Control method for controlling screen saver function, apparatus and system adopting the method

[0002] The present invention relates to a control method for controlling screen saver function, an apparatus and a system adopting the method and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus in which a screen saver application program is installed, an image sensing system using the information processing apparatus, and a control method for controlling screen saver function during performing image sensing operation.

[0003] In an image sensing system, such as a desk-top TV conference system and a TV phone, a general-purpose work station or personal computer is often used as a platform of the system. The work station or personal computer executes an operating system (OS), such as a window operating system, and a TV conference or TV phone application program which works on the OS is installed in the work station or personal computer. In such system, a screen saver application program is often installed along with the OS or independently.

[0004] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a general desk-top TV conference system.

[0005] In FIG. 8, reference 100 denotes a computer unit; 101, a system bus; 102, a CPU for executing a program; 103, a clock; 104, a memory for temporary storing information; 105, a ROM; 106, a timer; 107, a user interface (I/F); 108, a keyboard; 109, a mouse; 110, a storage unit for storing a TV conference application program; 111, an image output I/F; 112, a monitor for displaying an image; and 113, a communication unit for communicating with an external device.

[0006] Further, reference numeral 200 denotes a TV conference hardware; 201, an image input I/F; 202, a codec for compressing and expanding image data; 203, an audio I/F; 204, a codec for compressing and expanding audio data; 205, a multiplexing/separating unit for multiplexing and separating the audio data and the image data; 206, a communication unit for communicating with a destination terminal via a communication line as well as communicating with the computer unit 100; 207, a video camera as an image input device; 208, a microphone; and 209, a speaker.

[0007] Next, an operation of the disk-top TV conference system having the configuration as described above is explained with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0008] First, in step S301 in FIG. 9, the TV conference application program stored in the storage unit 110 is initiated and the disk-top TV conference system connects to a destination terminal via the communication line. When the connection is established, conference starts in step S302.

[0009] Steps S321 to S327 in FIG. 10 briefly shows a typical operation of a general screen saver. For using the screen saver, first, time when a screen saver image starts to be displayed is set in step S321, then an internal counter is cleared to 0 in step S322, thereby initialization is completed. When there is a user input event, determination in step S323 becomes YES and the process proceeds to step S324 where the counter is cleared to 0. When no user input event, such as an input through the keyboard 108 and the mouse 109, occurs, determination in step S323 becomes NO and the process proceeds to step S325 where the counter is increased. In step S326, the value of the counter and the time set in step S321 are compared. When the value of the counter is equal or greater than the set time, the screen saver image starts to be displayed in step S327.

[0010] Even when the user does not perform any input operation using the mouse 109 or the keyboard 108 for a while during the conference, images transmitted from the destination terminal and images of conference materials, for instance, may be displayed on the screen of the monitor 112 one after another. More precisely, while the TV conference application program is executed, the image on the screen is kept updated with a moving image. Sound in the user's side is inputted through the microphone 208 and the sound from the destination terminal is heard through the speaker 209 or a headset (not shown) during the conference (step S303).

[0011] However, since the updating of the image on the screen of the monitor 112 or the inputting of sound are not user input events, in the screen saver application program, the process moves from step S323 to step S325 and the counter is increased in step S326. Then, when the value of the counter becomes equal or greater than the set time, the determination in step S326 becomes YES, and the predetermined screen saver image starts being displayed.

[0012] When the conference ends in step S304, then the connection is disconnected in step S305, thereby completing the TV conference application program.

[0013] In the conventional TV conference system as described above, when the user starts TV conference without inactivating the screen saver function, if the user does not operate input devices, such as the mouse and the keyboard, for a while, a screen saver image starts to be displayed after a preset time has passed. Since the screen saver image hides a TV conference window, the conference is interrupted, which is very inconvenient. When this occurs, the user has to operate the input device, such as the mouse and the keyboard, to recover the TV conference window.

[0014] In order to prevent the aforesaid inconvenience, the user has to inactivate the screen saver function before starting conference, and activate the screen saver function after the conference ends.

[0015] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a control method for automatically controlling screen saver function so that a window for a predetermined application displayed on an information processing apparatus is not hidden by a screen saver image during executing the predetermined application program, such as a TV conference application program, an information processing apparatus and an image sensing system adopting the method.

[0016] According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an information processing apparatus having a function for displaying a screen saver image when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period comprising: inactivating means for automatically inactivating screen saver function during performing predetermined processing.

[0017] The foregoing object is also attained by providing an image sensing system having a function for displaying a screen saver image when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period comprising: inactivating means for automatically inactivating screen saver function during image sensing operation.

[0018] Further, the foregoing object is also attained by providing a control method for controlling a function for displaying a screen saver image when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period comprising: an inactivating step of automatically inactivating screen saver function during performing predetermined processing.

[0019] Furthermore, the foregoing object is also attained by providing a computer program for controlling a function for displaying a screen saver image when no user input event occurs for a predetermined period comprising: first computer readable program code means for automatically inactivating screen saver function during performing predetermined processing.

[0020] Preferably, pseudo user input events are generated for inactivating the screen saver function.

[0021] Alternatively, a command for inactivating the screen saver function is generated and transmitted via an application program interface (API) to inactivate the screen saver function.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a TV conference application according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a subroutine called in the processing shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for briefly explaining an operation of a screen saver;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a TV conference system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a TV conference application according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a TV conference application according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine called in the processing shown in FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional TV conference system;

[0032] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of conventional TV conference application; and

[0033] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for briefly explaining an operation of a screen saver.

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Note, the present invention will be explained in a form of a TV conference system, however, the present invention is not limited to the TV conference system and can be applied to any system in which a screen saver application program can be installed. Further, the present invention can be in a form of a storage medium storing a program realizing the present invention.

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 3 are flowcharts showing an operation of a TV conference system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the TV conference system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 4 is basically the same as that of the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 8, however, a program stored in the storage unit 110′ in FIG. 4 is different from the program stored in the storage unit 110 in FIG. 8. The program stored in the storage unit 110′ is executed by the CPU 102.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, when the TV conference application program stored in the storage unit 110′ is initiated, a software timer for inactivating a screen saver is generated in step S101. The timer is set to a period shorter than time set in the screen saver application. Generally, the time is set by minute in the screen saver application, therefore, the timer for inactivating the screen saver is set to 30 seconds, for instance, which is shorter than one minute. Then, the timer starts in step S102. Thereafter, since preparation for inactivating the screen saver is completed, the TV conference system is connected to a destination terminal in step S103. After the connection is established, conference starts in step S104. Even when the user does not perform any input operation using the mouse 109 or the keyboard 108 for a while during the conference, images transmitted from the destination terminal and images of conference materials, for instance, may be displayed on the screen of the monitor 112 one after another. More precisely, while the TV conference application program is executed, the image on the screen is kept updated. Sound in the user's side is inputted through the microphone 208 and the sound from the destination terminal is heard through the speaker 209 or a headset (not shown) during the conference.

[0038] However, since the above updating of the image or inputting of sound are not user input events, a counter in the screen saver application increases without being cleared to 0.

[0039] In the first embodiment, after 30 seconds which is set to the timer in step S105 have passed, a timer event which calls a timer event processing routine is generated in step S106.

[0040] In the timer event processing routine, which is shown in the flowchart in FIG. 2, the current pointer position is obtained by calling an application program interface (API) of a window operating system in step S111. Then, a routine relating to mouse displacement is called via the API of the window system to generate a pseudo mouse displacement event in step S112. Since the actual position of the mouse 109 is not changed, the pointer displayed on the screen does not move and blinks momentarily.

[0041] The operation of the screen saver shown in FIG. 3 is basically the same as that explained with reference to FIG. 9. Time when a screen saver image starts to be displayed is set in step S121. Then, an internal counter is cleared to 0 in step S122. However, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the mouse displacement event occurs every 30 seconds in step S112 in FIG. 2, the determination in step S123 becomes YES, thereby the counter is cleared in step S124, and starts counting from 0 in step S125. Since the counter is cleared to 0 in step S124, the determination in step S126 always becomes YES, thereby the process returns to step S123, thus, a screen saver image is not displayed. In FIG. 3, in step S127, when the value of the counter is equal or greater than the set time, the screen saver image starts to be displayed.

[0042] After the conference is over, the TV conference application is terminated by the operation of the user or a user in the destination terminal (YES in step S107), and the connection between the TV conference system and the destination terminal is disconnected in step S108. Next in step S109, the timer for inactivating the screen saver generated in step S101 is deleted, and the application is completed.

[0043] According to the first embodiment as described above, even if no user input event occurs during a conference using a TV conference system, it is possible to inactivate screen saver function, thereby preventing a screen saver image from being displayed during the conference.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of a TV conference system according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a case where a screen saver has an application program interface (API) and can be activated and inactivated from another application program is explained. A hardware configuration of a TV conference system according to the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.

[0045] When the TV conference application program stored in the storage unit 110′ is initiated, an API is called, in step S401, for inactivating the screen saver. After the screen saver is inactivated, the TV conference system is connected to a destination terminal in step S402. After the connection is established, a conference starts in step S403. Since the screen saver is inactivated, even when no user input using the mouse 109 and the keyboard 108 does not occur during the conference, the screen saver does not function.

[0046] After the conference is over, the TV conference application is terminated in response to an operation of the user or a user in the destination terminal in step S404, and the connection between the TV conference system and the destination terminal is disconnected in step S405. Then, the API is called for activating the screen saver in step S406, thereby the TV conference application is completed.

[0047] According to the second embodiment as described above, even if no user input event occurs during a conference using a TV conference system, a screen saver is inactivated before starting the conference, thereby preventing a screen saver image from being displayed during the conference.

[0048] In the second embodiment, the screen saver is always inactivated before starting a TV conference, and activated after TV conference ends, as shown in FIG. 5. However, some users may prefer to keep a screen saver inactivated.

[0049] Accordingly, in a modification of the second embodiment, an on/off state of the screen saver before starting a TV conference is recovered after the TV conference ends. The modification of the second embodiment is explained below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0050] First, when the TV conference application program is initiated, the current on/off state of the screen saver is obtained in step S501. If it is determined in step S502 that the screen saver is on, then the process proceeds to step S503 where an API is called for inactivating the screen saver. After the screen saver is inactivated, the process proceeds to step S504 and a flag indicating the on-to-off state change of the screen saver is set, and the process proceeds to step S402. The conference is started in step S403. The conference is ended in step S404.

[0051] Whereas, if it is determined in step S502 that the screen saver is off, then the process directly proceeds to step S402. The processes from steps S402 to S405 are the same as those explained in the second embodiment with reference to FIG. 5, therefore, the explanation of those is omitted.

[0052] After the connection between the TV conference system and the destination terminal is disconnected in step S405, the state of the flag showing the on-to-off state change of the screen saver is checked. If the flag is set, then the process proceeds to step S506 where the API is called for activating the screen saver function, and the flag is cleared in step S507.

[0053] Whereas, if it is determined in step S505 that the flag is not set, the TV conference application is completed without calling the API.

[0054] According to the modification of the second embodiment as described above, in addition to the same advantage as that of the second embodiment, it is possible to recover the original on/off state of the screen saver function after the TV conference.

[0055] Note, in a case where the screen saver is inactivated, a message indicating that the screen saver is inactivated may be displayed temporary or until the TV conference is over.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Timer event processing in the third embodiment is different from that explained in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 2. More specifically, in step S113 in the timer event processing routine in FIG. 7, whether a moving image captured by the video camera 207 30 seconds before and a currently displayed image are the same or not is determined on the basis of a movement vector, and if there is no change between the two images, then the timer event processing routine is finished.

[0057] Further, if it is determined in step S113 that there is a difference between the two images, then the process proceeds to step S114 where whether or not an input level of sound input by the microphone 208 is greater than a predetermined value is determined, and if not, the timer event processing routine is finished. If the input level is greater than the predetermined value, then the process proceeds to step S115 where a current input state of the keyboard 108 is obtained by calling an application program interface (API) of a window operating system. Then, in step S116 a routine relating to keyboard input is called via the API of the window system to generate a pseudo keyboard input event.

[0058] By configuring the TV conference system as described above, when the displayed image is changing and the sound level is greater than a predetermined level, the screen saver function is inactivated. Note, either the condition of step S113 or S114 may be omitted. In this configuration, it is possible to treat the change in displayed images and/or input of sound as a pseudo user input event.

[0059] Note, the present invention can be applied to any kind of image sensing system having screen saver function, and can be applied to a camcoder and a digital still camera having screen saver function, for instance.

[0060] According to the present invention as described above, even if no user input event occurs during executing a predetermined application program, it is possible to inactivate screen saver function, thereby preventing a screen saver image from being displayed while the predetermined application program has been executed.

[0061] Further, the object of the present invention can be also achieved by providing a storage medium storing program codes for performing the aforesaid processes to a system or an apparatus, reading the program codes with a computer (e.g., CPU, MPU) of the system or apparatus from the storage medium, then executing the program.

[0062] In this case, the program codes read from the storage medium realize the functions according to the embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program codes constitutes the invention.

[0063] Further, the storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile type memory card, and ROM can be used for providing the program codes.

[0064] Furthermore, besides aforesaid functions according to the above embodiments are realized by executing the program codes which are read by a computer, the present invention includes a case where an OS (operating system) or the like working on the computer performs a part or entire processes in accordance with designations of the program codes and realizes functions according to the above embodiments.

[0065] Furthermore, the present invention also includes a case where, after the program codes read from the storage medium are written in a function expansion card which is inserted into the computer or in a memory provided in a function expansion unit which is connected to the computer, CPU or the like contained in the function expansion card or unit performs a part or entire process in accordance with designations of the program codes and realizes functions of the above embodiments.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.