JP2009532788A - Apparatus, method and computer program for processing a search request - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for processing a search request includes a request receiver for receiving a search request from a first user and a categorizer for associating the search request with a category from a plurality of different categories. This apparatus supplies the first user with information that there is a communication partner determination unit for finding a second user who has made a search request associated with the same category, and a second user who has made a search request of the same category. And an information supplier for supplying information to the second user that there is a first user who has made a search request of the same category. The concepts described above can also be implemented as a method and a computer program.
The described concept allows users making search requests of the same category to initiate direct electronic communication. A particularly efficient knowledge exchange is thus ensured between the various users of the device according to the invention.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates generally to an apparatus, method and computer program for processing search requests, and more particularly to linking the search request contexts of various users of a search engine to enable knowledge exchange via a communication platform. .

  In today's information society, an ever-increasing amount of knowledge is created so that individuals can only take up a very small percentage of the total available knowledge. However, it is frequently necessary for an individual to obtain new knowledge from the total amount of knowledge available based on specific questions. For this purpose, individuals must take goal-oriented access to the entire available knowledge.

  To date, it is known to collect large amounts of knowledge in electronic databases and to allow users access to this knowledge through search functions.

  Classic, for example, as it is used in well-known search engines such as “google” and “yahoo” to make it possible to find information from the World Wide Web and / or the Internet Search engine technology. According to this classic search engine technology, after a search request, based on a particular algorithm, an ordered list with websites (and / or references to websites and / or URL addresses) is presented to the user, , Has a predetermined relationship with the search term as defined by the algorithm. Also, the order of the list is controlled by a predetermined algorithm for the purpose of putting the website that is probably associated with the search request at the top of the list. In practice, this sort is often not always useful to the user and / or is not suitable for his or her search request. In addition, sometimes there are further obstacles due to advertisements that are consciously put on top of the list by technical means. In this way, the user sometimes has considerable problems in order to get an appropriate response to his or her search request.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a concept for processing search requests that allows more efficient access to available knowledge.

  This object is achieved by an apparatus for processing a search request according to claim 1, a method for processing a search request according to claim 16, or a computer program according to claim 17.

  The present invention is associated with a request receiver for receiving a search request from a first user, a categorizer for associating the search request from a plurality of different categories to a category, and the same category as the search request of a second user. An apparatus for processing a search request, including a communication partner determination unit (130) for finding a second user who has made a search request. The apparatus of the present invention further provides the first user with information that there is a second user who has made a search request in the same category, or there is a first user who has made a search request in the same category. An information supplier for supplying information to the second user.

  It is possible that a particularly efficient use of the entire available knowledge is possible by informing the user of a device for processing a search request when other users make a search request of the same category. This is the central idea of the embodiment. By providing information to the device that the second user has made and / or directed a search request of the same category to the first user of the device of the present invention, for example, the first user can search for the same category ( It becomes possible to consciously establish direct contact to another user (ie a second user) on eg the same topic). In this way, users interested in the same category are informed about each other and / or gathered, for example, to set up electronic communications.

  The embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention for processing search requests in this way further identifies these users by identifying users who have knowledge in a particular category instead of simply querying the knowledge database. By giving the possibility to start communicating directly with each other, it offers the advantage that knowledge can be accessed in a particularly efficient manner.

  Thus, not only is there knowledge stored in machine and / or electronic form that is available to users of the device of the present invention, but there is also the possibility of gaining knowledge of other users interested in the same category (eg the same topic). .

  Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention according to the embodiment enables communication between human users who have made search requests of the same category. It has been found that human peers who have already made search requests of the same category can better understand other users' search requests more often and answer them faster than in classic search engine queries.

  Thus, tedious searches can be eliminated under certain circumstances, for example on the Internet and / or the World Wide Web, saving time and other resources (computing power and transmission power).

  In a preferred embodiment, in response to detecting that the first user and the second user have made a search request associated with the same category, the information supplier (first user and second user). It is designed to provide information to a first user or a second user, including a notification about the possibility of establishing electronic communication with each other (between users). In other words, if it is detected that two users of the device of the present invention have made a search request for the same category (and / or the same topic), at least one of the two users will Is informed about how they can initiate electronic communication with other users.

  For example, one of the two users may include another user's electronic address and / or communication address or other user's anonymous user identification, or the first user may be directly The possibility of communication established by the device itself is provided so that communication with the user can begin. Providing information about the possibility of establishing electronic communication with each other, for example, providing communication possibilities including an indication that communication with other users is possible due to predetermined communication possibilities, or It may include simply providing electronic address information that can be contacted by other users.

  Further, the information provided by the information supplier may be a reference and / or information regarding the fact that other users have made a search request of the same category to the device and / or that other users have the potential for a search request. It is preferable to contain.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention is further designed to provide a communication platform that allows a first user and a second user to communicate with each other. In this case, the information supplier is preferably designed to supply the first user and the second user with a message designed to allow access to the communication platform. In other words, the possibility of communication between the first user and the second user is created by the device itself, and there is no need to establish an external path for electronic communication between the first user and the second user. The communication platform is under the control of the device of the present invention, for example the device of the present invention sets up the communication platform and assigns the corresponding access identity to the first user and the second user based on the search request. Can do. The access identification may be generated in response to the search request so that there is an adjustment between the communication platform and the device for processing the search request and / or the peer determination unit. Thus, only by a search request, the user is already assigned to the appropriate communication platform, corresponding to the category of the search request. If there is not yet a communication platform for a given category of search request, it can be generated dynamically, for example, without requiring further movement from the user. Thus, users are spared from having to perform communication platform setup in separate steps, for example, if they are interested in a particular category of questions and / or search requests. The communication platform is only due to the fact that one of the users makes a search request for a matching category without having to set up the communication platform by himself or requesting a communication platform setup. Established based on.

  Further, in addition to setting up the communication platform, the information supplier informs the first user of a message that informs the first user of the presence of the second user or informs the second user of the presence of the first user. And / or preferably to a second user. In other words, in addition to simply setting up and / or providing a communications platform, at least one of the users, preferably both users, have other users who have made search requests of the same category. Thus, it is informed that it may be possible to respond to communication via a communication platform.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention is designed to provide an electronic chat room (and / or discussion room), for example the first user and the second user make the same category of search requests. In response to detecting that, the first user and the second user can communicate with each other. In this case, the information supplier is preferably designed to supply a message including a reference to the electronic chat room to the first user and the second user. However, one or both of the users may be directed directly to the electronic chat room and / or the electronic chat room may be, for example, a portion of the indicated information playback page (eg, website) or a further indication of a search request. It may be part of the framework that has the result. Such a procedure is particularly advantageous because electronic chat rooms allow topic-related and anonymous communication between two users within the same user interface (eg, web browser), where search requests Because there are other results with respect to search requests.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the information supplier is designed to provide the first user and the second user with an authorization identifier that authorizes the first user and the second user to access the electronic chat room. Yes. By incorporating a communication platform into the device for processing search requests, it is possible to ensure that, for example, only people who have made a search request for a particular category can access the chat room. This guarantees optimal user guidance because the user is accurately directed to the chat room in response to the search request. Although it seems that the user may be interested in some cases, access to other chat rooms that do not respond to his (woman) search request can actually be suppressed. This can be, for example, an increase in detection efficiency and a significant increase in effectiveness, particularly in commercial environments. In addition, the user only accesses a communication platform such as a chat room when he / she makes a search request that matches the level of the respective chat room. This prevents, for example, a user with a very general search request from entering a chat room where a very special topic is mentioned (according to the corresponding category), in which a very general search A user with a request cannot, for example, follow a discussion on a very specific topic, possibly hindering the discussion at the communication platform or disappointing the communication platform.

  Further, linking the certification for a communication platform to the presentation of a search request can, for example, avoid an excessive amount of information in the communication platform because the user usually makes a search request first. Check some of the electronically generated results of the device to process and communicate automatically when search requests and / or electronically generated results do not properly answer those search requests This is because the platform is only used. Thus, the mechanism described above that links the search request to the provision of the communication platform ensures a particularly high efficiency when processing the search request.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the information supplier supplies information about the second user's electronic communication address to the first user or supplies information about the first user's electronic communication address to the second user. Designed to be. The electronic communication address can be, for example, an email address (eg, associated with and forwarded by the device of the present invention), an IP address, an identifier for a chat room, a telephone number, an IP phone number, or an anonymous communication address It may be. The information regarding the other user's electronic communication address preferably includes an indication that the other user has made a search request in the same category, ie, for example, on the same topic. By this measure, the first user is informed of the presence of the second user and / or the second user is informed of the presence of the first user and at the same time between the first user and the second user. Direct establishment of communication is enabled. And the communication via the communication address does not necessarily require any resources of the device of the present invention, but may be performed via an external device and / or other service provider.

  In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a message forwarder and an identification database. The identification database is designed to store the association between the anonymous electronic communication address and the actual electronic communication address. The identification database includes, for example, an anonymous electronic communication address of the first user, an anonymous electronic communication address of the second user, an actual electronic communication address of the first user, and an actual electronic communication address of the second user. The message forwarder receives an electronic message having an anonymous electronic communication address as a target address, reads an actual electronic communication address associated with the anonymous electronic communication address from the identification database, and further reads the read actual electronic communication address. Designed to forward electronic messages with. In this case, the information supplier preferably supplies the first user with the anonymous electronic communication address of the second user or supplies the second user with the anonymous electronic communication address of the first user. Designed to. With the above concept, the first user and the second user can communicate with each other in an anonymous manner, where the communication message itself can be generated and externally the present invention's In addition, the device of the present invention performs forwarding of the communication message and replacing the anonymous communication address with the actual communication address stored in the identification database of the device of the present invention. Thus, the device of the present invention only takes the steps necessary for anonymization, but does not have to withstand the burden of the process of communication between the first user and the second user apart from forwarding. .

  In a further preferred embodiment, the communication partner determiner is designed to determine whether the second user can accept the communication. In this case, the information supplier is preferably designed to supply information only if the communication partner determiner indicates that the second user can respond to the communication. This avoids trying to initiate a communication between two users, one of which can or will no longer accept the communication. This prevents disappointment of the remaining users and thus increases user satisfaction overall.

  In a preferred embodiment, the communication partner determiner makes a search request within a predetermined time interval by the second user (eg, in connection with the time to check whether the second user can respond). In addition, it is designed to show that the second user can respond to the communication. Observing the second user's search request allows the device of the present invention for processing the search request to detect in a simple manner whether the second user is active.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the peer determiner is designed to find out whether the request receiver has received a search request for the first user and the second user for the same category within a predetermined time interval. . In this case, the information supplier is designed to supply information only if the request receiver receives a search request for the first user and the second user associated with the same category within a predetermined time interval. . Such a procedure results in a particularly high user satisfaction because it can be assumed that the user is interested in a particular category of search requests only during a particular time interval.

  If the search requests of the first user and the second user relate to the same category but are spaced apart in excess time (longer than a predetermined time interval), at least in some cases, the information supplier It's useless to let the two users know about each other.

  In a further embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes an information database having a plurality of entries associated with various possible search requests in various categories. In this case, the apparatus of the present invention preferably includes an information database interrogator designed to search the information database for entries related to the first user's search request. More preferably, the information supplier obtains information based on at least one entry in the information database associated with the search request of the first user, in addition to the information that there is a second user making a search request of the same category. Designed to provide to the first user. In the foregoing embodiment, the result is a particularly advantageous link to knowledge stored in an information database having knowledge of other users. Thus, knowledge from the information database is available to the first user and he / she can obtain knowledge of the second user. Users can determine whether information access and / or knowledge access are considered useful in view of the entries provided by the information database. In other words, with only one search request, the first user can both view the knowledge collected in the information database and the reference of a human knowledge carrier who has made a search request of the same category as the second user. obtain.

  In addition, the apparatus of the present invention may include a priority mechanism designed to set the order of access to information relating to a second user who has made a search request in the same category as the first user and an entry in the information database. . For example, process control may be such that a first user gains knowledge about the presence of a second user and, for example (but not necessarily), initiates communication with him / her, If the communication attempt between the second user fails or the first user informs the device of the present invention that he / she does not want to establish communication with the second user In addition, it may be designed to display information database entries and / or corresponding information carrier references.

  Alternatively, the information supplier first provides, for example, the amount of information database query results to the first user only when the first user sees the results of the information database query, and then the second user. May be further designed to provide information about the presence of the first user. This can be done, for example, by positioning the result of the information database query before the information regarding the presence of the second user. Alternatively, the information supplier may detect when the first user has viewed a plurality of information as a result of the failed information database query. Corresponding information can be obtained, for example, by evaluating the behavior of the first user or by receiving an explicit message of the first user.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the categorizer is designed to associate a search request with at least one category based on one or more words that occur in the search request. In other words, the categorizer may be designed to divide it into words and further determine the category of the search request based on the words identified from the database including words or word combinations and associations between categories. Good. Thus, the user is relieved of the burden of having to explicitly state his / her search request category. The category of the search request is rather automatically generated, for example by a database query.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the categorizer outputs a list of categories with which the search request is associated for the user (eg, via a database query) and a determination from the user to which category the search request is associated with from the list of categories And is further designed to associate search requests with categories based on that decision. Such an embodiment ensures that if the categorizer does not perform such association in an obvious manner, the user can determine which category the search request belongs to. With a database query, the categorizer preferably creates a list of categories to which search requests can be associated to take the burden from the user. In some cases, the user need only make a final selection and / or selection of a category from the list. In some cases, it has been found optimal to make category pre-selection automatically and / or based on database queries and leave the final decision to the user.

  The present invention further provides a method for processing a search request similar to the apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request. A corresponding method includes receiving a search request of a first user, associating the search request with a category from a plurality of different categories, and finding a second user with a search request associated with the same category. Supplying the first user with information that there is a second user who has made a search request in the same category, or providing information that there is a first user having made a search request in the same category to the second user Supplying to.

  The method of the present invention has the same advantages as the device of the present invention, and in a preferred embodiment may be supplemented by the same steps that occur in the embodiment of the device of the present invention.

  The present invention further includes a computer program for executing the method of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which include:
FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram of the inventive categorizer for use in the inventive device of FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a common knowledge group by analysis of search requests.
FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request according to the second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of chat participant invitation (E) and knowledge transfer (WT) of all participants from the field of knowledge via the communication platform;
FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of the inventive method according to an embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is designated 100 in its entirety. The apparatus 100 includes a query receiver 110 that is designed to receive a search query 112 from a first user. The first user is also indicated as USER1 throughout the description. The search request 112 may consist, for example, of one word or several words. Alternatively or additionally, the user query may include multimedia information such as, for example, a sound, a sound sequence, an audio signal, a video signal, an image section, an image, and any other combined multimedia elements. Then, the query receiver 110 transfers the received search request 112 ′ to the categorizer 120. The categorizer 120 is designed to associate a search request 112 or received search request 112 'from a plurality of different categories to a category (eg, category 1). Further, the categorizer 120 may instead be designed to associate the search requests 112, 112 'with several categories. Further, if the search request 112, 112 ′ does not correspond to any of the categories known to the categorizer 120, the categorizer 120 can generate a new category corresponding to the search request 112, 112 ′.

  In the following, it should be noted here that it is assumed that the categorizer associates the search request with “Category 1”. It should also be noted that the function of the categorizer is described in more detail with respect to, for example, FIGS.

  In this way, the categorizer 120 associates the search requests 112 and 112 'with the search requests 112 and 112' so that an association between the user making the search requests 112 and 112 '(eg, USER1) and the categories of the search requests 112 and 112' is possible. Provide at least information 122 regarding the category to be selected. The communication partner determiner 130 is designed to receive the information 122 regarding the categories of the search requests 112, 112 ′, and to find a second user (hereinafter also referred to as USER2) who has made a search request associated with the same category. ing. For this purpose, the communication partner determiner can, for example, query a database containing the associations between the user identifiers of users who have made a search request for various known categories and corresponding categories. An example of a data table for such a database and / or database table is shown at 140. Further details regarding the database table 140 are described in more detail below.

  However, like the first user USER1 whose search request is currently being processed by the communication partner determiner 130, at least one other user, for example, the second user, who has executed a search query of the same category, for example, “Category 1”. It is necessary for the communication partner determination device 130 to confirm the user USER2 of the user. Thus, for example, the communication partner determination unit 130 may use the information 132 indicating which user has made a search request for the category represented by the information 122, or the first user USER1 whose search request is currently being processed. In addition, at least information 132 is provided that indicates which additional users have requested a search for the category represented by information 122. The information 132 indicates that only the first user USER1 made a search request for the category represented by the information 122, and the category (category 1) corresponding to the first user USER1 and a further user (for example, the second user USER2). ) Or a plurality of further users have made a search request for the above category in addition to the first user USER1. The following exemplarily assumes that the information 132 indicates that both the first user USER1 and the second user USER2 have made a search request for the category represented by the information 122 (category 1).

  Thus, the information supplier 150 is designed to receive the information 132 and provide information to the first user USER1 and / or the second user USER2 based on the information 132. In one embodiment, the information supplier 150 informs the first user USER1 that there is a second user USER2 who has made a search request for the same category (category 1) as the second user, ie, the first user USER1. It is designed to provide the information 152 shown to the first user USER1. Alternatively or additionally, the information supplier 150 may send information indicating to the second user USER2 that the first user USER1 has made a search request regarding the category indicated by the information 122 (eg, category 1). It may be designed to be provided to the user USER2.

  Here, it is initially sufficient for the information supplier 150 to provide the first user USER1 with information 152 that there is a further user (eg, the second user USER2) who has made a search request for the category indicated by the information 122. It is. Similarly, it is sufficient for information supplier 150 to indicate to second user USER2 by information 154 that there is a further user (eg, first user USER1) who has made a search request for the above-described categories.

  However, the information 152 indicates that the first user USER1 has the possibility of setting up a communication connection with the second user USER2 (and additionally on which route, if applicable) the first user It is preferable to give to USER1. Similarly, it is preferred that the information 154 provides an indication to the second user USER2 that he / she has the potential to initiate communication with the first user USER1 via the communication connection.

  Furthermore, it is preferred that the information 152 includes anonymous information or non-anonymous information regarding the second user USER2 that allows the first user USER1 to establish a communication connection with the second user USER2. Similarly, the information 154 preferably includes anonymous or non-anonymous information about the first user USER1 that allows the second user USER2 to establish a communication connection with the first user USER1.

  In this way, the device of the present invention allows two users (e.g., first user USER1 and second user USER2) who have requested a search in the same category (e.g., category 1) to initiate contact with each other. For example, as soon as the first user USER1 is informed by the information 152 of the fact that there is a second user making a search request of the same category, the first user USER1 communicates with the second user USER2. You can start setting up. The setup of the communication connection can be supported by the device 100 of the present invention, which provides information directly to the first user USER1 at the information supplier 150, for example, where he / she is the second user. Can be used to confirm USER2. For this purpose, the information 152 preferably includes an anonymous identification or a non-anonymous identification of the second user USER2. Alternatively, if the first user USER1 desires, the information 152 may include only information that allows the device 100 to set up a communication connection between the first user USER1 and the second user USER2.

  Alternatively or additionally, the second user USER2 basically corresponds to the information 152, but includes information 152 and / or an identifier required to establish a contact with the first user USER1. May be obtained in some cases.

  In the following, the structure and use of the database table 140 will be described by a query of the communication partner determiner 130 that can determine a user who has made one or more search requests in the category indicated by the information 122. For this purpose, the database table 140 includes a first database column 162 that represents a category from a plurality of different categories, for example. The second database column 164 of the database table 140 identifies various users of the device 100 by, for example, anonymous user identifiers or non-anonymous user identifiers (eg, USER1, USER2, USER3, USER4, USER5). In general, the database table 140 represents associations between categories associated with various users of the device 100 and users making search requests. In other words, the database table 140 generally represents which user of the device 100 has made a search request for which category or which categories. In addition, the communication partner determiner 130 does not necessarily need to access the database table 140, and generally determines those users of the device 100 that have made a search request for the category identified by the information 122. It should be noted that it only analyzes the database that makes it possible. In this way, the communication partner determiner 130 provides the query 170 representing the category of the queries 112 and 112 ′ provided by the categorizer 120 to the corresponding database (represented by the database table 140). The corresponding database then provides a query response 172 to the peer determiner 130, which represents those users of the device 100 that have made a search request for a category provided by the categorizer 120, for example by a user identifier. .

  Further, the database and / or database table 140 can be updated in response to information 122 provided by the categorizer 120. In other words, if the categorizer 120 reports that the i th user USERi has made a search request for category j, an entry is added to the database and / or database table 140 reflecting the facts described above.

  Further, it should be noted that in the database and / or database table 140, a user who has not made a search request for a given category, one user, or several users may be associated with a given category. It is. Further, the database and / or database table 140 may indicate the fact that the user has made various categories of search requests. However, alternatively, the database may only include the user's last search request, for example, so that the largest category of search requests is associated with each user. Further, the database and / or database table 140 may include time information indicating when a given user has made a search request for a given category. Database management (not shown), for example, is designed to delete all those entries of databases and / or database tables 140 that have gone too far back in time (ie, longer than a predetermined time interval). It may be.

  Alternatively, the communication partner determiner 130 may be designed to consider only such entries in the query response 172 that were newer than a predetermined maximum time interval. Such a mechanism allows communication between two users only when old and / or too old information is not used and / or when two users make the same category search request within a sufficiently short time interval. Can be started.

  FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram of a categorizer for use in the apparatus 100 of the present invention of FIG.

  The categorizer of FIG. 2 is generally designated 200 and can be replaced with, for example, the categorizer 120 of the device 100.

  The categorizer 200 receives a search request 212 including, for example, one or more search terms (for example, two search terms (search term 1, search term 2)). However, the search request may instead include multimedia information, as already described above. For example, the categorizer includes a database categorizer 220 that is designed to determine the category of the search request 212 by querying the database. As a result, the database categorizer 220 provides information 222 that represents one or more categories with which the search request 212 is associated.

  The search request 212 may correspond to, for example, the search request 112 of the device 100 of FIG. 1 or the received search request 112 ′, and the information 222 may correspond to the information 122 of the device 100 of FIG. It should be noted here. The database categorizer 222 is designed, for example, to query and / or request a database represented by the first database table 230 and the other second database table 240 based on the search request 212. The request and / or database request is indicated at 250 and includes, for example, one or more search terms included in the search request 212, and further, and / or optionally, a logical combination of search terms (AND, OR, NOT, etc.).

  The database table 230 shown as an example represents the association between a search term or a logical combination of search terms associated with different categories of different categories. For example, the database table 230 associates the search request 212 with the first category when both the first search term (search term 1) and the second search term (search term 2) are present in the search request 212. Can be defined. In addition, the database table may include the search request 212 and / or the database query 250 when, for example, both the first search term (search term 1) and the third search term (search term 3) are present in the database query 250. Can be defined to be associated with the first category. As a further example, the database table 230 can be defined such that the database query 250 is associated with the second category when a fourth search term (search term 4) is included in the query. In other words, a database can be defined to be given a particular category, for example, when a particular search term or logical combination of search terms exists in the database query 250. In this way, the database allows one to conclude that one or more categories are present if one or more search terms are present in the database query 250. Thus, the query response 252 represents to which category or categories the database query 250 corresponds to the contents of the database. Thus, the information 222 represents the category or categories to which the search request 212 corresponds.

  The database categorizer 220 may be designed, for example, to select the category that best fits the search request 212 from several categories provided by the database query response 252 according to predetermined rules. Alternatively, however, the database categorizer 220 may be designed to represent several categories with information 222.

  When the information 222 includes several categories, the communication partner determination unit 130 of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 may determine the communication partner several times in parallel or sequentially. In other words, for the exemplary sequential processing, several categories are provided to the communication partner determiner 130 as information 122 one after another, and the determiner sequentially receives information 132 representing one or more communication partners. Generate several times.

  In this manner, the information supplier 150 can provide some information 152 to the user (eg, USER1) that generates the search request 112. Further, in this case, the information supplier 150 may alternatively or additionally provide information 154 to several additional users.

  In a further preferred embodiment, the categorizer 200 optionally includes a user category interrogator 260. User category interrogator 260 receives information 222. If the information 222 represents several categories, the user category interrogator 260 outputs a list 262 of several categories represented by the information 222 to the user making the search request 212. In this case, the user category interrogator 260 receives a category selection 264 from the list of possible categories 262 from the user described above. The selection 264 may instead include a plurality of categories from the list of possible categories 262. However, if the selection 264 includes only one category, the user category interrogator 260 provides information 268 that represents exactly one category. Information 268 can be replaced with information 122 of apparatus 100 of FIG.

  Thus, using the user category interrogator 260, the optimum category of the search request 212 can be determined in a two-stage process. The database categorizer, for example, pre-selects categories based on the database query 250, while the user category interrogator allows final selection of categories with the help of the user making the search request. In this way, the user is only faced with a limited list 262 of possible categories that typically represents only a subset of the entire possible category. Accordingly, it is easier to provide the category selection 262 that is optimal for the user.

  However, although categorizer 200 shows only possible examples of categorizers, it should be emphasized that other categorizers that associate information 222 and / or 268 about categories with search request 212 may be used. Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of user category interrogator 260 is optional.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a common knowledge group by analysis of search requests. The graphic representation of FIG. The graphical representation 300 of FIG. 3 illustrates how different search requests for different users are associated with different categories and / or knowledge groups. For example, analysis of a search request 310 for a user with user identification 4654 indicates that the search request 310 is associated with the knowledge group XZY. Knowledge group XZY is indicated at 314 and represents, for example, a topic and / or category associated with search request 310 based on analysis 312. The analysis 312 can be performed, for example, by evaluation of the search request 310 in the manner shown in FIG.

  User search request 320 having user identification 4655 further receives analysis 322. Analysis 322 indicates that a user search request 320 with user identification 4655 is associated with knowledge group XGA (324). Similarly, a user search request 330 with user identification 12666 is associated with knowledge group XGA (324), which is determined by analysis 332. Also, a search request 340 for a user having the user identification 30032 is associated with the knowledge group XGA (324). In other words, a search request for three users with user identifications 4655, 12666 and 30032 is associated with knowledge group XGA (324). In other words, a user with user identification 4655, 12666, and 30032, whose search request is associated with knowledge group XGA (324), is considered a knowledge carrier for knowledge group XGA. In other words, the above three users are associated with the knowledge group XGA and / or the category corresponding to the knowledge group XGA. Thus, for example, there is preferably a 1: 1 relationship between knowledge groups and categories. Corresponding information, i.e., user and knowledge group relevance, can be stored, for example, in a database represented by database table 140.

  Further, the analysis 312, 322, 332, 342 of the search requests 310, 320, 330, 340 corresponds to categorization by the categorizers 220, 200. Further, the relevance of the search requests 310, 320, 330, 340 and the knowledge groups 314, 324 corresponds to the information 122, 222, 268 provided by the categorizers 120, 200.

  FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of FIG. 4 is designated 400 in its entirety. Block diagram 400 represents an apparatus of the present invention that enables search request expansion processing by evaluating information about other users who have made search requests of the same category and further providing the search request to an information database. The apparatus 400 receives the search request 412 of the first user (USER1) corresponding to the search request 112, 112 ′ or 212 according to FIG. 1 or FIG. The search request 412 is supplied to the search request user associator 420 and the information database interrogator 430. The search request user associate 420 basically corresponds to the query receiver 110, categorizer 120 and communication partner determiner 130 of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, and thus the search request whose category is the same as the category associated with the search request 412. Information 432 indicating which user has performed is provided. For example, the information 432 represents the first user USER1 and the second user USER2, similar to the example of FIG.

  Like the search request user associate 420, the information database interrogator 430 receives the search request 412 and generates a query 440 in the information database 442. The information database 442 includes, for example, search terms and information source links. For example, the information database may include a catalog of Internet addresses that includes relevant information associated with the search terms of the data query 440. Similarly, the information database 442 may directly include text information or multimedia information associated with the search term of the database query 440, for example. Thus, the query response 444 generated as a response to the database query 440 of the information database 442 includes, for example, an Internet address, a text document, a multimedia document, or the contents of an Internet address, a text document, or a multimedia document. Thus, the information database interrogator 430 makes the contents of the database query response 444 available as information 450 in a possibly processed format. Thus, the information 450 represents a list of entries in the information database 442 as illustrated in FIG. 4, for example.

  Information supplier 460 receives both information 432 and information 450. The information supplier 460 is also designed to combine the information 432 and 450 together, for example, to generate an electronic description 462 of the combined information 432 and 450. Information supplier 460 is designed to provide description 462 in any content description language, such as, for example, HTML, SHTML, UML, WML, or other well-known content description languages that allow the description of electronic content. May be. Also, description 462 preferably includes information regarding optical formatting, but this is not necessary.

  The description 462 includes a result of the information database query 440 and / or a representation 464 of the information 450, for example, as illustrated in the graphical representation of FIG. The description 462 further includes a representation of the information 432 summarized in a similar group of documents connected to the document or by at least one cross-reference. In other words, both information 432 and information 450 are included in a document or a group of documents and / or a combined document.

  There are several possibilities for the representation of the information 432 used together or alternatively, which will be described below.

  For example, the description 462 may include a communication platform reference 466 for communication with a user who has requested a search in the same category. The reference can provide, for example, an electronic address to access the communication platform. Reference 466 may further include an authorization identifier that allows the receiver of description 462 to access the communications platform. Further, reference 466 may be designed to cooperate with executable program code (eg, script). The communication platform may be, for example, a text-based chat room, a voice chat room or an audiovisual chat room, or an electronic discussion forum.

  The description 462 may further include a description of an input field 468 that allows the first user to enter a message to convey it to the second user. Input field 468 may have functionality to send an input message to a second user immediately or in response to a first user prompt. Alternatively, the input field 468 may be designed to send an input message to the second user USER2 using an intervening server. Further, the input field 468 may be designed to cooperate with executable program code that controls the process of communication with the second user, either directly or via an intervening server. For communication with the second user, the executable program code linked to the input field 468 or the input field may include, for example, the communication address of the second user or the user identifier of the second user.

  Further, the display field 470 is designed and / or driven to represent a message sent and / or sent by the second user USER2 for the first user USER1, optionally at an intervening server. As such, description 462 may include a description of display field 470 (and / or the context displayed in the display field). The description 462 may include commands and / or executable instructions for the display field 470 that enables and / or supports the playback of messages sent by the second user USER2 in the display field 470.

  The description 462 may further include a description of the communication address 472 of the second user USER2 that the information supplier 460 can derive from, for example, a database that knows the information 432. Alternatively, the description 462 may include the anonymous communication address 474 of the second user USER2 that the information supplier 460 adds to the description 462 based on the information 432.

  The information supplier 460 can further send an electronic message 480 to the first user USER1 based on the information 432 and possibly further information from the database, where the second user USER2 is the same as the first user USER1. The fact that the category search request has been made is shown to the first user USER1. The corresponding electronic message may further include an indication of the possibility of establishing a contact between the first user USER1 and the second user USER2. For example, the electronic message 480 may include the communication address of the second user USER2 or the anonymous communication address of the second user USER2.

  Alternatively or additionally, the information supplier 460 may be further designed to send an electronic message 490 to the second user USER2 in a similar manner using information 432 and possibly further information from the database, The message informs the second user USER2 that the first user USER1 has made a search request in the same category as the second user USER2. The electronic message 490 may further indicate the possibility of establishing contact with the first user USER1 to the second user USER2, for example, the communication address of the first user USER1 or the anonymous communication of the first user USER1. An address may optionally be included.

  It should be noted here that generation of electronic messages 480, 490 and description 462 may be done alternatively or together. In other words, the information supplier 460 may generate only the description 462, only the electronic message 480 or only the electronic message 490, or any combination of the electronic messages 480, 490 and the description 462.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the process of chat participant invitation (E) and participant and / or all participant knowledge transfer (WT) from the knowledge field via the communication platform. The graphic representation of FIG.

  Graphic representation 500 shows a plurality of knowledge carriers associated with knowledge group XGA (510). Knowledge group XGA (510) may correspond to knowledge group XGA (324) according to graphical representation 300 of FIG. A group of knowledge carriers 520 is associated with knowledge group XGA (510). Group 520 includes, for example, users having user identifiers 4655, 12666, and 30032. In other words, the group 520 includes several users (three in a given example), where the analysis of the associated search request (eg, search request 320, 330, 340) is performed by the corresponding user. It is determined that the search requests 320, 330, and 340 related to the knowledge group XGA (510) constituting the request category are made. In other words, the users of the group of users 520 constitute a knowledge carrier with respect to the knowledge group XGA (510).

  In response to detecting that the group 520 includes a plurality of users, that is, the plurality of users have made a search request associated with the knowledge group XGA (510) constituting the category, for example, within a predetermined time interval. The inventive device opens the communication platform 530. If the communication platform 530 is open, it may be formed, for example, by a chat room and / or a discussion room, and the device of the present invention sends an invitation (E) to the users of the group 520, ie for example the user identifier 4655 , 12566 and 30032.

  There is also a knowledge transfer indicated by WT using communication platform 530 and / or chat room 530 between the above-mentioned users indicated by 540, 542 and 544.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of the inventive method according to an embodiment of the invention. The method of the present invention is indicated generally at 600. In a first step 610, method 600 includes receiving a search request from a first user. The method 600 further includes associating the search request with a plurality of different categories of categories in a second step 620. The third step 630 includes finding a second user who has made a search request associated with the same category as the first user's search request. The fourth step 640 provides information to the first user that there is a second user who has requested a search in the same category, and / or there is a first user who has requested a search in the same category. Further providing the second user with the information.

  The method 600 according to FIG. 6 can be further extended by all those steps described with respect to the apparatus 100, 200, 400 of the present invention and / or with respect to FIG. 3 or FIG.

  In summary, it is said that the basic idea of the present invention is to gather people with the same field of interest and knowledge (also called search request categories) based on the analysis of their search requests in the search engine. be able to. In other words, the present invention allows communication between people and / or users whose search requests are associated with the same category.

  In this way, knowledge that is not currently registered or difficult to find in search engines can be made accessible to users through knowledge exchange of knowledge carriers, for example, communication in the form of chat and / or electronic chat and / or electronic discussion. Is done. In other words, the present invention allows knowledge exchange of knowledge carriers and / or users, thereby enabling human users who are not present in electronically accessible form and cannot be obtained directly electronically, for example. Knowledge only that is not available to conventional electronic search engines and / or cannot be used with conventional electronic search engines is made accessible to all users, as knowledge only.

  As part of the present invention, it has been found that analysis of a search request of a search engine user can frequently make it possible to conclude with a specific field of interest or knowledge of the requesting party. Depending on the user, this can span a relatively “broad knowledge” from “no knowledge” to “partial knowledge” on a particular topic.

  If a different user has a certain level of knowledge in a topic, it can be assumed that it does not fit frequently in all situations with other knowledge in this topic. This fact can be used to collect knowledge in each topic that is brought together by communication and / or knowledge exchange of the user and / or knowledge carrier that each user has more than his / her own . In addition to the fact that it is possible to gain knowledge from other users in a simple way, communication with other users makes it available to users by this process, which does not yet exist in the search engine's search index. It is also conceivable that knowledge to be generated is generated. In other words, for example, the communication of several users may generate knowledge that is not yet contained, for example in the search index and / or in the information database 442 of, for example, a search engine (eg information database interrogator 430). Is possible.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information generated during communication between users may be added to the information database 442. For this purpose, the device 400 may provide the user with the possibility to use the user interface to add new knowledge to the information database 442, for example by entering an entry in an input field. Furthermore, instead of the information database 442, for example, the entire information exchange between the first user and the second user may be added to the information database 442. In addition, the information database 442 and / or the associated database controller can further extract search terms from the first user's communication with the second user, and thus knowledge based on the information database query 440. Can be accessed.

  Through appropriate analysis of search engine user search requests, user linking is established through a common knowledge field or topic that can be determined by associating search requests with categories, and a common communication platform If the user is given the possibility of knowledge exchange (eg text chat or AV chat and / or audiovisual chat), the user can obtain more knowledge or information and / or a classic search engine search It can be obtained more easily in this way than through functionality.

  In other words, the present invention, in this way, obtaining knowledge or information with conventional search engines often requires a lot of effort and / or takes a lot of time and does not give the desired results. Represents a problem and / or task solution. Some information is not available at all in conventional search engines even after exhaustive and / or long searches in the search index.

  Thus, the present invention solves the above problem by performing the linking of the search request contexts of various users of the search engine to provide a common audio-visual chat (AV chat) or text chat for knowledge exchange. Provide a solution to Under certain circumstances, this allows faster and / or easier access to knowledge as questions are directed to human individuals. In addition, the above-described concept partially allows access to knowledge that is not currently registered in the search index but can be known to other users of the search engine.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, a search request reaching a search engine identifies that can establish an association between the retrieved terms with respect to their association with a particular field of knowledge (“knowledge group”) Analyzed according to system standards. In other words, relevance to specific fields of knowledge is represented by the fact that search requests are associated with specific categories and / or associated with them by a categorizer. For example, if the search request is explicitly associated with a knowledge field, the anonymous user identifier is stored in this knowledge field, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. In other words, a specific user's (anonymous or non-anonymous) user identifier can be related to a specific user and the corresponding category if it turns out that a given user's search request is clearly associated with the category As stored in the database. Details of the functionality described above are described, for example, with respect to updating the database table 140 in connection with the apparatus 100 of FIG.

  Knowledge and / or category fields may be predefined and defined dynamically (ie, at runtime) from user search criteria. In other words, if the search request is not associated with any category that exists in the database and / or database table 140, the device of the present invention may use the new category (eg, For example, a database update may be generated that includes associations between categories (described with respect to tables 230, 240) and associated search terms.

  As soon as the knowledge (and / or category) field already has a knowledge carrier (i.e. the user who requested the search in the category) indicated by the fact that the user identifier is entered for the knowledge and / or category field ( A communication platform (eg in the form of a chat room) can be established between users by the server and / or by the device of the present invention if there are other search requests associated with this field of knowledge. Users (ie, those users who have made search requests associated with the same category, for example) are appropriately informed, for example, about status (ie, about communication platform and / or chat room setup). Thus, for information purposes, for example, there is a message in the browser where the search request results are output. In other words, the device of the present invention provides a user with an information viewing program that outputs a message that a communication platform for the field of knowledge (and / or for the category of search requests) exists or is open. Designed to provide information to information viewing programs (and / or browsers).

  This message and / or “invitation” simultaneously represents the possibility of authorized access to the communication platform. In other words, the viewing program and / or browser can obtain and display references and / or links from the devices of the present invention that allow a user to log in with a communication platform. The reference and / or link may include authorization information from which the communications platform is determined, and by checking the authorization information, a user attempting to log in at the communications platform is authorized.

  In this way, all users who accept the above “invitation” can use the communication platform and further discuss each field of knowledge with others.

  The following is an example of the inventive concept for processing a search request. For example, user A (representing the first user and / or USER1) looks for an answer to the question how he / she can invoke spell checking in a word processing and / or word processing program Assuming that Thus, user A, for example, enters the term “Microsoft and spell check” into the search engine and thus defines, for example, a search request. The search engine analyzes the search request and associates it with, for example, the field of knowledge “Word processing: Microsoft Word”. User B, the second user and / or USER2, is looking for an answer to the question, for example, how he / she can italicize a letter in his / her word processor. So he / she enters the term “Word and italics” into the search engine, for example. In that way, user B defines, for example, a search request. Thus, the search engine analyzes the search request and associates it with the field of knowledge “Word processing: Microsoft Word”.

  As both users enter their requests and / or their search requests shortly after another (ie within a predetermined time interval), they are “simultaneously” (eg, by a search engine and / or by the device of the present invention). Registered as “Online”. As a result, both receive an immediate invitation (or with a time delay), for example, for an exchange of knowledge in a (existing or newly established) communication platform.

  Further assume that both users accept offers and / or invitations for electronic communication through the communication platform, for example because they did not find any answers to their questions on the first page of the normal search results To do. In other words, the search engine may be associated with information and / or references to information (ie, for example, a web that includes a representation of information, for example, based on a search request, as well as an invitation for electronic communication via a communication platform. Further search results are also provided by forwarding the search request to a database that provides a site reference). In this way, the apparatus and / or search engine of the present invention enables a search in the database to classify various user search requests into multiple categories and to communicate between users who have made search requests of the same category. Connect with the provision of information.

  Thus, if both users accept an electronic communication offer from each other via the communication platform, the two users present their respective questions and / or search requests to other participants and / or users of the communication platform can do. When presenting each question to other participants in the communication platform, they both get answers from their human counterparts, for example, immediately and without further complications.

  It should be noted here that the search request knowledge and / or topic field determination corresponds to the relevance of the search request to the above-mentioned categories, which can be achieved by a database request, for example, as described above. It is.

  In the following, the inventive concept and / or the relevant properties of the inventive device are summarized again. An important advantage of the inventive concept is that the inventive concept allows users and / or people interested in the same topic to communicate directly with each other. In other words, based on the analysis and / or categorization of the search request of at least two users, determining whether the search request of the at least two users is related to the same category and / or the same topic it can. If this is the case, the user is informed by an electronic message that there is another user who has requested a search for the same category and / or the same topic. In addition, at least one of the two users is provided with information that allows him / her to initiate direct electronic communication with other users. This further allows a user who has entered a particular search request into a search engine to not only obtain machine-generated search results, but also to initiate communication with a human communication partner. With the help of human contacts, questions (and / or search requests) are better understood (rather than using electronic systems) in most cases, and therefore answer faster than with classic search engine queries be able to.

  Furthermore, it is possible that the present invention can be realized anonymously, that is, communication between two users who have made a search request of the same category can be performed without the user having to reveal their actual identity. Is the advantage. The device of the present invention, rather, for example, maintains the database that gives the user an anonymous user identifier and further allows the conversion of the anonymous user identifier into an actual user identifier. Enable anonymous. The device of the present invention can then transfer the communication from the first user to the second user, where, for example, the first user knows the anonymous identifier of the second user, The device converts the second user's anonymous user identifier into the second user's actual user identifier, and further transmits a message sent by the first user using the anonymous user identifier to the second user's actual user identifier. To the second user using the user identifier.

  In a further embodiment, communication between the device of the present invention and the user can occur in an encrypted manner. Alternatively, communication between various users may occur in an encrypted manner, while communication between a user and a search engine and / or device of the present invention may occur without encryption. .

  Communication between two users who have requested a search for the same category and / or the same topic can be, for example, text chat and / or text discussion, voice chat and / or voice discussion and / or AV chat and / or audiovisual It can be done as a discussion.

  Furthermore, the device of the present invention can incorporate and / or include free experts under certain circumstances. For example, a free expert may be a user who is associated with multiple categories of search requests and can use, for example, communication with a user making a search request.

  If the knowledge field cannot be unambiguously determined by the search request, the selection of the appropriate knowledge field may optionally be suggested to the user. With respect to the above example, the user may be asked, for example, whether your question is related to “Operating System: Microsoft Window” or “Word Processing: Microsoft Word”.

  Furthermore, an immediate meeting of knowledge carriers can be held, or a meeting of knowledge carriers can be held at different times. In other words, the user is also interested in a knowledge exchange with other knowledge carriers in this topic at a later point in time if, for example, no other user is currently registered in this field of knowledge Can show that.

  Thus, the user of the device of the present invention is given the advantage of eliminating complex searches in the Internet that this issue may also be addressed. The search engine of the present invention can indirectly provide information that does not currently exist in the classic search index through the knowledge of the user.

  It should be further noted that the inventive concept may be implemented both as an apparatus and as a method. Furthermore, the concepts of the present invention may be implemented by a computer program.

  In some circumstances, the concepts or methods of the present invention can be implemented in hardware or software. This implementation is implemented in a digital storage medium, such as a floppy, in a ROM, PROM, EPROM or EEPROM with electronically readable control signals that cooperates with a programmable computer system so that the corresponding method is performed. It can be executed on a (registered trademark) disk, CD, DVD or flash storage medium. Thus, the present invention generally resides in a computer program product having program code stored on a machine readable carrier for performing the methods of the present invention when the computer program product is executed on a computer. In other words, the present invention can be realized as a computer program having a program code for executing the method when the computer program is executed on the computer.

  Thus, the device of the present invention provides the possibility for users based on the categorization of search requests to provide the possibility for users to initiate electronic communication with other users who have made search requests of the same category. Finally, it can be said that it offers the possibility of efficient searching and / or efficient information exchange.

FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram of the inventive categorizer for use in the inventive apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a common knowledge group by analysis of search requests. FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus of the present invention for processing a search request according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of chat participant invitation (E) and knowledge transfer (WT) of all participants from the knowledge field via the communication platform. FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of the inventive method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims (17)

An apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400) for processing a search request (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340; 412),
A query receiver (110) for receiving a search request from a first user (USER1);
A categorizer (120; 200; 312, 322, 332, 342) for associating the search request with a plurality of different categories of categories (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512);
A communication partner determination unit (130) for finding a second user (USER2) that has made a search request associated with the same category, and information that the second user has made a search request of the same category (152; 462) 480) to the first user, or to supply information (154; 490) to the second user that there is the first user who requested the same category of search. An apparatus comprising an information supplier (150; 460).   The information supplier (150; 460) has the first user (USER1) and the second user (USER2) in the same category (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512). In response to detecting that an associated search request (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340; 412) has been detected, information (152) including a notification about the possibility of establishing electronic communication with each other. 154; 462, 480, 490; E), the apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400) according to claim 1, which is designed to supply the first user or the second user. Further designed to provide a communication platform (468, 470; 530) through which the first user (USER1) and the second user (USER2) can electronically communicate with each other; 150; 460) is designed to supply a message (152, 154; 462, 480, 490; E) to the first user and / or the second user, the message to the communication platform 3 or 3 according to claim 1 or 2, designed to allow access to the communication platform or to authorize the first user and / or the second user to access the communication platform. Apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400). Designed to provide an electronic chat room (468, 470; 530) as the communication platform, through which the first user (USER1) and the second user (USER2) can communicate with each other. And the information supplier (150; 460) supplies a message (152, 154; 462, 480, 490; E) including a reference to the electronic chat room to the first user and the second user. 4. The device (100; 300, 500; 400) according to claim 3, which is designed as follows.   The information supplier (150; 460) provides an authorization identifier for authorizing the first user and the second user to access the electronic chat room (468, 470; 530). And the device (100; 300, 500; 400) according to claim 4, which is designed to supply to the second user (USER2). The second user (USER2) making a search request (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340; 412) of the same category (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512) Designed to provide the first user (USER1) with the information regarding the fact that there is a communication platform (468, 470; 530) or made a search request of the same category 4. The claim 1, 2 or 3 designed to provide the second user with the information regarding the fact that a first user exists by providing the communication platform. The described device (100; 300, 500; 400). The information supplier (150; 460) searches for the same category (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512) (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340; 412). Designed to provide the first user (USER1) with the information that the second user (USER2) who has made the request exists, the information supplier provides information regarding the electronic communication address of the second user Providing to the first user, or the information supply is designed to provide the second user with the information that the first user with a search request of the same category exists, the information supplier Provides the second user with information regarding the electronic communication address of the first user. Apparatus according to any one of 1 to claim 6 (100; 300, 500; 400). And further comprising a message forwarder and an identification database, wherein the identification database is designed to store an association between an anonymous electronic communication address and an actual electronic communication address, and further wherein the identification database is the first user's Including an anonymous electronic communication address, an anonymous electronic communication address of the second user, an actual electronic communication address of the first user, and an actual electronic communication address of the second user, and the message forwarder includes a target An electronic message having an anonymous electronic communication address as an address is received, an actual electronic communication address associated with the anonymous electronic communication address is read from the identification database, and the electronic having the read actual electronic communication address Designed to forward messages Further, the information supplier (150; 460) provides the first user with the anonymous electronic communication address of the second user or the anonymous electronic communication address of the first user. 8. An apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400) according to any of claims 1 to 7, designed to be provided to the second user. In the communication partner determination unit (130), the request receiver (110) includes the search requests (112, 112 '; the first user (USER1) and the second user (USER2) within a predetermined time interval. 310, 320, 330, 340), and the information supplier (150; 460) is configured to determine whether the request receiver is associated with the same category within the predetermined time interval. Designed to provide the information (152, 154; 462, 480, 490) only when the search request of the second user and the search request of the second user are received. 9. The apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400) according to any of claims 8. The communication partner determiner (130) is designed to determine whether the second user (USER2) can respond to communication, and the information supplier (150; 460) Designed to provide the information (152, 154; 462, 480, 490) only if the communication partner determiner indicates that a user (USER2) can respond to the communication. 10. A device (100; 300, 500; 400) according to any of claims 9.   When the second user makes a search request (112, 112 ′; 310, 320, 330, 340) within a predetermined interval, the communication partner determination unit (130) determines the second user (USER2). 11. Apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400) according to claim 10, designed to indicate that can respond to communication. Further comprising an information database (442) having a plurality of entries (entry 1, entry 2) associated with various possible search requests (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340); And further comprising an information database interrogator (430) designed to search the information database for entries related to the search request of a user (USER1), wherein the information supplier (150; 460) is the same In addition to the information that the second user (USER2) making the search request for a category exists, information based on at least one entry in the information database related to the search request of the first user ( 464) designed to provide the first user That, according to any one of claims 1 to 11 (100; 300, 500; 400).   The categorizer (120; 200; 312, 322, 332, 342) is configured to make the search request (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340) at least based on one or more words included in the search request. 13. The device (100; 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300) 500; 400). The categorizer (120; 200; 312, 322, 332, 342) is a category (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512) in which the search request is associated with a user (USER1, USER2). Output a list of
14. The design of claim 13, wherein the search request is read from the user as to which category the search request is associated with, and is further associated with a category based on the determination. Apparatus (100; 300, 500; 400). When the communication partner determiner (130) finds out that a further user who has made a search request of the same category does not currently exist or cannot respond to the communication, the communication partner determiner (130) Designed to output a query as to whether a particular user wishes to establish a later contact with a further user making the same category search request (112, 112 ', 310, 320, 330, 340) in the future, Further, the communication partner determination device puts the specific user in a database (140) that can be used for the communication partner determination device for finding a user who has made a search request of the same category according to an answer read from the user. Claims 1 to 4 further designed to prevent or enter Apparatus according to any one of Items 14 (100; 300, 500; 400). A method (600) for processing a search request (112, 112 '; 310, 320, 330, 340; 412), comprising:
Receiving a search request from a first user (USER1) (610);
Associating (620) the search request with a category (category 1, category 2, category 3, category 4; 314, 324, 512) from a plurality of different categories;
Finding (630) a second user (USER2) making a search request associated with the same category, and providing information to the first user that the second user making a search request in the same category exists Step (640), or providing the second user with information that the first user who has requested a search in the same category exists.   A computer program having program code for performing the method of claim 16 when executed on a computer.

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