “No” is selected, screen saver activation is permitted, and if “Back” is selected, the screen saver is activated. The activation setting is not changed, and the setting data 144 is not updated.

  The setting unit 120 inputs setting information indicating the setting contents according to the user's operation (step S2), and stores it as setting data 144 in the storage unit 140 (step S3) except when “return” is selected. .

  Then, the user connects the PC 200 to the projector 100.

  When the PC 200 is connected to the projector 100, the information generation unit 160 generates control information based on the setting data 144, and the projector-side communication unit 110 transmits the control information to the PC 200 via the USB cable 300. (Step S4).

  The PC side communication unit 210 receives the control information.

  Then, the user performs a presentation or the like by operating the PC 200.

  The timer unit 270 measures the non-input duration time based on the information from the input unit 280 (step S5).

  The determination unit 220 generates a screen saver activation event by determining whether or not the non-input duration time is equal to or longer than the activation setting time based on the non-input duration time counted by the timing unit 270 and the activation setting time data 242. It is determined whether or not (step S6).

  For example, when the screen saver activation setting time is 10 minutes, a screen saver activation event has occurred if the non-input duration time is 10 minutes or more. Note that the determination unit 220 may determine that the activation event has occurred before the non-input duration time has elapsed the activation setting time. In this case, for example, when the screen saver activation setting time is 10 minutes, if the non-input duration time is 9 minutes 50 seconds or more, a screen saver activation event has occurred.

  When the screen saver activation event occurs, the determination unit 220 determines whether the setting of the projector 100 permits the activation of the screen saver based on the control information received by the PC side communication unit 210 (step S7). .

  When the control information permits the activation of the screen saver, the control unit 230 controls the image generation unit 250 to generate an image based on the screen saver image data 244, and the display unit 290 displays the image. As a result, the screen saver is activated (step S8).

  On the other hand, when the control information prohibits activation of the screen saver, the control unit 230 does not activate the screen saver.

  Based on the information from the input unit 280, the determination unit 220 determines whether a screen saver stop event has occurred by determining whether the user has operated the mouse or the like of the PC 200 (step S9). For example, when the user moves the mouse of the PC 200, a screen saver stop event has occurred.

  When the screen saver stop event occurs, the control unit 230 controls the image generation unit 250 to stop the screen saver if the screen saver is activated (step S10). That is, the image generation unit 250 stops the screen saver by being controlled by the control unit 230 to use the image data 246 instead of the screen saver image data 244, for example.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projection system 10 controls the operation of the screen saver of the PC 200 according to the setting of the projector 100 by transmitting control information regarding the operation of the screen saver of the PC 200 from the projector 100. Can do.

  Accordingly, the presenter can prevent the screen saver from being activated at a timing that he / she does not expect during the presentation, so that the presentation can be performed efficiently. In addition, the listener can watch the presentation in a concentrated manner without feeling uncomfortable.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the projection system 10 can generate and update the setting data 144 according to the user setting by using the setting image 400.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the PC 200 can more reliably suppress the activation of the screen saver by determining that the activation event has occurred before the non-input duration time has elapsed the activation setting time.

  That is, if the PC 200 determines that a startup event has occurred when the non-input duration time has exceeded the startup setting time, even if the screen saver is prohibited from starting, the screen saver may be momentarily displayed by the normal screen saver operation. Although it is possible to start, such a situation can be prevented.

  In addition, application of this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible.

For example, when the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver and a screen saver activation event occurs, the control unit 230 causes the PC side communication unit 210 to stop transmitting image information, The generation unit 260 may stop the generation of the image information. According to this, the projection system 10 stops the transmission of the image information when the screen saver is activated, thereby processing load and transmission path (USB cable 300). Can be reduced. In this case, the image of the projector 100 does not change. That is, when the screen saver is a moving image, the projector 100 can easily reduce the concentration of the observer by projecting an image of the screen saver. However, by projecting a still image, the projector 100 does not reduce the concentration of the observer. , You can have a meeting.

  In the above-described embodiment, the projector 100 is connected to one PC 200. However, the projector 100 is connected to a plurality of PCs 200, receives image information from the plurality of PCs 200, and projects the images of the PCs 200 simultaneously. May be. In this case, the projector 100 may transmit control information to each PC 200.

  According to this, the projection system 10 can be unified by the control information even when the screen saver activation setting is not unified in each PC 200.

  Further, the image information transmitted by the PC 200 may be obtained by capturing an image of the PC 200 or based on image data stored in the PC 200 in advance. The image information transmitted by the PC 200 may be a part of the image or may be compressed. Such an image information processing method is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-58668, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the timing at which the projector 100 transmits the control information is not limited when connected to the PC 200, and may be, for example, when the setting data 144 is updated.

  Further, the transmission path between the projector 100 and the PC 200 is not limited to the USB cable 300, and may be a wired cable capable of bidirectional communication, a wireless LAN, a wireless USB, or the like. Further, the upstream transmission path and the downstream transmission path between the projector 100 and the PC 200 may be different.

  Projector 100 is not limited to a liquid crystal projector, and may be, for example, a projector using DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) developed by Texas Instruments, Inc., a CRT projector, a projector using organic EL, or the like. .

  The PC 200 is not limited to a notebook type, and may be a desktop type, a mobile type, or the like.

It is a figure which shows the use condition of the projection system in a present Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block of the projector in a present Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block of PC in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control procedure of the screen saver in a present Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting image in a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Projection system, 100 Projector, 110 Projector side communication part, 120 Setting part, 130 Update part, 140, 240 Storage part, 142 Setting image data, 144 Setting data, 146, 246 Image data, 150, 250 Image generation part, 160 , 260 Information generation unit, 190 Projection unit, 200 PC, 210 PC side communication unit, 220 Determination unit, 230 Control unit, 270 Timing unit, 280 Input unit, 290 Display unit, 300 USB cable, 400 Setting image

Claims (5)

In a projection system including at least one PC and a projector that projects an image based on image information from the PC,
The projector is
A storage unit for storing setting data indicating settings relating to the operation of the screen saver in the PC;
An information generating unit that generates control information related to the operation of the screen saver based on the setting data;
A projector-side communication unit that receives the image information from the PC and transmits the control information to the PC;
Including
The PC
A PC-side communication unit that transmits the image information to the projector and receives the control information from the projector;
A determination unit that determines whether an activation event of the screen saver has occurred;
When the activation event occurs, based on the control information, if the control information is information that prohibits activation of the screen saver, the activation of the screen saver is suppressed, and the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver. If there is a control unit that activates the screen saver,
A projection system comprising: The projection system according to claim 1,
The projector is
A projection unit that projects an image based on the image information and projects a setting image for inputting information on the setting data;
A setting unit that inputs information about the setting data and stores the setting data in the storage unit;
A projection system comprising: The projection system according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The PC
A time measuring unit for measuring the non-input duration in the PC;
A storage unit for storing startup setting time data indicating the startup setting time of the screen saver;
Including
When the control information is information prohibiting activation of the screen saver, based on the non-input continuation time and the activation set time data, the determination unit determines whether the non-input continuation time has passed the activation set time. And determining that the activation event has occurred. In the projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit causes the PC-side communication unit to stop transmitting the image information when the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver and the activation event occurs. Projection system. In a projection method using at least one PC and a projector that projects an image based on image information from the PC,
When the projector is connected to the PC, the projector transmits control information regarding the operation of the screen saver in the PC to the PC.
The PC
Receiving the control information from the projector;
Determine whether the screen saver activation event has occurred,
When the activation event occurs, based on the control information, if the control information is information that prohibits activation of the screen saver, the activation of the screen saver is suppressed, and the control information is information that permits activation of the screen saver. A projection method, comprising: activating the screen saver if any.

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