JP2018097473A - Information processor and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability of an operation panel of an image formation device.SOLUTION: An image formation system 1 comprises an image formation device 2, and a server 4 communicable with the image formation device 2. The image formation device 2 has an operation display section 26 displaying a screen to be operated by a user, a cloud communication section 12 receiving an improved screed adapted to a selection condition based on a panel usage history indicating transition of the screen displayed on the operation display section 26 from the server 4, and an image formation device control section 10 making the improved screen displayed on the operation display section 26 instead of a before-improvement screen corresponding to the improved screen. The server 4 has a cloud communication section 42 transmitting the improved screed adapted to the panel usage history to the image formation device 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing system, and is suitable for application to an image forming apparatus in which a user operates an operation panel.

  Some conventional image forming apparatuses store the history information of the operation panel menu switching operation and additionally register a new menu on the menu screen, thereby performing an operation having a frequency of a predetermined value or more with one click. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-309618 A

  In such an image forming apparatus, it is desired to improve usability by allowing a user to perform a desired operation more smoothly without hesitation in the operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and intends to propose an information processing apparatus and an information processing system capable of improving usability.

  In order to solve such a problem, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is adapted to a selection condition based on an operation display unit that displays a screen operated by a user and screen transition information that indicates a transition of the screen displayed on the operation display unit. A communication unit that receives the improved screen and a control unit that displays the improved screen on the operation display unit instead of the pre-improvement screen corresponding to the improved screen are provided.

  The information processing system of the present invention includes an information processing apparatus and a server that can communicate with the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes an operation display unit that displays a screen operated by a user, and an operation display unit. The information processing device communication unit that receives from the server an improved screen that meets the selection conditions based on the screen transition information that indicates the screen transition displayed on the screen, and the improved screen instead of the improved screen that corresponds to the improved screen And a server having a server communication unit that transmits an improved screen adapted to the screen transition information to the information processing apparatus.

  As a result, the present invention guides the user's operation by performing the operation more easily than the pre-improvement screen by displaying the post-improvement screen adapted to the selection condition based on the screen transition information instead of the pre-improvement screen. Can be made.

  The present invention can realize an information processing apparatus and an information processing system that can improve usability.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming system. It is a figure which shows a panel usage log | history. It is a figure which shows a menu hierarchy. It is a figure which shows the screen before improvement, and the screen (1) after improvement. It is a figure which shows the screen before improvement, and the screen (2) after improvement. It is a figure which shows a selection condition table. It is a sequence chart which shows a panel use history database data storage processing procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation processing procedure. It is a sequence chart which shows a panel pattern improvement process procedure.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. Embodiment]
[1-1. Overall configuration of image forming system]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming system 1, one or more image forming apparatuses 2 (image forming apparatuses 2A, 2B, 2C,...) Are connected to a server 4 via a cloud network 6 such as the Internet. . Hereinafter, the image forming apparatuses 2A, 2B, and 2C are collectively referred to as an image forming apparatus 2.

  In the image forming system 1, a screen transition log in the panel operation by the user in the image forming apparatus 2 is transmitted to the server 4, and the manufacturer engineer selects the user based on the logs collected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2. A screen on which screen transition is likely to occur or an execution error is likely to be detected is detected, and a panel pattern with improved screen display or screen transition is registered in the server 4. Further, in the image forming system 1, a panel pattern corresponding to the tendency of individual operation mistakes is selected for each user from the improved panel patterns registered in the server 4, and the operation panel 14 in the image forming apparatus 2 is selected. Applies to (Fig. 2).

[1-2. Configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 2 is, for example, a multifunction machine having a scanning function, a printing function, a copying function, and the like, and the image forming apparatus control unit 10 includes each unit (cloud communication unit 12, operation panel 14, image reading unit). 16 and the image forming apparatus storage unit 18). The image forming apparatus control unit 10 is mainly configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and stores an image forming apparatus that includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like. By reading a predetermined program from the unit 18 and executing it, each unit is controlled to perform various processes such as a printing process. The image forming apparatus control unit 10 implements the functions of the job control unit 20, the operation panel control unit 22, and the print control unit 24.

  The cloud communication unit 12 is a communication module and is connected to the cloud network 6 and performs data communication with the server 4 via the cloud network 6.

  The operation panel 14 includes an operation display unit 26 and a plurality of button switches 28. The operation display unit 26 is a touch panel in which an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying an operation screen at the time of a transaction and an input unit for selecting a transaction type, inputting a personal identification number, a transaction amount, and the like are integrated. Various displays on which the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is performed, job execution statuses, previews of scanned images, and the like are displayed, and user operations are accepted. The button switch 28 is a physical key that accepts user input, and is used when an input operation such as a password or transaction amount is performed.

  The job control unit 20 controls the operation of a job instructed to be executed from the operation panel 14 and the server 4. The operation panel control unit 22 realizes the functions of the execution error detection unit 30, the screen transition detection unit 32, and the timer 34, and performs display switching control in the operation display unit 26 and operation input control in the button switch 28.

  The execution error detection unit 30 detects an execution error when the user tries to execute a predetermined function from the operation panel 14. The execution error detection unit 30 detects that an execution error has occurred, for example, when a setting item necessary for operation execution has not been set. More specifically, the execution error detection unit 30 detects, for example, a destination unset error when the Scan button is pressed even when the setting field of the transmission destination e-mail address is blank at the time of executing ScanToEmail as an execution error. To do.

  The screen transition detection unit 32 operates when the user operates the operation panel 14 to change the screen. The waiting time of each screen, the number of transitions of each screen including the number of times of return, and the occurrence of an error when executing each screen The situation is generated as screen transition log data D2 shown in FIGS. 3 (B) and 3 (C). Further, the screen transition detection unit 32 generates information on panel operation start timing (session start date and time and session start time) together with the screen transition log data D2 as panel usage history log data D1 shown in FIG. The timer 34 is used for calculating the panel operation start timing and the standby time of each screen, and acquires the date and time.

  The image forming apparatus storage unit 18 stores a panel usage history storage unit 36 and a panel pattern storage unit 38. The panel usage history storage unit 36 stores the panel usage history DP shown in FIG. 3 generated by the screen transition detection unit 32. The panel usage history DP has panel usage history log data D1 and screen transition log data D2. The panel pattern storage unit 38 stores the panel pattern data of the improved screen received from the server 4.

  The image reading unit 16 operates when executing a scan function and a copy function, and controls the scanner unit to read an image of a document set on the scanner unit as image data and generate a scanned image. The print control unit 24 operates when executing the print function and the copy function, and forms a print image based on the print job delivered from the job control unit 20 and the scanned image delivered from the image reading unit 16, and the print unit Is controlled to print a print image on paper.

[1-3. Server configuration]
In the server 4, the server control unit 40 controls each unit (cloud communication unit 42 and server storage unit 44). The server control unit 40 is mainly configured by a CPU (not shown), and controls and controls each unit by reading and executing a predetermined program from the server storage unit 44 including a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like. Various processes are performed. The server control unit 40 realizes the function of the panel usage history control unit 46.

  The cloud communication unit 42 is a communication module and is connected to the cloud network 6 and performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 2 via the cloud network 6.

  The panel usage history control unit 46 realizes the functions of the selection condition search unit 48, the improvement screen registration unit 50, and the selection condition registration unit 52, and operates in conjunction with the operation panel control unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2. The panel usage history control unit 46 accesses the panel usage history database 54 and the panel pattern database 56. The selection condition search unit 48 matches the panel usage history log data and the screen transition log data stored in the panel usage history database 54 with the selection conditions stored in the panel pattern database 56, and meets the selection conditions. Search for a pattern. The improved screen registration unit 50 provides an API (Application Programming Interface) and an operation screen for registering the panel pattern of the improved screen created by the manufacturer engineer in the panel pattern database 56. The selection condition registration unit 52 provides an API and an operation screen for registering the selection condition created by the manufacturer engineer in the panel pattern database 56.

  The server storage unit 44 stores a panel usage history database 54 and a panel pattern database 56. The panel usage history database 54 accumulates and stores the panel usage history log data D1 and the screen transition log data D2 received from the image forming apparatus 2. The panel pattern database 56 stores the improved panel pattern and selection conditions created by the manufacturer engineer.

[1-4. Control panel hierarchy]
Here, the operation panel 14 in the image forming apparatus 2 displays a screen constituted by, for example, a menu hierarchy MT shown in FIG. The menu hierarchy MT indicates the time required for the user to transition from the top screen A to the next screen, and whether the execution of the finally executed function is successful or fails due to an error. In the menu hierarchy MT example shown in FIG. 4, it takes a long time of 15 seconds to move from the screen B-1 to the screen C-5, so that the user may take time to understand the screen B-1. It is assumed that the user is at a loss for screen transition to proceed. In addition, since an execution error occurred on screen C-2, some pre-settings may have been insufficient. If the user makes many mistakes, screen display, screen transition, and screen hierarchy improvements It can be seen that there is room for.

[1-5. Panel Usage History Configuration]
FIG. 3 shows the panel usage history DP stored in the panel usage history storage unit 36 of the image forming apparatus 2. The panel usage history DP is composed of panel usage history log data D1 (FIG. 3A) and screen transition log data D2 (FIGS. 3B and 3C).

  The panel usage history log data D1 manages the provided panel pattern, the session start date / time, the session start time, and the screen transition ID as one data. The applied panel pattern indicates the panel pattern of the improved screen applied. The session start date and time indicates the date and time when the session to which the applied panel pattern is applied is started. The session start time indicates the time when the session to which the applied panel pattern is applied is started. The screen transition ID is an identification number unique to each session. The rows in the panel usage history log data D1 are sequentially added each time the panel pattern of the improved screen is applied in the image forming apparatus 2.

  The screen transition log data D2 manages the screen transition ID, device ID, user ID, execution step, screen number, standby time (sec), pressed key / occurrence event, and execution status as a single piece of data. 3B shows the screen transition log data D2 when the screen transition ID is 0000-0000-0000-0001, and FIG. 3C shows the case where the screen transition ID is 0000-0000-0000-0002. Screen transition log data D2 is shown respectively. The screen transition ID indicates a unique identification number for each session, and corresponds to the screen transition ID of the panel usage history log data D1. The device ID indicates a unique identifier for each image forming apparatus 2. The user ID indicates a unique identifier for each user. The execution step indicates the number of steps that are added each time the screen changes from the start of the session. The screen number indicates the number of the screen on which the user has transitioned. The standby time (sec) indicates the number of seconds required for transition from the current screen to the next screen. The pressed key / occurrence event indicates a key pressed on the current screen or an event that has occurred. The execution status indicates what has happened as a result of a key being pressed or an event occurring on the current screen. Incidentally, when the user is not logged in when using the image forming apparatus 2, the screen transition log data D2 is blank without storing the user ID.

  As described above, the panel usage history DP is configured as tabular data, so that it can be easily stored in the panel usage history storage unit 36 in the image forming apparatus 2 and the panel usage history database 54 in the server 4. Has become easier.

[1-6. Panel usage history database data storage process]
A specific processing procedure of the panel usage history database data storage processing procedure RT1 by the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. When the power of the image forming apparatus 2 is turned on, in step SP1, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 identifies the user who operates the image forming apparatus 2 by waiting for the user to log in. Before this panel usage history database data storage processing procedure RT1 is executed, the image forming apparatus 2 creates and stores panel usage history log data D1 and screen transition log data D2 for each user based on the user's panel operation. ing.

  When the user logs in, in step SP2, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 causes the operation panel control unit 22 to obtain the panel use history DP (panel use history log data D1 and screen transition log data D2) from the panel use history storage unit 36. It is taken out at a constant cycle and transmitted to the server 4.

  In step SP3, the server control unit 40 of the server 4 registers the panel usage history log data D1 and the screen transition log data D2 received from the image forming apparatus 2 in the panel usage history database 54 by the panel usage history control unit 46.

  As described above, in the panel usage history database data accumulation process, the image forming system 1 transmits the panel usage history log data D1 and the screen transition log data D2 for each user from the image forming apparatus 2 to the server 4 at a constant period. It is registered in the panel usage history database 54 and accumulated as information for each user.

[1-7. Improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation process]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation processing procedure RT2 by the manufacturer engineer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the panel usage history is accumulated to some extent in the panel usage history database 54 of the server 4, the manufacturer engineer accesses the panel usage history database 54 in step SP11, and the past of various image forming apparatuses 2 (2A, 2B, 2C, etc.). Panel usage history is acquired, and the process proceeds to step SP12. In step SP12, the manufacturer engineer creates an improved panel pattern presumed to be significant for the user by analyzing the acquired panel use history, and proceeds to step SP13. In step SP13, the manufacturer engineer registers the created improved panel pattern in the panel pattern database 56, and proceeds to step SP14. In step SP14, the manufacturer engineer creates a selection condition and registers it in the panel pattern database 56. The process proceeds to step SP15, and the improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation processing procedure RT2 ends.

[1-8. Create improvement panel pattern]
The manufacturer engineer creates and registers an improvement panel pattern by performing the following processing in step SP12 in the improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation processing procedure RT2.

[1-8-1. Screen example 1]
FIG. 5A shows a screen B-1 that is a pre-improvement screen before replacement, and FIG. 5B shows a screen B-1 ′ that is a post-improvement screen after replacement. On the screen B-1 and the screen B-1 ′, a left screen DIPL which is a left screen is first displayed. In the left screen DIPL in FIG. 5A, screen transition buttons Bc1, Bc2, which are buttons that transition to screen C-1, screen C-2, screen C-3, and screen C-4, respectively, when pressed. Bc3 and Bc4 are displayed. Further, in the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1, a right screen button BN that is a button for shifting to the right screen DIPR that is the right screen when pressed is displayed on the lower right. Further, in the right screen DIPR of the screen B-1 in FIG. 5A, a screen transition button Bc5 that is a button for transitioning to the screen C-5 when the button is pressed is displayed and left when the button is pressed. A return button BB, which is a button for returning to the screen DIPL, is displayed at the lower right.

  In this way, the screen transition buttons Bc1, Bc2, Bc3, and Bc4 are displayed on the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1, but the screen transition button Bc5 is not displayed, so the user transitions to the screen C-5. When the user wants to press the screen transition button Bc5, the user needs to press the screen transition button Bc5 after pressing the right screen button BN in the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1 to transition to the right screen DIPR. There is.

  The manufacturer engineer uses the screen B-1 based on the statistical information of the waiting time until the transition to the screen C-5, which is the next screen in the screen B-1, in the panel usage history DP stored in the panel usage history database 54. Is a screen that has a longer standby time than other screens, so that it is detected as a screen that is easy to get lost, and an improved panel pattern that displays screen B-1 ′ shown in FIG. Register in the panel pattern database 56.

  The screen B-1 'in FIG. 5B is supplemented with a supplementary explanation section FN1 as compared with the screen B-1 in FIG. This supplementary explanation section FN1 states that when the user presses the right screen button BN on the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1 ′, the screen transition button Bc5 can be changed to the right screen DIPR of the screen B-1 ′. it's shown.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the reason why it takes a long time of 15 seconds to shift from the screen B-1 to the screen C-5 is that the screen transition button Bc5 is displayed on the right screen DIPR of the screen B-1. Since it is displayed, the user needs time to realize that it is necessary to transition from the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1 to the right screen DIPR, and the screen transition button Bc5 is pressed on the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1. This is probably because the user has searched for a long time. On the other hand, the left screen DIPL of the screen B-1 ′ indicates to the user that the transition to the right screen DIPR of the screen B-1 ′ should be first made by the supplementary explanation unit FN1 when the screen transition button Bc5 is pressed. doing.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 2, in the case of a user who often gets lost looking for the screen transition button Bc5, displays the screen B-1 of the screen before improvement and the screen of the screen after improvement that displays the location of the screen transition button Bc5 as a guide. It was made to replace with B-1 '. As a result, the image forming apparatus 2 can reduce the user's hesitation about the screen transition and improve the user's convenience.

[1-8-2. Screen example 2]
FIG. 6A shows a screen C-1 that is a pre-improvement screen before replacement, and FIG. 6B shows a screen C-1 ′ that is a post-improvement screen after replacement. In the screen C-1 in FIG. 6A, a destination part AD that is a setting field for a destination E-mail address when ScanToEmail is executed is displayed, and the destination E-mail address is displayed in the destination part AD. When pressed in the input state, a Scan button BSc, which is a button for deciding to transmit a scanned image to a destination e-mail address, is displayed. As described above, when executing ScanToEmail, the user needs to press the Scan button BSc after inputting the destination e-mail address in the destination part AD.

  The manufacturer engineer uses the screen usage history DP accumulated in the panel usage history database 54 based on the statistical information of the execution error on the screen C-1, so that the screen C-1 has a larger number of errors than the other screens. Therefore, it is detected as a screen on which an error is likely to occur, and an improved panel pattern for displaying the screen C-1 ′ shown in FIG. 6B is created and registered in the panel pattern database 56 by the improved screen registration unit 50.

  The screen C-1 ′ in FIG. 6B is supplemented with a supplementary explanation section FN2 as compared with the screen C-1 in FIG. The supplementary explanation part FN2 displays a word that the destination e-mail address should be input to the destination part AD before the scan is executed on the screen C-1 ′.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the reason why the execution error has occurred on the screen C-1 is considered to be that the Scan button BSc was pressed before the destination e-mail address was input to the destination part AD. It is done. On the other hand, the screen C-1 'presents the user with the supplementary explanation unit FN2 that the destination e-mail address should be input to the destination unit AD before the Scan execution.

  As described above, in the case of a user who often presses the Scan button BSc before inputting the destination e-mail address in the destination part AD, the image forming apparatus 2 displays the screen C-1 of the pre-improvement screen as the Scan button. The screen is changed to the screen C-1 ′ after improvement that alerts the user that the destination e-mail address should be input to the destination part AD before execution. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 2 can prevent execution errors and improve user convenience.

[1-9. Creation of selection conditions]
The manufacturer engineer creates and registers a selection condition by performing the following processing in step SP13 in the improvement panel pattern and selection condition creation processing procedure RT2. FIG. 7 shows a selection condition table TB1 in which selection conditions created by the manufacturer engineer are registered in the panel pattern database 56 by the selection condition registration unit 52. The selection condition table TB1 shows the criteria for creating the panel pattern of the screen after improvement based on the panel pattern of the screen before improvement. The manufacturer engineer analyzes the panel usage history accumulated in the panel usage history database 54. This is created and registered in the panel pattern database 56.

  Screen B-1 and screen C-1 are entered in the selection condition table TB1. The entry of the screen B-1 is the screen B-1 which is the screen after improvement when the standby time is 10 seconds or more and the frequency occurs 5 times or more with respect to the screen B-1 which is the screen before improvement. The selection condition to replace with 'is registered. The entry of screen C-1 is registered with a selection condition of replacing screen C-1 ′, which is an improved screen, when the number of errors occurs 5 times or more with respect to screen C-1, which is the screen before improving. ing.

[1-10. Panel pattern improvement process]
A specific processing procedure of the panel pattern improvement processing procedure RT3 by the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG. When the power of the image forming apparatus 2 is turned on, in step SP21, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 identifies the user who operates the image forming apparatus 2 by waiting for the user to log in, and step SP22. Move on. In step SP22, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 determines whether or not the improved panel pattern is already created and registered in the panel pattern database 56 by the operation panel control unit 22 with respect to the server 4. Inquire.

  In step SP23, the server control unit 40 of the server 4 matches the panel usage history registered in the panel usage history database 54 with the selection conditions registered in the panel pattern database 56 by using the selection condition search unit 48.

  In step SP24, the server control unit 40 determines whether an improved panel pattern that meets the selection condition has already been created and registered in the panel pattern database 56 based on the determination result in step SP23. If a positive result is obtained here, this means that an improved panel pattern should be transmitted from the server 4 to the image forming apparatus 2, and the server control unit 40 proceeds to step SP25 at this time. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP24, this means that there is no improvement panel pattern that can be transmitted from the server 4 to the image forming apparatus 2, and at this time, the server control unit 40 proceeds to step SP26.

  In step SP <b> 25, the server control unit 40 extracts an improved panel pattern that matches the selection condition from the panel pattern database 56 by the selection condition search unit 48 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 2. On the other hand, at step SP 26, the server control unit 40 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the selection condition matching improvement panel pattern non-existence notification indicating that there is no improvement panel pattern that matches the selection condition.

  In step SP27, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 2 stores the improved panel pattern received from the server 4 in the panel pattern storage unit 38 by the operation panel control unit 22. In step SP <b> 28, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 replaces the improved panel pattern stored in the panel pattern storage unit 38 with the pre-improvement screen as an improved screen and displays it on the operation panel control unit 22. On the other hand, when receiving the selection condition conformity improvement panel pattern non-existence notification from the server 4, the image forming apparatus control unit 10 continues to display the pre-improvement screen.

[1-11. Effect]
In the above-described configuration, the image forming system 1 transmits a panel usage history DP indicating a log of operation errors, screen transitions, display times, and the like on the operation panel 14 of the image forming apparatus 2 from the image forming apparatus 2 to the server 4. The panel usage history DP for each user is stored in the server 4. Subsequently, the manufacturer engineer analyzes the panel usage history DP and creates an improved panel pattern in which a guide for an operation method is displayed in response to a user's operation error, and selection conditions for applying the improved panel pattern. sign up. Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 2 inquires of the server 4 whether or not the improved panel pattern is registered. When the improved panel pattern that matches the selection condition is registered in the server 4, the server 4 displays the improved panel pattern in the image. Transmit to the forming apparatus 2. Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 2 displays the screen after improvement based on the improved panel pattern received from the server 4 instead of the screen before improvement based on the panel pattern before improvement.

  For this reason, even if the menu hierarchy is deep, the image forming system 1 makes it difficult for the user to switch screens, takes time to move to the next screen on a screen whose meaning is difficult to understand, and executes a predetermined function. It is possible to prevent the user from pressing the execution key while forgetting to input necessary setting items at the time of starting and causing an execution error. As a result, the image forming system 1 can improve usability by allowing the user to perform the target operation more smoothly without hesitation in the operation.

  The image forming system 1 creates the panel usage history log data D1 and the screen transition log data D2 for each user identified by the user ID, and appropriately replaces the pre-improvement screen with the post-improvement screen for each user.

  As a result, the image forming system 1 can prevent an operation error by displaying an improved screen including a supplementary explanation section for a user who is likely to make an operation error. By displaying the pre-improvement screen that does not include the supplementary explanation section, it is possible to prevent troublesome guide display from being performed for users who do not need guide display.

  Furthermore, the image forming system 1 collects various user panel use history log data D1 and screen transition log data D2 from a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 and stores them in the server 4. As a result, the image forming system 1 can generate the improvement panel pattern corresponding to one user among a plurality of users who tend to make the same operation mistakes on a predetermined screen. By applying the improved panel pattern applied to one user, the improved panel pattern can be provided immediately.

  Further, the image forming system 1 registers the improved panel pattern in the server 4 connected to the image forming apparatus 2 and the cloud network 6 instead of in the same LAN (Local Area Network) as the image forming apparatus 2. As a result, the image forming system 1 can immediately reflect the improved panel pattern improved by the manufacturer engineer on the server 4.

  According to the above configuration, the image forming system 1 includes the image forming apparatus 2 and the server 4 that can communicate with the image forming apparatus 2, and the image forming apparatus 2 displays an operation screen that is operated by the user. Unit 26, cloud communication unit 12 that receives an improved screen from server 4 that meets the selection conditions based on panel usage history DP as screen transition information indicating the transition of the screen displayed on operation display unit 26, and after the improvement The image forming apparatus control unit 10 displays an improved screen on the operation display unit 26 instead of the pre-improvement screen corresponding to the screen, and the server 4 displays the improved screen suitable for the panel usage history DP as the image forming apparatus. 2 to have a cloud communication unit 42 that transmits to 2.

  As a result, the image forming system 1 guides the user's operation and makes it easier than the pre-improvement screen by displaying the post-improvement screen that matches the selection condition based on the panel usage history DP instead of the pre-improvement screen. The operation can be performed.

[2. Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the number of errors, the standby time, and the frequency are included as the selection conditions has been described. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the screen B-1 (FIG. 5A), an arrow button (not shown) in the button switch 28 (FIG. 2) is pressed. The selection condition may include the number of times an invalid key that has no meaning even if the screen is changed. In this case, for example, when the invalid key is pressed three times or more like the screen C-5 in the screen transition log data D2 shown in FIG. 3C, the screen C-5 ′ improved from the screen C-5 (FIG. (Not shown) may be created.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the improved screen is displayed has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the screen may remain the pre-improvement screen, and a voice for guiding the user's operation may be played.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the supplementary explanation part FN1 that is a sentence is displayed on the screen B-1 ′ that is the improved screen and the supplementary explanation part FN2 that is a sentence is displayed on the screen C-1 ′ has been described. . The present invention is not limited to this, and the screen B-1 ′ displays the right screen button BN larger than the screen B-1, or the screen C-1 ′ compared to the screen C-1. The destination part AD may be displayed large.

  On the screen B-1 ′, the screen transition buttons Bc1, Bc2, Bc3, Bc4 and Bc5 are reduced by reducing the size of the screen transition buttons Bc1, Bc2, Bc3, Bc4 and Bc5 compared to the screen B-1. You may make it all fit in one screen.

  Further, on the screen C-1 ′, as compared with the screen C-1, immediately after the transition to the screen C-1 ′, the Scan button BSc is not displayed and the destination e-mail address is input to the destination part AD to some extent. Then, the Scan button BSc may be displayed.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a manufacturer engineer creates an improved panel pattern and a selection condition by analyzing the panel usage history accumulated in the panel pattern database 56 and registers it in the panel pattern database 56. Stated. The present invention is not limited to this, for example, by using artificial intelligence to analyze the panel usage history to create an improved panel pattern and selection conditions, or to support the creation of an improved panel pattern and selection conditions by a manufacturer engineer. good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 2 is connected to the server 4 via the cloud network 6 such as the Internet has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and conforms to standards such as BlueTooth (registered trademark), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.3u / ab, IEEE802.11a / b / g / n, NFC (Near Field Communication), etc. It may be connected via various communication means such as a wireless LAN.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 2 that is a multifunction peripheral has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to various devices such as a copy machine and a FAX machine.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the operation screen of the operation panel 14 in the image forming apparatus 2 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to an operation screen of a remote controller displayed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the operation display unit 26 as an operation display unit, the cloud communication unit 12 as a communication unit, and the image forming apparatus control unit 10 as a control unit form an image as an information processing apparatus. The case where the apparatus 2 is configured has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and an information processing apparatus may be configured by an operation display unit having various configurations, a communication unit, and a control unit.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, as an information processing apparatus having the operation display unit 26 as an operation display unit, the cloud communication unit 12 as an information processing device communication unit, and the image forming apparatus control unit 10 as a control unit. The case where the image forming system 1 as the image forming system is configured by the image forming apparatus 2 and the server 4 as the server having the cloud communication unit 42 as the server communication unit has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming system is configured by an operation display unit having various other configurations, an information processing device having an information processing device communication unit, a control unit, and a server having a server communication unit. You may do it.

  The present invention can be used not only for computers that print images on image forming apparatuses, but also for various electronic devices that perform various processes relating to images, such as image scanners, facsimile machines, and copying machines.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 2 ... Image forming apparatus, 4 ... Server, 6 ... Cloud network, 10 ... Image forming apparatus control part, 12 ... Cloud communication part, 14 ... Operation panel, 16 ... Image reading unit, 18... Image forming apparatus storage unit, 20... Job control unit, 22... Operation panel control unit, 24... Print control unit, 26. ... Execution error detection unit, 32 ... Screen transition detection unit, 34 ... Timer, 36 ... Panel usage history storage unit, 38 ... Panel pattern storage unit, DP ... Panel usage history, D1 ... Panel usage history log Data, D2 ... Screen transition log data, 40 ... Server control unit, 42 ... Cloud communication unit, 44 ... Server storage unit, 46 ... Panel usage history control unit, 48 ... Selection condition search unit, 50 ... ... Improved image Registration unit, 52 …… Selection condition registration unit, 54 …… Panel usage history database, 56 …… Panel pattern database, MT …… Menu hierarchy, BN …… Right screen button, BB …… Back button, DIPL …… Left screen , DIPR: Right screen, Bc1, Bc2, Bc3, Bc4, Bc5 ... Screen transition button, FN1, FN2 ... Supplementary explanation part, AD ... Destination part, Bc1, Bc2, Bc3, Bc4, Bc5 ... Screen transition Button, BSc ... Scan button, TB1 ... Selection condition table.

Claims (12)

An operation display unit for displaying a screen operated by the user;
A communication unit that receives an improved screen that conforms to a selection condition based on screen transition information indicating a screen transition displayed on the operation display unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the operation display unit to display the improved screen instead of the improved screen corresponding to the improved screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-improvement screen guides an operation method to a user who operates the post-improvement screen as compared to the pre-improvement screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit transmits the screen transition information to a server and receives the improved screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection condition includes the number of errors generated by a user on the pre-improvement screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection condition includes a waiting time required by the user until a transition to the next screen on the pre-improvement screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selection condition includes a frequency at which the waiting time on the pre-improvement screen is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection condition includes the number of times an invalid key that is invalid even if selected on the pre-improvement screen is selected. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the post-improvement screen is created by adding a supplementary explanation unit to the pre-improvement screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supplementary explanation unit prompts the user to transition to a next screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the supplementary explanation unit prompts the user to input a destination of a scanned image before performing a scan. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the screen transition information is created for each user. An information processing device and a server capable of communicating with the information processing device;
The information processing apparatus includes:
An operation display unit for displaying a screen operated by the user;
An information processing device communication unit that receives an improved screen from the server that meets a selection condition based on screen transition information indicating a screen transition displayed on the operation display unit;
A control unit that causes the operation display unit to display the post-improvement screen instead of the pre-improvement screen corresponding to the post-improvement screen,
The server
An information processing system comprising: a server communication unit that transmits the improved screen adapted to the screen transition information to the information processing apparatus.

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