JPH04162178A - Operation manual generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use the function of a communication equipment by judging a function requested from data transmitted from a communication terminal, updating, generating and controlling an operation manual for realizing the function in a fascimile mail equipment. CONSTITUTION:The operator of the communication terminal requests the operation manual to the fascimile mail equipment 1 by a key operation or an OMR sheet. The equipment 1 develops the operation manual in a manual generation buffer 14. Then, it is outputted to the communication terminal. The operator of the communication terminal can receive target service by executing the operation in the same way as the operation manual. When there is the transmission of alteration on operation data or system information from the communication terminal, an update information control part 25 executes the update processing of the operation manual and controls update information at every type and transmission destination. The updated manual is transmitted to a destination concerned.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present inventions relate to an operation manual creation device, and more specifically, the present invention relates to an operation manual creation device for editing and creating an operation manual necessary for executing the functions of equipment according to an operator's request. The present invention relates to an operation manual creation device that outputs an operation manual.

[Conventional technology]

As the functions of OA equipment such as information processing equipment and word processors, and communication equipment such as facsimile mail equipment become more sophisticated, the operations become more complex. Knowledge is required. For this reason, devices have traditionally been accompanied by detailed operating manuals, and operators operate the devices while referring to the operating manuals.

However, as the functions of devices become more sophisticated, operation manuals also become more detailed and thick, making it difficult to make full use of the operation manuals.

Therefore, conventionally, the equipment itself has a so-called help function, and when the operator becomes unable to understand how to operate the equipment, by inserting a help key, etc., the meaning of the key and the information requested by the operator are displayed on the display. It is being displayed on the

In such conventional help functions, when the help key is pressed, regardless of the operating state of the device,
Pre-prepared help information is displayed on the display. However, simply displaying such pre-prepared help information on a display does not provide help information appropriate to the operator's proficiency level and stage of operation.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-243518, the user's manual history information and the output information from the application system are analyzed, help items are narrowed down, and the results are displayed as a help item table. Then, when the user selects several items that he/she wants to know in sequence, help information most suitable for the item that the user wants to know is retrieved and displayed based on the user's selection. This help information is created in advance for each help item that the user may request and is stored in the storage unit, and if there is no help information corresponding to the help item selected by the user, the help item selection will be disabled. Expand the range as appropriate and decide which help information to display. Furthermore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-262120, when the same operator or operators belonging to the same group perform a certain number of operations, or when the operator determines that certain guidance information is unnecessary, By prohibiting the display of this guidance information during the next operation process when instructed,
A system has been proposed that displays only appropriate and necessary guidance information depending on the operator's proficiency level. The guidance information in this case is also prepared in advance assuming the proficiency level of the operator, and is appropriately selected from the plurality of guidance information and displayed.

Furthermore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-66623, data regarding the user's personal data and operation history, as well as data regarding the installation environment and operation history of the terminal device, are both A method has been proposed that detects an operating method that allows the user to reach a desired service in the shortest time and provides it to the user via a display, thereby providing help information that corresponds to the individual's level of proficiency.

The help information in this case is also prepared in advance assuming the user's proficiency level, and is appropriately selected from the plurality of help information and output.

Furthermore, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-280821, there has been conventionally provided a means for storing a series of operation procedure sequences for each operation of an application program, and a means for storing guide help information for each unit of state and operation. A means for storing guide help messages as a set of 7 messages, a means for identifying a guide request from a user or an application program, and a means for completing a request operation between posted materials based on the application program status and operation procedure sequence at the time of a guide request. means for creating a series of operation steps from the state at the time of request to the end of the operation; means for searching the guide help information for messages corresponding to each of the series of operation steps listed above; and the same means. means for synthesizing and displaying the guide help information retrieved by the guide request information (questions), the state and state flow of the application program, and storing the guide request contents (questions) and the state and state flow of the application program in advance using a state flow table.
Create an operation procedure state string from the state at the time of the guide request to the desired process, then search for guidance messages for each operation step state string, and finally synthesize and display them in the same order as the steps. The output is proposed. The guide help information in this case is synthesized as a set of guide help messages for each unit of status and operation, but the guide help messages for each unit are not freely edited to suit the application program.
They are synthesized according to a preset sequence of steps.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, such conventional help functions, especially Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-243518 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-2621,
In the help functions described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 20 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-66623, even if help information corresponding to an individual's proficiency level is output, such help information is created in a memory unit. etc., and the help information was selected and outputted from these multiple sources according to the individual's proficiency level, etc., which not only made it impossible to adequately respond to a wide range of requests, but also made it difficult to respond to a wide range of requests. The more you try to do this, the more you need a storage unit with a larger capacity to store the help information, leading to higher costs.

In addition, the help function described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-280821 searches for and displays a guide on specific operating procedures to perform the desired process from the point when the user has trouble with the operation. In order to do this, guide information is synthesized as a set of guide help messages for each unit of status and operation, but guide information is not synthesized by freely combining help messages for each unit.
This conventional example also does not sufficiently meet a wide range of demands, and when attempting to meet a wide range of demands, there is a problem in that 1) a large capacity storage section is required, which increases costs.

Furthermore, conventional help functions were positioned as supplementary functions to the operating manual that came with the device, and it was assumed that the user had thoroughly read the operating manual to some extent, so complete beginners could not use the device. When operating the device or if the operating manual attached to the device is lost, there is a problem in that the help function is not sufficient and the device cannot be fully utilized.

Especially today, as the functions of devices become more sophisticated and diversified, their operation methods become more complex, and the operation manuals attached to devices are also thicker and more complicated. It has become difficult to read and master how to operate it. Therefore, unlike conventional help functions, there is a need for an improved man-machine interface that allows users to fully utilize the device without having to read the operating manual attached to the device.

Therefore, when the applicant receives an operation manual request along with the input of the data necessary to create an operation manual, the applicant can perform the operations for each processing step that should be executed to realize the functions of the device. We have proposed an operation manual creation device that creates and outputs an operation manual by freely combining invention data of contents (Patent application No. 2-16 Hei 2).
No. 365).

However, with this operation manual creation device, the operation manual is sent in response to a user's inquiry, so even if the contents of the operation manual are updated without the user making an inquiry, the updated contents will not be updated. Notification could not be made until the user made an inquiry, making the equipment difficult to use, and there was room for improvement in terms of equipment operation and management.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the invention as claimed in claim 1 stores explanatory data of the operation contents required in the processing step 7 for each processing step of a device equipped with a communication function that realizes various functions by combining a plurality of processing steps. The functions requested by the operator are determined from the data sent from the communication terminal to the equipment, and the operations at the processing steps that should be executed to realize the functions are freely provided. When the transmitted data is changed, the explanation data including the data is updated to update the operation manual, and the prescribed update related to the update is performed. By managing information by type of operation manual and transmission destination, and sending updated operation manuals to the relevant destination, users are always provided with the latest operation manuals, improving man-machine interfaces and improving communications equipment. The invention as claimed in claim 2 is aimed at making it possible to fully and efficiently utilize the functions, and the invention as claimed in claim 2 provides a method for accepting operation inquiries from a communication terminal in a device equipped with a communication function, and controlling the operation of the device. When various system information necessary for realizing the functions is input in advance, when creating the operation manual according to claim 1, these system information is incorporated to create the operation manual, and the operation data and the system that are transmitted are When information is changed, the explanation data including each data is updated and the operation manual is updated, and the predetermined update information related to the update is managed for each type of operation manual and transmission destination, and the updated operation manual is updated. By sending the information to the relevant destination, the user is always provided with an operating manual that includes the latest system information, further improving the man-machine interface, and ensuring that the functions of the communication equipment are fully accessible from the communication terminal.
The invention as claimed in claim 3 is aimed at making it possible to utilize the facsimile mail device efficiently, by accepting operation inquiries from communication terminals in the facsimile mail device, and by providing a method for controlling the facsimile mail device as intended by the operator. Create an operation manual for the operations necessary to use the service and send it to the communication terminal, update the operation manual according to the changed transmission data and system information, and update it for each type of operation manual and transmission destination. By managing updated information and sending updated operation manuals to the relevant recipients, we can always provide users of facsimile mail devices with the latest operation manuals and further improve the man-machine interface of facsimile mail devices. The invention according to claim 4 has the following object: In a device equipped with a communication function, an OMR from a communication terminal is provided.
It accepts inquiries regarding operation using the sheet, creates an operation manual necessary for using the functions of the communication device intended by the operator, and sends it to the communication terminal,
By updating the operation manual according to the changed transmission data and system information, managing the updated information for each type of operation manual and transmission destination, and sending the updated operation manual to the destination, you can easily update the operation manual from the communication terminal. In addition to making it even easier to make operational inquiries, we will always provide the latest operation manuals to users of communication devices, further improve the man-machine interface of communication devices, and improve the functionality of communication devices on communication terminals. The invention as claimed in claim 5 provides a facsimile mail device that can be used even more easily and fully from a communication terminal.
We accept inquiries regarding operation using the R sheet, create an operation manual necessary for using the service of the facsimile mail device intended for the operator, and send it to the communication terminal, as well as transmit data and system information that will be changed. By updating the operation manual according to the latest information, managing update information for each type of operation manual and destination, and sending the updated operation manual to the destination, inquiries about the operation of the facsimile mail device can be made even easier. To provide users of facsimile and mail devices with the latest operation manuals, to further improve the man-machine interface, and to make it easier and more effective to utilize the services of facsimile and mail devices from communication terminals. The purpose is to make it possible.

[Means for Solving the Problem] □In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides the following: When a predetermined operation is performed on a communication terminal, operation data corresponding to the content of the operation is received from the communication terminal. and a receiver for receiving operation data from the communication terminal, the device having a communication function that realizes a plurality of functions by executing a plurality of processing steps in combination according to the operation data. a control means; and a data storage means for extracting and storing data necessary for creating an operation manual from among the data received by the reception control means, and for updating the data when the stored data is changed. , an instruction information storage means for storing explanatory data of the operation content required for each of the above processing steps, and an instruction information storage means for each processing step that analyzes the data stored in the data storage means and stores it in the instruction information storage means. In addition to editing and creating the operation manual necessary to realize the desired function by combining the explanatory data of the operation contents,
When the data stored in the data storage means is updated,
an editing control means for editing and creating an operation manual by updating explanatory data of the operation contents in accordance with the updated contents; and transmitting the operation manual created by the editing control means to the communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal. a transmission control means; a manual data storage means for storing operation manuals edited and created by the editing control means for each predetermined type; and a manual data storage means for managing updating of the operation manuals edited and created by the editing control means. When updated, predetermined update information is associated with the type of cough operation manual and accumulated for each transmission destination, and the operation manual stored in the manual data storage means is updated, and the updated operation manual is stored. The invention according to claim 2, further comprising: update information management means for instructing the transmission control means to transmit the information to the destination, when a predetermined operation is performed on the communication terminal, the content of the operation is updated. An operation manual creation device for a device having a communication function that receives operation data corresponding to the communication terminal from the communication terminal, and performs a plurality of processing steps in combination according to the operation data to realize a plurality of functions. a reception control means for receiving operation data from the communication terminal, and extracting and storing data necessary for creating an operation manual from among the data received by the reception control means, and when the stored data is changed; includes a data storage means for updating the data, an instruction information storage means for storing explanatory data of the operation contents required for each of the above processing steps, and an instruction information storage means for storing the explanatory data of the operation contents required for each of the above processing steps; system information storage means for storing various types of system information stored in the system and updating the stored system information when the system information is changed; and instruction information storage means for analyzing the data stored in the data storage means. The system information stored in the system information storage means is combined with the explanatory data of the operation contents at each processing step stored in the system information storage means to edit and create the operation manual necessary to realize the desired function. When the data stored in the storage means is updated, and when the system information stored in the system information storage means is updated, the operation manual is edited by updating the explanation data of the operation contents according to the updated contents.
an editing control means for creating an operation manual; a transmission control means for transmitting an operation manual created by the editing control means to a communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal; A manual data storage means stored in the manual data storage means and an editing control means manage whether or not the operation manual edited and created is updated, and when updated, predetermined update information is associated with the type of the operation manual and sent to the transmission destination. update information management means for updating the operating manual stored in the manual data storage means and instructing the transmission control means to transmit the updated operating manual to the destination; The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that: In the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the device is a facsimile mail device. Alternatively, in the invention according to claim 2, the reception control means of the device includes an OM that analyzes OMR data.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the apparatus further comprises an R processing means. In the invention according to claim 4, the apparatus is a facsimile mail apparatus.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a facsimile mail device 1 to which the operation manual creation device of each invention of the present application is applied.
The facsimile mail device 1 includes a system control section 2, a disk control section 3.4, a floppy disk device 5, a hard disk device 6.7, a host interface section 8, and communication processing sections FCU1 to FCUn.

The system control section 2 controls the facsimile mail device 1 according to a program stored in the internal memory, floppy disk device 5, or hard disk device 6.7.
In particular, the writing and reading of image data to and from the floppy disk device 5 and hard disk device 6.7, as well as the communication processing units FCUI to FCIJ.
The facsimile mail device 1 executes the sequence by controlling the facsimile mail device 1. The facsimile mail device 1 has various functional services such as a proxy communication function, a broadcast function, a confidential communication function, a specified time transmission function, a bulletin board service function, a post office box function, and a serial mail function. , each communication processing unit FC executes and controls these functions.
[Control JI-FCUn.]

In addition, in order to use each of these functions of the facsimile mail device 1, a communication terminal (for example, a facsimile machine) connected to the facsimile mail device 1 performs certain operations on the facsimile mail device 1 to request a service. If necessary, in the present invention, as will be described later, the communication terminal can request the facsimile mail device 1 for an operation manual showing the operation contents of this service request.

The disk control section 3 and the disk control section 4 control the drive of the floppy disk device 5 and the hard disk device 6.7, and the floppy disk device 5 and the hard disk device 6.7 have basic programs as a facsimile mail device and various other programs. It stores data, especially messages sent from communication terminals and messages sent from a host device (described later).

The host interface unit 8 includes a host device, for example,
A computer device or the like is connected, and the host interface unit 8 executes communication control with the host device. What is connected to this host interface section 8 is not limited to host devices such as computer devices,
For example, it may be another facsimile mail device. The host interface section 8 includes a DMAC (direct memory access controller) that directly connects the host device and the facsimile mail device 1, and a communication control section that connects the host device and the facsimile mail device 1 via a line. etc. are used.

Communication processing units FCUI to FCUn are provided as many as the number of storage lines, and each communication processing unit FCLII to FCIJn has network control unit 11, modem 12, communication control Part 13,
manual generation buffer 14, encoding/decoding section 15,
Channel control section 16, control program storage section 17, OM
R processing unit 18, data storage unit 19, storage memory 20,
Instruction information storage unit 21, system information storage unit 2
2, an editing control section 23, a bus control section 24, an update information management section 25, an update information storage section 26, a manual data storage section 27, and the like.

Lines L1 to Ln are connected to the network control unit 11, and the line L
For example, a telephone line is connected as l-Ln. The network control unit 11 is what is called an AA-NCU, and performs automatic call origination and call termination processing.

Modem 12 modulates the transmitted signal and demodulates the received signal.

The communication control unit 13 exchanges facsimile control signals with a communication terminal (for example, a facsimile machine) connected via the lines L1 to Ln, and executes a facsimile communication procedure.

In the manual generation buffer 14, operation manuals for each invention of the present application, which will be described later, are developed.

The encoding/decoding unit 15 encodes the message using a predetermined encoding method, and also decodes the encoded message.

The control program storage unit 17 includes communication processing units FCUI to P.
The basic program as CUn and the operation manual generation/output processing program of each invention of the present application are stored, and the channel control section 16 controls each section of the communication processing sections FCUI to FC1in according to the program in the control program storage section 17. The communication processing units FCUI to FC[Jn execute the sequence, and also execute the operation manual generation/output processing of each invention of the present application.

The OMR processing unit (OMR processing means) 18
Detection of whether the received message is an MR sheet message, and when the received message is an OMR sheet message, the received OMR
Marks made on the OMR sheet and mark positions are detected from the electronic message on the sheet, and the detection results are stored in the storage memory 20.

The data storage unit (data storage means) 19 includes lines L1 to L
Out of the data (telegrams, dial tone, etc.) sent from the other party's communication terminal via n, only the data necessary for creating the operation manual is stored, and the data necessary for creating the operation manual is, for example, the operation manual. The requested command, the type of operation manual requested (that is, the type of service function that the other operator requests from the facsimile mail device), the type of the other operator (for example, the ID of the other party's terminal, the operator's ID, etc.), and the other operator's This is data related to data indicating the level of proficiency. Further, the data storage unit 19 updates each stored data when the data is changed.

As described above, the storage memory 20 includes the OMR processing unit 18
Temporarily stores the detection result of the message on the OMR sheet detected by the OMR sheet and messages other than the OMR sheet when transferring it to the Fronbi disk device 5 or the hard disk device 6.7, and also stores the message on the floppy disk device 5 or the hard disk device 6.7. - time is stored when transmitting the message within via the communication processing units FCUI to FCUn.

The instruction information storage unit (instruction information storage means) 21 stores explanation data of the operation contents on the communication terminal required for each of a plurality of processing steps to realize the service (function) provided by the facsimile mail device 1. Remember. That is, when requesting a service from the facsimile mail device 1, a certain operation is required for each of the processing steps PO to P11, as shown in FIG. Explanatory data explaining the operation details required at the communication terminal for each pH is stored in advance. Therefore, the instruction information storage unit 21 stores processing steps PO-pH necessary for realizing each function of the facsimile mail device 1.
It is only necessary to store explanatory data for each function, and there is no need to store multiple types of help information corresponding to the individual's proficiency level for each function, unlike in the past.

The system information storage unit (system information storage means) 22 stores predetermined system information required to realize the functions of the facsimile mail device 1, and this system information includes, for example, user ID, number, and destination. ID
, No. and the destination telephone number (Te1.NO). Further, the system information storage unit 22 updates each stored system information when the system information is changed.

When there is a request for an operation manual, the editing control unit (editing control means) 23 analyzes the data stored in the data storage unit 19 and determines the type of operation manual requested by the other operator (i.e., the purpose of the operator). The instruction information storage unit 21 stores explanatory data for each of the processing steps PO to pH necessary to realize the desired functions of the facsimile mail device 1 and the proficiency level of the operator. , and edit and create it as an operation manual in the manual generation buffer 14. Further, at this time, if the system information storage unit 22 stores system information necessary to realize the function, the operation manual is created by incorporating this system information. Furthermore, the editing control unit 23 controls the data stored in the data storage unit 19 and the system information storage unit 2.
When the system information stored in 2 is updated, the explanatory data containing the updated information is updated to create a new operation manual. The created operation manuals are stored in the manual data storage section 27 for each type.

When the operation manual is updated and created by the editing control section 23, the update information management section 25 classifies predetermined update information by operation manual type and transmission destination and stores it in the update information storage section 26.
At the same time, it instructs to update the operating manual stored in the manual data storage unit 27 with the updated operating manual data and to send the updated operating manual to the destination.

The update information storage section 26 has a storage area for storing update information transferred from the update information management section 25, as shown in FIG.

Manual data storage unit (manual data storage means)
Reference numeral 27 has a storage area for storing operation manual data created by the editing control unit 23 for each type.

This facsimile mail device 1 includes each communication processing unit FCU.
Lines Ll-Ln are housed for each of 1 to FCUn, and facsimile communication is performed with the other party communication terminal connected via these lines L1 to Ln. When the facsimile mail device 1 receives a service request from a communication terminal connected via the line L1=Ln, the facsimile mail device 1 analyzes the requested service content and provides the service. This service request can be made using an OMR sheet, or can also be made using a tone signal or the like.

When the other party's communication terminal makes a service request using the OMR sheet, the facsimile mail device 1
The processing unit 18 reads the mark position on the OMR sheet and develops the reading result in the storage memory 20. The channel control unit 16 analyzes the contents of the storage memory 20, determines the contents of the service request, and executes the requested service.

For example, when the service request is for a time-specific transmission service, the facsimile mail device 1 temporarily stores the received encoded message in the storage memory 2o, encodes and
After decoding in the decoding section 15 and re-encoding using a predetermined encoding method, or directly via the Hass control section 24 to the floppy disk 5 or hard disk 6.
．． Accumulates to 7.

After that, at the specified sending time, the message is read from the floppy disk 5 or hard disk 6.7,
It is the vacant communication processing units FCUI to FCUn 4 that transfer the data via the bus control unit 24. Communication processing unit FCIJI
~FCOn temporarily stores the transferred message in the storage memory 20, and re-encodes it using a predetermined encoding method in the encoding/decoding unit 15, or transmits it as is to the designated destination.

Note that the network control section 11, modem 12, communication control section 13
The OMR processing section 18 constitutes a reception control means for receiving operation data from a communication terminal. Further, the update information management section 25 and the update information storage section 26 constitute update information management means.

Next, the effect will be explained.

As mentioned above, when a facsimile mail device receives a service request from a communication terminal, it provides the requested service, but if the operator of the communication terminal does not know how to operate it, the facsimile mail device l provides the requested service. It accepts the manual request, creates an operation manual corresponding to the service (function of the facsimile mail device 1) that the operator is requesting, and sends it to the communication terminal. , update the operating manual according to the changes, classify and manage updated information by manual type and transmission destination,
Send the updated operation manual to the recipient.

That is, when the operator of the communication terminal requests the facsimile mail device 1 for an operating manual, he first calls the facsimile mail device 1 and requests the operating manual. This request for the operation manual can be made using a tone signal by performing key operations according to voice guidance from the facsimile mail device 1, or the request for the operation manual can be made using an OMR sheet. You can also do that. For example, when requesting an operation manual using an OMR sheet, the OMR sheet (
(See Figure 3) Use 30 to request an operating manual. This operation manual request OMR sheet 30 is
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, like a normal OMR sheet, a start mark 30a, an initial inclination permissible limit determination mark 30b, a guide mark 30C, a mode switching mark 3
0d, field number 30e, free area division designation mark 30f
, an end mark 30g, etc., as well as marks specially provided for requesting an operation manual, namely, an inquiry mark 30h, a voice guidance required/unnecessary mark 301, and a mail type (service type) mark 30j.
, whether or not the time is specified, and the specified time mark 30.

When requesting an operation manual using the OMR sheet 30, the communication terminal operator must use a facsimile or email device.
and send an O to the communication terminal (e.g. facsimile machine).
All you have to do is read the MR note 30 and send it.

Next, we will discuss the processing in the Facun Milli mail system 21 in the fifth section.
This will be explained based on FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 5, when there is an incoming call (step S1), the facsimile mail device 1 receives a user ID (step S2), and checks whether the received user ID is registered (step S1). 33). This user rD uses the facsimile mail device l, and is stored in the system information storage section 22. If the received user ID is not registered, error processing is performed (step S4), and a check is made to see if the user ID should be re-entered (step S5). If re-input is to be performed, the process returns to step S2 to receive the user ID, and if re-input is not required, error handling and line disconnection are performed to end this flow (steps S6 and S7).
).

In step S3, if the received user rD is registered, a check is made to see if the ordering is by PBI-line (step S8), and if it is PB ordering, the PB ordering is received (step 39). When the reception of the PB ordering is completed, check whether the ordering is normal or not (step 510).
, when the ordering is performed normally, the reception of the message is started (step S11). When the reception of all messages is completed, step 12), check whether the message was received normally or not (step 513), and if the message was received normally, the times vAL1 to L
disconnect n and end the reception process (step 314);
In step 313, if the message was not received normally, after performing error processing,
(Step S15.514). Further, in step SIO, if the ordering using the PB tone is not performed normally, error processing (for example, feedback to the communication terminal that the ordering was not performed normally) is performed (step 516), Check whether it is re-entered (step 517). If re-input is to be performed, return to step S9 and enter PB)
- If an ordering request is received and re-input is not performed, after performing error handling (for example, feedback to the communication terminal that the line will be disconnected), the line will be disconnected.
1 to Ln are cut (steps 315 and 514).

Steps S9 to S17 described above are the flow of normal service request reception processing of the facsimile mail apparatus.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that the ordering is not by PB tone, the message is received (step S318).
), it is checked whether the received message is an OMR sheet message or an OMR sheet for inquiry, that is, for requesting an operation manual (steps 319 and 520).

If the request is not an inquiry request (operation manual request), ordering processing using the OMR sheet is performed (step 321). That is, the OMR processing unit 18 reads the mark position of the OMR sheet from the message of the received OMR sheet and develops it in the storage memory 20, and the channel control unit 16 analyzes the contents of the OMR sheet developed in the storage memory 20. to determine the contents of the order. Check whether the ordering was performed normally (step 522), and if the ordering was not performed normally, after performing error processing,
(Step S23.514). If the ordering is performed normally, the message is received, and when all the messages are received successfully, the time is reached! 1SL1~Ln
is disconnected to end this flow (steps Sll to 51).
5).

In step S20, when the inquiry request (operation manual request) is made, the inquiry processing using the OMR sheet (
Step S24.525) Checks whether the operation manual request (operation manual request) was performed normally. If not, after performing error processing, the line L1 to
Cut Ln (steps S6, S7).

If the inquiry request is successful, −star times′
41AL1-Ln is disconnected (step 526), and the inquiry is analyzed (analysis of the request contents of the operation manual) (step 527). Next, check whether the content of the inquiry request is normal (step 528). If the contents of the inquiry request are not normal, an error process is performed, for example, a notification is sent to the communication terminal that the contents of the inquiry request are not normal, and this flow is ended (step 529).

If the content of the inquiry is normal, operation manual editing processing and operation manual output processing are performed, and this flow is ended (step S30.531). As for this operation manual output process, the created operation manual may be sent directly to the communication terminal that has requested the operation manual, or it may be sent to a post office box of the facsimile mail device 1 and the operation manual may be sent to the communication terminal that has requested the output. May be sent at any time.

Next, the inquiry analysis process in step S27 will be explained.

Each communication processing unit FCUI to FCUn reads the mark position of the OMR sheet 30 from the received message of the operation manual request OMR sheet 1-30 in the OMR processing unit 18, develops it in the storage memory 20, and stores it in the storage memory 20. The content of the expanded OMR sheet is analyzed by the channel control unit 16 to determine the requested content of the operation manual request.

That is, the chaffle control unit 16 analyzes the contents developed in the storage memory 20, and as shown in FIG.
Determine whether voice guidance is necessary (step R1)
. If it is determined that there is a mark at the key position of the voice guidance mark 30i on the OMR sheet, set the system parameter dO to aO in step R2), O.
If it is determined that the voice guidance mark 30i on the MR sheet has a mark at the "no" position, the system parameter dO is set to al (step R3). Here, the system parameters are parameters that determine which processing step PO-pH to move to next when moving from each processing step PO-pH shown in FIG. 2 to the next processing step PO-pH. , as shown in FIG. 7, is stored in a system parameter storage space formed in the instruction information storage section 21. Note that the system parameter dO is the parameter for whether voice guidance is required, and the system parameters di, d2, and d3 are for selecting a post office box or bulletin board, whether or not to specify the time, and inputting the destination using destination ID' and No. The selection of whether to input a telephone number (Te1.NO) is stored, and d4 stores the parameter of whether or not to broadcast simultaneously.

After setting the necessity of voice guidance and its system parameters, the channel control unit 16 then determines whether or not it is a post office box service (step R4). If it is not a post office box service, the system parameter d1 is set to b2, and a check is made to see if there is a post office box N01 (serial number given to the message that the user inserts into the post office box) (steps R5, R6). If there is a post office box No. 0, the system information storage unit 22 stores that post office box No.
, and proceed to the next step (step R'7). If there is no private mail box No. 8, proceed directly to the next step.

In step R4, if it is not a post office box service, check whether it is a bulletin board service (step R8); if it is a bulletin board service, set system parameter a1 to b.
1 and checks whether there is a bulletin board number (serial number given to the message that the user posts on the bulletin board) (steps R9 and R10). If the bulletin board No. 0 exists, the bulletin board No. is stored in the system information storage section 22 and the process proceeds to the next step (step R11).
, when there is no bulletin board No. 2, the process directly proceeds to the next step.

If it is not a bulletin board service in step R4, a check is made to see if it is a normal message (step R12), and if it is not a normal message, an error process is performed and the flow ends (step R13). If it is a normal message, the system parameter di is set to d2 and the process moves to the next step (step R14).

When the system parameters have been set according to whether it is a post office box, a bulletin board, or an ordinary message, it is next checked whether the time is specified (step R15), and if the time is not specified, the system parameter make d2 is changed to d3. settings (step R16). This system parameter d3 will be set again in later processing. When specifying the time, set the system parameter d2 to b3 in step R.
17) Check whether the specified time is normal (step
7bR18). If the specified time is not normal, perform error processing and end this flow (Step R19); if the specified time is normal, the specified time is stored in the system information storage unit 22 and the destination is Te1. It is checked whether the designation is NO (steps R20, R21), and if the destination is Te1. When the designation is No, the system parameter d3 is set to b4 (step R22), and the process proceeds to the next step. If the destination is not specified by Tel or No, the destination is the ID.

Check whether it is specified by No (step R25).
), the destination is Te1. If the answer is No, or if the ID or NO is not specified, it is determined that there is an error, and after error processing is performed, this flow is ended (step R19).

When the destination is specified by ID and No., the system parameter d3 is set to b5 (step R26), and a check is made to see if it is a broadcast service (step R27).

If it is not a broadcast service, system parameter d4
is set to 02 (step R28), and for broadcast service, the system parameter d4 is set to cl (step R28).
Step R29) After setting each system parameter in this way, a service code is determined from the set system parameters and stored in the register (step R30).
), i.e. detect and set system parameters. As a result, the type of function (service) requested by the operator of the communication terminal is determined, and an operation manual corresponding to the type of service requested by the operator of this communication terminal is then created.

Next, this operation manual creation process will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

The editing control unit 23 first sets the counters n, m, f to “0”.
” (step Ql), and stores the code of processing step Pn in the manual generation buffer I4 (step Q2). That is, first, the code of processing step Pn is
The code of O is stored in the manual generation buffer 14.

Next, the editing control section 23 reads the instruction information storage section 21.
The system parameters of this processing step Pn (system parameters dO to d4 etc. set in FIG. 6.7 above) are read out from step Q3), and it is checked whether the system parameters are 0'' (step Q4).

If the system parameter is “0”, processing step P
At step Q, the address of the explanatory data corresponding to the system parameter 90'' and the code of the next processing step Pn are read out and stored in the manual generation buffer 14 (step Q
5). On the other hand, when the system parameter is not "0", the system parameter d is stored in the system information storage unit 22.
Step Q6) to read the value of m, processing step Pn
and the address of the explanatory data corresponding to the system parameter dm and the code of the next processing step Pn are read from the instruction information storage unit 21 and stored in the manual generation buffer 14 at the address AI! Close and insert (Step 7 Q7).

That is, the processing step Pn and the system parameters correspond to each other as shown in FIG.
Once n and the system parameters are determined, the next processing step Pn is determined, and the explanatory data for that processing step Pn is determined accordingly. Therefore, by freely combining the processing step pn and the system parameters, the next processing step Pn can be freely set, and the explanatory data necessary for the operation of this processing step knob Pn can be freely combined. can.

In this way, first, when the address setting of the next processing step knob Pn corresponding to the processing step PO, the system parameter aO, and the explanatory data of the system parameter dm is completed, m+1 is set as the parameter m, and step Q
8) Check whether the final processing step knob Pn
(Step Q9).

If it is not the final processing step Pn, the process returns to step Q3 and similarly stores the address of the next processing step pn and explanatory data in the manual generation sofa 14 based on the system parameters for each processing step Pn. 7) ゛Q3~Step, PuQ8). When the above process is repeated until the final process step knob Pn,
As shown in FIG. 10, the manual generation knob 14 contains, in the order of addresses Al, the codes of processing steps Pn necessary for executing the service requested by the operator and the addresses of explanatory data for the processing step knobs Pn. (expanded)

Therefore, by freely setting system parameters, processing steps Pn corresponding to each of the multiple functions of the facsimile mail device can be set, and explanatory data for each processing step Pn corresponding to the desired function can be set. can be freely combined.

Next, step Qll) reads out the pz service code stored in the system information storage unit 22, extracts a part of the corresponding header, and converts it to the operation manual ladder of the manual generation buffer 14, as shown in FIG. It is expanded to position 40a (step Q12).

Here, the counter l should be set to 0'' in step Q13).
, reads out the explanatory data stored at address AA and develops it in the character data header 40b of the operation manual in the manual generation buffer 14 (step Q14).
. In addition, an explanatory figure (the corresponding processing step is stored in the rough instruction information storage unit 21).

It is stored independently in association with the explanatory data of the block Pn or independently of the explanatory data. ) and the system information (Te1.N) stored in the system information storage unit 22
o and 10. No. etc.) and develops it in the image area 40c of the manual generation buffer 14 (step Q).
15) When the expansion of each data at the corresponding address to the manual generation buffer 14 is completed, check whether it is the final data or not (step Q16). If it is not the final data, increment the counter l by 1 (#=7).
! +1) and return to step Q14. Similarly, explanatory data, explanatory figures, and system information are expanded to the manual generation buffer 14 for each address Al stored in the manual generation buffer 14, and when the processing is completed for all addresses Al, the editing/generation processing of the operation manual is terminated. do.

The operation manual developed in the manual generation buffer 14 in this way is output from the facsimile mail device 1 to the communication terminal that has requested the operation manual, and the communication terminal does not receive the operation manual 50 as shown in FIG. You can take it. The operator of the communication terminal who has received the operation manual can receive the intended service of the facsimile mail device 1 by looking at the transmitted operation manual and performing the operations as described in the operation manual. I can do it. The operation manuals created by the editing control section 23 are classified by type and stored in the manual data storage section 27, and the update information management section 25 manages whether or not the created operation manuals have been updated. , when updated, the operation manual update process described later is executed.

This output process can be sent directly when the generation of the operation manual is completed, or it can be sent to the post office box of the facsimile mail device 1 and sent when there is a request from the communication terminal to send the operation manual of the post office box. You may
The output method is not limited.

Next, regarding the process when updating the operation manual,
This will be explained based on FIG. 13.

Now, the operator of the communication terminal is inputting data regarding operation data and system information registered in the system information storage section 22, and at this time, the operation manual for the communication terminal has already been stored in the manual data storage section 27. If the transmitted operation data and system information have been changed, the editing control unit 23 performs the above-mentioned manual creation process. The operation manual is edited and generated. The updating process of the operating manual in the editing control unit 23 is managed by the update information management unit 25.

First, the update information management section 25 updates the update information of the communication terminal stored in the update information storage section 26 based on the input data, that is, the classification according to the manual type and the transmission destination shown in FIG. 4 above. Refer to the accumulated update information (manual version) of the operation manual and check whether the contents of the input data match the contents of the latest operation manual (steps Tl-T3).
).

If the data contents match, wait for the end of data input and end this process (Step T5); if the data contents do not match, create a new operation manual using the data changed by the editing control unit 23. and to update the operating manual stored in the manual data storage unit 26 with the updated operating manual that has been created, and to send the updated operating manual to the communication terminal into which the data has been input. The communication controller 13 is instructed to end this process (steps T4 and T5).

Therefore, when there is a change in the operation data and system information from the communication terminal, the communication terminal does not request the facsimile mail device 1 to send the operation manual (although the facsimile mail device 1 does not automatically update the operation manual). Since the information is sent to the communication terminal, the user of the communication terminal can always have the latest operation manual available, and no longer have to worry about operations.

In the above embodiment, a case is explained in which an operation manual is requested from a communication terminal, but the operator of the facsimile mail device itself can operate the facsimile mail device itself or operate the facsimile mail device from the keyboard etc. The same applies to the case where an operation manual is requested regarding the operation of a service request.

In this way, a facsimile mail device as a communication device receives an operation manual request from a communication terminal, and sends the operation manual for the operations necessary to realize the function of the device requested by the operator. Explanatory data for each processing step can be freely combined, edited, created, and output. As a result, it is possible to generate and provide an operating manual that fully meets the wide range of operator requirements without using large-capacity storage means. It is possible to provide an operation manual for a series of operations from start to completion, and even beginners can reliably realize the intended functions of the device even if there is no operation manual attached to the device.Furthermore, If there is a change in the operation data entered manually from a communication terminal, the operation manual is immediately updated according to the change and automatically sent to the corresponding communication terminal, so facsimile mail device users always have the latest information. The operation manual can be received and received.Therefore, the man-machine interface can be improved, and the functions of the equipment can be fully and efficiently utilized.

In a facsimile mail device, which is a device equipped with a communication function, we receive an inquiry from a communication terminal about the operation using an OMR sheet, and edit and create the operation manual necessary to realize the function desired by the requesting operator. The information can be sent to a communication terminal, and the communication terminal can more easily make inquiries about operations to a facsimile mail device, which is a device equipped with a communication function. As a result, the man-machine interface can be further improved, and the functions of devices equipped with communication functions can be more easily and fully utilized from the communication terminal.

In addition, when creating an operation manual, the system information stored in the preliminary system information storage unit 22 is incorporated to edit and create the operation manual, and if the system information is changed, the changed system information is updated. Since the operation manual is automatically updated using the fax machine, the operator can request the desired service from the facsimile mail device by simply operating the contents described in the operation manual. Therefore, the man-machine interface can be further improved, and the functions of the equipment can be used even more easily and fully.

〔effect〕

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, for each processing step of a device equipped with a communication function that realizes various functions by combining a plurality of processing steps, explanatory data of the operation contents necessary for that processing step is provided. It determines the function requested by the operator from the data that is stored and sent from the communication terminal to the equipment, and describes the operations in the processing steps that should be executed to achieve that function. In addition to freely combining and creating an operation manual and transmitting it to a communication terminal, when the transmitted operation data is changed, the explanation data including the data is updated to update the operation manual, and the specified information regarding the update is updated. Update information is managed for each type of operation manual and transmission destination, and updated operation manuals are sent to the relevant destinations, so users can always be provided with the latest operation manuals, and communication terminals can
Even if you are a beginner, there is no operating manual attached to the device (
However, it is possible to realize the desired device functions and improve the man-machine interface. As a result, the functions of the communication device can be fully and efficiently utilized.

According to the invention described in claim 2, when various system information necessary for realizing the functions of a device having a communication function is inputted in advance, it is possible to incorporate these system information when creating the operation manual according to claim 1. In addition, when there is a change in the operation data and system information to be transmitted, the operation manual can be updated by updating the explanatory data including each data, and the specified information regarding the update can be updated. Updated information is managed by type of operation manual and transmission destination, and updated operation manuals are sent to the destinations, so users can always be provided with operation manuals that include the latest system information. Therefore, even if the operator has forgotten or does not know the system information, by operating the device according to the operating manual, the desired device function can be realized, further improving the man-machine interface, and improving communication equipment. Functions can be utilized more easily, fully and efficiently.

According to the invention as claimed in claim 3, in a facsimile mail device, an operation inquiry from a communication terminal is accepted, and an operation manual for operations necessary for using the service of the facsimile mail device targeted by an operator is provided. Create and send to the communication terminal, update the operation manual according to the changed transmission data and system information, manage the updated information for each operation manual type and transmission destination, and send the updated operation manual to the relevant destination. Therefore, the latest operation manual can always be provided to the user using the facsimile mail device, and the man-machine interface of the facsimile mail device can be further improved.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in a device equipped with a communication function, OMR from a communication terminal is
It accepts inquiries regarding operation using the sheet, creates an operation manual necessary for using the functions of the communication device intended by the operator, and sends it to the communication terminal,
The operation manual is updated in accordance with the changed transmission data and system information, the updated information is managed for each type of operation manual and transmission destination, and the updated operation manual is sent to the destination, so the communication terminal Inquiries regarding the operation of a communication device can be made even more easily, and users of communication devices can always be provided with the latest operation manual. Therefore, the man-machine interface in the communication device can be further improved, and the functions of the communication device can be more easily and fully utilized from the communication terminal.

According to the invention described in claim 5, in the facsimile mail device, OM from the communication terminal
We accept inquiries regarding operation using the R sheet, create an operation manual necessary for using the service of the facsimile mail device intended by the operator, and send it to the communication terminal, as well as the transmitted data and system information that will be changed. The operation manual is updated according to the latest information, the updated information is managed for each type of operation manual and transmission destination, and the updated operation manual is sent to the corresponding destination, so inquiries about the operation of the facsimile mail device can be handled more easily. N Not only can this be done easily, but the latest operation manual can always be provided to users who use the Kuni facsimile mail device.

Therefore, the man-machine interface of the facsimile mail device can be further improved, and the services of the facsimile mail device can be more easily and fully utilized from the communication terminal.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 13 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the operation manual creation device of each invention of the present application. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile mail device to which the operation manual creation device is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. A transition diagram of the processing steps of the facsimile mail device, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an OMR sheet for requesting the operation manual, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of update information stored in the update information storage section of FIG. 1, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the basic processing of the facsimile mail device, Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation manual request analysis processing, Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the buffer for storing system parameters, and Fig. 8 is the flowchart showing the operation manual request analysis processing. A flowchart showing the operation manual editing-creation process, Figure 9 is a diagram showing the status of the processing knobs and system parameters stored in the instruction information storage unit, and Figure 1O is the process stored in the manual generation buffer. Figure 11 is a diagram showing the address settings of steps and explanatory data, Figure 11 is a diagram showing each data of the operation manual developed in the manual generation buffer, Figure 12 is a diagram showing the output operation manual, and Figure 13 is a diagram showing the output operation manual. It is a flowchart which shows the operation manual update process. ■・・・Facsimile mail device, 2・・・・・・・
- System control unit, 3...Disk control unit, 4...-Disk control unit, 5...Floppy disk device, 6...
-Hard disk device, 7...-Hard disk device, 8...Host interface section, 11...
・Network control unit, 12...Modem, 13...Communication control unit, Engineering 4...Manual generation buffer, 15...
--- Encoding/decoding section, 16... Channel control section, 17...- Control program storage section, 18...
...OMR processing unit, 19...Data storage unit, 20...Storage memory, 21...Instruction information storage unit, 22...
...System information storage section, 23--Editing control section, 24--Bus control section, 25--Update information management section, 26--Update Information storage section, 27.--1--.Manual data storage section, 30.--
... OMR sheet for operation manual request, 30h...
...Inquiry mark, 30i ...Voice guidance required/unnecessary mark, 30 J ...
Mail type (service type) mark, 30k... Time specification and specified time mark, 40a... Header part, 40b... Character data area, 40c...
...Image data included.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) When a predetermined operation is performed on a communication terminal, operation data corresponding to the content of the operation is received from the communication terminal, and multiple processing steps are executed in combination according to the operation data to perform multiple functions. A device for creating an operation manual for a device equipped with a communication function to achieve this, comprising a reception control means for receiving operation data from the communication terminal, and a device for creating an operation manual from among the data received by the reception control means. a data storage means for retrieving and storing data and updating the data when the stored data is changed; and an instruction information storage for storing explanatory data of the operation contents required for each of the above processing steps. Analyze the data stored in the data storage means and compile the operation manual necessary to realize the desired function by combining the explanatory data of the operation contents at each processing step stored in the instruction information storage means.・As well as creating
When the data stored in the data storage means is updated,
Editing control means for editing and creating an operation manual by updating explanatory data of operation contents in accordance with the updated contents; and transmission control for transmitting the operation manual created by the editing control means to a communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal. means, a manual data storage means for storing operation manuals edited and created by the editing control means for each predetermined type; and a manual data storage means for managing whether or not the operation manuals edited and created by the editing control means are updated. When the update information is stored in association with the type of the operation manual for each transmission destination, the operation manual stored in the manual data storage means is updated, and the updated operation manual is sent to the destination. An operating manual creation device comprising: update information management means for instructing transmission control means to transmit the information. (2) When a predetermined operation is performed on a communication terminal, operation data corresponding to the content of the operation is received from the communication terminal, and multiple processing steps are executed in combination according to the operation data to perform multiple functions. A device for creating an operation manual for a device equipped with a communication function to achieve this, comprising a reception control means for receiving operation data from the communication terminal, and a device for creating an operation manual from among the data received by the reception control means. a data storage means for retrieving and storing data and updating the data when the stored data is changed; and an instruction information storage for storing explanatory data of the operation contents required for each of the above processing steps. a system information storage means for storing various system information entered in advance to realize each function of the device, and for updating the stored system information when the system information is changed; Analyze the data stored in the data storage means, combine the explanatory data of the operation contents at each processing step stored in the instruction information storage means, and incorporate the system information stored in the system information storage means to achieve the objective. Edit and create operation manuals necessary to realize functions, and when data stored in the data storage means is updated, and when system information stored in the system information storage means is updated, the updated contents Edit the operation manual by updating the explanation data of the operation contents according to the
an editing control means for creating an operation manual; a transmission control means for transmitting an operation manual created by the editing control means to a communication terminal in response to a request from the communication terminal; A manual data storage means stored in the manual data storage means and an editing control means manage whether or not the operation manual edited and created is updated, and when updated, predetermined update information is associated with the type of the operation manual and sent to the transmission destination. update information management means for updating the operating manual stored in the manual data storage means and instructing the transmission control means to transmit the updated operating manual to the destination; An operation manual creation device featuring: (3) The operation manual creation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device is a facsimile mail device. (4) Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the device is a device equipped with a communication function, and the reception control means includes OMR processing means for analyzing OMR data.
The operation manual creation device described. (5) The operation manual creation device according to claim 4, wherein the device is a facsimile mail device.