JP2004030446A - Help guidance method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user-friendly help guidance method which provides such help guidance that a user can visually and easily understand. <P>SOLUTION: This help guidance method has data input means 4 and 5, a storing means 2 for storing data or a program and a display means 7 for displaying an image. The program is used in a device provided with help programs 12 and 13 for performing help processing in addition to main processing. The display means 7 always displays a main processing image 21 and a help image 31 so as to prevent both the images 21 and 31 from overlapping on each other. The main processing performs image display for requesting a plurality of unit processing performed by operating the data input means for each of the plurality of images to be continuously carried out. The help processing displays a display example of the main processing image at the time of performing a unit processing operation of one optional unit processing that is currently requested on the main processing image and performs help guidance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a help guidance method for displaying a help of a processing operation performed in a computer device such as a personal computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-90756 "Document creation device", a conventional help guidance method determines the contents of operation assistance based on the work process at that time when an operation assistance key is pressed. Based on the information, the property sheet data corresponding to the necessary operation guide information is displayed, or based on the input of an input word and a help key, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-37613 “Help Method for Electronic Equipment”. A method for reading and displaying a desired function description from a word dictionary for help, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-99122, "Glossary Message Method", when a term desired to be explained on help is pointed, There were methods such as those that output information.
[0003]
As described above, in the related art, the help message presented to the user at the time of calling the help is text information, and the user has to read and understand the text help message closely. There was a problem that work had to be interrupted for a long time. Further, there is a problem that a help message relating to graphic editing, image editing and the like is difficult to express in text, and conversely, a help message in text is difficult for a user to understand.
[0004]
In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-41196 discloses a moving picture help guidance method in which help guidance is performed using a moving picture when a user calls help. This is intended to provide intuitive help guidance without using a text help message.
[0005]
However, in the above help guidance method, since help guidance is provided by a moving image at a time for one independent process, the operation may not be understood in the middle of the process, and the operation of the process may be difficult. there were. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 of the same publication, a help window as shown in FIG. As shown. Therefore, in one process, when the mouse or keyboard process cannot keep up with the help guidance, there has been a problem that the process before that cannot be understood.
[0006]
Also, since the user does not know what kind of processing is provided with help guidance, even if the user needs help during the actual processing, it is necessary to know the existence of help guidance in that processing. In some cases, the help may not be available due to lack of help guidance.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use help guidance method that enables a user to provide help guidance that is easier to understand and use visually.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects]
The present invention provides the following help guidance method to solve the above technical problem.
[0009]
The method according to the present invention includes a data input unit for inputting data by an operation of an operator, a storage unit for storing data or a program, and a data input from the data input unit or a data stored in the storage unit. Display means for displaying a screen, wherein the program is used in an apparatus having a help program for performing a help process for advancing the main process in addition to a main process program. The display means always displays a main processing screen for displaying a main processing procedure and a help screen for displaying a help guidance processing procedure so that the two do not overlap with each other. Proceeding processing, at least one screen of the main processing performs a screen display requesting that a plurality of unit processes performed by operating the data input means be performed continuously for each screen, and the help processing is performed. For a specific main processing screen, a help example is displayed by displaying a display example of the main processing screen at the time of a unit processing operation of any one unit processing currently requested on the main processing screen.
[0010]
In the above method, it is preferable that the help processing is performed using both a moving image and a text. In the help processing, an operation of one unit processing by a data input unit is performed on a screen of a specific main processing. It is preferable that the display example be switched when the processing is completed. In the help process, it is preferable that a moving image related to the unit process is repeatedly displayed on a screen of a specific main process until the operation of one unit process by the data input unit is completed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a help guidance method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
This help guidance method is used, for example, in a process in which a hair color simulation is the main process. The hair color simulation is, for example, a process described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-150307. Specifically, after the image of one's own is read and the hair part is treated with a specific hair color product, the hair color simulation is performed. Can be performed using his / her own face image.
[0013]
At this time, a process of reading the own image, a process of designating a part of the face image and enlarging it to a predetermined size, a process of selecting a hair portion, a process of selecting a hair color product used for dyeing, and the like are continuously performed. . This help guidance method provides guidance for each of these processes so that it is easy to understand.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a workstation for hair color simulation used in the help guidance method of the present embodiment. The workstation 1 is merely an example for explaining the help guidance method of the present invention, and the help guidance method of the present invention can be used in other systems.
[0015]
The workstation 1 includes a system program 10, a simulation program 11, and a help control program 12 in which a control operation unit 3 is stored in a storage device 2 based on signals and data input from input devices such as a keyboard 4 and a mouse 5. And the like, and the arithmetic processing is performed by the control arithmetic unit 3, the result is displayed on the display 7 via the display control device 6, and the sound is output from the speaker via the digital-analog converter (DAC) 8. . Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 1, the present workstation has a storage location for storing face photograph data and the like to be used for simulation, which is usually stored in the storage device 2 of the workstation. Alternatively, an external storage device (not shown) such as a CD-ROM drive corresponds to this.
[0016]
As an operation example of the workstation 1, in a hair color simulation, 1. 1. Reads own photo data; 2. Edit (trim) to a predetermined size; 3. Determine the reference color of the hair part; 4. Divide the area of the hair part. A series of operations of changing the color information of the hair portion to a color expected to be a hair color when a predetermined hair color product is treated and displaying the same will be described as an example.
[0017]
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams showing the flow of processing performed in the simulation processing of the above working example. On the display 7 of the workstation, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a main processing screen 21 for displaying the simulation processing and a help screen 31 for displaying the help guidance processing are divided into right and left, and are always displayed so that they do not overlap. ing. The main processing screen 21 is an operation screen for performing a series of operations in the hair color simulation described above, and the help screen 31 is an operation procedure of the currently displayed main processing screen in order to proceed with the processing in the main processing screen. Are displayed sequentially.
[0018]
In the simulation processing, a plurality of screens are sequentially switched on the main processing screen 21 to perform a series of processing. Each screen of the main processing screen 21 (hereinafter, abbreviated as a simulation screen in the present embodiment) is provided with a screen display for requesting a user to perform a plurality of unit processes by operating a keyboard and a mouse. I have.
[0019]
The help screen 31 describes an operation for a unit process required in any one of the simultaneously displayed simulation screens by displaying a moving image and text. The description displayed is a description of a display sample and a display sample that will be displayed on the simulation screen 21 in the unit processing one step ahead of the unit processing currently requested on the simulation screen 21. The linked control of the display of the simulation screen and the help screen is executed by the help control program 12 stored in the storage device 2, and the data of the screen actually displayed on the help screen is stored in the help data program 13. Have been.
[0020]
Hereinafter, a processing flow in the workstation will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. First, when the simulation process starts, a screen requesting to read the face photograph data used for the hair color simulation is displayed on the simulation screen 21 (# 10). On this screen, select the storage location of the face photo data file to be read, then select the face photo data file stored in the storage location, and select the face photo data file after the selection is completed. Requires multiple operations in consecutive steps.
[0021]
On the help screen 31, correspondingly, a help image and text data are displayed by a moving image for each of the above-described steps required on the screen requesting to read the face photograph data displayed on the simulation screen 21.
[0022]
Specifically, first, immediately after the above-mentioned simulation screen 21 is displayed, that is, when the user has not performed any operation, the simulation screen is provided with an explanation for designating the storage location of the photo image. ing. That is, the help screen 21 is a sample image extracted from a part of the simulation screen, and the mouse pointer is moved to a “reference” button that opens a window for selecting a storage location of the photo data file, and Click on the video being pressed and the "Browse button to open the window for loading images. Select a file and click" Open ". "Is displayed.
[0023]
When the user refers to the help screen 31 and selects the “Browse” button on the simulation screen 21, and the storage location window is opened on the simulation button of the workstation (S 1), the moving image data displayed on the help screen 31 is displayed. Switch.
[0024]
If the operation for the unit process requested by the user does not end before the reproduction time of the moving image used for the help screen 31 ends, the same moving image is repeatedly displayed on the help screen 31 until the user performs the operation. You.
[0025]
The switched help screen shows a state in which one file in the storage location window, which is a sample, is clicked with the mouse to select it, and subsequently, the decision button for reading is clicked with the mouse (H2). . Further, when the user selects a file and operates the enter button (S1) as displayed on the help screen, the simulation screen is switched.
[0026]
The image of the selected face photograph data is displayed on the switched simulation screen. On this screen (hereinafter, this simulation screen is abbreviated as a trimming processing screen), trimming for displaying the displayed face photograph data in a predetermined size is performed. Specifically, after specifying a cut position including the vicinity of the face of the subject, the cut position is confirmed and determined.
[0027]
Immediately after the trimming processing screen is displayed, the help screen 31 displays a moving image for determining a cutting area, which is an operation for specifying a cutting position for a sample image, and text related to the description thereof. FIG. 4 shows a display example of the display in this state.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 4, the simulation image 21 is divided into upper and lower sections, and the upper section 22 displays the face photograph data 23 previously selected. In the lower section 24, a plurality of buttons for determining processing to be operated using the mouse pointer 25 on the trimming processing screen are displayed.
[0029]
The help screen 31 is currently displayed together with a moving image in which the mouse pointer encloses the area near the face of the sample face image 32 with a square frame in order to determine the cutout area for the sample face image 32 (H3). On the trimming process screen 21, a description 33 of the overall operation to be performed and a description of the unit processes 34 to 36 of each step constituting the overall operation are displayed.
[0030]
If the user has not performed the unit processing of any step in the trimming processing screen, the area 34 is displayed in a different color to indicate that the state is the first step 1 (34). In the description 34 of the unit process in step 1, for example, "Please drag a necessary portion in the displayed image from the upper left to the lower right" is displayed.
[0031]
When the user specifies the cutout area for his / her own face image 23 with reference to the moving image of the sample face image 32 and the description 34 of the unit processing (S2), the help screen 31 is a screen for explaining the next unit processing. Switch to. Specifically, the images of the three operation buttons in the lower section of the simulation screen are displayed, and a moving image is displayed such that the user clicks the enter button (H4). Further, in the description 35 of the unit process in step 2, a text display of “Please select a decision button if this is all right” is displayed.
[0032]
Referring to the help screen, after the user confirms the designated area and clicks the "OK" button on the simulation screen (S2), the simulation screen 21 switches from the trimming processing screen to the next screen.
[0033]
On the switched simulation screen 21, the photographic image of only the designated area selected in the previous processing is displayed in an enlarged manner on the upper section 22 (# 12). In the simulation screen, a process of determining the reference color of the hair portion of the enlarged photographic image is performed (S3). The user clicks, with the mouse, a region of the hair portion of the magnified and displayed photo image other than a portion that is brightened by reflection of light or a portion other than a shadow portion and that is closest to the current hair color of the user. Then, the RGB values of the pixels of the photo image at the clicked portion are confirmed (# 13), and it is determined whether or not this value exists within the reference density (# 14). If the density is within the reference density, the simulation screen 21 is switched.
[0034]
If it does not exist within the reference concentration, even if it is dyed using a hair color product, the color of the hair does not change so much, so a warning display recommending bleaching is displayed on the simulation screen (# 15). The simulation screen switches.
[0035]
FIG. 5 shows a display example of the display immediately after the switching. The screen displayed next on the simulation screen 21 is a screen for designating the hair part of the enlarged and displayed photographic image 23a and requesting the user to perform a process of confirming / determining (the simulation screen is referred to as a plot processing screen. Abbreviated.). On the plot processing screen, the user operates the mouse pointer 25 to click on the boundary between the hair, the background, and the face to specify and determine the plot area.
[0036]
In the plot processing screen, the upper section 22 displays a photographic image 23a in which only the area selected in the previous processing is enlarged and displayed, and the lower section displays a button for processing to be determined using the mouse pointer 25. On the other hand, the help screen 31 displays a display example 32a of the plot processing screen in an operation state to be operated by the user on the plot processing screen, a description 33 of the overall operation to be performed on the plot processing screen, and a unit constituting the overall operation. Process descriptions 34 to 36 are displayed.
[0037]
Immediately after the simulation screen is switched to the plot processing screen, the help screen 31 displays, as a moving image and text, a state in which the dividing line 37 is added while plotting the hair region of the sample image with the mouse. The text display area 34 in step 1 is highlighted with its color inverted, and displays "Click on the mouse to display a white dot, so click on the border between hair and background."
[0038]
When the user starts plotting the mouse with reference to the help screen (S4), the portion of the text display area 35 in step 2 is inverted to indicate that the current unit processing state is in step 2. In the text display area 35 of step 2, for example, "If you click again at a slightly distant part, it will be connected by a line, please repeat the line several times to surround the hair part."
[0039]
When the number of plot points of the mouse becomes three or more, the portion of the text display area 36 in step 3 is inverted, and the current state of the unit processing is displayed. In the text display area 36 in step 3, for example, click the "Clear path" button if you want to redo the hair range specification from the beginning. If you can surround it, click the "OK" button. Is displayed. After the series of plot area designations are displayed (H7), the screen is switched to a screen (H7 ') for selecting "determine" or "re-plot".
[0040]
When the plot area is determined in the previous processing on the simulation screen, the simulation screen is switched to the area surrounded by the previous operation of the enlarged image display, and the hair part is compared with the reference color recognized in # 13. Is changed (# 17), making it easier to visually check the plot area. The help screen also changes the color of the hair portion of the sample image and switches the information in the text display area. The user checks the plot area with reference to the display of the help screen (H8), and clicks the determination button on the simulation screen 21 with the mouse to determine the plot area (H9).
[0041]
When the plot area is determined in the above processing, the hair color simulation is started (S5). FIG. 6 shows a display example of the display at the start of the hair color simulation.
[0042]
In this screen, an enlarged photograph image 23b is displayed in the upper section 22 of the simulation screen 21, and a color sample 27 of the hair to be discolored is displayed in the lower section 24b. When the color sample 27a is clicked with the mouse, the color of the plot area portion of the enlarged photograph image 23b is changed based on the color of the color sample 27a. However, in the discoloration processing, it is preferable to perform the processing such that the degree of discoloration is changed depending on the density of the hair before the discoloration.
[0043]
On the help screen 31 in this display, an enlarged photographic image 32b before discoloration is displayed in an upper section, and a package display 39 of a hair color product and a product description 40 are displayed in a lower section 38.
[0044]
When the user selects the color sample 27 again, the color change processing is performed again on the plot area portion of the enlarged photograph, and the display of the help screen 31 is updated. Further, before this discoloration processing, decolorization may be performed by, for example, bleaching processing set to weak / medium / strong. Specifically, when a specific bleaching process is performed, the hair part is changed to the set hair color. In this case, since the density of the hair is lower than before the treatment, the effect of the subsequent discoloration processing is large, and the discoloration of the hair is remarkable.
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the help guidance method of the present invention, a display sample of a main processing screen that is actually performed using a moving image for each unit processing included in the sequentially switched main processing screen is displayed on the help screen. Therefore, the user can proceed to the help screen sequentially, instead of referring to the help screen at once for a series of plural processes.
[0046]
In addition, since the help screen and the main processing screen are always displayed so as not to overlap, the help screen does not disturb the processing of the main processing screen, and the user can determine whether the help function is provided or not. It can be done without resort. That is, with respect to image data for which no help image is prepared, the screen display of the help screen is not switched, and the help is continuously displayed until the predetermined processing is completed. When the processing is performed, the display of the help screen is automatically switched.
[0047]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various other modes. For example, in the present embodiment, simulation and help programs and data are stored in the workstation. For example, programs such as Java (registered trademark) and Flash are installed in the workstation, and the workstation is installed. , A simulation process may be performed by activating a program via the Internet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a workstation for hair color simulation used in a help guidance method according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing performed in a simulation processing.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing performed in a simulation processing.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display at the time of cutting processing displayed on the display of the workstation in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a plot area displayed on the display of the workstation in FIG. 1 is designated.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display at the time of executing a simulation displayed on the display of the workstation in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 workstation 2 storage device 3 control operation unit 4 keyboard 5 mouse 6 display control unit 7 display 8 DA converter 9 speaker 10 system program 11 simulation program 12 help control program 13 help data program 21 main image 31 help image

Claims (5)

Data input means for inputting data by an operation of an operator, storage means for storing data or a program, and display means for displaying data input from the data input means or data stored in the storage means on a screen. A help guidance method used in an apparatus having a help program for performing a help process for advancing the main process in addition to a main process program,
The display means always displays a main processing screen for displaying a main processing procedure and a help screen for displaying a help guidance processing procedure so that the two do not overlap,
The main process sequentially switches a plurality of screens to advance a series of processes, and at least one screen of the main process continuously performs a plurality of unit processes performed by operating the data input unit for each screen. Screen display requesting that
In the help process, for a specific main process screen, a display example of the main process screen at the time of a unit process operation of any one unit process currently requested on the main process screen is displayed to provide help guidance. A help guidance method characterized by the following. The help guidance method according to claim 1, wherein the help processing is performed using both a moving image and a text. 3. The help process according to claim 2, wherein the help process repeatedly displays a moving image related to the unit process on a screen of a specific main process until the operation of one unit process by the data input unit is completed. Guidance method. 4. The display according to claim 1, wherein the display of the help process is switched when an operation of one unit process by a data input unit is completed for a screen of a specific main process. Help guidance method described in one. The help guidance method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main processing is a hair color simulation.

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