JP2007058537A - Digital equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the inefficiency of an operation to retrieve a manual explanation which cannot be obtained by a help function from a manual. <P>SOLUTION: The link information of manual data relating to the display content of a help function to a page is recorded in the storage part of is own equipment, and the content of a manual page at link destination is acquired from the display part of the help function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital device having a help function (or having a help function) but having a low display power.

  Many digital devices such as image forming apparatuses have a manual or help function in order to explain their functions. In the manual, users can search for their required explanations. In the help function, it is possible to obtain an explanation for the operation currently being performed.

  Note that the help function here refers to “a function that provides the user with a simple explanation of the function currently used by the user”, and is, for example, a balloon hint in a Windows (registered trademark) application. A conventional simple example is shown in FIG.

  Comparing the help function with the operation manual, there is an advantage of the help function that “the user has a very small amount of effort to obtain necessary information”. That is, in the manual, the user needs to search for necessary information, but in the help function, the image forming apparatus searches for and presents information on the operation that the user is currently performing.

  On the other hand, the advantage of the manual is that it has a high level of understanding for large amounts of information. This is influenced by the features of the manual such as “Wide expression area and flexible information expression” and “Various tools for information expression”. Currently, many manuals are electronic data, but they also have the above features, and also use support tools (character string search tools, link functions, etc.) for reading information as well as information expressions. can do.

  In the help function, information is displayed on a display on the image forming apparatus or an operation panel with a display. These generally have a small information display area and low information expressive power (specifically, there are many displays that can display only a few lines, displays that can display only characters, and displays that cannot display colors. There are large displays, but most of them are expensive large machines.)

  The small information display area necessitates continuous display of the information divided into a number of parts when displaying a large amount of information. Since this display method makes it difficult for the user to understand the information, the amount of information cannot be increased so much. In addition, the information expression ability is low, and it makes it difficult for the user to understand the information.

Here, for example, in Patent Document 1, an operation manual for various functions can be displayed and printed for the purpose of providing an image processing apparatus that prints operation methods for operating various functions as image information. A technique has been disclosed.
JP 2004-102365 A

  The general method used to get an explanation of what the user is currently doing is to first use the help function, and if there isn't enough explanation there, search for a detailed explanation in the manual. It is. This is aimed at reducing labor. In other words, it is determined that sufficient information can be obtained by the help function in many cases, and it is assumed that the advantage of the help function can reduce the work and labor. In fact, most help functions seem to be able to achieve this goal. Still, there is no help function that ensures the user is given the necessary explanation. Appears whenever a manual search is required. If such a manual search operation is further simplified and streamlined, the user can obtain an explanation for the current operation with less effort.

  The above-described “general method used to obtain an explanation for the operation that the user is currently performing” has a help function (or can have a help function) other than the image forming apparatus, but the display power of the display This is a common technique for low-power devices (home appliances (electromagnetic range, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner), audio equipment (component, portable audio), mobile phone, car, etc.). Even in such an apparatus, the same effect as that of the image forming apparatus can be obtained if the operation of searching for an explanation that could not be obtained by the help function is simplified and made more efficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to provide an image forming apparatus and other “help function (or can have a help function), but display power of the display. It is to solve the inefficiency of searching the manual for an explanation that could not be obtained with the help function that the user feels about “low digital device”.

  In the first aspect of the invention, link information to the manual data page related to the display contents of the help function is recorded in the storage section of the own device, and the contents of the linked manual page are displayed from the display section of the help function. It is a digital device characterized by acquisition.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to the first aspect, a manual page printing function is provided as means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the help function display unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to the first or second aspect, the digital device includes means for connecting to the network, and is present on the network as means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the display section of the help function. And a manual page printing function using the image forming apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the digital device includes means for connecting to a network, and means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the display section of the help function And a function of displaying manual page contents on an image display device on a network.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the digital device includes means for connecting to a network, and means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the display section of the help function And a function of transferring a manual page as a data file to a computer on a network.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the digital device comprises means for connecting to a network, and means for acquiring the contents of a linked manual page from the display section of the help function And e-mail transmission function to an arbitrary address of the contents of the manual page.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a manual page is provided as a means for obtaining the contents of the linked manual page from the help function display section, comprising a sound source. It has a voice reading function of contents.

  In the invention described in claim 8, in the digital device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the page number of the manual is notified as means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the display section of the help function. It has the function to perform.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to solve the inefficiency of the work of searching the manual for explanations that could not be obtained by the help function.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100, which is an example of a digital device, includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, an NVRAM 13, a panel control unit 14, an engine control unit 15, and a disk driver 16 under the control of the CPU 10. The communication control unit 17 and the external I / F 18 are provided.

  The CPU 10 controls the entire apparatus of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The ROM 11 stores program codes, fonts, and other static data.

  The RAM 12 is used as a temporary storage location.

  The NVRAM 13 stores nonvolatile data.

  The panel control unit 14 manages an interface with the user together with the operation panel.

  The engine control unit 15 functions as an image data input / output unit together with the scan / print engine to read a paper document and print on a transfer paper.

  The disk driver 16 is used as a storage location for storing a large amount of image data and a database together with a storage device.

  The communication control unit 17 is connected to a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and enables communication with an external device. In the second embodiment to be described later, this is also used for communication between the panel control unit 14 and the engine control unit 15.

  The external I / F 18 enables communication with an external device using an interface such as Centronics or RS-232C.

  Next, the software structure of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The application program 21 manages the execution of functions such as copying, faxing, and printers.

  The panel control program 22 controls the operation panel via the panel driver, transmits information from the user to the application program 21, and transmits information from the application program 21 to the user.

  The panel driver 23 controls the physical operation panel via the operation system 28 according to an instruction from the panel control program 22.

  The engine control program 24 controls the engine via the engine driver 25, transmits information from the engine to the application program 21, and transmits information from the application program 21 to the engine.

  The engine driver 25 controls the physical scanner / print engine via the operation system 28 according to an instruction from the engine control program 24.

  The communication control program 26 controls network communication via a communication driver, transmits information from a communication partner on the network to the application program 21, and transmits information from the application program 21 to a communication partner on the network.

  The communication driver 27 controls physical network communication via the operation system 28 according to an instruction from the communication control program 26.

  The operation system 28 controls a physical device based on instructions from various drivers, transmits information on the physical device to each device driver, and transmits information from each device driver to the physical device.

  The image forming apparatus 100 has a help function. This function is a function in which a brief description of a function that is currently used or is being used is displayed on the panel. This function is processed by the application program 21 from the panel driver 23 via the panel control program 22 by the user instructing activation from the operation panel. The process of the application program 21 extracts the help information corresponding to the function from “data in which the correspondence relationship between the function and help information is recorded (FIG. 3)” of the application program 21, and stores the help information in the panel control program 22. The display is instructed.

  In the present embodiment, the application program 21 is created with a structure as shown in FIG. By using this structure, the application program 21 can obtain manual information related to it from the help information.

  Using this, the related manual display function of FIG. 5 was realized. That is, it is a function for immediately displaying manual information related to help information. This realization means is that “the application program 21 obtains manual information corresponding to help information from“ help-manual link data ”, divides it into units that can be displayed on the panel, and requests the panel control program 22 to display it. To do.

  According to the present embodiment, the user can acquire more detailed information immediately when sufficient information cannot be obtained from the help information. That is, since the device side records the link information to the manual data page related to the display content of the help function, it is efficient for the user of the device to follow the manual content related to the display content of the help function. .

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function of printing a manual and providing it to the user. This realization means replaces the "manual information display request step to the panel control program 22" in the function realization means of the first embodiment with the "manual information print request step to the engine control program 24". Good.

  Further, the display location may be specified by the user as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed so that the user can execute this activation.

  According to the present embodiment, since the image forming apparatus has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display content of the help function and printing it by itself, the user can display the manual content related to it from the display content of the help function. It becomes possible to acquire efficiently.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function of printing a manual using an image forming apparatus existing on the network and providing it to the user. This realization means uses the “manual information display requesting step to the panel control program 22” in the function realization means of the first embodiment described above, “uses the image forming apparatus on the network to the communication control program 26”. It may be replaced with the “manual information printing” request step ”.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this activation, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  In addition, a window that can designate a print printer as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the printer can be designated by various things such as IP and nickname.

  According to the present embodiment, since the apparatus side has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display contents of the help function and printing using the image forming apparatus on the network, the user can It becomes possible to efficiently obtain related manual contents.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function of printing a manual using an image forming apparatus existing on the network and providing it to the user. This realization means uses the “manual information display request step to the panel control program 22” in the function realization means of the first embodiment described above, “uses the image display device on the network to the communication control program 26”. It may be replaced with the manual information display “request step”.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this activation, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  In addition, a window that can specify a display terminal as shown in FIG. The terminal can be designated by various things such as IP and nickname.

  According to the present embodiment, since the device side has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display content of the help function and displaying it on the image display device on the network, the user can relate to it from the display content of the help function. It becomes possible to acquire the contents of a manual efficiently.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function to transfer manuals as data files to computers on the network. This realization means is described in “the manual information display requesting step to the panel control program 22 in the function realization means of the first embodiment described above” to “the communication control program 26,“ manual to the computer on the network ”. The data transmission “request step” may be replaced. The data transmission protocol can be arbitrarily selected, but FTP is used in this embodiment.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this activation, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  Also, a window is provided that allows the destination computer to be specified as shown in FIG. 9 after the display location is specified. The terminal can be designated by various things such as IP and nickname.

  According to the present embodiment, since the apparatus has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display contents of the help function and transferring the manual page as a data file to a computer on the network, the user can display the display contents of the help function. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently obtain the manual contents related to it.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function to send the contents of the manual by e-mail. This realization means performs the “manual information display request step to the panel control program 22” in the function realization means of the first embodiment described above, and the “communication data program E-mail transmission” request to the communication control program 26. It can be replaced with “step”.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this activation, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  In addition, a window that can specify a destination e-mail address as shown in FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, since the apparatus has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display contents of the help function and sending the contents to an arbitrary address by e-mail, the user can relate to it from the display contents of the help function. This makes it possible to efficiently acquire manual contents.

  Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function to read out the contents of the manual by voice. This realization means first installs a sound source device on the operation panel in terms of hardware. On the software side, processing for outputting a character data group as sound from the sound source device is added to the panel control program. Then, the “manual information display requesting step to the panel control program 22” in the function realization means of the first embodiment may be replaced with a “manual information audio output requesting step to the panel control program 26”.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this activation, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  According to the present embodiment, since the apparatus has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display content of the help function and reading out the content by voice, the user has a manual content related to it from the display content of the help function. Can be obtained efficiently.

  Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function in which variations of manual display locations are increased with respect to the related manual display function of the first embodiment.

  It has a function to display the corresponding page number of the book manual. This realization means replaces the “manual page number display request step to the panel control program 22” in the function realization means of the first embodiment with the “manual page number display request step to the panel control program 26”. It's okay.

  Further, in order to allow the user to execute this start-up, the user specifies the display location as shown in FIG. 6 when the related manual display function is executed.

  This embodiment is characterized by low realization costs. In other words, the present invention can be realized even in a low-end image forming apparatus such as a small operation panel or a small interface with the outside. According to the present embodiment, since the device side has a function of searching for a manual page related to the display content of the help function and displaying the page number by itself, the user can relate the manual from the display content of the help function. The contents can be acquired efficiently.

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, home appliances (electromagnetic range, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner), audio equipment (components, portable audio) that have a help function (or can have a help function) but have a low display power It can be applied to mobile phones.

1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a general application program. It is a figure which shows the structure of the application program in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 2nd-8th embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen display of the conventional help function.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 10 CPU
11 ROM
12 RAM
13 NVRAM
14 Panel control unit 15 Engine control unit 16 Disk driver 17 Communication control unit 18 External I / F

Claims (8)

  Digital data characterized in that link information to the manual data page related to the display contents of the help function is recorded in the storage section of the own device, and the contents of the linked manual page are acquired from the display section of the help function machine.   2. The digital apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manual page printing function as means for acquiring the contents of the linked manual page from the display section of the help function.   A means for connecting to a network is provided, and a means for obtaining the contents of a linked manual page from a help function display unit has a manual page printing function using an image forming apparatus existing on the network. The digital device according to claim 1 or 2.   A means for connecting to a network and having a function of displaying the contents of a manual page on the image display device on the network as means for acquiring the contents of a linked manual page from a display section of a help function. Item 4. The digital device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   A means for connecting to a network and having a function of transferring a manual page as a data file to a computer on the network as means for acquiring the contents of a linked manual page from a display section of a help function. Item 5. The digital device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for connecting to a network, and having a function of sending an e-mail to an arbitrary address of a manual page content as a means for acquiring the content of a linked manual page from a display section of a help function. 6. The digital device according to any one of 5 above.   7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a sound source, and a voice reading function for manual page content as a means for acquiring the content of the linked manual page from the display unit of the help function. Digital equipment.   The digital device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a function of notifying a page number of a manual as means for acquiring the contents of a linked manual page from a display section of a help function.

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