JP2002056075A - Method for managing electronic bulletin board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a managing method of bulletin board which can effectively use question and answer information displayed on an electronic bulletin board. SOLUTION: If a question is not solved (No in step 1200) and it exceeds a previously decided period from the display of the question to present time without answer (NO in step 1202 and YES in step 1208), or if the number of the answers is under the number of monitored answers, which is previously decided, even if the answer is given and it exceeds the previously decided period from the display of the answer to present time (YES in step 1202, YES in step 1203 and YES in step 1208) or if the number of the answers is not less than the number of monitored answers, which is previously decided, and it exceeds the number of permitted answers, which is previously decided, even if the answer is given (YES in step 1202, NO in step 1203 and YES in step 1204) when a user gives the question, the state of the answer with respect to the question is reported to a maker side (step 1406). Thus, the answer to the question of the user can timely be given by giving the answer with respect to a report on the maker side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for operating an electronic bulletin board in which information can be written and read from an operation terminal connected to an online line such as the Internet via the online line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of information communication infrastructure in recent years, it has become possible for a personal computer (PC) to participate in a network as an information terminal to transmit and obtain various information. . Recently, the Internet has been known as a network that can be used easily, and information can be easily exchanged only by preparing a PC including a communication device, that is, bidirectional information exchange is possible. Using the advantages of this network, via networks such as PC communication and the Internet,
Electronic bulletin boards for exchanging information and discussing are known.

[0003] In an electronic bulletin board, information can be viewed and posted via a network. For example, when a question (question) is posted, a response is made to the question.
In some cases, this exchange is performed multiple times.
As a result, questions and answers can be made on the electronic bulletin board.

[0004]

However, a large number of non-specific users often post their own questions on the electronic bulletin board, and not all of them respond. For example, when an arbitrary question (question) is posted, there is a case where a response to the question is not made and the question is left. As described above, the user who has posted a question that has been left is in a state of waiting for a response without obtaining a clear answer to the question.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating an electronic bulletin board that can effectively use question information posted on the electronic bulletin board in consideration of the above fact.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method of operating an electronic bulletin board which allows information to be written and read from an operating terminal connected to an online line via the online line. When writing question information related to specific information received via the online line to the electronic bulletin board, and receiving response information related to the question information via the online line,
Writing the response information in association with the question information, when the response information was not received in a predetermined period,
Generates non-write information indicating non-write,
The non-writing information is reported.

[0007] In the present invention, question information related to specific information received via an online line from an operating terminal connected to an online line such as the Internet is written to an electronic bulletin board. This electronic bulletin board can be written and read from an operation terminal connected to an online line. The question information related to the specific information,
Refers to questions or confirmation items related to a certain matter or product. When such question and answer information is generated by a user, it is written to obtain a response to the questions and permission of confirmation items.

When the question information is written on the electronic bulletin board, a user who can prepare a response to the question writes the information from an arbitrary operation side terminal, and in response, sends response information related to the question information to an online line. The response information is written in association with the question information when received via the PC. In this case, the response information corresponds to the answer to the question or the confirmation item included in the question and answer information, its supplementary item, or the like.

[0009] However, there is a case where a response to the question is not made because the content of the question information is not intended or the content of the question information is too difficult.
In this case, no response information may be received.
Therefore, when the response information is not received within a predetermined period, non-write information indicating non-write is generated. The predetermined period includes a time statistically determined in advance, such as a period in which it is predicted that the response information will not be received even after the elapse of the predetermined period. Also,
The non-write information may simply be information indicating that there is no response information, and may be an item related to the operating terminal belonging to the question information (for example, a name specifying the operating terminal that transmitted the response information, the content of the question information or Information including summary, writing date, writing time, etc.) may be added. The name that specifies the operation-side terminal that has transmitted the query information is a name registered in advance, a so-called handle name, or the like.

By notifying the non-write information, it is possible to notify that the response information has not been written. For example, when the electronic bulletin board is managed by an administrator or the like, by recognizing the notification of the non-writing information, it is checked in what state the response information has not been written to the question information and deleted. Or measures can be taken to ensure that the response information is written.

The notification of the non-writing information includes writing the non-writing information to the electronic bulletin board as the notification. In this case, by writing in a form in which it is recognized that the information is non-writing information, it can be easily grasped.

In the present invention, a grasping terminal for grasping information belonging to the bulletin board may be registered in advance, and the notification may be transmitted to an grasping terminal which has registered the non-write information via an online line.

[0013] It is preferable that the notification of the non-write information is promptly answered by an operator or an administrator who can surely grasp the question information. Therefore, a grasping terminal belonging to the bulletin board manager capable of grasping information belonging to the bulletin board, such as a bulletin board manager, is registered in advance, and is directed to the grasping terminal that has registered the non-write information via an online line. Send. In this way, it is possible to promptly notify the manager or the like. Further, for example, in the case of an electronic bulletin board for writing and reading only information of a specific product, the grasping terminal that has registered the non-writing information can be used to reliably send response information related to the question information, such as the manufacturer of the product, online. When the terminal of the person who can send via the line,
The response information can be received reliably and promptly.

[0014] In the present invention, request information indicating a predetermined correspondence to the query information is further received from the operating terminal that transmitted the query information, and list information including items related to the operating terminal belonging to the response information is provided. May be generated, and the list information may be transmitted via an online line to the operating terminal that transmitted the question information.

Since the electronic bulletin board is operated by writing and reading the question information and the response information as described above, the identification of the operating terminal belonging to the response information cooperated with the effective use of the question information. From a viewpoint, it is important information. Especially when a lot of response information is written,
For example, it may be difficult to know from which operator terminal response information transmitted from which question information was completed. Therefore, request information indicating a predetermined correspondence to the question information is further received from the operating terminal that transmitted the question information, and list information including items related to the operating terminal belonging to the response information is generated.

The request information includes a read request from a user who wrote the question information and a specific request from the user. For example, a specific request may indicate that the question information has been completed, whereby the list information can be generated. The list information may include a list of names identifying at least the operating terminal that transmitted the response information, as an item related to the operating terminal belonging to the response information. Further, in addition to this name, information such as the number of transmitted response information, the content or the outline, and the mail address may be added, or the number of transmitted response information, the content or the outline of the same operation side terminal in the past. May be added. Here, the name that specifies the operation-side terminal that has transmitted the response information is a name registered in advance, a so-called handle name.

By transmitting the list information to the operating terminal that has transmitted the query information via the online line, the operating terminal performs an operation belonging to the response information performed for the transmitted query information. List information including items related to the local terminal is displayed. Thus, the operator who has transmitted the question information can view a list of items related to the operating terminal belonging to the response information that cooperated with him / her based on the list information. With this list information, it is possible to easily send information or mail for writing a thank you note.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment,
This is applied to the case where information is sent and received on a network by writing and reading based on question information and response information by an operator (a questioner and a responder). Further, in the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example where a question and answer to software provided by a manufacturer is performed using an electronic bulletin board.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a network system to which the present invention can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 80 includes a plurality of computers 82 operated by the same or different operators (a queryer and a responder) and a plurality of computers 84 operated by the same or different processing, respectively. Modem, router, TA
It is configured to be connected to a network (for example, the Internet) 88 via a connection device 86 such as a (terminal adapter). The plurality of computers 82 and 84 can exchange information via a network 88 by mutual communication.

In the following description, the configurations are classified and described as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, at least one of the plurality of computers 82 operates a computer that operates an electronic bulletin board (hereinafter, “server / server”).
A computer 83) and at least one computer 82 function as a computer of a maker (hereinafter, referred to as a “maker computer”) 81 that manages the electronic bulletin board. In the present embodiment, the operation of the electronic bulletin board refers to executing a utility program (read / write, data transmission / reception, etc.) of the electronic bulletin board itself, and the management of the electronic bulletin board refers to execution of a utility program written on the electronic bulletin board. This means that the manufacturer handles the written information such as grasping the contents of the information. These may be performed by one server computer.

At least one of the plurality of computers 84 functions as a user computer that can write and read the electronic bulletin board as a user, and the user computer has a question. Sometimes, a query-side computer (hereinafter, referred to as a "query computer") 85 for writing a question to an electronic bulletin board, and a responding computer (hereinafter, a "computer") for writing a response to the query to the electronic bulletin board.
87 for the sake of convenience. Note that the user computer (the query computer 85, the response computer 87), the server computer 83, and the maker computer 81 will be described as one each. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of computers may be used. Good.

The user computer corresponds to the operating terminal of the present invention, and the maker computer 81 corresponds to the grasping terminal of the present invention. The network 88 corresponds to the online line of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the case where the Internet is applied as a network will be described. In this case, at least one computer is a World Wide Web (WWW).
eb) It can function as a server, and other machines can also function as WWW clients.

Specifically, each user computer has:
A WWW browser is installed, and this WWW
By activating the browser, the server computer 83 can be arbitrarily accessed via the network 88. At this time, the access position (access destination server /
The location of the computer 83 and the server computer 8
3) is a URL (Un
iform Resource Locator).

When there is an access request from the user computer, the server computer 83 transmits the data at the position specified by the URL to the user computer (the query computer 85, the response computer, 87). At this time, data is generally stored in an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer).
r Protocol).

The server computer 83 has a recording medium such as a memory for storing a recording file for recording various information such as query information and response information from the user computer. The server computer 83
When various kinds of information such as question information and response information are received from the user computer, it is possible to record at any time what kind of information was received from which user computer and make a database.

The maker computer 81 has a server computer 83 so that the state of the electronic bulletin board can be grasped.
Request and display various information stored in the recording medium.

The user computer is identified by
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is used. The user operating the user computer (the query computer 85 and the response computer 87) can be identified using an input of the user himself or a user ID such as a predetermined code.

The computer is provided with input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting instructions with the computer, and a display for displaying a result of processing by the computer.
Note that the computer has a general and general hardware configuration, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. An object of the present invention is to solve the problem that question information written on an electronic bulletin board via an online line is not left, and to effectively utilize the question information. First, an outline of communication processing performed between a user computer (a query computer 85, a response computer 87), a server computer 83, and a maker computer 81 in an electronic bulletin board will be described.

<Question Step>: Refer to the arrow in FIG. 1 When an unclear point occurs in the operation method of a certain software, the user becomes a question person and operates the keyboard and the mouse of the question computer 85 side, and the question computer 85 is operated. Access to the server computer 83 (electronic bulletin board) and write the question information (question on the electronic bulletin board).

<Response step>: Refer to the arrow in FIG. 1. The user accesses the electronic bulletin board, reads out the meeting information on the electronic bulletin board (reads the question and answer information), and if the user can respond to it, the responder Response computer 85
Write response information by operating the keyboard and mouse on the side (response on electronic bulletin board).

<Confirmation step>: Refer to the arrow in FIG. 1 When the questioner writes the question information (arrow in FIG. 1)
By operating the keyboard and mouse of the query computer 85 again, the server
By accessing the computer 83 (electronic bulletin board) and displaying the data from the server computer 83 on the query computer 85, the electronic bulletin board is referred to.
At this time, if response information has been written to the question information, the response information to the question information on the electronic bulletin board is read. On the other hand, if there is no response information, the above-described confirmation step is performed again later.

<Notification process>: See arrow in FIG. 1 The server computer 83 periodically monitors the electronic bulletin board. Then, of the question information written on the electronic bulletin board, the question information in which the response information is not written is searched. If any question information with no response is found, the question information is transmitted (e-mail or the like) to the maker computer 81 to notify the same.

Therefore, if there is any question information that has no response within a predetermined period, the manufacturer can recognize the question information, and the manufacturer can deal with the question information. This suppresses the question information from being left.

In the above process, data as information is circulated between the computers. In this embodiment, at least the data to be circulated (or stored) is recognized, that is, whether the data is a question or not. At least an identifier is included in order to distinguish between response and management.

When the user has a question, the transmission data is transmitted from the question computer 85 as question information. The transmission data includes, for example, a field D2 indicating the type of the transmission data, a field D3 indicating the attribute of the type, a field D4 indicating the title of the transmission data, and a field indicating the content of the transmission data, as shown in FIG. D5 and D6 representing a user ID. Therefore, when it is the question information, D2 is an identifier (for example, SAY) indicating the question, D3 is not stored, D4 is the title of the question, D5 is the content of the question, and D6 is the user of the questioner. IDs are included to form transmission data.

In the server computer 83, the user
When transmission data from the computer 85 is received, it is necessary to identify and manage the data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), a field D1 is added to configure the data as management data. This field D1 can store an identifier such as a serial number. Note that the identifier is not limited to the serial number assigned in the order in which it is received, and may be at least one of the date and time of reception, the location of the memory to be stored, and the like.

When the user responds to the question, transmission data is transmitted from the response computer 87 as response information. The structure of this transmission data is shown in FIG.
And the respective fields D2 to D6.
As shown in FIG. 2C, when the response information is the response information, D2 is an identifier (for example, Re) indicating the response, D3 is the attribute of the question information as the source of the response (for example, No), D4
, The title of the response, D5 includes the content of the response, and D6 includes the user ID of the responder, and constitutes transmission data.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in more detail. First, data transmission and reception between the query computer 85 and the server computer 83 will be mainly described.

When the query computer 85, which is a user computer, requests the server computer 83 to access the electronic bulletin board, the processing routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed. In step 100 of FIG. 3, user authentication is performed, and in the next step 102, writing and reading of an electronic bulletin board are performed.

Next, the details of step 100 in FIG. 3 will be described. In step 100, the processing routine shown in FIG. 4 is executed. In step 200, screen data for inputting data necessary for logging in to the electronic bulletin board is generated and transmitted to the query computer 85. As a result, the question computer 85 displays a login screen. The user refers to the login screen, inputs data, and transmits the data to the server computer 83.

In step 202, the data transmitted from the query computer 85 is received, and it is determined whether or not the user of the access request is a registered user. If the result is affirmative, the present processing routine ends. On the other hand, if the result in step 202 is negative, the user is an unregistered user, and the process proceeds to step 204 to determine whether user registration is possible. This judgment requests the question computer 85 whether or not to perform user registration. If the reply to the request indicates that the user is to be registered, the result in step 204 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 206. On the other hand, if the result in step 204 is negative, this processing routine ends.

In step 206, a user registration process is performed. In this user registration processing, screen data for inputting data necessary for user registration is generated and transmitted to the question computer 85. As a result, a user registration screen is displayed on the question computer 85, data necessary for registration by the user is input, and transmitted to the server computer 83. The server computer 83 receives the input data from the query computer 85, the user registration is performed using the input data, the login is permitted, and the processing routine is terminated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a login screen displayed on the query computer 85 based on the data transmitted from the server computer 83. Screen 300 includes areas 302 and 304 for inputting a mail address and a password. Screen 300 also includes a button 306 for instructing transmission of input data from query computer 85 to server computer 83.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a user registration screen displayed on the query computer 85 based on the data transmitted from the server computer 83. The screen 400 includes an area 402 for inputting required items such as a handle name, an e-mail address, and a password, and a name, an address, a telephone number, and an FA.
An area 404 for inputting optional items of an X number and a homepage address is included. The screen 400 also includes a button 406 for instructing the query computer 85 to transmit the input data of the item to the server computer 83, and a button 408 for resetting the input data of the item.

Next, the details of step 102 in FIG. 3 will be described. Step 102 is a process of writing and reading to and from the electronic bulletin board, and the processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed. In step 500, initial screen data of the electronic bulletin board is generated and transmitted to the query computer 85.
As a result, the question computer 85 displays the initial screen.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an initial screen displayed on the query computer 85. The screen 600 includes a display area 60
2, 604, 606, and 608. The display area 602 is an area for displaying the content of the question and answer on the electronic bulletin board. The display area 604 is an area for displaying a list of question items. The display area 606 is an area for presenting various functions of the electronic bulletin board. Display area 60
Reference numeral 8 denotes an input area for performing a process such as searching for a question. Details are shown below.

The display area 604 includes an instruction display field 604a for selecting a question, a display field 604b for displaying unread or read, a display field 604c for the title (title), a display field 604d for the number of answers, and a display field 604d for the last comment. Date display field 604e,
It consists of a display column 604f indicating whether the question has been solved or not, and can be displayed in a list by classifying each question. The instruction display column 604a (the column marked with * in FIG. 8) has a question item
(Referred to as “topic”), and can be highlighted when selected by clicking with a mouse or the like. The user refers to the display area 604, selects a check box, and presses a button 608b1, which will be described later, to transmit data indicating a request to display data belonging to the selected topic. In addition, the user can directly select the text of each title (title) displayed in the display field 604c by clicking with a mouse or the like,
Data transmission indicating a request to display data belonging to the topic with the selected title (title) can be transmitted.

A display area 606 is a display area for basic functions, and is a button 60 for requesting logout from the electronic bulletin board.
6a, a button 606b for requesting display of a notice (help screen display) of the electronic bulletin board, and a button 6 for requesting a new question
06c and a button 6 for requesting a list display of all topics
06d. A display area 608 is a display area for an applied function, and is an area 60 for inputting a keyword (word).
8a1 and an input area 608a including a button 608a2 for requesting a search result list display based on the input keyword (word). A display area 608 includes a button 6 for requesting full-text display of the topic checked in the above-described display field 604a (check box marked with * in FIG. 8).
08b1. Further, a display area 608 includes an input area 608c1 for inputting a numerical value, a button 608c2 for requesting a list of past topics for the number of days based on the input numerical value, and a request 60 for requesting a full-text display.
8c3.

The user inputs the necessary input area while referring to each display area on the initial screen 600, and then presses a button to transmit the above data. The server computer 83 receives the data from the query / computer 85 and shifts to the next processing.

Step 502 in FIG.
This is a function process that is executed when data indicating a processing request of an application function such as a search by 08 (FIG. 8) is received, and the processing routine shown in FIG. 14 is executed. by this,
As described later, the user can refer to a topic written in the past in detail. When this function processing ends, the flow advances to step 504 to determine whether a new question has been received from the user. This determination can be made by determining whether or not the button 606c (FIG. 8) requesting a new question has been pressed. If affirmative in step 504, screen data for inputting a new question is generated in step 506, transmitted to the question computer 85, and the process proceeds to step 508. In step 508, the input data belonging to the new question input on the new question input screen 1000 (FIG. 9) is received, the content is written on the electronic bulletin board, and a comment (question) is made. Along with this writing, in step 510, a comment point is added to the user. The comment point is a predetermined point that is counted when writing on the electronic bulletin board. The input data belonging to the new question corresponds to the question information of the present invention. Here, the fact that the data received from the question computer 85 is the question information
It can be recognized based on the field D2 (FIG. 2) of the transmission data. On the other hand, if the determination in step 504 is negative, the process proceeds to step 512.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a new question input screen displayed on the question computer 85. The screen 1000 includes a display area 1002 for displaying an item for inputting data belonging to a new question. The display area 1002 includes an area 1002a for inputting a title of a question, an input area 1002b for inputting a name, an input area 1002c for inputting a mail address, and a selection instruction field 1002d for selecting whether or not to receive an answer (utterance) by e-mail. , An input area 1002e for inputting a homepage address, an input area 1002f for inputting a question content, and an input area 1002g for inputting a delete key input when deleting a comment. Screen 10
00 includes a button 1004 for instructing the query computer 85 to transmit the input data belonging to the new question to the server computer 83, and a button 1006 for canceling the input data belonging to the new question.

At step 512 in FIG. 7, screen data representing the current topic situation is generated and transmitted to the query computer 85. There are situations where a new question has been asked (unresolved) and situations where a new question has been solved. In other words, the question computer 85 is in an unsolved state until the question item is indicated to be resolved. Therefore, in the question computer 85 immediately after asking the question, a status display screen relating to the current topic indicating unsolved is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a status screen related to the current topic displayed on the question computer 85 when a display request is made for an unanswered question. Screen 1400
Is composed of a display area 1402 for displaying a solution state of a question, a display area 1404 for displaying a question and an answer, and a display area 1406 for inputting and displaying an additional comment (including an answer). The display area 1402 includes a button 1402a for instructing transmission of data indicating that the question has been resolved. Display area 1404
Includes a button 1404a for requesting deletion of a comment, and is provided corresponding to each of the question and the answer. A display area 1406 includes an input area 1406a for inputting a name, an input area 1406b for inputting an e-mail address, and a selection instruction field 1 for selecting whether to receive a response (speech) by e-mail.
406c, input area 1 for inputting a homepage address
406d, an input area 1406 for inputting additional comment contents
e, an input area 1406f for inputting a delete key to be input when deleting a comment is included. The screen 1400 also includes a button 1408 for instructing the question computer 85 to transmit the input or selection data belonging to the additional message to the server computer 83, and a button 1410 for canceling the input or selection data belonging to the additional message.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a status screen related to the current topic displayed on the question computer 85 when a display request is made for a question that has been resolved. Screen 1100
Is a display area 110 for displaying whether or not the question has been resolved.
2. Includes a display area 1104 for displaying questions and answers.
Screen 1100 includes a button 1106 for instructing termination. By pressing the button 1106 on the user side, an end instruction has been issued from the user side,
On the server side, return to step 500 or press button 606
The processing by pressing a (FIG. 8) is performed.

In many cases, unique questions are written on an electronic bulletin board by a large number of unspecified users, and not all of them have a response. Even if a question is written, no response is made to the question. Sometimes left unsolved. On the other hand, the question may not be resolved even after a large number of responses are made. Therefore, when the process of step 512 in FIG. 7 is completed, the process proceeds to step 514 (FIG. 17), and the status of the written question is searched (details will be described later). In this step 514, for a certain period,
When the question is not answered, a support mail (e-mail) is transmitted to the maker computer 81.

When a question is written and answered in response to the question, the answer to the question should be completed. Therefore, in step 516 of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the question has been resolved. If the answer is negative, the process proceeds to step 524; if the answer is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 518. This determination is made using the button 1402a (FIG. 1).
0) can be determined by determining whether or not the button has been pressed. In step 518, image data (FIG. 12) described later is generated.
The information is transmitted to the question computer 85 and, upon receiving the reply, information is obtained when the question is solved by the questioner. The data transmitted in step 518 may include information about the respondent to the question (described in more detail below).

The data indicating that the question has been solved corresponds to the request information of the present invention, and the list information of the items related to the response / computer 87 includes the items related to the operating terminal belonging to the response information of the present invention. Equivalent to the list information included.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a problem solving input screen displayed on the question computer 85 after the user presses the button 1402 (FIG. 10). A screen 1300 is a display area 130 for inputting and displaying various data belonging to problem solving.
2 The display area 1302 includes an input area 1302a for inputting a topic title, an input area 1302b for inputting a name (handle name), a selection field 1302c for selecting a best answer award, and a message (thanks) for responding. Input area 130 for inputting
2d. The title can be automatically stored in the display area 1302a without depending on the input from the user. That is, button 1 for instruction to solve the question
By pressing 402a, the corresponding question can be specified. The same applies to the display area 1302b, and the logged-in user can be easily specified. Selection field 1302c
Is an area for the user to select another user who gave the most accurate answer. The selected respondent will be awarded the best answer award. The best answer award is an award for designating a respondent who has given the most accurate answer when the user (questioner) recognizes that the question has been resolved. Also,
The screen 1300 includes a button 1304 for instructing the question computer 85 to transmit input or selection data belonging to problem solving to the server computer 83, and a button 13 for canceling input or selection data belonging to problem solving.
06 is also included.

The data displayed in the selection field 1302c is generated as follows. A question has one or more answers. Each answer has a respondent and its contents. If there are a plurality of answers, list data of the respondents who responded is generated. When the same person makes a plurality of answers, it is preferable that the generated list data be single data without duplicating responders. The list data is converted into a format that can be selected by the user, and is displayed in the selection area 1302c so that a list of responders can be displayed (selectable).
Let it. This list data may include the name (handle name) of the respondent who has answered the question, the number of answers, the content or summary, the mail address, and the like. Therefore, in step 518 of FIG.
The image data of FIG. 12 is transmitted, and the data is received by the image 1300. Part of the data received in step 518 may be written to an electronic bulletin board. As an example, the content written in the input area 1302d can be written on an electronic bulletin board. In the next step 520, the selection data of the best answer prize selected on the problem solving input screen 1300 (FIG. 12) is received, the best answer point is added to the selected user (respondent), and the next step 522 In, the user (questioner)
And the process returns to step 500. The best answer point is a predetermined point counted when the best answer prize is designated by the user (questioner).

On the other hand, in step 524, it is determined whether or not there is an additional comment. That is, in this case, since the question is unresolved, the posting may be continued and a further question may be asked. This step 524 can be determined by determining whether an entry has been made in the display area 1406 of the image 1400, that is, whether or not data has been transmitted. If any of the input areas 1406a to 1406f has been input, the result is affirmative in step 524 and step 526
Proceed to. In step 526, the input areas 1406a to 1406
06f data is received and written to the electronic bulletin board. In the next step 528, the comment points are added to the user, and the process returns to step 512.

On the other hand, if negation is made in step 5244,
Proceeding to step 530, it is determined whether to delete the comment. This determination is made based on the delete request button 1404a (FIG.
It can be determined based on whether or not 0) is pressed. Step 530
If the answer is affirmative, the screen data for deleting the utterance is generated, transmitted to the question computer 85, the input data is received, the utterance is deleted, and the process returns to step 512. On the other hand, if the determination in step 530 is negative, step 5
Return to 00.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a comment deletion screen displayed on the question computer 85. The screen 1500 includes an input area 15 for inputting a delete key which is an authentication to delete.
02, a button 1504 for instructing transmission of data for requesting message deletion after inputting a delete key, and a display area 1506 for displaying the contents of the message to be deleted.

Next, the details of step 502 in FIG. 7 will be described. In step 502, the processing routine shown in FIG. 14 is executed, and the functional processing is performed. Step 700
Then, it is determined whether or not a keyword search is performed (whether or not the button 608a2 (FIG. 8) is pressed). Step 700
If the result is affirmative, in step 702, list information of search results of topics related to the search keyword is generated and transmitted to the query computer 85, and the processing routine ends. As a result, the question computer 85 displays a list of search results of the topic. On the other hand, step 70
If the answer is no, the process proceeds to step 704 to determine whether or not to display the topic list (button 606d (FIG. 8) or button 6).
08c2 (FIG. 8) is determined). If affirmative in step 704, in step 706 topic list data is generated under the requested conditions,
This is transmitted to the query computer 85, and this processing routine is terminated. Thus, the question computer 85 displays a list of topics. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 704, the flow advances to step 708 to determine whether or not to display the past full text (button 608b1 (FIG. 8) or button 608c).
3 (FIG. 8) is pressed), and if the result is negative, this processing routine is terminated. If affirmative in step 708, in step 710, full-text information of the topic is generated under the requested conditions, transmitted to the query computer 85, and the processing routine is terminated. As a result, the question computer 85 displays the entire topic.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a search result list screen displayed on the query computer 85. Screen 800 includes a display area 802 that displays a list of topic topics searched based on the input keyword. The user
By directly selecting the text of each title (title) displayed in the display field 604d by clicking with a mouse or the like, data representing a request to display data belonging to the topic of the selected title (title) is transmitted.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a topic full-text display screen displayed on the question computer 85. Screen 900
Is composed of a display area 902 for displaying the title of each topic, a display area 904 for displaying each question and an answer, and a statement (answer request button 906) for each question.

Next, the details of step 514 in FIG. 7 will be described. In step 514, the processing routine shown in FIG. 17 is executed. First, in step 1200, it is determined whether the question has been resolved. This step 1200 includes:
The determination can be made based on whether or not the button 1402a (FIG. 10) is pressed. If affirmative in step 1200, the present processing routine ends, and if negative, the flow proceeds to step 1202. In step 1202, it is determined whether an answer has been written for the question. This judgment is, specifically,
A search is made for the fields D2 and D3 (FIG. 2) of the transmission data, and a determination is made based on the presence or absence of an answer to the question. If there is an answer, affirmative determination is made in step 1202 and step 120
Proceed to 3. On the other hand, if there is no answer, the result in step 1202 is negative, and the flow proceeds to step 1208.

In step 1203, it is determined whether the number of times of writing the answer to the question is less than a predetermined monitoring number. If affirmative, the process proceeds to step 1208, and if negative, the process proceeds to step 1204. The monitoring number is a criterion for determining whether or not a question has been answered but the question has not been completed but is stuck. In this step 1203,
For example, transmission data fields D2 and D3 (FIG. 2)
, The number of answers to the question is counted, and it can be determined whether or not the number exceeds the predetermined monitoring number. As the number of monitoring, a question (an average value, a standard deviation, or the like) obtained by investigating a question that has an answer but not being completed for a large number of questions in the past and statistically calculating the number of answers can be used.

In step 1204, it is determined whether or not the number of times of writing the answer to the question exceeds a predetermined allowable number. In this step 1204, for example, the search is performed on the fields D2 and D3 (FIG. 2) of the transmission data, the number of answers to the question is counted, and it can be determined whether or not the number exceeds the predetermined allowable number. The permissible number is a criterion for determining whether or not an endless state has been repeated (for example, cyclically) without giving any answer to a question, but without ending the question. As the allowable number, a value obtained by statistically obtaining the number of answers until a question is solved (a value obtained using an average value, a standard deviation, or the like) can be used for many past questions. If the number of answers exceeds the allowable number, the result is affirmative in step 1204 and step 12
The process proceeds to 06, and if negative, this processing routine is terminated.

In step 1208, it is determined whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the writing of the question or the writing of the answer to the question to the present. In this step 1208, for example, the fields D2 and D3 of the transmission data (FIG. 2) and the field D1 (including the data storage date and time) assigned by the server computer 83 are searched, and the final writing (question or answer) is performed. By comparing the present time with the current time, it can be determined whether or not the period is within the reference period. This reference period is preferably set to a standard time at which the user who asked the question wants to obtain an answer. For example, a questionnaire survey or the like may be performed on a large number of users, and a reference period may be determined using an average value, a standard deviation, or the like. For many past questions, it is also possible to use the time required to resolve the questions (a value obtained using an average value, a standard deviation, or the like).
If the reference period has been exceeded, the result in step 1208 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 1206, and if the result is negative, the present processing routine ends.

That is, in this embodiment, in order to report the answer to the question in the next step 1206,
There are the following criteria. The first criterion is a criterion for extracting a question that has been left behind. The criterion is set based on a case where a question is written but there is no answer within a reference period. The second judgment criterion is a criterion for extracting a question in a stuck state. Although there is an answer to the question, the criterion is set based on when the number of answers is less than the monitoring number and the reference period is exceeded.
The third judgment criterion is a criterion for extracting a question to which an answer continues indefinitely, and is determined based on a case where the number of replies exceeds the allowable number, although there is an answer to the question.

Accordingly, if the above-mentioned judgment criteria are met, in step 1206, the status of the answer to the question is reported. The report includes data representing the question and, if there is an answer, data representing the answer. It also includes the process leading to the report, that is, the result of the judgment. That is, when the first criterion is met, data indicating that there was no response in the reference period, when the second criterion was met, data indicating that no response equal to or greater than the monitoring number was present in the reference period, When the three criteria are met, data indicating that the number of answers has exceeded the allowable number can be generated and assigned. This report is transmitted to the maker computer 81, and this processing routine ends. This report, that is, data transmission, can be performed by electronic mail (support mail). By receiving this data by the maker computer 81, the operator (administrator or the like) of the maker computer 81 can grasp the state of the question. As described above, the status of the answer to the question is periodically reported to the maker in accordance with the criterion, so that the maker does not need to monitor the electronic bulletin board in real time. That is, a report is made only in a state where a response from the maker is expected to be necessary, that is, a question with an answer exceeding a certain amount, a state in which the question is left behind, or a state of stalemate. Therefore, by responding to the report on the maker side, it is possible to timely respond to the user's question. The data reported in step 1206 corresponds to the non-writing information of the present invention, and the maker computer 81 corresponds to a grasping terminal for grasping information belonging to an electronic bulletin board registered in advance.

Next, the response computer 87 and the server
Data transmission to and from the computer 83 will be mainly described. In the following description, since the data transmission and reception between the query computer 85 and the server computer 83 are substantially the same, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and different portions will be described below.

In steps 524 to 526 in FIG. 7, the response computer 87 and the server computer 83
The user authentication process and the writing and reading process of the electronic bulletin board are performed in the same manner as described above, except that an additional comment (in this case, an answer) is written by exchanging the data with the user.
However, since new questions are not asked in the exchange of data with the response computer 87, steps 560 to 51 in FIG.
0 and the processing of steps 518 to 522 are not performed. Note that the response computer 87 sends the server computer 8
The input or selection data belonging to the additional utterance (answer) transmitted to 3 corresponds to the response information of the present invention.
Here, the fact that the data received from the response computer 87 is the question information can be recognized based on the field D2 (FIG. 2) of the transmission data.

According to the present embodiment, by sending the support mail to the maker computer 81 as described above, it is possible to confirm that the writing of the answer to the question has not been performed even if the predetermined period has been exceeded. An operator (administrator or the like) on the computer 81 side can be notified. Therefore, it is possible to urge the maker computer 81 to deal with the question and prevent the question from being left. In this embodiment, the case where the support mail is checked every time the user accesses is assumed. However, the check may be independently performed by the server computer 83 at regular time intervals.

In this embodiment, when the question is solved as described above, a list of respondents who wrote the answer to the question is displayed, and the user can easily cooperate by referring to the list. Recognized respondents can be recognized.

In the present embodiment, the designation of the best answer prize is performed in a selective manner. However, for example, a score of several points out of ten may be adopted, whereby the best answer points are added. You may. In addition, a comment point and a best answer point are added to the user (a questioner and a responder) who participated in the question and answer on the electronic bulletin board, and the point can be converted into money or goods. it can. By doing so, it is possible to encourage active participation in questions and answers on the electronic bulletin board. The best answer prize can be set in a plurality of stages.
For example, a best answer award and a better answer award may be provided and prioritized. It is possible to add other awards.

In the present embodiment, in the server computer 83, various types of list information belonging to the operators (questions and responders) who participated in the question and answer on the electronic bulletin board can be stored in a database and held. In this way, users (questions, responders) who participated in the question and answer on the electronic bulletin board at the request of the user computer
Can be generated and transmitted to the user computer. The above list information includes the name of the operator, the number of comments (the number of questions and the number of answers), the number of remark points added according to the remark, the number of best answer awards, and the best answers awarded when the best answer award is received. The information of each item such as points is included, and can be displayed in a ranking.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a screen displayed on the user computer. FIG. 18 is a display example of a Rankine display screen. The screen 1600 includes a display area 1602 that displays a list of various items belonging to users (questions and responders) who participated in the question and answer on the electronic bulletin board. The display area 1602 includes a display column 1602a indicating the name of the user, a display column 1602b indicating the number of remarks (the number of questions and the number of answers), and a display column 16 indicating the number of awarded best answer awards.
02c, which is classified and displayed in a list for each user. Buttons 1604 that can be sorted for each item
a, 1604b, and 1604c, and the user can sort them for each item by pressing them.

In the present embodiment, the case where the mail is transmitted to maker computer 81 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be transmitted to a predetermined user. Also, not just one question,
All remarks (questions and answers thereto) written on the electronic bulletin board may be registered to be transmitted to the user computer by e-mail. The e-mail may include the title of the question, the name of the speaker, the content of the question or answer, the URL of the electronic bulletin board, and the like. As described above, the operator can actively participate in the question and answer by receiving all the comments (questions and answers thereto) written on the electronic bulletin board by e-mail.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a question and answer is made on an electronic bulletin board on which information can be written and read via an online line such as the Internet, a response is made within a predetermined period. If the question is not made, the fact is notified, so that the question information can be prevented from being left unattended, and the question information can be used effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention and an outline of communication processing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of transmission data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in a server computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of step 100 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of a login screen for an electronic bulletin board displayed on a user computer.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing an example of a user registration screen displayed on a user computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of step 102 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an image diagram showing an example of an initial screen displayed on a user computer when logging in to an electronic bulletin board.

FIG. 9 is an image diagram showing an example of a new question input screen displayed on the user computer.

FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of a status (unsolved) display screen related to the current topic displayed on the user computer.

FIG. 11 is an image diagram showing an example of a status (solution) display screen related to a current topic displayed on a user computer.

FIG. 12 is an image diagram showing an example of a problem solving screen displayed on a user computer.

FIG. 13 is an image diagram showing an example of a comment deletion screen displayed on the user computer.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of step 502 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is an image diagram showing an example of a search result list display screen displayed on the user computer.

FIG. 16 is an image diagram showing an example of a full-text display screen of past topics displayed on the user computer.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of step 514 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 18 is an image diagram showing an example of a ranking display screen displayed on the user computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 80 network system 81 maker computer 82 computer 83 server computer 84 computer 85 query computer 86 connection device 87 response computer 88 network

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method of operating an electronic bulletin board that allows information to be written and read from an operating terminal connected to an online line via the online line, wherein the method relates to specific information received via the online line. Writing question information to the electronic bulletin board, and when response information related to the question information is received via an online line, the response information is written in association with the question information, and the response information is written for a predetermined period. The method of operating an electronic bulletin board, characterized in that when not received, non-writing information indicating non-writing is generated, and the non-writing information is reported. 2. A grasping terminal for grasping information belonging to the bulletin board is registered in advance, and the notification is transmitted to an grasping terminal which has registered the non-write information via an online line. Item 1. An electronic bulletin board operating method according to item 1. 3. A request information indicating a predetermined correspondence to the question information is further received from the operation terminal transmitting the question information, and list information including items related to the operation terminal belonging to the response information is generated. The electronic bulletin board operating method according to claim 1, wherein the list information is transmitted to an operation-side terminal that has transmitted the query information via an online line. 4. The electronic bulletin board operating method according to claim 3, wherein the request information indicates that the question information is completed.