JPH10187403A - Message data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the possibility that a user calls a proper message by referring and displaying a user index when the user index is added to a message corresponding to an item indicated by the user when system indexes are listed and displayed. SOLUTION: When a system index display instruction part 12 instructs a list display, the system indexes in a system index storage part 19 are listed and displayed. When a specific system index is instructed, correspondence relation in a correspondence relation storage part 22 and user indexes in a user index storage part 10 are accessed and a corresponding user index when registered is listed newly as reference information. Namely, the user can confirm what user index is added to the message corresponding to the instructed system index.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a help message display function used for notifying a user of a method of using a system (electronic device), an operation method, and the like. The present invention relates to a message / data processing device that enables easy retrieval.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As systems (electronic devices) such as personal computers, facsimile machines, and VCRs have become increasingly multifunctional, information on mechanisms, functions, and operation methods that have become too complex are displayed as messages to users. A help function for notifying the user is known. As the functions of the system become more complicated, the system is required to transmit help messages in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-understand manner and in a timely manner. In general, a multi-function system's help message function (hereinafter referred to as online help) stores a large number of explanatory messages written in text, graphics, audio, and the like, and has a message / call function based on keywords / topics. ing. For example, Windows (US trademark of Microsoft Corporation)
The online help includes keyword lists such as "icons", "installs", "windows" ...
Topic lists such as "Minimize windows", "Place shortcut icons on desktop", "Use drag and drop" ... By selecting an item of interest (arbitrary keyword or topic) from a given list, the user can call up a more detailed explanation message for that item. The keywords in the list are generally displayed in alphabetical order such as "icon", "install", "window", and so on.

[0003] On the other hand, topics are displayed not in alphabetical order but as sub-items of related keywords. That is, by giving phonological clues and semantic clusters, it is possible to promote the understanding and identification of keywords and topics with a small amount of information (number of characters) by themselves, and to make it easier to call out appropriate messages. .
Such a keyword / topic search function is an indispensable function for quickly calling out a message necessary for the immediate use of the system from an enormous amount of messages. Provides a rich keyword / topic search function,
By promoting the use of online help, the usability of the system can be dramatically improved.

[0004] However, many keywords and messages are written in "designer terms". Therefore, it is sometimes difficult for a user who is unfamiliar with the system to smoothly select an appropriate keyword or topic from a list in which familiar items are arranged. In the given keyword / topic list, the words that the user has imagined are not listed, or even if they are listed, the meaning is wrong (the content of the called message is incorrect), In many cases, despite successfully retrieving a message, the keyword or topic for retrieving the message is immediately forgotten (not remembered when recalled). For example, to call a message explaining the procedure for changing the display position of icons in the online help of Windows (trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States), select the topic "Use Drag and Drop" from the keyword / topic list. Must.
However, if the user does not know the designer term “drag and drop” and cannot imagine the meaning, the possibility of selecting the topic (calling an appropriate message) becomes extremely small. The description of the procedure for setting the subnet mask is included in a message explaining the procedure for setting the IP address. To call that message, use the keyword “IP address” instead of the keyword “subnet mask”. You have to choose. After trial and error, the user may accidentally succeed in calling the message and know the procedure for setting the subnet mask. However, when a user who has forgotten the setting procedure and the keyword "IP address" has to reset the subnet mask, the same trial and error is required to call up the message again. You have to. In general, the gap between “designer terms” and “user terms” is an unavoidable problem in online help for multifunction systems. In particular,
If the user is a novice (Novice), unless somebody bridges the gap between designer and user terms, the user will not be able to invoke the appropriate message and Results in not being proficient in the system.

[0005] There are a wide variety of ideas and words to be imagined by users, and words, and it is impossible for a system designer to comprehensively and accurately predict these. Taking measures such as rewriting keywords and topics into user words and adding new items based on half-baked predictions will make longer long keyword / topic lists even longer and increase consistency. There is a risk that the list will be missing and difficult to understand.
Rather, it is realistic and useful to register the words that accurately express the contents when the user himself successfully calls a useful message as a unique keyword or topic and use it for re-searching the message. it is conceivable that. For example, the online help for GroupWise (a trademark of Novell, USA) has a bookmark registration and listing function. Each message you call can have a user index, such as "Save old mail on my hard drive." The user indexes are listed according to the order in which they were created. Even if the user forgets the designer term "archive", the user can recall the message by selecting the user index "old mail ..." from a list created independently. You can do it. However, there is a case where the situation at the time of registering the bookmark cannot be recalled only by the items (words) constituting the list and the display order thereof, and an appropriate user index cannot be specified. In this case, the discriminability of the user index can be improved by using the automatic indexing means described in JP-A-7-129613 and JP-A-7-230475. Specifically, the peripheral information such as the registration date and time of the user index, the size and position of the window at the time of referring to the message, the color of the text, and the reference time are automatically registered. Display in an identifiable manner corresponding to each user index
Reproduction reveals differences between similar items, increasing the likelihood that the user will choose the appropriate message. In principle, the bookmark registration / listing function in the online help improves the success probability of message re-search performed by each user.
Furthermore, a plurality of users having the same skill level can increase the initial retrieval probability of a message by sharing the list of the user index. User indexes, such as "Save old mails on your hard disk" above, are based on ideas from users at the same level, so you can easily understand the meaning even if they are not your own. I can understand. Therefore, the probability of calling an appropriate message in a single trial using the words of other users as clues increases. In such a case, JP-A-7-2007
If the name (sign) of each index creator is displayed in a list by using the memo data creation means described in JP-A-86, it is easier to specify the desired user index, and an appropriate message can be called. Sex can be further enhanced. In this way, by building a user-specific user index list that is different from the keyword / topic list organized from the designer's point of view, it becomes truly useful from a huge amount of messages. It is possible to promptly call only the necessary messages without waste.

However, merely enriching the user index does not always enable useful information to be conveyed accurately and easily. Despite the fact that the called message contains useful information and is explained using text, graphics, audio, etc., it is often described in designer-oriented language and logic. It has been pointed out that users (especially beginners) cannot easily understand the contents of the message, or once they understand it, they immediately forget it. That is, even in the description of the message itself, there is a gap between the “designer term” and the “user term”. Just as it is difficult to express keywords and topics in user-friendly language, it will not be possible for designers to describe all messages in user language in a way that is easy to understand (or easy to remember). Therefore, the user himself / herself re-expresses the called message in his / her own words, and provides a means for using the result when re-reading the message, and for sharing the expression suitable for the proficiency level among multiple users. Is considered realistic and useful. For example, Windows (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) and G
loopWise (a trademark of Novell, USA)
The help has a function to add a user comment for each message. In addition to the designer's original cryptic description (for example, storing the items in a separate database on the local disk), the user's own interpretation (for example, storing the mail in any directory on your computer's hard disk) ) Is registered and can be referred to when the message is called again. If this user comment function is used, it is easy to understand and recall when rereading the message, and by referring to the comment added by the senior, it becomes much easier to understand and memorize the explanation message that is contacted for the first time.

[0007] As described above, the user index function and the user comment function are registered in the online help and can be used individually or collectively by the user.
Message recall, understanding, and memory are facilitated, and the usefulness of online help and the usability of a multifunctional system can be dramatically improved.

[0008]

However, it is difficult to say that the user index function and the user comment function are frequently and casually used by users in conventional online help.

For example, the user index function generally has the following problems. First, it is difficult for users to register keywords and topics for each message. The user must determine whether each message invoked is worth a user index while anticipating future availability. And when you think it's worth it, you have to understand the message yourself, do some elaboration in your mind, and come up with a short, precise expression. In many cases, the devised expression is often typed into a designated input box using a keyboard or a mouse, and the work involved in these operations is not absurd. As described above, the peripheral information at the time of index registration (for example, the registration date and time, the shape of the display window, the name of the index registrant, etc.) is automatically recorded,
Means to be used when recalling a message have been devised. However, what makes the user index easy to understand and identify is a linguistic expression based on the user's own ideas, and it is centered on thinking and writing unless technology such as speech recognition is completed. It is unlikely that the work of registering the user index will be greatly reduced.

Second, it is difficult to organize a plurality of registered keywords and topics to form an easy-to-understand list. Even if the number of registered user indices is quite large, if they are structured based on a consistent viewpoint, it will be easy to select a desired keyword or topic from the items in the list. However,
Many users of multifunction systems have only experienced some of the functions of the system, and do not have a good understanding of the individual functions and the underlying structure of the system.
Given that users' knowledge is evolving and their understanding of messages and the production of indices fluctuate over time, they come up with a number of coherent expressions and sort them well. The work is impossible for ordinary users, and there is little systematic support to help the work. For example, although not online help, Netscape (trademark of Netscape Communications, USA) provides a means for hierarchically listing a plurality of locally registered document titles (corresponding to URLs) and displaying a list. However, this approach has been used as such because titles have already been created by authors,
Because it is not necessary for the user to devise it, it is not expected to be useful as a means for structuring a user index in online help. In the user index list, it can be said that items constituting the user index list are arranged in chronological order (order of registration date and time).

It is considered that the use of the user index function is not so good for the above two reasons. Therefore, at present, it seems to be quite difficult for a user to effectively create and use a user index list having a certain length or more that is excellent in discrimination.

Keywords and topics (hereinafter, referred to as system indexes) created by designers are described in “designer terms” and are difficult to understand. The list is too long to search for items. There are drawbacks such as not knowing whether it is important, but the number of registered items is large, the route to reach all messages is guaranteed, and the term that is important for using the system is covered, and it is reasonably consistent It has the advantage of being structured based on the viewpoint. On the other hand, the user index created by the user is a structure that is difficult to register and can not create a long list, can only call up messages that have registered keywords and topics, and each expression is "thinking" and is based on a consistent viewpoint It has the advantage that it is described in an easy-to-understand "user term" and serves as a clue to the situation when the message was referred to before, in terms of disadvantages such as difficulty in conversion. Therefore, it is needless to say that there is a demand for a method of using two types of index functions in combination to take advantage of the respective advantages.

However, while simultaneously referring to the system index list and the user index list, and confirming the relationship between the items included in each list, it is possible to determine which index to select. No effective means of doing so has been provided. For example, while referring to a part of the system index list of GroupWise (a trademark of Novell, USA) (for example, “Archive items”, “Open archive”,.・ If you want to call a message, you have no way of knowing what item it is or how it was marked, so make use of your past experience While selecting the system index. Conversely, users who have previously read and marked messages related to the work they need to do are listed in the user index list (e.g., "Save mail to my hard disk", "Frequent commands").・ Access ”...) to see which items are relevant to the work in question (eg, archiving the schedule), did you really mark them, or this list does not contain the appropriate items You don't even get the clue if you want to decide which other item to choose.
Eventually, after trying for some time to call a message based on the system index list, then trying to call a message based on the user index list,
It is a good idea to repeat inefficient trial and error, such as returning to the system index list again. That is, since the system index function and the user index function are independent and there is no cross-referencing function, only the disadvantages of two types of indexes having different expressions and structures are conspicuous.

[0014] Similarly, the user comment function is not fully utilized. For the same reasons as the user index, it seems difficult in reality for users to add user comments to many messages. Further, there is a problem in that the user comment provided cannot be referred to unless the message is successfully called, even though the user has devised the text and the like with great effort. Generally, it is considered that the description of a user comment is based on a user's own idea and vocabulary. Even if a user forgets most of the content of a user comment, it will be easy to recall the fragmentary expression in it. Using that expression as a search key,
If you perform a search for registered user comments,
It should be possible to recall with high probability the desired user comment and the message to which it is attached. The amount of user comments to be searched is not so large, and it is considered that the probability that unnecessary comments will be searched is low. Nevertheless, at present, means for utilizing registered user comments as search clues for calling messages has not been provided.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The online help of the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. The data processing device according to the present invention comprises: (A1) a message storage unit for storing a message relating to a method of using the system;
(A2) a system index storage unit for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage unit; and (A3) a user corresponding to a specific message stored in the message storage unit. User index input means for inputting the user index created by the user, (A4) user index storage means for storing the user index input by the user index input means, and (A5) message storage means. Correspondence storing the correspondence between each stored message, each system index stored in the system index storage, and each user index stored in the user index storage. Storage means, ( 6) By accessing the system index display instructing means for instructing a list display of the system indexes stored in the system index storing means, and (A7) accessing the system index stored in the system index storing means. System index display means for displaying a list of system indexes, and (A8) a user index corresponding to a message corresponding to a specific system index designated by the user from the system indexes displayed by the system index display means Index based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage, and accesses and displays the specified user index stored in the user index storage. Reference display means, and (A9) system index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to the selected system index among the specific system indexes displayed on the system index display means. (A10) A system for accessing and displaying a specific message corresponding to the selected system index based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage, based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage. Index corresponding message display means.

Further, the data processing device according to the present invention is
In addition to the above (A1) to (A10), (A11)
The user displayed by the index reference display means
Referenced user index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a specific user index selected from the index,
(A12) A reference user who displays a corresponding message by accessing a message stored in the message storage means based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means for a specific message corresponding to the user index. An index correspondence message display means.

Further, the data processing device of the present invention has a (B
1) message storage means for storing a message relating to the usage of the system, etc .; (B2) system index storage means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage means; and (B3) A user index input unit for inputting a user index created by a user in response to a specific message stored in the message storage unit; and (B4) the user index input by the user index input unit. User index storage means for storing an index; (B5) individual messages stored in the message storage means, individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means, and the user index storage means. Stored A correspondence storing means for storing a correspondence relationship between individual user indexes are, (B6)
A system index display instructing means for instructing a list display of the user indexes stored in the user index storing means, and (B7) a user index by accessing the user index stored in the user index storing means. (B8) a user index display means for displaying a list of indexes, and (B8) a user index displayed by the user index display means.
Correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means, the system index corresponding to the message corresponding to the specific user index designated by the user from the index, or another system index having a semantic relationship with the system index. A system index reference display unit for accessing the specified system index stored in the system index storage unit and referring to the specified system index, and (B9) displaying the user index display unit A user index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a selected user index in a specific user index, and (B10)
A user index corresponding message display for accessing and displaying a specific message corresponding to the selected user index based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means, based on the correspondence stored in the message storage means. Means.

Further, in addition to the above (B1) to (B10), the data processing apparatus of the present invention provides (B11) a system index displayed by the system index reference display means.
Reference system index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a specific system index selected from the index, and (B12) a specific system designated by the reference system index reference display instructing means A reference system index correspondence message display unit for identifying a message based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit, accessing and displaying the message stored in the message storage unit, and a specific system index. A reference system index corresponding message display instructing means for selecting and instructing display of a specific message corresponding thereto.

Further, the data processing apparatus of the present invention has a (C
1) Message storage means for storing a message relating to usage of the system, etc .; and (C2) user comment input means for inputting a user comment created by a user corresponding to a specific message stored in the message storage means. (C3) user comment storage means for storing user comments corresponding to individual messages stored in the message storage means; and (C4) individual messages and user comments stored in the message storage means. Correspondence storage means for storing the correspondence between individual user comments stored in the storage means,
(C5) a user comment search means for searching for a user comment stored in the user comment storage means according to a predetermined search condition; and (C6) a user comment satisfying the predetermined search condition and the user comment. And a corresponding message stored in the correspondence storage means and access the corresponding message stored in the message storage means and the corresponding user comment stored in the user comment storage means. And a message / user comment display means for displaying the message.

Further, the data processing device of the present invention has a (D
1) Message storage means for storing a message relating to the usage of the system, etc .; (D2) system index storage means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage means; and (D3) A user comment input means for inputting a user comment created by a user in response to a specific message stored in the message storage means; and (D4) the user comment input by the user comment input means (D5) Individual messages stored in the message storage means, individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means, and stored in the user comment storage means Individual user comments (D6) a user comment search means for searching for a user comment stored in the user comment storage means in accordance with a predetermined search condition; and (D7) a predetermined comment storage means. A system index corresponding to the message corresponding to the user comment corresponding to the search condition, and another system having a semantic relationship with the system index.
A system index display unit for accessing and displaying a list of the corresponding system indexes stored in the system index storage unit based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit; and a system (D8). A system for instructing display of a specific message and a user comment corresponding to a specific system index selected from the system indexes displayed by the index display means;
Index correspondence message / user comment display instructing means, and (D9) a specific message and user comment designated by the message / user comment display instructing means based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage. A system index corresponding message / user comment display means for accessing and displaying a corresponding message stored in the message storage means and a user comment stored in the user comment storage means.

Further, the data processing device of the present invention has a configuration (E
1) Message storage means for storing a message relating to the usage of the system, etc .; (E2) system index storage means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage means; and (E3) A user index input means for inputting a user index created by a user in response to a specific message stored in the message storage means; and (E4) the user index input by the user index input means (E5) a user index input unit for inputting a user comment created by the user in response to a specific message stored in the message storage unit; and (E6) User comment input means User comment storage means for storing the input user comment; (E7) individual messages stored in the message storage means; and individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means. A correspondence storing means for storing a correspondence between each user index stored in the user index storing means and each user comment stored in the user comment storing means; A user comment search means for searching for a user comment stored in the user comment storage means according to the search condition; and (E9) a user comment corresponding to a message corresponding to the user comment corresponding to the predetermined search condition. Indexes and system indexes On the basis of the other system indexes meaningful relevant to box the corresponding relationship stored in the correspondence relation storage unit user
Index display means for accessing and displaying a list of the corresponding user indexes stored in the index storage means and the corresponding system indexes stored in the system index storage means;
0) Index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message and a user comment corresponding to a specific user index or a system index displayed by the index display means and selected from the user indexes. (E11) The specific message and the user comment specified by the index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means are stored in the message storing means based on the corresponding relation stored in the corresponding relation storing means. Index corresponding message / user comment display means for accessing and displaying the corresponding message and the corresponding user comment stored in the user comment storage means.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The operation of the online help of the present invention will be described below. The user can assign a user index to a specific message stored in the message storage unit by using the user index input unit. When the user assigns a user index, the user index stored in the user index storage unit and the correspondence between the message, the system index, and the user index stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten. Can be When the user instructs the system index display instruction means to display a list of system indexes, the system indexes stored in the system index storage means are displayed in a list via the system index display means. Here, when the user designates a specific system index, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means and the
If the user index stored in the index storage unit is accessed and the user index corresponding to the message corresponding to the system index is registered, the user index is
A new list is displayed as reference information via the user index reference display means. That is, the user
It is possible to confirm what kind of user index is assigned to the message corresponding to the instructed system index. When the user selects a specific system index using the system index corresponding message display instruction means, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means and the message stored in the message storage means are accessed, and the system Via the index corresponding message display means,
A message corresponding to the system index is displayed.

Further, it has the following functions in addition to the above functions. That is, when the user selects a specific user index newly displayed as reference information by the reference user index corresponding message display instructing means, the correspondence and message storage means stored in the correspondence storage means. Is accessed, and the message corresponding to the user index is displayed via the reference user index corresponding message display means. That is, the user can invoke a message not only from the system index but also from the associated user index.

Further, the user can assign a user index to a specific message stored in the message storage means by using the user index input means. When the user assigns a user index, the user index stored in the user index storage unit and the correspondence between the message, the system index, and the user index stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten. Can be When the user instructs the user index display instruction means to display a list of user indexes,
A list of user indexes stored in the user index storage means is displayed via the user index display means. Here, when the user designates a specific user index, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage and the system index stored in the system index storage are accessed, and the corresponding user index is accessed. The system index corresponding to the message corresponding to the index, and other systems that are semantically related to the system index.
The index is newly displayed as a list via the system index reference display means as reference information. That is, the user can check what system index is assigned to the message corresponding to the specified user index, and further determine what kind of system is associated with those system indexes. -You can check whether an index is prepared. When the user selects a specific user index by the user index corresponding message display instructing means, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storing means and the message stored in the message storing means are accessed, and the user is accessed. A message corresponding to the user index is displayed via the index corresponding message display means.

Further, in addition to the above functions, the following functions are provided. That is, when the user selects a specific system index newly displayed as reference information by the reference system index correspondence message display instructing means, the correspondence and the message storage means stored in the correspondence storage means. Is accessed, and the message corresponding to the system index is displayed via the reference system index corresponding message display means. That is,
Consumers can invoke messages not only from the user index, but also from the associated system index.

Further, the user can add a user comment for a specific message stored in the message storage means by using the user comment input means. When the user gives a user comment, the user comment stored in the user comment storage unit and the correspondence between the message and the user comment stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten. When the user instructs a user comment search condition to specify and search for a search condition for a user comment, a search for the user comment stored in the user comment storage device is executed. Then, when a user comment that matches the search condition is found, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage, the message stored in the message storage, and the user comment stored in the user comment storage are stored. The user comment is accessed, and the user comment and the message to which the user comment is assigned are displayed via the message / user comment display means. That is, the user can call up a necessary message via a user comment that matches the search condition.

Further, the user can give a user comment for a specific message stored in the message storage means by the user comment input means. When the user gives a user comment, the user comment stored in the user comment storage unit and the correspondence between the message, the system index, and the user comment stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten. Can be When the user instructs a user comment search condition to specify and search for a search condition for a user comment, a search for the user comment stored in the user comment storage device is executed. When a user comment that matches the search condition is found, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage and the system index stored in the system index storage are accessed, and the user is accessed. -A system index corresponding to the message corresponding to the comment and another system index having a semantic relationship with the system index are displayed in a list via the system index display unit.
Further, when the user selects a specific system index by the system index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storing means and the message stored in the message storing means. The message and the user comment stored in the user comment storage means are accessed,
A message corresponding to the system index and a user comment assigned to the message are displayed via a system index corresponding message / user comment display unit. That is, the user can first call up a necessary message by listing related system indices and selecting a specific item from the list, using a user comment that matches the search condition as an intermediary.

Further, the user assigns a user index to a specific message stored in the message storage means by the user index input means, or stores the user index in the message storage means by the user comment input means. User comments can be provided for certain messages. When the user assigns a user index (or user comment), the user index (or user comment) stored in the user index storage means (or user comment storage means)
The correspondence between the message, the system index, and the user index (or user comment) stored in the correspondence storage is rewritten. When the user instructs a user comment search condition to specify and search for a search condition for a user comment, a search for the user comment stored in the user comment storage device is executed. When a user comment that matches the search condition is found, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage and the user index stored in the user index storage (or system index storage) are stored. (Or the system index) is accessed, and the user index (or the system index) corresponding to the message corresponding to the user comment and other system indexes having a semantic relationship with the system index are accessed. Are displayed in a list via the index display means. Further, when the user selects a specific user index (or system index) by the index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means, the correspondence stored in the correspondence storing means and the message storing means are stored in the message storing means. The stored message and the user comment stored in the user comment storage unit are accessed, and the message corresponding to the user index (or system index) and the user assigned to the message are accessed. The comment is displayed via the index corresponding message / user comment display means. In other words, the user can first list the related user index or system index through a user comment that matches the search condition, and call a necessary message by selecting a specific item from the list. it can.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, e-mail, message,
Using an application for sharing appointment items and the like as an example, the structure and operation of online help that explains how to use the application on a personal computer will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a message data processing apparatus having an online help function according to the present invention. The message / data processing apparatus in FIG. 1 includes a message display instruction unit 11, a system index display instruction unit 12, a user index display instruction unit 13, a user index input unit 14, a user comment display instruction unit 15, a user comment. Input unit 16, user / comment search unit 17, message storage unit 18, system index storage unit 19, user / user
Index storage unit 20, user comment storage unit 2
1, correspondence storage unit 22, message display unit 23, index display / selection unit 24, user / comment display unit 2
5, a system index display / selection unit 241 and a user index display / selection unit 242.

FIG. 2 shows a part of an example of a message stored in the message storage unit. In the figure, 21 is a message table, 211 is a message number,
212 is a message. Messages that explain how to use the application, that is, messages described in text such as “your local disk or...” “By the archive function...” Are stored, and each message is “M-001” “ M-002 ”... This message table is created by the designer, and its contents are not rewritten by the instruction of the user.

FIG. 3 shows a part of the system index stored in the system index storage. In the figure, 31 is a system index table, 311 is a system index number, 31
2 is a system index. The system index 312 for retrieving a message stores keywords and topics described in text such as “archive”, “archive item”..., And each system index 312 stores “SI-001”. , “SI-001-001”...
The system index numbers are not randomly assigned, and the numbers of related items (indexes) include a common numeral string. For example, "
An index to which a number including a numeric string “SI-001” is assigned, that is, “archive” (SI-001)
001) and “Archiving items” (SI-001-
001) and “Open Archive” (SI-001-00)
2) and ... are mutually related and form one semantic cluster. This system index table is created by a designer, and its contents are not rewritten by a user's instruction.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the user index stored in the user index storage unit. In the figure, 41 is a user index table, 411 is a user index number, and 412 is a user index. The user index assigned by the user to invoke the message, ie
Keywords and topics described in text, such as “save mail on their own HD”, “frequently accessed commands”, etc., are stored. Each user index 412 stores “UI-001”, “UI- 002 "
.. Are assigned. The user index number 411 reflects the order in which the user has registered the user index.
In other words, "Save mail to my HD" (UI-
001) is more frequent command access
(UI-002) is registered earlier than (UI-002). This user index table is
The contents are rewritten according to the user's user index input operation performed via the user index input unit. The user index input operation will be described later in detail.

FIG. 5 shows a part of the user comment stored in the user comment storage unit. In the figure, 51 is a user comment table, 511
Is a user comment number, and 512 is a user comment. User comments given to the message by the user, that is, comments described in text such as "saved in Netgserver ...", "September 19, 1995 ...", are stored. 512 are assigned user comment numbers 511 such as “C-001”, “C-002”. The user comment number 511 reflects the order in which the user has registered the user comment. That is, "Netgs
.. (C-001) stored in the server. ”(C-001) indicates that the registration is earlier than“ Sept. 19, 1995... ”(C-002). The contents of the user comment table are rewritten in accordance with the user's user comment input operation performed via the user comment input unit. The user comment input operation will be described later in detail.

FIG. 6 shows a part of the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage. In the figure,
61 is a correspondence table, 611 is a system index number, 612 is a message number, 613 is a user index number, and 614 is a user comment number. This correspondence relation table expresses the correspondence relation between the system index, the message, the user index, and the user comment by the number assigned to each. For example, "by the archive function ..." (M-00
Paying attention to the message 2), the message is “Archive items” (SI-001-00).
2), "Monitor the status of archive items (inbox)" (SI-001-004), "Set archive directory" (SI-101-00)
1) A system index such as..., A user index “Save mail on own HD” (UI-001), and a user comment “Saved in Netgserver ...” (C-001) You can see that it is. The correspondence between the system index and the message (one-to-one or many-to-one) is created by the designer, and the relation is not rewritten by the instruction of the user. The user index number and the user comment number are added according to the user index input operation and the user comment input operation performed by the user. That is, the correspondence between the system index and the message created by the designer and the user index and the user comment is created not based on the designer but based on the input operation of the user.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a user interface in which the user interacts with the online help. The window on the display of the personal computer, the soft buttons and the text arranged in the window are shown. The display frame is drawn. In the figure, 71 is an online help window, 711 is an index (system) button, 712 is an index (user) button, 713 is a comment search button, 7
14 is an index registration button, 715 is a comment registration button, 716 is a message display frame, 717 is a user
It is a comment display frame. The index (system) button is a part of the system index display instruction section shown in FIG. The index (user) button is shown in FIG.
Is a part of the user index display instruction section shown in FIG. The comment search button is a part of the user comment search unit shown in FIG. The index registration button
It is a part of the user index input unit shown in FIG. The comment registration button is a part of the user comment input section shown in FIG. Users may use these software
Buttons can be designated and pressed with a mouse (cursor). The message display frame is a part of the message display unit shown in FIG. The user comment display frame is a part of the user comment display section shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a system index display of a user interface in which a user interacts with the online help. A window on a display of a personal computer and software arranged in the window are shown. It depicts buttons, text display frames, and the like. In the figure, 81 is an index (system) window, 811 is a display button, 812 is a system index display frame, and 82 is a user index window. The display button is a part of the message display instruction section and the user comment display instruction section shown in FIG. The user can designate and press this soft button with a mouse (cursor). The system index display frame is a part of the system index display / selection section shown in FIG. 1, and each displayed item is a soft button. Buttons can be designated and pressed with a mouse (cursor). The user index window is used to display the user index shown in FIG.
Part of the selection unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a user index display of a user interface in which a user interacts with the online help. A window on a display of a personal computer and software arranged in the window are shown. It depicts buttons, text display frames, and the like. In the figure, reference numeral 91 denotes an index (user)
A window 911 is a display button, 812 is a user index display frame, and 92 is a system index window. The display button is a part of the message display instruction section and the user comment display instruction section shown in FIG. The user can designate and press this soft button with a mouse (cursor). The user index display frame is a part of the user index display / selection unit shown in FIG. The system index window is used to display the system index shown in FIG.
Part of the selection unit. Since each item displayed in the user index display frame and system index window is a soft button,
The user can designate and press these soft buttons with a mouse (cursor).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an index registration display of a user interface in which a user interacts with the online help. A window on a display of a personal computer and soft buttons arranged in the window are shown. , A text input frame, and the like. In the figure, 101 is an index registration window, 1011 is an OK button (soft button), 101
2 is an index input box. These screen components are part of the user index input unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a comment registration display of a user interface in which a user interacts with the online help. A window on the display of the personal computer and soft buttons arranged in the window are shown. , A text input frame, and the like. In the figure, 111 is a comment registration window, 1111 is an OK button (soft button), 11
Reference numeral 12 denotes a comment input box. These screen components are a part of the user comment input unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a comment search display of a user interface in which the user interacts with the online help. The window on the display of the personal computer and the soft buttons arranged in the window are shown. , A text input frame, a text display frame, and the like. In the figure, 121 is a comment search window, 1211 is a search button (soft button), 1212 is a display button (soft button),
Reference numeral 1213 denotes a search key input box, and reference numeral 1214 denotes a search result (index) display frame. The search button is a part of the user comment search unit shown in FIG. The display button is a part of the message display instruction section and the user comment display instruction section shown in FIG. The search result (index) display frame is a part of the user / comment search section and the index display / selection section shown in FIG. 1, and since each displayed item is a soft button, the user Can designate and press these soft buttons with a mouse (cursor).

The operation of the online help (including the dialogue with the user) according to this embodiment is roughly classified into the following five patterns.

Pattern (1) A user is registered with a user index via a user index input unit. Based on the result of the user's user index input operation, the user index table stored in the user index storage unit and the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten (addition, Change, delete, etc.).

Pattern (2) Ask the user to register a user comment via the user comment input section. Based on the result of the user's user comment input operation, the user comment table stored in the user comment storage unit and the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit are rewritten (addition, Change, delete, etc.).

Pattern (3) A list of system indexes is displayed via the system index display / selection unit. When the user selects an item in the list, a message and a user comment corresponding to the item are displayed via the message display unit and the user comment display unit. However, when displaying the system index list, the user index corresponding to the item specified by the user
If the index is registered, the user
The index is displayed through the user index display / selection unit to help the user understand and identify the system index.

Pattern (4) A list of user indexes is displayed via the user index display / selection unit. If the user selects an item in the list,
Via the message display and the user / comment display,
Display the message and user comment corresponding to the item. However, when the user index is displayed in a list, the system index corresponding to the item specified by the user or the system index which does not correspond but belongs to the same cluster (semantically related) is added to the system index. A list is displayed through the index display / selection unit to assist the user in understanding and identifying the user index and to facilitate the operation. In addition to the user index, items to be additionally displayed (system index) can be selected. Messages and user comments corresponding to the items selected by the user are displayed in a message display section and a user comment display section. , The user can also refer to information related to the user index and the message.

Pattern (5) The user inputs a search key (text string) via the user / comment search unit, and searches the user / comment table stored in the user / comment storage unit. Check whether the text string is included, and if a user comment including the text string is found, the system index and the user index corresponding to the user comment are displayed in the index display / selection section. View through the list. When the user selects an item in the list, a message and a user comment corresponding to the item are displayed via the message display unit and the user comment display unit.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the above-mentioned pattern (1). The user clicks the index registration button (71 in FIG. 7) in the online help window.
When 4) is pressed, an index registration window as shown in FIG. 10 is opened (S1). Next, the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage section is accessed, and the corresponding message, that is, the message displayed in the message display frame of the online help window (for example, "by archive function ...") Against
It is checked whether a user index has already been registered (S2, S3). If registered, the user
By accessing the user index table stored in the index storage unit, an index input box (FIG. 1)
The user index is displayed at 01012) (S5, S6). If not registered, the index input box remains blank (S5 and S6 are bypassed). Subsequently, when the user inputs a text string of one or more characters (for example, “save mail in own HD”) and presses an OK button shown in 1011 in FIG. 10, the user index table and the correspondence relationship are displayed. The table is accessed again, and new registration (addition) or rewriting (overwriting) of the user index corresponding to the message is executed (S8 to S16). In the figure, the variable TRIA
When the value of L is "NEW" (meaning new registration), the user index and the user index number must be newly added, so that not only the user index table but also the correspondence table is accessed again. , The correspondence between the message number and the new user index number is added. The value of the variable TRIAL is "OLD"
In the case of (meaning rewriting), since the user index is simply rewritten to the text string input by the user, there is no need to access the correspondence table. By repeating such a process, the user can register the user index at any time.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining an example in the case of the above-mentioned pattern (2). The user clicks the comment registration button in the online help window (Fig. 7
When (715) is pressed, a comment registration window as shown in FIG. 11 is opened (S1). Next, the user accesses the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit to check whether a user comment has already been registered for the message (for example, “by the archive function ...”) (S2). , S3). If registered, the user / user stored in the user / comment storage
Access the comment table and enter the comment input box (Fig. 1
1 (1112), the user comment is displayed (S5, S6). If not registered, the comment input box remains blank (bypasses S5 and S6). Subsequently, when the user inputs a text string of one or more characters (for example, "Save to Netgserver ...") and presses the OK button shown in 1111 in FIG. 11, the user comment table and the correspondence table are accessed again. Then, new registration (addition) or rewriting (overwriting) of the user comment corresponding to the message is executed (S8 to S16). In the figure, when the value of the variable TRIAL is "NEW" (meaning new registration), a user comment and a user comment number must be newly added. Access is made, and the correspondence between the message number and the new user comment number is added. Variable TRIA
When the value of L is "OLD" (meaning rewriting), it is not necessary to access the correspondence table because the user comment is simply rewritten into a text string input by the user. By repeating such a process, the user can register a user comment at any time.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the above-mentioned pattern (3). When the user calls the online help of this embodiment or presses the index (system) button (711 in FIG. 7) of the already displayed online help window, it is stored in the system index storage unit. The accessed system index table is accessed (S1). And
An index (system) window is displayed, and a system index display frame (81 in FIG. 8) in the window is displayed.
In 2), a list of system indexes is displayed (S2). When a user selects one item in the list (for example,
When "Archive item" is pressed, the item is highlighted (S3, S4). Further, the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit is accessed,
A user corresponding to a message number (for example, M-002) corresponding to a number (for example, SI-001-001) of an item (system index) selected by the user.
The index number (for example, UI-001) is confirmed (S5, S6). Next, the user index window (82 in FIG. 8) is opened, the user index table stored in the user index storage unit is accessed, and the user index of the number (for example, “mail is stored in own mail”). HD ”is displayed (S7, S8). However, the item selected by the user (for example, “open archive” (SI-001-002))
If there is no user index corresponding to the message corresponding to, the user index window is not opened (bypass S7 and S8). When the display button is pressed while one item in the list is selected, a message display frame and a user comment display frame (716 and 71 in FIG. 7) of the online help window are displayed.
7), a message and a user comment corresponding to the item (system index) are displayed, and the index (system) window is closed (S9 to S1).
3). However, when no user comment is registered in the message, the user comment display frame is blank.

There is also a special embodiment that allows a user to register a plurality of user indexes for one message. In this embodiment, there are a plurality of user index numbers corresponding to the number of the item (system index) selected by the user, and the plurality of user indexes of the number correspond to the user index number.
The list will be displayed in the window.

Furthermore, regardless of the number of user indices displayed in the user index window, by making each item (user index) a soft button that can be pressed, not only the system index but also the system index can be used. In some cases, the corresponding message can be called up by pressing the user index.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the above-mentioned pattern (4). The user clicks the index (user) button in the online help window (Figure 7).
When 712) is pressed, the user index table stored in the user index storage unit is accessed (S1). Then, an index (user) window is displayed, and a list of user indexes is displayed in a user index display frame (912 in FIG. 9) in the window (S2). When the user presses one item in the list (for example, "save mail in own HD"), the item is highlighted (S3, S
4). Further, the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit is accessed, and the message number (for example, M-002) corresponding to the number (for example, UI-001) of the item (user index) selected by the user. (For example, SI-00)
1-001, SI-001-004, UI-101-0
01, ...) or other system index numbers that do not correspond to the item (user index) number but belong to the same cluster as the system index number (for example, SI-001, SI-00)
1-002, SI-001-003,...) Are confirmed (S6). Next, the system index window (92 in FIG. 9) is opened, the system index table stored in the system index storage unit is accessed, and the system index (for example, “archive”, “archive”) of the number is accessed. Open "," Restore archive "...) are displayed in a list (S7, S8).
Items (system indexes) in the newly opened window are distinguished by two types of anchors (● and ○) as shown at 92 in FIG. The item of ● is a system index (corresponding to the same message) which has a direct correspondence with the user index designated by the user. The item of ○ is a system index which is indirectly connected to the user index designated by the user (corresponding messages are different). When the user presses the display button at this point, the correspondence table in the correspondence storage section, the message table in the message storage section, and the user comment table in the user comment storage section are accessed, and the user index corresponding to the user index is accessed. Is displayed in the respective display frames of the online help window (S14 to S16). However, when no user comment is registered in the message, the user comment display frame is blank.

On the other hand, items in the system index window can also be selected. When the user presses one item in the newly opened window (for example, "Archive item"), the item is highlighted (S11, S12). Then, when the display button is continuously pressed, the newly designated system index (for example, “Save mail on own HD”) is used instead of the above-mentioned user index (for example, “Save mail to my HD”).
A message corresponding to “Archive item” and a user comment are called up and displayed (S14 to S14).
16). That is, regardless of the type of index,
All items displayed in the user index display frame and the system index window can be designated and selected, and a message and a user comment corresponding to the most recently selected index are called. Then, depending on whether the item (system index) selected by the user is the item of ● or the item of ○, the contents of the message to be called and the contents of the user comment differ.

In some cases, only items in the user index display frame can be selected, and items in the system index window cannot be selected.

When the user presses one item in the list (user index), the user does not correspond to the item (user index) number, but belongs to the same cluster as the system index number. It is optional to check and display other system index numbers that are displayed, that is, whether to display the above-mentioned items in the system index window if there are too many related items and it is troublesome. Is
It is desirable to refrain from these reference signs.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the above-mentioned pattern (5). The user clicks the comment search button in the online help window (713 in FIG. 7).
When is pressed, a comment search window as shown in FIG. 12 is opened (S1). Next, the user inputs a text string of one or more characters (for example, “old mail”) into a search key input box (1213 in FIG. 12), and FIG.
When a search button indicated by reference numeral 1211 in FIG. 2 is pressed, the user comment table stored in the user comment storage unit is accessed, and a search for a user comment including the same text string as that input by the user is executed. (S2
S6). User comments that match the search criteria (eg, "Save to Netgserver ... old mail ...")
Is found, the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit is accessed, and the message number associated with the user comment number and the user index number associated with the message number And the system index number are confirmed (S8
To S10). Then, the user index table stored in the user index storage unit and the system index table stored in the system index storage unit are accessed, and the user index and system index (for example, “ "Save mail to my HD""Archiveitems"
.. "Delete box") are displayed in a list in the search result (index) display frame shown in 1214 in FIG.
11 to S12). There are cases where multiple system indexes are associated with one message (user comment) or multiple user indexes are registered, so only one user comment that matches the search condition Also, there are cases where a plurality of items are displayed in a list. At that time, the second and subsequent items are displayed as indented, for example, to indicate that those items call the same message (user comment). Of course, if there are a plurality of user comments that match the search condition, a plurality of items are displayed in the list. Here, the user enters 1 in the list.
When an item (for example, "archive item") is pressed, the item is highlighted (S13, S1).
4). Subsequently, when the display button 1212 shown in FIG. 12 is pressed, a correspondence table in the correspondence storage unit is displayed.
The message table of the message storage unit and the user comment table of the user comment storage unit are accessed, and the message and the user comment corresponding to the user index or the system index are displayed in the online help window. It is displayed in a frame (S15 to S17).

However, the number of user comments that match the search condition is only one, and
When the user index corresponding to the comment (message) is not registered and the number of the system index corresponding to the user comment (message) is only one, that is, only one is displayed in the list. If there are only items, the list display process and the display button pressing process may be bypassed, and the message and the user comment may be displayed immediately.

Also, when it is expected that the number of user comments matching the search condition will not always exceed two or three in advance, the list display process and the display button pressing process can be omitted. . In such a case, a different online help window is opened for each user comment (message) to be displayed, and a plurality of messages are displayed in the message display frame (or user comment display frame) of one online help window. (Or a user comment) can be displayed.

Further, when a user comment that matches the search condition is found and the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit is accessed, the user comment associated with the user comment (message) number is read. Check not only the index number and system index number, but also other system index numbers and message numbers (or user comment numbers) belonging to the same cluster as the system index number.
By using the display method as shown in FIG. 9, a list display of system indexes that are not directly related to the search condition input by the user but are semantically related, and a message (corresponding to those system indexes) Alternatively, display of a user comment) may be executed.

As another embodiment of the online help of the present invention, a system index function and a user
There is an embodiment in which only the index function is registered and the user comment function is not used. In this embodiment, the user comment display instruction section shown in the block diagram of FIG.
There is no comment input section, user comment search section, user comment storage section, user comment display section, and a message display instruction section, a message storage section, a message display section, a system index display instruction section,
It comprises only an index storage unit, a user index display instructing unit, a user index input unit, a user index storage unit, an index (system index, user index) display / selection unit, and a correspondence storage unit. Further, the user comment number is not included in the correspondence table stored in the correspondence storage unit. That is, the user registers the user index via the user index input unit, or corresponds to the system index designated by the user via the index (system index, user index) display / selection unit. The user index specified by the user, the system index corresponding to the user index specified by the user (or the system index of the same cluster), or the user or system index selected by the user. Displaying the corresponding message via the message display,
However, such actions as the user inputting user comments, searching for user comments according to user instructions, and displaying messages and user comments together are generated. do not do. If the messages created by the designer are easy for users to understand and remember, and the need to register and refer to user comments for each message is extremely low, the system index function and user index function Is sufficient, and it is desirable to use an embodiment having such a configuration.

Further, as another embodiment of the online help of the present invention, there is an embodiment in which only the system index function and the user comment function are provided, and the online help is executed without using the user index function. . In this embodiment, the user index display instruction section, the user index input section, the user index storage section and the user index display / selection section shown in the block diagram of FIG. Storage, message display, system index display instruction, system index storage, system index display / selection, user comment display instruction, user comment input, user comment search, user comment It consists only of a storage unit and a correspondence storage unit. The correspondence index table stored in the correspondence storage unit does not include a user index number. That is, the user can register a user comment via the user comment input unit, display a system index list via the system index display / selection unit, or input the user's comment in the user comment search unit. Some actions, such as searching for user comments according to the instructions and displaying the message and user comments together, occur.
Instruct the user to perform index entry work, list user indexes according to user instructions,
There is no action such as presenting a user index corresponding to the system index specified by the user or displaying a list of the corresponding user indexes when a user comment is searched according to the user's instruction. . The messages created by the designer are not easy for users to understand and remember, and it is necessary to register and refer to user comments for each message, but the keywords and topics in the system index are not so difficult, If the need to register the user index for each message is extremely low, it is sufficient to add the system index function and the user comment function, and use an embodiment having such a configuration. It is desirable.

[0063]

As described above, as described above, the help
In the online help that executes the message function, when displaying the system index list via the system index display means, if the message corresponding to the item specified by the user is assigned a user index, , The user index is displayed by reference through the user index reference display means.
When the user index is referenced and displayed, the user registers, for example, a user index “save mail on his / her HD” for a message called by the system index “archive items”. You can see that it is. Alternatively, it is possible to know that the user index is not registered for a message called by the system index “open archive”. That is, while indicating the system index displayed in the list, the user adds the user ID to the corresponding message.
Information such as whether or not the index is registered and what keyword or topic is registered can be obtained immediately. Because these new information is expressed in "user terms", it facilitates understanding and identification of the system index described in "designer terms". You can also use this information as a clue to your online help and past dialogues with you,
For example, remembering when and what kind of trouble you encountered, and whether online help was helpful at the time would make it easier for you to predict your own "need" for messages that would be called. The possibility of selecting an appropriate index (calling an appropriate message) can be greatly increased.

In the online help of the present invention,
When a user index is displayed in a list via the user index display means, a system index corresponding to a message corresponding to an item designated by the user, or a system index not corresponding to the message but belonging to the same cluster The system index (semantically related) is displayed by reference via the system index reference display means. When the system index is displayed by reference, for example, in response to a message called by the user index “save mail on own HD”, the user “archives items”, “archive items (inbox) Monitor the status of ")" ...
You can know that system indexes such as are associated. In addition, system indexes that are semantically related to these system indexes,
For example, the existence of other messages that can be called by "archive", "open archive", etc. can be known. In other words, while indicating the displayed user index, the user locally looks at what keywords or topics the designer tried to express the corresponding messages by using those keywords or topics. What context (list structure)
You can get the information such as whether it is positioned in the information immediately. This information is passed through two filters: value judgment by the user (whether or not the message is worth the user index) and systematization by the designer (system index and semantic structure of the message). It can be considered that it was provided distinctly. As a result, individual users
The system index added to the index is
It is described in a relatively small number of "designer terms" with high use value, and it is the essence of information that you need to know in order to become familiar with the system, so it is expressed in the "user terms" that you think of It promotes understanding and identification of the user index. In addition, the user can immediately select and read different related messages via the reference system / index corresponding message display means, so that the user can be confused about which message to read, or can generate a huge amount of messages. You can get useful information on how to use the system without having to read it over.

Further, according to the online help of the present invention, the user is requested to input a search key or the like (for example, a text string) serving as a search condition via the user comment search means, thereby searching for the user comment. Then, via the message / user comment display means, a user comment that matches the search condition (for example, including the text string) and a message to which the user comment is assigned are displayed. Generally, in the online help of a multifunctional system, it is considered that the amount of user comments registered by a user is considerably smaller than the amount of messages created by a designer. Also, while the message described by the designer and the search key input by the user are based on different knowledge and ideas, the user comment registered by the user and the search key input by the user are: It is thought to be based on a similar idea or word usage. Therefore, a user comment made by a user as in the present invention is more effective than a method in which a message created by a designer itself is searched and all messages that meet conditions are searched by performing an arbitrary text string search or the like. Users can quickly obtain a message containing useful information by selecting an appropriate user comment and the corresponding message after performing an arbitrary text string search, etc. be able to.

Further, in the online help of the present invention, the user is requested to input a search key or the like (for example, a text string) serving as a search condition via the user comment search means, and search for the user comment. Index, a user index corresponding to a user comment that matches the search condition (for example, including the text string), a system index, and other system indexes having a strong semantic relationship with the system index. A list is displayed via the display means or the system index display means. Before displaying the user comment (and message) that matches the search conditions, the user index and system index associated with the user comment (and message) are displayed. By referring to the index, only the index that seems appropriate can be selected, and the necessary messages and user comments can be efficiently called. Efficiency can be improved when there are many user comments that match the search conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a message / data processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sample of a message.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sample of a system index.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sample user index.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sample of a user comment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence stored in a correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display of a user interface in online help.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system index display of a user interface in online help.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a user index display of a user interface in online help.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of index registration display of a user interface in online help.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a comment registration display of a user interface in online help.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display at the time of comment search in online help.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flow for explaining user index registration.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a flow illustrating user comment registration.

[Figure 15] Online from system index
It is a figure showing the flow at the time of operating a help.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow when online help is operated from a user index.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow when online help is operated from a user comment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 Message display instruction section 12 System index display instruction section 13 User index display instruction section 14 User index input section 15 User comment display instruction section 16 User comment input section 17 User comment search section 18 Message storage section 19 System Index storage unit 20 User index storage unit 21 User comment storage unit 22 Correspondence storage unit 23 Message display unit 24 Index display instruction unit 25 User comment display unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A message storing means for storing a message relating to a method of using a system and the like; a system index storing means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storing means; A user index input unit for inputting a user index created by a user in response to a specific message stored in the storage unit, and storing the user index input by the user index input unit User index storage means, individual messages stored in the message storage means, individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means, and stored in the user index storage means Correspondence storage means for storing correspondence relations with various user indexes; system index display instructing means for instructing a list display of system indexes stored in the system index storage means; and the system index A system index display unit for displaying a list of system indexes by accessing the system index stored in the storage unit; and a specific index designated by the user from the system index displayed by the system index display unit. A user index corresponding to the message corresponding to the system index is specified based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage, and the specified user index stored in the user index storage is identified. User index reference display means for accessing and displaying the index, and instructing display of a specific message corresponding to the selected system index among the specific system indexes displayed on the system index display means A system index corresponding message display instructing unit, and a specific message corresponding to the selected system index is stored in the message storage unit based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit. And a system index corresponding message display means for accessing and displaying a corresponding message. 2. A reference user index corresponding message display instruction means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a specific user index selected from the user indexes displayed by the user index reference display means, A reference user index for displaying a corresponding message by accessing a message stored in the message storage means based on a specific message corresponding to the user index based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means. And a corresponding message display means.
Data processing device. 3. A message storage means for storing a message relating to a method of using the system, etc .; a system index storage means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage means; User index input means for inputting a user index created by a user in response to a specific message stored in storage means, and storing the user index input by the user index input means User index storage means, individual messages stored in the message storage means, individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means, and stored in the user index storage means A correspondence storing means for storing correspondence between the user index s, the system instructing the list display of user index stored in the user index storage means
Index display instruction means, user index display means for displaying a list of user indexes by accessing the user index stored in the user index storage means, and a user displayed by the user index display means A system index corresponding to a message corresponding to a specific user index designated by the user from the index, or another system index having a semantic relationship with the system index stored in the correspondence storage unit; System index reference display means for storing based on the relationship and accessing and displaying the specified system index stored in the system index storage means, and the user index display means A user index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a selected user index among the displayed specific user indexes; and a specific message corresponding to the selected user index. User index corresponding message display means for accessing and displaying a corresponding message stored in the message storage means based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means. Message data processing unit. 4. A reference system index corresponding message display instructing means for instructing display of a specific message corresponding to a specific system index selected from the system indexes displayed by the system index reference displaying means, A specific message specified by the reference system index reference display instruction means is specified based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means, and the message stored in the message storage means is accessed and displayed. 4. The message according to claim 3, further comprising: a reference system / index corresponding message display means.
Data processing device. 5. A message storing means for storing a message relating to a method of using the system, etc., and a user comment input for inputting a user comment created by a user corresponding to a specific message stored in the message storing means. Means, user comment storage means for storing user comments corresponding to individual messages stored in the message storage means, and individual messages and user comment storage means stored in the message storage means. A correspondence storing means for storing a correspondence relation with each stored user comment; and a user for searching for a user comment stored in the user comment storing means in accordance with a predetermined search condition.
A comment search unit that specifies a user comment corresponding to the predetermined search condition and a message corresponding to the user comment based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit, and stores the message in the message storage unit. Corresponding message and the corresponding user stored in the user comment storage means.
Message / user comment display means for accessing and displaying a comment and a message data processing apparatus. 6. A message storing means for storing a message relating to a method of using a system, etc .; a system index storing means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storing means; User comment input means for inputting a user comment created by a user corresponding to a specific message stored in the storage means, and storing the user comment input by the user comment input means User comment storage means; individual messages stored in the message storage means; individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means; and individual messages stored in the user comment storage means. With user comments A correspondence storing means for storing a correspondence, and a user for searching for a user comment stored in the user comment storing means according to a predetermined search condition.
A comment search unit, and a system index corresponding to a message corresponding to the user comment corresponding to the predetermined search condition and another system index having a semantic relationship with the system index are stored in the correspondence storage unit. System index display means for accessing and displaying a list of the corresponding system indexes stored in the system index storage means on the basis of the corresponding correspondence, and a system index displayed by the system index display means A system index corresponding message / user comment display instructing unit for instructing a display of a specific message and a user comment corresponding to a specific system index selected from among the above, and the message / user comment A specific message specified by the display instruction unit and a user comment are stored in the corresponding message stored in the message storage unit and the user comment storage unit based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage unit. Message / user comment display means for accessing and displaying a user comment set in the message data processing apparatus. 7. A message storage means for storing a message relating to a method of using the system, etc .; a system index storage means for storing a system index corresponding to each message stored in the message storage means; User index input means for inputting a user index created by a user in response to a specific message stored in storage means, and storing the user index input by the user index input means User index storage means; user comment input means for inputting a user comment created by a user corresponding to a specific message stored in the message storage means; input by the user comment input means Sa User comment storage means for storing the user comment, individual messages stored in the message storage means, individual system indexes stored in the system index storage means, and the user index storage Correspondence storage means for storing the correspondence between individual user indexes stored in the means and individual user comments stored in the user comment storage means, and user comments in accordance with predetermined search conditions A user who searches for user comments stored in the storage means
A comment search unit, and a user index, a system index corresponding to a message corresponding to the user comment corresponding to the predetermined search condition, and another system index having a semantic relationship with the system index. Accessing the corresponding user index stored in the user index storage means and the corresponding system index stored in the system index storage means based on the correspondence stored in the storage means and displaying a list. An index display unit, and an instruction to display a specific message and a user comment corresponding to a specific user index or a system index displayed by the index display unit and selected from the user indexes. The index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means, and the specific message and the user comment designated by the index corresponding message / user comment display instructing means, based on the correspondence stored in the correspondence storage means, Index corresponding message / user comment display means for accessing and displaying the corresponding message stored in the message storage means and the corresponding user comment stored in the user comment storage means. Message data processing device.