Abstract:
Objects (D 1,  D 2 ) as meeting materials are displayed on a display ( 105 ) of a table-shaped image display device (A). In the event of a competition over an object by multiple participants, for example, when meeting participants (P 1,  P 2 ) discuss over a common object (D 2 ), the competition is detected automatically, and the object is enlarged and displayed so that the participants of the discussion can easily see.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an image display device (an electronic board or the like) used, for example, for discussion among a plurality of participants. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    One of the proposals made so far in the conventional art includes an image display device (an electronic board or the like) used for discussion among a plurality of participants wherein photos and discussion materials are displayed. This image display device includes a table type image display device, wherein discussion is held among a plurality of participants surrounding a table type image display device, observing discussion materials displayed on the image display device. 
         [0003]    The art disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 or 2 has been available for an image display device. In the art disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 or 2, discussion is held among a plurality of participants sitting around a table type image display device and observing the materials displayed on the common area of the image display device. If discussion can be held by observing the materials displayed on the image display device, there will be no need of preparing discussion materials in the form of paper for participants by printing out. This will enhance user convenience. 
       EARLIER TECHNOGICAL LITERATURE 
     Earlier Literature 
       [0004]    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-47786 
         [0005]    Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-47788 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Object of the Invention 
       [0006]    Incidentally, when discussion is held among the participants sitting around the image display device using a material (object) appearing on the table type image display device, the material is easy to observe or difficult to observe, depending on the place occupied by a participant. For example, the displayed material is clearly visible to the participant sitting closer to the material, and is less clearly visible to the participant sitting farther away from the material. Especially when the image display device is designed in a large-sized configuration, participants are separated from one another and displayed materials appear small, then there will be a great difference in the visibility of the material, depending on the place occupied by a participant. In this case, if the displayed position of the material has been moved closer to the person sitting farther away, the material will be difficult to see for the participant who has been sitting closer so far. 
         [0007]    In view of the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device that ensures easy viewing by a plurality of participants when discussion is held among a plurality of participants sitting around the image display device using a material (object) appearing on a display. 
       MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS 
       [0008]    To achieve the aforementioned object, the image display device of the present invention includes: 
         [0009]    a display section for displaying an object; 
         [0010]    a detecting section for detecting a conflict among a plurality of users regarding the object appearing on the display section; and 
         [0011]    a processing unit for enlarging a conflicting object when a conflict has been detected by the aforementioned detecting section. 
         [0012]    To achieve the aforementioned object, the image display device of the present invention includes: 
         [0013]    a display section for displaying an object; 
         [0014]    a detecting section for detecting a conflict among a plurality of users regarding the object appearing on the display section; and 
         [0015]    a processing unit for moving a conflicting object to a common display area of the display section and adjusting the position of displaying the object having been moved to the common display area, when a conflict has been detected by the aforementioned detecting section. 
       EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The image display device of the present invention ensures easy viewing for a plurality of participants when discussion is held among a plurality of participants surrounding a table type image display device, using one material (object) displayed on the image display device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram representing an image display device of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram representing an image display device of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart representing the operation of enlarging an object and the operations related to the enlarging operation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart representing the operation of displaying a conflicting object in the common display area of the display; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of another configuration as viewed from the top; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing the image display device of another configuration as viewed from the top; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram showing how a conflicting object is marked. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     [Overview of Image Display Device] 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram representing an image display device of the present invention. 
         [0029]    The image display device A of  FIG. 1  is a table type device, wherein a display  105  extends in the horizontal direction. A plurality of participants P 1  through P 4  sit around the image display device A and have a discussion by watching objects D 1  and D 2  as materials appearing on the display  105 . 
         [0030]    The object D 1  appearing on the display  105  is a photographic image, and the object D 2  is a document image. Various forms of other objects can be shown on the display  105 . The information of the object is stored in the HDD (Hard Disc Drive)  104  of the image display device A to be described later. The storage medium storing the object information is connected to the image display device A and can be shown on the display  105 . 
         [0031]    The display  105  is designed in a touch panel configuration. The objects D 1  and D 2  appearing on the display  105  can be touched by the participants P 1  through P 4  to change the display position of the objects D 1  and D 2 . If the participants P 1  through P 4  touch the display  105  to describe a letter, the letter can be shown on the display  105 . 
         [0032]    A camera  106  and microphone  107  are separately installed where participants P 1  through P 4  are sitting. The participants P 1  through P 4  are photographed by the camera  106 , and the voices of the participants P 1  through P 4  are picked up by the microphone  107 . 
         [0033]    The image display device A of  FIG. 1  is used independently when four participants P 1  through P 4  have a discussion. The image display device A can be linked with another image display device located at a remote place via the network. In this case, one and the same object is shown on the respective displays, and the image captured by the camera  106  and the voice picked up by the microphone  107  in one of these image display devices are transmitted to the other image display device, so that participants located at different places can have a discussion. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram representing an image display device of the present invention. It shows a typical structure. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image display device A is linked to a personal computer through a communication section  108 . The data sent from the personal computer can be stored in the HDD  104 , and can be displayed as an object on the display  105 . 
         [0036]    The image display device A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  101 , ROM (Read Only Memory)  102 , RAM (Random Access Memory)  103 , and others. The CPU  101  controls the operation of the entire image display device, and is connected with the ROM  102  and RAM  103 . The CPU  101  reads out various forms of program stored in the ROM  102 , expands them on the RAM  103 , and controls operations of various sections. Further, the CPU  101  implements various forms of processing according to the program expanded on the RAM  103 . The result of processing is stored in the RAM  103 . The result of processing stored in the RAM  103  is stored in a prescribed storage site. In this embodiment, the CPU  101  constitutes a detecting section and adjusting section through collaboration with the ROM  102  and RAM  103 . 
         [0037]    The ROM  102  stores programs and data in advance, and is made of a semiconductor memory. The RAM  103  provides a work area for temporarily storing the data processed by various forms of program executed by the CPU  101 . The HDD  104  has a function of storing the information on the object shown on the display  105 . The HDD  104  is made of lamination of metallic disks formed by application or vapor deposition of a magnetic substance. This is rotated at a high speed by a motor and is brought close to the magnetic head, whereby data is read. The operations of the display  105 , camera  106  and microphone  107  are controlled by the CPU  101 . 
       [Enlarging a Conflicting Object] 
       [0038]    When the participants P 1  through P 4  have a discussion using the objects D 1  and D 2  on the display  105  of the table type image display device A of  FIG. 1 , objects D 1  and D 2  are easy to see or difficult to see, depending on the position of each of the participants P 1  through P 4 . For example, when the participants P 1  and P 4  have a discussion using the object D 2  of  FIG. 1 , the participant P 1  is closer to the object D 2 , which is therefore easy to view, whereas the participant P 4  is farther from the object D 2 , which is therefore difficult to watch. 
         [0039]    Thus, means are provided to ensure that, when a plurality of participants have a discussion watching one and the same object, and a conflict occurs among a plurality of participants, this object is displayed in an enlarged configuration so that a plurality of participants can easily view the object (The term “Conflict” in the sense in which it is used in the present invention is applied to the case wherein, when a plurality of participants have a discussion using one and the same object, attention of a plurality of participants is paid to on one and the same object). Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the following describes the details of enlarging an object on the display  105 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart representing the operation of enlarging an object and the operations related to the enlarging operation. The decision step (Steps S 2 , S 4  and S 6 ) of  FIG. 3  is implemented by collaboration of the CPU  101  of the image display device A with the ROM  102  and RAM  103 .  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b ,  5   a  and  5   b  are schematic diagrams showing the image display device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top. Four objects D 3  through D 6  are assumed to be displayed on the display  105  of the image display device A. 
         [0041]    In the first place, objects (D 3  through D 6  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) are shown on the display  105  of the image display device A (Step S 1 ). The information of the displayed object is stored, for example, in the HDD  104 . The participants P 1  through P 4  selects the object to be shown on the display  105 , and the selected object is then displayed. 
         [0042]    When the object has appeared on the display  105 , the participants P 1  through P 4  starts discussion, using that object. In this case, a step is automatically taken to determine whether or not a conflict has occurred among the participants with respect to the object shown on the display  105  (Step S 2 ). While the object is shown on the display  105 , the CPU  101  automatically checks at all times whether or not the conflict has occurred among the participants. 
         [0043]    Many ways can be considered to detect a conflict For example, detection can be made by the direction pointed by the fingers of the participants P 1  through P 4 , voices uttered by the participants P 1  through P 4 , or the line of sight of the participants P 1  through P 4 . 
         [0044]    When detection is made by the direction pointed by the fingers of the participants P 1  through P 4  or the line of sight of the participants P 1  through P 4 , the image captured by the camera  106  placed before the participants P 1  through P 4  is analyzed so that the direction pointed by the finger or the line of sight is identified for each of the participants. The directions and others identified for respective participants are put together and analyzed. If there is agreement in the directions pointed by the fingers of the participants with respect to one and the same object, or there is agreement in the lines of sight among the participants, detection is made to determine that a conflict has occurred. 
         [0045]    If a conflict is detected by voices uttered by participants P 1  through P 4 , the voices uttered by participants are identified for each participant according to the vocal sounds picked up by the microphone  107 . A keyword is set for each of the objects appearing on the display  105 . The voices uttered by a plurality of participants agree with the keyword of one and the same object, detection is made to determine that a conflict has occurred. In this case, the objects and keywords are stored in the ROM  102  and others in the form of a matrix table. 
         [0046]    If a conflict among participants is determined to have occurred in Step S 2  (Step S 2 ; Yes), the conflicting object is enlarged for easier viewing among the participants in the discussion (Step S 3 ). This will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 : 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 4   a , the display  105  shows four objects D 3  through D 6 . Assume, for example, that participants P 1  and P 3  have a discussion observing the object D 5 . Under this condition, a conflict is considered to have occurred to the object D 5  between the participants P 1  and P 3 , and the object D 5  is enlarged, shown in  FIG. 4   b . Display of the conflicting object D 5  in an enlarged form in this manner ensures easier viewing of the contents of the object D 5  among the participants P 1  and P 3 . 
         [0048]    Incidentally, when the object D 5  is enlarged as shown in  FIG. 4   b , other objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  shown on the display  105  will be hidden by the enlarged object D 5 , and cannot be viewed by the participants P 1  through P 4 . To solve this problem, means are provided to ensure that the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  will not be hidden when the object D 5  is enlarged. This operation is shown in Step S 4  of  FIG. 4  and thereafter. 
         [0049]    Going back to  FIG. 3 , the explanation will follow: Upon completion of the operation of enlarging the conflicting object in Step S 3 , a step is taken to determine whether or not there is any object hidden by the object D 5 . Then a step is taken to determine whether or not it is necessary to move other objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  close to the enlarged object so that they will not be hidden (Step S 4 ). For example, the decision as to whether or not the hidden object should be moved is already set in the initial setting of the image display device A. Thus, according to this setting, a step is taken to determine whether movement is to be performed or not. 
         [0050]    If it has been determined in Step S 4  that the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  should be moved so that they will not be hidden, the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  are then moved where they will not be hidden by the enlarged object D 5  (Step S 5 ). For example, each of the objects is moved in the arrow-marked direction of  FIG. 5   a . This allows the participants P 1  through P 4  to continue discussion observing the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  because the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  are not hidden by the object D 5  which has been enlarged. 
         [0051]    In Step S 6 , a decision is made to see whether or not the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  should be reduced to the size wherein they will not be hidden by the enlarged object D 5 . Similarly to the case of determining whether or not the objects should be moved, the decision as to whether or not the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  should be reduced is already set in the initial setting of the image display device A. Thus, according to this setting, a step is taken to determine whether or not the size should be reduced. 
         [0052]    If it has been determined in Step S 6  that the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  should be reduced to such a size that they will not be hidden, a step is then taken to reduce the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  to such a size that they will not be hidden (Step S 7 ). For example, the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  are reduced, as shown in  FIG. 5   b . This allows the participants P 1  through P 4  to continue discussion observing the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  because the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  are not hidden by the object D 5 , without having to move the objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6  as a result of the object D 5  being enlarged. 
         [0053]    As having been explained with reference to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , if a plurality of participants have a discussion using one and the same object and a conflict has occurred among the participants, easier viewing of the object among a plurality of participants can be ensured by enlarging at least the conflicting object, with the result that discussion will be held more effectively. The need of special operation by the participants can be eliminated by automatic detection of a conflicting object and enlargement of such an object This will save much time and effort. 
       [Movement of a Conflicting Object to Common Display Area, and Rotation] 
       [0054]    In  FIGS. 3 through 5 , when a conflict has occurred among participants with reference to an object, the conflicting object is enlarged for easier viewing among the participants. It is also possible to arrange such a configuration that the conflicting object is moved to the common display area of the display  105  wherein the object can be easily observed, and the direction of the object to be displayed is adjusted. This procedure will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 6 through 10 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart representing the operation of displaying a conflicting object in the common display area of the display  105 . The decision step (Step S 12 ) of  FIG. 6  is implemented by collaboration of the CPU  101  of the image display device A with the ROM  102  and RAM  103 .  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , and  8  are schematic diagrams showing the image display device A of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top. Four objects D 3  through D 6  are assumed to be displayed on the display  105  of the image display device A. 
         [0056]    The Steps S 11  and S 12  of  FIG. 6  are the same as the Steps S 1  and S 2  of  FIG. 3 , and the description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication. 
         [0057]    If a conflict among participants is determined to have occurred in Step S 12  (Step S 12 ; Yes), the conflicting object is moved to the common display area of the display  105  (Step S 13 ). This will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 : As shown in  FIG. 7   a , the display  105  shows four objects D 3  through D 6 . Assume, for example, that participants P 1  and  3  have a discussion observing the object D 5 . Under this condition, a conflict is considered to have occurred to the object D 5  between the participants P 1  and P 3 , and the conflicting object D 5  is moved to the common display area  105 A located on the right of the display  105 , as shown in  FIG. 7   b . 
         [0058]    In this case, an object D 5 A which is the same as the object D 5  is shown at the position previous to the movement of the object D 5 . This permits the participants to view the object D 5  appearing on the common display area  105 A, or the object D 5 A located at the position previous to the movement, whichever is easier to see. Further, this has the advantage of showing the object D 5 A which is the same as the object previous to the movement, for example, if the object D 5  is easier to see when located at the position previous to the movement because of the positional relationship with other objects D 3 , D 4  and D 6 . 
         [0059]    Going back to  FIG. 6 , the explanation will follow: When the conflicting object D 5  has been moved to the common display area  105 A in Step S 13 , the direction of displaying the conflicting object D 5  is adjusted by giving consideration to the position of the participants P 1  and P 3  (Step S 14 ). This will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 : The object D 5  is rotated in the arrow-marked direction of FIG.  8 , with consideration given to the position of the participants P 1  and P 3 , whereby the direction of displaying the object D 5  is adjusted. 
         [0060]    As having been described with reference to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , when a plurality of participants have a discussion observing one and the same object, and a conflict has occurred among a plurality of participants, the conflicting object can be moved to the common display area  105 A of the display  105  wherein the object can be easily observed, and the direction of the object to be displayed is adjusted. This will ensure easier viewing of the object among a plurality of participants, with the result that discussion will be held more effectively. 
         [0061]    The common display area  105 A of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is located on the same plane as the display  105 . The common display area  105 A of the display  105  may be located perpendicular to the area of the display  105  which shows the object D 3  and others, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . When a conflict with respect to the object D 5  has occurred, the object D 5  automatically moves to the perpendicular common display area  105 A, as shown in  FIG. 9   b , the object D 5  is rotated to adjust the direction of the display, as shown in  FIG. 10 . This will ensure easier viewing of the object among a plurality of participants, with the result that discussion will be held more effectively. 
         [0062]    If a conflict has occurred among a plurality of participants with respect to an object wherein that the conflicting object is assumed as a crucial object, the conflicting object D can be assigned with a mark M, as shown in  FIG. 11 . If the conflict has occurred more than once, the number of the marks M can be increased by the number of the conflicts having occurred. This arrangement will clearly shows the cruciality of the object, and will also clearly indicate the object which has conflicted previously, when there is an increase in the number of participants. This ensures that discussion is held more effectively. 
         [0063]    It is to be expressly understood, however, that the present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned embodiment. The present invention can be embodied in a great number of variations with appropriate modification or additions, without departing from the technological spirit and scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0064]    This embodiment has been described using a table type image display device A, as shown in  FIG. 1 . An image display device of another configuration can also be used. For example, the display  105  can be designed to show an object in the vertical direction. 
         [0065]    In the present embodiment, the detecting section and processing section are constituted by CPU  101  operating in collaboration with the ROM  102  and RAM  103 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . However, the detecting section and processing section can be constituted by using a plurality of CPUs, ROMs and RAMs. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         A Image display device 
         D 1  through D 6  Objects 
           101  CPU 
           102  ROM 
           103  RAM 
           104  HDD 
           105  Display 
           106  Camera 
           107  Microphone 
           108  Communication section