JPH08147130A - Menu interactive information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable a user to understand the operation and to operate the device by providing the mechanism which presents an interactive interface of menus limited in accordance with user's purpose designation and controls generation of menus consisting of function items limited in accordance with the purpose from object application information. CONSTITUTION: The purpose which the user intends is discriminated in accordance with the input from an input device 102 by a purpose designating part 110, and a menu reconstituting part 111 uses application information 116 about an application main body 103 to generate a menu consisting of only functions related to the purpose required for the user, and a menu system interactive part 112 controls conversations for user's confirmation and correction, and an application interactive part 113 controls conversations between the user and the application which use the generated menu.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu dialogue information processing apparatus which composes a menu according to the purpose of use of a user and has a dialogue with the user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, a human interface is dynamically created such that a function frequently used by a user is made into a macro based on a user's operation history, proficiency level, and operation pattern, and guidance is provided according to the user. There are several adaptive information processing devices that change.

As one of them, FIG. 18 shows the configuration of the "operation guide device" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-35383. In the operation guide device, the operation history as the content of the operation history unit 905 and the operation procedure as the content of the operation procedure storage unit 912 (the user executes a series of operations by collecting a plurality of single functions of the information processing apparatus). A proficiency level determination unit 910 that obtains a proficiency level according to the operation procedure) and a guide output unit 920 that outputs a guide based on the contents of the operation procedure storage unit 912 while considering the proficiency level of the proficiency level storage unit 909. By including the above, it is possible to provide the guide adapted to the user according to the skill level of the operation of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 19 shows the configuration of "Man-machine interactive self-correspondence system" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-303235. In the man-machine dialogue self-supporting system, the dialogue extraction unit 964 monitors a user command for the application program 963 input through the input / output unit 961, and then the similar operation extraction unit 964 determines a pattern frequently used by the user. After monitoring
A pattern that is frequently used by the user is automatically extracted by the similar operation extraction unit 965 (self-correspondence) to provide a flexible interface according to each user, and a man-machine according to the taste and habit of the user. An adaptive system that provides an interface.

[0005] These provide an adaptive interface by utilizing the operation history of the user, but there is a problem that the intention of the user is not always reflected because it is determined by the system.

[0006]

One of the reasons why the user's intention is not reflected is that the menu of the conventional information processing apparatus always presents functions that are not necessary for the purpose of the user, and the purpose of use and the necessary functions are not shown. For a clear user, the number of operating steps is increased and the operating procedure is complicated, which is a cause of impairing the easiness of operation and efficiency. These are one of the factors that make it difficult for a beginner who is unfamiliar with the information processing apparatus to operate. The present invention obtains a user's explicit use purpose designation from data outside the information processing device such as printed matter that is familiar to a user who is unfamiliar with information equipment such as the elderly, and limits according to the purpose from target application information. The purpose of the present invention is to construct a menu that the user can easily understand and operate efficiently by providing a mechanism for controlling the reconstruction of the created menu.

[0007]

A first aspect of the present invention is directed to an application body, a purpose designation unit for receiving a designation of a purpose of use for the application body from a user, a structure of a menu of the application body, a function of a menu item, and the like. An application information storage unit that stores information as menu information, a menu reconstructing unit that reconstructs a new menu by extracting the menu structure and menu item functions corresponding to the purpose of use from the menu information, and the reconstructing unit. The reconfigured menu information storage unit that stores the menu information of the configured menu and the menu information of the reconfigured menu are presented to the user, and a confirmation input for registration of the presented menu information is accepted and confirmed. In this case, the menu system stored in the reconstructed menu information storage unit A story portion, the presents reconstructed menu, characterized in that it is composed of an application dialogue unit for performing a dialogue with the user and the application body.

[0008] Further, it has a reconfiguration temporary menu information storage section for temporarily storing the menu information of the reconfigured menu, and the menu reconfiguration section is provided with the temporarily stored menu information or the reconfiguration menu information. It is characterized in that a new menu is reconfigured using the menu information stored in the configuration menu information storage unit.

Furthermore, the application information storage unit stores a menu configuration information table that holds a menu configuration of the application body, a menu execution sequence information table that stores a sequence of events required to execute the menu, and an input device. From the code-purpose correspondence table that holds the correspondence relationship between the code input by the user and the usage purpose designation of the user, and the purpose-function correspondence table that holds the relationship between the functions necessary to achieve the usage purpose. It is characterized by being configured.

A second invention is the menu dialogue information processing apparatus according to the first invention, characterized in that the menu reconstructing section has a menu optimizing section for optimizing the reconstructed menu. .

Further, the menu optimizing unit optimizes the menu by setting the purpose of use of the application main body designated by the user to the highest level menu. It is an interactive information processing device.

A third aspect of the present invention is, in the application information storage section, a required level which is a minimum level of a function required to achieve a purpose of use of a user and a setting level set in advance for each function. And a user for correcting the menu reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit using the purpose-function level interaction table in the menu system interaction unit. A menu dialogue information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, comprising a menu configuration modification unit for dialogue.

[0013]

According to the present invention, by providing a mechanism for generating a limited menu according to the purpose (intent) of the user's application, and for reconfiguring and controlling for optimization, a novice user However, you can easily check and understand the related function items to achieve a certain purpose,
And the menu operation can be performed efficiently.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the first invention of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the first invention.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an output device such as a display, 102 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a bar code reader, a tablet, 103 is an application main body, and 110 is a purpose of use of an application of a user. The purpose specification part for interpreting 1
Reference numeral 11 denotes a menu reconfiguring unit that reconfigures an application menu corresponding to the purpose of use of the application by the user, and 112 presents the application menu information to the user to newly register a menu item or delete a menu item. Is a menu system dialogue unit that accepts confirmation from the user, 113 is an application dialogue unit that presents the reconstructed menu to the user and allows the user to interact with the application body, and 114 stores the menu items of the current application. When a menu item is reconfigured, the reconfigured menu information storage unit stores the menu item as the current menu item,
Reference numeral 115 denotes a reconfigured temporary menu information storage unit that stores the reconfigured menu items and erases them when the menu changing work is completed. Reference numeral 116 denotes an application information storage unit that stores menu information of the application body. Reference numeral 117 denotes an application body. A menu configuration information table that retains information on menu items in advance, and 118, menu execution sequence information that retains a table that associates event sequences for execution of the original menu of the application body with reconfigured menu items. Table, 119
In order to interpret the purpose of use input by the user, is a code-purpose correspondence table that holds a table that associates the purpose of use of the user with the menu items of the application body, and 120 is the purpose of the user and the function corresponding to this. It is a purpose-function correspondence table that holds a hierarchical relationship of menu items of the application body.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the apparatus of FIG.

When the system is started (601) and the application is started (602), designation input is accepted from the input device as to whether or not to change the menu (60).
3).

When the menu is changed and designated input is made (604), in the menu reconstructing section 111, if the information of the temporary menu exists in the reconstructed temporary menu information accumulating section 115 (605), the temporary menu information is ( 60
7) If there is no temporary menu information (605),
The current menu information is obtained from the reconstructed menu information storage unit 114 (606).

The reconstructed menu information storage unit 114 stores temporary menu information whose registration has been confirmed. In addition, the purpose-function correspondence table 120 holds correspondence relationships between corresponding functions necessary for achieving various usage purposes of the user. For example, for a user's use purpose (hereinafter, referred to as “purpose”) “I want to change the size of characters”,
"Character attribute change"-"Font size",
It holds the relationship between the menu items of functions required to achieve the purpose and their hierarchical structure.

The user uses the input device 102 to specify and input a purpose from an external manual such as a usage purpose list of the application body 103 (608).

The purpose designation unit 110 converts the code received from the input device 102 into a purpose code from the code-purpose correspondence table 119.

The menu reconstructing unit 111 refers to the purpose-function correspondence table 120 based on the purpose code received from the purpose specifying unit 110, and extracts menu items related to necessary functions for the purpose from the menu structure information table 117 ( 610), reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 1
15 or a new menu is reconfigured together with the menu information held in the reconfigured menu information storage unit 114 (613).

An example is shown in FIG. In the case where A, B, and C are designated as the function items corresponding to the purpose in the menu structure originally possessed by the application as shown in FIG. 3A,
The menu information as shown in FIG. 3B is reconstructed, and the related items for the specified purpose are extracted. In this example, all items below the specified function and higher-level items are extracted as related items.

If deletion is specified instead of registration of the purpose when the purpose is specified (609), the necessary menu items extracted from the menu structure information table 117 and the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 115 or the reconfiguration menu information storage unit 114. Based on the menu information obtained from (611), the menu reconstructing unit 111 confirms whether the purpose has been previously registered (612). If it has been registered before, the function will be deleted unless the same function is specified for other purposes. Further, when the function related to a certain purpose is deleted and the lower menu does not exist at all, the upper menu item is also deleted.

An example is shown in FIG. When the registered function A is deleted from the reconfigured menu as shown in FIG. 4A, E, which is the higher order of A as shown in FIG. 4B, has no other lower items and is deleted at the same time. It When the function B is deleted, the upper item D has another lower item E as shown in FIG. 4C, so only the items B and below are deleted.

The menu reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit 111 is held in the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 115 as a temporary menu (613). In the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 115, temporary menu information until the menu changing work is completed is saved as a stack,
All are deleted when the menu is changed.

The menu system dialogue unit 112 receives the menu information reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit 111 and presents the new menu structure to the user as shown in the example of FIG. 5 (614). When the function c is newly designated as shown in FIG. 5B in the state where the menu items are registered as shown in FIG. 5A, the information is presented to the user as shown in FIG. 5C. The display format is changed for the menu items, new designated function items, and related function items configured in 1.

Further, the menu system dialogue unit 112 is
User confirmation is received from the input device 102 (61
5).

When the user confirmation is "OK" (616)
In step S 617, the temporary information of the new menu stored in the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 115 by the menu reconfiguration unit 111 is stored as new menu information in the reconfiguration menu information storage unit 114 (617).

The application dialogue section 113 displays the reconstructed menu of FIG. 6 based on the menu information received from the menu system dialogue section 112 (622).
For example, when the reconstruction menu of FIG. 5 is given, only the designated items are displayed as shown in FIG. 6A and the undesignated items are also displayed as shown in FIG. 6B. Indicates that it cannot be done. In this case, item B and item 1 cannot be executed.

At the time of designating the menu change (603), if the case of not changing is selected, the previous menu is displayed in the application dialogue section (621, 622).

In the application dialogue unit 113, the application main body 103 originally has an input event from the input device 102 for the menu display reconstructed based on the user's purpose specification, based on the menu execution sequence information table 118. It is converted into an event sequence such as a keyboard and mouse for executing the menu and passed to the application body 103.

If the confirmation is "NO" (616), the menu reconfiguration unit 111 erases the latest temporary menu information in the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 115, and similarly the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 115. The menu is reconstructed from the previous temporary menu information stored in (619, 613) and passed to the menu system dialogue unit 112. If the previous temporary menu information does not exist (618), the menu is reconstructed using the menu information of the reconstructed menu information storage unit 114 (620,
613).

When "Continue registration (deletion)" is selected in the confirmation, the state returns to the state where the input device 102 accepts a new purpose designation (608).

After displaying the menu (622), if the menu is not newly changed (623, 624), the application is terminated (625) and the system is terminated (626).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by providing a mechanism for generating and controlling a menu in which the function items are limited according to the purpose (intent) of the user's application, even a novice user can achieve a certain purpose. The user can easily understand and understand the function items related to the item, and can operate the menu efficiently without being confused by the function items that are redundant information and not related to the purpose.

Next, a second invention of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the second invention.

In FIG. 7, 201 is an output device such as a display, 202 is an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, bar code reader, tablet, etc., 203 is an application main body, 210 is a user's purpose of using the application, and a purpose of use. Specification part for interpreting 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes a menu reconfiguring unit that reconfigures an application menu corresponding to the purpose of use of the application of the user, and 212 presents the menu information of the application to the user, and newly registers a menu item or deletes a menu item. A menu system dialogue unit 213 for receiving confirmation from the user, an application dialogue unit 213 for presenting the reconstructed menu to the user and for dialogue between the user and the main body of the application, and 214 storing menu items of the current application. When a menu item is reconfigured, the reconfigured menu information storage unit stores the menu item as the current menu item,
Reference numeral 215 denotes a reconfigured temporary menu information storage unit that stores the reconfigured menu items and erases them at the end of the menu changing work. Reference numeral 216 denotes an application information storage unit that stores menu information of the application body. Reference numeral 217 denotes an application body. A menu configuration information table 218 that holds information on menu items in advance is a menu execution sequence information 218 that holds a table that associates event sequences for execution of the original menu of the application body with reconfigured menu items. Table 219
Is a code-purpose correspondence table that holds a table in which the user's purpose of use and the menu items of the application body are associated with each other in order to interpret the purpose of use input by the user, and 220 is the user's purpose and the function corresponding thereto. A purpose-function correspondence table that holds the hierarchical relationship of the menu items of the application body, and 230 is a menu optimizing unit that optimizes the use purpose designated by the user as the highest-order menu item.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the apparatus of FIG.

When the system is started (701) and the application is started (702), designation input is accepted from the input device as to whether to change the menu (70).
3).

When the menu change is designated and input (704), if the information of the temporary menu exists in the reconstructed temporary menu information accumulating section 215 in the menu reconstructing unit 211 (705), the temporary menu information ( 70
7) If there is no temporary menu information (705),
The current menu information is obtained from the reconstructed menu information storage unit 214 (706).

The reconstructed menu information storage unit 214 stores the temporary menu whose registration has been confirmed. Further, the purpose-function correspondence table 220 holds the correspondence relationship of the corresponding functions necessary for achieving the purpose.

The user uses the input device 202 to specify and input a purpose from an external manual such as a usage purpose list of the application body 203 (708).

The purpose designation section 210 converts the code received from the input device 202 into a purpose code from the code-purpose correspondence table 219.

The menu reconstructing unit 211 refers to the purpose-function correspondence table 220 based on the purpose code received from the purpose specifying unit 210, and selects the necessary menu items related to the necessary functions for the purpose from the menu structure information table 217.
It is further extracted (710), and a new menu is reconfigured together with the menu information held in the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 215 or the reconfiguration menu information storage unit 214 (713). At this time, the menu optimizing unit 230 receives from the menu reconstructing unit 211 the configured menu information such that the specified purpose is the highest-level menu in order to improve the efficiency of the reconstructed menu operation, and optimizes the menu. (730).

An example is shown in FIG. When A, B, C, and D are designated as the function items corresponding to the purpose in the menu structure originally possessed by the application as shown in FIG. 9A, the relation to the designated function as shown in FIG. 9B. Items are extracted and optimized. In this example, the specified function is used as the top item of the menu, and all items below it are extracted as related items to optimize the menu. In the example, the function D is also a subordinate item of C, so that it appears as a menu item in the topmost position in duplicate.

If deletion is specified instead of registration of the purpose when the purpose is specified (709), the necessary menu items extracted from the menu structure information table 217 and the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 215 or the reconfiguration menu information storage unit 214. Based on the menu information obtained from (711), the menu reconstructing unit 211 confirms whether the purpose has been previously registered (712). If it has been registered before, the function will be deleted unless the same function is specified for other purposes. Further, when the function related to a certain purpose is deleted and the lower menu does not exist at all, the upper menu item is also a deletion target.

An example is shown in FIG. When deleting the registered function A from the menu reconfigured as shown in FIG. 10A, only A and the subordinate items of A are deleted. When the function C is deleted, since the function D is specified, the subordinate items of C other than the function D are deleted. When the deletion of the function D is designated, since D is a subordinate item of C, only the items below the function D appearing at the top of the menu are deleted.

The menus reconstructed and optimized (713, 730) by the menu reconstructing unit 211 and the menu optimizing unit 230 are held in the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 215 as a temporary menu (713). In the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 215, temporary menu information until the menu changing work is completed is saved as a stack,
All are deleted when the menu is changed.

The menu system dialogue unit 212 receives the reconfigured and optimized menu information and presents the new menu configuration to the user as in the example of FIG. 11 (714). In the state where the menu items are registered as shown in FIG. 11A and the optimization menu is configured as shown in FIG. 11D, the function c is newly designated as shown in FIG. When the optimization is performed, the information presentation to the user is changed, as shown in FIG. 11C, the display format is changed for the previously registered menu item, the new designated function item, and the related function item, and the optimized menu is added. The same applies to.

Further, the menu system dialogue unit 212 is
Receive user confirmation from the input device 202 (71
5).

If the confirmation is "OK" (716), the menu reconfiguration unit 211 causes the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 2
The temporary information of the new menu stored in 15 is stored in the reconstructed menu information storage unit 214 as new menu information (717).

The application dialogue section 213 displays a reconstructed menu as shown in the example of FIG. 12 based on the menu information received from the menu system dialogue section 212 (722). An example is the display of the reconfigured, optimized menu of FIG.

In the application dialogue unit 213, the application main body 203 originally has an input event from the input device 202 for the menu display reconstructed based on the user's purpose specification, based on the menu execution sequence information table 218. It is converted into an event sequence such as a keyboard and mouse for executing the menu and passed to the application body 203.

If the confirmation is "NO" (716), the menu reconfiguration unit 211 erases the latest temporary menu information in the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 215, and the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 215 also. The menu is reconstructed from the previous temporary menu information stored in (719, 713, 730) and passed to the menu system dialogue unit 212. If the previous temporary menu information does not exist (718), the reconstructed menu information storage unit 21
The menu is reconstructed using the menu information of 4 (7
20, 713, 730).

When "continue registration (deletion)" is selected in the confirmation, the state returns to a state in which the input device 202 such as a barcode reader accepts a new purpose designation (708).

After displaying the menu (722), if the menu is not newly changed (723, 724), the application is terminated (725) and the system is terminated (726).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by generating a menu in which the function items are limited according to the purpose (intent) of use for the user's application, and further by providing a mechanism for performing reconfiguration and control for optimization, Even a novice user can easily understand and understand related function items to achieve a certain purpose, and is not confused by the function items that are redundant information and not related to the purpose.
It is possible to perform the menu operation more efficiently without executing the redundant selection operation up to the function item to be operated.

Next, a third invention of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the third invention.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 301 is an output device such as a display, 302 is an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, bar code reader, tablet, etc., 303 is an application main body, and 310 is a purpose of use of a user's application. The purpose specification part that interprets
Reference numeral 311 denotes a menu reconfiguring unit that reconfigures an application menu corresponding to the purpose of use of the application by the user, and 312 presents the application menu information to the user to newly register a menu item,
A menu system dialogue unit 313 that receives a confirmation from the user to delete the menu item, an application dialogue unit 313 that presents the reconstructed menu to the user, and has a dialogue between the user and the application body, and a menu 314 of the current application. When the menu item is stored and the menu item is reconfigured, the reconfigured menu information storage unit 315 stores the menu item as the current menu item. The reconfigured menu information storage unit 315 stores the reconfigured menu item. An erased reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 316 is an application information storage unit 317 that stores menu information of the application body.
Is a menu configuration information table that holds information on menu items of the application body in advance, and 318 holds a table that associates event sequences for execution of the original menu of the application body with reconfigured menu items. Menu execution sequence information table, 3
Reference numeral 19 is a code-purpose correspondence table that holds a table that associates the usage purpose of the user with the menu items of the application body in order to interpret the usage purpose input by the user, and 320 corresponds to the usage purpose of the user and this. The purpose-function correspondence table that holds the hierarchical relationship of the menu items of the application body of the function, 330 is a menu optimizing unit that performs optimization by making the purpose of use specified by the user the highest-level menu item, and 331 is a reconfiguration The menu structure modification unit 332, which receives a modification input from the user and interacts with the created menu, includes a necessary level which is a minimum level of the function required to achieve the purpose of use of the user, and a function for each function in advance. It is a purpose-function level correspondence table that holds setting levels that have been set as follows.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the apparatus of FIG.

When the system is started (801) and the application is started (802), a designation input is accepted from the input device as to whether to change the menu (80).
3).

When the menu change is started (804), in the menu reconstructing section 311, if the information of the temporary menu exists in the reconstructed temporary menu information accumulating section 315 (80).
5) Obtain the temporary menu information (807), and if the temporary menu information does not exist (805), obtain the current menu information from the reconstructed menu information storage unit 314 (80).
6).

The reconstructed menu information storage unit 314 stores the temporary menu whose registration has been confirmed. Further, the purpose-function correspondence table 320 holds the correspondence relationship of the corresponding functions necessary for achieving the purpose.

The user uses the input device 302 such as a bar code reader to specify and input a purpose from an external manual such as a usage purpose list of the application body 303 (8
08).

The purpose designation section 310 converts the code received from the input device 302 such as a bar code reader into a purpose code from the code-purpose correspondence table 319.

The menu reconstructing unit 311 refers to the purpose-function correspondence table 320 based on the purpose code received from the purpose specifying unit 310, and sets in advance the required level for each function required to achieve the purpose and each function. The set configuration level is compared, and the function items set below the required level are extracted from the menu configuration information table 317 (810), and the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 315 is extracted.
Alternatively, a new menu is reconstructed together with the menu information held in the reconstructed menu information storage unit 314 (813). At this time, the menu optimizing unit 330 receives the reconstructed menu information from the menu reconstructing unit 311 in order to improve the efficiency of the reconstructed menu operation.
Optimization is performed such that the designated purpose is the top-level menu (830).

An example is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15 (a), A, B, C, D are designated as function items corresponding to the purpose in the menu structure originally possessed by the application, and as shown in FIG. 15 (b), for each function, Required level,
When the setting level is set, related items for the specified function are extracted and optimized as shown in FIG. In this example, the specified function is used as the top item of the menu, and the related items below it are extracted at the setting level below the required level, and the menu is optimized. Items whose setting level is below the required level are indispensable for achieving higher-level objective functions. For example, the functions E and F are related items of the function C, and the setting level thereof is extracted because it is lower than the required level of the function C. The function G is the related item of the function C, but the setting level of the function C is required. Not extracted because it is higher than the level. Further, since the function D is also a subordinate item of the function C, it is duplicated and appears as a menu item at the top level.

If deletion is specified instead of registration of the purpose when the purpose is specified (809), the necessary menu items extracted from the menu configuration information table 317 and the reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 315 or the reconfiguration menu information storage unit Based on the menu information obtained from 314 (811), it is determined whether the menu item is the target function itself that has been previously registered by the menu reconfiguration unit 311 or the menu item of the function related to the registered purpose. Confirm (8
12).

In the case of the previously registered target function itself, if the same function is not designated for another purpose, that function is to be deleted (840, 841). Further, when the function related to a certain purpose is deleted and the lower menu does not exist at all, the upper menu item is also a deletion target.

An example is shown in FIG. When deleting the registered function A from the menu reconfigured as shown in FIG. 10A, only A and the subordinate items of A are deleted. When the function C is deleted, since the function D is specified, the subordinate items of C other than the function D are deleted. When the deletion of the function D is designated, since D is a subordinate item of C, only the items below the function D appearing at the top of the menu are deleted.

For a menu item of a related function that is not the registered purpose itself, the purpose-function level correspondence table 332 is referred to, and when the setting level is higher than the required level of the purpose, deletion is possible.

FIG. 16 shows an example. As shown in the figure, for the designated purpose function related items b, c, d, and e of the purpose A, the required level of the purpose A is 2, and the setting levels of the related items b, c, d, and e are 1, 2, 2, and 3, respectively. When the value of the set level is larger than the required level of the purpose A, it is possible to delete only e.

The menu reconstructed and optimized (813, 830) by the menu reconstructing unit 311 and the menu optimizing unit 330 is held in the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 315 as a temporary menu. In the reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit 315, temporary menu information until the end of the menu change work is saved as a stack, and all are erased at the end of the menu change.

The menu system dialogue unit 312 receives the reconfigured and optimized menu information and presents the new menu configuration to the user as shown in the example of FIG. 11 (814). As shown in FIG. 11A, the menu items are registered and the optimization menu is configured.
When the function c is newly designated and optimization is performed as shown in (b), information presentation to the user is related to the previously registered menu item and new designated function item as shown in FIG. 11 (c). The display format is changed for the function items, and the same is done for the optimized menu.

In the menu system configuration modification unit 331,
The correction input from the user for the reconfigured menu is accepted (842, 843, 844). Menu modifications include adding menu items that can be registered for extension and deleting menu items.

FIG. 17 shows an example of adding a menu item that can be extendedly registered. 17A shows a configuration presentation for user confirmation, which is presented after c is designated and registered as shown in FIG. 17B, with respect to the menu configuration before extended registration designation in FIG. 17A.
It is (c). When a certain menu item presented here is designated, an extended registerable menu item is presented. In the example, item 1 and item 2 which are not yet registered as the subordinate functions of item a are presented as extended function items. When item B is specified, the subordinate function item d is presented. When registration is executed (844), it is presented as a new registration item in the menu structure (814).

The item deletion is executed only when the menu item to be deleted is designated and the item can be deleted.

Further, the menu system dialogue unit 312 is
User confirmation is received from an input device 302 such as a keyboard, a mouse or a barcode reader (815).

When the confirmation is "OK" (816), the menu reconstructing unit 311 causes the reconstructing temporary menu information storage unit 3 to operate.
The temporary information of the new menu stored in 15 is stored in the reconstructed menu information storage unit 314 as new menu information (817).

The application dialogue unit 313 displays a reconstructed menu as shown in the example of FIG. 12 based on the menu information received from the menu system dialogue unit 312 (822). An example is the display of the reconfigured, optimized menu of FIG.

In the application dialogue unit 313, the input device 3 such as the user's keyboard or mouse for the menu display reconstructed based on the user's purpose specification.
The input event from 02 is converted into an event sequence of a keyboard, a mouse, etc. for executing the menu of the application body 303 based on the menu execution sequence information table 318, and the application body 303 is converted.
Hand over to.

If the confirmation is "NO" (816), the menu reconstructing unit 311 erases the information of the latest temporary menu in the reconstructing temporary menu information accumulating unit 315, and similarly the reconstructing temporary menu information accumulating unit 315. The menu is reconstructed from the previous temporary menu information stored in (819, 813, 830) and passed to the menu system dialogue unit 312. If the previous temporary menu information does not exist (818), the reconstructed menu information storage unit 31
The menu is reconstructed using the menu information of 4 (8
20, 813, 830).

When "continue registration (deletion)" is selected in the confirmation, the state returns to a state where the input device 302 such as a bar code reader accepts a new purpose designation (808).

After displaying the menu (822), if the menu is not newly changed (823, 824), the application is terminated (825) and the system is terminated (826).

According to the third invention, by providing a mechanism for generating a menu in which the function items are limited according to the purpose of use (intention) for the user's application and for performing reconfiguration and control for optimization, a beginner can be provided. Users of
You can easily understand and understand the related function items to achieve a certain purpose, and do not be confused by the function items that are redundant information and that are not related to the purpose. The menu operation can be performed more efficiently without executing the redundant selection operation. Furthermore, by introducing the required level for a certain purpose and the setting level for the related function item, the menu items are more limited and easy to understand for beginners who have a high level of the related function item for a certain purpose and do not need it yet. Improve the quality. For experienced users who need a higher level of menu items or want to remove extra menu items, menu modifications can be made easily without causing menu inconsistencies, making it more user friendly. It is possible to construct an efficient menu according to and operate.

[0089]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an interactive interface with a menu limited according to the user's purpose specification. With this menu, the intelligibility and efficiency of the operation are improved, and the application can be easily operated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a menu dialogue information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of the menu dialogue information processing device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of menu reconfiguration in one embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of item deletion of a menu in one embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of confirmation display of a reconstruction menu in an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 6 is a display example of a menu in the embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a menu dialogue information processing apparatus in an embodiment of the second invention.

8 is a flowchart showing a process of the menu dialogue information processing device in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an example of menu reconfiguration in an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 10 is an example of item deletion of a menu in one embodiment of the second and third inventions.

FIG. 11 is an example of confirmation display of a reconstruction menu in one embodiment of the second and third inventions.

FIG. 12 is a display example of a menu in an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a menu dialogue information processing device in an embodiment of the third invention.

14 is a flowchart showing a process of the menu dialogue information processing device in FIG.

FIG. 15 is an example of menu reconfiguration in an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 16 is an example of item deletion of a menu in an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 17 is a display example of a menu in the embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of a guide device that provides a guide suitable for a user according to a conventional operation proficiency level.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of a system that provides an interface according to a user based on a conventional operation pattern of the user.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Output Device 102 Input Device 103 Application Main Body 110 Purpose Designating Unit 111 Menu Reconstructing Unit 112 Menu System Dialogue Unit 113 Application Dialogue Unit 114 Reconstruction Menu Information Storage Unit 115 Reconfiguration Temporary Menu Information Storage Unit 116 Application Information Storage Unit 117 Menu Configuration Information table 118 Menu execution sequence information table 119 Code-purpose correspondence table 120 Purpose-function correspondence table 201 Output device 202 Input device 203 Application body 210 Purpose specifying unit 211 Menu reconfiguring unit 212 Menu system interaction unit 213 Application interaction unit 214 Reconfiguration Menu information storage 215 Reconstruction temporary menu information storage 216 Application information storage 217 Menu configuration information Table 218 Menu execution sequence information table 219 Code-purpose correspondence table 220 Purpose-function correspondence table 230 Menu optimization unit 301 Output device 302 Input device 303 Application body 310 Purpose specification unit 311 Menu reconstruction unit 312 Menu system dialogue unit 313 Application dialogue 314 Reconstruction menu information storage unit 315 Reconfiguration temporary menu information storage unit 316 Application information storage unit 317 Menu configuration information table 318 Menu execution sequence information table 319 Code-purpose correspondence table 320 Purpose-function correspondence table 330 Menu optimization unit 331 Menu configuration correction unit 332 Purpose-function level correspondence table 901 Keyboard 902 Information processing device 903 Display device 904 Input unit 905 Operation history unit 906 Familiarity level determination element extraction unit 907 Operation procedure analysis unit 908 Guide selection unit 909 Familiarity level storage unit 910 Familiarity level determination unit 911 Mastery level determination element storage unit 912 Operation procedure storage unit 913 Guide storage unit 920 Guide output unit 961 Input / output unit 962 Dialog control unit 963 Application program 964 Similar operation detection unit 965 Dialog extraction unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An application main body, a purpose specification unit that receives a specification of a purpose of use for the application main body from a user, and an application information storage unit that stores information such as a menu structure of the application main body and functions of menu items as menu information. And a menu reconfiguring unit that reconfigures a new menu by retrieving the menu configuration and menu item functions corresponding to the purpose of use from the menu information, and saving the menu information of the reconfigured menu. A reconstructed menu information storage unit and menu information of the reconstructed menu are presented to the user, a confirmation input for registration of the presented menu information is accepted, and if confirmed, the reconstructed menu information storage unit is displayed. A menu system dialogue section to save and the reconfigured New presents a menu interaction information processing apparatus, wherein the application dialogue unit, in that they are composed of performing a dialogue with the user and the application body. 2. A reconstructed temporary menu information storage unit for temporarily storing menu information of the reconstructed menu, wherein the menu reconstructing unit is provided with the temporarily stored menu information or the reconstructed menu information. The menu dialogue information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a new menu is reconfigured using the menu information stored in the configuration menu information storage unit. 3. The application information storage unit stores a menu configuration information table that holds a menu configuration of the application body, a menu execution sequence information table that stores a sequence of events necessary for executing the menu, and an input device. It is composed of a code-purpose correspondence table that holds a correspondence relationship between the input code and the user's purpose-of-use designation, and a purpose-function correspondence table that holds a relationship between the functions necessary to achieve the purpose of use. 3. The menu dialogue information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the menu dialogue information processing device is performed. 4. The menu dialogue information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the menu reconstructing unit includes a menu optimizing unit that optimizes the reconstructed menu. 5. The menu dialogue according to claim 4, wherein the menu optimizing unit optimizes the menu by setting the purpose of use of the application body designated by the user to the highest level menu. Information processing equipment. 6. The application information storage unit holds a required level, which is a minimum level of a function required to achieve a purpose of use of a user, and a setting level preset for each function. A menu having a purpose-function level correspondence table, wherein the menu system dialogue unit uses the purpose-function level correspondence table to interact with the user to correct the menu reconstructed by the menu reconstructing unit. The menu interaction information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a configuration correction unit.