JP6413885B2 - Data reproduction method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data reproduction method and program for reproducing work explanation data for explaining work on a printer in a portable terminal.

  In recent years, printers have become more multifunctional, and the display unit of the printer not only displays the printer status and print job name, but also displays help and electronic manuals. Further, a printer has been proposed in which the display unit displays an explanation of error contents, a canceling method, a recording paper replacement method, an ink or head replacement method, etc. in a slide show (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, the display unit of the conventional printer has a low resolution, and it is often difficult to understand even if explanations of various procedures are displayed as illustrations. Also, small printers and business printers that are not provided with a display unit cannot display descriptions of various procedures.

JP 2006-205604 A JP 2004-145775 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data reproduction method and program for reproducing a moving image for explaining various work procedures in a printer on a portable terminal.

  A program according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits printer information to a server device, and a work including a moving image or a time-series continuous still image that describes the operation of the printer indicated by the printer information from the server device. A receiving unit that receives the description data, an acquisition unit that captures the printer and acquires a printer image, a representative image of each operation included in the operation description data, and the printer image are compared, and the printer image is processed. The computer of the portable terminal is caused to function as a comparison unit that identifies the work that is being performed, and a playback unit that reproduces the explanation moving image or the explanation still image corresponding to the identified work.

  In the program according to one aspect of the present invention, the work description data includes a plurality of representative images having different elapsed times for each work, and the reproduction unit determines from the elapsed time of the representative image having the highest similarity to the printer image. The computer is caused to function so as to start reproduction of the explanatory moving image or the explanatory still image.

  In the program according to one aspect of the present invention, the transmission unit causes the computer to function so as to transmit image data of a part of the printer housing including the printer information to the server device. It is what.

  A data reproduction method according to an aspect of the present invention is a data reproduction method using a portable terminal and a server device, wherein the portable terminal transmits printer information to the server device, and the server device indicates the printer information. Work description data including moving images or time-sequential still images describing the work in the printer to be transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal captures a printer to obtain a printer image, from the server device The representative image of each work included in the received work explanation data is compared with the printer image, the work being performed by the printer is identified, and the explanation video or the explanation still image corresponding to the identified work is reproduced. It is characterized by this.

  A data reproduction method according to an aspect of the present invention is a data reproduction method using a portable terminal and a server device, wherein the portable terminal transmits printer information to the server device, and the server device indicates the printer information. Work description data including moving images or time-sequential still images describing the work performed by the printer is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal captures a printer to obtain a printer image, and the printer image is acquired. The server device compares the representative image of each work included in the work description data with the printer image, identifies the work being performed by the printer, and performs the identified work. The mobile terminal is notified, and the mobile terminal reproduces an explanatory moving image or an explanatory still image corresponding to the notified work.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reproduce a moving image explaining the procedure of various operations in the printer on the portable terminal, and the user can easily understand the procedure.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a moving image data reproduction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view of a printer. It is a block diagram of a server apparatus. It is a block diagram of a portable terminal. It is a functional block diagram implement | achieved by running a video reproduction application. It is a figure which shows the example of an image capture screen. It is a perspective view showing a printer when a front unit is pulled out. It is a figure which shows the example of imaging | photography of the printer of the state which opened the cover of the front unit. It is a figure which shows the example of selection of work specific mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a moving image data reproduction system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the moving image data reproduction system includes a server device 1 and a portable terminal 2, and reproduces a moving image for explaining various work procedures of the printer 3 on the portable terminal 2.

  The server device 1 stores moving image data that explains the work procedure of various types of printers, and transmits the moving image data to the mobile terminal 2. The moving image data includes a moving image for each operation and a representative image showing a typical scene in each operation. Printer operations include, for example, attachment of consumables such as photographic paper rolls and ink ribbons, replacement of thermal heads, and color adjustment.

  The mobile terminal 2 is a smartphone or a tablet device having a camera or a communication function. The mobile terminal 2 is installed with an application program (moving image reproduction application) for reproducing a moving image explaining the work procedure of the printer. When the mobile terminal 2 executes the video playback application, the video data acquisition process for acquiring the video data corresponding to the printer 3 from the server device 1 or the video that explains the procedure by specifying the work performed by the user A moving image reproduction process for reproduction is performed.

  When the image data is input, the printer 3 prints it on a photographic paper and creates a printed matter. The printer 3 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing, and a power plug socket 31 and a USB port 32 are provided on the rear panel 3B of the casing as shown in FIG. Further, a sticker (sticker) 33 on which printer information such as a serial number for identifying the printer 3 is written is attached to the rear panel 3B.

  The mobile terminal 2 has its camera function activated with the start of the moving image data acquisition process. When the sticker 33 (or serial number portion) of the printer 3 is photographed using the camera of the portable terminal 2, image data including printer information is generated. The portable terminal 2 transmits this image data to the server device 1.

  The server device 1 detects the serial number of the printer 3 from the image data received from the mobile terminal 2. The server device 1 identifies the model of the printer 3 from the detected serial number, and identifies moving image data corresponding to the printer 3 from a plurality of moving image data to be stored. The server device 1 transmits the specified moving image data to the mobile terminal 2. Thereby, the mobile terminal 2 can acquire moving image data corresponding to the printer 3.

  When the user attaches photographic paper or an ink ribbon to the printer 3 and does not know the procedure in the middle of the operation and wants to confirm the correct procedure, the mobile terminal 2 performs a moving image reproduction process. The mobile terminal 2 has its camera function activated with the start of the video playback process. When the printer 3 in the middle of work is photographed using the camera of the portable terminal 2, the portable terminal 2 compares the photographed image with the representative image for each work included in the moving image data, and performs the work performed by the user. Identify and play a video that describes the procedure of the identified task. The user can check the correct work procedure by viewing the moving image reproduced on the mobile terminal 2.

  As described above, in the moving image data reproduction system according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 2 acquires moving image data describing the work procedure of the printer 3 from the server device 1. Then, by shooting the printer 3 in the middle of the operation with the camera of the mobile terminal 2, it is possible to reproduce a moving image explaining the procedure of the operation being performed by the user. The user can easily understand the work procedure by viewing the high-quality explanation video on the liquid crystal display constituting the display unit of the mobile terminal 2. Further, since the display unit of the portable terminal 2 is used for moving image reproduction, it is not necessary to provide the display unit in the printer 3, and the cost of the printer 3 can be reduced.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the server device 1. The server device 1 includes a printer information receiving unit 11, a moving image specifying unit 12, a moving image transmitting unit 13, and a storage unit 14, and is configured by a computer, for example.

  The storage unit 14 stores a printer information table and moving image data. The storage unit 14 includes a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (such as an SD or XD memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read -Only Memory (EEPROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), and magnetic memory.

  The printer information table indicates the correspondence between the printer serial number and the printer model. The moving image data is a moving image explaining the work procedure of the printer, and is created for each model of the printer. The moving image data includes a moving image for each operation and one or more representative images indicating typical scenes in each operation.

  The printer information receiving unit 11 receives image data obtained by capturing printer information such as a serial number of the printer 3 from the portable terminal 2.

  The moving image specifying unit 12 detects the serial number of the printer 3 from the image data received from the mobile terminal 2. The moving image specifying unit 12 refers to the printer information table, specifies the model of the printer 3 from the detected serial number, and specifies moving image data corresponding to the printer 3.

  The moving image transmission unit 13 transmits the moving image data specified by the moving image specifying unit 12 to the mobile terminal 2.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 2. The mobile terminal 2 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, a camera 23, a communication unit 24, and a display unit 25.

  The memory 22 stores a moving image playback application. The memory 22 includes at least one type of storage medium such as flash memory type, hard disk type, multimedia card micro type, card type memory, RAM, SRAM, ROM, EEPROM, PROM, and magnetic memory.

  When the CPU 21 executes the moving image reproduction application, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an image acquisition unit 201, a printer information transmission unit 202, a moving image reception unit 203, an image comparison unit 204, and a moving image reproduction unit 205 are realized. It will be possible to acquire and play a video from 1.

  The image acquisition unit 201 activates the camera 23 and acquires an image captured by the printer 3. When the camera 23 is activated, the guide G is displayed on the display unit 25 as shown in FIG. 6, and the user takes an image of the printer 3 so as to be within the guide G. For example, the image acquisition unit 201 acquires an image obtained by photographing the sticker 33 attached to the back panel 3B of the printer 3 or an image obtained by photographing the printer 3 while the user is working.

  The printer information transmission unit 202 transmits image data including printer information such as a serial number generated by photographing the sticker 33 to the server device 1 via the communication unit 24.

  The moving image receiving unit 203 receives moving image data corresponding to the printer 3 from the server device 1. The received moving image data is stored in the memory 22.

  The image comparison unit 204 compares the image of the printer 3 in the middle of work taken by the camera 23 with the representative image for each work included in the moving image data. The work of the representative image with the highest similarity is estimated as the work that the user is performing.

  The moving image reproducing unit 205 reproduces a work moving image corresponding to the representative image having the highest similarity and displays it on the display unit 25. The display unit 25 is a high-resolution liquid crystal display, for example, and can reproduce high-quality moving images. The user can watch a moving image explaining the correct procedure of the work he / she is performing simply by photographing the printer 3 during the work.

  Next, as an example of moving image reproduction, a method of reproducing a work instruction moving image during the photographic paper roll replacement operation of the printer 3 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, the front unit 34 of the printer 3 is pulled out. A cover 35 is attached to the front unit 34 so as to be rotatable upward. When the user wants to check the explanation movie of the photographic paper roll replacement work with the cover 35 opened, the printer 3 with the cover 35 opened is used by using the portable terminal 2 as shown in FIG. Take pictures from the front according to the guide G.

  The image comparison unit 204 compares the image of the printer 3 with the cover 35 opened and the representative image for each operation included in the moving image data. The work performed with the cover 35 opened is peculiar to the photographic paper roll replacement work. Therefore, the representative image of the photographic paper roll replacement work has the highest similarity. The image comparison unit 204 determines that the work performed by the user is a photographic paper roll replacement work.

  The moving image reproducing unit 205 reproduces an instruction moving image of the photographic paper roll replacement work and displays it on the display unit 25. The user can view the explanation movie of the photographic paper roll replacement work and confirm the correct procedure simply by photographing the printer 3 with the cover 35 opened. For example, the dust box 36 loaded on the front side of the front unit 34 with the cover 35 opened is extracted upward, and then the paper cassette is removed from the housing of the printer 3. A new photographic paper roll is set in the paper cassette, and the paper cassette is set in the housing.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reproduce the explanation movie of the work being performed using the mobile terminal 2, and the user can easily understand the work procedure.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the image comparison unit 204 compares the image of the printer 3 in the middle of work taken by the camera 23 with the representative image for each work included in the moving image data, a representative image with a high degree of similarity is obtained. In the case where there are a plurality of candidates, a candidate for work being executed may be displayed on the display unit 25 and the user may select it. For example, when the printer 3 (see FIG. 7) with the front unit 34 of the printer 3 pulled out is photographed, this is a process common to the photographic paper roll replacement operation and the ink ribbon replacement operation. Paper roll replacement and ink ribbon replacement are displayed on the display unit 25 as work candidates, and the user selects one of them. The moving image reproduction unit 205 reproduces a moving image corresponding to the selected work.

  The moving image reproducing unit 205 may reproduce the work moving image from the beginning or may be reproduced from the middle. The elapsed time in the moving image is set for each representative image, and when reproducing from the middle, the moving image reproduction is started from the elapsed time corresponding to the representative image having the highest similarity.

  In moving image playback, it is preferable to be able to perform fast forward playback, slow playback, pause, and the like.

  A jig for holding the mobile terminal 2 may be attached to the housing of the printer 3 so that the work can be performed while watching the moving image.

  In the above embodiment, the user may input the serial number or model name of the printer 3 to the mobile terminal 2 and transmit the printer information to the server device 1.

  In the above embodiment, a moving image explaining error recovery work may be reproduced. In the printer 3, when an error occurs, LEDs of a plurality of colors provided on the front surface of the casing are lit, and the lighting pattern varies depending on the type of error. The representative image of the moving image data for the error recovery operation includes an image of the LED lighting state when an error occurs. The user photographs the LED lighting state of the printer 3 when an error occurs. The image comparison unit 204 compares the photographed image with a representative image of the moving image data for error recovery work, and identifies the type of error that has occurred in the printer 3. The moving image reproducing unit 205 reproduces an error recovery work moving image corresponding to the identified error.

  In this way, by shooting the printer 3 in which an error has occurred with the camera 23 of the mobile terminal 2, it is possible to specify the type of error and reproduce a moving image explaining the procedure of the recovery work.

  Note that when the LED of the printer 3 blinks in addition to lighting, the camera 23 of the mobile terminal 2 may perform continuous shooting (continuous shooting). When the LEDs are lit in all the captured images, it can be determined as “lit”, and when the LEDs are lit and extinguished in the captured images, it can be determined as “flashing”.

  Further, the portable terminal 2 and the printer 3 may be connected by wire with a USB cable or the like, and the printer 3 may output an error code to the portable terminal 2. The mobile terminal 2 reproduces the error recovery moving image corresponding to the error code. When the printer 3 has a wireless communication function, the printer 3 may notify the mobile terminal 2 of an error code via a wireless network.

  The mobile terminal 2 may transmit information of the reproduced work explanation moving image to the server device 1. The server device 1 collects and manages the information of the reproduced work explanation videos for each printer model or for each user. As a result, the server device 1 can add up the frequency of work occurrence and work that is difficult for the user to understand for each printer model or each user. Further, the totaling result may be reflected in the work specifying process of the image comparison unit 204. For example, when there are a plurality of representative images having a high degree of similarity when comparing the image of the printer 3 being photographed by the camera 23 with the representative image for each operation included in the moving image data, Candidates are displayed in descending order of the reproduction frequency of the work explanation video, or the work explanation video having the highest reproduction frequency is reproduced.

  The mobile terminal 2 may display a work selection screen as shown in FIG. 9C, receive a selection of a work being executed from the user, and reproduce an instructional video of the selected work. For example, when the work specified by the mobile terminal 2 is different from the work actually performed by the user, the user displays a work selection screen and selects the correct work. At this time, the mobile terminal 2 may transmit to the server device 1 the image of the printer 3 in the middle of work taken by the camera 23 and information on the work explanation moving image selected and reproduced by the user. The server device 1 can update the video playback application based on the information received from the mobile terminal 2 and improve the work identification accuracy.

  An image obtained by photographing the printer 3 in the middle of work with the camera 23 of the portable terminal 2 is transmitted to the server device 1, and the server device 1 side performs an image of the printer 3 in the middle of work and each work included in the moving image data. The representative image may be compared to identify the work being performed by the user. The server device 1 notifies the mobile terminal 2 of the identified work. The portable terminal 2 reproduces a work explanation moving image corresponding to the notified work. By specifying the work performed by the user on the server device 1 side, the processing load on the user side can be reduced. In addition, the server device 1 can collect information such as what work the user is performing when playing back the work explanation moving image.

  You may enable it to select the mode which specifies automatically the operation | work which the user is doing with the portable terminal 2 or the server apparatus 1 using the image which image | photographed the printer 3, and the mode which a user himself selects manually. For example, when the moving image playback application is activated, a mode selection screen as shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the display unit 25. Here, when the “automatic selection mode” is selected, the guide G is displayed on the display unit 25 as shown in FIG. 9B, and the printer 3 can be photographed. On the other hand, when the “manual selection mode” is selected, a work selection screen is displayed on the display unit 25 as shown in FIG. 9C, and the user can manually select the work being executed. This work selection screen may include an error recovery work, whereby the user can manually select the type of error occurring in the printer 3.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which a moving image describing various work procedures of the printer 3 is reproduced on the mobile terminal 2 is described. However, the work description data describing the work procedure is not limited to a moving image, and still images that are continuous in time series But you can. In this case, at least one of the plurality of still images is a representative image. The explanation still image reproduced on the mobile terminal 2 may be switched automatically at a constant time interval, or may be switched by a switching instruction from the user. Audio data may be reproduced together with the explanation still image.

  At least a part of the moving image data reproduction system described in the above-described embodiment may be configured by hardware or software. When configured by software, a program for realizing at least a part of the functions of the moving image data reproduction system may be stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, and read and executed by a computer. The recording medium is not limited to a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, but may be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk device or a memory.

  Further, a program for realizing at least a part of the functions of the moving image data reproduction system may be distributed via a communication line (including wireless communication) such as the Internet. Further, the program may be distributed in a state where the program is encrypted, modulated or compressed, and stored in a recording medium via a wired line such as the Internet or a wireless line.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 Server device 2 Mobile terminal 3 Printer

Claims (5)

A transmission unit for transmitting printer information to the server device;
A receiving unit that receives work description data including a moving image or a time-sequential still image that describes the operation of the printer indicated by the printer information from the server device;
An acquisition unit for capturing the printer and acquiring a printer image;
A comparison unit that compares a representative image of each operation included in the operation description data with the printer image and identifies an operation being performed by the printer;
A playback unit for playing back the explanation video or the explanation still image corresponding to the identified work;
As a program that allows the mobile terminal computer to function. The work description data includes a plurality of representative images having different elapsed times for each work,
2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the playback unit causes the computer to function so as to start playback of the explanation moving image or explanation still image from an elapsed time of a representative image having the highest similarity to the printer image. program.   The said transmission part makes the said computer function so that the image data which image | photographed the part of the housing | casing of the said printer containing the said printer information may be transmitted to the said server apparatus. Program. A data reproduction method using a portable terminal and a server device,
The portable terminal transmits printer information to the server device;
The server device transmits work description data including a moving image or a time-series continuous still image for explaining the operation of the printer indicated by the printer information to the portable terminal,
The portable terminal captures a printer to acquire a printer image, compares the representative image of each operation included in the operation description data received from the server device with the printer image, and is performed by the printer. A data reproduction method characterized by identifying an operation and reproducing an explanation moving image or an explanation still image corresponding to the identified operation. A data reproduction method using a portable terminal and a server device,
The portable terminal transmits printer information to the server device;
The server device transmits work description data including a moving image or a time-series continuous still image for explaining the operation of the printer indicated by the printer information to the portable terminal,
The portable terminal captures a printer to obtain a printer image, transmits the printer image to the server device,
The server device compares a representative image of each work included in the work description data with the printer image, identifies the work being performed by the printer, and notifies the mobile terminal of the identified work,
A data reproduction method, wherein the portable terminal reproduces an explanatory moving image or an explanatory still image corresponding to the notified work.

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