JPH08194592A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively utilize various kinds of functions by determining operation after guidance in conformity to an inputted result by a user. CONSTITUTION: An active guide executing part 16 monitors the operation of a Japanese language WP part 13 and a Japanese language WPU/I part 14, and accesses a rule storage part 15 on the basis of a monitored result, and the active guide executing part 16 requests a guidance function part 17 to output a message and a guide in conformity to an active guide rule. The user inputs the intention of the user himself by selecting whether he accepts the informed guide output or not, and the inputted result is given to a user intention interpretation updating part 21 through the user intention input U/I 20 of a function processing part 12. When a thank-you switch is selected, the user intention interpretation updating part 21 judges that the user has an intention to accept the guide output, and it increases the number of times of the application of the active guide rule from the guide rule storage part 15 or updates in a direction to raise the frequency of the guide output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a word processor which operates by a CPU and software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The development of information processing devices such as this type of word processor is remarkable, and the high performance and multi-functionalization of the information processing devices are being rapidly advanced. As a result, the functions that can be executed are not limited to character processing, but image processing and the like are also possible.

Even in such a high-performance, multi-function information processing apparatus, various functions are displayed on the screen in the form of a menu, and the user selects and selects a desired function from the displayed menu. There is no change in that the intended function can be realized by operating the input device such as the key according to the procedure determined by the specified function.

In other words, even in a high-performance and multi-function information processing apparatus, the user needs to actively operate the information processing apparatus in order to realize the intended function. .

[0005]

On the other hand, a user who uses this type of information processing apparatus has a strong tendency to request and select only a limited function, and does not use any other function at all. , I often don't know. Therefore, it is often seen that such a convenient function is not effectively utilized although there are other convenient functions.

Further, with the multi-functionalization of this type of information processing apparatus, the manual for operating the apparatus becomes thicker, and it is troublesome for the user to read and understand the entire manual and learn the operation of keys and the like. Therefore, there is a serious side for users.

In any case, it is a reality that many users cannot fully utilize all the functions in spite of high performance and high functionality of the information processing apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus which enables a user to effectively use various functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus which can easily realize a desired function without reading a manual or the like.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having various functions for processing information such as characters, symbols, sequences, and graphics according to a user's instruction,
Guidance means for actively introducing and guiding the various functions from the information processing device, means for inputting a user's reaction to the introduced specific function, and a guidance means for the guidance means according to the input result of the user. An information processing apparatus having means for determining the subsequent operation can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having various functions for processing information such as characters, symbols, sequences, and figures according to a user's instruction, each function instructed by the user is monitored. Monitoring means for performing, setting change means for automatically changing the setting according to the user according to the monitoring result by the monitoring means, and means for inputting the reaction of the user with respect to the setting change,
According to the input result, an information processing apparatus having a unit for determining the subsequent operation of the setting changing unit is obtained.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a case where the information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is used as a word processor will be described. The illustrated information processing apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 10, an input / output device 11 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a display device, and a function processing unit 12 that executes / processes the functions described below. The function processing unit 12 is actually composed of a RAM or a ROM, is connected to the input / output device 11, and has a CPU.
Under the control of 10, various functions are executed and processed.

The illustrated function processing unit 12 is a Japanese word processor (W that executes a normal Japanese word processing function).
The Japanese WP unit 13 is connected to the input / output device 11 via the Japanese WP user interface (U / I) unit 14.

In addition to the normal Japanese WP function, the information processing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment positively and positively activates the function of the information processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus to the user. It has a function to guide. For this reason, the function processing unit 12 uses the rule storage unit 1 that stores rules for guiding the user, that is, active guide rules.
5, the active guide rule defines the conditions for outputting the guide to the input / output device 11. The active guide rule described above consists of multiple rule clauses,
These rule clauses can be classified into functional process monitoring clauses that monitor user usage functions and individual operation monitoring clauses that monitor individual operations.

Further, each rule clause has a rule clause number,
It defines the trigger condition (starting condition) of each rule clause, the output timing of the message corresponding to each rule clause, and the guide type.

Here, a specific example of the functional process monitoring clause for monitoring the functional process will be given. First, it is assumed that the rule clause defines the graphic function activation condition when the graphic function is automatically activated.

For example, it is assumed that the rule clause is given the number A, and the rule clause A is
Triggered a series of operations three times a day from the initial menu, after performing Japanese WP activation operation, entering Japanese, not opening Japanese, and opening the graphic function. It is accessed as a condition. Also,
When the trigger condition is satisfied and the article A is accessed, the guide type defined in the article A is output immediately after the graphic function is activated for the third time. In this case, the guide type is composed of "message that" graphic function "can be activated directly from initial menu""and guide item" activation of function ". That is, the trigger condition of the above-mentioned rule clause A is to activate the graphic function three times through a series of operations, and the output timing is immediately after the third graphic function activation.

For example, the number B is given to other rule clauses, and the trigger condition of this rule clause B is that the user repeats the operation procedure for starting the Japanese WP five times through the initial menu after turning on the power. It is the case. In addition, the output timing of the guide type should be immediately after the 5th Japanese WP is started, and the contents are "There is a function to automatically start the Japanese WP when the power is turned on" and the automatic start setting of the function. Is sent at the above-mentioned output timing.

On the other hand, to give an example of the individual operation monitoring clause,
The rule number C, for example, to which the rule number C is assigned, defines a rule for monitoring that the user has drawn a ruled line. Specifically, the guide type is transmitted with the trigger condition that the user draws the horizontal ruled line to the end of the line, and the output timing at the time when the drawing is completed. In this case, for example, "Do you know the automatic ruled line function?" Is displayed together with "Execute automatic ruled line" as a guide item.

The rule storage unit 15 storing the above-mentioned active guide rules is connected to the active guide execution unit 16 as shown in FIG. The active guide execution unit 16 includes a Japanese WP unit 13 and a Japanese WPU / I unit 14.
Of the rule storage unit 15 based on the monitoring result.
To access. As a result, the active guidance execution unit 16
Requests the guidance function unit 17 to output a guide such as the above-mentioned message and guide item according to the active guide rule stored in the rule storage unit 15. Under the control of the active guidance execution unit 16, the guidance function unit 17 sends a guide output required by the user to the input / output device 11 via the guidance user / interface (U / I) 18.

As a result, the guide output is notified by a display device or an output device such as a speaker. The user determines whether or not to accept the informed guide output, and inputs the opinion and impression of the user himself as the intention of the user through the input device. As is apparent from this, in the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment,
A dedicated key for inputting the user's own opinion or a software switch is prepared. Below, dedicated key,
The software switch is simply called an input switch. In the case of this embodiment, it is assumed that the input switch is composed of a thank-you switch and a no-thank-you switch.

The user inputs his or her intention by selecting either of the above-mentioned two switches as to whether or not to accept the informed guide output.
The input result of the input switch is given to the user intention updating unit 21 via the user intention input U / I 20 of the function processing unit 12. In this case, when the thank-you switch is selected, the user intention updating unit 21 determines that the user has the intention to accept the guide output, and increases the number of times the active guide rule is applied from the guide rule storage unit 15. Alternatively, the guide output is updated to increase the frequency. For example, in the above example, the intention of the user is fed back to the rule storage unit 15 so that the graphic function is activated for the second time or activated for the first time.

On the other hand, when the no-thank-you switch is selected, the user intention updating unit 21 determines that the user is not willing to accept the guide output and reduces the number of times the active guide rule is applied or the frequency of the guide output. Lower.

In the above embodiments, the number of times the active guide rule is applied or the guide output is changed according to the user's intention. However, the word processor function to be guided is for beginners, intermediate players, and , For advanced users, you may classify them into some and set these functions as guide levels.
In this way, by setting the guide level, it is possible to introduce the function according to the user's level according to the guide level. It is also possible to give an explanation according to the level of the user. This means that it is possible to configure a so-called step-up word processor that can change the guide level according to the level of the user.

An information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Also in this embodiment, the information processing apparatus will be described as being used as a word processor. Similar to FIG. 1, the illustrated information processing device includes a central processing unit (CPU) 10 and an input / output device 11 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a display device. Is different. Note that the function processing unit 12 is actually composed of a RAM or a ROM, as in the case of FIG.

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG.
1 and a format processing unit 42, and the display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42 include a display method information storage unit 43 that stores information about a display method and a format setting information storage unit 44 that stores information about a format setting. Are connected respectively. The display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42 perform display in accordance with a request given from the user through the input / output device 11 and set the format requested by the user, as in a normal word processor.

The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 can be configured as a word processor that monitors the format of a document frequently used by the user and can automatically set the format according to the document name. In order to achieve this object, the function processing unit 12 of this embodiment includes an operation monitoring unit 31 that monitors various functions of the Japanese WP according to the operation monitoring rule,
This operation monitoring unit 31 uses the word processor user / interface (WPU / I) 32 to input / output device 1
Connected to 1. The operation monitoring unit 31 in the figure is also connected to the display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42, and is configured to be able to change the display content and the format given from the display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42.

Further, the operation monitoring section 31 is connected to an operation monitoring rule storage section 33 for storing the operation monitoring rule and a setting changing section 34 for changing the setting according to the change of the operation. The setting change unit 34 is also connected to a change rule storage unit 35 that stores the setting change rule.

Here, the operation monitoring rule of the operation monitoring rule storage unit 33 monitors, for example, the edited document name, and if the edited document name specified in the operation monitoring rule exists as a result of the monitoring, the document name This is a rule for reporting the existence to the operation monitoring unit 31. More specifically, if the edited document name includes the character strings “specification” and “weekly report”, or if the document names are all in English, “specification”, “weekly report”, and The setting change unit 34 transmits the change of the format according to the English sentence via the operation monitoring unit 31.

On the other hand, the setting change rule storage unit 35 reads the above-mentioned “specification”, “weekly report”, or a format corresponding to the English sentence and sends it to the setting change unit 34. The setting changing unit 34 applies the changed formats to the operation monitoring unit 31 and the WPU.
/ I 32 to display on the output device of the I / O device.

Further, the input / output device 11 shown in FIG.
Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a thank-you switch and a no-thank-you switch are provided so that the user's intention can be input. The operation result of the switch is given to the user intention input U / I 36 connected to the setting changing unit 34. The user intention input U / I 36 transmits the user's intention to the setting changing unit 34, and also transmits the user's intention to the user intention interpretation rule updating unit 37.
The user intention interpretation rule updating unit 37 instructs the change rule storage unit 35 to change / update the rule setting when the user intention given via the user intention input U / I 36 requests the setting change. As a result, the changed rule is read from the changed rule storage unit 35 to the setting change unit 34, and the setting change unit 34 transmits the setting information of each function to the operation monitoring unit 31 according to the changed rule. The display contents and the format information from the display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42 are changed according to the setting information, and the display device and the like that configure the output device of the input / output device from the operation monitoring unit 31 through the WPU / I 32. Is displayed in.

The operation of the illustrated information processing apparatus will be described using a more specific example. First, as a result of monitoring by the operation monitoring unit 31, when a character string of “specification” is found in the name of the edited document, the setting changing unit 34 is notified that the character string of “specification” is detected. introduce. The setting change unit 34 checks which setting change rule the transmitted edited document name corresponds to. In the case of this example, the setting change rule according to the format of “specification” is read from the setting change rule storage unit 35, and is sent to the operation monitoring unit 31 through the setting change unit 34. The operation monitoring unit 31 changes the display content and the format content from the display processing unit 41 and the format processing unit 42 according to the setting change rule from the setting changing unit 34, and the WPU / I
The changed format is displayed on the output device of the input / output device 11 via 32. At this time, a message indicating that the format has been changed is also displayed on the screen of the output device.

In response to this message, when the user selects the thank-you switch of the input / output device 11, the selection result is transmitted to the user intention interpretation rule updating unit 37 via the user intention input U / I36. The user intention interpretation rule updating unit 37, after confirming the user's intention, transmits the setting change rule storage unit 35 and the setting change unit 34 so as to maintain the changed format. As a result, the information processing device continues the process while maintaining the changed format. Further, the setting changing unit 34 is controlled so that the application priority of the setting changing rule is raised every time the user selects the thank-you switch.

On the other hand, when the user selects the no-thank-you switch of the input / output device 11 in response to the above message, the format information returns to the state before the change, and
Lower the priority of applying this rule. In this case,
The format setting information edited by the user is added / stored in the setting change rule storage unit 35 via the WPU / I 32 as the format setting information.

As described above, the information processing apparatus according to this embodiment has an advantage that the time required for format setting can be shortened because the format and the like frequently used by the user can be automatically set. There is.

When a key is used as the thank-you switch or the no-thank-you switch, it is possible to change the priority change level according to the strength of the key depression.

An information processing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the input / output device 11 is provided with an interpersonal sensor 50 such as an infrared sensor, and the state of the interpersonal sensor 50 is
It is monitored by the operation monitoring unit 31 via the WPU / I32. In this embodiment, with the screen of the display device turned on, it is detected by the operation monitoring unit 32 that monitors the output of the interpersonal sensor 50 that the user has left the information processing device for a certain time, for example, 5 minutes or more. Then, the operation monitoring unit 32 changes the display setting information and turns off the display device screen. When the interpersonal sensor 50 responds in the screen off state, the display setting information is changed again to turn the screen on.
As is clear from this, it can be understood that the operation monitoring unit 31 is provided with a timer.

This configuration has the advantages that the power required for the information processing apparatus can be saved and that the user can automatically return to the original state when using it.

If the total reaction time of the interpersonal sensor 50 for one day exceeds 8 hours, it is possible to display a message on the screen to alert the user to the overuse.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, various settings necessary for the edited document can be brought closer to the setting contents requested by the user based on the user's intention input, so that the user does not need to be aware of the detailed settings. An information processing apparatus customized for a user can be configured.

Although only the word processor has been described in the embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

[0043]

According to the present invention, since the information processing apparatus side informs the user of the available functions positively and allows the user to select whether or not to use this function, the function corresponding to the user is provided. There is an advantage that an information processing device can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CPU 11 Input / output device 12 Function processing unit 13 Japanese WP unit 14 Japanese WPU / I unit 15 Active guide rule storage unit 16 Active guide execution unit 17 Guidance function unit 18 Guidance U / I unit 20 User intention input U / I Part 21 User Intention Interpretation Update Part 31 Operation Monitoring Part 32 WPU / I Part 33 Operation Monitoring Rule Storage Part 34 Setting Change Part 35 Setting Change Rule Storage Part 36 User Intention Input U / I 37 User Intention Interpretation Rule Update Part 41 Display Processing Part 42 format processing section 43 display method information storage section 44 format setting information storage section 50 interpersonal sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having various functions for processing information such as characters, symbols, sequences, and figures according to a user's instruction, and actively introduces and guides the various functions from the information processing apparatus. A guidance unit, a unit for inputting a user's reaction to the introduced function, and a unit for determining a subsequent operation of the guidance unit according to an input result of the user. Information processing equipment. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guidance unit has a voice guide unit that guides a function by voice. 3. An operation monitoring means for monitoring an operation relating to each function instructed by the user in an information processing apparatus having various functions for processing information such as characters, symbols, sequences, and figures according to a user's instruction. An information processing apparatus, comprising: and a setting changing unit that automatically changes the setting according to the user according to the monitoring result of the operation monitoring unit. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising means for inputting a user's reaction with respect to the setting change, and means for determining a subsequent operation of the setting change means according to the input result. The information processing device described. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a sensor device that detects a predetermined physical quantity. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is composed of an input switch.