JP2010028716A - Recording apparatus, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare an explanation sentence of functions of an image forming apparatus and one corresponding to an operation screen during selecting the functions as an operation procedure to teach the operation procedure of the image forming apparatus to a user. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 11 refers to an event table 131 and executes processing corresponding to a detected event. The CPU 11 refers to a setting data table 132 and decides whether setting data of "manual creation" is set as "existing" or not, and stores image data showing the operation screen displayed on a display 16 in a manual storing area 143, when it is set as "existing". The CPU 11 refers to a resource data managing table 141 and stores the explanation sentence regarding the functions selected by an event in the manual storing area 143. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program technique.

In recent years, image forming apparatuses having a plurality of functions such as facsimile machines, copying machines, and network printing machines have been put into practical use. An image forming apparatus having a user interface corresponding to multiple languages has been put into practical use. As the image forming apparatus becomes multifunctional and multilingual in this way, the operation procedure becomes complicated. As a technique for instructing the user on the operation procedure of the device used by the user, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the supply of the number of sheets used for the printing process reserved for future execution and the number of remaining sheets of the printer. There is disclosed a technique for determining the necessity and contents of paper and the timing of paper feeding, and creating a paper feeding procedure based on the information.
JP 2005-352914 A

  An object of the present invention is to record an operation procedure of a device according to selection of each function in the device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the recording apparatus according to claim 1 includes a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of functions, and a display that displays on the display unit an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection unit. The control means, the explanatory text acquisition means for acquiring the explanatory text according to the function selected by the selection means, and the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquisition means to the function displayed by the display means Recording means for recording on a recording medium in association with the corresponding operation screen.

The recording apparatus according to claim 2 comprises language specifying means for specifying any of a plurality of languages in the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the explanatory note acquiring means is a function selected by the selecting means. And an explanatory note corresponding to the language designated by the language designation means is acquired.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein a receiving unit that receives a user instruction and each of the plurality of functions according to the user instruction received by the receiving unit. Position storage means for storing a position for displaying an image for designation, and the display control means is a screen in which an image for designating each of the plurality of functions is arranged at a position stored by the position storage means Is displayed as the operation screen.
A recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising storage means for storing whether or not recording by the recording means is performed, and the recording means performs the recording. When it is stored in the storage unit, the image of the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquisition unit is associated with the image of the operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display unit In the case where the storage means stores information indicating that the recording is not performed and the recording is not performed, processing corresponding to the function selected by the selection means is executed in response to a user operation. And
The recording apparatus according to claim 5 is the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the explanation acquisition unit includes the explanation in addition to the explanation according to the function selected by the selection unit. Voice data indicating voice corresponding to the sentence is acquired, and the recording means records the voice data acquired by the explanatory sentence acquiring means in association with the operation screen corresponding to the function in addition to the explanatory text. It is recorded on a medium.
A recording apparatus according to claim 6 is the recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising display instruction means for instructing whether or not to display the explanatory text on the display means. In response to an instruction to display the explanatory text, the means causes the display means to display an explanatory text corresponding to the function in addition to the operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of functions according to a user operation, and a display that displays an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection unit When creating a control means, an explanation sentence acquisition means for obtaining an explanation sentence corresponding to the function selected by the selection means, an image data acquisition means for obtaining image data, and an operation procedure of the own device, When the explanatory text image acquired by the explanatory text acquisition unit is formed on a recording medium in association with the image of the operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display unit, and the operation procedure of the own device is not created The image forming means for executing processing corresponding to the function selected by the selecting means and forming an image corresponding to the image data acquired by the image data acquiring means on a recording medium Characterized by including the.
A program according to claim 8 is a program that selects a computer from among a plurality of functions, a display control unit that displays on the display unit an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection unit, and the selection Corresponding to the operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display means, the explanatory text acquiring means for acquiring the explanatory text according to the function selected by the means, and the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquisition means In addition, it is a program for causing a recording means to function as a recording control means for recording on a recording medium.

According to the recording apparatus of the first aspect, the operation procedure of the apparatus can be recorded in accordance with the selection of each function in the apparatus.
According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to record an operation procedure expressed in a specified language among a plurality of languages.
According to the recording apparatus of the third aspect, even when the content of the operation screen is changed according to the user's instruction, the operation procedure can be recorded according to the content of the operation screen.
According to the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, it is possible to execute a process according to the function selected by the user's operation and to record the operation procedure of the apparatus.
According to the recording apparatus of the fifth aspect, the voice data can be used when teaching the user the operation procedure.
According to the recording device of the sixth aspect, the explanatory text used when the operation procedure is recorded in the recording device according to the first aspect can be displayed on the operation screen and presented to the user.
According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, the operation procedure of the apparatus can be recorded in accordance with the selection of each function in the apparatus.
According to the program according to the eighth aspect, the operation procedure of the apparatus can be recorded in accordance with the selection of each function in the apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(A: Configuration)
(A-1: Overall configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 shown in FIG. 1 reads out and executes a boot loader stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 and a computer program stored in the storage unit 14 to execute each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. It is a control means to control. The ROM 12 is a read-only nonvolatile storage device composed of a semiconductor element or the like. The ROM 12 stores a boot loader for loading a basic operating system (OS) stored in the storage unit 14 into a random access memory (RAM) 13 and a basic input / output system (BIOS). The RAM 13 is a volatile storage unit composed of a semiconductor element or the like, and is used as a work area when the CPU 11 executes a program. The RAM 13 stores an event table 131 and a setting data table 132.

  The storage unit 14 is a large-capacity storage unit such as a hard disk drive, and stores a program read by the CPU 11. Further, the storage unit 14 stores a resource data management table 141 and a layout management table 142. Further, the storage unit 14 is provided with a manual storage area 143 that is an area for storing a manual when the manual is created. In this manual storage area 143, an explanatory text explaining a function selected according to a user operation and image data indicating an operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 when the function is selected are associated with each other. Then, it is stored as a manual for teaching the operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 1 to the user.

  The operation unit 15 includes a coordinate acquisition unit 151 and operation buttons 152 for inputting various instructions. The operation unit 15 receives an operation by a user and supplies a signal corresponding to the operation content to the CPU 11. Here, the coordinate acquisition unit 151 is a transparent pressure-sensitive touch panel provided over the display unit 16 (that is, the front side of the display area of the display unit 16), and is a position pressed by a user's finger or the like. And the acquired position information is supplied to the CPU 11. The operation button 152 is a switch that, when pressed, supplies a signal indicating that the button has been pressed to the CPU 11. The operation unit 15 is an example of a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of functions. The display unit 16 includes a liquid crystal display, a drive circuit that drives the display, and a VRAM (Video RAM) that stores image data in a bitmap format, for example, according to the image data under the control of the CPU 11. It is an example of the display means which displays an image.

  The image forming unit 17 is an example of an image forming unit that forms an image by electrophotography. Specifically, the image forming unit 17 develops the latent image, a conveying device that conveys a recording medium such as paper, a photoconductor that forms a latent image corresponding to image data transmitted under the control of the CPU 11, and the like. To a recording medium such as a developer supplying device for supplying a developer to the photosensitive member, a transfer device for transferring the developed image to the recording medium, and a fixing device for fixing the image transferred on the surface of the recording medium. A configuration for forming an image is provided. Further, the image forming unit 17 generates image data such as an optical reader that irradiates light on the surface of a recording medium or the like on which an image is recorded and generates captured image data corresponding to the received light intensity of the reflected light. It has a configuration. The communication unit 18 is an example of a communication means for exchanging data with an external device. For example, various modems, wireless communication circuits compliant with IMT-2000, or serial compliant with USB (Universal Serial Bus) standards. An interface, a wireless interface compliant with IrDA (Infrared Data Association), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 functions as a facsimile by acquiring image data from an external device by the communication unit 18 and forming an image corresponding to the acquired image data on a recording material or the like by the image forming unit 17. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 functions as a scanner by acquiring image data with an optical reading device provided in the image forming unit 17. That is, the image forming unit 17 and the communication unit 18 are an example of an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data.

(A-2: Appearance configuration of operation unit and display unit)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the operation unit 15 and the display unit 16. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a numeric keypad, arrow buttons, buttons with characters such as “help”, “reset”, “decision”, and the like as operation buttons 152 beside the display unit 16 that is a liquid crystal display. Yes. While viewing the display content of the display unit 16, the user operates the operation button 152, or operates the coordinate acquisition unit 151 that is a transparent pressure-sensitive touch panel provided on the display unit 16. Give instructions to 1.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on the display unit 16. As shown in the figure, in the upper part of the display unit 16, an area B for displaying text representing the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and the like is provided. In the example shown in the figure, the text “Can be copied” is displayed in this area B. In the lower part of the display unit 16, service display areas A (A 1, A 2, A 3) simulating files with tabs divided for each service are provided. Each of the service display areas A1 to A3 is provided with a plurality (four in the figure) of function option display areas divided for each function group.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a service display area. As shown in the figure, there are three service display areas A1, A2 and A3. The parts other than the tabs of the service display areas A1 to A3 are displayed so as to be overlapped, and in the example shown in the figure, only the service display area A1 is displayed. The service here is a rough classification of the processing contents executed by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a copying machine, the service is “copy”, and when it is used as a facsimile, the service is “FAX”. Messages indicating service names are displayed in areas R1 to R3 corresponding to the tab portions of the service display areas A1 to A3.

  The function option display areas A11, A12, A13, and A14 arranged in the service display area A1 are associated with function groups. The function group here is a classification in which various functions belonging to the above-described service are classified according to common features. Each of these groups has five functions, and each function is an option that can be selected by the user. In the areas R11 to R14, which are the uppermost areas of the function option display areas A11 to A14, messages indicating the names of the respective function groups are displayed. Below that, five radio buttons indicating whether or not a function is selected and a message indicating the name of each function are displayed in pairs. For example, in the function option display area A11, a “magnification selection” message indicating the name of the group is displayed in the uppermost area R11, and radio buttons A111, A112,. In the areas R111 to R115 next to the radio buttons A111 to A115, messages indicating the function names “100%”, “automatic”,..., “Others” are displayed in pairs. The coordinates of each area on the operation screen such as the areas R1 to R3, the areas R11 to R14, and the areas R111 to R115 are described in advance in the event table 131 and the layout management table.

(A-3: Configuration of event table and setting data table)
Next, the event table 131 and the setting data table 132 stored in the RAM 13 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the event table 131 and the setting data table 132. The “event type” in the figure is an item indicating the type of event that occurs in the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when the user presses the coordinate acquisition unit 151 of the operation unit 15 with a finger or the like, the coordinate acquisition unit 151 sends a signal indicating the pressed coordinate to the CPU 11, and the CPU 11 receives this as an event of the event type “panel touch”. . When the user presses the operation button 152 of the operation unit 15, the operation button sends a signal indicating the pressed button to the CPU 11, and the CPU 11 receives this as an event of the event type “button press”.

  Next, the “detection area” is an item indicating an area detected by an event that has occurred, an operation button pressed, or the like. For example, the operation area “A1” and the process name “tab switching display” are associated with the detection area “R1”. “Tab switching display” refers to rewriting the operation screen so that the tab to be operated is displayed in the foreground. Further, “group frame highlighting” refers to highlighting by changing a line around the function option display area to be operated (hereinafter referred to as a group frame) to a thick line. “Function selection display” refers to drawing a circle filled with an identifiable color inside a radio button that is an operation target, and displaying that the radio button is selected. “Return to initial screen” refers to displaying the first operation screen when the image forming apparatus 1 is activated. “Execute selected function” refers to each function selected during function selection display. It means to execute.

  In the figure, the detection area is indicated by symbols such as R1, R2,..., But in reality, the coordinates of each area in the display area of the display unit 16 are included in the event table 131 as described above. Is also described. For example, if the coordinates indicated in the signal sent by the coordinate acquisition unit 151 are within the range of the region R1, the “event type” is “panel contact”, and the “detection region” is “R1”. Then, the CPU 11 refers to the event table 131 to identify “operation object” corresponding to this event as “A1” and “process name” as “tab switching display”. In this way, when an event occurs, the CPU 11 refers to the event table 131 to identify an operation target and a display process name corresponding to the generated event. Then, the CPU 11 specifies a subroutine and its execution condition in the program by specifying the operation target and the process name, and performs processing by executing the subroutine according to the execution condition.

  Thereby, when the user's finger or the like touches the area where the message indicating the name of the service is displayed, the tab corresponding to the service is switched and displayed on the front. Further, when a region in which a message indicating the name of the group is displayed is touched, the group frame corresponding to the group is highlighted and displayed. When the user touches the area where the message indicating the function name is displayed, it is displayed that the radio button corresponding to the function is selected.

Next, the setting data table 132 will be described.
The setting data table 132 describes setting data indicating setting contents for various setting items. Of the various setting items shown in the figure, “manual creation” is setting data for determining whether or not to create a manual indicating the operation procedure of the image forming apparatus 1. In the example shown in the figure, for example, the setting data corresponding to “manual creation” is “present”, which means that the image forming apparatus 1 is in an operation mode for creating a manual. “Specified language / country” is setting data indicating a language used in the image forming apparatus 1 and a country in which the language is used. In the example shown in the figure, the setting data corresponding to “specified language / country” is “ja_JP” indicating Japanese and Japanese. That is, “ja” in this setting data corresponds to Japanese, and “JP” corresponds to Japan. The “designated territory” is setting data indicating a symbol of a region where the image forming apparatus 1 is expected to be used. In the example shown in the figure, the symbol is “Asia”. A combination of the “designated language / country” and the “designated territory” identifies a language used by the image forming apparatus 1 and a specific expression of a word using the language. That is, the RAM 13 including the setting data table 132 is an example of a language specifying unit that specifies a language.

  The setting data table 132 may be set by the user, or predetermined content may be stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 14. The CPU 11 reads the setting data from the setting data table 132 and executes a process according to the contents of the setting data. That is, in the example shown in the figure, the CPU 11 refers to the setting data table 132 and determines to create a manual with Japanese and expressions suitable for the territory “Asia” in Japan.

(A-4: Configuration of resource data management table)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the resource data management table 141 stored in the storage unit 14. As shown in the figure, in the resource data management table 141, messages classified into a plurality of items are described as resource data. The service symbol, group symbol, and function symbol are symbols for identifying the service, group, and function, respectively. Here, the resource data whose group symbol is “GENERAL” is resource data for all services indicated by the service symbol. Further, the resource data whose function symbol is “TITLE” is resource data for other than a specific function, and the resource data “ENTER” is the operation button 152 (hereinafter simply referred to as “determine”). This is resource data when the “determine key” is pressed.

  “Language / Country” is a symbol indicating the language of this message and the country in which the language is used. The “territory” is a symbol indicating an area where this message is used. “Output type” indicates an output mode of this message. Here, the “name display” is a message displayed on the above-described operation screen, and expresses a word or the like with a short character string of about 3 to 8 characters. The “description” is a message used in the manual, and expresses a sentence for explaining a service, a function group, and a function with a character string of about 10 to 100 characters. The “voice” is voice data having the contents of the above description. In the figure, the contents of the voice are expressed by sentences, which means, for example, voice data obtained by recording and encoding a voice that is read and pronounced by a person.

(A-5: Configuration of layout management table)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout management table 142 stored in the storage unit 14. The layout management table 142 includes a service layout table 1421, a group layout table 1422, and a function layout table 1423. In the service layout table 1421 shown in the figure, a service indicated by a service symbol and a service display area are described in association with each other. In the group layout table 1422, groups indicated by service symbols and group symbols and function option display areas are described in association with each other. In the function layout table 1423, functions indicated by service symbols, group symbols, and function symbols and radio buttons are described in association with each other. By referring to this layout management table 142, the CPU 11 specifies an area for displaying a message indicating the names of services, function groups, and functions. The layout management table 142 is edited by the user operating the operation unit 15. Accordingly, the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a layout unique to each user. That is, the operation unit 15 is an example of a reception unit that receives a user instruction. In addition, the storage unit 14 including the layout management table 142 is an example of a position storage unit that stores a position for displaying an image for designating each of a plurality of functions in accordance with a user instruction received by the operation unit 15. It is. The CPU 11 is an example of a display control unit that causes the display unit 16 to display a screen in which an image for designating each of a plurality of functions is arranged at a position stored by the storage unit 14 as an operation screen.

(B: Operation)
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the image forming apparatus 1. When the user operates the power button (not shown) to supply power to the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 reads the program from the storage unit 14 and stores the event table 131 and the setting data table 132 in the RAM 13. To do. Then, the CPU 11 reads the setting data of “specified language / country” and “specified territory” from the setting data table 132 stored in the RAM 13, and specifies the language, country and territory (step S101). Next, the CPU 11 refers to the layout management table 142 of the storage unit 14, specifies a message indicating the name of the service, group, and function, and an area of the display unit 16 that displays the name, and specifies these messages. Each area is displayed (step S102). Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not an event has been detected (step S103). While the event is not detected (step S103; NO), the CPU 11 continues to wait for the detection of the event.

  On the other hand, when an event is detected (step S103; YES), the CPU 11 refers to the event table 131, identifies a process corresponding to the detected event, and executes the identified process (step S104). Next, the CPU 11 refers to the setting data table 132 to determine whether or not the “manual creation” setting data is set to “present” (step S105). When the setting data of “manual creation” is not set as “present” (step S105; NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S103 and continues to wait for the next event to be detected. On the other hand, when the setting data of “manual creation” is set as “present” (step S105; YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the executed process is “return to initial screen” (step S106). If it is determined that the executed process is “return to the initial screen” (step S106; YES), the CPU 11 erases the content stored in the manual storage area 143 (step S107), and returns the process to step S103.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the executed process is not “return to the initial screen” (step S106; NO), the CPU 11 stores image data indicating the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 in the manual storage area 143. (Step S108). Here, various types of image data indicating the operation screen can be used. In this embodiment, bitmap data stored in a VRAM provided in the display unit 16 is used. Further, the image data may be the operation screen itself displayed on the display unit 16, or a predetermined image may be added thereto. In this embodiment, image data indicating a screen in which a “figure imitating a human finger” is added to a position pressed at that time on the operation screen actually displayed on the display unit 16 is used. The CPU 11 reads from the resource data management table 141 an explanation about the function selected by the event, and stores it in the manual storage area 143 in association with the image data (step S109).

  FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C are diagrams showing an example of a manual created by this operation. As shown in these drawings, in this manual, an operation screen when an event is detected is recorded on the left side, and an explanatory text corresponding to the event is recorded on the right side. In this manual, a figure imitating a human finger indicating the position pressed at that time is written on the left side. 9A to 9C, the character string displayed on the operation screen is omitted.

  For example, when the user presses the region R11 shown in FIG. 4 with a finger, the CPU 11 detects an event in the coordinate acquisition unit 151 of the operation unit 15 (step S103; YES), and “group frame emphasis” is displayed as a corresponding display process. "Display" is specified and executed (step S104). Specifically, the CPU 11 acquires the coordinates pressed from the coordinate acquisition unit 151, refers to the event table 131, and specifies the detection area as “R11” and the operation target as “function option display area A11”. Then, the CPU 11 causes the display unit 16 to display a group frame that highlights the function group of “magnification selection” around the function option display area A11.

  Next, the CPU 11 refers to the setting data table 132, determines that “manual creation” is “present” (step S105; YES), and determines that the executed process is not “initial screen return” (step S105). (S106; NO), the image data indicating the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 is stored in the manual storage area 143 (step S108). At this time, the CPU 11 adds the image data of “figure imitating a human finger” to the pressed position with respect to the image data read from the VRAM, and stores it. Then, the CPU 11 refers to the resource data management table 141 and stores an explanatory text for the function group of “magnification selection” in the manual storage area 143 (step S109).

Specifically, in the resource data management table 141, “group symbol” is “MAGSELECT” which is a symbol corresponding to the function group “magnification selection”, “function symbol” is “TITLE”, and “language / “Message” in which “Country” is the same “ja_JP” as “Designated Language / Country”, “Territory” is the same “Asian” as “Designated Territory”, and “Output Mode” is “Description” This is extracted and stored in the manual storage area 143 as an explanation for the function group of “magnification selection”. As shown in FIG. 6, since this message is “Select magnification”, the manual storage area 143 stores the operation screen and the explanatory text as shown in the upper part of FIG. Is done.
That is, the CPU 11 is an example of an explanatory sentence acquisition unit that acquires an explanatory sentence corresponding to the function selected by the coordinate acquisition unit 151 of the operation unit 15 with reference to the resource data management table 141.

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the executed process is “select function execution” (step S110). If it is determined that the executed process is “execution of selection function” (step S110; YES), the CPU 11 uses the image forming unit 17 to display an image indicating the stored contents of the manual storage area 143 on paper or the like. In this way, a manual is created (step S111), and the process ends. If it is determined that the executed process is not “select function execution” (step S110; NO), the process returns to step S103. In step S111, the contents stored in the manual storage area 143 may be deleted after the manual is created.

As described above, when the user presses down the region R11 shown in FIG. 4 with the finger, the processing executed by the CPU 11 is not “execution of selection function” (step S110; NO), and the processing moves to step S103.
Next, when the user presses an area R111 displayed as “100%” in the function option display area A11 shown in FIG. 4 with a finger, the CPU 11 detects an event as described above (step S103; YES), “function selection display” is identified and executed as the process corresponding to this region R111 (step S104). Specifically, a circle filled with black (identifiable color) is drawn inside the radio button A111 located on the left side of the region R111 in FIG. 4 to indicate that the radio button A111 is selected. do. The CPU 11 determines that “manual creation” is “present” (step S105; YES), and determines that the executed process is not “return to the initial screen” (step S106; NO). FIG. The image data of the operation screen as shown in the lower part of () is stored in the manual storage area 143 (step S108). Further, the CPU 11 refers to the function layout table 1423, identifies the service symbol, group symbol, and function symbol corresponding to the radio button A111, and the “designated language / country” and “designated territory” identified in step S101. The message of the explanatory text corresponding to the above is specified, and this specified message is stored in the manual storage area 143 as an explanatory text of “100%” (step S109). Since this message is “Set magnification to 100%”, the manual storage area 143 stores an operation screen and an explanatory text as shown in the lower part of FIG.

Similarly, when the user appropriately depresses the position of the display surface of the display unit 16 to select the function group “paper selection” and select the function “tray 1 / A4”, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9B. A combination of various operation screens and explanatory text is stored in the manual storage area 143.
When the user selects the function group “single / double-sided selection” and selects the function “single-sided → double-sided / upper / lower open”, the combination of the operation screen and the explanatory text as shown in the lower part of FIG. Stored in area 143.
When the user selects the function group “collectively one” and selects the function “4up”, the CPU 11 specifies the service symbol “COPY”, the group symbol “NUPIMAGE”, and the function symbol “UP4”. Then, the CPU 11 extracts “language / country” and “territory” that respectively match “specified language / country” and “specified territory” in the setting data table 132, and reads a message whose output type is “description”. . As shown in FIG. 6, the explanatory text corresponding to this is “print images of 4 pages on one sheet”, so the operation screen and explanatory text as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9C. Are stored in the manual storage area 143.

Then, when the user presses the enter key among the operation buttons 152 of the operation unit 15, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 9C, a figure imitating the enter key and a human finger is added to the operation screen. The image data indicating the received image and the explanatory text corresponding to the pressing of the enter key at this time are stored in the manual storage area 143. Here, since what is displayed on the display unit 16 when the enter key is pressed is the service display area A1, the service symbol “COPY” corresponding thereto, the group symbol “GENERAL” indicating the overall service, and the enter A function symbol “ENTER” indicating that the key is pressed is searched in the resource data management table 141. Then, the CPU 11 sets “screen” which is a message of the output type “description” corresponding to this and corresponding to “language and expression used by the image forming apparatus 1” indicated by the setting data table 132. The character string “press the enter key and copy” is stored in the manual storage area 143 as an explanatory text corresponding to the press of the enter key.
Thereafter, the CPU 11 uses the image forming unit 17 to form an image indicating the stored contents of the manual storage area 143 on a recording medium such as paper, thereby creating a manual (step S111), and ends the processing. The image forming unit 17 forms the explanatory text acquired by the CPU 11 on the recording medium in association with the operation screen displayed on the display unit 16 and corresponding to the function selected by the coordinate acquisition unit 151 of the operation unit 15. It is an example of an image forming means.

  By browsing such a manual, the user knows which part of the operation screen is pressed and what kind of operation screen is displayed together with the contents of the function selected at the pressed part.

(C: Modification)
The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. Moreover, you may combine suitably the aspect changed as follows.
(C-1) In the above-described embodiment, the storage unit 14 stores the resource data management table 141 in which messages classified into a plurality of items are described, and the CPU 11 reads the resource data management table 141 from the resource data management table 141. Although the explanatory text corresponding to the detected event is read, the means for acquiring the explanatory text corresponding to the detected event is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 11 may access a communication line such as the Internet via the communication unit 18 and obtain the above description from a web site indicated by a predetermined URL. In this case, the CPU 11 and the communication unit 18 are an example of an explanatory note acquiring unit that acquires an explanatory note corresponding to the function selected by the selecting unit. In short, the explanatory note acquisition unit may acquire the explanatory note corresponding to the detected event from the storage unit that stores the explanatory note.

(C-2) In the above-described embodiment, paper or the like is used as the recording medium, but the recording medium is not limited to this. Any recording medium may be used as long as it can record information. For example, a recording medium readable by a computer device such as a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory may be used. In this case, a recording apparatus that records the encoded information on these recording media may be used instead of the image forming unit 17. In addition, when creating a manual, this recording apparatus may record audio data in a recording medium in association with the above operation screen in addition to the above description. In other words, the recording device may not be an image forming unit as long as it is a recording unit that records the description and the operation screen in association with each other on the recording medium. Therefore, the image forming unit 17 in the above-described embodiment is an example of an image forming unit, and the explanatory text acquired by the CPU 11 is displayed on the display unit 16 and the function selected by the coordinate acquiring unit 151 of the operation unit 15. 3 is an example of a recording means for recording on a recording medium in association with an operation screen corresponding to the above.

(C-3) In the above-described embodiment, the bitmap data stored in the VRAM (Video RAM) provided in the display unit 16 is used as the image data indicating the operation screen. Data before being supplied to a rasterizer (not shown) may be used. In short, any data that can reproduce a screen having the same or similar content as the content of the operation screen actually displayed on the display unit 16 may be used.

(C-4) In the above-described embodiment, the explanatory text corresponding to the selected function is recorded on a sheet or the like or a recording medium that can be read by the computer device. However, the explanatory text may be used for other purposes. Good. For example, an explanatory text corresponding to the function selected by the operation unit 15 may be displayed on the display unit 16. In this case, the image forming apparatus 1 may include a display instruction unit that instructs whether or not to display the explanatory text on the display unit 16. Various display instruction means can be used. For example, the above-mentioned setting data table 132 stored in the RAM 13 is provided with an item “display instruction” indicating whether or not to display an explanatory text. When it is confirmed that the setting data corresponding to “Yes” is “present”, the CPU 11 may display the above description on the display unit 16.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen of the display unit 16 in this modification. When the user selects the function “4up” in the function group “collectively 1 sheet” via the operation unit 15, the CPU 11 prints “images of 4 pages all together as an explanatory text corresponding to the function“ 4up ”. Is read from the resource data management table 141. When the CPU 11 confirms that the “display instruction” in the setting data table 132 is “present”, as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the operation screen.

(C-5) In the above-described embodiment, the resource data management table 141 includes the items “language / country” and “territory” in order to specify “language and expression used by the image forming apparatus 1”. The combination is used, but other items may be used. For example, the “language and expression used by the image forming apparatus 1” may be specified only by the item “language / country”.
Further, in the resource data management table 141, a description is described for each “language and expression used by the image forming apparatus 1” by describing a message for each “language / country” and “territory”. However, the explanatory note may be described in other modes. For example, the explanatory text may be described only in one language.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the function according to the user's operation was selected by using the operation unit 15, but the function is not limited to this. For example, the CPU 11 acquires a correspondence relationship between a predetermined time and a function from the storage unit 14 or the like, and compares the acquired timer with the acquired time to detect that this time has been reached. You may select the function corresponding to time. Further, for example, a script describing a procedure for selecting a function in the order of selection may be used. In this case, such a script may be received by the CPU 11 via the communication unit 18.

(C-6) In the above-described embodiment, when an event is detected in step S103 shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 11 detects in step S104 whether or not it is an operation mode for creating a manual. The processing corresponding to the event has been executed, but in the operation mode for creating the manual, the processing does not have to be executed. Specifically, for example, after detecting an event in step S103, the CPU 11 refers to the setting data table 132, determines whether or not the “manual creation” setting data is set to “present”, and “ If the setting data for “Manual creation” is not set to “Yes”, the process corresponding to the detected event is executed. If the setting data for “Manual creation” is set to “Yes” Instead of executing this process, only manual creation may be performed. In this case, the CPU 11 may execute the process of displaying the operation screen on the display unit 16 among the processes corresponding to the detected event, and may not execute only the other processes. Further, by not performing all the above-described processing, even when the operation screen corresponding to the user's operation is not displayed on the display unit 16, the CPU 11 performs the user's operation if manual creation is not performed. Accordingly, image data indicating an operation screen that should be displayed on the display unit 16 may be generated and stored in the manual storage area 143 of the storage unit 14.

(C-7) In the above-described embodiment, each program executed by the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 is a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. For example, it may be provided in a state stored in a recording medium readable by a computer device. It is also possible to download this program via a network such as the Internet. Various devices other than the CPU can be applied as the control means for performing such control. For example, a dedicated processor may be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of an operation part and a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is a figure which shows the function choice display area provided in the lower stage of the operation screen. It is the schematic which shows an example of an event table and a setting data table. It is a figure which shows an example of the resource data management table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of the layout management table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the image forming apparatus. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a manual created by the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a manual created by the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a manual created by the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen of the display part in modification C-4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 131 ... Event table, 132 ... Setting data table, 14 ... Storage part, 141 ... Resource data management table, 142 ... Layout management table, 1421 ... Service Layout table, 1422 ... group layout table, 1423 ... functional layout table, 143 ... manual storage area, 15 ... operation section, 151 ... coordinate acquisition section, 152 ... operation buttons, 16 ... display section, 17 ... image forming section, 18 ... Communication department.

Claims (8)

A selection means for selecting one of a plurality of functions;
Display control means for displaying on the display means an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
Explanatory text acquisition means for acquiring an explanatory text corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
A recording means for recording the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquiring means on a recording medium in association with an operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display means. apparatus. A language designating means for designating one of a plurality of languages;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the explanatory note acquiring unit acquires an explanatory note according to a function selected by the selecting unit and according to a language specified by the language specifying unit. . Accepting means for accepting user instructions;
Position storage means for storing a position for displaying an image for designating each of the plurality of functions in accordance with a user instruction received by the reception means;
The display control means displays, as the operation screen, a screen in which an image for designating each of the plurality of functions is arranged at a position stored by the position storage means. 2. The recording apparatus according to 2. Storage means for storing whether to perform recording by the recording means;
The recording means includes
When the recording is stored in the storage means, the image of the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquiring means is displayed as an image of the operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display means. Recorded on a recording medium in association with
The processing according to the function selected by the selection unit is executed in response to a user operation when the storage unit stores that the recording is not performed. A recording apparatus according to any one of the above. The explanatory note acquiring means acquires audio data indicating the audio corresponding to the explanatory text in addition to the explanatory text corresponding to the function selected by the selecting means,
The recording unit records voice data acquired by the explanatory note acquiring unit in addition to the explanatory note on a recording medium in association with an operation screen corresponding to the function. 5. The recording device according to any one of 4. Comprising display instruction means for instructing whether or not to display the explanatory text on the display means;
When the instruction to display the explanatory text is given, the display control means adds an explanatory text corresponding to the function to the display means in addition to the operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selecting means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is displayed. A selection means for selecting one of a plurality of functions according to a user operation;
Display control means for displaying on the display means an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
Explanatory text acquisition means for acquiring an explanatory text corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data;
When creating the operation procedure of the own device, the image of the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquiring unit is associated with the image of the operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display unit, and the recording medium If the operation procedure of the device itself is not created, processing according to the function selected by the selection unit is executed, and an image according to the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit is executed. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit formed on a recording medium. Computer
A selection means for selecting one of a plurality of functions;
Display control means for displaying on the display means an operation screen corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
Explanatory text acquisition means for acquiring an explanatory text corresponding to the function selected by the selection means;
In order to cause the explanatory text acquired by the explanatory text acquiring means to correspond to an operation screen corresponding to the function displayed by the display means and to function as a recording control means for recording on a recording medium by the recording means Program.

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