JP2009015652A - Data input device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data input device capable of automatically deciding a data input speed or the like corresponding to the skill of a user, simplifying input processing for a user with the high skill and raising efficiency of data input processing, and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the data input device comprising a data input means, a guidance display means for displaying a prescribed message when the input of the input data of one subject is ended and a data input restriction means for executing input restriction set according to information displayed by the guidance display means, the data input device is provided with a data input prompting means for omitting the display of guidance by the guidance display means according to the quickness of the input of the input data (S3) or relaxing the input restriction by the data input restriction means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data input device for creating a database such as an address book, and in particular, data that enables efficient data input even if there is no record of information on the user who inputs the data or usage status of the user. The present invention relates to an input device and an image forming apparatus including the data input device.

Conventional image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles are often shared by a plurality of users. For example, a database such as a confidential box and an address book is created to centrally manage data. Such unified management of data is not limited to the image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, a case where the database is an address book in the image forming apparatus will be described as an example.
The address book as described above is an example of a database in which one piece of address data (an example of unit data in the present invention) is composed of a plurality of input data such as a user's address, telephone number, and e-mail address. . Other databases include confidential boxes, user information, and document boxes.

  When a user newly creates or corrects data in the address book as described above, after sequentially inputting input data for a plurality of items such as the user's address → phone number → e-mail address → ... It is common to register, but with a conventional data input device, when registration is performed on the operation panel, a message such as “Registered” is displayed every time input data is entered. Is displayed for a certain period of time, and input of the next data is prohibited while the display is being performed, thereby reducing input errors such as duplicate data input.

  However, when the same input operation as described above is repeated continuously, the user generally becomes more skilled and the processing speed is generally increased. However, in the conventional data input device, the user's Regardless of the level of skill, the same message is displayed for a certain period of time, and during that time, the input of the next data is prohibited, so that users who are used to the operation feel inefficient and troublesome.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes means for inputting and registering personal information for each user who uses the image forming apparatus. When the user uses the apparatus, the personal information is provided. And customizing such as changing the display time of the message according to personal information including the usage status of the user. By this customization, a highly skilled user performs processing such as shortening the display time of the message, so that a data input device with less problem that the user feels troublesome is provided.
JP 2000-231309 A

However, in the known technique of the above-mentioned technical document 1, since it is necessary to store personal information such as usage status in the device for each user, it is troublesome in that respect, and if there are a large number of users, the user information is saved. There is a disadvantage that it requires a lot of area to keep and expensive equipment. Of course, it can't even be realized without the ability to identify individuals.
That is, even a user who is accustomed to the operation cannot even customize if the usage status is not registered.

  Therefore, the present invention has been created in view of the above-described conventional situation, and the object of the present invention is that the data input device automatically determines the data input speed corresponding to the user's proficiency, For a highly skilled user, it is to provide a data input device capable of simplifying the input process and increasing the efficiency of the data input process, and an image forming apparatus equipped with such a data input device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
One unit data is composed of one or a plurality of input data, and a data input means for sequentially inputting each input data to a database composed of a plurality of unit data, and when the input of one input data is completed A data input device comprising guidance display means for displaying a predetermined message and data input restriction means for executing input restriction set in accordance with information displayed by the guidance display means,
According to the speed of input of the input data, the guidance display by the guidance display means is omitted, or the data input device is provided with a data input promoting means for relaxing input restrictions by the data input restriction means. The
Thereby, the guidance display is automatically simplified according to the skill level measured by the input speed of the person who inputs data. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of input work without increasing data input mistakes without managing personal information of the person who inputs data, and less stress due to the long waiting time for the expert. A data input device is provided.

In this case, it is conceivable that the end of creation or correction of one unit data is detected based on whether or not the same type of operation is repeated.
Further, it is possible to adopt a form in which the guidance display by the guidance display means is a message display that the input of one unit data is completed or a message display that prompts the input of the next unit data.
Alternatively, the guidance display by the guidance display unit may be a predetermined confirmation display.
A typical example of the processing by the data input restriction means is that data entry is prohibited for a certain period of time after the input of one input data or unit data has been completed. It is also possible to permit input of the next data on the assumption that the input has been performed.
As a modified example of the guidance display means, it is conceivable that one guidance is displayed for a predetermined number of times of input data input or unit data input.
In this case, it is conceivable as an advantageous modification to increase the number of times of input data input or unit data input, which is a cycle for displaying the one-time guidance according to the speed of the data input.
Further, as a method of measuring the input data or unit data input speed, it is conceivable to measure by the time required to input one input data or one unit data.
Further, the input data or unit data input speed may be measured by the cumulative number of processed data.
Various forms of the database are conceivable, but address book, user information, and document box information are examples.
Such a data input device is advantageously mounted on the image forming apparatus. In this case, the database may be an address book or confidential box information.

According to the present invention,
One unit data is composed of one or a plurality of input data, and a data input means for sequentially inputting each input data to a database composed of a plurality of unit data, and when the input of one input data is completed A data input device comprising guidance display means for displaying a predetermined message and data input restriction means for executing input restriction set in accordance with information displayed by the guidance display means,
According to the speed of input of the input data, the guidance display by the guidance display means is omitted, or the data input device is provided with a data input promoting means for relaxing input restrictions by the data input restriction means. The
Thereby, the guidance display is automatically simplified according to the skill level measured by the input speed of the person who inputs data. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of input work without increasing data input mistakes without managing personal information of the person who inputs data, and less stress due to the long waiting time for the expert. A data input device is provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram in a facsimile as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for inputting confidential box data in the facsimile.

First, a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine X which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In this embodiment, the facsimile apparatus X is described as an example of the image forming apparatus. Of course, the function of displaying the input address information (telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) on a predetermined display unit. The present invention can also be applied to a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, a telephone, a network scanner, or a personal computer (information processing apparatus) having an e-mail function.
The facsimile machine X is roughly classified into a scanner unit 2, an image forming unit 3, an image memory 4, an operation unit including a keyboard and a numeric keypad, a display unit including an LCD panel 6, a communication control unit 7, an electronic address book. And the like, and a main control section 9 that controls these sections in an integrated manner.

  The operation unit 5 inputs / sets various functions such as the input of the FAX number (corresponding to address information) of the other party at the time of FAX transmission, an instruction to start or stop FAX transmission, and the redial function (automatic retransmission function). In addition to setting cancellation, redial count, speed dial, etc., it is also possible to input various input data for creating or correcting the above address book, etc., and to respond to messages. It has a numeric keypad and push buttons. The operation unit 5 is an example of data input means in the present invention. The operation unit 5 is appropriately disposed on an operation panel (not shown) of the facsimile machine X. In the case where the operation panel is constituted by a touch panel or the like, the operation unit 5 may be embodied on the touch panel.

The display unit 6 is used to input various personal information such as a telephone number, a FAX number, and an address input from the operation unit 5, a state of FAX transmission or reception, a congestion state at the time of transmission or reception, and an error generated in the apparatus. It is composed of an LCD panel (liquid crystal display panel) and LEDs for displaying various information such as the presence or absence. The display unit 6 is disposed in the vicinity of the operation unit 5 on an operation panel (not shown) of the facsimile apparatus X. When an input operation is performed from the operation unit 5, display data corresponding to the input operation is generated by the main control unit 9, and the display data is output to the display unit 6 and displayed as visible information. The
The display unit 6 is an example of a guidance display unit that displays guidance and a predetermined confirmation message in the present invention.

  The scanner unit 2 reads image information to be transmitted to another facsimile machine, and includes an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS). The scanner unit 2 scans the document surface while conveying the document set on the document table, whereby the image of the document is read for each line and converted into digital data. The image data read in this way is subjected to predetermined image processing (compression processing, density correction processing, etc.) in an image processing unit (not shown), and then temporarily stored in the image memory 4 by the main control unit 9. The

The image memory 4 is a readable / writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM. The image memory 4 temporarily stores image data read by the scanner unit 2, image data transmitted from another facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as “received data”), and the like. If the facsimile machine X is connectable to a PC via a network such as a LAN, the image data transferred from the PC is also stored in the image memory 4.
Accordingly, the image memory 4 has a capacity capable of storing at least the number of document images that can be collectively transmitted or received by the facsimile apparatus X. An HDD or the like may be used in place of the image memory 4.

  The address memory 8 stores and holds a FAX number inputted in advance from the operation unit 5 or a network (not shown) in association with information related to the FAX number such as an address, a registration number, and a speed dial number (corresponding to a speed code). It is a storage medium. For example, an address book in an embodiment described later is stored in the address memory 8. The address memory 8 is preferably a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM so that it can be rewritten.

  The image forming unit 3 transfers and fixes a visible image (for example, a toner image) corresponding to the received image data onto a recording sheet. The image forming unit 3 includes various known devices such as a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an LSU, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

  The communication control unit 7 receives image data transmitted via the communication network 11 or transmits the image data stored in the image memory 4 to a fax number input in advance. . A typical example of the communication control unit 7 is a modem provided with a network control unit called a so-called NCU (Network Control Unit) that captures a communication partner (specific partner) via the communication network 11 and performs transmission or reception. is there.

As described above, the main control unit 9 controls the elements constituting the facsimile machine X as a whole, and includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM stores a control program and a communication program used for control and communication of the facsimile apparatus X, as well as various data used for control and communication. These programs and data are read out by the CPU and the data is read out. By developing and calculating in the RAM, the control and communication of the facsimile apparatus X are specifically realized.
As described below, when the main control unit 9 finishes inputting each data input from the operation unit 5, a predetermined confirmation message is displayed on the display unit, or a predetermined confirmation message is displayed according to the displayed information. It is an example of the data input restriction | limiting means which performs this input restriction | limiting.

Next, an address book data input processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus X will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Here, S1, S2, S3,... Indicate processing procedure (step) numbers.
The process is started from a state in which the user performs an operation of inputting input data constituting each address book (S1). Input data includes name, address, telephone number, fax number, and the like.
For example, one address data (an example of unit data) is composed of a name, an address, a telephone number, and a fax number. Since a database called an address book is composed of a large number of such address data, the user repeatedly inputs a series of input data from the operation unit 5 to increase the address book data. Or it will be corrected.
At this time, every time one piece of input data or one piece of address data is inputted, the main control unit 9 performs guidance display on the display unit 6 for a certain period of time (for example, several seconds), and while this guidance display is being performed. The following data entry is prohibited.
In this way, the main control unit 9 executes the processing for prohibiting the input of the next data for a predetermined time while the guidance display is being performed, which is an example of the data input limiting means in the present invention.
Here, the guidance display is a process for displaying various confirmation messages. For example, the guidance display is a message for confirmation such as “Enter your name” or “Enter your address”.

While these input data are repeatedly input, the main control unit 9 also performs a time measurement process, and the input data or address processed (input) for a predetermined time period. The number of data is calculated (S2).
This may be a calculation of the main control unit 9 that measures how many operations of the same type have been performed.
Specifically, the calculation of how many times one address book has been entered with the name, address, telephone number, and fax number, but how many times the name input data has been entered repeatedly. May be.

If it is determined in S2 that more than n predetermined data (the unit is input data or address data) is input within the predetermined time (YES in S2), each data is input until then. The guidance display that has been displayed each time is interrupted (S3).
In the following description, the term “data” applies to both input data and address data.
In this case, it is determined that the input speed is fast, and the guidance display is considered unnecessary.
If it is determined in S2 that the number of data input within the predetermined time is n or less (NO in S2), the next data is input. Guidance display for reminding is performed (S4).
That is, the fact that the number of data input within a certain period of time is less than a predetermined number means that the input speed is slow. Since it is determined that the input has been performed, the guidance display is displayed every time data is input to prevent an input error or the like.
When it is determined that the next input has been performed, that is, the key for confirming the input has been pressed (S5), the guidance display is terminated (S6), the process returns to the first S1, and S1, S1 again. The input and display in S2 and the determination of whether the skill level has advanced are repeated.

  By the above processing, it is determined whether or not the guidance display is omitted depending on the speed of the data input, and the data input restriction means determines whether or not the guidance of the data input is omitted. As input restrictions are relaxed, guidance display is automatically displayed to experts without having to register the user's personal data or register the usage status of the user as in the prior art. By omitting, input processing that does not feel annoying can be performed.

  Although the processing according to the representative embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the processing according to the present invention is not limited to this example, and many variations are possible.

Subsequently, these modifications will be described in order.
"Modification 1"
In the above embodiment, in S2, it is determined whether or not the user is an expert according to whether or not the number of data inputs within a predetermined time exceeds a predetermined number of n, and if he is an expert, guidance display is not performed. If it is not an expert, the process of displaying the guidance every time initially set is performed, but according to the proficiency level consisting of multiple layers based on the rough judgment of only two stages as to whether or not the user is an expert. In some cases, detailed processing that changes the number of times the guidance is displayed is desirable.
For example, the number of times guidance is displayed according to the number of entries within a certain time, that is, one guidance may be displayed for a predetermined number of data inputs.
In this case, at the initial stage when input is started, guidance is displayed frequently to some extent, and as the processing speed, that is, the number of input items within a certain period of time increases, the period of guidance display is gradually increased, that is, according to the speed of data input. If the number of times is increased and the guidance is not displayed unless a large amount of data is entered, and the guidance display is omitted as the skill progresses, the skilled person may feel more troublesome than necessary. Disappear.

  In the above example, the guidance is displayed for a predetermined time and the input processing is restricted during that time. However, the input processing is not only completely prohibited, but the guidance is displayed. The guidance display may be terminated if processing such as input corresponding thereto is performed. This is because the process of such a display and the input corresponding thereto can sufficiently input the user without fail, and sometimes the input error can be solved.

"Modification 2"
In the embodiment and the first modification, the data input speed is calculated by the number (or number) of data input within a certain time. In other words, an example is shown in which the speed of data input is measured by the time taken to input one data. This is an example, and the speed of data input depends on the cumulative number of processed data. It may be measured. For example, the process may be such that the guidance display cycle is set to a distance depending on the cumulative number of entries since this program was launched. This is because such a cumulative input number is considered to determine the skill level of the user to some extent.

The above embodiment and Modifications 1 and 2 may be implemented in an appropriate combination, without being either alone.
In addition, the database to be input in the present invention is not limited to the address book shown in the embodiment and the modified example, but can be arbitrarily applied to user information, document box information, confidential box information, and the like.

1 is a control block diagram of a facsimile as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure which inputs the data of the address book in a facsimile.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Scanner unit 3 ... Image forming unit 4 ... Image memory 5 ... Operation unit 6 ... Display unit

Claims (12)

One unit data is composed of one or a plurality of input data, and a data input means for sequentially inputting each input data to a database composed of a plurality of unit data, and when the input of one input data is completed A data input device comprising guidance display means for displaying a predetermined message and data input restriction means for executing input restriction set in accordance with information displayed by the guidance display means,
A data input device comprising data input promoting means for omitting guidance display by the guidance display means according to the speed of input of the input data, or for relaxing input restrictions by the data input restriction means.   The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the end of creation or correction of one unit data is detected by whether or not the same type of operation is repeated.   3. The data input according to claim 1, wherein the guidance display by the guidance display means is a message display indicating that the input of one unit data is completed or a message display prompting input of the next unit data. apparatus.   3. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance display by the guidance display means is a predetermined confirmation display.   The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data input restriction means prohibits data input for a predetermined time after the input of one input data or the input of unit data is completed.   The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data input restricting means permits input of the next data on the assumption that the input in accordance with the guidance by the guidance display means has been performed.   3. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the guidance display means displays one guidance for a predetermined number of times of input data input or unit data input.   The data input device according to claim 7, wherein the number of times is increased according to a speed of the data input.   The data input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the input data or unit data input speed is measured by a time required to input one piece of input data or one unit of unit data.   The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the input data or unit data input speed is measured by the number of processed data.   11. The data input device according to claim 1, wherein the database is address book, user information, and document box information.   An image forming apparatus comprising a data input device in which the database according to claim 1 is confidential box information.

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