JP2002268888A - Method for installing software - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a software installing method which corresponds to the respective knowledge levels of users and is very convenient for the users. SOLUTION: A level-classified installation guide program corresponding to the knowledge level of each user is selected from a plurality of level-classified installation guide programs stored in a recording medium in accordance with the judgment result of the user's knowledge level and started. Then the user installs software by using it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a software installation method for installing software stored in an external storage medium into a storage device of an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid spread of personal computers in recent years, the number of users of software has been diversified, and naturally, the number of users who do not have much knowledge of computers and operating systems has rapidly increased.

[0003] When developing software for such a user, a software developer uses a GUI.
(Graphical User Interface), making efforts, simplifying operation procedures, and enhancing the help system.

[0004] Some of such software include:
For a user who has knowledge of a computer or an operating system, in an installation process, a user is allowed to select a program (component) to be installed and a default value (initial setting value) of the program.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-519 discloses a technique for realizing a simple installation operation by a user.
No. 58, a software installation method is disclosed. According to the technology disclosed in this publication, an installation software storage unit in which software to be installed is stored, an input unit for inputting user-dependent data, and the installation software is changed using the user-dependent data, and a user-dependent installation Software generation means for generating software and media creation means for creating installation media based on user-dependent installation software generated by the software creation means are provided so that installation media can be individually created according to the difference between users. I have to.

[0006]

However, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-51958, the user-dependent data contains user-specific system information (user-specific computer information) corresponding to each user name. Environment, user environment, software environment, etc.). For this reason, there has been a problem that an unregistered user does not receive the benefits of the installation media according to the above-mentioned user difference, and cannot respond if the environment changes from the time of registration.

Further, the conventional installation system installs the same software irrespective of the user's knowledge, so that the user who has a certain level of knowledge can use the GUI-elaborated software as described above in the operating system. It is often avoided because of a load, occupying a large display area of a monitor screen, and being difficult to use since it is different from a conventional operating system standard GUI.

Further, as described above, software in which the detailed parameter setting and the like on the software are automated or fixed and the operation procedure is simplified, it is felt that the user who has a certain level of knowledge is rather inflexible. In some cases.

[0009] Further, as described above, in the help system described on the assumption that the user does not have the knowledge, the user who has a certain level of knowledge often explains a lot of contents that are already clearly understood. Many,
In many cases, it is difficult to find information that you really want to know. In particular, after installation, until the settings are changed, pop-up help (balloon help) displayed when pointing to a pointing device, and hint wizard displayed simultaneously with the program when the program is started have sufficient knowledge. For users who do this, it can be annoying.

In the installation process, there are programs that allow the user to select a program (component) to be installed or a default value of the program. However, in this case, the user must understand the meaning of the option after all. For users with little knowledge of computers and operating systems and their software, this can be more confusing.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize a user-friendly software installation method adapted to each user's knowledge level.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, software for installing software stored in a recording medium into an information processing apparatus using an installation program stored in the recording medium is provided. In the installation method of (1), by starting an installation program, a) a question display step for displaying a question relating to computer technology to the user; b) an answer input step of allowing the user to input an answer to the question; A knowledge level determining step of determining an answer and determining a user's knowledge level; d) according to a result of the determination, from among a plurality of level-based installation guide programs stored in a recording medium,
A step of selecting an installation guide program for selecting a level-based installation guide program, and launching a level-based installation guide program selected by the series of steps, and using this to provide a user with software You will be prompted to install.

[0013] Further, according to the knowledge level of the user as a result of the discrimination in the knowledge level discriminating step, an installation flow or a guide display image in an installation screen is changed.

Further, an initial setting value (default value) of software to be installed is changed according to a user's knowledge level as a result of the determination in the knowledge level determining step.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing a software installation method according to the present invention. Each component in FIG. 1 stores software and an installation program for installing the software. The present invention is embodied by the above-described installation program started when the storage medium is mounted on the storage device of the information processing apparatus, and the system resources (hardware resources and software resources) of the information processing apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a question storage unit that stores a question item for a user and a correct answer thereof, and 2 denotes a question display unit that presents a question to the user using the question item stored in the question storage unit 1. 3 is an answer input receiving means for receiving an answer input by the user with respect to the question displayed on the question display means 2; 4 is an answer recording unit which holds the user's answer received by the answer input receiving means 3; 5
Is a knowledge level determining means for determining the user's knowledge level by referring to the correct answer data stored in the question storage unit 1 as needed based on the answer from the user recorded in the answer recording unit 4; A level-specific installation guidance program storage unit 7 storing a plurality of level-specific installation guidance programs according to the user's knowledge level is installed by level according to the user's knowledge level, which is the result of the determination by the knowledge level determination means 5. This is an installation unit that starts up the guidance program and executes a process of installing the software stored in the recording medium into the storage device of the information processing apparatus in accordance with the input instruction of the user based on the started up program.

When the storage medium is inserted into the storage device of the information processing apparatus, the installation program stored in the storage medium is automatically started. This installation program is executed by the user prior to the execution of the installation by the user. Is executed.

That is, when the installation program is automatically started, first, the question display means 2 selects a plurality of questions for determining the user's knowledge level from the question items stored in the question storage unit 1. This is displayed on the display device of the information processing device.

The questions may be those relating to computer hardware, those relating to the operating system itself or how to use the operating system, those relating to the field of software to be installed, personal information relating to the use history of the computer, and the like. For example, "What is a drive name?", "What is copy and paste?", "What is a color palette?" When installing image editing software, or how long have you started using a computer? And so on. In addition, as the question method, for example, in addition to the selection formula of “I understand the meaning of the folder. ＹＥＳ YES ＮＯ NO”, an answer such as “What is the CPU speed of your computer?” May be input.

Next, an answer from the user to the above-mentioned question is accepted by the answer input unit 3 and recorded in the answer recording unit 4.

Next, the knowledge level discriminating means 5 interprets the answer from the user recorded in the answer recording section 4, and
Determine the user's knowledge level. The knowledge level is A, in addition to the unambiguous ones such as the level “high”, “standard”, and “low”.
The discrimination may be made in detail such as level "10" for the field and level "5" for the field B.

Next, according to the user's knowledge level determined by the knowledge level determination means 5, the level-specific installation guidance program selected from the level-specific installation guidance program storage unit 6 is stored in the installation means 7
To start up. Then, in response to a user's input instruction in accordance with the guidance by the launched level-specific installation guide program, the installation means 7 causes the software stored in the storage medium to be installed (embedded in a computer).

Here, the selectable level-specific installation guide program includes not only a program body such as image editing software, but also a help system and an explanatory document.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the knowledge level determining means 5 in FIG. The user's answer recorded in the answer recording unit 4 is scored in the light of a correct answer to the question recorded in the question storage unit 1, and a total score of the user is obtained. In the example of FIG. 2, the correct answer is Y for Q1.
es, the user answer is Yes, so the score is ○
(Score 1), Q2 is No for the correct answer, and the user answer is Yes, so the scoring is × (Score 0), Q3 is the correct answer “95”, and the user answer is “9”.
8 ", the score is x (score 0). And, as a result of scoring all the questions in the same way, the total score is 2. In this example, the score is 1 for one question. However, in actuality, the specific gravity of the score may be changed for each question. Next, the user's knowledge level is determined by comparing the total score obtained as described above with the knowledge level classification table. In the example of FIG. 2, the total score is 2
Therefore, the knowledge level is determined to be “low”.

FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart showing a general installation procedure by the installation means 7. Generally, when the installation program is executed, a screen is displayed to allow the user to enter a license agreement called a "license agreement" like a product license agreement, and the user "accepts" this Then, as in the case of selecting the installation destination, the user is caused to select an installation destination folder such as where to copy the software in the hard disk of the computer (step S2). Next, in selecting a program folder, a position where the program is to be placed when starting the program is selected from the “Start” menu on the desktop (step S3). Next, when there are a plurality of components to be installed by the program or when there are other optional settings for installation, the user can select the components by selecting the components (step S4). Then, based on the above settings, in the software embedding (copying) unit, the software is copied from the software storage unit of the recording medium to the hard disk of the information processing device, and if the system requires registry registration, the registry writing is performed. Is performed (step S5).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an installation procedure in the software installation method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, when the installation program is executed, first, a plurality of questions concerning the computer, the operating system, the software field to be installed, and the like are displayed to the user by the user knowledge level determination question display. (Step S11) Next, the user's answer is recorded by receiving the user's answer input (Step S12), and then these answers are scored and analyzed to determine the user knowledge level (Step S13). Then, it is determined whether the user's knowledge level is "low" or not (step S1).
4).

In step 14, the knowledge level is "low"
If it is determined that the license level is other than "normal", the knowledge level of the user is regarded as "normal", a screen of a normal product license agreement is displayed, and the user agrees to the license agreement (step S15). A previous selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select an installation destination (step S16). Next, a normal program folder selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select a program folder (step S17). Then, a normal component selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select a component, and then the software is installed (step S19). This step S15-
The processing in S19 is the same as the processing in steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 3, and the installation procedure guide screen is standard.

If the knowledge level is determined to be "low" in step S14, a detailed product license agreement screen is displayed to allow the user to agree to the license agreement (step S20). Is displayed, and the user is allowed to select an installation destination (step S21). Next, a detailed program folder selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select a program folder (step S22). next,
A detailed component selection screen is displayed to allow the user to select a component, and then the software is installed (step S19).

The installation procedure guide screens displayed in steps S20 to S23 correspond to steps S15 to S15, respectively.
Compared to the normal installation procedure guide screen displayed in S19, it is a polite and large amount of information that is easy for a novice user to understand.
The product license contract screen displayed at 20 is as shown in FIG. 5, and the product license contract screen displayed at step S15 is as shown in FIG.

When the user's knowledge level is "low", the procedure flow for guiding the installation may be more detailed than steps S20 to S23.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, it is determined in step S14 whether the user's knowledge level is "low" or not. In step S14, the user's knowledge level is determined. And let it know if it ’s “low”, “standard” or “high”
In step S14, one of the three branches is selected. When the user's knowledge level is determined to be "high", a simplified product license agreement screen is displayed to allow the user to agree to the license agreement. Next, display the simplified installation destination selection screen, let the user select the installation destination, and then display the simplified program folder selection screen, let the user select the program folder, Alternatively, a simplified component selection screen may be displayed to allow the user to select a component, and then the software may be installed.

In this case, the user's knowledge level is “high”.
The installation procedure guide screens displayed when it is determined that they are determined to be simpler than the normal installation procedure guide screens displayed in steps S15 to S19, for example, are displayed in step S16. The installation destination selection screen is as shown in FIG. 7, whereas the installation destination selection screen displayed when the user's knowledge level is determined to be “high” is as shown in FIG. Is simplified.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of the installation procedure in the software installation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. 9, the same reference numerals are given to the same processing steps as those in FIG. This example is different from the processing procedure of FIG.
In step S24 following step 13, it is determined whether the user's knowledge level is "beginner" or not. If the user is determined to be "beginner", the installation procedure by the user thereafter (see FIG. 4) Steps S20 to S23
Installation procedure). In other words, in this example, if the user is determined to be "beginner", the user is not allowed to customize the software, and automatically installs the software according to the most appropriate settings. It is.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing still another example of the installation procedure in the software installation method according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
At 0, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This example is different from the processing procedure of FIG. 4 in that an initial setting value (default value) of software to be installed according to a user's knowledge level
Is automatically changed.

That is, the knowledge level of the user is “low”
If it is determined that the user's knowledge level is "standard", in step S25 following step S18, a standard time set value is set and written as an initial set value (default value), If the knowledge level is determined to be "low", the process proceeds to step S23.
In step S26 following step S26, a setting value for beginners is set and written as an initial setting value (default value).

As a method of writing an initial setting value (default value), in addition to a method of writing to a system registry,
A method of recording in an INI file and the like can be considered. The registry records necessary setting information so that programs and devices installed in the system operate normally. In addition to writing values during installation,
This value can be rewritten by the program when the program is started or terminated, or when the setting is changed by the user.

In this example shown in FIG. 10, the settings of "pop-up help", "file deletion warning" and "image size display" are written, and when the knowledge level is regarded as "standard", If the setting value is written as “pop-up help: OFF”, “file deletion warning: OFF”, and “image size display: pixel”, and the knowledge level is determined to be “low”, the setting value is changed to “pop-up help: "Help: ON", "File deletion warning: ON"
And "image size display: inch".

FIGS. 11 and 12 show concrete examples of registry values automatically changed in accordance with the user's knowledge level and written into the system registry.
FIG. 11 shows a case where the registry value is set to “standard”.
Shows an example in which the registry value is "for beginners".

FIGS. 13 and 14 show specific examples in which the default value is automatically changed according to the knowledge level of the user and written in the INI file. FIG. 13 shows the case where the set value is set to "standard". FIG. 14 shows an example in which the set value is “for beginners”. In addition, IN
The I file is a file in which the setting information of the program is recorded (a file in which the setting information is recorded and has an extension of ini), and is referred to when the program is activated or during the activation.

[0042]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of level-based installation guidance programs stored in the recording medium are most frequently used in accordance with the user's knowledge level determined based on the question answer. Since the installation guide program for each level which is preferable is started, the installation work can be executed by the installation guidance tailored to users of all knowledge levels.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the description displayed in the installation flow or the installation screen can be detailed according to the knowledge level of the user.
It can be simplified. For this reason, for example, beginner users can be provided with friendly, courteous, and easy-to-understand installation guidance. Can be provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an initial setting value (default value) of software to be installed according to the determined knowledge level of the user.
Can be automatically changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing a software installation method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of a configuration content of a knowledge level determination unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a general installation procedure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation procedure in a software installation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a product license contract screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a product license contract screen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an installation destination selection screen.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installation destination selection screen;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of the installation procedure in the software installation method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing yet another example of an installation procedure in the software installation method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a registry value written in a system registry.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a registry value written in a system registry.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a setting value written in an INI file.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a setting value written in an INI file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Question storage section 2 Question display means 3 Answer input receiving means 4 Answer recording section 5 Knowledge level discriminating means 6 Installation guide program storage section for each level 7 Installation means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A software installation method for installing software stored in a recording medium on an information processing apparatus using an installation program stored in the recording medium, wherein the installation program is activated by: a) a question display step for displaying a question about computer technology to the user; b) an answer input step for allowing the user to input an answer to the question; c) determining the input answer and determining the knowledge level of the user And d) selecting a level-specific installation guidance program from a plurality of level-specific installation guidance programs stored in the recording medium in accordance with a result of the determination. Program selection steps and Was performed, launching the selected level by installation guidance program by the series of steps,
A software installation method, characterized in that a user is allowed to install software using this. 2. The installation flow or a guide display image in an installation screen according to the knowledge level of a user, which is a result of the determination in the knowledge level determination step, according to claim 1, wherein: How to install software. 3. The software according to claim 1, wherein an initial setting value (default value) of software to be installed is changed in accordance with a knowledge level of a user, which is a result of the determination in the knowledge level determining step. A method for installing software, characterized in that: