JPH05341945A - Method and device for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the explanation of, for example, a help function or the like easy to understand by reading picture information stored in a recording medium and displaying it in the window of a screen. CONSTITUTION:In an information processor capable of window display, a read means for reading the picture information from a storage medium (CD-ROM) 8 and a display part 6 for displaying the picture information read by the read means on the prescribed window are provided. Then, data read from the CD- ROM 8 pass through a CD-ROM-i/f 7 and a CPU bus 1 and are temporarily written in the VRAM of a CRT-i/f 5. The data are read again and extended by the pixel processor of an extending circuit 22. The extended data are displayed through the CRT-i/f 5 at the display part 6 as moving pictures successively. Also, simultaneously, digital audio data read from the CD-ROM 8 are converted to analog signals by an audio board 20 and outputted from a speaker 21 as an audible sound.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method and apparatus in, for example, a workstation or personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, since a document processing apparatus represented by DTP (desk top publishing) is provided with a large number of operation methods and functions, it takes a lot of time to fully master all of them. It took time. Therefore,
If the user does not understand the operation method, he or she rereads a number of thick manuals to find out the corresponding operation method, or if there is a person who is familiar with the operation method nearby, asks the person, etc. I was solving problems and problems. Further, in the case of a device having a help function for checking such an operating method, the operating method was understood by referring to the help function.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. (1) It takes a lot of time and a lot of labor to read a thick operation manual, and since the operation manual is not always located near the operator, searching for a manual operation method is troublesome. It will be (2) A person who is familiar with the operation method is not always near the operator, and when there is no such person, perform a manual search as described above, or try the operation method by trial and error by yourself. There was no other way than to judge. (3) Generally, the help function is like a simplified version of the operation manual. Especially for functions that are difficult to explain in the manual, it is difficult to understand the operation just by referring to the help function. Has a problem that it cannot be understood without referring to the manual.

Further, in an information processing apparatus operated by a plurality of users, each user sets a personal identification code by using a character code such as characters in order to log in to the system or protect the confidentiality of his or her file. is doing. But,
With such a security code, for example, if you forget your security code, you will not be able to open your own file, and if someone other than you knows the security code, you will not be able to log in to the system or , It is possible to open a file of another person. Therefore, it cannot be said that the protection of files and the like by such a secret code is perfect protection.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and by reading and displaying the image information stored in the recording medium in the window of the screen, for example, the information processing that makes the explanation of the help function and the like easier to understand. It is an object to provide a method and a device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing method and apparatus capable of surely verifying the identity of the person by identifying the person in question in view of the above conventional example.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an information processing device capable of displaying a window has a reading means for reading image information from a storage medium and a display means for displaying the image information read by the reading means on a predetermined window.

In order to achieve the above object, the information processing method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, an information processing method in which the right to use the device is restricted by personal identification information,
The step of inputting information unique to an individual's living body as personal identification information and the input personal identification information and pre-registered personal identification information are collated to determine whether or not the person who has input the personal information is given the right to use the device. And a determining step.

[0009]

With the above arrangement, the image information is read from the storage medium and the read image information is displayed on a predetermined window.

According to another aspect of the invention, information unique to an individual's living body is input as personal identification information, the input personal identification information is collated with pre-registered personal identification information, and the person who has input the personal identification information is collated. It is determined whether the device usage right is given to the device.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a system bus, 2 is a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, 3 is a main memory used for storing programs and used as a work area of the CPU 2, 4 is a memory 3 other than the CPU 2 and the like. Between the memory of
Alternatively, a DMA control circuit (Direct Memory Access Controlle) for performing DMA data transfer between the memory 3 and various I / Os.
r is hereinafter referred to as DMAC). Reference numeral 5 is a CRT interface (i / f) unit including VRAM and the like, and 6 is a display unit such as a CRT or LCD for displaying display data. 7 is C
An interface section between the D-ROM 8 and the CPU bus 1, and 8 is a read-only storage medium represented by a CD-ROM.

Reference numeral 10 is an interface unit with a LAN such as Ethernet. 11 is ROM, SRAM, RS2
An I / O unit such as 32C, 13 is a hard disk, 14 is a floppy disk, and 12 is an interface unit that controls an interface with the hard disk 13 and the floppy disk 14. Reference numeral 16 is a high resolution printer such as a laser beam printer, 15 is a printer interface section, and 17 is a key interface section for controlling an interface between a pointing device 19 such as a keyboard 18 or a mouse and the CPU bus 1. Reference numeral 20 is a voice board for converting the acoustic data stored in the CD-ROM 8 into an analog acoustic signal, and 21 is a speaker for inputting and reproducing the acoustic signal. A decompression circuit 22 decompresses the compressed data stored in the CD-ROM 8.

The operation of the information processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.

When the power of the device is turned on, the CPU 2
After performing a startup process such as a system check according to a program stored in a ROM (not shown) provided in the / O unit 11, the program such as the OS stored in the hard disk 13 is read out. Main memory 3
Remember. After that, the application program is activated by an instruction from the keyboard 18 or the mouse 19 by the user. The image displayed on the display unit 6 is CRTi /
CPU 2 in the video memory VRAM (not shown) of the f unit 5
Is performed by directly writing data.

Next, the flow of moving image data read from the CD-ROM 8 will be briefly described. The data read from the CD-ROM 8 passes through the CD-ROM interface section 7 through the CPU bus 1 and is once written in the VRAM of the CRT interface 5. This data is
The pixel processor of the decompression circuit 22 reads out again and decompresses. The data thus decompressed is sequentially displayed on the display unit 6 as a moving image via the CRT interface unit 5. At the same time, the digital sound data read from the CD-ROM 8 is converted into an analog signal by the audio board 20 and output as an audible sound from the speaker 21.

Next, the operation of the help function in the information processing apparatus of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program for executing this process is stored in the main memory 3.

Here, a case will be described in which the operator does not understand the operation method for instructing a desired operation while operating the DTP software to perform document processing, for example. First, in step S1, a help display request is input using the keyboard 18 or the pointing device 19. As a result, the help menu screen is displayed in step S2. An example of this display is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, 6 indicates a display unit such as a CRT, and 31 indicates a DTP soft menu area. Three
2 is a work window, 33 is a window for video help described later, 34 is a help menu window, 35
Is a button area for instructing video help, and 36 is a button area for instructing document help described later. Moreover, 37 has shown the cursor.

Next, returning to FIG. 2 again, when the end of the help display is instructed in step S3, the help process ends. If the help has not ended, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is selected whether to use the help function based on a general document. This document help describes the help function in a document, and is selected by pointing the document help button area 36 with the cursor 37 and clicking the switch of the pointing device 19. When this document help is selected, the process proceeds to step S5, and a well-known document help process is performed (not described in detail here). When the help operation based on this document is completed, the process is again performed at step S2.
Return to.

On the other hand, if the document help is not used in step S4, the process proceeds to step S6. Where the cursor 37
When the video help button area 35 is pointed to and the video help is requested by clicking the switch of the pointing device 19, the process proceeds to step S7, and the video help processing described later is performed.

Next, the video help processing, which is a characteristic part of the first embodiment, will be described in detail.

The video help function is intended to facilitate understanding of complicated operation explanations that cannot be understood by the document help function.

As shown in FIG. 3, the work screen 32 and the video help screen 33 are arranged side by side to make the window layout easier to understand. Here, the actual operation method is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart showing the video help process (step S7 in FIG. 2).

First, in steps S10 to S13, the setting of the video window 33 to be displayed is set to an environment that is easy for the operator to use. In step S10, it is determined whether an instruction to change the window width of the video help screen 33 is input. If there is an instruction to change, the process proceeds to step S11, and the window width of the video window 33 is changed according to the instructed information. To do. If there is no change instruction here, the process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined whether an instruction to change the display position of the window 33 is given. When there is a change instruction, the process proceeds to step S13, and the display position of the window 33 is changed so that the video window 33 is displayed at the instructed position. The size and display position of these windows 33 are changed by a drag operation with the pointing device 19.

When the display setting of the video window 33 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether an instruction as to whether or not to output a sound is input. This is so that the audio output can be prohibited when it is desired to operate quietly depending on the operating environment. At this time, the help menu window 34 is switched to the window layout 38 as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, when voice output is desired,
By pointing to the Music button 39 with the cursor 37 and clicking the button of the mouse 19, the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG. 4, and the voice output process is selected. As a result, the acoustic data stored in the CD-ROM 8 is output in synchronization with the image data described later.

Next, in step S16 of FIG. 4, by pointing the play button 40 with the cursor 37 and clicking it, a moving picture function such as DVI is displayed in order to display the moving picture data of the CD-ROM 8 in the video window 33. The usable application program is started, and the help moving image is displayed in the video window 33.

The operator then proceeds to steps S17-S21.
Then, the fast-forward button (FF) 41 is pointed with the cursor and clicked to perform the fast-forward process (step S18).
By instructing and clicking the rewind button (Rew) 42, the rewinding process can be stopped in step S20. By instructing and clicking the stop button (Stop) 43, the moving image display can be stopped in step S22. ..

In any of these cases, when the processing is completed, the process returns to step S16 to return to the reproduction standby state. In this way, when a series of processing is completed and all the videos of the video help have finished flowing, the processing is completed.

As described above, the video help function is displayed.

In the above-described first embodiment, the information input from the CD-ROM 8 is used as the help function of the document processing system such as DTP, but the image data from the CD-ROM 8 is pasted as image data to the document being created. You may use it to attach. In this case, the user inserts the image data from the CD-ROM 8 into the window in which he / she wants to paste the image data, and reproduces and stops the read moving image data as in the above-described embodiment to obtain the desired moving image data. You can paste a still image of the screen of to the document you are creating.

In addition, a CD is installed in the device currently used by the user.
-If there is no ROM driver, input image information from the CD-ROM via another device equipped with the CD-ROM driver via a network such as a LAN,
It may be attached to a document or the like in the same manner as described above.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
The following effects can be obtained by inputting image data or acoustic data from a read-only storage medium, displaying it in a window or outputting it from a speaker and using it as a help function. (1) It saves time and labor for reading a thick manual and eliminates the need for a space for the operation manual. (2) Even if someone who is not familiar with the operation method is nearby, you can visually operate your own work screen and help screen in parallel, so complicated operation methods that are difficult to understand with document help are easy. Can be understood. (3) Unlike the method of viewing all functions on the VTR like the video for explaining operation, only the functions that one wants to know can be displayed as a moving image, thus improving work efficiency.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Portions common to those in FIG. 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a personal information processing board for processing the information input from the personal information input unit 61 for inputting personal information which is information peculiar to the living body of the person such as voice and fingerprint information of the person. Is. Reference numeral 62 denotes a digital signal processor, which performs numerical calculation processing on personal information input via the personal information board 60.

Next, the operation of the personal information processing board 60 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, a case of a document processing apparatus that can protect a file of a specific person by using the personal information of the person will be described, and here, a case of inputting voice as the personal information will be described.

In this case, the personal information input unit 61 corresponds to a microphone, and the user speaks into the microphone 61 to open his / her file after starting the system. The voice thus captured by the microphone 61 is sent to the personal information processing board 60 for processing the voice,
It is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 21. This digitally converted signal is used for the personal information extraction circuit 22.
Then, it is converted into a parameter that best represents the characteristics of the person's voice. Various methods are conceivable for extracting the parameter that is the characteristic of the personal information, and for example, there is a characteristic extracting method as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 8, the digital voice information input to the personal information extraction circuit 22 is FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) with a certain number of sample points (step S3).
1), the frequency component of the audio signal is analyzed (step S32). Since the frequency-analyzed voice information called a spectrum includes a pitch which is a fundamental frequency of a human vocal cord, the pitch is detected (step S
33) From this pitch information, a low-frequency component containing vocal tract shape information, which is one of the personal information of human beings, is extracted (step S34). Next, proceeding to step S35, this vocal tract information is converted into a characteristic parameter called cepstrum that represents personal information well. The characteristic parameters thus obtained by the personal information extraction circuit 22 are output to the personal information collation circuit 23.

The personal information collating circuit 23 collates the input parameters as personal information with the parameters of a specific user registered in advance. Prior to this collation processing, when the CPU 2 is informed by the personal information extraction circuit 22 that the parameter extraction is completed, the CPU 2 accesses the hardware disk 13 and reads the personal information data (parameter) registered therein. Personal information circuit 2
Transfer to 3. In this way, the personal information collation circuit 23 compares the parameter registered in advance with the parameter extracted by the personal information extraction circuit 22 to perform collation. There are various possible methods for this matching. For example, when a user's characteristic parameter is input as an unknown pattern, the unknown pattern and the characteristic parameter (standard pattern) of a specific speaker registered in advance are respectively calculated. If the absolute distance is within a certain threshold value for a registrant who has been calculated using a distance measure such as Euclidean distance and is determined to have the shortest distance, the registered registrant It is determined that

Here, it is judged that the user is the registrant himself, that the user who requests the system to log on or open the file is the person who is actually registered and the owner of the corresponding file. Means The above-described analysis and collation processing of personal information may be performed by a program, or dedicated hardware may be provided. In order to reduce the load on the CPU 2,
It may be implemented by a digital signal processor (DSP) 62.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the file open processing of this embodiment.

First, in step S41, when the system user requests to open his or her file, step S4
Proceed to step 2 to see if a voice password is registered for that file. If no such password is registered, the process proceeds to step S43, the file is opened, and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the password is registered in step S42, the process proceeds to step S44, and a voice, which is personal information, is input using the microphone 61, for example. When the voice is input in this way, the above-described processing is performed, and the characteristic parameter and the registered parameter are compared and collated (step S45). If the collation can be obtained here, the process proceeds to step S43 to open the requested file. If the collation cannot be obtained, step S4 is performed.
In step S47, the number of collations is counted, and if the collation cannot be obtained even if the number of voices equal to or more than the predetermined count number (here, N = 3) is input in step S47, this file open request is ignored. Will be.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the third embodiment of the present invention, and here shows an example in which the above-mentioned personal information processing circuit 23 is constructed by using a neural network. Here, a case where a hierarchical structure called a perceptron is used for the neural network will be described. This perceptron is a structure that imitates a human brain cell neuron, and the input layer 1
09, the first intermediate layer 110, the second intermediate layer 111, the output layer 1
Each layer has several units 117 corresponding to neurons. These units 117 connect units between different layers, and the connection between these layers is weighted. Then, by changing this weighting, the unit 11
The binding of 7 can be changed. Here, this weighting change will be briefly described using a learning method called a back propagation method (error back propagation method).

In the input layer 109 of FIG. 10, the speaker cepstrum 108 shown in the above-described embodiment is input as a characteristic parameter. Here, the number of units of the input layer 109 is
Determined by the order of the cepstrum. The characteristic parameter signal is analyzed via the first intermediate layer 110 and the second intermediate layer 111, and the result is output to the output layer 112. The number N of units in the output layer 112 is the number of speakers that can be registered (2
^N ) is supported. The output signal 113 output from the output layer 112 is output as a recognized speaker signal, and the learning error is calculated by comparing this with the teacher signal 114 as the correct answer signal. Then, the weight correction 116 is performed each time so as to reduce this error. In this way, the characteristic parameters for the number of people registered are input many times and repeated until the error becomes small (until the learning converges).

The user of the system inputs, for example, a voice from the personal information input unit 61 to the system of the neural network in which the learning is converged in this way.
If the speaker identified in this way matches the administrator (owner) of the file that the speaker wants to open, it means that the person has been verified by the voice password and the file can be opened. ..

As described above, according to the third embodiment, by using the neural network for the verification by the voice, the ability of discriminating the voice pattern is improved and the system with higher confidentiality can be constructed.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the personal information is the voice information has been described, but the fourth embodiment in which the personal information is the fingerprint of the person will be described. In this case, in the block diagram of FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes, for example, an optical fingerprint reading unit for reading a fingerprint, and the personal information processing board 6
0 can be realized by replacing the fingerprint processing board.

After starting up the system, the user of the system first attaches ink to the first joint portion of the designated finger to open his file, and presses it on the paper to take a fingerprint. When this paper is set in the optical reading unit 61, the reading unit 61 scans and reads this line by line. In this way, the information read by the reading unit 61 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 21, and converted into a parameter by the personal information extraction circuit 22 based on the fingerprint information.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, a method for detecting the features of the fingerprint pattern will be described.

First, in step S51, the input digital information representing the fingerprint is converted into 123 of 256 × 256 original image data. Here, in order to finely determine the flow of the ridges of the fingerprint, in step S52, an 8 × 8 area is set as one processing area, and projections in nine types of directions are used for each area to obtain an optimum Select one line direction. These nine types of direction codes are composed of a code indicating eight directions defined every 45 degrees and a code indicating that no ridge direction exists (the ninth code). Next, in step S53, the 32 × 32 direction data 12
4 is obtained. Then, in step S54, the fingerprint pattern is tracked without impairing the ridge-shaped features thus converted into direction data, and ridge tracking processing is performed to extract the fingerprint feature pattern. In the processing here, the peculiarities of the direction data are eliminated to some extent, and macro-tracking is performed so as not to give too much importance to the features of the fine ridge shape.

That is, first, the core showing the apex of the arc-shaped ridge is obtained as a reference point for fingerprint collation. Next, this core is tracked as a target point for tracking. In this way, the 32 × 32 directional pattern 124 of the fingerprint is converted into a 16 × 16 binary feature pattern in step S55. This is a characteristic parameter that represents personal information well.

The characteristic parameters obtained by the personal information extracting circuit 22 in this way are output to the personal information collating circuit 23 and collated with the parameters of the specific user registered in advance here. Prior to this, the CPU 2 informs the personal information extraction circuit 22 that the parameters of the personal information have been extracted.
When notified, the personal information data stored in the hardware disk 13 is read and transferred to the personal information collating circuit 23. Thus, this personal information collation circuit 23
According to, the matching with the registered characteristic parameter is performed. The algorithm for this collation is performed in the same manner as the above-mentioned embodiment.

The collation process based on the fingerprint information is performed in the same manner as the above-mentioned flowchart of FIG. That is, FIG.
In the flowchart of step S42, it is determined in step S42 whether a fingerprint password is registered. If registered, the process proceeds to step S44 to read the fingerprint,
The fingerprint registered in step S45 and step S44
If the fingerprint input in step S4 matches, the process advances to step S43 to open the requested file.

Further, even when the password based on the fingerprint is inputted, the personal information collating circuit 23 may be constructed by the neural network as shown in FIG.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, an embodiment will be described in which the conventional method of inputting a character and the method of setting the password by the personal information (voice, fingerprint, etc.) of the above embodiment are used together.

When it is requested to open the file in step S61, the flow advances to step S62 to check whether the password of the character of the file is set. When the character password is not set, step S6
7, the process proceeds to step S63 when the character password is set, waits for the character input, and it is determined whether the character code input in step S64 matches the registered password. If they match with each other, the process proceeds to step S65, and it is determined whether or not a password based on information different from the character is set and the password is duplicated.

If so, the process advances to step S67 to wait for the input of personal information, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9, and the personal information input matches the personal information registered as the password. Look at it. If the password is not duplicated in step S65, the flow advances to step S66 to open the requested file. Since the processing of steps S67 to S70 is the same as the processing of steps S44 to 47 described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 13 shows a fingerprint reading device as a personal information input unit, which is a mouse 19 which is a pointing device.
It is a figure for demonstrating the Example provided in a.

Reference numeral 501 is a left click button, 503 is a right click button, and 502 is an optical reading unit for reading a fingerprint. Reference numeral 504 is a cover for reading a fingerprint attached to the glass surface of the reading unit 502. Reference numeral 505 is a cable for moving the mouse 19a and clicking the button 5
The on / off information of 01 and 503 and the read fingerprint information are transmitted.

With the above configuration, when the user of the system inputs the fingerprint password, the user's finger to which the stamp ink is adhered is pressed against the glass surface of the reading section 502 provided in the approximate center of the mouse 19. By doing so, a fingerprint is attached to the glass surface. Next, when the cover 504 is put on this glass surface, a switch (not shown) for instructing the start of scanning is turned on, and the reading of the fingerprint is started. It should be noted that the glass surface that is soiled with fingerprints may be wiped cleanly for the next person to use.

As described above, by integrating the optical reading device with the mouse, the work area can be further reduced as compared with the case where a separate reading device is provided. In a system that has an operating environment that prompts you to enter it, enter a password and
The smooth interaction with the mouse operation makes the man-machine interface more accurate.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, by reading and displaying the image information stored in the recording medium in the window of the screen, the explanation of the help function or the like can be made easier to understand.

Further, there is an effect that it is possible to surely identify and identify the person himself / herself by the device that restricts the user by using the personal identification information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of displaying a help function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a layout of windows displayed by a help function of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart for explaining the video help function of step S7 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a moving picture control window of a video help menu screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal information processing board according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a voice information input process in the personal information processing board according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a file open process by personal information of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another configuration of the personal information matching circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a method of analyzing a fingerprint when the personal information is fingerprint information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a collation process of a password when the password is duplicated with a character and personal information.

FIG. 13 is an external view of a mouse having a fingerprint reading unit of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 System Bus 2 CPU 3, 3a Main Memory 6 Display Section 8 CD-ROM 13 Hard Disk 14 Floppy Disk 12 Disk Interface 16 Printer 18 Keyboard 19, 19a Mouse 20 Voice Board 21 Speaker 60 Personal Information Processing Board 61 Personal Information Input Section 62 Digital Signal processor 22 Personal information extraction circuit 23 Personal information collation circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of displaying a window, comprising: a reading unit for reading image information from a storage medium; and a display unit for displaying the image information read by the reading unit on a predetermined window. An information processing device characterized by: 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is a moving image and includes audio information, and is used as a help display of the apparatus. 3. An information processing device for restricting the right to use the device by personal identification information, the input means for inputting information peculiar to a living body of an individual as personal identification information, and the personal identification information input by the input means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a judgment unit that compares the personal identification information registered in advance and judges whether or not the person who inputs through the input unit is given the right to use the apparatus. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the personal identification information is parameter information obtained by extracting a feature of voice information. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the personal identification information is parameter information obtained by extracting a characteristic of a fingerprint. 6. A processing method in an information processing apparatus for displaying a window, the step of instructing a help function, the step of reading image information for explaining the help function from a storage medium, and the read image information. And a step of displaying on a predetermined window. 7. An information processing method in which the right to use the device is restricted by personal identification information, which comprises a step of inputting information specific to an individual's living body as personal identification information, the input personal identification information being registered in advance. An information processing method, comprising: a step of collating the input password information to determine whether or not the input person is given the right to use the apparatus.