JP2005275670A - Guidance support tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guidance support tool by which real time remote guidance is available with an instructor observing a screen operated by a user in operating an information processing terminal. <P>SOLUTION: When the instructor 5 operates a server terminal 6, an ASP (Application Service Provider) server 1 acquires information on server side operation being the content operation of the instructor 5 and successively transmits, through a communication network 4, the information on the server side operation to a client terminal 3. The client terminal 3 executes a real time remote operation based on the received information on the server side operation. Meanwhile, the user 2 operates the client terminal 3 in accordance with guidance content taught by the instructor 5. Now, the operation content of the user 2 is successively transmitted, through the communication network 4, to the ASP server 1 by the client terminal 3. The operation performed by the user 2 through the ASP server 1 is reflected (remotely operated) on the screen of the server terminal 6 in real time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction support tool for an instructor such as a service center or a personal computer classroom to remotely guide or remotely operate an application operation method for a user (user) located at a remote place.

  In response to the resentment of the information society, there are increasing opportunities to operate information processing terminals such as personal computers, regardless of gender. In particular, PCs are also widely used in households as part of home appliances. With the establishment of an Internet connection environment, it is possible to carry out shopping and various procedures in various fields while staying at home. It has become to. On the other hand, it is also true that there are people who cannot take advantage of this information wave. The operation method of the information processing terminal differs depending on the application, and even a person who is familiar with the information processing terminal on a daily basis is often confused by the operation method when using a completely new application. Therefore, when in doubt about the operation method, or in order to learn the operation method, guidance may be requested from an instructor such as a service center or a personal computer classroom. In such cases, the instructor has typically either instructed the user via the phone or directly in the vicinity of the user.

  However, when the instructor instructs the user via the telephone, it is difficult for the instructor to appropriately instruct because the instructor cannot directly see the user's screen. Moreover, since the instruction is only for words, there is a problem that the user cannot accurately understand the contents of the instruction. On the other hand, when the instructor directly teaches near the user, such a problem does not occur, but it is necessary for the instructor or the user to visit the other party, especially when instructing a plurality of users. Needed effort and time.

As a means for solving the above problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a remote operation system for an information processing apparatus. This is a system that allows a user's personal computer to be remotely controlled from a personal computer on the instructor side. The personal computer on the user side and the personal computer on the instructor (instructor) side are connected to each other via a network, and a screen (screen to be operated) to be inquired on the personal computer on the user side is transmitted as an image file to the personal computer on the instructor side. The instructor-side personal computer displays the received operated-side screen, so that the instructor determines the teaching content from the screen and operates the mouse and keyboard on the operated-side screen display unit. Then, the contents of this operation are recorded together with the coordinates and the time until the operation, and transmitted to the personal computer on the user side. Then, the operation content received on the user's personal computer is reproduced. In this way, by reproducing the operation performed on the instructor's personal computer on the user's personal computer, the user can visually confirm the teaching contents.
JP 2001-331428 A

  However, the conventional guidance support tool as described above has a problem that the processing at the information processing terminal becomes complicated because the operation performed on the instructor side is reproduced on the user side. Moreover, the instructor needs to perform a series of operations taught by the information operation terminal, and the user has been dissatisfied with waiting. In addition, there is a problem that the instructor cannot instruct while viewing the screen displayed on the information processing terminal device on the user side in real time (real time). Then, the user operates the information processing terminal while watching the reproduction of the operation performed by the instructor. However, from the viewpoint of the user, the user feels like viewing instructional materials such as instructional videos. Even if the operation was performed according to the reproduction, it was not possible to know whether the operation was correct or wrong, and it was not possible to obtain a sense of security. In particular, it becomes a serious problem for people who are unfamiliar with the operation of the information processing terminal device.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide an instruction support tool capable of providing remote instruction in real time while an operator operates an information processing terminal while viewing a screen operated by a user. .

  In the instruction support tool according to claim 1 of the present invention, the operation information acquisition means for acquiring the operation information from the terminal on one side and the communication means for transmitting and receiving data by connecting to the communication line are used to remotely control the information from the other terminal. Remote information acquisition means for acquiring operation information and the operation information are sequentially transmitted to the other terminal by the communication means, and at the other terminal to the one terminal based on the remote operation information Terminal operation means for sequentially reflecting the performed operations is provided.

  In this way, real-time remote operation can be realized with a simple configuration, and the instructor provides operation guidance while visually confirming the operation performed by the user on the information processing terminal device on the instructor side. It can be carried out. On the other hand, the user can have the instructor confirm the state (screen) in which the information processing apparatus is actually operated.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the instructor can perform an appropriate operation instruction according to the user's operation, and the user can operate while obtaining a sufficient sense of security.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a teaching support tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation guidance system using a guidance support tool according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an ASP server installed in an ASP (Application Service Provider) center and provides an ASP service to a user 2, and 3 is a client terminal which is an information processing terminal device used by the user 2. The ASP server 1 and the client terminal 3 are connected to each other by a communication line network 4 such as the Internet. Further, the ASP server 1 is connected to a server terminal 6 that is an information processing terminal device used by a leader 5 who gives guidance to the user 2 through a communication line such as a LAN. Of course, the ASP server 1 and the server terminal 6 may be connected by the communication line network 4.

  As will be described later, the instructor 5 remotely controls the operation method of the application used by the user 2 at a place away from the user 2 such as a service center (ASP center) or a personal computer classroom in response to an inquiry from the user 2. Teaching. At that time, the server terminal 6 plays an intermediary role between the instructor 5 and the ASP server 1, and at least communication means for communicating with at least display means such as a CRT, input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, and the ASP server 1. What is necessary is just to have a means.

  In this embodiment, an application is virtually provided from the ASP server 1 to the client terminal 3 by using the ASP. As used herein, ASP refers to providing an application processing result from a server side through a communication network such as the Internet without installing an application in an information processing terminal on the user side. That is, on the client side, no application processing is performed, and processing is performed on the server side based on operation information on the client side received via the communication line network. Therefore, it is possible for the server side and the client side to operate one application at the same time (multi-operation), and the user can use the application easily and at low cost even without specialized knowledge of application management. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ASP server 1. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an application 10a necessary for the ASP service provided to the client terminal 3, and user data 10b such as user information (authentication code, personal information, etc.) and a file used for the application 10a. For example, a storage management means 10 comprising a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk, and 11 is a communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the client terminal 3 via the communication line network 4 by a known communication technique such as TCP / IP. . Reference numeral 12 denotes a server control means as a terminal operation means having an MPU (microprocessor) and a primary storage means (not shown). The storage management means 10 and the communication means 11 are organically coupled to each other, and a series of processes described later. Execute. In this way, by managing the file with the ASP server 1, it becomes possible to share the file among different users belonging to a user group such as a company or association.

  The server control means 12 is a service providing means 15 for providing an ASP service to the client terminal 3 (user 2), and an operation of the user 2 from the client terminal 3 via the communication line network 4 by the communication means 11 at every predetermined sampling time. Client-side operation information acquisition means 16 for acquiring information, server-side operation information acquisition means 17 for acquiring operation information of the instructor 5 from the server terminal 6 at every predetermined sampling time, and remote operation from the server side or client side Remote operation permission means 18 for permitting or prohibiting the above. The service providing unit 15 includes a user authentication unit 15a, an application reading unit 15b, a download unit 15c, and a user data storage unit 15d.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the client terminal 3 includes a communication means 21 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the ASP server 1 via the communication network 4 by a known communication technique such as TCP / IP, and an MPU (microprocessor) (not shown). ) And client control means 20 as a terminal operation means having primary storage means, the ASP service provided from the ASP server 1, that is, the processing result of the application 10a is acquired by the communication means 21, and the client control means 20 The information is displayed on a display means (not shown) such as a CRT.

  The client control means 20 includes an ASP connection means 25 for exchanging information necessary for the ASP service with the ASP server 1, and an operation information of the user 2 from an input means (not shown) such as a keyboard or a mouse at every predetermined sampling time. Client-side operation information acquisition means 26 for acquiring the server-side operation information acquisition means 27 for acquiring operation information of the instructor 5 from the ASP server 1 via the communication network 4 by the communication means 21 at predetermined sampling times. And remote operation permission means 28 for permitting or prohibiting remote operation from the server side or the client side. The ASP connection means 25 includes download means 25a for downloading the processing result of the application 10a from the ASP server 1, user authentication code such as a password entered at the client terminal 3, information stored in the backup data 30, and the like. The upload unit 25b uploads to the ASP server 1 as necessary. The processing result of the application 10a and the operation information of the user 2 are stored in the primary storage unit or another large-capacity storage unit as backup data 30 for data recovery.

  In addition, as described above, the client terminal 3 includes the input unit and the display unit that function as an MMI (man machine interface) with the user 2.

  Next, the operation of the guidance support tool in the present invention will be described together with the operation of the system shown in FIG.

  The user 2 performs an operation for receiving an ASP service for a desired application at the client terminal 3. At this time, the user 2 inputs the personal identification number (the user authentication code) notified in advance from the ASP service center. As a result of the download operation, the ASP connection means 25 of the client control means 20 establishes a connection (connection) with the ASP server 1 via the communication means 11 and encrypts the password entered by the user 2 using a known encryption technique. The upload unit 25b transmits it to the ASP server 1 as a password. In the ASP server 1, the user authentication means 15 a of the service providing means 15 checks whether or not the received personal identification code matches the personal identification number registered in the user data 10 b of the storage management means 11. Perform user authentication. If the password is incorrect as a result of user authentication, an error message is transmitted to the client terminal 3 and then the connection is stopped. On the other hand, if the password is correct, the application reading means 15b reads the application 10a (including the file stored in the user data 10b) from the storage management means 10, and the server control means 12 processes (executes) the application 10a. At the same time, the processing result (screen information) is sequentially downloaded (transmitted) to the client terminal 3 by the download means 15c and the communication means 11. In the client terminal 3, the processing result of the application 10a sequentially downloaded from the ASP server 1 by the download means 25a of the ASP connection means 25 is displayed on the display means by the client control means 20. At this time, the processing result of the application 10 a and the operation information of the user 2 are appropriately stored as the backup data 30. On the other hand, in the ASP server, the file updated by the user 2 is appropriately stored as the user data 10b by the user data storage means 15d.

  When the user 2 becomes confused about the operation method during the operation, the user 2 will inquire the instructor 5 about the operation method. As an inquiry method, an inquiry may be made to the instructor 5 by transmitting a message from the telephone or the client terminal 3 to the server terminal 6. When the instructor 5 receives the inquiry from the user 2, the instructor 5 performs a remote operation permission operation on the remote operation permission means 18 of the ASP server 1 at the server terminal 6 to forcibly permit the remote operation of the client terminal 3. To do. Of course, remote operation permission operation may be performed by performing remote operation permission operation on the remote operation permission means 28 from the user 2 side, and remote operation permission is automatically performed in conjunction with the message. May be. Further, for example, only a mouse operation or only keyboard input may be permitted.

  Thereafter, when the instructor 5 operates the server terminal 6, the server-side operation information acquisition means 17 of the ASP server 1 acquires server-side operation information that is the operation content of the instructor 5, and the communication means 11 transmits the server-side operation information to the client terminal 3. Send sequentially. In the client terminal 3, based on the received server-side operation information, the server-side operation information acquisition unit 27 executes a remote operation in real time. Specifically, the remote operation includes a pointer movement and a click operation by a mouse operation, a character input by a keyboard, and the like. The instructor 5 can teach the user 2 while visually confirming the operation method by such a remote operation. When the instructor 5 is used together with a telephone or a message, the instruction effect is further improved. In addition, since the instructor 5 can actually operate the client terminal 3, it is possible to demonstrate the operation to the user 2.

  On the other hand, the user 2 operates the client terminal 3 in accordance with the instruction content taught by the instructor 5. At this time, the operation contents of the user 2 are sequentially transmitted to the ASP server 1 via the communication means 21 by the client side operation information acquisition means 26 of the client terminal 3, and the user side operation information acquisition means 16 of the ASP server 1 2 is reflected on the screen of the server terminal 6 in real time (remotely operated). Accordingly, since the instructor 5 can determine whether the operation performed by the user 2 is correct or not, appropriate instruction is possible.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the server side operation information acquisition unit 17 as the operation information acquisition unit that acquires the server side operation information as the operation information from the server terminal 6 that is the one side terminal, and the communication line are connected. The client side operation information acquisition means 16 as remote information acquisition means for acquiring the client side operation information as remote operation information from the client terminal 3 as the other side terminal by the communication means 11 for transmitting and receiving data, and the communication means 11 Server control means 12 as terminal operation means for sequentially transmitting the server side operation information to the client terminal 3 and reflecting the operations performed on the client terminal 3 to the server terminal 6 based on the client side operation information. It comprises so that it may be equipped with.

  On the other hand, the client side operation information acquisition means 26 as the operation information acquisition means for acquiring the client side operation information as the operation information from the client terminal 3 as one side terminal, and data transmission / reception by connecting to the communication line A server-side operation information acquisition unit 27 as a remote information acquisition unit that acquires server-side operation information as remote operation information from the server terminal 6 as a terminal on the other side by the communication unit 21; The client side operation information is sequentially transmitted, and the client control unit 20 as a terminal operation unit for sequentially reflecting the operation performed on the server terminal 6 to the client terminal 3 based on the server side operation information is provided. ing.

  In this way, real-time remote operation can be realized with a simple configuration, and the instructor 5 can perform operation guidance while visually confirming the operation performed by the user 2 on the server terminal 6. . On the other hand, the user 2 can have the instructor 5 confirm the state (screen) in which the client terminal 3 is actually operated. Therefore, the instructor 5 can perform an appropriate operation instruction according to the operation of the user 2, and the user 2 can operate while obtaining a sufficient sense of security.

  In the present embodiment, the ASP server 1 executes processing of the application 10a using the ASP, and the client terminal 3 displays only the processing result.

  In this way, it is possible for the server terminal 6 and the client terminal 3 to operate one application 10a simultaneously (multi-operation), and the user 2 has a low cost even without specialized knowledge of application management. It becomes possible to use the application easily.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. When used in a personal computer classroom or the like, a plurality of screens corresponding to the number of students may be displayed on the server terminal 6 to instruct a plurality of users 2 at the same time. Alternatively, the application may be downloaded to the client terminal 3 for processing, and the ASP server 1 may only display the processing result. Further, the same application may be installed in the server terminal 6 and the client terminal 3 without using the ASP. In this case, the server terminal 6 and the client terminal 3 are not provided with the ASP server 1. You may make it connect via the communication network 4. When the application is executed on the client terminal 3 as described above, the ASP server 1 stores the backup data 30 in the client terminal 3 in order to ensure consistency in processing contents between the server terminal 6 side and the client terminal 3 side. The processing result of the application 10a and the operation information of the user 2 are acquired from the client terminal 3 via the communication network 4, and the same application 10a used by the user 2 is also started on the server terminal 6 side. Thus, it is preferable to display on the server terminal 6 a screen reflecting the content of the operation performed by the user 2.

It is explanatory drawing of the operation guidance system using the guidance assistance tool in 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of the ASP server which comprises an operation guidance system same as the above. It is a block diagram of the client terminal which comprises an operation guidance system same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

3 Client terminal (terminal on the other side, terminal on the one side)
6 Server terminal (terminal on one side, terminal on the other side)
11, 21 Communication means
12 Server control means (terminal operation means)
16, 26 Client side operation information acquisition means (remote operation information, operated information)
17, 27 Server side operation information acquisition means (operated information, remote operation information)
20 Client control means (terminal operation means)

Claims (1)

Operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information from a terminal on one side, remote information acquisition means for acquiring remote operation information from a terminal on the other side by communication means for transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a communication line, Terminal operation means for sequentially transmitting the operated information to the other terminal by means of communication means, and sequentially reflecting operations performed on the other terminal to the one terminal based on the remote operation information; Guidance support tool characterized by having

Images