JP2007102426A - Operation guiding device for electronic equipment and operation guiding method for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation guiding device for displaying operation guide when a user is confused in the operation of electronic equipment, or for quickly displaying the operation guide when the user starts a difficult or complicated operation. <P>SOLUTION: The operation guiding device is provided with an operation guide information storing part for storing operation guide information for each operation of electronic equipment and an operation time table for storing the reference operation time of each operation. An operation time when the user has operated the electronic equipment is measured. On the other hand, when the user has operated the electronic equipment, the reference operation time information in the operation is acquired from the operation time table. A reference operation time ta acquired by an operation time information acquiring part is compared with a time s measured by the operation time measuring part, and when the time s measured by the operation time measuring part is longer than the reference operation time ta, the operation guide information relating to the operation is acquired from the operation guide information storing part, and displayed at a display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation guidance device that performs operation guidance when a user is having trouble operating an electronic device, an operation guidance method for the electronic device, a program that realizes the operation guidance method for the electronic device, and a medium on which the program is recorded.

Recent electronic devices are multifunctional and can be used conveniently. Multi-functional electronic devices need to be operated by selecting from many buttons depending on the function to be used. Alternatively, buttons or switches must be switched and used to correspond to the desired function. In addition, in the case of initial setting, trouble, and maintenance of an electronic device, it is necessary to perform a special operation or work, unlike the case of using the function of the electronic device.
In order to eliminate the complexity and difficulty of such operations, the operation of each function is simplified and simplified. It is also known to display a so-called help menu for operation guidance.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a man-machine interface device that displays operation guidance when there is an operation error. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses an apparatus that determines the operation state of a facsimile apparatus and performs next operation guidance. Further, regarding the display of operation guidance, Patent Document 3 discloses a jam guide of an image forming apparatus, and Patent Document 4 discloses a jam that displays the next releasing procedure operation every time one jam releasing procedure of the image forming apparatus is completed. Progress status display is disclosed, Patent Document 5 discloses a jam audio guide of an image forming apparatus, and Patent Document 6 discloses a printer jam processing system using 3D animation.
JP-A-6-59846 JP 2003-134288 A JP 2002-187332 A JP 2003-5586 A JP 2003-122197 A JP 2003-237195 A

The operation guidance and help menu of each patent document are displayed when a user requests or when an error occurs. However, when the user is troubled by the operation, if the operation guidance is displayed before the user requests, the electronic device can be used more conveniently.
The present invention provides an operation guidance device and an operation guidance method for displaying an operation guidance before a user requests it when the user is troubled with the operation of the electronic device. Further, the present invention provides an operation guidance device and an operation guidance method for displaying an operation guidance when the user is troubled by an operation according to the user and according to the operation content. Alternatively, in the case of difficult or complicated operations, an operation guide device and an operation guide method for an electronic device that quickly display operation guidance when the operation is started are provided.

  An operation guide device for an electronic device according to the present invention includes an operation guide information storage unit that stores operation guide information for each operation of the electronic device, and a storage unit that includes an operation time table that stores a reference operation time of each operation, An operation time measurement unit that measures an operation time when the user operates the electronic device, and an operation time information acquisition that acquires reference operation time information in the case of the operation from the operation time table when the user operates the electronic device. The reference operation time acquired by the operation time information acquisition unit, the comparison unit that compares the measurement time measured by the operation time measurement unit, and the measurement time is greater than the reference operation time. When it is determined that the operation guide information is long, the operation guide information acquisition unit acquires operation guide information related to the operation from the operation guide information storage unit, and the operation guide acquired by the operation guide information acquisition unit By providing a display unit for displaying the broadcast, to solve the above problems.

The operation guidance device for an electronic device according to the present invention further includes an operation time history unit in which the storage unit stores an operation time of each operation of the electronic device for each user, and when the user operates the electronic device, In this case, the operation time information may be acquired from the operation time history section.
In the operation guidance device for an electronic device according to the present invention, the operation time information stored previously may be updated with the operation time measured by the operation time history unit for each user operation.
In the operation guidance device for an electronic device according to the present invention, a difficulty level may be given to each operation and stored in the operation information storage unit, and operations with a high difficulty level may be stored in the operation time table by shortening the operation time. .

In the operation guidance apparatus for an electronic device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the operation time measurement unit starts measuring the operation time after the preparation is completed when the operation requires preparation in advance.
In the electronic device operation guide device according to the present invention, when the electronic device is an image forming apparatus and the operation is jam removal, the jam occurrence point is displayed on the display unit after the jam has occurred, and the user can jam the jam. When the operation time measurement unit measures an operation time from the start of the removal operation to the jam removal, and the measurement time is longer than the jam removal operation time acquired by the operation time information acquisition unit, the operation guide information It is desirable that the acquisition unit acquires jam removal operation information from the operation guide information storage unit and displays it on the display unit.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an operation guidance method for an electronic device, and relates to an operation time measurement step for measuring an operation time when the user operates the electronic device, and when the user operates the electronic device, The operation time information acquisition step for acquiring the reference operation time information in the case of operation from the operation time table stored in the storage unit in advance, the reference operation time acquired in the operation time information acquisition step, and the operation time measurement step When it is determined that the measurement time is longer than the reference operation time in the comparison step for comparing the measured measurement time and the comparison step, the operation is performed from the operation guide information storage unit stored in the storage unit. The operation guidance information acquisition step which acquires the operation guidance information regarding, and the display step which displays the said operation guidance information are provided.
The present invention is also an electronic device operation guide program for causing a computer to execute the above steps.
Furthermore, the present invention is a computer-readable medium recording the above program.

  The operation guidance device for an electronic device according to the present invention provides a measurement time obtained by measuring a time during which the user is operating when the user operates the electronic device, and operation time information in the case of the operation from the operation time table. If the measured operation time is longer than the reference operation time, the operation guidance information is displayed when the acquired reference operation time is compared. Therefore, when the user is troubled with the operation of the electronic device, the user does not request Also can automatically display operation guidance. Further, when the measurement time obtained by measuring the time during which the user operates the electronic device becomes longer than the operation time acquired from the operation time table, the operation guidance is displayed, so the operation guidance is not displayed unnecessarily.

In addition, since the present invention further includes an operation time history section that stores operation times of each operation of the electronic device for each user, operation guidance is appropriately displayed according to the user and according to the content of the operation performed by the user. can do.
In addition, since the present invention updates the operation time every time the user operates the electronic device, the operation time is longer than the average operation time or the operation time that the user has earliest in the past. Operation information can be displayed.
Further, the present invention assigns a difficulty level to each operation and stores it in the operation information storage unit, and a highly difficult operation stores the operation time in the operation time table by shortening the operation time. In this case, the operation guidance can be displayed earlier than the case where the easy operation is performed, and the operation can be supported.

If the operation requires preparation in advance, the operation time measuring unit starts measuring the operation time after the preparation is completed, so that preparation is not required.
In the present invention, when the operation is the jam removal of the image forming apparatus, the measurement time measured by the operation time measurement unit is longer than the jam removal operation time acquired by the operation time information acquisition unit. Since the jam removal operation is displayed, an operation guidance is displayed when the user is troubled with the jam removal operation.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram when the operation guide apparatus of the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and can be applied to many electronic devices such as a personal computer, a video, a DVD, and an air conditioner. It can also be applied to operations such as maintenance and troubleshooting.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input unit that inputs information such as a touch panel, a keyboard, and a mouse, and gives instructions to an electronic device. A user authentication unit 2 inputs a user ID, a password, an IC card owned by the user, and biometric information such as a fingerprint and a vein. Reference numeral 3 denotes an output unit. The output unit 3 includes a display panel 3a such as a liquid crystal display device, an EL display device, and a plasma display device, a light emitting display unit including a light source such as a lighting fixture represented by a light 3b, an acoustic output device such as a buzzer 3c and a speaker, A notification device such as a vibrating body is included. Reference numeral 4 denotes a copy portion or print portion for print data or scanner data, which is an engine portion of the image forming apparatus. An operation time measuring unit 5 measures the operation time when the user operates the electronic device. Reference numeral 6 denotes a user operation unit that is operated at the time of maintenance or when trouble is solved, such as a door or a tray provided in the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sensor that detects when the user operation unit 6 is operated. The sensor 7 is attached in the vicinity of the door and detects the open / closed state of the door. The sensor 7 is attached to, for example, a paper feed mechanism unit and a fixing mechanism unit, and detects a storage state of the paper feed mechanism unit and the fixing unit, and also detects a jam. The sensor 7 is attached in the vicinity of the tray, and detects whether the tray is put in and out and whether there is a recording sheet in the tray.

 A storage unit 8 includes a hard disk, an optical disk, and a flash memory, and includes an operation time table 8a and an operation time history table 8b. In addition, help information, a program for operating each function of the electronic device, a program of the present invention, and the like are stored, and data necessary for operating each function of the electronic device is stored. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation guide information generation unit that generates operation guide information to be output to the output unit 3 based on the help information acquired from the storage unit 8. 10 is connected to the operation unit 1, user authentication unit 2, output unit 3, engine part 4, operation time measurement unit 5, user operation unit 6, sensor 7, storage unit 8, and operation guidance information generation unit 9. 8 is a control unit that operates each function of the electronic device in accordance with a program stored in FIG. The control unit 10 is a so-called CPU.

  FIG. 2 shows an operation time table 8a and an operation time history table 8b. The operation time table 8a and the operation time history table 8b are similar and are tables that accumulate operation information and operation time data in order of operation for each function of the electronic device. The operation time table 8a refers to a table that can be applied to all persons without a name being entered in the operator column. The operation time history table 8b is a table in which the user name is entered in the operator column and the operation time when the user performs an operation is recorded.

  In the present invention, the operation time table 8a collects many subjects, causes the subjects to operate each function of the image forming apparatus, calculates a reference operation time for each operation, and creates an operation time table. Here, the operation of each function refers to an operation order operation for executing each function of the image forming apparatus, an operation order operation for performing user settings on the image forming apparatus, and an operation order for performing all maintenance. The operation order of the operation order to solve all troubles. For example, when copying an original with an image forming apparatus, a monochrome image and a color image selection operation, a paper size setting operation, a copy number setting operation, a mode selection operation for duplex copying, a magnification setting operation, a special function and For example, finishing function selection operation. Further, there are a paper replenishing operation in the case of running out of paper, a toner replenishing operation in the case of running out of toner, a jam removing operation in the event of a jam. It is also a setting order operation for network setting.

For each operation, the operation time is measured for each operation stage. The operation time table 8a may be the average time of all subjects, or may be the shortest operation time, or an operation time that is about 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time may be set. Any one of these is set as the reference operation time.
Alternatively, an operation time table may be created assuming each operation time at the development stage or the manufacturing stage. When the operation time is assumed, for example, it may be determined corresponding to the number of characters of the operation explanation sentence, assuming that the operation time is longer as the sentence explaining the operation guidance described in the help information is longer. The operation time may be set according to the proficiency level of the user who uses the image forming apparatus.
In this way, the operation time table can be created at the development stage or manufacturing stage of the electronic device.
Also, when the user uses the electronic device in the usage state of the electronic device and operates each function, the operation contents and operation time are accumulated, and an operation time table is created for each user. A table is created. As the operation time, an average operation time may be calculated, or may be accumulated in the order of the shortest operation time. In this way, an operation time table corresponding to the user can be created. In the present invention, this is expressed as an operation time history table 8b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation time table 8a and the operation time history table 8b include “operator”, “operation name”, “help information”, “next operation”, “frequently performed operation”, “operation time”. ”Column. In the “operator” field, when the operation time history table 8b is created for a specific user, the name of the user is entered. In the case of the operation time table 8a corresponding to a general user, the name is not entered. In the “operation name” column, the name of the operation content of each function of the electronic device is entered. In the “Help” column, the help information to which the operation content is linked is entered. That is, help information such as instructions for handling electronic devices, operation guidance, maintenance methods, trouble-solving methods, etc. is stored in the storage unit 8, and information indicating which help information to link to among the help information is entered. In the “next operation” column, the next operation performed by the user in the case of the operation name is entered.
In “Frequently performed operations”, an operation frequently performed in the case of the operation content is entered. When the operation time history table 8b is created for a specific user, the operations performed by the user in the past are entered. In the case of an operation time table corresponding to a general user, an operation often performed in the case of the operation is entered. In “operation time”, the reference operation time is entered in the operation time table 8a. In the operation time history table, the time required by the user for the operation is entered.
For example, Mr. A's operation time history table 8b has been subjected to jam operation 1, jam operation 2, network settings, and copy settings, which are described. Among these operations, the operation 1 at the time of jamming includes the help 1 at the time of jamming as “help”, and the door is opened as the “operation”. In the case of this operation, there is no “frequently performed operation” and is blank. The “operation time” in this operation is 20 seconds. Other operations are as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the operation time table 8a is classified into a plurality of stages in the order of the length of the reference operation time, for example, five stages, and operations requiring a long operation time are difficult operations. Give a degree. Further, the reference operation time in the operation time table 8a and the operation time in the operation time history table 8b are compared, and an operation whose operation time deviates from the reference operation time is set as a highly difficult operation for the user. Can do. Since operations with such difficulty are often troubled by the user, the ratio of shortening the reference operation time in the operation time table 8a or the operation time in the operation time history table 8b is set to be large. As a result, an operation guide is quickly displayed for a highly difficult operation.

  Next, the operation of the operation guidance apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for determining user authentication and presence / absence of an operation time history table. In step S1 of FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus requests user authentication. The user authentication request may be constantly displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may be provided with a human sensor, and when the user approaches the image forming apparatus, a request for user authentication may be displayed on the display unit. In step S2, the user inputs user authentication in response to a user authentication request from the image forming apparatus. The input of user authentication is input of a user ID, input of a personal identification number, insertion of an IC card, or provision of biometric information. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the operation time history table 8b of the user authenticated by the user exists. If the user has the operation time history table 8b, the process proceeds to step S4, and the operation time history table 8b is read. If the user does not have the operation time history table 8b in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5, and the operation time table 8a is read.

Next, an operation guidance flowchart will be described with reference to FIG. When the user has been authenticated as described with reference to FIG. 3 and operates the image forming apparatus, the process proceeds to state A1 (step S11). By the operation, the operation time measuring unit 5 starts measuring the user operation time (step S12). Next, according to the determination of step S4 or step S5, the operation time information acquisition unit acquires either the reference operation time from the operation time table 8a or the operation time from the operation time history table 8b (step S13). That is, if the user has the operation time history table 8b, the operation time tu is acquired from the operation time history table 8b (step S14). If the user does not have the operation time history table 8b, the reference operation time ta is acquired from the operation time table 8a (step S15).
Then, the operation time is measured until the next operation is performed, and the measurement time s is compared with the operation time ta or tu acquired as described above by the comparison unit (step S16). When the measurement time s is shorter than the operation time ta or tu, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether or not the next operation has been performed. If the next operation is not performed, the process returns to step S16 to continue measurement. When the user performs the next operation in step S17, the process proceeds to step S18, and the measurement of the operation time is terminated. Next, in step S19, the measured measurement time s is recorded in the operation time history table 8b. This operation time information is added to the operation time history table 8b, an average with the past operation time is calculated, and the time information in the operation time history table 8b is rewritten. Alternatively, the operation time is recorded in order of operation time or operation date / time. Then, the process proceeds to the next operated state A2 (step S20) and returns to the original step S11.

When the operation time s until the next operation is performed exceeds the operation time ta or tu in step S16, the operation guide information acquisition unit acquires the operation guide information of the operation from the help information, and generates operation guide information. The operation guidance information is generated by the unit 9 and displayed on the display unit 3. As the operation time ta or tu, the average operation time, the shortest operation time, the operation time that is about 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time, the operation time corresponding to the difficulty of each operation, or the operation time corresponding to the user is recorded. Therefore, the display timing of the operation guidance information can be changed by setting any one of these operation times.
When obtaining operation guidance information, in step S21, help is obtained from either the operation time table 8a or the operation time history table 8b in accordance with the determination in step S4 or step S5. That is, if the user has the operation time history table 8b, the help, the next operation, and the frequently performed operation are read from the operation time history table 8b in step S22. The help is linked to help information stored in the storage unit, and the help information is read out. In step S24, these are displayed and this flow is completed.
If the user does not have the operation time history table 8b, the help, the next operation, and frequently performed operations are read from the operation time table 8a in step S23. The help is linked to help information stored in the storage unit, and the help information is read out. In step S24, these are displayed and this flow is completed.

Example 1
Embodiment 1 describes a case where a user performs double-sided copying in a “single-sided → double-sided” mode using an image forming apparatus.
First, in response to a user authentication request from the image forming apparatus (S1), user A inputs user authentication (S2). Since this user has made a copy using this image forming apparatus in the past, the operation time history table 8b exists, and after step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and the operation time history table 8b is read.
Next, the user A contacts the touch panel of the display unit 3a from the initial state of the image forming apparatus and selects “duplex copy”. As a result, the image forming apparatus proceeds to step S11 and proceeds to state A1. State A1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows four duplex copy modes. That is, there are “single side → single side”, “single side → double side”, “double side → double side”, and “double side → single side”. Simultaneously with the selection of double-sided copy, the operation time measuring unit 5 starts measuring the user operation time s (S12). Next, in step S13, step S4 or step S5 is determined. Since this user has copied using this image forming apparatus in the past, the process proceeds to step S14, and the operation time tu is read from the operation time history table 8b. Referring to the operation time history table 8b in FIG. 2, in the case of the copy setting, the user A can see that the frequently performed operation is “one side → double side”, and the operation time is 34 seconds.

Here, in the display screen of the display unit 3a shown in FIG. 5, the user A is wondering which double-sided mode is selected this time, the next operation is not performed, and from the operation time tu (34 seconds) in the operation time history table 8b. It became long. Accordingly, in step S16, the process proceeds to step S21. The operation time tu can be set to any one of an average operation time, a shortest operation time, an operation time that is about 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time, and an operation time corresponding to the operation difficulty level.
In step S21, it is determined whether the above step S4 or step S5. Since the user A has selected step S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S22, the operation guidance is read from the operation time history table 8b, and the operation guidance is displayed on the display unit 2.
Since the operation time history table 8b records operations that the user A has performed in the past, the operations are read out. In this case, in the case of copy setting in the “operation name” column of the operation time history table 8 b, “help” is help for the copy setting method, so that the help for the copy setting method can be obtained from the help information stored in the storage unit 8. Read out. In this case, the “next operation” is an input of copy settings, and the user A's “frequently performed operation” is recorded as “single-sided → double-sided mode”. → "Double-sided" is displayed in black, and the button that the user A wants to operate is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner.
Since the help information is acquired from the operation time history table 8b as described above, the operation guidance performed by the user in the past is displayed, and the user can easily execute the operation. In addition, operations that are often confused by the user or operations that are likely to be mistaken are displayed, so that the user can quickly become familiar with such operations.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, the recording paper of the image forming apparatus runs out, and the operation is to replenish the tray with the recording paper.
Since the image forming apparatus has detected that the recording sheet is out of the tray, the recording panel is displayed on the display panel 3a. Alternatively, the lamp 3b is blinked or the buzzer 3c is sounded to indicate that the recording paper is out. In this state A1, when the user replenishes the recording paper, the time required for the user to search for the recording paper and bring it to the image forming apparatus depends on the presence or absence of the spare recording paper and the storage location of the recording paper. It is not constant depending on whether you know. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention does not perform the operation guidance operation at this stage. In order to prevent the operation guide device of the present invention from performing an operation, one or more or all of the operation time measurement unit, the operation time information acquisition unit, the comparison unit, the operation guide information acquisition unit, or the display unit are operated. Do not. As described above, the operation guide apparatus according to the present invention is suitable for operations that require preparation in advance, such as preparing recording paper for operation of the image forming apparatus, preparing toner for toner replenishment, or the like. The operation guide device is prevented from being operated.

However, if the recording paper is ready and the recording paper is replenished, the user can replenish the recording paper as follows.
Since the image forming apparatus is in the state of step S1 and requests user authentication, the user inputs user authentication (S2). Since this user has never used this image forming apparatus in the past or has not replenished recording paper, the operation time history table 8b does not exist, and the process proceeds to step S5 in step S3. The operation time table 8a is read out.
Next, when the paper feed tray is opened, the image forming apparatus proceeds to step S11. In the next step S12, the operation time measuring unit 5 measures the operation time of the user. Next, in step S13, it is determined whether it is step S4 or step S5. Since it is determined as step S5 in step S3, the process proceeds to step S15, and the reference operation time ta of the sheet feeding operation is read from the operation time table 8a. Next, when the user performs an operation of replenishing the recording paper to the paper feed tray and closing the paper feed tray before the reference operation time ta in the operation time table (Y in S16) (S17) The measurement is terminated at the time (S18). For this measurement time, a new operation time history table is created for the user, the operation time is recorded in the paper feed operation of the operation time history table (S19), and the next state A2 is entered (S20) to return to the original state. Return to. That is, a copy or printable message is displayed, and a copy or print ready state is displayed.

  If, as the next operation, the paper feed tray is not closed by the reference operation time ta, the user determines that it is troubled to refill the paper feed tray with the recording paper and close the paper feed tray. When the operation time ta has passed (N in S16), the operation guidance information is displayed. The reference operation time ta is any one of an average operation time, a shortest operation time, an operation time that is about 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time, and an operation time corresponding to the difficulty level of the operation. Since the operation time history table 8b does not exist for this user (in the case of S5 of S21), help is read from the operation time table 8a (S23) and linked to the help information stored in the storage unit. In the case of the second embodiment, the recording information is replenished to the paper feed tray from the help information, an operation guide for closing the paper feed tray is obtained, displayed on the display unit (S24), and this flow is finished. The user can see the operation guide, replenish the recording paper, close the paper feed tray, and perform copying or printing.

Example 3
Embodiment 3 describes an operation for setting an IP address in order to connect an image forming apparatus to a network.
In response to the user authentication request (S1), the user inputs user authentication (S2). Since this user has not set the IP address of the image forming apparatus in the past, the operation time history table 8b does not exist, and in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5, and the operation time table 8a is read.
Next, the user opens an IP address setting screen in order to set the IP address. As a result, the image forming apparatus shifts to state A1 in step S11. State A1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows an IP address setting screen, which displays an input screen for an IP address, an IP netmask, and an IP gateway. After shifting to step S11, in step S12, the operation time measuring unit 5 measures the operation time of the user. Since this user does not have an operation time history table, in step S13, the process proceeds to step S15, and the reference operation time ta of the IP address setting operation is read from the operation time table 8a. When the next operation is not performed by the reference operation time ta (N in S17), the measurement is continued, and when the user sets an IP address (Y in S17), the measurement of the operation time is ended (S18). At this time, the measurement time s enters the IP address setting as the operation name in the user operation time history table, records the operation time (S19), moves to the next state A2 (S20), and returns to the original state. .

  If the IP address setting operation is longer than the reference operation time ta (N in S16), the operation guide information is displayed assuming that the user is in trouble with the IP address setting. The reference operation time ta is set to one of an average operation time, a shortest operation time, an operation time that is approximately 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time, and an operation time corresponding to the operation difficulty level. Here, since there is no operation time history table for this user (in the case of S5 of S21), help is read from the operation time table 8a (S23) and linked to help information stored in the storage unit. In the case of the third embodiment, the operation guide for the IP address setting operation is displayed on the display unit (S24). The operation guidance displayed at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the IP address and the like can be set by asking the network administrator.

Example 4
The fourth embodiment is an operation for removing a jam.
When a jam occurs, the image forming apparatus displays a paper jam state on the display panel as shown in FIG. Although FIG. 9 shows all the places where a paper jam is assumed, only the places where a paper jam has occurred are actually displayed. The user looks at this display and tries to remove the paper jam. Therefore, the user inputs user authentication in response to the user authentication request (S1) (S2). Since this user has removed a paper jam in the past, the operation time history table 8b exists. In step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, and the operation time history table 8b is read.
Next, the user opened the door of the image forming apparatus to remove the paper jam. As a result, the image forming apparatus shifts to state A1 in step S11. In the next step S12, the operation time measuring unit 5 measures the operation time of the user. Next, in step S13, it is determined whether it is step S4 or step S5. Since it is determined in step S3 as step S4, the process proceeds to step S14, and the operation time tu of the paper jam removal operation is read from the operation time history table 8b. Next, as the next operation before the operation time tu (Y of S16), the time until the user performs the operation of removing the paper jam and closing the door (Y of S17) is measured as the operation time of the user (S18). . The measured measurement time s is recorded or updated to the operation time of the operation 2 at the time of jamming in the operation time history table of this user (S19), and the process proceeds to the next state A2 (S20) to return to the original state. . That is, a copy or printable message is displayed, and a copy or print ready state is displayed.

If the paper jam is not removed by the operation time tu, the image forming apparatus determines that the user is having trouble removing the paper jam, and when the operation time tu has elapsed (N in S16). As shown in FIG. 10, guidance information for the paper jam removal operation is displayed. As the operation time tu, the average operation time, the shortest operation time, the operation time that is about 20 to 30% shorter than the average operation time, the operation time corresponding to the difficulty level of each operation, or the operation time corresponding to the user is recorded. Therefore, the display timing of the operation guidance information can be changed by setting any one of these operation times.
Since this user has the operation time history table 8b (in the case of S4 in S21), the help is read from the operation time history table 8b (S22), linked to the help information stored in the storage unit, and the paper Operation guidance for removing clogging is acquired and displayed on the display unit (S24), and this flow is terminated. The user can see the operation guide and remove the paper jam.

The block diagram of the operation guidance apparatus of an electronic device is shown. An explanatory view of an operation time table and an operation time history table is shown. The flowchart of user authentication is shown. The flowchart of operation guidance is shown. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state A1 of double-sided copy operation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation guide for double-sided copying according to the first exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows state A1 of IP address setting operation of Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation guidance of IP address setting operation of Example 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a paper jam state A1 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation guide for removing a paper jam according to a fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 authentication unit 5 operation time measurement unit 6 user operation unit 7 sensor 8 storage unit 8a operation time table 8b operation time history table 9 operation guidance information generation unit

Claims (9)

A storage unit including an operation guide information storage unit that stores operation guide information for each operation of the electronic device, and an operation time table that stores a reference operation time of each operation;
An operation time measuring unit that measures the operation time when the user operates the electronic device;
When a user operates an electronic device, an operation time information acquisition unit that acquires reference operation time information in the case of the operation from the operation time table;
A comparison unit that compares the reference operation time acquired by the operation time information acquisition unit with the measurement time measured by the operation time measurement unit;
When the comparison unit determines that the measurement time is longer than the reference operation time, an operation guide information acquisition unit that acquires operation guide information related to the operation from the operation guide information storage unit;
An operation guide device for an electronic device, comprising: a display unit that displays the operation guide information acquired by the operation guide information acquisition unit.   The storage unit further includes an operation time history unit that stores an operation time of each operation of the electronic device for each user, and when the user operates the electronic device, the operation time information in the case of the operation is stored in the operation time history unit. The operation guidance apparatus for an electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation guidance apparatus is obtained from the following.   3. The operation guidance device for an electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the operation time history unit updates previously stored operation time information with an operation time measured each time a user operates.   2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a difficulty level is assigned to each operation and stored in the operation information storage unit, and an operation with a high difficulty level is stored in an operation time table with a short operation time. Operation guidance device.   The operation guidance device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation requires preparation in advance, the operation time measurement unit starts measuring operation time after the preparation is completed.   When the electronic device is an image forming apparatus and the operation is jam removal, after the jam has occurred, the location where the jam has occurred is displayed on the display unit, and from when the user starts the jam removal operation until the jam is removed. When the operation time is measured by the operation time measurement unit and the measurement time is longer than the jam removal operation time acquired by the operation time information acquisition unit, the operation guide information acquisition unit removes jam from the operation guide information storage unit. 2. The operation guidance device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation information is acquired and displayed on a display unit. An operation time measuring step for measuring the operation time when the user operates the electronic device;
When the user operates the electronic device, an operation time information acquisition step of acquiring reference operation time information in the case of the operation from an operation time table stored in advance in a storage unit;
A comparison step for comparing the reference operation time acquired in the operation time information acquisition step with the measurement time measured in the operation time measurement step;
When the comparison step determines that the measurement time is longer than the reference operation time, operation guide information acquisition for acquiring operation guide information related to the operation from the operation guide information storage unit stored in the storage unit Steps,
And a display step for displaying the operation guide information.   An operation guide program for an electronic device for causing a computer to execute each step according to claim 7.   A computer-readable medium recording the program according to claim 8.