JP7310189B2 - Information processing device, help content output method, help content output program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a help content output method, and a help content output program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and an image forming apparatus that prints and outputs digitized information has become an indispensable device.

Some devices such as image processing apparatuses display a help screen when a predetermined button on the operation panel is pressed when an error occurs.

As a related technique, a technique for printing a corresponding manual using a print function when an error occurs in an image forming apparatus has been disclosed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200013).

A user who uses each function of the image forming apparatus has operation authority when outputting the help content displayed on the image forming apparatus and performing operations based on the operation procedure shown in the output help content. not necessarily. If the user does not have the operation authority, even if the help content is output, the user cannot perform the operation. For example, it is necessary to notify another user who has the operation authority, which is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving user convenience in presenting help content.

In order to solve the above problems, the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes user identification means for identifying a user who uses the information processing apparatus, and an operation procedure for coping with an error that has occurred in the information processing apparatus. display control means for displaying the help content including; operation receiving means for receiving an output instruction to output the help content from the user; determining means for determining whether or not the user specified by the means has the authority, and when the determining means determines that the user has the authority, the operation accepting means The received help content is output by the display control means, and if it is determined that the user does not have the authority, another user who has the authority is notified by the notification means , and the display control is performed. The means is characterized by displaying information related to the other user who is the notification destination of the notification means .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the technique which improves a user's convenience regarding the presentation of a help content.

It is a figure which illustrates the system configuration|structure of this embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the hardware constitutions of the help information delivery server of this embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information table used by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the help management table used by this embodiment. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams exemplifying screens displayed by the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment; FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams exemplifying screens displayed by the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment; FIG.

An image forming apparatus (information processing apparatus), a help content output method, and a help content output program according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the system configuration of this embodiment. The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 110, a help information distribution server 120, a file server 130, and two personal computers, PC140 and PC150, which exchange data with each other via a communication network 190. It has become.

The image forming apparatus 110 is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) having a reading function of reading a sheet, an image forming function of forming an image on the sheet, a communication function, and the like. By using these functions, the image forming apparatus 110 can be used as a printer, scanner, facsimile machine, and copier.

The PC 140 is a terminal used by a general user who uses the image forming apparatus 110 . Users other than system administrators and network administrators are referred to herein as "general users", and general users and administrators are collectively referred to simply as "users".

The PC 150 is a terminal used by a system administrator who is responsible for overall management of the image forming system 1 and a network administrator who manages the network environment.

The help information distribution server 120 is a computer having server functions such as a web server and a mail server, and stores help content for the image forming apparatus 110 . The help information distribution server 120 presents relevant help content in response to requests from the image forming apparatus 110 and the PCs 140 and 150 . The “help content” is a manual (including display data of a help screen) that describes operation procedures for the image forming apparatus 110, procedures for dealing with errors, etc., and is written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). It is electronic data described in a prescribed format such as a format or a PDF (Portable Document Format) format.

The file server 130 is a server that accumulates image data created by reading a document sheet by the reading function of the image forming apparatus 110, and stores and holds files in folders. In addition, access rights are provided for folders, and when reading and writing, a dedicated user identification information (identification information is hereinafter referred to as "ID") provided for each folder and a dedicated password are required. .

<Hardware configuration of each device>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 110. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus 110 includes a controller 210 , a near field communication circuit 220 , an engine control section 230 , an operation panel 240 and a network I/F (Interface) 250 .

Among them, the controller 210 includes a CPU 201, a system memory (MEM-P) 202, a north bridge (NB) 203, a south bridge (SB) 204, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 206, a storage unit, which is the main part of the computer. a local memory (MEM-C) 207, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 208, and an HD 209 as a storage unit, and a configuration in which the NB 203 and the ASIC 206 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 221 It has become.

Among them, the CPU 201 is a control unit that performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 110 . The NB 203 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 201, the MEM-P 202, the SB 204, and the AGP bus 221. The NB 203 is a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 202, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target. have

The MEM-P 202 consists of a ROM 202a, which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 210, and a RAM 202b, which is used as a drawing memory for expanding the programs and data and for memory printing. The program stored in the RAM 202b is configured to be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc., as a file in an installable format or an executable format. You may

The SB 204 is a bridge for connecting the NB 203 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 206 is an image processing IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge that connects the AGP bus 221, PCI bus 222, HDD controller 208, and MEM-C 207, respectively. This ASIC 206 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 206, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C907, and multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic. , and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 231 and the printer unit 232 via the PCI bus 222 . The ASIC 206 may be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

MEM-C 207 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and an encoding buffer. The HD 209 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating font data used for printing, and accumulating forms. The HD 209 controls reading or writing of data to or from the HD 209 under the control of the CPU 201 . The AGP bus 221 is a bus interface for graphics accelerator cards proposed to speed up graphics processing, and can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 202 with high throughput. .

Also, the near field communication circuit 220 is equipped with a communication circuit 220a such as NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., and implements data communication with an IC card possessed by the user. When the user holds the IC card near the communication circuit 220a, the short-range communication circuit 220 reads various data recorded on the IC card.

The engine control section 230 is composed of a scanner section 231 and a printer section 232 . The operation panel 240 displays current setting values, a selection screen, and the like, and also includes a panel display unit 240a such as a touch panel for receiving input from the operator, and setting values for image forming conditions such as density setting conditions. An operation panel 240b is provided which includes a numeric keypad for accepting a copy start instruction, a start key for accepting a copy start instruction, and the like. The controller 210 controls the entire image forming apparatus 110, for example, controls drawing, communication, input from the operation panel 240, and the like. The scanner unit 231 or printer unit 232 includes an image processing section such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

Note that the image forming apparatus 110 can sequentially switch and select the document box function (=scanner function), copy function, printer function, and facsimile function using the application switching key on the operation panel 240 . The document box mode is set when the document box function is selected, the copy mode is set when the copy function is selected, the printer mode is set when the printer function is selected, and the facsimile mode is set when the facsimile mode is selected.

Network I/F 250 is an interface for data communication using communication network 190 . Near field communication circuit 220 and network I/F 250 are electrically connected to ASIC 206 via PCI bus 222 .

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the help information distribution server 120. As shown in FIG. Here, the help information distribution server 120 is taken as an example, but computers such as the file server 130 and the PCs 140 and 150 have the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the help information distribution server 120 is constructed by a computer, and includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an HD 304, an HDD controller 305, a display 306, an external device connection I/F 308, and a network I/F 309. , a data bus 310 , a keyboard 311 , a pointing device 312 , a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 314 and a media I/F 316 .

Of these, the CPU 301 controls the overall operation of the help information distribution server 120 . The ROM 302 stores programs used to drive the CPU 301 such as IPL. A RAM 303 is used as a work area for the CPU 301 . The HD 304 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 305 controls reading or writing of various data to/from the HD 304 under the control of the CPU 301 . The display 306 displays various information such as cursors, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I/F 308 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external device in this case is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a printer, or the like. A network I/F 309 is an interface for data communication using the communication network 190 . A data bus 310 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 301 shown in FIG.

Also, the keyboard 311 is a kind of input means having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. A pointing device 312 is a kind of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. A DVD-RW drive 314 controls reading or writing of various data to a DVD-RW 313 as an example of a removable recording medium. Note that DVD-R or the like may be used instead of DVD-RW. A media I/F 316 controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 315 such as a flash memory.

<Specific aspects of the present embodiment>
The help content that is referenced when an error occurs describes the operation procedure for resolving the error and how to change settings, etc. However, some of the operations described in the help content may be , there are things that should not be implemented by general users.

In this embodiment, authority is assigned to each help content in advance, and when the user outputs the help content, the authority granted to the user is compared with the authority granted to the help content. do. In this embodiment, if the user has the authority to perform operations described in the help content, the help content is output. On the other hand, if the user does not have authority, the present embodiment does not output the help content and notifies the administrator who has the operation authority.

Here, "output of help content" means print output of help content, e-mail transmission of a PDF file, and the like. Displaying a setting change screen to deal with an error may also be included in "help content output".

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 110. As shown in FIG. Image forming apparatus 110 includes display operation means 410 , authentication means 420 , MFP function providing means 430 , content display control means 440 , feedback destination determination control means 450 , notification means 460 (output means), output control means 470 and storage means 480 . have

The authentication unit 420 performs user authentication based on information recorded in an IC card possessed by the user or a user ID and password entered by the user using the operation panel 240, and uses the image forming apparatus 110. Judge whether or not it is possible. Authentication unit 420 also functions as a user identification unit that identifies a user who uses image forming apparatus 110 by performing authentication.

The display operation unit 410 has a display control unit 411 that controls the display on the operation panel 240 and an operation reception unit 412 that receives user instructions such as touch panel operations on the operation panel 240 and physical key presses. Display operation unit 410 receives an instruction to output help content from a user using image forming apparatus 110, as will be described later.

The MFP function providing unit 430 is a functional unit that implements MFP functions such as a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile transmission/reception function. In this embodiment, the scanner function will be described as an example. It illustrates a transmission means 432 for transmitting to. The transmission means 432 also functions as means for transmitting the PDF file of the help content to the user by e-mail.

In addition, in FIG. 4, a printing unit 433 for forming an image specified by the user on a sheet is also illustrated within the MFP function providing unit 430. As shown in FIG. Here, the printing means 433 functions as means for printing help contents according to instructions from the user.

The content display control means 440 acquires corresponding help content from the help information distribution server 120 . Further, the content display control means 440 performs notification control of the notification means 460 and display control of the display operation means 410 according to the determination result of the feedback destination determination control means 450 .

The feedback destination determination control unit 450 is a determination unit, and determines whether or not the user using the image forming apparatus 110 has the authority to execute the procedure described in the help content (hereinafter referred to as the execution authority). judge. If the user does not have the execution authority, the feedback destination determination control means 450 determines another user (administrator) who has the execution authority.

The notification unit 460 notifies the user (administrator) determined by the feedback destination determination control unit 450 when the user using the image forming apparatus 110 does not have execution authority. The notification means 460 sends an e-mail containing a title indicating the content of the help content such as error type, the content of the error, the URL indicating the location of the help content, and the folder path in which the PDF file is stored. Send. Alternatively, the PDF file of the help content itself may be attached to an e-mail and sent. Note that the content of the notification is not limited to this.

The output control means 470 controls to output the help contents when the user using the image forming apparatus 110 has the execution authority. The output control unit 470 instructs the MFP function providing unit 430 to print the help contents, send the PDF file by e-mail, and the like.

The storage means 480 stores various data used in this embodiment. Storage means 480 returns various data based on requests from authentication means 420 , content display control means 440 and feedback destination determination control means 450 .

Here, each data pre-stored in the storage means 480 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a user information table (first table) for managing information on users who use the system.

The user information table is a table in which "user ID", "password", "card ID", "authority", "mail address", "folder", "folder user ID", and "folder password" are associated with each other.

"User ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying a user. "Password" is a password for authentication set by the user. "Card ID" is information recorded in the IC card possessed by the user, and is identification information for uniquely identifying the IC card. "Authority" is a role (authority information) given to the user, and is divided into three types: authority A for general users, authority B for network administrators, and authority C for system administrators. In this embodiment, the authorities A to C are parallel authorities, and even if a user (administrator) to whom the authorities B and C are granted, if the authority A is not granted, the authority A to functions shall not be performed. It should be noted that each authority may be included in a relationship such that, for example, if authority B or authority C is granted, the function of authority A can be executed even if authority A is not granted.

"E-mail address" is an e-mail address dedicated to the user. "Folder" is the path name of a dedicated folder that can be used by the user. "Folder User ID" and "Folder Password" are an ID and password for accessing the dedicated folder.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a help management table (second table). The help management table is a table that associates "error code", "authority", and "content URL". "Error code" is identification information that uniquely identifies an error that has occurred. "Authority" is a role (authority information) that can execute the procedure described in the help content when the error occurs, and is one of the above authorities A to C. "Content URL" is information indicating the location where the help content is arranged. By specifying the "content URL", the help content can be uniquely specified. Therefore, the "content URL" can be treated as specifying information for specifying the help content.

Next, operations of the image forming apparatus 110 will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing operations of the image forming apparatus 110. As shown in FIG.

First, the display operation unit 410 acquires the user ID and password of the general user, or acquires the card ID recorded in the IC card (S701). Here, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 110 is used by a user assigned an ID of "UserX" shown in FIG.

The display operation means 410 outputs an authentication request to the authentication means 420 together with the received login information (S702), and the authentication means 420 refers to the user information table shown in FIG. 5 and performs authentication processing (S703). Authentication means 420 outputs the authentication result to display operation means 410 (S704). Here, it is assumed that the result of conformity to authentication is output.

The display operation unit 410 displays a main menu screen for executing any one of the copy function, print function, scan function, and facsimile transmission/reception function, and waits for a selection operation from the user X. FIG. Here, it is assumed that the scan function is selected (S710), and the display operation means 410 notifies the reading means 431 of activation according to this selection (S711). The reading unit 431 is activated with this notification as a trigger, and performs initialization processing and the like.

The display operation unit 410 displays a setting screen for the scan function (S712). The display operation means 410 displays, for example, the setting screen shown in FIG. 8(A). The user X inputs the reading resolution, the destination of the created image data, etc. via the setting screen shown in FIG. 8A, and presses the start button B0 to issue an execution instruction (S713). The display operation unit 410 outputs an execution instruction to the reading unit 431 (S714), and the reading unit 431 executes scanning (S715).

The reading unit 431 reads the document sheet, creates electronic data (image data) of this document sheet, outputs the data to the transmission unit 432, and requests transmission (S716). The transmitting means 432 transmits the image data to the designated destination (S717). The destination here is the specific folder of the file server 130 input by the user X via the setting screen of FIG. 8(A).

Here, it is assumed that transmission of image data has failed (S718). Examples of cases in which image data transmission fails include an authority error when there is no access right to the corresponding folder in the file server 130 to which the image data is to be sent, an authentication error when the "folder user ID" and "folder password" are incomplete, A disk quota error when the upper limit of the allocated storage capacity is reached, a network error that is a problem on the network, etc. are assumed. In the following description, it is assumed that an authentication error is an error given the error code "001" in FIG. 6, and an authority A is given so that even a general user can handle it. A disk quota error is an error that can be dealt with by system administrator authority C, and is given an error code of "003". A network error is an error that can be dealt with by the network administrator's authority B, and is given an error code "002".

The transmitting unit 432 notifies the reading unit 431, which is the source of the request, that an error has occurred, and outputs the error code assigned to each error to the reading unit 431, which is the source of the request. Here, it is assumed that an authentication error has occurred due to incomplete "folder user ID" and "folder password", and error code "001" shown in FIG. 6 is output.

The reading unit 431 outputs the acquired error code "001" to the display operation unit 410 (S720), and the display operation unit 410 displays to the user X that an error has occurred (S721). An example of the screen displayed here is shown in FIG. Here, when the help display button B1 is pressed (S730), the display operation means 410 outputs a help content display request together with the error code "001" to the content display control means 440 (S731).

The content display control means 440 refers to the help management table shown in FIG. 6, accesses the URL corresponding to the error code "001" (here, accesses the help information distribution server 120), and acquires the help content (S732). ). Alternatively, if the help content has already been acquired, the content display control means 440 acquires cache data of the content. The content display control means 440 outputs a part of the acquired help content (for example, the part describing the reason for the error occurrence) to the display operation means 410 (S733), and the display operation means 410 displays the part of the help content. Display (S734).

An example of the screen displayed here is shown in FIG. 8(C). The display operation means 410 displays the cause and reason of the occurrence of the error in the area M1. Here, for example, the area M1 displays that the "folder user ID" and "folder password" for accessing the folder are incorrect. The display operation means 410 also displays a screen switching button B2 and an output button B3.

When the screen switching button B2 is pressed, the display operation means 410 displays a setting screen (here, a setting screen for "folder user ID" and "folder password") based on the result of execution authority determination described later, or Alternatively, a message indicating that there is no execution authority is displayed. Further, when the output button B3 is pressed, the help content is output based on the result of execution authority determination, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the output method, such as whether to print the help content or to send the PDF file to user X by e-mail, is selected by user X using a selection screen displayed by display operation means 410. It shall be.

Returning to the description of the flowchart in FIG. When the screen switching button B2 or the output button B3 is pressed (S735), the display operation means 410 instructs the feedback destination determination control means 450 via the content display control means 440 to determine execution authority (S736). , S737).

The feedback destination determination control means 450 refers to the help management table shown in FIG. 6 and acquires the authority "A" corresponding to the error code "001". Then, the feedback destination determination control means 450 compares the authority "A" of the logged-in user X with the authority "A" acquired based on the error code, and determines that the user X has "folder user ID", "folder password ” has the authority to change the settings.

Here, both of them have the authority "A", so the feedback destination determination control means 450 outputs a notification that they have the authority to the content display control means 440 (S750). The content display control means 440 instructs the output control means 470 to output the help content (S751).

Here, the operation of the output control means 470 in S751 will be described.
(S751-1) The output control unit 470, which has received the help content output instruction, acquires from the display operation unit 410 information indicating which of the screen switching button B2 and the output button B3 has been pressed. When acquiring information indicating that the output button B3 has been pressed, the output control means 470 further acquires identification information regarding the output method selected by the user X. FIG.
(S751-2) When the screen switching button B2 is pressed, the output control means 470 displays a setting screen (here, a "folder user ID" and "folder password" setting screen) on the display operation means 410. to do so. The display operation means 410 receives this instruction and displays the setting screen.
(S751-3) On the other hand, when the output button B3 is pressed, the output control means 470 requests the MFP function providing means 430 to output together with the identification information regarding the output method. The MFP function providing unit 430 controls the printing unit 433 to print out the help content or the transmission unit 432 to transmit the PDF file to the user X by e-mail according to the identification information. As a result, the user X can obtain the help content describing the operating procedure in the form of a paper medium or a PDF file.

After executing S751-3 above, the output control means 470 notifies the display/operation means 410 that the output instruction has been completed (S752), and the display/operation means 410 displays, for example, the screen shown in FIG. (S753). When the screen switching button B4 in FIG. 9A is pressed, the display operation unit 410 displays a setting screen (here, a setting screen for "folder user ID" and "folder password"). User X changes the settings by operating the displayed setting screen while referring to the acquired help content.

On the other hand, if the error that occurred in S718 is either a disk quota error (error code "003") or a network error (error code "002"), the authority "A" of logged-in user X and The authority (“B” or “C”) acquired based on the error code (“002” or “003”) does not match. In this case, the feedback destination determination control means 450 refers to the user information table to specify the ID of the other user to whom the authority "B" or "C" is granted (S740), and returns the specified user ID to Output to the content display control means 440 (S741). It is assumed here that "UserZ" is specified.

The content display control means 440 refers to the user information table and acquires the mail address "zzz@xxx.com" corresponding to "UserZ". Then, the content display control means 440 issues a notification request to the notification means 460 to notify that an error has occurred (S742). The notification unit 460 notifies the administrator (assumed to be administrator Z) by sending an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address "zzz@xxx.com" (S743). The administrator Z who received the e-mail can access and acquire the help content by operating the URL described in the e-mail text or the storage location (link) of the PDF.

The content display control means 440 causes the display operation means 410 to display that the administrator Z has been notified (S744, S745). The display contents at this time are shown in FIG. The display operation means 410 displays the user ID "UserZ" as the notification destination as it is here, but refers to the master table to display the manager name, department name, extension number, An email address or the like may be displayed.

Although the system side has been described as automatically notifying the administrator, a screen asking user X who is using the image forming apparatus 110 whether or not to notify administrator Z is displayed. , may be selected.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a general user using the image forming apparatus is a user who does not have permission to change settings, the administrator is notified without displaying the setting screen. The user can change the settings only if the Since the administrator is notified as in the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the trouble of general users contacting the administrator (the trouble of moving, the trouble of explaining the contents of the error, etc.). In addition, based on the authority (role) set in advance, the general user can handle what the general user can do, so when an error occurs, the administrator does not have to visit each time.

In the present embodiment, display control means 411 for displaying help content and operation reception means 412 for receiving an output instruction for outputting the displayed help content are included in display operation means 410. That is, the configuration in which both the display unit and the operation unit are included in the image forming apparatus 110 has been described. For example, a terminal device such as a smart phone or a PC carried by the user may receive an input, and the input may be displayed on the operation panel 240 of the image forming apparatus 110 . Conversely, an input may be received on the operation panel 240 of the image forming apparatus 110 and displayed on a terminal device such as a smart phone or a PC. Alternatively, the display and operation may be performed not by the image forming apparatus 110 but by a terminal device such as a smartphone or a PC carried by the user.

In the above embodiment, the output of the help content for a general user (user X in the above example) consists of printing the help content, sending an email to user X (not user X's address, but using a predetermined It does not matter if it is the destination). Alternatively, for example, a method of storing help content data in a predetermined folder may be used. In other words, the "output of help content" may be any mode in which the user X can access the help content.

Besides the PDF format, the file format of the help content may be a predetermined image data format or data (audio data) in which an operation procedure is recorded by voice. In other words, the help content data may be in a format that allows the user to view and understand the content.

Also, in the present embodiment, it has been explained that one of the methods of outputting the help content is alternatively selected from among printing, sending by e-mail, storing in a predetermined folder, etc., but multiple selections are possible, and the selected method can be selected. A configuration in which all are performed at the same time may be employed.

Note that the aspect of the present embodiment is not limited to the image forming apparatus as long as the apparatus has a communication function. For example, PJ (Projector: Projector), IWB (Interactive White Board: Whiteboard with electronic blackboard function capable of mutual communication), output devices such as digital signage, HUD (Head Up Display) device, industrial machinery, imaging device , sound collectors, medical equipment, network appliances, automobiles (connected cars), notebook PCs (personal computers), mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, game machines, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, wearable PCs or desktop PCs etc. Note that the “information processing device” may be used as a generic term for each device exemplified here.

Each function of the embodiments described above may be implemented by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification means a processor programmed by software to perform each function, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to perform each function described above. devices such as ASICs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and conventional circuit modules.

As described above, according to the aspect of the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a technique for improving convenience for general users and administrators regarding the presentation of help content.

1: Image Forming System 110: Image Forming Apparatus 120: Help Information Distribution Server 130: File Server 190: Communication Network 410: Display Operation Means 411: Display Control Means 412: Operation Acceptance Means 420: Authentication Means 430: MFP Function Providing Means 431 : Reading means 432: Transmission means 440: Content display control means 450: Feedback destination determination control means 460: Notification means 470: Output control means 480: Storage means

JP-A-2008-145948

Claims (6)

An information processing device,
user identifying means for identifying a user using the information processing device;
display control means for displaying help content including an operation procedure for coping with an error that has occurred in the information processing device;
an operation receiving means for receiving an output instruction from the user for instructing output of the help content;
determining means for determining whether or not the user identified by the user identifying means has authority to perform the operation procedure indicated in the help content;
When the determining means determines that the user has the authority, the display control means outputs the help content received by the operation receiving means, and the user has the authority. If it is determined that the
The display control means displays information about the other user who is the notification destination of the notification means .
An information processing device characterized by: In the information processing device according to claim 1,
The output instruction includes printing the help content, sending an e-mail of the data corresponding to the help content to a predetermined destination, transferring the data corresponding to the help content to a predetermined folder, and setting a screen corresponding to the help content. is a user instruction to one or more outputs of the display of
An information processing device characterized by: In the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
causing the display control means to display a setting screen for dealing with the error when the determination means determines that the user has the authority;
An information processing device characterized by: In the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
a first table that associates user identification information with authority information;
a second table that associates identification information of an error that occurs in the information processing device, authority information, and specific information of help content indicating an operation procedure for dealing with the error;
having storage means for storing
When an error occurs in the information processing device, the determination means
Acquiring authority information of the user using the information processing device based on the identification information of the user specified by the user specifying means and the first table;
acquiring authorization information corresponding to the error based on the error occurring in the information processing device and the second table;
By comparing the acquired authority information, it is possible to determine whether the user using the information processing device has the authority to perform the error operation procedure indicated in the help content. judge,
An information processing device characterized by: A help content output method,
The information processing device
Identifying a user using the information processing device,
displaying help content including an operation procedure for coping with an error that has occurred in the information processing device;
receiving an output instruction from the user for instructing output of the help content;
determining whether the identified user is authorized to perform an operating procedure indicated in the help content;
When it is determined that the user has the authority, the received help content is output, and when it is determined that the user does not have the authority, another user having the authority notify the user ;
displaying information about said other users to be notified ;
A help content output method characterized by: A help content output program executed by an information processing device,
Identify the user using the information processing device,
displaying help content including an operation procedure for coping with an error that has occurred in the information processing device;
receiving an output instruction from the user for instructing output of the help content;
determining whether the identified user is authorized to perform an operating procedure indicated in the help content;
When it is determined that the user has the authority, the received help content is output, and when it is determined that the user does not have the authority, another user having the authority notify the user ;
displaying information about said other users to be notified ;
A help content output program for causing an information processing device to execute processing.