Information processing method and apparatus

• US 8,166,395 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Omi, Hiromi, Yamada, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Application Number:
  US11/277,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715/709, 715/708, 345/156
• US Class Current: 715/709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 providing an audible output to the user

Abstract

An information processing apparatus having the action modes, including an operating mode for performing an operation on the apparatus and an explaining mode for presenting an explanation corresponding to the operation on the apparatus presents the explanation for an operation input made in the explaining mode and stores the operation input. And it makes a movement from the explaining mode to the operating mode as well as executes the action according to the operation input stored in storage unit in accordance with a preset first operation input.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having an operating mode for performing an operation on the apparatus and an explaining mode for presenting an explanation describing an operation on the apparatus, comprising:

a presentation unit constructed to present the explanation for an operation in the explaining mode;

a storage unit constructed to store a history of user inputs; and

a movement control unit constructed to switch from the explaining mode to the operating mode and to perform an operation according to the history of user inputs stored in said storage unit, responsive to a preset first user input,

wherein said movement control unit switches from the explaining mode to the operating mode without performing an operation according to the history of user inputs stored in the storage unit, responsive to a preset second user input, and

wherein in the case that the history of user inputs indicates an operation to an input device that is not automatically restored to a previous status and there is selection of the preset second user input, said movement control unit instructs the user to restore the input device to the previous status, and switches from the explaining mode to the operating mode after confirming that the input device has been restored to the previous status.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement control unit switches to the explaining mode in response to the preset second user input.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said movement control unit switches from said explaining mode to said operating mode in response to the first user input, after confirming that the status of every input device on the apparatus has been restored to the status that it was in immediately before switching to the explaining mode.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a manual input switching unit movable from a first position to a second position.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the manual input switching unit is movable to at least three positions.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the movement control unit instructs the user to restore the input device to the previous status by identifying which of the at least three positions to which the manual input switching unit should be moved.

7. An information processing method of an apparatus having an operating mode for performing an operation on the apparatus and an explaining mode for presenting an explanation describing an operation on the apparatus, comprising:

a presentation step of presenting the explanation for an operation in said explaining mode;

a storage step of storing a history of user inputs in a storage unit; and

a movement control step of switching from the explaining mode to the operating mode and performing an operation according to the history of user inputs stored in the storage unit, responsive to a preset first user input,

wherein said movement control step switches from the explaining mode to the operating mode without performing an operation according to the history of user inputs stored in the storage step, responsive to a preset second user input, and

wherein in the case that the history of user inputs indicates an operation to an input device that is not automatically restored to a previous status and there is selection of the preset second user input, said movement control step instructs the user to restore the input device to the previous status, and switches from the explaining mode to the operating mode after confirming that the input device has been restored to the previous status.

8. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein said movement control step comprises switching to the operating mode in response to the preset second user input.

9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein said movement control step comprises switching from the explaining mode to the operating mode in response to the first user input, after confirming that the status of every input device on the apparatus has been restored to the status that it was in immediately before switching to the explaining mode.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for enabling a computer to perform the information processing method according to claim 7.

11. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the input device is a manual input switching unit movable from a first position to a second position.

12. The information processing method according to claim 11, wherein the manual input switching unit is movable to at least three positions.

13. The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the movement control step instructs the user to restore the input device to the previous status by identifying which of the at least three positions to which the manual input switching unit should be moved.