Operation support system, image processing device, and operation support method

Abstract

To provide an operation support system which makes it easy for a user to identify a setting screen of a desired setting item, and an image processing system.SOLUTION: When a setting menu is selected (S11) and thereafter a manual display request is inputted (S12), a control unit of a composite machine displays an electronic manual on a display panel (S14). Furthermore, when an operation support request is inputted (S16), the control unit extracts specific keys such as a keyword and a page number (S18, S19) and thereafter performs keyword retrieval (S20) or page number retrieval (S22). The control unit displays a setting screen corresponding to a setting item retrieved by the retrieval of them, on an operation display panel (28).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation support system, an image processing device, and an operation support method for supporting the operation input of a setting value. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known image processing devices such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, image readers, and multifunction devices that incorporate the functions of each of these devices. The image processing devices are provided with an operation panel for inputting setting values ​​for each function and inputting instructions for performing maintenance processes for the device.

[0003] Conventionally, a user taps a setting menu displayed on the display unit of an operation panel to cause the setting menu screen to be displayed on the display unit, selects a setting item for a desired function or a setting item for a maintenance process, and inputs a setting value or inputs an execution instruction from the setting screen for the selected setting item (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-012040 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when an image processing device is provided with many setting items due to its multi-functionality, a problem occurs in that a user cannot easily find a desired setting item from the setting menu, which is particularly noticeable when multiple setting items are managed in a hierarchical hierarchy.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an operation support system and an image processing device that enable a user to easily specify a setting screen for a desired setting item. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an operation support system is a system for supporting input of a setting value of a predetermined setting item in an image processing device, the operation support system including: a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with the setting item; and a setting screen display processing unit that displays, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, on which a setting value of the setting item corresponding to the setting related information can be input.

[0008] An image processing device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with specified setting items related to image processing, and a setting screen display processing unit that, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, displays on a specified display unit a setting value input screen into which setting values ​​for the setting items corresponding to the setting related information can be input.

[0009] An operation support method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for supporting an input of a setting value of a predetermined setting item in an image processing device, the operation support method including a setting related information acquisition step of acquiring setting related information associated with the setting item, a search step of searching for the setting item corresponding to the setting related information when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition step, and a setting screen display step of displaying a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, where a setting value of the setting item can be input. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the user can easily specify the setting screen for the desired setting item. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a home screen as an example of an operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting menu screen as an example of an operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a language setting screen as an example of the setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an adjustment / maintenance menu screen, which is an example of an operation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a silent mode setting screen as an example of the setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a density adjustment screen, which is an example of a setting screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a drum refresh screen, which is an example of a setting screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a search target table according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a first processing example of the setting screen display processing executed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a second processing example of the setting screen display processing executed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third processing example of the setting screen display processing executed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a fourth processing example of the setting screen display processing executed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a fifth processing example of the setting screen display processing executed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0013] An operation support system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system that supports the input of operation values ​​for predetermined setting items in a multifunction peripheral 1 shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the operation support system 100 is configured by a multifunction peripheral 1 (an example of an image processing device of the present invention) as shown in Fig. 1. The multifunction peripheral 1 is broadly equipped with an image forming device 2 and a sheet processing device 3. Note that in this embodiment, the multifunction peripheral 1 is illustrated as an example of an image processing device of the present invention, but, for example, either one of the image forming device 2 or the sheet processing device 3 may be an example of the image processing device of the present invention.

[0014] [Image forming device 2] The image forming device 2 is a multi-function device equipped with various functions such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile. As shown in Fig. 1, a sheet processing device 3 is connected to the side of the image forming device 2. The image forming device 2 prints an image based on input image data on a printing paper (recording sheet) using toner. The image forming device 2 is not limited to a multi-function device, and may be a device having a single function such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copier.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 2 prints an image on a printing sheet based on image data input from the outside or image data read by an image reading device 11 arranged above the image forming apparatus 2.

[0016] 2, the image forming apparatus 2 mainly includes an image reading device 11, an operation display panel 12, an image forming section 13, a fixing section 14, a paper feed section 15, a paper discharge section 16, a control section 17, a communication I / F 18, and a storage section 19. These components are provided in a housing 2A that constitutes an outer cover and an internal frame of the image forming apparatus 2.

[0017] The communication I / F 18 is a communication interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 2 to a specified communication network via a wired or wireless connection, and for performing data communication in accordance with a specified communication protocol via the communication network with an external device such as a mobile terminal 4 (see FIG. 16) such as a smartphone or tablet used by a user.

[0018] The storage unit 19 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory that stores various information. The storage unit 19 stores various control programs such as a program for causing the control unit 17 to execute a setting screen display process (see Figs. 11 to 15) described later, search target tables 110 and 111 (see Fig. 10) described later used in the setting screen display process, an electronic manual (an example of manual data of the present invention) to be displayed on a display panel 20 described later, and various other data.

[0019] A plurality of paper feed units 15 are provided at the bottom of the image forming device 2. In this embodiment, four paper feed units 15 are provided in the image forming device 2. The four paper feed units 15 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. The paper feed unit 15 has a paper feed cassette capable of storing a plurality of sheets of printing paper, and takes out the printing paper stored in the paper feed cassette one by one and feeds it to the image forming unit 13. The printing paper fed by the paper feed unit 15 to the image forming unit 13 has a toner image transferred onto its surface by the image forming unit 13, and is then transported to the fixing unit 14.

[0020] The image forming unit 13 performs image forming processing to form a toner image on a print sheet according to an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 13 has an optical scanning device, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a charging unit, a transfer unit, etc. Each of these units is a well-known mechanism, so detailed explanations will be omitted here.

[0021] The fixing unit 14 has a heating unit such as an IH heater, and fixes the toner image transferred to the print paper to the print paper by heat. The print paper with the image fixed by the fixing unit 14 is sent out to a transport path formed downstream in the print paper transport direction from the fixing unit 14. The print paper sent out to the transport path is further transported downstream in the print paper transport direction by multiple transport roller pairs provided along the transport path.

[0022] The transport path is continuous with a transport path in the sheet processing device 3. The recording paper after the fixing is transported to the sheet processing device 3. Note that the recording paper after the fixing may be discharged to a paper discharge tray provided in the image forming device 2 through a discharge path branched off from the transport path.

[0023] The operation display panel 12 is a user interface in the multifunction device 1 for displaying various types of information to the user and accepting various types of inputs from the user. The operation display panel 12 is an example of a display unit of the present invention. The operation display panel 12 is, for example, a liquid crystal display having a touch panel as an operation unit. The operation display panel 12 displays various types of information in accordance with control instructions from the control unit 17. Note that the operation display panel 12 may be provided with a display unit such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit including a plurality of operation keys separately.

[0024] Furthermore, operation display panel 12 is provided with camera 121. Camera 121 is an example of an imaging unit of the present invention. Camera 121 is used to capture an image of the paper surface of a manual presented by a user. Note that camera 121 may be provided at a location other than operation display panel 12.

[0025] In this embodiment, various operation input screens D11 to D16 (see Figs. 4 to 9) are displayed on the display unit 12A of the operation display panel 12. The operation input screens D11 to D16 are input screens for inputting setting values ​​for setting items of each function in the multifunction device 1 and inputting instructions to execute maintenance processing in the multifunction device 1. The user can input setting values ​​for setting items of each function and can also input instructions to execute maintenance processing by operating operation keys and the like that appear on the operation input screens D11 to D16.

[0026] The image reading device 11 is a device that reads an image of a document. The image reading device 11 optically reads an image of a document placed on a contact glass (document table) (not shown) or an image of a document transported by the ADF 111. The image reading device 11 is mainly composed of a light source that scans the reading surface of the document, and an image sensor such as a CCD or CIS that receives reflected light from the reading surface and converts it into an electrical signal. The image reading device 11 is an example of the imaging unit of the present invention. The image reading device 11 is used to capture an image of the paper surface of a manual presented by a user.

[0027] The control unit 17 performs overall control of the multifunction device 1. Specifically, the control unit 17 controls the image forming process in the image forming device 2, the image reading process by the image reading device 11, and post-processing such as stapling and punching in the sheet processing device 3. The control unit 17 also controls various operations in the operation display panel 12. The control unit 17 also executes a setting screen display process (see FIGS. 11 to 15) which will be described later. The setting screen display process will be described later.

[0028] [Sheet processing device 3] The sheet processing device 3 is a device that performs post-processing such as stapling and hole-punching (punching) on ​​the print paper conveyed from the image forming device 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet processing device 3 is used while being connected to the image forming device 2. Note that the sheet processing device 3 may be a device that performs at least one of stapling, punching, and sorting on the print paper.

[0029] 1, the sheet processing device 3 includes an upper body 31 constituting the upper side of the housing of the sheet processing device 3, and a lower body 32 constituting the lower side of the housing. A staple unit 34 that performs stapling, a punch unit 35 that performs hole punching, and a sorting unit 36 ​​that performs sorting are provided in the upper body 31. The operations of these units 34, 35, and 36 are controlled by the control unit 17. Since each of these units is a well-known mechanism, detailed explanations will be omitted here.

[0030] After performing a predetermined process on the sheet conveyed from the image forming device 2, the sheet processing device 3 discharges the recording paper to either the upper tray 36A or the lower tray 36B.

[0031] A touch panel type display panel 20 is provided on the upper part of the sheet processing device 3. The display panel 20 is a user interface for displaying various information to the user in the multifunction device 1 and accepting various inputs from the user. The display panel 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal display having a touch panel as an operation unit. The display panel 20 displays various information on its display unit 20A in accordance with a control instruction from the control unit 17. For example, when a manual display icon A10 (see FIG. 3) displayed on the operation display panel 12 is tapped, a display request for the electronic manual of the multifunction device 1 is input. In response to this, the control unit 17 causes the display unit 20A of the display panel 20 to display the electronic manual in a scrollable manner.

[0032] [Configuration of control unit 17] The control unit 17 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 17 controls the multifunction device 1 by executing various control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 19 by the CPU.

[0033] Specifically, the control unit 17 includes a reception processing unit 171, a setting related information acquisition unit 172, a display processing unit 173, a setting screen search processing unit 174, etc. The setting related information acquisition unit 172 is an example of a setting related information acquisition unit of the present invention. The display processing unit 173 and the setting screen search processing unit 174 are an example of a setting screen display processing unit of the present invention. The control unit 17 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes in accordance with the control program with the CPU. The control unit 17 may also include an electronic circuit that realizes a part or multiple processing functions of each of these processing units.

[0034] The reception processing unit 171 performs at least a process of receiving operations by a user. The operations received by the reception processing unit 171 include operations for setting various setting items in the multifunction device 1, operations for issuing instructions to execute maintenance processing in the multifunction device 1, and the like.

[0035] Specifically, when the user performs a tap operation (touch operation) on the operation display panel 12, the reception processing unit 171 receives an operation signal generated on the operation display panel 12, thereby receiving the operation by the user. When the user performs a tap operation, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is input to the reception processing unit 171, and the reception processing unit 171 receives the operation. The operation signal includes, for example, identification information for identifying the icon tapped by the user and information for specifying the content of the operation.

[0036] The display processing unit 173 controls the display contents of the display unit 12A of the operation display panel 12, the display contents of the display unit 20A of the display panel 20, and the like.

[0037] The display processing unit 173 displays, for example, a home screen D10 (an example of an operation screen) shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 12A as an initial screen.

[0038] For example, when the reception processing unit 171 receives an operation by a user, the display processing unit 173 can switch the information to be displayed on the operation display panel 12 to other information. As an example, when the reception processing unit 171 receives an operation to select a setting item, the display processing unit 12A of the operation display panel 12 displays a setting screen corresponding to the setting item in response to the operation.

[0039] For example, when the user taps the setting menu icon A1 on the home screen D10 shown in Fig. 3, the display processing unit 173 displays the setting menu screen D11 (an example of an operation screen) shown in Fig. 4 on the display unit 12A. The setting menu screen D11 is an operation screen for selecting various setting items. By displaying the setting menu screen D11, the user can select a desired setting item on the setting menu screen D11, and a setting screen corresponding to the desired setting item can be displayed.

[0040] Furthermore, when the user selects any one of the setting items on the setting menu screen D11 shown in FIG. 3, the display processing unit 173 causes the display unit 12A to display a setting screen corresponding to the selected setting item.

[0041] For example, when the user selects the setting item A2 of "Language setting" on the setting menu screen D11, the display processing unit 173 displays the language setting screen D12 (an example of a setting screen) shown in Fig. 5 on the display unit 12A. This allows the user to set the type of language to be displayed on the multifunction device 1 on the language setting screen D12.

[0042] Also, for example, when the setting item A3 of "adjustment and maintenance" is selected on the setting menu screen D11, the display processing unit 173 displays the adjustment and maintenance menu screen D13 (an example of an operation screen) shown in Fig. 6 on the display unit 12A. The adjustment and maintenance menu screen D13 is an operation screen for selecting various setting items related to adjustment and maintenance. In other words, the setting menu screen D11 and the adjustment and maintenance menu screen D13 form a hierarchical structure, with the setting menu screen D11 located at the top and the adjustment and maintenance menu screen D13 located at a lower level than the setting menu screen D11.

[0043] By displaying the adjustment / maintenance menu screen D13, the user can select the desired setting item on the adjustment / maintenance menu screen D13, and can display a setting screen corresponding to the desired setting item related to adjustment / maintenance.

[0044] For example, when the user selects the setting item A4 of "quiet mode setting" on the adjustment / maintenance menu screen D13, the display processing unit 173 displays the quiet mode setting screen D14 (an example of a setting screen) shown in Fig. 7 on the display unit 12A. This allows the user to set a quiet mode that reduces noise in the multifunction device 1 on the quiet mode setting screen D14.

[0045] Also, for example, when the user selects the setting item A5 of "density adjustment" on the adjustment / maintenance menu screen D13, the display processing unit 173 displays the density adjustment screen D15 (an example of a setting screen) shown in Fig. 8 on the display unit 12A. This allows the user to set the toner density in the image forming process executed by the multifunction device 1 on the density adjustment screen D15.

[0046] Also, for example, when the user selects the setting item A6 for drum refresh on the adjustment / maintenance menu screen D13, the display processing unit 173 displays a drum refresh screen D16 (an example of a setting screen) shown in Fig. 9 on the display unit 12A. This allows the user to tap an execution icon A7 on the drum refresh screen D16, and by tapping the execution icon A7, it becomes possible to input an instruction to execute a drum refresh process to the photoconductor drum of the image forming unit 13. The drum refresh is a process for improving defects such as bleeding or fading of characters or images printed on printing paper.

[0047] Note that the setting menu screen D11 in Fig. 3 is merely an example, and the setting items selectable on the setting menu screen D11 are not limited to those shown in Fig. 3. For example, the setting items may include setting items related to the reading process by the image reading device 11 (e.g., reading resolution, format of image data after reading, etc.), network settings of the multifunction device 1, date, settings related to facsimile transmission / reception (e.g., settings of sender information, transmission / reception resolution, etc.), etc.

[0048] The setting related information acquisition section 172 performs a process of acquiring setting related information associated with a predetermined setting item in the multifunction device 1.

[0049] Specifically, specific explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as specific explanatory information) corresponding to a specific setting item desired by the user (hereinafter referred to as specific setting item) is extracted from manual data that describes how to set up and operate each function of the multifunction device 1, and a specific key contained in the specific explanatory information is obtained as the setting-related information.

[0050] The specific key may be anything that allows the user to specify the setting screen that he or she wishes to display on the operation display panel 12. For example, the specific key is included in the specific explanatory information and may be a keyword, symbol, or figure related to the setting screen. If the manual data is an electronic manual, the specific key may be a page number (an example of the position information of the present invention) indicating the position in the electronic manual where the specific explanatory information is written. If the manual data is a video manual, the specific key may be a playback time (an example of the position information of the present invention) indicating the playback position of the video manual.

[0051] There are various methods for extracting the specific explanatory information from the manual data. For example, when an electronic manual is displayed on the display panel 20, when the user scrolls to display explanatory information desired by the user on the display unit 20A, and the operation support icon A11 (see FIG. 4) is tapped on the operation display panel 12, the setting related information acquisition unit 172 extracts the information displayed on the display unit 20A as the specific explanatory information. In this case, the specific explanatory information may be text data or image data extracted from the electronic manual, or may be screen image data captured from a screen displayed on the display unit 20A.

[0052] In addition, when a video manual that explains how to set up and operate each function of the multifunction device 1 is played on the display panel 20 instead of the electronic manual, when the operation support icon A11 (see Figure 4) is tapped on the display panel 20 or the operation display panel 12 while the video manual is being played on the display unit 20A at the playback position desired by the user or while the playback is paused, the setting related information acquisition unit 172 extracts screen image data that captures the screen displayed on the display unit 20A as the specific explanation information.

[0053] As a method for acquiring the specific key included in the specific explanatory information, for example, if the specific key is a keyword, it is possible to extract from the specific explanatory information the most frequently occurring words among the words included in the specific explanatory information. Also, if the specific key is a page number, it is possible to extract from the specific explanatory information the page number on which the specific explanatory information is published in the electronic manual. Also, if the specific key is the playback time indicating the playback position, it is possible to extract the playback time at which the specific explanatory information is played in the video manual as the specific key.

[0054] As another method for acquiring the specific key included in the specific explanation information, the following method is conceivable. For example, when a user views the manual data displayed on the display panel 20 and confirms the specific key from the explanation information of a desired setting item, the user directly inputs the specific key from the operation display panel 12. In this case, the reception processing unit 171 acquires the specific key input by the user.

[0055] As another method for extracting the specific explanatory information from the manual data, for example, when an image of a specific page of a paper manual that a user is viewing is captured by camera 121 (see Figure 1) or read by image reading device 11, the image data can be extracted as the specific explanatory information.

[0056] When the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit 172, the setting screen search processing unit 174 performs a process of searching for a setting item corresponding to the setting related information.

[0057] For example, the setting screen search processing unit 174 refers to the search target tables 110, 111 shown in Fig. 10 and extracts the setting items in which the specific key is registered from the search target tables 110, 111. Here, the search target tables 110, 111 are table data in which specific keys (keywords and page numbers) related to each setting item are registered for each setting item.

[0058] When the setting item is searched for by the setting screen search processing unit 174, the display processing unit 173 generates a setting screen corresponding to the searched setting item, and displays it on the display unit 12A of the operation display panel 12.

[0059] However, as the multifunction device 1 becomes more multifunctional, a large number of setting items for the functions are provided in the multifunction device 1. This causes a problem that the user cannot easily find the desired setting item from the setting menu. This problem becomes more noticeable especially when multiple setting items are managed hierarchically.

[0060] In this embodiment, the control unit 17 executes a setting screen display process (see FIGS. 11 to 15) described below, so that the user can easily specify the setting screen for the setting item he or she desires.

[0061] [Settings screen display process] 11 and 15, an example of the procedure of the setting screen display process executed in the multifunction device 1 will be described below, along with an operation support method for supporting the input of setting values ​​for predetermined setting items in the multifunction device 1. Note that the present invention can be understood as an invention of a method for executing one or more steps included in the setting screen display process.

[0062] One or more steps included in the setting screen display process described below may be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the steps in the setting screen display process may be executed in a different order as long as the same operational effect is achieved.

[0063] The setting screen display process is mainly executed by the control unit 17 of the multifunction device 1. For example, the setting screen display process is executed by one or more processors corresponding to the control unit 17 executing a control program stored in the storage unit 19 or the like.

[0064] Hereinafter, the procedure of the first processing example of the setting screen display processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0065] First, in step S11, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the setting menu is selected on the home screen D10. Specifically, the control unit 17 determines that the setting menu is selected when the setting menu icon A1 is tapped. When the setting menu is selected, the control unit 17 causes the operation display panel 12 to display a setting menu screen D11.

[0066] In the next step S12, the control unit 17 determines whether or not a manual display request has been input. Specifically, the control unit 17 determines that the manual display request has been input when the manual display icon A10 has been tapped.

[0067] If the user completes the setting input through the setting operation after the setting menu screen D1 is displayed, the series of processes ends (S13). Note that the user can display a desired setting screen from the setting menu screen D11, select the desired setting content on the setting screen, or input the desired setting value, and then tap the OK button A8 to complete the setting input.

[0068] When the manual display request is input, the control unit 17 causes the display panel 20 to display the electronic manual in a scrollable manner (S14). In the following description, it is assumed that the display panel 20 displays an electronic manual consisting of multiple pages.

[0069] The control unit 17 also displays a guide message regarding operation support on the display panel 20 (S15). The guide message is, for example, a message that guides the user, when the user cannot display a desired setting screen on the operation display panel 12, to scroll the electronic manual to a page on which the desired setting item is displayed, and then tap the operation support icon A11.

[0070] In step S16, the control unit 17 determines whether or not an operation support request has been input. Specifically, the control unit 17 determines that the operation support request has been input when the operation support icon A11 has been tapped.

[0071] If the user completes the setting input through the setting operation without inputting the operation support request, the series of processes ends (S17).

[0072] When the operation support request is input, the control unit 17 extracts the information displayed on the display unit 20A of the display panel 20 as the specific explanation information, and extracts a keyword as the specific key from the specific explanation information (S18). The control unit 17 also extracts a page number as the specific key from the specific explanation information (S19).

[0073] In the next step S20, the control unit 17 executes a keyword search. Specifically, the control unit 17 refers to the search target tables 110 and 111 shown in Fig. 10 and performs a process of searching whether or not there is a setting item in which the keyword is registered.

[0074] In the next step S21, the control unit 17 judges whether or not there is a setting item that matches the keyword extracted in step S18. Specifically, the control unit 17 judges whether or not there is a setting item for which the same keyword as the keyword is registered in the search target tables 110, 111. If it is judged that the setting item exists, the process proceeds to step S25, and if it is judged that the setting item does not exist, the process proceeds to step S22.

[0075] In step S22, the control unit 17 executes a page number search. Specifically, the control unit 17 performs a process of searching whether or not there is a setting item in which the page number is registered, by referring to the search target tables 110 and 111 shown in FIG.

[0076] In the next step S23, the control unit 17 judges whether or not there is a setting item that matches the page number extracted in step S19. Specifically, the control unit 17 judges whether or not there is a setting item in which the same page number as the page number is registered in the search target tables 110, 111. If it is judged that the setting item exists, the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if it is judged that the setting item does not exist, an error message is displayed to the effect that the desired setting screen could not be identified (S24), and then the series of processes ends.

[0077] In step S25, the control unit 17 judges whether or not the number of the setting items judged in step S21 or step S23 is multiple. If it is judged in step S25 that the number of the setting items is one, the control unit 17 generates a setting screen corresponding to the setting item and displays the setting screen on the operation display panel 12 (S28). Thereafter, when the setting input by the user's setting operation is completed, the series of processes ends (S29).

[0078] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that there are multiple setting items, a selection screen (not shown) including the multiple setting items is displayed on the operation display panel 12 (S26). After that, when any one of the setting items is selected on the selection screen (S27), a setting screen corresponding to the selected setting item is generated and displayed on the operation display panel 12 (S28). After that, when the setting input by the user's setting operation is completed, the series of processes ends (S29).

[0079] As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, a setting screen corresponding to a setting item searched for by keyword search or page number search is displayed on the operation display panel 12. Therefore, even if the user cannot find a desired setting item from the setting menu screen D11, the user can easily display the setting screen for the desired setting item on the operation display panel 12 by simply displaying the electronic manual on the display panel 20, scrolling to the explanation page for the desired setting item, and then tapping the operation support icon A11.

[0080] Next, the procedure of the second processing example of the setting screen display process will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 12. In the second processing example, the same procedures as those in the first processing example are indicated by the step numbers used in the first processing example, and the description of the corresponding procedures will be omitted.

[0081] When the processes from step S11 to step S28 are performed, in the next step S281, the control unit 17 judges whether or not the setting item corresponding to the setting screen displayed in step S28 is an execution item. The execution item is, for example, a setting item for inputting an instruction to execute a maintenance process. A specific example of the execution item is, for example, the drum refresh setting item A6.

[0082] If it is determined in step S281 that the setting item is not the execution item, then when the setting input by the user's setting operation is completed, the series of processes ends (S29).

[0083] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S281 that the setting item is the execution item, the control unit 17 executes a process (for example, a drum refresh process) corresponding to the execution item (S282), and then the series of processes ends.

[0084] In this way, when the setting item is the execution item, the process corresponding to the execution item is automatically executed, which saves the user the trouble of tapping the execution icon A7 for executing the process on the setting screen.

[0085] Next, the procedure of the third processing example of the setting screen display process will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 13. The third processing example described here is applied to a case where the multifunction device 1 is not provided with a display panel 20 and manual data such as an electronic manual is not displayed. Note that in the third processing example, the same procedures as those in the first and second processing examples are indicated by the step numbers used in the first and second processing examples, and descriptions of the processes of the corresponding procedures will be omitted.

[0086] If it is determined in step S11 that the setting menu has been selected, the control unit 17 determines in the next step S16 whether or not a request for operational support has been input.

[0087] If the user completes the setting input through the setting operation without inputting the operation support request, the series of processes ends (S13).

[0088] When the operation support request is input, the control unit 17 activates the camera 121 and starts capturing an image with the camera 121 (S161).

[0089] Furthermore, the control unit 17 causes the operation display panel 12 to display a guide message regarding operation assistance support (S162). The guide message is, for example, a message that, when the user cannot display a desired setting screen on the operation display panel 12, guides the user to open a specific page in a manual that lists the desired setting items and point the camera at the specific page.

[0090] Thereafter, the control unit 17 judges whether or not the video data captured by the camera 121 includes a page of the manual (S163). If a page of the manual is recognized, the control unit 17 captures an image of the contents of the specific page of the manual and stores the captured image data of the specific page in the storage unit 19 (S164). The captured image data of the specific page corresponds to the specific explanatory information.

[0091] Then, in the next step S18, the control unit 17 extracts a keyword as the specific key from the image data of the captured specific page. The control unit 17 also extracts a page number as the specific key from the image data of the specific page (S19). Then, the process from step S20 onwards is executed.

[0092] In this way, even if the electronic manual is not displayed on the display panel 20, the user can easily display the setting screen for the desired setting item on the operation display panel 12 by having the camera 121 read a specific page of a manual that the user has.

[0093] Although the method of acquiring image data of the specific page in the manual has been described by taking an image using the camera 121, the present invention is not limited to such an acquisition method. For example, the image reading device 11 may be caused to read the image data of the specific page in the manual.

[0094] In addition, in the above-mentioned third processing example, an example was described in which an image of the specific page is read from the manual, but for example, if an electronic manual is displayed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet owned by a user, the screen of the mobile terminal may be read by camera 121 or image reading device 11.

[0095] Next, the procedure of the fourth processing example of the setting screen display process will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 14. In the fourth processing example, the same procedures as those in the first to third processing examples are indicated by the step numbers used in the first to third processing examples, and the description of the corresponding procedures will be omitted.

[0096] If it is determined in step S11 that the setting menu has been selected, the control unit 17 determines in the next step S16 whether or not a request for operational support has been input.

[0097] If the user completes the setting input through the setting operation without inputting the operation support request, the series of processes ends (S13).

[0098] When the operation support request is input, the control unit 17 judges whether or not the specific key has been input as a search key by a user's operation on the operation display panel 12 (S165).

[0099] When the search key is input, in the next step S166, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the search key is the keyword, and if the search key is the keyword, the process proceeds to step S20 to execute a keyword search.

[0100] On the other hand, if the search key is not a keyword, in the next step S167, the control unit 17 determines whether the search key is the page number of the electronic manual or the manual, and if the search key is the page number, the process proceeds to step S23 and a page number search is performed.

[0101] When the process of step S20 or step S23 is executed, the control unit 17 then determines in the next step S21 whether or not there is a setting item that matches the search key. If it is determined that there is no setting item, the control unit 17 displays the error message (S24), and then the series of processes ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a setting item, the process proceeds to step S25, and the processes from step S25 onwards are executed.

[0102] In this way, even when the specific key is manually input by the user, the setting screen for the setting item corresponding to the specific key is displayed on the operation display panel 12. This allows the user to easily display the setting screen for the desired setting item on the operation display panel 12.

[0103] Next, the procedure of the fifth processing example of the setting screen display process will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 15. In the fifth processing example, the same procedures as those in the first to fourth processing examples are indicated by the step numbers used in the first to fourth processing examples, and the description of the corresponding procedures will be omitted.

[0104] The fifth processing example is applied to an operation support system 101 shown in FIG.

[0105] The operation support system 101 is a system that supports the operation input of setting values ​​for specific setting items in the multifunction device 1, and as shown in FIG. 16, is composed of the multifunction device 1 and a mobile terminal 4 (an example of a user terminal device of the present invention) that is communicatively connected to the multifunction device 1.

[0106] The mobile terminal 4 is a terminal device carried by a user who performs setting operations on the multifunction device 1. The mobile terminal 4 is used by the user and may be, for example, a smartphone or a tablet, or may be a PC (personal computer), etc.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 16, the mobile terminal 4 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, an operation display unit 43, a communication I / F 44, and the like.

[0108] The communication I / F 44 is a communication interface for connecting the mobile terminal 4 to a predetermined communication network in a wired or wireless manner and for executing data communication with the multifunction device 1 via the communication network in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

[0109] The operation display unit 43 is a user interface that includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information, and an operation unit such as an input key or a touch panel that accepts user operations. The operation display unit 43 includes, as the operation unit, for example, a send button (not shown), a manual display button (not shown) for displaying an electronic manual, and a support button (not shown) for inputting the operation support request.

[0110] The storage unit 42 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory that stores various types of information. For example, the storage unit 42 stores various control programs such as a program for causing the control unit 41 to execute the setting screen display process (fifth processing example) shown in Fig. 15, an electronic manual (an example of manual data of the present invention) to be displayed on the operation display unit 43, and various other data.

[0111] The control unit 41 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 41 controls the mobile terminal 4 by executing various control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 42 with the CPU.

[0112] Specifically, the control unit 41 includes a reception processing unit 411, a display processing unit 412, an extraction processing unit 413, a transmission processing unit 414, etc. The control unit 41 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes according to the control program in the CPU. The control unit 41 may also include an electronic circuit that realizes a part or a plurality of processing functions of each of these processing units.

[0113] The reception processing unit 411 performs a process of receiving operations by a user. The operations received by the reception processing unit 411 include at least an operation for displaying manual data such as an electronic manual on the operation display unit 43, an operation for receiving an instruction to transmit the specific key to the multifunction device 1, and the like.

[0114] The display processing unit 412 controls the display contents of the display unit of the operation and display unit 43. For example, when the display processing unit 412 receives a manual display operation by the user, it causes the display unit of the operation and display unit 43 to display an electronic manual.

[0115] The extraction processing unit 413 extracts specific explanatory information (specific explanatory information) corresponding to a specific setting item desired by the user (hereinafter referred to as a specific setting item) from the display contents of the electronic manual displayed on the display unit of the operation display unit 43, and performs processing to obtain the specific key contained in the specific explanatory information as the setting-related information.

[0116] The transmission processing unit 414 performs processing for transmitting the specific key obtained by the extraction processing unit 413 to the multifunction device 1 .

[0117] As shown in FIG. 15, in the multifunction device 1, when it is determined in step S11 that the setting menu has been selected, the control unit 17 in the next step S168 determines whether or not the specific key has been received.

[0118] In the mobile terminal 4, the control unit 41 determines whether or not a manual display request has been input by the user (S51). Specifically, the control unit 41 determines that the manual display request has been input when the manual display button on the operation display unit 43 has been operated.

[0119] In the next step S52, when the manual display request is input, the control unit 41 causes the display unit of the operation display unit 43 to display the electronic manual in a scrollable manner. After that, the control unit 41 causes the display unit of the operation display unit 43 to display the guide message regarding operation assistance support (S53).

[0120] In step S54, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the operation support request has been input. Specifically, the control unit 17 determines that the operation support request has been input when the support button has been operated.

[0121] If the user completes the setting input through the setting operation without inputting the operation support request, the series of processes ends.

[0122] When the operation support request is input, the control unit 41 extracts the information displayed on the display unit of the operation display unit 43 as the specific explanation information, and extracts a keyword as the specific key from the specific explanation information (S55). The control unit 41 also extracts a page number as the specific key from the specific explanation information (S56).

[0123] After that, the control unit 41 transmits the extracted specific key (keyword, page number) to the multifunction device 1 (S57).

[0124] When the specific key is received in the multifunction device 1 (Yes in S168), the control unit 17 executes the processes in and after step S20.

[0125] In this way, in the setting screen display process, it is also possible to use the specific key extracted by the mobile terminal 4. This allows the user to easily display a desired setting screen on the operation display panel 12 by simply displaying manual data such as an electronic manual on the mobile terminal 4 and operating the support button.

[0126] [Notes on the invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0127] <Appendix 1> An operation support system for supporting input of setting values ​​for predetermined setting items in an image processing device, comprising: a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with the setting item; a setting screen display processing unit that displays, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, on which setting values ​​of the setting items corresponding to the setting related information can be input; An operation support system comprising:

[0128] <Appendix 2> The setting related information acquisition unit An operation support system as described in Appendix 1, which extracts specific explanatory information corresponding to a specific setting item desired by a user from manual data including multiple explanatory information regarding various setting methods, and obtains a specific key included in the specific explanatory information as the setting-related information.

[0129] <Appendix 3> A user terminal device for use by a user, the user terminal device extracts the specific instruction information from the manual data, and transmits the specific key included in the specific instruction information to the image processing device; the setting-related information acquisition unit is provided in the image processing device, 3. The operation support system according to claim 2, wherein the setting-related information acquisition unit acquires the specific key transmitted from the user terminal device to the image processing device as the setting-related information.

[0130] <Appendix 4> The setting related information acquisition unit An operation support system as described in Appendix 1, which extracts specific explanatory information corresponding to a specific setting item desired by a user from manual data including multiple explanatory information regarding various setting methods, and obtains location information indicating the location of the specific explanatory information in the manual data as the setting-related information.

[0131] <Appendix 5> A user terminal device for use by a user, The user terminal device extracts the specific explanation information from the manual data, and transmits the position information of the specific explanation information in the manual data to the image processing device; the setting-related information acquisition unit is provided in the image processing device, The operation support system according to claim 4, wherein the setting-related information acquisition unit acquires the location information transmitted from the user terminal device to the image processing device as the setting-related information.

[0132] <Appendix 6> The manual data is An operation support system described in any of Appendices 2 to 5, which is a video manual in which the multiple pieces of explanatory information are introduced in the form of a video, or an electronic manual including multiple pages on which the multiple pieces of explanatory information are written.

[0133] <Appendix 7> Further comprising an imaging unit capable of reading an image, 7. The operation support system according to claim 1, wherein when an image of a specific page of a manual including multiple pieces of explanatory information relating to various setting methods is read by the imaging unit, the setting-related information acquisition unit acquires a specific key included in the read image as the setting-related information.

[0134] <Appendix 8> a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with a predetermined setting item related to image processing; an image processing device comprising: a setting screen display processing unit that, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, displays a setting value input screen on a specified display unit on which a setting value of the setting item corresponding to the setting related information can be input.

[0135] <Appendix 9> 1. An operation assistance method for assisting an input of a setting value of a predetermined setting item in an image processing device, comprising: a setting-related information acquisition step of acquiring setting-related information associated with the setting item; a searching step of searching for the setting item corresponding to the setting-related information when the setting-related information is acquired by the setting-related information acquiring step; a setting screen display step of displaying a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, on which a setting value for the setting item can be input; and an operation support method executed by one or more processors. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1:Multifunction device 2: Image forming device 3: Sheet processing device 4: Mobile devices 11: Image reader 12: Operation display panel 12A: Display section 17: Control section 18: Communication I / F 19: Storage section 20: Display panel 41: Control section 42: Storage section 43:Operation display section 44: Communication I / F 100, 101: Operation support system 110,111 Search target table 121: Camera 171: Reception processing unit 172: Setting related information acquisition unit 173: Display processing unit 174: Setting screen search processing unit 411: Reception processing unit 412: Display processing unit 413: Extraction processing unit 414: Transmission processing unit

Claims

1. An operation support system for supporting input of setting values ​​for predetermined setting items in an image processing device, comprising: a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with the setting item; a setting screen display processing unit that displays, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, on which setting values ​​of the setting items corresponding to the setting related information can be input; An operation support system comprising:

2. The setting related information acquisition unit The operation support system according to claim 1, further comprising: extracting specific explanatory information corresponding to a specific setting item desired by a user from manual data including a plurality of explanatory information relating to various setting methods; and obtaining a specific key included in the specific explanatory information as the setting-related information.

3. A user terminal device for use by a user, the user terminal device extracts the specific instruction information from the manual data, and transmits the specific key included in the specific instruction information to the image processing device; the setting-related information acquisition unit is provided in the image processing device, The operation support system according to claim 2 , wherein the setting related information acquisition unit acquires, as the setting related information, the specific key transmitted from the user terminal device to the image processing device.

4. The setting related information acquisition unit The operation support system according to claim 1, further comprising: extracting specific explanatory information corresponding to a specific setting item desired by a user from manual data including a plurality of explanatory information relating to various setting methods; and obtaining position information indicating the position of the specific explanatory information in the manual data as the setting-related information.

5. A user terminal device for use by a user, The user terminal device extracts the specific explanation information from the manual data, and transmits the position information of the specific explanation information in the manual data to the image processing device; the setting-related information acquisition unit is provided in the image processing device, The operation support system according to claim 4 , wherein the setting-related information acquisition unit acquires, as the setting-related information, the position information transmitted from the user terminal device to the image processing device.

6. The manual data is 5. The operation support system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pieces of explanatory information are a video manual in which the plurality of pieces of explanatory information are introduced in the form of video, or an electronic manual including a plurality of pages on which the plurality of pieces of explanatory information are described.

7. Further comprising an imaging unit capable of reading an image, 2. The operation support system according to claim 1, wherein when an image of a specific page of a manual including multiple explanatory information regarding various setting methods is read by the imaging unit, the setting-related information acquisition unit acquires a specific key contained in the read image as the setting-related information.

8. a setting related information acquisition unit that acquires setting related information associated with a predetermined setting item related to image processing; an image processing device comprising: a setting screen display processing unit that, when the setting related information is acquired by the setting related information acquisition unit, displays a setting value input screen on a specified display unit on which a setting value of the setting item corresponding to the setting related information can be input.

9. 1. An operation assistance method for assisting an input of a setting value of a predetermined setting item in an image processing device, comprising: a setting-related information acquisition step of acquiring setting-related information associated with the setting item; a searching step of searching for the setting item corresponding to the setting-related information when the setting-related information is acquired by the setting-related information acquiring step; a setting screen display step of displaying a setting value input screen on a display unit of the image processing device, on which a setting value for the setting item can be input; and an operation support method executed by one or more processors.

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