The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2001
Michiaki Konno, Yokohama, JP;
Other;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus, method and program having a help function allow a user to obtain help information after first checking what help information is available at a host computer. In the image-forming apparatus , a first CPU which serves as the controller in a printer/scanner section accesses, via an external interface , an information source connected to a network NW, and has a list of help information displayed. In response to a help request selected and input from a control panel , necessary portions of detailed operating instructions or troubleshooting instructions are successively downloaded from the information source through the external interface and displayed on a control panel. The apparatus makes it possible to check what help information is available at a host computer and to obtain desired help information. Information capable of providing detailed instructions can be furnished without requiring the apparatus to have a large memory.