METHOD FOR COMPUTING INDEX OF EXPERT CLASSIFIED BY KEYWORD AND SYSTEM FOR EXECUTING THE METHOD

Technical Field The present invention relates to a method of computing an expert point value of a user for each keyword and a system for executing the method.

Background Art

A query and answer method using a network includes a method in which a user having knowledge related to a query gives an answer when a questioner selects a directory associated with the query and then enters a title and contents on a service webpage associated with the directory. However, in this case, the answerer's expertise may not be identified.

To solve the above-described problem, the conventional art utilizes a method of computing only total expert point values of a user based on the user's answer activities and the like in a network and thereby identifying the user's expertise.

However, in the conventional art, although a user performs huge amounts of answer activities and thereby maintains greater expert point values, it may be impossible to identify whether the user has knowledge associated with a query of a questioner. Accordingly, in this case, although a questioner selects an answerer by considering only expert point values and receives an answer from the selected answerer, the questioner may be unsatisfied with the answer.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals

An aspect of the present invention provides a method of computing an expert point value of a user for each keyword.

Another aspect of the present invention is to assign a weight value to each of data with respect to queries and answers associated with a keyword, and compute a keyword expert point value with respect to all users enrolled in a system, and thereby enable a questioner to readily identify answerers having knowledge associated with the keyword.

Another aspect of the present invention is also to recommend answerers having a greater keyword expert point value with respect to a keyword extracted from a query, and deliver the query to an answerer selected by a questioner from the recommended answerers, and thereby improve the questioner's satisfaction for the answer and also to more frequently display the answerers having the greater keyword expert point value for the questioner and thereby improve a probability that the query is delivered to the answerers, so that the answerers may save time and effort to find a query to give an answer to.

Another aspect of the present invention is also to enable a service provider to improve questioners' satisfaction and deliver more queries to answerers through the above-described method, so that more users may use a service of the service provider.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of computing a keyword expert point value, the method including the steps of: a first step of assigning a first keyword expert point value associated with a keyword to a user identifier of a user which enters the keyword into an expert field; a second step of assigning a second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when another user stores the keyword to correspond to the user identifier; a third step of assigning a third keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when the user of the user identifier performs an answer activity for the keyword; and a fourth step of computing the keyword expert point value of the user identifier for the keyword based on at least one of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value. In an aspect of the present invention, the method may further include the steps of: a fifth step of performing the first through fourth steps with respect to all user identifiers enrolled in a system for computing the keyword expert point value; and a sixth step of sorting a keyword expert associated with the keyword according to the keyword expert point value, and storing the sorted keyword expert in a database for each keyword.

In an aspect of the present invention, the method may further include the step of: performing the fifth and sixth steps with respect to all keywords classified in the

system.

In an aspect of the present invention, the method may further include the steps of: extracting a keyword associated with a query when the user enters the query; extracting an N number of user identifiers of keyword experts associated with the keyword by referring to the database; and displaying a list of the user identifiers to provide the keyword expert to the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of computing a keyword expert point value, the method including the steps of: analyzing factors by referring to a database for a keyword, the factors comprising 1) whether a user enters the keyword into an expert field, 2) whether another user enters the keyword to correspond to a user identifier of the user, 3) a number of queries that the user has received for the keyword during a predetermined period of time, 4) a number of adoptions and a number of non-adoptions of an answer that the user has created in association with the keyword during a predetermined period of time, and 5) a factor of a total number of answers and an adoption rate computed based on the number of adoptions and the number of non-adoptions; assigning a weight value to a user identifier of at least one user associated with the factors 1) through 5) when the at least one user exits; and summing up the weight value for each user and thereby computing a keyword expert point value for the keyword. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for computing a keyword expert point value, the system including: a first assignment component configured to assign a first keyword expert point value associated with a keyword to a user identifier of a user which enters the keyword into an expert field; a second assignment component configured to assign a second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when another user stores the keyword to correspond to the user identifier; a third assignment component configured to assign a third keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when the user of the user identifier performs an answer activity for the keyword; and a computation component configured to compute the keyword expert point value of the user identifier for the keyword based on at least one of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for computing an expert point value of a user for each keyword via a network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of computing a keyword expert point value, with respect to all users enrolled in a system for computing the keyword expert point value, for each of keywords classified by the system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of recommending a user associated with a query, entered by another user, based on a keyword expert point value according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of computing a keyword expert point value of a user which enters a keyword into an expert field according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of analyzing a plurality of factors and thereby computing a keyword expert point value according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system for computing a keyword expert point value of a user which enters a keyword into an expert field according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system for computing a keyword expert point value, with respect to all enrolled users, for each of all classified keywords according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system being added to a system for computing a keyword expert point value and recommending a keyword expert for a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method of entering a keyword into a user's expert field via a service webpage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a method of entering a keyword corresponding

to a user identifier of another user via a service webpage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a method of displaying a keyword expert using a keyword extracted from a user's query according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for computing an expert point value of a user for each keyword via a network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a keyword expert point value computing system 100 connects with a user terminal 101 or 102 via a wired network 103 or a wireless network 104, and transmits and receives data. The keyword expert point value computing system 100 analyzes data entered via the user terminal 101 or 102, and computes a keyword expert point value with respect to all keywords classified by the keyword expert point value computing system 100 and all users enrolled in the keyword expert point value computing system 100. Also, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 recommends a keyword expert to the user using the keyword expert point value. In this instance, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skills in the art that the keyword expert point value computing system 100 may be integrated with an Internet search service system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of computing a keyword expert point value, with respect to all users enrolled in a system for computing the keyword expert point value, for each of keywords classified by the system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In operation S201, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns a first keyword expert point value associated with a keyword to a user identifier of a user which enters the keyword into an expert field.

In operation S202, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns a second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when another user stores the keyword to correspond to the user identifier.

In operation S203, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns a third keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when the user of the user identifier performs an answer activity for the keyword. In this case, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 maintains information in a database. The information is associated with the answer activities of all users enrolled in the keyword expert point value computing system 100. In operation S204, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 computes the keyword expert point value of the user identifier for the keyword based on at least one of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value. Also, operation S204 may correspond to an operation of assigning a weight value for each of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value, and thereby computing the keyword expert point value based on an add operation or a multiply operation. In this instance, the weight value is assigned according to a predetermined criterion, and the weight value is changed when necessary.

In operation S205, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 performs operations S201 through S204 with respect to all user identifiers enrolled in the keyword expert point value computing system 100. In this instance, when operations S201 through S204 are performed with respect to all enrolled user identifiers, operation S206 is performed, otherwise, operation S201 is performed.

In operation S206, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 sorts a keyword expert associated with the keyword according to the keyword expert point value, and stores the sorted keyword expert in a database for each keyword.

In operation S207, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 performs operations S205 and S206 with respect to all keywords classified in the keyword expert point value computing system 100. In this instance, when operations S205 and S206 are not performed with respect to all classified keywords, operation S205 is performed, otherwise, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 is terminated.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to assign a weight value to each of data with respect to queries and answers associated with a keyword and compute a keyword expert point value with respect to all users of a system, and thereby enable a questioner, which desires to deliver a query, to readily identify answers having knowledge associated with the keyword.

Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to compute a keyword expert point value with respect to all user identifiers for each keyword and store the computed keyword expert point value in a database and thereby create a list of keyword experts for each keyword. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of recommending a user associated with a query entered by another user based on a keyword expert point value according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this instance, as shown in FIG. 3, operations S301 and S307 may be additionally performed after operation S207.

In operation S301, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 determines whether a query is entered via the user terminal 101 or 102. When the query is entered, operation S302 is performed, otherwise, S305 is performed.

In operation S302, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts a query associated with the query.

In operation S 303, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts an N number of user identifiers of keyword experts associated with the keyword by referring to the database.

In operation S304, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 displays a list of the user identifiers on the user terminal 101 or 102 and thereby recommends the keyword expert to the user. In operation S305, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 determines whether the keyword expert is selected by the user. When the keyword expert is selected, operation S306 is performed, otherwise, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 is terminated. In this instance, even when a user identifier displayed on a service webpage is selected, operation S306 may be performed. In operation S306, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts the keyword expert point value associated with the keyword expert, by referring to the database.

In operation S307, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 sorts and lists the keyword expert point value for each keyword, and then transmits a list of the keyword expert point value to the user terminal 101 or 102.

As described above, according to the present invention, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 recommends keyword experts having a greater keyword expert point value with respect to a keyword extracted from a query, and delivers the query to a keyword expert selected by a questioner. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the questioner's satisfaction for an answer. Also, since the keyword experts having the greater keyword expert point value are frequently displayed for the questioner, a probability that the query is delivered to the keyword expert may be increased. Accordingly, the keyword experts may save time and effort to find a query to give an answer to.

Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to enable a service provider to improve questioners' satisfaction and deliver more queries to answerers through the above-described method, so that more users may use a service of the service provider.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of computing a keyword expert point value of a user which enters a keyword into an expert field according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, operations S401 through S403 may be included in operation S202 and thereby performed. Also, operations

S404 through S408 may be included in operation S203 and thereby performed.

The keyword expert point value computing system 100 retrieves the other user storing the user identifier assigned with the first keyword expert in operation S401, and determines whether the keyword is stored in a keyword storage area of the other user in operation S402. In this instance, the keyword storage area may correspond to a storage area in which the user enters the keyword for a user identifier of the other user that the user determines as an expert associated with the keyword.

When the keyword is determined to be stored in the keyword storage area in operation S402, operation S403 is performed, otherwise, operation S404 is performed. In operation S403, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns the second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier. In this case, the second keyword expert point value is acquired by assigning

a weight value according to either a number of times that the keyword is stored, or based on a user point value associated with the other user storing the keyword. Also, the weight value is assigned according to a predetermined criterion, and the weight value is changed when necessary. In operation S404, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts a number of queries from the database. In this instance, the queries are entered for the user identifier associated with the keyword during a predetermined period of time.

In operation S405, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts a number of adoptions and a number of non-adoptions of the answer, entered from the user identifier associated with the keyword, during a predetermined period of time from the database.

In operation S406, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 computes a total number of answers and an adoption rate based on the number of adoptions and the number of non-adoptions.

In operation S407, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns a weight value to the number of queries, and to the number of adoptions and the number of non-adoptions of the answer, or to the total number of answers and the adoptions rate, and thereby creates the third keyword expert point value. In operation S408, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns the third keyword expert point value to the user identifier.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of analyzing a plurality of factors and thereby computing a keyword expert point value according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In operation S501, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 analyzes factors by referring to a database for a keyword. The factors include 1) whether a user enters a keyword into an expert field, 2) whether another user enters the keyword to correspond to a user identifier of the user, 3) a number of queries that the user has received for the keyword during a predetermined period of time, 4) a number of adoptions and a number of non-adoptions of an answer that the user has created in association with the keyword during a predetermined period of time, and 5) a factor of a total number of answers and an adoption rate computed based on the number of

adoptions and the number of non-adoptions.

In operation S502, when the at least one user associated with the factors 1) through 5) exits, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 assigns a weight value to a user identifier of the at least one user. In this instance, the weight value is assigned according to a predetermined criterion, and the weight value is changed when necessary.

In operation S503, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 sums up the weight value for each user and thereby computes a keyword expert point value for the keyword. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system for computing a keyword expert point value of a user which enters a keyword into an expert field according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this instance, as shown in FIG. 6, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 may include a first assignment component 601, a second assignment component 602, a third assignment component 603, a computation component 604, and a database 605.

The first assignment component 601 assigns a first keyword expert point value associated with a keyword to a user identifier of a user which enters the keyword into an expert field, by referring to the database 605.

The second assignment component 602 assigns a second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when another user stores the keyword to correspond to the user identifier.

The third assignment component 603 assigns a third keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier when the user of the user identifier performs an answer activity for the keyword. The computation component 604 computes the keyword expert point value of the user identifier for the keyword based on at least one of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value. In this instance, the computation component 604 may assign a weight value for each of the first keyword expert point value, the second keyword expert point value, and the third keyword expert point value, and thereby compute the keyword expert point value based on an add operation or a multiply operation.

The database 605 stores information about 1) whether the user enters the

keyword in the expert field, 2) whether another user enters the keyword to correspond to the user identifier of the user, and 3) all answer activities in association with the first assignment 601, the second assignment 602 or the third assignment 603.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system for computing a keyword expert point value with respect to all enrolled users for each of classified keywords according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A first repeat execution component 701 repeatedly executes the first assignment component 601, the second assignment component 602, the third assignment component 603, and the computation component 604 with respect to all user identifiers enrolled in the keyword expert point value computing system 100.

A storage component 702 sorts a keyword expert associated with the keyword according to the keyword expert point value, and stores the sorted keyword expert in a database for each keyword.

A second repeat execution component 703 repeatedly executes the first repeat execution component 701 and the storage unit 702 with respect to all keywords classified in the keyword expert point value computing system 100.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to create a list of keyword experts for a keyword by computing a keyword value for all user identifiers for each of keywords and storing the computed keyword value in a database. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system being added to a system for computing a keyword expert point value and recommending a keyword expert to a user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A keyword extractor 811 extracts a keyword associated with a query when the user enters the query.

A user identifier extractor 812 extracts an N number of user identifiers of keyword experts associated with the keyword by referring to the database 605.

A keyword expert provider 813 provides the keyword expert to the user by displaying a list of the user identifiers. In this instance, the keyword expert point value corresponding to the user identifier may be added to the list of user identifiers.

A keyword expert point value extractor 821 extracts the keyword expert point value associated with the keyword expert by referring to the database 605 when the user

selects the keyword expert.

A list provider 822 sorts and lists the keyword expert point value for each keyword, and thereby provides a list of the keyword expert point value for the user

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method of entering a keyword into a user's expert field via a service webpage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A service webpage 900 is provided from the keyword expert point value computing system 100. The service webpage 900 includes a field 901 in which a user may enter the user's expert field as a keyword. In this instance, as shown in FIG. 9, a directory is selected in a directory selection field 902 and a keyword associated with the directory is entered into a keyword enter field 903. Accordingly, as shown in example

904, it is possible to match the directory and the keyword. Also, it is possible to add the first keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier of the user which enters the keyword into the expert field and thereby utilize the first keyword expert point value when computing the keyword expert point value.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a method of entering a keyword corresponding to a user identifier of another user via a service webpage according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A service webpage 1000 is provided from the keyword expert point value computing system 100. In the service webpage 1000, it is possible to retrieve and select the user identifier of the other user as shown in reference numeral 1001, and enter the keyword corresponding to the selected user identifier as shown in reference numeral

1002. As described above, it is possible to add the second keyword expert point value associated with the keyword to the user identifier and thereby utilize the second keyword expert point value when computing the keyword expert point value.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a method of displaying a keyword expert using a keyword extracted from a user's query according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A service webpage 1100 is provided from the keyword expert point value computing system 100. In the service webpage 1100, the keyword expert point value computing system 100 extracts an N number of user identifiers 1102 associated with a keyword 1101 extracted from the user's query, and provides the extracted N number of

user identifiers 1102 and keyword expert point values 1103. In this instance, the keyword expert point values 1103 may be created based on factors including 1) whether a user enters a keyword into an expert field, 2) whether another user enters the keyword to correspond to a user identifier of the user, 3) a number of queries that the user has received for the keyword during a predetermined period of time, 4) a number of adoptions and a number of non-adoptions of an answer that the user has created in association with the keyword during a predetermined period of time, and 5) a factor of a total number of answers and an adoption rate computed based on the number of adoptions and the number of non-adoptions. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention include computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, tables, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read- only memory devices (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). The media may also be a transmission medium such as optical or metallic lines, wave guides, etc. including a carrier wave transmitting signals specifying the program instructions, data structures, etc. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter.

According to the present invention, it is possible to assign a weight value to each of data with respect to queries and answers associated with a keyword, and compute a keyword expert point value with respect to all users enrolled in a system, and thereby enable a questioner to readily identify answerers having knowledge associated with the keyword.

Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to recommend answerers having a greater keyword expert point value with respect to a keyword extracted from a

query, and deliver the query to an answerer selected by a questioner from the recommended answerers, and thereby improve the questioner's satisfaction for the answer. Also, it is possible to more frequently display the answerers having the greater keyword expert point value for the questioner and thereby improve a probability that the query is delivered to the answerers, so that the answerers may save time and effort to find a query to give an answer to.

Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to enable a service provider to improve questioners' satisfaction and deliver more queries to answerers through the above-described method, so that more users may use a service of the service provider.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.