JP2010152680A - Information processing apparatus, document creation system, program and document - Google Patents

Abstract

In an information processing apparatus such as a PC, when the internal configuration is changed due to the addition of H / W or S / W, document information is automatically updated so as to conform to the configuration of the new information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus that performs re-creation is provided.
When a PC is shipped, only a base manual, which is document information describing only a minimum explanation corresponding to the PC, is mounted on the PC use manual 402. The PC is the H / W and S / W installed in the PC when connected to the network, and the H / W and S / W manuals that do not have manuals are acquired from the server and used to include the manuals. By creating a manual, the user always has a use manual adapted to the internal configuration without the user's knowledge.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and relates to an information processing apparatus, a document creation system, a program, and a document created by the information processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, a document such as a use manual attached to an electronic device is distributed in the form of a printed matter. In recent years, there are cases where a manual for use of an electronic device is distributed as a document file via a communication network such as the Internet, or is distributed by attaching a CD-ROM or the like to the electronic device.

  However, depending on the electronic device, the configuration may differ depending on the model and other reasons, and it is a great burden to create a manual for each device and attach it individually for each device. Conventionally, the usage manual may be composed of the contents of the maximum configuration including all the configurations that may be adopted in the models so that it can be used in common with some models. For this reason, functions that are not installed in electronic devices owned by the user may be described, resulting in difficulty in viewing and an increase in size.

In view of this, an instruction display device for an electronic device has been proposed in which an instruction manual is acquired from a server and the acquired instruction manual is edited so as to correspond to the mounting of the electronic device (Patent Document 1). See).
JP 2005-78282 A

  In some information processing apparatuses such as PCs (Personal Computers), hardware (HW) and software (SW) are added and deleted at the time of shipment or after shipment, and the internal configuration is often changed.

  Currently, when the internal configuration is changed by adding HW and SW in the information processing device, the user must obtain the usage manual for the added configuration from the server. It is a burden for the user to grasp and acquire from the server.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and when the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus is changed by adding HW and SW in the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus is automatically adapted to the configuration of the information processing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus for creating a document, a document creation system, a program, and a document created by the information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that creates a document that conforms to the information processing apparatus, the detection unit detecting that hardware or software has been added to the information processing apparatus, Obtaining means for obtaining document information relating to the hardware or software detected by the detecting means; and creating means for creating the document so as to include the document information obtained by the obtaining means. It is a feature.

The document creation system according to the present invention is a document creation system including a server and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the server, and the server relates to hardware or software that can be installed in the information processing apparatus. Storage means for storing document information, wherein the information processing device detects that hardware or software has been added to the information processing device; and the hardware or software acquired by the detection means It is characterized by having acquisition means for acquiring document information on the storage means from the storage means, and creation means for creating the document so as to include the document information acquired by the acquisition means.

Further, the program according to the present invention is a program executed by the information processing apparatus for creating a document suitable for the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus includes hardware or software added to the apparatus. Is detected, document information relating to the detected hardware or software is acquired, and the document is created so as to include the acquired document information.

The document according to the present invention is a document that is created by an information processing device and is suitable for the information processing device, and includes a detection step of detecting hardware or software to which the information processing device is added, and the detection An acquisition step in which the information processing apparatus acquires document information related to the hardware or software detected in the step;
The information processing apparatus is created by a creation step of creating a document so as to include the document information acquired by the acquisition step.

  The present invention can realize an information processing apparatus capable of acquiring document information for automatically changing a document and creating the document of the information processing apparatus when it is desired to change the document.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a usage manual creation system in the present embodiment. 1 shows a PC 100, a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an optical disk 104, an ODD 105, an LCD 106, a GPU 107, a network I / F 108, an HDD 109, a configuration monitoring unit 110, a manual update monitoring unit 111, a creation unit 112, a bus 113, a LAN 120, and a WAN 121. , LAN 122, server 130, processing unit 131, network I / F 132, HDD 133, and bus 134 are shown. In the present embodiment, a description will be given taking a use manual as an example of a document, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to other documents, and a tutorial or the like can be considered as another application example.

  The PC 100 is, for example, a personal computer, and is an information processing apparatus that performs various processes in response to a request from a user.

The CPU 101 is a central processing unit and controls the entire PC 100. It also has a function of executing a program and executing a predetermined process corresponding to the program.

The ROM 102 is constituted by a semiconductor memory and stores a program executed by the CPU 101.

  The RAM 103 is composed of a semiconductor memory and is used as a program and data development area when the CPU 101 processes the program.

The optical disk 104 is, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), and stores programs, data information, and the like used by the PC 100 as removable media. In this embodiment, the optical disk 104 is exemplified as the removable medium, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The ODD 105 is an optical disk drive and has a function of reading and writing information on the optical disk 104.

  The LCD 106 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and has a function of displaying image information output from the PC 100 to the user.

The GPU 107 is a semiconductor chip for image processing, and has a function of generating an image according to a drawing instruction from the CPU 101 and outputting it to the LCD 106.

  The network I / F 108 is connected to the LAN 120, and the LAN 120 and the PC 100 are communicably connected.

The HDD 109 is a magnetic disk device, for example, and is used as a non-volatile area for storing data of the PC 100. A stored program or data can be read out according to an instruction from the CPU 101. Further, the HDD 109 stores use manual information of the PC 100. In the present embodiment, a manual that is a document that describes usage of the entire PC 100 is referred to as a usage manual, and a manual that is document information that describes the configuration of each of the HW, SW, etc. is simply referred to as a manual.

  The configuration monitoring unit 110 has a function of monitoring the configuration of the HW and SW of the PC 100. When there is an addition / deletion of HW and SW in the PC 100, the addition / deletion is detected as detection means, and the detected configuration is notified to the creating unit 112. When the PC 100 is connected to the network for the first time, the configuration of the HW mounted on the PC 100 and the SW set up first is recognized, and the configuration is notified to the creation unit 112.

  The manual update monitoring unit 111 has a function of monitoring an update state of a manual stored in the server 130 as an update confirmation unit, and notifying the creation unit 112 of the update information if the manual information is updated.

The creation unit 112 acquires manual information of a configuration added to the PC 100 from the server 130 or updated manual information in the server 130 in response to a notification from the configuration monitoring unit 110 or the manual update monitoring unit 111 as an acquisition unit. Also, it has a function of creating a use manual of the PC 100 stored in the HDD 109 as a creation means. In this embodiment, the use manual stored in the HDD 109 is read out, the use manual is created in the temporary storage area in the creation unit 112, and stored in the HDD 109 again after the processing is completed.

  The bus 113 connects the modules of the PC 100 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The LAN 120 is, for example, a local area network, and connects the WAN 121 and the PC 100 to enable data transmission / reception.

  The WAN 121 is, for example, a wide area network, and is connected to the LAM 120 and the LAN 122 and connects the PC 100 and the server 130 via the LAN 120 and the LAN 122 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The LAN 122 is, for example, a local area network, and connects the WAN 121 and the server 130 to enable data transmission / reception.

These LAN 120, WAN 121, LAN 122, etc. function as communication means between the PC 100 and the server 130.

  The server 130 is a server that collectively stores the latest various manuals. The PC 100 can obtain a manual from the server 130. The manual provider can add a manual to the server 130 and edit the manual stored in the server 130.

  The processing unit 131 controls the entire server 130 and has a function of performing various processes related to the server 130.

  The network I / F 132 is connected to the LAN 122, and the server 130 and the LAN 122 are communicably connected.

  The HDD 133 is, for example, a magnetic disk device, and stores various latest manuals of the PC 100 collectively as a storage unit of the server 130.

  The bus 134 connects the modules in the server 130 so that they can communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an update process for a use manual in the PC 100 in the present embodiment.

  In the state where the PC 100 is provided to the user and the user has not yet made the initial network connection of the PC 100, only the base manual on which explanations of common functions are mounted is installed. The description of the common function here refers to a minimum description corresponding to the PC 100, such as how to turn on the power supply and how to clean the PC 100. Thus, before the first network connection, the PC 100 is equipped with only a base manual describing only a minimum explanation. The base manual also describes a network connection method, an optical disk 104 reading method, and the like.

  When the PC 100 is connected to the network for the first time, it obtains a manual of the HW mounted on the PC 100 and the SW to be set up from the server 130, and creates a use manual that matches the internal configuration of the PC 100. HW here refers to ODD, HDD, USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. including HW mounted on PC 100 from the beginning. The SW set up refers to the SW of utility software set up before the first PC 100 network connection. The PC 100 acquires these HW and SW usage manuals from the server 130, and creates a usage manual that matches the internal configuration of the PC 100 together with the usage manual that is installed in the PC 100 from the beginning. As a result, the base manual, the HW manual, and the SW manual information are included in the use manual on the PC 100.

  Also, during normal use of the PC 100, the use manual is regenerated as needed according to the HW / SW addition / deletion status of the PC 100. In addition, when the usage manual stored in the server 130 is updated, the usage manual for the PC 100 is created as needed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the database 300 in which manuals are stored in the server 130 in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a database 300, a group A301, a group B302, and a group C303.

  The database 300 is an area that is stored in the HDD 133 and has information on various base manuals, HW manuals, and SW manuals. The database 300 includes a group A 301 that holds a base manual, a group B 302 that holds an HW manual, and a group C 303 that holds an SW manual.

  The group A301 is an area having various base manuals, and collectively holds the base manuals that are initially installed in each PC machine. There is a base manual for each model of each machine, and the contents are divided by item. The base manual will be updated and revised when there are revisions. When revisions are made, the base manual and revision information for each item are updated.

  Group B302 is an area having various HW manuals. Stores manuals for each model related to ODD, HDD, USB, etc. The revision information is also updated when this HW manual is revised.

  Group C303 is an area having various SW manuals. Stores manuals for each version of SW such as utility software. In addition, revision information of this SW manual is also updated by revision up.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional use manual configuration of the PC 100 and a use manual configuration in the present embodiment. FIG. 4-1 shows an example of a conventional use manual configuration, and FIG. 4-2 shows an example of a use manual creation situation in the present embodiment.

Here, the PC 100 has common functions A, B, C and hardware D at the first network connection, and software G is set up. Later, the PC 100 adds hardware F and further sets up software H. Finally, software G shall be uninstalled. Further, it is assumed that the description of the function B of the base manual held by the group A301 of the database 300 of the server 130 is revised and changed.

FIG. 4A shows an example of the configuration of a conventional use manual. The use manual 401 includes common functions A, B, C, hardware D, E, F, and software G from the first startup of the PC 100. , H and I are described. The use manual 401 is not updated when HW and SW are added / deleted or changed to the manual of the server 130.

FIG. 4B shows an example of the creation status of the use manual of the PC 100 in the present embodiment. The use manual 402 in this embodiment includes only the base manual when the PC 100 is first activated. When connecting to the first PC 100 network, the configuration monitoring unit 110 recognizes the HW mounted on the PC 100 and the SW set up first. In this embodiment, since the hardware D is first installed in the PC 100 and the software G is set up, the PC 100 acquires the manual of the hardware D and the software G from the server 130 via the network, and matches the usage manual 402. A usage manual is created, and a usage manual 403 is created. When the hardware F is added to the PC 100 later and the software H is set up, the PC 100 again creates a use manual that conforms to the internal configuration of the PC 100. The PC 100 creates a new usage manual by combining the hardware F and software H manuals acquired from the server 130 and the usage manual 403 to create the usage manual 404. Further, when the software G is uninstalled from the PC 100 and the description of the common function B is changed with respect to the base manual on the database 300 on the server 130, the PC 100 updates the manual of the common function B from the server 130. Acquire and delete the manual of the software G from the use manual 404 and rewrite the manual of the common function B to create the use manual 405.

The conventional use manual 401 describes hardware F and software I that are completely unrelated to the PC 100. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to see, and the storage area in the PC 100 uses a lot of unnecessary data in the use manual 401. In addition, even if the usage manual 401 stored in the PC 100 is incomplete, the usage manual 401 is not automatically updated. Therefore, if the user wants to update the usage manual 401 to the revised version, the user himself / herself from the Web It is necessary to download the revised usage manual and update the usage manual 401 of the PC 100. However, when the PC 100 in this embodiment is added / deleted to the internal configuration, the configuration manual is added / deleted to the usage manual. Since the user manual is always configured with only the necessary manual, the user manual is easy to see for the user and the storage area in the PC 100 is not unnecessarily used. In addition, when the manual on the server 130 is changed, it is possible to automatically change the usage manual without the user's intervention in accordance with the change.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a display window of a usage manual displayed on the LCD 106 in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a display window 501, a configuration search display 502, a keyword search display 503, and a manual display 504.

In this embodiment, the use manual of the PC 100 is displayed by the display window 501. In the display window 501, a configuration search display 502, a keyword search display 503, and a manual display 504 are displayed.

In the configuration search display 502, the base manual, the HW manual, and the SW manual are initially displayed as the same level of the tree, and when any one is selected, the configuration belonging thereto is displayed as a lower layer of the tree. Further, when a configuration for browsing the manual is selected from among them, the manual of the configuration is displayed on the manual display 504.

The keyword search display 503 includes an area for entering a keyword and a search button. When a keyword is entered and the search button is clicked, a configuration related to the keyword is searched and displayed. When a configuration for which a manual is to be displayed is further clicked from among the displayed configurations, the manual of the selected configuration is displayed in the manual display 504.

The manual display 504 displays the manual of the configuration selected in the configuration search display 502 or the keyword search display 503. FIG. 5 illustrates a screen in which the hardware D is selected in the configuration search display 502 and the manual of the hardware D is displayed on the manual display 504.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a use manual creation process flow in the present embodiment.

First, the PC 100 is connected to the network by a user operation (S601). Next, the configuration monitoring unit 110 determines whether it is the first network connection (S602). If it is the first network connection of the PC 100 (Yes), the configuration monitoring unit 110 confirms the internal configuration of the PC 100 and notifies the creation unit 112 of information on the installed HW and the set up SW. The creation unit 112 acquires the manuals of the HW and SW from the database 300 in the server 130 based on the notified information of the HW and SW, and combines those manuals with the first use manual including the base manual. A use manual suitable for the internal configuration of the current PC 100 is created (S603). If it is determined in S602 that the PC 100 is not connected to the first network (No), the process proceeds to S604. Next, the manual update monitoring unit 111 determines whether or not the network connection of the PC 100 performed in S601 is the first network connection every month (S604). When the network connection is the first network connection every month (Yes), the manual update monitoring unit 111 checks the revision information of various manuals stored in the database 300 of the server 130 (S605), and the revision information is the PC 100. It is determined whether the revision information is the same as the revision information stored in the manual (S606). If there is a manual with different revision information (Yes), the manual update monitoring unit 111 notifies the creation unit 112. Upon receiving the notification, the creation unit 112 acquires the revised manual in the server 130, replaces it with the old revision manual in the use manual of the PC 100, and creates the latest use manual (S607).

In the present embodiment, the update status of the manual stored in the server 130 is exemplified based on the revision information. However, if it is a means that can determine the update status of the manual, this determination means includes It is not limited. As another example of the determination means, it is also possible to acquire manual update date / time information in the server 130 and compare it with the manual update date / time in the PC 100 to determine manual update. In this embodiment, the manual update status in the server 130 is checked by checking the manual update status at the first network connection every month. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Manual update is not limited to this. The confirmation period may not be every month, and the confirmation period may be arbitrarily set by the user.

When it is determined in S604 that the network connection is not the first PC 100 every month (No), when it is determined in S606 that there is no change in the manual on the database 300, and the latest use manual of the PC 100 is created in S607 When is finished, the flow proceeds to S608. In S608, the configuration monitoring unit 110 monitors the status of addition or deletion of the HW and SW of the PC 100. In S608, if HW or SW is added to the PC 100 (there is an addition), the configuration monitoring unit 110 notifies the creation unit 112 of the added configuration. Upon receipt of the notification, the creation unit 112 acquires the manual of the configuration from the server 130, creates a use manual suitable for the PC 100 together with the use manual for the PC 100 (S609), and returns to S608. If there is a deletion of HW or SW in S608 (with deletion), the configuration monitoring unit 110 notifies the creation unit 112 of the deleted configuration. Upon receipt of the notification, the creating unit 112 deletes the deleted configuration manual in the usage manual from the usage manual and creates the latest usage manual (S610). After creation, the processing flow returns to S608. When HW and SW are not added or deleted in S608 (No), the PC 100 waits for an instruction to disconnect the network of the PC 100 from the user (S611). While the network disconnection is not instructed (S611, No), the PC 100 returns to S608 and monitors the addition or deletion of the configuration. If an instruction to disconnect the network is given (S611, Yes), the PC 100 performs a network disconnection process (S612). This is the end of the use manual creation process flow in the present embodiment.

Using the PC in this embodiment, it is possible for the manual provider to provide the user with a usage manual suitable for the PC configuration without creating a manual corresponding to each model of the PC. Even if there is a revision, it is possible to provide the user with the updated manual on the server, and it is possible to reduce much time and effort as a provider.

In addition, since the PC usage manual in this embodiment consists of necessary manuals that match the configuration of the PC, the usage manual does not use the PC storage area as an unnecessary manual, and the conventional usage manual It is possible to reduce the storage area used compared to

In the present embodiment, the acquisition destination of the manual of the PC 100 is the server 130, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the manual can be acquired from a storage medium such as the optical disk 104. If the manual acquisition destination is set to the optical disc 104 instead of the server 130, the creation unit 112 can acquire the manual from the optical disc 104. Even when the manual is revised, the manual is updated. By setting the optical disc 104 storing the manual in the ODD 105, the manual update monitoring unit 111 can confirm the manual of the optical disc 104 and create a use manual.

  Using the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, when a user wants to create a new usage manual, the usage manual is automatically created without the user's awareness, and a usage manual that matches the configuration of the information processing apparatus is created. Is possible.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the use manual preparation system in this embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the update process of the use manual in PC in this embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the structure of the database in which a manual is stored in the server in this embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the conventional use manual structure of PC, and the use manual structure in this embodiment. The figure which showed an example of the display window of the usage manual displayed on LCD in this embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the use manual preparation process flow in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100: PC
101: CPU
102: ROM
103: RAM
104: Optical disc 105: ODD
106: LCD
107: GPU
108: Network I / F
109: HDD
110: Configuration monitoring unit 111: Manual update monitoring unit 112: Creation unit 113: Bus 120: LAN
121: WAN
122: LAN
130: Server 131: Processing unit 132: Network I / F
133: HDD
134: Bus 300: Database 301: Group A
302: Group B
303: Group C
401: Use manual 402: Use manual 403: Use manual 404: Use manual 405: Use manual 501: Display window 502: Configuration search display 503: Keyword search display 504: Manual display

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus for creating a document compatible with the information processing apparatus,
Detecting means for detecting that hardware or software is added to the information processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining document information relating to the hardware or software detected by the detecting means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a creation unit that creates the document so as to include the document information acquired by the acquisition unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit further includes a communication unit that communicates with an external communication device via a network, and acquires the document information via the communication unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit further includes a removable media device, and acquires the document information via the communication unit. Update confirmation means for confirming the update status of the document information with an external communication device via the communication means;
When the update confirmation means confirms that the acquired document information has been updated,
The said acquisition means acquires the said document information after an update via the said communication means, The said preparation means produces the said document so that the said updated document information may be included. Information processing device. A document creation system having a server and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the server,
The server
Storage means for storing document information related to hardware or software that can be installed in the information processing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus includes:
Detecting means for detecting that hardware or software is added to the information processing apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining document information relating to the hardware or software obtained by the detecting means from the storage means;
A document creation system comprising: creation means for creating the document so as to include the document information acquired by the acquisition means. The server
Update means for updating the document information stored by the storage means;
The information processing apparatus includes:
Update confirmation means for confirming the update status of the document information stored in the server;
When the update confirmation means confirms that the acquired document information has been updated,
The acquisition unit acquires the updated document information through communication with the server, and the creation unit creates the information processing apparatus document so as to include the updated document information. Item 6. The document creation system according to Item 5. A program that is executed by the information processing apparatus for creating a document that is compatible with the information processing apparatus,
The information processing device detects that hardware or software has been added to the device;
Obtain document information about the detected hardware or software,
A program for creating the document so as to include the acquired document information. Communicate further with external communication devices over the network,
Through communication, further check the update status of the document information stored in the external communication device,
When you check for document information updates,
Obtain the updated document information,
The program according to claim 7, wherein the document is created so as to include the updated document information. A document that is created by an information processing device and that is compatible with the information processing device,
A detection step of detecting hardware or software to which the information processing apparatus is added;
An acquisition step in which the information processing apparatus acquires document information related to the hardware or software detected by the detection step;
A document created by the creation step of creating a document by the information processing apparatus so as to include the document information obtained by the obtaining step.

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