JP2015064686A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable quantitative recognition of a reduction effect of the business cost (user's work volume) by an operation auxiliary function of an electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: A work-volume log management unit 32 specifies, for each job, an operation type and duration of each of a series of user operations performed until job execution, and stores them as a work volume log 42. A work-volume calculation unit 33 reads the work volume log 42, specifies a part that can be replaced with an alternative user operation using an operation auxiliary function, of the series of user operations, on the basis of the operation type in the work volume log, and calculates the duration until job execution when the specified part is replaced with the alternative user operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  In recent years, with the increase in the number of functions of image forming apparatuses, user operations when using the image forming apparatuses have become complicated. Therefore, as a means for improving operability, the image forming apparatus includes an operation assisting function such as a panel program or a one-touch key. These functions reduce a user's operation burden by registering a specific function or a series of functions in a specific key in advance.

  In an image forming apparatus, an administrator registers a program or workflow to be executed by combining a plurality of operations, and proposes the program or workflow to a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-221505 A

  However, with the above-described technology, it is difficult for the administrator to quantitatively grasp the effect of reducing the work cost (user workload) by the operation assistance function registered in the image processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an electronic apparatus that can quantitatively grasp the effect of reducing the work cost (user workload) by the operation assist function.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a display device that displays an operation screen for a user, an input device that receives an input operation by the user, and a series of user operations performed until the job is executed for each job. A work log management unit that identifies an operation type and a required time and stores it as a work log, and reads out the work log, and based on the operation type in the work log, among the series of user operations, A part that can be replaced by an alternative user operation using an auxiliary function is specified, and a work amount calculation unit that calculates a time required until execution of the job when the specified part is replaced by the alternative user operation is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the reduction effect of the work cost (user's workload) by an operation assistance function can be grasped | ascertained quantitatively.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the operation panel 11 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main menu screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy function setting screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a destination designation screen for the transmission function. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the work log 42. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing processing for calculating a quantitative effect of an alternative user operation in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inquiry screen according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a multifunction machine having a printing function, an image reading function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus includes an operation panel 11, a communication device 21, a printing device 22, an image reading device 23, a facsimile device 24, a storage device 25, and a controller 26.

  The operation panel 11 includes a display device 11a such as a liquid crystal display and an input device 11b such as a touch panel, and displays an operation screen for the user and detects a user input operation.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the operation panel 11 in FIG. The operation panel 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes hard keys 51 to 55 and a touch panel 56 as the input device 11b. The hard key 51 is a power key, the hard key 52 is a start key, the hard key 53 is a stop / clear key, the hard key 54 is a numeric keypad, and the hard key 55 indicates a logout key. . The touch panel 56 is disposed on the display surface of the display device 11a.

  The communication device 21 can be connected to a host device (not shown) via a network or the like, and performs data communication using a predetermined communication protocol.

  The printing device 22 is an internal device that prints a document image on printing paper by, for example, an electrophotographic method.

  The image reading device 23 is an internal device that optically reads a document image from a document and generates image data of the document image.

  The facsimile device 24 is an internal device having a reception function for receiving a facsimile signal and converting the facsimile signal into image data, and a transmission function for converting the image data into a facsimile signal and transmitting the facsimile signal.

  The storage device 25 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory, and stores data, programs, and the like.

  The controller 26 includes a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. (not shown), and stores programs stored in the ROM or the storage device 25 in the RAM. And the program is executed by the CPU to operate as various processing units.

  In the first embodiment, the controller 26 operates as the user interface unit 31, the work amount log management unit 32, and the work amount calculation unit 33.

  Further, the job log 41 and the work volume log 42 are recorded in the storage device 25 every time the image forming apparatus executes a job.

  The user interface unit 31 displays a screen on the display device 11a of the operation panel 11, and changes the screen displayed on the display device 11a in accordance with an input operation detected by the input device 11b of the operation panel 11. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main menu screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy function setting screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a destination designation screen for the transmission function.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, after the user logs in on the login screen shown in FIG. 2, first, the user interface unit 31 displays a main menu screen as shown in FIG. On the main menu screen, icons 101 to 107 for various functions such as a copy function and a transmission function, and a program icon 108 for displaying a program list screen are displayed.

  When the copy function icons 101 and 102 are pressed on the main menu screen of FIG. 3, the user interface unit 31 displays a copy function setting screen as shown in FIG. The copy function setting screen includes tabs 120 to 123 for each setting item, and shortcut keys 131 to 136 are displayed.

  When the transmission function icon 103 is pressed on the main menu screen of FIG. 3, the user interface unit 31 displays a transmission function destination designation screen as shown in FIG. On the address designation screen of the transmission function, an address book key 141 for selecting an address from the address book data 46, a new mail key 142 and a new folder key 143 for directly inputting an address, and one-touch keys 151 to 158 are displayed. Is done.

  The work volume log management unit 32 specifies each operation type and required time of a series of user operations performed until the execution of the job for each job, and stores the operation log as a work log 42 in the storage device 25. The workload log 42 is stored separately from the job log indicating the executed job.

  The work amount calculation unit 33 reads the work amount log 42, identifies a portion that can be replaced by an alternative user operation using the operation assisting function among a series of user operations based on the operation type in the work amount log 42, Calculate the time required to execute the job when the specified part is replaced with an alternative user operation.

  Further, the work amount calculation unit 33 calculates a difference between the time required until the job is executed without being replaced by the alternative user operation and the time required until the job is executed when the specified portion is replaced by the alternative user operation. The difference is calculated and the difference is displayed on the display device 11b.

  In the first embodiment, the operation assistance function includes (a) a program function that allows setting values to be input to a plurality of setting items by one user operation on the program key, and (b) one time operation on a shortcut key. (C) an address that allows the user to input the destination by selecting the destination from the destination list by displaying the predetermined destination list by one user operation. A book function, and (d) a one-touch function that allows a predetermined destination to be input by a single user operation on the one-touch key.

  Then, in the storage device 25, a plurality of setting items associated with the program key of the program function and program registration data 43 indicating the setting value, and a shortcut registration data 44 indicating a setting screen associated with the shortcut key of the shortcut function. The one-touch registration data 45 indicating the destination associated with the one-touch key of the one-touch function and the address book data 46 are stored as registration data of the operation assist function.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the work log 42.

  In the workload log 42, “job ID” is the job ID of a job that records the workload of the user in the workload log 42.

  “Start time” indicates the time when the user performed the operation, and “End time” indicates the time when the user performed the next operation of the operation (that is, the required time corresponding to the operation from the “start time”) Later time).

  “Operation type” includes “job selection”, “tab transition”, “setting value selection”, “destination input method selection”, “destination input”, “job execution”, and the like, and indicates the type of user operation.

  “Target” is selected when the operation type is a selection type such as “job selection”, or is input when the operation type is an input type such as “destination input”.

  “FROM” indicates a setting value before change when the operation type is the selection type, or a setting value before input when the operation type is the input type.

  “TO” indicates a setting value after change when the operation type is the selection type, or a setting value after input when the operation type is the input type.

  “Result” indicates whether or not the job is executed when the operation type is “job execution”.

  Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described.

  Each time a user performs an input operation using the operation panel 11 and executes a job, the workload log management unit 32 acquires information about the user operation up to the job execution for the job from the user interface unit 31. The work volume log 42 is generated based on the information and stored in the storage device 25.

  Thereafter, the administrator user causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a process of automatically extracting a series of operations that can be replaced with alternative user operations from the work volume log 42.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing processing for calculating a quantitative effect of an alternative user operation in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  When the administrator user performs an operation for displaying a work amount on the input device 11b, the work amount calculation unit 33 accepts the operation (step S1), reads the work amount log 42, and displays it on the display device 11a. (Step S2).

  When the administrator user confirms the workload log 42 displayed on the display device 11a and performs an operation assisting function application instruction on the input device 11b, the workload calculation unit 33 accepts the operation (step) S3).

  The workload calculation unit 33 extracts a series of operations that can be substituted for the alternative user operations already registered as the registered data 43 to 45 and the address book data 46 from the series of operations for each job in the workload log 42. (Step S4).

  When a series of operations that can be substituted for the registered alternative user operations are extracted, the work amount calculation unit 33 calculates a time required until job execution when the extracted operations are replaced with alternative user operations. At this time, the sum of the time required for the operation other than the extracted operation and the time required for the alternative user operation set in advance is calculated as the time required until job execution when the alternative user operation is substituted.

  For example, in the case of the workload log 42 shown in FIG. 6, when an alternative user operation of the program function is applied, the time required for job execution is calculated by setting the time required for “setting value change” and “tab transition” to zero. Is done.

  When the alternative user operation of the shortcut function is applied, the time required for job execution is calculated by setting the time required for “tab transition” immediately before “setting value change” to zero.

  In addition, when an alternative user operation of the address book function is applied, the time required for “address input” is set to zero, and the average time required for address book selection is added for the operation type “select address input method”. Thus, the time required until job execution is calculated.

  Further, when an alternative user operation of the one-touch function is applied, the time required to execute the job is calculated by setting the time required for “destination input method selection” and “destination input” to zero.

  Then, the work amount calculation unit 33 calculates the difference between the time required for executing the job in the work amount log 42 and the calculated required time before substituting for the substitute user operation (step S5). 11a is displayed (step S6).

  When a series of operations that can be substituted for the registered alternative user operations is not extracted, the work amount calculation unit 33 displays a message indicating that on the display device 11a.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the work log management unit 32 specifies each operation type and required time of a series of user operations performed until the job is executed for each job, and the work load. Stored as a log 42, the workload calculator 33 reads the workload log 42, and can substitute for an alternative user operation using an operation assisting function among a series of user operations based on the operation type in the workload log. The part is specified, and the time required to execute the job when the specified part is replaced by an alternative user operation is calculated.

  Thereby, the reduction effect of the work cost (user's workload) by the operation assist function can be grasped quantitatively.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the second embodiment, the work amount calculation unit 33 extracts a series of operations that can be replaced by unregistered alternative user operations from the work amount log 42 at the end of the job by a general user, along with the above-described differences. An inquiry screen for inquiring the user whether or not to register an alternative user operation for registration is displayed, and when an input operation indicating that the alternative user operation is registered is detected by the input device 11b, the alternative user operation is registered. It is additionally registered in the data 43 to 45 or the address book data 46.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an inquiry screen according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the inquiry screen displays difference information indicating a reduction in required time when the user substitutes for an operation performed until the execution of the job and an alternative user operation (in FIG. 8, 20 seconds). To 10 seconds). For example, when the “Yes” key shown in FIG. 8 is pressed, the alternative user operation is additionally registered.

  When extracting a series of operations that can be substituted for unregistered alternative user operations, the workload calculation unit 33 specifies the number of user operations from the workload log 42 to the job execution, and the number of operations is a predetermined number. Those that are equal to or greater than the threshold are extracted, and those that are less than the predetermined threshold are not extracted. That is, when the number of times is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the inquiry screen is displayed, but when the number is less than the predetermined threshold, the inquiry screen is not displayed.

  In particular, a series of operations whose appearance frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold in the work volume log 42 may be extracted as those registered as alternative user operations of the program function.

  Also, when extracting a series of operations that can be substituted for unregistered alternative user operations, the work amount calculation unit 33 determines that the user operation of the same operation type in the work amount log 42 continues for a predetermined number of times or more. Then, continuous user operations of the same operation type are extracted, and an inquiry screen for the user operations is displayed.

  Furthermore, when extracting a series of operations that can be substituted for an unregistered alternative user operation, the work amount calculation unit 33 determines that the time required for one user operation (for example, destination input) in the work amount log 42 is a predetermined threshold value or more. If it is, the user operation is extracted and an inquiry screen is displayed.

  Note that the operation assistance function proposed on the inquiry screen is selected as follows, for example.

  For example, when a setting value of a setting item equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is extracted, an alternative user operation by the program function is selected.

  Further, for example, when an operation of screen transition (including “tab transition” and “item selection”) of a predetermined number of times or more is extracted, an alternative user operation of the shortcut function is selected. In that case, an alternative user operation of a shortcut function targeting “setting value selection” immediately after the operation is used.

  Further, for example, when “destination input method selection” of “direct input” is extracted, an alternative user operation of the one-touch function or an alternative user operation of the address book function is selected.

  Further, for example, when “destination input method selection” based on “address book” is extracted and the time required for the destination input is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, an alternative user operation of the one-touch function is selected.

  Since the other configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Moreover, each threshold value described above is appropriately set by the administrator user.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, an unregistered alternative user operation can be additionally registered, and a reduction in the workload of the user thereafter is expected.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine.

11a Display device 11b Input device 32 Work log management unit 33 Work calculation unit

Claims (7)

A display device for displaying an operation screen to the user;
An input device for receiving an input operation by the user;
For each job, a workload log management unit that identifies each operation type and time required for a series of user operations performed until the execution of the job and stores it as a workload log;
The workload log is read, and based on the operation type in the workload log, a portion that can be replaced by an alternative user operation using an operation assistance function is identified from the series of user operations, and the identified portion is A workload calculation unit for calculating the time required to execute the job when the alternative user operation is substituted;
An electronic device comprising:   The operation assistance function is a program function that allows setting values to be entered for a plurality of setting items by a single user operation on the program key, and jumps to a predetermined setting screen by a single user operation on the shortcut key. Short-cut function to display a predetermined destination list by one user operation, select an address from the destination list, and input the destination by one address operation, and one user operation to a one-touch key The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a one-touch function that allows a predetermined destination to be input.   The workload calculation unit includes a time required until execution of the job without being replaced by the alternative user operation, and a time required until execution of the job when the specified portion is replaced by the alternative user operation. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the difference is calculated, and the difference is displayed on the display device.   The workload calculation unit displays an inquiry screen asking the user whether to register the alternative user operation together with the difference at the end of the job by the user, and registers the alternative user operation. 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the substitute user operation is registered when an input operation to be indicated is detected by the input device.   5. The workload calculation unit specifies the number of user operations from the workload log to job execution, and displays the inquiry screen when the frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The electronic device described.   The work amount calculation unit displays the inquiry screen for continuous user operations of the same operation type when the user operations of the same operation type are continued a predetermined number of times or more in the work amount log. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein:   The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the work amount calculation unit displays the inquiry screen when a time required for one user operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in the work amount log.

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