JP2009122920A - Information processing unit, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing unit which can properly aid manipulation of a customizable operation screen, to provide an information processing method and a program. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing unit includes: a displaying means which displays the customizable operation screen on a display unit; an associating management means which manages associating information between identification information of a settable function in the operation screen and a displaying component in the operation screen; a manipulation-aiding means which, according to input of the identification information of the function, determines a displaying component associated with the input identification information on the basis of the associating information and allows identification of the displaying component on the operation screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for displaying a customizable operation screen.

  In recent image forming apparatuses, in particular, multifunction devices such as printers, copiers, scanners, or fax machines that realize a plurality of functions in a single housing, a touch panel type operation panel is provided, which is relatively expressed. A rich operation screen can be displayed. Conventionally, such an operation screen can be customized in accordance with a user's usage form or organization form for the purpose of improving convenience according to the user (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, a user who is not familiar with the operation generally checks the operation procedure on the operation screen while referring to the manual and performs the operation. In particular, the importance of manuals is expected to increase as operations tend to become more complicated as image forming apparatuses become more sophisticated.
JP 2007-249863 A

  However, since the conventional manual is assumed to be used as a guide for using the standard (non-customized) operation screen, the explanation is based on photos of the standard operation screen and warning screen. Are listed. Therefore, the user who uses the customization screen cannot directly grasp the operation for setting a desired function from the manual based on the standard operation screen, and cannot use the manual.

  Therefore, there is a problem that a manual for the customized operation screen has to be newly created, and when further customization is performed, the manual must be repeatedly revised.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of appropriately assisting the operation of a customizable operation screen.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides display means for displaying a customizable operation screen on a display device, function identification information settable on the operation screen, and association information between display components on the operation screen. According to the input of the association management means to be managed and the function identification information, the display component associated with the input identification information is determined based on the association information, and the display component can be identified on the operation screen. And an operation assisting means.

  Such an information processing apparatus can appropriately assist the operation of the customizable operation screen.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, and program which can assist appropriately operation of the operation screen which can be customized can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus will be described as a specific example of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, as a specific example of the image forming apparatus, a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine 1 that realizes a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a fax in a single housing is shown.

  As the hardware of the multifunction machine 1, there are a controller 201, an operation panel 202, a facsimile control unit (FCU) 203, an imaging unit 204, and a printing unit 205.

  The controller 201 includes a CPU 211, ASIC 212, NB221, SB222, MEM-P231, MEM-C232, HDD (hard disk drive) 233, memory card slot 234, NIC (network interface controller) 241, USB device 242, IEEE 1394 device 243, and Centronics device. 244.

  The CPU 211 is an IC for various information processing. The ASIC 212 is an IC for various image processing. The NB 221 is a north bridge of the controller 201. The SB 222 is a south bridge of the controller 201. The MEM-P 231 is a system memory of the multifunction machine 1. The MEM-C 232 is a local memory of the multifunction machine 1. The HDD 233 is a storage of the multifunction device 1. The memory card slot 234 is a slot for setting the memory card 235. The NIC 241 is a controller for network communication using a MAC address. The USB device 242 is a device for providing a USB standard connection terminal. The IEEE 1394 device 243 is a device for providing a connection terminal of the IEEE 1394 standard. The Centronics device 244 is a device for providing a Centronics specification connection terminal.

  The imaging unit 121 is hardware for reading an image (image data) from a read original. The printing unit 122 is hardware for printing an image (image data) on printing paper.

  The operation panel 202 is hardware (operation unit) for an operator to input to the multifunction device 1 and hardware (display unit) for an operator to obtain an output from the multifunction device 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the operation panel in the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the operation panel 202 includes a touch panel 311, a numeric keypad 312, a start button 313, a reset button 314, an initial setting button 315, and the like.

  The touch panel 311 is hardware (touch operation unit) for inputting by a touch operation and hardware (screen display unit) for obtaining an output by screen display. The numeric keypad 312 is hardware for inputting numbers by operating keys (buttons). The start button 313 is hardware for performing a start operation by a button operation. The reset button 314 is hardware for performing a reset operation by a button operation. The initial setting button 315 is hardware for displaying an initial setting screen by button operation.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes an operation panel control unit 11, a function control unit 12, a function execution unit 13, operation screen data 14, a function code table 15, and the like. The operation panel control unit 11, the function control unit 12, the function execution unit 13, and the like are software realized by a process executed by the CPU 211 by a program installed in the multifunction device 1.

  The operation panel control unit 11 includes a display control unit 111, an operation guide unit 112, and the like, and performs input / output control and the like on the operation panel 202. For example, when the operation panel control unit 11 detects a pressed display component (button or the like) on the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 311, the operation panel control unit 11 determines a function corresponding to the display component based on the function code table 15, and The function control unit 12 is requested to execute the function.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the function code table. In the figure, a function code is registered in the function code table 15 for each function. The function code is identification information for uniquely identifying each function.

  That is, the operation panel control unit 11 determines the corresponding function by applying the function code assigned to the pressed display component to the function code table 15. Note that the function code table 15 is recorded in, for example, the HDD 233. ing.

  The display control unit 111 in the operation panel control unit 11 displays an operation screen on the touch panel 311 based on the operation screen data 14. The operation screen data 14 is data in which display information of the operation screen is stored. For example, display parts such as buttons to be displayed on the operation screen, display modes (shape, position, color, etc.) of each display part are defined. Has been. In the figure, standard screen data 141 and customized screen data 142 are shown as operation screen data 14. The standard screen data 141 is operation screen data 14 related to a standard (before customization) operation screen (standard screen). The customization screen data 142 is operation screen data 14 relating to a customized operation screen (customization screen). That is, the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 311 in this embodiment can be customized. The operation screen data 14 is recorded in the HDD 233, for example.

  The operation guide unit 112 makes it possible to visually identify a display component for setting a corresponding function as a usage target according to an input of a function code. Thereby, the user can easily recognize the display component to be operated. In the present embodiment, the function code of each function is described in a document (for example, an operation manual of the multifunction device 1) explaining the operation method of the operation screen.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of the operation manual in the embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows an example of a page explaining how to use the function A. In the page, description 501 (Code: 001) corresponds to the description of the function code of function A. As described above, in the operation manual, the function code for the function is described on the description page of each function.

  The function control unit 12 controls the execution of the function requested to be executed by the operation panel control unit 11. More specifically, the function control unit 12 calls the function execution unit 13 corresponding to the function requested to be executed, and notifies the operation panel control unit 11 of the processing result. The operation panel control unit 11 causes the touch panel 311 to display the processing result notified from the function control unit 12.

  The function execution unit 13 executes processing for realizing the function. In the figure, a print function unit 131 that executes processing related to the print function and an image processing function unit 132 that executes processing related to the image processing function are illustrated.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure by the multifunction machine 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when the operation screen is displayed. The process of FIG. 6 is executed, for example, when the multifunction device 1 is activated.

  In step S101, the display control unit 111 determines whether the display target is a standard screen or a customized screen. Which is to be displayed is set, for example, on the initial setting screen. In this case, the determination is made based on information set on the initial setting screen. Further, the determination may be made based on the presence / absence of the customized screen data 142. In this case, when the customization screen data 142 does not exist, the standard screen is set as a display target, and when the customization screen data 142 exists, the customization screen is set as a display target.

  When displaying a standard screen (NO in S101), the display control unit 111 displays an operation screen (standard screen) on the touch panel 311 based on the standard screen data 141 (S102).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of standard screen data. In the figure, in the standard screen data 141, display component information is registered for each display component to be displayed on the operation screen. The display component information is display information of the display component. For convenience, only the character string to be displayed on the display component (button) is shown in the figure, but other display information such as the display position and display color is also included in the display component information. In the standard screen data 141, a function code is registered for each display component. That is, in the present embodiment, the association between each display component and each function on the standard screen is managed in the standard screen data 141.

  On the other hand, when displaying the customization screen (YES in S101), the display control unit 111 displays an operation screen (customization screen) on the touch panel 311 based on the customization screen data 142 (S103).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of customization screen data. As shown in the figure, the structure of the customized screen data 142 is the same as that of the standard screen data 141. That is, display component information is registered in the customization screen data 142 for each display component to be displayed on the operation screen. In the customization screen data 142, a function code is registered for each display component. In other words, in this embodiment, the customization screen data 142 manages the association between each display component and each function on the customization screen.

  When FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are compared, different display component information is associated with the same function code. For example, regarding the function code 001, “sort” is associated with the standard screen data 141, and “arrange” is associated with the customized screen data 142. This means that the “sort” button on the standard screen and the “arrange” button on the customization screen set the same function.

  As a result of the processing in FIG. 6, for example, the following operation screen is displayed on the touch panel 311. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation screen.

  In the figure, 510 indicates a standard screen and 520 indicates a customization screen. In this way, the display content of the operation screen is changed by switching the operation screen data 14. Note that FIG. 9 is not a display example based on the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8 for the sake of convenience.

  Next, a processing procedure when an operation is performed by the user in a state where the operation screen (standard screen 510 or customization screen 520) is displayed will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when operating the operation screen.

  The user opens a page describing an explanation of a desired function in the manual, and inputs the function code described on the page via the operation panel 202 (S201). The input may be performed by the numeric keypad 312 after setting the function code input mode by a predetermined key operation.

  Subsequently, the operation guide unit 112 refers to the function code table 15 and identifies a function corresponding to the input function code (S202). Subsequently, the operation guide unit 112 determines whether or not the function corresponding to the input function code can be used (S203). The determination is made, for example, on whether or not the function can be used from the currently displayed operation screen (that is, associated with the input function code in the operation screen data 14 corresponding to the currently displayed operation screen). For example, whether or not display component information is registered). When it is determined that the function corresponding to the input function code cannot be used (NO in S203), the operation guide unit 112 displays a message indicating that the function cannot be used on the touch panel 311 (S204).

  Further, before or after step S203, a determination based on whether or not the current user has the use authority for the function may be included. In this case, when a function code for a function without usage authority is input, a message indicating that the function cannot be used may be displayed.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation screen when the input function code cannot be used. In the figure, the customization screen 520 is grayed out entirely and superimposed on the customization screen 520, and an example in which a message 521 indicating that the specified function cannot be used is displayed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the function corresponding to the input function code can be used (YES in S203), the operation guide unit 112 sets the function as a usage target or identifies the display component corresponding to the function. It is determined whether or not to enable only (S205). For example, if the function is the sort function, the sort is set in the former case, and the sort function is set only by changing the display mode of the button corresponding to the sort function in the latter case. It doesn't matter. Therefore, in the latter case, the user needs to operate (press) the display component (button) after that in order to set the function. It should be noted that whether or not the function is set according to the input of the function code may be set on the initial setting screen. Further, when the function code is input, the function may be set if the “#” button is pressed after the function code, and the function may not be set if the “*” button is pressed.

  When it is determined that a function is to be set (YES in S205), the operation guide unit 112 sets a function corresponding to the input function code, and sets a display component corresponding to the function to a selected state (for example, reverse display). (S206). Note that the display component corresponding to the function is determined based on the operation screen data 140.

  On the other hand, when determining that the function is not set (NO in S205), the operation guide unit 112 determines whether or not the currently displayed operation screen is the customization screen 520 (S207). In the case of the customization screen 520 (YES in S207), the operation guide unit 112 determines whether to temporarily replace the customized display component (customization button) with the display mode (standard button) on the standard screen 510. (S208). Whether or not to replace the customize button with the standard button when inputting the function code may be set on the initial setting screen.

  When the display component is not replaced (NO in S208), the operation guide unit 112 acquires display component information corresponding to the input function code from the customization screen data 142, and displays the display based on the display component information. The part can be visually identified (S209). Specifically, the display mode of the display component is changed, or an image or the like showing a predetermined graphic is superimposed on the display component.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an operation screen that enables identification of a display component corresponding to an input function code. In the drawing, an example in which an image of a star mark M1 is displayed superimposed on the button 521 is shown. The star mark M1 allows the user to recognize that the display component corresponds to the function code input by the button 521 (that is, the display component to be operated).

  On the other hand, when the display component is replaced (YES in S208), the operation guide unit 112 replaces the display mode of the display component corresponding to the function code on the customization screen 520 with the display mode on the standard screen 510 (S210). More specifically, the operation guide unit 112 acquires display component information corresponding to the input function code from the standard screen data 141, and redisplays the display component corresponding to the function code based on the display component information. Subsequently, the operation guide unit 112 makes it possible to visually identify the replaced display component (S211).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the customization screen in which the display component corresponding to the function code is replaced with the display mode of the standard screen. In FIG. 13, the same parts as those in FIG. In the figure, the display mode of the button 521 is replaced with the display mode of the button 511 (see FIG. 9) associated with the same function code on the standard screen 510. Thus, the user can more easily understand the operation based on the manual created along the standard screen 510.

  When the currently displayed operation screen is the standard screen 510 (NO in S207), the operation guide unit 112 acquires display component information corresponding to the input function code from the standard screen data 141, and displays the display. Based on the component information, the display component can be visually identified (S211).

  By the way, there is a case where an operation with a plurality of display components is required for one function. In such a case, the same function code may be associated with the plurality of display components in the operation screen data 14. In this case, the operation guide part 112 should just be able to identify several display components according to the input of the function code once. If the operation order is determined among a plurality of display components, information for identifying the operation order may be included in the operation screen data 14.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of operation screen data to which operation order information is added. In the figure, an example in which an operation order is added to the customization screen data 142 is shown. According to the figure, the standard print button and the function 1 button are display buttons corresponding to the same function code 005. The operation order is that the standard print button is first and the function 1 button is second. Therefore, based on the customization screen data 142 of FIG. 14, in step S209, the operation guide unit 112 not only makes it possible to identify the display component corresponding to the function code on the customization screen 520, but also the operation order. Can be displayed.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the operation screen on which the operation order is shown. In the customization screen 520 shown in the figure, a mark (image) M2 or M3 indicating a procedure is superimposed on the standard print button 523 and the function 1 button 524 based on the customer chair screen data 112 shown in FIG. Therefore, the user can also recognize the operation order on the customization screen 520 based on the manual along the standard screen 510.

  As described above, according to the multifunction device 1 in the present embodiment, by inputting the function identification information (function code), the display component corresponding to the function can be identified. Therefore, by describing the function code in the manual, even if customization is performed and the display component associated with the function is changed, the corresponding display component can be easily entered by inputting the function code. Can be identified. Therefore, the manual created along the standard screen can be used as it is.

  The function identification information is not limited to the function code. For example, a function name may be used. In the case of an electronic manual, a function name link may be added and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) associated with the link may be used as function identification information. In this case, the process of FIG. 10 is executed by selecting the link on the electronic manual.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation panel in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a function code table. It is a figure which shows the example of a description of the operation manual in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence at the time of an operation screen display. It is a figure which shows the structural example of standard screen data. It is a figure which shows the structural example of customization screen data. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an operation screen. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence at the time of operation screen operation. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation screen when the input function code cannot be used. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation screen which enabled identification of the display component corresponding to the input function code. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the customization screen by which the display component corresponding to a function code was replaced by the display mode of the standard screen. It is a figure which shows the example of the operation screen data to which operation order information was added. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation screen in which the operation order was shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 11 Operation Panel Control Unit 12 Function Control Unit 13 Function Execution Unit 14 Operation Screen Data 15 Function Code Table 111 Display Control Unit 112 Operation Guide Unit 131 Printing Function Unit 132 Image Processing Function Unit 141 Standard Screen Data 142 Customized Screen Data 201 Controller 202 Operation panel 203 Facsimile control unit 204 Imaging unit 205 Printing unit 211 CPU
212 ASIC
221 NB
222 SB
231 MEM-P
232 MEM-C
233 HDD
234 Memory card slot 235 Memory card 241 NIC
242 USB device 243 IEEE 1394 device 244 Centronics device 311 Touch panel 312 Numeric keypad 313 Start button 314 Reset button 315 Initial setting button

Claims (13)

Display means for displaying a customizable operation screen on the display device;
Association management means for managing association information between function identification information that can be set on the operation screen and display components on the operation screen;
In accordance with the input of the function identification information, an operation assisting means for determining a display component associated with the input identification information based on the association information and making the display component identifiable on the operation screen. An information processing apparatus characterized by that.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function identification information is described in a document explaining an operation method of the operation screen.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation assisting unit selects a display component associated with the input identification information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation assisting unit displays an operation order on a display component associated with the input identification information.   The operation assisting unit changes the display mode of the display component associated with the input identification information to the display mode of the display component associated with the identification information on the operation screen before customization. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. It has a confirmation means to confirm whether the user has usage authority,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the user does not have usage authority, a message indicating that the function cannot be used is displayed even if identification information of the function is input. An information processing method executed by a computer,
A display procedure for displaying a customizable operation screen on the display device;
In response to the input of the function identification information, it is associated with the input identification information by using a storage means in which the function identification information settable on the operation screen and the association information between the display components on the operation screen are recorded. An information processing method comprising: an operation assistance procedure for determining a display component that is present and making the display component identifiable on the operation screen.   The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the function identification information is described in a document explaining an operation method of the operation screen.   9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the operation assistance procedure sets a display component associated with the input identification information to a selected state.   9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the operation assistance procedure displays an operation order on a display component associated with the input identification information.   The operation assisting procedure changes the display mode of the display component associated with the input identification information to the display mode of the display component associated with the identification information on the operation screen before customization. The information processing method according to claim 7 or 8. It has a confirmation procedure to confirm whether the user has usage authority,
8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein if the user does not have usage authority, a message indicating that the function cannot be used is displayed even if identification information of the function is input.   A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.

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