Multi-Touch Display Selection for Stable Shared Monitor Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a multi-monitor environment with multiple touch-screen monitors connected to a personal computer, determining which monitor receives a specific touch input when multiple users simultaneously and individually touch the screens is challenging, leading to potential malfunctions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a memory with an operating system and circuitry to receive and process touch data from multiple touch-screen display devices, select one device for data transmission to the operating system, and transmit selection status information to each device, allowing coordinated touch input management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple touch-screen display devices are connected to a personal computer to increase work efficiency and visibility, then the productivity and information visibility are improved, but determining which monitor receives specific touch input becomes complex and may cause malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multi-monitor environment by assigning unique identifiers to each touch-screen display device and implementing individual touch input buffers for each device. This segmentation allows the PC to independently process and determine touch inputs from each monitor without interference, resolving the complexity of determining which monitor receives specific touch input while maintaining multiple active displays for improved productivity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple users simultaneously touch different touch-screen monitors, then the ease of operation for multiple users is improved, but the system cannot determine which monitor receives the touch input, leading to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by providing selection status information to each touch-screen display device, indicating whether it is currently selected to receive touch inputs. This feedback allows users to understand which monitor is active for touch input, enabling simultaneous multi-user operation while maintaining system reliability through proper input routing and conflict prevention.
3Ease of operation
If touch data from multiple touch-screen display devices is transmitted to the operating system simultaneously, then the ease of operation for multiple users is improved, but the operating system cannot process the touch data correctly, causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the touch-screen display devices and the operating system in the form of a driver or middleware component. This intermediary receives touch data from multiple devices, processes it according to device identifiers and selection status, and routes the appropriate touch data to the operating system. This intermediary prevents direct simultaneous transmission of conflicting touch data, ensuring both multi-user ease of operation and operating system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a memory in which an operating system that provides an application programming interface is installed, and circuitry. The circuitry receives touch data from multiple touch-screen display devices connected to the information processing apparatus; transmits the touch data to the operating system; selects one of the multiple touch-screen display devices to allow the touch data from the selected touch-screen display device to be transmitted to the operating system; and transmits, to each of the multiple touch-screen display devices, selection status information indicating whether the touch-screen display device is selected.