JP6938183B2 - Information processing equipment and its programs - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a program thereof.

Various explanations about the device, such as how to handle the device and how to operate the device, are described in various manuals such as an instruction manual and an operation manual (hereinafter collectively referred to as a device manual). Recently, such device manuals have been digitized. Most of the digitization of device manuals is limited to changing the medium from paper to electronic. Therefore, most of the digitized device manuals are the same in terms of style, design, structure, etc. as those of paper media.
On the other hand, the digitized device manual (electronic version device manual) is searchable. As a result, it is possible to easily identify the parts (pages, chapters, sections, paragraphs, etc.) in the electronic version of the device manual that are likely to contain the explanation content that you want to view, and the explanation content is easy. It can be made readable by the naked eye. However, whether or not the required appropriate description can be specified depends on the information literacy of the device operator. For example, unless an appropriate word or the like related to the content that the operator wants to refer to is selected, the required appropriate explanation description location cannot be specified. In addition to the operation of the device, the operation of searching the electronic version of the device manual, most of which, the operation specialized for the search (input work) must be performed.
Therefore, for example, an information processing device that employs a hierarchical menu as a user interface, that is, an information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens, is a conventional electronic version. The device description still needs further improvement.
For example, when the operator wants to master the operation of each operation screen with respect to the operation of the information processing device that executes information processing according to the operation by the operator on a plurality of operation screens, the above-mentioned conventional handling Checking the instructions could be a hassle. Under these circumstances, it has been desired that the operator can easily master the operation method in the information processing apparatus as described above.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-252226

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to execute information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens, and to provide an information processing device and a program thereof so that the operator can easily learn the operation method. To provide.

The information processing device of the embodiment is an information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set, and is a first processing means and a second processing. Provide means. First processing means, when the second mode is set according to a predetermined operation on the operation screen, a plurality of check screen including a simulation image simulating each a plurality of operation screens, respectively One is displayed, and the confirmation screen to be displayed is changed in the order according to the display order of the plurality of operation screens at the time of setting the first mode according to the operation on the confirmation screen being displayed. Perform processing. The second processing means imitates a simulated image included in the displayed confirmation screen in response to a predetermined operation being performed when one of the plurality of confirmation screens is displayed. Performs processing to display an explanation screen showing an explanation about the operation screen being used.

A perspective view of a payment terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the payment terminal shown in FIG. A flowchart of information processing based on the instruction manual application by the processor in FIG. The figure which shows one of the operation screens for having an operator select a major item in a 1st mode. The figure which shows the large item screen as an example. The figure which shows the middle item screen as an example. The figure which shows the confirmation screen as an example. The figure which shows the explanation screen as an example.

Hereinafter, an example of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a payment terminal as an example of the information processing device will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a payment terminal according to the present embodiment.
The payment terminal 1 performs information processing for payment using a credit card, a point card, a debit card, or the like. The payment terminal 1 is installed in the checkout counter as a peripheral device of the POS terminal, for example.
The payment terminal 1 includes a main body 10, a touch panel 11, a reset key 12, and a magnetic card reader 13.

A touch panel 11, a reset key 12, and a magnetic card reader 13 are attached to the main body 10, and other elements described later are housed therein.
The touch panel 11 is provided with its display / operation surface facing upward. The touch panel 11 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display and a transparent touch sensor provided on the display surface of the display device. The touch panel 11 displays an operation screen for operation by the operator, a screen for notifying information to the operator, and the like on the display device. Softkeys and messages prompting the operation are displayed on the operation screen. The touch panel 11 receives a touch operation by the operator on the screen displayed by the display device. The operation received by the touch panel 11 is mainly an operation related to the above-mentioned payment. Further, it is preferable that the size is small because of the above-mentioned installation form. For these reasons, a small display device of, for example, about 4.3 inches is applied to the display device of the touch panel 11.

The reset keys 12 are provided side by side on the touch panel 11. The reset key 12 is a physical key (hard key), for example, a push button switch.
The magnetic card reader 13 reads data magnetically recorded on a credit card or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the payment terminal 1. The same elements as shown in FIG. 1 in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.
In addition to the touch panel 11, the reset key 12, and the magnetic card reader 13, the payment terminal 1 includes a printer 14, a processor 15, a main memory 16, an auxiliary storage device 17, a communication interface 18, and a bus 19 inside the main body 10.
The printer 14 prints a payment slip or the like.

The processor 15, the main memory 16, and the auxiliary storage device 17 are connected by a bus 19 to form a computer that controls a payment terminal 1.
The processor 15 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 15 controls each part in order to realize various functions as the payment terminal 1 according to the operating system and the application program.

The main memory 16 corresponds to the main memory portion of the computer. The main memory 16 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 16 stores an operating system and an application program in a non-volatile memory area. Further, the main memory 16 may store data necessary for the processor 15 to execute various information processing in a non-volatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 16 uses a volatile memory area as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 15.

The auxiliary storage device 17 corresponds to the auxiliary storage portion of the computer. The auxiliary storage device 17 is, for example, an EEPROM (electric erasable programmable read-only memory). However, the auxiliary storage device 17 may be another storage device such as an HDD (hard disk drive) or an SSD (solid state drive). The auxiliary storage device 17 stores data used by the processor 15 for performing various types of information processing and data generated by processing by the processor 15. The auxiliary storage device 17 may store the above application program.

One of the application programs stored in the auxiliary storage device 17 is a payment processing application 17a, which is a program describing information processing for payment. Further, one of the application programs stored in the auxiliary storage device 17 is an instruction manual application 17b, which is a program describing information processing described later. A part of the storage area of the auxiliary storage device 17 is used to store the operation screen file group 17c and the instruction manual file group 17d. The operation screen file group 17c is a set of a plurality of operation screen files each representing a plurality of operation screens for receiving an operation by an operator for payment. The instruction manual file group 17d is a set of a plurality of instruction manual files each representing a screen for instructing the operator of the operation method.

The communication interface 18 is an interface for data communication via LAN2. For example, the communication interface 18 performs a process for the processor 15 to perform data communication with the POS terminal 3 via the LAN 2 or with the payment server 5 via the LAN 2 and the communication network 4.

Next, the operation of the payment terminal 1 configured as described above will be described.
The payment terminal 1 has a first mode and a second mode as operation modes. The first mode is a normal mode for executing information processing for payment. In the state where the first mode is set, the processor 15 executes information processing for payment according to the operation of the operator based on the payment processing application 17a. This information processing may be similar to, for example, the processing performed by an existing payment terminal of the same type.
In order to receive an operation by the operator for payment, the processor 15 displays the operation screens represented by the operation screen files included in the operation screen file group 17c on the touch panel 11 in a predetermined order according to the operation by the operator. To display. That is, the payment terminal 1 employs a hierarchical menu as a user interface.
In the hierarchical menu, for example, the upper layer menu is assigned items for each function or each item, and the lower layer menu is a selection screen for options that must be selected for each function or each item. Alternatively, an input screen or the like for displaying an input field for data to be input is sequentially displayed in a predetermined order. Therefore, by sequentially selecting or inputting desired items at each stage of the menu of a plurality of stages, it is possible to prevent omission of operations related to selection of items required for each information processing, data input, and the like.
However, the list of operations is poor, and it takes time to master the operations. For example, it is difficult to understand what kind of hierarchical menu should be followed and how to execute desired information processing. In addition, since it is not possible to predict what kind of selection and data input required for lower layer menus will appear in what order when operating the upper layer menu, it may be confusing or operation when operating the lower layer menu. It is a mistake win. Then, when a selection error or the like is found in the lower-level menu, in order to eliminate the selection error, it is necessary to identify the wrong hierarchical menu and redo the operation while sequentially returning to the upper-level menu.

In the present embodiment, the payment terminal 1 can selectively execute some processes such as credit card payment and point payment in the first mode. These plurality of processing options will be referred to as medium items below. Then, it is assumed that a plurality of medium items are classified into some major items. For example, the middle items of "credit card settlement" and "point settlement" both belong to the "major item" of "sales".

On the other hand, the second mode is a mode for performing a process for the operator to master the operation in the first mode described above. When the setting of the second mode is instructed by a predetermined operation on the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 11 in the first mode, the processor 15 starts information processing based on the instruction manual application 17b. The content of the process described below is an example, and various processes capable of obtaining similar results can be appropriately used.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of information processing of the processor 15 based on the instruction manual application 17b.
As Act1, the processor 15 displays a large item screen on the touch panel 11. The large item screen is a screen that imitates an operation screen for allowing the operator to select a large item in the first mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one of the operation screens for allowing the operator to select a major item in the first mode.
The operation screen 20 shown in FIG. 4 is a screen for receiving an operation of designating a major item by pressing the buttons 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. The operation screen 20 includes a button 26. The operation of touching the button 26 is an example of the operation of setting the second mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a large item screen as an example.
The large item screen 30 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the touch panel 11 as Act 1 when the information processing shown in FIG. 3 is started in response to the touch of the button 26 on the operation screen 20.
The large item screen 30 has the same layout as the operation screen 20 and includes buttons 21 to 26. However, the color of the hatched area is different from that of the operation screen 20 so that the operator can recognize that the large item screen 30 is different from the operation screen 20. Further, although the touch operation for the buttons 21 to 25 is valid, the touch operation for the button 26 is invalid. However, the touch operation on the button 26 on the large item screen 30 may be enabled as an operation for instructing the end of the second mode, for example.

As Act2, the processor 15 waits for a major item to be specified. Then, when the touch panel 11 detects an operation of designating one of the major items by, for example, touching the buttons 21 to 25, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act2 and proceeds to Act3.
As Act3, the processor 15 causes the touch panel 11 to display the middle item screen. The middle item screen is a screen imitating an operation screen (not shown) for causing the operator to select a middle item belonging to a large item designated by the operator in the first mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a middle item screen as an example.
The middle item screen 40 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed by the processor 15 in response to the touch of the button 21 on the large item screen 30. The middle item screen 40 includes buttons 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45, and imitates an operation screen for receiving an operation for designating a middle item by touching these buttons 41 to 45. Like the large item screen 30, the middle item screen 40 also has the same layout as the corresponding operation screen, and the color of the area indicated by hatching is different from the corresponding operation screen.

As Act 4, the processor 15 waits for the designation of the middle item. Then, when the touch panel 11 detects an operation for designating one of the middle items, such as a touch operation for buttons 41 to 45, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act4 and proceeds to Act5.
As Act5, the processor 15 acquires the instruction manual file associated with the designated middle item from the instruction manual file group 17d. In addition, one of the instruction manual files included in the instruction manual file group 17d is associated with each of the plurality of middle items in advance.

In this embodiment, a multi-page document file is used as the instruction manual file. As the instruction manual file, for example, a PDF (portable document format) file can be used. The first page of the instruction manual file shows a simulated image generated by reducing the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 11 in the first mode. Further, the second page of the instruction manual file shows a description regarding the operation of the operation screen corresponding to the simulated image on the first page. The description may span multiple pages, so the manual file may include the third and subsequent pages.

As Act6, the processor 15 causes the touch panel 11 to display a confirmation screen based on the above-acquired instruction manual file. The confirmation screen is a screen for allowing the operator to confirm the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 11 in the first mode.
Specifically, the processor 15 generates a confirmation screen by combining a GUI (graphical user interface) image predetermined for the confirmation screen with the image shown on the first page of the acquired manual file. do.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen as an example.
The confirmation screen 50 shown in FIG. 7 is a GUI image as a whole, and a simulated image 51 is combined with the central region thereof. The GUI image of the confirmation screen 50 includes buttons 52, 53, 54, 55. The button 52 is operated by the operator to instruct the display of the confirmation screen regarding the operation screen one step before. The button 53 is operated by the operator to instruct the display of the confirmation screen regarding the operation screen after one step. The button 54 is operated by the operator to scroll up the simulated image 51. The button 55 is operated by the operator to scroll down the simulated image 51. The processor 15 has different display forms for the buttons 52 to 55 depending on whether the operation by the button is valid or invalid. In FIG. 7, buttons 53 and 54 are valid and buttons 53 and 55 are invalid. Then, the processor 15 proceeds to Act7 with the confirmation screen displayed.

As Act 7, the processor 15 confirms whether or not the change of the item to be displayed is instructed. Then, the processor 15 determines No if the instruction is not given, and proceeds to Act8.
As Act8, the processor 15 confirms whether or not the simulated image is touched. Then, the processor 15 determines No if the operation is not performed, and returns to Act7.
Thus, the processor 15 waits for Act7 and Act8 to be instructed to change the item or to touch the simulated image.

When the confirmation screen 50 is displayed, the operator touches the button 52 or the button 53 when he / she wants to confirm an operation screen different from the operation screen imitated by the simulated image 51. Then, if such an operation is detected on the touch panel 11, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act7 and returns to Act5. In this case, the instruction manual file acquired by the processor 15 as Act 5 relates to the operation screen one step before when the button 52 is touched, and one step after when the button 53 is touched. As a result, the processor 15 updates the confirmation screen displayed on the touch panel 11 to the operation screen one step before or one step after.

As a result, the operator can sequentially check each operation screen in the first mode in the display order in the first mode. When the processor 15 executes the information processing based on the instruction manual application 17b in this way, the computer having the processor 15 as the central part functions as the first processing means.
Then, the operator touches the simulated image 51, for example, when he / she wants to confirm the operation on the operation screen imitated by the simulated image 51 on the confirmation screen 50. When such an operation is detected by the touch panel 11, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act8 and proceeds to Act9.

As Act9, the processor 15 displays an explanation screen on the touch panel 11. Specifically, the processor 15 generates an explanation screen by combining a GUI image predetermined for the explanation screen with the image shown on the second page of the instruction manual file acquired by Act5.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an explanatory screen as an example.
The explanation screen 60 shown in FIG. 8 is a GUI image as a whole, and the second page of the document indicated by the instruction manual file is combined as the explanation image 61 in the central area thereof. The GUI image of the explanation screen 60 includes buttons 62 and 63. The button 62 is operated by the operator to change the explanatory image 61 to the image of the next page in the instruction manual file. The button 63 is operated by the operator to change the explanatory image 61 to the image of the previous page in the instruction manual file. The processor 15 has different display forms for the buttons 62 and 63 depending on whether the operation by the button is valid or invalid. In FIG. 8, the button 62 is valid and the button 63 is invalid. Thus, when the processor 15 executes information processing based on the instruction manual application 17b, the computer having the processor 15 as a central part functions as a second processing means. Then, the processor 15 proceeds to Act10 with the explanation screen displayed.

As Act 10, the processor 15 confirms whether or not the change of the page to be displayed is instructed. Then, the processor 15 determines No if the instruction is not given, and proceeds to Act 11.
As Act 11, the processor 15 confirms whether or not the reset key 12 has been pressed. Then, the processor 15 determines No if the reset key 12 is not pressed, and returns to Act 10.
Thus, the processor 15 waits for the Act 10 and the Act 11 to be instructed to change the page or to press the reset key 12.

For example, when the operator wants to confirm the explanation on the next page of the explanation image 61 on the explanation screen 60, he / she touches the button 62. When such an operation is detected by the touch panel 11, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act10 and returns to Act9. Then, in this case, the processor 15 uses Act9 to generate a new explanation screen by combining the GUI image for the explanation screen with the image shown on the third page of the instruction manual file acquired in Act5 as the explanation image. Is displayed on the touch panel 11.

As a result, the operator confirms any page among the plurality of pages after the second page when the instruction manual file corresponding to the operation screen to be confirmed is composed of three or more pages. can. Then, the operator presses the reset key 12 if he / she wants to return the display of the touch panel 11 to the confirmation screen after confirming the explanation. Then, the processor 15 determines Yes in Act11, returns to Act6, and repeats the subsequent processing in the same manner as described above.

As described above, according to the payment terminal 1, the operator confirms the operation screens of each step in the first mode on the confirmation screen in the order according to the display order in the first mode, and performs each operation. You can check the explanation about the screen as needed. As a result, the operation method on a plurality of operation screens can be simulated and experienced, and the operator can easily become familiar with the operation.

Further, according to the payment terminal 1, the confirmation screen represents a simulated image obtained by reducing the operation screen displayed in the first mode. Therefore, while it is possible to confirm the actual operation screen from the simulated image, it is possible to prevent the confirmation screen from being confused with the actual operation screen.

This embodiment can be modified in various ways as follows.
As long as the information processing is executed according to the operation by the operator on the plurality of operation screens, it can be carried out based on the technical idea of the above-described embodiment in the device that performs arbitrary information processing other than the payment processing.

Various operations can be changed arbitrarily. For example, the processor 15 may set Act 8 to check whether or not the reset key 12 has been pressed. That is, pressing the reset key 12 may be an operation for instructing the display of the explanation screen. Further, for example, the processor 15 may be set as Act 11 to check whether or not the explanatory image is touched. That is, the touch on the explanation screen may be an operation for instructing the display of the confirmation screen.

The confirmation screen may represent a simulated image on the entire surface thereof. In this case, it is preferable to make the distinction easy by, for example, making the color of a part of the simulated image different from the corresponding operation screen. In this case, the plurality of operations during the display of the confirmation screen may be distinguished by, for example, the difference in the touch position and the touch form in the confirmation screen.

One or both of the confirmation screen and the explanation screen may be displayed on the display device of the external device. For example, screen data representing each screen may be transmitted to an information terminal owned by the operator by wireless communication and displayed on the display device of the information terminal. In this case, the operation by the operator while displaying each screen is input by the input device of the information terminal, and the result is notified to the payment terminal 1 by wireless communication.

The simulated image and the explanatory image corresponding to one operation screen may be prepared as separate files. Further, the plurality of explanatory images may be prepared as separate files.

The hardware of the payment terminal 1 and the application program which is the procedure of information processing executed on the hardware may be transferred to the user of the payment terminal 1 by the same business operator, or may be transferred by different business operators. Each may be transferred individually. When the same business operator transfers the hardware of the payment terminal 1 and the application program to the user of the payment terminal 1, the application program is generally the main memory 16 or the auxiliary storage device 17 which is the hardware of the payment terminal 1. It is transferred in the state of being memorized in. However, even in the case of such a transfer, the application program does not necessarily have to be stored in the main memory 16 or the auxiliary storage device 17 which is the hardware of the payment terminal 1. For example, it may be transferred in a state of being recorded on a removable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, etc., which is not the hardware of the payment terminal 1, or it may be transferred by downloading from a network resource. Is also good.

Each function realized by the processor 15 by information processing can also be realized by hardware that executes information processing that is not based on a program such as a logic circuit or the like. Further, each of the above-mentioned functions can be realized by combining software control with the above-mentioned hardware such as a logic circuit.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
The inventions described in the original claims of the present application are described below.
[Appendix 1] An information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set.
When the second mode is set, confirmation screens including simulated images imitating the plurality of operation screens are displayed in an order according to the display order of the plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set. The first processing means for performing the processing for
When one of the confirmation screens is displayed, the operation screen imitated by the simulated image included in the displayed confirmation screen in response to a predetermined operation being performed. A second processing means for displaying an explanation screen showing an explanation about
Information processing device equipped with.
[Appendix 2] The first processing means uses an image in which a part of the display form of the operation screen is changed as the simulated image.
The information processing device according to Appendix 1.
[Appendix 3] Further equipped with a display device
The first processing means controls the display device to display the confirmation screen.
The information processing device according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2.
[Appendix 4] The second processing means controls the display device so as to display the explanation screen.
The information processing device according to Appendix 3.
[Supplementary Note 5] The first processing means is described before displaying the explanation screen in response to a predetermined operation performed when one of the explanation screens is displayed by the display device. Display the confirmation screen displayed by the display device on the display device.
The information processing device according to Appendix 4.
[Appendix 6] A computer that controls an information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set.
When the second mode is set, confirmation screens including simulated images imitating the plurality of operation screens are displayed in an order according to the display order of the plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set. The first processing means for performing the processing for
When one of the confirmation screens is displayed, the operation screen imitated by the simulated image included in the displayed confirmation screen in response to a predetermined operation being performed. A second processing means for displaying an explanation screen showing an explanation about
A program to make it work.

1 ... Payment terminal, 2 ... LAN, 3 ... POS terminal, 4 ... Communication network, 5 ... Payment server, 10 ... Main unit, 11 ... Touch panel, 12 ... Reset key, 13 ... Magnetic card reader, 14 ... Printer, 15 ... Processor , 16 ... Main memory, 17 ... Auxiliary storage device, 17a ... Payment processing application, 17b ... Manual application, 17c ... Operation screen file group, 17d ... Manual file group, 18 ... Communication interface, 19 ... Bus.

Claims (6)

An information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set.
When the second mode is set according to a predetermined operation on the operation screen, a simulated image simulating each of the plurality of operation screen to display one of the plurality of check screen including each , Performs a process for changing the confirmation screen to be displayed in an order according to the display order of the plurality of operation screens at the time of setting the first mode according to the operation on the confirmation screen being displayed. 1 processing means and
When one of the plurality of check screen has been displayed, in response to the operation defined in advance has been made, the said simulated image contained in the confirmation screen being displayed is imitating A second processing means for displaying an explanation screen showing an explanation about the operation screen, and
Information processing device equipped with. The first processing means uses an image in which a part of the display form of the operation screen is changed as the simulated image.
The information processing device according to claim 1. With more display devices
The first processing means controls the display device to display the confirmation screen.
The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2. The second processing means controls the display device to display the explanation screen.
The information processing device according to claim 3. The first processing means displays by the display device before displaying the explanation screen in response to a predetermined operation performed when one of the explanation screens is displayed by the display device. Display the confirmation screen that has been displayed on the display device.
The information processing device according to claim 4. A computer that controls an information processing device that executes information processing according to an operation by an operator on a plurality of operation screens when the first mode is set.
When the second mode is set according to a predetermined operation on the operation screen, a simulated image simulating each of the plurality of operation screen to display one of the plurality of check screen including each , Performs a process for changing the confirmation screen to be displayed in an order according to the display order of the plurality of operation screens at the time of setting the first mode according to the operation on the confirmation screen being displayed. The first processing means and
When one of the plurality of check screen has been displayed, in response to the operation defined in advance has been made, the said simulated image contained in the confirmation screen being displayed is imitating A second processing means for displaying an explanation screen showing an explanation about the operation screen, and
A program to make it work.

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