JP6840972B2 - Information processing equipment and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

In recent years, an image forming apparatus for operating an operation screen displayed on a display surface of an operation panel by voice has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This image forming device includes a voice input means for causing a user to input voice, a voice recognition unit that recognizes the input voice and generates a voice command, and an operation screen corresponding to the generated voice command (for example, a favorite). It is provided with a screen switching means for transitioning to the screen).

Further, conventionally, when a large number of candidates are searched by voice input, a voice search device that aggregates into a plurality of candidates has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 5343652 JP-A-2009-146108

An object of the present invention is an information processing device that integrates and displays a column of a plurality of setting items including a setting item to be searched, which is extracted from a tree structure in which setting items are associated with each node. And to provide the program.

[1] A storage means for storing a tree structure in which setting items are associated with each node, and
A reception means for receiving information on the setting items and
An extraction means for searching the tree structure for the setting items related to the received information and extracting a column of setting items from the node corresponding to the searched setting item to the root node.
When a plurality of columns of the setting items are extracted, the integration means for integrating the columns of the plurality of setting items into the columns of the setting items having a smaller number of columns is provided .
The integration means is an information processing device that integrates setting items between the same layers by different methods depending on the searched setting items or other setting items.
[2] The integration means provides information on at least some of the setting items having a smaller number of characters for the setting items other than the searched setting items among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated column of the setting items. The information processing apparatus according to the above [1], which is replaced with.
[3] The integration means omits at least some of the setting items other than the searched setting items among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated column of the setting items. The information processing apparatus according to 1] or [2].
[4] The integrated unit is extracted column of the plurality of setting items, when the setting item name at the same level comprises the same setting items, to integrate them into one setting item, from the [1] The information processing apparatus according to any one of [3].
[5] When the extracted columns of the plurality of setting items include setting items in which some terms are common in the same hierarchy, the integration means uses information indicating that they are integrated with the terms. The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above [1] to [4], which is integrated into one expressed setting item.
[6] When the received information includes a plurality of setting items, the receiving means divides the information into the plurality of setting items.
The information processing apparatus according to the above [1], wherein the extraction means extracts a column of setting items for each divided setting item.
[7] The information processing apparatus according to the above [6], wherein the integration means preferentially displays the column of the setting items having the smaller number of setting items among the extracted columns of the setting items.
[8] A computer as a reception means for receiving information
The received setting items related to the information are searched from the tree structure in which the setting items are associated with each node, and the column of the setting items from the node corresponding to the searched setting item to the root node is extracted. Means and
When a plurality of columns of the setting items are extracted, it is a program for functioning as an integration means for integrating the columns of the plurality of setting items into the columns of the setting items having a smaller number of columns.
The integration means is a program that integrates setting items between the same layers in different ways depending on whether the searched setting items or other setting items are used.

According to the inventions according to claims 1, 4, 5, and 8, when displaying a column of a plurality of setting items including the setting item to be searched, which is extracted from the tree structure in which the setting item is associated with each node. They can be integrated and displayed.
According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3, it is possible to display the columns of setting items in one row even on a display screen having a smaller horizontal direction as compared with the case where this configuration is not adopted.
According to the invention of claim 6, even when the received information includes a plurality of setting items, a column of setting items can be extracted and displayed as a candidate.
According to the invention of claim 7, the column of the setting item having the smaller number of setting items can be displayed in the first row or higher, and the possibility of scrolling is reduced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a setting item name database according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a comparative example. 4 (a) to 4 (d) are views showing a display example according to the first embodiment. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are views showing a display example of the modified example 1. 6 (a) to 6 (c) are views showing a display example of the modified example 2. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting item name database according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 8 (a), (b), and (c) are diagrams showing a display example according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting item name database according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 10 (a) and 10 (b) are views showing a display example according to the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, components having substantially the same function are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted. Further, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a scanning function, a printing function, and a copying function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, an operation display unit 12, a scanner unit 13, a printer unit 14, and a voice recognition unit 16 connected to the control unit 10. A microphone 15 is connected to the voice recognition unit 16. The storage unit 11 is an example of a storage means. The microphone 15 and the voice recognition unit 16 are examples of reception means.

The control unit 10 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an interface, and the like. By operating according to the program 110, the CPU functions as a reception means 100, an extraction means 101, an integration means 102, an execution means 103, and the like. Details of each means 100 to 103 will be described later.

The storage unit 11 is composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, and the like, and stores various data such as the program 110 and the setting item name database 111a. The setting item name database is an example of a tree structure. In the tree structure, setting items are associated with each node.

The operation display unit 12 is provided with, for example, a touch panel and a hard button, receives input such as an instruction from the user, and displays to the user. The screen of the touch panel of the operation display unit 12 has a relatively small screen size of 50 characters x 6 lines, for example, when the character size is 12 points. Further, the hard button of the operation display unit 12 includes a start button, a numeric keypad, and the like for starting a process specified by a column of confirmed setting items.

The scanner unit 13 includes, for example, a scanner and an automatic feeding device that automatically feeds the document to the reading position, and reads image data from the document.

The printer unit 14 prints image data on a recording medium such as paper by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like, and outputs the image data.

The voice recognition unit 16 recognizes the voice input from the microphone 15 using a dictionary, converts it into text data, and outputs it to the reception means 100. The voice recognition unit 16 recognizes the silent portion as a blank character.

When the voice input button provided on the setting screen is selected, the reception means 100 receives the information in which the voice input to the microphone 15 is converted into text data by the voice recognition unit 16 as the information to be searched. The information to be searched may be the setting item itself or a part of the setting item.

The extraction means 101 searches for the setting items related to the information received by the receiving means 100 from the setting item name database 111a stored in the storage unit 11, and sets items from the node corresponding to the searched setting items to the root node. Extract columns. The root node means a node at the apex of the tree structure. A leaf node is a terminal node. The node between the root node and the leaf node is called the internal node. There may be one root node or multiple root nodes.

When a plurality of setting item columns are extracted by the extracting means 101, the integrating means 102 refers to the extracted plurality of setting item columns as a sequence of setting items having a smaller number of columns (hereinafter, also referred to as “integrated column”). ) Is integrated and displayed on the operation display unit 12.

Further, the integration means 102 may replace at least some of the setting items other than the searched setting items among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated column with information having a smaller number of characters.

Further, the integration means 102 may omit at least some of the setting items other than the searched setting items among the plurality of setting items constituting the integration column.

Further, when the extracted columns of a plurality of setting items include setting items having the same setting item name in the same hierarchy, the integration means 102 may integrate them into one setting item.

Further, when the extracted columns of a plurality of setting items include setting items in which some terms are common in the same hierarchy, the integration means 102 is expressed by using information indicating that they are integrated with the common terms. It may be integrated into one setting item.

The execution means 103 stores the setting contents in the storage unit 11 by the operation of determining the sequence of the user's setting items, reads the set value when the job process is executed, controls the scanner unit 13 and the printer unit 14, and follows the setting. Execute the job processing.

(Operation of image forming device)
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the setting item name database 111a according to the first embodiment. The setting item name database 111a has a four-layer tree structure in which setting items are associated with each node. An item ID is assigned to each setting item. In the item ID column of FIG. 2, the item IDs of the setting items corresponding to the leaf nodes are registered. The number of digits of the item ID corresponds to the number of layers. For example, the item ID 121 is the item ID of the setting item "output voltage adjustment" of the third layer, and the item ID 12 is the item ID of the setting item "USB setting" of the second layer.

When the user operates the operation display unit 12 to instruct the display of the setting screen, the reception means 100 displays the setting screen on the operation display unit 12. The user selects the voice input button provided on the displayed setting screen to turn on the voice recognition function. It is assumed that the user pronounces "Denatsu" and inputs the voice to the microphone 15 when the voice recognition function is ON. The voice recognition unit 16 recognizes the voice of "Denatsu" input to the microphone 15 using a dictionary, converts it into text data, and outputs it to the reception means 100. The reception means 100 receives the output text data "voltage" as search target information.

The extraction means 101 searches the setting item name database 111a stored in the storage unit 11 for the setting items related to the "voltage" received by the receiving means 100. In the case of the setting item name database 111a shown in FIG. 2, the extraction means 101 sets “secondary transfer voltage adjustment” in the fourth layer and “output voltage adjustment” in the third layer as setting items related to “denatsu”. search for.

Next, the extraction means 101 extracts a sequence of setting items from the node corresponding to the searched “secondary transfer voltage adjustment” and “output voltage adjustment” to the root node, respectively. In the case of the setting item name database 111a shown in FIG. 2, the extraction means 101 includes "management, paper setting, paper 1, secondary transfer voltage adjustment", "management, paper setting, paper 2, secondary transfer voltage adjustment", and " Management, paper setting, paper 3, secondary transfer voltage adjustment "," management, paper setting, paper 4, secondary transfer voltage adjustment "," management, paper setting, paper 5, secondary transfer voltage adjustment ", and" management , USB setting, output voltage adjustment ”, the column 40a of the six setting items is extracted.

For example, if an attempt is made to display the columns 40a of the six setting items extracted by the extraction means 101 as they are on the operation display unit 12 having a relatively small screen size, all the columns 40a of the six setting items cannot be displayed, and FIG. As shown, the columns 40a of the five setting items are displayed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a comparative example. The setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 3 has a sub display area 31 for displaying the voice recognition result “Denatsu” and the screen name, a main display area 32 for displaying the search result, and scrolling for scrolling the screen. A bar 33 is provided. The main display area 32 has a screen size of 50 characters × 5 lines, for example, when the character size is 12 points. In the main display area 32 of FIG. 3, for example, a column 40a of five setting items, a check box 41, and a number 42 indicating a column 40a of setting items are displayed. In FIG. 3, the symbol “>” means that the setting item on the left side is located above the setting item on the right side.

By touching and selecting the setting item column (40a in FIG. 3) on the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding setting item column 40a is selected. For example, when the column 40a of the setting item of "Management> Paper setting> Paper 1> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment" corresponding to "1" of No. 42 is touched, "Management> Paper setting> Paper 1> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment" is touched. Is selected. In the case of the configuration in which the setting items are sequentially selected from the upper layer, the setting items of "Management", "Paper setting", "Paper 1", and "Secondary transfer voltage adjustment" are sequentially selected. Can move to the setting screen of "secondary transfer voltage adjustment" at the end simply by selecting the column of setting items. However, if the column 40a of the setting items cannot be displayed on the setting screen 30a, the scroll bar 33 is moved downward. In the case shown in FIG. 3, in order to display the setting item of the "USB setting", it takes time and effort to move the scroll bar 33 downward. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the integrating means 102 integrates and displays the overlapping setting items so as to reduce the trouble of scrolling.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of an integrated column. Similar to FIG. 3, the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 4A is provided with a sub display area 31, a main display area 32, and a scroll bar 33. The main display area 32 has a screen size of 50 characters × 5 lines, for example, when the character size is 12 points.

As shown in FIG. 3, of the four setting items, "management", "paper setting", and "secondary transfer voltage adjustment" are setting items having the same setting item name in the same layer. Further, "Paper 1", "Paper 2", ... "Paper 5" are setting items in which some terms (paper) are common in the same layer.

In the present embodiment, the integration means 102 integrates "management", "paper setting", and "secondary transfer voltage adjustment" of setting items having the same setting item name in the same layer into one setting item. Further, the integration means 102 provides information (for example, *) indicating that the setting items "paper 1", "paper 2", ... "Paper 5", which have some common terms in the same layer, are integrated with the common terms. ) And are integrated into one "paper *". "Paper *" is also referred to as "integrated item" below. Then, the integrating means 102 generates an integrated row 40b of "Management> Paper setting> Paper *> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment" and displays it on the setting screen 30a. * Is an example of information indicating integration. In this example, the columns of five setting items are integrated into one column of setting items as the number of columns is smaller, but the number of integration is not limited to one.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the setting item column 40a and the integrated column 40b are accommodated in the setting screen 30a of the operation display unit 12. In the main display area 32, there are an integrated column 40b of "Management> Paper setting> Paper *> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment", a column 40a of setting items of "Management> USB setting> Output voltage adjustment", and "Re-input". Word, check box 41, and number 42 are displayed. "Re-input" is for starting over from voice input.

When the user touches and selects a line containing the "setting paper" whose number 42 is "1", the integrating means 102 is integrated with the paper identification screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b). "Paper *" is expanded and displayed in the main display area 32. Further, when the user touches and selects a line including "USB setting", the integration means 102 displays a USB voltage designation screen (not shown). The user may utter a number 42 or the like and input the voice.

FIG. 4C is a display example in which a check box 41 is provided for FIG. 4B so that a plurality of sheets can be selected. When the user selects two or more sheets on the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 4C, the integrating means 102 displays the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 4D on the operation display unit 12. When the user selects "make different settings for each paper" on the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 4D, the integration means 102 sequentially displays the setting screens for the selected papers and accepts the settings. For example, when paper 1 and paper 2 are selected, the secondary transfer voltage setting screen of paper 1 is displayed, the setting of the secondary transfer voltage for paper 1 is accepted, and the setting of the secondary transfer voltage for paper 1 is completed. , The secondary transfer voltage setting screen of the paper 2 is displayed, and the setting of the secondary transfer voltage for the paper 2 is accepted. When the user selects "make common settings for all papers", the integration means 102 displays a setting screen for making common settings for all papers on the operation display unit 12.

The user performs an operation of confirming the sequence of the setting items, and stores the setting contents in the storage unit 11. Then, when using the copy service, when the start button of the operation display unit 12 is pressed, the execution means 103 reads the set value at the time of executing the job process and controls the scanner unit 13, the printer unit 14, and the like. Execute job processing according to the settings. Not limited to copying, the same applies to services provided by image forming devices such as scanning and printing.

(Modification example 1)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the modified example 1. In the first modification, the setting screen 30b is smaller in the vertical and horizontal directions than the screen size of the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the character size is 12 points, the screen size is 20 characters x 2 lines. Is. The setting screen 30b shown in FIG. 5A is provided with a sub display area 31 having a size of 20 characters × 1 line and a main display area 32 having a size of 20 characters × 2 lines. Further, in the first modification, next to the setting screen 30b, an up / down / left / right key 200 including an up button 201, a down button 202, a left button 203, a right button 204, and a decision button 205 is provided as hard buttons. In FIG. 5, 210 is a cursor that is moved by pressing the up / down / left / right keys 200.

In the first modification, the integration means 102 refers to the setting items other than the searched setting items (for example, secondary transfer voltage adjustment and output voltage adjustment) among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated setting item column. , At least some setting items are replaced with information having a smaller number of characters, and at least some setting items are omitted.

The voice recognition result "Denatsu" is displayed in the sub display area 31 of FIG. 5A, and the integrated column 40b of "...> Paper *> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment" is displayed in the main display area 32. There is. In this integrated column 40b, the setting item "management" of the root node is omitted, and the setting item "paper setting" of the internal node is replaced with "..." of information having a smaller number of characters. As shown in FIG. 5A, only one line of the search result is displayed in the main display area 32.

On the setting screen 30b shown in FIG. 5 (a), pressing the lower button 202 moves the screen downward, and as shown in FIG. 5 (b), integration of "...> USB setting> output voltage adjustment". Column 40b is displayed. In the case shown in FIG. 5B, in the integrated column 40b, among the setting items other than the setting item (for example, output voltage adjustment), the setting item "management" of the root node is changed to "..." of the information having a smaller number of characters. It has been replaced.

When the right button 204 is pressed on the setting screen 30b shown in FIG. 5B, a screen for selecting the target paper for which the secondary transfer voltage is to be adjusted is displayed as shown in FIG. 5C.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the modified example 2. In FIG. 5C shown in the first modification, the target paper for which the secondary transfer voltage is to be adjusted is selected by operating the lower button 202. However, as shown in FIG. 6A, all the papers are selected. The bulk settings for may be displayed on the first line. On the setting screen 30b shown in FIG. 6A, when the right button 204 is pressed, the setting screen 30b shown in FIG. 6B may be displayed. In this case, the adjustment value of the secondary transfer voltage is input from the numeric keypad.

If the extraction result cannot be displayed on the operation display unit 12 due to the number of display digits being exceeded, as shown in FIG. 6C, the setting item corresponding to the root node or the internal node following the root node is omitted, or the number of characters is reduced. It may be replaced with less information.

(Modification example 3)
In the third modification, the integrated item "paper *" is omitted from the integrated column 40b of "management> paper setting> paper *> secondary transfer voltage adjustment" shown in FIG. 4 (a), and "management> paper setting>"Secondary transfer voltage adjustment". Since the setting item (paper setting) on the upper layer side of the setting item (secondary transfer voltage adjustment) is displayed, it is possible to know what the setting item is for.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting item name database according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The setting item name database 111a of the first embodiment is provided with only one item ID column, but the setting item name database 111b of the present embodiment has a search ID column and a display ID column. It is provided. Further, in the setting item name database 111b of the present embodiment, the integrated item "paper *" in which the setting items "paper 1" and "paper 2" are integrated is put in a tree structure. Hereinafter, the points different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

The search ID is used when the extraction means 101 searches the set item name database 111b. The display ID is used when the integration means 102 displays a column of setting items extracted by the extraction means 101. In FIG. 7, “−” means to integrate the columns of a plurality of setting items into the columns of the setting items having a smaller number of columns. For example, "-" is added to the search IDs of "Paper 1" and "Paper 2". This means that it is integrated with the search ID "2101" of "paper *".

As in the first embodiment, if the user inputs the voice of "Denatsu" to the microphone 15, the voice recognition unit 16 converts the voice of "Denatsu" into text data and receives the reception means. Output to 100. The reception means 100 receives "Denatsu" as information to be searched. The extraction means 101 extracts the items “secondary transfer voltage adjustment” and “output voltage adjustment” related to “Denatsu” from the setting item name database 111b. The extraction means 101 searches the setting item name database 111b using the “secondary transfer voltage adjustment” and “output voltage adjustment” of the extraction result, and searches for “secondary transfer voltage adjustment” and “output voltage adjustment”. "Management> Paper Settings> Paper *> Secondary Transfer Voltage Adjustment", "Management> Paper Settings> Paper 1> Secondary Transfer Voltage Adjustment", "Management> Paper Settings> Paper 2> Secondary Transfer Voltage Adjustment", "Management" > Get the search result of the setting item column of "USB setting> Output voltage adjustment". Search IDs "2101" and "221" are extracted from this search result. The extraction means 101 displays a column of setting items as shown in FIG. 8A (same as FIG. 4A).

When the user selects a line containing "paper *", the search ID "211" of the paper 1 and the search ID "221" of the paper 2 are extracted, and the logical sum (OR) of the two is taken. For example, in the case of "2101" and "211", the logical sum is left-aligned and becomes "2111". Further, in the case of "2101" and "212", the logical sum is left-aligned and becomes "2121". The OR results "2111" and "2121" are extracted from the display ID, and the columns of setting items corresponding to these are extracted, that is, "Management> Paper setting> Paper 1> Secondary transfer voltage adjustment", "Management> Paper". "Settings> Paper 2> Secondary transfer voltage setting" is displayed.

When the user selects "paper setting" on the operation display unit 12, the setting screen 30a of FIG. 8 (b) is displayed, and the user displays the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 8 (b) with the number 42 "2". When the line (paper 2) is touched and selected, the integrating means 102 displays the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 8C on the operation display unit 12. In the sub display area 31, the column 40a of the corresponding setting item is displayed. The user sets the secondary transfer voltage for the paper 2 by touching and selecting any of the lines “1” to “5” of the number 42 on the setting screen 30a of FIG. 8 (c).

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting item name database according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Setting item name An item ID is assigned to the setting item corresponding to each node of the database 111c. In the item ID column of FIG. 9, the item ID corresponding to the leaf node is registered. The number of digits of the item ID corresponds to the number of layers. For example, the item ID 11211 is the item ID of the setting item "MH" in the fifth layer, and the item ID 112 is the item ID of the setting item "TIFF" in the third layer.

When the input voice information includes a plurality of setting items, the voice recognition unit 16 of the present embodiment divides the input information into a plurality of setting items. The extraction means 101 extracts a column of setting items for each of the divided setting items. The integration means 102 preferentially displays the column of the setting items having the smaller number of setting items among the columns of the extracted setting items.

Next, an example of the operation of the third embodiment will be described.
(1) When the input information is highly compressed TIFF For example, suppose that the user pronounces "Kouashukutifu" and inputs the voice to the microphone 15. When the voice recognition unit 16 recognizes the "Kouashuku Tiff" input to the microphone 15 using the dictionary, the corresponding setting item "High compression TIFF" does not exist, so the dictionary search shows "Kouashuku". It is divided into "tiffs", recognized, converted into text data, and output to the reception means 100. The reception means 100 receives the output text data "koashuku" and "tifu" as search target information.

The extraction means 101 searches the setting item name database 111c for the setting items related to one of the "koashuku" received by the receiving means 100. In the case of the setting item name database 111c shown in FIG. 9, the extraction means 101 searches for the setting item (item ID: 11111) of "high compression".

Next, the extraction means 101 extracts the item ID (11111) and the column 40a of the setting items of "scan> output format> PDF> compression format> high compression".

Further, the extraction means 101 searches the setting item name database 111c for the setting items related to the other "tifu" received by the reception means 100. In the case of the setting item name database 111c shown in FIG. 9, the extraction means 191 searches for the setting item (item ID: 112) of "TIFF".

Next, the extraction means 101 extracts the item ID (112) and the column 40a of the setting items of "scan> output format> TIFF".

The integrating means 102 sorts the item IDs in ascending order, that is, in ascending order of the number of setting items, and displays them on the operation display unit 12. A display example thereof is shown in FIG. 10 (a).

On the setting screen 30a of FIG. 10A, the sub-display area 31 displays the “search result of Koashukutif”, and the main display area 32 shows the column 40a of the setting items of “scan> output format> TIFF”. Is displayed in the first row, and the column 40a of the setting item of "scan> output format> PDF> compression format> high compression" is displayed in the next row.

The user touches a desired line on the setting screen 30a shown in FIG. 10A or utters a number to select. After the lapse of a predetermined time, "1" of the number 42 may be automatically selected.

(2) When the input information is an IP address For example, suppose that the user pronounces "Aipia Dorusu" and inputs the voice into the microphone 15. The voice recognition unit 16 recognizes the "aipee adore" input to the microphone 15 using a dictionary, converts it into text data, and outputs it to the reception means 100. The reception means 100 accepts the output text data "Aipie Adres" as the information to be searched.

The extraction means 101 searches the setting item name database 111c for the setting items related to the "aipee adores" received by the reception means 100. The extraction means 101 searches for two "IP addresses", an item ID (2112) and an item ID (21212).

Next, the extraction means 101 extracts a column 40a of two setting items of "management> network> main body> IP address" and "management> network> server> DNS> IP address".

The integration means 102 rearranges the column 40a of the setting items extracted by the extraction means 101 in ascending order of item ID, that is, in ascending order of the number of setting items, and displays them on the operation display unit 12. A display example thereof is shown in FIG. 10 (b).

On the setting screen 30a of FIG. 10B, the sub-display area 31 displays the "search results of the Ai-Peace", and the main display area 32 contains the setting items of "Management> Network> Main unit> IP address". The column 40a is displayed in the first row, and the column 40a of the setting item of "Management> Network> Server> DNS> IP Address" is displayed in the next row.

In the third embodiment, the columns of the setting items that are not integrated have been described, but even for the integrated column in which the columns of a plurality of setting items are integrated, the one with the smaller number of setting items may be preferentially displayed. ..

The priority may be raised as the operation frequency increases. For example, if the "main unit" is a setting item that is operated more frequently than the "server", the setting item column 40a including the "main unit" is displayed above the setting item column 40a including the "server". ..

Further, the priority may be lowered as the subparameters are used. For example, when the "compression format" is a subparameter for the "output format", the column 40a of the setting items including the "compression format" is displayed below the column 40a of the setting items including the "output format".

Further, words having the same hierarchy may be prioritized according to the input order of the text. The prioritization logic may be set or changed by the user's operation on the operation display unit 12. In the case of voice input, the information input later may be prioritized in consideration of being rephrased for correction. In the case of keyboard input, since correction is possible in the field, the information input earlier may be prioritized.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and implementations are possible without changing the gist of the present invention. is there. For example, in the above embodiment, the information to be searched is input by voice, but it may be input by text.

Each means of the control unit 10 may be composed of hardware circuits such as a reconfigurable circuit (FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array) and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which are partially or wholly reconfigurable. Good.

Further, it is possible to omit or change a part of the constituent elements of the above-described embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, steps can be added, deleted, changed, replaced, etc. in the flow of the above-described embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the program used in the above embodiment can be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

1 ... image forming device, 10 ... control unit, 11 ... storage unit, 12 ... operation display unit,
13 ... Scanner unit, 14 ... Printer unit, 15 ... Microphone, 16 ... Voice recognition unit,
30a, 30b ... Setting screen, 31 ... Sub display area, 32 ... Main display area,
33 ... Scroll bar, 40a ... Setting item column, 40b ... Integrated column,
41 ... check box, 42 ... number, 43 ... integrated item, 100 ... reception means,
101 ... Extraction means, 102 ... Integration means, 103 ... Execution means, 110 ... Program,
111a to 111c ... Setting item name database, 200 ... Up / down / left / right keys,
201 ... up button, 202 ... down button, 203 ... left button, 204 ... right button,
205 ... Enter button, 210 ... Cursor

Claims (8)

A storage means for storing a tree structure in which setting items are associated with each node,
A reception means for receiving information on the setting items and
An extraction means for searching the tree structure for the setting items related to the received information and extracting a column of setting items from the node corresponding to the searched setting item to the root node.
When a plurality of columns of the setting items are extracted, the integration means for integrating the columns of the plurality of setting items into the columns of the setting items having a smaller number of columns is provided .
The integration means is an information processing device that integrates setting items between the same layers by different methods depending on the searched setting items or other setting items. The integration means replaces at least some of the setting items other than the searched setting items with information having a smaller number of characters among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated column of the setting items. ,
The information processing device according to claim 1. The integration means omits at least some of the set items other than the searched setting items among the plurality of setting items constituting the integrated column of the setting items.
The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2. When the extracted columns of the plurality of setting items include setting items having the same setting item name in the same hierarchy, the integration means integrates them into one setting item.
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The integration means is expressed by using information indicating that when the extracted columns of the plurality of setting items include setting items in which some terms are common in the same hierarchy, they are integrated with the terms. Integrate into one setting item,
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the received information includes a plurality of setting items, the receiving means divides the information into the plurality of setting items.
The extraction means extracts a column of setting items for each divided setting item.
The information processing device according to claim 1. The integration means preferentially displays the column of the setting item having the smaller number of setting items among the extracted columns of the setting item.
The information processing device according to claim 6. Computer,
Reception means for receiving information and
The received setting items related to the information are searched from the tree structure in which the setting items are associated with each node, and the column of the setting items from the node corresponding to the searched setting item to the root node is extracted. Means and
When a plurality of columns of the setting items are extracted, it is a program for functioning as an integration means for integrating the columns of the plurality of setting items into the columns of the setting items having a smaller number of columns.
The integration means is a program that integrates setting items between the same layers in different ways depending on whether the searched setting items or other setting items are used.

Images