JP2006072790A - Processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extract a message suitable for a user using a processor body, and to transmit the message to a terminal of the user. <P>SOLUTION: This processor has: a user information storage part 2 storing information about the user using a processing function of the processor body 1; a state monitoring part 3 monitoring a state of the processor body 1; a help information extraction part 4 extracting the message corresponding to the information about the user stored in the user information storage part 2 and a phenomenon of the state of the processor body 1 monitored by the state monitoring part 3; and a communication part 10 outputting the message extracted by the help information extraction part 4 to the terminal (a portable terminal 20) of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus that outputs a message corresponding to a state of an apparatus main body to a user who uses a processing function of the apparatus main body.

  In image processing devices such as copiers, operation screens are used to display operation help, display machine error handling, and display machine status in addition to function settings. Yes. For operation help, the help information is displayed on the function setting screen, then the help screen is closed, the operation screen is returned to the setting screen again, and the operation is performed relying on the stored help information, so that the intended operation cannot be achieved. There is. Therefore, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, a function setting screen and a help screen are displayed at the same time, and the help corresponding to the operation can be viewed without the user storing the help information. ing.

  In addition, regarding machine errors, if a trouble occurs on the machine, the countermeasure setting method is displayed on the function setting screen according to the situation so that the user can deal with it. When the user is away from the user, the user is forced to change his / her posture by repeatedly referring to the screen and dealing with the trouble, which places a great burden on the user. Furthermore, there is also a problem that the user cannot read the guide display contents due to visual acuity, location, language, or the like. In order to solve the problem of the presence position, according to the technique described in Patent Document 2, the voice guide and the display guide are switched according to the presence detection result of the operator.

JP 2002-221877 A JP-A-3-048866

  However, the display guide cannot provide guidance for users who cannot read the display (language and characters themselves). In addition, the voice guidance is heard by everyone around the machine, which can be annoying to the surroundings, especially in quiet offices. In any of the conventional techniques, when the guide display position and the trouble-handling position are separated from each other, reference to the guide display by the user and trouble-shooting work are alternately performed, and the burden due to the change in the posture. This will cause a deterioration in work efficiency.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, the present invention relates to a user information storage means for storing information on a user who uses a processing function of the apparatus main body, a state monitoring means for monitoring the state of the apparatus main body, and an event of the state of the apparatus main body monitored by the state monitoring means. And a processing device comprising: information extracting means for extracting a message corresponding to user information stored in the user information storage means; and communication means for outputting the message extracted by the information extracting means to the user terminal. .

  In the present invention, in order to perform extraction according to the user information stored in the user information storage means as a message according to the event of the state of the apparatus body, select a message suitable for the user, A message can be sent from the communication means to the terminal of the user. For this reason, the user can acquire the message sent from the apparatus main body at the terminal owned by the user.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain help information with its own terminal without blocking the screen of the apparatus main body operated by the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of a copying machine or a multifunction machine having functions such as a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile machine. The apparatus main body 1 that executes each function of image processing and information on an IC card are used. A card reader 11 for reading and a communication means 10 for wirelessly communicating with an external device (for example, an exchange) are provided.

  Information on the user who uses the apparatus main body 1 is stored in the IC card, and the user inserts the IC card into the card reader 11 prior to use. The apparatus main body 1 extracts a message from the apparatus main body 1 as necessary based on the information of the IC card read by the card reader 11, and sends the message to the user's portable terminal 20 via the communication means 10 such as a modem. Send.

  Also, when a message transmission request is made from the user's portable terminal 20 to the apparatus body 1 via the communication means 10, the user information is read from the information of the calling portable terminal 20, and a necessary message is extracted. A message can also be transmitted to the user's portable terminal 20.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a message adapted to a user who uses the apparatus main body 1 is selected based on the user information, and the user is sent by transmitting the message to a terminal (for example, PHS: Personal Handyphone System) owned by the user. It is characterized by being able to convey a message in an optimal form for the user.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a card reader 11 and, if necessary, a user password input unit 12. In addition, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a user information storage unit 2, a state monitoring unit 3, a help information extraction unit 4, and a communication unit 10.

  The user information storage unit 2 is a part that stores information about the user read by the card reader 11. In addition, the user information storage unit 2 can receive and store information about the user based on information sent from the external portable terminal 20 and received via the communication unit 10. Furthermore, information about the user can be stored in advance corresponding to the user ID and the password information.

  Here, the information related to the user includes the language used by the user, the necessity / unnecessity of a guide (guidance), and the terminal number (telephone number, network address, etc.). Details will be described later. The user information storage unit 2 also stores information that distinguishes the usage status (installation location, etc.) of the apparatus main body in addition to information related to individual users.

  The state monitoring unit 3 is a part that monitors the operation state of the apparatus main body 1 and mainly detects the occurrence of an error and the type of error. The help information extraction unit 4 is a part that extracts a message according to the error detected by the state monitoring unit 3. In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of messages corresponding to the same error are provided, and an optimum message can be extracted according to the user information stored in the user information storage unit 2.

  The communication unit 10 includes communication means such as a modem and a network card, and transmits a message (help information or the like) extracted by the help information extraction unit 4 to the user's portable terminal 20 stored in the user information storage unit 2. I do. When the communication unit 10 is a modem, it communicates with an exchange, and when it is a network card, it communicates with an access point.

  The user can grasp the state of the apparatus main body 1 from the message sent to his / her mobile terminal 20, but at this time, since a message easy to understand for the user is selected based on the user information, It becomes possible to efficiently perform error processing of the apparatus main body 1 by the message sent to the portable terminal 20.

Next, a specific operation will be described.
(Prerequisite operation)
The apparatus body 1 identifies the user by analyzing information from the card reader 11 or a means for identifying the user such as a password input by the user. The user information storage unit 2 stores information regarding the identified user.

(Operation 1)
The user transmits a help information acquisition request from the portable terminal 20 to the apparatus main body 1 through the exchange as necessary. The communication unit 10 of the apparatus main body 1 receives the help information acquisition request sent from the user's portable terminal 20 and requests the help information extraction unit 4 to extract a message (help information).

  Here, the user information storage unit 2 stores user information from the user information sent from the mobile terminal 20 at the time of calling or the IC card information read by the card reader 11. The help information extraction unit 4 acquires this user information from the user information storage unit 2.

  Next, the help information extraction unit 4 acquires the operation state of the apparatus main body from the state monitoring unit 3. If the user information obtained from the user information storage unit 2 and the state information of the apparatus main body 1 obtained from the state monitoring unit 3 are searched for corresponding help information and a message needs to be notified, communication is performed. Send to part 10.

  Here, when the user's portable terminal 20 and the line are not connected, the communication unit 10 makes a call by acquiring the PHS number of the user's portable terminal based on the user information acquired from the user information storage unit 2. Then, the extracted help information (message) is sent to the user's portable terminal 20 via the communication unit 10 and the exchange.

  Further, when the state of the apparatus main body 1 changes, the state monitoring unit 3 notifies the help information extracting unit 4 of the state change, extracts a message suitable for the user according to the event of the state, The message is transmitted to the user's mobile terminal 20 in the same manner as described above.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message corresponding to an event of the apparatus main body. The help information extraction unit extracts a message corresponding to the user from a database of messages corresponding to the event as shown in FIG. For example, when the user performs copying and the paper in the tray <1> runs out, the state monitoring unit detects “no paper” as an event. The help information extraction unit selects a help number “001” corresponding to this event, and transmits a message A corresponding to the help number to the user's mobile terminal. This will cause the user's mobile device to read “Your copy has been interrupted because you have run out of paper. To continue copying, replenish paper <1>. Paper size is XX.” Message is sent.

  This message may be displayed on the display of the portable terminal, or may be output as voice from the incoming call operation of the portable terminal. Here, the output form of this message is selected based on user information. For example, it is possible to select such that a user who is deaf is displayed on a display and a user who is deaf is output as a sound.

(Operation 2)
The user transmits a help information acquisition request from the portable terminal 20 to the apparatus main body 1 through the exchange as necessary. The communication unit 10 of the apparatus body 1 receives a help information acquisition request sent from the exchange and requests the help information extraction unit 4 to extract a message (help information).

  Here, in the user information storage unit 2, user information is stored based on user information sent in advance from the portable terminal 20 or IC card information read by the card reader 11. The help information extraction unit 4 acquires this user information from the user information storage unit 2.

  Next, the help information extraction unit 4 acquires the operation state of the apparatus main body from the state monitoring unit 3. Then, the corresponding help number is searched according to the user information acquired from the user information storage unit 2 and the state event of the apparatus main body 1 acquired from the state monitoring unit 3. FIG. 4 shows help numbers corresponding to events in the state of the apparatus main body. Next, the help information extraction unit 4 searches for a message corresponding to the help number, and sends it to the communication unit 10 when it is necessary to notify this message.

  Here, when the user's portable terminal 20 and the line are not connected, the communication unit 10 makes a call by acquiring the PHS number of the user's portable terminal based on the user information acquired from the user information storage unit 2. Then, the extracted help information (message) is sent to the user's portable terminal 20 via the communication unit 10 and the exchange.

  Further, when the state of the apparatus main body 1 changes, the state monitoring unit 3 notifies the help information extracting unit 4 of the state change, extracts a message suitable for the user according to the event of the state, The message is transmitted to the user's mobile terminal 20 in the same manner as described above.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a message corresponding to a help number, and a plurality (two types here) of messages are prepared corresponding to one help number. Message A is in Japanese and message B is in English. The help information extraction unit 4 selects the message A corresponding to the help number when the user needs a guide in Japanese based on the user information, and the help number when the user needs a guide in English. A message B corresponding to is selected. This makes it possible to perform a guide in a language suitable for each user.

(Operation 3)
In operation 3, in addition to the above-described operation 1 or operation 2, a “level that requires guidance” is determined based on information obtained from personal data, and a message is “notified” or “not notified” by the user even in the same event. Judging. This makes it possible to send an accurate message only to users who need guidance, instead of sending a message to all users uniformly.

(Operation 4)
In the operation 3, in addition to the operation 1, the operation 2 or the operation 3, the “guide reading speed” is determined based on the information obtained from the personal data, and the reproduction speed is changed by the user even in the same message. As a result, for example, a user unaccustomed to listening to a guide can listen to the message slowly.

Next, examples of various types of information and messages will be shown.
The following classifications can be considered as information for identifying individual users.
(1) Information obtained from a machine accessory such as an IC card.
(2) Information obtained from input information to the machine such as authentication information.

The following types of messages for the same event can be considered.
(1) Language.
(2) Usage restrictions (authentication status, such as color mode restrictions) given to users.
(3) Technical term difficulty.
(4) Differences in installed options.
(5) Difference in user authority (administrator, general, etc.).

The following examples can be considered for determining the level that requires guidance.
(1) Have age information in personal identification information, classify according to the obtained age, and if it is an elderly person, the level that requires guidance is judged as “high”.
(2) The personal identification information includes information such as “beginning level”, “intermediate level”, “advanced level” and the like, and if it is a beginner level, the level that requires guidance is determined as “high”.
(3) Classification is made based on information of the installation location (“general office”, “copy center”, “individual”, etc.), and if it is an individual, the level at which the guide is required is determined as “high”.

The following example can be considered for the determination of the reading speed of the guide.
(1) Have age information in the personal identification information, classify according to the obtained age, and if it is an elderly person, the reading speed is judged as “slow”.
(2) The hearing information is included in the personal identification information, and the reading speed is determined to be “slow” if assistance is required for hearing.
(3) Use language information is included in the personal identification information, and whether or not the registered language and the broadcast language are different is compared.

Examples of Data managed as help information are as follows.
(1) Event.
(2) Help number.
(3) Corresponding message (multiple depending on classification).
(4) Guide target (in cooperation with the required level of personal information guide).
(5) Guide classification (error / setting parameter / visual aid, etc.).

  Examples of operations in the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below. Here, it is assumed that the portable terminal uses a device capable of outputting a voice, such as an extension registered PHS.

Example 1
When the job is abnormally terminated while the user A's job is being executed, the state monitoring unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 detects the <maximum print number exceeded> state. The help information extraction unit 4 obtains the information of the user A from the information in the user information storage unit 2. For example, when the language used by the user A is English, the “message B group” in the help information group is the message A If the group is customized information translated into English, a message of <help number 002, message B> is retrieved, and the message is transmitted to the PHS of user A obtained from the user information storage unit 2.

(Example 2)
When the operation of the user B is stopped on the color mode setting screen, the state monitoring unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 detects the <setting interruption (color mode)> state. The help information extraction unit 4 obtains the information of the user B from the information in the user information storage unit 2. For example, when the user B is a user who is prohibited from using the color mode, “ If the “message A group” is a message for a user whose color is limited, a message of <help number 100, message A> is retrieved, and the message is transmitted to the PHS of user B obtained from the user information storage unit. .

(Example 3)
When the copy job of the user C is put on hold due to running out of paper while the job of the user C is being executed, the status monitoring unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 detects the <tray <1> no paper> status. The help information extraction unit 4 obtains the information of the user C from the information in the user information storage unit 2. For example, when the language used by the user C is Chinese, the message A group in the help information group is Japanese, the message If the group B is in English, the message of <help number 001, message B> is searched. At this time, since the language is different from the language used by the user C, the message is slowly reproduced and the message is transmitted to the PHS of the user C obtained from the user information storage unit 2.

Example 4
When the user C intends to use the apparatus main body 1 and the state monitoring unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 detects <initial state, fax failure>, the help information extraction unit 4 uses the information in the user information storage unit 2. User C's information is obtained. Here, for example, when it is determined that the required guide level of the user C is “high”, the user is a weak eyesight, and the language used is Japanese, the help message classification in the event “initial state, fax failure” Is “visual aid” and “message A group” in the help information group is a Japanese message, the message of <help number 200, message A> is retrieved and the user C obtained from the user information storage unit 2 Send the message to the PHS.

(Example 5)
When the operation of the user D is stopped on the magnification setting screen, the state monitoring unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 detects a <setting interruption (magnification)> state. The help information extraction unit 4 obtains the information of the user D from the information in the user information storage unit 2 and, for example, when the user D's required guide level is determined to be “low”, the help of the event “setting interruption (magnification)” If the target level is “High”, no help message is sent.

  According to each of the embodiments described above, it is possible to easily handle an error without having to bother to return to the display screen particularly in a large image forming apparatus. Further, even when the user is away from the machine main body, machine information can be acquired, and it is possible to quickly grasp the machine state and deal with it. Further, even a printer-dedicated machine or the like having a small display screen can acquire the machine information without being limited to the screen area. Further, even if the image forming apparatus does not have a facsimile function, the voice information can be acquired. Further, even for users who are difficult to operate the main body screen (wheelchairs, amblyopia, color blindness, etc.), help information can be obtained. In addition, since a message is extracted and transmitted according to personal information, it is possible to transmit an optimal message tailored to each user.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example in which PHS is used as a user's mobile terminal has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a personal computer. The message sent to the user's terminal may be graphic information in addition to character information and voice information. Further, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) may be transmitted as a message as required, and more detailed help information can be obtained by accessing the URL from the user terminal.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example in which an image processing apparatus is used as the processing apparatus has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to various processing apparatuses in which a user can deal with a failure of the apparatus main body.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining the specific structure in the image processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the message according to the event of an apparatus main body. The help number corresponding to the event of the state of the apparatus main body is shown. It is a figure which shows the example of the message corresponding to a help number.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body, 2 ... User information storage part, 3 ... State monitoring part, 4 ... Help information extraction part, 10 ... Communication part, 11 ... Card reader, 12 ... User password input part, 20 ... Portable terminal

Claims (7)

User information storage means for storing information of a user who uses the processing function of the apparatus main body;
State monitoring means for monitoring the state of the apparatus body;
Information extracting means for extracting an event corresponding to the state of the apparatus main body monitored by the state monitoring means and a message corresponding to the user information stored in the user information storage means;
And a communication unit that outputs the message extracted by the information extraction unit to the terminal of the user. Comprising identification means for identifying the information of the user,
The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information on a user identified by the identification unit is provided to the user information storage unit. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit specifies the user based on a signal transmitted in advance from the terminal of the user, and supplies the specified user information to the user information storage unit. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the user terminal wirelessly. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information extraction unit extracts a message corresponding to a language based on the user information. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information extraction unit extracts the message only when guidance is required based on the user information. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information extraction unit varies a reading speed of the extracted message based on the information of the user.

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