JPH06242909A - Guidance retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a guidance retrieving device in which a desired control guidance can be offered even when a user is not familiar with the control procedure or command of an information processor. CONSTITUTION:This device is equipped with an example data base 11 which stores the display data of a processing example already processed by the information processor and the item data of the processing procedure, guidance data base 14 which stores guidance display data corresponding to the processing procedure stored in the example data base 11, inputting part 17 which inputs the processing example to be displayed or the item information of the processing procedure, selecting part 13 which retrieves the example data base 11, and extracts the processing example display data corresponding to the inputted processing example, guidance data generating part 15 which retrieves the example data base 11, extracts the item data of the processing procedure corresponding to the item information of the inputted processing example, retrieves the guidance data base 14, extracts the prescribed guidance data and generates the guidance display data, and guidance display part 16 which displays the selected processing example, and displays guidance based on the guidance display data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a guidance retrieval device for retrieving and displaying guidance on how to operate an information processing device, and more particularly to a guidance retrieval device based on a processing example actually executed by the information processing device. The present invention relates to a configuration of a guidance search device that searches and displays guidance on an operation method for creating a.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to the price reduction of information processing devices such as personal computers and Japanese word processors,
These information processing apparatuses are rapidly spreading not only in offices but also at home. Along with this, the number of users of the information processing device is widespread, and the chances that the information processing device is used by people who have little knowledge or experience of using the device are increasing. On the other hand, these information processing apparatuses have become highly functional in order to meet various demands and have an extremely large number of commands. For this reason, the user almost never knows the contents of all commands of the device and how to use it, and whenever necessary, he / she goes through a thick manual and searches for the explanation of the desired function contents and operating procedures. I was forced to do operations while.

Against this background, recently, an information processing apparatus having an online help function for guiding the explanation of the function of commands and the guidance of the operating method has been developed.
The help function stores display information such as command functions and key operations as guidance information, and displays the command information on the screen according to a guidance display command from the user. Therefore, the user can operate according to the displayed guidance information.

[0004]

The above-mentioned help function of the information processing apparatus is based on the premise that the user has basic knowledge of the operation procedure and functions of the apparatus corresponding to the processing to be performed by the user. It was done. However, a beginner unfamiliar with the device may not know the operation procedure necessary for performing a desired process before the actual key operation or command input operation. For such users,
The conventional help function does not sufficiently serve as operation guidance.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to perform a desired processing operation without being familiar with the operating procedures and commands of the information processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a guidance search device capable of presenting various guidances.

[0006]

A guidance retrieval device according to the invention of claim 1 stores a display example of a process example already processed by an information processing means to be a guidance and a process example of storing item data of a processing procedure. Data storage means,
Example of processing Input the guidance data storage unit that stores the guidance data for displaying the guidance corresponding to the item data of the processing procedure stored in the data storage unit, and the processing example and the item information of the processing procedure that should display the guidance. Input means for processing, processing example data storing means, and processing example selecting means for extracting display data of processing example corresponding to item information of the input processing example, and processing example data storing means, and inputting While extracting the item data of the processing procedure corresponding to the item information of the extracted processing example, the guidance data storage means is searched, and the guidance data corresponding to the item data of the extracted processing procedure is extracted to generate the guidance display data. The processing example is displayed based on the display data of the processing example extracted by the guidance data generating means and the processing example selecting means. And a display means for displaying the guidance based on the guidance display data generated by the guidance data generation means.

In the guidance retrieval apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing example data storage means includes component element item data indicating a component to be processed and a processing procedure item indicating a processing procedure for processing each component. Data and are stored as hierarchical structure data. In the guidance retrieval device according to the invention of claim 3, the guidance data storage means updates the guidance display in accordance with a screen information storage section for storing image data for displaying the guidance and a procedure of an operation to be performed by the user. The operating procedure information storage section for storing the operating procedure information and the guidance document storage section for storing the character string data for displaying the character string in the guidance are provided, and the guidance data generating means is
Data extracted from the screen information storage unit, the operation procedure information storage unit, and the guidance document storage unit is edited and output to the display means.

In the guidance retrieval apparatus according to the invention of claim 4, the guidance data storage means further includes change data for changing the data stored in the screen information storage section, the operation procedure information storage section and the guidance document storage section. And a guidance data generation unit that extracts from the screen information storage unit, the operation procedure information storage unit, and the guidance document storage unit based on the guidance change display command input from the input unit. The guidance data is changed according to the change data extracted from the change data storage unit.

[0009]

In the guidance retrieval device according to the invention of claim 1, when the item information of the processing example is inputted from the input means,
The processing example selecting means searches the processing example data storage means and extracts display data of the corresponding processing example from various processing examples stored in advance. The display means displays this processing example. After that, the user refers to the displayed processing example and specifies the area or the operation item for which the guidance is desired to be displayed, using the input means. Guidance data generation means,
The processing example data storage means and the guidance data storage means are searched in accordance with the operation procedure item information input from the input means, and the data necessary for displaying the guidance is extracted and generated. The display unit displays the guidance according to the guidance display data generated by the guidance data generation unit.

In the guidance retrieval apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing example data storage means divides the processing example data into processing example items, component items, and processing procedure items, and stores each in a hierarchically associated manner. is doing. In the guidance retrieval device according to the invention of claim 3, the screen information storage unit of the guidance data storage means provides image data for displaying the state of the screen when the operation is performed. The operation procedure information storage unit provides a procedure to be performed and form data of guidance display. The guidance document storage is
Provide the character string data to display the explanation in the guidance. The guidance data generating means generates guidance data for displaying a moving image based on these data.

In the guidance retrieval apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the change data storage section of the guidance data storage means provides change data regarding the guidance display form. The guidance data generation means includes a screen information storage unit,
When data corresponding to the change data given from the change data storage unit exists in the data given from the operation procedure information storage unit or the guidance document storage unit, the data is replaced with the change data to generate the guidance data. .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a guidance retrieval apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the guidance retrieval device is an example database 1
1, a guidance database 14, a selection unit 13,
The guidance generation unit 15, the example display unit 12, the guidance display unit 16, and the input unit 17 are included.

The example database 11 stores information relating to processing operations of specific cases created by using the information processing apparatus. The specific cases are subdivided into data for each configuration or operation, and each data is stored as hierarchically-structured data that is hierarchically connected. FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram conceptually showing the structure of the example database according to a concrete example. This specific example relates to a "postcard" created using a Japanese word processor, and a display example of the Japanese word processor is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 2, the example data stored in the example database 11 includes the example item 11a and this example (postcard).
Component items (title, text, guide, picture)
11b and operation items (character size change, ...) 11c indicating an operation method for creating each component are stored as a hierarchical structure. Furthermore, the example database 11
Display image data for displaying each example on the example display unit 12 is stored in association with the example item 11a.

The guidance database 14 stores guidance information of operation explanations corresponding to the operation items 11c of the example database 11. FIG. 3 conceptually shows a specific example of the guidance data stored in the guidance database 12, and data corresponding to the example of FIG. 2 is shown. The data stored in the guidance database 12 includes an operation item 14a corresponding to the operation item 11c of the example database 11 and an operation explanation describing an operation that the user should perform to execute the process of the operation item 11a. It is composed of sentence data 14b.

The input unit 17 is for inputting input data and the like necessary for displaying the guidance, and is composed of an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The selection unit 13 receives instructions and selection information from the input unit 17 and gives them to the guidance generation unit 15, and searches the example database 11 for example image data corresponding to the instructions / selection information and operation item information to be given guidance. Extract.

The guidance generation section 15 receives the operation item information of the guidance extracted from the example database 11, and searches the guidance database 14 for the guidance data corresponding to this operation item. Example display section 12
Displays a processing example based on the example display image data extracted from the example database 11.

The guidance display section 16 displays the guidance explanation text based on the guidance data generated by the guidance generation section 15. The example display unit 12 and the guidance display unit 16 can use the same display device. Next, the operation of the guidance retrieval device of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of this guidance retrieval device. 5 to 7
Shows the display state at each stage of the guidance for an example of a "postcard" created by a Japanese word processor. The operation of the guidance retrieval device when the user gives an instruction to display the guidance of an example of creating a postcard using a Japanese word processor will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

The user tries to create a postcard for some kind of guidance using the Japanese word processor, and instructs the display of the guidance. (Step S20) First, the user inputs the example item “postcard example 1” which is the subject of guidance from the input unit 17. (Step S22) The selection unit 13 uses the example database 11
To extract example data of a hierarchical structure corresponding to “postcard example 1” from the example items 11a. Furthermore, the selection unit 13
Extracts example image data corresponding to the example item “postcard example 1” and outputs it to the example display unit 12. The example display unit 12 displays the example image on the screen. FIG. 5 shows this display screen. In FIG. 5, an image of a postcard 50 corresponding to “postcard example 1” is displayed on the display screen 40. This postcard 50 includes a title 51, a text 52, and a guide 5.
3 and each component of the picture 54. Also,
In the display screen 40, the cursor 55 associated with the mouse of the input unit 17 is displayed. (Step S24) The user operates the mouse to move the cursor 55 to a desired position for guidance display and clicks the mouse. By this operation, the constituent elements of the postcard for which the guidance is displayed are designated.
In the operation shown in FIG. 5, the component “title” 51
Is specified. (Step S26) When the designation information of the component is given from the input unit 17 to the selection unit 13, the selection unit 13 selects the component corresponding to the designation information from the mouse from the component item 11b of the extracted example data. Search for. Then, the data of the component item and the operation item related to the component item are displayed on the example display unit 1
Output to 2. (Step S28) The example display unit 12 displays the operation item related to the designated component based on the operation item data. A screen displaying these operation items is shown in FIG. The operation item display area 56 in FIG.
In order to create 1, it is necessary to perform operations of “character size change”, “centering”, and “symbol input”. The user can select an item for which the guidance of the operation method is desired to be displayed from the operation items. (Step S30) The user selects an operation item for displaying guidance by operating the mouse to move the cursor 55 to a predetermined position and clicking the mouse. In the case of the operation shown in FIG. 6, the operation item “change character size” is selected. (Step S32) The selected operation item data is given to the guidance data generation unit 15 via the selection unit 13. The guidance data generation unit 15 searches the guidance database 14 and extracts the operation description data 14b corresponding to the given operation item data. For example, when the operation item data is “change character size”, the data described on the upper side of the operation explanation text data 14b shown in FIG. 3 is extracted. Further, the guidance generation unit 15 outputs the extracted operation explanation sentence data to the guidance display unit 16. (Step S34) The guidance display unit 16 displays the operation explanation on the screen based on the given operation explanation data. FIG. 7 shows a screen on which this operation explanation is displayed. In the operation explanation text display area 57 on the screen, key operations necessary for the character size changing process are explained in the order of operation. The user can understand the operation of changing the character size by reading this operation explanation. (Step S36) When the above guidance display processing is completed, the user gives the next processing instruction from the input unit 17. When the guidance display command for the next operation item is given, the process returns to step S30 and the same process as above is performed. If an instruction to end the guidance display of the operation item for this component is given, the next processing step S3.
Go to 8. (Step S38) Next, the user gives a command as to whether or not to select another component. When the selection of the next component is instructed, the process returns to step S24 and the same process as above is performed. If the following components are not selected,
The process moves to the next processing step S40. (Step S40) Further, the user gives a command as to whether or not to display the next example. When the display of the next example is selected, the process returns to step S20, and the above-mentioned corresponding process is performed again. If not selected, all the processes are terminated.

As described above, in the guidance retrieval device according to the present invention, the data that the user should first input in order to obtain the guidance is the designation data for designating the target example that the user wants to process. For example, in the case of a Japanese word processor, an example stored in the example database 11 that matches the object to be created by the user, such as "postcard of guide text", "conference notice", "greeting card", etc. It is sufficient to input the designated data that matches the data item. Even if the user is an unfamiliar beginner, it is easy to input such designated data. Then, if the first designated data is input, the user can then perform an operation of sequentially displaying the guidance according to the instruction displayed on the display unit. (Second Embodiment) Next, a guidance retrieval device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The feature of the guidance retrieval device of the second embodiment is that it has a function of displaying the guidance as a moving image (animation) as compared with the device of the first embodiment. (Hereinafter, the guidance displayed as a moving image is referred to as animation guidance.) FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the guidance retrieval device in the second embodiment. This guidance retrieval device includes an example database 11, an animation guidance database 24, a selection unit 13, an animation guidance generation unit 25, an example display unit 12, an animation guidance display unit 26, and an input unit 17. . An example database 11, an example display unit 12, a selection unit 13,
The input unit 17 has the same configuration as the device of the first embodiment.

The animation guidance database 24 is composed of a screen information database 24a, a guidance operation database 24b, and a guidance explanation database 24c. The screen information database 24a is
The screen information necessary for displaying the guidance is stored in association with the operation item information stored in the example database 11. For example, as screen information for a Japanese word processor, image data such as an edit screen, cursor display, mouse display, various menu displays, etc. are stored.
FIG. 9 shows a display example based on the screen information stored in the screen information database.

The guidance operation database 24b stores operation description data describing an operation procedure for displaying a guidance screen as a moving image in accordance with an operation procedure to be performed by the user. FIG. 10 shows an example of this behavioral description data. The guidance explanation database 24c is
The description data of the operation displayed on the guidance screen is stored. FIG. 11 shows an example of the operation explanation text data, and corresponds to the “character size change” operation in FIG.

The guidance display section 26 comprises a guidance explanation display section 26a and a guidance operation display section 26b. The animation guidance generation unit 25 receives the operation item data of the guidance extracted from the example database 11, searches the animation guidance database 24 for the guidance data corresponding to this operation item, and extracts the guidance data to obtain the animation guidance for the animation guidance. Generate data.

Next, the operation of the guidance retrieval device of the second embodiment will be described. In the operation of this guidance retrieval device, the operation from the start of processing to the operation of designating the operation item for which guidance is desired is the same as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The display operation of the animation guidance for the specified operation item will be described below. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the display operation of the animation guidance. The processing shown in this flowchart corresponds to the processing of steps S32 and S34 of the flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, FIG.
As an example of the animation guidance display screen, a guidance screen for the centering function is shown. Less than,
Description will be continued following step S30 in FIG. (Step S50) The animation guidance generation unit 25 searches the screen information database 24a and extracts screen information corresponding to the operation item “centering”. Then, the extracted screen information is output to the guidance operation display unit 26b. The guidance operation display unit 26b displays on the screen based on the screen information. At this stage, the edit screen display 71 and the keyboard display 72 in the screen 40 shown in FIG. 13 are displayed. (Step S52) Next, the animation guidance generation unit 25
Searches the guidance operation database 24b and extracts operation description data corresponding to the operation item "centering". Then, first, the data described in the first line of the behavioral description data is read. For example, in the case of the data shown in FIG. 10, “push (“ F6 ”)” is read. (Step S54) Further, corresponding screen information is extracted from the screen information database 24a based on this operation description data and output to the guidance operation display unit 26b. At this stage, the "function key F6" display 73 is displayed in the screen 40 shown in FIG. (Step S56) Furthermore, the animation guidance generation unit 2
5 uses the action description data to obtain the explanation sentence data corresponding to the operation procedure from the guidance explanation sentence database 24.
Extract from C and generate guidance explanation. In the case of this example, the explanatory note “press the F6 key” is generated corresponding to “push“ F6 ””. This description data is output to the guidance description display unit 26a. The guidance explanation display unit 26a displays the operation explanation on the screen based on the explanation data. At this stage, screen 4 shown in FIG.
A description 74 is newly displayed during 0. (Step S58) Next, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed behavioral description in the behavioral description data. If not present, the process ends, and if present, the process proceeds to the next process step S60. (Step S60) The next operation description data is read from the operation description data. Then, the processing from step S54 to step S58 is repeated according to this behavioral description data. In this process, the screen shown in FIG.
It is updated so that the operating procedure is continuously shown.

When the above processing is completed for all operation description data, the animation guidance display operation for one operation item is completed. (Third Embodiment) The guidance retrieval device according to the third embodiment has a function of displaying the content of the animated guidance in a digest form. 14
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a guidance retrieval device according to a third embodiment. As shown in the figure, this guidance retrieval device is characterized in that a digest database 34d is newly added to the guidance retrieval device of the second embodiment.

The digested database 34d stores change data (digested data) for changing the contents of the data extracted from the screen information database 34a, the guidance operation database 34b, and the guidance explanation database 34c. For example, in displaying the animation guidance, data for omitting unimportant display or changing the display form is stored as digested data. FIG. 15 shows an example of this digested data. In FIG. 15, the digested data 340d is the behavior description data 34 extracted from the guidance behavior database 34b.
This is data for changing the contents of 0b. The digested data 340d is stored in association with the operation item data, and is stored in the other databases 34a, 34b,
At the time of searching 34c, the animation guidance generating unit 35 simultaneously searches.

In the operation of the guidance retrieval apparatus of the third embodiment, the user first inputs the input section (mode input section).
Input the input information from 17 to select the digest display mode of the guidance. This selection information is given to the selection unit 13 and the animation guidance generation unit 35.
The animation guidance generation unit 35 searches the digest database 34d and extracts the corresponding digest data. Then, the animation guidance generation unit 35
Of the data extracted from the screen information database 34a, the guidance operation database 34b, and the guidance explanation database 34c, the data corresponding to the extracted digested data is replaced with the digested data to generate the guidance data.

By using this digest database 34d, the displayed contents of the animation guidance can be easily displayed without changing the stored contents of the standard screen information database 34a, the guidance operation database 34b, and the guidance explanation sentence database 34c. Can be changed.

[0028]

As described above, the guidance retrieval apparatus according to the present invention stores a specific processing example processed by the information processing apparatus as a database, displays the processing example according to a user's instruction, and further Since it is configured to give the guidance display instruction with reference to the processing example, the user can obtain the appropriate operation guidance display without knowledge of the operation procedure and the type of necessary command. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a guidance retrieval device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram showing an example of example data of an example database of the guidance search device shown in FIG.

3 is a data structure diagram showing an example of guidance data stored in a guidance database of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example for explaining a guidance display of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

6 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example for explaining a guidance display of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

7 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example for explaining a guidance display of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a guidance search device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a schematic diagram showing a display example based on screen information stored in a screen information database of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

10 is a data structure diagram showing an example of operation description data stored in a guidance operation database of the guidance search device shown in FIG.

11 is a data structure diagram showing an example of operation explanation sentence data stored in a guidance explanation sentence database of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

12 is a flowchart showing an animation guidance generation operation of the guidance search device shown in FIG.

13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of animation guidance display of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a guidance retrieval device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a data structure diagram showing an example of digested data stored in a digested database of the guidance retrieval device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 example database 12 example display section 13 selection section 14 guidance database 15 guidance search section 16 guidance display section. 17 Input Section 24 Animation Guidance Database 24a Screen Information Database 24b Guidance Operation Database 24c Guidance Explanatory Text Database 25 Anime Guidance Generation Section 26 Guidance Display Section 26a Guidance Explanatory Text Display Section 26b Guidance Operation Display Section 34 Anime Guidance Database 34a Screen Information Database 34b Guidance Motion database 34c Guidance explanation database 34d Digest database 35 Animation guidance generator

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A processing example data storage unit for storing display data of a processing example and item data of a processing procedure which has already been processed by an information processing unit which is a subject of guidance, and processing stored in the processing example data storage unit. Guidance data storage means for storing guidance data for displaying guidance corresponding to procedure item data, input means for inputting processing example or processing procedure item information for which guidance should be displayed, and the processing example data A process example selecting unit that searches the storage unit and extracts display data of the process example corresponding to the input item information of the process example; The corresponding item data of the processing procedure is extracted, and the guidance data storage means is searched to extract the item data of the extracted processing procedure. Guidance data generating means for extracting guidance data corresponding to the above and generating guidance display data, and displaying a processing example based on the display data of the processing example extracted by the processing example selecting means, the guidance data generating means And a display unit for displaying the guidance based on the guidance display data generated in step 1. 2. The processing example data storage means stores, as hierarchical structure data, constituent element item data indicating a constituent element to be processed and processing procedure item data indicating a processing procedure for processing each constituent element. The guidance search device according to claim 1. 3. The guidance data storage means stores a screen information storage unit for storing image data for displaying the guidance, and operation procedure information for updating the guidance display according to the procedure of the operation to be performed by the user. And a guidance document storage unit that stores character string data for displaying a character string in the guidance, wherein the guidance data generation unit includes the screen information storage unit and the operation procedure. The guidance retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein the data extracted from the information storage unit and the guidance document storage unit is edited and output to the display unit. 4. The change data storage, wherein the guidance data storage means further stores change data for changing data stored in the screen information storage unit, the operation procedure information storage unit and the guidance document storage unit. The guidance data generation means extracts from the screen information storage section, the operation procedure information storage section, and the guidance document storage section based on the guidance change display command input from the input section. The guidance retrieval device according to claim 3, wherein the guidance data is changed according to the change data extracted from the change data storage unit.