JP5890078B1 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Question information in which a plurality of question items are set is presented on the user terminal, input data on the way from the user terminal is sequentially acquired, and stored as halfway answer data in correspondence with the user identification information and the question information. In the case of a question start request from the user terminal, a question item to be presented to the user terminal is determined according to the presence or absence of midway answer data in which the corresponding user identification information and question information match. Finally, final answer data for the question information is generated and stored based on the input data or the midway answer data. In this process, the device type of the user terminal is determined, and data input by the user terminal as a device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item is included as valid data in the final response data. Perform device designation support processing so that there is no device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium, and more particularly to a technical field regarding processing of presenting question information to a user terminal and acquiring input data.

JP-A-2005-275718

For example, question information such as a questionnaire is transmitted from a server on a network to a user terminal, and an answer input from the user terminal is accepted.
For example, there are questionnaires regarding stores and products in the field of electronic commerce, questionnaires that investigate general user preferences, and the like. User terminals that respond to questionnaires include stationary devices such as desktop personal computers installed in users' homes, and portable information processing devices (portable devices) such as smartphones, tablet terminals, and wearable terminals. Is used.

  Note that Patent Document 1 describes a technology that allows a user to enjoy a continuation on a home device after viewing content or the like halfway with a mobile terminal. At this time, it is disclosed that the interruption history data is associated with the user ID so that the continuation of the content can be enjoyed even if the devices are different, and the content may be a questionnaire in addition to the video content A good effect is also disclosed.

By the way, when a response to question information such as a questionnaire is requested, a questionnaire provider (a person who collects questionnaire responses and collects information) may want to specify a device to be used when the user answers. For example, this questionnaire or this question item has a request to be input by a portable device, or this questionnaire or this question item has a request to be input by a stationary device.
On the other hand, a general user answers a questionnaire with an arbitrary device at an arbitrary time, and is usually not particularly aware of the device used.
In addition, the questionnaire provider wants the user to complete the answer without stopping the questionnaire as much as possible, but the user does not like the troublesome answering operation. For example, if it is requested to change the device halfway and continue to input, it will often be stopped halfway.

  In the present invention, for example, when there is a request for an answer from a designated device as in these circumstances, it is possible to provide a technique capable of obtaining an answer according to the request as much as possible and reducing the processing burden on the user. Objective.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires, from a user terminal, presentation control processing for transmitting and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to a user terminal, and input data before the input to the question information is completed. Whether there is a halfway answer data storing process corresponding to the user identification information and the question information as a halfway answer data and halfway answer data matching the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal A question processing unit that performs a presentation item determination process for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal according to a process, and a final answer data generation process for generating final answer data for the question information based on input data or midway answer data; A device determination unit that determines the device type of the user terminal that transmits the input data for the question information is provided. And the question processing unit supports device designation so that data input by the user terminal as a device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item is not included as valid data in the final answer data. Process.
This prevents the answer data for the question item designating the device from being input by a non-designated device.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit selects and selects a question item that does not conflict with device designation information in the presentation control process as the device designation handling process. It is conceivable to perform a process of sending question information including question items to the user terminal for presentation.
That is, when a user logs in with a certain device and inputs an answer to question information such as a questionnaire, at least questions of question items permitted for the device are asked. The question item allowed in this case is a question item corresponding to the device specified by the device designation information in the user terminal or a question item for which no device designation information is set (device designation is not performed). is there.
Question items for which an answer input by another device is designated are not presented to the user terminal.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process, in the final answer data generation process, except for input data or midway answer data transmitted from a device that does not match the device designation information. It is conceivable to perform processing for generating data.
In this case, an answer input from an unacceptable device is also accepted, but input data (or intermediate answer data in which intermediate input data is stored) contradicting the device designation information is not included in the final answer data. .

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process, in the presentation control process, the user terminal sets the question information that the user terminal cannot input answers for question items that do not match the device designation information. It is conceivable to perform processing that is transmitted to and presented.
In this case, a question item by an unacceptable device is presented, but an answer cannot be input. For this reason, input data (or halfway answer data storing halfway input data) by a device that is in conflict with the device designation information is not incorporated in the final answer data.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit alerts the user terminal when the device designation information of the question item presented in the presentation control process does not match the device as the user terminal as the device designation corresponding process. It is conceivable to send information.
For example, the alert information prompts the user to input again with the designated device, notifies the user that the answer cannot be input to the question, or that the input does not result in an effective answer.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit, as the presentation item determination process, when there is midway answer data that matches the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request, the unanswered question The question item is determined so that the item is presented to the user terminal, and as the presenting control process, the determined question item is transmitted to the user terminal to be presented, and the input data of already answered that is stored as midway answer data It is conceivable to perform processing that is transmitted to the user terminal and presented.
In other words, when resuming, unanswered question items such as from the resuming point are presented to ask for an answer, and the contents of the already answered are presented so that the user can check.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the halfway answer data stored in the storage unit and deleted without any question start request based on the corresponding user identification information and question information for a predetermined period or longer is deleted from the storage unit. A midway information management unit for processing is also provided.
In other words, the halfway answer data is deleted if the answer input is not resumed indefinitely after being interrupted.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the answer information stored in the storage unit is the answer information that has acquired all the answer information about the question information that has passed the answer collection deadline or the final answer data of the target answer number A process of deleting, from the storage unit , halfway answer data for which a predetermined period has elapsed from the last update date in the answer information for all of the answer data for which the final answer data for the target answer number has been acquired A midway information management unit is also provided.
For question information such as a questionnaire, a delivery date may be set, and answer data that has not been completed even after the delivery date is unnecessary. In some cases, the target number of answers may be set. In this case, it is not always necessary, but it can be determined that an answer that cannot be expected is unnecessary. So delete them.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit presents the question information to the user terminal, and when a predetermined time has passed without detecting a user operation, an answer prompt for transmitting an alert to the user terminal It is conceivable to perform processing.
In other words, an alert that prompts the user to resume input is issued according to the elapsed time after the answer input by the user is interrupted (after the question item sending operation is interrupted).

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit performs a movement determination process for determining a movement state of the user when the question information is transmitted to the user terminal and presented in the presentation control process, and the midway answer In the data storage process, it may be possible to store information indicating the movement state together with the midway answer data.
It is made to know whether input data such as a questionnaire has been answered while the user is moving.

In the information processing apparatus described above, the question processing unit may include input data or a halfway answer input as an answer to the question information when the movement state is at least walking by the movement determination process in the final answer data generation process The data may not be valid answer data.
In other words, invalidate input information while walking

The information processing method according to the present invention includes a presentation control step for transmitting and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to a user terminal, and determining a device type of the user terminal that transmits input data for the question information. Device determination step, input data before completion of input to the question information is acquired from the user terminal and stored as intermediate response data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information, and from the user terminal Based on the input item or midway answer data, and a presentation item determination step for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal according to the presence or absence of midway answer data that matches the user identification information and question information corresponding to the question start request Final answer data generation step for generating final answer data for question information, and for question items An information processing method in which the information processing apparatus performs a device designation corresponding step so that data input by a user terminal as a device that does not match the set device designation information is not included as valid data in the final response data. is there.
As a result, when the information processing apparatus provides the question information and collects the answer input from the user terminal, the answer data for the question item designating the device should not be entered by the non-designated device. Can do.
The program according to the present invention is a program that causes an information processing apparatus to execute a procedure corresponding to each of the above steps. A storage medium according to the present invention stores the above program. With these, the processing of the information processing apparatus described above is realized.

  According to the present invention, when the information processing apparatus provides the question information and collects the response input from the user terminal, it is possible to obtain the response according to the request for the response from the designated device, and the user processing Processing that reduces the burden can be realized.

It is explanatory drawing of the network system of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the computer apparatus of an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the database structure of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the questionnaire page of embodiment. It is a flowchart of the flow of the whole questionnaire process of embodiment. It is a flowchart of the questionnaire process of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of a question page transmission process of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of the last reply data generation process of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of a question page transmission process of the second embodiment. It is a flowchart of a question page transmission process of the third embodiment. It is a one part flowchart of the questionnaire process of 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the midway information management process of 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the questionnaire process of 6th Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the final reply data generation process of 6th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in the following order.
<1. System configuration>
<2. Survey page and process flow>
<3. First Embodiment>
<4. Second Embodiment>
<5. Third Embodiment>
<6. Fourth Embodiment>
<7. Fifth embodiment>
<8. Sixth Embodiment>
<9. Summary and Modification>
<10. Program and Storage Medium>

<1. System configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a network system according to the embodiment. In this network system, the server 2 and the user terminal 5 can communicate with each other via the network 1. Various specific examples of such a system are conceivable. For example, various systems such as an EC (electronic commerce) system that realizes a virtual shopping street where multiple stores open, a content service system that downloads and distributes various contents, and a management system for companies and other organizations However, this embodiment can be applied. In any case, what is necessary is that the server 2 and the user terminal 5 can communicate with each other.
In particular, the server 2 provides question information as a questionnaire to the user terminal 5 and performs a process of accepting an answer input from the user terminal 5.

Various examples of the configuration of the network 1 are assumed. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN (Local Area Network), CATV (Community Antenna TeleVision) communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, etc. are assumed. The
Various examples of transmission media constituting all or part of the network 1 are also envisaged. For example, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394, USB (Universal Serial Bus), power line carrier, telephone line, etc. can be wired with infrared, IrDA (Infrared Data Association), Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 wireless It can also be used by radio such as a mobile phone network, satellite line, and digital terrestrial network.

The user terminal 5 is a terminal device used by a user who makes a questionnaire response, and is a personal computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a wearable terminal, a tablet terminal, or the like. At least the user terminal 5 is a device that can browse and input a web page provided by the server 2, particularly a questionnaire page.
The stationary user terminal 5 is referred to as “user terminal 5S”, and the portable user terminal is referred to as “user terminal 5P”.

The server 2 is an information processing device that causes the user terminal 5 to present at least questionnaire information as question information and performs a process of collecting questionnaire responses input by the user terminal 5. The server 2 is, for example, a server that provides various websites to the user, and can present a questionnaire to the user on a specific web page to request an answer.
For example, in the server 2, an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) daemon is started. In addition, a browser is activated in the user terminal 5, and a processing request (HTTP request) is transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 through the browser. From the server 2, a processing result (HTTP response) corresponding to the above processing request is transmitted to the user terminal 5. For example, page data described in a web page description language is transmitted to the user terminal 5. Then, based on the page data, a web page (screen) based on the processing result is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 5.
The server 2 can present the questionnaire information on the web page, and the user can browse the web page on the user terminal 5 and arbitrarily start answering the questionnaire.

FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus that constitutes the server 2 and the user terminal 5. Each device shown as the server 2 and the user terminal 5 can be realized as a computer device as shown in FIG. 2 capable of information processing and information communication.
In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 of a computer apparatus performs various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 or a program loaded from a storage unit 108 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103. Execute the process. The RAM 103 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 101 to execute various processes.
The CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103 are connected to each other via a bus 104. An input / output interface 105 is also connected to the bus 104.
An input unit 106, an output unit 107, a storage unit 108, and a communication unit 109 are connected to the input / output interface 105.
The input unit 106 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like.
The output unit 107 includes a display made up of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an organic EL (Electroluminescence) panel, etc., and a speaker.
The storage unit 108 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory device, or the like.
A communication unit 109 performs communication processing and communication between devices via the network 1.
A media drive 110 is also connected to the input / output interface 105 as necessary, and a removable medium 111 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately mounted, and information can be written to the removable medium 111. Reading is performed.

In such a computer device, data and programs are uploaded and downloaded by communication by the communication unit 109. Data and programs can be exchanged via the removable medium 111.
When the CPU 101 performs processing operations based on various programs, necessary information processing and communication as the server 2 and the user terminal 5 are executed.
In addition, the information processing apparatus which comprises the server 2 and the user terminal 5 is not restricted to a single computer apparatus as shown in FIG. The plurality of computer devices may be systemized by a LAN or the like, or may be arranged at a remote place by a VPN using the Internet or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the server 2 includes functions as a questionnaire processing unit 2 a, a device determination unit 2 b, and a midway information management unit 2 c as functions for performing processing related to the questionnaire according to the embodiment.
These functions as the questionnaire processing unit 2a, the device determination unit 2b, and the midway information management unit 2c are functions realized by processing executed by the CPU 101 in accordance with the program in the information processing apparatus. However, all or a part of the processing described below may be realized by hardware.
Further, when each function is realized by software, each function need not be realized by an independent program. Processing of a plurality of functions may be executed by one program, or one function may be realized by cooperation of a plurality of program modules.

The questionnaire processing unit 2a provides questionnaire information (question information) to the user terminal 5, acquires input data, generates final answer data for the questionnaire, and the like.
Specifically, the questionnaire processing unit 2a performs a presentation control process for transmitting and presenting questionnaire information (question information) in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal 5. For example, when the questionnaire information is composed of a plurality of web pages, each page is sequentially presented.
In addition, the questionnaire processing unit 2a sequentially obtains input data before completing the input of the entire questionnaire information, for example, input data of answers to some question items, from the user terminal 5, and identifies the user identification information and the questionnaire. In response to the combination of the identification information, the midway answer data storage process to be stored in the midway information storage unit 8 described later as midway answer data is performed.
In addition, the questionnaire processing unit 2a displays a question item to be presented to the user terminal 5 according to the presence / absence of midway answer data in which the identification information of the user and the identification information of the questionnaire corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal 5 match. The presentation item determination process to determine is performed.
The questionnaire processing unit 2a performs final answer data generation processing for generating and storing final answer data for the question information based on the input data or midway answer data.
In addition, the questionnaire processing unit 2a performs device designation so that data input by the user terminal 5 as a device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item is not included as valid data in the final response data. Perform the corresponding process.
In addition, the questionnaire processing unit 2 a may perform processing for transmitting various alerts and messages to the user terminal 5.
In addition, the questionnaire processing unit 2a may perform a movement determination process for determining the movement state of the user when the questionnaire information is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and presented in the presentation control process.

The device determination unit 2b determines the device type of the user terminal 5 that has transmitted the input data for the questionnaire information. The device type can be determined by identification information exchanged in a session when the user terminal 5 accesses the server 2, information on a user agent included in the HTTP request, or an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
The device determination unit 2b may determine a specific model, type, and the like for the user terminal 5, but may determine at least whether the user terminal 5P is a portable user terminal 5P or a stationary user terminal 5S.

The midway information management unit 2c manages midway answer data stored in the midway information storage unit 8 to be described later.
For example, the midway information management unit 2c performs a process of deleting midway answer data stored in the midway information storage unit 8 and having no question start request based on the corresponding user identification information and questionnaire information for a predetermined period or longer. Do.
Further, for example, the midway information management unit 2c is the midway response data stored in the midway information storage unit 8, and all the midway response data for the questionnaire information whose response collection deadline has passed or the final response data of the target number of responses. Processing to delete all or part of the midway answer data for the acquired question questionnaire information is performed.

Such a server 2 reads and writes information by accessing the storage area as the user database 6, the questionnaire database 7, the midway information storage unit 8, and the answer data storage unit 9 for processing related to the questionnaire.
Hereinafter, “database” is referred to as “DB”.

  The user DB 6 stores various registration information of users who use this network system. For example, for each registered user, user ID (identification), login password, address, name, attribute information such as sex and age, payment information, e-mail address, service usage history information, and the like are registered.

The questionnaire DB 7 stores various types of questionnaire information. The questionnaire information is an information group related to one unit of questionnaire including one or a plurality of question items created by, for example, a questionnaire provider who requests information collection through questionnaires from users.
For example, the contents of one questionnaire information are shown in FIG. 3B.
The questionnaire data is data of a configuration and image of a questionnaire page including one or a plurality of question items. That is, the server 2 actually generates a questionnaire screen based on the questionnaire data and displays it on the user terminal 5.
The questionnaire ID is identification information of individual questionnaire information.
The questionnaire attribute information is an attribute about the questionnaire. For example, information on the questionnaire provider (organizer, creator, client, etc.), user-specified information for the questionnaire, start / end date / time information, delivery date information of the final response data of the questionnaire results, number of target responses and other setting information Etc. are included.

The device designation information is information that can designate a device used for inputting an answer in a questionnaire information unit or a question item unit.
Device specification information can be set arbitrarily. For example, when certain questionnaire information is desired to be answered by the portable user terminal 5P for all question items, information for designating a portable device may be used for the entire questionnaire information.
In addition, among the plurality of question items in the questionnaire information, when a part is desired to be answered at the stationary user terminal 5S and a part is at the portable user terminal 5P, each of the question items is designated as a stationary device and a portable terminal. What is necessary is to add device designation information called type device designation.
Furthermore, the designation is not limited to portable / stationary type, but it is also possible to designate a device type, such as a notebook personal computer designation, a smart phone designation, or a specific model.
Of course, device information may not be specified at all for questionnaire information that does not require a device to be used for an answer, and device specification may not be performed for some question items.

The midway information storage unit 8 is a storage area for storing user input data sequentially acquired by the server 2 as midway answer data before the completion of questionnaire response input.
The midway answer data is generated and stored for each combination of one questionnaire information and user information.
FIG. 3A shows an example of data contents of midway answer data relating to a certain user for a certain questionnaire.

One midway answer data includes midway information ID, user ID, questionnaire ID, and date / time information.
The midway information ID is an identification code unique to each halfway answer data.
The user ID is stored in order to identify the user targeted by the midway answer data, that is, to indicate who the midway answer data is in the middle of the answer. As the user ID, for example, the user ID in the user DB 6 is used as it is or a code associated with the user ID in the user DB 6 is used, so that the midway answer data and the target user information are linked.
The questionnaire ID is stored in order to specify the target questionnaire ¥ information. As described above, the questionnaire ID is identification information of questionnaire information registered in the questionnaire DB 7.
As the date / time information, the first registration date / time or update date / time of the midway answer data is stored.

In the midway answer data, information inputted for each question item of the questionnaire is stored as actual answer data. That is, information acquired for each question item indicated by the question number is stored. In the example of this figure, the answer information of the first question to the third question (question numbers 1 to 3) is stored.
As information on each question item, an answer, a device used, an answer date and time, a device non-corresponding flag, a walking flag, and the like are stored. It is not always necessary to store all of these, and necessary information is stored according to the processing of the embodiment described later.
“Answer” is an answer selected by the user for the question item. For example, Y (YES) and N (NO) answers, numerical values / symbols of selected options, or text data in the case of free answers.
As the “used device”, the device type used when the user inputs an answer to the question item (when the server 2 obtains it) is stored. For example, information that distinguishes “portable device” and “stationary device” may be used, or more specific types such as “desktop PC”, “notebook PC”, and “smart phone” may be indicated. Further, it may be information indicating a specific product code or the like.
“Answer date” is date information when the answer information for the question item is acquired (stored in the midway information storage unit).

The “device non-corresponding flag” is a flag indicating whether or not the device stored as the used device is a device that is registered in the questionnaire DB and is suitable for the device designation information regarding the question item. For example, the device non-corresponding flag = 0 if appropriate, and the device non-corresponding flag = 1 if a device not corresponding to the device designation information is used.
For example, for a certain question item, if the stationary device is actually used when the device designation information is “stationary device”, or if the device designation information is not set, the device non-corresponding flag = 0. It is said.
When the device designation information is “stationary device” and the portable device is actually used (or vice versa), the device non-corresponding flag = 1 is set.

  The “walking flag” is information indicating whether or not it is estimated that the user is walking when a halfway answer for the question item is acquired, that is, when the user is inputting an answer. . For example, when it is estimated that it is not walking, the walking flag = 0, and when it is estimated that it is walking, the walking flag = 1.

The answer data storage unit 9 is a storage area for storing final answer data obtained for each questionnaire information.
Each time the server 2 obtains final answer data from a certain user for a certain questionnaire, the server 2 stores it in the answer data storage unit 9. If necessary, the final answer data stored in the answer data storage unit 9 is organized, aggregated, and the like to generate delivery data and deliver it to the questionnaire provider (requester).

The user DB 6, the questionnaire DB 7, the midway information storage unit 8, and the answer data storage unit 9 may be realized in any form as long as the server 2 can be accessed. For example, all the storage areas (6 to 9) may be formed in the storage unit in the same system as the server 2, or a part or all of each storage area (6 to 9) is a separate body, a remote place, etc. The computer system may be provided. Of course, each storage area (6-9) need not be formed in one device (for example, one HDD). Moreover, it is not necessary for each of the storage areas (6 to 9) to adopt an independent DB structure. For example, the information stored as the user DB 6 may be stored and managed by a plurality of user DBs, or the intermediate information may be stored for each user in the user DB 6.
The user DB 6, questionnaire DB 7, midway information storage unit 8, and answer data storage unit 9 are merely conceptual examples of information storage units related to the processing of the embodiment.

<2. Survey page and process flow>
A configuration example of a questionnaire page provided by the server 2 to the user terminal 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
The questionnaire is provided as a web page, and is configured such that a plurality of page screens progress, for example.
FIG. 4 shows an example having a start page P1, question pages P2-1, P2-2,... P2-m, a confirmation page P3, and a completion page P4. Normally, the server 2 sequentially advances these pages in response to an operation input at the user terminal 5.

  The start page P1 is a page that asks the user to start a questionnaire. Introduce the questionnaire title, contents, rules, etc. to the user. For example, when the user clicks the start button 30, the server 2 makes a transition to the question page P2-1. In some cases, the question item is described on the start page P1 and also serves as the first question page.

The question page P2 (P2-1, P2-2,..., P2-m) presents actual question items (Q1, Q2,...) And prepares check boxes and input fields for the answers. It is a page. For example, when the user inputs a necessary answer and clicks the next button 31, a transition is made to the next question page.
The last question page P2-m is presented with a confirmation button 32, and when the user clicks the confirmation button 32, the page transitions to a confirmation page P3.
The page number (m) of the question page P2 is the number of pages corresponding to the contents of the questionnaire. One question page P2 includes one or more question items.

On the confirmation page P3, the contents of the user's answers on the question page P2 are displayed in a list so that the user can check his / her answers.
If the user wants to change the answer content, the user may be able to return to the question page P2 by clicking the return button 34.
When the user confirms the contents of the question and clicks the completion button 33, the transition is made to the completion page P4. At this stage, final input data is transmitted to the server 2 and the fact that the questionnaire has been completed is presented to the user.

The above is an example of the page configuration for the questionnaire progress. The structure of the questionnaire page, such as the number of each page, the page contents, and the click button structure, can be considered in various ways.
In FIG. 5, the process example between the user terminal 5 and the server 2 will be described by taking the questionnaire page configuration as shown in FIG. 4 as an example.

In this example, the user logs in when accessing the web page provided by the server 2 or after accessing the web page.
A login ID, a password, etc. are transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 in response to a user operation, and a login request is made (S1). In response to this, the server 2 performs a login process (S20) and establishes a login state. The server 2 is in a state where the user can be specified.
Note that the questionnaire process does not necessarily need to be performed in the logged-in state, but in the embodiment, it is necessary to specify a user in order to store midway answer data for each combination of the user and the questionnaire information. If the user can be specified even if the user is not logged in, the login may be unnecessary.

In response to a user operation, the user terminal 5 requests the server 2 for a web page as a questionnaire page (S2). For example, a questionnaire introduction on a certain web page or e-mail or the like is presented, and when the user clicks on it, a request operation for a web page as a questionnaire page is performed.
In response to a web page request as a questionnaire, the server 2 transmits web page screen data for questionnaire, for example, page data of the above-described start page P1 (S21). Thereby, the screen transition of the user terminal 5 is performed, for example, the start page P1 is displayed (S3).
When the user clicks the start button 30 while the start page P1 is displayed, the user terminal 5 transmits a questionnaire start request to the server 2 (S4).

The server 2 that has received the questionnaire start request confirms whether this questionnaire start request is the first request for the questionnaire for the login user or resumption (S22). This can be determined based on whether or not midway answer data exists in the midway information storage unit 8 in the combination of the survey ID and user ID related to the current survey start request.
Further, the server 2 confirms the device type of the user terminal 5. Note that the device type of the user terminal 5 can be determined by checking information sent from the user terminal at the time of login or at the time of the first web request, and is used to store midway answer data in the step S12. You just need to know the device information.
And the server 2 transmits the question page P2 according to the first time / resumption (S23). In the case of the first questionnaire start request, the screen data of the first question page P2-1 is usually transmitted. In the case of resumption, it is possible to send a subsequent question page.
On the user terminal 5 that has received the screen data, the question page P2 is displayed. The user can input an answer.

The user arbitrarily inputs an answer to the displayed question page P2 and clicks the next button 31 after completing the input of the question page. In response to this, the user terminal 5 transmits a next page request to the server. At this time, the user terminal 5 also transmits user input information about the current page.
When the server 2 receives the next page request, the server 2 obtains the transmitted input data, generates midway answer data in response to this, and stores it in the midway information storage unit 8 (S24).
Then, the screen data of the next question page P2 is transmitted (S25). On the user terminal 5 that has received the screen data, the next question page P2 is displayed, and the user can input an answer (S7).
These steps S6, S7, S24, and S25 may be performed a plurality of times depending on the page configuration of the questionnaire information, or may not be performed when there is only one question page.
In this example, when the next page is requested, the input data of the current page is transmitted to the server 2, but the input data is transmitted to the server 2 every time one question item is input. Such processing examples are also conceivable. That is, various examples of the timing at which the server 2 acquires intermediate input data are conceivable, and acquisition of intermediate input data may be in units of pages or in question items. Alternatively, any number of question items may be used.

When the input of the last question page P2-m is completed, the user clicks the confirmation button 32. Thereby, a confirmation request is transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 (S8). Along with the confirmation request, the input data of the last question page P2-m is also transmitted to the server 2.
The server 2 acquires input data transmitted from the user terminal 5 (S26), further generates image data as a confirmation page, and transmits it to the user terminal 5 (S27). That is, the server 2 generates the image data of the confirmation page P3 that lists the answers for each question item by using the input data acquired so far or the midway answer data stored in the midway information storage unit 8. It transmits to the user terminal 5.
In the user terminal 5, when the screen data as the confirmation page P3 is received, it is displayed and presented to the user (S9).
The user confirms the confirmation page and clicks the completion button 33 if it is good. As a result, information on the completion operation is transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 (S10). The server 2 uses the confirmed final data as finalized input data (S28).
Then, the server 2 generates final answer data using the confirmed input data. The final answer data is data indicating the final answer of one user for one questionnaire. The server 2 stores the generated final answer data in the answer data storage unit (S29).

The above is a series of processes for collecting one user's answer input for one questionnaire information. If the confirmation page P3 is not provided, steps S7, S8, S9, S26, and S27 are not necessary.

<3. First Embodiment>
A specific processing example of the server 2 that communicates with the user terminal 5 as shown in FIG. 5 will be described below. First, the processing of the server 2 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 shows a questionnaire process by the server 2. FIG. 6 shows a specific example of processing after the questionnaire start request from the user terminal 5 is transmitted as step S4 in FIG. 5, that is, a specific example of processing for realizing steps S22 to S29.
The server 2 executes the process of FIG. 6 mainly by the functions of the questionnaire processing unit 2a and the device determination unit 2b.

When the server 2 receives the questionnaire start request from the user terminal 5, the process proceeds from step S101 to S102. First, the server 2 determines whether the current questionnaire start request is an initial start request or a restart request.
Since the user is logged in at the time of this processing, the server 2 can specify the user ID, and can also specify the questionnaire ID at the time of the questionnaire start request. Therefore, the server 2 searches the midway information storage unit 8 to check whether midway answer data exists under the condition of the combination of the user ID and the questionnaire ID.
If there is no midway answer data, it is the first questionnaire start request, and if it exists, it can be determined as a questionnaire restart request in which the user has input answers to some question items in the past.

  Next, the server 2 performs device determination in step S103. That is, the server 2 determines the device type of the user terminal 5 that has transmitted the questionnaire start request. Here, it is determined whether at least the user terminal 5 is a portable user terminal 5P or a stationary user terminal 5S. As described above, since the device type can be determined at the time of web access from the user terminal 5 or the like, at this time, if the determined device type information is set as a flag or the like for the questionnaire process, for example, Good. Of course, actual device determination processing may be performed at this point.

  If the server 2 determines that it is the first questionnaire start request in the initial / restart determination in step S102, the server 2 proceeds from step S104 to S106. On the other hand, if it is determined to resume, the server 2 proceeds from step S104 to S105, and acquires midway answer data from the midway information storage unit 8. That is, the user's past input data is acquired for the questionnaire related to the questionnaire start request. Then, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S <b> 106, the server 2 performs processing for transmitting a question page to the user terminal 5. The processing in step S106 is shown in detail in FIG.
The question page transmission process branches depending on the situation at that time. The situation at that time is different from whether it is a restart time, a first start time, or a next page request time.

  If it is determined that this is the first questionnaire start request, the server 2 advances the process of FIG. 7 in steps S200 → S210 → S211. In this case, the server 2 transmits the page data of the first question page P2-1 of the questionnaire to the user terminal 5, and finishes the question page transmission process of FIG.

If it is determined that the current questionnaire start request is a restart request, the server 2 advances the process of FIG. 7 from step S200 to step S201.
In this case, the server 2 first determines the question page to be resumed in step S201. The server 2 confirms the midway answer data acquired in step S105, and confirms the input question item (question number) and the uninput question item. Then, the question page P2- (x) to be resumed is specified so that the input can be resumed from the non-input, that is, the subsequent question items. Then, the server 2 transmits the page data of the question page P2- (x) restarted in step S202 to the user terminal 5.

Here, as shown by the broken line, when the page data of the question page P2- (x) resumed in step S202 is transmitted to the user terminal 5, the question page transmission process of FIG. S205 may be performed.
In step S <b> 203, the server 2 transmits a message to the user terminal 5. This is, for example, a content that asks the user whether to resume from an intermediate page and asks whether or not to display input data that has already been answered. For example, a mode in which a message and an answer request are displayed as a modal screen on the question page P2- (x) can be considered.
In response to this, the user inputs an answer indicating whether a past answer is necessary. The server 2 receives the reply to the message and branches the process in step S204. That is, if the answer is unnecessary, the process of FIG. On the other hand, if it is an answer that the past answer needs to be displayed, it is determined that the past answer is requested, the process proceeds to step S205, and the past answer information is transmitted to the user terminal 5. That is, display data is generated from the input data for each question item stored in the midway answer data, and is transmitted to the user terminal 5 so that the user can confirm his past input contents. Thereby, the user can remember the past input content at the time of resumption.

  It should be noted that steps S203 and S204 are not performed, and at the time of resumption, the past answer information may always be transmitted and presented on the user terminal 5 in step S205.

  When the next page is requested in step S220, the operation returns to step S106 after the operation of the next button 31 is detected in step S107 of FIG. In this case, the server 2 proceeds from step S220 to S221 and transmits the page data of the question page next to the current question page to the user terminal 5. In the user terminal 5, for example, a page transition that switches from the question page P2-1 to P2-2 is performed.

After step S106 in FIG. 6 is performed as the processing in FIG. 7 described above, the server 2 monitors user operations and actions in steps S107, S108, S109, and S110.
When the user clicks the next button 31, the user terminal 5 transmits the next page request and the input data input by the user for the question item on the current page (step S6 in FIG. 5). When the server 2 receives the next page request, the process proceeds from step S107 to step S121 in FIG. 6, and first acquires input data on the current question page. In step S122, the server 2 uses the acquired input data to generate and store update information of the midway answer data corresponding to the user ID and the questionnaire ID.
That is, if this time is a restart time, the content of the midway answer data acquired in step S105 is updated (addition of input data) and stored in the midway information storage unit 8.
If this is the first time, midway answer data corresponding to the user ID and the questionnaire ID is newly generated and registered in the midway information storage unit 8 as new midway answer data.
If the current page transition by the next button 31 is after the second time after the start of the current questionnaire, the content updated at the previous page transition is further updated and stored in the midway information storage unit 8.

  At this time, the halfway answer data includes not only answer input data corresponding to the question item (question number) but also information on the device used, the answer date and time, and the device non-correspondence flag. The device used is the device type determined in step S103. The answer date may be the current date (next page request reception date). The device non-correspondence flag is set by referring to the device designation information of the questionnaire information and comparing the device designated in each question item with the device used. If the device currently used does not correspond to a device specified in a certain question item, the device non-corresponding flag = 1 is set for the question item. If the device currently used corresponds to a device specified in a certain question item, or if no device is specified, the device non-corresponding flag = 0 is set for the question item.

When the midway answer data is stored as described above, the server 2 resets / starts the internal timer in step S123, and returns to step S106. This timer is a timer for time over measurement in step S110.
In step S106, a question page is transmitted in response to the next page request (S221 in FIG. 7).

When the user clicks the confirmation button 32 on the last question page P2-m, a confirmation request and input data input by the user regarding the question item of the current page (P2-m) are transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 ( Step S8 in FIG. When the server 2 receives the confirmation request, the process proceeds from step S108 to S131 to generate a confirmation page. This is a process of generating page data of a confirmation page P3 in which answer inputs for each question item are displayed as a list based on input data already acquired in units of pages or input data stored as midway answer data. .
The server 2 transmits the page data of the confirmation page P3 to the user terminal 5 in step S132. As a result, the confirmation page P3 is displayed on the user terminal 5. In step S133, the server 2 resets / starts the internal timer for time over measurement, and returns to the monitoring process in steps S107 to S110.

If no operation such as the next button 31 or the completion button 33 is performed while the question page P2 or the confirmation page P3 is displayed on the user terminal 5, the timer that has started counting in step S123 or S133 is displayed. At some point, the time is over. In this case, the server 2 ends the process from step S110.
For example, it is a case where the user stops answering a questionnaire. In this case, although the questionnaire process is terminated in the middle of the process, the midway answer data is stored in the midway information storage unit 8 in the process of step S122.

The newly generated or updated midway reply data may be actually written to the midway information storage unit 8 when the time is over.
In this example, only the operation of the next button 31 and the completion button 33 is monitored. However, other operations such as the return button 34 may be actually prepared as in the confirmation page P3 of FIG. This is omitted in FIG. 6 for simplification of explanation. To the last, step S110 is to monitor the case where the time is over without any assumed operation being performed.

When the user clicks the completion button 33 on the confirmation page P3, confirmation completion operation information is transmitted from the user terminal 5 to the server 2 (step S10 in FIG. 5). Upon receiving this, the server 2 proceeds from step S109 to S141, and obtains the confirmed input data. This is a process in which input data for each question item acquired so far is used as an answer input confirmed by the user.
In step S142, the server 2 generates final answer data. The final answer data is information on a final answer that is determined by the user as the questionnaire.
An example of the final response data generation process is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8A is an example in which the server 2 uses the determined input data as final answer data as it is in step S1420.
On the other hand, FIG. 8B is an example in which the confirmed input data is not used as final answer data as it is.
As described above, one object of the present embodiment is to prevent answer data for a question item designating a device from being input by a non-designated device. FIG. 8B is an example including such device correspondence processing.

  In step S1421, the server 2 sets variable n = 1 and variable N = final question number. That is, the variable N is the number of question items of the questionnaire. Then, the server 2 performs the processes of steps S1422 to S1425 while incrementing the variable n in step S1426.

In step S1422, the server 2 confirms the answer of the nth question item and the device type at the time of inputting the answer. The answer to the question item in this case is the answer of the confirmed input data. As the device type, the device at the time of this input is the device determined in step S103. Further, when the answer of the question item (the answer that has become the finalized input data) is the answer stored in the midway answer data, it can be confirmed by the information on the device used stored in the midway answer data.
In step S1423, it is determined whether an answer has been made by the designated device. If midway answer data exists for the question item, the device non-correspondence flag may be confirmed. If the device non-corresponding flag = 0, the response is made by the designated device (including no designation), and if the device non-corresponding flag = 1, the answer is not made by the designated device. If there is no midway answer data (for example, in the case of the question item on the last question page P2-m), whether the current device used in step S103 matches the device designation information in the questionnaire information (designation) It is determined whether or not it is included).

If it is determined that the specified device has been answered or that no device has been designated, in step S1424, the server 2 sets the confirmed input data of the answer for the nth question item as valid answer data.
If it is determined that the designated device has not responded, the server 2 does not perform the process of step S1424. In other words, the confirmed input data of the answer for the nth question item is not regarded as valid answer data.
In step S1425, it is confirmed whether or not the variable n ≧ N. If the variable n ≧ N is not satisfied, the variable n is incremented in step S1426, and the process proceeds to the next question item in step S1422.
When the processes of steps S1422 to S1423 for all question items are finished, the variable n ≧ N, so that the process proceeds from step S1425 to S1427, and the server 2 generates final answer data using valid answer data.
That is, the server 2 determines the confirmed input data reflecting the device designation information as valid answer data, and generates final answer data using only the valid answer data. Accordingly, an answer input by a device that does not match the device designation information is not reflected in the final answer data.

When the final response data is generated as shown in FIG. 8, the server stores the final response data in the response data storage unit 9 in step S143 of FIG. That is, it is stored as one of records for the provided questionnaire information.
For one questionnaire information, such final answer data is generated and stored in response to a number of user's answer inputs. The stored final response data is subjected to tabulation processing, information organization, and the like, and delivered from the server 2 to the questionnaire provider as a questionnaire result.

The first embodiment described above is an example in which the device designation corresponding process is performed in the final response data generation process in step S142.

<4. Second Embodiment>
A processing example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This is an example in which the device designation handling process is performed in the question page transmission process of step S106 in FIG.
The entire questionnaire process of the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. In step S106 in FIG. 6, the server 2 performs a process for transmitting the question page to the user terminal 5 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As in the case of FIG. 7, the question page transmission process sets page data to be transmitted depending on whether it is restarted, at the first start, or the next page request.
Even when restarting, the server 2 proceeds from step S200 to S206, determines the question page (P2-x) to be restarted, and selects it as the page to be transmitted.
If it is the first time, the server 2 proceeds from step S210 to step S215, and selects the first question page P2-1 as a page to be transmitted.
If the next page is requested, the server 2 proceeds from step S220 to step S225, and checks whether or not there is an unanswered page, that is, a page for which the input data of the user has not been acquired before the current page. In addition, as an unanswered page, although it has already transmitted in the session with the user terminal 5 this time, there may be a page that remains unanswered. Therefore, here, for example, it is confirmed whether or not there is a page which is an unanswered page and has not been transmitted in the current session.
If there is no unanswered and untransmitted question page, the next question page is selected as a page to be transmitted in step S227.
If there is one or more unanswered and untransmitted pages, the server 2 selects one of the unanswered and untransmitted pages as a page to be transmitted in step S226. For example, a page with the lowest page number among unanswered and untransmitted pages may be selected.

When the transmission page is selected according to the situation as described above, the server 2 confirms the designated device for the question item of the selected page in step S230, and whether the answer is OK with the current device determined in step S103 of FIG. Judge whether or not.
For example, the device designation information is confirmed for one or more question items included in the selection page.
If there is no device designation for one or a plurality of question items on the selection page, or if the current device matches the device designation, the server 2 proceeds to step S231 and displays the selection page on the user terminal. Send to 5.

On the other hand, if at least one of the question items on the selection page has a device designation and does not match the current device, the server 2 proceeds to step S232 and prepares a selection page that cannot be entered. To do.
If all the selection items on the selection page have a device designation that does not correspond to the current device, a selection page is prepared in which answer input is disabled for all selection items. For example, a selection page is prepared in which check boxes and input fields for answering all question items on the selection page are inactive.
When a part of the selection items on the selection page is designated as a device that does not correspond to the current device, a selection page is prepared in which answer input is disabled for the selection item.
In step S233, the server 2 transmits to the user terminal 5 page data and a message of the selected page in which all or part of the server 2 cannot be answered.
The message content is a content that notifies the user that all or some of the question items cannot be answered by the current user terminal 5, and further, what kind of device should be used for a question item that cannot be input.
On the user terminal 5, a selection page and a message are displayed, but the user can input only the question items that can be input or operate the next button 33 or the like.

By performing such processing, the user cannot input an answer for a question item that is a device for which the user terminal 5 does not match the device designation information. Accordingly, for such a page, the next button 31 is operated to advance to the next page (step S107 →... S106 in FIG. 6).
It should be noted that the device may not match at the stage where the unsent page is the remaining one page. In such a case, a questionnaire interruption button may be prepared on the selection disable page generated in step S232, and the user may perform a questionnaire interruption operation. When the questionnaire interruption operation is performed, the server 2 may finish the process from step S110 in FIG. 6 as in the case of time over. In that case, at a later time, the user may make a questionnaire resumption request using a device according to the device designation.

According to the processing of the second embodiment as described above, since the user can input answers only to the specified device for the question item in which the device specification information is set, the input data must be the device specification. It is input by the device that matches the information.
For this reason, the answer data generation process in step S142 of FIG. 6 may be performed as long as the process of FIG. 8A is performed.

Incidentally, as a modified example, an example in which step S232 is not performed as shown by a broken line in FIG. 9 can be considered. This does not generate the page data of the selected page that makes it impossible to input the answer of all or some of the question items, and transmits the selected page as it is (with the answer input enabled) to the user terminal 5 and transmits a message. It is an example. The message notifies that all or some of the question items in this selection page are not valid answer data because the device does not match even if it is entered.
In this case, since input data may be acquired regardless of the device difference, the server 2 may perform the process of FIG. 8B as the response data generation process of step S142 of FIG.

<5. Third Embodiment>
A processing example of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This is also an example in which the device designation handling process is performed during the question page transmission process in step S106 of FIG.
The entire questionnaire process of the third embodiment is the same as that in FIG. In step S106 in FIG. 6, the server 2 performs a process for transmitting the question page to the user terminal 5 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

  The processes in steps S200 and S206 (when restarting), S210 and S215 (when starting for the first time), and S220 and S227 (when requesting the next page) in FIG. 10 are the same as those in FIG. However, steps S225A and S226A will be described later because they are slightly different from S225 and S226 of FIG.

When the question page to be transmitted is selected in the above processing, the server 2 confirms the designated device for the question item of the selected page in step S230, and whether or not the answer is OK with the current device determined in step S103 of FIG. Judging.
If there is no device designation for one or a plurality of question items on the selection page, or if the current device matches the device designation, the server 2 proceeds to step S231 and displays the selection page on the user terminal. Send to 5. This is also the same as the processing of FIG.
However, in this third embodiment, the questionnaire information is
(1) Only one question item is always provided on one question page.
(2) Although a plurality of question items are provided in one question page, each question item in one question page is always device designation information that can be handled by one device. For example, the device designation information of each question item is all designated with the same device type or only with a certain device type and no device designation, and there is no question item that designates a different device within one page. ing.
It is assumed that any one of the above is satisfied.
Therefore, the case where the process proceeds to step S231 is a case where the current user terminal 5 can complete the answer input on the selected page.

On the other hand, if there is a device designation for one or a plurality of question items on the selected page and it does not match the current device, the server 2 proceeds to step S235, and other unanswered, untransmitted and unselected Check if the page exists. This is the same processing as step S225A.
The determination process in step S225A or S235 is a determination as to whether or not there is an unselected question page in addition to the unanswered and untransmitted condition in step S225 of FIG. Unselected means that the selected page has never been selected in any of steps S206, S215, S226A, and S227A in the current session.

If it is determined in step S235 that there is an unanswered, untransmitted and unselected question page, the server 2 proceeds to step S226A and selects one such question page as a page to be transmitted.
If one or more unanswered, untransmitted and unselected pages exist, the server 2 selects one of them as a page to be transmitted in step S226A. For example, the page with the youngest page number may be selected from unanswered, untransmitted and unselected pages. Then, the process proceeds to step S230.

  If it is determined in step S235 that there are no unanswered, untransmitted, and unselected question pages, the server 2 proceeds to step S236 and checks whether there is a next page of the selected page. If it exists, the server 2 proceeds to step S227, selects the next question page as a page to be transmitted, and proceeds to step S230.

If the next page does not exist in step S236, that is, if the currently selected question page is the last question page P2-m, the server 2 performs a process of transmitting a message page in step S237.
The message in this case is a content that requests the user to switch to another device and resume the questionnaire because there are no questions that can be answered by the current device in this questionnaire.

According to the process of the third embodiment, the question page in which device designation information is set is not transmitted to the user terminal 5 when the user terminal 5 is not a corresponding device. In other words, the transmission destination user terminal selects a question item (question page P2) that does not conflict with the device designation information, and transmits the question page P2 including the selected question item to the user terminal 5 to input a reply. Asking for.
Accordingly, the acquired input data is always input by a device that matches the device designation information.
For this reason, the answer data generation process of step S142 of FIG. 6 may be performed as long as the process of FIG.

<6. Fourth Embodiment>
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows an example of processing in the case of step S110 (time over determination) in FIG. In other words, the fourth embodiment is an example in which the process when the time is over in step S110 in the process of FIG. 6 is performed as shown in FIG.

In this case, even if the server 2 determines that the time is over, the server 2 does not immediately end the process of FIG. 6 but transmits an alert in step S161 of FIG. This is an alert for instructing the user that the answer input of the questionnaire is not detected for a certain period of time. In response to the alert transmission from the server 2, the user terminal 5 performs a pop-up screen, warning sound output, message output, etc. to notify the user that the questionnaire is interrupted.
The server 2 performs withdrawal estimation in step S163 while monitoring whether or not any operation such as the operation of the next button 31 is detected in step S162. For example, if a predetermined time elapses without an operation being detected after sending an alert, it is assumed that the user has no intention to continue the current questionnaire, and the process of FIG. 11 (FIG. 6) is completed.
On the other hand, if a user operation related to the current questionnaire is detected before the departure is estimated, the server 2 returns from step S162 to step S107 in FIG.

By such processing, the user is alerted without ending the questionnaire processing session immediately due to time over.

<7. Fifth embodiment>
The fifth embodiment is an example of management processing of midway answer data in the midway information storage unit 8 which is executed by the server 2 mainly by the function of the midway information management unit 2c and is shown in FIG.
This process is a process that may be performed at any time or periodically, for example, regardless of the above-described questionnaire session. In particular, it is a process of deleting unnecessary midway answer data.

In step S301 in FIG. 12, the server 2 selects one questionnaire information (questionnaire ID) to be processed.
In step S302, the server 2 acquires and confirms the questionnaire attribute information of the selected questionnaire information from the questionnaire DB 7, and confirms the delivery date of the answer data and the target answer number.
In step S303, the server 2 searches the midway information storage unit 8 and extracts midway answer data corresponding to the questionnaire ID of the selected questionnaire information.

In step S304, the server 2 determines whether or not the present time has passed the answer collection limit date and time of the questionnaire. The answer collection limit date and time is, for example, the deadline date of the answer data to be delivered to the questionnaire provider during the delivery date. Or it is good also as a date and time before a predetermined date from a deadline date.
If the answer collection limit date is exceeded, the halfway answer data for the questionnaire is not normally used for final answer data generation, so the server 2 proceeds to step S306, and all the halfway answer data extracted in step S303. Is deleted from the midway information storage unit 8.

If the answer collection limit date / time has not been reached, the server 2 determines in step S305 that the final answer data number for the corresponding questionnaire, that is, the number of final answer data stored in the answer data storage unit 9, is the target answer number. Check if it has been reached.
If the target number of answers has not been reached, it is appropriate to use as much opportunity as possible to generate final answer data using midway answer data. That is, it is better to store the midway answer data as much as possible in case the user who has been interrupted resumes the questionnaire. However, on the other hand, if there is midway answer data that has been left without being resumed for a long period of time, it can be estimated that the user does not intend to resume. Therefore, the server 2 proceeds to step S308, confirms the last update date and time stored as the date and time information of each extracted halfway answer data, and deletes the current date that has passed y days from the last update date and time. For example, when the questionnaire collection period is 3 months, for example, those that have been suspended for 2 months are deleted.
If the target number of answers has not been reached, all midway answer data may be maintained without performing the process of step S308.

If the number of final response data has reached the target number of responses, the need to generate final response data using midway response data is not so strong in the future.
For example, after that, the final answer data may be unnecessary, but as much final answer data as possible may be generated.
Therefore, for example, the server 2 proceeds to step S307 and deletes midway answer data that has passed x days (y> x) from the last update date. For example, when the questionnaire collection period is 3 months, for example, those that have been interrupted for 3 weeks are deleted.
If it is desired to increase the number of final response data as much as possible regardless of the target response number, all the midway response data may be maintained without performing the process of step S307.
Alternatively, an example in which only the latest one week is maintained and the others are deleted can be considered.

The processing of FIG. 12 is sequentially performed at a required time point for each questionnaire, for example, so that it is possible to avoid excessively increasing the amount of useless answer data and squeezing the storage capacity of the answer data storage unit 9. In that sense, whether or not to execute steps S307 and S308 and the number of elapsed days may be determined according to the capacity status of the answer data storage unit 9, or may be determined according to the status change of the accumulated number, You may change the number of days setting.
Note that the halfway answer data stored in step S143 in FIG. 6 for the user is not necessary at that time. Therefore, the user's midway reply data in which the final reply data is stored may be deleted from the midway information storage unit 8 at the time of step S143 in FIG. 6 without waiting for the processing in FIG.

<8. Sixth Embodiment>
A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The sixth embodiment is an example that considers whether or not an answer input is made during walking.
FIG. 13A shows a questionnaire process according to the sixth embodiment. The same processes as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted.
The processing example in FIG. 13A is obtained by adding steps S150, S151, and S152 to the processing in FIG. These processes will be described.

When there is a questionnaire start request, the server 2 starts acquisition of walking determination information as step S150. Thereafter, the server 2 sequentially acquires walking determination information from the user terminal 5.
The acquisition processing of walking determination information is shown in FIG. 13B.
The server 2 proceeds from step S160 to S161 according to the predetermined acquisition timing, and requests the user terminal 5 for location information. In step S162, the position information transmitted from the user terminal 5 is acquired and stored together with the time information.
For example, it is assumed that the user terminal 5 includes a GPS receiver and can acquire latitude / longitude information as current position information. The server 2 requests the current position information from the user terminal 5 when necessary, and acquires it.
The acquisition timing may be a regular timing during the execution of this questionnaire session, for example. However, for example, the position information of the user terminal 5 may be acquired when information is transmitted from the user terminal 5, for example, when the next page request is received in step S107 or when the confirmation request is received in step S108.

When the server 2 receives the next page request in step S107, the server 2 performs a walking estimation process in step S151. This is a process of confirming the position information corresponding to the time information acquired and stored sequentially, and estimating whether or not the user was walking at the time of inputting the current question page P2.
The “walking” estimated here may include not only a normal walking but also a running such as jogging or a bicycle.
For example, when a relatively large change in position information at each time point is observed, it is estimated that the user has input an answer for the current page while walking.
The reason for estimating the walking is to estimate whether or not the user is answering the questionnaire in a stationary state. When it is estimated that the user is on a vehicle such as a train or an automobile, it is considered that the user answers the questionnaire in a stationary state. Therefore, for example, when the transition of the current position is collated with map information and moving on a track, or when moving on a road at a speed considered to be an automobile, it is preferable that the vehicle is not walking. It is.

  The server 2 stores the midway answer data in the midway information storage unit 8 at step S122A. At this time, in addition to the information in the case of step S122 in FIG. Set (see FIG. 3A). For example, when it is estimated that the user is walking, the walking flag = 1, and when it is estimated that the user is not walking, the walking flag = 0.

Step S152 is processing to end acquisition of walking determination information. When the confirmation completion operation information is transmitted from the user terminal 5, the server 2 proceeds from step S109 to S152, and ends the walking determination information acquisition process of FIG. 13B.
Then, similarly to FIG. 6, steps S141 (acquired confirmed input data) and S142 (generate final answer data) are performed. In step S143, the final answer data is stored.
In this case, the server 2 executes the final answer data generation process as shown in FIG.

The process of FIG. 14 is obtained by adding step S1430 to the process of FIG. 8B. The same process is given the same step number.
In step S1421, the server 2 sets variable n = 1 and variable N = final question number.
In step S1422A, the server 2 confirms the answer of the nth question item and the device type when the answer is input. Furthermore, in this case, it is confirmed whether or not it is estimated that each answer is input during walking.
If the answer of the nth question item is an answer stored in the midway answer data, it can be confirmed by the walking flag stored in the midway answer data.
In the case where there is no midway answer data, for example, in the case of the question item on the last question page P2-m, the change of the position information starts from the position information when the confirmation request is received in step S108 at the time of step S1422A. To estimate whether or not he was walking.

If it is determined that the answer is specified by the designated device (or if there is no designation), the process advances from step S1423 to S1430, and it is also confirmed whether the answer is a walking answer.
If it is determined that the user is not walking, the process advances to step S1424, and the server 2 sets the confirmed input data of the answer for the nth question item as valid answer data.
Even when the answer is made by the designated device, if it is estimated that the user is walking, the server 2 does not perform the process of step S1424. In other words, the confirmed input data of the answer for the nth question item is not regarded as valid answer data.

The subsequent processing is the same as in FIG. 8B.
That is, the server 2 determines that the confirmed input data that reflects the device designation information and is not answered during walking is valid answer data, and generates final answer data only from the valid answer data. (S1427). Accordingly, an answer input by a device that does not match the device designation information or an answer that is estimated to have been answered while walking is not reflected in the final answer data.

In this example, it is assumed that the input data estimated to be walking is not reflected in the final answer data. However, only the input data estimated to be walking is collected to generate the final answer data. Is also possible.
For example, when there is a request from a questionnaire provider who wants to conduct a questionnaire that he / she wants to answer while walking, it is possible to collect only answers that are truly walking using the walking estimation process.
In this example, the answer input itself is possible even while walking. For example, when it is estimated that walking, the question page P2 is not transmitted to the user terminal 5, or an alert is transmitted to the user terminal 5. Or send a message to the effect that it is not a valid answer.

<9. Summary and Modification>
According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The server 2 according to the embodiment uses a function of the questionnaire processing unit 2a (question processing unit) to transmit the questionnaire information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal 5 for presentation, and a questionnaire An intermediate response data storage process (S122) for acquiring input data before completion of input of information from the user terminal 5 and storing it as intermediate response data corresponding to the user ID and questionnaire ID, and a question start request from the user terminal 5 A presentation item determination process (S106: FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10) for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal 5 in accordance with the presence or absence of midway answer data in which the corresponding user ID and questionnaire ID match. Final response data generation processing for generating final response data for questionnaire information based on input data or midway response data ( 142) and perform.
Moreover, the server 2 performs the process (S103) which determines the device classification of the user terminal 5 which transmits the input data with respect to questionnaire information with the function of the device determination part 2b.
The server 2 uses the function of the questionnaire processing unit 2a so that data input by the user terminal 5 as a device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item is not included as valid data in the final response data. The device designation corresponding processing is performed (FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 of the first to third embodiments).

Thereby, it is possible to obtain answer data in accordance with the purpose of the questionnaire. That is, it is possible to prevent answer data for a question item designating a device from being input by a non-designated device.
The device designation is suitable when, for example, a questionnaire regarding the usability of a specific terminal device is desired to obtain a questionnaire response by a user who is truly using the terminal device.
In addition, if the answer is something that the user thinks to some extent, there is also a desire to have the answer done by the stationary user terminal 5S.
As described above, there are many requests for specifying a questionnaire response device, and in these cases, the processing of the embodiment is very suitable.

Further, since the input data is sequentially stored as midway answer data, even if the user stops the answer midway, the input data of the answers up to that point remains.
In the case of resumption, the question item is selected according to the past answer input that can be grasped from the midway answer data. That is, it is presented from the following question items, and the user may input an answer correspondingly.
In this way, when the user resumes the questionnaire, it is possible to start from the middle using the midway answer data, and therefore it is preferable for the user that it is not necessary to start over from the beginning when resuming. Also, especially in the case of questionnaires that require responses by switching between multiple devices, the user does not have to bother to interrupt and resume. This also facilitates the collection of responses to device-specific questionnaires.

  In the embodiment, as a presentation item determination process (S106: FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10) for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal 5 according to the presence or absence of midway answer data, the question page P2 is presented. Although the item has been decided, it is of course possible to use it as a question item unit. That is, it is possible to generate a question page that collects unanswered question items each time and set it as a question page to be presented to the user terminal 5 without setting a question page in advance.

  In the embodiment, when the next page is requested, the input data of the current page is transmitted to the server 2. For example, each time one question item is input, the user terminal 5 inputs the input data. Data may be transmitted to the server 2. In this case, a processing example in which the server 2 executes steps S121 and S122 in FIG. 6 each time input data is acquired can be considered.

In the third embodiment, as the device designation corresponding process, in the presentation control process (S106), the destination user terminal 5 selects a question item that does not conflict with the device designation information, and the selected question item Is transmitted to the user terminal and presented to the user terminal.
That is, when a user logs in with a certain device and inputs an answer to certain questionnaire information, at least questions of question items permitted for the device are asked. The question item allowed in this case is a question item corresponding to the device specified by the device designation information in the user terminal 5, or a question item for which no device designation information is set (device designation is not performed). It is. Question items for which an answer input by another device is designated are not presented to the user terminal 5.
In particular, in the case of the process of FIG. 10, if the user terminal 5 is not a designated device for a certain question item, any non-device designated question item or question item corresponding to the device is input first. Become.
For this reason, the input can be continued without changing the currently used device, which is convenient for the user. In addition, if device switching is forced in the middle, motivation for an answer may be reduced, which is a countermeasure.
In addition, since answers can only be entered with allowed devices, as a result, input data of answers input by devices that do not match the device specification information of the question items are not included as valid data in the final answer data. can do. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an answer using the target device correctly for the question item designating the input device.
In addition, since it is possible to input an answer permitted by the current device regardless of the order of the question items with the current device logged in, the user can be motivated to answer the questionnaire.

In the first embodiment, as the device designation corresponding process, in the final answer data generation process (S142), final answer data is generated excluding input data or midway answer data transmitted from a device that does not match the device designation information. (Fig. 8B).
As a result, the final answer data is generated only by the input that has been permitted by the device, and the input data of the answer input by a device that does not match the device designation information of the question item is not included as valid data in the final answer data. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an answer using the target device correctly for the question item designating the input device.

In the second embodiment, as the device designation corresponding process, in the presentation control process, the user terminal 5 transmits to the user terminal and presents the question information incapable of answer input for the question item that does not match the device designation information. (FIG. 9: S232, S233).
In this case, the question item by the device contrary to the designation is presented, but the answer input is impossible. For this reason, input data (or midway answer data) contrary to the device designation information is not incorporated in the final answer data.
Therefore, since the final answer data is generated only by the input that was permitted by the device, it is possible to correctly obtain an answer using the target device for the question item designating the input device.
In this case, there is an advantage that the user can see the question items even if the input is impossible, and it is easy to grasp the entire questionnaire.

In the second embodiment, as the device designation corresponding process, when the device designation information of the question item presented by the presentation control process does not match the device as the user terminal 5, alert information is transmitted to the user terminal 5. (S233 in FIG. 9 or a modified example of S230 → S233 indicated by a broken line).
In this case, for example, the user can be prompted to input again with the designated device, the user can be notified that the answer cannot be input to the question, or the input cannot be an effective answer. Therefore, the user himself / herself can recognize that he / she is trying to input an answer from a device other than the designated device, and can guide the user to input in the designated device.

In addition, as the presentation item determination process in step S106, when there is midway answer data in which the user ID and the questionnaire ID corresponding to the questionnaire start request are present, the question item is made to present the unanswered question item to the user terminal 5. As the presentation control process, the determined question item is transmitted to the user terminal 5 to be presented, and the input data of the already answered answer stored as the halfway answer data is transmitted to the user terminal to be presented. (S203 to S205 in FIG. 7).
As a result, when resuming, the input of unanswered question items such as from the resuming point is requested, and the contents of the already answered can be presented and the user can confirm. If the interruption is present, the user may have forgotten the contents of the already answered question. Therefore, it is possible to confirm past input contents and to prompt accurate input.

Further, as in the fifth embodiment, the server 2 is a midway answer data stored in the midway information storage unit 8 by the midway information management unit 2c, and is a questionnaire based on the corresponding user ID and questionnaire ID for a predetermined period or longer. Processing is performed to delete midway answer data for which there is no start request from the midway information storage unit 8 (FIG. 12: S308).
In other words, the halfway answer data is deleted if the answer input is not resumed indefinitely after being interrupted. Since holding information on the way of the user who cannot expect to resume the response without fail leads to compression of the storage capacity of the server, this processing is taken as a countermeasure.

Further, the server 2 uses the midway information management unit 2c to provide all or part of the midway answer data for all the midway answer data for the question information for which the answer collection deadline has passed or the question information for which the final answer data for the target number of answers has been acquired. Is deleted from the midway information storage unit 8 (S306, S307 in FIG. 12).
For question information such as a questionnaire, a delivery date may be set, and answer data that has not been completed even after the delivery date is unnecessary. In some cases, the target number of answers may be set. In this case, it is not always necessary, but it can be determined that an answer that cannot be expected is unnecessary. So delete them. As a result, it is possible to prevent the server storage capacity from being compressed by storing a large amount of midway answer data in a dark manner.

Further, as in the fourth embodiment, when a predetermined time has passed without detecting the user operation in the state where the question page P2 is presented to the user terminal 5, an answer prompt is transmitted to send an alert to the user terminal 5. Processing is performed (FIG. 11).
By issuing an alert that prompts the user to restart the input according to the elapsed time since the user's response input was interrupted (after the question item sending operation was stopped) Reduction can be prevented.

In the sixth embodiment, a movement determination process (S150 to S151 in FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B) that determines the movement state of the user when the question page P2 is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and presented in the presentation control process. In the midway answer data storage process, information indicating the movement state (walking flag) is stored together with the midway answer data (S151, S122A).
Thus, it can be determined whether or not the input data for the questionnaire is answered while the user is walking, and the reliability of the answer can be determined based on the movement state .
Further, in the final answer data generation process (S142), input data or midway answer data input as an answer to the question information when the movement state is at least walking in the movement determination process is not considered to be valid answer data. (FIG. 14).
That is, the input information during walking is invalidated. Even if it is the input information by a designated device, if it is the input information during a walk, it will lack accuracy. By invalidating such input information, the accuracy of the answer can be ensured.

The configuration, processing example, and application range of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be considered.
Although the embodiment is an example applied to a questionnaire, the present invention is not limited to a questionnaire and can be widely applied to question information.
For example, as a test that the user receives while accessing the website using the user terminal 5, it can be suitably applied when a specific device use is set as the test condition.
In addition, the present invention is also suitable for a case where a specific device use is required for various investigations, user personal information input, and the like.
In these cases, it is possible to prevent fraud by using an input at a specific device as a condition for acquiring information.

<10. Program and Storage Medium>
The program according to the embodiment is a program that causes an information processing apparatus (CPU or the like) to execute processing of functions as the questionnaire processing unit 2a and the device determination unit 2b in the server 2 described above.

  The program according to the embodiment includes a presentation control procedure (S106) for transmitting and presenting questionnaire information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal 5 and a device of the user terminal 5 that transmits input data for the questionnaire information. Device determination procedure for determining type (S103), and intermediate response data storage procedure for acquiring input data before completion of input for questionnaire information from the user terminal 5 and storing it as intermediate response data corresponding to the user ID and questionnaire ID (S122) and a presentation item determination procedure for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal 5 according to the presence / absence of midway answer data in which the user ID and the questionnaire ID corresponding to the questionnaire start request from the user terminal 5 match ( S106: Based on FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10) and input data or midway answer data The final answer data generation procedure (S142) for generating the final answer data for the questionnaire information and the data input by the user terminal as the device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item are This is a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute a device designation handling procedure (FIGS. 8, 9, and 10) that is not included as valid data.

With such a program, the information processing apparatus as the server 2 described above can be realized.
Such a program can be stored in advance in an HDD as a storage medium built in a device such as a computer device, a ROM in a microcomputer having a CPU, or the like. Alternatively, it can be stored (stored) temporarily or permanently in a removable storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, memory card, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or magnetic disk. Such a removable storage medium can be provided as so-called package software.
Further, such a program can be installed from a removable storage medium to a personal computer or the like, or can be downloaded from a download site via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network, 2 server, 2a Questionnaire processing part, 2b Device determination part, 2c Midway information management part, 5 User terminal, 6 User DB, 7 Questionnaire DB, 8 Halfway information storage part, 9 Answer data storage part

Claims (14)

A presentation control process for sending and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal;
An intermediate answer data storage process for acquiring input data before completion of input for question information from the user terminal and storing it as intermediate answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information;
A presentation item determination process for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal in accordance with the presence or absence of midway answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal;
Final answer data generation processing for generating final answer data for question information based on input data or midway answer data;
A question processing unit for performing
A device determination unit that determines the device type of the user terminal that transmits the input data for the question information;
With
The question processing unit is a device designation corresponding process that prevents data input by a user terminal as a device that does not match the device designation information set for the question item from being included as valid data in the final answer data. Information processing device. The question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process,
In the presentation control process, a transmission destination user terminal selects a question item that does not conflict with device designation information, and transmits the question information including the selected question item to the user terminal for presentation. The information processing apparatus according to 1. The question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the final response data generation processing, processing is performed to generate final response data excluding input data or midway response data transmitted from a device that does not match the device designation information. The question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process,
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the presentation control process, the user terminal performs a process of transmitting and presenting question information, which is not allowed to be input for a question item that does not match the device designation information, to the user terminal. The question processing unit, as the device designation corresponding process,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the device designation information of the question item presented in the presentation control process does not match a device as a user terminal, alert information is transmitted to the user terminal. The question processing unit
As the presentation item determination process, when there is midway answer data that matches the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request, the question item is determined so that the unanswered question item is presented to the user terminal. ,
The presenting control process includes a process of transmitting the determined question item to the user terminal for presentation, and transmitting the already-answered input data stored as midway answer data to the user terminal for presentation. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5. A midway information management unit that performs processing for deleting midway answer data that is stored in the storage unit and that does not require a question start request by the corresponding user identification information and question information for a predetermined period or longer, from the storage unit Prepared,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. All of the halfway answer data for the question information that is the halfway answer data stored in the storage unit, and that is about all the halfway answer data for the question information for which the answer collection deadline has passed, or the final answer data for the target number of answers , Or a midway information management unit that performs a process of deleting, from the storage unit, data such as midway data that has passed a predetermined period from the last update date among the midway answer data for the question information that has acquired the final answer data of the target answer number The
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The question processing unit performs an answer prompting process of transmitting an alert to the user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed without detecting the user operation in a state where the question information is presented to the user terminal. Item 9. The information processing device according to any one of Items 8 to 10. The question processing unit
A movement determination process for determining the movement state of the user when sending the question information to the user terminal and presenting it in the presentation control process,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein in the midway answer data storage process, information indicating a movement state is stored together with midway answer data. The question processing unit
11. In the final answer data generation process, input data or midway answer data that is input as an answer to the question information when the movement state is at least walking by the movement determination process is not valid answer data. The information processing apparatus described in 1. A presentation control step for sending and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal;
A device determination step for determining the device type of the user terminal that transmits the input data for the question information;
An intermediate answer data storage step for acquiring input data before completion of input to the question information from the user terminal and storing it as intermediate answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information;
A presentation item determination step for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal according to the presence or absence of the halfway answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal;
A final answer data generation step for generating final answer data for the question information based on the input data or midway answer data;
Device designation corresponding step for preventing data input by the user terminal as a device not matching the device designation information set for the question item from being included as valid data in the final answer data;
An information processing method performed by the information processing apparatus. A presentation control procedure for sending and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal;
A device determination procedure for determining the device type of the user terminal that transmits the input data for the question information;
An intermediate answer data storage procedure for acquiring input data before completion of input to the question information from the user terminal and storing it as intermediate answer data in correspondence with the user identification information and the question information;
A presentation item determination procedure for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal in accordance with the presence or absence of midway answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal;
A final answer data generation procedure for generating final answer data for the question information based on the input data or midway answer data;
Device designation corresponding procedure for preventing data input by the user terminal as a device not matching the device designation information set for the question item from being included as valid data in the final answer data;
For causing an information processing apparatus to execute the program. A presentation control procedure for sending and presenting question information in which a plurality of question items are set to the user terminal;
A device determination procedure for determining the device type of the user terminal that transmits the input data for the question information;
An intermediate answer data storage procedure for acquiring input data before completion of input to the question information from the user terminal and storing it as intermediate answer data in correspondence with the user identification information and the question information;
A presentation item determination procedure for determining a question item to be presented to the user terminal in accordance with the presence or absence of midway answer data corresponding to the user identification information and the question information corresponding to the question start request from the user terminal;
A final answer data generation procedure for generating final answer data for the question information based on the input data or midway answer data;
Device designation corresponding procedure for preventing data input by the user terminal as a device not matching the device designation information set for the question item from being included as valid data in the final answer data;
A storage medium storing a program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute.

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