External Help Content Delivery for Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems for electronic devices, such as image forming apparatuses, face challenges in acquiring and displaying help content that is compatible with the device model, leading to inefficiencies in user problem resolution and increased support costs.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that includes an electronic device and an external information processing apparatus communicating over a network, where the device can request and display help content specific to its model by specifying a screen identifier and device information, ensuring compatibility and reducing the need for user search time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If help content is stored locally in the electronic device, then help display speed is improved, but device memory requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts help content from the electronic device and stores it externally in a database managed by a separate management device. When help is needed, the system retrieves the appropriate content through network communication, thus reducing the electronic device's memory burden while maintaining fast access speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management device as an intermediary between the electronic device and help content. This mediator handles content storage, version management, and delivery, allowing the electronic device to access help content without maintaining large local storage capacity.
2Measurement precision
If help content is customized for specific device models, then help accuracy and relevance are improved, but content management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by storing different versions of help content tailored to specific electronic device models in the external database. Each help content version is optimized for its target device model, ensuring high accuracy and relevance. The system automatically identifies the device model and delivers the appropriate customized content.
Solution Approach 2:
The management device provides universal content management capabilities that serve multiple device models simultaneously. A single database system handles diverse help content for various devices, reducing overall management complexity through standardized processes while maintaining model-specific customization.
3Reliability
If help content is updated frequently, then help currency and relevance are improved, but network communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and organizing help content in the external database before it is needed. Content is prepared in advance with proper formatting and indexing, so that when retrieval is required, the actual data transfer over the network is minimized and efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by using version control mechanisms that allow the system to identify and retrieve only the specific help content that has been updated. Instead of continuously syncing all content, the system compares version parameters and transfers only the changed portions, reducing network overhead while maintaining currency.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes an electronic device configured to display help content for helping a user of the electronic device; and an information processing apparatus configured to provide the help content to the electronic device. The information processing apparatus is arranged outside of the electronic device. The information processing system includes a processor executing a process including accepting, from the user of the electronic device, an operation for displaying the help content; requesting to display the help content, upon specifying a screen identifier and device information of the electronic device, the screen identifier including an identifier of a screen displayed on an operation part of the electronic device when the operation has been accepted; and acquiring, from the information processing apparatus, the help content compatible with the specified screen identifier and device information, and displaying the acquired help content on the operation part.