Abstract:
An information processing apparatus comprises a first terminal device and a plurality of second terminal devices. The first terminal device includes a data processing device for processing input information and outputting a data processing result, and a broadcast communication device for broadcasting the data processing result. Each second terminal device includes an input processing device for processing input a data and converting to input processing information that can be processed by the data processing device and a visualization processing device means for converting the data processing result transmitted by the broadcast communication device to a visualization information specified by a user. Additionally, the data processing device in the first terminal device processes the input processing information from the input processing device of the second terminal device. The broadcast communication device transmits the same processing result to visualization information conversion device in the other second terminal devices. 
     The respective visualization processing devices convert the processing result to visualization information formats set by the users for displaying the same data processing differently. the data processing result.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/299,642, filed Sep. 2, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an art for sharing a data processing result synchronously and in real-time among a group of remotely-located users at respective terminal devices, especially an art that enables users to see at respective terminal devices in different graphical forms based on the same data processing result. 
     First of all, an information processing device of prior art where a plurality of users share a data processing result at respective terminal devices is explained. 
     FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a terminal device of an information processing device of prior art. 
     A terminal device  31  comprises an input device  311  (a keyboard or a mouse, for example), a display device  321  (a CRT, for example) and an information processing device  331  (a CPU, for example). 
     In the terminal device  31 , the input device  311  is connected with the information processing device  331  and the display device  321  is connected with the information processing device  331 , thus each terminal device is configured. 
     As such a configuration example, there are a workstation, a personal computer and the like. 
     Next, an information processing device of XTV (X-window Terminal View) system for sharing at each terminal device a data processing result using a plurality of the above-mentioned terminal devices is explained. 
     FIG. 9 shows a configuration of an information processing device of XTV (X-window Terminal View) system, where terminal devices  41 ,  42  and  43  are connected to each other via a network (ISDN or High-speed dedicated line, for example). The dotted lines in FIG.9 show communication lines (channels) of information. 
     Here, as an example, each terminal device shares the same data processing result and the same data processing result is displayed at each terminal device in the form of table or graph. 
     In the same way as the above-mentioned terminal device  31 , the terminal device  41  is configured from an input device  411 , an information processing device  421  and a display device  431 . In addition, an input/output visualization means  441  exists in the information processing device  421 . 
     This input/output visualization means  441  transmits an input information (information on a pressed key on a keyboard, for example) to other input/output visualization means or receives an information transmitted from the terminal device and lets the display device  431  display the information. 
     In the same way as the terminal device  41 , the terminal device  43  is configured from an input device  413 , an information processing device  423  and a display device  433 . In addition, an input/output visualization, means  443  exists in the information processing device  423 . 
     The terminal device  42  is configured from an input device  412 , an information processing device  422  and a display device  432 . 
     In addition, an input/output visualization means  442  same as the input/output visualization means  441  exists in the information processing device  422 . 
     Moreover, an input processing means  452 , a data processing means  462  and visualization information conversion means  472  exist in the information processing device  422 . 
     The input processing means  452  input processes data input through the input/output visualization means  442  so that the data processing means  462  can can perform data processing, outputs input processing information. 
     The data processing means  462  processes the input processing information and outputs a processing result thereof. 
     The visualization information conversion means  472  converts the processing result by the data processing means to predetermined visualization information (information for displaying a data processing result in a form of graph, for example). 
     Next, FIGS. 10 and 11 show data flow input at the input device  411  in the terminal device  41  for displaying the data processing result. 
     FIG. 10 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  41  in the information processing device shown in FIG. 9 to the terminal device  42  and  43 . 
     FIG. 11 is a chart showing a flow of information shown in FIG. 10 by the form of processing flow according to each step. 
     When data input using the input device  411  in the terminal device  41  (step  401 ), the input/output visualization device  441  transmits an input information (information on a pressed key on a keyboard, for example) to the input/output visualization means  442  in the terminal device  42 . (step  402 ). The input/output visualization means  442  inputs a received input information and outputs the received input information to the input processing means  452 . (step  403 ). 
     The input processing means  452  input processes a data so that the data processing means  462  can perform data processing, converts it to an input processing information and outputs a result to the data processing means  462 . (step  403 ). 
     The data processing means  462  processes data based on the input processing information, outputs a processing result thereof to the visualization information conversion means  472 . (step  403 ). 
     The visualization information conversion means  472  converts a data processing result to visualization information for displaying the data in the form specified by a user, for example, in the form of bar graph if a user specified it, passes the visualization information to the input/output visualization means  442 . (step  404 ). 
     The input/output visualization means  442  transmits the received visualization information to the input/output visualization means  441  in the terminal device  41  and the input/output visualization means  443  in the terminal device  43 . (step  405 ). 
     The input/output visualization means  441  in the terminal device  41  lets the display device  431  display the received visualization information. (step  406 ). 
     Similarly to this, the input/output visualization means  443  in the terminal device  43  lets the display device  433  display the received visualization information. (step  407 ). 
     The input/output visualization means  442  in the terminal device  42  lets the display device  432  display the same visualization information as that transmitted to the terminal device  41  and terminal device  43 . (step  408 ). 
     Thus, the prior art terminal devices uniformly let terminal devices display the same data processing result. 
     In the above-mentioned information processing device of prior art, however, there is a problem in that each user cannot refer the data processing result in a favorite expressive form since the prior art, broadcasts the same data processing result to all users in the same form. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing art enabling users to see the same data processing result in different forms at respective terminal device when the plural users share a data processing result in real-time at respective terminal devices. 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by an information processing apparatus comprising a first terminal device and a plurality of second terminal devices. The first terminal device includes a data processing means for processing an input processing information and outputting a data processing result, and a broadcast communication means for broadcasting the data processing result to the second terminal devices. Each second terminal device includes an input processing means for processing input data for conversion to input processing information that can be processed by the data processing means, and an visualization information conversion means for converting the data processing result transmitted by the broadcast communication means to a visualization information specified by a user. 
     By the present invention configured as above, an input processing information from an input processing means in a terminal device is processed in a data processing means, the same processing result is transmitted to the visualization processing means in other terminal devices. 
     Then, a visualization information conversion means in each terminal device independently converts the processing result to visualization information, simultaneously enabling different or same visualization processing at respective terminal devices. 
     Therefore, users who are sharing the same data processing result can see the visualized information in the same form or different forms at the same time. 
     Also, the present invention can operate the above-mentioned broadcast communication means as an independent terminal that provide a data processing means in each terminal device and broadcast the input processing information to each data processing means using the broadcast communication means. 
     Explained as above, the present inventions, enables sharing of the same visualized information like prior art but the visualization processing means in each terminal device can selectively perform different kinds of visualization processing. As a result, it becomes possible to share the same data processing result in different visualization forms. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  11  to the terminal devices  12  and  13  in the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a chart of processing flow corresponding to each step of information flow shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  21  to the terminal devices  22  and  23  in the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 is a chart of processing flow corresponding to each step of information flow shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a prior art terminal device. 
     FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a processing device of prior art. 
     FIG. 10 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  41  to the terminal devices  42  and  43  in the processing device of prior art. 
     FIG. 11 is a chart of processing flow corresponding to each step of information flow shown in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment, where first, second, and third terminal devices  11 ,  12  and  13  are connected to a fourth terminal device  14  via a network (ISDN or High-speed dedicated line). 
     The first terminal device  11  has an input device  111 , a display device  121  and an information processing device  131 . 
     The input device  111  is a device for inputting data, such as a keyboard or a mouse. 
     The display device  121  is a device for displaying a data processing result, such as a CRT. 
     The information processing device  131  has an input processing means  141  and a visualization information conversion means  151 . 
     The input processing means  141  processes data input through the input device  111  and converts the data to input processing information necessary for processing by a data processing means  124  of the fourth terminal device  14 . 
     Specifically, ‘the input processing information necessary for processing’ is, for example, information requesting to execute an operation specified by clicking a command in a window on a CRT screen of the display device  121 . In this case, the command in the window displayed on the CRT is clicked at first using a mouse. Then, the input processing means  141  converts information showing that the command has been clicked to information requesting the data processing means  124  to execute the operation specified by the command. 
     Further, the input processing means  141  generates additional information necessary for a broadcast communication control means  114  of the terminal device  14  to broadcast the information. This additional information is, for example, an addressing information for addressing terminals to be broadcasted a processing result by the data processing means  124 . 
     The visualization processing means  151  converts the data processing result from the data processing means  124  to a visualization information format specified by a user. 
     For example, if the user at the terminal device  11  requests to display the data processing result in bar graph, the processing result, for example, numerical data from the data processing means  124  is converted to information for displaying a bar graph. 
     Similar to the first terminal device  11 , the second terminal device, configured from an input device  112 , a display device  122  and an information processing device  132  in the same way as the terminal device  11 . 
     Also, the information processing device  132  is configured from an input processing means  142  and a visualization information conversion means  152  in the same way as the information processing device  131 . 
     Similarly the third terminal device  13  has an input device  113 , a display device  123  and an information processing device  133  in the same way as the terminal device  11 . 
     Also, the information processing device  133  is configured from an input processing means  143  and a visualization information conversion means  153  in the same way as the information processing device  131 . 
     The fourth terminal device  14  has an information processing device  134 , which includes configured from a broadcast communication control device  114  and a data processing means  124 . 
     The broadcast communication means  114  outputs only input processing information among information transmitted from the input processing means  141 ,  142  and  143 , and stores any additional information necessary for broadcasting communication. 
     When receiving a data processing result that is processed in the data processing means  124  from the data processing means  124 , the broadcast communication means  114  broadcasts the data processing result to the terminal device addressed by the additional information. 
     The data processing means  124  processes data based on the input processing information transmitted from the broadcast communication control means  114 , and transmits a data processing result to the broadcast communication control means  114  again. 
     Next, operation of the information processing device according to the first embodiment described above is explained. 
     FIG. 2 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  11  to the terminal devices  12 ,  13  and  14  in the first embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a chart showing a processing flow corresponding to each step of flow of information shown in FIG.  2 . 
     A case of displaying the same data processing result displayed in forms of table and graph in the terminal devices as an example sharing a data processing result among terminal devices is considered in this embodiment, where the visualization processing means  151 ,  152  and  153  visualize the data processing result from the data processing means  124  in the form of table, bar graph and polygonal line graph. 
     First, when data is input to a table displayed by the display device  121  in the terminal device  11  from the input device  111 , an input information (information that the key “ 5 ” on the keyboard has been pressed, for example) is input to the input processing means  141 . (step  101 ). 
     The input processing means  141  determines how to process the input information and transmits input processing information necessary for the processing to the broadcast communication control means  114 . (step  102 ). 
     Additionally, the input processing means  141  transmits additional information for broadcasting the data processing result to the terminal devices  11 ,  12  and  13  to the broadcast communication control means  114 . (step  102 ). 
     The broadcast communication control means  114  outputs only input processing information among received information to the data processing means  124 . (step  103 ). 
     The data processing means  124  executes a calculation according to the received input information, passes a data processing result to the broadcast communication control means  114 . (step  104 ). 
     The broadcast communication control means  114  broadcasts a processing result to the visualization processing means  151 ,  152  and  153  based on the additional information. (step  105 ). 
     The visualization processing means  151  converts the received data processing result to visualization information for displaying the data in the form of table, and lets the display device  122  display a table. (step  106 ). 
     The visualization information conversion means  152  converts the same data processing result as that received by the visualization processing means  151  to visualization information for displaying the data processing result as a bar graph, and lets the display device  122  display a bar graph. (step  107 ). 
     The visualization processing means  153  converts the same data processing result as that received by the visualization processing means  151  to visualization information for displaying the data processing result as a polygonal line graph, and lets the display device  123  display a polygonal line graph. (step  108 ). 
     Like this, the same data processing result is displayed in different forms in respective terminal devices. 
     It is to be noted that while the visualization processing means  151 ,  152  and  153  respectively perform one kind of visualization processing for each in this embodiment, however, it is possible for the visualization processing means to select arbitrary visualization processing to the same data such as table, bar graph, polygonal line graph or the like. 
     Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the visualization processing means  151 ,  152  and  153  for displaying the same text in different languages such as English, Japanese and German, other than numerical data. 
     In addition, it is possible to share the same displayed information by making the visualization processing same. 
     Also the number of application programs run by a data processing device and that of terminal devices are not limited. 
     Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained if the broadcast communication control means  114  and the data processing means  124  exist in any terminal devices as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Next, the second embodiment of the present invention is explained referring to FIGS. 5-7. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. 
     In this figure, the first, second, and third  21 ,  22  and  23  are connected with the broadcast communication control means  24  via a network (ISDN or High-speed dedicated line). 
     The first terminal device  21  has an input device  211 , a display device  221  and an information processing device  231 . 
     The input device  211  is a device for inputting data, for example a keyboard or a mouse. 
     The display device  221  is a device for displaying a data processing result, for example, a CRT. 
     The information processing device  231  is configured from an input processing means  241 , a data processing means or device  251  and a visualization processing means  261 . 
     The input processing means  241  processes data input through the input device  211  and converts the data to an input processing information necessary for processing by a data processing device  251 . 
     Specifically , ‘the input processing information necessary for processing’ is, for example, information requesting to execute an operation specified by clicking a command in a window on a CRT screen of the display device  221 . 
     In this case, the command in the window displayed on the CRT is clicked at first using a mouse. Then, the input processing means  241  converts information show that the command has been clicked to information requesting the data processing means  251  to execute the operation specified by the command. 
     Further, the input processing means  241  generates additional information necessary for a broadcast communication control means  24  to broadcast the information. This additional information is, for example, an addressing information for addressing terminals to be broadcasted a processing result by the data processing means  251 . 
     The data processing means  251  processes data based on an input processing information from the input processing means  241  or input processing information transmitted from the broadcast communication means  241  and outputs a processing result. 
     The visualization information conversion means  261  converts the data processing result from the data processing means  251  to visualization information specified by a user. 
     For example, if a user at the terminal device  21  requests to display the data processing result as a bar graph, the processing result, for example, numerical data from the data processing means  251  is converted to information for displaying a bar graph. 
     The second terminal device  22  also has an input device  212 , a display device  222  and an information processing device  232  in the same way as the terminal device  21 . 
     Also, the information processing device  232  has an input processing means  242 , a data processing means  252  and a visualization processing means  262  in the same way as the information processing device  231 . 
     Similarly, the third terminal device also has an input device  213 , a display device  223  and an information processing device  233  in the same way as the terminal device  21 . 
     Also, the information processing device  233  is configured from an input processing means  243 , a data processing means  253  and a visualization processing means  263  in the same way as the information processing device  231 . 
     The broadcast communication control means  24 , broadcasts input processing information transmitted from an input processing means in an arbitrary terminal device to terminal devices addressed by the additional information transmitted with the input processing information. 
     Next, operation of the second embodiment is explained referring to FIGS  6  and  7 . 
     FIG. 6 is a chart showing a flow of information from the terminal device  21  to the terminal devices  22  and  23  in the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 is a chart showing a processing flow corresponding each step of flow of information shown in FIG.  6 . 
     A case of displaying the same data processing result displayed in forms of table and graph in the terminal devices as an example sharing a data processing result among terminal devices is considered in this embodiment, where the visualization processing means  261 ,  262 , and  263  visualize the data processing result from the data processing means  251  in the form of table, bar graph and polygonal line graph. 
     First, when data is input to a table displayed by the display device  221  in the terminal device  21  from the input device  211 , input information is input to the input processing means  241 . (step  201 ). 
     The input processing means  241  determines how to process the input information and transmits input processing information necessary for the processing to the broadcast communication control means  24 . (step  202 ). 
     Additionally, the input processing means  241  generates additional information for broadcasting the input processing information to the terminal devices  22  and  23 , and transmits the additional information to the broadcast communication control means  24 . (step  203 ). 
     The broadcast communication control means  24  broadcasts received input processing information to the data processing means  252  and  253  in the terminal devices  22  and  23 . (step  204 ). 
     The data processing means  251  executes a calculation according to the received input information, passes a data processing result to the visualization processing means  261 . (step  205 ). 
     The data processing means  252  receives the same input processing information processed by the data processing means  251  from the broadcast communication control means  24 , executes a calculation according to the received input information, passes a data processing result to the visualization processing means  262 . (step  206 ). 
     The data processing means  253  receives the same input processing information processed by the data processing means  251  from the broadcast communication control means  24 , executes a calculation according to the received input information, passes a data processing result to the visualization processing means  263 . (step  207 ). 
     The visualization processing means  261  performs visualization processing for displaying the received processing result as a table and makes the display device  221  display the table. (step  208 ). 
     The visualization processing means  262  performs visualization processing for displaying the received processing result as a bar graph and makes the display device  222  display the bar graph. (step  209 ). 
     The visualization processing means  263  performs visualization processing for displaying the received processing result as a polygonal line graph and makes the display device  223  display the bar graph. (step  210 ). 
     Thus, the same data processing result is displayed in different forms in respective terminal devices. 
     It is to be noted that, although the visualization processing means  261 ,  262  and  263  respectively perform one kind of visualization processing for each in this embodiment, however, it is possible for the visualization processing means to select arbitrary visualization processing to the same data such as table, bar graph, polygonal line graph or the like. 
     Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the visualization processing means  261 ,  262  and  263  enable to display the same text in different languages such as English, Japanese and German, other than numerical data. 
     In addition, it is possible to share the same displayed information by making the visualization processing the same. 
     Also the number of application programs run by a data processing device and that of terminal devices are not limited.