JP2003345487A - Operation assistance method, operation assistance device, program and medium storing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation assistance method for suitably assisting a user. <P>SOLUTION: A step for inputting necessary information for user authentication from a user information input portion (step 21) and a step for performing user authentication by checking the user information against user information recorded in a user information database (step 22) are performed. In a step 24, an operation monitor portion starts to monitor an operation. In a step 25, an erroneous operation is judged in the operations monitored in the step 24. When judged to be an erroneous operation in the step 25, the operation of the user is compared with a correct operation in a step 27 and a function desired by the user is estimated. In a step 28, the estimated function is displayed for the user on a not shown display portion, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation assisting method, an operation assisting device, a program, and a medium on which a program is recorded for assisting operation of a device, and particularly to an assisting method which can be easily operated by anyone and suitable for an operator. The present invention relates to an operation assisting method, an operation assisting device, a program, and a medium on which the program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-163186 discloses a method of assisting operation of a device, "Guidance Output Method, Implementation Method thereof, and Medium Recording Processing Program".
And Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-166866 entitled "Editing Support System with Interactive Interface".

[0003]

According to the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-163186, erroneous operation is monitored because erroneous operation of a user is monitored and operation assistance is performed only when erroneous operation is performed. There was a problem that assistance would not be provided unless it was done.

[0004] In both prior arts, there is also a problem that the recording of the operation history is not linked to the user information, so that it is not possible to provide appropriate assistance to each user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an operation assisting method, an operation assisting device, an operation assisting program, and a medium on which an operation assisting program can be appropriately assisted for a user. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

An operation assisting method according to the present invention authenticates a user by using a user information input step of inputting information for authenticating a user and information input in the user information input step. The method includes a user authentication step, an operation monitoring step of monitoring the operation of the user authenticated by the user authentication step, and an operation assisting step of performing optimal operation assistance for the user based on the operation content monitored by the operation monitoring step.

[0007] Since user authentication is performed, operation is monitored for each user, and operation assistance is performed based on the monitored operation history, optimal operation assistance can be provided to the user.

[0008] Preferably, an erroneous operation detecting step of detecting an erroneous operation, a function estimating step of estimating an original function for the erroneous operation, a function presenting step of presenting the function estimated by the function estimating step, and a function presenting step are provided. And a normal operation reference step of referring to a normal operation for the function selected in the function selection step.

[0009] Since the erroneous operation of the user is detected, the original function for the erroneous operation is estimated, the estimated function is presented, and the user is made to select it. Therefore, the operation assistance can be performed only in the case of the erroneous operation.

[0010] More preferably, in the operation assisting method, during the operation, a function estimating step of estimating a function executable by a subsequent operation; a function presenting step of presenting the function estimated by the function estimating step; It has a function selection step of selecting a function presented by the presentation step, and a normal operation reference step of referring to a normal operation for the function selected by the function selection step.

During the operation, an executable function is estimated, the estimated function is presented, and the user selects the presented function. Thus, for example, when the subsequent operation is forgotten or when it is desired to simplify the subsequent operation, the operation can be assisted by presenting a function executable by the subsequent operation during the operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the operation assisting method includes an operation history reference step of referring to an operation history, and refers to an operation history of a user other than the user authenticated in the user authentication step, The operation frequency of the function to be presented is counted, and the most frequent function is presented. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of selecting a function to be assisted.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, the operation assisting method includes a proficiency determining step of determining whether the user authenticated in the user authentication step is skilled in the operation. Operation assistance is performed according to the level determined in the degree determination step. As a result, optimal operation assistance can be performed for a user of any level.

The skill level may be determined based on the number of erroneous operations by referring to the operation history of the user, or may be determined based on the operation speed.

In an operation assisting method according to still another aspect of the present invention, an operation history comparison step of comparing a user authenticated in a user authentication step with an operation history of a user other than the user, and a similarity is determined by the operation history comparison step. An unknown function presenting step of presenting an unused function of the user from the performed history, and presenting an unknown function to the user. Since the user presents an unused function from the history determined to be similar to the operation history of the user other than the user, the user can learn an unknown but useful function.

The presentation of an unknown operation method may be performed when there is a different operation method for the same function. As a result, for example, to perform the same function,
It becomes possible to learn a shorter operation procedure.

In the operation assisting method according to another aspect of the present invention, when the user authenticated in the user authentication step has been used for the first time or a small number of times, the operation history reference step is used to display the operation history of the user other than the user. A high-frequency function extracting step of extracting a frequently used function from the operation history referred to in the operation history reference step by referring to the operation history reference step, and presenting the frequently used function. When the user is unfamiliar with the operation, a frequently used function is extracted from the operation history and presented to the user, so that the device can be used without referring to a manual or the like.

Preferably, in the operation assisting method, a specific function detecting step for detecting a specific function from the operation history of the user authenticated in the user authentication step, and a user interface suitable for the specific function detected in the specific function detecting step The user interface is changed to a user interface suitable for the operation history of the user. Since the specific function is detected from the operation history of the user and the user interface is changed to a user interface suitable for the detected specific function, the user can easily operate the specific function.

In another aspect of the present invention, the operation assisting device includes a user information input section for inputting information for authenticating the user, and a user authentication for authenticating the user using the information input by the user information input section. Unit, an operation monitoring unit that monitors operation of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit,
An operation assisting unit for performing optimal operation assisting for the user based on the operation monitored by the monitoring unit.

Since the operation of the user authenticated by the user authentication section is monitored, and the operation assistance optimal for the user is performed based on the monitored operation, it is possible to provide an operation assistance device capable of appropriately assisting the user.

[0021] In still another aspect of the present invention, a program includes a user information input unit for inputting information for authenticating a user to a computer, and a user using the information input by the user information input unit. A user authentication unit that authenticates the user, an operation monitoring unit that monitors the operation of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit, and an operation auxiliary unit that performs optimal operation assistance for the user based on the operation monitored by the operation monitoring unit. Let it work. As a result, a program that can provide appropriate assistance to the user can be provided.

Preferably, the program may be recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0023]

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

(Embodiment 1) First, as Embodiment 1, an operation assisting device for assisting operation for displaying guidance when a user performs an erroneous operation while operating a device will be described.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the operation assisting device 10 of the present embodiment. Operation assist device in the present embodiment
Reference numeral 10 denotes a user information input unit 11, a user authentication unit 12, a user information database (hereinafter abbreviated as "DB") 13, an operation monitoring unit 14, an operation history Recording unit 15, operation history DB 16, function estimation unit 1
7, a regular operation DB 18, a function presentation unit 19, a function selection unit 110, and a guidance display unit 111 guidance DB 112. The above components are controlled by a CPU (not shown).

Before using the device, the user inputs information for authenticating the user from the user information input unit 11. As an input device used for information input, a device suitable for information used for authentication may be used. For example, when a user ID and a password are used, a keyboard or the like is used. Of course, other authentication information may be used and another input device may be used.

In the user authentication section 12, the user information input section 11
Then, the user information input from the user information is compared with the user information recorded in the user information DB 13 to authenticate the user. At this time, information indicating that the authenticated user has started use is recorded in the operation history DB16. When the user authentication is performed by the user authentication unit 12, the operation monitoring unit 14 monitors the operation of the device by the user. The operation history obtained by monitoring is recorded in the operation history DB 16 through the operation history recording unit 15. If the operation monitoring unit 14 determines that the operation is erroneous during the user's operation, the function estimating unit 17 estimates the user's operation based on the operation recorded in the normal operation DB 18. When the function estimating unit 17 estimates the function, the function presenting unit 19
Is presented to the user using, for example, a display unit (not shown). Specifically, a list of functions and the like are displayed.

When there are a plurality of functions presented by the function presentation unit 19, the user selects a desired function by the function selection unit 110. If the function presented by the function presentation unit 19 is a single function, the function selection unit 110 automatically selects the function. The guidance display unit 111 searches the guidance DB 112 for guidance on the function selected by the function selection unit 110, and displays the guidance on the display unit. For example, “help” is stored in the guidance DB.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the processing procedure of this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, in step 21, information necessary for user authentication is input from user information input unit 11. In step 22, the user authentication unit 12 executes step 21
The user authentication is performed by collating the user information input by the user with the user information recorded in the user information DB 13. Here, information used for user authentication includes a user ID and password, a fingerprint, a face, an iris, a retina, an utterance, a palm print,
It may be DNA, but of course other information may be used. Further, a plurality of pieces of such information may be combined and used for authentication.

In step 23, the operation history DB 16 indicates that the user authenticated in step 22 has started using the device.
To record. In step 24, operation monitoring is started by the operation monitoring unit 14. In step 25, an erroneous operation is determined from the operations monitored in step 24. The determination of the erroneous operation includes capturing an error output from the device, capturing the interruption of the operation by the user, and the like. However, the erroneous operation may be determined by another method. If no erroneous operation is determined in step 25, the performed operation is recorded in the operation history DB 16 by the operation history recording unit 15.

If it is determined in step 25 that the operation is erroneous, the function estimating unit 17 compares the operation of the user with the normal operation recorded in the normal operation DB 18 in step 27 to determine the function desired by the user. presume. In step 28, the function estimated by the function estimating unit 17 is
Is presented to the user. In step 29, the function selection unit 210 selects a function from the functions presented by the function presentation unit 19. In step 210, the function selection unit 2
The guidance for the function selected by 10 is retrieved from the guidance DB 112 by the guidance display unit 111 and displayed. At the same time, in step 26, the operation history is recorded in the operation history DB 16 together with the erroneous operation information.

(Embodiment 2) Next, the operation assistance of the embodiment in the case where the user assists the function that can be reached by the subsequent operation during the operation of the device by performing operation guidance after estimating the function. The device will be described.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the operation assisting device 30 of the present embodiment. Operation assist device in the present embodiment
Reference numeral 30 denotes a user information input unit 31, a user authentication unit 32, a user information DB 33, an operation monitoring unit 34, an operation history recording unit 35, an operation history DB
36, a function estimating unit 37, a normal operation DB 38, a function presenting unit 39, a function selecting unit 310, and an operation guiding unit 311. Since the user information input unit 31 to the operation history DB 36 are the same as the user information input unit 11 to the operation history DB 16 in the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, when a function presentation request is captured by the operation monitoring unit 34, the function estimating unit 37 estimates a function desired by the user from the regular operation DB 38. The function estimated by the function estimating unit 37 is presented to the user by the function presenting unit 39. The user selects a desired function from the functions presented in the function presentation unit 39. The function selected by the function selection unit 310 is searched from the regular operation DB 38, and the operation guidance unit
311 guides the user to operate.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a processing procedure in the present embodiment. Steps 41 to 44 are the same as steps 21 to 24 in the flowchart of FIG.

In step 45, the function monitoring request is captured by the operation monitoring unit 34. The function presentation request may be a method in which the user explicitly supports such as pressing a button or the like or an instruction by voice, or may be determined to be a function presentation request when the operation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. Of course, the function presentation request may be determined by another method. If it is determined in step 45 that the request is a function presentation request, in step 47, the function estimating unit 37 estimates a function desired by the user.

In the present embodiment, the function is estimated by comparing the normal operation method recorded in the normal operation DB 38 with the operation process operated so far, but the function is estimated by another method. It does not matter.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation history recorded in the normal operation DB 38. [Function] at the right end of each line in the figure is the name of the executed function, and the others are operations until the function is reached. For example, this means that in order to execute [Function1], it is necessary to operate ButtonF → Button1 → Button3. If it is assumed that the operation until it is determined that the request is a function presentation request is ButtonF, the function estimating unit 37 searches the normal operation DB 38 and extracts a function having the above operation process. In the case of the example in Fig. 5, [Function1] [Fu
nction3] [Function2] [Function4]. If the corresponding function is found, the function is displayed by the function display unit 39 in step 48.

In this example, a presentation as shown in FIG. 6, for example, is made. In step 49, the user selects a desired function using the function selection unit 310. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the function [Function2] highlighted is selected. In step 410, the operation guiding unit 311 searches the regular operation DB 38 for an operation for the function selected in step 49. In this example, the selected function is [Function
2], the operation of [Function2] is searched from FIG.
As a result of the search, there are two types of operation methods that reach [Function2]. However, since the user operated ButtonF, the operation starting from ButtonF is assisted.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the operation guidance method prompts the user to perform an operation by highlighting a button to be pressed next. Of course, assistance may be performed by prompting the user to perform the operation by another method. In step 46, the operation history is recorded in the operation history DB 36 by the operation history recording unit 35.

(Embodiment 3) Next, an operation assisting device according to an embodiment for assisting operation by presenting an unknown function which is likely to be used by a user will be described.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the operation assisting device 80 of the present embodiment. Operation assist device in the present embodiment
80 is a user information input unit 81, a user authentication unit 82, a user information DB 83, a control unit 84, an operation history reference unit 85, an operation history DB 86,
Operation history comparison section 87, presentation history reference section 88, presentation history DB 89,
An unknown function memory 810 and an unknown function presentation unit 811 are provided.

The steps from the user information input unit 81 to the user information DB 83 are the same as those from the user information input unit 11 to the user information DB 13 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted. Control unit 84
Obtains the identification information of all users from the user information DB 83,
The obtained user identification information is distinguished from the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 82 and other users, and the operation histories of those users are stored in the operation history DB through the operation history reference unit 85.
Obtained from 86.

The control section 84 compares the operation history with the operation history comparison section 87.
, A similarity determination of the operation history is performed. The operation history comparison unit 87 determines the similarity of the given operation histories, and if determined to be similar, extracts a function unknown to the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 82.

Here, the similarity is determined by specifically determining the similarity of the operation sequence. That is, when a certain function is used, it can be rarely executed by a single operation, and the operation sequence corresponds to the function. The operation sequence corresponding to this function is compared with the operation sequence actually input by the user.

The presentation history reference section 88 searches the presentation history DB 89 to determine whether or not the unknown function extracted by the operation history comparison section 87 has already been presented. Outputs the unknown function to the unknown function memory 810. When the comparison of the operation histories of all users is completed, the control unit 84 sends the unknown function memory 8 to the unknown function presentation unit 811.
The function stored in 10 is presented to the user.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the processing procedure in this embodiment. Steps 91 and 92 correspond to the first embodiment.
2 is the same as step 21 and step 22 in FIG. In step 93, the operation history of the user authenticated in the user authentication step 92 is referred to by the operation history reference unit 85 (History 1). In step 94, an arbitrary user registered in the user information DB 83 is extracted (User). In step 95, it is determined whether or not the user extracted in step 94 has refused to refer to the history.If not, in step 96, the operation history reference unit 85 refers to the user's operation history (step 96). History
2).

In step 97, the operation history comparison unit 87
History1 and History2 are compared, and if it is determined that they are similar in step 98, an unknown function, that is, History2 is determined by the operation history comparison unit 87 in step 99.
The functions that are included in and not included in History1 are extracted. In step 910, the presentation history reference unit 88 searches the presentation history DB 89 to determine whether the unknown function extracted in step 99 has already been presented. If not, the extracted function is stored in the unknown function memory 810 in step 911.

In step 912, the above operation is repeated while determining whether or not the operation histories of all users have been referred to.
After referring to the histories of all users, in step 913, the unknown function stored in the unknown function memory 810 is read out by the unknown function presentation unit 811 and presented to the user.

(Embodiment 4) Next, a description will be given of an operation assisting apparatus according to an embodiment for assisting an initial user or a user who has a short history of use by presenting a frequently used function.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the operation assisting device 100 of the present embodiment. The operation assisting device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a user information input unit 101, a user authentication unit 102, a user information DB 103, a control unit 104, an operation history reference unit 105, an operation history DB 106, a memory 107, and a function presentation unit 108. I have.

User information necessary for user authentication is input from the user information input unit 101. In the user authentication unit 102,
The data input from the user information input unit 101 is compared with the data registered in the user information DB 103 to perform user authentication. The control unit 104 receives the user ID authenticated by the user authentication unit 102 from the user authentication unit 102, and acquires the operation history of the device of the authenticated user from the operation history DB 106 via the operation history reference unit 105.

If the operation history does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the operation history is determined to be shallow and the following operation assisting operation is performed. The control unit 104 controls the operation history DB 106 through the operation history reference unit 105.
, The operation history of the user other than the authenticated user is acquired and stored in the memory 107, and the number of times of use for each function is counted. When the operation histories of all users have been referenced, the control unit
104 sorts the functions stored in the memory 107 in descending order of the number of times of use. The function presenting unit 108 presents the functions sorted on the memory 107 in descending order to the user in order from the top.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the processing procedure in this embodiment. In step 111, user information required for user authentication is input by the user information input unit 101. In step 112, the user authentication unit 102 compares the user information input in step 111 with the user information stored in the user information DB 103, and performs user authentication.
In step 113, the control unit 104 causes the operation history reference unit 105
Through the operation history DB 106, the number of times the authenticated user has operated the device is acquired.

In step 114, the number of times of operation of the device obtained in step 113 is compared with a predetermined threshold TH, and
If so, no auxiliary operation is performed. If the number of operations is equal to or less than TH, it is determined that the user has a short history of operations, and the process proceeds to the following auxiliary operation. In the present embodiment, whether or not to perform the auxiliary operation is determined using the number of times of operation of the device. However, it is needless to say that whether to perform the auxiliary operation is determined using another criterion.

In step 115, operation histories of users other than the user authenticated in step 112 are sequentially referred to by the control unit 104 through the operation history reference unit 105. Step 116
Then, the number of operations is counted for each function from the operation history acquired in step 115 and stored in the memory 107. step 1
At 17, it is determined whether or not the operation histories of all the users have been referred to. If there is an unreferenced user (NO at step 117), the process returns to step 113; otherwise (YES at step 117), the process proceeds to step 118. . In step 118, the functions stored in the memory 107 are sorted in descending order of the number of operations. In step 119, the functions frequently used from the functions sorted in step 118 are presented to the user via a display unit (not shown).

(Embodiment 5) Next, the level of skill for the user's operation is determined, and operation assistance at a level corresponding to the level of skill is performed, whereby appropriate operation assistance is also provided to users having various levels of skill. An operation assisting device according to an embodiment that can be used will be described.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. The operation assistance device 120 according to the present embodiment includes a user information input unit 121, a user authentication unit 122, a user information DB 123, a control unit 124, an operation history reference unit 125, an operation history DB 126, a proficiency determination unit 127, and an operation assistance level setting unit. Has 128. The operation related to the user authentication is the same as in the other embodiments, and thus the description is omitted. The control unit 124 acquires the operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 122 from the operation history DB through the operation history reference unit 125. The control unit 124 passes the acquired operation history to the proficiency level determination unit 127, and determines the proficiency level of the user.

The proficiency determining section 127 determines the proficiency of the user based on the operation history, and returns the result to the control section 124. The control unit 124 sets the operation assistance level of the operation assistance level setting unit 128 based on the level determined by the proficiency level determination unit 127.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the processing procedure in this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, in step 131, information for approving a user is input from user information input section 121, and in step 132, user approval section 122
Thus, the user information recorded in the user information DB 123 is compared with the user information input from the user information input unit 121, and authentication is performed. In step 133, the operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 122 recorded in the operation history DB 126 through the operation history reference unit 125 is acquired by the control unit 124.

In step 134, an average value (meanTime) of the time required for each operation is calculated from the operation history acquired in step 133. In step 135, the average time of the operation (meanTime) obtained in step 134 is compared with a predetermined threshold value (TH). If the average time is smaller than the predetermined threshold value TH (YES in step 135),
The proficiency level determination unit 127 returns to the control unit 124 a determination that the user is an expert. In step 136, the control unit 124
The judgment result received from 127 is set to the operation assist level setting unit 128
, The operation assistance level setting unit 128 sets the operation assistance to non.

If it takes longer than the predetermined threshold value TH in step 135 (NO in step 135), the proficiency judgment section
127 returns a determination that the user is a beginner to the control unit 124, and performs operation assistance on a display unit (not shown) in step 137 (step 137).

In the present embodiment, the proficiency level determination section 127
Calculates the average operation speed from the operation history and performs the threshold processing to determine the expert and the beginner. However, the determination may be performed by another method. In addition, the skill level is set to two levels of a skilled person and a beginner, and either the operation assistance is performed or not, but the number of levels may be increased.

(Embodiment 6) If the user's operation history contains many specific functions or many erroneous operations related to specific functions, the interface is changed to an interface suitable for the user. An operation assisting device according to an embodiment for assisting operation will be described.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the present embodiment. The operation assisting device 140 according to the present embodiment includes a user information input unit 141, a user authentication unit 142, a user information DB 143, a control unit 144, an operation history reference unit 145, an operation history DB 146, a specific function detection unit 147, and an interface change unit 148. Have. The operation related to the user authentication is the same as in the other embodiments, and thus the description is omitted. The control unit 144 acquires the operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 142 from the operation history DB 146 through the operation history reference unit 145.

The control unit 144 passes the operation history acquired through the operation history reference unit 145 to the specific function detection unit 147. The specific function detection unit 147 performs a function that is frequently operated from the operation history or a function that is frequently erroneously operated. Is detected as a specific function and returned to the control unit 144. When the specific function is detected by the specific function detection unit 147, the control unit 144
A change instruction is issued to 8 so as to provide an interface suitable for the specific function detected by the specific function detection unit 147.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the processing procedure in this embodiment. In step 151, user information used for authentication is input by the user information input unit 141. In step 152, the user authentication unit 142 collates the user information input by the user information input unit 141 with the user information recorded in the user information DB 143, and performs authentication. In step 153, the control unit 144 acquires the operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 142 from the operation history DB 146 through the operation history reference unit 145. Step 154
Then, the operation history acquired in step 153 is passed from the control unit 144 to the specific function detection unit 147, and a specific function is detected from the operation history.

In the present embodiment, the specific function is a function that is frequently used or a function that is frequently erroneously operated, but another function may be used as the specific function. In step 155, the detection result is returned from the specific function detection unit 148 to the control unit 144. In step 156, when the specific function is detected by the specific function detection unit 147 (YES in step 155), the user interface change unit 148 Changes the user interface. If no specific function is detected (step 155
NO), and the process ends as it is.

For example, it is assumed that the operated device has an initial menu screen as shown in FIG. 16, and each menu has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. At this time, when the operation history recorded in the operation history DB 146 of a certain user is as shown in FIG. 18, the specific function detection unit 147 counts the use frequency for each function. FIG. 19 shows the result. In FIGS. 18 and 19, the history displayed as error indicates that an erroneous operation has been performed.

Now, assuming that the threshold of the use frequency is 3, Func24
3. Func111 and Func411 are functions that are frequently used and frequently operated incorrectly. User interface change unit 148
Fig. 20 for easy operation of these specific functions.
Change as follows. Here, it is assumed that the error is an error in the operation sequence section before reaching the function. Therefore, in order to easily reach these functions, the priority of menu display is raised.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the operation assisting device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is configured as a program recorded on a CD-ROM or the like.
It may be loaded into a personal computer or the like and executed.

Although the operation assisting device has been described as being separate from the device main body, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be incorporated in the device main body.

The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

Such ranges include, for example, the following. (1) In the operation assisting method according to the third aspect, the operation assisting is performed when the operation is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. Claim
In addition to the effect of 3, it is possible to provide operation assistance when the user is confused, for example.

(2) The operation assisting method according to claim 3, further comprising an operation assisting instruction step. In addition to the effect of the third aspect, it is possible for the user to explicitly assist the operation.

(3) In the above (2), the operation assisting instruction is to press a button on an operation panel (not shown). In addition to the effect of (2), operation assistance can be easily performed by pressing a button.

(4) In the above (2), a speech recognition step is provided. In addition to the above effects, it is possible for the user to easily assist the operation by emitting a voice.

(5) In the operation assisting method according to the second or third aspect, when there are a plurality of functions estimated in the function estimating step, a list of functions is presented. In addition to the effects of the second or third aspect, it is possible to present a function to a user even when there are a plurality of functions.

(6) In the above (5), a menu presenting step is provided, and by presenting a plurality of functions as a menu, it becomes possible to present a list of functions to the user in addition to the above-mentioned effects. .

(7) In the above (5), there is provided an operation history reference step for referring to the operation history, and the operation frequency of the function to be presented is referred by referring to the operation histories of users other than the user authenticated in the user authentication step. Are counted, sorted in descending order from the most frequently used functions, and presented in order from the most frequently used functions. In addition to the above effects, the visibility of the user can be improved.

(8) In the above (7), there is provided a function selecting step of selecting one function from the plurality of presented functions, and operation assistance is provided for the function selected in the function selecting step. In addition to the above effects, a desired function can be easily selected.

(9) In the above (8), the function selection step is a selection from the displayed menu. By selecting a function from the displayed menu, easy function selection becomes possible.

(10) In the above (8), a voice recognition step is provided, and a function selection is performed by recognizing a voice generated by the user in the voice recognition step. In addition to the above effects, easy function selection becomes possible.

(11) In claim 4, there is provided a function confirming means for confirming whether or not the function estimated in the function estimating step is a desired function. In addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, it is possible to confirm whether or not the estimated function is a desired function.

(12) In the above (11), a voice synthesizing step is provided, and the function confirmation to the user is performed by the voice synthesized in the voice synthesizing step. In addition to the above-described effects, it is possible to easily perform confirmation.

(13) In the above (11), a voice recognition step is provided, and a voice generated by the user is recognized, and a response to the confirmation is made. In addition to the above effects, the confirmation operation can be performed without any operation.

(14) In the operation assisting method according to the second or third aspect, there is provided a guidance reference step of referring to guidance of a function and a guidance presentation step of presenting guidance. By displaying the guidance of the function selected in the function selection step, it is possible to display guidance suitable for the user in addition to the effect of claim 2 or 3.

(15) The operation assisting method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a function executing step of automatically executing a function. By automatically executing the function selected in the function selecting step, the user can easily execute a desired function in addition to the effect of the second or third aspect.

(16) The operation assisting method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising an operation guiding step for guiding a function operation. By executing the function while guiding the user to the function selected in the function selecting step,
In addition to the effect of 2 or 3, the user performs a desired operation in accordance with the guidance, so that the user can learn the operation while performing the operation.

(17) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising an operation assisting level designating step for designating an operation assisting level. When the user performs the operation assistance at the level designated by the operation assistance level designation step, the user can receive a desired level of operation assistance in addition to the effect of claim 1.

(18) The operation assisting method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a regular operation acquiring step for acquiring a regular operation method. By using the regular operation method acquired in the regular operation acquisition step for operation assistance, it is possible to save the trouble of recording information on the regular operation in advance in addition to the effect of the second or third aspect.

(19) In (18) above, the operation history of a user other than the user authenticated in the user authentication step is used as a normal operation. In addition to the above effects, it is possible to easily collect information on the normal operation.

(20) In the above (19), a step of specifying a referred user is performed, and a user holding an operation history used for operation assistance is specified. In addition to the above effects, for example, by specifying a user who is currently using the device and a user who uses the device in a manner similar to that of the device, it is possible to further make the usage mode of the device more similar.

(21) In the above (20), a reference rejection setting step is further provided, so that the operation history can be rejected from being referred to. In addition to the above effects, it is possible to protect personal information relating to the operation history.

(22) In Claim 8 or 9, there is provided a presentation history recording step of recording a history presented in the unknown function presentation step or the operation method presentation step,
Do not re-present the presented function or operation method. In addition to the effect of the eighth or ninth aspect, it is possible to reduce the burden of presenting the same information.

(23) A presentation history recording step for recording a history presented in the unknown function presentation step or the operation method presentation step, and a presentation history search for retrieving the presentation history recorded in the presentation history recording step. With steps. In addition to the effects of the eighth or ninth aspect, for example, when the user wants to see the presented information again, the user can search and use the information.

(24) In Claim 8 or 9, there is provided a presentation history recording step of recording a history presented in the unknown function presentation step or the operation method presentation step,
A list of the presented functions or operation methods is displayed. In addition to the effect of the eighth or ninth aspect, it is possible to easily redisplay information presented in the past.

(25) In claim 8 or 9, a specific history is deleted from a presentation history recording step for recording a history presented in the unknown function presentation step or the operation method presentation step and a presentation history recorded in the presentation history recording step. And a presentation history deleting step. Claim 8
Or, in addition to the effect of 9, the user can operate the presentation history.

(26) According to claim 8 or 9, the history in which a certain period has passed since the function or operation method was presented is deleted. In addition to the effects of the eighth or ninth aspect, information that has passed for a predetermined time since presentation is forgotten, so it can be regarded as not presented and presented to the user again.

(27) In claim 8 or 9, a guidance call step is provided for the user to explicitly call the guidance function, and the function and operation method called by the guidance call step are registered in the presentation history. In addition to the effects of the eighth or ninth aspect, it is considered that the function for which the user has referred to the guidance is regarded as having presented information, and can be used for subsequent information presentation.

(28) In claim 11, a function frequently used is defined as a specific function. In addition to the effect of the eleventh aspect, it is possible to easily operate a frequently used function.

(29) In claim 11, a function having a large number of erroneous operations is defined as a specific function. In addition to the effects of the eleventh aspect, it is possible to easily operate a function that is often erroneous and difficult to operate.

(30) In claim 11, the changed interface can be returned to the initial interface.

(31) In the eleventh aspect, there is provided a user interface change confirmation step, and when the user interface is changed, the user is confirmed. In addition to the effect of the eleventh aspect, the user interface can not be changed without the user's consent.

(32) In the above (31), a voice synthesizing step is provided, and a change in the user interface is confirmed by the voice synthesized in the voice synthesizing step. In addition to the above effects, it is possible to easily confirm the user.

(33) In the above (31), a voice recognition step is provided, and the response of the user is confirmed in the voice recognition step. In addition to the above effects, it is possible to reply to the confirmation without any operation.

(34) In the operation assisting method according to the first aspect, user authentication is performed using a user ID and a password. As a result, easy user authentication becomes possible.

(35) In the operation assisting method according to the first aspect, user authentication is performed using an ID card. As a result, easy user authentication becomes possible.

(36) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint recognition step, wherein user authentication is performed by recognizing the fingerprint. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(37) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a face recognizing step, wherein the user is authenticated by recognizing the face. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(38) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition step, wherein the user is authenticated by recognizing the voice. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(39) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising an iris recognition step, wherein user authentication is performed by recognizing the iris. In addition to the effect of claim 1,
Secure and highly accurate user authentication becomes possible.

(40) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a retina recognizing step, wherein user authentication is performed by recognizing the retina. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(41) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a palm print recognition step, wherein user authentication is performed by recognizing the shape of the palm. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(42) The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a DNA recognition step, wherein the user is authenticated by recognizing the DNA. In addition to the effects of the first aspect, secure and highly accurate user authentication can be performed.

(43) In the operation assisting method according to the first aspect, a communication function is provided, and user authentication information and all history information are managed by a server. In addition to the effect of claim 1,
It is possible to consistently assist the operation of all devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data example of a normal operation DB in the operation assisting device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of function presentation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation assistance according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial interface according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial hierarchical menu according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation history according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of counting operations according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a modified interface according to the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 30, 80, 100, 120, 140 operation assisting device, 11 user information input unit, 12 user authentication unit,
13 user information DB, 14 operation monitoring unit, 15 operation history recording unit, 16 operation history DB, 17 function estimating unit, 18
Formal operation DB, 19 function presenter, 110 function selector,
111 guidance display section, 112 guidance DB.

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Keiko Suita             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture             In the company F-term (reference) 2C028 AA10 BB04 BC05 BD01                 5E501 AC32 BA02 BA13 DA17 FA01                       FA43

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An operation assisting method for assisting an operation of a device to a user, comprising: a user information inputting step of inputting information for authenticating the user; and information input in the user information inputting step. A user authentication step of authenticating a user by using the user authentication step; a monitoring step of monitoring the operation of the user authenticated by the user authentication step; and performing an optimal operation assistance for the user based on the operation content monitored in the monitoring step. An operation assisting method including an operation assisting step. 2. An erroneous operation detecting step of detecting an erroneous operation of the user; a function estimating step of estimating an original function for the erroneous operation; a function presenting step of presenting the function estimated by the function estimating step; A function selection step of selecting a function presented in the presentation step; and a regular operation reference step of referring to a regular operation for the function selected in the function selection step, wherein the erroneous operation is detected by the erroneous operation detection step. 2. The operation assisting method according to claim 1, wherein the operation assisting for the normal operation is performed. 3. A function estimating step of estimating a function executable by a subsequent operation during the operation; a function presenting step of presenting the function estimated by the function estimating step; and a function presenting step. A function selection step of selecting a function; a normal operation reference step of referring to a normal operation for the function selected in the function selection step; and an operation assist for a function executable by a subsequent operation during the operation. Item 2. The operation assisting method according to Item 1. 4. An operation history recording step of recording an operation history of the user monitored by the monitoring step,
Further comprising an operation history reference step of referring to the recorded operation history, refers to the recorded operation history of users other than the user authenticated by the user authentication step, count the operation frequency of the function to be presented, Present the most frequent features,
The operation assisting method according to claim 2 or 3. 5. A proficiency judging step for judging whether or not the user authenticated in the user authentication step is proficient in the operation, and assisting the operation according to the level judged in the proficiency judging step. The operation assisting method according to claim 1. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the proficiency determining step includes a step of referring to an operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication step, and a step of determining a skill based on a small number of erroneous operations. The operation assistance method described. 7. The operation assisting method according to claim 5, wherein the proficiency determining step refers to the operation history of the user authenticated in the user authentication step and determines the proficiency based on the operation speed. 8. An operation history recording step of recording an operation history of a user monitored by the monitoring step, and an operation history comparison of comparing a user authenticated by the user authentication step with a recorded operation history of a user other than the user. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: presenting an unknown function to the user, comprising: an unknown function presenting step in which the user presents an unused function from histories determined to be similar by the operation history comparing step. Operation assistance method. 9. An operation history recording step for recording an operation history of a user monitored by the monitoring step, and an operation history comparison for comparing a user authenticated by the user authentication step with a recorded operation history of a user other than the user. 2. An operation method presenting step of presenting an unknown operation method when a different operation method exists for the same function, and presenting the unknown operation method to the user.
Operation assisting method described in 1. 10. An operation history recording step of recording an operation history of a user monitored by the monitoring step; and referring to the recorded operation history, a user authenticated by the user authentication step for the first time or a small number of times. A high-frequency function extracting step of referring to an operation history other than the user in the operation history reference step and extracting a frequently used function from the operation history referred to in the operation history reference step in the case of using history; The operation assisting method according to claim 1, wherein the operation assisting is performed by presenting a frequently used function. 11. An operation history recording step of recording an operation history of a user monitored by the monitoring step, a specific function detection step of detecting a specific function from the recorded operation history of the user authenticated by the user authentication step. 2. The operation assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface changing step of changing to a user interface suitable for the specific function detected by the specific function detecting step, and changing to a user interface suitable for the operation history of the user. 12. A user information input unit for inputting information for authenticating a user, a user authentication unit for authenticating a user using the information input by the user information input unit, and a user authenticated by the user authentication unit. An operation assisting device, comprising: an operation monitoring unit that monitors the operation of the user; and an operation assisting unit that performs optimal operation assistance for the user based on the operation monitored by the monitoring unit. 13. A user information input unit for inputting information for authenticating a user to a computer, a user authentication unit for authenticating a user using information input by the user information input unit, An operation monitoring unit that monitors an operation of a user who has been authenticated by an authentication unit, and a program for functioning as an operation assisting unit that optimally assists the user based on the operation monitored by the operation monitoring unit. 14. A medium on which the program according to claim 13 is recorded.