JP2019008492A - Method and apparatus for controlling screen sharing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a screen sharing system which enables an operator to always grasp a scope of a sharing target on a call center side terminal screen without impairing operability.SOLUTION: In a communication system for performing screen-sharing between a network connected information processing apparatus 1 (102) and an information processing apparatus 2 (101), the information processing apparatus 1 includes a shared area designating means (330, 340) for sharing with the information processing device 2 only an area surrounded by a shared area window on a desktop screen, a sharing area priority display means (S406, S330) for always displaying the shared area window on a front side, and a shared area operation means (S406, S350) for enabling operation of other windows in the shared area window.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen sharing system control method and program.

  As product troubleshooting becomes more complex, users frequently ask the manufacturer's call center for answers. Furthermore, a remote maintenance service between the image forming apparatus and the call center has been considered in order to quickly deal with troubles (see Patent Document 1). The remote maintenance service facilitates troubleshooting even from a remote location without requiring call center personnel to visit the site when trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus. Since the time required for movement is eliminated, it is possible to shorten the time until the trouble is solved.

  On the other hand, in the remote maintenance service, a screen sharing system has been proposed in which a call center operator and a user can solve a problem while viewing the same screen (Patent Document 2). Various contents (hereinafter referred to as help contents) useful for troubleshooting by the operator are opened on the desktop screen, and the same contents are also displayed on the operation unit side of the image forming apparatus, thereby solving the problem while sharing information with the user. Is used.

JP 2005-208974 A JP 2011-28472 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, since the entire desktop screen is shared, there is a possibility that information which is not preferable for security is also shared.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to share only a partial area with the image forming apparatus side instead of sharing the entire desktop screen. At this time, it is common to display a window (hereinafter referred to as a shared area window) for indicating a shared area on the desktop screen. When screen sharing is executed, the range surrounded by the shared area window on the desktop screen is also displayed on the operation unit side of the image forming apparatus.

  However, if the shared area window is hidden by another window operation on the desktop screen while screen sharing is being executed, there is a problem that it becomes unclear which range is the sharing target. Under this circumstance, there is a possibility of sharing unfavorable information on security.

  In order to avoid this, during execution of screen sharing, the shared area window must always be displayed in the foreground on the desktop screen.

  On the other hand, there is a demand for sharing with the image forming apparatus side while operating other windows in the area of the shared area window. For example, when help content is enclosed in a shared area window and shared with the image forming apparatus, there is a case where it is desired to perform a page feed operation on the help content side.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a screen sharing system capable of operating other windows in the shared area window while always displaying the shared area window on the front regardless of the operation contents of the other windows.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to the present invention provides:
In a communication system that performs screen sharing between the information processing apparatus 1 (102) and the information processing apparatus 2 (101) connected to the network,
The information processing apparatus 1
Shared area designating means (330, 340) for sharing the screen with the information processing apparatus 2 only in the range surrounded by the shared area window on the desktop screen;
Shared area priority display means (S406, S330) for always displaying the shared area window in front;
It has a common area operation means (S406, S350) that enables operation of other windows in the common area window.

  According to the communication system according to the present invention, when sharing information on the desktop screen on the call center side on the image forming apparatus side, screen sharing is performed so that the operator side can always grasp the range of the sharing target without impairing operability. It becomes possible to do.

System Configuration Hardware configuration diagram Example screen flowchart

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a network configuration of a remote maintenance service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 101 and the call center terminal 102 are apparatuses to which the present invention is applied, have remote maintenance functions such as voice and video communication and remote operation, and operate as communication partners at the time of remote maintenance.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the call center terminal 102.

  A control unit 210 including a CPU 211 controls the operation of the entire call center terminal 102. The CPU 211 reads the control program stored in the ROM 212 and executes various control processes. The RAM 213 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area for the CPU 211. The HDD 214 stores image data and various programs. The operation unit I / F 215 connects the operation unit 217 and the control unit 210. The operation unit 217 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The network I / F 216 connects the control unit 210 to the Internet 103.

  FIG. 3 is a screen example of the image forming apparatus 101 and the call center terminal 102 when the shared area window is used.

  A screen 310 is a screen example in which a shared area window 312 and help content 313 are displayed on the desktop screen 311 of the call center terminal 102.

  A screen 320 is a screen example in which a streaming screen 321 is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 101. The image in the shared area window 312 is displayed on the streaming screen 321 as streaming data. The frame rate value and data format for streaming are not limited.

  The screen 330 is a screen example in which the shared area window 312 is arranged so as to overlap the help content 313. During screen sharing, a partial image of help content 313 surrounded by the shared area window 312 is displayed on the streaming screen 321 side, as shown on a screen 340. In this way, the operator can explain the solution while showing help content such as a method for solving a paper jam to the user. During screen sharing execution, the operator must always know which area on the desktop screen 311 is displayed on the streaming screen 321. This is because there is a possibility that a document that is not desirable to be shown to the customer for security is displayed on the streaming screen 321 side. Therefore, the shared area window 312 is always displayed on the front on the desktop screen 311. Even if an operation is performed on the title bar of the help content 313, the shared area window 312 is always displayed on the front as shown in the screen 330.

  A screen 350 is a screen example when the shared area window 312 is switched to the transparent mode ON in order to operate the help content 313. In the transparent mode, an operation event such as a mouse or a keyboard for the shared area window 312 is not passed to the shared area window 312 but is passed to the window displayed on the back. This transparent mode ON / OFF may be switched by an operation on the menu bar and the title bar of the shared area window 312 or may be switched by a shortcut key. On the screen 330, since the shared area window 312 is in the transparent mode OFF, the back help content 313 cannot be operated in the shared area window 312. For example, the scroll operation of the help content 313 cannot be performed.

However, on the screen 350, the shared area window 312 is in the transparent mode ON, so that the help content 313 on the back side can be operated in the shared area window 312. For example, the scrolling of the help content 313 is possible. As a result, as shown on the screen 360, it is possible to copy on the streaming screen 321 while operating the help content 313. When the shared area window 312 is set to the transparent mode ON, the shared area window 312 cannot be moved or enlarged / reduced. By pressing the Esc key, the transmission mode can be switched from ON to OFF. Switching the transparent mode from ON to OFF may be performed by a key operation other than the Esc key, or may be performed by long-pressing the title bar of the shared area window 312. FIG. It is a processing flow.

  This flowchart is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 214 into the RAM 213 and executing it by the CPU 211.

  First, in step S <b> 401, the CPU 211 receives an operation event for the shared area window 312 from the operation unit I / F 215.

  In step S402, the CPU 211 determines whether the shared area window 312 is in the transparent mode ON / OFF.

  If the determination in S402 is that the transparent mode is OFF, in S403, the CPU 211 processes the operation event as for the shared area window 312.

  If the determination in S402 is the transparent mode ON, in S404, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the operation event is an Esc key press event.

  If the determination in S404 is the Esc key, in S405, the CPU 211 switches the shared area window 312 to the transparent mode OFF.

  If the determination in S404 is not the Esc key, in S406, the CPU 211 displays the shared area window 312 on the front and processes the operation event as for the window on the back side.

210 Control unit, 211 CPU, 212 ROM, 213 RAM

Claims (2)

In a communication system that performs screen sharing between the information processing apparatus 1 (102) and the information processing apparatus 2 (101) connected to the network,
The information processing apparatus 1
Shared area designating means (330, 340) for sharing the screen with the information processing apparatus 2 only in the range surrounded by the shared area window on the desktop screen;
Shared area priority display means (S406, S330) for always displaying the shared area window in front;
A communication system comprising: a shared area operation means (S406, S350) that enables operation of other windows in the shared area window. The information processing apparatus 1
When an operation event occurs for the shared area window (S401),
Whether to process as an operation event for the shared area window itself (S403)
The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising means (S402) that enables switching as an operation event for another window in the shared area window (S406).