On-line help method, software and system for network devices
First Claim
1. A method of helping a user in operating an image-forming device that is connected to a help server via a network, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a user key input sequence of user input keys at the image-forming device;
determining a user confusion state in operating the image-forming device based upon the monitored user key input sequence;
automatically downloading from the help server a relevant set of help information in accordance with the user confusion state; and
temporarily storing the relevant set of the help information in a temporary memory unit at the image-forming device in advance of a user help request for the relevant set of the help information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The on-line help or support system responds to a user help request in a responsive manner. In advance of the user help request, the on-line help system determines if the user is possibly in need of help information based upon the sequence of operational key inputs. The on-line help system monitors and analyzes the user key inputs according to a predetermined set of rules. In case of a possible confusion state for a certain operation for an image-forming device, the on-line help system obtains the corresponding relevant help information from a predetermined help server on the network even though the user has not yet requested for the help. The down loaded help information is stored in a cache memory.
30 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of helping a user in operating an image-forming device that is connected to a help server via a network, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a user key input sequence of user input keys at the image-forming device;
determining a user confusion state in operating the image-forming device based upon the monitored user key input sequence;
automatically downloading from the help server a relevant set of help information in accordance with the user confusion state; and
temporarily storing the relevant set of the help information in a temporary memory unit at the image-forming device in advance of a user help request for the relevant set of the help information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program for helping a user in operating an image-forming device that is connected to a help server via a network, performing the tasks of:
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monitoring a user key input sequence of user input keys at the image-forming device;
determining a user confusion state in operating the image-forming device based upon the monitored user key input sequence;
automatically downloading from the help server a relevant set of help information in accordance with the user confusion state; and
temporarily storing the relevant set of the help information in a temporary memory unit at the image-forming device in advance of a user help request for the relevant set of the help information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for helping a user in operating an image-forming device via a network, comprising:
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a help server connected to the network for storing help information; and
an image-forming device connected to the network and having a user input unit for monitoring a user key input sequence of user input keys and an information processing unit for determining a user confusion state in operating the image-forming device based upon the monitored user key input sequence, said image-forming device further including an I/O control unit for downloading from said help server a relevant set of the help information in accordance with the user confusion state, said image-forming device further including a temporary memory unit for temporarily storing the relevant set of the downloaded help information at the image-forming device in advance of a user help request for the relevant set of the help information. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification