JPH11215285A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A facsimile capable of notifying a user of a method of using an apparatus function by a simple procedure and activating a registration function and a setting function desired by the user with a simple procedure. Providing equipment. SOLUTION: A help screen display means displays the registration / setting method of the various registration / setting items in the order of the question frequency obtained statistically in advance regarding the registration / setting method of the various registration / setting items related to the device function. Help image information configured by arranging descriptions is displayed on a display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus provided with help screen display means for displaying help image information describing various functions of the apparatus on a display in response to a predetermined operation input. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of the contact points between a user of a facsimile machine and a maker, the maker of a facsimile machine often has a customer consultation room. The customer consultation room receives requests, questions, complaints, and the like from users who have obtained the facsimile machine, and manages and accumulates information about the facsimile machine manufactured by the company in a database.

[0003] Therefore, the customer consultation room can grasp the tendency of the frequency of each item in the contents of inquiries about the method of using the device function from the user who has obtained the facsimile device manufactured by the company. Specifically, an operation procedure for changing the settings of the own station telephone number, etc. accompanying the user's moving, a method of registering various registration items such as one-touch dialing, abbreviated dialing when a facsimile machine manufactured by the company is used, and The frequency of inquiries about the setting method of various setting items related to the apparatus operation such as the default value of the reading line density and the dial / push switching is relatively high.

[0004] As the number of these various inquiries increases,
The operating cost of the customer consultation office has increased, which is actually a factor in increasing the cost of the in-house facsimile machine.

[0005]

On the other hand, some facsimile machines display a help screen describing how to use the device functions on a display, but simply display the help screen on the display. In general, the display of the facsimile machine has a small screen, so it takes time and effort to find a description of the desired use by the user. There is a problem that does not reduce operating costs.

Further, even if the user can refer to the help screen for the registration method of various registration items and the setting method of various setting items, the operation of calling the various registration functions and various setting functions after terminating the reference to the help screen. Must be performed by the user, the procedure is complicated, the desired registration function and setting function cannot be called well, and eventually the customer consultation room is contacted.In order to reduce the operation cost of the customer consultation room, There is a problem that must not be.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can inform a user of a method of using an apparatus function by a simple procedure, and can easily register a registration function and a setting function desired by a user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus that can be started in a procedure.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus which displays help image information describing various functions provided in the facsimile apparatus on a display in response to a predetermined operation input. In a facsimile apparatus provided with a help screen display means, the help screen display means sorts the various registration / setting items in the order of the question frequency obtained statistically in advance on the registration / setting method of various registration / setting items related to the device function. The help image information configured by arranging descriptions of registration / setting methods of setting items is displayed on the display.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the facsimile apparatus transmits help image information describing various functions of the apparatus itself.
In a facsimile apparatus provided with a help screen display means for displaying on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, the help screen display means outputs a list of items describing device functions which can be displayed on the display, by a predetermined output. A list output means for outputting in response to an instruction operation is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the facsimile apparatus transmits help image information describing various functions of the apparatus.
In a facsimile apparatus provided with a help screen display means for displaying on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, the help screen display means includes a description of various registration / setting items related to apparatus functions. Selecting means for selecting any of various registration / setting items in the help image information displayed on the display while displaying the image information on the display; Registration / setting function transition means for activating a registration function or a setting function.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the facsimile apparatus transmits help image information describing various functions of the apparatus.
In a facsimile apparatus provided with a help screen display means for displaying on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, the help screen display means is configured to include an item leading to an output function of a fixed format for questions related to the device function. Means for displaying the help image information on the display, and selecting an item in the help image information displayed on the display, which is connected to the output function of the standard format, and the selection means. Output means for outputting the fixed format when an item leading to the fixed format output function is selected.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, an image memory 7, an operation display unit 8, an encoding / decoding unit 9, a modem 10, and a network control unit 11. , Handset 12,
And a system bus.

The system control unit 2 controls each unit of the apparatus according to the control program written in the ROM 3 while using the RAM 4 as a work area.

As described above, the ROM 3 is a read-only memory that stores a control program for the system control unit 2 to control each unit of the apparatus. Also, R
The OM 3 stores a font table 3a in which font data is associated with each character code. The system control unit 2 refers to the font table 3a when converting a character string into image information.

The RAM 4 is a random access memory used as a work area of the system control unit 2 as described above. The RAM 4 is backed up by a backup circuit (not shown), and the stored contents are retained even when the power of the apparatus is turned off.

The scanner 5 has 3.85 lines / mm, 7.7
This is for obtaining image information by reading a document image at a predetermined reading line density such as book / mm and 15.4 book / mm. The plotter 6 is for recording and outputting the received image information according to its line density, and for recording and outputting (copying operation) the image information read by the scanner 5 according to its line density.

The image memory 7 temporarily stores the image information read by the scanner 5 as a file for memory transmission, or temporarily stores the received image information as a file until it is recorded by the plotter 6. It is also used as a temporary storage area for creating image information of various reports such as a communication management report and image information of a one-touch dial registration list and an abbreviated dial registration list by developing fonts.

The operation display section 8 is provided with a numeric keypad, a start key, a one-touch dial key, and various other keys for designating a destination telephone number. It displays the operating state of the device to be notified and various messages.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement configuration of the operation display unit 8 not shown except for the parts related to the present embodiment.
In the figure, a numeric keypad 8a is used for directly specifying a transmission destination telephone number or the like, or for specifying by a speed dial. [Yes] key 8d and [N
The o] key 8e is a key for allowing the user to make various selections of determination or cancellation. [Stop] key 8c is for instructing forcible stop of various operations.
The [Start] key 8b is for instructing start of a facsimile transmission operation, a copy operation, and the like. [Function] key 8f is used to register a one-touch dial, abbreviated dial, a user parameter setting function, and a function other than the function of the facsimile machine 1 as a standard facsimile machine, such as time-specified transmission, department code-specified transmission, and the like. This function is used to call an extended function of the keypad. When the [Function] key 8f is pressed, the numeric keypad 8a is pressed.
Thus, by inputting a number corresponding to each function, each function can be called and executed.

The cursor key group 8k includes a [down arrow] key 8
kd, [Left arrow] key 8kl, [Right arrow] key 8kr,
And an [up arrow] key 8ku.
The [DOWN ARROW] key 8kd and the [UP ARROW] key 8ku are used to scroll the display contents displayed on the display 8j up and down in response to the depression of each key. [Left arrow]
The key 8kl and the [right arrow] key 8kr are used to select items, functions, and the like displayed on the display 8j in accordance with the depression of each key.

The [abbreviated] key 8g is used to perform abbreviated dialing by designating the abbreviated number and calling the other party's telephone number by a combination operation with the input of the number from the numeric keypad 8a. The one-touch key group 8h is for performing one-touch dialing by designating a one-touch key number by pressing any one-touch key and calling a destination telephone number. The [Help] key 8i is for displaying help image information on the display 8j. Display 8
j indicates the operation state of the device to be notified to the user and various messages.

Returning to FIG. 1, the encoding / decoding unit 9 converts the transmission image data into a predetermined encoding system such as an MH encoding system, an MR encoding system, and an MMR encoding system that conform to G3 facsimile. While encoding and compressing the received image data,
The decoding is performed by a predetermined decoding method corresponding to the H coding method, the MR coding method, the MMR coding method, or the like.

The modem 10 is a G3 facsimile modem that modulates data transmitted to the line 20 via the network control unit 11 and demodulates a signal received from the line 20 via the network control unit 11. . Also, the modem 10
Transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the input dial number.

The network control unit 11 is connected to the telephone line 20, and closes / releases a DC loop of the line, detects inversion of the line polarity, detects line release, detects a dial tone, and busy tone (busy). It controls connection with a line, such as detection of a tone signal, detection of a call signal, etc., and generation of a dial pulse. In addition, a handset 12 is connected to the network control unit 11, and the network control unit 11 also controls on / off hook of the handset 12 and control of switching with the telephone line 20.

The system bus 13 is a signal line through which the above components exchange data. The network controller 11 and the modem 10 directly exchange communication signals without passing through the system bus 13.

In the facsimile apparatus 1 configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, a data table 3b is stored in the ROM 3 in addition to the font table 3a, and a character string storage area 3c and And a function control procedure storage area 3d.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data table 3b is composed of character string head addresses Ac1 to Ac8 and function head addresses Af1 to Af8 associated with the item numbers of numbers 01 to 08, respectively. I have.

As shown in FIG. 5, the character string storage area 3c stores "help content list output", "question form output", "one-touch dial registration", "one-touch dial registration" stored from each of the head addresses Ac1 to Ac8. It consists of character strings of “abbreviated dial registration”, “dial / push switching”, “tone switching”, “TTI registration”, and “CSI registration”.

As shown in FIG. 6, the function control procedure storage area 3d stores a "help content list output" function, a "question form output" function, and a "one-touch dial registration" stored from the respective start addresses Af1 to Af8. "function,
"Abbreviated dial registration" function, "Dial / push switching" function for switching between dialing with a dial pulse and dialing with a DTMF signal depending on whether the subscriber line to which the facsimile machine 1 is connected is a dial line or a push line. A "tone switching" function for transmitting a DTMF signal instead of a dial pulse when various services are used via a line even when connected to a dial line, a facsimile apparatus 1 embedded at the head of transmission image information, etc. "TTI registration" function for registering information such as the department name to which the user belongs, the telephone number of the own device transmitted to the other party by the G3 facsimile protocol called terminal identification signal CSI or the transmitting terminal identification signal TSI at the time of transmission / reception The program of each function of the “CSI registration” function that registers the To have.

"One-touch dial registration" function, "Speed dial registration" function, "Dial / push switching"
Function, "Tone switching" function, "TTI registration" function,
Each function of the “CSI registration” function can be called and activated and executed by pressing the [Function] key 8f and inputting a predetermined number using the numeric keypad 8a in the same manner as in the related art. If you do not know the storage location, you can use the facsimile machine 1
If an instruction manual is not attached due to handover, the user cannot easily activate each of these functions, and in the past, the user would easily contact the customer service room of the facsimile machine 1 manufacturer. Met.

Therefore, the facsimile machine 1 performs a [Help] key pressing corresponding processing procedure shown in FIG.

In the figure, the system controller 2 of the facsimile machine 1 monitors the pressing of the [Help] key 8i (No loop of the judgment 101). Then, when the user of the facsimile machine 1 raises a question about how to use various functions of the facsimile machine 1 and presses the [Help] key 8i, the judgment 101 becomes Yes, and the item number of 01 to 08 in the data table 3b is The corresponding character string is stored in the character string storage area 3 based on the character string head address.
c (processing 102), font table 3a
, The help image information is created by font expansion and displayed on the display 8j (process 103).

FIG. 8 shows a display form of the help image information displayed in the process 103 on the display 8j.
In the figure, since only two lines of help items can be displayed on the display 8j at a time, the display D1 is scrolled up and down by two lines by pressing the [up arrow] key 8ku and the [down arrow] key 8kd. Or display D4. Further, in any of the display modes, the display for urging the depression of the [No] key 8e and the selection of the item numbers 01 to 08 is performed.

In this case, the display order is such that the frequency of inquiries to the customer consultation room is high. That is, “one-touch dial registration”, “abbreviated dial registration”, “dial / push switching”, “tone switching”, “TT
I registration "and" CSI registration "in this order. Thus, it is possible to easily reach a device function having a high probability that the user wants to know.

By the way, after the processing 103, whether there is an input by the ten key 8a of the item number or the [No] key 8
e is pressed (No in decision 104, decision 1
If the [No] key 8e is pressed (Yes in decision 105), the display of the help image information is terminated and the display returns to the initial screen display (process 106).

If any of the item numbers from 01 to 08 has been input (Yes in the judgment 104), the function control procedure storage area 3d corresponding to the input item number is referred to by referring to the data table 3b. The corresponding function is called by executing the program from the start address in (Step 107).

Next, it is called when the item number input in "Yes" in the judgment 104 is "01".
FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure of the “help content list output” function.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, when the "help content list output" function is called, the system control unit 2 shifts the processing to the start address Af1 of the function control procedure storage area 3d.
First, the guidance display shown in display D5 of FIG. 10 is performed (process 201), and the [Start] key 8b or [No] is displayed.
The user is prompted to press the key 8e.

Then, it is monitored whether the [Start] key 8b is pressed or the [No] key 8e is pressed (No in decision 202, No loop in decision 203), and
If the [No] key 8e has been pressed (Yes in decision 203), the display returns to the initial screen display (process 204).

When the [Start] key 8b is pressed (Yes in decision 202), the data table 3b is set to 01.
A character string corresponding to each item number from 08 to 08 is read out from the character string storage area 3c based on the character string head address (process 102), and the font is developed with reference to the font table 3a to create help image information. (Process 20
6) Recording and output on recording paper by plotter 6 (Process 20)
7).

FIG. 11 shows the image information of the help content list output by the process 207. Thus, the display 8j
By recording and outputting each item that cannot be displayed at a time on one sheet of paper, a list of items displayed on the help screen is displayed.
It can be easily referred to the user.

Next, it is called when the item number input in "Yes" of the judgment 104 is "03".
Regarding the processing procedure of the “one-touch dial registration” function,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, when the "one-touch dial registration" function is called, the system control unit 2 shifts the processing to the start address Af3 of the function control procedure storage area 3d, and first, the guidance shown in the display D6 of FIG. A display is performed (process 301), and the user is prompted to press one of the one-touch keys, the [right arrow] key 8kr or the [No] key 8e in the one-touch key group 8h.

Then, one-touch key group 8h is pressed, [right arrow] key 8kr is pressed, or
It is monitored that the [No] key 8e is pressed (determination 302).
No, No of judgment 303, No loop of judgment 304), when the [No] key 8e is pressed (judgment 3
04 (Yes), the display returns to the initial screen display (process 305).
When the one-touch key is pressed (Y in process 302)
es), one-touch dial registration processing is performed (processing 30).
8). That is, a process of registering the number of the pressed one-touch key with the input destination telephone number and destination name in the one-touch dial registration table (not shown) of the RAM 4 is performed.

If the [right arrow] key 8kr is pressed (Yes in decision 303), the one-touch key number and the image information of the one-touch dial registration list which is a list of the corresponding destination telephone numbers and destination names are created. Then (process 30
6) Then, the plotter 6 records and outputs it on recording paper (Step 30).
7) Return to the initial screen display (process 305).

As described above, the one-touch dial registration function can be called and executed directly from the help screen. Therefore, when the user does not know how to register the one-touch dial, the user who presses the [Help] key 8i to display the help screen in an attempt to know whether the registration has been performed can easily enter the desired one-touch dial registration function. You can get there. This is called "Speed Dial Registration",
The same applies to the registration / setting functions of “dial / push switching”, “tone switching”, “TTI registration”, and “CSI registration”.

Next, it is called when the item number input in "Yes" in the judgment 104 is "02".
The processing procedure of the "question table output" function will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 15, when the "question table output" function is called, the system control unit 2 shifts the processing to the start address Af2 of the function control procedure storage area 3d, and first, the guidance shown in the display D7 of FIG. Display (process 40)
1) The user is prompted to press the [Start] key 8b or the [No] key 8e.

Then, it is monitored whether the [Start] key 8b is pressed or the [No] key 8e is pressed (No in decision 402, No loop in decision 403), and
If the [No] key 8e has been pressed (Yes in decision 403), the display returns to the initial screen display (process 404).

When the [Start] key 8b is depressed (Yes at decision 402), the character string of the questionnaire previously stored in the ROM 3 is read out (process 405), and font expansion is performed with reference to the font table 3a. Then, a questionnaire image information in a fixed format is created (step 406), and the plotter 6 records and outputs the information on a recording sheet (step 407).

FIG. 16 shows fixed form questionnaire image information output by the process 407. In this way, by recording and outputting the questionnaire on the recording paper, the user can fill in the output questionnaire with any questions or necessary items regarding the use of the facsimile machine 1 that cannot be solved only by displaying the help screen. It can be facsimile-transmitted to the customer consultation room of the manufacturer, and the desired usage can be easily known. In addition, the customer consultation room of the manufacturer can easily accumulate information obtained from the user.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other apparatuses such as a copying machine. is there.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the help screen display means is provided by the manufacturer's customer consultation room regarding the registration / setting method of various registration / setting items related to the device function. In order of the question frequency obtained statistically in advance based on the inquiry about the facsimile machine,
The help image information is configured by arranging the descriptions of the registration / setting methods of these various registration / setting items, and is displayed on the display unit. The method of use is displayed on the help screen first, and the user can be informed of the method of use for the desired device function by a simple procedure. Therefore, the frequency of inquiries to the customer consultation room is also reduced, and as a result, the effect that the operation cost of the customer consultation room can be reduced can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the help screen display means outputs a list of items describing device functions which can be displayed on the display in response to a predetermined output instruction operation. With reference to the output list, the user can easily confirm whether or not the help image information includes a description that can solve a question about the device function desired by the user. It becomes possible. This eliminates the need for the user to search for a description that can solve the question about the desired device function by scrolling the help image information displayed on the display device, etc. The user can easily search for a description that can solve the question. In addition, it is possible to prevent a situation in which an inquiry is made to the customer consultation room without searching the help screen information for a description that can solve a question about the device function desired by the customer. The frequency of inquiries to the counseling room can be reduced, and as a result, the effect that the operation cost of the customer counseling room can be reduced can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the help image information including descriptions of various registration / setting items related to the device functions is displayed on the display, and the displayed help image information is displayed. When any one of the various registration / setting items in is selected, the selected registration function or setting function is activated, so that the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is used or acquired, Even when an instruction manual is not attached, the registration function and the setting function desired by the user can be started by a simple procedure. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a desired registration function or setting function cannot be started well and an inquiry to the customer consultation room is made, thereby reducing the frequency of inquiries to the customer consultation room. As a result, the effect that it is possible to reduce the operation cost of the customer consultation room is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the help image information including the items leading to the output function of the standard format for questions related to the device function is displayed on the display, and the displayed help image information is displayed. When an item that leads to the output function of the fixed format in the help image information is selected,
Because the fixed format is output, the user fills out the required information in the fixed format output,
It becomes possible to send a question about a device function desired to be known to the customer consultation room or to send it by facsimile. Therefore, it is possible to inform the user of the usage of the desired device function by a simple procedure. In addition, since the inquiry to the customer consultation room is made in writing, the trouble of the operator corresponding to the user can be reduced, and as a result, the operation cost of the customer consultation room can be reduced. It is possible to easily accumulate information on the in-house facsimile apparatus, and the effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement configuration of an operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing each storage area secured in a ROM of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing specific contents of a data table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing specific contents of a character string storage area.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing specific contents of a function control procedure storage area.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a [Help] key pressing corresponding processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transition state of the display of the help display screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a help content list output processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance display in the processing procedure shown in FIG. 9;

11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a help content list output according to the processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a one-touch dial registration processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a diagram showing a guidance display in the processing procedure shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a questionnaire output processing procedure in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a diagram showing a guidance display in the processing procedure shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a questionnaire output by the processing procedure shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 2 System control part 3 ROM 3a Font table 3b Data table 3c Character string storage area 3d Function control procedure storage area 4 RAM 5 Scanner 6 Plotter 7 Image memory 8 Operation display part 8a Numeric keypad 8b [Start] key 8c [Stop] Key 8d [Yes] key 8e [No] key 8f [Function] key 8g [Shortcut] key 8h One-touch key group 8k Cursor key group 8kd [Down arrow] key 8kl [Left arrow] key 8kr [Right arrow] key 8ku [Up] Arrow] key 8i [help] key 8j display 9 encoding / decoding unit 10 modem 11 network control unit 12 handset 13 system bus

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a help screen display means for displaying help image information describing various functions of its own device on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, wherein the help screen display means comprises: The help image information in which descriptions of the registration / setting methods of the various registration / setting items are arranged in the order of the question frequency statistically obtained in advance regarding the registration / setting methods of the various registration / setting items related to the function. Is displayed on the display device. 2. A facsimile apparatus having a help screen display means for displaying help image information describing various functions provided in its own device on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, wherein the help screen display means comprises A facsimile apparatus comprising: a list output unit that outputs a list of items describing device functions that can be displayed on a container in response to a predetermined output instruction operation. 3. A facsimile apparatus having a help screen display means for displaying help image information describing various functions provided in the own apparatus on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, wherein the help screen display means comprises: The help image information, which includes a description of various registration / setting items related to functions, is displayed on the display, while various registration / settings in the help image information displayed on the display are displayed. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a selection unit for selecting any one of the items; and a registration / setting function transition unit for activating a registration function or a setting function selected by the selection unit. 4. A facsimile apparatus having a help screen display means for displaying help image information describing various functions provided in its own device on a display in response to a predetermined operation input, wherein the help screen display means comprises: The help image information configured to include an item leading to an output function of a fixed format for a question related to a function is displayed on the display unit, while the help image information in the help image information displayed on the display unit is displayed. Selecting means for selecting an item leading to the output function of the fixed format, and output means for outputting the fixed format when the item leading to the output function of the fixed format is selected by the selecting means. Facsimile machine.