Dynamically-switched supplemental information support system for a copier system

• US 6,601,159 B1
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Smith, Craig A., Byers, Mark A., Hartman, William R., Neary, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REAGAN, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US08/825,994
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 345/336, 345/338, 399/9, 399/11, 399/42, 399/81, 399/110, 712/29, 700/1-306
• US Class Current: 712/29
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14

Abstract

An integrated information support system (IISS) uses a stand-alone, large capacity memory device, such as a CD ROM, to enhance the user interface of a copier system. The IISS, providing system users with access to vast quantities of graphical, textual, video and audio information, is a separately controlled system which may be integrated with the normal control functions of the copier system. Information is retrieved from the memory device and presented to a system user either spontaneously, on-demand, or in response to specific system conditions such as faults. In a preferred embodiment, an expert coach controls the presentation of information and is capable of monitoring user actions to, for example, ensure a suggested course of action is actually being followed. The IISS may advantageously share existing user interface facilities, such as the copier system'"'"'s video monitor and button matrix. By providing users with access to a vast store of sophisticated reference, training and maintenance data, the integrated information support system can greatly reduce the need for formal user training and ongoing customer support of complex copier systems.

Claims

1. A supplemental information support system for a copier system having a central controller coupled to a user interface facility including a display device, said supplemental information support system comprising:

a stand-alone memory device storing user reference information;

a display controller coupled to the display device of the copier system; and

a control device coupled to the central controller of the copier system, said control device including a microprocessor-based controller, a memory controller coupled to said stand-alone memory device and a control interface coupled to said display controller, wherein said control device is programmed to selectively provide said supplemental information support system with exclusive control over the display device to present user reference information from said stand-alone memory device in response to at least one of a user input, a user action, or an operating condition of the copier system.

2. The supplemental information support system of claim 1, wherein said stand-alone memory device comprises an optical disc memory and said memory controller comprises an optical disc memory controller.

3. The supplemental information support system of claim 2, wherein said control device further comprises an internal memory device coupled to said microprocessor-based controller and said memory controller.

4. The supplemental information support system of claim 3, wherein said display controller comprises an application specific integrated circuit.

5. The supplemental information support system of claim 4, wherein said control device further comprises a bitmap controller coupled to said microprocessor-based controller, said memory controller and said display controller.

6. The supplemental information support system of claim 5, wherein the copier system has a network bus for communicating status information from a plurality of subsystems within the copier system, said control device further including a first bus interface coupled to the network bus.

7. The supplemental information support system of claim 6, wherein said display controller further comprises:

a second bus interface coupled to the network bus; and

a display memory.

8. The supplemental information support system of claim 7, wherein said stand-alone memory device further comprises a compact disc read-only memory.

9. The supplemental information support system of claim 2, wherein the copier system has a network bus for communicating status information from a plurality of subsystems within the copier system, said control device further including a first bus interface coupled to the network bus.

10. The supplemental information support system of claim 9, wherein said control device is configured to provide said supplemental information support system with exclusive control over the display device in response to status information received by said first bus interface.

11. The supplemental information support system of claim 10, wherein the user interface facility of the copier system further includes a user input device, said control device being coupled to the user input device.

12. The supplemental information support system of claim 11, wherein said control device further comprises an expert system coupled to said microprocessor-based controller, said memory controller and said first bus interface, said expert system comprising instructions for controlling retrieval of data from said stand-alone memory device for display at the display device in response to input from the user input device.

13. The supplemental information support system of claim 12, wherein the user input device comprises a button matrix.

14. The supplemental information support system of claim 13, wherein said stand-alone memory device comprises a compact disc read-only memory.

15. The supplemental information support system of claim 2, wherein the user interface facility of the copier system further includes a speaker for converting analog data into sound, said control device further comprising a digital-to-analog audio converter coupled to said microprocessor-based controller and said memory controller.

16. The supplemental information support system of claim 2, wherein the user interface facility of the copier system further includes a user input device, said control device being coupled to the user input device.

17. The supplemental information support system of claim 16, wherein the user input device comprises a button matrix.

18. The supplemental information support system of claim 16, wherein said control device is programmed to provide said supplemental information support system with exclusive control over the display device in response to input from the user input device.

19. A supplemental information support system for integration with an existing copier system, the existing copier system including a central controller, a memory, a user input device, a display device, and one or more sensors for monitoring operating conditions of the existing copier system, said supplemental information support system comprising:

a stand-alone memory device storing user reference information;

a memory controller coupled to said stand-alone memory device;

an expert system coupled to said memory controller, said expert system including instructions for initiating retrieval of information from said stand-alone memory device in response to at least one of a user input, a user action, or an operating condition of the existing copier system; and

a control interface coupled to the central controller of the existing copier system and to said expert system, said control interface being programmed to selectively provide said supplemental information support system with exclusive control over the user input device and the display device.

20. The supplemental information support system of claim 19, wherein said stand-alone memory device contains digitally-encoded representations of full-motion video information and audio information, said supplemental information support system further comprising:

a display controller coupled to said control interface and to the display device, said display controller being programmed to receive character tile image data originating from the existing copier system and bitmap image data originating from said stand-alone memory device.