JP2007087119A - Instruction input acceptance method, user interface device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the customer satisfaction level for performance, operability or the like of a user operating function. <P>SOLUTION: An operation information acquisition part 810 acquires information showing a user operation according to a predetermined operation menu in execution of a predetermined job, and stores the acquired information showing the user operation in an operation history storage part 820. An operability confirmation part 840 inquires of the user for operability evaluation information showing the operability or satisfaction level of the user operation, and stores the information in association with the job in an operability evaluation information storage part 850. An operability evaluation information analysis part 870 reads the operability evaluation information from the storage part 850 at a predetermined time, analyzes the operability or satisfaction level at the current point of time, and reports the analysis result to an operability improvement processing part 880. The processing part 880 changes the operation menu so as to improve the operability or satisfaction level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction input receiving method, a user interface device (instruction input device), and a program, which are used in various devices such as a printer device, a facsimile device, or a multifunction device having these functions.

  In order to handle various devices, the user operates the operation panel of the device. However, it often happens that the operation method is unknown. As a countermeasure for such a case, an assist function for providing help information is known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the required time in each state of the system is measured, the user's operation history is recorded together with the measured required time, and a series of state series is extracted from the operation history recorded at the time of requesting help. Then, a mechanism has been proposed in which the required time in each state of the extracted state series is compared with a predetermined standard required time, and help information is provided to the user based on the comparison result.

JP 2000-231429 A

  However, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, efficient help information is automatically provided based on the time required for the operation by the user, and even when a long operation is performed, the help is requested. Although it is possible to appropriately estimate the context of help information and efficiently provide the information desired by the user, there is an adverse effect of automatically providing help information, its function, performance, There is a problem that customer satisfaction such as operability is not always good.

  For example, although the user actually feels that the operability is good, there is a possibility that the operability is judged to be bad depending on the operation history and the user may be altered. Specifically, because something else was done during the operation, the button press interval becomes longer, and it is determined that the operability is poor, and help may be displayed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism that can improve customer satisfaction such as performance and operability of user operation functions.

  In the mechanism according to the present invention, information indicating a user operation according to a predetermined operation menu at the time of executing a predetermined job is acquired, and the information indicating the acquired user operation is stored in a predetermined storage medium, The operability evaluation information indicating the operability and satisfaction of the user operation is inquired of the user and stored in a predetermined storage medium in association with the job. Thereafter, the operability evaluation information is read at a predetermined timing, the operability and satisfaction of the current operation menu are analyzed, and the operation menu is changed so that the operability and satisfaction are improved.

  That is, the operation history is kept by sequentially storing information on whether or not the operation for executing a certain job is easy to use in a storage medium. Then, the operation history is read at a predetermined timing, and the operability and satisfaction of the current operation menu are analyzed. Then, if necessary, that is, if the operability and satisfaction are poor, the operation menu is changed so as to be improved.

  According to the present invention, the operation history is saved, the operation history is read out later, the operability and satisfaction of the current operation menu are analyzed, and the operation menu is changed so that the operability and satisfaction are improved. Therefore, the operability and satisfaction of the user operation function can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<User interface control function>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall outline of a user interface device that is an example of an instruction input device including a control function unit that controls a user interface unit. Here, the user interface unit is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing apparatus, and the control function unit that controls the user interface unit is not only the user interface unit but also an image reading unit that reads an image. In the following description, it is assumed that control is also performed for an image output unit that performs image output.

  The general outline is the same as that of a general information processing apparatus such as a personal computer having a CPU and various memories. That is, in this embodiment, the mechanism for performing the instruction input reception process is not limited to being configured by a hardware processing circuit, but is realized by software using an electronic computer (computer) based on a program code that realizes the function. It is also possible.

  Therefore, a program suitable for realizing the instruction input acceptance process with software using an electronic computer (computer) or a computer-readable storage medium storing the program can be extracted as an invention.

  When making a computer execute a series of instruction input reception processing functions by software, a computer (such as an embedded microcomputer) in which a program constituting the software is incorporated in dedicated hardware or a CPU (Central Processing) Unit), logic circuit, storage device, etc. on a single chip to realize the desired system SOC (System On a Chip) or various programs by installing various programs It is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like capable of executing functions.

  The recording medium causes a state change of energy such as magnetism, light, electricity, etc. according to the description contents of the program to the reading device provided in the hardware resource of the computer, and in the form of a signal corresponding to the change. The program description can be transmitted to the reader.

  For example, a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk FD), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)), a DVD on which a program is recorded, which is distributed to provide a program to a user separately from a computer. (Including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc (including MD (Mini Disc)), or package media (portable storage media) made of semiconductor memory, etc. It may be configured by a ROM, a hard disk, or the like in which a program is recorded, which is provided to the user in a state of being recorded.

  The program constituting the software is not limited to be provided via a recording medium, and may be provided via a wired or wireless communication network without using the recording medium.

  For example, a storage medium in which a program code of software that realizes an instruction input acceptance processing function is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program code stored in the storage medium. By executing the reading, the same effect as that achieved by the hardware processing circuit can be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the instruction input acceptance processing function.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the function of performing the instruction input reception process is realized, but also an OS (Operating Systems; basic software) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code ) Etc. may perform part or all of the actual processing, and the function of performing the instruction input acceptance processing by the processing may be realized.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. There may be a case where the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of performing the instruction input acceptance processing is realized by the processing.

  In the electronic computer, for example, software similar to that in a conventional image forming apparatus (for example, a printing apparatus or a multifunction machine) such as a copying application, a printer application, a facsimile (FAX) application, or a processing program for another application is provided. Incorporated. A control program for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside via the network 9 is also incorporated.

  At this time, the program is provided as a file describing a program code that realizes a function of performing processing for controlling the user interface unit 940. In this case, the program is not limited to being provided as a batch program file, and is configured by a computer. Depending on the hardware configuration of the system to be implemented, it may be provided as an individual program module. For example, it may be provided as add-in software incorporated in existing copying apparatus control software or printer control software (printer driver).

  For example, FIG. 1 shows a user interface device having a function of performing instruction input reception processing in software using a CPU or memory, that is, instruction input reception using the function of a computer (electronic computer) such as a personal computer. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions in the case of implement | achieving a process like software.

  Of course, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration using a computer, and a configuration in which instruction input acceptance processing is performed by a combination of dedicated hardware may be employed. However, by adopting a mechanism for executing processing by software, it is possible to enjoy the advantage that the processing procedure can be easily changed without changing the hardware.

  For example, the computer system 900 constituting the user interface device includes a controller unit 901 and a predetermined storage medium such as a hard disk device, a flexible disk (FD) drive, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) drive, or a semiconductor memory controller. And a recording / reading control unit 902 for reading and recording data.

  The controller unit 901 includes a CPU 912, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 913 that is a read-only storage unit, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 915 that is an example of a volatile storage unit that can be written and read at any time, and a nonvolatile memory A RAM (denoted as NVRAM) 916, which is an example of a sex storage unit.

  In the above description, the “volatile storage unit” means a storage unit in which the stored contents are lost when the main power supply of the apparatus is turned off. On the other hand, the “nonvolatile storage unit” means a storage unit in a form that keeps stored contents even when the main power of the apparatus is turned off. Any memory device can be used as long as it can retain the stored contents. The semiconductor memory device itself is not limited to a nonvolatile memory device, and a backup power supply is provided to make a volatile memory device “nonvolatile”. You may comprise as follows. Further, the present invention is not limited to a semiconductor memory element, and may be configured using a medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk. For example, a hard disk device can be used as a nonvolatile storage unit.

  Further, the computer system 900 includes an input device used for a computer such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, and a light pen, or a display panel unit 941a with a touch panel and an operation key unit 941b as a functional unit that forms a user interface. An instruction input unit 903 using an operation panel unit 941 and the like provided in FIG. In addition, it has a display output unit 904 for presenting predetermined information such as a guidance screen at the time of operation and a processing result to the user on a display panel unit 941a, a normal CRT monitor, an LCD display device, or the like.

  The instruction input unit 903, the display output unit 904, and the operation panel unit 941 constitute a user interface unit 940.

  The computer system 900 also includes an image reading unit (scanner unit) 905 that reads an image to be processed, and an image forming unit 906 that outputs an image processed by the image processing terminal 6 to a predetermined output medium (for example, printing paper). , And an interface unit (IF unit) 909 that performs an interface function with each functional unit.

  Examples of the interface unit 909 include a system bus 991 that is a transfer path of processing data (including image data) and control data, a scanner IF unit 995 that functions as an interface with the image reading unit 905, an image forming unit 906, and the like. It has a printer IF unit 996 that functions as an interface with other printers, and a communication IF unit 999 that mediates transfer of communication data with the network 9 such as the Internet.

  The image reading unit 905 has a function of an image input terminal. For example, by using a full-width array of a CCD solid-state imaging device, the image reading unit 905 reads an image on the document by irradiating light to the document sent to the reading position. The red R, green G, and blue B analog video signals representing the read image are converted into digital signals.

  The image forming unit 906 uses, for example, an electrophotographic type, thermal type, thermal transfer type, ink jet type, or similar conventional image forming process to display an image represented by the image signal obtained by the image reading unit 905. A visible image is formed (printed) on plain paper or thermal paper.

  Therefore, the image forming unit 906 uses, for example, an image processing unit 962 that generates print output data such as binary signals of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K, and the image processing terminal 6 as a digital printing system. A raster output scan-based print engine 964 is provided for operation.

  In such a configuration, the CPU 912 controls the entire system via the system bus 991. The ROM 913 stores a control program for the CPU 912 and the like. The RAM 915 is configured by SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores program control variables, data for various processes, and the like. Further, the RAM 915 stores an electronic document (not only character data but also image data) acquired by a predetermined application program, image data acquired by the image reading unit 905 provided in the apparatus, and externally. An area for temporarily storing acquired electronic data and the like is included.

  For example, a program that causes a computer to execute a series of processes related to receiving an instruction input is distributed through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Alternatively, this program may be stored in the FD instead of the CD-ROM. In addition, an MO drive may be provided to store the program in the MO, or the program may be stored in another recording medium such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory. Furthermore, the program may be downloaded and acquired from another server or the like via the network 9 such as the Internet, or may be updated.

  As a recording medium for providing the program, in addition to FD and CD-ROM, an optical recording medium such as DVD, a magnetic recording medium such as MD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as PD, a tape medium, and a magnetic medium. A semiconductor memory such as a recording medium, an IC card, or a miniature card can be used. An FD or CD-ROM as an example of a recording medium can store a part or all of functions of a series of processes related to presentation of an address list in the image processing terminal 6 described later.

  The hard disk device also includes an area for storing data for various processes by the control program and temporarily storing a large amount of image data acquired by the image reading unit 905, print data acquired from the outside, and the like. It is out. The hard disk device, FD drive, or CD-ROM drive is used, for example, for registering program data for causing the CPU 912 to execute processing such as content acquisition, address acquisition, or address setting by software. .

  Instead of performing all processing of each functional part of the instruction input receiving process by software, a processing circuit 800 that performs part of these functional parts by dedicated hardware may be provided.

  For example, the processing circuit 800 acquires user operation information as a processing circuit related to a function for controlling the user interface unit, and stores the acquired operation information in the operation history storage unit 820 including a storage medium such as the hard disk device 822. An operation information acquisition unit 810 is sequentially stored.

  The operation history information is stored in the operation history storage unit 820 by sequentially storing the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 810 in the operation history storage unit 820.

  In addition, the processing circuit 800 inquires of the user about the operability and satisfaction indicating whether the user operation is good or bad, acquires the information (hereinafter also referred to as operability evaluation information), and operates the operability evaluation on the acquired operability and satisfaction. An operability confirmation unit 840 that stores information in an operability evaluation information storage unit 850 including a storage medium such as a hard disk device 852 is provided.

  In addition, the processing circuit 800 is based on the operability evaluation information analysis unit 870 that statistically analyzes the operability evaluation information stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 and the analysis result of the operability evaluation information analysis unit 870. And an operability improvement processing unit 880 that automatically improves operability.

  Although the mechanism performed by software can flexibly cope with parallel processing and continuous processing, the processing time becomes longer as the processing becomes complicated, so that a reduction in processing speed becomes a problem. On the other hand, it is possible to construct an accelerator system with a higher speed by using a hardware processing circuit. Even if the processing is complicated, the accelerator system can prevent a reduction in processing speed and can obtain a high throughput.

<Processing procedure>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the processing circuit 800 configured with a dedicated hardware circuit related to the function of controlling the user interface unit 940 in the computer system 900 constituting the user interface device having the above configuration.

  The operation information acquisition unit 810 performs various operations related to general operations of the display panel unit 941a and the operation key unit 941b of the user interface unit 940, such as the identifier of the key pressed by the user on the user interface unit 940, the number of times of pressing, or the date and time of pressing. (Collectively referred to as normal operation information), and the normal operation information is stored in the operation history storage unit 820 (S110).

  In addition, the operation information acquisition unit 810, for example, the user operation on the apparatus when an abnormality (trouble) occurs and various information related thereto (such as the time when the paper jam occurs, the detailed contents, or the time required for the solution) Collectively, it is also referred to as abnormal operation information), and the abnormal operation information is stored in the operation history storage unit 820 (S112).

  Further, when the consumable supplies such as toner and other recording materials and paper are replenished, the operation information acquisition unit 810 includes user operations related to the replenishment of consumables such as the time required for the replenishment and various information related thereto ( Collective supplies replenishment information collectively) is acquired, and the consumable supply information is stored in the operation history storage unit 820 (S114).

  The operability confirmation unit 840 displays, for example, an inquiry screen (see FIG. 3 to be described later) regarding the operability of the operability or satisfaction on the display panel unit 941a at the end of the job, and inquires the user (S120). If there is an answer within the time limit, the operability evaluation information regarding the operability and satisfaction is associated with the job information and stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 (S122—YES, S124). Preferably, the operability evaluation information is stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 in association with the user. By doing so, the operability evaluation information can be used for operability improvement in consideration of the characteristics of a plurality of people.

  Here, the operability evaluation information is associated with the job information and stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 because “operability is good”, “operability is bad”, or “ This is to make it possible to specify whether the user is satisfied or dissatisfied.

  Note that the operability confirmation unit 840 stores the operability evaluation information in association with the job information in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 only when an answer with a poor evaluation content is obtained. The amount of data stored in the information storage unit 850 may be reduced. In this embodiment, the purpose is to improve the operability by using the operability evaluation information stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850, so that an answer with a good evaluation content is stored. There is no inconvenience even if it is not.

  Further, the operability confirmation unit 840 may set an inquiry deadline such as 10 seconds (S122), and if the user does not answer within the inquiry deadline, the inquiry may be automatically canceled ( S122-NO, S126).

  Alternatively, for example, a cancel button is provided on the inquiry screen displayed on the display panel unit 941a, or a confirmation canceling unit configured by providing a cancel button on the operation key unit 941b is provided, and an inquiry is made by pressing the cancel button. You may enable it to cancel on the way (refer FIG.3 (B) mentioned later).

  The operability evaluation information analysis unit 870 reads out the operability evaluation information stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850, for example, at the timing of starting the next job (S130-YES), and the currently set operation. The difficulty of the menu is analyzed, and the analysis result is notified to the operability improvement processing unit 880 (S132).

  Based on the analysis result of the operability evaluation information analysis unit 870, the operability improvement processing unit 880 automatically improves the operability when the operability evaluation information is not preferable (S134). For example, a plurality of operation menus that are classified in advance into high / medium / low or even multi-stage as the difficulty of operation are prepared in advance, and based on the analysis result of the operability evaluation information analysis unit 870, “operability If a large number of responses such as “I am bad” or “I was dissatisfied” are obtained, the operation menu is switched to a simpler operability. Thereby, in an image forming apparatus including a copying machine having an interactive operation screen such as a touch panel, the satisfaction of the function, performance, operability, and the like can be improved.

  It should be noted that the operability evaluation information analysis unit 870 and the operability improvement processing unit 880 are not provided, but are stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 at the time of the next maintenance / inspection or the next product development, for example. The operability evaluation information that has been read may be read out and used as information for improving operability.

  If the operability evaluation information is associated with the user and stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850, the operability evaluation information of a plurality of persons is not combined and analyzed, but the attribute of the person (for example, Since the operability evaluation information can be statistically analyzed while distinguishing between sexes and genders, it is also possible to provide a user interface with improved operability according to user attributes.

  For example, since a large number of people use one apparatus, it may not be possible to provide a user interface adapted to each person simply by providing a single user interface. For example, there are those who are not inconvenienced even with complicated operation menus when trying to use advanced functions, while others do not like complicated operation menus, and instead simple operation menus are sufficient.

  In such a case, if a large number of responses indicating that the operability menu was initially set were “poor operability” or “dissatisfied”, switching to an operation menu that further simplifies operability The operability in the job can be improved.

  In addition, since valuable site information regarding operability and satisfaction of the actual user is stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850, it is not limited to the next job. When the product is developed, the operability evaluation information stored in the operability evaluation information storage unit 850 can be read and used as information for improving the operability. For example, it can be referred to during the next inspection by a customer engineer and used to develop the next product or make a proposal for the next sales activity.

<Inquiry screen>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen for making an inquiry to the user regarding the operability and satisfaction in step S120.

  Here, FIG. 3A shows an example of an operability confirmation screen for inquiring whether the operability is good or bad. On this operability confirmation screen, an operation button for receiving a user input indicating whether the operability is good, normal, or bad is displayed. In this example, the time limit for answer input is also displayed.

  On this operability confirmation screen, for example, after the copy job is completed, a questionnaire regarding the entire copy operation is performed. In addition, the operability of copying can be answered in three stages: “good”, “bad”, and “normal”. If there is no response within the time limit, no response will be automatically given.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of a satisfaction confirmation screen for inquiring satisfaction. On the satisfaction confirmation screen, an operation button for accepting a user input indicating whether the operation menu is satisfactory, normal, or dissatisfied is displayed. In this example, a cancel button is displayed and a confirmation cancel unit is provided so that the inquiry can be canceled halfway by pressing the cancel button.

  Also on this satisfaction confirmation screen, for example, after a copy job is completed, a questionnaire about the degree of satisfaction related to copying in general is performed. The copy is then answered in three stages: “satisfied”, “unsatisfied”, and “normal”. Pressing the cancel button results in no answer.

It is a figure showing the whole user interface device outline. It is a flowchart explaining the process procedure regarding the function which controls a user interface part. It is a figure which shows an example of the inquiry screen for inquiring a user regarding the quality of operability and satisfaction in step S120.

Explanation of symbols

  800 ... processing circuit, 810 ... operation information acquisition unit, 820 ... operation history storage unit, 822 ... hard disk device, 830 ... operation history storage control unit, 840 ... operability confirmation unit, 850 ... operability evaluation information storage unit, 852 ... Hard disk device, 860 ... operability confirmation information storage control unit, 870 ... operability evaluation information analysis unit, 880 ... operability improvement processing unit, 900 ... computer system (user interface device, image forming apparatus), 903 ... instruction input unit, 904: Display output unit, 940 ... User interface unit, 941 ... Operation panel unit, 941a ... Display panel unit, 941b ... Operation key unit

Claims (4)

An instruction input receiving method for receiving user operations,
Information indicating a user operation according to a predetermined operation menu at the time of executing a predetermined job is acquired, and the information indicating the acquired user operation is stored in a predetermined storage medium, and operability and satisfaction of the user operation are stored. Operability evaluation information indicating the degree is inquired of the user, stored in a predetermined storage medium in association with the job,
The operability evaluation information is read at a predetermined timing, the operability and satisfaction of the current operation menu are analyzed, and the operation menu is changed so that the operability and satisfaction are improved. Input acceptance method. A user interface device that accepts user operations,
An operation information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a user operation according to a predetermined operation menu at the time of executing a predetermined job, and stores the acquired information indicating the user operation in a predetermined storage medium;
A user interface device, comprising: an operability confirmation unit that inquires a user of operability evaluation information indicating operability and satisfaction of the user operation, and stores the operability evaluation information in a predetermined storage medium in association with the job. An operability evaluation information analysis unit that reads the operability evaluation information stored in the storage medium at a predetermined timing and analyzes the operability and satisfaction of the current operation menu;
The operability improvement processing unit that changes the operation menu so that the operability and satisfaction are improved based on the analysis result of the operability evaluation information analysis unit. A user interface device as described. A program for performing an instruction input acceptance process for accepting a user operation using a computer,
The computer,
An operation information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a user operation according to a predetermined operation menu at the time of executing a predetermined job, and stores the acquired information indicating the user operation in a predetermined storage medium;
A program for inquiring operability evaluation information indicating the operability and satisfaction of the user operation to a user and associating it with the job and storing it in a predetermined storage medium.

Images