Information processing system and method

Abstract

To enable help topics appropriate for solving problems to be easily prepared.SOLUTION: A third reception unit 103 receives a third request that demands the termination of a help topic creation mode due to reception of a second request. The third reception unit 103 places the second request in a state ready for reception when a second request is received. A first storage unit 104 stores first setting information at the time a second request was received due to reception of the second request. A second storage unit 105 stores second setting information at the time a third request was received due to reception of the third request. An acquisition unit 106 acquires the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system and method. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, control systems are used to monitor and control various facilities attached to buildings and plants. Control systems perform control by exchanging signals with field devices such as process equipment and various sensors installed on-site and connected via a network. Parameters for these field devices, such as process equipment and various sensors, are set using engineering tools.

[0003] There is known a system equipped with a help function that displays help topics to allow users to solve problems themselves when they are unsure how to operate the above-mentioned engineering tool or when an error occurs during operation (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-121563 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, it is unclear what kind of help topic a user is looking for, and there is a problem in that it is not easy to prepare an appropriate help topic for solving a problem.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to make it easier to prepare appropriate help topics for solving problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing system of the present invention includes a first receiving unit configured to receive a first request for displaying a help topic; a second receiving unit configured to receive a second request for starting a help topic creation mode upon receiving the first request; a third receiving unit configured to receive a third request for ending the help topic creation mode upon receiving the second request; a first memory unit configured to store first setting information at the time the second request was received upon receiving the second request; a second memory unit configured to store second setting information at the time the third request was received upon receiving the third request; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a difference between the first setting information and the second setting information; an identification unit that identifies a target of the request for displaying the help topic upon receiving the first request; an information generation unit configured to generate help information based on the target identified by the identification unit and information on the difference acquired by the acquisition unit; a display control unit that displays the target identified by the identification unit and the help information generated by the information generation unit on a display unit; and a third memory unit configured to store the help information generated by the information generation unit.

[0008] In one configuration example of the above information processing system, a reception display control unit is provided that is configured to display a first reception display for receiving a first request, a second reception display for receiving a second request, and a third reception display for receiving a third request on a display unit, wherein the first reception unit receives the first request by receiving a selection operation on the first reception display, the second reception unit receives the second request by receiving a selection operation on the second reception display, and the third reception unit receives the third request by receiving a selection operation on the third reception display.

[0009] In one configuration example of the information processing system, the reception display control unit displays a third reception display on the display unit upon reception of the second request, and ends display of the third reception display upon reception of the third request.

[0010] In one configuration example of the information processing system, the reception display control unit continues to display the third reception display until a third request is received.

[0011] In one example configuration of the above information processing system, the reception display control unit, in addition to the first reception display, the second reception display, and the third reception display, further includes a fourth reception unit configured to display a search box on the display unit for receiving search information for searching help topics and to receive search information entered in the search box, and the identification unit identifies the target of the request for display of the help topic received by the first reception unit based on the search information received by the fourth reception unit.

[0012] The information processing system method according to the present invention includes a first step of setting the system to a state in which a first request requesting display of a help topic is accepted; a second step of setting the system to a state in which a second request requesting start of help topic creation mode is accepted upon accepting the first request; a third step of storing first setting information at the time the second request is accepted upon accepting the second request; a fourth step of setting the system to a state in which a third request requesting termination of help topic display is accepted after the third step; a fifth step of storing second setting information at the time the third request is accepted upon accepting the third request; a sixth step of acquiring a difference between the first setting information and the second setting information after the fifth step; a seventh step of identifying a target of the request for help topic display upon acceptance of the first request; an eighth step of generating help information based on the difference information acquired in the sixth step and the target identified in the seventh step; a ninth step of displaying the target identified in the seventh step and the help information generated in the eighth step; and a tenth step of storing the help information generated in the eighth step.

[0013] In one configuration example of the above information processing method, there is provided an 11th step of receiving search information for searching for a target of the help topic, and a 7th step of identifying the target of the request for displaying the help topic in receiving the first request based on the search information received in the 11th step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, the difference between the first setting information before the third request is received and the second setting information after the third request is received is obtained, and help information is generated based on the obtained difference information, making it easier to prepare appropriate help topics for problem resolution. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example by the information processing system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example by the information processing system. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example by the information processing system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. This information processing system is incorporated into, for example, an engineering tool. This information processing system includes a first reception unit 101, a second reception unit 102, a third reception unit 103, a first storage unit 104, a second storage unit 105, an acquisition unit 106, an identification unit 107, an information generation unit 108, a display control unit 109, a third storage unit 110, a display unit 115, and an input unit 116.

[0017] The first reception unit 101 receives a first request for displaying a help topic. The first reception unit 101 receives the first request by receiving a selection operation on a first reception display. The first reception display may be, for example, a button or a link.

[0018] In response to the reception of the first request, the second reception unit 102 receives a second request for starting a help topic creation mode. When the first request is received, the second reception unit 102 transitions to a state in which it is ready to receive a second request. The second reception unit 102 receives the second request by receiving a selection operation on the second reception display. The second reception display can be, for example, a button or a link.

[0019] Upon receiving the second request, the third reception unit 103 receives a third request for terminating the help topic creation mode. When the second request is received, the third reception unit 103 enters a state in which the third reception unit 103 is ready to receive the second request. The third reception unit 103 receives the third request by receiving a selection operation on the third reception display. The third reception display can be, for example, a button or a link.

[0020] A first acceptance display for accepting the first request, a second acceptance display for accepting the second request, and a third acceptance display for accepting the third request are displayed on display unit 115 by acceptance display control unit 111. Upon acceptance of the second request, acceptance display control unit 111 displays the third acceptance display on display unit 115, and upon acceptance of the third request, ends the display of the third acceptance display. Reception display control unit 111 continues to display the third acceptance display until the third request is accepted.

[0021] Upon receiving the second request (when the second request is received), the first storage unit 104 stores the first setting information at the time of receiving the second request. Upon receiving the third request, the second storage unit 105 stores the second setting information at the time of receiving the third request. The acquisition unit 106 acquires the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information.

[0022] The identification unit 107 identifies the target of the request for help topic display in receiving the first request. The information generation unit 108 generates help information based on the target identified by the identification unit 107 and the difference information acquired by the acquisition unit 106. The display control unit 109 displays the target identified by the identification unit 107 and the help information generated by the information generation unit 108 on the display unit 115. The third storage unit 110 stores the help information generated by the information generation unit 108. For example, the third storage unit 110 stores the generated help information as a help topic.

[0023] This information processing system can further include a fourth reception unit 112 that receives search information input into the search box. The reception display control unit 111 displays a search box for receiving search information for searching for a target help topic on the display unit 115, in addition to the first reception display, the second reception display, and the third reception display. The identification unit 107 identifies the target of the help topic display request received by the first reception unit 101, based on the search information received by the fourth reception unit 112.

[0024] Next, an information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0025] First, in a first step S101, the first receiving unit 101 enters a state in which it is ready to receive a first request for displaying a help topic. Next, upon receipt of the first request by the first receiving unit 101 (yes in the first step S101), in an eleventh step S111, the fourth receiving unit 112 enters a state in which it is ready to receive search information.

[0026] For example, when a user operates the input unit 116 to select a help button as a first reception display displayed on the display unit 115, the first reception unit 101 receives a first request. Furthermore, the fourth reception unit 112 receives search information (keywords) through a search box 151 displayed on the display unit 115 by the reception display control unit 111 (FIG. 3). When the fourth reception unit 112 receives the search information input in the search box 151 (yes in eleventh step S111), in a second step S102, the second reception unit 102 enters a state for receiving a second request for starting a help topic creation mode. For example, when a user operates the input unit 116 to select a link 152 as a second reception display shown in FIG. 3 displayed on the display unit 115, the second reception unit 102 receives a second request.

[0027] Here, when search information is entered into search box 151 (when search information is accepted), the engineering tool searches for help topics using the entered search information as a key, and displays the search results on display unit 115. If the help topics displayed on display unit 115 do not provide information that will provide a clue to solving the problem, the user will try various countermeasures (setting changes), such as looking back at the manual or consulting an expert. When such a setting change that is not included in the help topics is made, this setting change becomes a help topic associated with the entered search information.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, a dialog box displayed along with link 152 asks the user to create a new help topic, and when the user selects link 152, the system transitions to the automatic creation mode for a new help topic, as described below.

[0029] When the second receiving unit 102 receives the second request (yes in the second step S102), the first storage unit 104 stores the first setting information at the time of receiving the second request in the third step 103. After the first setting information is stored in the third step 103, the third receiving unit 103 enters a state of receiving a third request for terminating the display of the help topic in the fourth step S104. For example, when the second request is received, the reception display control unit 111 displays the dialog and button 153 shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 115.

[0030] When the user operates input unit 116 to select button 153 as the third reception display displayed on display unit 115, the third reception unit 103 receives the third request. When the third reception unit 103 receives the third request (yes in fourth step S104), in fifth step S105, second storage unit 105 stores the second setting information at the time when the third request was received.

[0031] When the second storage unit 105 stores the second setting information (after the fifth step S105), the acquisition unit 106 acquires the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information in the sixth step S106.

[0032] Next, in seventh step S107, the identification unit 107 identifies the target of the request for help topic display in the acceptance of the first request. In seventh step S107, the identification unit 107 identifies the target of the request for help topic display in the acceptance of the first request based on the search information accepted by the fourth acceptance unit 112 in eleventh step S111.

[0033] Next, in an eighth step S108, the information generation unit 108 generates help information based on the difference information acquired in the sixth step S106 and the target identified in the seventh step S107. Next, in a ninth step S109, the display control unit 109 displays the target identified in the seventh step and the help information generated in the eighth step.

[0034] 5 on the display unit 115. After that, in a tenth step S110, the third storage unit 110 stores the help information generated in the eighth step S108. The new help information stored in the third storage unit 110 will be displayed as a search result when the search information accepted in step S111 is accepted again.

[0035] Here, if the user operates the input unit 116 and selects "Yes," the help information is stored as a help topic, and if the user selects "No," the help information can be stored as internal information for improving functionality.

[0036] For example, if no sound is output, "no sound" is accepted as search information in an eleventh step S111. If the search results displayed on display unit 115 do not provide any information that will provide a clue to solving the problem, the user selects link 152 and then looks back at the manual.

[0037] As a result, if the user realizes that "no sound" is being produced because the volume setting is too low, the user changes the volume setting from XX to YY in the engineering tool. If sound is produced as a result of this setting change, the user performs an operation to select button 153. As a result, "volume setting changed from XX to YY" is obtained as the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information, and "Change: volume (XX → YY)" is created and stored as new help information.

[0038] Furthermore, if the user realizes that "no sound" is being produced due to a poor speaker connection, the user will perform speaker device detection in the engineering tool. If sound is produced as a result of this detection operation and a setting change, the user will select button 153. With this setting change, the first setting information, in which the speaker device was not detected, becomes second setting information, in which the speaker device has been detected. Therefore, "Device connection (device name)" is obtained as the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information, and new help information, "Not set: speaker device -> Setting: speaker device," is created and stored.

[0039] Furthermore, if the user realizes that "no sound" is being produced due to a faulty speaker driver, the user installs the latest speaker driver in the engineering tool. If sound is produced as a result of this setting change, the user performs an operation to select button 153. This obtains "Driver change (version information before change → version information after change)" as the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information. As a result, "Change: Speaker driver version upgrade" is created and stored as new help information.

[0040] For example, if the user cannot connect to the Internet, "Cannot connect to the Internet" is accepted as search information in an eleventh step S111. If the search results displayed on display unit 115 do not provide any information that will provide a clue to solving the problem, the user selects link 152 and then looks back at the manual.

[0041] As a result, if the user realizes that "the Internet cannot be connected" because the proxy server has not been set, the user sets the IP address of the proxy server in the engineering tool. If the Internet is connected as a result of this setting change, the user performs an operation to select button 153. As a result, "the IP address of the proxy server is set" is obtained as the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information, and "Settings: IP address of the proxy server" is created and stored as new help information.

[0042] For example, if the user cannot connect to the remote PC, "Cannot connect to the remote PC" is accepted as search information in an eleventh step S111. If the search results displayed on the display unit 115 do not provide any information that can help solve the problem, the user selects link 152 and then looks back at the manual.

[0043] As a result, if the user realizes that "connection to the remote PC is not possible" due to an incorrect IP address setting, the user changes the IP address setting in the engineering tool to the correct setting. If this setting change results in connection to the remote PC, the user performs an operation to select button 153. As a result, "IP address setting changed" is obtained as the difference between the first setting information and the second setting information, and "Change: IP address" is created and stored as new help information.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 6, the information processing system according to the above-described embodiment may be a computer device including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a main storage device 302, an external storage device 303, a network connection device 304, etc., and the above-described functions (information processing methods) may be realized by the CPU 301 operating (executing) a program loaded in the main storage device 302. The above-described program is a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method described in the above-described embodiment. The network connection device 304 is connected to a network 305. The functions may also be distributed among multiple computer devices.

[0045] As described above, according to the present invention, the difference between the first setting information before the third request is received and the second setting information after the third request is received is obtained, and help information is generated based on the obtained difference information, making it easier to prepare appropriate help topics for solving problems.

[0046] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is clear that many modifications and combinations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 101...first reception unit, 102...second reception unit, 103...third reception unit, 104...first memory unit, 105...second memory unit, 106...acquisition unit, 107...identification unit, 108...information generation unit, 109...display control unit, 110...third memory unit, 111...reception display control unit, 115...display unit, 116...input unit.

Claims

1. a first receiving unit configured to receive a first request for displaying a help topic; a second receiving unit configured to receive a second request for starting a help topic creation mode in response to the first request; a third receiving unit configured to receive a third request for terminating the help topic creation mode in response to the second request; a first storage unit configured to store, upon receipt of the second request, first setting information at the time of receipt of the second request; a second storage unit configured to store, upon receipt of the third request, second setting information at the time of receipt of the third request; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a difference between the first setting information and the second setting information; an identification unit that identifies a target of a request for displaying a help topic in response to the first request; an information generating unit configured to generate help information based on the target identified by the identifying unit and information on the difference acquired by the acquiring unit; a display control unit that displays the target identified by the identification unit and the help information generated by the information generation unit on a display unit; a third storage unit configured to store the help information generated by the information generation unit; An information processing system comprising:

2. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, a reception display control unit configured to display a first reception display for receiving the first request, a second reception display for receiving the second request, and a third reception display for receiving the third request on the display unit; the first reception unit receives the first request by receiving a selection operation on the first reception display; the second reception unit receives the second request by receiving a selection operation on the second reception display; The third reception unit receives the third request by receiving a selection operation of the third reception display. Information processing system.

3. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, The reception display control unit displays the third reception display on the display unit upon receiving the second request, and terminates display of the third reception display upon receiving the third request.

4. 4. The information processing system according to claim 3, The reception display control unit continues to display the third reception display until the third request is received.

5. In the information processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the reception display control unit displays, on the display unit, a search box for receiving search information for searching a help topic, in addition to the first reception display, the second reception display, and the third reception display; a fourth receiving unit configured to receive search information input into the search box; The identifying unit identifies a target of the help topic display request received by the first receiving unit based on the search information received by the fourth receiving unit. Information processing system.

6. a first step of accepting a first request for displaying a help topic; a second step of accepting a second request for starting a help topic creation mode in response to the acceptance of the first request; a third step of storing, upon receipt of the second request, first setting information at the time of receipt of the second request; a fourth step of, after the third step, setting the system to a state of accepting a third request for terminating the display of the help topic; a fifth step of storing, upon receipt of the third request, second setting information at the time of receipt of the third request; a sixth step of acquiring a difference between the first setting information and the second setting information after the fifth step; a seventh step of identifying a target of the request for displaying a help topic in response to the first request; an eighth step of generating help information based on the difference information acquired in the sixth step and the target identified in the seventh step; a ninth step of displaying the object identified in the seventh step and the help information generated in the eighth step; a tenth step of storing the help information generated in the eighth step; An information processing method comprising:

7. 7. The information processing method according to claim 6, an eleventh step of accepting search information for searching for a subject of the help topic; The seventh step identifies a target of the request for displaying a help topic in the first request based on the search information received in the eleventh step. Information processing methods.

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